Space station automation of common module power management and distribution, volume 2

The new Space Station Module Power Management and Distribution System (SSM/PMAD) testbed automation system is described. The subjects discussed include testbed 120 volt dc star bus configuration and operation, SSM/PMAD automation system architecture, fault recovery and management expert system (FRAMES) rules english representation, the SSM/PMAD user interface, and the SSM/PMAD future direction. Several appendices are presented and include the following: SSM/PMAD interface user manual version 1.0, SSM/PMAD lowest level processor (LLP) reference, SSM/PMAD technical reference version 1.0, SSM/PMAD LLP visual control logic representation's (VCLR's), SSM/PMAD LLP/FRAMES interface control document (ICD) , and SSM/PMAD LLP switchgear interface controller (SIC) ICD

A quantitative evaluation of DNA damage from irradiation of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma is a locally invasive neoplasm that continues to carry a poor prognosis despite advances in multimodality oncologic treatment. Location, completeness of surgical excision or complete response to radiation therapy at day 30 have been shown to be predictive of survival. Tolerable treatment with radiation and concurrent chemotherapy has been described, but the ideal radiation protocol has not been determined. Though risk factors and prognostic indicators have been identified, there is no test to predict outcome prior to treatment. Three feline oral squamous cell lines (SCCF1, SCCF2, SCCF3) were used to investigate the potential of the alkaline comet assay to predict radiosensitivity. The three cell lines were irradiated with 6 MV photons and initial DNA damage using percent DNA in the comet tail and comet tail moment were plotted against all doses (0 - 9 Gy) for each cell line. There was a significant difference between the means of SCCF1 cells that received 0 Gy and 9 Gy (p=0.019), as well as 3 Gy and 9 Gy (p=0.022) when assessing the DNA in the tail. The difference between the means for comet tail moment was significant for SCCF1 at 0 Gy and 9 Gy, which corroborates part of the previous finding. Based on other experiments that evaluated clonogenic and comet assays together, correlation between the greatest mean tail moment and lowest surviving fraction indicate radiosensitivity, not cytotoxicity. The clinical feasibility of performing the comet assay on FOSCC tumor biopsies to elucidate radioresponsiveness prior to initiating treatment remains questionable for this specific disease. Performing the comet assay to evaluate DNA repair capabilities is recommended at various time intervals after irradiation to optimize fractionation protocols. Validation of DNA damage from double-stranded breaks could be compared using a chemiluminescent assay to detect levels of mouse anti-human monoclonal antibody for γ-H2AX.Includes bibliographical references

The evaluation of Education Maintenance Allowance Pilots: three years' evidence: a quantitative evaluation

This is the third report of the longitudinal quantitative evaluation of Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilots and the first since the government announced that EMA is to be rolled out nationally from 2004. The evaluation was commissioned in 1999, by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) from a consortium of research organisations, led by the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP) and including the National Centre for Social Research, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling (NICEC). The statistical evaluation design is a longitudinal cohort study involving large random sample surveys of young people (and their parents) in 10 EMA pilot areas and eleven control areas. Two cohorts of young people were selected from Child Benefit records. The first cohort of young people left compulsory schooling in the summer of 1999 and they, and their parents, were interviewed between October 1999 and April 2000 (Year 12 interview). A second interview was carried out with these young people between October 2000 and April 2001 (Year 13 interview). The second cohort left compulsory education the following summer of 2000 and young people, and their parents, were first interviewed between October 2000 and April 2001. The report uses both propensity score matching (PSM) and descriptive techniques, each of which brings their own particular strengths to the analysis

An RNA interference screen for identifying downstream effectors of the p53 and pRB tumour suppressor pathways involved in senescence

Background: Cellular senescence is an irreversible cell cycle arrest that normal cells undergo in response to progressive shortening of telomeres, changes in telomeric structure, oncogene activation or oxidative stress and acts as an important tumour suppressor mechanism.Results: To identify the downstream effectors of the p53-p21 and p16-pRB tumour suppressor pathways crucial for mediating entry into senescence, we have carried out a loss-of-function RNA interference screen in conditionally immortalised human fibroblasts that can be induced to rapidly undergo senescence, whereas in primary cultures senescence is stochastic and occurs asynchronously. These cells are immortal but undergo a rapid irreversible arrest upon activation of the p53-p21 and p16-pRB pathways that can be readily bypassed upon their inactivation. The primary screen identified 112 known genes including p53 and another 29 shRNAmirs targetting as yet unidentified loci. Comparison of these known targets with genes known to be up-regulated upon senescence in these cells, by micro-array expression profiling, identified 4 common genes TMEM9B, ATXN10, LAYN and LTBP2/3. Direct silencing of these common genes, using lentiviral shRNAmirs, bypassed senescence in the conditionally immortalised cells.Conclusion: The senescence bypass screen identified TMEM9B, ATXN10, LAYN and LTBP2/3 as novel downstream effectors of the p53-p21 and p16-pRB tumour suppressor pathways. Although none of them has previously been linked to cellular senescence, TMEM9B has been suggested to be an upstream activator of NF-kappa B signalling which has been found to have a causal role in promoting senescence. Future studies will focus on determining on how many of the other primary hits also have a casual role in senescence and what is the mechanism of action

Weakening the glass ceiling: does organizational growth reduce gender segregation in the upper tiers of Danish local government?

The theory of representative bureaucracy highlights gender segregation in the public sector and its detrimental implications for public policy outcomes. Focusing attention on organisational responses to this protracted problem, we supply evidence on whether organizational growth provides potential for change in the upper echelons of the public sector. An evaluation of the relationship between new hires and gender representation within the management tiers of Danish local government reveals an association between the recruitment of additional employees and improved gender integration. This is particularly pronounced for public organizations that employ fewer women. Implications for theory and practice are discussed