The distribution of ATP within tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) embryos correlates with germination whee as total ATP concentration does not

The distribution of ATP in tomato seeds was visualized by monitoring the luminescence of frozen sections on top of a gel containing all the components of the luciferase reaction, but excluding ATP. ATP was imaged in germinating tomato seeds at intervals of 3, 6, 17, 24 and 48 h and in seeds with primary or secondary dormancy. ATP was present mainly in the embryo and concentrated in the radicle tip towards the completion of germination. In contrast to germinating seeds, ATP was distributed more evenly in dormant seeds. For germination, the ratio of ATP concentration in the radicle tip versus cotyledons was decisive, rather than the absolute concentration

The PPARy ligand rosiglitazone influences triacylglycerol metabolism in non-obese males, without increasing the transcriptional activity of PPARy in the subcutaneous adipose tissue

PPAR¿ is obligatory for fat mass generation and is thought to determine the amount of TAG stored per fat cell. We investigated whether ligand availability for PPAR¿ is rate limiting in fat mass generation and substrate metabolism. Twenty healthy men (20¿29 years) were randomly assigned to receive the PPAR¿ ligand rosiglitazone (RSG) (8 mg/d) (n 10) or a placebo (n 10) during a stay of 7 d in a respiration chamber. Food intake was ad libitum, resulting in positive energy balances of 32·2 MJ (placebo) and 44·7 MJ (RSG). Fat cell size and expression of PPAR¿, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2), adipsin, adiponectin and fasting-induced adipose factor (FIAF) were determined in subcutaneous abdominal fat biopsies. The total amount of fat stored and the amount of TAG per fat cell were not different between groups. For the entire group, fat cell size was decreased after overeating (P = 0·02). FIAF mRNA levels were decreased after overeating in the RSG group (P = 0·01), with a trend towards a decrease in the placebo group. Unexpectedly, RSG treatment did not influence the expression levels of PPAR¿ and of the PPAR¿ responsive genes aP2, adiponectin and adipsin. In addition, RSG resulted in a larger increase in plasma TAG during overeating than placebo treatment. These results suggest that in healthy, non-obese males the PPAR¿ ligand RSG influences TAG metabolism, independent of its PPAR¿ transcriptional activity in the subcutaneous adipose tissue

Extending sensor networks into the cloud using Amazon web services

Sensor networks provide a method of collecting environmental data for use in a variety of distributed applications. However, to date, limited support has been provided for the development of integrated environmental monitoring and modeling applications. Specifically, environmental dynamism makes it difficult to provide computational resources that are sufficient to deal with changing environmental conditions. This paper argues that the Cloud Computing model is a good fit with the dynamic computational requirements of environmental monitoring and modeling. We demonstrate that Amazon EC2 can meet the dynamic computational needs of environmental applications. We also demonstrate that EC2 can be integrated with existing sensor network technologies to offer an end-to-end environmental monitoring and modeling solution

Towards improved models for treatment of organophosphate poisoning

Smit, A.B. [Promotor]Helden, H.H.P.M. van [Copromotor

Childlike Parents in Guus Kuijer’s Polleke Series and Jacqueline Wilson’s The Illustrated Mum

In this article, theories from age studies and children’s literature studies are combined to shed light on the construction of adulthood in books for young readers. The article begins with the sociological shift from a traditional model of adulthood with fxed benchmarks and increased commitment to a new ideal of fexibility in adulthood, as described by Harry Blatterer. It then explores how three acclaimed children’s books by Guus Kuijer and Jacqueline Wilson respond to this shift. The narratives all feature parents who display features that are explicitly labeled as “childlike” or that can be interpreted as diverging from the traditional model of “full” adulthood that Blatterer describes. As a result, the child protagonists are shown to experience stress and grief. Although the novels stress the playfulness of childlike adults as enjoyable, they ultimately promote a traditional model of responsible adulthood, even if few adult characters can actually live up to it

Releasability Combined Buffer Requirements after the COVID-19 pandemic

This chapter discusses the relasing of certain combined buffer requirements for banks after the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and particularly addresses the debate that spun off after the measures being taken by the European Central Bank and National Caompetent Authorities about the suitability of the current macro-prudential toolkit

Writing when Young: Bart Moeyaert as a Young Adult Author

Duet met valse noten (1983) started as a diary when Bart Moeyaert was twelve years old. After it was disclosed by an older brother, Moeyaert rewrote it during his teenage years as a novel about first love. This article studies the genesis and early reception of Moeyaert’s novel to reflect on young authors who fictionalize real-life experiences and desires. On the one hand, they are credited for being experts on youth and said to have a particular appeal to young audiences for that reason. On the other hand, when texts by young authors are published, they are often edited and mediated by adult professionals. For some scholars, such adult intervention compromises the authenticity of the young author’s voice, while others argue that having your work revised is an inherent part of being published. The genesis of Duet met valse noten displays a complex interaction involving several actors, including young voices. The deletion of controversial passages (a toilet scene, the longing for cigarettes and sexual scenes) illustrates this complexity: the decision to adapt them was only in part governed by adults, and while the young Moeyaert was dissatisfied with some revisions, they also contributed to his aesthetics as a poetic rather than explicit writer