Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl titanate mineral euxenite (Y,Ca,U,Ce,Th) (Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6

Raman spectra of the uranyl titanate mineral euxenite were analyzed and related to the mineral structure. A comparison is made with the Raman spectra of uranyl oxyhydroxide hydrates. The obsd. bands are attributed to the Ti[n.63743]O and (UO2)2+ stretching and bending vibrations, as well as lattice vibrations of rare-earth ions. The Raman bands of euxenite are in harmony with those of the uranyl oxyhydroxides. The mineral euxenite is metamict as is evidenced by the intensity of the U[n.63743]O stretching and bending modes, which are of lower intensity than expected, and with bands that are significantly broader.

The utility of serum CA-125 in predicting extra-uterine disease in apparent early stage endometrial cancer

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical value of pre-operative serum CA125 in predicting the presence of extra-uterine disease in patients with apparent early stage endometrial cancer. Methods: Between October 6, 2005 and June 17, 2010, 760 patients were enrolled in an international, multicentre, prospective randomized trial (LACE) comparing laparotomy with laparoscopy in the management of endometrial cancer apparently confined to the uterus. This study is based on data from 657 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma who had a pre-operative serum CA125 value, and was undertaken to correlate pre-operative serum CA125 with final stage. Results: Using a pre-operative CA-125 cutpoint of 30U/ml was associated with the smallest misclassification error (14.5%) using a multiple cross-validation method. Median pre-operative serum CA-125 was 14U/ml, and using a cutpoint of 30U/ml, 14.9% of patients had elevated CA-125 levels. Of 98 patients with elevated CA-125 level, 36 (36.7%) had evidence of extra-uterine disease. Of the 116 patients (17.7%) with evidence of extra-uterine disease, 31.0% had elevated CA-125 level. In univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, only pre-operative CA-125 level was found to be associated with extra-uterine spread of disease. Utilising a cutpoint of 30U/ml achieved a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 31.0%, 88.5%, 36.7% and 85.7% respectively. Overall, 326/657 (49.6%) of patients had full surgical staging involving lymph node dissection. When analysis was limited to patients that had undergone full surgical staging, the outcomes remained essentially unchanged. Conclusions: Elevated CA-125 above 30U/ml in patients with apparent early stage disease is associated with a sensitivity of 31.0% and specificity of 88.5% in detecting extra-uterine disease. Pre-operative identification of this risk factor may assist to triage patients to tertiary centres and comprehensive surgical staging.

Reaction products between Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-oxide thick films and alumina substrates

The structure and composition of reaction products between Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-oxide (BSCCO) thick films and alumina substrates have been characterized using a combination of electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). Sr and Ca are found to be the most reactive cations with alumina. Sr4Al6O12SO4 is formed between the alumina substrates and BSCCO thick films prepared from paste with composition close to Bi-2212 (and Bi-2212 + 10 wt.% Ag). For paste with composition close to Bi(Pb)-2223 + 20 wt.% Ag, a new phase with f.c.c. structure, lattice parameter about a = 24.5 A and approximate composition Al3Sr2CaBi2CuOx has been identified in the interface region. Understanding and control of these reactions is essential for growth of high quality BSCCO thick films on alumina. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Rotational isomerism about the Ca-CO bond in proline derivatives. 1H and 13C NMR studies of benzyloxycarbonyl-Pro-N-methylamide and pivaloyl-Pro-N-methylamide

The 270 MHz 1H n.m.r. spectrum of benzyloxycarbonyl-Pro-N-methylamide in CDCl3 is exchange broadened at 293° K. Spectral lines due to two species are frozen out at 253° K and a dynamically averaged spectrum is obtained at 323° K. A selective broadening of the Cβ and Cγ resonances in the 13C n.m.r. spectrum is observed at 253° K, with a splitting of the Cβ and Cγ resonances into a pair of lines of unequal intensity. A similar broadening of Cβ and Cγ peaks is also detected in pivaloyl-Pro-N-methylamide where cis-trans interconversion about the imide bond is precluded by the bulky t-butyl group. The rate process is thus attributed to rotation about the Cα-CO bond (ψ) and a barrier (ΔG#) of 14kcal mol-1 is estimated. 13C n.m.r. data for pivaloyl-Pro-N-methylamide in a number of solvents is presented and the differences in the Cβ and Cγ chemical shifts are interpreted in terms of rotational isomerism about the Cα-CO bond.

Effect of Substitution of Ca on Thermal Expansion of Cordierite (Mg2Al4Si5O18)

The effect of substitution of calcium on the anisotropic axial thermal expansion of cordierite was investigated by using a high-temperature X-ray diffraction technique. The compositions were prepared by the sol–gel route. In the Mg2-xCax-Al4Si5O18 system, single-phase cordierite can be prepared for x up to 0.5. Thermal expansion anisotropy (αa–αc) of cordierites reduces progressively by the substitution of increasing amounts of Ca for Mg.

?The Lord did give me a particular honour to make [me] a peacemaker? : Howel Harris, John Wesley and Methodist infighting, 1739-1750

Jones, David, '?The Lord did give me a particular honour to make [me] a peacemaker?: Howel Harris, John Wesley and Methodist infighting, 1739-1750', Bulletin of the John Rylands, University Library of Manchester (2003) 85(2-3) pp.73-88 RAE2008

Letter: To Molly Wesley from John Wesley, March 30, 1751

Digitized from a letter in the Drew University Methodist Collection. 1 Item (4 p.); 20.5 x 33 cm.

The martyrs of Golbanti : or missionary heroism illustrated in the lives of Rev. John and Mrs. Houghton, of East Africa / by Robert Brewin.

http://www.archive.org/details/martyrsofgolbant00brewiala

Ca(2+) signals coordinate zygotic polarization and cell cycle progression in the brown alga Fucus serratus

Zygotes of the fucoid brown algae provide excellent models for addressing fundamental questions about zygotic symmetry breaking. Although the acquisition of polarity is tightly coordinated with the timing and orientation of the first asymmetric division-with zygotes having to pass through a G1/S-phase checkpoint before the polarization axis can be fixed -the mechanisms behind the interdependence of polarization and cell cycle progression remain unclear. In this study, we combine in vivo Ca(2+) imaging, single cell monitoring of S-phase progression and multivariate analysis of high-throughput intracellular Ca(2+) buffer loading to demonstrate that Ca(2+) signals coordinate polarization and cell cycle progression in the Fucus serratus zygote. Consistent with earlier studies on this organism, and in contrast to animal models, we observe no fast Ca(2+) wave following fertilization. Rather, we show distinct slow localized Ca(2+) elevations associated with both fertilization and S-phase progression, and we show that both S-phase and zygotic polarization are dependent on pre-S-phase Ca(2+) increases. Surprisingly, this Ca(2+) requirement cannot be explained by co-dependence on a single G1/ S-phase checkpoint, as S phase and zygotic polarization are differentially sensitive to pre-S-phase Ca(2+) elevations and can be uncoupled. Furthermore, subsequent cell cycle progression through M phase is independent of localized actin polymerization and zygotic polarization. This absence of a morphogenesis checkpoint, together with the observed Ca(2+)dependences of S phase and polarization, show that the regulation of zygotic division in the brown algae differs from that in other eukaryotic model systems, such as yeast and Drosophila.

Pharmacological profiling of store-operated Ca(2+) entry in retinal arteriolar smooth muscle

Objective: Pharmacological profiling of store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) and molecular profiling of ORAI and TRPC expression in arterioles. 
Methods: Fura-2 based microfluorimetry was used to assess CPA-induced SOCE in rat retinal arteriolar myocytes. Arteriolar ORAI and TRP transcript expression were screened using RT-PCR. 
Results: SKF96365 and LOE908 blocked SOCE (IC(50) s of 1.2µM and 1.4µM, respectively). Gd(3+) and La(3+) potently inhibited SOCE (IC(50) s of 21nM and 42nM, respectively), but Ni(2+) showed lower potency (IC(50) = 11.6µM). 2-aminoethyldiphenyl borate (2APB) inhibited SOCE (IC(50) = 3.7µM) but enhanced basal influx (>100µM). Verapamil and nifedipine had no effect at concentrations that inhibit L-type Ca(2+) channels, but diltiazem inhibited SOCE by approximately 40% (=0.1µM). RT-PCR demonstrated transcript expression for ORAI 1, 2 and 3, and TRPC1, 3, 4 and 7. Transcripts for TRPV1 and 2, which are activated by 2APB, were also expressed. 
Conclusion: The pharmacological profile of SOCE in retinal arteriolar smooth muscle appears unique when compared to other vascular tissues. This suggests that the molecular mechanisms underlying SOCE can differ, even in closely related tissues. Taken together, the pharmacological and molecular data are most consistent with involvement of TRPC1 in SOCE, although involvement of ORAI or other TRPC channels cannot be excluded. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Compte rendu: Johann Wolfgang Unger (2013), The Discursive Construction of the Scots Language : Education, Politics and Everyday Life, Amsterdam, John Benjamins, coll. « Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture, 51 », 178 p. [ISBN : 978-9-027-20642-8]

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Letters to the Honourable John H. Dunn, 1837-1838

The recipient of the letters is John Henry Dunn who was born on St. Helena (a British territory island of volcanic origin located in the South Atlantic Ocean) in 1792 to John Charles Dunn and Elizabeth Bazette. He was married to Charlotte Roberts on May 4th, 1820 and they had 6 sons and 2 daughters. He came to Canada in 1820 in which year he became the Receiver General for Canada. He held this position until 1841.Charlotte died in 1835. In 1822 he was named to the Province’s Legislative Council. He was president of the Welland Canal Company from 1825-1833. In 1836 he was named to the executive council of Upper Canada but resigned 3 weeks later with fellow counselors when lieutenant governor Sir Francis Bond refused the advice of the council. Dunn was made the Receiver General for the newly formed Province of Canada in 1841, and was elected to represent Toronto in the legislative assembly that year. He married his second wife on March 9th, 1842. Her name was Sophie-Louise Juchereau Duchsnay. They had a son and a daughter. In 1843 he resigned, and was not re-elected in 1844. He returned to England with his family and died in London on April 21, 1854. Dunn was a supporter of the Welland Canal, St. Lawrence Canals and other public improvements. Between the passage of the Canada Trade Act and the Act of the Union he had tried to insure that projects received funding despite financial constraints. He claimed that he has saved Upper Canada from bankruptcy. His son, Alexander Roberts Dunn received the Victoria Cross for his role in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Dunn Street in Niagara Falls is named after John Henry Dunn. The town and township of Dunnville were also named for him. Sources: http://biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=3889 http://www.niagarafrontier.com/cityfalls.html

Niagara Falls Seminary [school for young Ladies] advertisement, ca. 1840

One broadside advertising the Niagara Falls Seminary [school for young Ladies], run by Mrs. Shotter of Drummondville, ca. 1840. The advertisement contains information about fees and courses, including a complete English education, music, French, drawing and flower painting, and dancing. The bottom of the page contains a list of references for Mrs. Shotter, including Ex-Consul Buchanan, Colonel Delatre, Rev. W. Leeming, Rector of Chippawa (all of Drummondville); Dr. Mewburn (Stamford); Rev. T.B. Fuller, Rector of Thorold; John Stayner, Esq., P.M. Queenston; William Gamble, Esq., Milton, near Toronto; and Hon. John Hamilton, Kingston.