Quantitation of tRNAVal/3b in Drosophila melanogaster by RNA-DNA hybridization

The purpose of this study was two-fold. The first objective was to determine the optimum hybridization conditions for recombinant plasmids carrying Drosophila tRNA genes. The plasmid DNA was bound to nitrocellulose filters and hybridized with a homologous tRNA probe. The second objective was to use these plasmids to quantitate levels of tRNAVal/3b in flies bearing deficiencies in the major tRNAVal/3b loci. Specific plasmids studied were those bearing genes for tRNAVal/3b, tRNA Ser/4,7, and tRNA Lys/5. pDt78R, pDt48, and pDt41R, all bearing tRNAVal/3b genes, were compared under identical hybridization conditions to determine which DNA annealed tRNAVal/3b most efficiently. pDt78R was found to anneal 95-100% of the input tRNAVal/3b under the widest range of hybridization conditions. A comparison of pDtl6, pDtl7R, pDt27R, and pDt73, all bearing tRNA Ser/4,7 genes, showed that pDtl7R annealed tRNA Ser/7most efficiently. Initial studies on pDtl7R demonstrated a low overall hybridization efficiency of 18%; however, it was found that adding 21% formamide to the hybridization buffer increased the efficiency of annealing to 85-90%. pDtl2 and pDt39, carrying tRNA Lys/5 genes, exhibited low hybridization efficiencies of 20 and 15%, respectively. Adding 15-20% formamide only increased the hybridization efficiency to 55 and 38%, and these plasmids were not studied further. Transfer RNA was extracted from 50-300 mg of adult flies and was specifically labeled in vitro. The levels of tRNAVal/3b and tRNA Ser/4,7 were quantitated by annealing to pDt78R and pDtl7R immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. The level of tRNAVal/3b in the tRNA isolated from flies deficient in the major tRNAVal/3b loci was examined. The results showed that deletion of half the major tRNAVal/3b loci resulted in a reduction of approximately 50% in the level of tRNAVal/3b did not produce the Minute phenotype; furthermore, the effects of deficiencies at two loci were approximately additive.Medicine, Faculty ofMedical Genetics, Department ofGraduat

RELIABILITY OF A GENERATING SYSTEM CONTAINING PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION

The construction of large conventional electrical generation stations is becoming more and more controversial, due to environmental impact. The result is that many utility companies would like to turn to alternative energy sources, such as photovoltaics and wind, to meet the increasing power requirements. However, there is a reluctance to consider intermittent sources as generation, rather than negative load, because there have been very few studies indicating the amount of conventional load that can offset. This thesis examines the adequacy of a generating system containing photovoltaic power generation using Monte Carlo simulations. The photovoltaic array simulations utilize weather data from Saskatchewan sites to examine the effect of solar energy in northern utilities. These areas have generally not been considered for grid connected photovoltaic systems due to low levels of solar radiation in the winter months. The adequacy of photovoltaic generation is assessed through determining its capacity credit and load carrying capability, along with its ability to replace base load generation

Consumer Communications, Media Use and Purchase via the Internet: A Comparative, Exploratory Study

The Internet provides a fast, efficient and cost-effective alternative for communication, transaction, and distribution. In this study, consumers’ Web-based chatting behavior across three countries (i.e., the U.S., Canada, China) is explored, using an Internet survey of Web-based chatters. Results indicate that chatters’ Internet use does not affect their use of traditional mass media in any significant manner. No difference is found in the frequency of information seeking and chatters’ attitude towards online advertising across the three countries. Internet purchase patterns are contrasted in the three countries, and results suggest that consumers in the U.S. have the highest purchase incidence among the three countries under study. Canadian consumers make significantly fewer purchases than their counterparts in each product category

Revisiting Normative Influences On Impulsive Buying Behavior And An Extension To Compulsive Buying Behavior: A Case From South Korea

Social norms and networks are important to understand consumer behavior. Here, we reexamine normative influences on impulsive buying (Rook and Fisher 1995) within a different cultural context, South Korea. Results of Study 1-with a general consumer sample from Soulh Korea, confirms prior findings in the United States that the relationship between buying impulsiveness and impulsive purchase decisions is moderated by subjective norms. Study 2 extends the concept of subjective norms to compulsive buying tendencies in South Korea. Our results show that a positive relationship between compulsive buying tendencies and compulsive buying decisions exists, but does not appear to be moderated by subjective norms. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved