“Living Other-Wise”: The Bushmen Farming Network as an Example of “Alter-Native” Counter Practices to Agriculture and Development

Cultural and social relations that are constitutive of alternative ways of conceiving and practicing development exemplify “living other-wise” (Shilliam 2015, 8) to the central premises of the global development agenda. That is to say, communities who are actively trying to create sustainable alternatives have been contesting the dominant vision of development. In this article, I explore the small, fledgling Bushmen Farming Network of Malaita, Solomon Islands, who question the dominant vision of agricultural development and are attempting to create a small, dynamic, and self-conscious alternative that seeks to enhance self-reliance and local production. My analysis highlights the persistence of social values and relations other-wise and demonstrates their political significance for development. This attempt to organize for living other-wise is an interesting and important response for sustainable development in communities caught between the lure of mainstream development and more socially oriented cultural indigenous values

Genetic recombination during coinfection of two mutants of human respiratory syncytial virus

Recombination between coinfecting viruses had not been documented previously for a nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus (mononegavirus). We investigated the potential of intermolecular recombination by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by coinfecting HEp-2 cells with two recombinant RSV (rRSV) mutants lacking either the G gene (DeltaG/HEK) or the NS1 and NS2 genes (DeltaNS1/2). These viruses replicate inefficiently and form pinpoint plaques in HEp-2 cells. Therefore, potential recombined viruses with a growth and/or plaque formation advantage should easily be identified and differentiated from the two parental viruses. Further identification of potential recombinants was aided by the inclusion of point mutation markers in the F and L genes of DeltaG/HEK and the design of reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) primers capable of detecting these markers. Independent coinfections and control single infections by these two rRSV mutants were performed. In one of six coinfections, an RSV variant was identified that produced plaques slightly larger than those of wild-type RSV in HEp-2 cells. RT-PCR and sequencing provided evidence that this variant was a recombined RSV (rec-RSV). The rec-RSV appeared to have been generated by a polymerase jump from the DeltaG/HEK genome to that of DeltaNS1/2 and back again in the vicinity of the SH-G-F genes. This apparently involved nonhomologous and homologous recombination events, respectively. The recombined genome was identical to that of the DeltaG/HEK mutant except that all but the first 12 nucleotides of the SH gene were deleted and replaced by an insert consisting of the last 91 nucleotides of the G gene and its downstream intergenic region. This insert could have come only from the coinfecting DeltaNS1/2 virus. This resulted in the formation of a short chimeric SH:G gene. Northern and Western blot analysis confirmed that the rec-RSV did not express the normal SH and G mRNAs and proteins but did express the aberrant SH:G mRNA. This provides an experimental demonstration of intermolecular recombination yielding a viable, helper-independent mononegavirus. However, the isolation of only a single rec-RSV under these optimized conditions supports the idea that RSV recombination is rare indeed

An adaptive protocol for use over meteor scatter channels.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1987.Modem technology has revived interest in the once popular area of meteor scatter communications. Meteor scatter systems offer reliable communications in the 500 to 2000 km range all day, every day. Recent advances in microprocessor technology have made meteor scatter communications a viable and cost effective method of providing modest data rate communications. A return to the basic fundamentals has revealed characteristics of meteor scatter propagation that can be used to optimize the protocols for a meteor scatter link. The duration of an underdense trail is bounded when its initial amplitude is known. The upper bound of the duration is determined by maximizing the classical underdense model. The lower bound is determined by considering the volume of sky utilized. The duration distribution between these bounds is computed and compared to measured values. The duration distribution is then used to specify a fixed data rate, frame adaptive protocol which more efficaciously utilizes underdense trails, in the half duplex environment, than a non-adaptive protocol. The performance of these protocols is verified by modeling

Umstellung zur ökologischen Milchviehhaltung: Auswirkungen auf Pflanzenbestand, Bodenqualität, Futterkonservierung, Fütterung, Leistungsentwicklung, Tiergesundheit, Tierhaltung und Wirtschaftlichkeit

Tagungsband zur Tagung der Bayerischen Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft im Oktober 2007. Diese stand unter dem Motto " Umstellung zur ökologischen Milchviehhaltung". Die Nachfrage nach Milch aus ökologischer Erzeugung nimmt zu. Einige Molkereiein haben sich ganz oder z.T. auf diese Produktionsrichtung spezialisiert. Für Milchviehbetriebe kann unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen die ökologische Erzeugung eine Alternative zu einer bisher konventionellen Produktion darstellen. Die Umstellung von einer intensiven zu einer ökologischen Produktion bringt eine Reihe von Veränderungen und wirft so für die Betriebe eine Reihe von wichtigen Fragen auf. Welche Konsequenzen ergeben sich daraus für die Futterprodukton, die Fütterung, die Leistung, die Haltung, die Tiergesundheit, die Arbeitswirtschaft, die Vermarktung? In einem mehrjährigen Projekt wurden eine Vielzahl von Informationen dazu erarbeitet. In Zusammenarbeit mit den größten bayerischen Ökoverbänden, Naturland und Bioland, wurden zehn Betriebe ausgweählt, die sich im zweiten Jahr der Umstellung auf ökologische Produktion befinden. Zu diesen wurden als Partner räumlich nahegelegene Milchviehbetriebe zugeordnet, die von Betriebsgröße, Kuhzahl, Stalltyp usw. vergleichbar waren und bereits mehr als fünf Jahre nach ökologischen Richtlinien produzieren. In Zusammenarbeit mit den Ämtern für Landwirtschaft und Forsten wurden dann zu jedem Paar, "Ökobetrieb" und "Umsteller", ein vergleichbarer konventioneller Betrieb ausgesucht. Diese "Trippelbildung" erlaubt es, die Entwicklung von der konventionellen zur ökologischen Produktion in etwa vorherzusagen und die zu erwartenden betrieblichen Veränderungen abzuschätzen

Umstellung zur ökologischen Milchviehhaltung – Vergleich verschiedener Leistungsparameter

Die Umstellung zur ökologischen Milchviehhaltung kann für die konventionellen Betriebe unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen eine überlegenswerte Perspektive sein. Umfangreiche Untersuchungen in konventionell und ökologisch wirtschaftenden Grünlandbetrieben zei-gen folgende Entwicklung durch die Umstellung auf: Die Milchmenge sinkt etwa um 10 %, der Fettgehalt um 6 % und der Eiweißgehalt gering-fügig um 2 % ab. Die Zwischenkalbezeit sinkt durch die Umstellung um 14 Tage und die Nutzungsdauer der Tiere steigt. Der Ertrag auf den Grünlandflächen sinkt durch die Umstellung, genauso der Gehalt an Rohprotein in den Pflanzen. Die Energiekonzentration der Aufwüchse bleibt gleich. Sehr unterschiedlich sind die Entwicklungen bei den Mengen- und Spurenelemente. Die Ver-daulichkeiten und Silier-Eigenschaften der Aufwüchse werden durch die Umstellung nicht beeinflusst. Auch bei der Tiergesundheit zeigen sich keine Unterschiede. Die Bodenanalysen und die pflanzensoziologischen Aufnahmen zeigen geringe Unter-schiede in Abhängigkeit von der Bewirtschaftungsart, entscheidend sind die Standortver-hältnisse und die jeweilige optimale Bewirtschaftung. Auch bei der Bewertung der Wirtschaftlichkeit ist keine eindeutige Aussage möglich. Bei der Auswertung aller Gruppen zeigt sich, dass der ökonomische Erfolg nicht vom Bewirt-schaftungssystem, konventionell oder ökologisch abhängt, sondern von den betrieblichen Rahmenbedingungen und von seinem Management

Aging Reveals a Role for Nigral Tyrosine Hydroxylase ser31 Phosphorylation in Locomotor Activity Generation

BACKGROUND:Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) regulates dopamine (DA) bioavailability. Its product, L-DOPA, is an established treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD), suggesting that TH regulation influences locomotion. Site-specific phosphorylation of TH at ser31 and ser40 regulates activity. No direct evidence shows that ser40 phosphorylation is the dominating mechanism of regulating TH activity in vivo, and physiologically-relevant stimuli increase L-DOPA biosynthesis independent of ser40 phosphorylation. Significant loss of locomotor activity occurs in aging as in PD, despite less loss of striatal DA or TH in aging compared to the loss associated with symptomatic PD. However, in the substantia nigra (SN), there is equivalent loss of DA or TH in aging and at the onset of PD symptoms. Growth factors increase locomotor activity in both PD and aging models and increase DA bioavailability and ser31 TH phosphorylation in SN, suggesting that ser31 TH phosphorylation status in the SN, not striatum, regulates DA bioavailability necessary for locomotor activity. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We longitudinally characterized locomotor activity in young and older Brown-Norway Fischer 344 F(1) hybrid rats (18 months apart in age) at two time periods, eight months apart. The aged group served as an intact and pharmacologically-naïve source of deficient locomotor activity. Following locomotor testing, we analyzed DA tissue content, TH protein, and TH phosphorylation in striatum, SN, nucleus accumbens, and VTA. Levels of TH protein combined with ser31 phosphorylation alone reflected inherent differences in DA levels among the four regions. Measures strictly pertaining to locomotor activity initiation significantly correlated to DA content only in the SN. Nigral TH protein and ser31 phosphorylation together significantly correlated to test subject's maximum movement number, horizontal activity, and duration. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Together, these results show ser31 TH phosphorylation regulates DA bioavailability in intact neuropil, its status in the SN may regulate locomotor activity generation, and it may represent an accurate target for treating locomotor deficiency. They also show that neurotransmitter regulation in cell body regions can mediate behavioral outcomes and that ser31 TH phosphorylation plays a role in behaviors dependent upon catecholamines, such as dopamine

Concepts for a NASA Applied Spaceflight Environments Office

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is launching a bold and ambitious new space initiative. A significant part of this new initiative includes exploration of new worlds, the development of more innovative technologies, and expansion our presence in the solar system. A common theme to this initiative is the exploration of space beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). As currently organized, NASA does not have an Agency-level office that provides coordination of space environment research and development. This has contributed to the formation of a gap between spaceflight environments knowledge and the application of this knowledge for multi-program use. This paper outlines a concept to establish a NASA-level Applied Spaceflight Environments (ASE) office that will provide coordination and funding for sustained multi-program support in three technical areas that have demonstrated these needs through customer requests. These technical areas are natural environments characterization and modeling, materials and systems analysis and test, and operational space environments modeling and prediction. This paper will establish the need for the ASE, discuss a concept for organizational structure and outline the scope in the three technical area

Reinforced composite flywheels and shafts

The maximum safe operating speed or flywheels and shafts made of low tensile strength material is often determined by the speed at which radial tensile stress exceeds a radial tensile stress limit for the material. Circumferentially wound fiber composite material, for example, has a relatively low tensile strength along the radial direction perpendicular to the fibers. To increase the maximum safe operating speed, it is therefore desirable to form a fiber composite flywheel or shaft with radial compressive prestress. Such a prestressed flywheel or shaft has an outer annulus and an inner cylinder disposed in the outer annulus, and an annular layer of solidified bonding agent within an annular region between the outer annulus and the inner cylinder, wherein the outer annulus and the inner cylinder include substantial radial prestress induced by the bonding agent. The rim portion of a flywheel, for example, is formed from an outer ring (the annulus) and an inner ring (the cylinder, which is hollow in this case). Large, thick flywheels preferably have multiple cylindrical sections joined by such layers of bonding agent, and a plurality of the cylindrical sections each including an outer layer of relatively stiff fiber-composite material, and an inner layer of relatively compliant fiber-composite material within an integral matrix material.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste