Domain specific interaction of S-RNase binding protein with the stylar 120 kDA glycoprotein in nicotiana [abstract]

Abstract only availableThrough the process of evolution, many flowering plants have developed a biochemical mechanism to prevent self-pollination and pollination by closely related plants. Gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) is one such system that prevents inbreeding, a well-known disadvantage for organisms. In Nicotiana, this SI mechanism is controlled by the S-locus and genes located within this locus. The S-locus encodes two highly polymorphic proteins that are directly responsible for the recognition and rejection of self-pollen, S-RNase and SLF/SFB an F-box protein. Non-S-RNase factors also play a key role in SI. The 120 kDa glycoprotein (120K) and HT-B are two style proteins known to be involved in SI. Recent research has revealed that without 120K or HT-B the SI mechanism doesn't work, thus rendering the plants self-compatible (SC). In a previous experiment, the C-terminus of 120K (120K CTD) was used as bait in a yeast-two hybrid (Y2H) screen of pollen and pistil proteins. These experiments revealed that several proteins interacted with the 120K CTD. One of these proteins was the S-RNase Binding Protein (NaSBP1). NaSPB1's interaction with 120K CTD suggests that it could be involved in SI. In vitro binding assays demonstrated that 120K CTD interacts with full length NaSBP1, but which part of the protein is responsible for this interaction? NaSPB1 consists of a 120 amino acid (aa) N-terminal domain, a 165 aa helical domain and a 47 aa RING HC domain. NaSBP1 has been cloned into pMAL-C2xMBP, an N-terminal fusion expression vector. Six different MBP::NaSBP1 fusion constructs have been designed from the three different domains of NaSBP1. Binding experiments (pull-down assays) with domain specific MBP::SBP1 clones will be performed to see what domain or domains are responsible for the interaction with 120K CTD. This will ultimately lead to a greater understanding of how the gametophytic SI mechanism works in Nicotiana.MU Monsanto Undergraduate Research Fellowshi

Science Outreach and Informal Science Education-Programs and Partnerships [abstract]

Comparative Medicine - OneHealth and Comparative Medicine Poster SessionOur vision is to create a culture where engagement between scientists and the public is the norm. This will contribute to workforce development, public understanding of science and its economic impacts in our state. We are creating opportunities for exchange between scientists and the public and training graduate students to regard public engagement as an ordinary part of professional life. We are looking for partners to sustain and expand these efforts. Our approaches: Saturday Morning Science (SMS) is a free public lecture series held at MU every Saturday throughout the fall and winter semesters. Talks are geared toward the general public and include a two-way engagement between scientists and the public. SMS has established its reputation by presenting scientific ideas and concepts in a lively, engaging, and accessible manner. Audiences include K-12 students and teachers, retirees, and MU students, among others. Largely through word-of-mouth, interest in SMS has grown tremendously. We have held over 145 presentations with approximately 18,000 total attendees. Science Talks to You (STTY) is SMS's new off-campus offshoot. Like SMS, STTY will feature direct engagement between established scientists and the public, but in venues around Missouri including communities distant from museums, science centers, and research universities. Our plan is to visit specific communities several times over a period of a few years ensuring a significant impact for a manageable cost. Science and Me (SaM) is a public lecture series offered by graduate students in MU's "Public Understanding of Science" course designed by Dr. Hannah Alexander. Students are mentored as they develop presentations focusing on science in everyday life. Their presentations are given to adult audiences in venues such as libraries and assisted-living facilities. Students gain an understanding of how science fits into the lives of audience members and how to communicate effectively to non-scientists. Audience members gain an appreciation for the role of science in their lives and also for the perspectives of young scientists. In fall 2008, SaM hosted 31 presentations in seven venues with audiences totaling nearly 500. Approximately 25 presentations are planned for early 2010. Sustaining These Programs: Despite wide recognition of the need for engagement between scientists and the public, sustaining these programs is a challenge. SMS has succeeded largely with volunteer effort and modest support from MU's Office of Research and Bookstore. Monsanto recently made a gift that will extend SMS, pilot STTY presentations, and SaM in 2010. Dr. Alexander teaches her course and organizes SaM without salary support. The greatest needs are for salary and graduate student support. To realize our vision of cultural change we propose a new kind of graduate assistantship…not teaching assistants, but outreach assistants. These would be students skilled in both science and science communication. We need to identify partners who share this vision and can help make it a reality

Economic crisis and smoking behaviour: prospective cohort study in Iceland

Objective: To examine the associations between the 2008 economic collapse in Iceland and smoking behaviour at the national and individual levels. Design: A population-based, prospective cohort study based on a mail survey (Health and Wellbeing in Iceland) assessed in 2007 and 2009. Setting: National mail survey. Participants: Representative cohort (n=3755) of Icelandic adults. Main outcome measure: Smoking status. Results: A significant reduction in the prevalence of smoking was observed from 2007 (pre-economic collapse) to 2009 (postcollapse) in both males (17.4–14.8%; p 0.01) and females (20.0–17.5%; p 0.01) in the cohort (n=3755). At the individual level of analysis, male former smokers experiencing a reduction in income during the same period were less likely to relapse (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.85). Female smokers were less likely to quit over time compared to males (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.93). Among male former smokers who experienced an increase in income between 2007 and 2009, we observed an elevated risk of smoking relapse (OR 4.02; 95% CI 1.15 to 14.00). Conclusions: The national prevalence of smoking in Iceland declined following the 2008 economic crisis. This could be due to the procyclical relationship between macro-economic conditions and smoking behaviour (ie, hard times lead to less smoking because of lower affordability), or it may simply reflect a continuation of trends already in place prior to the crisis. In individual-level analysis, we find that former smokers who experienced a decline in income were less likely to relapse; and conversely, an increase in income raises the risk. However, caution is warranted since these findings are based on small numbers

Differential in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE): The key to finding the 4936 factor? [abstract]

Abstract only availableThere are many species of plants that do not accept their own or closely related pollen. This self-incompatibility (SI), is seen in members of the genus Nicotiana. There are three proteins that are known to be required for SI to function in the pistil: S-RNase, 120K and HT-B. We discovered a mutation segregating in a population of otherwise SI plants that prevents SI from functioning in the pistil. Plants that display normal SI are called Rejectors (because they reject their own pollen), and mutants are called Acceptors (because they accept their own pollen). Acceptors show normal expression of S-RNase, 120K, and HT-B. The factor responsible for the mutation was named the 4936 Factor after the population in which it was first discovered. In order to Identify the 4936 Factor, I have used the DIGE method. Total protein extracts from Acceptor and Rejector pistils are stained with two different fluorophores and run in the same two-dimensional gel. By separating proteins both by size and isoelectric point, one can search for differences in the expression level or presence/absence of a particular protein. Therefore, a protein that is present in the rejector color, but not in the acceptor color, is a good candidate for further investigation as the 4936 Factor.MU Monsanto Undergraduate Research Fellowshi

Economic crisis and smoking behaviour: prospective cohort study in Iceland

Objective: To examine the associations between the 2008 economic collapse in Iceland and smoking behaviour at the national and individual levels. Design: A population-based, prospective cohort study based on a mail survey (Health and Wellbeing in Iceland) assessed in 2007 and 2009. Setting: National mail survey. Participants: Representative cohort (n=3755) of Icelandic adults. Main outcome measure: Smoking status. Results: A significant reduction in the prevalence of smoking was observed from 2007 (pre-economic collapse) to 2009 (postcollapse) in both males (17.4-14.8%; p 0.01) and females (20.0-17.5%; p 0.01) in the cohort (n=3755). At the individual level of analysis, male former smokers experiencing a reduction in income during the same period were less likely to relapse (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.85). Female smokers were less likely to quit over time compared to males (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.93). Among male former smokers who experienced an increase in income between 2007 and 2009, we observed an elevated risk of smoking relapse (OR 4.02; 95% CI 1.15 to 14.00). Conclusions: The national prevalence of smoking in Iceland declined following the 2008 economic crisis. This could be due to the procyclical relationship between macro-economic conditions and smoking behaviour (ie, hard times lead to less smoking because of lower affordability), or it may simply reflect a continuation of trends already in place prior to the crisis. In individual-level analysis, we find that former smokers who experienced a decline in income were less likely to relapse; and conversely, an increase in income raises the risk. However, caution is warranted since these findings are based on small numbers.Keywords: Relapse, Times, Perceived stress, Cessation, Mortality, Health, DepressionKeywords: Relapse, Times, Perceived stress, Cessation, Mortality, Health, Depressio

Dopamine D_2-receptor activation elicits akinesia, rigidity, catalepsy, and tremor in mice expressing hypersensitive 4 nicotinic receptors via a cholinergic-dependent mechanism

Recent studies suggest that high-affinity neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing α4 and β2 subunits (α4β2*) functionally interact with G-protein-coupled dopamine (DA) D_2 receptors in basal ganglia. We hypothesized that if a functional interaction between these receptors exists, then mice expressing an M2 point mutation (Leu9'Ala) rendering 4 nAChRs hypersensitive to ACh may exhibit altered sensitivity to a D_2-receptor agonist. When challenged with the D_(2)R agonist, quinpirole (0.5–10 mg/kg), Leu9'Ala mice, but not wild-type (WT) littermates, developed severe, reversible motor impairment characterized by rigidity, catalepsy, akinesia, and tremor. While striatal DA tissue content, baseline release, and quinpirole-induced DA depletion did not differ between Leu9'Ala and WT mice, quinpirole dramatically increased activity of cholinergic striatal interneurons only in mutant animals, as measured by increased c-Fos expression in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive interneurons. Highlighting the importance of the cholinergic system in this mouse model, inhibiting the effects of ACh by blocking muscarinic receptors, or by selectively activating hypersensitive nAChRs with nicotine, rescued motor symptoms. This novel mouse model mimics the imbalance between striatal DA/ACh function associated with severe motor impairment in disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and the data suggest that a D_(2)R–α4*-nAChR functional interaction regulates cholinergic interneuron activity.—Zhao-Shea, R., Cohen, B. N., Just, H., McClure-Begley, T., Whiteaker, P., Grady, S. R., Salminen, O., Gardner, P. D., Lester, H. A., Tapper, A. R. Dopamine D2-receptor activation elicits akinesia, rigidity, catalepsy, and tremor in mice expressing hypersensitive α4 nicotinic receptors via a cholinergic-dependent mechanism

Hysteresis and hierarchies: dynamics of disorder-driven first-order phase transformations

We use the zero-temperature random-field Ising model to study hysteretic behavior at first-order phase transitions. Sweeping the external field through zero, the model exhibits hysteresis, the return-point memory effect, and avalanche fluctuations. There is a critical value of disorder at which a jump in the magnetization (corresponding to an infinite avalanche) first occurs. We study the universal behavior at this critical point using mean-field theory, and also present preliminary results of numerical simulations in three dimensions.Comment: 12 pages plus 2 appended figures, plain TeX, CU-MSC-747

WIYN Open Cluster Study. XXXIX. Abundances in NGC 6253 from HYDRA Spectroscopy of the Li 6708 A Region

High-dispersion spectra of 89 potential members of the old, super-metal-rich open cluster, NGC 6253, have been obtained with the HYDRA multi-object spectrograph. Based upon radial-velocity measurements alone, 47 stars at the turnoff of the cluster color-magnitude diagram (CMD) and 18 giants are identified as potential members. Five turnoff stars exhibit evidence of binarity while proper-motion data eliminates two of the dwarfs as members. The mean cluster radial velocity from probable single-star members is -29.4 +/- 1.3 km/sec (sd). A discussion of the current estimates for the cluster reddening, derived independently of potential issues with the BV cluster photometry, lead to an adopted reddening of E(B-V) = 0.22 +/- 0.04. From equivalent width analyses of 38 probable single-star members near the CMD turnoff, the weighted average abundances are found to be [Fe/H] = +0.43 +/- 0.01, [Ni/H] = +0.53 +/- 0.02 and [Si/H] = +0.43 (+0.03,-0.04), where the errors refer to the standard errors of the weighted mean. Weak evidence is found for a possible decline in metallicity with increasing luminosity among stars at the turnoff. We discuss the possibility that our turnoff stars have been affected by microscopic diffusion. For 15 probable single-star members among the giants, spectrum synthesis leads to abundances of +0.46 (+0.02,-0.03) for [Fe/H]. While less than half the age of NGC 6791, NGC 6253 is at least as metal-rich and, within the uncertainties, exhibits the same general abundance pattern as that typified by super-metal-rich dwarfs of the galactic bulge.Comment: 5 Tables, 9 figures, 45 page

The Initial Mass Function and Disk Frequency of the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud: An Extinction-Limited Sample

We have completed an optical spectroscopic survey of an unbiased, extinction-limited sample of candidate young stars covering 1.3 square degrees of the Rho Ophiuchi star forming region. While infrared, X-ray, and optical surveys of the cloud have identified many young stellar objects (YSOs), these surveys are biased towards particular stages of stellar evolution and are not optimal for studies of the disk frequency and initial mass function.We have obtained over 300 optical spectra to help identify 135 association members based on the presence of H-alpha in emission, lithium absorption, X-ray emission, a mid-infrared excess, a common proper motion, reflection nebulosity, and/or extinction considerations. Spectral types along with R and I band photometry were used to derive effective temperatures and bolometric luminosities for association members to compare with theoretical tracks and isochrones for pre-main-sequence stars. An average age of 3.1 Myr is derived for this population which is intermediate between that of objects embedded in the cloud core of Rho Ophiuchi and low mass stars in the Upper Scorpius subgroup. Consistent with this age we find a circumstellar disk frequency of 27% plus or minus 5%. We also constructed an initial mass function for an extinction-limited sample of 123 YSOs (A_v less than or equal to 8 mag), which is consistent with the field star initial mass function for YSOs with masses > 0.2 M_sun. There may be a deficit of brown dwarfs but this result relies on completeness corrections and requires confirmation.Comment: 46 pages, 7 figures, 4 table

Pengaruh Harga Terhadap Peningkatan Penjualan Produk Semen Tiga Roda Pada PT. Robcaga Beo Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud

The development in business world these days is market by the competition between the business company is getting fierce. Especially in managing the company business unit. It is shown by the appearance of a company that offer a good quality product with a compete price on the market. To handle the fierce competition on the market then one from so many effort that the company do is by apply the strategic price. Which on the way of applying that strategi the company try to set a price that can be compete in the market so the increase sale of the product become maximum. With right price and controlled will result the domino effect to a company to build long term relationship with costumer so it can increase the sales volume. This research is a descriptive quantitative research by using the correlation approach and simple regression. To see relation between variable and to measure the impact to the variable itself. So the purpose of this research is to know how far the price effect and to the increase of PT. ROBCAGA in Talaud. According to the sesult of the research, can be shown as following: price has a correlation and significant determination effort to the increase sale of PT. ROBCAGA Talaud. According to the data analysis, coefficient value moment r = 0,685. That show there is a positive relation, and can be categorize as high and strong, also price coefficient determination to the increase sale is by 46,5% and 53,5% by the rest of it depends on the unknown factors that not been analyze in this research