Application of satellite data for snow mapping in Norway

The author has identified the following significant results. A close quantitative relationship was found between snow covered areas and subsequent runoff for different parts of the country despite climate differences. Digital LANDSAT data can be used for areas down to approximately 10 sq km to 20 sq km for accurate measurement of snow cover extent. On large watersheds (more than 500 sq km), digital NOAA/TIROS imagery can be used for snow mapping if the area/runoff relationship is determined by using observations from previous years

Portable and Permanent

This poultry range shelter features permanent structure in a portable type building. It\u27s built with simple, rigid construction using casein glue at important joints. The use of knee braces or gussets to join rafters and studding (see illustrations) eliminates cross bracing inside the shelter, allowing easy access to the inside. The complete rafter and stud assembly can be nailed and glued before putting it up

MAPO-18 Catalysts for the Methanol to Olefins Process: Influence of Catalyst Acidity in a High-Pressure Syngas (CO and H2) Environment

The transition from integrated petrochemical complexes toward decentralized chemical plants utilizing distributed feedstocks calls for simpler downstream unit operations. Less separation steps are attractive for future scenarios and provide an opportunity to design the next-generation catalysts, which function efficiently with effluent reactant mixtures. The methanol to olefins (MTO) reaction constitutes the second step in the conversion of CO2, CO, and H2 to light olefins. We present a series of isomorphically substituted zeotype catalysts with the AEI topology (MAPO-18s, M = Si, Mg, Co, or Zn) and demonstrate the superior performance of the M(II)-substituted MAPO-18s in the conversion of MTO when tested at 350 °C and 20 bar with reactive feed mixtures consisting of CH3OH/CO/CO2/H2. Co-feeding high pressure H2 with methanol improved the catalyst activity over time, but simultaneously led to the hydrogenation of olefins (olefin/paraffin ratio < 0.5). Co-feeding H2/CO/CO2/N2 mixtures with methanol revealed an important, hitherto undisclosed effect of CO in hindering the hydrogenation of olefins over the Brønsted acid sites (BAS). This effect was confirmed by dedicated ethene hydrogenation studies in the absence and presence of CO co-feed. Assisted by spectroscopic investigations, we ascribe the favorable performance of M(II)APO-18 under co-feed conditions to the importance of the M(II) heteroatom in altering the polarity of the M–O bond, leading to stronger BAS. Comparing SAPO-18 and MgAPO-18 with BAS concentrations ranging between 0.2 and 0.4 mmol/gcat, the strength of the acidic site and not the density was found to be the main activity descriptor. MgAPO-18 yielded the highest activity and stability upon syngas co-feeding with methanol, demonstrating its potential to be a next-generation MTO catalyst

Clinical validation of Guardant360 CDx as a blood-based companion diagnostic for sotorasib

OBJECTIVES Effective therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depends on morphological and genomic classification, with comprehensive screening for guideline-recommended biomarkers critical to guide treatment. Companion diagnostics, which provide robust genotyping results, represent an important component of personalized oncology. We evaluated the clinical validity of Guardant360 CDx as a companion diagnostic for sotorasib for detection of KRAS p.G12C, an important oncogenic NSCLC driver mutation. MATERIALS AND METHODS KRAS p.G12C was tested in NSCLC patients from CodeBreaK100 (NCT03600833) in pretreatment plasma samples using Guardant360 CDx liquid biopsy and archival tissue samples using therascreen® KRAS RGQ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit tissue testing. Matched tissue and plasma samples were procured from other clinical trials or commercial vendors, and results were compared. Demographics and clinical characteristics and objective response rate (ORR) were evaluated. RESULTS Of 126 CodeBreaK patients, 112 (88.9%) were tested for KRASp.G12C mutations with Guardant360 CDx. Among 189 patients in the extended analysis cohort, the positive and negative percent agreement (95% CI) for Guardant360 CDx plasma testing relative to therascreen® KRAS RGQ PCR kit tissue testing were 0.71 (0.62, 0.79) and 1.00 (0.95, 1.00), respectively; overall percent agreement (95% CI) was 0.82 (0.76, 0.87). TP53 co-mutations were the most common regardless of KRAS p.G12C status (KRAS p.G12C-positive, 53.4%; KRAS p.G12C-negative, 45.5%). STK11 was co-mutated in 26.1% of KRAS p.G12C-positive samples. The ORR was similar among patients selected by plasma and tissue testing. CONCLUSION Comprehensive genotyping for all therapeutic targets including KRAS p.G12C is critical for management of NSCLC. Liquid biopsy using Guardant360 CDx has clinical validity for identification of patients with KRASp.G12C-mutant NSCLC and, augmented by tissue testing methodologies as outlined on the approved product label, will identify patients for treatment with sotorasib

Diets containing sea cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus) meals are hypocholesterolemic in young rats

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Therapeutic exploitation of IPSE, a urogenital parasite-derived host modulatory protein, for chemotherapy-induced hemorrhagic cystitis

Chemotherapy-induced hemorrhagic cystitis (CHC) can be difficult to manage. Prior work suggests IL-4 alleviates ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis (IHC), but systemically administered IL-4 causes significant side effects. We hypothesized that the Schistosoma haematobium homolog of Interleukin-4-inducing principle from Schistosoma mansoni Eggs (H-IPSE), would reduce IHC and associated bladder pathology. IPSE binds IgE on basophils and mast cells, triggering IL-4 secretion by these cells. IPSE is also an “infiltrin”, translocating into the host nucleus to modulate gene transcription. Mice were administered IL-4, H-IPSE protein or its nuclear localization sequence (NLS) mutant with or without neutralizing anti-IL-4 antibody, or MESNA, followed by ifosfamide. Bladder tissue damage and hemoglobin content were measured. Spontaneous and evoked pain, urinary frequency and gene expression were assessed. Pain behaviors were interpreted in a blinded fashion. One dose of H-IPSE was superior to MESNA and IL-4 in suppressing bladder hemorrhage in an IL-4-and NLS-dependent fashion, and comparable to MESNA in dampening ifosfamide-triggered pain behaviors in an NLS-dependent manner. H-IPSE also accelerated urothelial repair following IHC. Our work represents the first therapeutic exploitation of a uropathogen-derived host modulatory molecule in a clinically relevant bladder disease model, and indicates that IPSE may be an alternative to MESNA for mitigating CHC