A Compilation of the Bioscience Professional Development Opportunities Offered to K-12 Teachers in Iowa, September 14, 2005

Professional development opportunities are offered piecemeal to K-12 teachers in Iowa through Area Education Agencies (AEAs), Regents’ institutions, community colleges, private colleges, private corporations, and out-of-state institutions (often online). Compiling a comprehensive list of in-service and pre-service opportunities for primary and secondary public school educators is not feasible for a variety of reasons. However, this report briefly summarizes most of the bioscience-related options for professional development available for K-12 educators this summer and over the past year.

ERK1/2 controls Na,K-ATPase activity and transepithelial sodium transport in the principal cell of the cortical collecting duct of the mouse kidney.

The collecting duct of normal kidney exhibits significant activity of the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway as shown in vivo by immunostaining of phosphorylated active ERK1/2 (pERK1/2). The MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway controls many different ion transports both in proximal and distal nephron, raising the question of whether this pathway is involved in the basal and/or hormone-dependent transepithelial sodium reabsorption in the principal cell of the cortical collecting duct (CCD), a process mediated by the apical epithelial sodium channel and the basolateral sodium pump (Na,K-ATPase). To answer this question we used ex vivo microdissected CCDs from normal mouse kidney or in vitro cultured mpkCCDcl4 principal cells. Significant basal levels of pERK1/2 were observed ex vivo and in vitro. Aldosterone and vasopressin, known to up-regulate sodium reabsorption in CCDs, did not change ERK1/2 activity either ex vivo or in vitro. Basal and aldosterone- or vasopressin-stimulated sodium transport was down-regulated by the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, in parallel with a decrease in pERK1/2 in vitro. The activity of Na,K-ATPase but not that of epithelial sodium channel was inhibited by MEK1/2 inhibitors in both unstimulated and aldosterone- or vasopressin-stimulated CCDs in vitro. Cell surface biotinylation showed that intrinsic activity rather than cell surface expression of Na,K-ATPase was controlled by pERK1/2. PD98059 also significantly inhibited the activity of Na,K-ATPase ex vivo. Our data demonstrate that the ERK1/2 pathway controls Na,K-ATPase activity and transepithelial sodium transport in the principal cell and indicate that basal constitutive activity of the ERK1/2 pathway is a critical component of this control.

Structural analysis, clay mineralogy and K-Ar dating of fault gouges from Centovalli Line (Central Alps) for reconstruction of their recent activity

Between the cities of Domodossola and Locarno, the complex ``Centovalli Line'' tectonic zone of the Central Alps outlines deformation phases over a long period of time (probably starting similar to 30 Ma ago) and under variable P-T conditions. The last deformation phases developed gouge-bearing faults with a general E-W trend that crosscuts the roots of the Alpine Canavese zone and the Finero ultramafic body. Kinematic indicators show that the general motion was mainly dextral associated with back thrusting towards the S. The <2 mu m clay fractions of fault gouges from Centovalli Line consist mainly of illite, smectite and chlorite with varied illite-smectite, chlorite-smectite and chlorite-serpentine mixed-layers. Constrained with the illite crystallinity index, the thermal conditions induced by the tectonic activity show a gradual trend from anchizonal to diagenetic conditions. The <2 and <0.2 mu M clay fractions, and hydrothermal K-feldspar separates all provide K-Ar ages between 14.2 +/- 2.9 Ma and roughly 0 Ma, with major episodes at about 12,8, 6 and close to 0 Ma These ages set the recurrent tectonic activity and the associated fluid circulations between Upper Miocene and Recent. On the basis of the K-Ar ages and with a thermal gradient of 25-30 degrees C/km, the studied fault zones were located at a depth of 4-7 km. If they were active until now as observed in field, the exhumation was approximately 2.5-3.0 km for the last 12 Ma with a mean velocity of 0.4 mm/y. Comparison with available models on the recent Alpine evolution shows that the tectonic activity in the area relates to a continuum of the back-thrusting movements of the Canavese Line, and/or to several late-extensional phases of the Rhone-Simplon line. The Centovalli-Val Vigezzo zone therefore represents a major tectonic zone of the Central-Western Alps resulting from different interacting tectonic events. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of the pseudopotential on the properties of liquid rubidium at 315 K

The influence of the pseudopotential on both the structure and the self-diffusion of liquid rubidium at the melting point has been investigated by means of molecular-dynamics calculations. The model potential considered has been computed from the pseudopotential of Ashcroft, the dielectric function of Geldart and Vosko, and a Born-Mayer term. Four different values for the core radius which enters as input in the pseudopotential have been considered. In this way we have been able to observe and interpret the effect of this contribution on the properties of the liquid.

Produtividade e bienalidade da produção de cafezais adensados, sob diferentes doses de N e K

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubação com N e K sobre a produtividade e a bienalidade de produção de cafeeiros em plantio adensado, em estudo de longa duração. Foram avaliados dois experimentos, na região da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, conduzidos em blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas no tempo. No primeiro experimento, realizado no espaçamento de 1,5x0,7 m (9.523 plantas por hectare), foram avaliados os efeitos de sete doses de N + K2O na proporção 1:1 (0, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1.000 e 1.200 kg ha‑1 por ano), durante oito safras (2001/2002 a 2008/2009). Como o fertilizante utilizado tinha proporção 1:1, para obter a dose utilizada de cada elemento (N ou K2O), deve-se dividir a dose total por dois. O segundo experimento foi conduzido no espaçamento de 2,5x0,6 m (6.666 plantas por hectare), em arranjo fatorial, com cinco doses de N (0, 150, 300, 450 e 600 kg ha‑1 por ano) e cinco doses de K2O (0, 150, 300, 450 e 600 kg ha‑1 por ano), durante seis safras (2005/2006 a 2010/2011). As doses associadas à máxima produtividade de café beneficiado variaram de 424 a 560 kg ha‑1, para N, e de 21 a 338 kg ha‑1, para K2O. A adubação com N reduz os efeitos da bienalidade da produção do cafeeiro, e a adubação com K, em anos de baixa produtividade, favorece a recuperação da produtividade do cafeeiro no ano seguinte.

Role of P-glycoprotein in the uptake/efflux transport of oral vitamin K antagonists and rivaroxaban through the Caco-2 cell model.

Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are prescribed worldwide and remain the oral anticoagulant of choice. These drugs are characterized by a narrow therapeutic index and a large inter- and intra-individual variability. P-glycoprotein could contribute to this variability. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of P-gp in the transport of acenocoumarol, phenprocoumon and warfarin using an in vitro Caco-2 cell monolayer model. These results were compared with those obtained with rivaroxaban, a new oral anticoagulant known to be a P-gp substrate. The transport of these four drugs was assessed at pH conditions 6.8/7.4 in the presence or absence of the P-gp inhibitor cyclosporine A (10 μM) and the more potent and specific P-gp inhibitor valspodar (5 μM). Analytical quantification was performed by LC/MS. With an efflux ratio of 1.7 and a significant decrease in the efflux (Papp B-A), in the presence of P-gp inhibitors at a concentration of 50 μM, acenocoumarol can be considered as a weak P-gp substrate. Concerning phenprocoumon, the results suggest that this molecule is a poor P-gp substrate. The P-gp inhibitors did not affect significantly the transport of warfarin. The efflux of rivaroxaban was strongly inhibited by the two P-gp inhibitors. In conclusion, none of the three VKAs tested are strong P-gp substrates. However, acenocoumarol can be considered as a weak P-gp substrate and phenprocoumon as a poor P-gp substrate.

Aproximación al reajuste automático de centroides mediante la heurística de Lloyd para resolver el problema de las K-Medias

Peer-reviewed

[Kepek a Keleti-Karpatokbol... Bilder aus den Ostkarpaten... Budapest, Birkholz, Vayda und Preszburg, s.d. Album de 32 phot. des Carpathes orientales par K. Divald, donateur en 1888]

Comprend : Ó-Kemenczei gereb. Unghmagye ; A Popp Ivan (1940 m), Szerban (1795 m) és Poloninka (1625 m) a Precsulka elöhavasról. Máramorosmegye ; Szaláncz várromjai az Ujhely-Kassai vasut vonalán. Albanjmegye ; Crachyt szikla a "Szinnai kö" tetején (998 méter), Zemplén és Unghmegye Határán

Jätehuoltosuunnitelma Pohjois-Karjalan keskussairaalan laajennus K:ssa

Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli suunnitella toimiva jätehuoltoPohjois-Karjalan keskussairaalan alueelle vuosina 2007-2008 rakennettavaan laajennus K:hon. Tavoitteena oli löytää kustannustehokas ja hyvin vanhan rakennuskannan logistiikan kanssa yhteen toimiva jätehuollon vaihtoehto. Suunnittelua ohjasivat lakien, asetusten ja muiden määräyksien ohella laajennuksen pitkälle edennyt suunnitteluvaihe ja vanhan rakennuskannan jätehuollon toimintatavat. Jätehuolto on yksi merkittävä osa sairaalan perustehtävää palvelevista tukitoiminnoista. Jätehuoltojärjestelmä on sairaanhoitotyötä palveleva, jos järjestelyt ovat loogisia, toimivia ja logistiset yhteydet ovat mahdollisimman lyhyitä. Nykyinen ihmistyövoiman käyttöön perustuva jätehuollon prosessi on esitetty varsin tarkasti, sillä laajennuksen jätehuoltosuunnitelman on käytännön syistä pohjauduttava nykyiseen toimintatapaan. Työssä esitetään uusia jätehuollon vaihtoehtoja kustannusarvioineen, mutta ehdotukset jäävät lähinnä visiotasolle laajennuksen pitkälle ehtineen suunnitteluvaiheen vuoksi. Konkreettiset vaihtoehdot koskevat jätejakeiden keräystä ja niiden kuljetuksia. Keskus sairaalan jätehuollon tehostaminen vaatii kokonaisvaltaisen jätehuoltosuunnitelman laatimista koko sairaalan alueelle. Sen myötä on mahdollista lisätä kustannustehokkuutta ottamalla käyttöön teknisiä ratkaisuja. Jätehuoltosuunnitelma laajennukseen on työssä tehty, mutta työn suurimmaksi saavutukseksi jää kuitenkin esitys myöhempien hakkeiden jätehuollon suunnittelun aikaistamisesta jo hankesuunnitteluvaiheeseen.

Tieliikelaitoksen t&k -projektien kannattavuuden arviointi

Työn tavoitteena oli laatia Tieliikelaitoksen tutkimus- ja kehitysprojektien kannattavuuden arvioinnin toimintamalli ja laskentamalli. Työn tavoitteena oli myös kehittääTieliikelaitoksen tutkimus- ja kehitysprojektin kannattavuuden arviointia ja tuottaa informaatiota t&k -projektien valintatilanteisiin. Työ koostuu teoriasta, haastatteluista, t&k -projektien kannattavuuden arvioinnin toimintamallista ja laskentamallista. Työssä käsitellään kirjallisuudesta ja haastatteluista esille tulleita käytäntöjä ja menetelmiä, joiden avulla tutkimus- ja kehitysprojektien kannattavuutta voidaan arvioida. Työssä kuvataan myös arviointimenetelmien käyttöä t&k -prosessin eri vaiheissa. Työn merkittävimpinä tuloksina ovat laaditut toimintamalli ja laskentamalli Tieliikelaitoksen t&k -projektien kannattavuuden arviointiin. Lisäksi työssä tuloksena oli, että arviointimenetelmiä tulee käyttää monipuolisesti ja projektien arviointi tulee olla jatkuvaa. Projektien kannattavuuden arviointi ei voi perustua pelkästään taloudellisiin menetelmiin vaan arviointiin tulee valita sekä taloudellisia että laadullisia menetelmiä. Projektien jatkuvalla arvioinnilla ja arviointimenetelmien käytön monipuolisuudella varmistetaan oikeiden ja kannattavien projektien toteuttaminen.