Factors affecting the sticking of insects on modified aircraft wings

The adhesion of insects to aircraft wings is studied. Insects were collected in road tests in past studies and a large experimental error was introduced caused by the variability of insect flux. The presence of such errors has been detected by studying the insect distribution across an aluminum-strip covered half-cylinder mounted on the top of a car. After a nonuniform insect distribution (insect flux) was found from three road tests, a new arrangement of samples was developed. The feasibility of coating aircraft wing surfaces with polymers to reduce the number of insects sticking onto the surfaces was studied using fluorocarbon elastomers, styrene butadiene rubbers, and Teflon

Genetics, fertility behaviour and molecular marker analysis of a new TGMS line, TS6, in rice

The thermosensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) system has great potential for revolutionizing hybrid rice production through simple, less expensive and more efficient seed production technology. For the successful utilization of this novel male sterility system, knowledge of the breeding and fertility behaviour of a TGMS line is essential. In this study, the fertility transformation behaviour, the critical fertility and sterility temperatures and the mode of inheritance of male sterility were studied for a new TGMS line, TS6, identified at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. The pollen and spikelet fertilities recorded on plants raised at fortnightly intervals revealed that this line was completely sterile for 78 consecutive days (35/22 to 32/23�C, maximum/minimum temperatures) and reverted to fertile when the temperature was 30/18�C. It remained fertile continuously for 69 days and the maximum pollen and spikelet fertilities recorded were 75 and 70%, respectively. The fertility was highly influenced by daily maximum temperature followed by average and minimum temperatures. It was not influenced by relative humidity, sunshine hours or photoperiod. The critical temperature inducing sterility and fertility was 26.7 and 25.5�C, respectively. The male sterility in TS6 was inherited as a monogenic recessive in the F2 and BC1 populations of TS6 · MRST9 as well as TS6 · IR68281B. Using bulked segregant analysis on an F2 population of TS6 · MRST9, an RAPD marker, OPC052962, was identified to be associated with TGMS in TS6

Evaluation of a new dispersion technique for assessing triboelectric charging of powders

In a number of applications, especially in pharmaceutical drug development, there is often a very small powder quantity available for evaluating the manufacturability of new drugs. However, it is highly desirable to be able to quickly evaluate processing issues, and where possible using the smallest powder quantity. In the present work, a proprietary commercial powder dispersion device (the disperser of Malvern© Morphologi G3) is adapted to evaluate the triboelectric charging tendency. A very small powder quantity (as small as 0.1 mg) is dispersed by a pressure pulse of compressed gas such as air or nitrogen. This causes the particles to become air borne and collide with the containing walls, resulting in dispersion and leading to triboelectric charge transfer between the particles and the walls. In this work, the charging propensity of a number of materials is evaluated and the effect of particle surface functional groups on the tribo-electric charge transfer is analysed. Model materials with a well-defined shape (glass ballotini) but with different silane groups deposited on their surfaces as well as a number of organic crystalline particles (such as aspirin, α-lactose monohydrate and paracetamol) are tested. Following dispersion the particles move immediately to a Faraday cup placed directly underneath the disperser. Therefore, particle charge is measured with no decay. The method can differentiate charging of different polymorphs of the same material, different silane groups on the surfaces of glass ballotini and different crystal morphologies obtained from crystallisation from various solvents

Improving policy coherence for food security and nutrition in South Africa: a qualitative policy analysis

Like most other low and middle-income countries, South Africa must address a rising burden of diet-related chronic disease in a situation of persistent food insecurity and undernutrition. Supply-side policy interventions are a critical component of action to address the double burden of malnutrition. However, the food supply is governed by a number of different policy sectors, and policy incoherence can occur between government action to promote a healthy food supply and objectives for economic liberalization. We analysed the coherence of food supply policy content with respect to nutrition and food security in South Africa, and conducted 14 in-depth interviews with 22 public and private sector actors to identify opportunities to improve policy coherence across sectors governing the food supply. Drawing on Sabatier’s conceptualization of actors as influential in shaping policy outcomes, we identified three coalitions of actors related to food security and nutrition in South Africa: the dominant Economic Growth coalition, the Food Security coalition, and the Health coalition. Understanding the frames, beliefs and resources held by these coalitions offers insights into the policy tensions faced by the Government of South Africa with respect to the food supply. The analysis indicates that the current reconsideration of economic policy agendas favouring liberalization in SouthAfrica, including the termination of most bilateral investment treaties, may present an opportunity for increased recognition of food security and nutrition priorities in food supply policy making. Opportunities to strengthen policy coherence across the food supply for food security and nutrition include: specific changes to economic policy relating to the food supply that achieve both food security/nutrition and economic objectives; creating links between producers and consumers, through markets and fiscal incentives that make healthy / fresh foods more accessible and affordable; increasing formal avenues for engagement by Civil Society in nutrition and food security policy making; and including consideration of the nutritional quality of the food supply in policy objectives across sectors, to create a framework for policy coherence across sectors relating to the food supply