Hydra tropomyosin TROP1 is expressed in head-specific epithelial cells and is a major component of the cytoskeletal structure that anchors nematocytes

A cDNA clone encoding a 253 amino acid tropomyosin was isolated from Hydra in a differential screen for headspecific genes. The Hydra tropomyosin gene, designated trop1, is a single copy gene, lacks introns and is strongly expressed in tentacle-specific epithelial cells. Analysis of protein synthesis in head and gastric tissue indicated a high rate of tropomyosin synthesis in head tissue. Immunolocalization of tropomyosin in tentacle tissue revealed a cushion-like tropomyosin-containing structure within battery cells at the base of nematocytes. The structure appears to form part of the cytoskeletal anchor for nematocytes. Tropomyosin cushions were also observed in epithelial cells along the body column, which contain mounted stenotele nematocytes

Destination marketing organizations’ stakeholders and best practices

As marketing practices continue to advance, the tourism industry is constantly evolving in terms of marketing strategies and in the shifting duties of its stakeholders. Different organizations plan the advancement of their marketing strategies differently, and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) are no exception. With so many destination options, travelers may find themselves with too many destinations and too much information to easily make the decision on their own. The main role of the DMOs is to sell the destination using different marketing strategies and various incentives to make their destination more appealing, and by working with all of their stakeholders to be able to provide the best experience to visitors. This study examined the perception of effectiveness of various marketing channels, different social media channels, and different incentives that were being used by the DMOs. Some of the marketing channels that DMOs considered most effective in today’s environment included website management, word-of-mouth, and search engine optimization; in terms of social media marketing channels, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter were ranked as most effective. This study showed that some of the most effective incentives used by the DMOs were unique attractions accessibility, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary rentals. This study also explored the importance of various stakeholders to a DMO, and the results showed that some of the most important stakeholders were the hoteliers, the local government, and the local community

Os arquivos fotograficos e a agenda da Uniao Europeia : entrevista ao diretor dos Arquivos Nacionais de Malta durante a presidência maltesa da Uniao Europeia

The European Union (EU) has a system of six-month rotation whereby each Member State holds the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, which is the main governing body of the EU. Malta is leading its first term in such a role spanning from 1 January to 30 June 2017. Such an opportunity often stimulates the various sectors and this is the case with the archives domain in Malta during the Presidency. The National Archives of Malta is responsible to organise four high level meetings and support three others. Heading the organisation team is Dr. Charles J. Farrugia, Malta’s national archivist. He is not a new face to the sector and has worked in archives for the last twenty-eight years, eighteen of which leading the national archives. He also has the organisational experience of the highly successful CITRA conference held in 2009. That event welcomed in Malta 251 archivists from 91 countries. But the Presidency is different. It spans over six months and includes a high dose of policy formulation. We decided to interview Dr. Farrugia on what is the relevance of all this activity to the Maltese archives sector, in particular photographic holdings and services.peer-reviewe

Le transport en Europe, éléments préparatoire au débat parlementaire sur les transports

L'économie du transport a déjà une dimension européenne et parfois mondiale. Chaque politique nationale de transport doit avoir une ampleur européenne pour être compatible avec les politiques communautaires et afin d'éviter toutes distorsions perverses de la concurrence, auxquelles une démarche purement nationale ne résisterait pas. L'Europe des transports n'est pas facile à construire. Cependant, malgré ses difficultés méthodologiques et ses inévitables incertitudes la démarche prospective est plus que jamais nécessaire. A l'heure où le monde des transports est en pleine ébullition, quel bilan pouvons-nous dresser du transport européen, quels sont les points noirs du réseau trans-européen, où se positionne la France par rapport à ses voisins ? D'ici 10 à 12 ans la commission européenne prévoit un doublement des flux de marchandises, les infrastructures actuelles et à venir pourront-elles absorber l'intensification du trafic ? Outre l'aspect offre, niveau et capacité d'infrastructure, se pose la question du financement de ces nouvelles voies de communication. L'accroissement des flux terrestres de transport pose non seulement des problèmes de capacité d'infrastructures mais également de nuisances et de tarification des transports. En matière de tarification, certains pays, la Suisse et l'Allemagne ont une longueur d'avance, ils prévoient la mise en place d'une redevance qui permet une imputation des coûts externes et le financement de grands projets ferroviaires en vue d'un transfert modal route-rail. Les autres pays européens n'entament pas de démarches aussi innovantes et inscrivent leur politique de transport dans la continuité. Cependant l'heure des choix approche, la route sans aménagement conséquent ne peut absorber l'augmentation du trafic. Dans ce cas de figure quel scénario privilégier celui du ‘tout-route' ou l'option multimodale. La France pays de transit est plus que jamais confronter à ce choix crucial qui dessinera en partie son visage économique pour les années à venir.Transport européen ; réseau trans-européen ; tarification des transports ; financement des infrastructures ; offre d'infrastructure ; politique de transport

Method of identifying inhibitors of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene expression

Complementary DNA and genomic clones for three variants of GST-.pi. are disclosed. It is demonstrated that certain of these variants are overexpressed in gliomas, thereby indicating an involvement with that form of cancer. This permits the detection and treatment of certain classes of tumors using new compositions such as GST-.pi. genes, oligonucleotides, peptides and antibodies.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

The Automated Root Exudate System (ARES): a method to apply solutes at regular intervals to soils in the field.

Root exudation is a key component of nutrient and carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. Exudation rates vary widely by plant species and environmental conditions, but our understanding of how root exudates affect soil functioning is incomplete, in part because there are few viable methods to manipulate root exudates in situ. To address this, we devised the Automated Root Exudate System (ARES), which simulates increased root exudation by applying small amounts of labile solutes at regular intervals in the field. The ARES is a gravity-fed drip irrigation system comprising a reservoir bottle connected via a timer to a micro-hose irrigation grid covering c. 1 m2; 24 drip-tips are inserted into the soil to 4-cm depth to apply solutions into the rooting zone. We installed two ARES subplots within existing litter removal and control plots in a temperate deciduous woodland. We applied either an artificial root exudate solution (RE) or a procedural control solution (CP) to each subplot for 1 min day-1 during two growing seasons. To investigate the influence of root exudation on soil carbon dynamics, we measured soil respiration monthly and soil microbial biomass at the end of each growing season. The ARES applied the solutions at a rate of c. 2 L m-2 week-1 without significantly increasing soil water content. The application of RE solution had a clear effect on soil carbon dynamics, but the response varied by litter treatment. Across two growing seasons, soil respiration was 25% higher in RE compared to CP subplots in the litter removal treatment, but not in the control plots. By contrast, we observed a significant increase in microbial biomass carbon (33%) and nitrogen (26%) in RE subplots in the control litter treatment. The ARES is an effective, low-cost method to apply experimental solutions directly into the rooting zone in the field. The installation of the systems entails minimal disturbance to the soil and little maintenance is required. Although we used ARES to apply root exudate solution, the method can be used to apply many other treatments involving solute inputs at regular intervals in a wide range of ecosystems

Are Consumers Willing to Pay More for Biodegradable Containers Than for Plastic Ones? Evidence from Hypothetical Conjoint Analysis and Nonhypothetical Experimental Auctions

This study used and compared hypothetical conjoint analysis and nonhypothetical experimental auctions to elicit floral customers’ willingness to pay for biodegradable plant containers. The results of the study show that participants were willing to pay a price premium for biodegradable containers, but the premium is not the same for different types of containers. This article also shows the mixed ordered probit model generates more accurate results when analyzing the conjoint analysis Internet survey data than the ordered probit model.biodegradable, willingness to pay, marketing, carbon footprint, waste composition, green industry, nursery crops, floriculture crops, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Financial Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Marketing, Public Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, D12, Q13,