\u3ci\u3eStachybotrys atra\u3c/i\u3e, an Effective Aggregator of Peorian Loess

Twelve cellulose-decomposing fungi were tested for aggregating ability with Peorian loess containing ground straw at a concentration of 1%. Of the 12 fungi, Stachybotrys atra was the most effective soil aggregator. Under laboratory conditions used, it produced from 2 to 30 times more aggregation than any of the other fungi tested. Studies were made of the influence of various environmental factors on the degree of aggregation effected by S. atra. An incubation time of 1 week was sufficient for a relatively high degree of aggregation. In comparison, longer periods resulted in only slightly improved aggregation. Varying the temperature between 20° and 28° C. had no appreciable effect on the aggregation by S. atra. Approximately equivalent aggregations were attained at the moisture levels of 20, 25, and 30%, which were definitely superior to the 10 and 15% levels. Alfalfa and straw, either separately or as a mixture, were satisfactory sources of energy material for S. atra. The aggregation obtained with alfalfa, however, was somewhat higher than that obtained with straw

Strategic Cooperation in Peripheral Ports: The Case of Atlantic Canada’s Ports

This paper examines ports on the geographical periphery of the port business: they are off the main shipping routes or not located proximal to large domestic markets. These ports have development potential, but reaching it requires specific strategies. The paper first discusses the nature of peripheral ports followed by a conceptualization of two development strategies: cooperation among seaports and coordination of supply chain operators with the emphasis on cooperation. The paper considers Atlantic Canada’s ports and their current cooperation initiatives concluding with recommendations on how these ports may better serve their interests through applying cooperation strategies found elsewhere

Paper Session II-D - Project Vision (Very Intensive Scientific Intercurricular Onsite Education): A Partnership Among NASA/John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida International University, Universidad del Turabo, Dade County Public Schools, and the Caguas/Gurabo Public Schools.

Project VISION is a joint effort among NASA/John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida International University, Universidad del Turabo, Dade County Public Schools and the Caguas/ Gurabo Public Schools. The project’s main mission is to institutionalize change among the 7th grade science and mathematics teachers at participating public middle schools. A further aspect of the mission is to enhance the science and math education of the public middle school students during the phase of institutionalization. Project VISION will not need to generate any new educational materials to fulfill its mission. Rather than generating new materials, Project VISION will use the vast quantities of high quality learning modules, lessons, hands-on experiments and other educational materials available at NASA and other scientific depositories. The project will identify, adopt and then adapt these learning modules or learning materials to best meet the needs and capabilities of the target student and teacher populations. A further goal of this project lies within the realm of NASA’s Mission - to specifically focus our activities on middle schools that serve socially and economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, the project will invite members of the private and public sectors to serve as lecturers, mentors and role models. The project will perform program evaluations to measure the levels of success and accomplishments of each of the proposed activities

Escherichia coli YafP protein modulates DNA damaging property of the nitroaromatic compounds

Escherichia coli SOS functions constitute a multifaceted response to DNA damage. We undertook to study the role of yafP, a SOS gene with unknown function. yafP is part of an operon also containing the dinB gene coding for DNA Polymerase IV (PolIV). Our phylogenetic analysis showed that the gene content of this operon is variable but that the dinB and the yafP genes are conserved in the majority of E. coli natural isolates. Therefore, we studied if these proteins are functionally linked. Using a murine septicaemia model, we showed that YafP activity reduced the bacterial fitness in the absence of PolIV. Similarly, YafP increased cytotoxicity of two DNA damaging nitroaromatic compounds, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (NQO) and nitrofurazone, in the absence of PolIV. The fact that PolIV counterbalances YafP-induced cytotoxicity could explain why these two genes are transcriptionally linked. We also studied the involvement of YafP in genotoxic-stress induced mutagenesis and found that PolIV and YafP reduced NQO-induced mutagenicity. The YafP antimutator activity was independent of the PolIV activity. Given that YafP was annotated as a putative acetyltransferase, it could be that YafP participates in the metabolic transformation of genotoxic compounds, hence modulating the balance between their mutagenicity and cytotoxicity

Pollution Abatement from Cattle Feedlots in Northeastern Colorado and Nebraska

Climatic factors, feedlot runoff, and organic material in the runoff were evaluated in experimental and commercial feedlots. The effects of slope, stocking rates, terraces, basins, and holding ponds were evaluated to obtain the best controls for containing runoff. In eastern Nebraska, 70 cm annual precipitation produces 23 cm of runoff; whereas, in northeastern Colorado, 37 cm annual precipitation gives only 5.5 cm of runoff. Large applications of runoff liquid, up to 91 cmon grass-Ladino and 76 cm on corn, in Nebraska did not decrease yields; however, in northeastern Colorado, the concentrated high-salt runoff required dilution before direct application to crops. The organic manure-soil interface severely restricts the movement of water, nitrates, organic substances, and air into the soil beneath feedlots. The amounts of N03-N in soil cores taken from Nebraska feedlots and croplands ranked as follows: abandoned feedlots\u3e feedlot cropland\u3e upland feedlots\u3e river valley feedlots\u3e manure mounds\u3e alfalfa\u3e grassland. Feedlots contribute NH3, amines, carbonyl sulfide, H2S, and other unidentified substances to the atmosphere. Ammonia and amine can be scavenged from the air by green plants and water bodies. Anaerobic conditions in feedlots are conducive to the production of carbonyl sulfide, H2S, and amines. Management practices, such as good drainage, that enhance aeration will decrease the evolution of these compounds

Managing uncertainty: a review of food system scenario analysis and modelling

Complex socio-ecological systems like the food system are unpredictable, especially to long-term horizons such as 2050. In order to manage this uncertainty, scenario analysis has been used in conjunction with food system models to explore plausible future outcomes. Food system scenarios use a diversity of scenario types and modelling approaches determined by the purpose of the exercise and by technical, methodological and epistemological constraints. Our case studies do not suggest Malthusian futures for a projected global population of 9 billion in 2050; but international trade will be a crucial determinant of outcomes; and the concept of sustainability across the dimensions of the food system has been inadequately explored so far. The impact of scenario analysis at a global scale could be strengthened with participatory processes involving key actors at other geographical scales. Food system models are valuable in managing existing knowledge on system behaviour and ensuring the credibility of qualitative stories but they are limited by current datasets for global crop production and trade, land use and hydrology. Climate change is likely to challenge the adaptive capacity of agricultural production and there are important knowledge gaps for modelling research to address

Regional Adoption of Business-to-Business Electronic Commerce in China: Role of E-Readiness

Adoption of B2B e-commerce is a powerful driver of economic success in developed and developing countries. However, adoption rates in developing countries lag far behind. This paper draws on the Perceived eReadiness Model and research on the influence of inter-organizational relationships and economic-cultural contexts to explain the importance of three factors—inter-organizational power dependence, cooperativeness, and regional economic-cultural differences—for achieving higher levels of Internet-based Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the developing country of China. We employ survey data to empirically test both the individual and joint influence of these factors. The findings suggest that beyond intra-organizational and external factors, managers and policy makers wanting to promote Internet-based EDI adoption in developing countries must also account for the inter-organizational relationships of firms and the economic and cultural circumstances of the regions in which they operate

Identification and Characterization of Antifungal Compounds Using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Reporter Bioassay

New antifungal drugs are urgently needed due to the currently limited selection, the emergence of drug resistance, and the toxicity of several commonly used drugs. To identify drug leads, we screened small molecules using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae reporter bioassay in which S. cerevisiae heterologously expresses Hik1, a group III hybrid histidine kinase (HHK) from Magnaporthe grisea. Group III HHKs are integral in fungal cell physiology, and highly conserved throughout this kingdom; they are absent in mammals, making them an attractive drug target. Our screen identified compounds 13 and 33, which showed robust activity against numerous fungal genera including Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp. and molds such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus oryzae. Drug-resistant Candida albicans from patients were also highly susceptible to compounds 13 and 33. While the compounds do not act directly on HHKs, microarray analysis showed that compound 13 induced transcripts associated with oxidative stress, and compound 33, transcripts linked with heavy metal stress. Both compounds were highly active against C. albicans biofilm, in vitro and in vivo, and exerted synergy with fluconazole, which was inactive alone. Thus, we identified potent, broad-spectrum antifungal drug leads from a small molecule screen using a high-throughput, S. cerevisiae reporter bioassay