Technology transfer potential of an automated water monitoring system

The nature and characteristics of the potential economic need (markets) for a highly integrated water quality monitoring system were investigated. The technological, institutional and marketing factors that would influence the transfer and adoption of an automated system were studied for application to public and private water supply, public and private wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring of rivers and lakes

The proto‐oncogene function of Mdm2 in bone

Mouse double minute 2 (Mdm2) is a multifaceted oncoprotein that is highly regulated with distinct domains capable of cellular transformation. Loss of Mdm2 is embryonically lethal, making it difficult to study in a mouse model without additional genetic alterations. Global overexpression through increased Mdm2 gene copy number (Mdm2Tg) results in the development of hematopoietic neoplasms and sarcomas in adult animals. In these mice, we found an increase in osteoblastogenesis, differentiation, and a high bone mass phenotype. Since it was difficult to discern the cell lineage that generated this phenotype, we generated osteoblast‐specific Mdm2 overexpressing (Mdm2TgOb) mice in 2 different strains, C57BL/6 and DBA. These mice did not develop malignancies; however, these animals and the MG63 human osteosarcoma cell line with high levels of Mdm2 showed an increase in bone mineralization. Importantly, overexpression of Mdm2 corrected age‐related bone loss in mice, providing a role for the proto‐oncogenic activity of Mdm2 in bone health of adult animals

Cute Balloons with Thickness

Based on the fnite element method, we present a simple volume-preserved thin shell deformation algorithm to simulate the process of inflating a balloon. Diff erent from other thin shells, the material of balloons has special features: large stretch, small bend and shear, and incompressibility. Previous deformation methods often focus on typical three-dimensional models or thin plate models such as cloth model. The rest thin shell methods are complex or ignore the special features of thin shells especially balloons. We modify the triangle element to simple three-prism element, ignore bending and shearing deformation, and use volume preservation algorithm to match the incompressibility of balloons. Simple gas model is used, which interacts with shells to make the balloons inflated. Di different balloon examples have been tested in our experiments and the results are compared with those of other methods. The experiments show that our algorithm is simple and effective

Turbine Disk Retirement-for-Cause: Measurement of Inspection Uncertainty for Disk Eddy Current Inspections

Major cost savings are possible through life extension of high-cost jet engine components until damage develops. Retirement-for-cause (RFC) decisions will be based upon both non-destructive inspection (NDI) to detect and size defects, and engineering analysis to assess defect severity under future usage. Failure Analysis Associates is performing a three-year program for ARPA/AFML to define and verify an optimum RFC strategy for jet engine disks. In depth, quantitative characterization of NDI performance is a major part of this project. This presentation summarizes the quantitative evaluation of inspection (NDI) uncertainty for four independent inspections - two state-of-the-art eddy current inspections of disk bolt holes, one with conventional hardware but improved signal processing, and one higher resolution eddy current inspection system assembled for this project. Separate inspections of the same 490 bolt holes in 49, 3rd stage disks retired from service in TF33 engines were performed with each of the four NDI techniques. Inspection results were compared with each other and with the actual cracks measured by surface plastic replicas and selected destructive metallography. The variation of detection probability and sizing errors with flaw size and indication level is defined in a form suitable.for the probabilistic reliability analysis and RFC strategy formulation. Progress in the other project tasks, especially the stress and fracture mechanics analysis to define the conditional failure probability if a flaw of specified size were present will also be summarized

Potentiation of Carboplatin-Mediated DNA Damage by the Mdm2 Modulator Nutlin-3a in a Humanized Orthotopic Breast-to-Lung Metastatic Model

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are typically resistant to treatment, and strategies that build upon frontline therapy are needed. Targeting the murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) protein is an attractive approach, as Mdm2 levels are elevated in many therapy-refractive breast cancers. The Mdm2 protein-protein interaction inhibitor Nutlin-3a blocks the binding of Mdm2 to key signaling molecules such as p53 and p73α and can result in activation of cell death signaling pathways. In the present study, the therapeutic potential of carboplatin and Nutlin-3a to treat TNBC was investigated, as carboplatin is under evaluation in clinical trials for TNBC. In mutant p53 TMD231 TNBC cells, carboplatin and Nutlin-3a led to increased Mdm2 and was strongly synergistic in promoting cell death in vitro. Furthermore, sensitivity of TNBC cells to combination treatment was dependent on p73α. Following combination treatment, γH2AX increased and Mdm2 localized to a larger degree to chromatin compared with single-agent treatment, consistent with previous observations that Mdm2 binds to the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 complex associated with DNA and inhibits the DNA damage response. In vivo efficacy studies were conducted in the TMD231 orthotopic mammary fat pad model in NOD.Cg-Prkdc(scid)Il2rg(tm1Wjl)/SzJ (NSG) mice. Using an intermittent dosing schedule of combined carboplatin and Nutlin-3a, there was a significant reduction in primary tumor growth and lung metastases compared with vehicle and single-agent treatments. In addition, there was minimal toxicity to the bone marrow and normal tissues. These studies demonstrate that Mdm2 holds promise as a therapeutic target in combination with conventional therapy and may lead to new clinical therapies for TNBC

Especies de plantas visitadas por abejas pecoreadoras durante la inducción de polinización en melón.

The purpose of the research was to determine, by identifying pollen in corbicular pellets, the different plant species visited by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) during cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) induced pollination. This work was carried out in La Laguna region, located in the states of Coahuila and Durango, Mexico in the spring of 2003. During the first 31 days of cantaloupe bloom, 18 honey bee colonies were placed in a six ha field, nine of which had a bottom pollen trap. Trapped pollen was collected twice per a week weighed and frozen. Through the year, anthers of wild and cultivated flowering plant species around the cantaloupe field and in La Laguna were collected, acetolyzed and preserved for pollen identified. Corbicular pollen from the 5th, 9th, 12th, 20th, 24th and 31st sample dates after start of staminate bloom was processed, identified and counted by microscopy. Pollen size was calculated with the formula: volume V=?a2b where a is the major axe and b the minor axis and multiplied by the number of pollen grains to get the total volume. Cantaloupe pollen made up 8.7 %, 9.8%, 17.6 %, 9.3 %, 28.1% and 83.5% of that collected (number of pollen grains) on respectively for the sample dates. The percentage of volume basis pollen for cantaloupe was: 51.6%, 85.0%, 66.6 %, 84.4 %, 68.9% and 95.0% respectively. It is concluded that the cantaloupe was the main species visited as a plant pollen source for pollinating honeybees and that the plants present in the sample like mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata (DC) Cov.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), London rocket (Sysimbrium irio L.) and sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) were species visited as supplementary pollen sources.El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar, a través de la identificación del polen corbicular, las diferentes especies de plantas que son visitadas por las abejas (Apis mellifera L.) durante la polinización inducida del melón (Cucumis melo L.). El trabajo se llevó a cabo en La Laguna ocalizada en los estados de Coahuila y Durango, México en la primavera del 2003. Durante los primeros 31 días de la floración del melón, un campo de seis hectáreas fue polinizada por 18 colmenas, nueve de las cuales tenía una trampa para captura de polen. El polen fue colectado dos veces por semana, pesado y congelado. Durante el año se colectaron anteras de plantas silvestres y cultivadas en floración alrededor del cultivo y en la región para preservarlas e identificar su polen usando la técnica de acetolisis. El polen corbicular, muestreado los días 5°, 9°, 12°, 20°, 24° y 31° contados a partir del inicio de la aparición de las flores estaminadas, fue procesado y contado en el microscopio óptico. El tamaño del polen fue calculado mediante la fórmula: volumen V=?a2b donde a es el eje mayor y b el eje menor y multiplicado por el número de granos de polen se obtuvo el volumen total. El polen de melón fue el 8.7 %, 9.8%, 17.6 %, 9.3 %, 28.1% y 83.5% del colectado (en base al número de granos) respectivamente en las fechas de muestreo. El porcentaje del polen de melón en base al volumen fue: 51.6%, 85.0%, 66.6 %, 84.4 %, 68.9% y 95.0% respectivamente. Se concluye que el melón fue la principal planta visitada por las abejas como fuente de polen y que las especies de plantas con mayor número de granos de polen presentes en las muestras como mezquite (Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), gobernadora (Larrea tridentata (DC) Cov.), pepino (Cucumis sativus L.), mostacilla (Sysimbrium irio L.) y sorgo (Sorghum vulgare L.) fueron especies visitadas como fuentes suplementarias de polen

Pollen collection and honey bee forager distribution in cantaloupe

Honey bee (Apis mellifera, L.) pollen collection and forager distribution were examined during the 2002 summer in a cantaloupe (Cucumis melo, L., Cruiser cv ) field with plastic mulch and drip irrigated. The experimental site was located near the INIFAP Campo Experimental La Laguna, Matamoros, Coahuila within La Laguna region, Mexico. Two trials were conducted in the same location, but were separated by a 800 m wide pecan orchard. Both cantaloupe trials were planted the same date. Trial 1. Nine honey-bee hives were placed in a three hectare field at the start of bloom. Each hive was fitted with a modified-Ontario pollen trap. The pollen was collected one day a week from each colony every hour beginning from 8:30 hr to 14:30 hr during the first four blooming weeks of the crop. Trial 2. Three weeks after the start of bloom, in a ten-ha field 30 honey bee colonies were located. In four randomlyselected rows of 105 m long, 10 m transects at 25, 50, 75 and 100 m distances from the apiary were marked. The foraging bees were counted simultaneously at the transects every half hour from 7:30 hr until 20:30 hr at the same pollen collection-day during the third week of cantaloupe bloom. Pollen collection was higher early in the morning (22.6 g per colony), dropping to medium amount from 9:30 hr (13.7 g), 10:30 hr (12.5 g) to 11:30 hr (9.5 g) and remaining low from 12:30 through the afternoon (less than 2.6 g per colony; p< 0.05). The distribution pattern showed that bees were in the cantaloupe after 8:00 hr, reaching a maximum between 10:30 hr and 14:30 hr when the bees began to decrease, until foraging flights ceased completely at about 20:30 hr. No statistical differences were found in the number of foraging bees among the evaluated distances from the apiary.Durante el verano del 2002 la colecta de polen y la distribución de las abejas (Apis mellifera L.) pecoreadoras fueron estudiadas en el cultivo de melón (Cucumis melo L., cv Cruiser ) bajo condiciones de riego por goteo y acolchado plástico. El lote experimental estuvo localizado cerca del Campo Experimental La Laguna del INIFAP, en el municipio de Matamoros, Coahuila, México. Dos experimentos se realizaron en el mismo predio, en lotes separados 800 m por una huerta de nogal. Ambas superficies de melón fueron sembradas en la misma fecha. Experimento N° 1. Al inicio de la floración se colocaron nueve colmenas en tres hectáreas de cultivo. Cada colmena contó con una trampa de polen tipo Ontario modificada. El polen se colectó cada hora de cada colmena un día por semana de las 8:30 hr a las 14:30 hr durante las cuatro primeras semanas de floración del cultivo. Experimento N° 2. Tres semanas después del inicio de la floración se colocaron 30 colmenas en un campo de melón de diez hectáreas. En cuatro surcos de 105 m de longitud se marcaron transectos de diez metros a 25, 50, 75 y 100 metros de distancia del apiario. Las abejas pecoreadoras fueron contadas simultáneamente en cada transecto cada media hora de las 7:30 hr hasta las 20:30 horas, el mismo día en que fue colectado el polen de la tercera semana de floración. La colecta de polen fue mayor temprano por la mañana (22.6 g por colmena), disminuyendo a una cantidad media de las 9:30 hr (13.7 g), 10:30 hr (12.5 g) a las 11:30 hr (9.5 g) y permaneciendo baja desde las 12:30 hasta el mediodía (menos de 2.6 g por colmena; p<0.05). El patrón de distribución mostró que las abejas se presentaron en el cultivo de melón después de las 8:00 hr y alcanzaron su máximo entre las 10:30 hr y las 14:30 hr cuando las abejas iniciaron su disminución hasta el cese de los vuelos a las 20:30 hr. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el número de abejas pecoreadoras a las diferentes distancias del apiario que fueron evaluadas

DNA repair, genome stability and cancer: a historical perspective

The multistep process of cancer progresses over many years. The prevention of mutations by DNA repair pathways led to an early appreciation of a role for repair in cancer avoidance. However, the broader role of the DNA damage response (DDR) emerged more slowly. In this Timeline article, we reflect on how our understanding of the steps leading to cancer developed, focusing on the role of the DDR. We also consider how our current knowledge can be exploited for cancer therapy