Report of the panel on international programs

The panel recommends that NASA participate and take an active role in the continuous monitoring of existing regional networks, the realization of high resolution geopotential and topographic missions, the establishment of interconnection of the reference frames as defined by different space techniques, the development and implementation of automation for all ground-to-space observing systems, calibration and validation experiments for measuring techniques and data, the establishment of international space-based networks for real-time transmission of high density space data in standardized formats, tracking and support for non-NASA missions, and the extension of state-of-the art observing and analysis techniques to developing nations

Intraluminal instillation of urokinase and autologous plasma: a method to unblock occluded central venous ports

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic use and effective function of recombinant urokinase (r-UK) for occluded ports need the presence of plasminogen. METHODS: As a therapeutic proof of principle, we demonstrate that the use of r-UK and autologous plasma effectively reestablishes the function of occluded central venous ports (CVP) resistant to routine management of catheter occlusion. Five patients with occluded ports resistant to the routine management were treated. RESULTS: All patients were successfully treated with thrombolytic therapy using intraluminal instillation of r-UK and autologous plasma. CONCLUSION: Instillation of r-UK and autologous plasma is a safe and effective method for management of CVP occlusion

Étude des processus de géo-morphodynamique dans les vignobles cultivés sur les pentes en circulation Ruwer Valley (Allemagne) champs de différentes techniques

The present work pretends to examine the erosive soil response of vineyards on the high steeps in the Ruwer Valley (Germany) with different methods. The experiments were developed between September and December along three different land management situation of the soil: before, during and after vintage. Firstly, with geometrical rill monitoring we quantify the lateral (7 to 13 cm) and vertical (1 to 4 cm) erosion. The high variability on the hydro-geomorphological process along the steep slopes is confirmed by the soil transport. Elevated infiltration rates were noted using the runoff curve number and rainfall simulations; however, the final results were different. Finally, the negative impact of the erosion by anthropic activities was confirmed with two methods: RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) and using botanic marks on the grape-vines. With the first techniques, 11.28 t ha-1 and respectively with the second 3.4 t ha-1 soil erosion rate was calculated.El presente trabajo pretende examinar la respuesta erosiva del suelo en áreas cultivadas de viñedos sobre laderas en pendientes elevadas en el Valle del Ruwer (Alemania) a través de diferentes técnicas. Los experimentos se desarrollan entre los meses de septiembre y diciembre durante diferentes épocas de manejo del suelo: antes, durante y después de la vendimia. En primer lugar, se realiza un análisis de la variación geométrica de tres rills para cuantificar su expansión lateral (de 7 a 13 cm) y vertical (1 a 4 cm). El movimiento del suelo confirma una elevada variabilidad en los procesos hidro-geomorfológicos de la ladera. A continuación, a través del cálculo del coeficiente teórico de escorrentía a partir del número de curva y lluvias simuladas en diferentes épocas del año, se observan unas elevadas tasas de infiltración, aunque con resultados muy diferentes entre técnicas. Por último, con el cálculo de la RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Ecuation) y el análisis de las marcas botánicas en los tocones de las parras, se calcula el impacto negativo de la erosión con el manejo agrícola del ser humano sobre los suelos de los viñedos. Con ambos métodos, se han obtenido 11.28 t ha-1 y 3.4 t ha-1 año de pérdida de suelo, respectivamente.Ce document vise à déterminer la réponse de l’érosion des sols dans les zones cultivées de vignes dans la Vallée de Ruwer (Allemagne) par le biais de différentes techniques. Tout d’abord, une survie géométrique rills est réalisée afin de quantifier l›expansion verticale (1-4 cm) et latérale (7 à 13 cm) lors des différentes périodes de la gestion de l›utilisation des terres (entre Septembre et Décembre): avant, pendant et après la récolte. En outre, avec le calcul théorique du coefficient de ruissellement avec le nombre de courbe et des simulations de pluies le longs de différentes saisons ont été confirmée des élevés taux d›infiltration. Finalement, le calcul de la RUSLE (Universal Soil Loss révisée Equation) et l›analyse des marques botaniques sur les souches de vignes, l›impact négatif de la gestion agricole de l›homme sur le sol du vignoble est confirmée. Avec les deux méthodes 11.28 t ha-1 et 3.4 t ha-1 sont perdu respectivement

Systematic Screening of Drosophila Deficiency Mutations for Embryonic Phenotypes and Orphan Receptor Ligands

This paper defines a collection of Drosophila deletion mutations (deficiencies) that can be systematically screened for embryonic phenotypes, orphan receptor ligands, and genes affecting protein localization. It reports the results of deficiency screens we have conducted that have revealed new axon guidance phenotypes in the central nervous system and neuromuscular system and permitted a quantitative assessment of the number of potential genes involved in regulating guidance of specific motor axon branches. Deficiency “kits” that cover the genome with a minimum number of lines have been established to facilitate gene mapping. These kits cannot be systematically analyzed for phenotypes, however, since embryos homozygous for many deficiencies in these kits fail to develop due to the loss of key gene products encoded within the deficiency. To create new kits that can be screened for phenotype, we have examined the development of the nervous system in embryos homozygous for more than 700 distinct deficiency mutations. A kit of ∼400 deficiency lines for which homozygotes have a recognizable nervous system and intact body walls encompasses >80% of the genome. Here we show examples of screens of this kit for orphan receptor ligands and neuronal antigen expression. It can also be used to find genes involved in expression, patterning, and subcellular localization of any protein that can be visualized by antibody staining. A subset kit of 233 deficiency lines, for which homozygotes develop relatively normally to late stage 16, covers ∼50% of the genome. We have screened it for axon guidance phenotypes, and we present examples of new phenotypes we have identified. The subset kit can be used to screen for phenotypes affecting all embryonic organs. In the future, these deficiency kits will allow Drosophila researchers to rapidly and efficiently execute genome-wide anatomical screens that require examination of individual embryos at high magnification

A Constitutional Translocation t(1;17)(p36.2;q11.2) in a Neuroblastoma Patient Disrupts the Human NBPF1 and ACCN1 Genes

The human 1p36 region is deleted in many different types of tumors, and so it probably harbors one or more tumor suppressor genes. In a Belgian neuroblastoma patient, a constitutional balanced translocation t(1;17)(p36.2;q11.2) may have led to the development of the tumor by disrupting or activating a gene. Here, we report the cloning of both translocation breakpoints and the identification of a novel gene that is disrupted by this translocation. This gene, named NBPF1 for Neuroblastoma BreakPoint Family member 1, belongs to a recently described gene family encoding highly similar proteins, the functions of which are unknown. The translocation truncates NBPF1 and gives rise to two chimeric transcripts of NBPF1 sequences fused to sequences derived from chromosome 17. On chromosome 17, the translocation disrupts one of the isoforms of ACCN1, a potential glioma tumor suppressor gene. Expression of the NBPF family in neuroblastoma cell lines is highly variable, but it is decreased in cell lines that have a deletion of chromosome 1p. More importantly, expression profiling of the NBPF1 gene showed that its expression is significantly lower in cell lines with heterozygous NBPF1 loss than in cell lines with a normal 1p chromosome. Meta-analysis of the expression of NBPF and ACCN1 in neuroblastoma tumors indicates a role for the NBPF genes and for ACCN1 in tumor aggressiveness. Additionally, DLD1 cells with inducible NBPF1 expression showed a marked decrease of clonal growth in a soft agar assay. The disruption of both NBPF1 and ACCN1 genes in this neuroblastoma patient indicates that these genes might suppress development of neuroblastoma and possibly other tumor types

Safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral iron in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD: an analysis of the 1-year FIND-CKD trial.

Background: The evidence base regarding the safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete and largely based on small studies of relatively short duration. Methods: FIND-CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994318) was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, prospective study of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD, anemia and iron deficiency randomized (1:1:2) to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), targeting higher (400-600 µg/L) or lower (100-200 µg/L) ferritin, or oral iron. A post hoc analysis of adverse event rates per 100 patient-years was performed to assess the safety of FCM versus oral iron over an extended period. Results: The safety population included 616 patients. The incidence of one or more adverse events was 91.0, 100.0 and 105.0 per 100 patient-years in the high ferritin FCM, low ferritin FCM and oral iron groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events with a suspected relation to study drug was 15.9, 17.8 and 36.7 per 100 patient-years in the three groups; for serious adverse events, the incidence was 28.2, 27.9 and 24.3 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of cardiac disorders and infections was similar between groups. At least one ferritin level ≥800 µg/L occurred in 26.6% of high ferritin FCM patients, with no associated increase in adverse events. No patient with ferritin ≥800 µg/L discontinued the study drug due to adverse events. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained the stable in all groups. Conclusions: These results further support the conclusion that correction of iron deficiency anemia with IV FCM is safe in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD