Small Members Research Articles

Yarkovsky footprints in the Eos family

The Eos asteroid family is the third most populous, after Themis and Koronis, and one of the largest non-random groups of asteroids in the main belt. It has been known and studied for decades, but its structure and history still presented difficulties to understand. We first revise the Eos family identification as a statistical cluster in the space of proper elements. Using the most to-date catalogue of proper elements we determine a nominal Eos family, defined by us using the hierarchical-clustering method with the cut-off velocity of 55 m/s, contains some 4400 members. This unforeseen increase in known Eos asteroids allows us to perform a much more detailed study than was possible so far. We show, in particular, that most of the previously thought peculiar features are explained within the following model: (i) collisional disruption of the parent body leads to formation of a compact family in the proper element space (with characteristic escape velocities of the observed asteroids of tens of meters per second, compatible with hydrocode simulations), and (ii) as time goes, the family dynamically evolves due to a combination of the thermal effects and planetary perturbations. This model allows us to explain sharp termination of the family at the J7/3 mean motion resonance with Jupiter, uneven distribution of family members about the J9/4 mean motion resonance with Jupiter, semimajor axis distribution of large vs small members in the family and anomalous residence of Eos members inside the high-order secular resonance z 1 . Our dynamical method also allows us to estimate Eos family age to 1.3 −0.2 +0.15 Gyr . Several formal members of the Eos family are in conflict with our model and these are suspected interlopers. We use spectroscopic observations, whose results are also reported here, and results of 5-color wide-band Sloan Digital Sky Survey photometry to prove some of them are indeed spectrally incompatible with the family.

THE ROLE OF THE KAWAGOE FRIENDS OF SWEETPOTATO IN POPULARIZING THE CROP IN JAPAN

The group Kawagoe Friends of Sweetpotato was formed in 1984 by Kawagoe citizens to learn more about the crop associated with their town. Sweetpotato's (Ipomoea batatas) image was negative then, and its acreage in that area was in decline. Though local acreage continued to decline, the group's activities succeeded in bringing a new awareness to the crop that spread even beyond Kawagoe. The Friends were composed of people from widely varied backgrounds united by a common thread of interest in sweetpotato. The resulting intensive cross-fertilization of ideas led to a better understanding of sweetpotato, and how to better utilize and promote it. Various historical, geographical, and cultural circumstances peculiar to the Kawagoe area contributed positively to the group's efforts. Successes included improvement of Kawagoe's sweetpotato image, encouraging the creation of new products such as sweetpotato noodles and frozen desserts, and encouragement of local restaurants to place innovative sweetpotato dishes on their menus. A sweetpotato specialty restaurant funded the creation of a sweetpotato museum run by a Friends member. The group's members traveled throughout Japan to learn more about sweetpotato, also venturing abroad. Visitors from Japan, as well as from abroad, also visited Kawagoe to learn more about the Friends' activities. A number of publications were printed on various sweetpotato topics. The group's sweetpotato activities were recognized by several organizations for contributing to the promotion of local culture, sweetpotato consumption, and tourism. The Friends' grassroots activities were done with few subsidies, and without guidance from the government. The group's activities were widely presented to the public due to television, radio, and print media's continuing interest in the topic. During the 1990s, the Friends' activities began to decline. Composed of small business members, the Kawagoe Sweetpotato Products Promotion Board, a branch of the Friends, continues to produce and market sweetpotato products.

Advances in Participatory Occupational Health Aimed at Good Practices in Small Enterprises and the Informal Sector

Participatory programmes for occupational risk reduction are gaining importance particularly in small workplaces in both industrially developing and developed countries. To discuss the types of effective support, participatory steps commonly seen in our "work improvement-Asia" network are reviewed. The review covered training programmes for small enterprises, farmers, home workers and trade union members. Participatory steps commonly focusing on low-cost good practices locally achieved have led to concrete improvements in multiple technical areas including materials handling, workstation ergonomics, physical environment and work organization. These steps take advantage of positive features of small workplaces in two distinct ways. First, local key persons are ready to accept local good practices conveyed through personal, informal approaches. Second, workers and farmers are capable of understanding technical problems affecting routine work and taking flexible actions leading to solving them. This process is facilitated by the use of locally adjusted training tools such as local good examples, action checklists and group work methods. It is suggested that participatory occupational health programmes can work in small workplaces when they utilize low-cost good practices in a flexible manner. Networking of these positive experiences is essential.

The Relationship between Regional Cultures and Exclusive Attitudes toward Other Small Group Members

The Relationship between Regional Cultures and Exclusive Attitudes toward Other Small Group Members

梁端弾塑性ダンパーの累積変形性能および損傷度評価

The authors have proposed new concept of split-tee connections at bottom flanges of beam ends, which work as beam-end elasto-plastic dampers. They are composed of small buckling-restrained axial members, and their cumulative deformation capacities or energy dissipating capacities are one of the most important indexes for such members' performance, because they are used under very high strained cyclic loadings. In this paper, cyclic loading tests are carried out for beam-end dampers, and their performances against low-cycle fatigue are examined. Their cumulative deformation capacity under random inputs are also evaluated with the proposed method and compared with those of buckling restrained braces.

The Rise of Lilliputians, Is this a Real Challenge to the Enlarged EU?: The Case of the CFSP

Abstract One of the sui generis characteristics of the current and forthcoming enlargement of the European Union (EU) is the accession of a large number of small state members. Against this backdrop, there is a conventional wisdom that the accession of these new small member states has not generally been welcomed, but that it is commonly considered as a matter for concern, which presents a number of challenges to the EU. Of the challenges likely to be caused by the accession of a large number of new small member states, this paper focuses on the impact of the accession of these states on the future development of the Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP). In order to address this question, it will examine the future development of the CFSP, with reference to its decision-making process, implementation of its relevant acquis and the implications for external relations. In so doing, this paper aims to contend that the conventional wisdom is not necessarily the only possible outcome expected.

DESIRE: Density Aware Heterogenous Overlay Multicast Forwarding Scheme in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Overlay multicast schemes for Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) [1| have been proposed to remove non group members' dependency for multicast forwarding. However, since all packets are relayed from one group member to other group member in a form of unicast packet, they sometimes cause a lot of packets' collision and low resource utilization particularly where group members densely locate. In this paper, we propose a new forwarding scheme, DESIRE (Density awarE heterogeneous overlay multicast foRwarding schemE in MANET), for overlay multicast in MANET. DESIRE is significantly different from previous overlay multicast schemes in that it creates separate data forwarding path over overlay DDT (Data Delivery Tree) depending on density of group members. In dense environment, a zone is constructed and a scoped flooding is applied within it. On the other hand, in sparse environment, data dissemination is accomplished in a form of unicast packet similar to previous overlay multicast. By adapting scoped flooding in dense environment, it can reduce a lot of packets' collision and balance battery consumption by making use of mobile node's broadcast capability entirely. Also, in sparse environment, DESIRE can cope with network mobility very well since overlay DDT can remain static regardless of changes in physical topology. Such distinct advantages are evaluated by simulation. Generally, better performance is shown with large group members than small group members.

Sungrazing Comets

▪ Abstract After centuries of speculation that the early records of observations of bright comets near the sun involved repeated returns of a single sungrazing object, there came in the 1880s the realization, first by Kirkwood, and then most notably by Kreutz, that the observations could be explained by the existence of a group of related comets that had separated from each other at some earlier perihelion passage. After the appearance of further bright sungrazers in the mid-twentieth century, attempts were made to understand the specific manner in which the various members of this Kreutz Group of comets had evolved from each other. Beginning in 1979, coronagraphic observations from space allowed the detection of numerous additional Kreutz members that were completely vaporized as they grazed the sun. Since 1996, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) coronagraphs have revealed some 700 of these comets, giving rise to the thought that there is a constant stream of small members, much of the break-up having occurred instead near aphelion and even quite recently. Whereas consideration of break-up only near perihelion requires that the observed dispersion of the orbital parameters would take many millennia, recent calculations have shown that the evolution can be substantially sped up by allowing fragments to be rotationally spun off at heliocentric distances of many tens of AU. The SOHO observations have also allowed the recognition of three other substantial groups of sungrazing comets, as well as some pairs arriving only hours apart.

Sid4: A secreted vertebrate immunoglobulin protein with roles in zebrafish embryogenesis

The small members of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IGSF) are a molecularly diverse group of proteins composed solely of immunoglobulin domains. They may be secreted or tethered to the cell mebrane via GPI linkages and are proposed to have important functions in vivo. However, very few small IGSFs have been functionally characterized. During an ongoing in situ hybridization analysis of expressed sequence tags in zebrafish we identified secreted immunoglobulin domain 4 ( sid4), a gene encoding a soluble vertebrate protein composed solely of four immunoglobulin domains. Throughout development, sid4 is expressed in regions of the embryo undergoing active cell division and migration. Functional analysis using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides demonstrates that timing of gene expression is normal in morphants, but these embryos are smaller and exhibit defects in epiboly and patterning of axial and prechordal mesoderm. Analyses of chordin, pax2, krox20, and dlx2 expression in morphants demonstrate that early brain patterning is normal but later organization of hindbrain neurons and development of cranial neural crest are perturbed. Levels of apoptosis in morphants were normal prior to 90% epiboly, but were elevated after 10 h post-fertilization (hpf). Apoptosis does not account for early patterning defects of axial mesoderm, but likely contributes to overall reduction in embryo size. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that Sid4 is strikingly similar to the fibronectin binding Ig domains of Perlecan/HSPG2. Overall, our data demonstrate a fundamental role for sid4, possibly as a co-factor in extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, in processes underlying tissue patterning and organogenesis in a vertebrate.

AlphaB-crystallin expression in various endocrine neoplasias and identification of underlying mechanisms leading to alphaB-crystallin gene silencing in de-differentiated thyroid tumors

Introduction: The small heat shock protein family members Hsp 27 and alphaB-crystallin are thought to exert different functional properties, although both posses chaperone activity.

Maturation of a tetravirus capsid alters the dynamic properties and creates a metastable complex

The assembly of monomeric protein subunits into a viral capsid is a finely tuned molecular process. In response to subtle changes in environmental conditions, this supramolecular complex can dramatically reorganize. Defining the forces that control this structure and the cooperative action of subunits has implications for biology and nanotechnology. The small icosahedral RNA tetravirus family members Nudaurelia ω capensis (NωV) and Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (HaSV) can be purified as provirions, and maturation to capsids can be induced by a drop in pH. In this study, a comparison of capsid secondary structure using FT-IR revealed that the procapsid has more α-helical content than the capsid, supporting the proposal that helix to coil transition may be important for maturation. The dynamic properties of the two states were probed using limited proteolysis and peptide mass mapping to identify regions of significant flexibility. Interestingly, the initial sites of protease cleavage were the N and C terminal domains that are internal in high-resolution models, and to inter-subunit surfaces. Further comparison of the two particle forms using FT-IR revealed that in response to thermal stress, the provirion disassembles and unfolds in a cooperative manner over a narrow temperature range (∼5 °C). Paradoxically, the capsid form, which is stable in a wide range of pH and ionic conditions and is more resistant to proteolysis, responds to thermal stress at a lower temperature than the procapsid form. This suggests that a metastable state is the end product of assembly.

Were there pack-hunting canids in the Tertiary, and how can we know?

Communal hunting allows some modern canids to catch large and powerful prey. As opposed to felids, for example, Recent canids have a limited ability to grapple and subdue prey by using their forelimbs. Instead, they engage in sustained pursuit predation and the success rate during this activity typically increases with the number of individuals participating in the hunt. Clearly, such behaviors do not fossilize directly and have to be inferred from anatomy. This paper focuses on how social pack-hunting in large-bodied fossil canids can be determined and the potential for it among Tertiary canids (Canidae, Carnivora). Craniodental adaptations for handling and killing large prey and forearm utility in running and grappling are investigated by principal components and canonical variates analyses. I also test whether fossil canids responded to predation of large prey by evolving the same morphological traits as their Recent pursuit-type relatives. The analyses show that small and large members of the Recent Caninae share similar craniodental morphologies. However, the same pattern is not present in the fossil subfamilies Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae. In the latter, large representatives are characterized by being relatively short-faced with reduced anterior premolars and enlarged posterior premolars, thus approaching a “pantherine-like” configuration. These traits are interpreted as an adaptation for killing prey with felid-like canine bites. The elbow joints of large canids also do not converge on a single morphotype. All analyzed species of borophagines and hesperocyonines have retained the ability to supinate their forearms, unlike Recent large Caninae. It is therefore likely that manual manipulation was part of their hunting behavior, thus removing an essential part of the argument for social pack-hunting in these forms, as the benefits of such a strategy become less obvious. An association between the origin of pack-pursuit “wolf avatars” and the origin and evolution of grass-dominated ecosystems is hypothesized. The results presented here clearly suggest that Recent large canids are poor ecological, morphological, and behavioral analogs for their large fossil relatives.

The human HERC family of ubiquitin ligases: novel members, genomic organization, expression profiling, and evolutionary aspects

The HERC family of ubiquitin ligases is characterized by the presence of a HECT domain and one or more RCC1-like domains. We report the identification of two novel members, HERC4 and HERC6, and subdivide the family into one group of two large and one group of four small members according to protein size and domain structure. The small members share a similar genomic organization, three of them mapping to chromosomal region 4q22, indicating strong evolutionary cohesions. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the HERC ancestor emerged in nematodes and that the family expanded throughout evolution. The mRNA expression pattern of the small human members was found to be diverse in selected tissues and cells; overexpressed proteins display a similar cytosolic distribution. These data indicate that the HERC family members exhibit similarities in many aspects, but also sufficient differences indicating functional diversity.

Activin Type II Receptor Restoration in ACVR2 -Deficient Colon Cancer Cells Induces Transforming Growth Factor-β Response Pathway Genes

The activin type II receptor (ACVR2) gene is a putative tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in microsatellite-unstable colon cancers (MSI-H colon cancers). ACVR2 is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta type II receptor (TGFBR2) family and controls cell growth and differentiation. SMAD proteins are major intracellular effectors shared by ACVR2 and TGFBR2 signaling; however, additional shared effector mechanisms remain to be explored. To discover novel mechanisms transmitting the ACVR2 signal, we restored ACVR2 function by transfecting wild-type ACVR2 (wt-ACVR2) into a MSI-H colon cancer cell line carrying an ACVR2 frameshift mutation. The effect of ACVR2 restoration on cell growth, SMAD phosphorylation, and global molecular phenotype was then evaluated. Decreased cell growth was observed in wt-ACVR2 transfectants relative to ACVR2-deficient vector-transfected controls. Western blotting revealed higher expression of phosphorylated SMAD2 in wt-ACVR2 transfectants versus controls, suggesting cells deficient in ACVR2 had impaired SMAD signaling. Microarray-based differential expression analysis revealed substantial ACVR2-induced overexpression of genes implicated in the control of cell growth and tumorigenesis, including the activator protein (AP)-1 complex genes JUND, JUN, and FOSB, as well as the small GTPase signal transduction family members, RHOB, ARHE, and ARHGDIA. Overexpression of these genes is shared with TGFBR2 activation. This observed similarity between the activin and TGF-beta signaling systems suggests that activin may serve as an alternative activator of TGF-beta effectors, including SMADs, and that frameshift mutation of ACVR2 may contribute to MSI-H colon tumorigenesis via disruption of alternate TGF-beta effector pathways.

Novel Sm-like proteins with long C-terminal tails and associated methyltransferases

Sm and Sm-like proteins of the Lsm (like Sm) domain family are generally involved in essential RNA-processing tasks. While recent research has focused on the function and structure of small family members, little is known about Lsm domain proteins carrying additional domains. Using an integrative bioinformatics approach, we discovered five novel groups of Lsm domain proteins (Lsm12-16) with long C-terminal tails and investigated their functions. All of them are evolutionarily conserved in eukaryotes with an N-terminal Lsm domain to bind nucleic acids followed by as yet uncharacterized C-terminal domains and sequence motifs. Based on known yeast interaction partners, Lsm12-16 may play important roles in RNA metabolism. Particularly, Lsm12 is possibly involved in mRNA degradation or tRNA splicing, and Lsm13-16 in the regulation of the mitotic G2/M phase. Lsm16 proteins have an additional C-terminal YjeF_N domain of as yet unknown function. The identification of an additional methyltransferase domain at the C-terminus of one of the Lsm12 proteins also led to the recognition of three new groups of methyltransferases, presumably dependent on S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Further computational analyses revealed that some methyltransferases contain putative RNA-binding helix–turn–helix domains and zinc fingers.

The small state enlargement of the EU: Dangers and benefits

The European Union has expanded once again. Unlike those in the past, the future enlargements of the EU will be very different and of an unprecedented order. The overall size of applicant states in terms of its number is huge with ten new members in 2004 and more to follow. Moreover, those applicant states acceding to the EU are quite different from the current member states in economic, political and historical terms and this has been emphasised as the unique feature of the future enlargements. Last but not least, it is also important to point out that most of the applicant states can be considered small, (although depending on the perspective the precise number of small states varies)’ and, consequently, the EU will be developed into an organisation in which the members are predominantly small states. It is therefore difficult to underestimate the potential effects of the growing number of small state members on the future development of the Union.

The Micro Truss Model: An Innovative Rational Design Approach for Reinforced Concrete

The strut and tie models have been widely used as an effective tool for designing reinforced concrete structures. The concrete is considered to carry only compressive forces through, while the tension forces are carried by reinforcing steel. The strut and tie model is effective for designing disturbed regions, however, it is essential that the designer should have a minimum level of experience to assume optimum trusses. In this study, a generalization of the strut and tie model is introduced through the micro truss model, in which, small isotropic truss members are used and the macro strut and tie model are automatically obtained. Both material and geometrical nonlinearity are introduced. The proposed model can be used for both design and checking the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete structures. The model has been verified through published experimental results. Rational steps of design have been incorporated and examples of design have been illustrated.

The small GTP-binding protein RhoA regulates serotonin-induced Na +-current response in the neurons of Aplysia

Application of serotonin (5-HT) induces a slow inward current response in identified neurons of Aplysia ganglia under voltage clamp. The 5-HT-induced current response was depressed in Na +-free media, but augmented in Ca 2+-free media, and unaffected by a change in external K +. The 5-HT-induced response was markedly blocked by intracellular injection of guanosine 5′- O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDPβS). After the injection of guanosine 5′- O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPγS), the responses to 5-HT gradually and significantly increased at the initial period, reached its plateau, and finally decreased. Intracellular injection of Clostridium difficile toxin B, a blocker of small G-protein Rho family members such as Rho (RhoA, RhoB and RhoC), Rac and Cdc42, markedly depressed the 5-HT-induced response. Intracellular injection of Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme, a specific blocker of RhoA, RhoB, RhoC, exhibited a similar depressing effect observed with toxin B. In contrast, intracellular injection of recombinant L63RhoA, a constitutively active form of RhoA, significantly augmented the 5-HT-induced response without affecting the resting membrane. These results suggested that the 5-HT-induced Na +-current response might be facilitated by the activation of Aplysia Rho which is closely homologous to RhoA, RhoB or RhoC in mammalian neuron.

Chaos and stability of the solar system

Over the last two decades, there has come about a recognition that chaotic dynamics is pervasive in the solar system. We now understand that the orbits of small members of the solar system-asteroids, comets, and interplanetary dust-are chaotic and undergo large changes on geological time scales. Are the major planets' orbits also chaotic? The answer is not straightforward, and the subtleties have prompted new questions.

Oldest world Chelidae (Chelonii, Pleurodira), from the Cretaceous of Patagonia, Argentina

Four new taxa are described. Three of them are attributed to the extant Phrynops group: a primitive member, unidentified within the group or related to the large extant Phrynops forms; a primitive member of the Acanthochelys subgroup, small extant members of the group; a more evolved member, although still primitive, of the large extant Phrynops . The fourth is either a representative of an extinct group or a form related to the extant Chelus group. The presence of the second taxon in older Patagonian localities, as early as Lower Albian, indicates that the diversification of the extant groups was achieved as early as the Lower Cretaceous. Quatre nouveaux taxons sont créés. Trois sont attribués au groupe Phrynops : un membre primitif ou apparenté aux grands Phrynops actuels ; un membre primitif du sous-groupe des petits Acanthochelys ; un plus récent, plus évolué vers les grands Phrynops actuels. Le quatrième est, soit un représentant d'une lignée indépendante éteinte, soit un membre apparenté au groupe Chelus . La présence du second, Prochelidella n. g., dans d'autres localités de Patagonie, dès l'Albien inférieur notamment, atteste que la diversification des groupes actuels est réalisée à cette date et remonte probablement au moins à la base du Crétacé.