Havel, China and Africa

I am eager to read Chinese news accounts of the life and death of Vaclav Havel, whose central message might be summed up as the necessity for individuals everywhere to cast off their apathy and assume their rights – and agency – as citizens. The death of this figure of major importance to the history of the late- and post-Cold War world will inevitably generate talk that is heavily focused on Europe, just as the attention of the Western media and foreign ministries tended to stay almost exclusively bracketed on this region (with China, for a time, serving as a crucial exception) as the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Union crumbled

Effects of bear viewers and photographers on brown bears (Ursus arctos) at Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park and Preserve

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2007We investigated the effects of bear viewing and photography on brown bears (Ursus arctos) that used open habitats at Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park and Preserve (KNPP), Alaska. We also investigated how bear use of the area varied with season, human presence, and time of day. We found that the mean number of bears present varied significantly with season, time of day, and human presence. There were significantly more bears present before the salmon season than during the salmon season; bear numbers increased significantly during the day, and there were significantly more bears when humans were present. Humans at varying distances least affected activity budgets of sows with spring cubs, but foraging efficiency (bites per minute) of sows with spring cubs was significantly lower with humans <50 m away than with humans absent. Fishing success (chases per catch) of large males and single bears was lower when humans were present, but fishing success of sows with spring and older cubs was higher when humans were present. We conclude that humans are affecting brown bears that use Hallo Bay and therefore the Katmai NPP Bear Management Plan is being violated as well as the act establishing the National Park Service. We recommend that managers at KNPP restrict visitor use at Hallo Bay and enforce existing policy

Evaluation of Aerodynamic and Propulsive Terminal Phase Systems for an Unmanned Mars Soft Lander

The terminal phase of an unmanned Mars soft lander is defined as that portion of the descent trajectory bridging the gap between the high speed entry trajectory and the very low speed soft landing. This paper presents the results of a parametric analysis comparing the performance and capability of several candidate deceleration systems considered for use during the terminal phase. System comparison is made on the basis of total decelerator system weight requirements and system capability to cope with the mission uncertainties. The mission mode is entry from orbit. Two general types of terminal phase decelerator systems are analyzed; aerodynamic and allretro systems. The aerodynamic decelerators considered include both subsonic type parachutes and (supersonic) ballutes. Subsonic type parachutes are limited to a maximum deployment Mach No. of 1.6. Supersonic ballutes are assumed deployed at Mach Nos. from 3.0 to 5.0. Both groups use a propulsive retro vernier system for final deceleration and landing. The all-retro system analysis assumes a rocket propulsion system with two phases - initial braking followed by a vertical descent

Study of direct versus orbital entry for Mars missions. Volume 4 - Appendix B - Entry and terminal phase performance analysis Final report

Entry and terminal phase performance analyses of configurations for direct versus orbital entry for Mars mission

A novel protein isoform of the RON tyrosine kinase receptor transforms human pancreatic duct epithelial cells.

The MST1R gene is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer producing elevated levels of the RON tyrosine kinase receptor protein. While mutations in MST1R are rare, alternative splice variants have been previously reported in epithelial cancers. We report the discovery of a novel RON isoform discovered in human pancreatic cancer. Partial splicing of exons 5 and 6 (P5P6) produces a RON isoform that lacks the first extracellular immunoglobulin-plexin-transcription domain. The splice variant is detected in 73% of xenografts derived from pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients and 71% of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Peptides specific to RON P5P6 detected in human pancreatic cancer specimens by mass spectrometry confirm translation of the protein isoform. The P5P6 isoform is found to be constitutively phosphorylated, present in the cytoplasm, and it traffics to the plasma membrane. Expression of P5P6 in immortalized human pancreatic duct epithelial (HPDE) cells activates downstream AKT, and in human pancreatic epithelial nestin-expressing cells, activates both the AKT and MAPK pathways. Inhibiting RON P5P6 in HPDE cells using a small molecule inhibitor BMS-777607 blocked constitutive activation and decreased AKT signaling. P5P6 transforms NIH3T3 cells and induces tumorigenicity in HPDE cells. Resultant HPDE-P5P6 tumors develop a dense stromal compartment similar to that seen in pancreatic cancer. In summary, we have identified a novel and constitutively active isoform of the RON tyrosine kinase receptor that has transforming activity and is expressed in human pancreatic cancer. These findings provide additional insight into the biology of the RON receptor in pancreatic cancer and are clinically relevant to the study of RON as a potential therapeutic target

Energy and water use in Arizona agriculture: Working paper series--08-08

Increasing energy and water concerns in Arizona are the driving forces to improve the efficiency of agricultural production within the state. In this article we address the energy and water uses in growing a variety of crops in Arizona. The goal of the research project is to identify and quantify all energy and water uses from the production of the initial seed, through the treatments of the soil and various chemical introductions, all the way until the crop is harvested in the field. Thus, the analysis is "from seed to the edge of the field." Using a series of secondary data sources, the paper provides ranges for the energy and water consumption for the predominant crops grown in the major agriculture areas of the state