Ovarian follicular waves and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone after administration of GnRH at estrus

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of GnRH on the secretion of FSH, LH, estradiol, and progesterone in serum and changes in ovarian structures. Dairy cows were assigned randomly to receive either 100 μg of GnRH or saline 12 hr after estrus (day 0) was detected. Blood was collected daily to assess changes in serum estradiol and progesterone and every 12 min for 8 hr on days 8 and 15 after estrus to assess concentrations of FSH and LH. Diameter and number of follicles were determined daily by real-time ultrasonography. Two patterns of follicular development were observed. The day of peak diameter of each dominant follicle (three or four per cycle) was synchronous with increases in estradiol in serum. The dominant follicle grew at a faster rate in all GnRH-treated cows. We concluded that administering GnRH at estrus increased the pulse frequency of FSH on days 8 and 15 of the cycle, altered follicular dynamics of dominant follicles of the subsequent estrous cycle, and tended to increase concentrations of progesterone in serum of cows

Isolation and Monitoring of the Endohedral Metallofullerenes Y@C82 and Sc3@C82:On-Line Chromatographic Separation with EPR Detection

The direct coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with on-line electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection is demonstrated for monitoring separations of endohedral metallofullerenes (M@C2n). The HPLC-EPR approach readily permits detection of the paramagnetic species, such as Y@C82 and Sc3@C82, in the presence of the dominant empty-cage fullerenes (C60, C70) and diamagnetic metallofullerenes (e.g., M2@C2n). The results indicate that on-line EPR provides a noninvasive, selective detector for HPLC metallofullerene separations that is readily adaptable to air-sensitive and/or labile compounds. Specifically, the “EPR-active” metallofullerenes, Y@C82 and Sc3@C82, are selectively monitored on-line for an initial separation of the metallofullerene fraction from the dominant empty-cage fullerenes utilizing a combination of polystyrene columns. This preparative “cleanup” procedure is followed by HPLC-EPR separation and monitoring of Y@C82 and Sc3@C82 species using a selective tripodal π-acidic-phase column (Trident-Tri-DNP) for the final stages of isolation

Effect of polyethylene case liners on the cool storage behaviour of Granny Smith and Delicious apples

It has been demonstrated by a number of overseas workers that the cool storage of some varieties of apples is beneficially affected by the use of polyethylene case liners

Investigations into the control of superficial scald in cool-stored Queensland grown Granny Smith apples by chemical means

Experiments were conducted over a 5-year period to determine whether superficial scald in Queensland grown and cool-stored Granny Smith apples could be controlled by chemical means. Diphenylamine applied prior to storage either as a dip or incorporated in paper wraps effectively controlled scald over a wide range of maturities and under conditions of normal atmosphere and controlled atmosphere storage. Scald control was effected even in atmospheres containing high concentrations of carbon dioxide, but when 10 per cent. carbon dioxide was present in the, storage atmosphere, oiled paper wraps containing 15 per cent. mineral oil in addition to the diphenylamine treatment were necessary to obtain complete control. Low concentrations of diphenylaimine in addition to oiled paper wraps containing 15 per cent. mineral oil yielded control of the disorder equal to higher concentrations of the compound used alone. Though control was effected irrespective of the maturity of the fruit at the time of picking, other storage disorders increased if very immature fruit was stored. Diphenylamine appeared to have some control on the incidence of internal breakdown in the experimental fruit. A number of other chemical compounds were tested for their scald-controlling properties and five were found to give a considerable measure of control

Fabrication of an Antenna-Coupled Bolometer for Cosmic Microwave Background Polarimetry

We describe the development of a detector for precise measurements of the cosmic microwave background polarization. The detector employs a waveguide to couple light between a pair of Mo/Au superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) and a feedhorn. Incorporation of an on-chip ortho-mode transducer (OMT) results in high isolation. The OMT is micromachined and bonded to the microstrip and TES circuits in a low temperature wafer bonding process. The wafer bonding process incorporates a buried superconducting niobium layer with a single crystal silicon layer which serves as the leg isolated TES membrane and as the microstrip dielectric. We describe the micromachining and wafer bonding process and report measurement results of the microwave circuitry operating in the 29-43GHz band along with Johnson noise measurements of the TES membrane structures and development of Mo/Au TES operating under '00mK

Decomposition and nutrient release of leguminous plants in coffee agroforestry systems.

Leguminous plants used as green manure are an important nutrient source for coffee plantations, especially for soils with low nutrient levels. Field experiments were conducted in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais State, Brazil to evaluate the decomposition and nutrient release rates of four leguminous species used as green manures (Arachis pintoi, Calopogonium mucunoides, Stizolobium aterrimum and Stylosanthes guianensis) in a coffee agroforestry system under two different climate conditions. The initial N contents in plant residues varied from 25.7 to 37.0 g kg-1 and P from 2.4 to 3.0 g kg-1. The lignin/N, lignin/polyphenol and(lignin+polyphenol)/N ratios were low in all residues studied. Mass loss rates were highest in the first 15 days, when 25 % of the residues were decomposed. From 15 to 30 days, the decomposition rate decreased on both farms. On the farm in Pedra Dourada (PD), the decomposition constant k increased in the order C. mucunoides < S. aterrimum < S. guianensis < A. pintoi. On the farm in Araponga (ARA), there was no difference in the decomposition rate among leguminous plants. The N release rates varied from 0.0036 to 0.0096 d-1. Around 32 % of the total N content in the plant material was released in the first 15 days. In ARA, the N concentration in the S. aterrimum residues was always significantly higher than in the other residues. At the end of 360 days, the N released was 78 % in ARA and 89 % in PD of the initial content. Phosphorus was the most rapidly released nutrient (k values from 0.0165 to 0.0394 d-1). Residue decomposition and nutrient release did not correlate with initial residue chemistry and biochemistry, but differences in climatic conditions between the two study sites modified the decomposition rate constants

Controlled atmosphere storage of Queensland grown Granny Smith apples

Investigations conducted over a period of eight years demonstrated that controlled atmosphere storage can be used successfully with Granny Smith apples. Fruit retained its firmness better in the presence of carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide did not encourage soggy breakdown. However, superficial scald increased as the proportion of carbon dioxide was raised, particularly in fruit harvested earlier than mid-April. The most satisfactory atmosphere was found to be 5 % oxygen, but the cost involved in removing carbon dioxide is high. A satisfactory alternative if a scald inhibitor is used is a mixture of 16% oxygen and 5 % carbon dioxide

On dynamically generated parton distribution functions and their properties

The idea of ``dynamically'' generated parton distribution functions, based on regular initial conditions at low momentum scale, is reanalyzed with particular emphasize paid to its compatibility with the factorization mechanism. Basic consequences of this approach are discussed and compared to those of the conventional approach, employing singular initial distribution functions.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 5 figures in PS format attache

A terminal assessment of stages theory : introducing a dynamic states approach to entrepreneurship

Stages of Growth models were the most frequent theoretical approach to understanding entrepreneurial business growth from 1962 to 2006; they built on the growth imperative and developmental models of that time. An analysis of the universe of such models (N=104) published in the management literature shows no consensus on basic constructs of the approach, nor is there any empirical confirmations of stages theory. However, by changing two propositions of the stages models, a new dynamic states approach is derived. The dynamic states approach has far greater explanatory power than its precursor, and is compatible with leading edge research in entrepreneurship