A Molecular Candle Where Few Molecules Shine: HeHHe+

HeHHe + is the only potential molecule comprised of atoms present in the early universe that is also easily observable in the infrared. This molecule has been known to exist in mass spectrometry experiments for nearly half-a-century and is likely present, but as-of-yet unconfirmed, in cold plasmas. There can exist only a handful of plausible primordial molecules in the epochs before metals (elements with nuclei heavier than 4 He as astronomers call them) were synthesized in the universe, and most of these are both rotationally and vibrationally dark. The current work brings HeHHe + into the discussion as a possible (and potentially only) molecular candle for probing high-z and any metal-deprived regions due to its exceptionally bright infrared feature previously predicted to lie at 7.43 μ m. Furthermore, the present study provides new insights into its possible formation mechanisms as well as marked stability, along with the decisive role of anharmonic zero-point energies. A new entrance pathway is proposed through the triplet state ( 3 B 1 ) of the He 2 H + molecule complexed with a hydrogen atom and a subsequent 10.90 eV charge transfer/photon emission into the linear and vibrationally-bright 1 Σ g + HeHHe + form.

Doushantuo-Pertatataka–type acanthomorphs and Ediacaran ecosystem stability

Large (100 to ∼700 µm diameter) spheroidal carbonaceous microfossils ornamented with regularly arranged spinose or branched processes are globally distributed in the Ediacaran (635–542 Ma). These microfossils, collectively known as the Doushantuo-Pertatataka–type acanthomorphs, have been variously interpreted as a polyphyletic assortment of resting stages of eukaryotes, including animals. The stratigraphic range of the acanthomorphs has long been thought to be restricted to the interval between the uppermost Cryogenian glacial deposits and the largest-known carbon isotope excursion in Earth’s history, the Shuram event. The mid-Ediacaran disappearance of the acanthomorphs was puzzling until they were discovered in younger strata in south China, in northwestern Russia, and in Mongolia. Here, we report Doushantuo-Pertatataka–type acanthomorphs coeval with Cambrian-type small skeletal fossils. It appears that neither the Shuram event nor the emergence of macro-organisms, eumetazoans, and biologically controlled mineralization significantly affected the acanthomorphs, suggesting a marked stability of Ediacaran ecosystems up to the very beginning of the Cambrian.

Increasing Frequency and Marked Stability of Complete Molecular Response Is Observed in Imatinib-Treated CML Patients with Long-Term Follow Up.

The degree of reduction of BCR-ABL in imatinib-treated patients with chronic phase CML is an important indicator of prognosis. The IRIS trial established that with first-line therapy patients with a major molecular response (MMR, 3 log reduction from a standardized baseline value for untreated patients) have a significantly more favorable progression free survival. Although 40% achieved a MMR by 12 months, very few had undetectable BCR-ABL according to strict PCR sensitivity criteria. We measured peripheral blood BCR-ABL levels by quantitative PCR at 3 to 6 month intervals in 155 patients with chronic phase CML enrolled in clinical trials of imatinib for up to 6 years. We aimed to (i) determine if BCR-ABL levels continued to decline over time, and (ii) evaluate the stability and significance of undetectable BCR-ABL. The patients included the Australasian subset of IRIS trial patients treated with 400mg of imatinib; 29 first-line patients evaluated for a median of 69 months (25th to 75th percentile range (pr) 58–72) and 24 second-line patients for a median of 54 months of imatinib (pr 38–60). 102 de-novo patients enrolled in the TIDEL trial of 600mg imatinib were evaluated for a median of 39 months (pr 30–42). Complete molecular response (CMR) was defined as undetectable BCR-ABL at a PCR sensitivity of at least 4.5 logs below the standardized baseline value confirmed on subsequent analysis after at least 3 months. The BCR control transcript level determined sensitivity and was dependent on RNA quality and reverse transcription efficiency. Of note CMR may not indicate eradication of leukemic cells, rather a reduction of BCR-ABL below the detection limit. CMR occurred in 34 patients who had 178 analyses after achieving CMR (median 4 tests per patient) and a median follow up of 15 months (pr 9–24). Very low level BCR-ABL was detected in 3 patients, the remaining 31 had undetectable BCR-ABL on every subsequent assay. Of the IRIS trial patients treated with first-line imatinib, 41% achieved a CMR by 69 months, a frequency significantly higher than occurred in these patients at 24 months (7%, p=0.006). The rate of CMR appeared to increase substantially beyond the 3 year time point (7%, 24% and 34% at 3, 4 and 5 years). 75 patients achieved MMR but not CMR and were followed for a median of 24 months after achieving MMR (pr 17–33). Six of 75 patients (8%) lost MMR as defined by >2-fold rise in BCR-ABL and loss of MMR on 2 consecutive analyses. The median fold rise was 18-fold (4 to 1900-fold), of whom 1 went on to blast crisis. Four of the 6 patients had BCR-ABL mutations detected at the time of the rise and 1 of the remaining patients had duplicate Ph. MMR was lost in these 6 patients within 18 months of its achievement. The overall rate of CMR and MMR (including patients with CMR) did not differ significantly between the 3 treatment groups at the 3 year time point (CMR 7%, 8% and 18%; MMR 66%, 71% and 70% for first-line 400mg, second-line 400mg and first-line 600mg respectively). In conclusion at a median follow-up of 5.75 years of 400mg first-line imatinib, CMR was achieved in 41% of patients. Importantly, of all patients who achieved a CMR in this study using strict criteria to define the sensitivity of analysis, none have lost MMR and 91% have maintained CMR. The slow acquistion and marked stability of CMR favour the notion that the leukemic stem cell pool is steadily declining with prolonged exposure to imatinib.

Heat sterilization of archaeal liposomes

Thermal stabilities were compared between liposomes prepared from the ether lipids extracted from various archaeobacteria and liposomes composed of ester lipids. Leakage of entrapped carboxyfluorescein from the liposomes exposed to 121 °C indicated a marked stability of certain ether liposomes, comparable or superior to cholesterol-stabilized liposomes prepared from the saturated synthetic lipids dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine and dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol. The heat stability of diether liposomes could be increased by the inclusion of tetraether lipids.Key words: archaeal liposomes, ether liposomes, heat sterilization, thermal stability, archaeobacteria ("Archaea").

Changes in the Differentials of Engineering Workers since 1979: an Analysis of Earnings Data from Rochdale

This paper examines trends in the earnings of engineering workers in a local labour market since 1979. Despite the strong presumption that skilled differentials have widened during the 1980s, the paper reveals that there has been marked stability in overall relativities. This pattern is probed by means of variance component analysis—a new technique that explicitly allows for the clustered nature of the sample of data on earnings. The analysis indicates that there is a strong and complex relationship between the size of the firm and the relative pay of all manual workers in this locality.

Automated kinetic assay for lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 by centrifugal analysis after alkaline inactivation.

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1 (LD1, EC 1.1.1.27) has been used widely as a marker for myocardial infarction, and many analytical methods for it have been developed, most of which are relatively labor intensive. On the basis of a recent report by Takizawa et al. (Clin Chem 29: 1941-1945, 1983) describing the marked stability of LD1 in buffered alkaline solutions, and with use of a centrifugal analyzer, we have developed a fully automated assay for LD1. Results with this method are precise (between-day SD = 2.1 U/L), vary linearly with LD1 activity to 600 U/L, and correlate well with LD1 as determined by immunological (Roche Isomune-LD) and agarose electrophoretic methods (r = 0.985 and 0.986, respectively). Furthermore, the method is easy and convenient, and should provide a substantial savings in labor and reagent costs to laboratories currently determining LD1 by electrophoretic or immunologic methods.

Heat stability characteristics of ovine, caprine and equine milks

SummaryOvine and caprine milks showed a marked stability maximum at ~ pH7 in their heat-stability/pH curves, but became very unstable at higher pH values. A low level of κ-casein appears to be responsible for this low stability of ovine milk; β-lactoglobulin offsets the stabilizing influence of κ-casein at lower pH values. Removal of colloidal calcium phosphate from ovine or caprine milks had very little influence on their heat stabilities and it was necessary to reduce the concentration of soluble salts to a very low level before an effect was observed. At the pH of maximum stability ovine and caprine milks, although quite variable, had stabilities in the same range as bovine milks. Equine milk was very unstable to heat and the shape of the heat-stability/pH curve of most individual samples was similar to ovine and caprine milks.