Canister closing device Patent

Design and characteristics of device for closing canisters under high vacuum condition

Differential RelA- and RelB-dependent gene transcription in LTβR-stimulated mouse embryonic fibroblasts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lymphotoxin signaling via the lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) has been implicated in biological processes ranging from development of secondary lymphoid organs, maintenance of spleen architecture, host defense against pathogens, autoimmunity, and lipid homeostasis. The major transcription factor that is activated by LTβR crosslinking is NF-κB. Two signaling pathways have been described, the classical inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα)-regulated and the alternative p100-regulated pathway that result in the activation of p50-RelA and p52-RelB NF-κB heterodimers, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using microarray analysis, we investigated the transcriptional response downstream of the LTβR in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and its regulation by the RelA and RelB subunits of NF-κB. We describe novel LTβR-responsive genes that were regulated by RelA and/or RelB. The majority of LTβR-regulated genes required the presence of both RelA and RelB, revealing significant crosstalk between the two NF-κB activation pathways. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis confirmed that LTβR-NF-κB target genes are predominantly involved in the regulation of immune responses. However, other biological processes, such as apoptosis/cell death, cell cycle, angiogenesis, and taxis were also regulated by LTβR signaling. Moreover, LTβR activation inhibited expression of a key adipogenic transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (<it>pparg</it>), suggesting that LTβR signaling may interfere with adipogenic differentiation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Microarray analysis of LTβR-stimulated fibroblasts provided comprehensive insight into the transcriptional response of LTβR signaling and its regulation by the NF-κB family members RelA and RelB.</p

Farmers’ selection cues in cowpea for vegetable use in eastern Uganda

This is a research article on participatory cowpea varietal selection was carried out in Eastern Uganda in Kumi district among farmersA participatory cowpea varietal selection was carried out in Eastern Uganda in the Kumi district among farmers (n=30) in the sub-Counties of Ongino, Kumi and Kanyum. An arange of opinions were collected to identify farmers’ selection criteria based on different sensory attributes and their most preferred genotypes for vegetable use. A Apreference analysis was carried out to obtain quantitative preference scores of each plot. This was followed by organoleptic tests which included attributes like taste, aroma and texture of the genotypes at the vegetative and immature R4 stages. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were also held to find a consensus of the independent evaluations made by individual farmers. Data for sixteen (16) cowpea genotypes were collected at the different above-mentioned stages. Quantitative data were analyzed based on farmers’ scores made on the different evaluated attributes and ANOVA was used to provide mean differences between location, gender and genotype at a significant level of 5%. The preference score for each of the varieties tested was determined and presented. Data from FGDs were grouped, similarities and differences were later determined depending on their level of importance to the farmers. Significant differences (p<0.05) in farmer choices were observed for leaf taste, immature pod aroma, taste and texture; mature pod aroma, taste between farmer groups, age genotype and gender. Irrespective of age, gender, farmer group and genotype, farmers seemed to give more importance to the smooth texture, little hard leaves when chewing, sweet taste with a mild aroma (leaves) and a moderate aroma (pods). Majority (9%) of the farmers preferred Ebelat (landrace) at V4 stage; this was followed by Danila (8.7%). On the other hand, UCUCOW1 (13% at immature and 10.2% at mature cooked R4 stage) followed by Ebelat (9% and 9.8% for immature and mature R4 stage, respectively) were preferred by the majority of the farmers. In terms of sensory attributes, farmers preferred genotypes with a sweet taste, moderate aroma and tender texture. The information is a baseline for understanding key farmer selection criteria in the utilization of cowpea as a vegetable which can be used in generating a demand-led variety design for the crop

Farmers’ selection cues in cowpea for vegetable use in eastern Uganda

A participatory cowpea varietal selection was carried out in Eastern Uganda in Kumi district among farmers (n=30) in the sub-Counties of: Ongino, Kumi and Kanyum. A range of opinions were collected to identify farmers’ selection criteria based on different sensory attributes and their most preferred genotypes for vegetable use. A preference analysis was carried out to obtain quantitative preference scores of each plot. This was followed by organoleptic tests which included attributes like taste, aroma and texture of the genotypes at the vegetative and immature R4 stages. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were also held to find consensus of the independent evaluations made by individual farmers. Data for sixteen (16) cowpea genotypes were collected at the different above mentioned stages. Quantitative data were analyzed based on farmers’ scores made on the different evaluated attributes and ANOVA was used to provide mean differences between location, gender and genotype at a significant level of 5%. Preference score for each of the varieties tested was determined and presented. Data from FGDs were grouped, similarities and differences were later determined depending on their level of importance to the farmers. Significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in farmer choices were observed for leaf taste, immature pod aroma, taste and texture; mature pod aroma, taste between farmer groups, age genotype and gender. Irrespective of age, gender, farmer group and genotype, farmers seemed to give more importance to the smooth texture, little hard leaves when chewing, sweet taste with a mild aroma (leaves) and a moderate aroma (pods). Majority (9%) of the farmers preferred Ebelat (landrace) at V4 stage; this was followed by Danila (8.7%). On the other hand, UCUCOW1 (13% at immature and 10.2% at mature cooked R4 stage) followed by Ebelat (9% and 9.8% for immature and mature R4 stage, respectively) were preferred by majority of the farmers. In terms of sensory attributes, farmers preferred genotypes with sweet taste, moderate aroma and tender texture. The information is a baseline for understanding key farmer selection criteria in utilization of cowpea as a vegetable which can be used in generating a demand-led variety design for the crop.&nbsp

Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of CrSb2 from 5 to 1050 K. Magnetic transition and enthalpy of decomposition

The heat capacity of CrSb2 has been measured by adiabatic calorimetry from 5 to 991.3 K. At the latter temperature the CrSb2-phase decomposes into the CrSb-phase and an antimonyrich melt. The heat capacity of the two-phase mixture was measured from 991.3 to 1050 K. The heat capacity of CrSb2 shows a small sharp [lambda]-type transition with a maximum at 274.1 K where the change from the antiferromagnetic to the paramagnetic state occurs. The low entropy of the clearly cooperative part of the transition, [Delta]St = 0.12 calth K-1 mol-1, shows that this contribution is only a small part of the total. From an estimate of the lattice heat capacity of CrSb2 outside the [lambda]-transition region we find an excess heat capacity amounting to about 1.7 calth K-1 mol-1 at 300 K, 1.6 calth K-1 mol-1 at 500 K, and 1.1 calth K-1 mol-1 at 800 K, which we attribute to the population of excited electronic states in CrSb2. The total transitional entropy amounts to about 2.6 calth K-1 mol-1 at 900 K only slightly more than the R 1n 3 (= 2.17 calth K-1 mol-1) expected from randomization of two unpaired spins per chromium atom. The enthalpy of the peritectic decomposition of CrSb2 at 991.3 K is (8325 +/- 20) calth mol-1.The high heat capacity above 991 K is presumably related to the solution of CrSb(s) in the melt. Thermodynamic functions have been evaluated and the values of Cp, {So(T)-So(0)}, and -{Go-Ho(0)}/T at 298.15 K are (19.66+/-0.02), (27.46+/-0.03), (14.009+/-0.014) calth K-1 mol-1. CrSb2 loses antimony on approaching the peritectic temperature and the composition of the decomposing phase is in the range CrSb1.90 to CrSb1.95. To explore further the homogeneity range of the CrSb2-phase some heat-capacity measurements on CrSb1.85 have also been carried out. Combination of the present results with standard Gibbs energies of formation at 850 K from the literature gives for CrSb2.00:Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22711/1/0000266.pd

First Dark Matter Limits from a Large-Mass, Low-Background Superheated Droplet Detector

We report on the fabrication aspects and calibration of the first large active mass ($\sim15$ g) modules of SIMPLE, a search for particle dark matter using Superheated Droplet Detectors (SDDs). While still limited by the statistical uncertainty of the small data sample on hand, the first weeks of operation in the new underground laboratory of Rustrel-Pays d'Apt already provide a sensitivity to axially-coupled Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) competitive with leading experiments, confirming SDDs as a convenient, low-cost alternative for WIMP detection.Comment: Final version, Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press

A Comprehensive Analysis of Electric Dipole Moment Constraints on CP-violating Phases in the MSSM

We analyze the constraints placed on individual, flavor diagonal CP-violating phases in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) by current experimental bounds on the electric dipole moments (EDMs) of the neutron, Thallium, and Mercury atoms. We identify the four CP-violating phases that are individually highly constrained by current EDM bounds, and we explore how these phases and correlations among them are constrained by current EDM limits. We also analyze the prospective implications of the next generation of EDM experiments. We point out that all other CP-violating phases in the MSSM are not nearly as tightly constrained by limits on the size of EDMs. We emphasize that a rich set of phenomenological consequences is potentially associated with these generically large EDM-allowed phases, ranging from B physics, electroweak baryogenesis, and signals of CP-violation at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and at future linear colliders. Our numerical study takes into account the complete set of contributions from one- and two-loop EDMs of the electron and quarks, one- and two-loop Chromo-EDMs of quarks, the Weinberg 3-gluon operator, and dominant 4-fermion CP-odd operator contributions, including contributions which are both included and not included yet in the CPsuperH2.0 package. We also introduce an open-source numerical package, 2LEDM, which provides the complete set of two-loop electroweak diagrams contributing to the electric dipole moments of leptons and quarks.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures; v2: references added, minor change