Electro-optical spin measurement system

An electro-optical spin measurement system for a spin model in a spin tunnel includes a radio controlled receiver/transmitter, targets located on the spin model, optical receivers mounted around the perimeter of the spin tunnel and the base of the spin tunnel for receiving data from the targets, and a control system for accumulating data from the radio controlled receiver and receivers. Six targets are employed. The spin model includes a fuselage, wings, nose, and tail. Two targets are located under the fuselage of the spin model at the nose tip and tail. Two targets are located on the side of the fuselage at the nose tip and tail, and a target is located under each wing tip. The targets under the fuselage at the nose tip and tail measure spin rate of the spin model, targets on the side of the fuselage at the nose tip and tail measure angle of attack of the spin model, and the targets under the wing tips measure roll angle of the spin model. Optical receivers are mounted at 90 degree increments around the periphery of the spin tunnel to determine angle of attack and roll angle measurements of the spin model. Optical receivers are also mounted at the base of the spin tunnel to define quadrant and position of the spin model and to determine the spin rate of the spin model

Miniaturization of flight deflection measurement system

A flight deflection measurement system is disclosed including a hybrid microchip of a receiver/decoder. The hybrid microchip decoder is mounted piggy back on the miniaturized receiver and forms an integral unit therewith. The flight deflection measurement system employing the miniaturized receiver/decoder can be used in a wind tunnel. In particular, the miniaturized receiver/decoder can be employed in a spin measurement system due to its small size and can retain already established control surface actuation functions

ISOLAMENTO DI BATTERI DEGRADATORI DI ORGANOFOSFORICI DA SUOLI MEDITERRANEI

I pesticidi organofosforici sono utilizzati per migliorare la produzione agricola e per il controllo dei parassiti. Nonostante i benefici effetti sull\u2019agricoltura, i pesticidi danneggiano gli organismi viventi in quanto interferiscono con i processi metabolici e si diffondono nelle matrici ambientali, tra le quali il suolo, che rappresenta un\u2019importante risorsa. Lo scopo del presente lavoro \ue8 stato quello di studiare la biodiversit\ue0 di batteri degradatori di organofosforici, in suoli mediterranei, differenti per il tipo di coltura e le pratiche agronomiche. I batteri rappresentano infatti, un\u2019utile strumento nella bonifica di aree contaminate. Dai suoli, sono stati isolati 47 ceppi, capaci di crescere in presenza di parathion, quale esclusiva fonte di carbonio. I batteri isolati sono stati raggruppati in 20 Unit\ue0 Tassonomiche Operative, mediante analisi dello Spaziatore Intergenico Ribosomale. La biodiversit\ue0 batterica \ue8 stata quindi correlata alle propriet\ue0 chimico-fisiche dei suoli considerati. In particolare si \ue8 evidenziata una correlazione positiva tra la biodiversit\ue0, il contenuto di argilla e di carbonio. Isolati rappresentativi, per ogni Unit\ue0 Tassonomica Operativa, sono stati scelti casualmente, per il sequenziamento parziale del gene 16S rRNA. Alcuni ceppi sono stati affiliati a Pseudoxanthomonas, Streptomyces iakyrus, Microbacterium takaoensis e Isoptericola dokdonensi, mai citati in bibliografia tra i degradatori di organofosforici. Per alcuni dei ceppi identificati, \ue8 stata studiata la capacit\ue0 di degradare gli organofosforici, in mezzo liquido ed in tre suoli standard. A tal fine, sono state utilizzate la microestrazione in fase solida e l\u2019estrazione con solvente, unitamente alla gascromatografia e alla spettrometria di massa. Alcuni dei batteri esaminati, hanno mostrato una buona abilit\ue0 degradativa.Organophosphorus pesticides are used for crop production and pest control. Although they are useful in agricultural management, they damage the living organisms because interfere with metabolic processes, furthermore the organophosphorus spread in environmental matrices such as the soil that is an important resource. The aim of this research was to study the biodiversity of organophosphorus degrader bacteria in mediterranean agricultural soils because the bacteria represent an useful source in the bioremediation of contaminated area. The bacteria were isolated from soils under different management systems, 47 strains were able to grow on parathion as carbon source. They were grouped into 20 Operational Taxonomic Units by analysing the Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer. This biodiversity was correlated to such physico-chemical properties of the mediterranean soils. In particular, a positive correlation was found between biodiversity, soil clay and carbon content. Representative isolates for each Operational Taxonomic Unit were randomly chosen for the partial sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Strains phylogenetically related to Sinorhizobium, Pseudoxanthomonas, Streptomyces iakyrus, Microbacterium takaoensis and Isoptericola dokdonensis have never mentioned as organophosphorus degraders. The pesticide biodegradation ability was tested on identified strains. It was evaluated in liquid medium and in three standard soils. Solid Phase Micro- Extraction and solid liquid extraction methods were coupled with gaschromatography and mass-spectrometry for the analysis of resulting organophosphorus compounds. Some of the analyzed strains showed a good ability in organophosphorus degradation

Different sensitivity of isoprene emission, respiration and photosynthesis to high growth temperature coupled with drought stress in black poplar (Populus nigra) saplings

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Biofluid Biomarkers in Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative condition where new markers of disease progression are needed. So far no disease-modifying interventions have been found, and few interventions have been proven to alleviate symptoms. This may be partially explained by the lack of reliable indicators of disease severity, progression, and phenotype.Biofluid biomarkers may bring advantages in addition to clinical measures, such as reliability, reproducibility, price, accuracy, and direct quantification of pathobiological processes at the molecular level; and in addition to empowering clinical trials, they have the potential to generate useful hypotheses for new drug development.In this chapter we review biofluid biomarker reports in HD, emphasizing those we feel are likely to be closest to clinical applicability

Population ecology of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) as an invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes and an imperiled species in Europe

The sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus (Linnaeus) is both an invasive non-native species in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America and an imperiled species in much of its native range in North America and Europe. To compare and contrast how understanding of population ecology is useful for control programs in the Great Lakes and restoration programs in Europe, we review current understanding of the population ecology of the sea lamprey in its native and introduced range. Some attributes of sea lamprey population ecology are particularly useful for both control programs in the Great Lakes and restoration programs in the native range. First, traps within fish ladders are beneficial for removing sea lampreys in Great Lakes streams and passing sea lampreys in the native range. Second, attractants and repellants are suitable for luring sea lampreys into traps for control in the Great Lakes and guiding sea lamprey passage for conservation in the native range. Third, assessment methods used for targeting sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes are useful for targeting habitat protection in the native range. Last, assessment methods used to quantify numbers of all life stages of sea lampreys would be appropriate for measuring success of control in the Great Lakes and success of conservation in the native range

Preliminary results for application of culture-independent molecular methods to olive brines bacterial communities.

Transformation of green table olives requires a brining stage during which olives ferment. In naturally transformed olives, both flavour improvement and debittering are associated to fermentation. Because of brine features, naturally occurring bacteria and yeasts are progressively selected by the high salt concentration, low pH and phenolic compounds with antimicrobial activity. The establishment of an adequate fermenting microflora is essential to obtain a good and safe product; then, during transformation, control of chemical and microbiological parameters is crucial. Currently, microflora is periodically monitored by plate-counting of main groups. These routine analyses, however, don’t show neither the complexity of population nor possible differences between various samples, because the most used cultural media are often not selective enough, and fail to differentiate single species. We carried out preliminary trials to evaluate the possibility of application of molecular analyses to describe microflora dynamic and complexity in fermenting green olive brines. We used culture-independent methods, based on analysis of total DNA directly extracted from the whole microbial and blastomycetic community in naturally fermented olive brines. Olives (cv. “Nocellara del Belice”) were transformed with both traditional (NaCl only) and modified brines (with low NaCl content, where the total ionic strength was ensure by KCl and/or CaCl2, to obtain “hyposodic” olives ) which allow regular fermentation. In particular, we carried out analyses on PCR amplified fragments of polymorphic rDNA regions with length or sequence variability among different species, fractionating them by denaturing gel electrophoresis (RISA, Ribosomal Intergenic Sequences Analysis) and by automated capillary electrophoresis (ARISA, Automated-RISA), or by DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) when analyzing variable regions (but with similar length) of 16S rDNA. Resulting specific profiles can be compared between different samples, allowing to show the dynamic of microbial populations. By DNA cloning and sequencing, we were able to identify dominant species, assigning them to specific bands. Although these are preliminary data, we think these techniques might be rapid and useful tools, complementary to traditional microbiological analyses, to study brine microflora and to follow simultaneously, comparing patterns, the proper growth of a number of species in complex populations (with known profiles) used as natural starters, when more specific markers are not available