A digital system for accurate time sector division of a spin stabilized vehicle

Digital system for accurate time sector division of spin stabilized vehicle as used on Pioneer space probe

Developmental gene regulation during tomato fruit ripening and in-vitro sepal morphogenesis

BACKGROUND: Red ripe tomatoes are the result of numerous physiological changes controlled by hormonal and developmental signals, causing maturation or differentiation of various fruit tissues simultaneously. These physiological changes affect visual, textural, flavor, and aroma characteristics, making the fruit more appealing to potential consumers for seed dispersal. Developmental regulation of tomato fruit ripening has, until recently, been lacking in rigorous investigation. We previously indicated the presence of up-regulated transcription factors in ripening tomato fruit by data mining in TIGR Tomato Gene Index. In our in-vitro system, green tomato sepals cultured at 16 to 22°C turn red and swell like ripening tomato fruit while those at 28°C remain green. RESULTS: Here, we have further examined regulation of putative developmental genes possibly involved in tomato fruit ripening and development. Using molecular biological methods, we have determined the relative abundance of various transcripts of genes during in vitro sepal ripening and in tomato fruit pericarp at three stages of development. A number of transcripts show similar expression in fruits to RIN and PSY1, ripening-associated genes, and others show quite different expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation has resulted in confirmation of some of our previous database mining results and has revealed differences in gene expression that may be important for tomato cultivar variation. We present new and intriguing information on genes that should now be studied in a more focused fashion

Evaluation of the Environmental Impact of Milk Quotas

The aim of this study is to examine the environmental impacts of the different systems for allocation and transfer of milk quota under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in individual Member States of the European Union (EU). In particular, it seeks to identify the ways in which differences in the implementation of milk quota regimes can impact on various sectoral and farm management trends and the environmental implications of these

South Carolina Department of Revenue tax processes : outsource or continue in-house processing

DOR has an opportunity to reduce it processing cost through outsourcing. Careful planning and employees involvement are the keys to the success of outsourcing. As the TERI employees approach their departure time, we can maximize our efforts by documenting all of our processed. Development of knowledge management database from our experienced staff is essential. As State funding continues to decrease, outsourcing will become more of an investment rather than an option

Understanding the perception of biosecurity measures surrounding sheep scab disease and round worm control on the island of Lewis and Harris.

The phrase ‘biosecurity’ was not commonly recognised, but when talking, some participants described good biosecurity practices. “Best-fit” biosecurity practices are adopted on the island Awareness of the issues, available diagnostics and control options for sheep scab and roundworm vary considerably Few participants were familiar with the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep recommendations (https://www.scops.org.uk/) Leisure users were identified as a risk to livestock Disease risks posed by wild geese and red deer are believed to be a threat to livestock (and human) health

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) protects against oleate-induced INS-1E beta cell dysfunction by preserving carbohydrate metabolism

Aims/hypothesis: Pancreatic beta cells chronically exposed to fatty acids may lose specific functions and even undergo apoptosis. Generally, lipotoxicity is triggered by saturated fatty acids, whereas unsaturated fatty acids induce lipodysfunction, the latter being characterised by elevated basal insulin release and impaired glucose responses. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) has been proposed to play a protective role in this process, although the cellular mechanisms involved are unclear. Methods: We modulated PPARα production in INS-1E beta cells and investigated key metabolic pathways and genes responsible for metabolism-secretion coupling during a culture period of 3days in the presence of 0.4mmol/l oleate. Results: In INS-1E cells, the secretory dysfunction primarily induced by oleate was aggravated by silencing of PPARα. Conversely, PPARα upregulation preserved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, essentially by increasing the response at a stimulatory concentration of glucose (15mmol/l), a protection we also observed in human islets. The protective effect was associated with restored glucose oxidation rate and upregulation of the anaplerotic enzyme pyruvate carboxylase. PPARα overproduction increased both β-oxidation and fatty acid storage in the form of neutral triacylglycerol, revealing overall induction of lipid metabolism. These observations were substantiated by expression levels of associated genes. Conclusions/interpretation: PPARα protected INS-1E beta cells from oleate-induced dysfunction, promoting both preservation of glucose metabolic pathways and fatty acid turnove

Dependence of n-butane activation on active site of vanadium phosphate catalysts

The nature and the role of oxygen species and vanadium oxidation states on the activation of n-butane for selective oxidation to maleic anhydride were investigated. Bi–Fe doped and undoped vanadium phosphate catalysts were used a model catalyst. XRD revealed that Bi–Fe mixture dopants led to formation of αII-VOPO4 phase together with (VO)2P2O7 as a dominant phase when the materials were heated in n-butane/air to form the final catalysts. TPR analysis showed that the reduction behaviour of Bi–Fe doped catalysts was dominated by the reduction peak assigned to the reduction of V5+ species as compared to the undoped catalyst, which gave the reduction of V4+ as the major feature. An excess of the oxygen species (O2−) associated with V5+ in Bi–Fe doped catalysts improved the maleic anhydride selectivity but significantly lowering the rate of n-butane conversion. The reactive pairing of V4+-O− was shown to be the centre for n-butane activation. It is proposed that the availability and appearance of active oxygen species (O−) on the surface of vanadium phosphate catalyst is the rate determining step of the overall reaction