Toying With Technology: Mobile Robots And High School Interns

Students in today’s world grow up surrounded by electronic and electromechanical gadgetry and become adept at using such gadgetry at an early age without necessarily understanding the underlying science and technology. Garage door openers, TV remote controllers, microwave ovens, remote-control toys, and cellular phones are but a few such items in wide use today. As complex as these gadgets seem on the surface, much of the scientific and technological mystery behind their functionality can be explained in simple terms well within the grasp of the high school, or even middle school students. The primary purpose of this project is the development of science and technology instructional units aimed at a variety of students with the goal of giving these students an understanding of and appreciation for the basic scientific principles underlying the technological innovations that surround them. Students are introduced to science and technology in a gentle, non-threatening manner by developing a collection of hands-on laboratory experiences based upon simple systems constructed out of LEGOs and controlled by small microprocessors. These laboratory experiences are designed to lead students, literally by their hands-on experimentation, through the use of technology in support of many everyday activities

The Role of Sweet Potato Resistance in the Population Dynamics and Development of Meloidogyne Incognita.

Root-knot nematode populations endemic to Louisiana soils were identified to species and race. Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, (MI) accounted for 97 percent of the populations identified. Of the M. incognita species 55 percent were Race 1, 38 percent Race 3, and 7 percent Race 4. Meloidogyne javanica represented 3 percent of the populations studied. Populations were compared to the M. incognita used in the LSU sweet potato breeding program (MIS) for their virulence on the susceptible \u27Centennial\u27 and resistant \u27Jasper\u27, \u27Jewel\u27, and L4-73. The populations varied in virulence to the sweet potato cultivars with some populations being more virulent than the MIS population. Several populations appeared capable of overcoming resistance exhibited by the sweet potato cultivars. The life cycle of MIS was studied on \u27Centennial\u27, \u27Jasper\u27, \u27Jewel\u27, and W-51. Varietal resistance did not inhibit the initial rate of juvenile penetration, but did reduce the number of juveniles that reached maturity. Resistance reduced the number of juveniles that reached maturity; however, the rate of nematode development was more rapid in the resistant \u27Jewel\u27 than the other cultivars. The effect of MIS on the growth of \u27Centennial\u27 and \u27Jasper\u27 was studied in field plots artifically infested with initial population densities (Pi) ranging from 0-10,000 MIS eggs per 500 cc of soil. Population dynamics were similar on both cultivars; however, higher mid season counts were recorded from \u27Centennial\u27 than from \u27Jasper\u27. The highest Pi levels did not produce the highest mid season counts. Initial Pi levels had similar effects on the growth of \u27Centennial\u27 and \u27Jasper\u27 sweet potatoes. Pi levels were negatively correlated with marketable roots produced and root weight, but positively correlated with total cracked roots, percent cracked roots, and cracking severity ratings. \u27Jasper\u27 was able to tolerate significantly higher Pi levels with better yields and root quality than \u27Centennial\u27. The incidence of cracking of the fleshy root was apparent on both cultivars at low Pi levels

C-CBL phosphorylation status influences colorectal cancer cell survival in a Wnt-dependent manner

Hyperactive Wnt signaling is the seminal event in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, where β-catenin serves as a key Wnt mediator enhancing CRC cell proliferation and survival. c-Cbl is a unique E3 ligase, which degrades both mutant and active (tumorigenic) β-catenin. c-Cbl phosphorylation at tyrosine 731 (Y731) regulates its binding and down regulation of β-catenin specifically in the presence of Wnt ligand (Wnt-on state). Since aberrant Wnt signaling activation is found in almost all cases of human CRC, it would be critical to understand the influence of c-Cbl phosphorylation on CRC cell survival. We hypothesized that c-Cbl phosphorylation regulates CRC cell survival in a Wnt dependent manner, a state that is mediated through mutations in β-catenin or adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC). Cbl phosphorylation was examined in a panel of Wnt-off cells with wild-type β-catenin and APC CRC cell line (RKO cell line) and Wnt-on cell lines with mutant APC (Wnt-on- DLD1, HCT15 cell line) or mutant β-catenin (HCT116) using phospho-specific antibodies to c-Cbl tyrosine residues at 700 (Y700), 731 and 774 (Y774) positions. Biological significance of specific phosphorylation sites was evaluated with phospho-inactive mutants of c-Cbl (Y700F, Y731F and Y774F) using both the MTT cell proliferation assay and the non-adherent colony formation assay. Potential meditators of c-Cbl were examined using immunoblotting. Here we show that c-Cbl was phosphorylated at all three major phosphorylation sites (Y700, Y731 and Y774) in both Wnt-off and Wnt-on CRC cell lines. However, the amount of phosphorylation was reduced in Wnt-on CRC cell lines (DLD1, HCT116 and HCT15) compared to Wnt-off (RKO) cell line. Wild-type c-Cbl significantly enhanced survival in RKO cell lines and reduced survivability in DLD1 cell lines. In contrast to the effect of wild-type c-Cbl, Y731F increased CRC cell survival and non-adherent colony forming units. Our preliminary data suggests that c-Cbl Y731 mutation regulates CRC survival through β-catenin. c-Cbl is heavily phosphorylated in CRC cell lines, where wild-type c-Cbl significantly inhibits cell survival in Wnt-on and enhances cell survival in Wnt-off CRC cell lines. Furthermore, our data indicates that Y731 influences CRC survival and colony formation only in Wnt-on cell lines. Though further validation is required, this dichotomy in the effect of c-Cbl phosphorylation on CRC survival being mediated by Wnt status can be further explored as a potentially novel therapeutic target in mutant CRC tumors, which represent more than 90% of CRC cases in humans

Tapered, tubular polyester fabric

A tapered tubular polyester sleeve is described to serve as the flexible foundation for a spacesuit limb covering. The tube has a large end and a small end with a length to be determined. The ratio of taper is also determined by scale factors. All the warp yarns extend to the large end. A requisite number of warp yarns extend the full length of the sleeve. Other warp yarns extend from the large end but are terminated along the length of the sleeve. It is then woven with a filling yarn which extends in a full circle along the full length of the sleeve to thereby define the tapered sleeve. The sleeve after fabrication is then placed on a mandrel, heated in an oven, and then attached to the arm or other limb of the spacesuit

Analyses of Two End-User Software Vulnerability Exposure Metrics

The risk due to software vulnerabilities will not be completely resolved in the near future. Instead, putting reliable vulnerability measures into the hands of end-users so that informed decisions can be made regarding the relative security exposure incurred by choosing one software package over another is of importance. To that end, we propose two new security metrics, average active vulnerabilities (AAV) and vulnerability free days (VFD). These metrics capture both the speed with which new vulnerabilities are reported to vendors and the rate at which software vendors fix them. We then examine how the metrics are computed using currently available datasets and demonstrate their estimation in a simulation experiment using four different browsers as a case study. Finally, we discuss how the metrics may be used by the various stakeholders of software and to software usage decisions

A Music Concert with Kimberly Wright and Mark H. Lawrence: A Guest Artist Performance

This is the program for the guest artist performance of Kimberly Wright, on the horn, and Mark H. Lawrence, on the trombone. The guest artists were accompanied by Dr. Russell Hodges on piano. The concert was held on April 8, 1994, in the Recital Hall of the Mabee Fine Arts Center

Anagrus spp. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) reared from plants collected during winter in south central Washington and north central Oregon

Anagrus daanei S. Triapitsyn, A. erythroneurae S. Trjapitzin and Chiappini, and A. frettakovae S. Triapitsyn parasitize Western grape leafllopper, Erythroneura elegantula Osborn, and Virginia creeper leafhopper, E. ziczac Walsh, eggs during the summer. These leafhoppers overwinter as adults and Anagrus overwinter in leafhopper eggs. Thus, Anagrus must find other leafhopper eggs in which to overwinter. To identify plants on which these parasitoids and their host eggs overwinter, we collected 31 species of plants from 52 sites in the grape growing region of south central Washington and north central Oregon during the winter from 2000 to 2007. A total of 733 female and 1066 male Anagrus was reared from the plants. Twelve plant species harboured Anagrus spp. during the winter. Anagrus erythroneurae was reared from blackberry, Rubus armeniacus Focke; willow, Salix spp.; Wood’s rose, Rosa woodsii Lindley; sweetbrier rose, R. eglanteria L.; rugose rose, R. rugosa Thunberg; and ornamental roses, Rosa spp. L. Anagrus tretiakovae was found on choke cherry, Prunus virginiana L.; rugose rose; Rosa spp.; and blackberry. Only one specimen, from omamental rose, was tentatively identified as A. daanei. Other specimens were identified as A. atomus L., A. avalae Soyka, A. nr. sp. avalae, A. nr. sp. columbi Perkins, A. nigriventris Girault, and A. nr. sp. nigriventris