Sales higher thanks to efficient organic chains

The challenge that the organic sector faces is clear; it needs to grow. But it needs to do so in a balanced fashion, whereby what the producer supplies exactly matches consumer demand. We have to know what the consumer wants and when, and producers have to be willing to adjust their production accordingly. Additionally, new chain structures are required that can supply products efficiently at a low cost price, and with sufficient attention to quality and food safety. These are precisely the aspects that were focused on in the 28 projects of the Dutch co-innovation programme ‘Professionalizing organic sales chains’, which ran from 2001 through 2005

REPCO contribution to the development of products for apple scab control

Natural compounds were sprayed according the RimPro scab warning system from start of bud break until the mid of June. Scab incidence was measured on the leaves and the fruit. Phytotoxicitiy and russet-ing was assessed. The natural compounds were sprayed together with sulphur and were compared with the standard biological fungicides copper hy-droxide and sulphur alone. Compound E73 + sulphur was the most effective on fruit. Armicarb and Resis-tim both sprayed with sulphur were comparable in efficacy with Funguran-OH. In our study laminarin (GL 32) did not shown any effect on the control of scab on apple

Enhancement of degradation of fallen apple leaves

Leaves from organic apple trees were dipped with different organic materials and leaves were placed on the orchard floor in autumn. Leaf area and the amount of ascospores of Venturia inaequalis were measured in spring. The objective of this research was to find alternatives for urea that simulate the decomposition of apple leaves and reduces the asco-spore production. In both years urea gave an increase of the leaf degradation and a significant reduction of the number of ascospores. The antagonist Coniothyrium minitans had no significant effect on the ascospore production in both years but decreased the leaf degradation. Beet pulp showed a significant reduction of the number of spores but reduced the leaf degradation rate. Applying extra earthworms increased the degradation

What works and in what ways? The contributions of mentoring towards diversity, progression and achievement

In this paper I use three case studies to illustrate how peer mentoring has been developed and organised at the University and, in turn, how these specific examples of practice have contributed to diversity, progression and achievement. However, I also use these case studies to raise questions about the impact of developments in peer mentoring on the learning of the mentors and mentees, and of the organisation, and the implications of learning through mentoring for the development of policy on widening participation. I want to suggest that whist these specific examples have ‘worked’ in their contributions towards diversity, progression and achievement – the intended policy outcomes- there is another no less interesting dimension of ‘ what works’ and that is the role of the mentors and mentees as policy actors. In the final section of the paper I will reflect on this and the extent to which the learners engaged in mentoring – whether as mentors or mentees – are policy actors helping to shape policy rather than the passive objects of that policy

Localisation of the Ki-67 antigen within the nucleolus: Evidence for a fibrillarin-deficient region of the dense fibrillar component

The Ki-67 antigen is detected in proliferating cells in all phases of the cell division cycle. Throughout most of interphase, the Ki-67 antigen is localised within the nucleolus. To learn more about the relationship between the Ki-67 antigen and the nucleolus, we have compared the distribution of Ki-67 antibodies with that of a panel of antibodies reacting with nucleolar components by confocal laser scanning microscopy of normal human dermal fibroblasts in interphase stained in a double indirect immunofluorescence assay. During early G1, the Ki-67 antigen is detected at a large number of discrete foci throughout the nucleoplasm, extending to the nuclear envelope. During Sphase and G2, the antigen is located in the nucleolus. Double indirect immunofluorescence studies have revealed that during early to mid G1 the Ki-67 antigen is associated with reforming nucleoli within discrete domains which are distinct from domains containing two of the major nucleolar antigens fibrillarin and RNA polymerase I. Within mature nucleoli the Ki-67 antigen is absent from regions containing RNA polymerase I and displays only partial co-localisation within domains containing either fibrillarin or B23/nucleophosmin. Following disruption of nucleolar structure, induced by treatment of cells with the drug 5,6-dichloro-1-b-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole or with actinomycin D, the Ki-67 antigen translocates to nucleoplasmic foci which are associated with neither fibrillarin nor RNA polymerase I. However, in treated cells the Ki-67 Ag remains associated with, but not co-localised to, regions containing B23/nucleophosmin. Our observations suggest that the Ki-67 antigen associates with a fibrillarin- deficient region of the dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus. Integrity of this region is lost following either nucleolar dispersal or nucleolar segregation

Effect of Catalyst in Volume Percent Yield Biodiesel From Stearin by Transesterification Process

Use of fuel oil is increasingly high, but the problem is not in line with the production of fuel oil which is increasingly lower, so to anticipate and meet the fuel needs of the growing diesel engine, it requires a search and research on alternative fuels. To slow and reduce dependence on petroleum fuels is one of them is the use of biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel is a fuel alternative to petroleum. The use of biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel (diesel). Biodiesel is generally easy to use, is biodegradable, nontoxic, and free of sulfur and aromatics. Making biodiesel at this research as a form of anticipatory problem. Research on effects of the volume of catalyst in the manufacture of biodiesel by transesterification process that has been done to produce optimum conditions just as the use of stearin as much as 500 ml, catalyst volume of 25 ml and 175 ml using transesterification temperature between 60-65°C for one hour so that the obtained yield 65.42%, density 0.875 g/ml, pH 6.95, water content 0.014%, flash point 179oC, Calorific Value of 6318 cal/g and cetane number of 64.5. This shows that the more volume of catalyst and methanol is added to the product yield will be higher but the temperature and time used must match the type of solvent and catalyst when the transesterification