CHARACTERIZATION OF \u3ci\u3eDE NOVO\u3c/i\u3e FATTY ACID BIOSYNthesis IN SOYBEAN SOMATIC EMBRYO PLASTIDS

A method for the isolation of intact physiologically active plastids from rapidly developing soybean (Glycine max L.) somatic embryos has been developed for the in vitro study of lipid metabolism. Using de novo fatty acid biosynthesis from 14C-acetate as a marker for physiological functionality, the greatest rates of fatty acid biosynthesis were recovered in 3000 x g fractions that were isolated in the presence of 0.5 M sorbitol, with essentially no activity occurring in the 3000 x g supernatant. Plastids purified on 10% Percoll were approximately 70 and 97 % free from mitochondrial and ER contamination, respectively, as judged by marker enzymes analysis. Isolated plastids have an absolute requirement for exogenously supplied ATP, coenzyme A and bicarbonate for in vitro fatty acid biosynthesis. The greatest rates of fatty acid biosynthesis were observed in the presence of up to 7 mM, 0.35 mM and 60 mM of each of these cofactors, respectively. Although not required for activity, fatty acid biosynthesis was improved by about 100 % by the addition of both MgCl2 and glycerol-3-phosphate. The addition or omission of NADH and NADPH had little or no effect. Fatty acid biosynthesis was optimal at pH 8 in 50 mM Tricine buffer. Under optimum conditions, maximum rates of fatty acid biosynthesis ranged from 400 to 800 nmoles acetate/hr-mg chlorophyll. In comparison to acetate, there was a strong preference for pyruvate as a precursor for fatty acid biosynthesis which was followed by glucose-6-phosphate and glucose, while malate was relatively ineffective as a precursor. Radioactivity from 14C-acetate was recovered almost exclusively in palmitic and oleic acid. Similarly, radioactivity from 14C-acetate or glycerol-3-phosphate was recovered mainly in phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid and neutral lipids, with smaller amounts of phosphatidylglycerol and the plant sulfolipid. Although plastids from soybean somatic embryos are pigmented green with chlorophyll, light has essentially no effect on plastid lipid metabolism. Our observations indicate that soybean embryo plastids more closely physiologically resemble heterotrophic plastids than photosynthetic plastids

Sink or Swim: Bridging the Gap Between the Flags

The focus of this presentation is on the nursing undergraduate curriculum at Notre Dame University and its contribution towards the recruitment of perioperative nurses in the nursing workforce. I will display aspects of the undergraduate curriculum that supports student nurses therefore preventing them from floundering in the breakers ‘sinking’ in the Deep blue ocean of perioperative nursing

Respondent Inferior : The Rule of Vanderpool v. Grange Insurance Association, 110 Wash. 2d 483, 756 P.2d 111 (1998)?

At common law, the majority of states held that a tort claimant\u27s release of either an employer whose sole liability was vicarious or the employee who had committed the tort operated to release the other. Washington follows this position for releases of an employee, but Vanderpool v. Grange Insurance Association announces a different rule for releases of an employer. This Note examines Vanderpool in view of relevant public policies, statutes, and prior case law and recommends adopting a rule that the release of a solvent employer operate to release its employee-tortfeasor

The Effect of the Environment on Office Worker Productivity and Creativitiy

This paper will explore the effect of the physical and human environment on office worker creativity and productivity. The study will begin with a discussion of creativity, addressing questions such as: Why do we want creative employees? What value to they bring to an organization? Can the elements that enhance creativity in office workers also enhance productivity? How is creativity enhanced? Why is it that many organizations successfully stifle creativity, thus hampering employee morale and productivity? Research has shown that the physical environment affects workers\u27 ability to think and function effectively. There is a basic need for aesthetics as a basis for creativity, and a need for order, dissonance, and balance. Color, lighting and music are just a few elements that make up the entire package. Brain research will be examined, including topics such as right-brain vs. left-brain, creative thinking and analytical thinking, as well as the effect of emotions and stress upon learning and upon the thinking process. This paper will then focus on how corporations can benefit from creative employees and will explore methods of enhancing creativity as well as providing examples of the many ways in which organizations stifle it. The hypothesis is that the bottom line will ultimately improve in those companies that choose to foster creativity. In the final two chapters the author creates an example of an optimum physical and human office environment designed, in this case, for an insurance claims office, but the principles will be applicable to most offices which have a combination of clerical and professional workers, as well as both inside and field representatives

Number Concept Development in Young Children

The effect of tutorial instruction was studied as it influences number concept development in preschool children. The research was conducted in the Logan and Providence areas of Cache County, Utah, with 24 non-preschool four-year-old children. Twelve of the children were given tutorial experience through the use of children\u27s flannel board stories written by the author. The stories were developed to t each the number concepts of not first or last, second, third, pair, and Medium sized. It was found that the 12 children who received tutorial experiences significantly increased in score on the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts from the pre-test to the first post-test, and further, that there was a slight but insignificant loss of knowledge after a six-week waiting period on the number concepts taught. The control group, which received no tutorial experience, made no significant gain in score on any of the tests. The findings also indicated that there was no significant difference between boys and girls on their ability to learn and retain number concepts. The control group boys made a slight gain in score from the pre-test to the second post-test that was unrelated to any tutorial experience

Let There Be Dragons! Towards Designing an Engaging Quest that Enhances Curiosity and Learning About Genetics

This study implemented a convergent parallel mixed methods approach to investigate game-based learning within an educational game compared to a modified entertainment game. Participants (N=31) were recruited from public middle and high schools as well as home school groups. Comparative data of participants’ perceptions, preferences and learning outcomes were investigated to inform better educational game design. This study also considers player personality to determine how dispositional curiosity influences an individual’s approach, acceptance, and interaction with novel learning environments, specifically games. Findings show a statistically significant gain in genetics academic knowledge after the game-based learning intervention. The difference in knowledge gained for the two games was not statistically significant. All dimensions of engagement, motivation and curiosity were statistically significantly higher for the modified entertainment game. Increases in scientific curiosity was statistically significantly higher for the modified entertainment game while scientific curiosity statistically significantly decreased after playing the educational game. Qualitative analysis revealed five themes and provided deeper understanding of game design features that enhance learning, curiosity and engagement from the player’s perception. Integration of quantitative and qualitative results suggest overall convergence and enhanced understanding of theoretical and practical implications of this research and identifies key relationships between game design, player perceptions and learning outcomes to inform better educational game design and implementation

A Comparative Study of the Attitude and Knowledge of Suicide between High School Students and High School Teachers

The researcher in this study sought to examine the comparison of the attitude and knowledge of suicide of high school students with the attitude and knowledge of suicide of high school teachers. The investigation will yield results which will be utilized for the purpose of developing a greater understanding of the attitude of both populations. The results will be analyzed with the prospects of utilizing this information for the preparation and formulation of effective suicide prevention and intervention programs at high school campuses. This study, which extended from November, 1985 through March, 1986, was conducted in four high schools in the County of San Diego in the State of California. The sample consisted of respondents from both public and private high schools. Sixty-four percent of the participants were students while 36% of the participants were teachers. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents came from public schools while 21% of the respondents came from a private Catholic high school. The instrument used to gather data focused on attitude and knowledge issues related to suicide. This instrument, titled Suicide Opinion Questionnaire, was developed by Dr. George Domino, Ph.D., professor at the University of Arizona. With permission from this author, the researcher used this instrument to gather this important data. Statistic procedures were applied to 30 null hypotheses by a two-way analysis of variance. Findings were significant in specific cases and resulted in a significant difference between teacher and student attitude and knowledge on issues related to suicide. The researcher concluded that the following subsections yielded significant results, and they include: (1) acceptability and normality, (2) mental and moral illness, (3) semi-serious, (4) risk, (5) demographics, (6) impulsivity, and (7) individual aspects. The researcher concluded that there is a significant difference in some areas between the attitude and knowledge of high school students on issues related to suicide and attitude and knowledge of high school teachers on issues related to suicide. This finding provides for a fundamental understanding of the differences and an opportunity to begin to explore the differences for the purpose of possibly developing a prevention and intervention program to bridge the gap of discrepancy and unite the efforts in dealing with this sensitive issue