Effect of pyramiding Bt and CpTI genes on resistance of cotton to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory and field conditions

Transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties, adapted to China, have been bred that express two genes for resistance to insects. the Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt), and a trypsin inhibitor gene from cowpea (CpTI). Effectiveness of the double gene modification in conferring resistance to cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was studied in laboratory and field experiments. In each experiment, performance of Bt+CpTI cotton was compared with Bt cotton and to a conventional nontransgenic variety. Larval survival was lower on both types of transgenic variety, compared with the conventional cotton. Survival of first-, second-, and third-stage larvae was lower on Bt+CpTI cotton than on Bt cotton. Plant structures differed in level of resistance, and these differences were similar on Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton. Likewise, seasonal trends in level of resistance in different plant structures were similar in Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton. Both types of transgenic cotton interfered with development of sixth-stage larvae to adults, and no offspring was produced by H. armigera that fed on Bt or Bt+CpTI cotton from the sixth stage onward. First-, second-, and third-stage larvae spent significantly less time feeding on transgenic cotton than on conventional cotton, and the reduction in feeding time was significantly greater on Bt+CpTI cotton than on Bt cotton. Food conversion efficiency was lower on transgenic varieties than on conventional cotton, but there was no significant difference between Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton. In 3-yr field experimentation, bollworm densities were greatly suppressed on transgenic as compared with conventional cotton, but no significant differences between Bt and Bt+CpTI cotton were found. Overall, the results from laboratory work indicate that introduction of the CpTI gene in Bt cotton raises some components of resistance in cotton against H. armigera, but enhanced control of H. armigera under field conditions, due to expression of the CpTI gene, was not demonstrate

A Molecular Mechanism for Synapse Elimination: Novel Inhibition of Locally Generated Thrombin Delays Synapse Loss in Neonatal Mouse Muscle

AbstractActivity-dependent, polyneuronal synapse elimination (ADPSE) is a programmed, regressive event in the development of the nervous system and readily studied at the neuromuscular junction, where it is complete 15–20 days after birth. Local excess, or imbalanced, protease activity is one of several possible underlying mechanisms. In this regard, thrombin mediates activity-dependent synapse loss in anin vitromodel of ADPSE. To test the involvement of thrombinin vivo,we locally applied the leech thrombin-specific inhibitor, hirudin. We monitored neuromuscular behavior, correlated with acetylcholinesterase and silver nitrate histochemistry at endplates, for changes in the timecourse ofin vivosynapse elimination and assayed both thrombin activity and prothrombin expression in developing muscle. Hirudin retarded elimination, without altering motor performance, uniquely at Postnatal Day 5 (P5) and maximally at P9. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that neonatal muscle was a source of local prothrombin, with peak expression during the first week after birth. A specific chromogenic assay revealed that local thrombin, activated from muscle-derived prothrombin, peaked during maximal synapse remodeling

A nondiagrammatic calculation of the Rho parameter from heavy fermions

A simple nondiagrammatic evaluation of the nondecoupling effect of heavy fermions on the Veltman's Rho parameter is presented in detail. This calculation is based on the path integral approach, the electroweak chiral Lagrangian formalism, and the Schwinger proper time method.Comment: 11 page

Developing a Pedagogical Framework for Designing a Multisensory Serious Gaming Environment

The importance of multisensory interaction for learning has increased with improved understanding of children’s sensory development, and a flourishing interest in embodied cognition. The potential to foster new forms of multisensory interaction through various sensor, mobile and haptic technologies is promising in providing new ways for young children to engage with key mathematical concepts. However, designing effective learning environments for real world classrooms is challenging, and requires a pedagogically, rather than technologically, driven approach to design. This paper describes initial work underpinning the development of a pedagogical framework, intended to inform the design of a multisensory serious gaming environment. It identifies the theoretical basis of the framework, illustrates how this informs teaching strategies, and outlines key technology research driven perspectives and considerations important for informing design. An initial table mapping mathematical concepts to design, a framework of considerations for design, and a process model of how the framework will continue to be developed across the design process are provided

Petrogenesis of granitoids in the eastern section of the Central Qilian Block: Evidence from geochemistry and zircon U-Pb geochronology

The Caledonian-age Qilian Orogenic Belt at the northern margin of the Greater Tibetan Plateau comprises abundant granitoids that record the histories of the orogenesis. We report here our study of these granitoids from two localities. The Qingchengshan (QCS) pluton, which is situated in the eastern section of the Central Qilian Block, is dated at ~430–420 Ma. It has high-K calc-alkaline composition with high SiO2 (> 70 wt%), enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs), and varying degrees of negative Sr and Eu anomalies. The granitoids in the Tongwei (TW) area, 150 km east of the QCS, are complex, the majority of which are dated at ~440 Ma, but there also exist younger, ~230 Ma intrusions genetically associated with the Qinling Orogeny. The Paleozoic TW intrusions also have high SiO2, fractionated REE (rare earth element) patterns, but a negligible Eu anomaly. The whole rock Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions suggest that all these Paleozoic granitoids are consistent with melting-induced mixing of a two-component source, which is best interpreted as the combination of last fragments of subducted/subducting ocean crust with terrigenous sediments. The mantle isotopic signature of these granitoids (87Sr/86Sri: 0.7038 to 0.7100, εNd(t): −4.8 to −1.3, εHf(t): −0.7 to +4.0) reflects significant (~70 %) contribution of the ocean crust derived in no distant past from the mantle at ocean ridges with an inherited mantle isotopic signature. Partial melting of such ocean crust plus terrigenous sediments in response to the ocean closing and continental collision (between the Qilian and Alashan Blocks) under amphibolite facies conditions is responsible for the magmatism. Varying extents of fractional crystallization (±plagioclase, ±amphibole, ±garnet, ±zircon) of the parental magmas produced the observed QCS and TW granitoids. We note that sample HTC12–01 in the TW area shows an A-type or highly fractionated granite signature characterized by elevated abundances and a flat pattern of REEs, weak Nb-Ta anomaly, conspicuous negative Sr and Eu anomalies (Sr/Sr* = 0.09, Eu/Eu* = 0.22), and thus the high 87Sr/86Sr ratio (0.7851), and moderate εNd(t) (−4.9) and εHf(t) (−2.0), pointing to the significant mantle contribution. Compared with the Paleozoic granitoids, the ~230 Ma granitoids in the TW area represented by sample JPC12–02 have higher initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.7073) and lower εNd(t) (−6.2) and εHf(t) (−4.5) values, offering an ideal opportunity for future studies on tectonic effects of juxtaposition of younger orogenesis on an older orogen

Bound state solutions of the Dirac-Rosen-Morse potential with spin and pseudospin symmetry

The energy spectra and the corresponding two- component spinor wavefunctions of the Dirac equation for the Rosen-Morse potential with spin and pseudospin symmetry are obtained. The $s-$wave ($\kappa = 0$ state) solutions for this problem are obtained by using the basic concept of the supersymmetric quantum mechanics approach and function analysis (standard approach) in the calculations. Under the spin symmetry and pseudospin symmetry, the energy equation and the corresponding two-component spinor wavefunctions for this potential and other special types of this potential are obtained. Extension of this result to $\kappa \neq 0$ state is suggested.Comment: 18 page

An Oral Selective Alpha-1A Adrenergic Receptor Agonist Prevents Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity

Alpha-1 adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs) play adaptive and protective roles in the heart. Dabuzalgron is an oral selective α1A-AR agonist that was well tolerated in multiple clinical trials of treatment for urinary incontinence, but has never been used to treat heart disease in humans or animal models. In this study, the authors administered dabuzalgron to mice treated with doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent with dose-limiting cardiotoxicity that can lead to heart failure (HF). Dabuzalgron protected against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, likely by preserving mitochondrial function. These results suggest that activating cardiac α1A-ARs with dabuzalgron, a well-tolerated oral agent, might represent a novel approach to treating HF

Semisolid processing characteristics of AM series Mg alloys by rheo-diecasting

The official published version of this Article can be found at the link below - Copyright @ 2006 ASM InternationalAn investigation has been made into the solidification behavior and microstructural evolution of AM50, AM70, and AM90 alloys during rheo-diecasting, their processibility, and the resulting mechanical properties. It was found that solidification of AM series alloys under intensive melt shearing in the unique twin-screw slurry maker during rheo-diecasting gave rise to numerous spheroidal primary magnesium (Mg) particles that were uniformly present in the microstructure. As a result, the network of the beta-Mg17Al12 phase was consistently interrupted by these spheroidal and ductile particles. Such a microstructure reduced the obstacle of deformation and the harmfulness of the beta-Mg17Al12 network on ductility, and therefore improved the ductility of rheo-diecast AM alloys. It was shown that, even with 9 wt pct Al, the elongation of rheo-diecast AM90 still achieved (9 +/- 1.2) pct. Rheodiecasting thus provides an attractive processing route for upgrading the alloy specification of AM series alloys by increasing the aluminum (Al) content while ensuring ductility. Assessment of the processibility of AM series alloys for semisolid processing showed that high Al content AM series alloys are more suitable for rheo-diecasting than low Al content alloys, because of the lower sensitivity of solid fraction to temperature, the lower liquidus temperature, and the smaller interval between the semisolid processing temperature and the complete solidification temperature.This work is supported by the EPSR

An atomic force microcopy study of the mechanical and electricalproperties of monolayer films of molecules with aromatic end groups

The effect of intermolecular {pi}-{pi} stacking on the electrical and mechanical properties of monolayer films molecules containing aromatic groups was studied using atomic force microscopy. Two types of aromatic molecules, (4-mercaptophenyl) anthrylacetylene (MPAA) and (4-mercaptophenyl)-phenylacetylene (MPPA) were used as model systems with different {pi}-{pi} stacking strength. Monolayer films of these molecules on Au(111) surfaces exhibited conductivities differing by more than one order of magnitude, MPAA being the most conductive and MPPA the least conductive. The response to compressive loads by the AFM tip was also found to be very different for both molecules. In MPAA films distinct molecular conductivity changes are observed upon mechanical perturbation. This effect however was not observed on the MPPA film, where intermolecular {pi}-{pi} interactions are likely weaker

Time and Amplitude of Afterpulse Measured with a Large Size Photomultiplier Tube

We have studied the afterpulse of a hemispherical photomultiplier tube for an upcoming reactor neutrino experiment. The timing, the amplitude, and the rate of the afterpulse for a 10 inch photomultiplier tube were measured with a 400 MHz FADC up to 16 \ms time window after the initial signal generated by an LED light pulse. The time and amplitude correlation of the afterpulse shows several distinctive groups. We describe the dependencies of the afterpulse on the applied high voltage and the amplitude of the main light pulse. The present data could shed light upon the general mechanism of the afterpulse.Comment: 11 figure