Portrait of an old Man

Bust of Rabbi with luxuriant white beard wearing a plain black coat and tall black cap. The background is dark-gray. The hair and beard are exquisite, obtained with very fine brushes and textured use of white paint. The psychological study of the face is also unusually high quality.

Industrial Removal Office records undated, 1899-1922

Contains Board of Directors minutes (1903, 1907), Executive Committee minutes (1907), Removal Committee minutes (1903-1917), Annual Reports (1910, 1913), Monthly Reports (1901-1919), Monthly Bulletins (1914-1915), studies of those removed, Bressler's "The Removal Work, Including Galveston," and several papers relating to the IRO and immigration. Financial papers include a budget (1914), comparative per capita cost figures (1909-1922), audits (1915-1918), receipts and expenditures (1918-1922), investment records, bank balances (1907-1922), removal work cash book (1904-1911), office expenses cash account (1903-1906), and the financial records of other agencies working with the IRO (1906). Includes also removal case records of first the Jewish Agricultural Society (1899-1900), and then of the IRO (1901-1922) when it took over its work, family reunion case records (1901-1904), and the follow-up records of persons removed to various cities (1903-1914). Contains also the correspondence of traveling agents' contacts throughout the U.S. from 1905-1914, among them Stanley Bero, Henry P. Goldstein, Philip Seman, and Morris D. Waldman.

The biological functions of mouse twinfilin isoforms

The actin cytoskeleton is essential for many cellular processes, including motility, morphogenesis, endocytosis and signal transduction. Actin can exist in monomeric (G-actin) or filamentous (F-actin) form. Actin filaments are considered to be the functional form of actin, generating the protrusive forces characteristic for the actin cytoskeleton. The structure and dynamics of the actin filament and monomer pools are regulated by a large number of actin-binding proteins in eukaryotic cells. Twinfilin is an evolutionarily conserved small actin monomer binding protein. Twinfilin is composed of two ADF/cofilin-like domains, separated by a short linker and followed by a C-terminal tail. Twinfilin forms a stable, high affinity complex with ADP-G-actin, inhibits the nucleotide exchange on actin monomers, and prevents their assembly into filament ends. Twinfilin was originally identified from yeast and has since then been found from all organisms studied except plants. Not much was known about the role of twinfilin in the actin dynamics in mammalian cells before this study. We set out to unravel the mysteries still covering twinfilins functions using biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics. We identified and characterized two mouse isoforms for the previously identified mouse twinfilin-1. The new isoforms, twinfilin-2a and -2b, are generated from the same gene through alternative promoter usage. The three isoforms have distinctive expression patterns, but are similar biochemically. Twinfilin-1 is the major isoform during development and is expressed in high levels in almost all tissues examined. Twinfilin-2a is also expressed almost ubiquitously, but at lower levels. Twinfilin-2b turned out to be a muscle-specific isoform, with very high expression in heart and skeletal muscle. It seems all mouse tissues express at least two twinfilin isoforms, indicating that twinfilins are important regulators of actin dynamics in all cell and tissue types. A knockout mouse line was generated for twinfilin-2a. The mice homozygous for this knockout were viable and developed normally, indicating that twinfilin-2a is dispensable for mouse development. However, it is important to note that twinfilin-2a shows similar expression pattern to twinfilin-1, suggesting that these proteins play redundant roles in mice. All mouse isoforms were shown to be able to sequester actin filaments and have higher affinity for ADP-G-actin than ATP-G-actin. They are also able to directly interact with heterodimeric capping protein and PI(4,5)P2 similar to yeast twinfilin. In this study we also uncovered a novel function for mouse twinfilins; capping actin filament barbed ends. All mouse twinfilin isoforms were shown to possess this function, while yeast and Drosophila twinfilin were not able to cap filament barbed ends. Twinfilins localize to the cytoplasm but also to actin-rich regions in mammalian cells. The subcellular localizations of the isoforms are regulated differently, indicating that even though twinfilins biochemical functions in vitro are very similar, in vivo they can play different roles through different regulatory pathways. Together, this study show that twinfilins regulate actin filament assembly both by sequestering actin monomers and by capping filament barbed ends, and that mammals have three biochemically similar twinfilin isoforms with partially overlapping expression patterns.

Farmland birds and habitat heterogeneity in intensively cultivated boreal agricultural landscapes

The biodiversity of farmland ecosystems has decreased remarkably during the latter half of the 20th century, and this development is due to intensive farming with its various environmental effects. In the countries of the EU the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the main determinant affecting farmland biodiversity, since the agricultural policy defines guidelines of agricultural practices. In addition to policies promoting intensive farming, CAP also includes national agri-environment schemes (AES), in which a part of subsidies paid to farmers is directed to acts that are presumed to promote environmental protection and biodiversity. In order to shape AES into relevant and powerful tools for biodiversity protection, detailed studies on the effects of agriculture on species and species assemblages are needed. In my thesis I investigated the importance of habitat heterogeneity and effects of different habitat and landscape characteristics on farmland bird abundance and diversity in typical cereal cultivation-dominated southern Finnish agricultural environments. The extensive data used were collected by territory mapping. My two main study species were the drastically declined ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana) and the phenomenally increased tree sparrow (Passer montanus); in addition I studied assemblages of 20 species breeding in open arable and edge/bush habitats. In light of my results I discuss whether the Finnish AES take into account the habitat needs of farmland birds, and I provide suggestions for improvement of the future AES. My results show that heterogeneity of both uncultivated and cultivated habitats increases abundance and species richness among farmland birds, but in this respect the amount and diversity of uncultivated habitats are essential. Ditches in particular are a keystone structure for farmland birds in boreal landscapes. Ditches lined by trees or bushes increased ortolan bunting abundance. Loss of that kind of ditches (and clearance of forest and bush patches), reduced breeding ortolan buntings, mainly by decreasing availability of song-posts that are important for the breeding groups of the species. Heterogeneity of uncultivated habitats, most importantly open ditches and the habitat patch richness, increased densities and species richnesses of species assemblages of open arable and edge/bush habitats. Human impact (winter-feeding, nest-boxes) affected favourably the tree sparrow s rapid range expansion in southern Finland, but any habitat types had no significant effects. At the moment the Finnish agri-environmental policy does not conserve farmland ditches as a habitat type. Instead, sub-surface drainage is financially promoted. This is a fatal mistake as far as farmland biodiversity is concerned. In addition to the maintenance of ditches, at least the following aspects should be included more than is done previously in the measures of the future AES: 1) promotion of diverse crop rotation (especially by promoting animal husbandry), 2) maintenance of tree and bush vegetation in islets and along ditches, 3) promotion of organic farming.

Pentoxifylline induces hyperactivation and acrosome reaction in spermatozoa of golden hamsters: changes in motility kinematics

Pentoxifylline (PF) is used to enhance motility of spermatozoa from infertile human subjects. We have previously shown that 0.45 mM PF improved capacitation of spermatozoa and fertilization of oocytes in vitro in hamsters. The present study was carried out to assess PF- induced changes in motility kinematics of hamster spermatozoa by a computer-aided sperm analyser (CASA) and determine the timing of onset of hyperactivation (HA) and acrosome reaction (AR) in PF-treated spermatozoa. Motility kinematics were analysed by CASA for 0-8 h in the absence or presence of 0.45 mM PF in Tyrode's medium supplemented with lactate, pyruvate and polyvinyl alcohol (TLP-PVA) or in TLP-PVA with bovine serum albumin (TALP-PVA). Conventional assessment was also made on the percentage of motility and quality of motility of spermatozoa; values were expressed as sperm motility index (SMI). Both in TALP-PVA and TLP-PVA, PF markedly increased SMI, especially the quality of motility (P < 0.02) by 2-3 h which was sustained up to 6 h. The motility kinematic data of PF-treated spermatozoa in TALP-PVA showed that average path velocity, curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement significantly (P < 0.05) increased as early as 2 h, with the expected decrease in straightness (STR) and linearity (LIN). Similar changes were also observed with PF-treated spermatozoa in TLP-PVA. Moreover, the percentage of hyperactivated spermatozoa in PF-treated samples was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the untreated control at 2 h. To determine whether PF could induce AR, independent of bovine serum albumin, quantitative AR was assessed by observing the presence or absence of acrosomal cap on viable spermatozoa. PF significantly (P < 0.001) increased the percentage of AR as early as 2 h, reaching maximum at 4 h both in TALP-PVA (P < 0.05) and in TLP-PVA (P < 0.001). These results show that, in hamsters, PF induces early onset (by 2 h) of HA and AR and increases the proportion of spermatozoa undergoing physiological maturation.

The mast cell as a regulator of atherosclerotic plaque stability

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease progressing over years via the accumulation of cholesterol in arterial intima with subsequent formation of atherosclerotic plaques. The stability of a plaque is determined by the size of its cholesterol-rich necrotic lipid core and the thickness of the fibrous cap covering it. The strength and thickness of the cap are maintained by smooth muscle cells and the extracellular matrix produced by them. A plaque with a large lipid core and a thin cap is vulnerable to rupture that may lead to acute atherothrombotic events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. In addition, endothelial erosion, possibly induced by apoptosis of endothelial cells, may lead to such clinical events. One of the major causes of plaque destabilization is inflammation induced by accumulated and modified lipoproteins, and exacerbated by local aberrant shear stress conditions. Macrophages, T-lymphocytes and mast cells infiltrate particularly into the plaque’s shoulder regions prone to atherothrombotic events, and they are present at the actual sites of plaque rupture and erosion. Two major mechanisms of plaque destabilization induced by inflammation are extracellular matrix remodeling and apoptosis. Mast cells are bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells that as progenitors upon chemotactic stimuli infiltrate the target tissues, such as the arterial wall, differentiate in the target tissues and mediate their effects via the release of various mediators, typically in a process called degranulation. The released preformed mast cell granules contain proteases such as tryptase, chymase and cathepsin G bound to heparin and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. In addition, various soluble mediators such as histamine and TNF-alpha are released. Mast cells also synthesize many mediators such as cytokines and lipid mediators upon activation. Mast cells are capable of increasing the level of LDL cholesterol in the arterial intima by increasing accumulation and retention of LDL and by decreasing removal of cholesterol by HDL in vitro. In addition, by secreting proinflammatory mediators and proteases, mast cells may induce plaque destabilization by inducing apoptosis of smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Also in vivo data from apoE-/- and ldlr-/- mice suggest a role for mast cells in the progression of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, mast cell-deficient mice have become powerful tools to study the effects of mast cells in vivo. In this study, evidence suggesting a role for mast cells in the regulation of plaque stability is presented. In a mouse model genetically susceptible to atherosclerosis, mast cell deficiency (ldlr-/-/KitW-sh/W-sh mice) was associated with a less atherogenic lipid profile, a decreased level of lipid accumulation in the aortic arterial wall and a decreased level of vascular inflammation as compared to mast-cell competent littermates. In vitro, mast cell chymase-induced smooth muscle cell apoptosis was mediated by inhibition of NF-kappaB activity, followed by downregulation of bcl-2, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3. Mast cell-induced endothelial cell apoptosis was mediated by chymase and TNF-alpha, and involved chymase-mediated degradation of fibronectin and vitronectin, and inactivation of FAK- and Akt-mediated survival signaling. Subsequently, mast cells induced inhibition of NF-kappaB activity and activation of caspase-8 and -9. In addition, possible mast cell protease-mediated mechanisms of endothelial erosion may include degradation of fibronectin and VE-cadherin. Thus, the present results suggest a role for mast cells in destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques.

Expression, Enzymatic Activities and Subcellular Localization of Hepatitis E Virus and Semliki Forest Virus Replicase Proteins

Viruses are submicroscopic, infectious agents that are obligate intracellular parasites. They adopt various types of strategies for their parasitic replication and proliferation in infected cells. The nucleic acid genome of a virus contains information that redirects molecular machinery of the cell to the replication and production of new virions. Viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm and are unable to use the nuclear transcription machinery of the host cell have developed their own transcription and capping systems. This thesis describes replication strategies of two distantly related viruses, hepatitis E virus (HEV) and Semliki Forest virus (SFV), which belong to the alphavirus-like superfamily of positive-strand RNA viruses. We have demonstrated that HEV and SFV share a unique cap formation pathway specific for alphavirus-like superfamily. The capping enzyme first acts as a methyltransferase, catalyzing the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to GTP to yield m7GTP. It then transfers the methylated guanosine to the end of viral mRNA. Both reactions are virus-specific and differ from those described for the host cell. Therefore, these capping reactions offer attractive targets for the development of antiviral drugs. Additionally, it has been shown that replication of SFV and HEV takes place in association with cellular membranes. The origin of these membranes and the intracellular localization of the components of the replication complex were studied by modern microscopy techniques. It was demonstrated that SFV replicates in cytoplasmic membranes that are derived from endosomes and lysosomes. According to our studies, site for HEV replication seems to be the intermediate compartment which mediates the traffic between endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex. As a result of this work, a unique mechanism of cap formation for hepatitis E virus replicase has been characterized. It represents a novel target for the development of specific inhibitors against viral replication.

Stuffed fullerenelike boron carbide nanoclusters

Viable stuffed fullerenelike boron carbide nanoclusters, C50B34, C48B36-2, and their isomers based on an icosahedral B-84 fragment of elemental beta-rhombohedral boron have been investigated using density functional theory calculations. The structure and the stability of these clusters are rationalized using the polyhedral skeletal electron counting and ring-cap orbital overlap compatibility rules. The curvature of the fullerene was found to play a vital role in achieving the most stable isomer C50B34(3B). The large highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gaps, three dimensional aromaticity, and electron detachment energies support their high stability. Further, the IR and Raman active modes were recognized.

Absolute quantification of human tear lactoferrin using multiple reaction monitoring technique with stable-isotopic labeling

The mass spectrometry technique of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to quantify and compare the expression level of lactoferrin in tear films among control, prostate cancer (CaP), and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) groups. Tear samples from 14 men with CaP, 15 men with BPH, and 14 controls were analyzed in the study. Collected tears (2 μl) of each sample were digested with trypsin overnight at 37 °C without any pretreatment, and tear lactoferrin was quantified using a lactoferrin-specific peptide, VPSHAVVAR, both using natural/light and isotopic-labeled/heavy peptides with MRM. The average tear lactoferrin concentration was 1.01 ± 0.07 μg/μl in control samples, 0.96 ± 0.07 μg/μl in the BPH group, and 0.98 ± 0.07 μg/μl in the CaP group. Our study is the first to quantify tear proteins using a total of 43 individual (non-pooled) tear samples and showed that direct digestion of tear samples is suitable for MRM studies. The calculated average lactoferrin concentration in the control group matched that in the published range of human tear lactoferrin concentration measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, the lactoferrin was stably expressed across all of the samples, with no significant differences being observed among the control, BPH, and CaP groups.

Additively manufactured device for dynamic culture of large arrays of 3D tissue engineered constructs

The ability to test large arrays of cell and biomaterial combinations in 3D environments is still rather limited in the context of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This limitation can be generally addressed by employing highly automated and reproducible methodologies. This study reports on the development of a highly versatile and upscalable method based on additive manufacturing for the fabrication of arrays of scaffolds, which are enclosed into individualized perfusion chambers. Devices containing eight scaffolds and their corresponding bioreactor chambers are simultaneously fabricated utilizing a dual extrusion additive manufacturing system. To demonstrate the versatility of the concept, the scaffolds, while enclosed into the device, are subsequently surface-coated with a biomimetic calcium phosphate layer by perfusion with simulated body fluid solution. 96 scaffolds are simultaneously seeded and cultured with human osteoblasts under highly controlled bidirectional perfusion dynamic conditions over 4 weeks. Both coated and noncoated resulting scaffolds show homogeneous cell distribution and high cell viability throughout the 4 weeks culture period and CaP-coated scaffolds result in a significantly increased cell number. The methodology developed in this work exemplifies the applicability of additive manufacturing as a tool for further automation of studies in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Real Theta Characteristics And Automorphisms Of A Real Curve

Let X be a geometrically irreductble smooth projective cruve defined over R. of genus at least 2. that admits a nontrivial automorphism, sigma. Assume that X does not have any real points. Let tau be the antiholomorphic involution of the complexification lambda(C) of X. We show that if the action of sigma on the set S(X) of all real theta characteristics of X is trivial. then the order of sigma is even, say 2k and the automorphism tau o (sigma) over cap (lambda) of X-C has a fixed point, where (sigma) over cap is the automorphism of X x C-R defined by sigma We then show that there exists X with a real point and admitting a nontrivial automorphism sigma, such that the action of sigma on S(X) is trivial, while X/ not equal P-R(1) We also give an example of X with no real points and admitting a nontrivial automorphisim sigma such that the automorphism tau o (sigma) over cap (lambda) has a fixed point, the action of sigma on S(X) is trivial, and X/ not equal P-R(1)

Straw Performance Studies and Quality Assurance for the ATLAS Transition Radiation Tracker

The Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC is part of the Inner Detector. It is designed as a robust and powerful gaseous detector that provides tracking through individual drift-tubes (straws) as well as particle identification via transition radiation (TR) detection. The straw tubes are operated with Xe-CO2-O2 70/27/3, a gas that combines the advantages of efficient TR absorption, a short electron drift time and minimum ageing effects. The modules of the barrel part of the TRT were built in the United States while the end-cap wheels are assembled at two Russian institutes. Acceptance tests of barrel modules and end-cap wheels are performed at CERN before assembly and integration with the Semiconductor Tracker (SCT) and the Pixel Detector. This thesis first describes simulations the TRT straw tube. The argon-based acceptance gas mixture as well as two xenon-based operating gases are examined for its properties. Drift velocities and Townsend coefficients are computed with the help of the program Magboltz and used to study electron drift and multiplication in the straw using the software Garfield. The inclusion of Penning transfers in the avalanche process leads to remarkable agreements with experimental data. A high level of cleanliness in the TRT s acceptance test gas system is indispensable. To monitor gas purity, a small straw tube detector has been constructed and extensively used to study the ageing behaviour of the straw tube in Ar-CO2. A variety of ageing tests are presented and discussed. Acceptance tests for the TRT survey dimensions, wire tension, gas-tightness, high-voltage stability and gas gain uniformity along each individual straw. The thesis gives details on acceptance criteria and measurement methods in the case of the end-cap wheels. Special focus is put on wire tension and straw straightness. The effect of geometrically deformed straws on gas gain and energy resolution is examined in an experimental setup and compared to simulation studies. An overview of the most important results from the end-cap wheels tested up to this point is presented.

Disulfide conformation and design at helix N-termini

To understand structural and thermodynamic features of disulfides within an alpha-helix, a non-redundant dataset comprising of 5025 polypeptide chains containing 2311 disulfides was examined. Thirty-five examples were found of intrahelical disulfides involving a CXXC motif between the N-Cap and third helical positions. GLY and PRO were the most common amino acids at positions 1 and 2, respectively. The N-Cap residue for disulfide bonded CXXC motifs had average values of (-112 +/- 25.2 degrees, 106 +/- 25.4 degrees). To further explore conformational requirements for intrahelical disulfides, CYS pairs were introduced at positions N-Cap-3; 1,4; 7,10 in two helices of an Escherichia coli thioredoxin mutant lacking its active site disulfide (nSS Trx). In both helices, disulfides formed spontaneously during purification only at positions N-Cap-3. Mutant stabilities were characterized by chemical denaturation studies (in both oxidized and reduced states) and differential scanning calorimetry (oxidized state only). All oxidized as well as reduced mutants were destabilized relative to nSS Trx. All mutants were redox active, but showed decreased activity relative to wild-type thioredoxin. Such engineered disulfides can be used to probe helix start sites in proteins of unknown structure and to introduce redox activity into proteins. Conversely, a protein with CYS residues at positions N-Cap and 3 of an alpha-helix is likely to have redox activity.

Conformational characteristics of asparaginyl residues in proteins

Backbone conformations at 1064 asparaginyl residues in 123 non-homologous, high-resolution X-ray structures of proteins were analysed. Asn adopts conformations in left-handed x-helical region and other partially allowed regions in the Ramachandran map more readily than any other non-glycyl residue. Asn conformational clusters in the (phi,psi) regions of left-handed alpha-helix, right-handed alpha-helix and extended (beta) strands were investigated in detail for their occurrence in various secondary structures, especially in beta-turn regions. Preferences were observed for Asn conformations in different positions in various beta-turn types, including the first and fourth positions of the turn. Asparaginyl residues with extended conformations are found to occur frequently in irregular regions, although they are expected to occur predominantly in extended strands or in the third position of type II beta-turns. Asn conformations at the N-cap positions of helices strongly prefer extended conformation than alpha(L), which seems to be characteristic of non-glycyl residues at that position. In the linkers connecting two extended strands and those connecting an alpha-helix and an extended strand, Asn with alpha(L) or alpha(R) conformation is more favoured than Asn with the beta-conformation. Analysis of Asn-Asn doublets and Asn-X-Asn triplets permitted identification of conformational families in such sequences. Results of this investigation provide useful hints in modelling Asn-rich regions in proteins such as malaria parasite coat protein. (C) Munksgaard 1994.