Portland Cement Concrete Curing Compound Performance Phase I and Phase II, MLR-02-03, 2003

Testing the efficiency of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) curing compounds is currently done following Test Method Iowa 901-D, May 2002. Concrete test specimens are prepared from mortar materials and are wet cured 5 hours before the curing compound is applied. All brands of curing compound submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation are laboratory tested for comparative performance under the same test conditions. These conditions are different than field PCC paving conditions. Phase I tests followed Test Method Iowa 901-D, but modified the application amounts of the curing compound. Test results showed that the application of two coats of one-half thickness each increased efficiency compared to one full thickness coat. Phase II tests also used the modified application amounts, used a concrete mix (instead of a mortar mix) and applied curing compound a few minutes after molding. Measurements of losses, during spraying of the curing compound, were noted and were found to be significant. Test results showed that application amounts, testing techniques, concrete specimen mix design and spray losses do influence the curing compound efficiency. The significance of the spray losses indicates that the conventional test method being used (Iowa 901 D) should be revised.

The Protein quality control system manages plant defence compound synthesis

Jasmonates are ubiquitous oxylipin-derived phytohormones that are essential in the regulation of many development, growth and defence processes. Across the plant kingdom, jasmonates act as elicitors of the production of bioactive secondarymetabolites that serve in defence against attackers. Knowledge of the conserved jasmonate perception and early signalling machineries is increasing, but the downstream mechanisms that regulate defence metabolism remain largely unknown. Herewe showthat, in the legumeMedicago truncatula, jasmonate recruits the endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD)quality control system tomanagethe production of triterpene saponins, widespread bioactive compounds that share a biogenic origin with sterols. An ERAD-type RING membraneanchor E3 ubiquitin ligase is co-expressed with saponin synthesis enzymes to control the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the rate-limiting enzyme in the supply of the ubiquitous terpene precursor isopentenyl diphosphate. Thus, unrestrained bioactive saponin accumulationis prevented and plant development and integrity secured. This control apparatus is equivalent to the ERAD system that regulates sterol synthesis in yeasts and mammals but that uses distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases, of the HMGR degradation 1 (HRD1) type, to direct destruction of HMGR. Hence, the general principles for the management of sterol and triterpene saponin biosynthesis are conserved across eukaryotes but can be controlled by divergent regulatory cues.

The Protein quality control system manages plant defence compound synthesis

Jasmonates are ubiquitous oxylipin-derived phytohormones that are essential in the regulation of many development, growth and defence processes. Across the plant kingdom, jasmonates act as elicitors of the production of bioactive secondarymetabolites that serve in defence against attackers. Knowledge of the conserved jasmonate perception and early signalling machineries is increasing, but the downstream mechanisms that regulate defence metabolism remain largely unknown. Herewe showthat, in the legumeMedicago truncatula, jasmonate recruits the endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD)quality control system tomanagethe production of triterpene saponins, widespread bioactive compounds that share a biogenic origin with sterols. An ERAD-type RING membraneanchor E3 ubiquitin ligase is co-expressed with saponin synthesis enzymes to control the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the rate-limiting enzyme in the supply of the ubiquitous terpene precursor isopentenyl diphosphate. Thus, unrestrained bioactive saponin accumulationis prevented and plant development and integrity secured. This control apparatus is equivalent to the ERAD system that regulates sterol synthesis in yeasts and mammals but that uses distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases, of the HMGR degradation 1 (HRD1) type, to direct destruction of HMGR. Hence, the general principles for the management of sterol and triterpene saponin biosynthesis are conserved across eukaryotes but can be controlled by divergent regulatory cues.

The Protein quality control system manages plant defence compound synthesis

Jasmonates are ubiquitous oxylipin-derived phytohormones that are essential in the regulation of many development, growth and defence processes. Across the plant kingdom, jasmonates act as elicitors of the production of bioactive secondarymetabolites that serve in defence against attackers. Knowledge of the conserved jasmonate perception and early signalling machineries is increasing, but the downstream mechanisms that regulate defence metabolism remain largely unknown. Herewe showthat, in the legumeMedicago truncatula, jasmonate recruits the endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD)quality control system tomanagethe production of triterpene saponins, widespread bioactive compounds that share a biogenic origin with sterols. An ERAD-type RING membraneanchor E3 ubiquitin ligase is co-expressed with saponin synthesis enzymes to control the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the rate-limiting enzyme in the supply of the ubiquitous terpene precursor isopentenyl diphosphate. Thus, unrestrained bioactive saponin accumulationis prevented and plant development and integrity secured. This control apparatus is equivalent to the ERAD system that regulates sterol synthesis in yeasts and mammals but that uses distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases, of the HMGR degradation 1 (HRD1) type, to direct destruction of HMGR. Hence, the general principles for the management of sterol and triterpene saponin biosynthesis are conserved across eukaryotes but can be controlled by divergent regulatory cues.

The Protein quality control system manages plant defence compound synthesis

Jasmonates are ubiquitous oxylipin-derived phytohormones that are essential in the regulation of many development, growth and defence processes. Across the plant kingdom, jasmonates act as elicitors of the production of bioactive secondarymetabolites that serve in defence against attackers. Knowledge of the conserved jasmonate perception and early signalling machineries is increasing, but the downstream mechanisms that regulate defence metabolism remain largely unknown. Herewe showthat, in the legumeMedicago truncatula, jasmonate recruits the endoplasmic-reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD)quality control system tomanagethe production of triterpene saponins, widespread bioactive compounds that share a biogenic origin with sterols. An ERAD-type RING membraneanchor E3 ubiquitin ligase is co-expressed with saponin synthesis enzymes to control the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the rate-limiting enzyme in the supply of the ubiquitous terpene precursor isopentenyl diphosphate. Thus, unrestrained bioactive saponin accumulationis prevented and plant development and integrity secured. This control apparatus is equivalent to the ERAD system that regulates sterol synthesis in yeasts and mammals but that uses distinct E3 ubiquitin ligases, of the HMGR degradation 1 (HRD1) type, to direct destruction of HMGR. Hence, the general principles for the management of sterol and triterpene saponin biosynthesis are conserved across eukaryotes but can be controlled by divergent regulatory cues.

Evolution and sedimentology of a channel fill in the sandy braided South Saskatchewan River and its comparison to the deposits of an adjacent compound bar

The depositional stratigraphy of within-channel deposits in sandy braided rivers is dominated by a variety of barforms (both singular `unit' bars and complex `compound' bars), as well as the infill of individual channels (herein termed `channel fills'). The deposits of bars and channel fills define the key components of facies models for braided rivers and their within-channel heterogeneity, knowledge of which is important for reservoir characterization. However, few studies have sought to address the question of whether the deposits of bars and channel fills can be readily differentiated from each other. This paper presents the first quantitative study to achieve this aim, using aerial images of an evolving modern sandy braided river and geophysical imaging of its subsurface deposits. Aerial photographs taken between 2000 and 2004 document the abandonment and fill of a 1 3 km long, 80 m wide anabranch channel in the sandy braided South Saskatchewan River, Canada. Upstream river regulation traps the majority of very fine sediment and there is little clay (<1%) in the bed sediments. Channel abandonment was initiated by a series of unit bars that stalled and progressively blocked the anabranch entrance, together with dune deposition and stacking at the anabranch entrance and exit. Complete channel abandonment and subsequent fill of up to 3 m of sediment took approximately two years. Thirteen kilometres of ground-penetrating radar surveys, coupled with 18 cores, were obtained over the channel fill and an adjacent 750 m long, 400 m wide, compound bar, enabling a quantitative analysis of the channel and bar deposits. Results show that, in terms of grain-size trends, facies proportions and scale of deposits, there are only subtle differences between the channel fill and bar deposits which, therefore, renders them indistinguishable. Thus, it may be inappropriate to assign different geometric and sedimentological attributes to channel fill and bar facies in object-based models of sandy braided river alluvial architecture.

Comparison of Compound Lean Nozzles and Controlled Flow Nozzles at Off-Design

Turbokoneet ja etenkin höyryturbiinit ovat usein suunniteltu ja optimoitu toimimaan tietyssä toimintapisteessä jossa häviöt on minimoitu ja hyötysuhde maksimoitu. Joissakin tapauksissa on kuitenkin tarpeellista käyttää turbiinia toimintapisteen ulkopuolella. Tällöin turbiinin läpi virtaava massavirta muuttuu ja yleensä heikentää hyötysuhdetta. Turbokoneiden suorituskykyä voidaan parantaa käyttämällä kolmidimensionaalisesti muotoiltuja siipiä. Työssä on vertailtu laskennallisesti kahta kohtuullisesti muotoiltua suutinta (Compound lean ja Controlled flow) niiden suunnitellun toimintapisteen ulkopuolella. Kolmas suutin, ilman kolmidimensionaalista muotoilua on mukana vertailukohteena. Suutinten suorituskykyä tutkitaan laskennallisen virtausmekaniikan avulla olosuhteissa, jotka ovat toimintapisteen ulkopuolella. Virtauksen muutoksia tutkitaan kokonaispainehäviön, isentrooppisen hyötysuhteen ja virtauspinnan yhdenmukaisuuden avulla. Virtauspintoja verrataan ulosvirtauskulman, massavirran ja toisiovirtausvektoreiden jakauman avulla. Erot suutinten suorituskykyvyssä korostavat ylikuormalla. Kun massavirran arvoa on kohotettu eniten, Compound lean suuttimilla hyötysuhde laskee Controlled flow suuttimeen verrattuna vähemmän. Alikuormalla, kun massavirran arvoa lasketaan, erot suuttimien suorituskyvyssä pienenevät ja tutkittujen suuttimien ulosvirtaus on samankaltainen.

Transition mutation in codon 248 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene induced by reactive oxygen species and a nitric oxide-releasing compound.

Exposing the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B to the nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium 1-(N,N-diethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1, 2-diolate (DEA/NO) at an initial concentration of 0.6 mM while generating superoxide ion at the rate of 1 microM/min with the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase (HX/XO) system induced C:G-->T:A transition mutations in codon 248 of the p53 gene. This pattern of mutagenicity was not seen by 'fish-restriction fragment length polymorphism/polymerase chain reaction' (fish-RFLP/PCR) on exposure to DEA/NO alone, however, exposure to HX/XO led to various mutations, suggesting that co-generation of NO and superoxide was responsible for inducing the observed point mutation. DEA/NO potentiated the ability of HX/XO to induce lipid peroxidation as well as DNA single- and double-strand breaks under these conditions, while 0.6 mM DEA/NO in the absence of HX/XO had no significant effect on these parameters. The results show that a point mutation seen at high frequency in certain common human tumors can be induced by simultaneous exposure to reactive oxygen species and a NO source.

Compound Heterozygous VSX2 Mutation Causing Bilateral Anophthalmia in a Consanguineous Egyptian Family

Purpose: To report the clinical and genetic study of a child with bilateral anophthalmia. Methods: A 14-year-old Egyptian boy, born from consanguineous parents, underwent a general and a full ophthalmological examination. Mutation screen of the A/M genes with recessive inheritance was done stepwise and DNA was analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Results: Bilateral anophthalmia, arachnodactyly of the feet and high arched palate were observed on general examination. The parents were first cousins and healthy. Sequencing analysis revealed a novel compound heterozygous mutation in one of the copy of exon 2 of VSX2 and a possible deletion of at least exon 2 on the other allele. Conclusions: A compound heterozygous VSX2 mutation associated with anophthalmia was identified in a patient from an Egyptian consanguineous family. This report brings the number of VSX2 mutation in anophthalmia/microphthalmia (A/M) to 13. Functional consequences of the reported changes still need to be characterized, as well as the percentage of A/M caused by mutations in the VSX2 gene. This family also shows that despite consanguinity, heterozygous mutations can also happen and one should not restrict the molecular analysis to homozygous mutations.