Evaluation of interspecific DNA variability in poplars using AFLP and SSR markers

The objective of this paper was to examine interspecific DNA variation in poplars using AFLP and SSR markers. The AFLP and SSR markers polymorphism and its power of discrimination were determinedwithin 13 genotypes of different genetic background (clones, cultivars, hybrids) of two sections (Aigeiros and Tacamahaca) of genus Populus. Twelve sets of PTR and four sets of WPMS microsatellite primers as well as 6 AFLP primer combinations were used in this study. SSR and AFLP markers revealed high power of discrimination, 0.81 and 0.92 respectively. Results obtained using SSR data showed a clear separation of three major clusters, while four major clusters were obtained using AFLP data. Both markers crearly separated two distinct clusters, one included Populus nigra and the other Populus deltoides genotypes. According to both markers, different genetic background were revealed between two clones of Populus trichocarpa. When evaluating polymorphisms within genotypes ofinterest, microsatellite and AFLP DNA markers proved to be a useful tool for distinguishing genetic background of tree clones, cultivars and hybrid genotypes thus grouping them according to their genetic dissimilarity. The results presented in this study could be of significant interest in poplarbreeding programs and could also be used as a valuable annex in new bred clones registration process

Physical and mechanical characteristics of Hisex Brown hen eggs from three different housing systems

The aim of this study was to compare physical and mechanical characteristics of Hisex hen eggs collected from three different housing systems: enriched cage housing, aviary housing, and free-range systems. The following physical and mechanical characteristics if eggs were compared: dimensions, surface area, volume, sphericity, shape index, shell thickness, weight, composition, yolk to albumen ratio, rupture force, specific deformation, absorbed energy, and firmness. The largest and heaviest eggs were collected from cage housing, followed by eggs from free-range systems and aviary housing. According to shape index, eggs from aviary housing can be described as round, while eggs from cage housing and free-range systems can be characterised as normal or standard. Eggs from free-range laying hens had the highest yolk percentage and yolk to albumen ratio (26.2% and 0.427). In comparison to eggs from aviary housing and free-range systems, eggs from enriched cage housing had the thickest shells and the highest shell strength, and required the highest force to rupture those eggs. The average force required to rupture Hisex Brown hen eggs from cage housing in all three axes was 44.14 N, which was 12.1% higher than the average force required to rupture eggs from a free-range system (39.37 N) and 17.1% higher than the average force required to rupture eggs from aviary housing (37.68 N). The highest forces required to rupture eggs from all three housing systems were determined on loading along the X-front axis and the lowest forces were determined along the Z-axis. The results obtained in this study can be useful to producers when selecting hen housing systems in order to reduce egg damage during storage and transport.Keywords: egg composition, egg weight, rupture force, shape index, shell thicknes

Tending operation models for white poplar (Populus alba L.) stands growing under sandy soil conditions

Integrated research aimed to intensify the practices of afforestation especially of white poplar and grey poplar woods. A new, simplified tending procedure has been developed to substitute earlier models considering the target diameter by right spacing as a tool to achieve adequat quality of logs. The practice-oriented model may help the qualitative improvement of white poplar growing technology in Hungary as well as in Serbia

Tending operation models for white poplar (Populus alba L.) stands growing under sandy soil conditions

Integrated research aimed to intensify the practices of afforestation especially of white poplar and grey poplar woods. A new,simplified tending procedure has been developed to substitute earlier models considering the target diameter by right spacing as a tool toachieve adequat quality of logs. The practice-oriented model may help the qualitative improvement of white poplar growing technology inHungary as well as in Serbia

Relativistic two-body system in (1+1)-dimensions

The relativistic two-body system in (1+1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics is studied. It is proved that the eigenvalue problem for the two-body Hamiltonian without the self-interaction terms reduces to the problem of solving an one-dimensional stationary Schr\"odinger type equation with an energy-dependent effective potential which includes the delta-functional and inverted oscillator parts. The conditions determining the metastable energy spectrum are derived, and the energies and widths of the metastable levels are estimated in the limit of large particle masses. The effects of the self-interaction are discussed.Comment: LATEX file, 21 pp., 4 figure

The attitudes of European consumers toward innovation in bread; interest of the consumers toward selected quality attributes

16 pages, 7 tables, 4 figures.-- The definitive version is available at www3.interscience.wiley.comThe present survey is integrated in the European project entitled EU-FRESHBAKE. This three years project started in October 2006. It aims at developing innovative processes and innovative formulations for the Bake Off technology taking into consideration, energy demand of the process, nutrition parameters and overall quality of the bread. To help and to advise the project on the expectations of the European consumers toward innovation, a consumer survey has been carried out taking into consideration 1050 consumers from 5 countries (Belgium, Croatia, Spain, France and Poland). The global objectives are (i) to better understand the attitudes of the European innovations in bread and (ii) to understand the main determinants of it. Globally the key points that arose from the survey were the environmental concern and the concern regarding health; these two aspects seem to steer the attitudes of the consumer. Basically, two categories of consumers were observed; (i) frequent (daily) buyers with a focus on quality and pleasure and (ii) less frequent buyers (once a week) with a more pronounced interest in nutrition and energy (process). The first group was named the crust group and the second one the crumb group. The crumb family seems to be the one that is the most interested in the outcomes of the EU-FRESHBAKE project. This group is concerned by nutrition quality and would prefer a bread which has been done with a less energy demanding process. The “crust” group is schematically less interested in the nutrition, in the shelf life and in the energy demand of the process used to prepare the bread. The results from this survey should be handled with care due to the relative small size of the sample and to the fact that the average age of the sample was rather young.This study (report, paper, workshop…) has been carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, FP6, Thematic Area “Food quality and safety”, FOOD-2006-36302 EU-FRESH BAKE.Peer reviewe

Adipocyte-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B deletion increases lipogenesis, adipocyte cell size and is a minor regulator of glucose homeostasis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Notch signaling during human T cell development

Notch signaling is critical during multiple stages of T cell development in both mouse and human. Evidence has emerged in recent years that this pathway might regulate T-lineage differentiation differently between both species. Here, we review our current understanding of how Notch signaling is activated and used during human T cell development. First, we set the stage by describing the developmental steps that make up human T cell development before describing the expression profiles of Notch receptors, ligands, and target genes during this process. To delineate stage-specific roles for Notch signaling during human T cell development, we subsequently try to interpret the functional Notch studies that have been performed in light of these expression profiles and compare this to its suggested role in the mouse