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e15235 Background: Loss of cell polarity, tissue organization and epithelial-mesenchymal transition are associated with progression along the adenoma-carcinoma axis in many cancers. Atypical Protei...

Using laser direct writing in combination with chemical vapor deposition to produce nanometer scale electronics holds several advantages over current large scale photolithography methods. These include single step electrical interconnect deposition, mask-less patterning, and parallel processing. When taken together they make quick production of individualized electronic circuits possible. This work demonstrates the ability of combining laser direct write and chemical vapor deposition to produce silicon wires a few hundred nanometers wide. Optimized parameters will be discussed, with a particular emphasis paid to the laser-material interactions. The feasibility for electronic applications will be shown by examining the deposition formation on a silicon dioxide surface without degrading the surface's integrity, and by evaluating the resistivity of the deposited silicon wires.

Background Ephrin A1 (EFNA1) is a member of the A-type ephrin family of cell surface proteins that function as ligands for the A-type Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family. In malignancy, the precise role of EFNA1 and its preferred receptor, EPHA2, is controversial. Several studies have found that EFNA1 may suppress EPHA2-mediated oncogenesis, or enhance it, depending on cell type and context. However, little is known about the conditions that influence whether EFNA1 promotes or suppresses tumorigenicity. EFNA1 exists in a soluble form as well as a glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane attached form. We investigated whether the contradictory roles of EFNA1 in malignancy might in part be related to the existence of both soluble and membrane attached forms of EFNA1 and potential differences in the manner in which they interact with EPHA2. Results Using a RNAi strategy to reduce the expression of endogenous EFNA1 and EPHA2, we found that both EFNA1 and EPHA2 are required for growth of HeLa and SK-BR3 cells. The growth defects could be rescued by conditioned media from cells overexpressing soluble EFNA1. Interestingly, we found that overexpression of the membrane attached form of EFNA1 suppresses growth of HeLa cells in 3D but not 2D. Knockdown of endogenous EFNA1, or overexpression of full-length EFNA1, resulted in relocalization of EPHA2 from the cell surface to sites of cell-cell contact. Overexpression of soluble EFNA1 however resulted in more EPHA2 distributed on the cell surface, away from cell-cell contacts, and promoted the growth of HeLa cells. Conclusions We conclude that soluble EFNA1 is necessary for the transformation of HeLa and SK-BR3 cells and participates in the relocalization of EPHA2 away from sites of cell-cell contact during transformation.

We report the case of a 6-year-old boy presenting with small bowel evisceration following a fall onto a bicycle handle-bar. His case is presented, a review of the literature performed and interesting photos pre and post-op are presented.

Previous work on red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) on a north-east Scottish moor showed that recruitment of young to the territorial population in autumn largely determined changes in numbers between springs. This paper analyses territory locations of individually marked fathers and sons during a big cyclic-type population fluctuation in 1969-77. In years of increasing numbers, sons took territories close to their fathers. When fathers did not keep their territories for another year, sons took territories on or close to their natal territories. In years of declining numbers, kin moved further from their natal areas to establish territories. This fits ideas that some animal populations comprise distinct sub-populations or demes

An index of condition was developed for wild Red Grouse chicks aged 10-30 days. This was derived from the difference between the observed weight and that expected from the chick's age, or stage of feather development. To measure it, the chicks needed to be caught only once. Variations in condition among different broods of wild chicks were greater than variations among broods of captive chicks in the same years, probably because the wild chicks' environment was harsher and more variable. Within years, the condition of wild chicks was not related to their brood size. Among years, mean condition was correlated both with breeding success and with the biomass of green heather food available in spring. This was because the chicks' condition and survival were poor for two years following an episode of severe weather damage to the heather.

Verification de l'hypothese selon laquelle les predateurs preleveraient davantage les oiseaux parasites a l'interieur d'une population de lagopedes du Nord-Est de l'Ecosse.Le parasite pris en compte est Trichostrongylus tenuis

Annual variations in the total nitrogen content of Red Grouse faeces in spring reflected variations in the growth and N content of their main food, ling heather Calluna vulgaris. The N metabolism of birds eating low-protein, high-polyphenol diets such as heather is poorly understood. This was described by analysing the N in faeces into six chemical fractions. Variation in these fractions was partitioned statistically into principal components on the working assumption that each component reflected a distinct metabolic process. Annual variations in the first principal component were related to the amount of overwinter dieback in the heather but not to the heather's total N content or growth. Variations in the second were closely related to the total N content and growth of heather but not to overwinter dieback. Protein appeared to be in short supply in the birds' diet. However, annual variations in the first principal component of faecal N occurred independently of the total N contents of food and faeces. Therefore the total N content of the birds' diet probably did not reflect its nutritive value and total faecal N was probably not a reliable index of dietary quality. No measured aspect of N metabolism was related to the birds' breeding success.

The Earl of Fife's diary in 1783–1792 offers a useful insight into the history of natural pine woods near Braemar. This case also illustrates the general point that old manuscript sources can provide information useful to those tackling modern management problems. In the earlier years the Earl often complained about red deer being scarce, and took severe action against poaching. The success of his shooting rose, and deer numbers seen by him increased greatly. He noted young pines in places where none exists today. Most trees alive today date from that time, and deer have prevented regeneration since.

Changes in the coat colour of Scottish Mountain hares (Lepus timidus scoticus) were measured in the field. The rate of change varied between years, as did the extent to which the hares turned white. The data on these aspects were compared with changes in daylength and with variations in air temperature and the period of snow-lie.

In their review, Bergerud et al. (Bergerud, A. T., Mossop, D. H., and Myrberget, S. 1985. Can. J. Zool. 63: 2240–2248) evaluated two hypotheses to explain changes between years in the number of breeding ptarmigan (Lagopus spp.): "(i) numbers are limited by territorial spacing behaviour (Watson and Moss 1972) [Watson, A., and Moss, R. 1972. Proc. Int. Ornithol. Congr. 15: 134–1491 and (ii) numbers change in response to annual variations in breeding success." Several of the general definitions or views that they proposed are theoretically unsound or ambiguous, and certain specific statements inaccurate. After stating that "the primary implication of the breeding success hypothesis, namely that chick survival to autumn will be reflected in the next year's population, is not a mutually exclusive test" and after giving no mutually exclusive test themselves, they went on to use the invalid test of a correlation between changes in numbers and breeding success as if it were mutually exclusive. The reviewers' conclusions are based largely on correlations of past measurements. Putting the two hypotheses to the test by experiments is likely to be a more reliable way forward.

Hedley Bull's contribution to the theory of international relations is considerable; and nowhere more acute than in the distinction which he made between the concept of a system of states and that of an international society. His definitive formulation is set out in Chapter I of The Anarchical Society. ‘Where states are in regular contact with one another, and where in addition there is interaction between them sufficient to make the behaviour of each a necessary element in the calculations of the other, then we may speak of their forming a system.’ ‘A society of states (or international society) exists when a group of states, conscious of certain common interests and common values, form a society in the sense that they conceive themselves to be bound by a common set of rules in their relations with one another, and share in the working of common institutions.’

In north-east Scotland most Stoats turned white in winter, whereas in south-west Scotland most were pied and in north-east England few changed colour. These differences were associated with regional differences in the number of days of snowfall and snow-lie, and in monthly minimum temperature, but not with mean temperature or exposure.

Paths made by man in the Cairngorms have increased in number and length with the growing number of walkers since 1946, especially where roads gave easy access to high hills. Paths increased rapidly on or near ski grounds at Cairn Gorm after the public road and chair lift opened in 1960/61. In large remote tracts without roads and huts, no new paths appeared. Aerial photographs and Ordnance Survey maps showed a similar path distribution to field surveys. In 1981 the length of post‐1946 paths in each kilometre square tended to be higher where many people were recorded during an interview survey. Many path surfaces have deteriorated due to wear and erosion, along with lack of maintenance.

Spring densities and breeding success of dotterel Charadrius morinellus were measured on three areas. Area A was at Cairn Gorm, a granite hill where roads and chair lifts attracted many people and led to much vegetation damage and soil erosion. Very few people visited the remote, granite hill B. Area C lay near a public road and had the highest density of people from 1974 onwards, but was a rich schist hill and showed hardly any human-induced vegetation damage or soil erosion. Spring densities and breeding success of dotterel were highest on C. Annual values for dotterel density or breeding success were not correlated with those for density of people or dogs on any area. Before the developments, spring densities on A were no higher, and breeding success no better, than since the developments. The evidence indicates that so far human impact has not reduced numbers or breeding success. There was some evidence for dotterel avoiding damaged ground on A.

The rapid determination of the chemical elements present in a mineral has been a desideratum ever since minerals became of economic use. Various methods have been employed, starting with blowpipe work, which in the early days proved of great value, especially in experienced hands, With the development of chemistry and the discovery of new elements, this process was largely abandoned in favour of the standard ' wet method' of chemical analysis. Later on, micro-chemical reactions came into limited employment. Here the appearance of easily crystallizable salts under the microscope was used for diagnostic purposes. This method has been extensively examined of late years and became so overloaded with precautions that its chief asset, that of rapidity and case of employment, has been largely lost. Quite recently colorimetric reactions have been applied to qualitative analysis. These appeared so promising that the present author was encouraged to endeavour to apply them to the examination of minerals.A scheme for the qualitative determination of the commoner elements was published by G. Gutzeit in 1929, which at first sight looked very attractive.

The three annual moults and plumages of Scottish ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) were studied from shot specimens but particularly from field observations. Cocks were ahead of hens in showing the grey autumn plumage but hens were ahead of cocks in turning white in winter. Although cocks were ahead in growing summer plumage, after late April the hens passed them. Ptarmigan on the same hill turned dark earlier in mild than in cold springs.

Research was initiated by the Scottish Landowners' Federation in 1956 to find out why fewer Red Grouse had been shot since World War II than formerly. Suggested reasons included increases in a number of the usual causes of death, such as predation and disease. Research showed, however, that the birds' numbers were regulated largely by social behaviour whereby only those taking territories survived and bred, while those without territories died. Surveys showed that there were usually more Grouse where Heather (Ling), their principal food, was more plentiful or younger than elsewhere, owing particularly to the vegetation being burnt by small fires; and experiments showed that Grouse numbers could be temporarily increased by careful burning or by applying fertilizer. The conclusion is that the decline since World War II was due to less efficient burning of the Heather than formerly, and that where there are still good stands of Heather the decline is reversible by burning the Heather with small fires.

The seasonal colour changes of mountain hares (Lepus timidus) were studied by standardized field observations in Scotland. The rate of colour change in spring varied according to the climate, being retarded in very cold springs and hastened in mild springs. Hares at high altitudes turned white earlier and more completely than hares at low altitudes, and turned dark later in spring. The colour and moult of different individuals varied greatly. Late-born young turned white later in autumn than fully grown hares. Climate and light cycle are discussed in relation to these colour changes.

Blanket bog in western Ireland is a wet infertile habitat, heavily grazed by sheep and cattle, and supporting very low densities of Red Grouse and other wild birds and mammals. An experiment using phosphatic fertilizers increased the growth of vegetation and the nutritive value of the Heather. There followed an increase in the population density of Grouse: territories became smaller and the Grouse reared bigger broods. An experiment in which sheep were excluded led to better growth of Heather and colonization by Grouse.

Although it cannot be said that the appearance of a district devoted to mining is improved by the heaps of waste material with which it abounds, yet fortunately to some extent these atone for their ugliness by their scientific interest, particularly when they are made up of the debris from a metalliferous mine. In the Leadhills district some of the rarest minerals into which lead enters have been collected from these dumps. They are dotted all over the hillsides and are of varied appearance; at the one extreme are those raw, dusty, stony heaps that were being added to yesterday, and at the other are heather covered knolls whose real origin is only revealed by close examination. Bearing in mind the appearance of some of the dumps it is not surprising to find that mining has been carried on here for several centuries. By some it is maintained that lead was being won from the more accessible veins as far back as Roman times (1).1 However that may be there are authentic records of a charter being granted in 1239 to the Monks of Newbattle to mine lead in the Crawford Muir (2). Now Crawford Muir of that day extended from Queensberry Hill in the south to Roberton in the north, and from the Devil's Beef Tub westwards to the Snar Water behind Leadhills, so it may be safely assumed that these mining rights were in the Leadhills area. After this there is only indirect evidence of the continuance of

Individually marked red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) could be distinguished as territorial or non-territorial from November till the next spring. Territorial birds survived well and many reared young, but numerous nonterritorial birds died or disappeared, and none paired up or reared young. Differences in spring sex ratio between years had already been set in the previous autumn's territorial stock. Many old birds which had been territorial in earlier seasons lost territories after an annual re-distribution of territory each October-November. Thereafter very few of them were seen alive on the area over the winter, and many were found dead, whereas nearly all old birds that kept their territories were still there in spring. The number of birds in spring and the fate of individuals over winter were predicted reasonably accurately from observations of behaviour in the previous November-December. Thus, differences of social class in autumn were critical to a bird's survival to breed in the next summer and to its chances of contesting for territory and breeding in subsequent years.