Flexible high-voltage supply for experimental electron microscope

Scanning microscope uses a field-emission tip for the electron source, an electron gun that simultaneously accelerates and focuses electrons from the source, and one auxiliary lens to produce a final probe size at the specimen on the order of angstroms

The use of molecular markers for pyramiding resistance genes in grapevine breeding

The practical application of pyramiding resistance genes by the use of molecular markers was investigated in a F1 progeny derived from the cross of VHR 3082-1-42 x ‘Regent’. VHR 3082-1-42 is a cross between Muscadinia rotundifolia x Vitis vinifera, backcrossed another four times with V. vinifera (PAUQUET et al. 2001). It carries the Run1-gene which causes resistance to powdery mildew and the Rpv1-gene which is related to resistance against downy mildew. Both genes were introduced from Muscadinia rotundifolia (BOUQUET et al. 2000; WIEDEMANN-MERDINOGLU et al. 2006). ‘Regent’ is a new cultivar with quantitative resistance against downy and powdery mildew (EIBACH and TÖPFER 2003) released in Germany in 1996 for commercial use. 119 individuals of the F1 progeny were screened with a molecular marker for the Run1-gene (DONALD et al. 2002), with two SSR-markers for the Rpv1-gene (WIEDEMANN-MERDINOGLU et al. 2006) and with several markers from ‘Regent’ that showed good correlation to powdery and downy mildew resistance (ZYPRIAN et al. 2002, SALAKHUTDINOV et al. 2003, AKKURT 2004, FISCHER et al. 2004, AKKURT et al. 2007). Phenotypic evaluation for downy mildew resistance was done by artificial inoculation of leaf discs, and for powdery mildew by natural infection in a greenhouse. Comparison of the phenotypic data with the results of the molecular marker analyses showed a clear correlation between the degree of resistance and the presence of the resistance related alleles. According to the phenotypic data, 20 genotypes of the offspring were free of powdery and downy mildew infections. Based on a marker-assisted evaluation, out of these 20 genotypes a subset of four carried all the resistance related alleles for powdery and downy mildew indicating that resistance genes from both parents were effectively combined.

A learning disabled student\u27s guide to college

The learning-disabled college student is a relatively recent topic in the history of postsecondary education. The passing of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 gives these students the opportunity to attend college and allows for the necessary accommodations needed to succeed. Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112) requires that colleges make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities so that they will not be discriminated against. The accommodations are of three general types (1) the ways in which specific courses are taught, (2) use of auxiliary aids, and (3) modifications in program requirements (Hallahan & Kauffman, 1997, p. 198)

Forest biodiversity monitoring: Guide to community-based approaches

Monitoring of natural resources and their management is a key element for effective decision-making in constantly changing and uncertain situations. Monitoring can reduce risks, increase transparency and accountability, enhance learning, and improve the successful implementation of activities. It helps ensure that changes to management approaches come from learning and reflection instead of hasty reactions or unilateral decisions. Involving local communities in monitoring initiatives makes the process more participatory and contextually relevant, less dependent on external inputs, simpler and usually less expensive. Participatory monitoring initiatives, particularly the ones that are community driven, can increase the sense of ownership towards the management of natural resources and favour the development of adaptive management strategies by facilitating discussion, participation and learning within local communities. This guide is designed to help facilitators develop community-based monitoring initiatives for forest biodiversity by providing a series of steps, recommendations and examples to guide the process. While the guide applies to forest biodiversity, similar approaches can be used to monitor other aspects of natural-resource management. The guide includes tips on using participatory tools for the collection of biodiversity data and insights on how to encourage the participation of local actors across social groups in decision-making processes that affect forest biodiversity resources in their communities and surrounding landscapes

Powdery mildew responsive genes of resistant grapevine cultivar 'Regent'

The ascomycete Erysiphe necator causes powdery mildew disease of grapevine, a disastrous infection which is commonly defeated with multiple fungicide applications in viticulture. Breeding for natural resistance of quality grapes (Vitis vinifera) is thus a major aim of current efforts. The cultivar 'Regent' is resistant to powdery mildew due to an introgression from an American Vitis sp. resistance donor. To identify key regulatory elements in defense responses of 'Regent' we performed transcript analyses after challenging with E. necator inoculation in comparison with a susceptible grapevine. A set of genes selected from preliminary microarray hybridization results were investigated by RT-qPCR. The data indicate an important role of transcription factors MYB15, WRKY75, WRKY33, WRKY7, ethylene responsive transcription factors ERF2 and ERF5 as well as a CZF1/ZFAR transcripton factor in regulating the early defense when the fungus starts the interaction with its host by the formation of haustoria

Sharyne Ryals Interview 2016

In a short interview, Sharyne Ryals discusses her experiences working as the Administrative Program Assistant as a part of the Social Science Division. At Western Oregon, she describes her responsibilities and interactions with students. She also explains how she arrived at Western Oregon University as well as her previous work at a chip manufacturing plant

Global Precipitation Measurement Mission Launch and Commissioning

During launch and early operation of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission, the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) analysis team encountered four main on-orbit anomalies. These include: (1) unexpected shock from Solar Array deployment, (2) momentum buildup from the Magnetic Torquer Bars (MTBs) phasing errors, (3) transition into Safehold due to albedo induced Course Sun Sensor (CSS) anomaly, and (4) a flight software error that could cause a Safehold transition due to a Star Tracker occultation. This paper will discuss ways GN&C engineers identified the anomalies and tracked down the root causes. Flight data and GN&C on-board models will be shown to illustrate how each of these anomalies were investigated and mitigated before causing any harm to the spacecraft. On May 29, 2014, GPM was handed over to the Mission Flight Operations Team after a successful commissioning period. Currently, GPM is operating nominally on orbit, collecting meaningful scientific data that will significantly improve our understanding of the Earth's climate and water cycle

Productivity and quality of 'Fuji Suprema' apple fruit in different rootstocks and growing conditions.

Planting density increasing with the use of dwarf rootstocks it is a fact that has changed the scenario of the pome culture in Brazil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the plant growth, productivity and fruit quality of the Fuji Suprema cultivar grafted on the rootstocks G.213 and M.9 in a new area (virgin soil) and in the replanting area of apple trees in Vacaria City in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The cultivar Fuji Suprema grafted on the rootstocks G.213 and M.9 was used, being the experiment 1 in new area and the experiment 2 in area of replanting of apple trees. In both experiments, the orchard was implanted in 2014. The spacing adopted was 4.0 m between rows and 0.9 m between plants, totaling a density of 2,777 plants per hectare. Vegetative/productive evaluations were carried out in the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 harvests in commercial orchards of the company Rasip Agro Pastoril S/A. In the experiment 1, the G.213 rootstock was highlighted for the variables accumulated productivity, accumulated productive efficiency, ASTT, number of branches and scion volume. In this same experiment, the M.9 rootstock was overestimated in some crops for the variables fruit mass and pulp firmness. In the experiment 2, the G.213 rootstock was highlighted as to the accumulated productivity, accumulated productive efficiency, ASTT, number of branches and scion volume. In the 2016 crop, the rootstock M.9, stood out for the diameter and mass of fruits and soluble solids and in the 2017 harvest for pulp firmness. In order to cultivate Fuji Suprema, both in the new area and in the replanting area of apple trees, the G.213 rootstock is a new dwarf rootstock option for the southern region of Brazil

An inexpensive spectroscopic beam monitor for hard X-ray synchrotron applications

We describe an inexpensive beam monitor for hard X-ray synchrotron applications which has good spectroscopic abilities and can operate without cooling. The device is centred on an inexpensive, commercial off-the-shelf, large area (1.2 × 1.2 mm2) Si photodiode operated in single counting mode. Measurements carried out at the HASYLAB synchrotron research facility have shown that it is fully spectroscopic across the energy range 8 keV to 100 keV with a measured energy resolution of ~ 1.2 keV FWHM at room temperature. The measured resolutions were found to be the same under pencil-beam and full-area illumination, indicating uniform crystallinity and stoichiometry of the bulk. The low cost, simplicity and performance of the detector make it suitable for a wider range of applications, e.g., in undergraduate laboratory experiments