Evaluation of the radiosensitizing potency of chemotherapeutic agents in prostate cancer cells

PURPOSE: Despite recent advances in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, survival rates are low and treatment options are limited to chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Although ionizing radiation is used to treat localized and metastatic prostate cancer, the most efficient use of radiotherapy is yet to be defined. Our purpose was to determine in vitro the potential benefit to be gained by combining radiation treatment with cytotoxic drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inhibitors of DNA repair and heat shock protein 90 and an inducer of oxidative stress were evaluated in combination with x-radiation for their capacity to reduce clonogenic survival and delay the growth of multicellular tumor spheroids. RESULTS: Inhibitors of the PARP DNA repair pathway, olaparib and rucaparib, and the HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG, enhanced the clonogenic cell kill and spheroid growth delay induced by x-radiation. However, the oxidative stress-inducing drug elesclomol failed to potentiate the effects of x-radiation. PARP inhibitors arrested cells in the G2/M phase when administered as single agents or in combination with radiation, whereas elesclomol and 17-DMAG did not affect radiation-induced cell cycle modulation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that radiotherapy of prostate cancer may be optimized by combination with inhibitors of PARP or HSP90, but not elesclomol

Parent-child interaction therapy:An evidence-based treatment for child maltreatment

No Full Tex

A Study of Meteoroid Impact Phenomena

Process of crater formation resulting from impact of hypervelocity projectile - meteoroid impac

An investigation into the enhancement of fingermarks in blood on fruit and vegetables

A number of studies have reported the successful enhancement of latent fingermarks on fruit and vegetables. A study was set up to identify the most effective technique for the enhancement of fingermarks in blood on various fruit and vegetables. The enhancement techniques targeted different components in blood and consisted of protein stains (e.g. acid black 1), peroxidase reagents (e.g. leuco crystal violet) and amino acid stains (e.g. ninhydrin). Different variables such as the ageing periods of the marks and a diminishing series were employed to assess the suitability and sensitivity of the enhancement techniques.Overall, the use of different protein stains appeared to be the most effective techniques for the enhancement of fingermarks in blood on fruit and vegetables. In addition, the aubergine and cucumber skins appeared to be the most responsive surface to the different chemical techniques during enhancement. On the contrary, little or no enhancement was achieved for fingermarks in blood on the nectarine fruit

Accounting for the costs of recruiting and training

We investigate the investments made by accounting firms into recruiting and training new employees into entry-level positions. This includes developing a model to capture both the direct and indirect investments/ costs associated with recruitment and training. We quantify time, effort, resources, and associated opportunity costs, on entry-level recruits. The model was converted into a quantitative questionnaire and administered to accounting firms. We administered it to twelve accounting firms. The findings from this study build upon earlier studies (Bliss, 2001; Hansen, 1997; Phillips, 1990) which estimated the cost to recruit and train new employees at approximately 150% of their annual salary. Results revealed that the true investment in recruitment and training is significantly greater for the accountants in our study. On average accountants in our study invest an additional 241% of new employees’ annual salary. The findings provide insight into the true financial investments firms make during recruitment and the first year of employee training for entry-level positions. Our model is a simple tool which managers can use to quantify their investments in new employees during their first year of employment. It has proved insightful for accounting firms and has potential for use in other industries. Further, we found that generally new employees do not reach full productivity within their first year of employment. This highlights the importance for employers to retain new employees to maximise their returns on investment

Organic slug control using Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a lethal slug parasitic nematode that has been formulated into an effective biological control agent called Nemaslug®. We investigated the possibility of using different application methods of P. hermaphrodita to reduce cost and the number of nematodes applied. We also compared P. hermaphrodita with a new slug pellet called Ferramol®, which is available for use on organic farms

Unsteady stagnation-point heat transfer during passage of a concentrated vortex

The unsteady boundary layer due to a single rectilinear vortex filament approaching a 2-D stagnation point is investigated. Assuming the vortex remains far from the surface, incompressible potential flow theory is used to determine the time dependent inviscid flow field. The unsteady boundary layer equations are solved by an alternating-direction-implicit finite-difference method. Two mechanisms which cause fluctuations in heat transfer are the unsteady velocity field in the boundary layer and secondly, the unsteady total temperature at the edge of the boundary layer. The relative importance of these mechanisms is dependent upon the total temperature fluctuations relative to the imposed temperature difference. As a vortex approaches a stagnation point it may be forced to one side of the stagnation line or the other, depending on its initial position. Results are presented for both of these cases

Continuing professional development of early years managers and practitioners working with children under 3 years of age: technical report

This research into CPD provision for those working with children under 3 years of age was undertaken in the context of the National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce (Scottish Executive, 2006) and the Scottish Parliamentary response (2006) which emphasised that: 'the area which requires most urgent investment is improving the skills level of the workforce, and that although further investment is required in the 3-5 sector, the under 3 sector is the most immediate priority' (SPEC, 2006, para 16). The findings of the research are interpreted in the light of the Standard for Childcare Practice (QAA, 2007) and the more recently published Early Years Framework (Scottish Government, 2008). The Early Years Framework defines early years as pre-birth to 8 years, though it highlights the need for 'a renewed focus on 0-3' (p5)

On the transonic aerodynamics of a compressor blade row

Linearized analyses have been carried out for the induced velocity and pressure fields within a compressor blade row operating in an infinite annulus at transonic Mach numbers of the flow relative to the blades. In addition, the relationship between the induced velocity and the shape of the mean blade surface has been determined. A computational scheme has been developed for evaluating the blade mean surface ordinates and surface pressure distributions. The separation of the effects of a specified blade thickness distribution from the effects of a specified distribution of the blade lift has been established. In this way, blade mean surface shapes that are necessary for the blades to be locally nonlifting have been computed and are presented for two examples of blades with biconvex parabolic arc sections of radially tapering thickness. Blade shapes that are required to achieve a zero thickness, uniform chordwise loading, constant work spanwise loading are also presented for two examples. In addition, corresponding surface pressure distributions are given. The flow relative to the blade tips has a high subsonic Mach number in the examples that have been computed. The results suggest that at near-sonic relative tip speeds the effective blade shape is dominated by the thickness distribution, with the lift distribution playing only a minor role