Synthesis, characterisation and properties of amino acid terminated dendrimer wedges

The rising demand for speciality polymers that possess novel properties has led to an interest in the tailored synthesis of dendritic polymers having highly controlled molecular architectures. Control over size, shape, molecular weight and functionality at the periphery of the molecule was used to design a series of dendrimer wedges with the ultimate aim of enhanced binding of a functional, property modifying unit to a cotton surface in water. Poly (propyleneimine) dendrimer wedges with various foci were produced in a stepwise way via a repetitive reaction sequence using the divergent approach. Initially, long chain aliphatic amines were used as starting materials and optimisation of the reaction conditions produced wedges up to the third generation possessing eight primary amine end groups. Subsequently dendrimer wedges were synthesised from a siloxysilane core up to the second generation. End group modification with amino acid residues was performed at the periphery of the wedges and adsorption studies were carried out to ascertain if enhanced molecular recognition at a cotton surface occurred. Also an investigation of the modification of polar surfaces by amine terminated dendrimers with a siloxysilane unit at the focus was performed

The Biology and Ecology of Trogoderma glabrum (Herbst) in Stored Grains

These investigations were undertaken to determine the distribution and importance of Trogoderma glabrum (Herbst) in stored grain in Nebraska, the ecological factors favoring population increase in stored wheat, corn, and sorghum, and the role T. glabrum might play in disseminating internally the Aspergillus molds commonly encountered in stored grain

The Biology and Ecology of Trogoderma glabrum (Herbst) in Stored Grains

These investigations were undertaken to determine the distribution and importance of Trogoderma glabrum (Herbst) in stored grain in Nebraska, the ecological factors favoring population increase in stored wheat, corn, and sorghum, and the role T. glabrum might play in disseminating internally the Aspergillus molds commonly encountered in stored grain

Sisyphean Task or the Holy Grail? Satisfying Demands of Higher Education through Community-Driven Open Source Projects

What elements are essential to successful community-driven open source projects? How much governance and overhead is required to develop and sustain an open source project? What are the factors that enhance or limit the pace of development, the growth in the development community, community adoption and longevity? Many open source projects don't start out worrying about sustainability or longevity, but successful projects often require considerable effort to succeed over time. This presentation and panel discussion will explore the use of community-driven open source projects to achieve the needs in higher education and review some of the many factors that may influence viability for community-driven open source projects. Specific projects will be discussed, along with a description of incubation strategies, governance approaches, growth challenges, ongoing support models, sustaining vibrant developer communities and lessons learned

MAPK/ERK Signaling in Osteosarcomas, Ewing Sarcomas and Chondrosarcomas: Therapeutic Implications and Future Directions

The introduction of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs in the 1970's improved the survival rate of patients with bone sarcomas and allowed limb salvage surgeries. However, since the turn of the century, survival data has plateaued for a subset of metastatic, nonresponding osteo, and/or Ewing sarcomas. In addition, most high-grade chondrosarcoma does not respond to current chemotherapy. With an increased understanding of molecular pathways governing oncogenesis, modern targeted therapy regimens may enhance the efficacy of current therapeutic modalities. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPK)/Extracellular-Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERK) are key regulators of oncogenic phenotypes such as proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammatory responses; which are the hallmarks of cancer. Consequently, MAPK/ERK inhibitors have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for certain types of cancers, but there have been sparse reports in bone sarcomas. Scattered papers suggest that MAPK targeting inhibits proliferation, local invasiveness, metastasis, and drug resistance in bone sarcomas. A recent clinical trial showed some clinical benefits in patients with unresectable or metastatic osteosarcomas following MAPK/ERK targeting therapy. Despite in vitro proof of therapeutic concept, there are no sufficient in vivo or clinical data available for Ewing sarcomas or chondrosarcomas. Further experimental and clinical trials are awaited in order to bring MAPK targeting into a clinical arena

PSM

The Poker Skill Measure (PSM) (Leonard, Staples & Williams, 2014), measures respondents' current poker skill level. For each of the 35 items in this measure, respondents are presented with a poker scenario for which the respondent must decide which playing action is most appropriate. The scenarios presented increase in complexity from Scenario 1 to Scenario 35. The scenarios also vary in terms of which stage of the game is occurring (pre-flop, flop, turn, river), the documented actions or inactions of the other players at the table, the number of other players remaining in the hand (2 to 6), the amount that has been bet, and the described playing style of the opponents (tight/loose; aggressive/passive). Participants are presented with an answer sheet and the 39 page test booklet, which includes an instruction page, a glossary of terminology, and the test scenarios (items). Each scenario is presented on a single page in both, color pictorial and text. The PSM has a test re-test reliability of .82, high internal consistency (Cronbach's a = .79), and its validity is established by its significant correlation with objective measures of poker playing performance (Leonard, Staples & Williams, 2014).N

Quantifying the climate impacts of albedo changes due to biofuel production: a comparison with biogeochemical effects

Lifecycle analysis is a tool widely used to evaluate the climate impact of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the production and use of biofuels. In this paper we employ an augmented lifecycle framework that includes climate impacts from changes in surface albedo due to land use change. We consider eleven land-use change scenarios for the cultivation of biomass for middle distillate fuel production, and compare our results to previous estimates of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for the same set of land-use change scenarios in terms of CO2e per unit of fuel energy. We find that two of the land-use change scenarios considered demonstrate a warming effect due to changes in surface albedo, compared to conventional fuel, the largest of which is for replacement of desert land with salicornia cultivation. This corresponds to 222 gCO2e/MJ, equivalent to 3890% and 247% of the lifecycle GHG emissions of fuels derived from salicornia and crude oil, respectively. Nine of the land-use change scenarios considered demonstrate a cooling effect, the largest of which is for the replacement of tropical rainforests with soybean cultivation. This corresponds to − 161 gCO2e/MJ, or − 28% and − 178% of the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuels derived from soybean and crude oil, respectively. These results indicate that changes in surface albedo have the potential to dominate the climate impact of biofuels, and we conclude that accounting for changes in surface albedo is necessary for a complete assessment of the aggregate climate impacts of biofuel production and use.Federal Aviation AdministrationUnited States. Air Force Research LaboratoryUnited States. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA Energy, Project 47 of the Partnership for Air Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER)

Le Forum, Vol. 41 No. 2

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/francoamericain_forum/1091/thumbnail.jp

From Paris to Projects: Clarifying the Implications of Canada’s Climate Change Mitigation Commitments for the Planning and Assessment of Projects and Strategic Undertakings (Full Report)

Canada has signed the Paris Agreement and made other international commitments to doing our fair share of what is needed to keep overall global warming to the Paris Agreement limit of well below 2ºC, and to aim for 1.5ºC, to avoid devastating climate change. However, we have not yet progressed far in translating these commitments into implications for decision making on proposed undertakings with significant implications for meeting those commitments.Clarifying those implications and determining how best to incorporate them in deliberations and decision making is overdue and now imperative. The federal government’s new Impact Assessment Act, which is now proceeding through Parliament’s legislative process, stands to require that all assessments decisions be based in part on evaluation of the extent to which the effects of the designated project hinder or contribute to the Government of Canada’s ability to meet its environmental obligations and its commitments in respect of climate change. (Impact Assessment Act, section 63(e)).In this report, we present the findings of an initial effort to delineate and address the gap between Paris and projects. We set out the needed steps and their main implications, especially for new assessment law, regulation and policy. The steps are not fully defined and many components include a range of possible options. Our intent and expectations have not been to deliver final answers but to establish a firm basis for informed conversation of a matter of pressing importance. The challenges identified in this report are numerous and demanding but reasonably clear.Our main findings and recommendations are summarized in part 5, the concluding section of the report