STS-3 Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (IECM): Quick-look report

The STS-3/Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (IECM) mission is described. The IECM system performance is discussed, and IECM mission time events are briefly described. Quick look analyses are presented for each of the 10 instruments comprising the IECM on the flight of STS-3. Finally, a short summary is presented and plans are discussed for future IECM flights, and opportunities for direct mapping of Orbiter effluents using the Remote manipulator System

Whiteness in Sports Media: Analyzing Mediated EPL Content for Racialized Narratives

Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) and critical rhetoric of race, this study identifies messages of whiteness present in the narratives produced by sports media in order to highlight the presence of racial discrimination in the English Premier League (EPL). Since sports is a field with increased social impact, the EPL is an important place to center CRT’s agenda and contest dominant narratives. Focusing specifically on Sky Sports, the EPL’s official broadcasting partner, this study examines both verbal and nonverbal racialized messages across their matchday content. The findings suggest that Sky Sports supports the racial hierarchy in the EPL by communicating racialized messages that reproduce systems of White dominance and imply Black inferiority on and off the field. Both CRT and critical rhetoric of race are transdisciplinary, therefore I hope this study can be used as a building block to uncovering mediated messages of whiteness across many disciplines, and inspiring efforts to disrupt them

Exploring the Role of the Mathematics Education University Supervisor

Teacher preparation in secondary mathematics in an educational degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university is a complex endeavor. The program requires preservice teachers to complete coursework requirements, noncoursework requirements, and a clinical experience. The clinical experience is a core component of the teacher preparation program wherein university supervisors mentor and support preservice teachers in an authentic classroom setting. Although the work of university supervisors plays a vital part in preparing preservice teachers for secondary mathematics teaching and learning, there has been limited research to explain the university supervisor’s role when mentoring secondary mathematics preservice teachers. For this investigation, the phenomenon of interest was the role of the university supervisor. This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences of university supervisors as they support secondary mathematics preservice teachers during the clinical year. The following questions guided this phenomenological qualitative research study: (a) What are the lived experiences of a university supervisor while supporting preservice teachers of secondary mathematics during the clinical year? (b) What mentoring strategies do university supervisors use to support the development of well-prepared beginning mathematics teachers? Heidegger’s phenomenological theories served as a framework for the study, and data collection occurred through in-depth interviews with each research participant. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was appropriate to interpret interview responses. The study’s findings show effective university supervisors (a) have previous K–12 classroom teaching experiences that significantly influence their approach to mentoring, (b) build relationships with preservice teachers throughout the clinical experience, (c) are life-long learners with the capacity to embrace mentoring strategies connected to the culture and context in which the preservice teachers are emersed, and (d) demonstrate characteristics of the implementation component of Knight’s coaching model in the context of teaching in urban schools

A computer system to analyze showers in nuclear emulsions: Center Director's discretionary fund report

A system to rapidly digitize data from showers in nuclear emulsions is described. A TV camera views the emulsions though a microscope. The TV output is superimposed on the monitor of a minicomputer. The operator uses the computer's graphics capability to mark the positions of particle tracks. The coordinates of each track are stored on a disk. The computer then predicts the coordinates of each track through successive layers of emulsion. The operator, guided by the predictions, thus tracks and stores the development of the shower. The system provides a significant improvement over purely manual methods of recording shower development in nuclear emulsion stacks

Office of Commercial Programs' research activities for Space Station Freedom utilization

One of the objectives of the Office of Commercial Programs (OCP) is to encourage, enable, and help implement space research which meets the needs of the U.S. industrial sector. This is done mainly through seventeen Centers for the Commercial Development of Space (CCDS's) which are located throughout the United States. The CCDS's are composed of members from U.S. companies, universities, and other government agencies. These Centers are presently engaged in industrial research in space using a variety of carriers to reach low Earth orbit. One of the goals is to produce a body of experience and knowledge that will allow U.S. industrial entities to make informed decisions regarding their participation in commercial space endeavors. A total of 32 items of payload hardware were built to date. These payloads have flown in space a total of 73 times. The carriers range from the KC-135 parabolic aircraft and expendable launch vehicles to the Space Shuttle. This range of carriers allows the experimenter to evolve payloads in complexity and cost by progressively extending the time in microgravity. They can start with a few seconds in the parabolic aircraft and go to several minutes on the rocket flights, before they progress to the complexities of manned flight on the Shuttle. Next year, two new capabilities will become available: COMET, an expendable-vehicle-launched experiment capsule that can carry experiments aloft for thirty days; and SPACEHAB, a new Shuttle borne module which will greatly add to the capability to accommodate small payloads. All of these commercial research activities and carrier capabilities are preparing the OCP to evolve those experiments that prove successful to Space Station Freedom. OCP and the CCDS's are actively involved in Space Station design and utilization planning and have proposed a set of experiments to be launched in 1996 and 1997. These experiments are to be conducted both internal and external to Space Station Freedom and will investigate industrial research topics which range from biotechnology to electronic materials to metallurgy. Some will be designed to make maximum use of the quiescent microgravity conditions in the 'ground-tended' phases during the early years of Space Station Freedom operations

Cost effectiveness analysis of laparoscopic hysterectomy compared with standard hysterectomy: results from a randomised trial

Objective: To assess the cost effectiveness of laparoscopic hysterectomy compared with conventional hysterectomy (abdominal or vaginal). Design: Cost effectiveness analysis based on two parallel trials: laparoscopic (n = 324) compared with vaginal hysterectomy (n = 163); and laparoscopic (n = 573) compared with abdominal hysterectomy (n = 286). Participants: 1346 women requiring a hysterectomy for reasons other than malignancy. Main outcome measure: One year costs estimated from NHS perspective. Health outcomes expressed in terms of QALYs based on women's responses to the EQ-5D at baseline and at three points during up to 52 weeks' follow up. Results: Laparoscopic hysterectomy cost an average of pound401 ($708; C571) more (95$471789; E380 437). The, probability that laparoscopic hysterectomy is cost effective was below 50% for a large range of values of willingness to pay for an additional QALY. Laparoscopic hysterectomy cost an average of pound186 ($328; E265) more than abdominal hysterectomy, although 95$46 893; E37 813). If the NHS is willing to pay pound30 0 00 for an additional QALY, the probability that laparoscopic hysterectomy is cost effective is 56%. Conclusions: Laparoscopic hysterectomy is not cost effective relative to vaginal hysterectomy. Its cost effectiveness relative to the abdominal procedure is finely balanced

Influence of ER leak on resting cytoplasmic Ca2+ and receptormediated Ca2+ signalling in human macrophage

Mechanisms controlling endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ homeostasis are important regulators of resting cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyto) and receptor-mediated Ca2+ signalling. Here we investigate channels responsible for ER Ca2+ leak in THP-1 macrophage and human primary macrophage. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+ we employ ionomycin action at the plasma membrane to stimulate ER Ca2+ leak. Under these conditions ionomycin elevates [Ca2+]cyto revealing a Ca2+ leak response which is abolished by thapsigargin. IP3 receptors (Xestospongin C, 2-APB), ryanodine receptors (dantrolene), and translocon (anisomycin) inhibition facilitated ER Ca2+ leak in model macrophage, with translocon inhibition also reducing resting [Ca2+]cyto. In primary macrophage, translocon inhibition blocks Ca2+ leak but does not influence resting [Ca2+]cyto. We identify a role for translocon-mediated ER Ca2+ leak in receptor-mediated Ca2+ signalling in both model and primary human macrophage, whereby the Ca2+ response to ADP (P2Y receptor agonist) is augmented following anisomycin treatment. In conclusion, we demonstrate a role of ER Ca2+ leak via the translocon in controlling resting cytoplasmic Ca2+ in model macrophage and receptor-mediated Ca2+ signalling in model macrophage and primary macrophage

The influence of risk factors associated with captive rearing on post-release survival in translocated cirl buntings Emberiza cirlus in the UK

Population decline resulting from agricultural intensification led to contraction of the range of the cirl bunting Emberiza cirlus in the UK to a small area of south Devon. As part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for the species, a project to re-establish a population in suitable habitat in Cornwall was undertaken during 2006–2011, in which chicks were removed from the nest in Devon, hand-reared and then delayed-released. The survival of the birds to four time points in the year after release was analysed in relation to the effect of rearing factors, using a multivariable logistic regression model. Individuals with higher body weight at capture were more likely to survive to 1 January and 1 May in the year following release, and individuals released in June and July were more likely to survive than those released in August. Individuals released in 2006 and 2011 had a higher survival rate than those released during 2007–2010. Timing of capture, time spent at each stage in captivity, medication and the detection of parasites in the brood had no significant effect. Immunosuppressive disease, weather factors and predator activity may have led to some of the observed differences in survival. This analysis provides evidence with which to plan future translocation projects for cirl buntings and other passerine birds