Sodium-sulfur Cell Technology Flight Experiment (SSCT)

The sodium-sulfur battery is emerging as a prime high-temperature energy storage technology for space flight applications. A Na-S cell demonstration is planned for a 1995-96 NASA Space Shuttle flight which focuses on the microgravity effects on individual cells. The experiment is not optimized for battery performance as such. Rather, it maximizes the variety of operating conditions which the Na-S cell is capable of in a relatively short 5-day flight. The demonstration is designed to reveal the effects of microgravity by comparison with ground test control cells experiencing identical test conditions but with gravity. Specifically, limitations of transport dynamics and associated cell performance characteristics should be revealed. The Na-S Cell Technology Flight Experiment consists of three separate experiments designed to determine cell operating characteristics, detailed electrode kinetics and reactant distributions

CONGRUENCE OF THE HATCH FUNDED REGIONAL RESEARCH PORTFOLIO WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES

The major focus of this report is on evaluation of the extent to which the allocation of regional research funding support, particularly the allocation of Hatch Regional Research Funds (RRF), is congruent with national and regional research priorities. Other objectives are to evaluate the appropriate duration of regional research projects and to recommend a process for the selection and development of National Research Projects (NRPs) and National Research Support Projects (NRSPs).Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Evaluating Motivational Interviewing in the Physician Assistant Curriculum

Purpose Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based technique that enables clinicians to help patients modify health behaviors. Although MI is an essential tool for physician assistants (PAs), the extent to which it is addressed in PA curricula in the United States is unknown. This study is a comprehensive description of MI education in PA programs in the United States. Methods Data are from the 2014 Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Program Survey. Descriptive statistics were conducted on de-identified data from all 186 PA programs in the United States. Results Of the 186 PA programs surveyed, 72.58% (n = 135) reported at least one course providing MI training. Availability of courses providing training in skills essential to the MI process varied. Having a course with verbal communication training was most frequently endorsed, and having a course with training in developing discrepancy was least frequently endorsed. The most popular teaching modality was lecture (84.95%, n = 158), whereas only 41.40% (n = 77) and 58.60% (n = 109) reported role play with evaluation and standardized patient exercises with evaluation, respectively. Conclusions More than 70% of programs included at least one course in their curriculum that provided training in MI, suggesting that PA programs recognize the importance of MI. Instruction in change talk was not provided in nearly half of the programs. Role-play and standardized patient exercises with evaluation were underused methods despite their proven efficacy in MI education. As the first comprehensive benchmark of MI education for PAs, this study shows that although most programs address MI, opportunities exist to improve MI training in PA programs in the United States

THE ECONOMICS OF ETHANOL PRODUCTION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE MINNESOTA FARM ECONOMY

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

CRP ENTRY COSTS ON SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FARMS

Farm Management,

RURAL ROADS, INVESTMENT AND DISINVESTMENT IN A MINNESOTA COUNTY

Public Economics,

THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEEP DRAFT USER FEES

Public Economics,

German direct investment: Marked structural change

The collapse of socialism and opening up of markets in the East has led to a significant structural change in direct investment behaviour on a worldwide scale. The trend is particularly evident in Germany's direct investment patterns over the past two years. While newly industrializing countries in Latin America and Asia continue to be attractive investment locations, the major losers are the less developed countries, especially in Africa. There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that the countries of Africa, with a small number of exceptions, are increasingly becoming pure recipients of development aid

Proteinbiochemische Charakterisierung von PACSIN1 und seines Bindungspartners PAST2

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit konnten die zwei Teilkomponenten PACSIN1 und PAST2 intrazellulärer Transportsyteme nach deren Klonierung, eukaryontischer Expression und Aufreinigung näher charakterisiert werden. Mit Hilfe der gegen PAST2 generierten polyklonalen Antikörper wurde die über Two-Hybrid Untersuchungen festgestellte Interaktion der Bindungspartner durch Affinitäzspräzipitationen bestätigt Die durch diese Experimente zusätzlich festgestellte Interaktion mit Proteinen verschiedener intrazellulärer Transportwege legt eine Beteiligung des PAST2 Proteins an mehreren, unabhängigen intrazellulären Transportwegen nahe. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde eine breite Gewebeverteilung mit Hilfe der gegen PAST2 generierten Antikörper festgestellt. Zusätzlich konnte die durch Sequenzhomologien vermutete Funktion des PAST2 Proteins als G/ATPase durch entsprechende Experimente mit dem gereinigten Protein bestätigt werden. Vom Adapterprotein PACSIN1 war durch Two-Hybrid Untersuchungen und Experimente mit dem bakteriellen GST-Fusionsprotein eine Oligomerisierung bekannt. Mit dem eukaryontisch expremierten und gereinigtem Protein konnte hier durch verschiedene Techniken ein stabiles Tetramer nachgewiesen werden. Zusätzlich wurde nach Periodatoxidation ein Aldehyd auf dem Phosphoprotein identifiziert werden, was auf eine Glykolysierung des Proteins schließen lässt