Hypersensitive response to Potato virus Y in potato cultivar Sárpo Mira is conferred by the Ny-Smira gene located on the long arm of chromosome IX

Potato virus Y (PVY, Potyvirus) is the fifth most important plant virus worldwide in terms of economic and scientific impact. It infects members of the family Solanaceae and causes losses in potato, tomato, tobacco, pepper and petunia production. In potato and its wild relatives, two types of resistance genes against PVY have been identified. While Ry genes confer symptomless extreme resistance, Ny genes cause a hypersensitive response visible as local necrosis that may also be able to prevent the virus from spreading under certain environmental conditions. The potato cultivar Sárpo Mira originates from Hungary and is highly resistant to PVY, although the source of this resistance remains unknown. We show that cv. Sárpo Mira reacts with a hypersensitive response leading to necrosis after PVY(NTN) infection in detached leaf, whole plant and grafting assays. The hypersensitivity to PVY(NTN) segregated amongst 140 individuals of tetraploid progeny of cvs. Sárpo Mira × Maris Piper in a 1:1 ratio, indicating that it was conferred by a single, dominant gene in simplex. Moreover, we identified five DNA markers linked to this trait and located the underlying locus (Ny-Smira) to the long arm of potato chromosome IX. This position corresponds to the location of the Ry(chc) and Ny-1 genes for PVY resistance. A simple PCR marker, located 1 cM from the Ny-Smira gene, can be recommended for selection of PVY-resistant progeny of cv. Sárpo Mira

Technology Challenge

The 1998 MTTA Technology ChallengeThe MTTA (The Machine Tool Technologies Association) Technology Challenge featured 37 schools and partner companies working together on manufacturing-based projects throughout the year. Each school teamed up with a local company to work on the Challenge, starting off their projects with industrial visits. The children that took part in the Challenge were aged between 8-11 years, the aim being to excite the younger generation about the opportunities available to them in engineering. MTTA supports the view that it is important to ensure that teachers have the knowledge to further inspire and nurture the children's interest. Teacher training days are organised to assist this, enabling teachers to experience the importance of engineering skills to industry

Active Management of Distributed Generation based on Component Thermal Properties

Power flows within distribution networks are expected to become increasingly congested with the proliferation of distributed generation (DG) from renewable energy resources. Consequently, the size, energy penetration and ultimately the revenue stream of DG schemes may be limited in the future. This research seeks to facilitate increased renewable energy penetrations by utilising power system component thermal properties together with DG power output control techniques. The real-time thermal rating of existing power system components has the potential to unlock latent power transfer capacities. When integrated with a DG power output control system, greater installed capacities of DG may be accommodated within the distribution network. Moreover, the secure operation of the network is maintained through the constraint of DG power outputs to manage network power flows. The research presented in this thesis forms part of a UK government funded project which aims to develop and deploy an on-line power output control system for wind-based DG schemes. This is based on the concept that high power flows resulting from wind generation at high wind speeds could be accommodated since the same wind speed has a positive effect on component cooling mechanisms. The control system compares component real-time thermal ratings with network power flows and produces set points that are fed back to the DG for implementation. The control algorithm comprises: (i) An inference engine (using rule-based artificial intelligence) that decides when DG control actions are required; (ii) a DG set point calculator (utilising predetermined power flow sensitivity factors) that computes updated DG power outputs to manage distribution network power flows; and (iii) an on-line simulation tool that validates the control actions before dispatch. A section of the UK power system has been selected by ScottishPower EnergyNetworks to form the basis of field trials. Electrical and thermal datasets from the field are used in open loop to validate the algorithms developed. The loop is then closed through simulation to automate DG output control for increased renewable energy penetrations

Neoliberalism, consultants and the privatisation of public policy formulation: The case of Britain's rail industry

This paper identifies the importance of policy advisers, particularly consultants, in promoting neoliberal prescriptions in public policy formulation in the recent history of British Government. It examines a consultant-dominated attempt to reform British Rail in the 1980s and the fundamental contribution of advisers to the flawed fragmentation and subsequent privatisation of the rail industry. Concepts drawn from Latour's Sociology of Translation are adopted to examine the attempts by Conservative Governments and their private advisory allies to establish networks of support for privatisation. In each of the episodes along the path to privatisation the paper examines attempts to undermine opposition and gain acceptance of the proposed changes with the production of knowledge claims by consultants, that is Latour's process of purification, followed by the consequences for the rail industry. The paper uses critical financial analysis to contrast the knowledge claims made by consultants with the outcomes of rail privatisation, which include extensive, ongoing transfers from taxpayers to private companies. It concludes by highlighting the dangers ensuing from dogmatic and excessive neoliberal public policy formulation