Fungicide Resistance Genetics of Apple Scab fungus Venturia inaequalis

Apple scab, caused by the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis, is considered the most devastating disease on domestic apple crops. Apples are the most important cultivated crop in temperate regions and the United States produced about 4.6 million tons of apples in 2010. Traditional methods to control fungal plant diseases like apple scab are based on the use of chemical compounds that may produce serious negative effects, mainly related with environmental pollution and the development of fungicide resistance. Identifying genes and mechanisms of fungicide resistance in V. inaequalis is imperative to developing new and more effective defenses against the spread of resistance

Ultra Thin Deployable Reflector Antennas

19 - 22 Apr 200

Employment of fine grain emulsions in aerial photography

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityThe general problem of this work is to determine the extent to which fine grain emulsions can be employed in aerial photography, with specific application to miniaturization. In such a study, the following factors become important: reduced scale, limited coverage, processing and enlargement technique, loss of speed through the use of finer grained emulsions. In this investigation, laboratory tests were made to study these factors. These tests were to study the relative performance of several systems (lens plus film) and to investigate methods of increasing the speed of fine grain emulsions without seriously affecting the grain size. Finally, flight tests were made to verify the results indicated by the laboratory tests. Miniaturization is defined as the use of 35 mm and 70 mm cameras in aerial photography. It has become important during the last few years because of increasing space limitations inside the aircraft. Besides the obvious saving in weight and space both in the plane and in the processing and storage of the photographs, the miniature camera has other advantages. Because of the short focal length of most miniature camera lenses, it is possible to construct a fast lens of high quality, reducing the exposure time, the time in which vibration and image motion can affect the image, and hence the degree of stabilization which the camera must maintain. On the negative side, the reduced scale necessitates the enlargement of all photographs before they can be used. This increases the relative effects of the grain of the emulsion and uneven development, as well as introducing an additional variable in the photographic process, enlargement. The camera used in this work was an Exacta VX, 35 mm, with an f/1.5 75 mm Biotar lens. This lens was chosen largely because of its wide aperture, but this could not be used under practical conditions because of serious vignetting at f/1.5. The film chosen for a standard of comparison was Aerographic Super XX with a standard development in D-19 to a gamma of 1.6 to 1.7. At the other extreme, with respect to speed and grain size, Microfile was chosen. This film is easily developed to gammas of 3 and 4, but for the purpose of this work, it was developed in D-23, diluted 1:1, to a gamma similar to Aero XX. As a compromise in speedand grain size, a German film, Perutz Pergrano, was chosen. This film has an ASA exposure index of 12 and medium grain. DevHopment was in D-19 to a gamma of 1.35. Because of the inherent low contrast of this film, the gammas of Aero XX and Microfile could not be attained. Extensive tests were run on the f/1.5 75 mm Biotar lens with all three types of film, low and high contrast resolution tar gets, and with and without a yellow filter. From the results of these tests, the area weighted average resolution, or AWAR, was calculated for each aperture-film combination. Then, under the conditions which would be used for the flight tests, the minimum shutter speed was calculated which would prevent the resolution from dropping below the AWAR because of image motion caused by the movement of the airplane with respect to the ground. Next a table was prepared showing the predicted maximum resolution obtained under varying illumination conditions, taking into account the effect on resolution of increasing the aperture or the exposure time. The results of this table, which were confirmed by the flight tests, were: 1) Microfile must be exposed at too wide an aperture to obtain any benefit from its small grain size, 2) Microfile which has been latensified by post-exposure to light (see below) produces the best results under good illumination, but also must be exposed at too wide an aperture under decreased illumination, and 3) Perutz Pergrano produces better results than Aero XX over a range of illumination of 32:1. Results of resolution tests on 2 tele-photo lenses were used to compare these lenses with the 75 mm Biotar. The best lens was the f/5.5 180 mm Tele-Xenar lens, which had a performance, in terms of ground detail resolved, equal to the Biotar lens. This result was verified by flight tests with the two lenses, and hence the use of tele-photo lenses is warranted in high altitude photography, where the decreased coverage can be overlooked. From previously unpublished data on four 50 mm lenses and one 58 mm lens, the AWAR was calculated and the results plotted and analyzed. The best of the 50 mm lenses was an f/1.5 Angenieux. When the f/2 58 mm Zeiss Biotar lens and the Angenieux lens were reduced to a common level by removing the scale, the two lenses were of approximately the same performance. Of the methods of increasing film speed before exposure (hypersensitization) and after exposure but before development (latensification), the best method tested was post-exposure to a dim light. For this purpose, a darkroom safelight with a yellow filter and reduced applied voltage was exposed to Microfile for 30 minutes at a distance of 18 feet. An increase in speed of 400% was obtained over its normal speed of 1 (because of underdevelopment). Equal treatment before exposure gave an increase of speed of only 15%. When the method was used under actual photographic conditions, post-exposure to light gave a somewhat greater increase in speed than 400%. Resolution tests showed a drop in resolution of 10%, but the resolving power was still greater than that of Perutz Pergrano. Other methods of hypersensitization and latensification which were tested were NaCl and Borax in solution, Mercury vapor, and combinations of ammonia and alcohol in solution. The maximum increase obtained from these methods was 50%. The increase in speed obtained on Microfile through post-exposure to light has brought the emulsion sensitivity to a minimum level for best results under normal illumination. Hence the grain size is also approximately at a minimum and this film, used in this way, provides maximum definition in terms of detail resolved. Then on the basis of X 8 enlargements of 35 mm negatives on Microfile which had been latensified in this manner, the conclusion is reached that 35 mm cameras may not be used as an unqualified substitute for aerial cameras. However they may prove valuable in some types of reconnaissance photography. The enlargement to 4 diameters of negatives on Microfile latensified and Perutz Pergrano produces good results. Since this is the amount of enlargement necessary to bring 70 mm negatives to approximately the size of a 9 X 9 inch photograph, 70 mm cameras may be used in connection with these films and others of similar characteristics to replace aerial cameras for many purposes. The major exceptions are in the production of photographs for use in surveying and photogammetric work, which require maximum definition at all levels of magnification. Aero XX is not recommended for use with miniature cameras in general because the lenses of these cameras are capable of higher resolution than this film can accomodate. At a drop in emulsion speled of 8 I from Aero XX, Perutz Pergrano may be used over an illumination range of 32:1, and still produce better results than would be obtained with Aero XX. This range might be extended even further through the use of hypersensitization and latensification methods, without seriously affecting the grain size of the emulsion. In conclusion, then, fine grain emulsions (i.e. finer grained than Aero XX) in connection with 70 mm cameras may be used to produce results satisfactory for many purposes in Aerial Photography. I would like to thank the following people for their contributions to the work involved in this thesis: Mr. Hutson Howell, Dr. F. Dow Smith, Mr. William Drumm, Mr. Hadrian Lechner, the staff of the Boston University Physical Research Laboratory, and Mrs. Jere Sanborn

Expanding security eastward: NATO and US military engagement in Georgia

This repository item contains a single issue of Behind the Breaking News, a briefing published from 1999 to 2009 by the Boston University Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology, and Policy

Report of results of pleural biopsy (Needle biopsy and open biopsy) in 108 cases and 245 biopsies

1. The results of 245 pleural biopsies perfomed in 108 patients including 219 pleural needle biopsies and 26 pleural open biopsies were reported. The method of pleural biopsy seems to be superior to any other currently available diagnostic procedures for the etiological diagnosis of pleurisy. 2. When the pleural needle biopsy is compared with the pleural open biopsy, the former method has definite advantages over the open biopsy. The pleural needle biopsy is simple, repeatable and has almost no complication. The method of pleural needle biopsy is the initial method of choice as Donohoe correctly stated and should be employed in every cases of the pleurisy to confirm the etiological diagnosis. The open biopsy should be reserved only for those cases in whom the needle biopsy had not proved satisfactory. 3. Utilizing the method of needle biopsy, the pathological diagnosis was made in 86 per cent of our cases at the initial biopsy. By repeated needle biopsies, the results have improved to 91-92 per cent. 4. Most of the failures of the pleural needle biopsy were noted at the early stage of the study due to the unfamiliarity of the biopsy technique and later due to the incooperation of the patients. 5. The presence of the free pleural fluid serves as a convenient guide for the performance of the needle biopsy but successful needle biopsy was easily done without presence of pleural fluid when there is adequate pleural thickening. 6. 63-75 per cent of our diagnosed cases were proved to have granulomatous pleuritis, 13-31 per cent non-specific pleuritis and 5.4-5.8 per cent eosinophilic pleuritis due to paragonomiasis. The distribution of this pathological diagnosis seems to reflect quite well the actual picture of incidences of pleurisy of various different etiology in young adults in Korea. 7. The relationship of the success in obtaining adequate tissue by needle biopsy and interval between onset of symptom and biopsy was discussed. It was found that the interval has no significant effect on the production of adequate tissue by needle biopsy if the time elapsed is 4 weeks or more from the onset of symptom. 8. The significance of the pathological findings of ranulomatous pleuritis at one biopsy and non-specific pleuritis at another biopsy in the same patient was discussed. It is concluded that the single finding of nonspecific pleuritis at one needle biopsy cannot rule out the presence of granulomatous pleuritis and it is recommended that pleural biopsy be repeated whenever necessary. 9. The diagnostic significance of the chemical analysis of the pleural fluid was discussed in correlation with the results of the pleural needle biopsies. It is concluded that the number of examinations are not quite sufficient to draw any definite conclusion at the present stage of our study. 10. The finding of sanguinous pleural fluid in the patient of granulomatous pleuritis is quite high (72.7 %) and it was found that the sanguinous pleural fluid was most frequently found in the patients with granulomatous pleuritis in non-cancerous age. 11. Two groups of pleurisy patients with or without parenchymal lung lesion on chest X-ray were discussed in correlation with the results of the needle biopsy. It was found that the incidence of the pathological evidence of granulomatous inflammation on the biopsy specimens in these two groups is almost the same regardless of the presence of the demonstrable parenchymal lung lesion. 12. Histopathological finding of granulomatous pleuritis was discussed in conjunction with the significance of two types of tubercles, the soft tubercles and hard tubercles. In all specimens diagnosed as granulomatous pleuritis granulomas were demonstrated ranging from large, conglomerate tubercles with central caseation or giant cells to small granulomas without central caseation or Langhans' giant cells. 13. Histopathological significance of the finding of non-specific pleuritis on the biopsy specimens was discussed and the existence of a specific entity of &#34;non-specific pleuritis&#34; which is equivalent to the non-specific inflammation of the pericardium. 14. Cases of pleurisy due to paragonomiasis were discussed and the need of specific attention for search of new cases was emphasized.</p

COMMENTARY Enhancing consumer empowerment

Purpose of this paper: Much of the literature on consumer empowerment focuses on consumers’ efforts to regain control of their consumption processes from suppliers. Our purpose is to argue that many suppliers achieve success by trying hard to empower consumers. The mechanism by which this takes place consists of researching and providing what consumers want. Consumers feel empowered when they are able to enjoy the consumption process. This is of particular note in shopping, which is not simply obtaining products but also experience and enjoyment. Design/methodology/approach: Research is examined into the links between firms’ efforts to understand what consumers want, atmospheric stimuli, emotions and buying behaviour. Findings: We find that successful firms’ try hard to understand what consumers want and to improve consumer satisfaction and empowerment by providing pleasant marketing environments and apt, relevant information. Research limitations/implications: The approach is based on prior literature. We examine marketing to consumers in company locations, e.g. stores, malls, restaurants and banks to examine specific evidence of the effects of atmospheric stimuli such as aroma, music and video screen media. Practical implications: We contend that firms can and do become successful in a competitive arena by providing pleasant environments and information that people want. What is original/value of paper?: We show how consumer empowerment is an important concept. This paper contributes since there is a dearth of writings specifically about consumer empowerment in the marketing literature. Far from the popular view of consumers being manipulated by firms, successful firms try hard to and succeed in empowering consumers in their marketing activities