The effects of different combinations and varying concentrations of growth regulators on the regeneration of selected Turkish cultivars of melon

Cucurbits are an economically important family of plants. The majority of the vegetable production in Turkey, for example, derives from the species beloning to the family Cucurbitaceae. Despite the importance of cucurbits among vegetable crops worldwide, the development of genomic tools in these species has been rather limited. Although melon production has been improved by conventional plant breeding methods, output is still insufficient. One useful technique in overcoming such problems in melon is functional genomics’ studies, and the other one is abiotic stress resistance and improved fruit quality has been gene transfer via Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. The availability of an optimized plant regeneration system is crucial for genetic transformation techniques as well as obtaining an entire plant. Although Hasanbey and Cinikiz in Turkey, for example, are important commercial melon cultivars used in the breeding programs and molecular biology of fruit ripening and genetic mapping of melons, there is no study to date on the regeneration of these cultivars

3 case studies: a hybrid educational strategy for ART/SCI collaborations

In this paper we report on a transdisciplinary university course designed to bring together fine art/visual communication design and computer science students for the creation and implementation of collaborative visual/audio projects that draw upon the specialized knowledge of both these disciplines. While an overview of the syllabus and the teaching methodologies is undertaken in the introduction, the focus of the paper concentrates upon an in-depth discussion and analysis of 3 specific projects that were developed by 3 distinct teams of students comprised of one artist/designer and one engineer each

Digital detection of biomarkers for low-cost, high-sensitivity diagnostics

We have demonstrated Interferometric Reflectance Imaging Sensor (IRIS) with the ability to detect single nanoscale particles. By extending single-particle IRIS to in-liquid dynamic imaging, we demonstrated real-time digital detection of individual viral pathogens as well as single molecules labeled with Au nanoparticles. With this technique we demonstrate real-time simultaneous detection of multiple targets in a single sample, as well as quantitative dynamic detection of individual biomolecular interactions for reaction kinetics measurements. This approach promises to simplify and reduce the cost of rapid diagnostics.Accepted manuscrip

Endogenous quality choice: price and quantity competition

The present paper is concerned with addressing the issue of firms competing in both prices and quantities (capacity levels) within a simple differentiated duopoly where products are asymmetrically differentiated by quality location. A three-stage competitive model is investigated such that firms compete in quality, followed by choice of fixed capacity levels, and finally, they compete in prices. An output asymmetry always exists at equilibrium such that the high quality firm always carries excess production capacity relative to the low quality firm. Total production capacity, however, may not fully cover market demand for an incumbent duopoly.

Centrist's Curse? An Electoral Competition Model with Credibility Constraints

I analyze a model of electoral competition in which a candidate?s reputation and his need of cred- ibility restricts his policy choice to a certain subset of the policy space, its ideology set. Candidates are o¢ ce-motivated. They care about winning and also about the share of votes they get. I consider both two and three party systems. I describe the equilibrium outcomes assuming that plurality rule applies, and obtain for two party competition, in some cases, equilibrium outcomes di¤erent than what the median voter theorem suggests because of the restrictions on the ideology sets implied by the credibility constraints. I show that centrist parties are disadvantaged compared to leftist and rightist ones, since, in equilibrium, leftist and rightist parties choose policy points that are as close as possible to each other and obtain votes from the centrist parties?ideology set. A centrist candidate needs a higher concentration of voters in his credibility set compared to his opponents in order to have a chance to win. I also analyze a run-off system for three parties and show that centrist parties have more opportunities to win under this rule than under plurality rule.Electoral competition, plurality, run-off, credibility, spatial models.

Optimal Taxation in a Two Sector Economy with Heterogeneous Agents

In this paper we examine the optimal taxation problem in a two sector economy with heterogeneous agents. We show that in a steady state of this economy the optimal capital income tax rate can be different from zero. In this economy since capital and labour margins are interdependent, any difference in investment goods and consumption goods prices allows the government to tax capital income in one sector and undo the tax distortion by differential labour income taxation. This policy serves efficiency purpose as it restores the production efficiency condition.Optimal Taxation, Ramsey Problem, Heterogeneous Agents