Genetically Modified Organisms are Important but Also Controversial

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms containing a set or multiple sets of genes that have been introduced into the organism using laboratory techniques. In the instance of agriculture, the genes introduced provide advantages for the farmer and consumer by yielding plants that produce greater yields, longer growing seasons, longer shelf lives, greater concentrations of vitamins or add additional vitamins that are novel to the plant. There are two general ways that GM (genetically modified) crops are produced: the addition or removal of genes. This review focuses on an example of each strategy. An example of the latter is GM A. bisporus fungi in which genes are removed. Production of polyphenol oxidase has been disabled by knocking out one of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes, and the reduced PPO activity allows the mushrooms to have a longer shelf life. An example of the former is golden rice, in which genes for four additional enzymes are introduced into Oryza sativa using Agrobacterium allowing production of �� carotene the precursor of vitamin A. The controversy around GMOs stems from the idea of novel proteins being introduced into plants. Some are concerned about genetic drift of the novel genes. Organisms with a gene removed may be less controversial as an agricultural product. Greater controversy surrounds a transgenic GMO such as golden rice

Variables influencing the frictional behaviour of in vivo human skin

In the past decades, skin friction research has focused on determining which variables are important to affect the frictional behaviour of in vivo human skin. Until now, there is still limited knowledge on these variables. This study has used a large dataset to identify the effect of variables on the human skin, subject characteristics and environmental conditions on skin friction. The data are obtained on 50 subjects (34 male, 16 female). Friction measurements represent the friction between in vivo human skin and an aluminium sample, assessed on three anatomical locations. The coefficient of friction increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing age, increasing ambient temperature and increasing relative air humidity. A significant inversely proportional relationship was found between friction and both the amount of hair present on the skin and the height of the subject. Other outcome variables in this study were the hydration of the skin and the skin temperatur

A Growing Breathing Home: A Responsive Design to Single-family Homes in Hawaii

Arch.D.Arch.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 201

Fluorescence quenching reaction of chlorophyll a by tris(acetylacetonate)iron(III) in various solvents

Chlorophyll a is known as the prevailing light absorbing pigment giving a strong absorption and fluorescence emission in visible region. Quenching reactions of the chlorophyll a fluorescence by Fe(acac)3 were precisely investigated in various organic solvents which are benzene toluene, ethanol, methanol, dmf, dmso and acetonitrile. Electron transfer performance of chlorophyll a by Fe(acac)3 was investigated from oxidative quenching reaction. Herein, the simplified Rehm-Weller relationship was used to calculate the free energy change of the photo-induced electron transfer reaction. Emission intensity decreased when the concentration of Fe(acac)3 quencher was increased. Non-linear Stern-Volmer plots are found to be affected by inner filter effect more than the ground state complex formation. Rate of quenching reactions (kq) were determined from the Stern-Volmer equation with corrected inner filter effect. The rates of quenching reactions occurred faster in high viscous solvents

Rail transport and urban development: Regeneration opportunity for Whitechapel as a result of the realization of crossrail and overground orbirail

The Report examines the regeneration opportunity of Whitechapel, London in relation to the nodal upgrade resulting from the future rail infrastructure of Crossrail and Overground Orbirail. The Report is divided into two distinctive parts. In the first part I develop the theoretical framework based on the networked city theory and the polycentric mega- city region. I demonstrate both the importance of a rail network within the mega-city region and its direct impact on the urban development. The nature of train station areas as both nodes and places in the city, is discussed generally and then within the specific context of London. In the second part, the theoretical framework is applied to the case study of Whitechapel, identifying future opportunities for urban regeneration. The issues of transport infrastructure, urban development and community politics within the mega-city region are addressed through the study of Whitechapel. This particular case study is explored not only as an important future node and in terms of its subsequent urban development, but also as a place in the London mega-city region that is already undergoing an important urban transformation. "A new phenomenon is emerging in the most highly urbanized parts of the world: the polycentric mega-city region (MCR). It arises through a process of very extended decentralization from big central cities adjacent smaller ones, old and new. ... These places exist both as separate entities and as parts of a wider functional urban region (FUR) connected by dense flows of people and information carried along motorways, high-speed rail lines and telecommunications cables. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the emerging urban form at the start of the 21st century"