New Models of Public Ownership in Energy

This paper discusses some of the new and continuing ways in which the public sector is involved in the electricity / energy sector around the world. This involvement continues to be significant in spite of the longrunning trend towards privatisation, competition and independent regulation in the energy sector. We discuss why the theoretical case for public ownership might be more attractive now than in the recent past. We then discuss six case studies of modern public ownership drawn from the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Denmark, New Zealand, Finland and Chile. The investments covered include wind and nuclear power, LNG facilities, electricity and gas distribution investments and energy service companies for combined heat and power. We conclude with some outstanding questions raised by the apparently favourable conditions for increased public involvement in energy.ESR

Apollo 17 EVA-1 and EVA-2 Task Decomposition: Planning for Artemis and Future Mars Missions

A decomposition of the Apollo 17 mission extravehicular activities (EVA) tasks can be used to prepare for Artemis and future Mars missions. A categorized minute by minute breakdown of the astronauts activites could be used to plan future EVAs and determine which scientific tasks or equipment may be prioritized. This is especially relevant in this critical stage for the upcoming Atemis missions and science activity planning. The infographics generated from the decomposition provide a higher level view of actual EVAs and could aid in making future EVAs more efficient and successful

Tobacco seedling production

Production of a high quality crop of tobacco begins in the seedbed, and it is therefore essential that the utmost care and attention be given to this stage of the crop. In general, it has been found that it is better to grow one\u27s own seedlings, rather than rely on those from an outside source, thus ensuring that strong, healthy seedlings of the correct variety and strain are available at the time of transplanting

The prevention of sucker growth of tobacco after topping

Experiments conducted overseas and elsewhere in Australia have shown that the application of mineral oils to the cut surface of the tobacco stem after topping (removal of the flower head) have reduced the amount of sucker growth of tobacco plants. Previous experience in Western Australia has shown that the most appropriate time for topping of tobacco crops has been after the first leaf has been harvested. This operation has the effect of putting more body and width into the tip leaves, which, without topping, tend to be narrow and comparatively light in weight. With late planted crops, however, crops are generally left untopped, since the topping operation tends to retard the ripening of leaf by several weeks, although, after this period, the leaves ripen more rapidly and evenly

Therapeutic Targeting of Leukemia Stem Cells to Prevent T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse

The survival rate of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) relapse is a dismal 10% of affected adults and 30% of children, largely due to the relapsed disease being more aggressive and treatment resistant than the initial disease. Relapse is thought to occur because conventional chemotherapies are unable to reliably eliminate a unique cell type known as leukemia stem (or propagating) cells (LSCs). LSCs are the only cells within the leukemia with the ability to self-renew and remake or replenish the ALL from a single cell. Currently, the pathways governing self-renewal in LSCs are largely unknown, precluding our ability to successfully and selectively target this important cell type with anti-cancer drugs. More research is needed to identify targetable pathways and develop new technologies for studying LSCs. Here, I determined that the oncogenic phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 (PRL-3) plays a role in leukemia progression, migration, and self-renewal of LSCs in T-ALL in vivo in a zebrafish Myc-induced T-ALL model, while inhibition of PRL-3 reduced LSC numbers in vivo and in vitro. RNA sequencing and GSEA of patient T-ALL samples revealed that PRL-3’s role in self-renewal is at least partly due to activation of Wnt pathway signaling, a known driver of LSC function in T-ALL. While the Wnt pathway seems an ideal target for LSCs, Wnt signaling is critical for many normal and developmental processes. Clinical trials for Wnt inhibitors have shown undesirable toxicity and these drugs are not practical for use in children with T-ALL due to developmental concerns. Thus, a major gap in knowledge concerning leukemia stem cells in T-ALL is the identification of regulators of Wnt signaling, like PRL-3, that are uniquely expressed by leukemia cells and easily targeted with small molecules. To expand my research beyond PRL-3, I have developed a novel zebrafish T-ALL model where Wnt expressing cells fluorescently labeled. These animals can be used as a model for studying LSC function and identifying novel drugs that can target Wnt-expressing T-ALL cells in vivo. I have also developed novel translational technologies that may be used to predict LSC driven relapse in T-ALL. I have optimized a zebrafish larval xenograft model for transplant and rapid drug screening of human T-ALL cell lines and patient samples to gain insight into tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy. I have also developed a novel pipeline for using cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker of disease relapse in patients with ALL, enabling tracking of disease course, assessment of minimal residual disease, and as a potential predictor of patient relapse. Taken together, my research has established PRL-3 as a potential therapeutic target in T-ALL, and provided new insight into the role of a PRL-3/Wnt signaling axis in regulating LSC self-renewal. Additionally, the new models and techniques that I have developed are useful tools in analyzing LSC function, targeting self-renewal, and predicting ALL relapse

Season reminders

Now that the sales are over, growers should be ready to take good care of the tobacco seedlings for next season\u27s crop. A good stand of healthy seedlings goes a long way towards an even crop, and is the first step towards better tobacco

Computational wing optimization and comparisons with experiment for a semi-span wing model

A computational wing optimization procedure was developed and verified by an experimental investigation of a semi-span variable camber wing model in the NASA Ames Research Center 14 foot transonic wind tunnel. The Bailey-Ballhaus transonic potential flow analysis and Woodward-Carmichael linear theory codes were linked to Vanderplaats constrained minimization routine to optimize model configurations at several subsonic and transonic design points. The 35 deg swept wing is characterized by multi-segmented leading and trailing edge flaps whose hinge lines are swept relative to the leading and trailing edges of the wing. By varying deflection angles of the flap segments, camber and twist distribution can be optimized for different design conditions. Results indicate that numerical optimization can be both an effective and efficient design tool. The optimized configurations had as good or better lift to drag ratios at the design points as the best designs previously tested during an extensive parametric study

Investigation of stress corrosion cracking of titanium alloys Semiannual progress report, 1 Jun. - 30 Nov. 1966

Stress corrosion cracking mechanisms in titanium alloy foil

Efficiency Analysis of Energy Networks : An International Survey of Regulators

Incentive regulation for networks has been an important part of the reform agenda in a number of countries. As part of this regulatory process, incentives are put in place to improve the cost efficiency of network companies by rewarding good performance relative to a pre-defined benchmark. The techniques used to establish benchmarks are central to the efficiency improvements that are ultimately achieved. Much experience has been gained internationally in the application of benchmarking techniques and we now have a solid understanding of the main indicators of best practice. What we are lacking is a more complete understanding of the factors that influence choice of methods by regulators. In this paper, we present the results of an international survey of energy regulators in 40 countries conducted electronically between June and October 2008. Regulators from European, Australasian and Latin American countries are represented in the survey. Our results show that benchmarking techniques are now widespread in the regulation of gas and electricity networks. Best practice, however, is limited to a small number of regulators. We conclude by summarising existing trends and offering some recommendations on overcoming barriers to best practice efficiency analysis