Effect of monensin on UASB-reactor performance.

A

A methodology to evaluate the reliability of the Belgian soil map for predicting the actual water table characteristics

Mast data on Belgian soils were gathered during the National Soil Survey (1947-1971), which resulted in the Belgian soil map (1:20,000). Due to the impact of man on the soil some of this information may be outdated. This study presents a methodology for evaluating soil maps with respect to actual water table characteristics. Ninety dip-wells were located on permanent grassland of two contrasting areas. The phreatic water table depth of these dip-wells was recorded fortnightly during a period of 2 to 9 years (1984-1992). A dip-well specific, regressive model was developed to describe these water table depth fluctuations and to detect changes in water management. This was found to be the case in 10 dip-wells, making them unsuitable for further analyses. Of the remaining 80 dip-wells the mean highest water table depth and mean lowest water table depth were calculated as characterising parameters of the water table depth fluctuations. In the Polder Area we found several indications of changes in the fluctuations of the water table depth due to human interventions during recent decades. Recorded depth to the gIey mottles was found to be no longer related to the actual water table depth characteristics (R(2) = 0.01 ). Accordingly, if information on the actual water table depth fluctuations is needed, these pedogenetic features are no longer workable. The Plateau of Izenberge was hardly influenced by water management practices. Therefore, the depth to the gley mottles could still be related to the mean highest water table depth (R(2) = 0.68). Accordingly, it remains possible to quantify the mean highest water table depth on the basis of traditional soil survey observations like those used during the National Soil Survey. As a consequence, the soil map data of this area can still be used to predict the actual water table characteristics

Regressive modelling of soil water table fluctuations

Environmental and agricultural studies require spatial information on the soil water table level. Data collection based on dip-well measurements requires frequent measurements and a high number of dip-wells as the soil water table depth is varying strongly within short distances and time intervals. This paper presents a model based method, requiring a limited number of dip-wells and related mapped soil information, to describe water table depth fluctuations in time and space. A dip-well specific, regressive model was developed with meteorological data as input. This model described the fluctuations in time at the dip-well locations successfully. Based on the relationship between model parameters and mapped soil data, spatially extended models were created

Neurofibromatosis type 1 protein and amyloid precursor protein interact in normal human melanocytes and colocalize with melanosomes

The neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene product, neurofibromin, is known to interact with Ras, thereby negatively regulating its growth-promoting function. Although this is a well-established interaction, the discovery of other neurofibromin interacting partners could reveal new functional properties of this large protein. Using yeast two-hybrid analysis against a brain cDNA library, we identified a novel interaction between the amyloid precursor protein and the GTPase activating protein-related domain of neurofibromin. This interaction was further analyzed in human melanocytes and confirmed by immunoprecipitation and colocalization studies. In addition, we observed a colocalization of amyloid precursor protein and neurofibromin with melanosomes. Amyloid precursor protein has been proposed to function as a vesicle cargo receptor for the motor protein kinesin-1 in neurons. This colocalization of amyloid precursor protein and neurofibromin with melanosomes was lost in melanocytes obtained from normal skin of a NF1 patient. We suggest that a complex between amyloid precursor protein, neurofibromin, and melanosomes might be important in melanosome transport, which could shed a new light on the etiopathogenesis of pigment-cell-related manifestations in NF1

Media 2: Holographic laser Doppler imaging of microvascular blood flow

Originally published in JOSA A on 01 December 2014 (josaa-31-12-2723

Media 1: Holographic laser Doppler imaging of microvascular blood flow

Originally published in JOSA A on 01 December 2014 (josaa-31-12-2723