'How Soon is Too Soon?:Healing Through Remembering Bulletin (Issue 3), Spring 2007, p. 3

A comment on the process of Commemoration in Northern Ireland

Ordering the cytochrome c-initiated caspase cascade:hierarchical activation of caspases-2, -3, -6, -7, -8, and -10 in a caspase-9-dependent manner

Exit of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol has been implicated as an important step in apoptosis. In the cytosol, cytochrome c binds to the CED-4 homologue, Apaf-1, thereby triggering Apaf-1-mediated activation of caspase-9. Caspase-9 is thought to propagate the death signal by triggering other caspase activation events, the details of which remain obscure. Here, we report that six additional caspases (caspases-2, -3, -6, -7, -8, and -10) are processed in cell-free extracts in response to cytochrome c, and that three others (caspases-1, -4, and -5) failed to be activated under the same conditions. In vitro association assays confirmed that caspase-9 selectively bound to Apaf-1, whereas caspases-1, -2, -3, -6, -7, -8, and -10 did not. Depletion of caspase-9 from cell extracts abrogated cytochrome c-inducible activation of caspases-2, -3, -6, -7, -8, and -10, suggesting that caspase-9 is required for all of these downstream caspase activation events. Immunodepletion of caspases-3, -6, and -7 from cell extracts enabled us to order the sequence of caspase activation events downstream of caspase-9 and reveal the presence of a branched caspase cascade. Caspase-3 is required for the activation of four other caspases (-2, -6, -8, and -10) in this pathway and also participates in a feedback amplification loop involving caspase-9.

Sandwich nanoarchitecture of LiV3O8/graphene multilayer nanomembranes via layer-by-layer self-assembly for long-cycle-life lithium-ion battery cathodes

A lack of suitable high-performance cathode materials has become the major barrier to their applications in future advanced communication equipment and electric vehicle power systems. In this paper, we have developed a layer-by-layer self-assembly approach for fabricating a novel sandwich nanoarchitecture of multilayered LiV₃O₈ nanoparticle/graphene nanosheet (M-nLVO/GN) hybrid electrodes for potential use in high performance lithium ion batteries by using a porous Ni foam as a substrate. The prepared sandwich nanoarchitecture of M-nLVO/GN hybrid electrodes exhibited high performance as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, such as high reversible specific capacity (235 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 0.3 A g^-1), high coulombic efficiency (over 98%), fast rate capability (up to a current density of 10 A g^-1), and superior capacity retention during cycling (90% capacity retention with a current density of 0.3 A g^-1 after 300 cycles). Very significantly, this novel insight into the design and synthesis of sandwich nanoarchitecture would extend their application to various electrochemical energy storage devices, such as fuel cells and supercapacitors.

Surface modification of LiV3O8 nanosheets via layer-by-layer self-assembly for high-performance rechargeable lithium batteries

In this work, an economical route based on hydrothermal and layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly processes has been developed to synthesize unique Al ₂O₃-modified LiV₃O₈ nanosheets, comprising a core of LiV₃O₈ nanosheets and a thin Al ₂O₃ nanolayer. The thickness of the Al₂O ₃ nanolayer can be tuned by altering the LBL cycles. When evaluated for their lithium-storage properties, the 1 LBL Al₂O ₃-modified LiV₃O₈ nanosheets exhibit a high discharge capacity of 191 mA h g^-1 at 300 mA g^-1 (1C) over 200 cycles and excellent rate capability, demonstrating that enhanced physical and/or chemical properties can be achieved through proper surface modification. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Galleria mellonella as a novel in vivo model for assessment of the toxicity of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids

The larval form of the Greater Wax Moth (Galleria mellonella) was evaluated as a model system for the study of the acute in vivo toxicity of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids. 24-h median lethal dose (LD50) values for nine of these ionic liquids bearing alkyl chain substituents ranging from 2 to 18 carbon atoms were determined. The in vivo toxicity of the ionic liquids was found to correlate directly with the length of the alkyl chain substituent, and the pattern of toxicity observed was in accordance with previous studies of ionic liquid toxicity in other living systems, including a characteristic toxicity ‘cut-off’ effect. However, G. mellonella appeared to be more susceptible to the toxic effects of the ionic liquids tested, possibly as a result of their high body fat content. The results obtained in this study indicate that G. mellonella represents a sensitive, reliable and robust in vivo model organism for the evaluation of ionic liquid toxicity.

An Ultrasonic Relaxation Study of 1-Alkyl-3-Methylmidazolium-Based Room Temperature Ionic Liquids: Probing the Role of Alkyl Chain Length in the Cation

Ultrasound absorption spectra of four 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide were determined as a function of the alkyl chain length on the cation from 1-propyl- to 1-hexyl- from 293.15 to 323.15 K at ambient pressure. Herein, the ultrasound absorption measurements were carried out using a standard pulse technique within a frequency range from 10 to 300 MHz. Additionally the speed of sound, density and viscosity have been measured. The presence of strong dissipative processes during the ultrasound wave propagation was found experimentally, i.e. relaxation processes in the megahertz range were observed for all compounds over the whole temperature range. The relaxation spectra (both relaxation amplitude and relaxation frequency) were shown to be dependent on the alkyl side chain length of the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ring. In most cases, a single Debye model described the absorption spectra very well. However, a comparison of the determined spectra with the spectra of a few other imidazolium-based ionic liquids reported in the literature (in part recalculated in this work) shows that the complexity of the spectra increases rapidly with the elongation of the alkyl chain length on the cation. This complexity indicates that both the volume viscosity and the shear viscosity are involved in relaxation processes even in relatively low frequency ranges. As a consequence, the sound velocity dispersion is present at relatively low megahertz frequencies.

Overexpression of mutant ataxin-3 in mouse cerebellum induces ataxia and cerebellar neuropathology.

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is a fatal, dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the polyglutamine-expanded protein ataxin-3. Clinical manifestations include cerebellar ataxia and pyramidal signs culminating in severe neuronal degeneration. Currently, there is no therapy able to modify disease progression. In the present study, we aimed at investigating one of the most severely affected brain regions in the disorder-the cerebellum-and the behavioral defects associated with the neuropathology in this region. For this purpose, we injected lentiviral vectors encoding full-length human mutant ataxin-3 in the mouse cerebellum of 3-week-old C57/BL6 mice. We show that circumscribed expression of human mutant ataxin-3 in the cerebellum mediates within a short time frame-6 weeks, the development of a behavioral phenotype including reduced motor coordination, wide-based ataxic gait, and hyperactivity. Furthermore, the expression of mutant ataxin-3 resulted in the accumulation of intranuclear inclusions, neuropathological abnormalities, and neuronal death. These data show that lentiviral-based expression of mutant ataxin-3 in the mouse cerebellum induces localized neuropathology, which is sufficient to generate a behavioral ataxic phenotype. Moreover, this approach provides a physiologically relevant, cost-effective and time-effective animal model to gain further insights into the pathogenesis of MJD and for the evaluation of experimental therapeutics of MJD.

Muster roll (1 page, handwritten) of the Royal Quebec Volunteers of Company no. 3 with Captain W. Power

Muster roll (1 page, handwritten) of the Royal Quebec Volunteers of Company no. 3 with Captain W. Power, Lieutenant J.P. Bradley and Ensign C. Allegn, n.d.

An Efficient Multi-component Synthesis of 6-Amino-3-methyl-4-Aryl-2,4- dihydropyrano[2,3-c]Pyrazole-5-carbonitriles

Multi-component reactions are effective in building complex molecules in a single step in a minimum amount of time and with facile isolation procedures; they have high economy1–7 and thus have become a powerful synthetic strategy in recent years.8–10 The multicomponent protocols are even more attractive when carried out in aqueous medium. Water offers several benefits, including control over exothermicity, and the isolation of products can be carried out by single phase separation technique. Pyranopyrazoles are a biologically important class of heterocyclic compounds and in particular dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles play an essential role in promoting biological activity and represent an interesting template in medicinal chemistry. Heterocyclic compounds bearing the 4-H pyran unit have received much attention in recent years as they constitute important precursors for promising drugs.11–13 Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles exhibit analgesic,14 anti-cancer,15 anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory16 activity. Furthermore dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles show molluscidal activity17,18 and are used in a screening kit for Chk 1 kinase inhibitor activity.19,20 They also find applications as pharmaceutical ingredients and bio-degradable agrochemicals.21–29 Junek and Aigner30 first reported the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives from 3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazolin-5-one and tetracyanoethylene in the presence of triethylamine. Subsequently, a number of synthetic approaches such as the use of triethylamine,31 piperazine,32 piperidine,33 N-methylmorpholine in ethanol,34 microwave irradiation,35,36 solvent-free conditions,37–39 cyclodextrins (CDs),40 different bases in water,41 γ -alumina,42 and l-proline43 have been reported for the synthesis of 6-amino-4-alkyl/aryl-3-methyl- 2,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-5-carbonitriles. Recently, tetraethylammonium bromide (TEABr) has emerged as mild, water-tolerant, eco-friendly and inexpensive catalyst. To the best of our knowledge, quaternary ammonium salts, more specifically TEABr, have notbeen used as catalysts for the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles, and we decided to investigate the application of TEABr as a catalyst for the synthesis of a series of pyrazole-fused pyran derivatives via multi-component reactions

Properties of Equilibrium Distributions of Order n

The present work is intended to discuss various properties and reliability aspects of higher order equilibrium distributions in continuous, discrete and multivariate cases, which contribute to the study on equilibrium distributions. At first, we have to study and consolidate the existing literature on equilibrium distributions. For this we need some basic concepts in reliability. These are being discussed in the 2nd chapter, In Chapter 3, some identities connecting the failure rate functions and moments of residual life of the univariate, non-negative continuous equilibrium distributions of higher order and that of the baseline distribution are derived. These identities are then used to characterize the generalized Pareto model, mixture of exponentials and gamma distribution. An approach using the characteristic functions is also discussed with illustrations. Moreover, characterizations of ageing classes using stochastic orders has been discussed. Part of the results of this chapter has been reported in Nair and Preeth (2009). Various properties of equilibrium distributions of non-negative discrete univariate random variables are discussed in Chapter 4. Then some characterizations of the geo- metric, Waring and negative hyper-geometric distributions are presented. Moreover, the ageing properties of the original distribution and nth order equilibrium distribu- tions are compared. Part of the results of this chapter have been reported in Nair, Sankaran and Preeth (2012). Chapter 5 is a continuation of Chapter 4. Here, several conditions, in terms of stochastic orders connecting the baseline and its equilibrium distributions are derived. These conditions can be used to rede_ne certain ageing notions. Then equilibrium distributions of two random variables are compared in terms of various stochastic orders that have implications in reliability applications. In Chapter 6, we make two approaches to de_ne multivariate equilibrium distribu- tions of order n. Then various properties including characterizations of higher order equilibrium distributions are presented. Part of the results of this chapter have been reported in Nair and Preeth (2008). The Thesis is concluded in Chapter 7. A discussion on further studies on equilib- rium distributions is also made in this chapter.

Validation of order rank scales based on compositional data analysis: a proposal

Usually, psychometricians apply classical factorial analysis to evaluate construct validity of order rank scales. Nevertheless, these scales have particular characteristics that must be taken into account: total scores and rank are highly relevant

Interpretation of the p value : A national survey study in academic psychologists from Spain

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Laboratory kinetic studies of the reactions of Cl atoms with species of biogenic origin: δ3-Carene, isoprene, methacrolein and methyl vinyl ketone

The rate coefficients for the reaction between atomic chlorine and a number of naturally occurring species have been measured at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure using the relative rate technique. The values obtained were (4.0 ± 0.8) × 10-10, (2.1 ± 0.5) × 10-10, (3.2 ± 0.5) × 10-10, and (4.9 ± 0.5) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, for reactions with isoprene, methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein and δ3-carene, respectively. The value obtained for isoprene compares favourably with previously reported values. No values have been reported to date for the rate constants of the other reactions.

Nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the N-terminal domain of nonstructural protein 3 from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus

This paper describes the structure determination of nsp3a, the N-terminal domain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nonstructural protein 3. nsp3a exhibits a ubiquitin-like globular fold of residues 1 to 112 and a flexibly extended glutamic acid-rich domain of residues 113 to 183. In addition to the four beta-strands and two alpha-helices that are common to ubiquitin-like folds, the globular domain of nsp3a contains two short helices representing a feature that has not previously been observed in these proteins. Nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift perturbations showed that these unique structural elements are involved in interactions with single-stranded RNA. Structural similarities with proteins involved in various cell-signaling pathways indicate possible roles of nsp3a in viral infection and persistence.