PROJECT: Green Crop Lifting – an Alternative Producing Healthy Seed Potatoes in the System of Organic Farming

The standards of organic farming require the use of organically grown seeds in organic potato farming. Presumably the use of conventionally grown seeds under exceptional circumstances will end in 2003. Only organically grown seeds can be used thereafter. Therefore, it is important to check alternatives for organic potato seed production, which will reduce the cultivation risk, guarantee a high quality of seed potatoes (virus-free and healthy seed), and increase the fraction of marketable potatoes. On 7 farms in Northern Germany (4 sites in the coastal region (Schleswig-Holstein) and 3 sites in the inland region (Lower Saxony)) the green crop lifting (GCL) at two different dates was checked against the traditional process (haulm cutting) and a control plot (natural senescence) with regard to the effect of presprouting in the years 1999 to 2001. The focus of the investigation was the amount of viral load (tested with ELISA) and detection of other diseases (valuation) on / in the harvested potatoes. Yield reduction and tuber damage was recorded. Flying activity of aphids was monitored by yellow water traps.In the coastal region a very low pressure of aphids was observed over the three years. In contrast there was a higher pressure of aphids in the inland region, but only 1999 brought an early and outstanding pressure. In peak times (middle of July 1999) the number of aphids was more than 12 times higher compared to the coastal region. Only in 2000 an early aphid pressure was recorded in the middle of May. If there was a high pressure of aphids the early green crop lifting (in the middle of July) was an effective way reducing the virus diseases.Caused by the early date of GCL the total tuber yield reduction averaged out at 18,8 % over the three years compared to the control. Related to the marketable seed potatoes (28-50 mm) the yield reduction amounted 14.1 % only

LEO to GEO (and Beyond) Transfers Using High Power Solar Electric Propulsion (HP-SEP)

Rideshare, or Multi-Payload launch configurations, are becoming more and more commonplace but access to space is only one part of the overall mission needs. The ability for payloads to achieve their target orbits or destinations can still be difficult and potentially not feasible with on-board propulsion limitations. The High Power Solar Electric Propulsion (HP-SEP) Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) provides transfer capabilities for both large and small payload in excess of what is possible with chemical propulsion. Leveraging existing secondary payload adapter technology like the ESPA provides a platform to support Multi-Payload launch and missions. When coupled with HP-SEP, meaning greater than 30 kW system power, very large delta-V maneuvers can be accomplished. The HP-SEP OMV concept is designed to perform a Low Earth Orbit to Geosynchronous Orbit (LEO-GEO) transfer of up to six payloads each with 300kg mass. The OMV has enough capability to perform this 6 kms maneuver and have residual capacity to extend an additional transfer from GEO to Lunar orbit. This high deltaV capability is achieved using state of the art 12.5kW Hall Effect Thrusters (HET) coupled with high power roll up solar arrays. The HP-SEP OMV also provides a demonstration platform for other SEP technologies such as advanced Power Processing Units (PPU), Xenon Feed Systems (XFS), and other HET technologies. The HP-SEP OMV platform can be leveraged for other missions as well such as interplanetary science missions and applications for resilient space architectures

Affordable Development and Demonstration of a Small NTR engine and Stage: A Preliminary NASA, DOE, and Industry Assessment

In FY'11, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) was identified as a key propulsion option under the Advanced In-Space Propulsion (AISP) component of NASA's Exploration Technology Development and Demonstration (ETDD) program A strategy was outlined by GRC and NASA HQ that included 2 key elements -"Foundational Technology Development" followed by specific "Technology Demonstration" projects. The "Technology Demonstration "element proposed ground technology demonstration (GTD) testing in the early 2020's, followed by a flight technology demonstration (FTD) mission by approx. 2025. In order to reduce development costs, the demonstration projects would focus on developing a small, low thrust (approx. 7.5 -16.5 klb(f)) engine that utilizes a "common" fuel element design scalable to the higher thrust (approx. 25 klb(f)) engines used in NASA's Mars DRA 5.0 study(NASA-SP-2009-566). Besides reducing development costs and allowing utilization of existing, flight proven engine hard-ware (e.g., hydrogen pumps and nozzles), small, lower thrust ground and flight demonstration engines can validate the technology and offer improved capability -increased payloads and decreased transit times -valued for robotic science missions identified in NASA's Decadal Study

Affordable Development and Demonstration of a Small NTR Engine and Stage: How Small is Big Enough?

In FY11, NASA formulated a plan for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) development that included Foundational Technology Development followed by system-level Technology Demonstrations The ongoing NTP project, funded by NASAs Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) program, is focused on Foundational Technology Development and includes 5 key task activities:(1) Fuel element fabrication and non-nuclear validation testing of heritage fuel options;(2) Engine conceptual design;(3) Mission analysis and engine requirements definition;(4) Identification of affordable options for ground testing; and(5) Formulation of an affordable and sustainable NTP development program Performance parameters for Point of Departure designs for a small criticality-limited and full size 25 klbf-class engine were developed during FYs 13-14 using heritage fuel element designs for both RoverNERVA Graphite Composite (GC) and Ceramic Metal (Cermet) fuel forms To focus the fuel development effort and maximize use of its resources, the AES program decided, in FY14, that a leader-follower down selection between GC and cermet fuel was required An Independent Review Panel (IRP) was convened by NASA and tasked with reviewing the available fuel data and making a recommendation to NASA. In February 2015, the IRP recommended and the AES program endorsed GC as the leader fuel In FY14, a preliminary development schedule DDTE plan was produced by GRC, DOE industry for the AES program. Assumptions, considerations and key task activities are presented here Two small (7.5 and 16.5 klbf) engine sizes were considered for ground and flight technology demonstration within a 10-year timeframe; their ability to support future human exploration missions was also examined and a recommendation on a preferred size is provided

Effect of sowing date and straw mulch on virus incidence and aphid infestation in organic faba-beans (Vicia faba L.)

The effect of sowing date on aphid infestation and the incidence of aphid-transmitted viruses were investigated in organically managed, small-scale field experiments with two faba bean cultivars over 3 years (2002–04). As an additional factor, strawmulchwas applied in 2 of the 3 years shortly before the start of vector activity in May. Virus incidence was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoelectron microscopy. Aphid flight activity was monitored using standard yellow water traps. Bean colonising aphids were assessed throughout the vegetation period by counting the number of plants infested with Acyrthosiphon pisum, Megoura viciae and Aphis fabae. Pea enation mosaic virus and bean yellow mosaic virus were the most abundant aphid-transmitted viruses, being detected in 22–54% and 9–69%, respectively, of the total number of virus-infected plants analysed per year. Further aphid-transmitted viruses found in faba bean were bean leaf roll virus, beet western yellows virus, clover yellow vein virus (in 2002) and soybean dwarf virus (in 2004). A. pisum was the predominant aphid species colonising faba bean plants. Early sowing compared with late sowing led to a significant reduction of the total virus incidence in faba bean in all 3 years. However, significantly decreased levels of A. pisum colonisation as a result of early sowing were observed only in 1 year and one cultivar. Irrespective of sowing date, straw mulching had no significant effects on virus incidence and aphid colonisation. Compared with late sowing, early sowing significantly increased bean yield in all 3 years and kernel weight in 2 years, whereas straw mulching had no effect on yield

Gastroenterology

Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are transmembrane glycoproteins expressed by natural killer (NK) cells. Binding of KIR3DS1 to its recently discovered ligand, HLA-F, activates NK cells and has been associated with resolution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated the mechanisms by which KIR3DS1 contributes to the antiviral immune response. Using cell culture systems, mice with humanized livers, and primary liver tissue from HCV-infected individuals, we found that the KIR3DS1 ligand HLA-F is up-regulated on HCV-infected cells, and that interactions between KIR3DS1 and HLA-F contribute to NK cell-mediated control of HCV. Strategies to promote interaction between KIR3DS1 and HLA-F might be developed for treatment of infectious diseases and cancer