The Platform-Aware Compilation Environment (PACE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

The PACE Project provided full or partial support for the following graduate students: 1. Raj Barik (Rice) 2. Thomas Barr (Rice) 3...University, Houston, TX, Technical Report CS TR11-03, October 20, 2011. [7] Rajkishore Barik , Jisheng Zhao, and Vivek Sarkar, "Efficient Selection

Worldwide Emerging Environmental Issues Affecting the U.S. Military

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-31

phosphate. According to Nanowerk News, Prof. Sibani Lisa Biswal, of Rice University and colleagues there and at Lockheed Martin have developed a...Sunscreens with ZnO, TiO2 Nanoparticles May Pose Health Risk Petra Kocbek of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and

Grand challenge problems in environmental modeling and remediation: groundwater contaminant transport

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Todd Arbogast; Steve Bryant; Clint N. Dawson

1998-08-31

This report describes briefly the work of the Center for Subsurface Modeling (CSM) of the University of Texas at Austin (and Rice University prior to September 1995) on the Partnership in Computational Sciences Consortium (PICS) project entitled Grand Challenge Problems in Environmental Modeling and Remediation: Groundwater Contaminant Transport.

Software for universal noiseless coding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, R. F.; Schlutsmeyer, A. P.

1981-01-01

An overview is provided of the universal noiseless coding algorithms as well as their relationship to the now available FORTRAN implementations. It is suggested that readers considering investigating the utility of these algorithms for actual applications should consult both NASA's Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC) and descriptions of coding techniques provided by Rice (1979). Examples of applying these techniques have also been given by Rice (1975, 1979, 1980). Attention is given to reversible preprocessing, general implementation instructions, naming conventions, and calling arguments. A general applicability of the considered algorithms to solving practical problems is obtained because most real data sources can be simply transformed into the required form by appropriate preprocessing.

Kristin Field-Macumber | NREL

Science.gov Websites

. Education M.S. Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Building Systems Program, University of Colorado at Boulder B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin B.A. Sociology/Spanish, Rice Engineering Kristin.Field-Macumber@nrel.gov | 303-384-7376 Kristin joined NREL in January 2009. Her expertise

Creating the Public Connection: Interactive Experiences with Real-Time Earth and Space Science Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reiff, Patricia H.; Ledley, Tamara S.; Sumners, Carolyn; Wyatt, Ryan

1995-01-01

The Houston Museum of Natural Sciences is less than two miles from Rice University, a major hub on the Internet. This project links these two institutions so that NASA real-time data and imagery can flow via Rice to the Museum where it reaches the public in the form of planetarium programs, computer based interactive kiosks, and space and Earth science problem solving simulation. Through this program at least 200,000 visitors annually (including every 4th and 7th grader in the Houston Independent School District) will have direct exposure to the Earth and space research being conducted by NASA and available over the Internet. Each information conduit established between Rice University and the Houston Museum of Natural Science will become a model for public information dissemination that can be replicated nationally in museums, planetariums, Challenger Centers, and schools.

International Conference on the Physics of Electronic and Atomic Collisions. Participants List (16th), Held in New York, New York on 26 July-1 August 1989

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-08-01

SOPHIA UNIVERSITY INST. DE ASTRONOMIA OSSERVATERIO ASTROLOGIC DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS Y FISICA DEL ESPACIO DE BRERA 7-1 KIOI-CHO C.C. 67, SUC. 28 VIA...ISLAM STATE UNIVERSITY OF Y . ITIKAWA WALRAVEN J. NEW YORK COLLEGE-POTSDAM INST OF SPACE & ASTRN SCI UN7’,ERSITY OF 136 MAPLE STREET 3-1-1 YOSHINODAI...S.UNIVERSITY DR USA PRINCETON, NJ 08544 FT. WORTH, TI 76129 USA USA ALEXANDER KALAMARIDES EMANUEL Y . KAMBER WOLFGANG KAMKE RICE UNIVERSITY PHYSICS DEPT

Brief of Amici Curiae Columbia University, Cornell University, Georgetown University, Rice University, and Vanderbilt University in Support of Respondents. In the Supreme Court of the United States, Barbara Grutter, Petitioner, v. Lee Bollinger, et al., Respondents. Jennifer Gratz and Patrick Hamacher, Petitioners, v. Lee Bollinger, et al., Respondents on Writs of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United States Supreme Court, Washington, DC.

This legal document asserts that the judgement of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Grutter v. Bollinger (No. 02-241) and the order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan in Gratz v. Bollinger (No. 02-516) should be affirmed. This brief, filed by five highly selective private universities…

Monitoring and First Discovery of the Mexican Rice Borer Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Louisiana

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini, has expanded its range from the Lower Rio Grande Valley to east Texas, and now into southwest Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Agricultural and Forestry and Louisiana State University AgCenter scientists forecast that natural and unintended movement will r...

Responses of rice cultivars and elite lines to diseases in conventional production system, 2010

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The experiment was established in a field of League-type soil (3% sand, 32% silt, and 64% clay) under organic management for many years at the Texas A&M University System's Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Beaumont. Twenty rice cultivars and lines were arranged in a randomized complete block ...

Stanford, Duke, Rice,... and Gates?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carey, Kevin

2009-01-01

This article presents an open letter to Bill Gates. In his letter, the author suggests that Bill Gates should build a brand-new university, a great 21st-century institution of higher learning. This university will be unlike anything the world has ever seen. He asks Bill Gates not to stop helping existing colleges create the higher-education system…

Student and Faculty Perceptions of OpenStax in High Enrollment Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, C. Edward; Domizi, Denise P.; Clouser, Sherry A.

2017-01-01

As public funding for higher education decreases and the cost to students to attend college increases, universities are searching for strategies that save students money while also increasing their chances for success. Using free online textbooks is one such strategy, and the OpenStax College initiative at Rice University is one of the most widely…

Rice University: Building an Academic Center for Nonprofit Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seaworth, Angela

2012-01-01

According to the author, the setting for their nonprofit education center was close to ideal: Support from a dean who cares deeply about nonprofit organizations; encouragement from the university and its renewed focus on reaching beyond its walls on the eve of its centennial; and a generous gift from alumni who have been affiliated with the…

Air and Space Museum Apollo 40th Celebration

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-07-19

From left, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Rice University Electrical and Engineering Student Max Paul, Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor and niece of President John F. Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Apollo 11 Astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins all pose for a photograph in front of the NASA Ambassador of Exploration Award given posthumously to President John F. Kennedy and accepted on behalf of the Kennedy family by Townsend at the Apollo 40th anniversary celebration held at the National Air and Space Museum, Monday, July 20, 2009 in Washington. The award will be on permanent display at Rice University at the request of the Kennedy family. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

Responses of rice cultivars and elite lines to diseases in tilled organic production system, 2010

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The experiment was established in a field of League-type soil (3% sand, 32% silt, and 64% clay) under organic management for many years at the Texas A&M University system’' Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Beaumont. Twenty rice cultivars and lines were arranged in a randomized complete block ...

Responses of rice cultivars and elite lines to diseases in no-till organic production system, 2010

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The experiment was established in a field of League-type soil (3% sand, 32% silt, and 64% clay) under organic management for many years at the Texas A&M University System's Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Beaumont. Twenty rice cultivars and lines were arranged in a randomized complete block ...

Phloem-limited reoviruses universally induce sieve element hyperplasia and more flexible gateways, providing more channels for their movement in plants.

PubMed

Lv, Ming-Fang; Xie, Li; Song, Xi-Jiao; Hong, Jian; Mao, Qian-Zhuo; Wei, Tai-Yun; Chen, Jian-Ping; Zhang, Heng-Mu

2017-11-28

Virion distribution and ultrastructural changes induced by the infection of maize or rice with four different reoviruses were examined. Rice black streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV, genus Fijivirus), Rice ragged stunt virus (RRSV, genus Oryzavirus), and Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV, genus Phytoreovirus) were all phloem-limited and caused cellular hyperplasia in the phloem resulting in tumors or vein swelling and modifying the cellular arrangement of sieve elements (SEs). In contrast, virions of Rice dwarf virus (RDV, genus Phytoreovirus) were observed in both phloem and mesophyll and the virus did not cause hyperplasia of SEs. The three phloem-limited reoviruses (but not RDV) all induced more flexible gateways at the SE-SE interfaces, especially the non-sieve plate interfaces. These flexible gateways were also observed for the first time at the cellular interfaces between SE and phloem parenchyma (PP). In plants infected with any of the reoviruses, virus-like particles could be seen within the flexible gateways, suggesting that these gateways may serve as channels for the movement of plant reoviruses with their large virions between SEs or between SEs and PP. SE hyperplasia and the increase in flexible gateways may be a universal strategy for the movement of phloem-limited reoviruses.

Line Crack Subject to Antiplane Shear.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-07-01

34" (X𔃻j)a( fx -xI) (2. 4) a(lx-xl)= a exp[- ($/a)2 (x’-x)-(x’-x)] , where S is a constant, a is the lattice parameter, and a0 is determined by the...94720 Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey 08540 Prof. J.R.Rice Division of Engineering Dr. S.L. Koh Brown University School of Aero., Astro

Flipping Crystals Leads to Better Solar Products

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mohite, Aditya; Nie, Wanyi; Tsai, Hsinnha

2016-07-06

In a step that could bring perovskite crystals closer to use in the burgeoning solar power industry, researchers from a joint Los Alamos National Laboratory, Northwestern University and Rice University research study have tweaked their crystal production method and developed a new type of 2-dimensional layered perovskite with outstanding stability and more than triple the material’s previous power conversion efficiency.

Center for Research on Minority Health -- Prostate Cancer and Health Disparities Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

making in various ethnic  groups . The “POP” model may facilitate further research with  underserved  communities and result in enhanced knowledge and...and about 65 students from Rice, Texas Southern University, UT Health Science Center, University of Houston-Main Campus and the University of...journal articles. 5. Hand in assigned work in a timely fashion. Group Research Projects for Powerpoint Presentations and Papers Students in

Crisis in Texas Higher Education: The Need for Leadership

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tapia, Richard

2011-10-01

Texas has the fastest growing Hispanic population in the nation. Hispanics will soon comprise a majority of the state's population. Yet this population has a high school drop-out rate of nearly 60% and is vastly underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines in the student bodies and faculties of the state's universities. The scientific and economic health of the state is threatened with the formation of such a large scientific underclass. But Rice is making a difference, positioning its underrepresented minority students for STEM leadership throughout the state and nation. The speaker will discuss several successful national award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs that he directs at Rice University that are being heralded as models for the state, region, and nation.

Rice-obot 1: An intelligent autonomous mobile robot

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Defigueiredo, R.; Ciscon, L.; Berberian, D.

1989-01-01

The Rice-obot I is the first in a series of Intelligent Autonomous Mobile Robots (IAMRs) being developed at Rice University's Cooperative Intelligent Mobile Robots (CIMR) lab. The Rice-obot I is mainly designed to be a testbed for various robotic and AI techniques, and a platform for developing intelligent control systems for exploratory robots. Researchers present the need for a generalized environment capable of combining all of the control, sensory and knowledge systems of an IAMR. They introduce Lisp-Nodes as such a system, and develop the basic concepts of nodes, messages and classes. Furthermore, they show how the control system of the Rice-obot I is implemented as sub-systems in Lisp-Nodes.

Flipping Crystals Leads to Better Solar Products

ScienceCinema

Mohite, Aditya; Nie, Wanyi; Tsai, Hsinnha; Blancon, Jean-Christophe

2018-01-16

In a step that could bring perovskite crystals closer to use in the burgeoning solar power industry, researchers from a joint Los Alamos National Laboratory, Northwestern University and Rice University research study have tweaked their crystal production method and developed a new type of 2-dimensional layered perovskite with outstanding stability and more than triple the material’s previous power conversion efficiency.

Rebecca Richards-Kortum | Division of Cancer Prevention

Cancer.gov

Project Title/Research Areas: High Resolution Imaging & HPV Oncoprotein Detection for Global Prevention of Cervical CancerPrincipal Investigator/Institution: Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA |

Sustaining the success of medical device innovation.

PubMed

Fearis, Paul J; Craft, Brandon

2016-11-01

Paul Fearis is CEO of Clinvue, Brandon Craft is COO of Clinvue. Clinvue is medical device innovation consultancy specializing in Insight Informed Innovation in the medical industry. Paul and Brandon are also lecturers in innovation for the 'Center for Bioengineering, Innovation & Design' Masters course in Bioengineering Innovation & Design at the Johns Hopkins University, and guest lecturers at Rice University and Virginia Tech. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Targeted Riluzole Delivery by Antioxidant Nanovectors for Treating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Raymond J. Grill CONTRACTING ORGANIZATION: University of Texas Health...treating Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER W 5b. GRANT NUMBER W81XWH-12-1-0612 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S...survival in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . This project involves work performed at both UT-Health and Rice University; combining the

Programmable Nano-Bio-Chip Sensors: Analytical Meets Clinical

PubMed Central

Jokerst, Jesse V.; Floriano, Pierre N.; Christodoulides, Nicolaos; McDevitt, John T.; Jacobson, James W.; Bhagwandin, Bryon D.

2010-01-01

synopsis There have been many recent advances in the nano-bio-chip (NBC) analysis methodology with implications for a number of high-morbidity diseases including HIV, cancer, and heart disease. In their Feature article, Jesse V. Jokerst of The University of Texas at Austin; Pierre N. Floriano, Nicolaos Christodoulides, and John T. McDevitt of Rice University; and James W. Jacobson and Bryon D. Bhagwandin of LabNow, Inc. discuss the construction, capabilities, and advantages of NBCs. The cover shows arrays of NBCs. Images courtesy of Glennon Simmons/McDevitt Lab and Marcha Miller of The University of Texas at Austin. PMID:20128622

A Program on Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

San, Ka-Yiu; McIntire, Larry V.

1989-01-01

Presents an introduction to the Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering program at Rice University. Describes the development of the academic and enhancement programs, including organizational structure and research project titles. (YP)

Texas Heart Institute

MedlinePlus

... International Symposium on Stem Cell Therapy and Cardiovascular Innovations in Madrid this month. Dr. Martin and his ... lab’s researchers. THI's Director of Electrophysiology Clinical Research & Innovations Dr. Mehdi Razavi and researchers at Rice University ...

Transformation of TNT by Aquatic Plants,

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-01-01

ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER Department of Environmental Science and Engineering N/A George R. Brown School of Engineering Rice...Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at Rice University, Dr. Hughes teaches courses in Water and Wastewater Treatment, Biological Process...8:55 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks 1:40 Chairperson’s Remarks Alan J. M. Baker Ph.D., Reader in Environmental Science & Alan J. M. Baker, Ph.D

Nanotechnology: Its Promise and Challenges

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Colvin, Vicki

2009-05-14

Vicki Colvin of Rice University talks about how nanotechnology-enabled systems, with dimensions on the scale of a billionth of a meter, offer great promise for solving difficult social problems and creating enormous possibilities.

Balancing family and work

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2011-08-01

More than 45% of women scientists at top universities in the United States have indicated that their careers have kept them from having as many children as they want, according to an 8 August study, “Scientists want more children,” which appears in the journal PLoS ONE. The study, by sociologists Elaine Howard Ecklund of Rice University and Anne Lincoln of Southern Methodist University, indicates that 24.5% of male scientists surveyed indicated the same concerns. The study also found that among junior scientists, 29% of women indicated concern that a science career would prevent them from having a family; 7% of men indicated the same concern.

The Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis spp. galleriae Against Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for Integrated Pest Management in California Rice.

PubMed

Aghaee, Mohammad-Amir; Godfrey, Larry D

2015-02-01

Rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kushel) is the most damaging insect pest of rice in the United States. Larval feeding on the roots stunt growth and reduce yield. Current pest management against the weevil in California relies heavily on pyrethroids that can be damaging to aquatic food webs. Examination of an environmentally friendly alternative biopesticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis spp. galleriae chemistry against rice water weevil larvae showed moderate levels of activity in pilot studies. We further examined the performance of different formulations of Bt.galleriae against the leading insecticide used in California rice, λ-cyhalothrin. The granular formulation performed as well as the λ-cyhalothrin in use in California in some of our greenhouse and field studies. This is the first reported use of B. thuringiensis spp. galleriae against rice water weevil. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Stirling in Another Context.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papademetriou, Peter

1981-01-01

An analysis and a critique of how remodeling and extension of the Rice University School of Architecture, by James Stirling, Michael Wilford, and Associates, fits into the campus plan and its eclectic style established early in this century. (Author/MLF)

Environmental Assessment for the Replacement of the JP-8 Transfer Pipeline between the 6000 Area and 400 Area at Tyndall Air Force Base Bay County, Florida

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

AFB are essentially the same as those published by the Federal Interagency Committee on Urban Noise in the June 1980 publication, Guidelines for...Florida 32765 407.409.5256 stephen.rice@arcadis-us.com Professional Wetland Scientist (SWS # 1980 ) Florida Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent (GTA...University of Florida Figure 13. Eastern Indigo Snake showing maroon chin coloration. Credits: Natalie Hyslop , University of Georgia, Feb 2005

Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on University Responsiveness to National Security Requirements.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-01-01

R.ugustine Chairman iv OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301 27 January 1982 DEFENSE SCIENCIE BOARD Mr. Norman R. Augustine Chai rman...Institute of Technology Dr. Norman Hackerman President Rice University Dr. Richard L. Haley Assistant Deputy Science and Technology USA Material ...Biological and Medical Sciences 51.8 67.8 22% Materials 53.2 65.1 13% Chemistry 47.8 60.1 17% Math and Computer Sciences 44.2 53.6 12% Oceanography 43.2

Tunable Light-Guide Image Processing Snapshot Spectrometer (TuLIPSS) for Earth and Moon Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tkaczyk, T. S.; Alexander, D.; Luvall, J. C.; Wang, Y.; Dwight, J. G.; Pawlowsk, M. E.; Howell, B.; Tatum, P. F.; Stoian, R.-I.; Cheng, S.; Daou, A.

2018-02-01

A tunable light-guide image processing snapshot spectrometer (TuLIPSS) for Earth science research and observation is being developed through a NASA instrument incubator project with Rice University and Marshall Space Flight Center.

Application guide for universal source encoding for space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeh, Pen-Shu; Miller, Warner H.

1993-01-01

Lossless data compression was studied for many NASA missions. The Rice algorithm was demonstrated to provide better performance than other available techniques on most scientific data. A top-level description of the Rice algorithm is first given, along with some new capabilities implemented in both software and hardware forms. Systems issues important for onboard implementation, including sensor calibration, error propagation, and data packetization, are addressed. The latter part of the guide provides twelve case study examples drawn from a broad spectrum of science instruments.

A Cultural Resources Literature Search and Record Review of The St. Francis River Seepage Project within Clay, Craighead, Mississippi and Poinsett Counties, Arkansas and Dunklin County, Missouri

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-30

Brook Shelters). During this long period a large number of different projectile point types were produced (ie, Rice Lobed, Big Sandy, White River Archaic...Hidden Valley Stemmed, Hardin Barbed, Sear- cy, Rice Lanceolate, Jakie Stemmed, and Johnson). No controlled excavations have been done at any Early...University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Edrington, Mabel 1962 History of Mississippi County. Arkansas. Ocala Star Banner, Ocala, Florida. 5 68

The yield and quality of black rice varieties in different altitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purwanto, E.; Hidayati, W.; Nandariyah

2018-03-01

This study aims to determine the optimal environmental conditions and corresponding black rice varieties in order to produce high production and optimum quality rice. The study using nested design, first was location (2 levels: the highlands and lowland), second was varieties (3 levels: Cempo Ireng, IPB, and Gagak) the study was conducted from November 2015 until May 2016 in Karanglo and Gutanon village, Karanganyar. Anthocyanin analysis conducted in laboratory of Nutrition and Food, Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and significant difference continued with DMRT (Duncan Multiple Range Test) level of 5%. Results showed that cultivation in highlands and use of diverse varieties showed different quantity of rice that can be seen on panicle length, and weight of grain crops. Improved quality of results showed same things, anthocyanin content and iron increased on black rice which cultivated in highlands.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Magnaporthe oryzae (fungus) from infected rice leaf samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muni, Nurulhidayah Mat; Nadarajah, Kalaivani

2014-09-01

Magnaporthe oryzae is a plant-pathogenic fungus that causes a serious disease affecting rice called rice blast. Outbreaks of rice blast have been a threat to the global production of rice. This fungal disease is estimated to cause production losses of US55 million each year in South and Southeast Asia. It has been used as a primary model for elucidating various aspects of the host-pathogen interaction with its host. We have isolated five isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae from diseased leaf samples obtained from the field at Kompleks Latihan MADA, Kedah, Malaysia. We have identified the isolates using morphological and microscopic studies on the fungal spores and the lesions on the diseased leaves. Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was carried out with universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. The sequence of each isolates showed at least 99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for Magnaporthe oryzae.

Terahertz detection and carbon nanotubes

ScienceCinema

Leonard, Francois

2018-04-16

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, along with collaborators from Rice University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, are developing new terahertz detectors based on carbon nanotubes that could lead to significant improvements in medical imaging, airport passenger screening, food inspection and other applications.

Gaining Momentum: Re-Creating Galileo's Inclined Plane.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albrecht, Bob; Firedrake, George

1998-01-01

Provides an excerpt of Galileo's description of his inclined plane experiment. Describes the replication of Galileo's inclined plane experiment by students at Rice University (Texas) using an Internet site called the Galileo Project; then describes the authors' replication of the Project. (AEF)

Terahertz detection and carbon nanotubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leonard, Francois

2014-06-11

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, along with collaborators from Rice University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, are developing new terahertz detectors based on carbon nanotubes that could lead to significant improvements in medical imaging, airport passenger screening, food inspection and other applications.

Resistance of Rice Varieties to the Stored-Product Insect, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

PubMed

Antunes, Catarina; Mendes, Raquel; Lima, Arlindo; Barros, Graça; Fields, Paul; Da Costa, Luísa Beirão; Rodrigues, José Carlos; Silva, Maria José; Correia, Augusto Manuel; Carvalho, Maria Otilia

2016-02-01

Four common Portuguese rice varieties--Thaibonnet, Gladio, Albatros, and Eurosis--were tested for their relative susceptibility to Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, a common pest of stored rice in Portugal and in tropical countries. Physical (moisture content, hardness, length, and width) and chemical (by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) properties of rice kernels were measured. Insect bioassays measured median developmental time, Dobie's index of susceptibility, percentage of damaged grains and weight loss, and progeny developed. This was done for paddy, brown rice, and polished rice for each variety. There were small, but significant, differences in insect resistance among the varieties. However, it was different for paddy and polished rice. In paddy, these differences were correlated with hull damage, and Eurosis was the most susceptible variety. In polished rice, resistance was correlated with hardness, and Thaibonnet was the most susceptible variety. In general, paddy rice was more resistant to insect attack, followed by polished rice and then brown rice. Paddy kernels selected with undamaged hull were completely resistant to attack. Implications for IPM and breeding for resistant varieties are discussed. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Carbon Nanotube Purification and Functionalization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebron, Marisabel; Mintz, Eric; Smalley, Richard E.; Meador, Michael A.

2003-01-01

Carbon nanotubes have the potential to significantly enhance the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymers. However, dispersion of carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix is hindered by the electrostatic forces that cause them to agglomerate. Chemical modification of the nanotubes is necessary to minimize these electrostatic forces and promote adhesion between the nanotubes and the polymer matrix. In a collaborative research program between Clark Atlanta University, Rice University, and NASA Glenn Research Center several approaches are being explored to chemically modify carbon nanotubes. The results of this research will be presented.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yokosawa, A.

The author described the polarized-proton and polarized-antiproton beams up to 200 GeV/c at Fermilab. The beam line, called MP, consists of the 400-m long primary and 350-m long secondary beam line followed by 60-m long experimental hall. We discuss the characteristics of the polarized beams. The Fermilab polarization projects are designated at E-581/704 initiated and carried out by an international collaboration, Argonne (US), Fermilab (US), Kyoto-Kyushu-Hiroshima-KEK (Japan), LAPP (France), Northwestern University (US), Los Alamos Laboratory (US), Rice (US), Saclay (France), Serpukhov (USSR), INFN Trieste (Italy), and University of Texas (US).

Recent work of decay spectroscopy at RIBF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Söderström, Pär-Anders

2014-09-01

β- and isomer-decay spectroscopy are sensitive probes of nuclear structure, and are often the only techniques capable of providing data for exotic nuclei that are producted with very low rates. Decay properties of exotic nuclei are also essential to model astrophysical events responible for the evolution of the universe such as the rp- and r-process. The EURICA project (EUROBALL RIKEN Cluster Array) has been launched in 2012 with the goal of performing spectroscopy of very exotic nuclei. Since 2012, four experimental campaigns have been successfully completed using fragmentation of 124Xe beam and in-flight-fission of 238U beam, approaching for example the key nuclei 78Ni, 110Zr, 100Sn, 128Pd, and 138Sn. This contribution highlights the experiments performed, results obtained, and discusses the future perspective of the EURICA project. In collaboration with Shunji Nishimura, Hidetada Baba, RIKEN Nishina Center; Frank Browne, Brighton University; Pieter Doornenbal, RIKEN Nishina Center; Guillaume Gey, Universite Joseph Fourier Grenoble; Tadaaki Isobe and Giuseppe Lorusso, RIKEN Nishina Center; Daniel Lubos, Technische Universitat Munchen; Kevin Mochner, University of Cologne; Zena Patel and Simon Rice, University of Surrey; Hiroyoshi Sakurai, RIKEN Nishina Center; Laura Sinclair, University of York; Toshiyuki Sumikama, Tohoku University; Jan Taprogge, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid; Zsolt Vajta, MTA Atomki; Hiroshi Watanabe, Beihang University; Jin Wu, Peking University; and Zhengyu Xu, University of Tokyo.

A resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of Rice University.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX

2012-06-27

Senate - 06/27/2012 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

The Phenotype performance of M3 red rice mutant (Oryza sativa L.)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasim, N.; Sjahril, R.; Riadi, M.; Arbie, F.

2018-05-01

Local rice genotype generally has colour, flavour and scent more preferred by consumers, yet unfortunately it has long-lived planting period and low production. Therefore, the plant breeding practices in rice needs to be implemented for better rice varieties which are superior in terms of both quality and quantity. Our findings describe the growth character performance and the production of red rice mutant from M3 generation. This study was conducted in the Agriculture Faculty wetlands, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, by using ANOVA test with some red rice mutant genotypes i.e. 7 genotypes mutants (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6 and G7) and controls/parent-plants (not the mutant). Results show that there were difference in growth performance and production of red rice mutant. Each parameter observed on each genotype had different results. Mutants produced best response in tillers production were G4 mutant with the tillers grain weight at 99.2 g, whereas by the results of the analysis of rank, mutants showed the best overall response were found in G6 mutants.

Rice Varieties in Archaic East Asia: Reduction of Its Diversity from Past to Present Times.

PubMed

Kumagai, Masahiko; Kanehara, Masaaki; Shoda, Shin'ya; Fujita, Saburo; Onuki, Shizuo; Ueda, Shintaroh; Wang, Li

2016-10-01

The Asian cultivated rice, Oryza sativa, is one of the most important crops feeding more than a third of global population. In spite of the studies for several decades, the origin and domestication history of rice varietal groups, japonica and indica, have not been fully unveiled. Genetic information of ancient rice remains is essential for direct and exclusive insight into the domestication history of rice. We performed ancient DNA analysis of 950- to 2,800-year-old rice remains excavated from Japan and Korea. We found the presence of both japonica- and indica-type varieties in the Yayoi period and the middle ages of Japan and the middle part of Korea Peninsula 2,000 years ago. It is popularly considered that japonica has been exclusively cultivated in northern part of East Asia including Japan and Korea. Our result disclosed unexpectedly wide diversity of rice varieties in archaic East Asia. The present results from ancient rice DNA reveal an exclusive insight for the domestication history of rice which is not provided as far as contemporary rice. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Rice University observations of the galactic center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meegan, C. A.

1978-01-01

The most sensitive of the four balloon fight observations of the galactic center made by Rice University was conducted in 1974 from Rio Cuarto, Argentina at a float altitude of 4 mbar. The count rate spectrum of the observed background and the energy spectrum of the galactic center region are discussed. The detector used consists of a 6 inch Nal(T 1ambda) central detector collimated to approximately 15 deg FWHM by a Nal(T lamdba) anticoincidence shield. The shield in at least two interaction mean free paths thick at all gamma ray energies. The instrumental resolution is approximately 11% FWHM at 662 keV. Pulses from the central detector are analyzed by two 256 channel PHA's covering the energy range approximately 20 keV to approximately 12 MeV. The detector is equatorially mounted and pointed by command from the ground. Observations are made by measuring source and background alternately for 10 minute periods. Background is measured by rotating the detector 180 deg about the azimuthal axis.

Nature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinhorst, Sabine; Cannon, Gordon

1997-01-01

The fact that two of the original articles by this year's Nobel laureates were published in Nature bears witness to the pivotal role of this journal in documenting pioneering discoveries in all areas of science. The prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to immunologists Peter C. Doherty (University of Tennessee) and Rolf M. Zinkernagel (University of Zurich, Switzerland), honoring work that, in the 1970s, laid the foundation for our current understanding of the way in which our immune system differentiates between healthy cells and virus-infected ones that are targeted for destruction (p 465 in the October 10 issue of vol. 383). Three researchers share the Chemistry award for their discovery of C60 buckminsterfullerenes. The work by Robert Curl, Richard Smalley (both at Rice University), and Harry Kroto (University of Sussex, UK) has led to a burst of new approaches to materials development and in carbon chemistry (p 561 of the October 17 issue of vol. 383). This year's Nobel prize in physics went to three U.S. researchers, Douglas Osheroff (Stanford University) and David M. Lee and Robert C. Richardson (Cornell University), who were honored for their work on superfluidity, a frictionless liquid state, of supercooled 3He (p 562 of the October 17 issue of vol. 383).

Experimental Measurement of Self-Diffusion in a Strongly Coupled Plasma

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-04

Killian1 1Department of Physics and Astronomy , Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA 2Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los...2] L. Spitzer, Physics of Fully Ionized Gases, Interscience Tracts on Physics and Astronomy (Interscience Publishers, New York, 1962), Vol. 3. [3] L

Estimators for iNET-Formatted SOQPSK-TG

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-01

Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) under contract W900KK-13-C-0026 ( PAQ ). REFERENCES [1] P. Schreier and L...1997. [4] M. Rice, “Phase 1 report: Preamble assisted equalization for aeronautical telemetry ( PAQ ),” Brigham Young University, Tech. Rep., 2014

Gain-of-function mutagenesis approaches in rice for functional genomics and improvement of crop productivity.

PubMed

Moin, Mazahar; Bakshi, Achala; Saha, Anusree; Dutta, Mouboni; Kirti, P B

2017-07-01

The epitome of any genome research is to identify all the existing genes in a genome and investigate their roles. Various techniques have been applied to unveil the functions either by silencing or over-expressing the genes by targeted expression or random mutagenesis. Rice is the most appropriate model crop for generating a mutant resource for functional genomic studies because of the availability of high-quality genome sequence and relatively smaller genome size. Rice has syntenic relationships with members of other cereals. Hence, characterization of functionally unknown genes in rice will possibly provide key genetic insights and can lead to comparative genomics involving other cereals. The current review attempts to discuss the available gain-of-function mutagenesis techniques for functional genomics, emphasizing the contemporary approach, activation tagging and alterations to this method for the enhancement of yield and productivity of rice. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Worldwide Emerging Environmental Issues Affecting the U.S. Military

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-10-01

Prof. Sibani Lisa Biswal, of Rice University and colleagues there and at Lockheed Martin have developed a new anode material for lithium-ion batteries...Nanotechnology Safety Issues More detailed descriptions of the nanotechnology issues 8.11.1 Sunscreens with ZnO, TiO2 Nanoparticles May Pose Health Risk Petra

Rice University: Innovation to Increase Student College Readiness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gigliotti, Jennifer

2012-01-01

"College readiness" means that a student can enter a college classroom without remediation and successfully complete entry-level college requirements (Conley, 2012). In order for students to be considered college ready, they must acquire skills, content knowledge, and behaviors before leaving high school. Research on high-school performance…

Transporting GOLDEN RICE to Malaysian Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naidu, Shashi

2007-01-01

This article evaluates the effectiveness of using a simulation in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) class at a university in the United States and discusses the integration of simulations into the Malaysian curriculum. A new approach is needed in Malaysia wherein language learners are given maximum exposure to the language. The article…

OASIS: PARAMETER ESTIMATION SYSTEM FOR AQUIFER RESTORATION MODELS, USER'S MANUAL VERSION 2.0

EPA Science Inventory

OASIS, a decision support system for ground water contaminant modeling, has been developed for the CPA by Rice University, through the National Center for Ground Water Research. As a decision support system, OASIS was designed to provide a set of tools which will help scientists ...

funRiceGenes dataset for comprehensive understanding and application of rice functional genes.

PubMed

Yao, Wen; Li, Guangwei; Yu, Yiming; Ouyang, Yidan

2018-01-01

As a main staple food, rice is also a model plant for functional genomic studies of monocots. Decoding of every DNA element of the rice genome is essential for genetic improvement to address increasing food demands. The past 15 years have witnessed extraordinary advances in rice functional genomics. Systematic characterization and proper deposition of every rice gene are vital for both functional studies and crop genetic improvement. We built a comprehensive and accurate dataset of ∼2800 functionally characterized rice genes and ∼5000 members of different gene families by integrating data from available databases and reviewing every publication on rice functional genomic studies. The dataset accounts for 19.2% of the 39 045 annotated protein-coding rice genes, which provides the most exhaustive archive for investigating the functions of rice genes. We also constructed 214 gene interaction networks based on 1841 connections between 1310 genes. The largest network with 762 genes indicated that pleiotropic genes linked different biological pathways. Increasing degree of conservation of the flowering pathway was observed among more closely related plants, implying substantial value of rice genes for future dissection of flowering regulation in other crops. All data are deposited in the funRiceGenes database (https://funricegenes.github.io/). Functionality for advanced search and continuous updating of the database are provided by a Shiny application (http://funricegenes.ncpgr.cn/). The funRiceGenes dataset would enable further exploring of the crosslink between gene functions and natural variations in rice, which can also facilitate breeding design to improve target agronomic traits of rice. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

The Sixth Alumni Conference of the International Space University

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berry, Steve (Editor)

1997-01-01

These proceedings cover the sixth alumni conference of the International Space University, coordinated by the ISU U.S. Alumni Organization, which was held at Rice University in Houston, Texas, on July 11, 1997. The alumni conference gives graduates of the International Space University's interdisciplinary, international, and intercultural program a forum in which they may present and exchange technical ideas, and keep abreast of the wide variety of work in which the ever-growing body of alumni is engaged. The diversity that is characteristic of ISU is reflected in the subject matter of the papers published in this proceedings. This proceedings preserves the order of the alumni presentations given at the 1997 ISU Alumni Conference. As in previous years, a special effort was made to solicit papers with a strong connection to the two ISU 1997 Summer Session Program design projects: (1) Transfer of Technology, Spin-Offs, Spin-Ins; and (2) Strategies for the Exploration of Mars. Papers in the remaining ten sessions cover the departmental areas traditional to the ISU summer session program.

Designing climate-resilient rice with ideal grain quality suited for high-temperature stress.

PubMed

Sreenivasulu, Nese; Butardo, Vito M; Misra, Gopal; Cuevas, Rosa Paula; Anacleto, Roslen; Kavi Kishor, Polavarpu B

2015-04-01

To ensure rice food security, the target outputs of future rice breeding programmes should focus on developing climate-resilient rice varieties with emphasis on increased head rice yield coupled with superior grain quality. This challenge is made greater by a world that is increasingly becoming warmer. Such environmental changes dramatically impact head rice and milling yield as well as increasing chalkiness because of impairment in starch accumulation and other storage biosynthetic pathways in the grain. This review highlights the knowledge gained through gene discovery via quantitative trait locus (QTL) cloning and structural-functional genomic strategies to reduce chalk, increase head rice yield, and develop stable lines with optimum grain quality in challenging environments. The newly discovered genes and the knowledge gained on the influence of specific alleles related to stability of grain quality attributes provide a robust platform for marker-assisted selection in breeding to design heat-tolerant rice varieties with superior grain quality. Using the chalkiness trait in rice as a case study, we demonstrate here that the emerging field of systems genetics can help fast-track the identification of novel alleles and gene targets that can be pyramided for the development of environmentally robust rice varieties that possess improved grain quality. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance, and transpiration efficiency in relation to leaf anatomy in rice and wheat genotypes under drought.

PubMed

Ouyang, Wenjing; Struik, Paul C; Yin, Xinyou; Yang, Jianchang

2017-11-02

Increasing leaf transpiration efficiency (TE) may provide leads for growing rice like dryland cereals such as wheat (Triticum aestivum). To explore avenues for improving TE in rice, variations in stomatal conductance (gs) and mesophyll conductance (gm) and their anatomical determinants were evaluated in two cultivars from each of lowland, aerobic, and upland groups of Oryza sativa, one cultivar of O. glaberrima, and two cultivars of T. aestivum, under three water regimes. The TE of upland rice, O. glaberrima, and wheat was more responsive to the gm/gs ratio than that of lowland and aerobic rice. Overall, the explanatory power of the particular anatomical trait varied among species. Low stomatal density mostly explained the low gs in drought-tolerant rice, whereas rice genotypes with smaller stomata generally responded more strongly to drought. Compared with rice, wheat had a higher gm, which was associated with thicker mesophyll tissue, mesophyll and chloroplasts more exposed to intercellular spaces, and thinner cell walls. Upland rice, O. glaberrima, and wheat cultivars minimized the decrease in gm under drought by maintaining high ratios of chloroplasts to exposed mesophyll cell walls. Rice TE could be improved by increasing the gm/gs ratio via modifying anatomical traits. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

RPAN: rice pan-genome browser for ∼3000 rice genomes.

PubMed

Sun, Chen; Hu, Zhiqiang; Zheng, Tianqing; Lu, Kuangchen; Zhao, Yue; Wang, Wensheng; Shi, Jianxin; Wang, Chunchao; Lu, Jinyuan; Zhang, Dabing; Li, Zhikang; Wei, Chaochun

2017-01-25

A pan-genome is the union of the gene sets of all the individuals of a clade or a species and it provides a new dimension of genome complexity with the presence/absence variations (PAVs) of genes among these genomes. With the progress of sequencing technologies, pan-genome study is becoming affordable for eukaryotes with large-sized genomes. The Asian cultivated rice, Oryza sativa L., is one of the major food sources for the world and a model organism in plant biology. Recently, the 3000 Rice Genome Project (3K RGP) sequenced more than 3000 rice genomes with a mean sequencing depth of 14.3×, which provided a tremendous resource for rice research. In this paper, we present a genome browser, Rice Pan-genome Browser (RPAN), as a tool to search and visualize the rice pan-genome derived from 3K RGP. RPAN contains a database of the basic information of 3010 rice accessions, including genomic sequences, gene annotations, PAV information and gene expression data of the rice pan-genome. At least 12 000 novel genes absent in the reference genome were included. RPAN also provides multiple search and visualization functions. RPAN can be a rich resource for rice biology and rice breeding. It is available at http://cgm.sjtu.edu.cn/3kricedb/ or http://www.rmbreeding.cn/pan3k. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

DOE Center of Excellence in Medical Laser Applications. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jacques, S.L.

1998-01-01

An engineering network of collaborating medical laser laboratories are developing laser and optical technologies for medical diagnosis and therapy and are translating the engineering into medical centers in Portland, OR, Houston, TX, and Galveston, TX. The Center includes the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas-Austin, Texas A and M University, Rice University, the University Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, Oregon Medical Laser Center (Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, and Oregon Graduate Institute, Portland, OR), and the University of Oregon. Diagnostics include reflectance, fluorescence, Raman IR, laser photoacoustics, optical coherence tomography, and several newmore » video techniques for spectroscopy and imaging. Therapies include photocoagulation therapy, laser welding, pulsed laser ablation, and light-activated chemotherapy of cancer (photodynamic therapy, or PDT). Medical applications reaching the clinic include optical monitoring of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, fluorescence detection of cervical dysplasia, laser thrombolysis of blood clots in heart attack and brain stroke, photothermal coagulation of benign prostate hyperplasia, and PDT for both veterinary and human cancer. New technologies include laser optoacoustic imaging of breast tumors and hemorrhage in head trauma and brain stroke, quality control monitoring of dosimetry during PDT for esophageal and lung cancer, polarization video reflectometry of skin cancer, laser welding of artificial tissue replacements, and feedback control of laser welding.« less

DOE Center of Excellence in Medical Laser Applications. Final report, December 1, 1994--November 30, 1997

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jacques, S.L.

1998-01-01

An engineering network of collaborating medical laser laboratories are developing laser and optical technologies for medical diagnosis and therapy and are translating the engineering into medical centers in Portland OR, Houston TX, and Galveston TX. The Center includes the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas-Austin, Texas A and M University, Rice University, the University Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, Oregon Medical Laser Center (Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, and Oregon Graduate Institute, Portland, OR), and the University of Oregon. Diagnostics include reflectance, fluorescence, Raman IR, laser photoacoustics, optical coherence tomography, and several newmore » video techniques for spectroscopy and imaging. Therapies include photocoagulation therapy, laser welding, pulsed laser ablation, and light-activated chemotherapy of cancer (photodynamic therapy, or PDT). Medical applications reaching the clinic include optical monitoring of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, fluorescence detection of cervical dysplasia, laser thrombolysis of blood clots in heart attack and brain stroke, photothermal coagulant of benign prostate hyperplasia, and PDT for both veterinary and human cancer. New technologies include laser optoacoustic imaging of breast tumors and hemorrhage in head trauma and brain stroke, quality control monitoring of dosimetry during PDT for esophageal and lung cancer, polarization video reflectometry of skin cancer, laser welding of artificial tissue replacements, and feedback control of laser welding.« less

Research and development of transgenic plants in Malaysia: an example from an Asian developing country.

PubMed

Hashim, Marzukhi; Osman, Mohamad; Abdullah, Ruslan; Pillai, Vilasini; Abu Bakar, Umi K; Hashim, Habibuddin; Daud, Hassan Mat

2002-12-01

In 2000, agriculture contributed 13% to the national gross domestic product of Malaysia. The country of 23 million people has created a competitive program coordinated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, research institutions, and universities to undertake biotechnology research in several areas. Intensified research efforts are under way on oil palm, rubber, rice, papaya, and orchids. Although the most progress has been made in rice and papaya, no transgenic crop is ready for field trials. Nonetheless, preliminary steps have been taken to prepare for the trials, and detailed testing protocols are being developed.

A Group Interview Regarding Disaster Preparedness for Food Assistance in a University that Offers a Training Course for Registered Dietitians

PubMed Central

Ito, Seira; Sudo, Noriko; Fujiwara, Yoko

2014-01-01

Mass care feeding for disaster evacuees is an important component of public health preparedness. If universities that offer a training course for registered dietitians could provide food assistance to the evacuated people in their campus, it could contribute to maintain their health. Many universities are expected to become a base of support activities for people affected by disaster. This study aimed to reveal disaster preparedness in a university that offers a training course for registered dietitians, from the aspect of provision of mass care feeding. As Japan has 124 universities that offer such training courses, this case study could serve as a useful reference for them and contribute to the improvement of health of the affected people. A group interview was conducted in University A in 2012. The participants included two faculty members in the course, a vice president, a staff member, and a faculty member in charge of disaster preparedness and response. Stockpiled foods were limited to dry bread and pre-processed rice. No alternative heat sources were stored. It was concluded that to provide nutrients other than carbohydrate, hot meals should be served for the evacuees. Additionally, it would be difficult to provide meal service when the essential utilities such as gas and electricity are disrupted. PMID:25114569

Effects of Clinician-Assisted Emotional Disclosure for Sexual Assault Survivors: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Timothy; Fende Guajardo, Jennifer; Luthra, Rohini; Edwards, Katie M.

2010-01-01

This study assessed the effects of clinician-assisted emotional disclosure (CAED), an integration of emotion focused therapy (Greenberg, Rice, & Elliott, 1993) and emotional disclosure, in ameliorating distress experienced by survivors of sexual assault. A total of 670 female university students were screened for both histories of sexual…

Information Portals: A New Tool for Teaching Information Literacy Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kolah, Debra; Fosmire, Michael

2010-01-01

Librarians at Rice and Purdue Universities created novel assignments to teach students important information literacy skills. The assignments required the students to use a third-party web site, PageFlakes and NetVibes, respectively, to create a dynamically updated portal to information they needed for their research and class projects. The use of…

The Development of Paranormal Belief Scale (PBS) for Science Education in the Context of Turkey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sen, Mehmet; Yesilyurt, Ezgi

2014-01-01

Present study aims to translate and develop Paranormal Belief Questions (Rice, 2003) measuring students' non-scientific beliefs which threat science education. Original version of these questions was asked in Southern Focus Poll (1998). 17 questions about paranormal beliefs were administered to 114 university students from different departments.…

Implementing and Assessing a Flipped Classroom Model for First-Year Engineering Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saterbak, Ann; Volz, Tracy; Wettergreen, Matthew

2016-01-01

Faculty at Rice University are creating instructional resources to support teaching first-year engineering design using a flipped classroom model. This implementation of flipped pedagogy is unusual because content-driven, lecture courses are usually targeted for flipping, not project-based design courses that already incorporate an abundance of…

Incorporating the Hybrid Learning Model into Minority Education at a Historically Black University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buzzetto-More, Nicole A.; Sweat-Guy, Retta

2006-01-01

Proponents of hybrid learning proclaim it to be an effective and efficient way of expanding course content that supports in-depth delivery and analysis of knowledge (Young, 2002) and increases students satisfaction (Campos & Harasim, 1999; Dziuban & Moskal, 2001; Rivera, McAlister, & Rice, 2002; Wu & Hiltz, 2004). In the years to…

Food, Aid, and Education in East Africa: Repackaging the Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stambach, Amy

2016-01-01

This paper examines students' food perspectives in three rapidly diversifying contemporary contexts: a university setting in Kigali, Rwanda where students help to prepare Chinese dumplings; a school garden and canteen in Nairobi, Kenya where students jostle for bowls of beans and rice; and a fast-food restaurant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where…

Team-Teaching a Current Events-Based Biology Course for Nonmajors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bondos, Sarah E.; Phillips, Dereth

2008-01-01

Rice University has created a team-taught interactive biology course for nonmajors with a focus on cutting edge biology in the news--advances in biotechnology, medicine, and science policy, along with the biological principles and methodology upon which these advances are based. The challenges inherent to teaching current topics were minimized by…

The Electronic Studio and the Intranet: Network-Based Learning.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solis, Carlos R.

The Electronic Studio, developed by the Rice University (Texas) Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning (CTTL), serves a number of purposes related to the construction and development of learning projects. It is a workplace, a display area, and a repository for tools, data, multimedia, design projects, and personal papers. This paper…

Making Outreach Visible: A Guide to Documenting Professional Service and Outreach. AAHE Forum on Faculty Roles and Rewards.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Driscoll, Amy; Lynton, Ernest A.

This guidebook is intended to help faculty and administrators, and departments and schools, document faculty professional service and outreach, offering detailed examples of work from various universities. Following a Foreword by R. Eugene Rice, short introductory chapters make the case for professional service, define professional…

Scalable Emergency Response System for Oceangoing Assets Report on Brainstorming Concept Evaluations

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-11

Andr´e Badertscher, Andr´e Guignard, and Auke Jan Ijspeert, Swimming and Crawling with an Amphibious Snake Robot. 4. Alexander S. Boxerbaum, Philip ... Kotler , Mindy & Hillman, Ian “Japanese Nuclear Energy Policy and Public Opinion” James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University May 2000

Traileka Glacier X-Stack. Final Scientific/Technical Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Borkar, Shekhar

2015-09-01

The XStack Traleika Glacier (XSTG) project was a three-year research award for exploring a revolutionary exascale-class machine software framework. The XSTG program, including Intel, UC San Diego, Pacific Northwest National Lab, UIUC, Rice University, Reservoir Labs, ET International, and U. Delaware, had major accomplishments, insights, and products resulting from this three-year effort.

Research Advances

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Angela G.

2005-01-01

Researchers in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University are developing a new approach for fighting cancer, based on nanoshells that can both detect and destroy cancerous cells. The aim is to locate the cells, and be able to make a rational choice about whether they need to be destroyed and if possible they should immediately be sent for…

Open Textbook Proof-of-Concept via Connexions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Judy; Thierstein, Joel; Fletcher, Kathi; Kaur, Manpreet; Emmons, Jonathan

2009-01-01

To address the high cost of textbooks, Rice University's Connexions and the Community College Open Textbook Project (CCOTP) collaborated to develop a proof-of-concept free and open textbook. The proof-of-concept served to document a workflow process that would support adoption of open textbooks. Open textbooks provide faculty and students with a…

Evaluation of effects of fertilizers on narrow brown leaf spot in organic rice, 2010

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The experiment was established in a field of League soil (3% sand, 32% silt, and 64% clay) under organic management for many years at the Texas A&M University System's Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Beaumont. The experiment was conducted as a two factorial experimental design with five orga...

Final Report for DOE Grant Number DE-SC0001481

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liang, Edison

2013-12-02

This report covers research activities, major results and publications supported by DE-SC-000-1481. This project was funded by the DOE OFES-NNSA HEDLP program. It was a joint research program between Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin. The physics of relativistic plasmas was investigated in the context of ultra-intense laser irradiation of high-Z solid targets. Laser experiments using the Texas Petawatt Laser were performed in the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Numerical simulations of laser-plasma interactions were performed using Monte Carlo and Particle-in-Cell codes to design and support these experiments. Astrophysical applications of these results were also investigated.

Copper and zinc uptake by rice and accumulation in soil amended with municipal solid waste compost

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharyya, P.; Chakraborty, A.; Chakrabarti, K.; Tripathy, S.; Powell, M. A.

2006-04-01

Effect of addition of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) on two metals viz. copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) contents of submerged rice paddies were studied. Experiments were conducted during the three consecutive wet seasons from 1997 to 1999 on rice grown under submergence, at the Experimental Farm of Calcutta University, India. A sequential extraction method was used to determine the metal (Cu and Zn) fractions in MSWC and cow dung manure (CDM). Both metals were significantly bound to the organic matter and Fe and Mn oxides in MSWC and CDM. Metal content in rice straw was higher than in rice grain. Metal bound with Fe and Mn oxides in MSWC and CDM best correlated with straw and grain metal followed by exchangeable and water soluble fractions. Carbonate, organic matter bound and residual fractions in MSWC and CDM did not significantly correlate with rice straw and grain metal. The MSWC would be a valuable resource for agriculture if it can be used safely, but long-term field experiments with MSWC are needed to assess by regular monitoring of the metal loads and accumulation in soil and plants.

Elemental analysis of different varieties of rice samples using XRF technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Jaspreet; Kumar, Anil

2016-05-01

Rice is most consumed staple food in the world providing over 21% of the calorie intake of world's population having high yielding capacity. Elements detected in rice are Al, As, Br, Cd, Cl, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Rb, Se and Zn by using Instrumental Neutron Activation with k0 standardization (R. Jayasekera etal,2004). Some of these trace elements are C, H, O, N, S, Ca, P, K, Na, Cl, Mn, Ti, Mg, Cu, Fe, Ni, Si and Zn are essential for growth of human physique The deficiency or excess of these elements in food is known to cause a variety of malnutrition or health disorders in the world. Every year, various varieties of rice are launched by Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. The main purpose of which is to increases the yield to attain the maximum profit. But this leads to changing the elemental concentration in them, which may affect the human health according to variation in the nutrition values. The main objective is to study the presence of elemental concentration in various varieties of rice using EDXRF technique.

Robust phenotyping strategies for evaluation of stem non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in rice.

PubMed

Wang, Diane R; Wolfrum, Edward J; Virk, Parminder; Ismail, Abdelbagi; Greenberg, Anthony J; McCouch, Susan R

2016-11-01

Rice plants (Oryza sativa) accumulate excess photoassimilates in the form of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) in their stems prior to heading that can later be mobilized to supplement photosynthate production during grain-filling. Despite longstanding interest in stem NSC for rice improvement, the dynamics of NSC accumulation, remobilization, and re-accumulation that have genetic potential for optimization have not been systematically investigated. Here we conducted three pilot experiments to lay the groundwork for large-scale diversity studies on rice stem NSC. We assessed the relationship of stem NSC components with 21 agronomic traits in large-scale, tropical yield trials using 33 breeder-nominated lines, established an appropriate experimental design for future genetic studies using a Bayesian framework to sample sub-datasets from highly replicated greenhouse data using 36 genetically diverse genotypes, and used 434 phenotypically divergent rice stem samples to develop two partial least-squares (PLS) models using near-infrared (NIR) spectra for accurate, rapid prediction of rice stem starch, sucrose, and total non-structural carbohydrates. We find evidence that stem reserves are most critical for short-duration varieties and suggest that pre-heading stem NSC is worthy of further experimentation for breeding early maturing rice. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Ricebase: a breeding and genetics platform for rice, integrating individual molecular markers, pedigrees and whole-genome-based data.

PubMed

Edwards, J D; Baldo, A M; Mueller, L A

2016-01-01

Ricebase (http://ricebase.org) is an integrative genomic database for rice (Oryza sativa) with an emphasis on combining datasets in a way that maintains the key links between past and current genetic studies. Ricebase includes DNA sequence data, gene annotations, nucleotide variation data and molecular marker fragment size data. Rice research has benefited from early adoption and extensive use of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers; however, the majority of rice SSR markers were developed prior to the latest rice pseudomolecule assembly. Interpretation of new research using SNPs in the context of literature citing SSRs requires a common coordinate system. A new pipeline, using a stepwise relaxation of stringency, was used to map SSR primers onto the latest rice pseudomolecule assembly. The SSR markers and experimentally assayed amplicon sizes are presented in a relational database with a web-based front end, and are available as a track loaded in a genome browser with links connecting the browser and database. The combined capabilities of Ricebase link genetic markers, genome context, allele states across rice germplasm and potentially user curated phenotypic interpretations as a community resource for genetic discovery and breeding in rice. Published by Oxford University Press 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the United States.

Genetics, Physiological Mechanisms and Breeding of Flood-Tolerant Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

PubMed

Singh, Anuradha; Septiningsih, Endang M; Balyan, Harendra S; Singh, Nagendra K; Rai, Vandna

2017-02-01

Flooding of rice fields is a serious problem in the river basins of South and South-East Asia where about 15 Mha of lowland rice cultivation is regularly affected. Flooding creates hypoxic conditions resulting in poor germination and seedling establishment. Flash flooding, where rice plants are completely submerged for 10-15 d during their vegetative stage, causes huge losses. Water stagnation for weeks to months also leads to substantial yield losses when large parts of rice aerial tissues are inundated. The low-yielding traditional varieties and landraces of rice adapted to these flooding conditions have been replaced by flood-sensitive high-yielding rice varieties. The 'FR13A' rice variety and the Submergence 1A (SUB1A) gene were identified for flash flooding and subsequently introgressed to high-yielding rice varieties. The challenge is to find superior alleles of the SUB1A gene, or even new genes that may confer greater tolerance to submergence. Similarly, genes have been identified in tolerant landraces of rice for their ability to survive by rapid stem elongation (SNORKEL1 and SNORKEL2) during deep-water flooding, and for anaerobic germination ability (TPP7). Research on rice genotypes and novel genes that are tolerant to prolonged water stagnation is in progress. These studies will greatly assist in devising more efficient and precise molecular breeding strategies for developing climate-resilient high-yielding rice varieties for flood-prone regions. Here we review the state of our knowledge of flooding tolerance in rice and its application in varietal improvement. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Nanotechnology research for aerospace applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agee, Forrest J.; Lozano, Karen; Gutierrez, Jose M.; Chipara, Mircea; Thapa, Ram; Chow, Alice

2009-04-01

Nanotechnology is impacting the future of the military and aerospace. The increasing demands for high performance and property-specific applications are forcing the scientific world to take novel approaches in developing programs and accelerating output. CONTACT or Consortium for Nanomaterials for Aerospace Commerce and Technology is a cooperative nanotechnology research program in Texas building on an infrastructure that promotes collaboration between universities and transitioning to industry. The participants of the program include the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), five campuses of the University of Texas (Brownsville, Pan American, Arlington, Austin, and Dallas), the University of Houston, and Rice University. Through the various partnerships between the intellectual centers and the interactions with AFRL and CONTACT's industrial associates, the program represents a model that addresses the needs of the changing and competitive technological world. Into the second year, CONTACT has expanded to twelve projects that cover four areas of research: Adaptive Coatings and Surface Engineering, Nano Energetics, Electromagnetic Sensors, and Power Generation and Storage. This paper provides an overview of the CONTACT program and its projects including the research and development of new electrorheological fluids with nanoladen suspensions and composites and the potential applications.

A Brief Historical Review of Research on Higher Education, 1900-1960.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pemberton, S. Macpherson

The beginning of interest in educational research as such is traced to the 1890's and to J. M. Rice, who encouraged that departments of educational research be attached to public and private agencies and university education departments. Early research efforts were limited largely to measurement and elementary and secondary education, but a 1910…

Is Having More Than 2 Children an Unspoken Taboo?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Robin

2009-01-01

By academic standards, Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum has it made. She is a full professor of bioengineering at Rice University, runs a thriving cancer-research laboratory, and is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering. But with four children at home, she sometimes feels like an academic outcast. In fact, Ms. Richards-Kortum says…

The Effect of Task Characteristics on the Availability Heuristic for Judgments under Uncertainty.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-05-01

RICE UNIVERSITY Houston, Texas 7 7001 * Department of Psycholgsy ~ A0 Reserch Report Series dAOTbik has eD dis~fuomis =liited. -~~~ ~ - - 0...The experimental design Involved the manipulation of event characteristics in order to induce a heuristic processing strategy for designated available...40 References .... .......... .o.................. o...................... 41 Appendix A. Experimental Questionnaires

Management of sheath blight and narrow brown leaf spot with biocontrol agents in organic rice, 2010

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The experiment was established in a field of League-type soil (3% sand, 32% silt, and 64% clay) under organic management for many years at the Texas A&M University System's Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Beaumont. Plots consisted of seven 18-ft rows, and spaced 7 inches between rows. There ...

Once a physicist: Christine Rice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rice, Christine

2009-01-01

Why did you study physics? My father was a scientist and all my older siblings took science A levels, so it seemed the most obvious path for me to take. Plus, the careers advice we got was to avoid arts subjects as you would never get a job (happily, none of my "arty" friends at university ended up destitute). There was also a big drive to recruit more women into science and I was always one for a challenge. It meant something to me that girls could be as good at science as boys were. I did also enjoy the subject and one of my most satisfactory school experiences was preparing for the Oxford University entrance exam.

Space Industry. Industry Study, Spring 2008

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

Northrop Grumman Space Technology, Redondo Beach, CA Jet Propulsion Laboratory , Pasadena, CA Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA International... good of all men, and to become the world’s leading space-faring nation. - John F. Kennedy (Rice University, September 12, 1962) The United States...European civil space sectors delivered several important payloads in 2008. The ESA sponsored Columbus Laboratory was carried aloft aboard America’s

Elemental analysis of different varieties of rice samples using XRF technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaur, Jaspreet, E-mail: gillpreet05051812@gmail.com; Kumar, Anil, E-mail: gilljaspreet06@gmail.com

Rice is most consumed staple food in the world providing over 21% of the calorie intake of world’s population having high yielding capacity. Elements detected in rice are Al, As, Br, Cd, Cl, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Rb, Se and Zn by using Instrumental Neutron Activation with k0 standardization (R. Jayasekera etal,2004). Some of these trace elements are C, H, O, N, S, Ca, P, K, Na, Cl, Mn, Ti, Mg, Cu, Fe, Ni, Si and Zn are essential for growth of human physique The deficiency or excess of these elements in food is knownmore » to cause a variety of malnutrition or health disorders in the world. Every year, various varieties of rice are launched by Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. The main purpose of which is to increases the yield to attain the maximum profit. But this leads to changing the elemental concentration in them, which may affect the human health according to variation in the nutrition values. The main objective is to study the presence of elemental concentration in various varieties of rice using EDXRF technique.« less

Field evidence for the potential of Rhodobacter capsulatus as Biofertilizer for flooded rice.

PubMed

Gamal-Eldin, Hosny; Elbanna, Khaled

2011-02-01

In a previous study, we evaluated the effects of inoculating rice plants with the phototrophic purple nonsulfur bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus (Rc) on growth and yield of rice in pots and lysimeter experiments and the results obtained have been highly encouraging. In this study, we carried out two field experiments: one in the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, and the second in a farmer's field in Kafr El-sheikh, to assess the effects of Rc on growth and yield of rice in comparison and in combination with chemical nitrogen fertilizer (CNF) and farmyard manure. The results indicated that both biological and grain yields in all the Rc inoculated treatments were significantly higher than those in the uninoculated corresponding treatments in both fields. With regard to grain yield, the major factor for determining the effectiveness of any agricultural treatment, inoculation with Rc in combination with 50% of the recommended CNF rate gave a grain yield that was statistically equivalent to that obtained with 100% of the recommended CNF rate. These results provide a clear evidence for the potential of Rc as biofertilizer for flooded rice under field conditions.

Diazinon reduction and partitioning between water, sediment and vegetation in stormwater runoff mitigation through rice fields.

PubMed

Moore, Matthew T; Kröger, Robert; Cooper, Charles M; Cullum, Robert F; Smith, Sammie; Locke, Martin A

2009-11-01

Contamination of surface waters by pesticides is a concern in the United States and around the world. Innovative mitigation strategies are needed to remediate this potential environmental contaminant. One potential solution is to divert pesticide-laden drainage or surface water through agricultural rice fields. With a hydroperiod, hydrosoil and hydrophyte (rice), these systems serve essentially as a type of constructed wetland. In both summer and fall experiments, diazinon-amended water was diverted through two rice ponds at the University of Mississippi Field Station. Likewise, a non-vegetated control pond was amended with diazinon-laden water. Water, sediment and plant samples were taken spatially and temporally to determine the distribution of diazinon within systems. Outflow diazinon concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from inflow in both vegetated ponds for both preharvest and post-harvest experiments. Although sorption to rice plants was minimal in the overall mass distribution of diazinon (1-3%), temporal data indicated that diazinon concentrations reached the outflow sediment of the non-vegetated control twice as fast as in either vegetated (rice) system. In both vegetated systems, sediment diazinon concentrations decreased (77 and 100%) from inflow to outflow, while a decrease of <2% was noted in the non-vegetated control. Diversion of pesticide-contaminated water through rice fields demonstrated potential as a low-cost, environmentally efficient mitigation practice. Studies on these systems are continuing to evaluate the optimal chemical retention time for rice field mitigation, as well as diazinon transfer to rice grain seeds that may be used as a food source.

Coverage of Adequately Iodized Salt Is Suboptimal and Rice Fortification Using Public Distribution Channels Could Reach Low-Income Households: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Anganwadi Center Catchment Areas in Telangana, India.

PubMed

Wirth, James P; Leyvraz, Magali; Sodani, Prahlad R; Aaron, Grant J; Sharma, Narottam D; Woodruff, Bradley A

2016-01-01

Food fortification is a cost-effective approach to prevent and control of micronutrient deficiencies in India. A cross-sectional survey of children 0-35 months of age residing in the catchment areas of anganwadi centers in the state of Telangana was conducted to assess the coverage of adequately iodized salt and the potential for rice fortification. Salt samples were collected and tested for iodine concentration using iodometric titration. Information on demographics, household rice consumption, and Telangana's rice sector was collected and interpreted. In households of selected children, 79% of salt samples were found to be adequately iodized. Salt brand and district were significant predictors of inadequately iodized salt. Daily rice consumption among children and women averaged 122 grams and 321 grams per day, respectively. Approximately 28% of households reported consuming rice produced themselves or purchased from a local farmer, 65% purchased rice from a market or shop, 6% got rice from a public distribution system site, and 2% obtained it from a rice mill. In the catchment areas of Telangana's anganwadi centers, there is significant variation in the coverage of adequately iodized salt by district. Future surveys in Telangana should measure the coverage of salt iodization in the general population using quantitative methods. Nonetheless, increasing the adequacy of iodization of smaller salt manufacturers would help achieve universal salt iodization in Telangana. Despite high consumption of rice, our findings suggest that large-scale market-based rice fortification is not feasible in Telangana due to a large proportion of households producing their own rice and highly fragmented rice distribution. Distributing fortified rice via Telangana's public distribution system may be a viable approach to target low-income households, but would only reach a small proportion of the population in Telangana.

Coverage of Adequately Iodized Salt Is Suboptimal and Rice Fortification Using Public Distribution Channels Could Reach Low-Income Households: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Anganwadi Center Catchment Areas in Telangana, India

PubMed Central

Wirth, James P.; Leyvraz, Magali; Sodani, Prahlad R.; Aaron, Grant J.; Sharma, Narottam D.; Woodruff, Bradley A.

2016-01-01

Food fortification is a cost-effective approach to prevent and control of micronutrient deficiencies in India. A cross-sectional survey of children 0–35 months of age residing in the catchment areas of anganwadi centers in the state of Telangana was conducted to assess the coverage of adequately iodized salt and the potential for rice fortification. Salt samples were collected and tested for iodine concentration using iodometric titration. Information on demographics, household rice consumption, and Telangana’s rice sector was collected and interpreted. In households of selected children, 79% of salt samples were found to be adequately iodized. Salt brand and district were significant predictors of inadequately iodized salt. Daily rice consumption among children and women averaged 122 grams and 321 grams per day, respectively. Approximately 28% of households reported consuming rice produced themselves or purchased from a local farmer, 65% purchased rice from a market or shop, 6% got rice from a public distribution system site, and 2% obtained it from a rice mill. In the catchment areas of Telangana’s anganwadi centers, there is significant variation in the coverage of adequately iodized salt by district. Future surveys in Telangana should measure the coverage of salt iodization in the general population using quantitative methods. Nonetheless, increasing the adequacy of iodization of smaller salt manufacturers would help achieve universal salt iodization in Telangana. Despite high consumption of rice, our findings suggest that large-scale market-based rice fortification is not feasible in Telangana due to a large proportion of households producing their own rice and highly fragmented rice distribution. Distributing fortified rice via Telangana’s public distribution system may be a viable approach to target low-income households, but would only reach a small proportion of the population in Telangana. PMID:27447925

The estimation of rice paddy yield with GRAMI crop model and Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) image over South Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeom, J. M.; Kim, H. O.

2014-12-01

In this study, we estimated the rice paddy yield with moderate geostationary satellite based vegetation products and GRAMI model over South Korea. Rice is the most popular staple food for Asian people. In addition, the effects of climate change are getting stronger especially in Asian region, where the most of rice are cultivated. Therefore, accurate and timely prediction of rice yield is one of the most important to accomplish food security and to prepare natural disasters such as crop defoliation, drought, and pest infestation. In the present study, GOCI, which is world first Geostationary Ocean Color Image, was used for estimating temporal vegetation indices of the rice paddy by adopting atmospheric correction BRDF modeling. For the atmospheric correction with LUT method based on Second Simulation of the Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum (6S), MODIS atmospheric products such as MOD04, MOD05, MOD07 from NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) were used. In order to correct the surface anisotropy effect, Ross-Thick Li-Sparse Reciprocal (RTLSR) BRDF model was performed at daily basis with 16day composite period. The estimated multi-temporal vegetation images was used for crop classification by using high resolution satellite images such as Rapideye, KOMPSAT-2 and KOMPSAT-3 to extract the proportional rice paddy area in corresponding a pixel of GOCI. In the case of GRAMI crop model, initial conditions are determined by performing every 2 weeks field works at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. The corrected GOCI vegetation products were incorporated with GRAMI model to predict rice yield estimation. The predicted rice yield was compared with field measurement of rice yield.

Reduced ABA Accumulation in the Root System is Caused by ABA Exudation in Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L. var. Gaoshan1) and this Enhanced Drought Adaptation.

PubMed

Shi, Lu; Guo, Miaomiao; Ye, Nenghui; Liu, Yinggao; Liu, Rui; Xia, Yiji; Cui, Suxia; Zhang, Jianhua

2015-05-01

Lowland rice (Nipponbare) and upland rice (Gaoshan 1) that are comparable under normal and moderate drought conditions showed dramatic differences in severe drought conditions, both naturally occurring long-term drought and simulated rapid water deficits. We focused on their root response and found that enhanced tolerance of upland rice to severe drought conditions was mainly due to the lower level of ABA in its roots than in those of the lowland rice. We first excluded the effect of ABA biosynthesis and catabolism on root-accumulated ABA levels in both types of rice by monitoring the expression of four OsNCED genes and two OsABA8ox genes. Next, we excluded the impact of the aerial parts on roots by suppressing leaf-biosynthesized ABA with fluridone and NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid), and measuring the ABA level in detached roots. Instead, we proved that upland rice had the ability to export considerably more root-sourced ABA than lowland rice under severe drought, which improved ABA-dependent drought adaptation. The investigation of apoplastic pH in root cells and root anatomy showed that ABA leakage in the root system of upland rice was related to high apoplastic pH and the absence of Casparian bands in the sclerenchyma layer. Finally, taking some genes as examples, we predicted that different ABA levels in rice roots stimulated distinct ABA perception and signaling cascades, which influenced its response to water stress. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Fullerene discoverers win nobel prize

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rotman, D.

1996-10-16

Two Rice University (Houston) chemists, Robert F. Curl and Richard E. Smalley, and a scientist at the University of Sussex (Brighton, U.K.), Harold W. Kroto, have won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the joint discovery of buckminsterfullerenes - soccer ball-shaped carbon molecules. The novel form of carbon, which was initially synthesized by the scientists in 1985 as C{sub 60} and C{sub 70} has led to the development of {open_quotes}an entirely new branch of chemistry... with consequences in such diverse areas as astrochemistry, superconductivity, and material chemistry/physics,{close_quotes} according to the Swedish Academy of Sciences (Stockholm). For chemists, the structuremore » is {open_quotes}uniquely beautiful and satisfying,{close_quotes} the academy says.« less

Bites and B-Roll: Announcments of the Architecture Contest Winners

ScienceCinema

None

2017-12-09

Broadcast-quality downloads of this video are available free and unrestricted at http://stratacomm.net/solar-decathlon... Video contains announcements of the architecture awards announcement at the 2009 Solar Decathlon. Includes announcement and house b-roll of 1st place winner Team California and 2nd place winner Rice University's houses, general Solar Village b-roll, and bites from students and architecture experts

NSF-OEDG Manoomin Science Camp Project: A Model for Engaging American Indian Students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dalbotten, Diana; Ito, Emi; Myrbo, Amy; Pellerin, Holly; Greensky, Lowana; Howes, Thomas; Wold, Andrew; Breckenridge, Rachel; Drake, Christa; Bucar, Leslie; Kowalczak, Courtney; Lindner, Cameron; Olson, Carolyn; Ray, T. J.; Rhodes, Richard; Woods, Philip; Yellowman, Tom

2014-01-01

The Manoomin ''wild rice'' Science Camp program, a partnership between the University of Minnesota, the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is an example of how a community-based participatory research project can become the catalyst for STEM learning for an entire community, providing…

Prospects of Collective Security in the Eastern Africa Region

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-14

sent Susan Rice, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, later joined by the Rwandan vice-president, Paul Kagame, to launch a mediation...Baylis, John , Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens. 2008. The globalization of world politics. New York: Oxford University Press. 96 Baylis, John ...Press. Berkeley, George Fitz -Hardinge. 1902. The campaign of Adowa and the rise of Menelik. Whitehall Gardens, UK: Westminster Archibald Constable

RFID Student Educational Experiences at the UNT College of Engineering: A Sequential Approach to Creating a Project-Based RFID Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaidyanathan, V. V.; Varanasi, M. R.; Kougianos, E.; Wang, Shuping; Raman, H.

2009-01-01

This paper describes radio frequency identification (RFID) projects, designed and implemented by students in the College of Engineering at the University of North Texas, as part of their senior-design project requirement. The paper also describes an RFID-based project implemented at Rice Middle School in Plano, TX, which went on to win multiple…

Composite materials for the extravehicular mobility unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrera, Enrique V.; Tello, Hector M.

1992-01-01

The extravehicular mobility unit (EMU), commonly known as the astronaut space suit assembly (SSA) and primary life support system (PLSS), has evolved through the years to incorporate new and innovative materials in order to meet the demands of the space environment. The space shuttle program which is seeing an increasing level of extravehicular activity (EVA), also called space walks, along with interest in an EMU for Lunar-Mars missions means even more demanding conditions are being placed on the suit and PLSS. The project for this NASA-ASEE Summer Program was to investigate new materials for these applications. The focus was to emphasize the use of composite materials for every component of the EMU to enhance the properties while reducing the total weight of the EMU. To accomplish this, development of new materials called fullerene reinforced materials (FRM's) was initiated. Fullerenes are carbon molecules which when added to a material significantly reduce the weight of that material. The Faculty Fellow worked directly on the development of the fullerene reinforced materials. A chamber for fullerene production was designed and assembled and first generation samples were processed. He also supervised with the JSC Colleague, a study of composite materials for the EMU conducted by the student participant in the NASA-ASEE Program, Hector Tello a Rice University graduate student, and by a NASA Aerospace Technologist (Materials Engineer) Evelyne Orndoff, in the Systems Engineering Analysis Office (EC7), also a Rice University graduate student. Hector Tello conducted a study on beryllium and Be alloys and initiated a study of carbon and glass reinforced composites for space applications. Evelyne Orndoff compiled an inventory of the materials on the SSA. Ms. Orndoff also reviewed SSA material requirements and cited aspects of the SSA design where composite materials might be further considered. Hector Tello spent part of his time investigating the solar radiation sensitivity of anodic coatings. This project was directed toward the effects of ultra-violet radiation on high emissivity anodic coatings. The work of both Evelyne Orndoff and Hector Tello is of interest to the Engineering Directorate at NASA/JSC and is also directed toward their research as Rice University graduate students.

Efficacy of Rice Insecticide Seed Treatments at Selected Nitrogen Rates for Control of the Rice Water Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

PubMed

Everett, Mallory; Lorenz, Gus; Slaton, Nathan; Hardke, Jarrod

2015-08-01

Seed-applied insecticides are the standard control method used in the United States to minimize rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel) injury to rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots, and often results in greater yields than rice that receives no seed-applied insecticide. Yield increases from seed-applied insecticides often occur even when insect pressure is low and should not cause yield loss. The research objective was to evaluate the effect of urea-nitrogen rate and seed-applied insecticide on number of rice water weevil larvae, nitrogen uptake, and rice grain yield. Six trials were conducted at the Pine Tree Research Station (PTRS) and the Rice Research Extension Center (RREC) to examine the response of rice plants receiving different insecticide-seed treatments and urea-nitrogen rate combinations. Insecticide-seed treatments included label rates of clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and a no-insecticide (fungicide only) control, in combination with season-total nitrogen rates of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg urea-nitrogen/ha. Rice seed that was treated with clothianidin or thiamethoxam generally had equal numbers of rice water weevil larvae, which were significantly fewer compared with rice that received no insecticide with an equivalent urea-nitrogen rate. Nitrogen uptake at panicle differentiation was not affected by insecticide-seed treatments at four of six sites and usually increased positively and linearly as urea-nitrogen rate increased. As urea-nitrogen rate increased, grain yield increased either linearly or nonlinearly. Averaged across urea-nitrogen rates, both insecticide seed treatments had similar yields that were 4 to 7% greater than the grain yields of rice that received no insecticide at four of the five harvested sites. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Chromium uptake by rice and accumulation in soil amended with municipal solid waste compost.

PubMed

Bhattacharyya, P; Chakraborty, A; Chakrabarti, K; Tripathy, S; Powell, M A

2005-09-01

Effect of addition of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) on chromium (Cr) content of submerged rice paddies was studied. Experiments were conducted during the three consecutive wet seasons from 1997 to 1999 on rice grown under submergence, at the Experimental Farm of Calcutta University, India. A sequential extraction method was used to determine the various chromium fractions in MSWC and cow dung manure (CDM). Chromium was significantly bound to the organic matter and Fe and Mn oxides in MSWC and CDM. Chromium content in rice straw was higher than in rice grain. Chromium bound with organic matter in MSWC best correlated with straw Cr (r=0.99**) followed by Fe and Mn oxides (r=0.97*) and water soluble as well as exchangeable fractions (r=0.96*). The water soluble and the exchangeable fractions in MSWC best correlated with grain Cr (r=0.98*). The Cr content of rice grain had the highest correlation with water soluble and exchangeable Cr (r=0.99**) while the straw Cr best correlated with the Fe and Mn oxides (r=0.98*). Both the carbonate bound and residual fractions in MSWC and CDM did not significantly correlate with rice straw and grain Cr. MSWC would be a valuable resource for agriculture if it can be used safely, but long-term use may require the cessation of the dumping by the leather tanneries and other major contributors of pollutants.

Expression Variations of miRNAs and mRNAs in Rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Wen, Ming; Xie, Munan; He, Lian; Wang, Yushuai; Shi, Suhua; Tang, Tian

2016-12-31

Differences in expression levels are an important source of phenotypic variation within and between populations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in post-transcriptional gene regulation that are important for plant development and stress responses. We surveyed expression variation of miRNAs and mRNAs of six accessions from two rice subspecies Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica and Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica using deep sequencing. While more than half (53.7%) of the mature miRNAs exhibit differential expression between grains and seedlings of rice, only 11.0% show expression differences between subspecies, with an additional 2.2% differentiated for the development-by-subspecies interaction. Expression variation is greater for lowly conserved miRNAs than highly conserved miRNAs, whereas the latter show stronger negative correlation with their targets in expression changes between subspecies. Using a permutation test, we identified 51 miRNA-mRNA pairs that correlate negatively or positively in expression level among cultivated rice. Genes involved in various metabolic processes and stress responses are enriched in the differentially expressed genes between rice indica and japonica subspecies. Our results indicate that stabilizing selection is the major force governing miRNA expression in cultivated rice, albeit positive selection may be responsible for much of the between-subspecies expression divergence. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Low Temperature Storage of Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus-Infected Rice Plants Cannot Sustain Virus Transmission by the Vector.

PubMed

Liu, Danfeng; Li, Pei; Han, Yongqiang; Lei, Wenbin; Hou, Maolin

2016-02-01

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a novel virus transmitted by white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Hováth) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Due to low virus transmission efficiency by the planthopper, researchers are frequently confronted with shortage of viruliferous vectors or infected rice plants, especially in winter and the following spring. To find new ways to maintain virus-infected materials, viral rice plants were stored at -80°C for 45 or 140 d and evaluated as virus sources in virus transmission by the vector. SRBSDV virions were not degraded during storage at -80°C as indicated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription real-time PCR detection. The planthopper nymphs fed on the infected thawed plants for 48 h survived at about 40% and showed positive detection of SRBSDV, but they lost the virus after feeding for another 20 d (the circulative transmission period) on noninfected plants. Transmission electron microscope images indicated broken capsid of virions in infected thawed leaves in contrast to integrity capsid of virions in infected fresh leaves. These results show that low temperature storage of SRBSDV-infected rice plants cannot sustain virus transmission by white-backed planthopper. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Evaluation of weather-based rice yield models in India.

PubMed

Sudharsan, D; Adinarayana, J; Reddy, D Raji; Sreenivas, G; Ninomiya, S; Hirafuji, M; Kiura, T; Tanaka, K; Desai, U B; Merchant, S N

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to compare two different rice simulation models--standalone (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer [DSSAT]) and web based (SImulation Model for RIce-Weather relations [SIMRIW])--with agrometeorological data and agronomic parameters for estimation of rice crop production in southern semi-arid tropics of India. Studies were carried out on the BPT5204 rice variety to evaluate two crop simulation models. Long-term experiments were conducted in a research farm of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad, India. Initially, the results were obtained using 4 years (1994-1997) of data with weather parameters from a local weather station to evaluate DSSAT simulated results with observed values. Linear regression models used for the purpose showed a close relationship between DSSAT and observed yield. Subsequently, yield comparisons were also carried out with SIMRIW and DSSAT, and validated with actual observed values. Realizing the correlation coefficient values of SIMRIW simulation values in acceptable limits, further rice experiments in monsoon (Kharif) and post-monsoon (Rabi) agricultural seasons (2009, 2010 and 2011) were carried out with a location-specific distributed sensor network system. These proximal systems help to simulate dry weight, leaf area index and potential yield by the Java based SIMRIW on a daily/weekly/monthly/seasonal basis. These dynamic parameters are useful to the farming community for necessary decision making in a ubiquitous manner. However, SIMRIW requires fine tuning for better results/decision making.

Complete genome sequence and analysis of the industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain N85 used in Chinese rice wine production.

PubMed

Zhang, Weiping; Li, Yudong; Chen, Yiwang; Xu, Sha; Du, Guocheng; Shi, Huidong; Zhou, Jingwen; Chen, Jian

2018-02-05

Chinese rice wine is a popular traditional alcoholic beverage in China, while its brewing processes have rarely been explored. We herein report the first gapless, near-finished genome sequence of the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae N85 for Chinese rice wine production. Several assembly methods were used to integrate Pacific Bioscience (PacBio) and Illumina sequencing data to achieve high-quality genome sequencing of the strain. The genome encodes more than 6,000 predicted proteins, and 238 long non-coding RNAs, which are validated by RNA-sequencing data. Moreover, our annotation predicts 171 novel genes that are not present in the reference S288c genome. We also identified 65,902 single nucleotide polymorphisms and small indels, many of which are located within genic regions. Dozens of larger copy-number variations and translocations were detected, mainly enriched in the subtelomeres, suggesting these regions may be related to genomic evolution. This study will serve as a milestone in studying of Chinese rice wine and related beverages in China and in other countries. It will help to develop more scientific and modern fermentation processes of Chinese rice wine, and explore metabolism pathways of desired and harmful components in Chinese rice wine to improve its taste and nutritional value. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Kazusa DNA Research Institute.

Cis-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid stimulates rice defense response to a piercing-sucking insect.

PubMed

Guo, Hui-Min; Li, Hai-Chao; Zhou, Shi-Rong; Xue, Hong-Wei; Miao, Xue-Xia

2014-11-01

The brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens) is a destructive, monophagous, piercing-sucking insect pest of rice. Previous studies indicated that jasmonic acid (JA) positively regulates rice defense against chewing insect pests but negatively regulates it against the piercing-sucking insect of BPH. We here demonstrated that overexpression of allene oxide cyclase (AOC) but not OPR3 (cis-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) reductase 3, an enzyme adjacent to AOC in the JA synthetic pathway) significantly increased rice resistance to BPH, mainly by reducing the feeding activity and survival rate. Further analysis revealed that plant response to BPH under AOC overexpression was independent of the JA pathway and that significantly higher OPDA levels stimulated rice resistance to BPH. Microarray analysis identified multiple candidate resistance-related genes under AOC overexpression. OPDA treatment stimulated the resistance of radish seedlings to green peach aphid Myzus persicae, another piercing-sucking insect. These results imply that rice resistance to chewing insects and to sucking insects can be enhanced simultaneously through AOC-mediated increases of JA and OPDA and provide direct evidence of the potential application of OPDA in stimulating plant defense responses to piercing-sucking insect pests in agriculture. © The Author 2014. Published by the Molecular Plant Shanghai Editorial Office in association with Oxford University Press on behalf of CSPB and IPPE, SIBS, CAS.

Transgenic rice seed expressing flavonoid biosynthetic genes accumulate glycosylated and/or acylated flavonoids in protein bodies.

PubMed

Ogo, Yuko; Mori, Tetsuya; Nakabayashi, Ryo; Saito, Kazuki; Takaiwa, Fumio

2016-01-01

Plant-specialized (or secondary) metabolites represent an important source of high-value chemicals. In order to generate a new production platform for these metabolites, an attempt was made to produce flavonoids in rice seeds. Metabolome analysis of these transgenic rice seeds using liquid chromatography-photodiode array-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was performed. A total of 4392 peaks were detected in both transgenic and non-transgenic rice, 20-40% of which were only detected in transgenic rice. Among these, 82 flavonoids, including 37 flavonols, 11 isoflavones, and 34 flavones, were chemically assigned. Most of the flavonols and isoflavones were O-glycosylated, while many flavones were O-glycosylated and/or C-glycosylated. Several flavonoids were acylated with malonyl, feruloyl, acetyl, and coumaroyl groups. These glycosylated/acylated flavonoids are thought to have been biosynthesized by endogenous rice enzymes using newly synthesized flavonoids whose biosynthesis was catalysed by exogenous enzymes. The subcellular localization of the flavonoids differed depending on the class of aglycone and the glycosylation/acylation pattern. Therefore, flavonoids with the intended aglycones were efficiently produced in rice seeds via the exogenous enzymes introduced, while the flavonoids were variously glycosylated/acylated by endogenous enzymes. The results suggest that rice seeds are useful not only as a production platform for plant-specialized metabolites such as flavonoids but also as a tool for expanding the diversity of flavonoid structures, providing novel, physiologically active substances. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

A rhamnose-deficient lipopolysaccharide mutant of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 is defective in root colonization and beneficial interactions with its flooding-tolerant hosts Sesbania cannabina and wetland rice.

PubMed

Mitra, Shubhajit; Mukherjee, Arijit; Wiley-Kalil, Audrey; Das, Seema; Owen, Heather; Reddy, Pallavolu M; Ané, Jean-Michel; James, Euan K; Gyaneshwar, Prasad

2016-10-01

Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 develops a classical nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the aquatic legume Sesbania cannabina (Retz.). It also promotes the growth of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.), but little is known about the rhizobial determinants important for these interactions. In this study, we analyzed the colonization of S. cannabina and rice using a strain of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 dually marked with β-glucuronidase and the green fluorescent protein. This bacterium colonized S. cannabina by crack entry and through root hair infection under flooded and non-flooded conditions, respectively. Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 colonized the surfaces of wetland rice roots, but also entered them at the base of lateral roots. It became endophytically established within intercellular spaces in the rice cortex, and intracellularly within epidermal and hypodermal cells. A mutant of Rhizobium sp. IRBG74 altered in the synthesis of the rhamnose-containing O-antigen exhibited significant defects, not only in nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation with S. cannabina, but also in rice colonization and plant growth promotion. Supplementation with purified lipopolysaccharides from the wild-type strain, but not from the mutant, restored the beneficial colonization of rice roots, but not fully effective nodulation of S. cannabina Commonalities and differences in the rhizobial colonization of the roots of wetland legume and rice hosts are discussed. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Impact of Thiamethoxam Seed Treatment on Growth and Yield of Rice, Oryza sativa.

PubMed

Lanka, S K; Senthil-Nathan, S; Blouin, D J; Stout, M J

2017-04-01

Neonicotinoid seed treatments are widely used in agriculture. In rice, Oryza sativa L., in the southern United States, neonicotinoid seed treatments are used to manage early-season populations of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel. In addition to their effects on pests, neonicotinoid seed treatments may benefit crop plants directly by increasing plant growth or altering plant responses to stresses. As part of an effort to assess the overall benefits of thiamethoxam seed treatment in rice, rice emergence, growth, and yield were evaluated. In a growth chamber, rice emergence from the soil was 1-2 d more rapid from treated than untreated seeds. These laboratory results were supported by field experiments that revealed higher stand counts from thiamethoxam-treated plots than from untreated plots. Yields from thiamethoxam treatments were no higher than those from untreated plots under conditions in which weevil larvae were absent, a result inconsistent with the hypothesis that thiamethoxam imparts direct yield benefits. In a series of field experiments conducted to compare the relationship between weevil larval densities and rice yields in plots treated with several rates of thiamethoxam or chlorantraniliprole (another widely used seed treatment insecticide), the relationship between weevil density and yield did not differ markedly among both seed treatments. Overall yields from both seed treatments did not differ significantly, despite more effective control in chlorantraniliprole-treated plots. These results provide strong support for effect of thiamethoxam on early-season growth of rice, but only weak support for its direct effect on rice yields. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Multifunctional Structural-Energy Storage Nanocomposites for Ultra Lightweight Micro Autonomous Systems (First-year Report)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

SUBJECT TERMS Carbon nanotubes , CNTs, supercapacitor, multifunctional, energy, structural-Energy 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION...Pulickel M. Ajayan of Rice University for providing us with the vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests used in this project and for helpful...10–18) and man-portable unmanned vehicles (19). In related research, ARL has also investigated using carbon nanotube (CNT)-based electrodes for

Optimal trajectories for the aeroassisted flight experiment, 1988-89

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miele, A.

1989-01-01

Research is summarized on optimal trajectories for the aeroassisted flight experiment, performed by the Aero-Astronautics Group of Rice University during the period 1988 through 1989. This research includes the following topics: (1) equations of motion in an Earth-fixed system; (2) equations of motion in an inertial system; (3) formultion of the optimal trajectory problem; (4) results on the optimal trajectory problem; and (5) guidance implications.

Adapting rice production to climate change for sustainable blue water consumption: an economic and virtual water analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darzi-Naftchali, Abdullah; Karandish, Fatemeh

2017-12-01

Sustainable utilization of blue water resources under climate change is of great significance especially for producing high water-consuming crops in water-scarce regions. Based on the virtual water concept, we carried out a comprehensive field-modeling research to find the optimal agricultural practices regarding rice blue water consumption under prospective climate change. The DSSAT-CERES-Rice model was used in combination with 20 GCMs under three Representative Concentration Pathways of low (RCP2.6), intermediate (RCP4.6), and very high (RCP8.5) greenhouse concentrations to predict rice yield and water requirement and related virtual water and economic return for the base and future periods. The crop model was calibrated and validated based on the 2-year field data obtained from consolidated paddy fields of the Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University during 2011 and 2012 rice cropping cycles. Climate change imposes an increase of 0.02-0.04 °C in air temperature which consequently shifts rice growing seasons to winter season, and shorten the length of rice physiological maturity period by 2-15 days. While rice virtual water reduces by 0.1-20.6% during 2011-2070, reduced rice yield by 3.8-22.6% over the late twenty-first century results in a considerable increase in rice virtual water. By increasing the contribution of green water in supplying crop water requirement, earlier cropping could diminish blue water consumption for rice production in the region while cultivation postponement increases irrigation water requirement by 2-195 m3 ha-1. Forty days delay in rice cultivation in future will result in 29.9-40.6% yield reduction and 43.9-60% increase in rice virtual water under different scenarios. Earlier cropping during the 2011-2040 and 2041-2070 periods would increase water productivity, unit value of water, and economic value of blue water compared to the base period. Based on the results, management of rice cultivation calendar is a suitable strategy for sustainable blue water consumption for producing rice under future climate.

Optical characterization of Chinese hybrid rice using laser-induced fluorescence techniques-laboratory and remote-sensing measurements.

PubMed

Duan, Zheng; Peng, Ting; Zhu, Shiming; Lian, Ming; Li, Yiyun; Wei, Fu; Xiong, Jiabao; Svanberg, Sune; Zhao, Quanzhi; Hu, Jiandong; Zhao, Guangyu

2018-05-01

Chinese hybrid rice of different varieties, growing in paddies in the Pingqiao district, north of Xinyang city, Henan province, China, was studied in detailed spectroscopic characteristics using laser-induced fluorescence. The base for the studies was the new South China Normal University mobile lidar laboratory, which was dispatched on site, providing facilities both for laboratory studies using a 405 nm excitation source as well as remote sensing measurements at ranges from around 40 m-120 m, mostly employing the 532 nm output from a Nd:YAG laser. We, in particular, studied the spectral influence of the species varieties as well as the level of nitrogen fertilization supplied. Specially developed contrast functions as well as multivariate techniques with principal components and Fisher's discriminate analyses were applied, and useful characterization of the rice could be achieved. The chlorophyll content mapping of the 30 zones was obtained with the remote sensing measurements.

QTL detection for rice grain quality traits using an interspecific backcross population derived from cultivated Asian (O. sativa L.) and African (O. glaberrima S.) rice.

PubMed

Li, Jiming; Xiao, Jinhua; Grandillo, Silvana; Jiang, Longying; Wan, Yizhen; Deng, Qiyun; Yuan, Longping; McCouch, Susan R

2004-08-01

An interspecific advanced backcross population derived from a cross between Oryza sativa "V20A" (a popular male-sterile line used in Chinese rice hybrids) and Oryza glaberrima (accession IRGC No. 103544 from Mali) was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with grain quality and grain morphology. A total of 308 BC3F1 hybrid families were evaluated for 16 grain-related traits under field conditions in Changsha, China, and the same families were evaluated for RFLP and SSR marker segregation at Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.). Eleven QTL associated with seven traits were detected in six chromosomal regions, with the favorable allele coming from O. glaberrima at eight loci. Favorable O. glaberrima alleles were associated with improvements in grain shape and appearance, resulting in an increase in kernel length, transgressive variation for thinner grains, and increased length to width ratio. Oryza glaberrima alleles at other loci were associated with potential improvements in crude protein content and brown rice yield. These results suggested that genes from O. glaberrima may be useful in improving specific grain quality characteristics in high-yielding O. sativa hybrid cultivars.

qEMF3, a novel QTL for the early-morning flowering trait from wild rice, Oryza officinalis, to mitigate heat stress damage at flowering in rice, O. sativa.

PubMed

Hirabayashi, Hideyuki; Sasaki, Kazuhiro; Kambe, Takashi; Gannaban, Ritchel B; Miras, Monaliza A; Mendioro, Merlyn S; Simon, Eliza V; Lumanglas, Patrick D; Fujita, Daisuke; Takemoto-Kuno, Yoko; Takeuchi, Yoshinobu; Kaji, Ryota; Kondo, Motohiko; Kobayashi, Nobuya; Ogawa, Tsugufumi; Ando, Ikuo; Jagadish, Krishna S V; Ishimaru, Tsutomu

2015-03-01

A decline in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production caused by heat stress is one of the biggest concerns resulting from future climate change. Rice spikelets are most susceptible to heat stress at flowering. The early-morning flowering (EMF) trait mitigates heat-induced spikelet sterility at the flowering stage by escaping heat stress during the daytime. We attempted to develop near-isogenic lines (NILs) for EMF in the indica-type genetic background by exploiting the EMF locus from wild rice, O. officinalis (CC genome). A stable quantitative trait locus (QTL) for flower opening time (FOT) was detected on chromosome 3. A QTL was designated as qEMF3 and it shifted FOT by 1.5-2.0 h earlier for cv. Nanjing 11 in temperate Japan and cv. IR64 in the Philippine tropics. NILs for EMF mitigated heat-induced spikelet sterility under elevated temperature conditions completing flower opening before reaching 35°C, a general threshold value leading to spikelet sterility. Quantification of FOT of cultivars popular in the tropics and subtropics did not reveal the EMF trait in any of the cultivars tested, suggesting that qEMF3 has the potential to advance FOT of currently popular cultivars to escape heat stress at flowering under future hotter climates. This is the first report to examine rice with the EMF trait through marker-assisted breeding using wild rice as a genetic resource. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Rice G-protein subunits qPE9-1 and RGB1 play distinct roles in abscisic acid responses and drought adaptation.

PubMed

Zhang, Dong-Ping; Zhou, Yong; Yin, Jian-Feng; Yan, Xue-Jiao; Lin, Sheng; Xu, Wei-Feng; Baluška, František; Wang, Yi-Ping; Xia, Yi-Ji; Liang, Guo-hua; Liang, Jian-Sheng

2015-10-01

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G-protein)-mediated abscisic acid (ABA) and drought-stress responses have been documented in numerous plant species. However, our understanding of the function of rice G-protein subunits in ABA signalling and drought tolerance is limited. In this study, the function of G-protein subunits in ABA response and drought resistance in rice plants was explored. It was found that the transcription level of qPE9-1 (rice Gγ subunit) gradually decreased with increasing ABA concentration and the lack of qPE9-1 showed an enhanced drought tolerance in rice plants. In contrast, mRNA levels of RGB1 (rice Gβ subunit) were significantly upregulated by ABA treatment and the lack of RGB1 led to reduced drought tolerance. Furthermore, the results suggested that qPE9-1 negatively regulates the ABA response by suppressing the expression of key transcription factors involved in ABA and stress responses, while RGB1 positively regulates ABA biosynthesis by upregulating NCED gene expression under both normal and drought stress conditions. Taken together, it is proposed that RGB1 is a positive regulator of the ABA response and drought adaption in rice plants, whereas qPE9-1 is modulated by RGB1 and functions as a negative regulator in the ABA-dependent drought-stress responses. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Microbial Fouling and Its Effect on Power Generation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-09-01

Bryers, J. D. (1980) " Dynamics of Early Biof’dm Formation in a Turbulent Flow System." Ph.D. dissertation, Rice University. Trulear, M. G. (1980...studies to date have avoided addressing fundamental questions concerning fouling in fluid flow and heat transfer systems and their effect on fluid...34clean" surface exposed to turbulent flow of a tuid con- taining dispersed microorganisms, nutrient, and organic macromolecules. Adsorption of an organic

Project Scheduling to Maximize Positive Impacts of Reconstruction Operations

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

within weak and failing states than by the borders between strong and aggressive ones” [Rice 2005]. 1 [Heldt 2008:11] Figure 1 Trends in Peacekeeping...UNLIMITED. The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force...University Air Education and Training Command in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Operations Research

Augmenting Our Influence: Alliance Revitalization and Partner Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

actual sub- stance over cosmetics remains to be determined. Broadening Regional Partnerships. Widening the network of U.S. security ties to in- clude...of Virginia, February 20, 2013; Clinton, pp. 13-24; Condoleezza Rice , “Remarks at the U.S. University Presidents Summit on Interna- tional Education...require the showing of presence, such as rotational naval exercises in the Bal- tic Sea and Black Sea conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Europe and

Technological Lessons from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Accident

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

for human consumption . Fish from the area are now being assessed using a non-destructive testing regimen developed by Tohoku University. Monitoring...radioactivity limits for human consumption , even though much of the rice was grown in con- taminated soil. Fish were contaminated both by the initial event...a devastating earth- quake and tsunami. One of the many secondary effects of these disas- ters was a loss of control of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear

Building Bridges: Leveraging Interdisciplinary Collaborations in the Development of Biomaterials to Meet Clinical Needs

PubMed Central

Fong, Eliza L.S.; Watson, Brendan M.; Kasper, F. Kurtis

2013-01-01

Our laboratory at Rice University has forged numerous collaborations with clinicians and basic scientists over the years to advance the development of novel biomaterials and modification of existing materials to meet clinical needs. This review highlights collaborative advances in biomaterials research from our laboratory in the areas of scaffold development, drug delivery and gene therapy, especially as related to applications in bone and cartilage tissue engineering. PMID:22821772

Portable Planetariums Teach Science

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2015-01-01

With the Internet proving to be the wave of the future, in the 1990s Johnson Space Center awarded grants to Rice University in Houston for developing the world's first Internet-accessible museum kiosk. Further grants were awarded to the school for creating educational software for use in homes and schools, leading to the creation of Museums Teaching Planet Earth Inc. The company has gone on to develop and sell portable planetariums and accompanying educational shows.

Field Emission Properties of Carbon Nanotube Fibers and Sheets for a High Current Electron Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christy, Larry

Field emission (FE) properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers from Rice University and the University of Cambridge have been studied for use within a high current electron source for a directed energy weapon. Upon reviewing the performance of these two prevalent CNT fibers, cathodes were designed with CNT fibers from the University of Cincinnati Nanoworld Laboratory. Cathodes composed of a single CNT fiber, an array of three CNT fibers, and a nonwoven CNT sheet were investigated for FE properties; the goal was to design a cathode with emission current in excess of 10 mA. Once the design phase was complete, the cathode samples were fabricated, characterized, and then analyzed to determine FE properties. Electrical conductivity of the CNT fibers was characterized with a 4-probe technique. FE characteristics were measured in an ultra-high vacuum chamber at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The arrayed CNT fiber and the enhanced nonwoven CNT sheet emitter design demonstrated the most promising FE properties. Future work will include further analysis and cathode design using this nonwoven CNT sheet material to increase peak current performance during electron emission.

Evaluation of weather-based rice yield models in India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sudharsan, D.; Adinarayana, J.; Reddy, D. Raji; Sreenivas, G.; Ninomiya, S.; Hirafuji, M.; Kiura, T.; Tanaka, K.; Desai, U. B.; Merchant, S. N.

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to compare two different rice simulation models—standalone (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer [DSSAT]) and web based (SImulation Model for RIce-Weather relations [SIMRIW])—with agrometeorological data and agronomic parameters for estimation of rice crop production in southern semi-arid tropics of India. Studies were carried out on the BPT5204 rice variety to evaluate two crop simulation models. Long-term experiments were conducted in a research farm of Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad, India. Initially, the results were obtained using 4 years (1994-1997) of data with weather parameters from a local weather station to evaluate DSSAT simulated results with observed values. Linear regression models used for the purpose showed a close relationship between DSSAT and observed yield. Subsequently, yield comparisons were also carried out with SIMRIW and DSSAT, and validated with actual observed values. Realizing the correlation coefficient values of SIMRIW simulation values in acceptable limits, further rice experiments in monsoon (Kharif) and post-monsoon (Rabi) agricultural seasons (2009, 2010 and 2011) were carried out with a location-specific distributed sensor network system. These proximal systems help to simulate dry weight, leaf area index and potential yield by the Java based SIMRIW on a daily/weekly/monthly/seasonal basis. These dynamic parameters are useful to the farming community for necessary decision making in a ubiquitous manner. However, SIMRIW requires fine tuning for better results/decision making.

Do Sri Lankan meals help decrease blood glucose response?

PubMed

Hettiaratchi, U P K; Ekanayake, S; Welihinda, J

2009-06-01

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has rapidly increased in Asian countries including Sri Lanka during the past decade. Scientific data on postprandial glycaemic influence of common meals is essential when formulating diets. Objectives of this study were to analyse glycaemic indices (GI) of five common meals and effects of macronutrients, sources of carbohydrates, and physicochemical properties of starch on observed GI values. The meals analysed were; 1 - red rice (AT 353) meal, 2 - red rice mixed meal, 3 - stringhopper (wheat flour) meal, 4 - stringhopper (rice flour) meal, 5 - manioc (Manihot esculenta) meal. University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Healthy individuals (n=10; age: 20-30 years). GI of each meal was calculated according to FAO/WHO guidelines by taking the ratio of incremental area under blood glucose curve (IAUC) of test and the standard. GI of meals 1-5 were 99 +/- 10, 60 +/- 5, 104 +/- 7, 102 +/- 11 and 120 +/- 9 respectively. The glycaemic response to rice mixed meal was significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. The total dietary fibre content showed a significant negative correlation (p=0.044) with the GI value while the protein showed a non-significant negative relationship (p>0.05). Red rice had a combination of intact, swollen and disintegrated starch granules while string hoppers and manioc showed only the latter two types. The rice mixed meal has the lowest glycaemic index. Presence of dietary fibre and a legume reduces the glycaemic response. Cooking may change the glycaemic response of certain food.

Getting the Word Out: Undergradute Space Physics at Rice University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reiff, P. H.; Alexander, D.

2006-12-01

At Rice University we emphasize space physics in our non-major Physics and Astronomy undergraduate classes in addition to our graduate and majors program. In "ASTR 202" (solar system exploration for non- majors), we typically use a textbook which includes magnetospheric and auroral topics in it (many do not). In recent years, we have also created two new courses for undergraduates which highlight space physics. In spring 2005 we began PHYS 401, The Physics of Ham Radio, which includes a significant portion on the Sun, ionosphere, radio propagation, and space storms. It is a fun hands-on way to learn about circuits, electrical theory, antennas, and the effects of space weather, while creating a new hobby at the same time. The students are required to attempt the FCC "Technician" exam as their midterm exam, and all of the class members passed. This course is taken both by undergraduates and by local teachers in the Master of Science Teaching program (the teacher tuition is partially supported by CISM), and is offered every other year (it will be offered again in Spring 2007). In fall 2005 one of us (Alexander) started a new course, ASTR 243 "Exploring the Sun-Earth Connection", which focuses entirely on solar and space weather topics. It required the students to perform several projects over the course of the semester, and used many online resources. The feedback from the first session was very favorable, so it also will likely be offered every other year. Two of the students extended their experience by participating in summer research, one at an REU at the National Solar Observatory working on helioseismology data, and one at an international summer school in the U.K. where she focused on coronal heating. Thus with two courses in an every-other-year rotation, each academic year one undergraduate course in space physics is available at Rice. Furthermore, all senior majors are required to perform research, and each year several students choose a solar or space physics topic for their senior research, and often go on to graduate study at schools around the nation. Sun-Earth course page: http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~astr243/ Ham radio course page: http://space.rice.edu/PHYS401/

Evaluation of a university general education health and wellness course delivered by lecture or online.

PubMed

Hager, Ronald; George, James D; LeCheminant, James D; Bailey, Bruce W; Vincent, William J

2012-01-01

To assess a single-semester university general education (GE) health and wellness course influence on physical activity (PA) and dietary habits among university students and to compare the course delivered through lecture or online for these outcomes. A 15-week intervention with pre-post one-group design, allowing for comparative assessments in dietary and PA habits across time by delivery method (classroom lecture vs. online). A large Western university. Participants (n = 1638, female; n = 1333, male) were 82% university freshman or sophomores. Participants were required to take a GE health and wellness course either by classroom lecture or online. The lecture and online curriculum content were similar. Participation in the study was entirely voluntary and was not connected to course grade. PA and dietary outcomes were determined from questions used in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey and were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Other validated questions were used to assess fitness. The general linear model was utilized to determine group x period interactions when comparing the classroom lecture vs. online course. Students improved overall level of PA by 12%, daily minutes of moderate-intensity PA by 8%, and fitness level by 2%. Students improved fruit/vegetable consumption by 4%, bran/whole grain cereal consumption by 8%, and brown rice/whole wheat bread consumption by 11%. All improvements were statistically significant (p < .001) with percent values indicating the size of the effect. The classroom lecture course yielded stronger improvements in several PA and dietary outcomes than the online course. A single-semester university wellness course may positively influence multiple PA and dietary behaviors; however, classroom lecture may be superior to online delivery.

Auxin transport and response requirements for root hydrotropism differ between plant species.

PubMed

Nakajima, Yusuke; Nara, Yoshitaka; Kobayashi, Akie; Sugita, Tomoki; Miyazawa, Yutaka; Fujii, Nobuharu; Takahashi, Hideyuki

2017-06-15

The direction of auxin transport changes in gravistimulated roots, causing auxin accumulation in the lower side of horizontally reoriented roots. This study found that auxin was similarly involved in hydrotropism and gravitropism in rice and pea roots, but hydrotropism in Lotus japonicus roots was independent of both auxin transport and response. Application of either auxin transport inhibitors or an auxin response inhibitor decreased both hydrotropism and gravitropism in rice roots, and reduced hydrotropism in pea roots. However, Lotus roots treated with these inhibitors showed reduced gravitropism but an unaltered or an enhanced hydrotropic response. Inhibiting auxin biosynthesis substantially reduced both tropisms in rice and Lotus roots. Removing the final 0.2 mm (including the root cap) from the root tip inhibited gravitropism but not hydrotropism in rice seedling roots. These results suggested that modes of auxin involvement in hydrotropism differed between plant species. In rice roots, although auxin transport and responses were required for both gravitropism and hydrotropism, the root cap was involved in the auxin regulation of gravitropism but not hydrotropism. Hydrotropism in Lotus roots, however, may be regulated by a novel mechanism that is independent of both auxin transport and the TIR1/AFBs auxin response pathway. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An operon for production of bioactive gibberellin A4 phytohormone with wide distribution in the bacterial rice leaf streak pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola.

PubMed

Nagel, Raimund; Turrini, Paula C G; Nett, Ryan S; Leach, Jan E; Verdier, Valérie; Van Sluys, Marie-Anne; Peters, Reuben J

2017-05-01

Phytopathogens have developed elaborate mechanisms to attenuate the defense response of their host plants, including convergent evolution of complex pathways for production of the GA phytohormones, which were actually first isolated from the rice fungal pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi. The rice bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) has been demonstrated to contain a biosynthetic operon with cyclases capable of producing the universal GA precursor ent-kaurene. Genetic (knock-out) studies indicate that the derived diterpenoid serves as a virulence factor for this rice leaf streak pathogen, serving to reduce the jasmonic acid-mediated defense response. Here the functions of the remaining genes in the Xoc operon are elucidated and the distribution of the operon in X. oryzae is investigated in over 100 isolates. The Xoc operon leads to production of the bioactive GA 4 , an additional step beyond production of the penultimate precursor GA 9 mediated by the homologous operons recently characterized from rhizobia. Moreover, this GA biosynthetic operon was found to be widespread in Xoc (> 90%), but absent in the other major X. oryzae pathovar. These results indicate selective pressure for production of GA 4 in the distinct lifestyle of Xoc, and the importance of GA to both fungal and bacterial pathogens of rice. © 2017 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2017 New Phytologist Trust.

An operon for production of bioactive gibberellin A4 phytohormone with wide distribution in the bacterial rice leaf streak pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola

PubMed Central

Nagel, Raimund; Turrini, Paula C. G.; Nett, Ryan S.; Leach, Jan E.; Verdier, Valérie; Van Sluys, Marie-Anne; Peters, Reuben J.

2016-01-01

Summary Phytopathogens have developed elaborate mechanisms to attenuate the defense response of their host plants, including convergent evolution of complex pathways for production of the gibberellin (GA) phytohormones, which were actually first isolated from the rice fungal pathogen Gibberella fujikuroi. The rice bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) has been demonstrated to contain a biosynthetic operon with cyclases capable of producing the universal GA precursor ent-kaurene. Genetic (knock-out) studies indicate that the derived diterpenoid serves as a virulence factor for this rice leaf streak pathogen, serving to reduce the jasmonic acid (JA) mediated defense response.Here the function of the remaining genes in the Xoc operon are elucidated and the distribution of the operon in X. oryzae investigated in over 100 isolates.The Xoc operon leads to production of the bioactive GA4, an additional step beyond production of the penultimate precursor GA9 mediated by the homologous operons recently characterized from rhizobia. Moreover, this GA biosynthetic operon was found to be widespread in Xoc (>90%), but absent in the other major oryzae pathovar.These results indicate selective pressure for production of GA4 in the distinct lifestyle of Xoc, and the importance of GA to both fungal and bacterial pathogens of rice. PMID:28134995

Allelopathy effect of rice straw on the germination and growth of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anuar, Fitryana Dewi Khairul; Ismail B., S.; Ahmad, Wan Juliana Wan

2015-09-01

A study on the effect of extract and decomposing rice straw of MR220 CL2, MR253 and MR263 on the germination and seedling growth of Echinochloa crus-galli has been conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Three concentrations of aqueous extract (25, 50 and 100 g L-1) and decomposing rice straw (5, 10 and 15 g 500g-1) were used in the experiment. The experimental design used was the Complete Randomized Design (CRD) to evaluate the allelopathic effect of various concentrations of rice straw on various growth parameters of the test plants. All the experiments were carried out in three replications and conducted twice. Results showed that the rice straw extract of all the varieties showed significant effects on the germination and seedling growth of E. crus-galli. Aqueous extract of MR263 showed the greatest reduction on the germination of E.crus-galli compared to the other varieties at 100 g L-1 concentration (26% as compared to control). As the extract concentration of rice straw increased, the radicle length of E. crus-galli was significantly reduced. The radicle and hypocotyl length of E. crus-galli was significantly inhibited by 82.28% and 41.13% respectively at 100 g L-1 concentration of the aqueous extract of MR263. Decomposing rice straw of all rice varieties inhibited germination and all the growth parameters of the test plants. As the concentration of rice debris increased, the radicle length of the test plant decreased for all treatments. Decomposing rice straw of MR220 CL2 showed the greatest inhibitory effect on the growth of E. crus-galli compared to the other varieties. It inhibited the radicle, hypocotyl, fresh and dry weight of the test plants by 63.29%, 62.61%, 83.68% and 82.49% respectively as compared to the control. Therefore, rice straw of MR220 CL2, MR253 and MR263 showed allelopathic characteristics as they inhibited the germination and various growth parameters of E. crus-galli. However, further studies need to be conducted to determine the mode of action of the allelochemicals involved in rice allelopathy.

In-Situ Bioreduction and Removal of Ammonium Perchlorate

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-05-09

Ader, PhD. Max Coleman, PhD. Swades Chaudhuri, PhD. Susan O’Connor MSc, MSc Royce Bruce, MSc. Urania Michaelidou, MSc. Melissa Rice, MSc. Sarah...1993. SeqApp, 1.9a157 ed. Biocomputing Office, Biology Dept., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. 44. Giordano , G., L. Saracino, and L. Grillet. 1985...Mutant of E. coli K-12. Biocimica et Biophysica Acta 839:181-190. 45. Guigliarelli, B., A. Magalon, M. Asso, P. Bertrand, C. Frixon, G. Giordano

Optimizing a Laser Process for Making Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arepalli, Sivaram; Nikolaev, Pavel; Holmes, William

2010-01-01

A systematic experimental study has been performed to determine the effects of each of the operating conditions in a double-pulse laser ablation process that is used to produce single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The comprehensive data compiled in this study have been analyzed to recommend conditions for optimizing the process and scaling up the process for mass production. The double-pulse laser ablation process for making SWCNTs was developed by Rice University researchers. Of all currently known nanotube-synthesizing processes (arc and chemical vapor deposition), this process yields the greatest proportion of SWCNTs in the product material. The aforementioned process conditions are important for optimizing the production of SWCNTs and scaling up production. Reports of previous research (mostly at Rice University) toward optimization of process conditions mention effects of oven temperature and briefly mention effects of flow conditions, but no systematic, comprehensive study of the effects of process conditions was done prior to the study described here. This was a parametric study, in which several production runs were carried out, changing one operating condition for each run. The study involved variation of a total of nine parameters: the sequence of the laser pulses, pulse-separation time, laser pulse energy density, buffer gas (helium or nitrogen instead of argon), oven temperature, pressure, flow speed, inner diameter of the flow tube, and flow-tube material.

OsAGSW1, an ABC1-like kinase gene, is involved in the regulation of grain size and weight in rice.

PubMed

Li, Tao; Jiang, Jieming; Zhang, Shengchun; Shu, Haoran; Wang, Yaqin; Lai, Jianbin; Du, Jinju; Yang, Chengwei

2015-09-01

Grain shape and weight are two determining agronomic traits of rice yield. ABC1 (Activity of bc1 complex) is a newly found atypical kinase in plants. Here, we report on an ABC1 protein kinase gene, OsAGSW1 (ABC1-like kinase related to Grain size and Weight). Expression of OsAGSW1-GFP in rice revealed that OsAGSW1 is localized to the chloroplasts in rice. Analysis of OsAGSW1 promoter::β-glucuronidase transgenic rice indicated that this gene was highly expressed in vascular bundles in shoot, hull and caryopsis. Furthermore, OsAGSW1-RNAi and overexpressed transgenic rice lines were generated. Stable transgenic lines overexpressing OsAGSW1 exhibited a phenotype with a significant increase in grain size, grain weight, grain filling rate and 1000-grain weight compared with the wild-type and RNAi transgenic plants. Microscopy analysis showed that spikelet hulls just before heading were different in the OsAGSW1-overexpressed plants compared with wild-type and OsAGSW1 RNAi rice. Further cytological analysis showed that the number of external parenchyma cells in rice hulls of OsAGSW1-overexpressed plants increased, leading to wider and longer spikelet hulls than those of the wild-type and OsAGSW1-RNAi plants. The vascular cross-sectional area in lemma, carpopodium and ovules also strikingly increased and area of both xylem and phloem were enlarged in the OsAGSW1-overexpressed plants. Thus, our results demonstrated that OsAGSW1 plays an important role in seed shape and size of rice by regulating the number of external parenchyma cells and the development of vascular bundles, providing a new insight into the functions of ABC1 genes in plants. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Gibberellins regulate iron deficiency-response by influencing iron transport and translocation in rice seedlings (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Wang, Baolan; Wei, Haifang; Xue, Zhen; Zhang, Wen-Hao

2017-04-01

Gibberellins (GAs) are a class of plant hormones with diverse functions. However, there has been little information on the role of GAs in response to plant nutrient deficiency. To evaluate the roles of GAs in regulation of Fe homeostasis, the effects of GA on Fe accumulation and Fe translocation in rice seedlings were investigated using wild-type, a rice mutant ( eui1 ) displaying enhnaced endogenous GA concentrations due to a defect in GA deactivation, and transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsEUI . Exposure to Fe-deficient medium significantly reduced biomass of rice plants. Both exogenous application of GA and an endogenous increase of bioactive GA enhanced Fe-deficiency response by exaggerating foliar chlorosis and reducing growth. Iron deficiency significantly suppressed production of GA 1 and GA 4 , the biologically active GAs in rice. Exogenous application of GA significantly decreased leaf Fe concentration regardless of Fe supply. Iron concentration in shoot of eui1 mutants was lower than that of WT plants under both Fe-sufficient and Fe-deficient conditions. Paclobutrazol, an inhibitor of GA biosynthesis, alleviated Fe-deficiency responses, and overexpression of EUI significantly increased Fe concentration in shoots and roots. Furthermore, both exogenous application of GA and endogenous increase in GA resulting from EUI mutation inhibited Fe translocation within shoots by suppressing OsYSL2 expression, which is involved in Fe transport and translocation. The novel findings provide compelling evidence to support the involvement of GA in mediation of Fe homeostasis in strategy II rice plants by negatively regulating Fe transport and translocation. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Impacts of climate change on paddy rice yield in a temperate climate.

PubMed

Kim, Han-Yong; Ko, Jonghan; Kang, Suchel; Tenhunen, John

2013-02-01

The crop simulation model is a suitable tool for evaluating the potential impacts of climate change on crop production and on the environment. This study investigates the effects of climate change on paddy rice production in the temperate climate regions under the East Asian monsoon system using the CERES-Rice 4.0 crop simulation model. This model was first calibrated and validated for crop production under elevated CO2 and various temperature conditions. Data were obtained from experiments performed using a temperature gradient field chamber (TGFC) with a CO2 enrichment system installed at Chonnam National University in Gwangju, Korea in 2009 and 2010. Based on the empirical calibration and validation, the model was applied to deliver a simulated forecast of paddy rice production for the region, as well as for the other Japonica rice growing regions in East Asia, projecting for years 2050 and 2100. In these climate change projection simulations in Gwangju, Korea, the yield increases (+12.6 and + 22.0%) due to CO2 elevation were adjusted according to temperature increases showing variation dependent upon the cultivars, which resulted in significant yield decreases (-22.1% and -35.0%). The projected yields were determined to increase as latitude increases due to reduced temperature effects, showing the highest increase for any of the study locations (+24%) in Harbin, China. It appears that the potential negative impact on crop production may be mediated by appropriate cultivar selection and cultivation changes such as alteration of the planting date. Results reported in this study using the CERES-Rice 4.0 model demonstrate the promising potential for its further application in simulating the impacts of climate change on rice production from a local to a regional scale under the monsoon climate system. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Effects of exogenous plant growth regulator abscisic acid-induced resistance in rice on the expression of vitellogenin mRNA in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) adult females.

PubMed

Liu, Jing-Lan; Chen, Xiao; Zhang, Hong-Mei; Yang, Xia; Wong, Andrew

2014-01-01

Recent study showed that exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) acts as a regulator of plant resistance. This study investigated average injury scale and callose contents of rice, and vitellogenin (Nlvg) mRNA expression in Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) adult females after third instar nymphs fed on exogenous ABA-treated susceptible [Taichung Native one (TN1)] and moderately resistant (IR42) rice cultivars. The results showed that exogenous ABA significantly decreased average injury scale of rice and Nlvg mRNA expression in N. lugens adults compared with the control (without ABA spraying). Nlvg mRNA expression in N. lugens adults decreased significantly after third instar nymphs fed on ABA-treated (5, 20, and 40 mg/liter) TN1 for 1 and 2 d, and for IR42, after fed on ABA-treated (20 and 40 mg/liter) rice plants for 1 d and after fed on ABA-treated (5, 20, and 40 mg/liter) rice for 2 d decreased significantly. The callose contents showed no significant change for TN1, while for IR42, significantly increased in roots and sheathes after N. lugens infestation under ABA treatments (20 and 40 mg/liter) compared with the control. The decrease of Nlvg mRNA expression may be partially attributed to the increase of callose content of plants. The results provide a profile for concerning the effects of ABA-induced rice plants' defenses on phloem-feeding insects. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.

The effect of mixed liming and NPK fertilizer to yield of some rice varieties on new openings of acid sulfate tidal swamp land

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhmad, A.; Dewi, W. S.; Sagiman, S.; Suntoro

2018-03-01

The strategies to meet the staple food needs in Indonesia is to open new paddy fields in the sub-optimal land. The research aims to get adaptive rice varieties with the highest yield on new openings of the acid sulfate tidal swamp applying mixed liming and NPK fertilizer. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Tanjungpura University, Pontianak. The trials used a factorial completely randomized block design consisting of two factors. The first factor is a mixture of dolomite with NPK fertilizer, consisting of 3 levels (1 ton/ha dolomite and 60 kg/ha NPK; 2 ton/ha dolomite and 90 kg/ha of NPK, and 3 ton/ha dolomite and 120 kg/ha NPK). The second factor is rice varieties, consisting of 6 levels (Ciherang, Situ Bagendit, Inpara, Mira, Si Randah and Ringkak Janggut). Each treatment replicated four times. The results showed that the application of a mixture of 3 ton/ha dolomite and 120 kg/ha of NPK fertilizer showed the best results to improve rice yield on new opening of the acid sulfate tidal swap. Local rice varieties, Ringkak Janggut, applied 3 ton/ha dolomite and 120 kg/ha NPK fertilizer showed the best result of 1000 seed weight, i.e., 28.19 g, and total grain amount per panicle is 110.75 grains, with the lowest number of empty grains. Local rice varieties Ringkak Janggut potential to be developed as superior varieties on new opening acid sulfate tidal swamps by applying liming and fertilizer.

Small RNAs as important regulators for the hybrid vigour of super-hybrid rice.

PubMed

Zhang, Lei; Peng, Yonggang; Wei, Xiaoli; Dai, Yan; Yuan, Dawei; Lu, Yufei; Pan, Yangyang; Zhu, Zhen

2014-11-01

Heterosis is an important biological phenomenon; however, the role of small RNA (sRNA) in heterosis of hybrid rice remains poorly described. Here, we performed sRNA profiling of F1 super-hybrid rice LYP9 and its parents using high-throughput sequencing technology, and identified 355 distinct mature microRNAs and trans-acting small interfering RNAs, 69 of which were differentially expressed sRNAs (DES) between the hybrid and the mid-parental value. Among these, 34 DES were predicted to target 176 transcripts, of which 112 encoded 94 transcription factors. Further analysis showed that 67.6% of DES expression levels were negatively correlated with their target mRNAs either in flag leaves or panicles. The target genes of DES were significantly enriched in some important biological processes, including the auxin signalling pathway, in which existed a regulatory network mediated by DES and their targets, closely associated with plant growth and development. Overall, 20.8% of DES and their target genes were significantly enriched in quantitative trait loci of small intervals related to important rice agronomic traits including growth vigour, grain yield, and plant architecture, suggesting that the interaction between sRNAs and their targets contributes to the heterotic phenotypes of hybrid rice. Our findings revealed that sRNAs might play important roles in hybrid vigour of super-hybrid rice by regulating their target genes, especially in controlling the auxin signalling pathway. The above finding provides a novel insight into the molecular mechanism of heterosis. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Injectable TEMPO-oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose/biphasic calcium phosphate hydrogel for bone regeneration.

PubMed

Safwat, Engie; Hassan, Mohammad L; Saniour, Sayed; Zaki, Dalia Yehia; Eldeftar, Mervat; Saba, Dalia; Zazou, Mohamed

2018-05-01

Nanofibrillated cellulose, obtained from rice straw agricultural wastes was used as a substrate for the preparation of a new injectable and mineralized hydrogel for bone regeneration. Tetramethyl pyridine oxyl (TEMPO) oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose, was mineralized through the incorporation of a prepared and characterized biphasic calcium phosphate at a fixed ratio of 50 wt%. The TEMPO-oxidized rice straw nanofibrillated cellulose was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and carboxylic content determination. The injectability and viscosity of the prepared hydrogel were evaluated using universal testing machine and rheometer testing, respectively. Cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase level tests on osteoblast like-cells for in vitro assessment of the biocompatibility were investigated. Results revealed that the isolated rice straw nanofibrillated cellulose is a nanocomposite of the cellulose nanofibers and silica nanoparticles. Rheological properties of the tested materials are suitable for use as injectable material and of nontoxic effect on osteoblast-like cells, as revealed by the positive alkaline phosphate assay. However, nanofibrillated cellulose/ biphasic calcium phosphate hydrogel showed higher cytotoxicity and lower bioactivity test results when compared to that of nanofibrillated cellulose.

Quantitative trait locus mapping of deep rooting by linkage and association analysis in rice.

PubMed

Lou, Qiaojun; Chen, Liang; Mei, Hanwei; Wei, Haibin; Feng, Fangjun; Wang, Pei; Xia, Hui; Li, Tiemei; Luo, Lijun

2015-08-01

Deep rooting is a very important trait for plants' drought avoidance, and it is usually represented by the ratio of deep rooting (RDR). Three sets of rice populations were used to determine the genetic base for RDR. A linkage mapping population with 180 recombinant inbred lines and an association mapping population containing 237 rice varieties were used to identify genes linked to RDR. Six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of RDR were identified as being located on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 7, and 10. Using 1 019 883 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), a genome-wide association study of the RDR was performed. Forty-eight significant SNPs of the RDR were identified and formed a clear peak on the short arm of chromosome 1 in a Manhattan plot. Compared with the shallow-rooting group and the whole collection, the deep-rooting group had selective sweep regions on chromosomes 1 and 2, especially in the major QTL region on chromosome 2. Seven of the nine candidate SNPs identified by association mapping were verified in two RDR extreme groups. The findings from this study will be beneficial to rice drought-resistance research and breeding. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Final Environmental Impact Statement. Upper and Lower Red Lakes. Operation and Maintenance Activities, Red Lake River Basin, Minnesota.

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-03-01

Smith, Jr. 1971. Annual Catch of Yellow Perch from Red Lakes, Minnesota, in Relation to Growth Rate and Fishing Effort. University of Minnesota...forest... The stream borders become marshy... growths of wild rice.., muskrats and ducks, muddy game trails between r water and woods... Hardwood forest...the Reservation itself, the Red Lake River drained what was then-so far as I could see from the canoe--real wilderness...There were heavy growths of

Conventional Weapons Underwater Explosions

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-12-01

Nitromethane," UCRL 52903, December 1980. 22 I >I I 20 0--0 AIcN 23 0 I0 0 0 c W * ’S * / 0 o ---. 0 / nEil~ 24 Unreacted explosive Shock front t t...1976. 57 7. B. M. Dobratz LLNL Explosives Handbook - Properties of Explosives and Ex- plosive Simulants, UCRL -52997, March 1981. 8. M. H. Rice and J...Canada (403) 549- 3701 Ext. 4787 39. Joel C. W. Rogers Dept. of Mathemantics Polytechnic University 333 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 260-3501 40

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews. Volume 10

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-01

Johnson of Rice University for supplying the graphic of the ce-subunit haem pocket. and Yvonne Le Tellier and Conrad Wheeler of the Blood Research...human hemoglobin cross-linked between the c, chains. J. Bol. Chem. 266- 2697-2700. VANDEGRIFF, K.D., LE TELLIER , Y.C., WINSIoW, R.M., Roili.t:s, R.J...cross-linked between the ax subunits at lysine 99. J. Biol. Chenm. 266, 17 049-17 059. VANDEGRIFF, K.D.. LE TELLIER , Y.C., hESS. J.R. ANt) StIRAGER, R.I

Proceedings of the Antiproton Science and Technology Workshop Held in Santa Monica, California on 6-9 October 1987

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-07-01

I Activities 1. Potential Low Energy Antiproton Sources in the United States 15 D.C. Peaslee (University of Maryland) 2. Low Energy Antiproton...Nieto, R.J. Hughes (Los Alamos National Laboratory) 2. Basic Physics Program for a Low Energy Antiproton Source in North America 245 B.E. Bonner (Rice...J.L. Callas (Jet Propulsioi< Laboratory) 5r> Energy Transfer in Antiproton Annihilation Rockets 577 B.N. Cassenti (United Technologies Research Center

A Collaborative 20 Questions Model for Target Search with Human-Machine Interaction

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

optimal policies for entropy loss,” Journal of Applied Probability, vol. 49, pp. 114–136, 2012. [2] R. Castro and R. Nowak, “ Active learning and...vol. 10, pp. 223231, 1974. [8] R. Castro, Active Learning and Adaptive Sampling for Non- parametric Inference, Ph.D. thesis, Rice University, August...2007. [9] R. Castro and R. D. Nowak, “Upper and lower bounds for active learning ,” in 44th Annual Allerton Conference on Communica- tion, Control and Computing, 2006.

Creation of Rydberg Polarons in a Bose Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Richard

2017-04-01

In this talk we review the theory of various types of Bose polarons that can be realized in ultracold atomic systems. We then report the spectroscopic observation of Rydberg polarons in a Bose gas which is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. This novel type of polaron is created by excitation of Rydberg atoms in a strontium Bose-Einstein condensate and it is distinguished by the occupation of a large number bound molecular states. The cross-over from few-body bound molecular oligomers to many-body polaron features is described with a functional determinant theory that solves an extended Froehlich Hamiltonian for an impurity in a Bose gas. The detailed analysis of the red-detuned tail of the excitation spectrum describes the contribution from the region of highest density in the condensate and provides a clear signature of Rydberg polarons. This work has been performed in collaboration with groups at Rice University, Harvard University, and the TU Vienna.

On the Theory of Evolution Versus the Concept of Evolution: Three Observations

PubMed Central

Paz-y-Miño C., Guillermo

2016-01-01

Here we address three misconceptions stated by Rice et al. in their observations of our article Paz-y-Miño and Espinosa (Evo Edu Outreach 2:655-675, 2009), published in this journal. The five authors titled their note “The Theory of Evolution is Not an Explanation for the Origin of Life.” First, we argue that it is fallacious to believe that because the formulation of the theory of evolution, as conceived in the 1800s, did not include an explanation for the origin of life, nor of the universe, the concept of evolution would not allow us to hypothesize the possible beginnings of life and its connections to the cosmos. Not only Stanley Miller's experiments of 1953 led scientists to envision a continuum from the inorganic world to the origin and diversification of life, but also Darwin's own writings of 1871. Second, to dismiss the notion of Rice et al. that evolution does not provide explanations concerning the universe or the cosmos, we identify compelling scientific discussions on the topics: Zaikowski et al. (Evo Edu Outreach 1:65–73, 2008), Krauss (Evo Edu Outreach 3:193–197, 2010), Peretó et al. (Orig Life Evol Biosph 39:395–406, 2009) and Follmann and Brownson (Naturwissenschaften 96:1265-1292, 2009). Third, although we acknowledge that the term Darwinism may not be inclusive of all new discoveries in evolution, and also that creationists and Intelligent Designers hijack the term to portray evolution as ideology, we demonstrate that there is no statistical evidence suggesting that the word Darwinism interferes with public acceptance of evolution, nor does the inclusion of the origin of life or the universe within the concept of evolution. We examine the epistemological and empirical distinction between the theory of evolution and the concept of evolution and conclude that, although the distinction is important, it should not compromise scientific logic. PMID:26949441

A genome-wide association study of a global rice panel reveals resistance in Oryza sativa to root-knot nematodes.

PubMed

Dimkpa, Stanley O N; Lahari, Zobaida; Shrestha, Roshi; Douglas, Alex; Gheysen, Godelieve; Price, Adam H

2016-02-01

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola is one of the most serious nematode pests worldwide and represents a major constraint on rice production. While variation in the susceptibility of Asian rice (Oryza sativa) exists, so far no strong and reliable resistance has been reported. Quantitative trait loci for partial resistance have been reported but no underlying genes have been tagged or cloned. Here, 332 accessions of the Rice Diversity Panel 1 were assessed for gall formation, revealing large variation across all subpopulations of rice and higher susceptibility in temperate japonica accessions. Accessions Khao Pahk Maw and LD 24 appeared to be resistant, which was confirmed in large pot experiments where no galls were observed. Detailed observations on these two accessions revealed no nematodes inside the roots 2 days after inoculation and very few females after 17 days (5 in Khao Pahk Maw and <1 in LD 24, in comparison with >100 in the susceptible controls). These two cultivars appear ideal donors for breeding root-knot nematode resistance. A genome-wide association study revealed 11 quantitative trait loci, two of which are close to epistatic loci detected in the Bala x Azucena population. The discussion highlights a small number of candidate genes worth exploring further, in particular many genes with lectin domains and genes on chromosome 11 with homology to the Hordeum Mla locus. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

RAN1 is involved in plant cold resistance and development in rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Xu, Peipei; Cai, Weiming

2014-07-01

Of the diverse abiotic stresses, low temperature is one of the major limiting factors that lead to a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes in plants. Ran, an evolutionarily conserved small G-protein family, has been shown to be essential for the nuclear translocation of proteins. It also mediates the regulation of cell cycle progression in mammalian cells. However, little is known about Ran function in rice (Oryza sativa). We report here that Ran gene OsRAN1 is essential for the molecular improvement of rice for cold tolerance. Ran also affects plant morphogenesis in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. OsRAN1 is ubiquitously expressed in rice tissues with the highest expression in the spike. The levels of mRNA encoding OsRAN1 were greatly increased by cold and indoleacetic acid treatment rather than by addition of salt and polyethylene glycol. Further, OsRAN1 overexpression in Arabidopsis increased tiller number, and altered root development. OsRAN1 overexpression in rice improves cold tolerance. The levels of cellular free Pro and sugar levels were highly increased in transgenic plants under cold stress. Under cold stress, OsRAN1 maintained cell division and cell cycle progression, and also promoted the formation of an intact nuclear envelope. The results suggest that OsRAN1 protein plays an important role in the regulation of cellular mitosis and the auxin signalling pathway. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Response of hydrolytic enzyme activities and nitrogen mineralization to fertilizer and organic matter application in subtropical paddy soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kader, Mohammed Abdul; Yeasmin, Sabina; Akter, Masuda; Sleutel, Steven

2016-04-01

Driving controllers of nitrogen (N) mineralization in paddy soils, especially under anaerobic soil conditions, remain elusive. The influence of exogenous organic matter (OM) and fertilizer application on the activities of five relevant enzymes (β-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, L-glutaminase, urease and arylamidase) was measured in two long-term field experiments. One 18-years field experiment was established on a weathered terrace soil with a rice-wheat crop rotation at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) having five OM treatments combined with two mineral N fertilizer levels. Another 30-years experiment was established on a young floodplain soil with rice-rice crop rotation at the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) having eight mineral fertilizer treatments combined with organic manure. At BSMRAU, N fertilizer and OM amendments significantly increased all enzyme activities, suggesting them to be primarily determined by substrate availability. At BAU, non-responsiveness of β-glucosidase activity suggested little effect of the studied fertilizer and OM amendments on general soil microbial activity. Notwithstanding probably equal microbial demand for N, β-glucosaminidase and L-glutaminase activities differed significantly among the treatments (P>0.05) and followed strikingly opposite trends and correlations with soil organic N mineralization. So enzymatic pathways to acquire N differed by treatment at BAU, indicating differences in soil N quality and bio-availability. L-glutaminase activity was significantly positively correlated to the aerobic and anaerobic N mineralization rates at both field experiments. Combined with negative correlations between β-glucosaminidase activity and N mineralization rates, it appears that terminal amino acid NH2 hydrolysis was a rate-limiting step for soil N mineralization at BAU. Future investigations with joint quantification of polyphenol accumulation and binding of N, alongside an array of extracellular enzymes including oxidases and peroxidases for (poly)phenols and hydrolases for N-compounds, would enable verifying the hypothesized binding and stabilization of N onto accumulating polyphenols at BAU site under SOM accumulating management.

The Discovery Dome: A Tool for Increasing Student Engagement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brevik, Corinne

2015-04-01

The Discovery Dome is a portable full-dome theater that plays professionally-created science films. Developed by the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Rice University, this inflatable planetarium offers a state-of-the-art visual learning experience that can address many different fields of science for any grade level. It surrounds students with roaring dinosaurs, fascinating planets, and explosive storms - all immersive, engaging, and realistic. Dickinson State University has chosen to utilize its Discovery Dome to address Earth Science education at two levels. University courses across the science disciplines can use the Discovery Dome as part of their curriculum. The digital shows immerse the students in various topics ranging from astronomy to geology to weather and climate. The dome has proven to be a valuable tool for introducing new material to students as well as for reinforcing concepts previously covered in lectures or laboratory settings. The Discovery Dome also serves as an amazing science public-outreach tool. University students are trained to run the dome, and they travel with it to schools and libraries around the region. During the 2013-14 school year, our Discovery Dome visited over 30 locations. Many of the schools visited are in rural settings which offer students few opportunities to experience state-of-the-art science technology. The school kids are extremely excited when the Discovery Dome visits their community, and they will talk about the experience for many weeks. Traveling with the dome is also very valuable for the university students who get involved in the program. They become very familiar with the science content, and they gain experience working with teachers as well as the general public. They get to share their love of science, and they get to help inspire a new generation of scientists.

Identification of a rice metal tolerance protein OsMTP11 as a manganese transporter

PubMed Central

Zhang, Mei; Liu, Baoxiu

2017-01-01

Metal tolerance proteins (MTPs) are a gene family of cation efflux transporters that occur widely in plants and might serve an essential role in metal homeostasis and tolerance. Our research describes the identification, characterization, and localization of OsMTP11, a member of the MTP family from rice. OsMTP11 was expressed constitutively and universally in different tissues in rice plant. Heterologous expression in yeast showed that OsMTP11 complemented the hypersensitivity of mutant strains to Mn, and also complemented yeast mutants to other metals, including Co and Ni. Real time RT-PCR analysis demonstrated OsMTP11 expression was substantially enhanced following 4 h under Cd, Zn, Ni, and Mn treatments, suggesting possible roles of OsMTP11 involvement in heavy metal stress responses. Promoter analysis by transgenic assays with GUS as a reporter gene and mRNA in situ hybridization experiments showed that OsMTP11 was expressed specifically in conducting tissues in rice. DNA methylation assays of genomic DNA in rice treated with Cd, Zn, Ni, and Mn revealed that decreased DNA methylation levels were present in the OsMTP11 promoter region, which was consistent with OsMTP11 induced-expression patterns resulting from heavy metal stress. This result suggested that DNA methylation is one of major factors regulating expression of OsMTP11 through epigenetic mechanisms. OsMTP11 fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) localized to the entire onion epidermal cell cytoplasm, while vacuolar membrane exhibited increased GFP signals, consistent with an OsMTP11 function in cation sequestration. Our results indicated that OsMTP11 might play vital roles in Mn and other heavy metal transportation in rice. PMID:28394944

Seasonal Changes in the Percentage of Rice Stripe Virus Viruliferous Laodelphax striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in Paddy Fields in Japan.

PubMed

Shiba, Takuya; Hirae, Masahiro; Hayano-Saito, Yuriko; Uematsu, Hiroshi; Sasaya, Takahide; Higuchi, Hiroya; Ohto, Yasuo; Okuda, Mitsuru

2016-04-20

Rice stripe disease, which is caused by Rice stripe virus (RSV), is one of the most serious viral diseases of rice. RSV is transmitted in a persistent manner byLaodelphax striatellus(Fallén). The incidence of the disease can be estimated from the density of viruliferous vectors. Understanding seasonal changes of the percentage of viruliferousL. striatelluscan facilitate forecasting and controlling the disease. In paddies, the percentage of viruliferous insects fluctuated in phase with the rate of detection of RSV-infected rice; it gradually increased from July to August, plateaued or temporarily declined in September, and increased sharply on ratoons in October. These findings indicate that horizontal transmission of RSV from diseased plants to vector insects occurred frequently, and the insects acquired RSV from the ratoons. However, the percentages of viruliferous insects overwintering in poaceous weeds, the main hosts forL. striatellusin winter, were lower than those in ratoons. FewL. striatellusthat acquired RSV from ratoons seemed to move to overwintering sites and transmit the virus to the next generation. However, there was a tendency for the percentages of viruliferous overwintering insects to be higher on paddy ridges than in river levees. Insects could probably move from ratoons to poaceous weeds when the weeds were near a paddy. Although increasing percentage of viruliferous insects on ratoons seem to have relatively little impact on RSV dynamics in the next crop season, appropriate weed management around paddies is still needed to reduce the incidence of rice stripe disease. © The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Leaf density explains variation in leaf mass per area in rice between cultivars and nitrogen treatments.

PubMed

Xiong, Dongliang; Wang, Dan; Liu, Xi; Peng, Shaobing; Huang, Jianliang; Li, Yong

2016-05-01

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is an important leaf trait; however, correlations between LMA and leaf anatomical features and photosynthesis have not been fully investigated, especially in cereal crops. The objectives of this study were (a) to investigate the correlations between LMA and leaf anatomical traits; and (b) to clarify the response of LMA to nitrogen supply and its effect on photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE). In the present study, 11 rice varieties were pot grown under sufficient nitrogen (SN) conditions, and four selected rice cultivars were grown under low nitrogen (LN) conditions. Leaf anatomical traits, gas exchange and leaf N content were measured. There was large variation in LMA across selected rice varieties. Regression analysis showed that the variation in LMA was more closely related to leaf density (LD) than to leaf thickness (LT). LMA was positively related to the percentage of mesophyll tissue area (%mesophyll), negatively related to the percentage of epidermis tissue area (%epidermis) and unrelated to the percentage of vascular tissue area (%vascular). The response of LMA to N supplementation was dependent on the variety and was also mainly determined by the response of LD to N. Compared with SN, photosynthesis was significantly decreased under LN, while PNUE was increased. The increase in PNUE was more critical in rice cultivars with a higher LMA under SN supply. Leaf density is the major cause of the variation in LMA across rice varieties and N treatments, and an increase in LMA under high N conditions would aggravate the decrease in PNUE. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

A Novel FC116/BC10 Mutation Distinctively Causes Alteration in the Expression of the Genes for Cell Wall Polymer Synthesis in Rice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Mingliang; Wei, Feng; Guo, Kai; Hu, Zhen; Li, Yuyang; Xie, Guosheng; Wang, Yanting; Cai, Xiwen; Peng, Liangcai; Wang, Lingqiang

2016-01-01

We report isolation and characterization of a fragile culm mutant fc116 that displays reduced mechanical strength caused by decreased cellulose content and altered cell wall structure in rice. Map-based cloning revealed that fc116 was a base substitution mutant (G to A) in a putative beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT) gene (LOC_Os05g07790, allelic to BC10). This mutation resulted in one amino acid missing within a newly-identified protein motif “R, RXG, RA.” The FC116/BC10 gene was lowly but ubiquitously expressed in the all tissues examined across the whole life cycle of rice, and slightly down-regulated during secondary growth. This mutant also exhibited a significant increase in the content of hemicelluloses and lignins, as well as the content of pentoses (xylose and arabinose). But the content of hexoses (glucose, mannose, and galactose) was decreased in both cellulosic and non-cellulosic (pectins and hemicelluloses) fractions of the mutant. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the typical genes in the fc116 mutant were up-regulated corresponding to xylan biosynthesis, as well as lignin biosynthesis including p-hydroxyphenyl (H), syringyl (S), and guaiacyl (G). Our results indicate that FC116 has universal function in regulation of the cell wall polymers in rice. PMID:27708650

Genome-wide association study of rice (Oryza sativa L.) leaf traits with a high-throughput leaf scorer.

PubMed

Yang, Wanneng; Guo, Zilong; Huang, Chenglong; Wang, Ke; Jiang, Ni; Feng, Hui; Chen, Guoxing; Liu, Qian; Xiong, Lizhong

2015-09-01

Leaves are the plant's solar panel and food factory, and leaf traits are always key issues to investigate in plant research. Traditional methods for leaf trait measurement are time-consuming. In this work, an engineering prototype has been established for high-throughput leaf scoring (HLS) of a large number of Oryza sativa accessions. The mean absolute per cent of errors in traditional measurements versus HLS were below 5% for leaf number, area, shape, and colour. Moreover, HLS can measure up to 30 leaves per minute. To demonstrate the usefulness of HLS in dissecting the genetic bases of leaf traits, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed for 29 leaf traits related to leaf size, shape, and colour at three growth stages using HLS on a panel of 533 rice accessions. Nine associated loci contained known leaf-related genes, such as Nal1 for controlling the leaf width. In addition, a total of 73, 123, and 177 new loci were detected for traits associated with leaf size, colour, and shape, respectively. In summary, after evaluating the performance with a large number of rice accessions, the combination of GWAS and high-throughput leaf phenotyping (HLS) has proven a valuable strategy to identify the genetic loci controlling rice leaf traits. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Application of Potential Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria and Organic Acids on Phosphate Solubilization from Phosphate Rock in Aerobic Rice

PubMed Central

Jusop, Shamshuddin; Naher, Umme Aminun; Othman, Radziah; Razi, Mohd Ismail

2013-01-01

A study was conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia to determine the effect of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and organic acids (oxalic & malic) on phosphate (P) solubilization from phosphate rock (PR) and growth of aerobic rice. Four rates of each organic acid (0, 10, 20, and 30 mM), and PSB strain (Bacillus sp.) were applied to aerobic rice. Total bacterial populations, amount of P solubilization, P uptake, soil pH, and root morphology were determined. The results of the study showed significantly high P solubilization in PSB with organic acid treatments. Among the two organic acids, oxalic acid was found more effective compared to malic acid. Application of oxalic acid at 20 mM along with PSB16 significantly increased soluble soil P (28.39 mg kg−1), plant P uptake (0.78 P pot−1), and plant biomass (33.26 mg). Addition of organic acids with PSB and PR had no influence on soil pH during the planting period. A higher bacterial population was found in rhizosphere (8.78 log10 cfu g−1) compared to the nonrhizosphere and endosphere regions. The application of organic acids along with PSB enhanced soluble P in the soil solution, improved root growth, and increased plant biomass of aerobic rice seedlings without affecting soil pH. PMID:24288473

Interview with a quality leader--Karen Davis, executive director of The Commonwealth Fund. Interview by Lecia A. Albright.

PubMed

Davis, Karen

2009-01-01

Karen Davis is president of The Commonwealth Fund, a national philanthropy engaged in independent research on health and social policy issues. Dr. Davis is a nationally recognized economist, with a distinguished career in public policy and research. Before joining the Fund, she served as chairman of the Department of Health Policy and Management at The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where she also held an appointment as professor of economics. She served as deputy assistant secretary for health policy in the Department of Health and Human Services from 1977 to 1980, and was the first woman to head a U.S. Public Health Service agency. Before her government career, Ms. Davis was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC; a visiting lecturer at Harvard University; and an assistant professor of economics at Rice University. A native of Oklahoma, she received her PhD in economics from Rice University, which recognized her achievements with a Distinguished Alumna Award in 1991. Ms. Davis is the recipient of the 2000 Baxter-Allegiance Foundation Prize for Health Services Research. In the spring of 2001, Ms. Davis received an honorary doctorate in human letters from John Hopkins University. In 2006, she was selected for the Academy Health Distinguished Investigator Award for significant and lasting contributions to the field of health services research in addition to the Picker Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Patient Centered Care. Ms. Davis has published a number of significant books, monographs, and articles on health and social policy issues, including the landmark books HealthCare Cost Containment, Medicare Policy, National Health Insurance: Benefits, Costs, and Consequences, and Health and the War on Poverty. She serves on the Board of Visitors of Columbia University, School of Nursing, and is on the Board of Directors of the Geisinger Health System. She was elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1975; has served two terms on the IOM governing Council (1986-90 and 1997-2000); was a member of the IOM Committee on Redesigning Health Insurance Benefits, Payment and Performance Improvement Programs; and was awarded the Adam Yarmolinsky medal in 2007 for her contributions to the mission of the Institute of Medicine. She is a past president of the Academy Health (formerly AHSRHP) and an Academy Health distinguished fellow, a member of the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, and a former member of the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research National Advisory Committee. She also serves on the Panel of Health Advisors for the Congressional Budget Office.

Critical period of weed control in aerobic rice.

PubMed

Anwar, M P; Juraimi, A S; Samedani, B; Puteh, A; Man, A

2012-01-01

Critical period of weed control is the foundation of integrated weed management and, hence, can be considered the first step to design weed control strategy. To determine critical period of weed control of aerobic rice, field trials were conducted during 2010/2011 at Universiti Putra Malaysia. A quantitative series of treatments comprising two components, (a) increasing duration of weed interference and (b) increasing length of weed-free period, were imposed. Critical period was determined through Logistic and Gompertz equations. Critical period varied between seasons; in main season, it started earlier and lasted longer, as compared to off-season. The onset of the critical period was found relatively stable between seasons, while the end was more variable. Critical period was determined as 7-49 days after seeding in off-season and 7-53 days in main season to achieve 95% of weed-free yield, and 23-40 days in off-season and 21-43 days in main season to achieve 90% of weed-free yield. Since 5% yield loss level is not practical from economic view point, a 10% yield loss may be considered excellent from economic view point. Therefore, aerobic rice should be kept weed-free during 21-43 days for better yield and higher economic return.

Patatin-related phospholipase A, pPLAIIIα, modulates the longitudinal growth of vegetative tissues and seeds in rice.

PubMed

Liu, Guangmeng; Zhang, Ke; Ai, Jun; Deng, Xianjun; Hong, Yueyun; Wang, Xuemin

2015-11-01

Patatin-related phospholipase A (pPLA) hydrolyses glycerolipids to produce fatty acids and lysoglycerolipids. The Oryza sativa genome has 21 putative pPLAs that are grouped into five subfamilies. Overexpression of OspPLAIIIα resulted in a dwarf phenotype with decreased length of rice stems, roots, leaves, seeds, panicles, and seeds, whereas OspPLAIIIα-knockout plants had longer panicles and seeds. OspPLAIIIα-overexpressing plants were less sensitive than wild-type and knockout plants to gibberellin-promoted seedling elongation. OspPLAIIIα overexpression and knockout had an opposite effect on the expression of the growth repressor SLENDER1 in the gibberellin signalling process. OspPLAIIIα-overexpressing plants had decreased mechanical strength and cellulose content, but exhibited increases in the expression of several cellulose synthase genes. These results indicate that OspPLAIIIα plays a role in rice vegetative and reproductive growth and that the constitutive, high activity of OspPLAIIIα suppresses cell elongation. The decreased gibberellin response in overexpressing plants is probably a result of the decreased ability to make cellulose for anisotropic cell expansion. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Identification of introgressed alien chromosome segments associated with grain quality in Oryza rufipogon x MR219 advanced breeding lines using SSR markers.

PubMed

Fasahat, P; Muhammad, K; Abdullah, A; Wickneswari, R

2012-09-26

A limited backcross procedure was utilized to introgress genes associated with grain quality traits from Oryza rufipogon (Accession No. IRGC 105491), a wild rice from Malaysia, to the cultivated rice O. sativa cv. MR219, a popular high yielding Malaysian rice cultivar. A set of 10 BC(2)F(7) progenies were selected based on the field performance and phenotypic appearance in BC(2)F(5) and BC(2)F(6) generations, which initially started with 266 progenies in the BC(2)F(2) generation. These 10 advanced breeding lines are similar to each other but differ in several important grain quality traits, which can be traced to O. rufipogon introgressions. Phenotyping and genotyping of BC(2)F(7) variants were considered for QTL analysis. The introgressed lines did not show any significant changes compared to the recurrent parent MR219 for the traits grain density and milled rice percentage. All 10 progenies showed significantly higher head rice percentages (70-88%) than the recurrent parent MR219. Variants G13 and G15 had higher amylose contents than MR219. All variants were analyzed using polymorphic SSR markers. Of the 34 SSR markers, only 18 showed introgression from O. rufipogon for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 11. Graphical genotypes were prepared for each variant, and association between the introgression regions and the traits that increased grain quality was visualized. Based on marker trait association, some of the QTLs are stable across environments and genetic backgrounds and could be used universally.

Gas film retention and underwater photosynthesis during field submergence of four contrasting rice genotypes.

PubMed

Winkel, Anders; Pedersen, Ole; Ella, Evangelina; Ismail, Abdelbagi M; Colmer, Timothy D

2014-07-01

Floods can completely submerge some rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields. Leaves of rice have gas films that aid O2 and CO2 exchange under water. The present study explored the relationship between gas film persistence and underwater net photosynthesis (PN) as influenced by genotype and submergence duration. Four contrasting genotypes (FR13A, IR42, Swarna, and Swarna-Sub1) were submerged for 13 days in the field and leaf gas films, chlorophyll, and the capacity for underwater PN at near ambient and high CO2 were assessed with time of submergence. At high CO2 during the PN assay, all genotypes initially showed high rates of underwater PN, and this rate was not affected by time of submergence in FR13A. This superior photosynthetic performance of FR13A was not evident in Swarna-Sub1 (carrying the SUB1 QTL) and the declines in underwater PN in both Swarna-Sub1 and Swarna were equal to that in IR42. At near ambient CO2 concentration, underwater PN declined in all four genotypes and this corresponded with loss of leaf gas films with time of submergence. FR13A retained leaf gas films moderately longer than the other genotypes, but gas film retention was not linked to SUB1. Diverse rice germplasm should be screened for gas film persistence during submergence, as this trait could potentially increase carbohydrate status and internal aeration owing to increased underwater PN, which contributes to submergence tolerance in rice. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Genomic evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under Chinese rice wine fermentation.

PubMed

Li, Yudong; Zhang, Weiping; Zheng, Daoqiong; Zhou, Zhan; Yu, Wenwen; Zhang, Lei; Feng, Lifang; Liang, Xinle; Guan, Wenjun; Zhou, Jingwen; Chen, Jian; Lin, Zhenguo

2014-09-10

Rice wine fermentation represents a unique environment for the evolution of the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To understand how the selection pressure shaped the yeast genome and gene regulation, we determined the genome sequence and transcriptome of a S. cerevisiae strain YHJ7 isolated from Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu), a popular traditional alcoholic beverage in China. By comparing the genome of YHJ7 to the lab strain S288c, a Japanese sake strain K7, and a Chinese industrial bioethanol strain YJSH1, we identified many genomic sequence and structural variations in YHJ7, which are mainly located in subtelomeric regions, suggesting that these regions play an important role in genomic evolution between strains. In addition, our comparative transcriptome analysis between YHJ7 and S288c revealed a set of differentially expressed genes, including those involved in glucose transport (e.g., HXT2, HXT7) and oxidoredutase activity (e.g., AAD10, ADH7). Interestingly, many of these genomic and transcriptional variations are directly or indirectly associated with the adaptation of YHJ7 strain to its specific niches. Our molecular evolution analysis suggested that Japanese sake strains (K7/UC5) were derived from Chinese rice wine strains (YHJ7) at least approximately 2,300 years ago, providing the first molecular evidence elucidating the origin of Japanese sake strains. Our results depict interesting insights regarding the evolution of yeast during rice wine fermentation, and provided a valuable resource for genetic engineering to improve industrial wine-making strains. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Towards Quantum Simulation of the 2D Fermi Hubbard Model - Development of a Local Probe of Density and Spin Ordering

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-24

cooled both fermionic and bosonic isotopes of potassium. In related work, a group at Rice University showed that the analogous transition could be used in...changed from their in situ distributions. The top row shows bosonic 39K, and the bottom row shows fermionic 40K. The most exciting application of this...using a sub-micron period to allow for tunneling transport. Both of these pio- neering experiments used bosonic 87Rb. Our experiment is built to be a

Analysis of wavelet technology for NASA applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, R. O., Jr.

1994-01-01

The purpose of this grant was to introduce a broad group of NASA researchers and administrators to wavelet technology and to determine its future role in research and development at NASA JSC. The activities of several briefings held between NASA JSC scientists and Rice University researchers are discussed. An attached paper, 'Recent Advances in Wavelet Technology', summarizes some aspects of these briefings. Two proposals submitted to NASA reflect the primary areas of common interest. They are image analysis and numerical solutions of partial differential equations arising in computational fluid dynamics and structural mechanics.

Robotic space simulation integration of vision algorithms into an orbital operations simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bochsler, Daniel C.

1987-01-01

In order to successfully plan and analyze future space activities, computer-based simulations of activities in low earth orbit will be required to model and integrate vision and robotic operations with vehicle dynamics and proximity operations procedures. The orbital operations simulation (OOS) is configured and enhanced as a testbed for robotic space operations. Vision integration algorithms are being developed in three areas: preprocessing, recognition, and attitude/attitude rates. The vision program (Rice University) was modified for use in the OOS. Systems integration testing is now in progress.

Electron Correlation and Tranport Properties in Nuclear Fuel Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Quan; Haule, Kristjan; Kotliar, Gabriel; Savrasov, Sergey; Pickett, Warren

2011-03-01

Using first principle LDA+DMFT method, we conduct a systematic study on the correlated electronic structures and transport properties of select actinide carbides, nitrides, and oxides, many of which are nuclear fuel materials. Our results capture the metal--insulator Mott transition within the studied systems, and the appearance of the Zhang-Rice state in uranium dioxide. More importantly, by understanding the physics underlying their transport properties, we suggest ways to improve the efficiency of currently used fuels. This work is supported by the DOE Nuclear Energy University Program, contract No. 00088708.

Optimization and guidance of flight trajectories for the national aerospace plane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miele, Angelo

1990-01-01

The research on optimal trajectories for the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) performed by the Aero-Astronautics Group of Rice University from June 22, 1989 to December 31, 1990 is summarized. The aerospace plane is assumed to be controlled via the angle of attack and the power setting. The time history of the controls is optimized simultaneously with the switch times from one powerplant to another and the final time. The intent is to arrive at NASP guidance trajectories exhibiting many of the desirable characteristics of NASP optimal trajectories.

Chandra Fellows Named

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1999-02-01

Six scientists have been chosen as Fellows of the second annual Chandra X-ray Observatory Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The fellowships are open to recent astronomy and astrophysics graduates worldwide. This year's winners will work for three years at a host astronomical institution in the United States where they will research problems broadly related to the scientific mission of the Chandra Observatory. The Chandra X-ray Observatory Fellowship Program is a joint venture between NASA and the Chandra X-ray Observatory Center in cooperation with the host institutions. The 1999 Fellows are: Markus Boettcher, a graduate of Bonn University, whose host institution will be Rice University; Jimmy Irwin, a graduate of the University of Virginia, will be hosted by the University of Michigan; Kristen Menou, a graduate of the University of Paris, will be hosted by Princeton University; Eliot Quataert, a graduate of Harvard University, will be hosted by the Institute for Advanced Study; Rudy Wijnands, a graduate of the University of Amsterdam, will be hosted by MIT; and Amy Barger, a graduate of Cambridge University, is a Fellow at large at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy. The Chandra Fellowship Program attracted forty-five applicants from eleven countries. A member of the review panel commented, "I found it extremely difficult to choose between the many excellent entries." "We are very pleased with the response to the program, and I am confident that the work of these fellows will enhance our understanding of the scientific problems to be explored by the Chandra X-ray Observatory," said Nancy Remage Evans, coordinator of the Fellowship Program. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, formerly know as AXAF, will provide stunning new images and data of the extremely hot, active regions in the universe. Such regions exist where stars have exploded, where matter is swirling into black holes, and where clusters of galaxies are merging. A tentative launch date of July 9, 1999 has been set by NASA for the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-93, commanded by astronaut Eileen Collins will carry the telescope into a low circular orbit of Earth. There the astronauts will deploy the Chandra spacecraft, which will then fire two Boeing Inertial Upper Stage solid motors in succession to place Chandra in a highly elliptical orbit. This orbit will be fine-tuned by the spacecraft's integral propulsion system made by TRW, until it reaches its final height of 10,000 km by 140,000 km. Further information about the Chandra X-ray Observatory is available at the World Wide Web at http://chandra.harvard.edu/. Further information about the Fellowship program is available at http://asc.harvard.edu/fellows/

OsWRKY74, a WRKY transcription factor, modulates tolerance to phosphate starvation in rice.

PubMed

Dai, Xiaoyan; Wang, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Wen-Hao

2016-02-01

The WRKY transcription factor family has 109 members in the rice genome, and has been reported to be involved in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress in plants. Here, we demonstrated that a rice OsWRKY74 belonging to group III of the WRKY transcription factor family was involved in tolerance to phosphate (Pi) starvation. OsWRKY74 was localized in the nucleus and mainly expressed in roots and leaves. Overexpression of OsWRKY74 significantly enhanced tolerance to Pi starvation, whereas transgenic lines with down-regulation of OsWRKY74 were sensitive to Pi starvation. Root and shoot biomass, and phosphorus (P) concentration in rice OsWRKY74-overexpressing plants were ~16% higher than those of wild-type (WT) plants in Pi-deficient hydroponic solution. In soil pot experiments, >24% increases in tiller number, grain weight and P concentration were observed in rice OsWRKY74-overexpressing plants compared to WT plants when grown in P-deficient medium. Furthermore, Pi starvation-induced changes in root system architecture were more profound in OsWRKY74-overexpressing plants than in WT plants. Expression patterns of a number of Pi-responsive genes were altered in the OsWRKY74-overexpressing and RNA interference lines. In addition, OsWRKY74 may also be involved in the response to deficiencies in iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N) as well as cold stress in rice. In Pi-deficient conditions, OsWRKY74-overexpressing plants exhibited greater accumulation of Fe and up-regulation of the cold-responsive genes than WT plants. These findings highlight the role of OsWRKY74 in modulation of Pi homeostasis and potential crosstalk between P starvation and Fe starvation, and cold stress in rice. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

OsCHX14 is Involved in the K+ Homeostasis in Rice (Oryza sativa) Flowers.

PubMed

Chen, Yi; Ma, Jingkun; Miller, Anthony J; Luo, Bingbing; Wang, Mei; Zhu, Zhen; Ouwerkerk, Pieter B F

2016-07-01

Previously we showed in the osjar1 mutants that the lodicule senescence which controls the closing of rice flowers was delayed. This resulted in florets staying open longer when compared with the wild type. The gene OsJAR1 is silenced in osjar1 mutants and is a key member of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway. We found that K concentrations in lodicules and flowers of osjar1-2 were significantly elevated compared with the wild type, indicating that K + homeostasis may play a role in regulating the closure of rice flowers. The cation/H + exchanger (CHX) family from rice was screened for potential K + transporters involved as many members of this family in Arabidopsis were exclusively or preferentially expressed in flowers. Expression profiling confirmed that among 17 CHX genes in rice, OsCHX14 was the only member that showed an expression polymorphism, not only in osjar1 mutants but also in RNAi (RNA interference) lines of OsCOI1, another key member of the JA signaling pathway. This suggests that the expression of OsCHX14 is regulated by the JA signaling pathway. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged OsCHX14 protein was preferentially localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) analysis of transgenic rice revealed that OsCHX14 is mainly expressed in lodicules and the region close by throughout the flowering process. Characterization in yeast and Xenopus laevis oocytes verified that OsCHX14 is able to transport K + , Rb + and Cs + in vivo. Our data suggest that OsCHX14 may play an important role in K + homeostasis during flowering in rice. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Integrated Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) for Soil Erosion Measurement in basin of Asap river, Central Vietnam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pham Gia, Tung; Degener, Jan; Kappas, Martin

2017-04-01

The study was conducted in Asap river basin, A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to determine the soil erosion status. The results show strong effect of the heavy rainfall and high slope on the erosion level in the research area. More than 40% of land area lost over 10 tons/ha/year. The natural forest land lost the most by averagely is 38.4 tons/ha/year, while the agricultural land showed less with 2.79 tons for paddy rice land use type and 7.58 tons for upland crops yearly. Comparison between some places of Vietnam and the Southeast Asia showed that soil erosion in watersheds of Asap is more serious. We have been proposed a recommendation on changing the classification system of land use type in Vietnam for more accurate in soil erosion measurement. Keywords: Land use type, Soil erosion, USLE, Central Vietnam.

Theoretical magnetograms based on quantitative simulation of a magnetospheric substorm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, C.-K.; Wolf, R. A.; Karty, J. L.; Harel, M.

1982-01-01

Substorm currents derived from the Rice University computer simulation of the September 19, 1976 substorm event are used to compute theoretical magnetograms as a function of universal time for various stations, integrating the Biot-Savart law over a maze of about 2700 wires and bands that carry the ring, Birkeland and horizontal ionospheric currents. A comparison of theoretical results with corresponding observations leads to a claim of general agreement, especially for stations at high and middle magnetic latitudes. Model results suggest that the ground magnetic field perturbations arise from complicated combinations of different kinds of currents, and that magnetic field disturbances due to different but related currents cancel each other out despite the inapplicability of Fukushima's (1973) theorem. It is also found that the dawn-dusk asymmetry in the horizontal magnetic field disturbance component at low latitudes is due to a net downward Birkeland current at noon, a net upward current at midnight, and, generally, antisunward-flowing electrojets.

On the optimality of a universal noiseless coder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeh, Pen-Shu; Rice, Robert F.; Miller, Warner H.

1993-01-01

Rice developed a universal noiseless coding structure that provides efficient performance over an extremely broad range of source entropy. This is accomplished by adaptively selecting the best of several easily implemented variable length coding algorithms. Variations of such noiseless coders have been used in many NASA applications. Custom VLSI coder and decoder modules capable of processing over 50 million samples per second have been fabricated and tested. In this study, the first of the code options used in this module development is shown to be equivalent to a class of Huffman code under the Humblet condition, for source symbol sets having a Laplacian distribution. Except for the default option, other options are shown to be equivalent to the Huffman codes of a modified Laplacian symbol set, at specified symbol entropy values. Simulation results are obtained on actual aerial imagery over a wide entropy range, and they confirm the optimality of the scheme. Comparison with other known techniques are performed on several widely used images and the results further validate the coder's optimality.

Three-dimensional intracellular structure of a whole rice mesophyll cell observed with FIB-SEM.

PubMed

Oi, Takao; Enomoto, Sakiko; Nakao, Tomoyo; Arai, Shigeo; Yamane, Koji; Taniguchi, Mitsutaka

2017-07-01

Ultrathin sections of rice leaf blades observed two-dimensionally using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) show that the chlorenchyma is composed of lobed mesophyll cells, with intricate cell boundaries, and lined with chloroplasts. The lobed cell shape and chloroplast positioning are believed to enhance the area available for the gas exchange surface for photosynthesis in rice leaves. However, a cell image revealing the three-dimensional (3-D) ultrastructure of rice mesophyll cells has not been visualized. In this study, a whole rice mesophyll cell was observed using a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM), which provides many serial sections automatically, rapidly and correctly, thereby enabling 3-D cell structure reconstruction. Rice leaf blades were fixed chemically using the method for conventional TEM observation, embedded in resin and subsequently set in the FIB-SEM chamber. Specimen blocks were sectioned transversely using the FIB, and block-face images were captured using the SEM. The sectioning and imaging were repeated overnight for 200-500 slices (each 50 nm thick). The resultant large-volume image stacks ( x = 25 μm, y = 25 μm, z = 10-25 μm) contained one or two whole mesophyll cells. The 3-D models of whole mesophyll cells were reconstructed using image processing software. The reconstructed cell models were discoid shaped with several lobes around the cell periphery. The cell shape increased the surface area, and the ratio of surface area to volume was twice that of a cylinder having the same volume. The chloroplasts occupied half the cell volume and spread as sheets along the cell lobes, covering most of the inner cell surface, with adjacent chloroplasts in close contact with each other. Cellular and sub-cellular ultrastructures of a whole mesophyll cell in a rice leaf blade are demonstrated three-dimensionally using a FIB-SEM. The 3-D models and numerical information support the hypothesis that rice mesophyll cells enhance their CO 2 absorption with increased cell surface and sheet-shaped chloroplasts. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

The dog originated south of Yangtse river less than 16,000 years ago, from numerous wolves

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leitner, Thomas; Pang, Jun - Feng; Kluetsch, Cornelya

We here present a detailed picture of the origins of the dog, giving strong and precise evidence for 'where and when', and thereby also a first tentative picture of 'how, why and by whom' the wolf was domesticated. Previous studies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have failed to definitely establish the time and place of origin because of lack in phylogenetic resolution for the so far studied 582 bp region, and inadequate sampling across the world. We therefore analysed 169 mtDNA genomes, selected from partial sequences (582 bp) from 1,576 dogs worldwide. This shows that dogs universally share a common genemore » pool, but the three earlier identified universally occurring phylogenetic clades ofhigh age consist often much younger subclades, which originated 5,000-16,000 ya from at least 48 wolf founders. The full range of genetic diversity, all 10 subclades, is found only in south-eastern Asia south of Yangtze River, and the diversity decreases gradually across Eurasia down to only four sub clades in Europe. This establishes that the dog has a single origin in time and space from a large number ofwolves, less than 16,000 ya, probably in China south of Y angtzeRiver. The place and time coincide with the origin of rice agriculture, suggesting an origin among sedentary hunter-gatherers or early rice farmers. The numerous founders indicate that wolf taming was an important cultural trait, and it is noticeable that in this region dogs are since ancient times used as food, offering a possible reason for the wolf domestication.« less

Domain Specific Language Support for Exascale

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mellor-Crummey, John

A multi-institutional project known as D-TEC (short for “Domain- specific Technology for Exascale Computing”) set out to explore technologies to support the construction of Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) to map application programs to exascale architectures. DSLs employ automated code transformation to shift the burden of delivering portable performance from application programmers to compilers. Two chief properties contribute: DSLs permit expression at a high level of abstraction so that a programmer’s intent is clear to a compiler and DSL implementations encapsulate human domain-specific optimization knowledge so that a compiler can be smart enough to achieve good results on specific hardware. Domainmore » specificity is what makes these properties possible in a programming language. If leveraging domain specificity is the key to keep exascale software tractable, a corollary is that many different DSLs will be needed to encompass the full range of exascale computing applications; moreover, a single application may well need to use several different DSLs in conjunction. As a result, developing a general toolkit for building domain-specific languages was a key goal for the D-TEC project. Different aspects of the D-TEC research portfolio were the focus of work at each of the partner institutions in the multi-institutional project. D-TEC research and development work at Rice University focused on on three principal topics: understanding how to automate the tuning of code for complex architectures, research and development of the Rosebud DSL engine, and compiler technology to support complex execution platforms. This report provides a summary of the research and development work on the D-TEC project at Rice University.« less

Increasing water productivity, nitrogen economy, and grain yield of rice by water saving irrigation and fertilizer-N management.

PubMed

Aziz, Omar; Hussain, Saddam; Rizwan, Muhammad; Riaz, Muhammad; Bashir, Saqib; Lin, Lirong; Mehmood, Sajid; Imran, Muhammad; Yaseen, Rizwan; Lu, Guoan

2018-06-01

The looming water resources worldwide necessitate the development of water-saving technologies in rice production. An open greenhouse experiment was conducted on rice during the summer season of 2016 at Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China, in order to study the influence of irrigation methods and nitrogen (N) inputs on water productivity, N economy, and grain yield of rice. Two irrigation methods, viz. conventional irrigation (CI) and "thin-shallow-moist-dry" irrigation (TSMDI), and three levels of nitrogen, viz. 0 kg N ha -1 (N 0 ), 90 kg N ha -1 (N 1 ), and 180 kg N ha -1 (N 2 ), were examined with three replications. Study data indicated that no significant water by nitrogen interaction on grain yield, biomass, water productivity, N uptake, NUE, and fertilizer N balance was observed. Results revealed that TSMDI method showed significantly higher water productivity and irrigation water applications were reduced by 17.49% in TSMDI compared to CI. Thus, TSMDI enhanced root growth and offered significantly greater water saving along with getting more grain yield compared to CI. Nitrogen tracer ( 15 N) technique accurately assessed the absorption and distribution of added N in the soil crop environment and divulge higher nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) influenced by TSMDI. At the same N inputs, the TSMDI was the optimal method to minimize nitrogen leaching loss by decreasing water leakage about 18.63%, which are beneficial for the ecological environment.

Seasonal Patterns of Stored-Product Insects at a Rice Mill.

PubMed

McKay, Tanja; White, Amanda L; Starkus, Laura A; Arthur, Frank H; Campbell, James F

2017-06-01

The temporal and spatial patterns in flight activity outside of a rice mill were evaluated for the lesser grain borer [Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)], warehouse beetle [Trogoderma variabile Ballion], cigarette beetle [Lasioderma serricorne (F.)], and Indian meal moth [Plodia interpunctella (Hüϋbner)] to determine critical times of year when the mill would be vulnerable to invasion. Insect activity was monitored using pheromone-baited glue traps (N = 99) from June 2008 to October 2010. Traps were placed along exterior walls of all major buildings and along the fence around the perimeter of the facility. Trogoderma variabile was the most abundant species, with flight activity between mid-March and November. No activity of T. variabile was observed during December through March. Rhyzopertha dominica was also abundant, with activity in mid-April through October. A few adult R. dominica were captured in traps during winter months in the first year of study. Trap captures for all four species increased with an increase in temperature and can be described by linear equations. Knowing seasonal patterns in insect activity allows rice facilities to better understand when facilities are most vulnerable to pest activity. However, this study demonstrates that more research is needed to address how insects are immigrating and emigrating within and around a rice mill. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Anthocyanins from black rice (Oryza sativa L.) demonstrate antimetastatic properties by reducing MMPs and NF-κB expressions in human oral cancer CAL 27 cells.

PubMed

Fan, Ming-Jen; Wang, I-Chen; Hsiao, Yung-Ting; Lin, Hui-Yi; Tang, Nou-Ying; Hung, Tzu-Chieh; Quan, Christine; Lien, Jin-Cherng; Chung, Jing-Gung

2015-01-01

Aside from the commonly known white rice lines, colored varieties also exist. These varieties have historically been used in Chinese medicine. Anthocyanins, a large group of natural polyphenols existing in a variety of daily fruits and vegetables, have been widely recognized as cancer chemopreventive agents. The primary objective of cancer treatment strategies has traditionally focused on preventing the occurrence of metastasis. In this research the antimetastatic mechanism of anthocyanins on the invasion/migration of human oral CAL 27 cells was performed using a transwell to quantify the migratory potential of CAL 27 cells and the results show that anthocyanins can inhibit the in vitro migration and invasion of CAL 27 cancer cells. In addition, the gelatin zymography assay indicated that anthocyanins inhibited the activity of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2). Western blotting assay also demonstrated that anthocyanins inhibited the associated protein expression of migration/invasion of CAL 27 cell. Immunofluorescence staining proved that anthocyanins inhibited nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) expressions. These results demonstrated that anthocyanins from a species of black rice (selected purple glutinous indica rice cultivated at Asia University) could suppress CAL 27 cell metastasis by reduction of MMP-2, MMP-9, and NF-κB p65 expression through the suppression of PI3K/Akt pathway and inhibition of NF-κB levels.

HOTHEAD-Like HTH1 is Involved in Anther Cutin Biosynthesis and is Required for Pollen Fertility in Rice.

PubMed

Xu, Ya; Liu, Shasha; Liu, Yaqin; Ling, Sheng; Chen, Caisheng; Yao, Jialing

2017-07-01

The cuticle covering the outer surface of anthers is essential for male reproductive development in plants. However, the mechanism underlying the synthesis of these lipidic polymers remains unclear. HOTHEAD (HTH) in Arabidopsis thaliana is a presumptive glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductase involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain α-,ω-dicarboxylic fatty acids. In this study, we characterized the function of an anther-specific gene HTH1 in rice. HTH1 contains a conserved GMC oxidoreductase-like domain, and the sequence of HTH1 was highly similar to that of HTH in A. thaliana. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization analyses showed that HTH1 was highly expressed in epidermal cells of anthers. Rice plants with HTH1 suppression through CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) and RNA interference (RNAi) displayed defective anther wall and aborted pollen. Disorganized cuticle layers in anthers and shriveled pollen grains were observed in HTH1-RNAi lines. The total amounts of long-chain fatty acids and cutin monomers in anthers of HTH1-RNAi lines were significantly reduced compared with the wild type. Our results suggested that HTH1 is involved in cutin biosynthesis and is required for anther development and pollen fertility in rice. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An A20/AN1-type zinc finger protein modulates gibberellins and abscisic acid contents and increases sensitivity to abiotic stress in rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Zhang, Ye; Lan, Hongxia; Shao, Qiaolin; Wang, Ruqin; Chen, Hui; Tang, Haijuan; Zhang, Hongsheng; Huang, Ji

2016-01-01

The plant hormones gibberellins (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) play important roles in plant development and stress responses. Here we report a novel A20/AN1-type zinc finger protein ZFP185 involved in GA and ABA signaling in the regulation of growth and stress response. ZFP185 was constitutively expressed in various rice tissues. Overexpression of ZFP185 in rice results in a semi-dwarfism phenotype, reduced cell size, and the decrease of endogenous GA3 content. By contrast, higher GA3 content was observed in RNAi plants. The application of exogenous GA3 can fully rescue the semi-dwarfism phenotype of ZFP185 overexpressing plants, suggesting the negative role of ZFP185 in GA biosynthesis. Besides GA, overexpression of ZFP185 decreased ABA content and expression of several ABA biosynthesis-related genes. Moreover, it was found that ZFP185, unlike previously known A20/AN1-type zinc finger genes, increases sensitivity to drought, cold, and salt stresses, implying the negative role of ZFP185 in stress tolerance. ZFP185 was localized in the cytoplasm and lacked transcriptional activation potential. Our study suggests that ZFP185 regulates plant growth and stress responses by affecting GA and ABA biosynthesis in rice. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Contrasting effects of ethylene biosynthesis on induced plant resistance against a chewing and a piercing-sucking herbivore in rice.

PubMed

Lu, Jing; Li, Jiancai; Ju, Hongping; Liu, Xiaoli; Erb, Matthias; Wang, Xia; Lou, Yonggen

2014-11-01

Ethylene is a stress hormone with contrasting effects on herbivore resistance. However, it remains unknown whether these differences are plant- or herbivore-specific. We cloned a rice 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase gene, OsACS2, whose transcripts were rapidly up-regulated in response to mechanical wounding and infestation by two important pests: the striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo suppressalis and the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens. Antisense expression of OsACS2 (as-acs) reduced elicited ethylene emission, SSB-elicited trypsin protease inhibitor (TrypPI) activity, SSB-induced volatile release, and SSB resistance. Exogenous application of ACC restored TrypPI activity and SSB resistance. In contrast to SSB, BPH infestation increased volatile emission in as-acs lines. Accordingly, BPH preferred to feed and oviposit on wild-type (WT) plants--an effect that could be attributed to two repellent volatiles, 2-heptanone and 2-heptanol, that were emitted in higher amounts by as-acs plants. BPH honeydew excretion was reduced and natural enemy attraction was enhanced in as-acs lines, resulting in higher overall resistance to BPH. These results demonstrate that ethylene signaling has contrasting, herbivore-specific effects on rice defense responses and resistance against a chewing and a piercing-sucking insect, and may mediate resistance trade-offs between herbivores of different feeding guilds in rice. © The Author 2014. Published by the Molecular Plant Shanghai Editorial Office in association with Oxford University Press on behalf of CSPB and IPPE, SIBS, CAS.

Optimal pcr primers for rapid and accurate detection of Aspergillus flavus isolates.

PubMed

Al-Shuhaib, Mohammed Baqur S; Albakri, Ali H; Alwan, Sabah H; Almandil, Noor B; AbdulAzeez, Sayed; Borgio, J Francis

2018-03-01

Aspergillus flavus is among the most devastating opportunistic pathogens of several food crops including rice, due to its high production of carcinogenic aflatoxins. The presence of these organisms in economically important rice strip farming is a serious food safety concern. Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers have been designed to detect this species; however, a comparative assessment of their accuracy has not been conducted. This study aims to identify the optimal diagnostic PCR primers for the identification of A. flavus, among widely available primers. We isolated 122 A. flavus native isolates from randomly collected rice strips (N = 300). We identified 109 isolates to the genus level using universal fungal PCR primer pairs. Nine pairs of primers were examined for their PCR diagnostic specificity on the 109 isolates. FLA PCR was found to be the optimal PCR primer pair for specific identification of the native isolates, over aflP(1), aflM, aflA, aflD, aflP(3), aflP(2), and aflR. The PEP primer pair was found to be the most unsuitable for A. flavus identification. In conclusion, the present study indicates the powerful specificity of the FLA PCR primer over other commonly available diagnostic primers for accurate, rapid, and large-scale identification of A. flavus native isolates. This study provides the first simple, practical comparative guide to PCR-based screening of A. flavus infection in rice strips. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis During Anthesis Reveals New Insights into the Molecular Basis of Heat Stress Responses in Tolerant and Sensitive Rice Varieties.

PubMed

González-Schain, Nahuel; Dreni, Ludovico; Lawas, Lovely M F; Galbiati, Massimo; Colombo, Lucia; Heuer, Sigrid; Jagadish, Krishna S V; Kater, Martin M

2016-01-01

Rice is one of the main food crops in the world. In the near future, yield is expected to be under pressure due to unfavorable climatic conditions, such as increasing temperatures. Therefore, improving rice germplasm in order to guarantee rice production under harsh environmental conditions is of top priority. Although many physiological studies have contributed to understanding heat responses during anthesis, the most heat-sensitive stage, molecular data are still largely lacking. In this study, an RNA-sequencing approach of heat- and control-treated reproductive tissues during anthesis was carried out using N22, one of the most heat-tolerant rice cultivars known to date. This analysis revealed that expression of genes encoding a number of transcription factor families, together with signal transduction and metabolic pathway genes, is repressed. On the other hand, expression of genes encoding heat shock factors and heat shock proteins was highly activated. Many of these genes are predominantly expressed at late stages of anther development. Further physiological experiments using heat-tolerant N22 and two sensitive cultivars suggest that reduced yield in heat-sensitive plants may be associated with poor pollen development or production in anthers prior to anthesis. In parallel, induction levels of a set of heat-responsive genes in these tissues correlated well with heat tolerance. Altogether, these findings suggest that proper expression of protective chaperones in anthers is needed before anthesis to overcome stress damage and to ensure fertilization. Genes putatively controlling this process were identified and are valuable candidates to consider for molecular breeding of highly productive heat-tolerant cultivars. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Climate Change Impact Assessment for Wheat and Rice Productivity, Haryana, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rana, M.; Singh, K. K.; Kumari, N.

2017-12-01

Agriculture presents a core of the India Economy and provides food and livelihood activities to much of the Indian population. However, the changing climate is putting challenges to agriculture. The mean temperature in India is increased by 0.1-0.3 degC in Kharif and 0.3-0.7 degC during rabi by 2010, and projected to further increase by 0.4-0.2 degC during Kharif and to 1.1-4.5degC in rabi by 2070. Similarly mean rainfall is projected to increase up to 10% during kharif and rabi by 2070.At same time, there is an increased possibility of climate extremes, such as the timing of onset of monsoon, intensities and frequency of floods and droughts (S.A. Khan et al.,2009).In addition, the rapid population growth at a rate of 1.2% per annum, expected to reach 1.53 billion by the end of 2030; is also a critical issue of this century. Keeping in mind the above facts, this study is carried out in one of major agriculture state in India. The related field data collected from the ongoing experiments in agriculture universities/institutes in the respective state and observed weather data from India Meteorological Dept.(IMD), New Delhi and future climate scenarios data from India Institute of Tropical Meteorology(IITM). Validated CERES Wheat and Rice model embedded in DSSATv4.6 used for simulating the climate change impacts. The yield simulations of crop models were obtained separately for baseline and future data The simulation result indicates significant impact of climate change on both wheat and rice yield. The reason for same attributed to increase in temperature that majorly impact rabi wheat and extreme weather events for Kharif rice. Keywords: Climate Change, CERES Rice-Wheat, Yield, Validation

Impacts of integrated nutrient management on methane emission, global warming potential and carbon storage capacity in rice grown in a northeast India soil.

PubMed

Bharali, Ashmita; Baruah, Kushal Kumar; Baruah, Sunitee Gohain; Bhattacharyya, Pradip

2018-02-01

Rice soil is a source of emission of two major greenhouse gases (methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O)) and a sink of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The effect of inorganic fertilizers in combination with various organics (cow dung, green manure (Sesbania aculeata) Azolla compost, rice husk) on CH 4 emission, global warming potential, and soil carbon storage along with crop productivity were studied at university farm under field conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design for 2 years in a monsoon rice (cv. Ranjit) ecosystem (June-November, 2014 and 2015). Combined application of inorganic (NPK) with Sesbania aculeata resulted in high global warming potential (GWP) of 887.4 kg CO 2 ha -1 and low GWP of 540.6 kg CO 2 ha -1 was recorded from inorganic fertilizer applied field. Irrespective of the type of organic amendments, flag leaf photosynthesis of the rice crop increased over NPK application (control). There was an increase in CH 4 emission from the organic amended fields compared to NPK alone. The combined application of NPK and Azolla compost was effective in the buildup of soil carbon (16.93 g kg -1 ) and capacity of soil carbon storage (28.1 Mg C ha -1 ) with high carbon efficiency ratio (16.9). Azolla compost application along with NPK recorded 15.66% higher CH 4 emission with 27.43% yield increment over control. Azolla compost application significantly enhanced carbon storage of soil and improved the yielding ability of grain (6.55 Mg ha -1 ) over other treatments.

Cesium Uptake by Rice Roots Largely Depends Upon a Single Gene, HAK1, Which Encodes a Potassium Transporter.

PubMed

Rai, Hiroki; Yokoyama, Saki; Satoh-Nagasawa, Namiko; Furukawa, Jun; Nomi, Takiko; Ito, Yasuka; Fujimura, Shigeto; Takahashi, Hidekazu; Suzuki, Ryuichiro; Yousra, ELMannai; Goto, Akitoshi; Fuji, Shinichi; Nakamura, Shin-Ichi; Shinano, Takuro; Nagasawa, Nobuhiro; Wabiko, Hiroetsu; Hattori, Hiroyuki

2017-09-01

Incidents at the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear power stations have resulted in widespread environmental contamination by radioactive nuclides. Among them, 137cesium has a 30 year half-life, and its persistence in soil raises serious food security issues. It is therefore important to prevent plants, especially crop plants, from absorbing radiocesium. In Arabidopsis thaliana, cesium ions are transported into root cells by several different potassium transporters such as high-affinity K+ transporter 5 (AtHAK5). Therefore, the cesium uptake pathway is thought to be highly redundant, making it difficult to develop plants with low cesium uptake. Here, we isolated rice mutants with low cesium uptake and reveal that the Oryza sativa potassium transporter OsHAK1, which is expressed on the surfaces of roots, is the main route of cesium influx into rice plants, especially in low potassium conditions. During hydroponic cultivation with low to normal potassium concentrations (0-206 µM: the normal potassium level in soil), cesium influx in OsHAK1-knockout lines was no greater than one-eighth that in the wild type. In field experiments, knockout lines of O. sativa HAK1 (OsHAK1) showed dramatically reduced cesium concentrations in grains and shoots, but their potassium uptake was not greatly affected and their grain yields were similar to that of the wild type. Our results demonstrate that, in rice roots, potassium transport systems other than OsHAK1 make little or no contribution to cesium uptake. These results show that low cesium uptake rice lines can be developed for cultivation in radiocesium-contaminated areas. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Relation between self-organized criticality and grain aspect ratio in granular piles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denisov, D. V.; Villanueva, Y. Y.; Lőrincz, K. A.; May, S.; Wijngaarden, R. J.

2012-05-01

We investigate experimentally whether self-organized criticality (SOC) occurs in granular piles composed of different grains, namely, rice, lentils, quinoa, and mung beans. These four grains were selected to have different aspect ratios, from oblong to oblate. As a function of aspect ratio, we determined the growth (β) and roughness (α) exponents, the avalanche fractal dimension (D), the avalanche size distribution exponent (τ), the critical angle (γ), and its fluctuation. At superficial inspection, three types of grains seem to have power-law-distributed avalanches with a well-defined τ. However, only rice is truly SOC if we take three criteria into account: a power-law-shaped avalanche size distribution, finite size scaling, and a universal scaling relation relating characteristic exponents. We study SOC as a spatiotemporal fractal; in particular, we study the spatial structure of criticality from local observation of the slope angle. From the fluctuation of the slope angle we conclude that greater fluctuation (and thus bigger avalanches) happen in piles consisting of grains with larger aspect ratio.

Scaling properties of a rice-pile model: inertia and friction effects.

PubMed

Khfifi, M; Loulidi, M

2008-11-01

We present a rice-pile cellular automaton model that includes inertial and friction effects. This model is studied in one dimension, where the updating of metastable sites is done according to a stochastic dynamics governed by a probabilistic toppling parameter p that depends on the accumulated energy of moving grains. We investigate the scaling properties of the model using finite-size scaling analysis. The avalanche size, the lifetime, and the residence time distributions exhibit a power-law behavior. Their corresponding critical exponents, respectively, tau, y, and yr, are not universal. They present continuous variation versus the parameters of the system. The maximal value of the critical exponent tau that our model gives is very close to the experimental one, tau=2.02 [Frette, Nature (London) 379, 49 (1996)], and the probability distribution of the residence time is in good agreement with the experimental results. We note that the critical behavior is observed only in a certain range of parameter values of the system which correspond to low inertia and high friction.

Comparative studies of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as a potential filler in Polypropylene reinforced rice husk composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awang, M.; Mohd, W. R. Wan

2018-04-01

Arising global environmental issues have triggered the search of new products and processes that are compatible with the environment while maintaining novel properties of materials. In this work, green composites containing rice husk (RH), polypropylene (PP), and incorporated with two different fillers namely titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were prepared using an internal mixer and were injected into desired specimen by using an injection molding method. Mechanical properties of the composite were studied using Instron universal testing machine with load cell of 30kN capacity. Morphological of tensile fractured surface of composites was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the composites with the addition of TiO2 gave an excellent mechanical properties than the composites filled with ZnO. Furthermore, morphological image of PP/RH/TiO2 also shows a good interaction occurred between polymer matrix and RH particles as compared to that of PP/RH/ZnO.

Mitigating global warming potentials of methane and nitrous oxide gases from rice paddies under different irrigation regimes.

PubMed

Ali, Muhammad Aslam; Hoque, M Anamul; Kim, Pil Joo

2013-04-01

A field experiment was conducted in Bangladesh Agricultural University Farm to investigate the mitigating effects of soil amendments such as calcium carbide, calcium silicate, phosphogypsum, and biochar with urea fertilizer on global warming potentials (GWPs) of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gases during rice cultivation under continuous and intermittent irrigations. Among the amendments phosphogypsum and silicate fertilizer, being potential source of electron acceptors, decreased maximum level of seasonal CH4 flux by 25-27 % and 32-38 % in continuous and intermittent irrigations, respectively. Biochar and calcium carbide amendments, acting as nitrification inhibitors, decreased N2O emissions by 36-40 % and 26-30 % under continuous and intermittent irrigations, respectively. The total GWP of CH4 and N2O gases were decreased by 7-27 % and 6-34 % with calcium carbide, phosphogypsum, and silicate fertilizer amendments under continuous and intermittent irrigations, respectively. However, biochar amendments increased overall GWP of CH4 and N2O gases.

PGL, encoding chlorophyllide a oxygenase 1, impacts leaf senescence and indirectly affects grain yield and quality in rice.

PubMed

Yang, Yaolong; Xu, Jie; Huang, Lichao; Leng, Yujia; Dai, Liping; Rao, Yuchun; Chen, Long; Wang, Yuqiong; Tu, Zhengjun; Hu, Jiang; Ren, Deyong; Zhang, Guangheng; Zhu, Li; Guo, Longbiao; Qian, Qian; Zeng, Dali

2016-03-01

Chlorophyll (Chl) b is a ubiquitous accessory pigment in land plants, green algae, and prochlorophytes. This pigment is synthesized from Chl a by chlorophyllide a oxygenase and plays a key role in adaptation to various environments. This study characterizes a rice mutant, pale green leaf (pgl), and isolates the gene PGL by using a map-based cloning approach. PGL, encoding chlorophyllide a oxygenase 1, is mainly expressed in the chlorenchyma and activated in the light-dependent Chl synthesis process. Compared with wild-type plants, pgl exhibits a lower Chl content with a reduced and disorderly thylakoid ultrastructure, which decreases the photosynthesis rate and results in reduced grain yield and quality. In addition, pgl exhibits premature senescence in both natural and dark-induced conditions and more severe Chl degradation and reactive oxygen species accumulation than does the wild-type. Moreover, pgl is sensitive to heat stress. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Rice crop growth and outlook monitoring using SAR in Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamamoto, K.; Sobue, S.; Oyoshi, K.; Ikehata, Y.

2016-12-01

The Asia-RiCE initiative (http://www.asia-rice.org) has been organized to enhance rice production estimates through the use of Earth observation satellites data, and seeks to ensure that Asian rice crops are appropriately represented within GEO Global Agriculture Monitoring (GEO-GLAM) to support FAO Agriculture Market Information System (FAO-AMIS). Asia-RiCE is composed of national teams that are actively contributing to the Crop Monitor for AMIS and developing technical demonstrations of rice crop monitoring activities using both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data (Radarsat-2 from 2013; Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 from 2015; TerraSAR-X, Cosmo-SkyMed, RISAT, and others) and optical imagery (such as from MODIS, SPOT-5, Landsat, and Sentinel-2) for 100x100km Technical Demonstration Sites (TDS) as a phase 1 (2013-2015) in Asia. with satellite -based cultivated area and growing stage map. The Asia-RiCE teams are also developing satellite-based agro-met information for rice crop outlook, crop calendars and damage assessment in cooperation with ASEAN food security information system (AFSIS) for selected countries (currently Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippine, and Japan; http://www.afsisnc.org/blog), using JAXA's Satellite-based MonItoring Network system as a contribution to the FAO AMIS outlook (JASMIN) with University of Tokyo (http://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/cgi-bin/gcomw/jasm/jasm_top.cgi). Because of continous El Nino in South East Asia, there are less precipitation and rain fall pattern change in South East Asia, crop pattern has been changed and production may be decreased, especially for dry season crop. JAXA provides drought index (KBDI) and accumulated precipitation of Tak province, Thailand where main reservior is located, to AFSIS and national experts to assess rice crop outlook and NDVI time seriese to Ang Tong province where is main rice production area in downstream area of that reservior.From 2016 as a phase 2, Asia-RiCE initiative deploy up-scaling activity from a province (100x100km) to major crop areas or entire country to implement operational use for rice crop production information in low Mekong, Vietnam and top 10 provinces in Indonesia using space based technology. This paper reports this year activity of 2016 accomplishment and way forward.

Summary report: A preliminary investigation into the use of fuzzy logic for the control of redundant manipulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheatham, John B., Jr.; Magee, Kevin N.

1991-01-01

The Rice University Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences' Robotics Group designed and built an eight degree of freedom redundant manipulator. Fuzzy logic was proposed as a control scheme for tasks not directly controlled by a human operator. In preliminary work, fuzzy logic control was implemented for a camera tracking system and a six degree of freedom manipulator. Both preliminary systems use real time vision data as input to fuzzy controllers. Related projects include integration of tactile sensing and fuzzy control of a redundant snake-like arm that is under construction.

Chemistry, Creativity, Collaboration, and C60: An Interview with Harold W. Kroto

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cardellini, Liberato

2005-05-01

This interview offers a sketch of the story of Harold Kroto’s scientific life, highlighting his research activities and discoveries. Illustrative examples include Kroto's study of electronic spectra of molecules, the synthesis of phosphoalkenes and phosphoalkynes, the study of long carbon chain molecules in the lab, and the search for long carbon chain molecules in the interstellar medium while at Rice University that led to the serendipitous discovery of fullerene. Kroto defends and stresses the importance of fundamental research and the role of scientists in society; he also suggests a way to foster children's interest in science.

Functional and composition differences between mitochondrial complex II in Arabidopsis and rice are correlated with the complex genetic history of the enzyme.

PubMed

Huang, Shaobai; Taylor, Nicolas L; Narsai, Reena; Eubel, Holger; Whelan, James; Millar, A Harvey

2010-02-01

Complex II plays a central role in mitochondrial metabolism as a component of both the electron transport chain and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. However, the composition and function of the plant enzyme has been elusive and differs from the well-characterised enzymes in mammals and bacteria. Herewith, we demonstrate that mitochondrial Complex II from Arabidopsis and rice differ significantly in several aspects: (1) Stability-Rice complex II in contrast to Arabidopsis is not stable when resolved by native electrophoresis and activity staining. (2) Composition-Arabidopsis complex II contains 8 subunits, only 7 of which have homologs in the rice genome. SDH 1 and 2 subunits display high levels of amino acid identity between two species, while the remainder of the subunits are not well conserved at a sequence level, indicating significant divergence. (3) Gene expression-the pairs of orthologous SDH1 and SDH2 subunits were universally expressed in both Arabidopsis and rice. The very divergent genes for SDH3 and SDH4 were co-expressed in both species, consistent with their functional co-ordination to form the membrane anchor. The plant-specific SDH5, 6 and 7 subunits with unknown functions appeared to be differentially expressed in both species. (4) Biochemical regulation -succinate-dependent O(2) consumption and SDH activity of isolated Arabidopsis mitochondria were substantially stimulated by ATP, but a much more minor effect of ATP was observed for the rice enzyme. The ATP activation of succinate-dependent reduction of DCPIP in frozen-thawed and digitonin-solubilised mitochondrial samples, and with or without the uncoupler CCCP, indicate that the differential ATP effect on SDH is not via the protonmotive force but likely due to an allosteric effect on the plant SDH enzyme itself, in contrast to the enzyme in other organisms.

Selenium addition alters mercury uptake, bioavailability in the rhizosphere and root anatomy of rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Wang, Xun; Tam, Nora Fung-Yee; Fu, Shi; Ametkhan, Aray; Ouyang, Yun; Ye, Zhihong

2014-08-01

Mercury (Hg) is an extremely toxic pollutant, especially in the form of methylmercury (MeHg), whereas selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in the human diet. This study aimed to ascertain whether addition of Se can produce rice with enriched Se and lowered Hg content when growing in Hg-contaminated paddy fields and, if so, to determine the possible mechanisms behind these effects. Two cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa, japonica and indica) were grown in either hydroponic solutions or soil rhizobags with different Se and Hg treatments. Concentrations of total Hg, MeHg and Se were determined in the roots, shoots and brown rice, together with Hg uptake kinetics and Hg bioavailability in the soil. Root anatonmy was also studied. The high Se treatment (5 μg g(-1)) significantly increased brown rice yield by 48 % and total Se content by 2·8-fold, and decreased total Hg and MeHg by 47 and 55 %, respectively, compared with the control treatments. The high Se treatment also markedly reduced 'water-soluble' Hg and MeHg concentrations in the rhizosphere soil, decreased the uptake capacity of Hg by roots and enhanced the development of apoplastic barriers in the root endodermis. Addition of Se to Hg-contaminated soil can help produce brown rice that is simultaneously enriched in Se and contains less total Hg and MeHg. The lowered accumulation of total Hg and MeHg appears to be the result of reduced bioavailability of Hg and production of MeHg in the rhizosphere, suppression of uptake of Hg into the root cells and an enhancement of the development of apoplastic barriers in the endodermis of the roots. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Phosphorus uptake, partitioning and redistribution during grain filling in rice.

PubMed

Julia, Cécile; Wissuwa, Matthias; Kretzschmar, Tobias; Jeong, Kwanho; Rose, Terry

2016-11-01

In cultivated rice, phosphorus (P) in grains originates from two possible sources, namely exogenous (post-flowering root P uptake from soil) or endogenous (P remobilization from vegetative parts) sources. This study investigates P partitioning and remobilization in rice plants throughout grain filling to resolve contributions of P sources to grain P levels in rice. Rice plants (Oryza sativa 'IR64') were grown under P-sufficient or P-deficient conditions in the field and in hydroponics. Post-flowering uptake, partitioning and re-partitioning of P was investigated by quantifying tissue P levels over the grain filling period in the field conditions, and by employing 33 P isotope as a tracer in the hydroponic study. Post-flowering P uptake represented 40-70 % of the aerial plant P accumulation at maturity. The panicle was the main P sink in all studies, and the amount of P potentially remobilized from vegetative tissues to the panicle during grain filling was around 20 % of the total aerial P measured at flowering. In hydroponics, less than 20 % of the P tracer taken up at 9 d after flowering (DAF) was found in the above-ground tissues at 14 DAF and half of it was partitioned to the panicle in both P treatments. The results demonstrate that P uptake from the soil during grain filling is a critical contributor to the P content in grains in irrigated rice. The P tracer study suggests that the mechanism of P loading into grains involves little direct transfer of post-flowering P uptake to the grain but rather substantial mobilization of P that was previously taken up and stored in vegetative tissues. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Utilizing NASA Earth Observations to Monitor Land Management Practices and the Development of Marshlands to Rice Fields in Rwanda

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dusabimana, M. R.; Blach, D.; Mwiza, F.; Muzungu, E.; Swaminathan, R.; Tate, Z.

2014-12-01

Rwanda, a small country with the highest population density in Sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the world's poorest countries. Although agriculture is the backbone of Rwandan economy, agricultural productivity is extremely low. Over 90 % of the population is engaged in subsistence farming and only 52 % of the total land surface area is arable. Of this land, approximately 165,000 hectares are marshlands, of which only 57 % has been cultivated. Rwandan government has invested in the advancement of agriculture with activities such as irrigation, marshland reclamation, and crop regionalization. In 2001, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) released the Rural Sector Support Program (RSSP), which aimed at converting marshlands into rice fields at various development sites across the country. The focus of this project was to monitor rice fields in Rwanda utilizing NASA Earth observations such as Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager. Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) was used to depict the progress of marshland to rice field conversion as it highlights the presence of irrigated rice fields from the surrounding area. Additionally, Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) was used to estimate rice yield at RSSP sites. Various simulations were run to find perfect conditions for cultivating the highest yield for a given farm. Furthermore, soil erosion susceptibility masks were created by combining factors derived from ASTER, MERRA, and ground truth data using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The end results, maps, and tutorials were delivered to the partners and policy makers in Rwanda to help make informed decisions. It can be clearly seen that Earth observations can be successfully used to monitor agricultural and land management practices as a cost effective method that will enable farmers to improve crop yield production and food security.

Crop-model assisted phenomics and genome-wide association study for climate adaptation of indica rice. 2. Thermal stress and spikelet sterility.

PubMed

Dingkuhn, Michael; Pasco, Richard; Pasuquin, Julie Mae; Damo, Jean; Soulié, Jean-Christophe; Raboin, Louis-Marie; Dusserre, Julie; Sow, Abdoulaye; Manneh, Baboucarr; Shrestha, Suchit; Kretzschmar, Tobias

2017-07-10

Low night and high day temperatures during sensitive reproductive stages cause spikelet sterility in rice. Phenotyping of tolerance traits in the field is difficult because of temporal interactions with phenology and organ temperature differing from ambient. Physiological models can be used to separate these effects. A 203-accession indica rice diversity panel was phenotyped for sterility in ten environments in Senegal and Madagascar and climate data were recorded. Here we report on sterility responses while a companion study reported on phenology. The objectives were to improve the RIDEV model of rice thermal sterility, to estimate response traits by fitting model parameters, and to link the response traits to genomic regions through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). RIDEV captured 64% of variation of sterility when cold acclimation during vegetative stage was simulated, but only 38% when it was not. The RIDEV parameters gave more and stronger quantitative trait loci (QTLs) than index variables derived more directly from observation. The 15 QTLs identified at P<1 × 10-5 (33 at P<1 × 10-4) were related to sterility effects of heat, cold, cold acclimation, or unexplained causes (baseline sterility). Nine annotated genes were found on average within the 50% linkage disequilibrium (LD) region. Among them, one to five plausible candidate genes per QTL were identified based on known expression profiles (organ, stage, stress factors) and function. Meiosis-, development- and flowering-related genes were frequent, as well a stress signaling kinases and transcription factors. Putative epigenetic factors such as DNA methylases or histone-related genes were frequent in cold-acclimation QTLs, and positive-effect alleles were frequent in cold-tolerant highland rice from Madagascar. The results indicate that epigenetic control of acclimation may be important in indica rice genotypes adapted to cool environments. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

International Polar Year (IPY): Thinking Beyond Polar Bears and Penguins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, P. A.; Reiff, P.; Austin, S.; Johnson, L.; Walter, D.

2008-12-01

The mention of an International Polar Year (IPY) to most of our university students evokes images of polar bears, penguins, perhaps some concepts of polar exploration in previous centuries. IPY provides an unusual opportunity to incorporate various aspects of polar research into the classroom, research opportunities as well as outreach activities. The subject areas that can be incorporated into classroom and undergraduate research activities would include astrobiology, atmospheric sciences, glaciation past and present. Astrobiology, in particular geomicrobiology in relation to the pursuit of life on other planets, is dependent on an understanding of extremophile organisms and the identifying signatures that can be chemical or morphological. Atmospheric studies using balloons with attached instruments enable us to understand the role of an atmosphere in providing a habitable world and filtering damaging rays from the Sun. L. Agassiz studied the patterns of glaciation and their alteration of the crustal surface today and the information enabled us to identify similar patterns in Earth's past and today are important for identifying polar glaciation on Mars. The wide variation of scientific opportunities and research information are also important for developing partnership and outreach programs whether elements are used for planetarium shows, exhibits at museums, hands-on activities, or leading students to pursue atmospheric studies. Each and every one of the components provides different avenues and the potential partnerships are limited only by one's creativity. One example of an effective partnership is the January NASA Space Day at the University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas. The event reaches over 600 primarily Hispanic students from the entire Rio Grande Valley. In January, 2009, the topic will be IPY and the popular Polar Palooza. The event will include exhibits, talks, and the new planetarium show Ice Worlds. The partners for this event include Johnson Space Center, Rice University, University of Houston-Downtown, Passport 2 Knowledge, the University of Texas at Brownsville and others. The end result is a cross-discipline scientific approach that incorporates a wide variety of programs and scientists.

OsNRAMP5 contributes to manganese translocation and distribution in rice shoots.

PubMed

Yang, Meng; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Lejing; Hu, Jintao; Zhang, Xing; Lu, Kai; Dong, Huaxia; Wang, Dujun; Zhao, Fang-Jie; Huang, Chao-Feng; Lian, Xingming

2014-09-01

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for plants playing an important role in many physiological functions. OsNRAMP5 is a major transporter responsible for Mn and cadmium uptake in rice, but whether it is involved in the root-to-shoot translocation and distribution of these metals is unknown. In this work, OsNRAMP5 was found to be highly expressed in hulls. It was also expressed in leaves but the expression level decreased with leaf age. High-magnification observations revealed that OsNRAMP5 was enriched in the vascular bundles of roots and shoots especially in the parenchyma cells surrounding the xylem. The osnramp5 mutant accumulated significantly less Mn in shoots than the wild-type plants even at high levels of Mn supply. Furthermore, a high supply of Mn could compensate for the loss in the root uptake ability in the mutant, but not in the root-to-shoot translocation of Mn, suggesting that the absence of OsNRAMP5 reduces the transport of Mn from roots to shoots. The results suggest that OsNRAMP5 plays an important role in the translocation and distribution of Mn in rice plants in addition to its role in Mn uptake. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Critical Period of Weed Control in Aerobic Rice

PubMed Central

Anwar, M. P.; Juraimi, A. S.; Samedani, B.; Puteh, A.; Man, A.

2012-01-01

Critical period of weed control is the foundation of integrated weed management and, hence, can be considered the first step to design weed control strategy. To determine critical period of weed control of aerobic rice, field trials were conducted during 2010/2011 at Universiti Putra Malaysia. A quantitative series of treatments comprising two components, (a) increasing duration of weed interference and (b) increasing length of weed-free period, were imposed. Critical period was determined through Logistic and Gompertz equations. Critical period varied between seasons; in main season, it started earlier and lasted longer, as compared to off-season. The onset of the critical period was found relatively stable between seasons, while the end was more variable. Critical period was determined as 7–49 days after seeding in off-season and 7–53 days in main season to achieve 95% of weed-free yield, and 23–40 days in off-season and 21–43 days in main season to achieve 90% of weed-free yield. Since 5% yield loss level is not practical from economic view point, a 10% yield loss may be considered excellent from economic view point. Therefore, aerobic rice should be kept weed-free during 21–43 days for better yield and higher economic return. PMID:22778701

Identification and Comparative Expression Profiles of Chemoreception Genes Revealed from Major Chemoreception Organs of the Rice Leaf Folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

PubMed Central

Zeng, Fang-Fang; Zhao, Zhen-Fei; Yan, Miao-Jun; Zhou, Wen; Zhang, Zan; Zhang, Aijun; Lu, Zhong-Xian; Wang, Man-Qun

2015-01-01

To better understand the olfactory mechanisms in the rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée), a serious pest of rice in Asia, we established six partial transcriptomes from antennae, protarsus, and reproductive organs of male and female adults. A total of 102 transcripts were identified, including 29 odorant receptors (ORs), 15 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 30 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 26 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), and 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). The expression patterns of these genes were calculated by fragments per kilobase of exon per million fragments mapped (FPKM) and validated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Some transcripts were exclusively expressed in specific organs, such as female protarsus, whereas others were universally expressed, this varied expression profile may provide insights into the specific functions mediated by chemoreception proteins in insects. To the best of our knowledge, among the 102 identified transcripts, 81 are novel and have never been reported before. In addition, it also is the first time that ORs and IRs are identified in C. medinalis. Our findings significantly enhance the currently limited understanding olfactory mechanisms of the olfactory mechanisms underlying the chemoreception system in C. medinalis. PMID:26657286

An Overview of High Performance Computing and Challenges for the Future

ScienceCinema

Google Tech Talks

2017-12-09

In this talk we examine how high performance computing has changed over the last 10-year and look toward the future in terms of trends. These changes have had and will continue to have a major impact on our software. A new generation of software libraries and lgorithms are needed for the effective and reliable use of (wide area) dynamic, distributed and parallel environments. Some of the software and algorithm challenges have already been encountered, such as management of communication and memory hierarchies through a combination of compile--time and run--time techniques, but the increased scale of computation, depth of memory hierarchies, range of latencies, and increased run--time environment variability will make these problems much harder. We will focus on the redesign of software to fit multicore architectures. Speaker: Jack Dongarra University of Tennessee Oak Ridge National Laboratory University of Manchester Jack Dongarra received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Chicago State University in 1972 and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1973. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of New Mexico in 1980. He worked at the Argonne National Laboratory until 1989, becoming a senior scientist. He now holds an appointment as University Distinguished Professor of Computer Science in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Tennessee, has the position of a Distinguished Research Staff member in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Turing Fellow in the Computer Science and Mathematics Schools at the University of Manchester, and an Adjunct Professor in the Computer Science Department at Rice University. He specializes in numerical algorithms in linear algebra, parallel computing, the use of advanced-computer architectures, programming methodology, and tools for parallel computers. His research includes the development, testing and documentation of high quality mathematical software. He has contributed to the design and implementation of the following open source software packages and systems: EISPACK, LINPACK, the BLAS, LAPACK, ScaLAPACK, Netlib, PVM, MPI, NetSolve, Top500, ATLAS, and PAPI. He has published approximately 200 articles, papers, reports and technical memoranda and he is coauthor of several books. He was awarded the IEEE Sid Fernbach Award in 2004 for his contributions in the application of high performance computers using innovative approaches. He is a Fellow of the AAAS, ACM, and the IEEE and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

An Overview of High Performance Computing and Challenges for the Future

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Google Tech Talks

In this talk we examine how high performance computing has changed over the last 10-year and look toward the future in terms of trends. These changes have had and will continue to have a major impact on our software. A new generation of software libraries and lgorithms are needed for the effective and reliable use of (wide area) dynamic, distributed and parallel environments. Some of the software and algorithm challenges have already been encountered, such as management of communication and memory hierarchies through a combination of compile--time and run--time techniques, but the increased scale of computation, depth of memory hierarchies,more » range of latencies, and increased run--time environment variability will make these problems much harder. We will focus on the redesign of software to fit multicore architectures. Speaker: Jack Dongarra University of Tennessee Oak Ridge National Laboratory University of Manchester Jack Dongarra received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Chicago State University in 1972 and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1973. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of New Mexico in 1980. He worked at the Argonne National Laboratory until 1989, becoming a senior scientist. He now holds an appointment as University Distinguished Professor of Computer Science in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Tennessee, has the position of a Distinguished Research Staff member in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Turing Fellow in the Computer Science and Mathematics Schools at the University of Manchester, and an Adjunct Professor in the Computer Science Department at Rice University. He specializes in numerical algorithms in linear algebra, parallel computing, the use of advanced-computer architectures, programming methodology, and tools for parallel computers. His research includes the development, testing and documentation of high quality mathematical software. He has contributed to the design and implementation of the following open source software packages and systems: EISPACK, LINPACK, the BLAS, LAPACK, ScaLAPACK, Netlib, PVM, MPI, NetSolve, Top500, ATLAS, and PAPI. He has published approximately 200 articles, papers, reports and technical memoranda and he is coauthor of several books. He was awarded the IEEE Sid Fernbach Award in 2004 for his contributions in the application of high performance computers using innovative approaches. He is a Fellow of the AAAS, ACM, and the IEEE and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.« less

PREFACE: 30th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics (WWND2014)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellwied, Rene; Geurts, Frank; Timmins, Anthony

2014-09-01

These are the proceedings of the 30th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics, which was held in Galveston, Texas, in April 2014. As in previous years, the unique character of this conference series has allowed us to bring together nuclear scientists with very different interests to discuss recent progress and scientific achievements. Out of the 67 contributions at WWND 2014 we have selected these 34 manuscripts. The topics capture the range of theoretical and experimental advances in our field. On the experimental side we saw very exciting results from the RHIC beam energy scan program and the p-p, p-Pb and Pb-Pb runs at the highest collision energies at the LHC. On the theory side the system size dependence of the experimental measurements led to a detailed evaluation of the initial conditions and plasma propagation using a wide variety of phenomenological approaches. These results were complemented by the most recent continuum extrapolated data from lattice in order to model the complete evolution of the relativistic heavy ion system. These proceedings of the 30th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics again provide a snapshot of the status of the field. The articles, many of which were written by some of the most promising young scientists in the field, are documenting the excitement and achievements that are characteristic for modern day nuclear science. Rene Bellwied (University of Houston) Frank Geurts (Rice University) Anthony Timmins (University of Houston)

Variation in the sizes of eggs and oncospheres and the numbers and distributions of testes in the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta.

PubMed

Pappas, P W; Leiby, D A

1986-06-01

Four "strains" of Hymenolepis diminuta were examined for morphological variation. These included the ARME "strain" (currently maintained at the University of Keele, U.K.), the OSU "strain" (currently maintained at The Ohio State University) and the TOR (or UT) "strain" (currently maintained at the University of Toronto), all of which were derived from the parental RICE "strain," and the ANU "strain" (currently maintained at the Australian National University). Additionally, 2 separate "clonal" populations (populations derived from single cysticercoids) from both the OSU and ANU "strains" were examined. All "strains" and "clones" were maintained under identical conditions using Tenebrio molitor and male Sprague-Dawley rats as the intermediate and definitive hosts, respectively. The lengths and widths of eggs and larvae (oncospheres) passed in the hosts' feces, and the numbers and distributions of testes in proglottids were quantified and the data analyzed. Although analyses of the lengths and widths of eggs and larvae demonstrated significant differences among some "strains" and "clones," a discriminate analysis of the data indicated these parameters to be of questionable taxonomic significance. The eggs of all "strains" and "clones" consisted of 2 distinct populations differing in density and size but not infectivity; the relative proportions of eggs in the 2 populations were not determined. Considering all possible numbers and distributions of testes, 17 variations were seen in the strobilae of tapeworms. Analyses of the data demonstrated that the "strains" and "clones" could be differentiated clearly using only the frequencies of the 1p2a (1 poral and 2 aporal testes) or 1p3a distribution, or the frequencies of proglottids containing 3 or 4 testes; all other variations failed to clearly differentiate or group the various "strains" and "clones."(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characteristics of siRNAs derived from Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus in infected rice and their potential role in host gene regulation.

PubMed

Xu, Donglin; Zhou, Guohui

2017-02-10

Virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs)-mediated RNA silencing plays important roles in interaction between plant viruses and their hosts. Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a newly emerged devastating rice reovirus with ten dsRNA genomic segments. The characteristics of SRBSDV-derived siRNAs and their biological implications in SRBSDV-rice interaction remain unexplored. VsiRNAs profiling from SRBSDV-infected rice samples was done via small RNA deep sequencing. The putative rice targets of abundantly expressed vsiRNAs were bioinformatically predicted and subjected to functional annotation. Differential expression analysis of rice targets and RNA silencing components between infected and healthy samples was done using RT-qPCR. The vsiRNA was barely detectable at 14 days post infection (dpi) but abundantly present along with elevated expression level of the viral genome at 28 dpi. From the 28-dpi sample, 70,878 reads of 18 ~ 30-nt vsiRNAs were recognized (which mostly were 21-nt and 22-nt), covering 75 ~ 91% of the length of the ten genomic segments respectively. 86% of the vsiRNAs had a <50% GC content and 79% of them were 5'-uridylated or adenylated. The production of vsiRNAs had no strand polarity but varied among segment origins. Each segment had a few hotspot regions where vsiRNAs of high abundance were produced. 151 most abundant vsiRNAs were predicted to target 844 rice genes, including several types of host resistance or pathogenesis related genes encoding F-box/LRR proteins, receptor-like protein kinases, universal stress proteins, tobamovirus multiplication proteins, and RNA silencing components OsDCL2a and OsAGO17 respectively, some of which showed down regulation in infected plants in RT-qPCR. GO and KEGG classification showed that a majority of the predicted targets were related to cell parts and cellular processes and involved in carbohydrate metabolism, translation, and signal transduction. The silencing component genes OsDCL2a, OsDCL2b, OsDCL4, and OsAGO18 were down regulated, while OsAGO1d, OsAGO2, OsRDR1 and OsRDR6 were up regulated, significantly, upon SRBSDV infection. SRBSDV can regulate the expression of rice RNA silencing pathway components and the virus might compromise host defense and influence host pathogenesis via siRNA pathways.

Risk factors for development of asthma in Thai adults in Phitsanulok: a university-based study.

PubMed

Uthaisangsook, Suwannee

2010-03-01

Studies have shown that asthma in children is caused by environmental and genetic factors. In adult asthma, risk factors were less well recognized. Likewise, in Thailand, data in adult asthma is limited. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors, determine skin reactivities to allergens, and assess concomitant allergy among adult asthma in Phitsanulok, a major city in the lower northern Thailand. Five hundred and thirteen Naresuan University staff members and students completed 2 sets of questionnaires and underwent allergy skin prick tests. The first set of questionnaires was standardized Thai version of ISAAC questionnaire for identifying asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema. The second set was modified from ISAAC phase II questionnaire to identify asthma risk factors. Fifty-eight subjects (11.6%) were identified as having physician's diagnosed asthma and 89 subjects (17.7%) wheezed in the past 12 months. Among 89 subjects, 14.4% wheezed more than once a month, 45.6% had wheezes interfering with sleep. Concomitant allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema among these asthma subjects were 82.5%, 67.9%, and 14.9%, respectively. Eighty seven point nine percent of asthmatic subjects had positive skin reactivities to at least one allergen. Two of the most common allergens were house dust mites and cockroaches. Maternal smoking during pregnancy, smoking among family members, and family history of allergy were statistically significant risks for developing asthma, while having a rice field around the residence represented a significant protective factor. In conclusion, high prevalence of asthma presented in Phitsanulok and many asthmatic subjects were partly controlled or uncontrolled. The environment such as a rice field could protect against asthma, however atopy and smoking exposure were significant risks for asthma development

New Space Weather Forecasting at NOAA with Michigan's Geospace Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singer, H. J.; Millward, G. H.; Balch, C. C.; Cash, M. D.; Onsager, T. G.; Toth, G.; Welling, D. T.; Gombosi, T. I.

2016-12-01

We will present first results from the University of Michigan's Geospace model that is transitioning, during 2016, from a research capability into operations at the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. The first generation of space weather products from this model will be described. These initial products will support power grid operators, as well as other users, with both global and regional, short-term predictions of geomagnetic activity. The Geospace model is a coupled system including three components: the BATS-R-US magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the magnetosphere; the Ridley ionosphere electrodynamics model (RIM); and the Rice Convection Model (RCM), an inner magnetosphere ring-current model developed at Rice University. The model is driven by solar wind data from a satellite at L1 (now NOAA's DSCOVR satellite) and F10.7, a proxy for solar extreme ultra-violet radiation. The Geospace model runs continuously, driven by the 1-minute cadence real-time L1 data that is propagated to the inflow boundary of the MHD code. The model steps back to an earlier time and then continues forward if high-speed solar wind overtakes slower solar wind. This mode of operation is unique among the models at NOAA's National Center for Environment Prediction's Central Operations (NCO), and it is also different from the typical scientific simulation mode. All of this work has involved 3D graphical model displays and validation tools that are being developed to support forecasters and web-based external users. Lessons learned during the transition process will be described, as well as the iterative process that occurs between Research and Operations and the scientific challenges for future model and product improvements.

Orion Nebula and Planetary Nebulae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dufour, Reginald J.

1998-01-01

This report summarizes the research performed at Rice University related to NASA-Ames University consortium grant NCC2-5199 during the two year period 1996 September 1 through 1998 August 31. The research program, titled Orion Nebula and Planetary Nebulae, involved the analysis of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imagery and spectroscopy of the Orion Nebula and of the planetary nebulae NGC 6818 and NGC 6210. In addition, we analyzed infrared spectra of the Orion Nebula taken with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) The primary collaborators at NASA-Ames were Drs. R. H. Rubin, A. G. C. M. Tielens, S. W. J. Colgan, and S. D. Lord (Tielens & Lord has since changed institutions). Other collaborators include Drs. P. G. Martin (CITA, Toronto), G. J. Ferland (U. KY), J. A. Baldwin (CTIO, Chile), J. J. Hester (ASU), D. K. Walter (SCSU), and P. Harrington (U. MD). In addition to the Principal Investigator, Professor Reginald J. Dufour of the Department of Space Physics & Astronomy, the research also involved two students, Mr. Matthew Browning and Mr. Brent Buckalew. Mr. Browning will be graduating from Rice in 1999 May with a B.A. degree in Physics and Mr. Buckalew continues as a graduate student in our department, having recently received a NASA GSRP research fellowship (sponsored by Ames). The collaboration was very productive, with two refereed papers already appearing in the literature, several others in preparation, numerous meeting presentations and two press releases. Some of our research accomplishments are highlighted below. Attached to the report are copies of the two major publications. Note that this research continues to date and related extensions of it recently has been awarded time with the HST for 1999-2000.

OsNucleolin1-L Expression in Arabidopsis Enhances Photosynthesis via Transcriptome Modification under Salt Stress Conditions.

PubMed

Udomchalothorn, Thanikarn; Plaimas, Kitiporn; Sripinyowanich, Siriporn; Boonchai, Chutamas; Kojonna, Thammaporn; Chutimanukul, Panita; Comai, Luca; Buaboocha, Teerapong; Chadchawan, Supachitra

2017-04-01

OsNUC1 encodes rice nucleolin, which has been shown to be involved in salt stress responses. Expression of the full-length OsNUC1 gene in Arabidopsis resulted in hypersensitivity to ABA during germination. Transcriptome analysis of the transgenic lines, in comparison with the wild type, revealed that the RNA abundance of >1,900 genes was significantly changed under normal growth conditions, while under salt stress conditions the RNAs of 999 genes were found to be significantly regulated. Gene enrichment analysis showed that under normal conditions OsNUC1 resulted in repression of genes involved in photosynthesis, while in salt stress conditions OsNUC1 increased expression of the genes involved in the light-harvesting complex. Correspondingly, the net rate of photosynthesis of the transgenic lines was increased under salt stress. Transgenic rice lines with overexpression of the OsNUC1-L gene were generated and tested for photosynthetic performance under salt stress conditions. The transgenic rice lines treated with salt stress at the booting stage had a higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in flag leaves and second leaves than the wild type. Moreover, higher contents of Chl a and carotenoids were found in flag leaves of the transgenic rice. These results suggest a role for OsNUC1 in the modification of the transcriptome, especially the gene transcripts responsible for photosynthesis, leading to stabilization of photosynthesis under salt stress conditions. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Systems analysis of cis-regulatory motifs in C4 photosynthesis genes using maize and rice leaf transcriptomic data during a process of de-etiolation.

PubMed

Xu, Jiajia; Bräutigam, Andrea; Weber, Andreas P M; Zhu, Xin-Guang

2016-09-01

Identification of potential cis-regulatory motifs controlling the development of C4 photosynthesis is a major focus of current research. In this study, we used time-series RNA-seq data collected from etiolated maize and rice leaf tissues sampled during a de-etiolation process to systematically characterize the expression patterns of C4-related genes and to further identify potential cis elements in five different genomic regions (i.e. promoter, 5'UTR, 3'UTR, intron, and coding sequence) of C4 orthologous genes. The results demonstrate that although most of the C4 genes show similar expression patterns, a number of them, including chloroplast dicarboxylate transporter 1, aspartate aminotransferase, and triose phosphate transporter, show shifted expression patterns compared with their C3 counterparts. A number of conserved short DNA motifs between maize C4 genes and their rice orthologous genes were identified not only in the promoter, 5'UTR, 3'UTR, and coding sequences, but also in the introns of core C4 genes. We also identified cis-regulatory motifs that exist in maize C4 genes and also in genes showing similar expression patterns as maize C4 genes but that do not exist in rice C3 orthologs, suggesting a possible recruitment of pre-existing cis-elements from genes unrelated to C4 photosynthesis into C4 photosynthesis genes during C4 evolution. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Commercially available gluten-free pastas elevate postprandial glycemia in comparison to conventional wheat pasta in healthy adults: a double-blind randomized crossover trial.

PubMed

Johnston, C S; Snyder, D; Smith, C

2017-09-20

Given the popularity of gluten-free diets, research regarding the health implications of gluten-free (GF) products is necessary. This study compared the postprandial glycemic responses to three GF pastas commonly available in the U.S. market to that of wheat pasta in healthy adults. Thirteen healthy non-smoking men and women from a university campus population were enrolled in this randomized 4 × 4 block crossover study and completed all four treatments. Participants followed a standardized diet and activity protocol the day prior to testing, and one week separated testing periods. The test meal (a macaroni and cheese dish prepared with conventional wheat pasta or with GF pasta composed of either brown rice, rice and corn, or corn and quinoa flours) was consumed under observation, and blood was sampled in the fasted state and at one-half hour intervals for the first 2 hours following meal ingestion. A significant pasta × time interaction was observed for the incremental postprandial glycemia curves (p = 0.036, repeated measures ANOVA; effect size [partial eta squared], 0.943). Post-hoc analysis revealed a significant difference for the 30-minute postprandial blood glucose concentrations: the plasma glucose concentration was 57% higher for the GF rice and corn pasta compared to traditional wheat pasta (p = 0.011). Since postprandial glycemia was higher for GF pasta composed of rice and corn flours compared to wheat pasta, more research is needed to understand how the substitute ingredients for GF pastas impact health parameters and disease risk.

GEODATA: Information System Based on Geospatial for Early Warning Tracking and Analysis Agricultural Plant Diseases in Central Java

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasetyo, S. Y. J.; Agus, Y. H.; Dewi, C.; Simanjuntak, B. H.; Hartomo, K. D.

2017-03-01

The Government of Indonesia is currently faced with the problems of food, especially rice. It needs in large numbers that have to import from neighboring countries. Actually, the Indonesian government has the ability to produce rice to meet national needs but is still faced with the problem of pest attack rice annually increasing extent. One of the factors is that geographically Indonesia located on the migration path of world rice insect pests (called BPH or Brown Planthoppers) (Nilaparvata lugens Stal.) It leads endemic status annually. One proposed strategy to be applied is to use an early warning system based on a specific region of the main pest population. The proposed information system called GEODATA. GEODATA is Geospatial Outbreak of Disease Tracking and Analysis. The system works using a library ESSA (Exponential Smoothing - Spatial Autocorrelation) developed in previous studies in Satya Wacana Christian University. GEODATA built to meet the qualifications required surveillance device by BMKG (Indonesian Agency of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics’ Central Java Provinces), BPTPH (Indonesian Agency of Plant Protection and Horticulture) Central Java Provinces, BKP-KP District Boyolali, Central Java, (Indonesian Agency of Food Security and Agriculture Field Supervisor, District Boyolali, Central Java Provinces) and farmer groups. GIS GEODATA meets the needs of surveillance devices that include: (1) mapping of the disease, (2) analysis of the dynamics of the disease, and (3) prediction of attacks / disease outbreaks in a particular region. GIS GEODATA is currently under implementation in the laboratory field observations of plant pest in Central Java province, Indonesia.

Cell Wall Composition and Candidate Biosynthesis Gene Expression During Rice Development.

PubMed

Lin, Fan; Manisseri, Chithra; Fagerström, Alexandra; Peck, Matthew L; Vega-Sánchez, Miguel E; Williams, Brian; Chiniquy, Dawn M; Saha, Prasenjit; Pattathil, Sivakumar; Conlin, Brian; Zhu, Lan; Hahn, Michael G; Willats, William G T; Scheller, Henrik V; Ronald, Pamela C; Bartley, Laura E

2016-10-01

Cell walls of grasses, including cereal crops and biofuel grasses, comprise the majority of plant biomass and intimately influence plant growth, development and physiology. However, the functions of many cell wall synthesis genes, and the relationships among and the functions of cell wall components remain obscure. To better understand the patterns of cell wall accumulation and identify genes that act in grass cell wall biosynthesis, we characterized 30 samples from aerial organs of rice (Oryza sativa cv. Kitaake) at 10 developmental time points, 3-100 d post-germination. Within these samples, we measured 15 cell wall chemical components, enzymatic digestibility and 18 cell wall polysaccharide epitopes/ligands. We also used quantitative reverse transcription-PCR to measure expression of 50 glycosyltransferases, 15 acyltransferases and eight phenylpropanoid genes, many of which had previously been identified as being highly expressed in rice. Most cell wall components vary significantly during development, and correlations among them support current understanding of cell walls. We identified 92 significant correlations between cell wall components and gene expression and establish nine strong hypotheses for genes that synthesize xylans, mixed linkage glucan and pectin components. This work provides an extensive analysis of cell wall composition throughout rice development, identifies genes likely to synthesize grass cell walls, and provides a framework for development of genetically improved grasses for use in lignocellulosic biofuel production and agriculture. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

PREFACE: 11th IAEA Technical Meeting on H-mode Physics and Transport Barriers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takizuka, Tomonori

2008-07-01

This volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series contains papers based on invited talks and contributed posters presented at the 11th IAEA Technical Meeting on H-mode Physics and Transport Barriers. This meeting was held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center in Tsukuba, Japan, on 26-28 September 2007, and was organized jointly by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and the University of Tsukuba. The previous ten meetings in this series were held in San Diego (USA) 1987, Gut Ising (Germany) 1989, Abingdon (UK) 1991, Naka (Japan) 1993, Princeton (USA) 1995, Kloster Seeon (Germany) 1997, Oxford (UK) 1999, Toki (Japan) 2001, San Diego (USA) 2003, and St Petersburg (Russia) 2005. The purpose of the eleventh meeting was to present and discuss new results on H-mode (edge transport barrier, ETB) and internal transport barrier, ITB, experiments, theory and modeling in magnetic fusion research. It was expected that contributions give new and improved insights into the physics mechanisms behind high confinement modes of H-mode and ITBs. Ultimately, this research should lead to improved projections for ITER. As has been the tradition at the recent meetings of this series, the program was subdivided into six topics. The topics selected for the eleventh meeting were: H-mode transition and the pedestal-width Dynamics in ETB: ELM threshold, non-linear evolution and suppression, etc Transport relations of various quantities including turbulence in plasmas with ITB: rotation physics is especially highlighted Transport barriers in non-axisymmetric magnetic fields Theory and simulation on transport barriers Projections of transport barrier physics to ITER For each topic there was an invited talk presenting an overview of the topic, based on contributions to the meeting and on recently published external results. The six invited talks were: A Leonard (GA, USA): Progress in characterization of the H-mode pedestal and L-H transition N Oyama (JAEA, Japan): Progress and issues in physics understanding of dynamics, mitigation and control of ELMs J Rice (MIT, USA): Spontaneous rotation and momentum transport in tokamak plasmas K Ida (NIFS, Japan): Transport barriers in non-axisymmetric magnetic fields F Jenko (IPP, Germany): Transport barriers: Recent progress in theory and simulation T Hoang (CEA, France): Internal transport barriers: Projection to ITER Every talk satisfied the objective of the meeting. A discussion period followed each invited talk in order to expand physics understandings, projection capabilities, and the direction of research around the topic. Short talks were presented by contributing speakers in addition to questions, answers, comments and discussion among the participants. For each topic there was an associated poster session for contributed papers, and lively discussion took place in front of every poster. Through the meeting six invited papers and 77 contributed papers were presented in total. The final session of the meeting was devoted to summaries; R Groebner, T S Hahm and K Ida of the IAC summarized the fruits of topics 1 and 2, 3 and 5, and 4 and 6, respectively. I would like to thank Dr A Malaquias, the IAEA Scientific Secretary, for his continuous support and useful suggestions on the arrangements of the meeting. I am very grateful to the IAC members for their cooperation in selecting topics and invited speakers, and for their important advices on the meeting strategy and proceedings publication. I also wish to express my gratitude to LOC colleagues for their hard work organizing the meeting. Young students of the University of Tsukuba helped us during the meeting. Financial and personel support from JAEA and the University of Tsukuba were essential. Finally I would like to acknowledge the participants of the meeting and the referees for the present proceedings. All of the above contributions contributed to the success of the meeting. Tomonori Takizuka Editor Group photograph International Advisory Committee T Takizuka (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan: Chair) R J Groebner (General Atomics, USA) T S Hahm (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, USA) A E Hubbard (MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, USA) K Ida (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) S V Lebedev (Ioffe Institute, Russia) G Saibene (EFDA CSU Garching, Germany) W Suttrop (Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany) Additional information about this meeting (H-mode-TM-11) is available in its homepage http://www-jt60.naka.jaea.go.jp/h-mode-tm-11/. List of Participants N Aiba (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) T Akiyama (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) N Asakura (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) L G Askinazi (Ioffe Institute, Russia) M N A Beurskens (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) J D Callen (University of Wisconsin, USA) T Cho (University of Tsukuba, Japan) P C DeVries (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) X T Ding (Southwestern Institute of Physics, China) E J Doyle (University of California, Los Angels, USA) A Fukuyama (Kyoto University, Japan) P Gohil (General Atomics, USA) R J Groebner (General Atomics, USA) T S Hahm (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, USA) N Hayashi (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) Y Higashiyama (Nagoya University, Japan) Y Higashizono (University of Tsukuba, Japan) M Hirata (University of Tsukuba, Japan) G T Hoang (Association Euratom-CEA sur la Fusion Controle, France) G M D Hogeweij (FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen, The Netherlands) M Honda (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) L D Horton (Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany) W A Houlberg (ITER Organization) A E Hubbard (MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, USA) J W Hughes (MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, USA) M Ichimura (University of Tsukuba, Japan) K Ida (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) T Ido (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) T Imai (University of Tsukuba, Japan) F Imbeaux (Association Euratom-CEA sur la Fusion Controle, France) A Itakura (University of Tsukuba, Japan) K Itoh (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) S-I Itoh (Kyushu University, Japan) F Jenko (Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany) D Kalupin (Institut für Plasmaphysik, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany) Y Kamada (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) N Kasuya (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) I Katanuma (University of Tsukuba, Japan) M Kimura (Kyushu University, Japan) A Kirk (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) S Kitajima (Tohoku University, Japan) S Kobayashi (Kyoto University, Japan) T Kobuchi (Tohoku University, Japan) J Kohagura (University of Tsukuba, Japan) P T Lang (Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany) S V Lebedev (Ioffe Institute, Russia) A W Leonard (General Atomics, USA) J Q Li (Kyoto University, Japan) A Malaquias (International Atomic Energy Agency) Y R Martin (Centre de Recherches en Physique des Plasmas, EPFL, Switzerland) C J McDevitt (University of California, San Diego, USA) D C McDonald (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) H Meyer (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) C A Michael (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) K Miki (Kyushu University, Japan) R Minami (University of Tsukuba, Japan) T Minami (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) Y Miyata (University of Tsukuba, Japan) N Miyato (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) Y Motegi (University of Tsukuba, Japan) V Mukhovatov (ITER Organization) S Murakami (Kyoto University, Japan) Y Nagashima (Kyushu University, Japan) Y Nakashima (University of Tsukuba, Japan) T Numakura (University of Tsukuba, Japan) S Ohshima (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) T Oishi (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) T Onjun (Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thailand) T H Osborne (GENERAL Atomics, USA) N Oyama (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) T Ozeki (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) V Parail (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) A Polevoi (ITER Organization, France) J E Rice (MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, USA) F Ryter (Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany) H Saimaru (University of Tsukuba, Japan) R Sakamoto (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) Y Sakamoto (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) M Sasaki (University of Tokyo, Japan) Y Shi (Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, China) A Shimizu (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) T Shimozuma (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) P B Snyder (General Atomics, USA) C Suzuki (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) H Takahashi (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) Y Takahashi (Nagoya University, Japan) Y Takeiri (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) H Takenaga (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) M Takeuchi (Nagoya University, Japan) T Takizuka (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) N Tamura (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) K Tanaka (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) S Tokuda (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) S Tokunaga (Kyushu University, Japan) G Turri (Centre de Recherches en Physique des Plasmas, EPFL, Switzerland) H Urano (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) H Utoh (Tohok University, Japan) K Uzawa (Kyoto University, Japan) M Valovic (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK) L Vermare (Max-Plank-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Germany) F Watanabe (Nagoya University, Japan) M Yagi (Kyushu University, Japan) Y Yamaguchi (University of Tsukuba, Japan) K Yamazaki (Nagoya University, Japan) M Yokoyama (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan) M Yoshida (Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan) M Yoshinuma (National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan)

Using Tropospheric Ozone Profiles and Surface Data (2004 - 2012) to Determine Background Ozone Levels in Houston, Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spychala, M. D.; Morris, G. A.; Lefer, B. L.; Rappenglueck, B.; Cohan, D. S.; zhou, W.

2012-12-01

The Tropospheric Ozone Pollution Project (TOPP) at Rice University (2004 - 2006) and the University of Houston (2006 - present) has gathered > 400 profiles of ozone, temperature, pressure, and relative humidity, and > 250 of those also have wind speed and wind direction near the core of the City of Houston, Texas. Houston continues to be plagued with difficulty in coming into compliance with EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) due to a combination of its geographic location, large commuter population, significant petrochemical and energy production, and favorable weather patterns. An outstanding question remains the relative partitioning of ozone between local and remote, anthropogenic and natural sources. In this presentation, we use TOPP ozone profiles to determine a "background" ozone concentration and compare this measure with surface monitor "background" ozone as determined from upwind and downwind Continuous Air Monitoring Stations (CAMS) in an effort to further our understanding of this partitioning. For periods studied with the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Model, we also compare the sonde and surface "background" ozone with that suggested by the model.

Ultra-intense Pair Creation using the Texas Petawatt Laser and Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Edison; Henderson, Alexander; Clarke, Taylor; Lo, Willie; Chaguine, Petr; Dyer, Gilliss; Riley, Nathan; Serratto, Kristina; Donovan, Michael; Ditmire, Todd

2014-10-01

Pair plasmas and intense gamma-ray sources are ubiquitous in the high-energy universe, from pulser winds to gamma-ray bursts (GRB). Their study can be greatly enhanced if such sources can be recreated in the laboratory under controlled conditions. In 2012 and 2013, a joint Rice-University of Texas team performed over 130 laser shots on thick gold and platinum targets using the 100 Joule Texas Petawatt Laser in Austin. The laser intensity of many shots exceeded 1021 W.cm-2 with pulses as short as 130 fs. These experiments probe a new extreme regime of ultra-intense laser - high-Z solid target interactions never achieved before. In addition to creating copious pairs with the highest density (>1015/cc) and emergent e +/e- ratio exceeding 20% in many shots, these experiments also created the highest density multi-MeV gamma-rays, comparable in absolute numbers to those found inside a gamma-ray burst (GRB). Potential applications of such intense pair and gamma-ray sources to laboratory astrophysics and innovative technologies will be discussed. Work supported by DOE HEDLP program.

Survey of Crop Losses in Response to Phytoparasitic Nematodes in the United States for 1994

PubMed Central

Koenning, S. R.; Overstreet, C.; Noling, J. W.; Donald, P. A.; Becker, J. O.; Fortnum, B. A.

1999-01-01

Previous reports of crop losses to plant-parasitic nematodes have relied on published results of survey data based on certain commodities, including tobacco, peanuts, cotton, and soybean. Reports on crop-loss assessment by land-grant universities and many commodity groups generally are no longer available, with the exception of the University of Georgia, the Beltwide Cotton Conference, and selected groups concerned with soybean. The Society of Nematologists Extension Committee contacted extension personnel in 49 U.S. states for information on estimated crop losses caused by plant-parasitic nematodes in major crops for the year 1994. Included in this paper are survey results from 35 states on various crops including corn, cotton, soybean, peanut, wheat, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, tobacco, numerous vegetable crops, fruit and nut crops, and golf greens. The data are reported systematically by state and include the estimated loss, hectarage of production, source of information, nematode species or taxon when available, and crop value. The major genera of phytoparasitic nematodes reported to cause crop losses were Heterodera, Hoplolaimus, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Rotylenchulus, and Xiphinema. PMID:19270925

Survey of crop losses in response to phytoparasitic nematodes in the United States for 1994.

PubMed

Koenning, S R; Overstreet, C; Noling, J W; Donald, P A; Becker, J O; Fortnum, B A

1999-12-01

Previous reports of crop losses to plant-parasitic nematodes have relied on published results of survey data based on certain commodities, including tobacco, peanuts, cotton, and soybean. Reports on crop-loss assessment by land-grant universities and many commodity groups generally are no longer available, with the exception of the University of Georgia, the Beltwide Cotton Conference, and selected groups concerned with soybean. The Society of Nematologists Extension Committee contacted extension personnel in 49 U.S. states for information on estimated crop losses caused by plant-parasitic nematodes in major crops for the year 1994. Included in this paper are survey results from 35 states on various crops including corn, cotton, soybean, peanut, wheat, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, tobacco, numerous vegetable crops, fruit and nut crops, and golf greens. The data are reported systematically by state and include the estimated loss, hectarage of production, source of information, nematode species or taxon when available, and crop value. The major genera of phytoparasitic nematodes reported to cause crop losses were Heterodera, Hoplolaimus, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Rotylenchulus, and Xiphinema.

Memorandum on availability of ground water for irrigation in certain areas of eastern Arkansas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dennis, P.E.; ,

1957-01-01

This memorandum was prepared in response to a request from the Soil Conservation Service, Little Rock, Ark., for information on the future prospects of irrigation of rice with water from wells in certain areas in the basins of the Bache, St. Francis, and L'Anguille Rivers, Big and Dials Creeks, and Bayou Meto and the Bouef-Tensas-Macon basin. It was prepared as a aprt of the Statewide ground-water investigation in cooperation with the Arkansas Geological and Conservation Commission ad the University of Arkansas. The specific areas and water requirement specified by the Soil Conservation Service are listed in the appendix.

Assessing the response of the Gulf Coast to global change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, John B.; Törnqvist, Torbjörn E.; Day, John

2012-11-01

Gulf Coastal Science Consortium Workshop;Houston, Texas, 28-29 June 2012 The newly formed Gulf Coastal Science Consortium held its first workshop at Rice University. The creation of the consortium was prompted by two recent incidents. One incident involved censorship of a book chapter on Galveston Bay by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that omitted all references to climate change and accelerated sea-level rise. The other incident was the adoption of legislation in North Carolina that requires planners and developers to assume a linear sea-level rise projection, despite compelling scientific evidence for a multifold increase in sea-level rise in historical time.

WRKY transcription factor genes in wild rice Oryza nivara.

PubMed

Xu, Hengjian; Watanabe, Kenneth A; Zhang, Liyuan; Shen, Qingxi J

2016-08-01

The WRKY transcription factor family is one of the largest gene families involved in plant development and stress response. Although many WRKY genes have been studied in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa), the WRKY genes in the wild rice species Oryza nivara, the direct progenitor of O. sativa, have not been studied. O. nivara shows abundant genetic diversity and elite drought and disease resistance features. Herein, a total of 97 O. nivara WRKY (OnWRKY) genes were identified. RNA-sequencing demonstrates that OnWRKY genes were generally expressed at higher levels in the roots of 30-day-old plants. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that most of OnWRKY genes could be induced by salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and drought. Abundant potential MAPK phosphorylation sites in OnWRKYs suggest that activities of most OnWRKYs can be regulated by phosphorylation. Phylogenetic analyses of OnWRKYs support a novel hypothesis that ancient group IIc OnWRKYs were the original ancestors of only some group IIc and group III WRKYs. The analyses also offer strong support that group IIc OnWRKYs containing the HVE sequence in their zinc finger motifs were derived from group Ia WRKYs. This study provides a solid foundation for the study of the evolution and functions of WRKY genes in O. nivara. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Kazusa DNA Research Institute.

Rice putative methyltransferase gene OsTSD2 is required for root development involving pectin modification.

PubMed

Qu, Lianghuan; Wu, Chunyan; Zhang, Fei; Wu, Yangyang; Fang, Chuanying; Jin, Cheng; Liu, Xianqing; Luo, Jie

2016-10-01

Pectin synthesis and modification are vital for plant development, although the underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. Here, we report the functional characterization of the OsTSD2 gene, which encodes a putative methyltransferase in rice. All three independent T-DNA insertion lines of OsTSD2 displayed dwarf phenotypes and serial alterations in different zones of the root. These alterations included abnormal cellular adhesion and schizogenous aerenchyma formation in the meristematic zone, inhibited root elongation in the elongation zone, and higher lateral root density in the mature zone. Immunofluorescence (with LM19) and Ruthenium Red staining of the roots showed that unesterified homogalacturonan (HG) was increased in Ostsd2 mutants. Biochemical analysis of cell wall pectin polysaccharides revealed that both the monosaccharide composition and the uronic acid content were decreased in Ostsd2 mutants. Increased endogenous ABA content and opposite roles performed by ABA and IAA in regulating cellular adhesion in the Ostsd2 mutants suggested that OsTSD2 is required for root development in rice through a pathway involving pectin synthesis/modification. A hypothesis to explain the relationship among OsTSD2, pectin methylesterification, and root development is proposed, based on pectin's function in regional cell extension/division in a zone-dependent manner. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Rice NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase OsSRT1 represses glycolysis and regulates the moonlighting function of GAPDH as a transcriptional activator of glycolytic genes.

PubMed

Zhang, Hua; Zhao, Yu; Zhou, Dao-Xiu

2017-12-01

Sirtuins, a family of proteins with homology to the yeast silent information regulator 2 (Sir2), are NAD+-dependent histone deacetylases and play crucial roles in energy sensing and regulation in yeast and animal cells. Plants are autotrophic organisms and display distinct features of carbon and energy metabolism. It remains largely unexplored whether and how plant cells sense energy/redox status to control carbon metabolic flux under various growth conditions. In this work, we show that the rice nuclear sirtuin OsSRT1 not only functions as an epigenetic regulator to repress glycolytic genes expression and glycolysis in seedlings, but also inhibits transcriptional activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatedehydrogenase (GAPDH) that is enriched on glycolytic genes promoters and stimulates their expression. We show that OsSRT1 reduces GAPDH lysine acetylation and nuclear accumulation that are enhanced by oxidative stress. Mass spectrometry identified six acetylated lysines regulated by OsSRT1. OsSRT1-dependent lysine deacetylation of OsGAPDH1 represses transcriptional activity of the protein. The results indicate that OsSRT1 represses glycolysis by both regulating epigenetic modification of histone and inhibiting the moonlighting function of GAPDH as a transcriptional activator of glycolytic genes in rice. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Natural variation reveals that OsSAP16 controls low-temperature germination in rice.

PubMed

Wang, Xiang; Zou, Baohong; Shao, Qiaolin; Cui, Yongmei; Lu, Shan; Zhang, Yan; Huang, Quansheng; Huang, Ji; Hua, Jian

2018-01-23

Low temperature affects seed germination in plants, and low-temperature germination (LTG) is an important agronomic trait. Natural variation of LTG has been reported in rice, but the molecular basis for this variation is largely unknown. Here we report the phenotypic analysis of LTG in 187 rice natural accessions and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of LTG in this collection. A total of 53 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were found to be associated with LTG, of which 20 were located in previously reported QTLs. We further identified Stress-Associated Protein 16 (OsSAP16), coding for a zinc-finger domain protein, as a causal gene for one of the major LTG QTLs. Loss of OsSAP16 function reduces germination while greater expression of OsSAP16 enhances germination at low temperature. In addition, accessions with extremely high and low LTG values have correspondingly high and low OsSAP16 expression at low temperatures, suggesting that variation in expression of the OsSAP16 gene contributes to LTG variation. As the first case of identification of an LTG gene through GWAS, this study indicates that GWAS of natural accessions is an effective strategy in genetically dissecting LTG processes and gaining molecular understanding of low-temperature response and germination. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Comprehensive analysis of microRNA-Seq and target mRNAs of rice sheath blight pathogen provides new insights into pathogenic regulatory mechanisms.

PubMed

Lin, Runmao; He, Liye; He, Jiayu; Qin, Peigang; Wang, Yanran; Deng, Qiming; Yang, Xiaoting; Li, Shuangcheng; Wang, Shiquan; Wang, Wenming; Liu, Huainian; Li, Ping; Zheng, Aiping

2016-07-03

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ∼22 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs for degradation or inhibiting protein translation. To investigate whether miRNAs regulate the pathogenesis in necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani AG1 IA, which causes significant yield loss in main economically important crops, and to determine the regulatory mechanism occurring during pathogenesis, we constructed hyphal small RNA libraries from six different infection periods of the rice leaf. Through sequencing and analysis, 177 miRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs) were identified, including 15 candidate pathogenic novel milRNAs predicted by functional annotations of their target mRNAs and expression patterns of milRNAs and mRNAs during infection. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction results for randomly selected milRNAs demonstrated that our novel comprehensive predictions had a high level of accuracy. In our predicted pathogenic protein-protein interaction network of R. solani, we added the related regulatory milRNAs of these core coding genes into the network, and could understand the relationships among these regulatory factors more clearly at the systems level. Furthermore, the putative pathogenic Rhi-milR-16, which negatively regulates target gene expression, was experimentally validated to have regulatory functions by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Additionally, 23 candidate rice miRNAs that may involve in plant immunity against R. solani were discovered. This first study on novel pathogenic milRNAs of R. solani AG1 IA and the recognition of target genes involved in pathogenicity, as well as rice miRNAs, participated in defence against R. solani could provide new insights into revealing the pathogenic mechanisms of the severe rice sheath blight disease. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Kazusa DNA Research Institute.

Assessment of total soil and plant trace elements in rice-based production systems in NE Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bini, Claudio; Nadimi-Goki, Mandana; Kato, Yoichi; Vianello, Gilmo; Vittori, Livia; Wahsha, Mohammad; Spiandorello, Massimo

2014-05-01

Macro- and micronutrients concentrations, and PTEs contents in soils and plants (rice) from the rice district in the Venetian territory (NE Italy) have been determined by ICP-MS spectrometry, with the following aims: - to determine the background levels of macro- and microelements in the study area; - to assess possible contamination of soils and plants; - to calculate the Translocation Factor (TF) of metals from soil to plant, and the possible hazard for human health. Four rice plots with different rotation systems were investigated from seedling time to harvesting; sampling of soils (0-30cm) and plants was carried out 4 times during growing season (three replicates). Rice plants were separated into roots, stems, leaves and grains, and then oven-dried. Chemical and physical analyses were carried out at the Soil Science Lab of the University of Bologna and Venice, respectively. The results obtained point to a land with moderate soil contamination by trace elements (namely Li, Sn, Tl, Sr, Ti, Fe). Heavy metal (Sb, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, V, Zn ) concentrations in soils are below the threshold indicated by the Italian legislation (DM 152/2006). Cd, Sn, and Ti contents in soils are positively correlated with soil pH, while As, Fe, Li, Ti, Tl and Zn are negatively correlated with organic matter content. With the exception of Strontium, soil metal contents are always correlated between variable couples. HMs in plants vary according to the sampling season, texture and moisture, and soil pH. Most non-essential trace elements are accumulated in rice roots and, only in cases of essential micronutrients, in leaves. Therefore, rice can be assumed as an accumulator plant of As, Pb, Cr, Ba, and Ti, whereas it is as an indicator plant for Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn and Zn. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that soil pH has a larger effect on Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Ti and Zn concentrations in grain than other soil parameters. The average translocation of metals from soil to root was found to be >1, irrespective of the essential/not essential function; conversely, only essential elements ((Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) are translocated rather easily from roots to leaves (TF ≤1) via phloem (TF< <1), and very little translocated to grains (TF< <1). Therefore, it is suggested that rice could be useful in contaminated-sites restoration projects by the phytostabilization technique. Moreover, there is very limited hazard for human population consuming rice crops. Key Words: Macro- and micronutrients concentrations, heavy metals, trace elements, rice plant, Italy, accumulator plant, indicator plant * Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 3891356251 E-mail address: mandy.nadimi@gmail.com

Conservation of Chitin-Induced MAPK Signaling Pathways in Rice and Arabidopsis.

PubMed

Yamada, Kenta; Yamaguchi, Koji; Yoshimura, Satomi; Terauchi, Akira; Kawasaki, Tsutomu

2017-06-01

Perception of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) including chitin by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) rapidly induces activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. However, how PRRs transmit immune signals to the MAPK cascade is largely unknown. Recently, Arabidopsis receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase PBL27 has been reported to activate MAPKs through phosphorylation of AtMAPKKK5 in the chitin signaling pathway. In this study, we found that OsRLCK185, a rice ortholog of PBL27, regulates chitin-induced MAPK activation in a similar fashion to PBL27 in rice. Upon chitin perception, OsRLCK185 is phosphorylated by OsCERK1, a component of the chitin receptor complex. OsRLCK185 interacted with OsMAPKKK11 and OsMAPKKK18, rice orthologs of AtMAPKKK5, in yeast two-hybrid assays. Silencing of both OsMAPKKK11 and OsMAPKKK18 significantly reduced chitin-induced activation of OsMPK3 and OsMPK6. Expression levels of OsMAPKKK18 were much higher than that of OsMAPKKK11 in rice cells, which was consistent with the fact that the Osmapkkk11 single mutation did not affect MAPK activation. This result suggested that OsMAPKKK18 plays a more important role than OsMAPKKK11 in the chitin-induced activation of OsMPK3 and OsMPK6. The bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) experiment indicated that OsRLCK185 interacted with OsMAPKKK18 at the plasma membrane in planta. In vitro phosphorylation experiments showed that OsRLCK185 directly phosphorylates OsMAPKKK18. Furthermore, OsMAPKKK18 interacted with the MAPKK OsMKK4, the upstream component of OsMPK3/6. These results suggested that OsRLCK185 connects the chitin receptor to the MAPK cascade consisting of OsMAPKKK18-OsMKK4-OsMPK3/6. Our data revealed that chitin-induced MAPK activation in rice and Arabidopsis is regulated by common homologous elements. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Evaluation of the Role of the LysM Receptor-Like Kinase, OsNFR5/OsRLK2 for AM Symbiosis in Rice.

PubMed

Miyata, Kana; Hayafune, Masahiro; Kobae, Yoshihiro; Kaku, Hanae; Nishizawa, Yoko; Masuda, Yoshiki; Shibuya, Naoto; Nakagawa, Tomomi

2016-11-01

In legume-specific rhizobial symbiosis, host plants perceive rhizobial signal molecules, Nod factors, by a pair of LysM receptor-like kinases, NFR1/LYK3 and NFR5/NFP, and activate symbiotic responses through the downstream signaling components also required for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Recently, the rice NFR1/LYK3 ortholog, OsCERK1, was shown to play crucial roles for AM symbiosis. On the other hand, the roles of the NFR5/NFP ortholog in rice have not been elucidated, while it has been shown that NFR5/NFP orthologs, Parasponia PaNFR5 and tomato SlRLK10, engage in AM symbiosis. OsCERK1 also triggers immune responses in combination with a receptor partner, OsCEBiP, against fungal or bacterial infection, thus regulating opposite responses against symbiotic and pathogenic microbes. However, it has not been elucidated how OsCERK1 switches these opposite functions. Here, we analyzed the function of the rice NFR5/NFP ortholog, OsNFR5/OsRLK2, as a possible candidate of the OsCERK1 partner for symbiotic signaling. Inoculation of AM fungi induced the expression of OsNFR5 in the rice root, and the chimeric receptor consisting of the extracellular domain of LjNFR5 and the intracellular domain of OsNFR5 complemented the Ljnfr5 mutant for rhizobial symbiosis, indicating that the intracellular kinase domain of OsNFR5 could activate symbiotic signaling in Lotus japonicus. Although these data suggested the possible involvement of OsNFR5 in AM symbiosis, osnfr5 knockout mutants were colonized by AM fungi similar to the wild-type rice. These observations suggested several possibilities including the presence of functionally redundant genes other than OsNFR5 or involvement of novel ligands, which do not require OsNFR5 for recognition. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Environmental and physiological effects on grouping of drought-tolerant and susceptible rice varieties related to rice (Oryza sativa) root hydraulics under drought.

PubMed

Henry, Amelia; Wehler, Regina; Grondin, Alexandre; Franke, Rochus; Quintana, Marinell

2016-05-02

Root hydraulic limitations (i.e. intra-plant restrictions to water movement) may be related to crop performance under drought, and groupings in the hydraulic function of drought-tolerant and drought-susceptible rice (Oryza sativa) varieties have been previously reported. This study aimed to better understand the environmental and physiological relationships with rice root hydraulics under drought. Xylem sap bleeding rates in the field (g sap g -1 shoot ) were measured on seasonal and diurnal time frames, during which time environmental conditions were monitored and physiological measurements were conducted. Complementary experiments on the effects of vapour pressure deficit (VPD) on root hydraulic conductivity and on transpiration rates of de-rooted tillers were conducted in growth chambers. The diurnal effects on bleeding rate were more closely related to irradiance than VPD, and VPD effects on root hydraulic conductivity measured on 21-day-old plants were due to effects on plant growth including root surface area, maximum root depth and root:shoot ratio. Leaf osmotic potential was related to the grouping of drought-tolerant and drought-susceptible varieties in rice root hydraulics, and these groupings were independent of differences in phenology. Low single-tiller bleeding rates were observed under high evapo-transpirational demand, higher bleeding rates were observed at more negative leaf osmotic potentials in drought-susceptible varieties, and drought-tolerant and susceptible varieties differed in the VPD-induced increase in transpiration rates of de-rooted tillers. Low root suberin amounts in some of the drought-susceptible varieties may have resulted in higher ion transport, as evidenced by higher sap K + concentration and higher bleeding rates in those varieties. These results provide evidence of the environmental effects on shoots that can influence root hydraulics. The consistent groupings of drought-tolerant and susceptible varieties suggest that traits affecting plant osmotic status may regulate root hydraulic response to drought in rice. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An Activity-Staining Method on Filtration Paper Enables High-Throughput Screening of Temperature-Sensitive and Inactive Mutations of Rice α-Amylase for Improvement of Rice Grain Quality.

PubMed

Yamakawa, Hiromoto; Hirai-Kimura, Rieko; Nakata, Yuriko; Nakata, Masaru; Kuroda, Masaharu; Yamaguchi, Takeshi

2017-04-01

α-Amylase is a starch-hydrolyzing enzyme (EC 3.2.1.1) indispensable for germination of cereal seeds, but it is also expressed during the ripening stage. Previous studies demonstrated that the enzyme is activated in developing rice seeds under extremely hot weather and triggers a loss of grain quality by hindering the accumulation of storage starch in the endosperm. Since inactive or, preferably, heat-labile α-amylases are preferable for breeding premium rice, we developed a method for rapid screening of inactive and temperature-sensitive mutants of the enzyme by combining the random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR and an on-filter activity test of the recombinant enzyme expressed by Escherichia coli. This technique was applied to a major α-amylase in the developing seed, Amy3D, and the activity of the isolated mutant enzymes was verified with both the bacteria-expressed recombinant proteins and the extract from the endosperm overexpressing each of them. Then, we identified several substitutions leading to loss of the activity of amino acid residues (Leu28, Asp112, Cys149, Trp201, Asp204, Gly295, Leu300 and Cys342), as well as a variety of heat-sensitive substitutions of Asp83, Asp187 and Glu252. Furthermore, variations of the heat-labile enzymes were created by combining these heat-sensitive mutations. The effects of the respective mutations and their relationship to the structure of the enzyme molecule are discussed. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Knocking down mitochondrial iron transporter (MIT) reprograms primary and secondary metabolism in rice plants.

PubMed

Vigani, Gianpiero; Bashir, Khurram; Ishimaru, Yasuhiro; Lehmann, Martin; Casiraghi, Fabio Marco; Nakanishi, Hiromi; Seki, Motoaki; Geigenberger, Peter; Zocchi, Graziano; Nishizawa, Naoko K

2016-03-01

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, and its reduced bioavailability strongly impairs mitochondrial functionality. In this work, the metabolic adjustment in the rice (Oryza sativa) mitochondrial Fe transporter knockdown mutant (mit-2) was analysed. Biochemical characterization of purified mitochondria from rice roots showed alteration in the respiratory chain of mit-2 compared with wild-type (WT) plants. In particular, proteins belonging to the type II alternative NAD(P)H dehydrogenases accumulated strongly in mit-2 plants, indicating that alternative pathways were activated to keep the respiratory chain working. Additionally, large-scale changes in the transcriptome and metabolome were observed in mit-2 rice plants. In particular, a strong alteration (up-/down-regulation) in the expression of genes encoding enzymes of both primary and secondary metabolism was found in mutant plants. This was reflected by changes in the metabolic profiles in both roots and shoots of mit-2 plants. Significant alterations in the levels of amino acids belonging to the aspartic acid-related pathways (aspartic acid, lysine, and threonine in roots, and aspartic acid and ornithine in shoots) were found that are strictly connected to the Krebs cycle. Furthermore, some metabolites (e.g. pyruvic acid, fumaric acid, ornithine, and oligosaccharides of the raffinose family) accumulated only in the shoot of mit-2 plants, indicating possible hypoxic responses. These findings suggest that the induction of local Fe deficiency in the mitochondrial compartment of mit-2 plants differentially affects the transcript as well as the metabolic profiles in root and shoot tissues. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

A sustainable path to food security.

PubMed

Xuan, V T

1996-01-01

This paper summarizes remarks made by Vo-Tong Xuan, professor of agronomy at the University of Can Tho. He states that agricultural production affects government market systems of supply and demand. The aim of world food production is to supply more food with fewer resources to meet the needs of a growing global population, which may reach 8 billion by 2025. Global food production needs to increase by 2% annually. Developing country food production needs to increase by 3% annually. There are needs for new land use patterns, improved crop choices, and market options and responsiveness. Better national and regional food monitoring systems are needed, as well as appropriate farming systems. Sustainability entails appropriate receipts for producer costs and affordable costs for consumers. Yields must be increased while lowering production costs. This may be achieved through the use of labor-intensive, low-input technology, increases in non-rice food crops, and changes in livestock and fishery production. Food for livestock must not compete with human food demand. Sustainable food production is dependent upon efficient use of irrigation systems, less consumption of rain water, integrated pest and nutrient management for reducing soil and water degradation, and high-yield, disease-resistant crop varieties suitable for a variety of land conditions. Crop loss must be reduced and better weed management implemented. Parliamentarians are important political resources for assuring the political will to make changes. Several delegations were concerned about the low prices for rice. Professor Xuan recommended reducing overproduction of rice, diversifying crops, and providing ready access to markets for food not consumed at home. Individual subsidies were discouraged in favor of better land use planning. Most delegates agreed that rice should be excluded from international trade agreements.

Linking hydrogen-mediated boron toxicity tolerance with improvement of root elongation, water status and reactive oxygen species balance: a case study for rice.

PubMed

Wang, Yu; Duan, Xingliang; Xu, Sheng; Wang, Ren; Ouyang, Zhaozeng; Shen, Wenbiao

2016-12-01

Boron is essential for plant growth but hazardous when present in excess. As the antioxidant properties of hydrogen gas (H 2 ) were recently described in plants, oxidative stress induced by excess boron was investigated along with other biological responses during rice (Oryza sativa) seed germination to study the beneficial role of H 2 METHODS: Rice seeds were pretreated with exogenous H 2 Using physiological, pharmacological and molecular approaches, the production of endogenous H 2 , growth status, reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance and relative gene expression in rice were measured under boron stress to investigate mechanisms of H 2 -mediated boron toxicity tolerance. In our test, boron-inhibited seed germination and seedling growth, and endogenous H 2 production, were obviously blocked by exogenously applying H 2 The re-establishment of ROS balance was confirmed by reduced lipid peroxidation and ROS accumulation. Meanwhile, activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) were increased. Suppression of pectin methylesterase (PME) activity and downregulation of PME transcripts by H 2 were consistent with the alleviation of root growth inhibition caused by boron. Water status was improved as well. This result was confirmed by the upregulation of genes encoding specific aquaporins (AQPs), the maintenance of low osmotic potential and high content of soluble sugar. Increased transcription of representative AQP genes (PIP2;7 in particular) and BOR2 along with decreased BOR1 mRNA may contribute to lowering boron accumulation. Hydrogen provides boron toxicity tolerance mainly by improving root elongation, water status and ROS balance. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of MAPK and MAPKK gene families in Brachypodium distachyon.

PubMed

Chen, Lihong; Hu, Wei; Tan, Shenglong; Wang, Min; Ma, Zhanbing; Zhou, Shiyi; Deng, Xiaomin; Zhang, Yang; Huang, Chao; Yang, Guangxiao; He, Guangyuan

2012-01-01

MAPK cascades are universal signal transduction modules and play important roles in plant growth, development and in response to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. Although MAPKs and MAPKKs have been systematically investigated in several plant species including Arabidopsis, rice and poplar, no systematic analysis has been conducted in the emerging monocot model plant Brachypodium distachyon. In the present study, a total of 16 MAPK genes and 12 MAPKK genes were identified from B. distachyon. An analysis of the genomic evolution showed that both tandem and segment duplications contributed significantly to the expansion of MAPK and MAPKK families. Evolutionary relationships within subfamilies were supported by exon-intron organizations and the architectures of conserved protein motifs. Synteny analysis between B. distachyon and the other two plant species of rice and Arabidopsis showed that only one homolog of B. distachyon MAPKs was found in the corresponding syntenic blocks of Arabidopsis, while 13 homologs of B. distachyon MAPKs and MAPKKs were found in that of rice, which was consistent with the speciation process of the three species. In addition, several interactive protein pairs between the two families in B. distachyon were found through yeast two hybrid assay, whereas their orthologs of a pair in Arabidopsis and other plant species were not found to interact with each other. Finally, expression studies of closely related family members among B. distachyon, Arabidopsis and rice showed that even recently duplicated representatives may fulfill different functions and be involved in different signal pathways. Taken together, our data would provide a foundation for evolutionary and functional characterization of MAPK and MAPKK gene families in B. distachyon and other plant species to unravel their biological roles.

Genetic evaluation of recombinant inbred lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.) for grain zinc concentrations, yield related traits and identification of associated SSR markers.

PubMed

Bekele, Berhanu D; Naveen, G K; Rakhi, S; Shashidhar, H E

2013-12-01

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate genetic variability parameters, correlations that exist for grain Zn concentration and yield related traits and identification of SSR markers linked to these traits in rice. One hundred seventy six Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) of Azucena X Moromutant were grown at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore in augmented experimental design during wet seasons of 2010 and 2011. The study revealed significant genetic variability for all the traits. Grain yield per plant and grain zinc concentration showed higher phenotypic and genotypic co-efficient of variation. Significant positive correlation was observed for grain yield per plant with number of productive tillers per plant (r = 0.5) and number of tillers per plant (r = 0.4). Grain zinc concentration showed negative correlation with grain yield per plant (r = - 0.27). The path-coefficient analysis indicated the positive direct effect of number of productive tillers per plant on grain yield per plant (0.514). Grain zinc concentration showed negative direct effect on grain yield per plant (-0.186). Single-marker analysis using 26 SSR markers on RILs mapping population showed that RM212, RM263, RM6832, RM152, RM21, RM234 and RM3331 had association with grain zinc concentration and other yield related traits. But validation of these markers on fifty two rice genotypes showed that only three markers RM263, RM152 and RM21 had association with grain zinc concentration. Therefore, the genetic information generated and molecular markers identified from this study could be used for zinc biofortification programmes in rice.

Anaerobic Co-digestion of Cow Dung and Rice Straw to Produce Biogas using Semi-Continuous Flow Digester: Effect of Urea Addition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haryanto, A.; Sugara, B. P.; Telaumbanua, M.; Rosadi, R. A. B.

2018-05-01

The objective this research was to investigate the effect of urea addition on the biogas yield from co-digestion of rice straw and cow dung using semi-continuous anaerobic digester. The experiment was conducted by using self-made semi-continuous anaerobic digester having a working volume of 30 L. Cow dung was provided from Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Lampung; while rice straw was collected from farmer at Way Galih, Tanjung Bintang, South Lampung. Rice straw was sun-dried to about 12% of moisture content and then ground into fine particles. Cow dung and ground straw were mixed at a dung-to-straw ratio of 3:1 based on total solid (TS) and four different urea additions (0, 0.25, 0.65, and 1.30 g/L) were applied to have a C/N ratio between 20 and 30. The mixture was diluted with water to create TS content of 10%. As much as 30 L of the substrate mixture was introduced into the digester as a starting load. The same substrate was added daily at a loading rate of 0.5 L/d. The experiment was made in triplicate and observation was performed for two months. Total and volatile solids of influent and effluent and daily biogas production were observed. The biogas quality was measured by its methane content using gas chromatography. Results showed that urea addition influenced the biogas yield and its quality. Substrate mixture with urea addition of 0.25 g/L (C/N ratio of 27.3) was the best in terms of biogas yield (434.2 L/kgVSr), methane content (50.12%), and methane yield (217.6 L/kgVSr).

Value added products with popular low grade rice varieties of Andhra Pradesh.

PubMed

Anitha, G; Rajyalakshmi, P

2014-12-01

Eight Popular Low Grade Rice Varieties (PLRVs) MTU 3626, MTU 1001, MTU 1010, MTU 4870 and NLR 145, NLR 34242, NLR 30491, NLR 34449, (developed and released by ANGR agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh) having poor cooking quality were selected for the study. ANGRAU variety BPT 5204 popularly consumed as staple rice was used as check. Eight products of traditional/commercial importance were standardized incorporating PLRVs as a major ingredient in the form of rice flour (burfi, noodles and extruded snack product and vennaundalu (butter coated balls), palathalikalu (dough rolled into strips, steamed/cooked in milk); rice semolina (instant kheer mix and instant upma mix), and flaked rice (nutritious bar). The products were evaluated for nutritional, cooking quality characteristics, consumer acceptability and shelf-life. Consumer acceptability of the PLR products was carried out with 60 farm women based on 9 point hedonic scale. Shelf-life of the products (packed in both metalized PP and PE pouches) was evaluated monthly for chemical, microbiological and sensory parameters. Energy values of control and PLR products showed no significant difference. Upon cooking, PLR Noodles showed no significant difference with water absorption and volume but more (p < 0.05) solid loss and cooked weight. Utilization of PLR flakes in nutritious bar resulted in highly crispy and crunchy texture, enhanced flavor and taste as compared to control. The percent total solids and suspended solids were more (though not significant) in PLR kheer and palathalikalu. Extruded product (control and PLR) showed no significant difference with length, diameter, weight and volume expansion ratio and water absorption index (WAI). Consumer acceptability was high for PLR products palathalikalu (95%), instant kheer mix (92%) and extruded product (88%). As per sensory scores, all the PLR products were well accepted with no observable changes in flavor or taste upon storage. PLR products showed increased (P < 0.05) trend for moisture and FFA content from initial to 90 days of storage. The lowest TPC was observed for noodles and highest for burfi (though in safe limits). Extruded snacks (control and PLR) showed no microbial growth during the entire storage period. Considering the poor marketability of PLRVs for consumption as staple rice, the study signifies the utilitarian value of PLRVs in making products of convenience/commercial importance.

Development of universal genetic markers based on single-copy orthologous (COSII) genes in Poaceae.

PubMed

Liu, Hailan; Guo, Xiaoqin; Wu, Jiasheng; Chen, Guo-Bo; Ying, Yeqing

2013-03-01

KEY MESSAGE : We develop a set of universal genetic markers based on single-copy orthologous (COSII) genes in Poaceae. Being evolutionary conserved, single-copy orthologous (COSII) genes are particularly useful in comparative mapping and phylogenetic investigation among species. In this study, we identified 2,684 COSII genes based on five sequenced Poaceae genomes including rice, maize, sorghum, foxtail millet, and brachypodium, and then developed 1,072 COSII markers whose transferability and polymorphism among five bamboo species were further evaluated with 46 pairs of randomly selected primers. 91.3 % of the 46 primers obtained clear amplification in at least one bamboo species, and 65.2 % of them produced polymorphism in more than one species. We also used 42 of them to construct the phylogeny for the five bamboo species, and it might reflect more precise evolutionary relationship than the one based on the vegetative morphology. The results indicated a promising prospect of applying these markers to the investigation of genetic diversity and the classification of Poaceae. To ease and facilitate access of the information of common interest to readers, a web-based database of the COSII markers is provided ( http://www.sicau.edu.cn/web/yms/PCOSWeb/PCOS.html ).

Detection of Allelic Frequency Differences between the Sexes in Humans: A Signature of Sexually Antagonistic Selection.

PubMed

Lucotte, Elise A; Laurent, Romain; Heyer, Evelyne; Ségurel, Laure; Toupance, Bruno

2016-06-02

Sexually antagonistic (SA) selection, a form of selection that can occur when both sexes have different fitness optima for a trait, is a major force shaping the evolution of organisms. A seminal model developed by Rice (Rice WR. 1984. Sex chromosomes and the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Evolution 38:735-742.) predicts that the X chromosome should be a hotspot for the accumulation of loci under SA selection as compared with the autosomes. Here, we propose a methodological framework designed to detect a specific signature of SA selection on viability, differences in allelic frequencies between the sexes. Applying this method on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data in human populations where no sex-specific population stratification could be detected, we show that there are overall significantly more SNPs exhibiting differences in allelic frequencies between the sexes on the X chromosome as compared with autosomes, supporting the predictions of Rice's model. This pattern is consistent across populations and is robust to correction for potential biases such as differences in linkage disequilibrium, sample size, and genotyping errors between chromosomes. Although SA selection is not the only factor resulting in allelic frequency differences between the sexes, we further show that at least part of the identified X-linked loci is caused by such a sex-specific processes. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Image Harvest: an open-source platform for high-throughput plant image processing and analysis.

PubMed

Knecht, Avi C; Campbell, Malachy T; Caprez, Adam; Swanson, David R; Walia, Harkamal

2016-05-01

High-throughput plant phenotyping is an effective approach to bridge the genotype-to-phenotype gap in crops. Phenomics experiments typically result in large-scale image datasets, which are not amenable for processing on desktop computers, thus creating a bottleneck in the image-analysis pipeline. Here, we present an open-source, flexible image-analysis framework, called Image Harvest (IH), for processing images originating from high-throughput plant phenotyping platforms. Image Harvest is developed to perform parallel processing on computing grids and provides an integrated feature for metadata extraction from large-scale file organization. Moreover, the integration of IH with the Open Science Grid provides academic researchers with the computational resources required for processing large image datasets at no cost. Image Harvest also offers functionalities to extract digital traits from images to interpret plant architecture-related characteristics. To demonstrate the applications of these digital traits, a rice (Oryza sativa) diversity panel was phenotyped and genome-wide association mapping was performed using digital traits that are used to describe different plant ideotypes. Three major quantitative trait loci were identified on rice chromosomes 4 and 6, which co-localize with quantitative trait loci known to regulate agronomically important traits in rice. Image Harvest is an open-source software for high-throughput image processing that requires a minimal learning curve for plant biologists to analyzephenomics datasets. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

XA23 is an executor R protein and confers broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice.

PubMed

Wang, Chunlian; Zhang, Xiaoping; Fan, Yinglun; Gao, Ying; Zhu, Qinlong; Zheng, Chongke; Qin, Tengfei; Li, Yanqiang; Che, Jinying; Zhang, Mingwei; Yang, Bing; Liu, Yaoguang; Zhao, Kaijun

2014-11-09

The majority of plant disease resistance (R) genes encode proteins that share common structural features. However, the transcription activator-like effector (TALE) associated executor type R genes show no considerable sequence homology to any known R genes. We adopted a map-based cloning approach and TALE-based technology to isolate and characterize Xa23, a new executor R gene derived from the wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) that confers an extremely broad spectrum of resistance to bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Xa23 encodes a 113-amino acid protein that shares 50% identity to the known executor R protein XA10. The predicted transmembrane helices in XA23 also overlap with those of XA10. Unlike Xa10, however, Xa23 transcription is specifically activated by AvrXa23, a TALE present in all examined Xoo field isolates. Moreover, the susceptible xa23 allele has an identical open reading frame of Xa23, but differs in promoter region by lacking the TALE binding-element (EBE) for AvrXa23. XA23 can trigger strong hypersensitive response in rice, tobacco and tomato. Our results provide the first evidence that plant genomes have an executor R gene family in which members execute their function and spectrum of disease resistance by recognizing the cognate TALEs in pathogen. © The Author 2014. Published by the Molecular Plant Shanghai Editorial Office in association with Oxford University Press on behalf of CSPB and IPPE, SIBS, CAS.

Multigene knockout utilizing off-target mutations of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in rice.

PubMed

Endo, Masaki; Mikami, Masafumi; Toki, Seiichi

2015-01-01

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated endonuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system has been demonstrated to be a robust genome engineering tool in a variety of organisms including plants. However, it has been shown that the CRISPR/Cas9 system cleaves genomic DNA sequences containing mismatches to the guide RNA strand. We expected that this low specificity could be exploited to induce multihomeologous and multiparalogous gene knockouts. In the case of polyploid plants, simultaneous modification of multiple homeologous genes, i.e. genes with similar but not identical DNA sequences, is often needed to obtain a desired phenotype. Even in diploid plants, disruption of multiparalogous genes, which have functional redundancy, is often needed. To validate the applicability of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target mutagenesis of paralogous genes in rice, we designed a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) that recognized 20 bp sequences of cyclin-dependent kinase B2 (CDKB2) as an on-target locus. These 20 bp possess similarity to other rice CDK genes (CDKA1, CDKA2 and CDKB1) with different numbers of mismatches. We analyzed mutations in these four CDK genes in plants regenerated from Cas9/sgRNA-transformed calli and revealed that single, double and triple mutants of CDKA2, CDKB1 and CDKB2 can be created by a single sgRNA. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.

Nitric oxide acts upstream of ethylene in cell wall phosphorus reutilization in phosphorus-deficient rice.

PubMed

Zhu, Xiao Fang; Zhu, Chun Quan; Wang, Chao; Dong, Xiao Ying; Shen, Ren Fang

2017-01-01

Nitric oxide (NO) and ethylene are both involved in cell wall phosphorus (P) reutilization in P-deficient rice; however, the crosstalk between them remains unclear. In the present study using P-deficient 'Nipponbare' (Nip), root NO accumulation significantly increased after 1 h and reached a maximum at 3 h, while ethylene production significantly increased after 3 h and reached a maximum at 6 h, indicating NO responded more quickly than ethylene. Irrespective of P status, addition of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly increased while the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (c-PTIO) significantly decreased the production of ethylene, while neither the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) nor the ethylene inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) had any influence on NO accumulation, suggesting NO acted upstream of ethylene. Under P-deficient conditions, SNP and ACC alone significantly increased root soluble P content through increasing pectin content, and c-PTIO addition to the ACC treatment still showed the same tendency; however, AVG+SNP treatment had no effect, further indicating that ethylene was the downstream signal affecting pectin content. The expression of the phosphate transporter gene OsPT2 showed the same tendency as the NO-ethylene-pectin pathway. Taken together, we conclude that ethylene functions downstream of NO in cell wall P reutilization in P-deficient rice. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Reminiscences, collaborations and reflections.

PubMed

Akazawa, T

1994-02-01

This is a personal account by a semi old-timer who completed his official term as a professor of plant biochemistry at Nagoya University in Japan in 1992. My university student life began soon after the World War II (1948). I shared the hardships of many in my age group, in that life was difficult during my college years. I was fortunate to have the opportunity of studying in the USA on a Fulbright scholarship first at Purdue University (1955-1956), and then at the University of California, Berkeley (1956-1957). My graduate study and postdoctoral training in the new world were vitally refreshing and stimulating, which gave me the impetus for becoming a natural scientist associated with academic institutions. Consciously and subconsciously I was impressed by the friendly and liberal atmosphere surrounding young students as well as senior scholars in the United States. But more importantly, I was inspired by the critical and competitive minds prevailing among these people.The appointment as a biochemist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines (1962-1964) was the real start of my professional career. The work was continued upon my return to Nagoya to become a staff member of the Research Institute for Biochemical Regulation (1964-1992). Throughout the years, my major research interest has covered photosynthesis as a whole, involving photosynthetic CO2-fixation (RuBisCO), carbohydrate metabolism, e.g. starch biosynthesis and breakdown (α-amylase), and metabolic regulation, which are interrelated in the basic metabolism of plant cells.I shall briefly describe in this article highlights from my studies and discoveries made and I shall also discuss their possible significance in plant metabolism, with the hope that it does not contradict my sense of humility: They are (a) discovery of ADPG in plants and its role in starch biosynthesis; (b) structure-function relationship of RuBisCO proteins, in particular on heterologous recombination of their subunits of plant-type enzyme molecules derived from the prokaryotic photosynthetic bacteria; (c) molecular evolution of RuBisCO genes; (d) mode of actions (formation, intracellular transport and secretion) of rice seed α-amylase and its structural characteristics (distinctive glycosylation), and (e) DNA methylation and regulatory mechanism of photosynthesis gene expression in plastids (amyloplasts). In each step of my research, I shared joy, excitement, disappointment, and agony with my colleagues, an experience that may be common to all researchers. Although it is now becoming well recognized among the scientific community in Japan, I want to point out that interaction of multinational scientific minds in the laboratory produces a vital and creative atmosphere for performance of successful research. I experienced and realized this important fact in my earlier days in the USA and the Philippines. Inasmuch as I believe that this is the most crucial element for any research laboratory to possess, I fondly remember the friendships gained with numerous overseas visitors and collaborators who have contributed immensely to our work.

Rice SNP-seek database update: new SNPs, indels, and queries.

PubMed

Mansueto, Locedie; Fuentes, Roven Rommel; Borja, Frances Nikki; Detras, Jeffery; Abriol-Santos, Juan Miguel; Chebotarov, Dmytro; Sanciangco, Millicent; Palis, Kevin; Copetti, Dario; Poliakov, Alexandre; Dubchak, Inna; Solovyev, Victor; Wing, Rod A; Hamilton, Ruaraidh Sackville; Mauleon, Ramil; McNally, Kenneth L; Alexandrov, Nickolai

2017-01-04

We describe updates to the Rice SNP-Seek Database since its first release. We ran a new SNP-calling pipeline followed by filtering that resulted in complete, base, filtered and core SNP datasets. Besides the Nipponbare reference genome, the pipeline was run on genome assemblies of IR 64, 93-11, DJ 123 and Kasalath. New genotype query and display features are added for reference assemblies, SNP datasets and indels. JBrowse now displays BAM, VCF and other annotation tracks, the additional genome assemblies and an embedded VISTA genome comparison viewer. Middleware is redesigned for improved performance by using a hybrid of HDF5 and RDMS for genotype storage. Query modules for genotypes, varieties and genes are improved to handle various constraints. An integrated list manager allows the user to pass query parameters for further analysis. The SNP Annotator adds traits, ontology terms, effects and interactions to markers in a list. Web-service calls were implemented to access most data. These features enable seamless querying of SNP-Seek across various biological entities, a step toward semi-automated gene-trait association discovery. URL: http://snp-seek.irri.org. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Indonesian drought monitoring from space. A report of SAFE activity: Assessment of drought impact on rice production in Indonesia by satellite remote sensing and dissemination with web-GIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shofiyati, Rizatus; Takeuchi, Wataru; Sofan, Parwati; Darmawan, Soni; Awaluddin; Supriatna, Wahyu

2014-06-01

Long droughts experienced in Indonesia in the past are identified as one of the main factors in the failure of rice production. In this regard, special attention to monitor the condition is encouraged to reduce the damage. Currently, various satellite data and approaches can withdraw valuable information for monitoring and anticipating drought hazards. Two types of drought, Meteorology and Agriculture, have been assessed. During the last 10 years, daily and monthly rainfall data derived from TRMM and GSMaP. MTSAT and AMSR-E data have been analyzed to identify meteorological drought. Agricultural drought has been studied by observing the character of some indices (EVI, VCI, VHI, LST, and NDVI) of sixteen-day and monthly MODIS data at a period of 5 years (2009 - 2013). Network for data transfer has been built between LAPAN (data provider), ICALRD (implementer), IAARD Cloud Computing, and University of Tokyo (technical supporter). A Web-GIS based Drought Monitoring Information System has been developed to disseminate the information to end users. This paper describes the implementation of remote sensing drought monitoring model and development of Web-GIS and satellite based information system.

An Online, Interactive Approach to Teaching Neuroscience to Adolescents

PubMed Central

Moreno, Janette; Willcockson, Irmgard; Smith, Donna; Mayes, Janice

2006-01-01

Most of today's students are skilled in instant messaging, Web browsing, online games, and blogs. These have become part of the social landscape and have changed how we learn and where we learn. The question becomes how to harness the attractiveness and ubiquity of electronic venues toward the goal of teaching neuroscience. At the Rice University Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning, a central focus is the creation of innovative materials that appeal to middle school students. A recent project was undertaken through a Science Education Drug Abuse Partnership Award (R25 DA15063) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to inform adolescents about the neurobiology of substance abuse and the current research dealing with a class of drugs known as club drugs. Problem-based learning, multimedia pedagogy, and the National Science Content Standards were integrated to produce The Reconstructors™, an episodic series available via the World Wide Web at http://reconstructors.rice.edu. A field test of students from five schools assessed the retention of content after “playing” The Reconstructors™ series titled Nothing to Rave About. Gain scores indicated that middle school students' knowledge about club drugs and the basic neuroscience concepts that explain their effects improved significantly. PMID:17012204

The 2009 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting: Sir Harold Kroto, Chemistry 1996.

PubMed

Kroto, Harold

2010-04-07

English Chemist Harold Kroto shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley for their discovery of Fullerenes (C(60;)), molecules composed completely of carbon (C(60;)) that form hollow spheres (also known as Buckyballs), tubes, or ellipsoids. These structures hold the potential for use in future technologies ranging from drug development and antimicrobial agents, to armor and superconductors. Harold Kroto was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in 1939 and grew up in Bolton. Educated at Bolton School, he entered Sheffield University in 1958 to study Chemistry. During his time there he played tennis for the university team, illustrated the university's magazine covers, and played folk music with other students. Enjoying his time at Sheffield very much, he chose to stay on and complete a Ph.D. in Chemistry under Richard Dixon. Following graduation in 1964, Kroto went on to post doc at the National Research Council (NRC) in Ottowa, Canada where microwave spectroscopy became his specialty. After two years of study at the NRC he spent a year at Bell Laboratories. He then accepted a position as a tutorial fellow at the University of Sussex, where he was soon offered a permanent position. There, he applied his expertise in microwave spectroscopy to the field of astronomy and spent several fruitful years detecting long carbon chains in the interstellar medium. Upon hearing of the work of Richard Smalley at Rice, who developed a laser that could vaporize graphite, Kroto thought they could use Smalley's instrument to see carbon chains similar to those they had observed in interstellar matter. He suggested his idea for an experiment to Bob Curl, also at Rice. In 1985 he traveled to Rice to perform the experiment (and also to visit a half-price bookstore he'd heard about in Houston). Although he felt certain that the apparatus would create the carbon chains, the experiment revealed a totally unexpected result: the spontaneous formation of spherical shapes, which they called Buckminster Fullerenes in honor of the architect who popularized the geodesic dome. Though he is pleased to have received the Nobel Prize, Kroto does not believe in prizes or competition as a motivator for scientific (or athletic) progress. Rather, he believes that the pursuit of science or athletics should be simply for the enjoyment or interest in the subject matter, and he prefers to investigate subjects that other people aren't working on. Kroto has mixed feelings about the effect the prize has had on his life. On the one hand, he would like to be able to spend more time pursuing graphic design, something he has always deeply enjoyed. On the other hand, he now enjoys a sense of responsibility for supporting the scientific community. As an atheist, Kroto feels that science is, in itself, atheistic. He doesn't accept anything without evidence. Kroto expresses concern about people holding positions of power who do not use evidence as a basis for decision-making. "When they are prepared to accept one of 20-30 stories from thousands of years ago, I wonder what else they are prepared to accept when it comes to decisions which affect me?" Kroto is particularly worried about the effect of policies that require the teaching of non-scientific ideas, to the detriment of evidence-based scientific education. He points to the forced teaching of creationism in public schools and the existence of a "creation museum" in the United States as sources of misinformation that have given rise to "a whole generation of school children who've been abused."

Use of the rice husk as an alternative substrate for growing media on green walls drip irrigation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrey Rivas-Sánchez, Yair; Fátima Moreno-Pérez, María; Roldán Cañas, José

2017-04-01

In the last years, we have been looking for alternatives to traditional growing mediums for green walls. Commercially available systems for green walls are commonly made with Sphagnum, rock wool or polymers that are unsustainable materials. In the design of the green wall, local components such as agricultural by-products should be considered more often. The objective of this research is to use alternative materials available in Andalusia that are suitable for use as a growing medium in green walls, using organic residues generated by agriculture as in this case the rice husk, compared to conventional and used materials as a growing media in green walls such as coconut fiber and rock wool. The physical-chemical characteristics of the water were analyzed through the collection of excess irrigation water, after passing through the prototypes of green walls, installed in the Rabanales Campus of the University of Córdoba between April and July 2016 and thus observe the feasibility of using rice husk as an alternative material. The 16 mm diameter irrigation pipes are at the top and middle of each module, with 12 adjustable drippers of 4 l / h for each module, 72 drippers in the whole experimental green wall prototype installed at every 15 centimeters of tube. Two different species of plant material (Lampranthus spectabilis) and (Lavandula stoechas), were selected, taking into account the solar exposition of the place of establishment of the prototype of the green wall and the easy acquisition of these plants in the region. Water samples were collected every day twice a day for 10 weeks of the experiment, taking a sample of the surplus runoff water from six green wall prototypes.PH 40 - pH - conductivity - TDS - temperature, CRISON. Differences in pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity and total solids of the treatments were examined by ANOVA with the test of normality and homogeneity of variances. It was observed that the substrates used in the prototypes of the experiment with rock wool and coconut fiber had a significant influence on the water characteristics, while the effect of the rice husk substrate was minimal. These results confirm that the rice husk is a valid substitute for the conventional substrates used in green walls. The use of rice husk as a growing medium material can replace less sustainable substrates such as Sphagnum moss and other polymers.

Balloon-Borne, High-Energy Astrophysics: Experiences from the 1960s to the 1980s

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fishman, Gerald J.

2008-01-01

Observational high-energy astrophysics in the hard-x-ray and gamma-ray regions owes its development and initial successes to the balloon-borne development of detector systems, as well as pioneering observations, primarily in the timeframe from the 1960s to the 1990s. I will describe some of the first observations made by the Rice University balloon group in the 1960s, including the impetus for these observations. The appearance of SN 1987a led to several balloon-flight campaigns, sponsored by NASA, from Alice Springs, Australia in 1987 and 1988. During the 1980s, prototypes of instruments for the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory were flown on many balloon flights, which greatly enhanced the success of that mission.

Evaluation of Dust Exposure among the Workers in Agricultural Industries in North-East India.

PubMed

Dewangan, Krishna N; Patil, Mahesh R

2015-11-01

This study aims to quantify dust exposure among the workers in four different industrial settings: rice mills, flour mills, oil mills, and tea factories and to compare the obtained data with the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of Indian Union Ministry of Labour as well as to compare the dust exposure across activities and seasons. RespiCon(TM) particle sampler was used for collecting dust concentration in the breathing zone of the workers. In total, 149 workers participated in the study and 204 samples were collected. Samples were collected in the vicinity of different processing operations. Samples in the rice mills were collected for two consecutive years in two seasons; however samples from other industries were collected for 1 year. The results indicate that geometric mean (GM) of dust exposure was significantly (P < 0.0001) different among industrial settings. Respirable dust were 8.22, 5.76, 2.98, and 6.34mg m(-3) and total dust exposure were 81.05, 111.02, 56.68, and 39.85mg m(-3) in the rice mills, oil mills, flour mills, and tea factories, respectively. Considerable variations in dust exposure were observed in different activities in the rice and oil mills; however variation was relatively less in the flour mills and tea factories. In the rice mills, dust concentration was higher in winter than those obtained in autumn and it is significantly different (P < 0.05) for inhalable dust and total dust. Positive correlation was obtained in thoracic dust (r (2) = 0.94) and inhalable dust (r (2) = 0.97) with total dust and thoracic dust with inhalable dust (r (2) = 0.89). The results show that majority of the workers are exposed to higher level of respirable dust as compared to the PEL, while total dust exposure to all the workers were higher than the PEL; thus, immediate reduction of dust exposure among the workers is necessary for preventing respiratory system impairment. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

Transcriptomic and histological responses of African rice (Oryza glaberrima) to Meloidogyne graminicola provide new insights into root-knot nematode resistance in monocots.

PubMed

Petitot, Anne-Sophie; Kyndt, Tina; Haidar, Rana; Dereeper, Alexis; Collin, Myriam; de Almeida Engler, Janice; Gheysen, Godelieve; Fernandez, Diana

2017-03-01

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola is responsible for production losses in rice ( Oryza sativa ) in Asia and Latin America. The accession TOG5681 of African rice, O. glaberrima , presents improved resistance to several biotic and abiotic factors, including nematodes. The aim of this study was to assess the cytological and molecular mechanisms underlying nematode resistance in this accession. Penetration and development in M. graminicola in TOG5681 and the susceptible O. sativa genotype 'Nipponbare' were compared by microscopic observation of infected roots and histological analysis of galls. In parallel, host molecular responses to M. graminicola were assessed by root transcriptome profiling at 2, 4 and 8 d post-infection (dpi). Specific treatments with hormone inhibitors were conducted in TOG5681 to assess the impact of the jasmonic acid and salicylic acid pathways on nematode penetration and reproduction. Penetration and development of M. graminicola juveniles were reduced in the resistant TOG5681 in comparison with the susceptible accession, with degeneration of giant cells observed in the resistant genotype from 15 dpi onwards. Transcriptome changes were observed as early as 2 dpi, with genes predicted to be involved in defence responses, phenylpropanoid and hormone pathways strongly induced in TOG5681, in contrast to 'Nipponbare'. No specific hormonal pathway could be identified as the major determinant of resistance in the rice-nematode incompatible interaction. Candidate genes proposed as involved in resistance to M. graminicola in TOG5681 were identified based on their expression pattern and quantitative trait locus (QTL) position, including chalcone synthase, isoflavone reductase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, WRKY62 transcription factor, thionin, stripe rust resistance protein, thaumatins and ATPase3. This study provides a novel set of candidate genes for O. glaberrima resistance to nematodes and highlights the rice- M. graminicola pathosystem as a model to study plant-nematode incompatible interactions. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Mapping suitability of rice production systems for mitigation: Strategic approach for prioritizing improved irrigation management across scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wassmann, Reiner; Sander, Bjoern Ole

2016-04-01

After the successful conclusion of the COP21 in Paris, many developing countries are now embracing the task of reducing emissions with much vigor than previously. In many countries of South and South-East Asia, the agriculture sector constitutes a vast share of the national GHG budget which can mainly be attributed to methane emissions from flooded rice production. Thus, rice growing countries are now looking for tangible and easily accessible information as to how to reduce emissions from rice production in an efficient manner. Given present and future food demand, mitigation options will have to comply with aim of increasing productivity. At the same time, limited financial resources demand for strategic planning of potential mitigation projects based on cost-benefit ratios. At this point, the most promising approach for mitigating methane emissions from rice is an irrigation technique called Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). AWD was initially developed for saving water and subsequently, represents an adaptation strategy in its own right by coping with less rainfall. Moreover, AWD also reduces methane emissions in a range from 30-70%. However, AWD is not universally suitable. It is attractive to farmers who have to pump water and may save fuel under AWD, but renders limited incentives in situations where there is no real pressing water scarcity. Thus, planning for AWD adoption at larger scale, e.g. for country-wide programs, should be based on a systematic prioritization of target environments. This presentation encompasses a new methodology for mapping suitability of water-saving in rice production - as a means for planning adaptation and mitigation programs - alongside with preliminary results. The latter comprises three new GIS maps on climate-driven suitability of AWD in major rice growing countries (Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh). These maps have been derived from high-resolution data of the areal and temporal extent of rice production that are now available for most Asian countries. These GIS maps have been expanded by adding relevant data on climate and soil texture to assess the water balance at any given point (in space and time). In the next step, these water balances (available in 10d intervals) have been integrated over the entire season to determine the climate-driven suitability for AWD implementation. These new GIS maps are vital for policy makers and other stakeholders who are now faced with the challenge of developing mitigation programs. The GIS data bases could further be expanded by more GIS layers on irrigation specific information (e.g. use of pumps) as well as on other mitigation approaches such as improved post-harvest technologies for preventing straw burning.

Investigation of EM Emissions by the Electrodynamic Tether, Inclusive of an Observational Program (EMET)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Estes, Robert D.

1998-01-01

Our TSS-1/R investigation, which we shall refer to as EMET in this report, was an integral part of the effort by the TSS-1/R Investigators' Working Group (IWG) to come to an understanding of the complex interaction between the tethered satellite system and the ionosphere. All of the space-borne experiments were designed to collect data relevant to the local interaction. Only the ground- based experiments, EMET and its Italian counterpart Observations on the Earth's Surface of Electromagnetic Emissions (OESEE), held out any hope of characterizing the long range effects of the interaction. This was to be done by detecting electromagnetic waves generated by the system in the ionosphere, assuming the signal reached the Earth's surface with sufficient amplitude. As the type of plasma waves excited to carry charge away from the charge-exchange regions of the system at each end of the tether is one of the theoretical points about which there is greatest disagreement, a definitive identification of tether-generated waves could mark significant progress in the so-called current closure problem of electrodynamic tethers. Dr. Mario Grossi of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) initiated the investigation, and his experience in the field of ULF-ELF waves and their detection was invaluable throughout its course. Rice University had the responsibility of setting up the EMET ULF-VLF ground stations under a subcontract from SAO. Principal Investigator (PI) for the Rice effort was Prof. William E. Gordon, who was primary observer at the Arecibo Observatory during TSS-LR. Dr. Steve Noble handled major day-to-day operations, training, and planning for the ground-based measurements. Dr. James McCoy of NASA JSC, a member of the Mona/Arecibo team, was pilot for the numerous flights ferrying personnel and equipment between Puerto Rico and Mona Island. Final responsibility for the measurements rested with SAO, and the activities of field personnel and SAO investigators were closely co-ordinated during the mission. Dr. Enrico Lorenzini of SAO served as the eyes, ears, and brain of EMET in the Science Operations Area and PI table during the mission, whenever the PI was absent during the round-the-clock mission operations. The Rice University final report to SAO, which is included as an Appendix, contains details of the remote sites, means of communication, sensors, etc., as well as the affiliations of personnel involved in the data-gathering effort.

The arrival of high temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Paul C. W.

2011-03-01

The attainment of high temperature superconductivity has been considered a major advancement of modern science. It was the seminal discovery of the first cuprate high temperature superconductor, the Ba-doped La 2 Cu O4 , with a Tc of 35 K in 1986 by Alex Müller and George Bednorz of IBM Zurich Lab, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1987, that ushered in the era of cuprate high temperature superconductivity. It was the first liquid nitrogen high temperature superconductor, YBa 2 Cu 3 O7 with a Tc of 93 K discovered in 1987 by Paul C. W. Chu, Maw-Kuen Wu and colleagues in the respective groups at the University of Houston and the University of Alabama at Huntsville that heralded the new era of high temperature superconductivity, drastically changing the psyche of superconductivity research and bringing superconductivity applications a giant step closer to reality. In the ensuing years, many high temperature superconductors have been found, leading to the current record Tc of 134 K which was observed by A. Schilling et al. of ETH in 1993 in HgBa 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O9 - δ at ambient and later raised to 164 K under 30 GPa by L. Gao et al. In the present talk, I shall briefly recall a few events leading to and during the arrival of high temperature superconductivity. The prospects for future superconductors with higher Tc will also be discussed. Supported in part by U.S. AFOSR, U.S. DoE through ORNL, U.S. AFRL CONTACT through Rice University, the T. L. L. Temple Foundation, the John J. and Rebecca Moores Endowment, and the State of Texas through TCSUH.

The rice YABBY4 gene regulates plant growth and development through modulating the gibberellin pathway.

PubMed

Yang, Chao; Ma, Yamei; Li, Jianxiong

2016-10-01

YABBY genes encode seed plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in diverse aspects of leaf, shoot, and flower development. Members of the YABBY gene family are primarily expressed in lateral organs in a polar manner and function to specify abaxial cell fate in dicotyledons, but this polar expression is not conserved in monocotyledons. The function of YABBY genes is therefore not well understood in monocotyledons. Here we show that overexpression of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) YABBY4 gene (OsYABBY4) leads to a semi-dwarf phenotype, abnormal development in the uppermost internode, an increased number of floral organs, and insensitivity to gibberellin (GA) treatment. We report on an important role for OsYABBY4 in negative control of the expression of a GA biosynthetic gene by binding to the promoter region of the gibberellin 20-oxidase 2 gene (GA20ox2), which is a direct target of SLR1 (the sole DELLA protein negatively controlling GA responses in rice). OsYABBY4 also suppresses the expression level of SLR1 and interacts with SLR1 protein. The interaction inhibits GA-dependent degradation of SLR1 and therefore leads to GA insensitivity. These data together suggest that OsYABBY4 serves as a DNA-binding intermediate protein for SLR1 and is associated with the GA signaling pathway regulating gene expression during plant growth and development. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Genome sequence of the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus.

PubMed

Zhu, Junjie; Jiang, Feng; Wang, Xianhui; Yang, Pengcheng; Bao, Yanyuan; Zhao, Wan; Wang, Wei; Lu, Hong; Wang, Qianshuo; Cui, Na; Li, Jing; Chen, Xiaofang; Luo, Lan; Yu, Jinting; Kang, Le; Cui, Feng

2017-12-01

Laodelphax striatellus Fallén (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is one of the most destructive rice pests. L. striatellus is different from 2 other rice planthoppers with a released genome sequence, Sogatella furcifera and Nilaparvata lugens, in many biological characteristics, such as host range, dispersal capacity, and vectoring plant viruses. Deciphering the genome of L. striatellus will further the understanding of the genetic basis of the biological differences among the 3 rice planthoppers. A total of 190 Gb of Illumina data and 32.4 Gb of Pacbio data were generated and used to assemble a high-quality L. striatellus genome sequence, which is 541 Mb in length and has a contig N50 of 118 Kb and a scaffold N50 of 1.08 Mb. Annotated repetitive elements account for 25.7% of the genome. A total of 17 736 protein-coding genes were annotated, capturing 97.6% and 98% of the BUSCO eukaryote and arthropoda genes, respectively. Compared with N. lugens and S. furcifera, L. striatellus has the smallest genome and the lowest gene number. Gene family expansion and transcriptomic analyses provided hints to the genomic basis of the differences in important traits such as host range, migratory habit, and plant virus transmission between L. striatellus and the other 2 planthoppers. We report a high-quality genome assembly of L. striatellus, which is an important genomic resource not only for the study of the biology of L. striatellus and its interactions with plant hosts and plant viruses, but also for comparison with other planthoppers. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Arkansas DOE/EPSCoR traineeship grant. Final technical report, September 30, 1991--October 15, 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Geren, C.R.

1998-03-06

The traineeship grant proposal was submitted by Karl David Straub on March 19, 1991 on the behalf of the Arkansas EPSCoR Committee. The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville submitted the proposal for the Arkansas EPSCoR Committee and agreed to act as the fiduciary for the project if it was funded. The duration of the original project was 9/1/91 through 8/31/92. A competitive renewal application for years two and three was submitted by Collis Geren for the Arkansas EPSCoR Committee and the DOE EPSCoR Subcommittee, and no cost extensions extended the program through October 15, 1996. The total funding from the Departmentmore » of Energy, for this traineeship grant was $750,000 which was matched as required by participating Arkansas entities. The Arkansas Energy Office provided $725,000 of the match from stripper well funds. Participating universities provided the final required $25,000. This report describes the process the state followed in recruiting to fill training positions, problems encountered with the program, the participants, their research programs, and their progress. Students worked on programs ranging from diamond films to molecular conductors, particle physics to photo cells, catalysts to solar siding to rice drying.« less

AI techniques in geomagnetic storm forecasting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lundstedt, Henrik

This review deals with how geomagnetic storms can be predicted with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. Today many different Al techniques have been developed, such as symbolic systems (expert and fuzzy systems) and connectionism systems (neural networks). Even integrations of AI techniques exist, so called Intelligent Hybrid Systems (IHS). These systems are capable of learning the mathematical functions underlying the operation of non-linear dynamic systems and also to explain the knowledge they have learned. Very few such powerful systems exist at present. Two such examples are the Magnetospheric Specification Forecast Model of Rice University and the Lund Space Weather Model of Lund University. Various attempts to predict geomagnetic storms on long to short-term are reviewed in this article. Predictions of a month to days ahead most often use solar data as input. The first SOHO data are now available. Due to the high temporal and spatial resolution new solar physics have been revealed. These SOHO data might lead to a breakthrough in these predictions. Predictions hours ahead and shorter rely on real-time solar wind data. WIND gives us real-time data for only part of the day. However, with the launch of the ACE spacecraft in 1997, real-time data during 24 hours will be available. That might lead to the second breakthrough for predictions of geomagnetic storms.

Cytokinin delays dark-induced senescence in rice by maintaining the chlorophyll cycle and photosynthetic complexes.

PubMed

Talla, Sai Krishna; Panigrahy, Madhusmita; Kappara, Saivishnupriya; Nirosha, P; Neelamraju, Sarla; Ramanan, Rajeshwari

2016-03-01

The phytohormone cytokinin (CK) is known to delay senescence in plants. We studied the effect of a CK analog, 6-benzyl adenine (BA), on rice leaves to understand the possible mechanism by which CK delays senescence in a drought- and heat-tolerant rice cultivar Nagina22 (N22) using dark-induced senescence (DIS) as a surrogate for natural senescence of leaves. Leaves of N22-H-dgl162, a stay-green mutant of N22, and BA-treated N22 showed retention of chlorophyll (Chl) pigments, maintenance of the Chl a/b ratio, and delay in reduction of both photochemical efficiency and rate of oxygen evolution during DIS. HPLC analysis showed accumulation of 7-hydroxymethyl chlorophyll (HmChl) during DIS, and the kinetics of its accumulation correlated with progression of senescence. Transcriptome analysis revealed that several plastid-localized genes, specifically those associated with photosystem II (PSII), showed higher transcript levels in BA-treated N22 and the stay-green mutant leaves compared with naturally senescing N22 leaves. Real-time PCR analyses showed that genes coding for enzymes associated with Chl a/b interconversion and proteins associated with light-harvesting complexes maintained higher transcript levels up to 72h of DIS following BA treatment. The pigment-protein complexes analyzed by green gel remained intact in both N22-H-dgl162 and BA-treated N22 leaves even after 96h of DIS. Thus, CK delays senescence by accumulation of HmChl and up-regulating genes in the Chl cycle, thereby maintaining the Chl a/b ratio. Also, CK treatment retains higher transcript levels of PSII-related genes, resulting in the stability of photosynthetic pigment complexes and functional stay-greenness in rice. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

The use of different reference foods in determining the glycemic index of starchy and non-starchy test foods.

PubMed

Venn, Bernard J; Kataoka, Minako; Mann, Jim

2014-05-31

Glycemic index (GI) is intended to be a property of food but some reports are suggestive that GI is influenced by participant characteristics when glucose is used as a reference. To examine the influence of different reference foods on observed GI. The GIs of five varieties of rice and a sugary beverage (LoGiCane™) were tested in 31 European and 32 Chinese participants using glucose or jasmine rice as reference foods. The GIs of two ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (Kellogg's cornflakes and Sustain) were tested in 20 younger and 60 older people using glucose or Sustain as reference foods. The GIs of rice tended to be higher in the Chinese compared with the Europeans when glucose was used as a reference (jasmine 80 vs 68, P = 0.033; basmati 67 vs 57, P = 0.170; brown 78 vs 65, P = 0.054; Doongara 67 vs 55, P = 0.045; parboiled 72 vs 57, P = 0.011). There were no between-group differences in GI when jasmine rice was the reference. The GIs of breakfast cereals tended to be lower in younger compared with older groups (cornflakes 64 vs 81, P = 0.008; Sustain 56 vs 66, P = 0.054). There was no between-group difference in the GI of cornflakes when Sustain was the reference (cornflakes 115 vs 120, P = 0.64). There was no ethnic difference in GI when glucose was the reference for another sugary food (LoGiCane™ 60 vs 62; P = 0.69). A starchy reference may be more appropriate than a glucose beverage when attempting to derive universally applicable GI values of starchy foods. The Chinese/European trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry as ACTRN12612000519853.

A Small Decrease in Rubisco Content by Individual Suppression of RBCS Genes Leads to Improvement of Photosynthesis and Greater Biomass Production in Rice Under Conditions of Elevated CO2.

PubMed

Kanno, Keiichi; Suzuki, Yuji; Makino, Amane

2017-03-01

Rubisco limits photosynthesis at low CO2 concentrations ([CO2]), but does not limit it at elevated [CO2]. This means that the amount of Rubisco is excessive for photosynthesis at elevated [CO2]. Therefore, we examined whether a small decrease in Rubisco content by individual suppression of the RBCS multigene family leads to increases in photosynthesis and biomass production at elevated [CO2] in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Our previous studies indicated that the individual suppression of RBCS decreased Rubisco content in rice by 10-25%. Three lines of BC2F2 progeny were selected from transgenic plants with individual suppression of OsRBCS2, 3 and 5. Rubisco content in the selected lines was 71-90% that of wild-type plants. These three transgenic lines showed lower rates of CO2 assimilation at low [CO2] (28 Pa) but higher rates of CO2 assimilation at elevated [CO2] (120 Pa). Similarly, the biomass production and relative growth rate (RGR) of the two lines were also smaller at low [CO2] but greater than that of wild-type plants at elevated [CO2]. This greater RGR was caused by the higher net assimilation rate (NAR). When the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for the NAR was estimated by dividing the NAR by whole-plant leaf N content, the NUE for NAR at elevated [CO2] was higher in these two lines. Thus, a small decrease in Rubisco content leads to improvements of photosynthesis and greater biomass production in rice under conditions of elevated CO2. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

EUPAN enables pan-genome studies of a large number of eukaryotic genomes.

PubMed

Hu, Zhiqiang; Sun, Chen; Lu, Kuang-Chen; Chu, Xixia; Zhao, Yue; Lu, Jinyuan; Shi, Jianxin; Wei, Chaochun

2017-08-01

Pan-genome analyses are routinely carried out for bacteria to interpret the within-species gene presence/absence variations (PAVs). However, pan-genome analyses are rare for eukaryotes due to the large sizes and higher complexities of their genomes. Here we proposed EUPAN, a eukaryotic pan-genome analysis toolkit, enabling automatic large-scale eukaryotic pan-genome analyses and detection of gene PAVs at a relatively low sequencing depth. In the previous studies, we demonstrated the effectiveness and high accuracy of EUPAN in the pan-genome analysis of 453 rice genomes, in which we also revealed widespread gene PAVs among individual rice genomes. Moreover, EUPAN can be directly applied to the current re-sequencing projects primarily focusing on single nucleotide polymorphisms. EUPAN is implemented in Perl, R and C ++. It is supported under Linux and preferred for a computer cluster with LSF and SLURM job scheduling system. EUPAN together with its standard operating procedure (SOP) is freely available for non-commercial use (CC BY-NC 4.0) at http://cgm.sjtu.edu.cn/eupan/index.html . ccwei@sjtu.edu.cn or jianxin.shi@sjtu.edu.cn. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. © The Author (2017). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Plant Reactome: a resource for plant pathways and comparative analysis.

PubMed

Naithani, Sushma; Preece, Justin; D'Eustachio, Peter; Gupta, Parul; Amarasinghe, Vindhya; Dharmawardhana, Palitha D; Wu, Guanming; Fabregat, Antonio; Elser, Justin L; Weiser, Joel; Keays, Maria; Fuentes, Alfonso Munoz-Pomer; Petryszak, Robert; Stein, Lincoln D; Ware, Doreen; Jaiswal, Pankaj

2017-01-04

Plant Reactome (http://plantreactome.gramene.org/) is a free, open-source, curated plant pathway database portal, provided as part of the Gramene project. The database provides intuitive bioinformatics tools for the visualization, analysis and interpretation of pathway knowledge to support genome annotation, genome analysis, modeling, systems biology, basic research and education. Plant Reactome employs the structural framework of a plant cell to show metabolic, transport, genetic, developmental and signaling pathways. We manually curate molecular details of pathways in these domains for reference species Oryza sativa (rice) supported by published literature and annotation of well-characterized genes. Two hundred twenty-two rice pathways, 1025 reactions associated with 1173 proteins, 907 small molecules and 256 literature references have been curated to date. These reference annotations were used to project pathways for 62 model, crop and evolutionarily significant plant species based on gene homology. Database users can search and browse various components of the database, visualize curated baseline expression of pathway-associated genes provided by the Expression Atlas and upload and analyze their Omics datasets. The database also offers data access via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and in various standardized pathway formats, such as SBML and BioPAX. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Household Task Delegation among High-Fertility Forager-Horticulturalists of Lowland Bolivia.

PubMed

Stieglitz, Jonathan; Gurven, Michael; Kaplan, Hillard; Hooper, Paul L

2013-04-01

Human kin cooperation is universal, leading researchers to label humans as "cooperative breeders." Despite widespread interest in human cooperation, there has been no systematic study of how household economic decision making occurs. We document age and sex profiles of task delegation by parents to children ages 4-18 among Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. We test for sex differences in the probability of delegation and examine whether tasks are more likely delegated as household labor demand increases. We also test whether food acquisition tasks are more likely delegated to higher producers. We find mixed support for the prediction that girls are more likely delegated domestic and alloparenting tasks than boys ( n = 173 children). Both sexes are more likely delegated tasks during rice harvest months; number of coresident young children is also associated with greater probability of delegated allocare, although the effect retains significance for girls only. For both sexes, father absence is associated with greater probability of delegation, particularly for food acquisition tasks. Children delegated rice harvesting achieve 45% higher mean daily caloric returns from harvesting than children not delegated harvesting. Our results therefore suggest that delegation increases household economic efficiency. We find mixed support for the hypothesis that delegation prepares children for sex-specific adult roles.

Household Task Delegation among High-Fertility Forager-Horticulturalists of Lowland Bolivia

PubMed Central

Stieglitz, Jonathan; Gurven, Michael; Kaplan, Hillard; Hooper, Paul L.

2013-01-01

Human kin cooperation is universal, leading researchers to label humans as “cooperative breeders.” Despite widespread interest in human cooperation, there has been no systematic study of how household economic decision making occurs. We document age and sex profiles of task delegation by parents to children ages 4–18 among Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. We test for sex differences in the probability of delegation and examine whether tasks are more likely delegated as household labor demand increases. We also test whether food acquisition tasks are more likely delegated to higher producers. We find mixed support for the prediction that girls are more likely delegated domestic and alloparenting tasks than boys (n = 173 children). Both sexes are more likely delegated tasks during rice harvest months; number of coresident young children is also associated with greater probability of delegated allocare, although the effect retains significance for girls only. For both sexes, father absence is associated with greater probability of delegation, particularly for food acquisition tasks. Children delegated rice harvesting achieve 45% higher mean daily caloric returns from harvesting than children not delegated harvesting. Our results therefore suggest that delegation increases household economic efficiency. We find mixed support for the hypothesis that delegation prepares children for sex-specific adult roles. PMID:25284827

Nuclear Fusion prize laudation Nuclear Fusion prize laudation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burkart, W.

2011-01-01

Clean energy in abundance will be of critical importance to the pursuit of world peace and development. As part of the IAEA's activities to facilitate the dissemination of fusion related science and technology, the journal Nuclear Fusion is intended to contribute to the realization of such energy from fusion. In 2010, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the IAEA journal. The excellence of research published in the journal is attested to by its high citation index. The IAEA recognizes excellence by means of an annual prize awarded to the authors of papers judged to have made the greatest impact. On the occasion of the 2010 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference in Daejeon, Republic of Korea at the welcome dinner hosted by the city of Daejeon, we celebrated the achievements of the 2009 and 2010 Nuclear Fusion prize winners. Steve Sabbagh, from the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York is the winner of the 2009 award for his paper: 'Resistive wall stabilized operation in rotating high beta NSTX plasmas' [1]. This is a landmark paper which reports record parameters of beta in a large spherical torus plasma and presents a thorough investigation of the physics of resistive wall mode (RWM) instability. The paper makes a significant contribution to the critical topic of RWM stabilization. John Rice, from the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT, Cambridge is the winner of the 2010 award for his paper: 'Inter-machine comparison of intrinsic toroidal rotation in tokamaks' [2]. The 2010 award is for a seminal paper that analyzes results across a range of machines in order to develop a universal scaling that can be used to predict intrinsic rotation. This paper has already triggered a wealth of experimental and theoretical work. I congratulate both authors and their colleagues on these exceptional papers. W. Burkart Deputy Director General Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria References [1] Sabbagh S. et al 2006 Nucl. Fusion 46 635-44 [2] Rice J.E. et al 2007 Nucl. Fusion 47 1618-24

Identification of rice cornichon as a possible cargo receptor for the Golgi-localized sodium transporter OsHKT1;3.

PubMed

Rosas-Santiago, Paul; Lagunas-Gómez, Daniel; Barkla, Bronwyn J; Vera-Estrella, Rosario; Lalonde, Sylvie; Jones, Alexander; Frommer, Wolf B; Zimmermannova, Olga; Sychrová, Hana; Pantoja, Omar

2015-05-01

Membrane proteins are synthesized and folded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and continue their path to their site of residence along the secretory pathway. The COPII system has been identified as a key player for selecting and directing the fate of membrane and secretory cargo proteins. Selection of cargo proteins within the COPII vesicles is achieved by cargo receptors. The cornichon cargo receptor belongs to a conserved protein family found in eukaryotes that has been demonstrated to participate in the selection of integral membrane proteins as cargo for their correct targeting. Here it is demonstrated at the cellular level that rice cornichon OsCNIH1 interacts with OsHKT1;3 and, in yeast cells, enables the expression of the sodium transporter to the Golgi apparatus. Physical and functional HKT-cornichon interactions are confirmed by the mating-based split ubiquitin system, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and Xenopus oocyte and yeast expression systems. The interaction between the two proteins occurs in the ER of plant cells and their co-expression in oocytes leads to the sequestration of the transporter in the ER. In the yeast cornichon mutant erv14, OsHKT1;3 is mistargeted, preventing the toxic effects of sodium transport in the cell observed in wild-type cells or in the erv14 mutant that co-expressed OsHKT1;3 with either OsCNIH1 or Erv14p. Identification and characterization of rice cornichon as a possible cargo receptor opens up the opportunity to improve our knowledge on membrane protein targeting in plant cells. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Functional Characterization of PhapLEAFY, a FLORICAULA/LEAFY Ortholog in Phalaenopsis aphrodite.

PubMed

Jang, Seonghoe

2015-11-01

The plant-specific transcription factor LEAFY (LFY) is considered to be a master regulator of flower development in the model plant, Arabidopsis. This protein plays a dual role in plant growth, integrating signals from the floral inductive pathways and acting as a floral meristem identity gene by activating genes for floral organ development. Although LFY occupies an important position in flower development, the functional divergence of LFY homologs has been demonstrated in several plants including monocots and gymnosperms. In particular, the functional roles of LFY genes from orchid species such as Phalaenopsis that contain unique floral morphologies with distinct expression patterns of floral organ identity genes remain elusive. Here, PhapLFY, an ortholog of Arabidopsis LFY from Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana, a Taiwanese native monopodial orchid, was isolated and characterized through analyses of expression and protein activity. PhapLFY transcripts accumulated in the floral primordia of developing inflorescences, and the PhapLFY protein had transcriptional autoactivation activity forming as a homodimer. Furthermore, PhapLFY rescues the aberrant floral phenotypes of Arabidopsis lfy mutants. Overexpression of PhapLFY alone or together with PhapFT1, a P. aphrodite subsp. formosana homolog of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) in rice, caused precocious heading. Consistently, a higher Chl content in the sepals and morphological changes in epidermal cells were observed in the floral organs of PhapLFY knock-down orchids generated by virus-induced gene silencing. Taken together, these results suggest that PhapLFY is functionally distinct from RICE FLORICAULA/LEAFY (RFL) but similar to Arabidopsis LFY based on phenotypes of our transgenic Arabidopsis and rice plants. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Nitrogen recycling from the xylem in rice leaves: dependence upon metabolism and associated changes in xylem hydraulics.

PubMed

Bailey, Karen J; Leegood, Richard C

2016-04-01

Measurements of amino acids in the guttation fluid and in the xylem exudates of cut leaves from intact plants provide evidence of the remarkable efficiency with which these nitrogenous compounds are reabsorbed from the xylem sap. This could be achieved by mechanisms involving intercellular transport and/or metabolism. Developmental changes in transcripts and protein showed that transcripts for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) increased from the base to the leaf tip, and were markedly increased by supplying asparagine. Supplying amino acids also increased the amounts of protein of PEPCK and, to a lesser extent, of pyruvate, Pi dikinase. PEPCK is present in the hydathodes, stomata and vascular parenchyma of rice leaves. Evidence for the role of PEPCK was obtained by using 3-mercaptopicolinic acid (MPA), a specific inhibitor of PEPCK, and by using an activation-tagged rice line that had an increase in PEPCK activity, to show that activation of PEPCK resulted in a decrease in N in the guttation fluid and that treatment by MPA resulted in an increase in amino acids in the guttation fluid and xylem sap towards the leaf tip. Furthermore, increasing PEPCK activity decreased the amount of guttation fluid, whereas decreasing PEPCK activity increased the amount of xylem sap or guttation fluid towards the leaf tip. The findings suggest the following hypotheses: (i) both metabolism and transport are involved in xylem recycling and (ii) excess N is the signal involved in modulating xylem hydraulics, perhaps via nutrient regulation of water-transporting aquaporins. Water relations and vascular metabolism and transport are thus intimately linked. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Promoting an Integrated Science Approach in Teacher Training Programs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morris, P. A.; Reiff, P.; Garcia, J.; McKay, G. A.

2007-12-01

The Rio Grande Valley of Texas presents a unique opportunity for teacher workshops. First of all, it is separated geographically from major Texas metropolitan areas and it is still primarily rural with relatively small cities and the population is predominantly Hispanic. Teacher workshop offerings in the valley are limited and the teachers usually travel at their own expense to larger cities such as Corpus Christi, San Antonio or Houston to enhance their science background. A few years ago we were prompted by Javier Garcia to offer a workshop at the University of Texas at Brownsville. For three consecutive summers, with NASA funding and support, we taught a one week integrated science teacher workshop at the University of Texas at Brownsville. The workshop is nontraditional, as we do not concentrate on a single scientific discipline such as geology, physics but cover the broader scientific disciplines. Each day is devoted to a separate field, i.e. physics, terrestrial geology, space geology, etc. The topics can vary from year to year. Scientists are brought to Brownsville from the greater Houston area and represent the University of Houston-Downtown, Rice University, Texas Southern University and Johnson Space Center. All sessions are inquiry based and include short introductions to subjects and interactive activities that can be adapted to a variety of age groups. For example, the relationship between Earth and Moon is a crucial state middle school education standard. We begin the Earth/Moon activities with standard inquiry activities such as using flashlights to create phases of the Moon and eclipses, and extend the activities to higher mathematical levels through calculations of the height of lunar features through measuring shadow lengths, and discussion of space weather concerns for lunar exploration. As a way to illustrate the contrast between the Earth and the Moon, we show our planetarium show "Earth's Wild Ride", which is set on a lunar colony, as a start for discussion on lunar versus earth surfaces, atmospheres, and skies. The program has been a success as teachers, which have included grades 4-12, can choose the subjects. Some elect to attend the whole week while others may attend only 1 or 2 days. The advantage to this type of program is that it is easily adaptable to the science requirements for the various grade levels and it provides flexibility as some teachers are traveling 2-3 hours by automobile to attend. Thus by bringing both scientists and a planetarium to the Valley, we provide a "field trip without the bus".

Flood Inundation Mapping and Emergency Operations during Hurricane Harvey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, N. Z.; Cotter, J.; Gao, S.; Bedient, P. B.; Yung, A.; Penland, C.

2017-12-01

Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf Coast as Category 4 on August 25, 2017 with devastating and life-threatening floods in Texas. Harris County received up to 49 inches of rainfall over a 5-day period and experienced flooding level and impacts beyond any previous storm in Houston's history. The depth-duration-frequency analysis reveals that the areal average rainfall for Brays Bayou surpasses the 500-year rainfall in both 24 and 48 hours. To cope with this unprecedented event, the researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington and Rice University worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), Walter P. Moore and Associates, Inc. and Halff Associates, to conduct a series of meteorological, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses to delineate flood inundation maps. Up to eight major watersheds in Harris County were delineated based the available QPE data from WGRFC. The inundation map over Brays Bayou with their impacts from Hurricane Harvey was delineated in comparison with those of 100-, 500-year, and Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) design storms. This presentation will provide insights for both engineers and planners to re-evaluate the existing flood infrastructure and policy, which will help build Houston stronger for future extreme storms. The collaborative effort among the federal, academic, and private entities clearly demonstrates an effective approach for flood inundation mapping initiatives for the nation.

CROP type analysis using Landsat digital data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, C. E.; Thomas, R. W.; Wall, S. L.

1981-01-01

Classification and statistical sampling techniques for crop type discrimination using Landsat digital data have been developed by the University of California in cooperation with NASA and the California Department of Water Resources. Ratioed bands (MSS 7/5 and 5/4) and a sun-angle corrected Euclidean albedo band were prepared from data for the Sacramento Valley for five different dates. The test area was stratified into general crop groupings based on the particular patterns of irrigation timing for each crop. Data classified within each stratum were used to produce a crop type map. Comparison with ground data indicates that certain crops and crop groups are discernable. Small grains and rice are easily identifiable, as are deciduous fruit varieties as a group. However, it is not feasible to separate various fruit and nut varieties, or separate vegetable crops with these techniques at present.

4th Annual Conference for African-American Researchers in the Mathematical Sciences (CAARMS4). Preliminary Program

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tapia, Richard

1998-06-01

In June, The Center for Research on Parallel Computation (CRPC), an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center, hosted the 4th Annual Conference for African-American Reserachers in the Mathematical Sciences (CAARMS4) at Rice University. The main goal of this conference was to highlight current work by African-American researchers and graduate students in mathematics. This conference strengthened the mathematical sciences by encouraging the increased participation of African-American and underrepresented groups into the field, facilitating working relationships between them and helping to cultivate their careers. In addition to the talks there was a graduate student poster session and tutorials on topics in mathematics andmore » computer science. These talks, presentations, and discussions brought a broader perspective to the critical issues involving minority participation in mathematics.« less

Anthocyanins from black rice (Oryza sativa) promote immune responses in leukemia through enhancing phagocytosis of macrophages in vivo.

PubMed

Fan, Ming-Jen; Yeh, Ping-Hsuan; Lin, Jing-Pin; Huang, An-Cheng; Lien, Jin-Cherng; Lin, Hui-Yi; Chung, Jing-Gung

2017-07-01

Rice is a staple food in numerous countries around the world. Anthocyanins found in black rice have been reported to reduce the risk of certain diseases, but the effects of crude extract of anthocyanins from Asia University-selected purple glutinous indica rice (AUPGA) on immune responses have not yet been demonstrated. The current study aimed to investigate whether AUPGA treatment could affect immune responses in murine leukemia cells in vivo . Murine acute myelomonocytic leukemia WEHI-3 cells were intraperitoneally injected into normal BALB/c mice to generate leukemia mice. A total of 50 mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 in each group) and were fed a diet supplemented with AUPGA at 0, 20, 50 or 100 mg/kg for three weeks. All mice were weighed and the blood, liver and spleen were collected for further experiments. The results indicated that AUPGA did not significantly affect animal body weight, but significantly increased spleen weight (P<0.05) and decreased liver weight (P<0.05) when compared with the control group. AUPGA significantly increased the T cell (CD3) population at treatments of 20 and 100 mg/kg (P<0.05). However, it only significantly increased the B cell (CD19) population at a treatment of 20 mg/kg (P<0.05). Furthermore, AUPGA at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly increased the monocyte (CD11b) population and the level of macrophages (Mac-3; P<0.05 for both). AUPGA at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly promoted macrophage phagocytosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P<0.05), and all doses of AUPGA treatment significantly promoted macrophage phagocytotic activity in the peritoneum (P<0.05). AUPGA treatment significantly decreased natural killer cell activity from splenocytes (P<0.05). Finally, AUPGA treatment at 20 mg/kg treatment significantly promoted T cell proliferation (P<0.05), and treatment at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly decreased B cell proliferation compared with the control group (P<0.05).

Manoomin: place-based research with Native American students on wild rice lakes on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation, northern Minnesota

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, E.; Myrbo, A.; Dalbotten, D. M.; Pellerin, H.; Greensky, L.; Howes, T.; Wold, A.; McEathron, M. A.; Shanker, V.

2010-12-01

The manoomin project is a collaboration between Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (Cloquet, MN), the Reservation’s Resource Management Division, and the University of Minnesota funded by the NSF GEO-OEDG Program. It builds on a successful seven-year history of collaboration between these parties, including regular science camps (gidaakiimanaanimigawig, Our Earth Lodge) for students of a wide range of ages. We are working as a team with Native students to study the history of wild rice (manoomin; Zizania palustris), a culturally important resource, growing on Reservation lakes. The joint project takes two main approaches: study of sediment core samples collected from Reservation lakes; and the collection of traditional knowledge about wild rice from the Elders. Science campers collect lake cores during winter with the assistance of the U of MN’s LacCore (National Lacustrine Core Facility) and Resource Management and visit LacCore to log, split and describe cores soon thereafter. Academic mentors with a range of specialties (phytoliths, pollen, plant macrofossils, sedimentology, geochemistry, magnetics) spend 1-2 weeks during the summer with small groups of college-age (>18, many nontraditional) student interns working on a particular paleoenvironmental proxy from the sediment cores. Younger students (middle and high school) also work in small teams in half day units with the same mentors. All campers become comfortable in an academic setting, gain experience working in research labs learning and practicing techniques, and jointly interpret collective results. The continuation of the project over five years (2009-2014) will allow these students to develop relationships with scientists and to receive mentoring beyond the laboratory as they make transitions into 2- and 4-year colleges and into graduate school. Their research provides historical and environmental information that is relevant to their own land that will be used by Resource Management which is charged to protect the wild rice and to improve its growth to better understand these ecosystems in the context of current global and local change. A substantial evaluation component charts progress and provides feedback to project participants and the larger community.

Anthocyanins from black rice (Oryza sativa) promote immune responses in leukemia through enhancing phagocytosis of macrophages in vivo

PubMed Central

Fan, Ming-Jen; Yeh, Ping-Hsuan; Lin, Jing-Pin; Huang, An-Cheng; Lien, Jin-Cherng; Lin, Hui-Yi; Chung, Jing-Gung

2017-01-01

Rice is a staple food in numerous countries around the world. Anthocyanins found in black rice have been reported to reduce the risk of certain diseases, but the effects of crude extract of anthocyanins from Asia University-selected purple glutinous indica rice (AUPGA) on immune responses have not yet been demonstrated. The current study aimed to investigate whether AUPGA treatment could affect immune responses in murine leukemia cells in vivo. Murine acute myelomonocytic leukemia WEHI-3 cells were intraperitoneally injected into normal BALB/c mice to generate leukemia mice. A total of 50 mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=10 in each group) and were fed a diet supplemented with AUPGA at 0, 20, 50 or 100 mg/kg for three weeks. All mice were weighed and the blood, liver and spleen were collected for further experiments. The results indicated that AUPGA did not significantly affect animal body weight, but significantly increased spleen weight (P<0.05) and decreased liver weight (P<0.05) when compared with the control group. AUPGA significantly increased the T cell (CD3) population at treatments of 20 and 100 mg/kg (P<0.05). However, it only significantly increased the B cell (CD19) population at a treatment of 20 mg/kg (P<0.05). Furthermore, AUPGA at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly increased the monocyte (CD11b) population and the level of macrophages (Mac-3; P<0.05 for both). AUPGA at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly promoted macrophage phagocytosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P<0.05), and all doses of AUPGA treatment significantly promoted macrophage phagocytotic activity in the peritoneum (P<0.05). AUPGA treatment significantly decreased natural killer cell activity from splenocytes (P<0.05). Finally, AUPGA treatment at 20 mg/kg treatment significantly promoted T cell proliferation (P<0.05), and treatment at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly decreased B cell proliferation compared with the control group (P<0.05). PMID:28672893

Increases in the longevity of desiccation-phase developing rice seeds: response to high-temperature drying depends on harvest moisture content.

PubMed

Whitehouse, K J; Hay, F R; Ellis, R H

2015-08-01

Previous studies have suggested that the drying conditions routinely used by genebanks may not be optimal for subsequent seed longevity. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of hot-air drying and low-temperature drying on subsequent seed longevity for 20 diverse rice accessions and to consider how factors related to seed production history might influence the results. Seeds of rice, Oryza sativa, were produced according to normal regeneration procedures at IRRI. They were harvested at different times [harvest date and days after anthesis (DAA), once for each accession] and dried either in a drying room (DR; 15 % relative humidity, 15 °C) or in a flat-bed heated-air batch dryer (BD; 45 °C, 8 h d(-1)) for up to six daily cycles followed by drying in the DR. Relative longevity was assessed by storage at 10·9 % moisture content and 45 °C. Initial drying in the BD resulted in significantly greater longevity compared with the DR for 14 accessions (seed lots): the period of time for viability to fall to 50 % for seeds dried in the BD as a percentage of that for seeds dried throughout in the DR varied between 1.3 and 372·2 % for these accessions. The seed lots that responded the most were those that were harvested earlier in the season and at higher moisture content. Drying in the BD did not reduce subsequent longevity compared with DR drying for any of the remaining accessions. Seeds harvested at a moisture content where, according to the moisture desorption isotherm, they could still be metabolically active (>16·2 %) may be in the first stage of the post-mass maturity, desiccation phase of seed development and thus able to increase longevity in response to hot-air drying. The genebank standards regarding seed drying for rice and, perhaps, for other tropical species should therefore be reconsidered. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.

SAR Agriculture Rice Production Estimation (SARPE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raimadoya, M.

2013-12-01

The study of SAR Agriculture Rice Production Estimation (SARPE) was held in Indonesia on 2012, as part of Asia-Rice Crop Estimation & Monitoring (Asia-RiCE), which is a component for the GEO Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) initiative. The study was expected to give a breakthrough result, by using radar technology and paradigm shift of the standard production estimation system from list frame to area frame approach. This initial product estimation system is expected to be refined (fine tuning) in 2013, by participating as part of Technical Demonstration Site (Phase -1A) of Asia-RICE. The implementation period of this initial study was from the date of March 12 to December 10, 2012. The implementation of the study was done by following the approach of the BIMAS-21 framework, which has been developed since 2008. The results of this study can be briefly divided into two major components, namely: Rice-field Baseline Mapping (PESBAK - Peta Sawah Baku) and Crop Growth Monitoring. Rice-fields were derived from the mapping results of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kemtan), and validated through Student Extension Campaign of the Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). While for the crop growth, it was derived from the results of image analysis process. The analysis was done, either on radar/Radarsat-2 (medium resolution) or optical/ MODIS (low resolution), based on the Planting Calendar (KATAM) of Kemtan. In this case, the planting season II/2012-2013 of rice production centers in West Java Province (Karawang, Subang and Indramayu counties). The selection of crop season and county were entirely dependent on the quality of the available PESBAK and procurement process of radar imagery. The PESBAK is still in the form of block instead of fields, so it can not be directly utilized in this study. Efforts to improve the PESBAK can not be optimal because the provided satellite image (ECW format) is not the original one. While the procurement process of SAR imageries, determine the target planting season to be linked. In this case the radar image only acquired two time series: the date of 26/10/2012 (stripmap) and 10/31/2012 (scanSAR) for series-1, and the date of 19/11/2012 (stripmap) and 11/24/2012 ( scanSAR) for series-2. The end result of this study is a model of crop growth status at the village, district and county level compared to KATAM. The County of Subang was used as a pilot exercise, and then was replicated into the two other counties (Karawang and Indramayu). Status of plant growth is divided into five phases: fallow wet, young vegetation, old vegetation, generative (pre-harvest), and dry fallow. The process of plant growth status was started with the determination of the majority in each rice field as a benchmark. This was followed by the creation of status recapitulation at the village, district, and ultimately at the county level. The county results were then compared with KATAM. Further replication to the rest of the other counties in the West Java Province, can only be done after the related PESBAK was improved in accordance to the area base standard requirement.

Oviposition Preference and Survival of the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Bioenergy and Conventional Sugarcane and Sorghum.

PubMed

VanWeelden, M T; Wilson, B E; Beuzelin, J M; Reagan, T E; Way, M O

2017-08-01

Oviposition preference and host suitability of the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on bioenergy and conventional cultivars of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., and sorghum, Sorghum spp., were examined in a series of greenhouse experiments. Two energycane cultivars, two sugarcane cultivars, two high-biomass sorghum cultivars, and one sweet sorghum cultivar were assessed at two phenological stages (immature and mature). Mature plants possessed greater availability of dry leaf material compared with immature plants, and all E. loftini eggs were observed exclusively on dry leaves. Oviposition did not vary among host combinations (cultivar by phenological stage); however, eggs per plant and eggs per oviposition event were numerically greater on mature plants than immature plants. In a no-choice experiment, survival from egg to adult did not vary among host combinations, with <2.0% of E. loftini larvae surviving to adulthood. Failed establishment by neonates on plants was 13.4- to 53.9-fold greater than successful establishment across all host combinations. Results from this study suggest that plant physical characteristics continue to play an important role in host selection, but further evaluations will be needed to quantify other characteristics which influence host suitability. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Particulate matter characteristics during agricultural waste burning in Taichung City, Taiwan.

PubMed

Cheng, Man-Ting; Horng, Chuen-Liang; Su, Yi-Ru; Lin, Li-Kai; Lin, Yu-Chi; Chou, Charles C-K

2009-06-15

Agricultural waste burning is performed after harvest periods in June and November in Taiwan. Typically, farmers use open burning to dispose of excess rice straw. PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) measurements were conducted at National Chung Hsing University in Taichung City using a dichotomous sampler. The sampling times were during straw burning periods after rice harvest during 2002-2005. Ionic species including SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), NH(4)(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Cl(-) and Na(+) and carbonaceous species (EC and OC) in PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) were analyzed. The results showed that the average PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) concentrations were 123.6 and 31.5 microg m(-3) during agricultural waste burning periods and 32.6 and 21.4 microg m(-3) during non-waste burning periods, respectively. The fine aerosol ionic species including Cl(-), K(+) and NO(3)(-) increased 11.0, 6.7 and 5.5 times during agricultural burning periods compared with periods when agricultural waste burning is not performed. K(+) was found mainly in the fine mode during agricultural burning. High nitrogen oxidation ratio was found during agricultural waste burning periods which might be caused by the conversion of Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) to NO(3)(-). It is concluded that agricultural waste burning with low dispersion often causes high PM(2.5) and gases pollutant events.

Analysis of Rhizome Development in Oryza longistaminata, a Wild Rice Species.

PubMed

Yoshida, Akiko; Terada, Yasuhiko; Toriba, Taiyo; Kose, Katsumi; Ashikari, Motoyuki; Kyozuka, Junko

2016-10-01

Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual propagation in plants. A wide range of plants develop rhizomes, modified stems that grow underground horizontally, as a means of vegetative reproduction. In rhizomatous species, despite their distinct developmental patterns, both rhizomes and aerial shoots derive from axillary buds. Therefore, it is of interest to understand the basis of rhizome initiation and development. Oryza longistaminata, a wild rice species, develops rhizomes. We analyzed bud initiation and growth of O. longistaminata rhizomes using various methods of morphological observation. We show that, unlike aerial shoot buds that contain a few leaves only, rhizome buds initiate several leaves and bend to grow at right angles to the original rhizome. Rhizomes are maintained in the juvenile phase irrespective of the developmental phase of the aerial shoot. Stem elongation and reproductive transition are tightly linked in the aerial shoots, but are uncoupled in the rhizome. Our findings indicate that developmental programs operate independently in the rhizomes and aerial shoots. Temporal modification of the developmental pathways that are common to rhizomes and aerial shoots may be the source of developmental plasticity. Furthermore, the creation of new developmental systems appears to be necessary for rhizome development. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Oryza sativa H+-ATPase (OSA) is Involved in the Regulation of Dumbbell-Shaped Guard Cells of Rice.

PubMed

Toda, Yosuke; Wang, Yin; Takahashi, Akira; Kawai, Yuya; Tada, Yasuomi; Yamaji, Naoki; Feng Ma, Jian; Ashikari, Motoyuki; Kinoshita, Toshinori

2016-06-01

The stomatal apparatus consists of a pair of guard cells and regulates gas exchange between the leaf and atmosphere. In guard cells, blue light (BL) activates H(+)-ATPase in the plasma membrane through the phosphorylation of its penultimate threonine, mediating stomatal opening. Although this regulation is thought to be widely adopted among kidney-shaped guard cells in dicots, the molecular basis underlying that of dumbbell-shaped guard cells in monocots remains unclear. Here, we show that H(+)-ATPases are involved in the regulation of dumbbell-shaped guard cells. Stomatal opening of rice was promoted by the H(+)-ATPase activator fusicoccin and by BL, and the latter was suppressed by the H(+)-ATPase inhibitor vanadate. Using H(+)-ATPase antibodies, we showed the presence of phosphoregulation of the penultimate threonine in Oryza sativa H(+)-ATPases (OSAs) and localization of OSAs in the plasma membrane of guard cells. Interestingly, we identified one H(+)-ATPase isoform, OSA7, that is preferentially expressed among the OSA genes in guard cells, and found that loss of function of OSA7 resulted in partial insensitivity to BL. We conclude that H(+)-ATPase is involved in BL-induced stomatal opening of dumbbell-shaped guard cells in monocotyledon species. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.

Nanda-gikendaasowin Naawij Gaa-izhiwebakin Manoomini-zaaga'iganiing: Core-based research by Native students on wild rice lakes in northern Minnesota

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myrbo, A.; Howes, T.; Defoe, R.; Dalbotten, D. M.; Pellerin, H.; McEathron, M.; Ito, E.

2011-12-01

Little is known about how local and global environmental changes affect the habitat of wild rice (manoomin in Ojibwe; Zizania sp.). Using transects of sediment cores from wild rice lakes on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation (FDL) in Minnesota, undergraduate student researchers are working to reconstruct the lakes' ecological history in order to better manage future change. Reservation Resource Management personnel and University science mentors work together to develop research questions and mentor small groups of college-age students during short (two-week) and long (ten-week) summer internships. Cores are collected during the winter from the frozen lake surface with "Lake Teams" of mainly Native junior high and high school students attending weekend science camps, who also visit LacCore (the National Lacustrine Core Facility) in Minneapolis to conduct initial core description and basic analyses. At the same time as the Fond du Lac Band gains information about the long-term history and variability of the Reservation's lakes, young Native people are exposed to primary research, natural resources management and academia as occupations, and scientists as people. Scientific results, as well as the results of program evaluation, show clearly that this approach has so far been successful and eye-opening for both students and mentors. Lead-210 dated records of the past ~150 years cover the period of European settlement, logging, and the massive ditching of FDL lakes to convert wetlands to agricultural land. Phytolith, pollen, plant macrofossil, and diatom studies by interns, as well as sediment composition and mass accumulation rate data, show anthropogenic lake level and vegetation fluctuations associated with these activities. Earlier in the record (~10,000 years to ~100 years before present), the natural and slow processes of lake infilling and encroachment of shallow-water vegetation are the dominant processes controlling the ecology of the lakes. Wild rice macroremains are rare in the cores, and so we use phytoliths (silicified plant cells, some with diagnostic morphologies), which are better preserved, as a proxy for past manoomin abundance. We also test the relationship between the abundances of grass pollen (manoomin pollen cannot be distinguished from the pollen of other grasses by light microscopy) and wild rice phytoliths on splits of the same sample. This multiproxy approach is necessary for understanding the complex interactions between lake depth, nutrient levels, plant and diatom communities, sediment chemistry, land-use change, and wild rice growth; it also emphasizes the interrelationships of the different parts of the ecosystem that are sometimes treated separately in scientific studies.

LISA 8 Science Organizing Committee and Local Organizing Committee LISA 8 Science Organizing Committee and Local Organizing Committee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2011-05-01

Science Organising Committee (SOC) Tom Abel, Stanford University Odylio Aguiar, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais Tal Alexander, Wizemann Institute Peter Bender, University of Colorado Pierre Binetruy, APC - College de France Sasha Buchman, Stanford University Robert Byer, Stanford University Manuela Campanelli, University of Texas Joan Centrella, NASA/Goddard Massimo Cerdonio, University of Padova Eugenio Coccia, University of Roma-2 Neil Cornish, Montana State University Michael Cruise, University of Birmingham Curt Cutler, NASA/JPL Karsten Danzmann, University of Hannover Sam Finn, Penn State University Jens Gundlach, NPL Gerhard Heinzel, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Gravitationsphysik Craig Hogan, University of Washington Jim Hough, University of Glasgow Scott Hughes, MIT Oliver Jennrich, ESTEC Philippe Jetzer, University Zurich Seiji Kawamura, National Observatory, Japan Alberto Lobo, ICE-CSIC and IEEC Avi Loeb, Harvard University Piero Madau, Lick Observatory Yannick Mellier, IAP, Paris Peter Michelson, Stanford University Guido Mueller, University of Florida Sterl Phinney, Caltech Tom Prince, NASA/JPL Doug Richstone, University of Michigan Bernard Schutz, AEI Potsdam Tuck Stebbins, NASA/Goddard Tim Sumner, Imperial College, London Ke-Xun Sun, Stanford University Kip Thorne, Caltech Michele Vallisneri, NASA/JPL Alberto Vecchio, University of Birmingham Jean-Yves Vinet, OCA, Nice Stefano Vitale, University of Trento Rai Weiss, MIT Nick White, NASA/Goddard Local Organising Committee (LOC) Sasha Buchman (Stanford University) Robert Byer (Stanford University) Sara Charbonneau-Lefort (Stanford University) Nancy Christianson (Stanford University) John Conklin (Stanford University) Dan DeBra (Stanford University) Jan Goebel (Stanford University) Vivian Drew (Stanford University) Ke-Xun Sun (Stanford University) Lucy Zhou (Stanford University) Andrea Zoellner (Stanford University)

BASKET on-board software library

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luntzer, Armin; Ottensamer, Roland; Kerschbaum, Franz

2014-07-01

The University of Vienna is a provider of on-board data processing software with focus on data compression, such as used on board the highly successful Herschel/PACS instrument, as well as in the small BRITE-Constellation fleet of cube-sats. Current contributions are made to CHEOPS, SAFARI and PLATO. The effort was taken to review the various functions developed for Herschel and provide a consolidated software library to facilitate the work for future missions. This library is a shopping basket of algorithms. Its contents are separated into four classes: auxiliary functions (e.g. circular buffers), preprocessing functions (e.g. for calibration), lossless data compression (arithmetic or Rice coding) and lossy reduction steps (ramp fitting etc.). The "BASKET" has all functionality that is needed to create an on-board data processing chain. All sources are written in C, supplemented by optimized versions in assembly, targeting popular CPU architectures for space applications. BASKET is open source and constantly growing

Unfolding the fullerene: nanotubes, graphene and poly-elemental varieties by simulations.

PubMed

Penev, Evgeni S; Artyukhov, Vasilii I; Ding, Feng; Yakobson, Boris I

2012-09-18

Recent research progress in nanostructured carbon has built upon and yet advanced far from the studies of more conventional carbon forms such as diamond, graphite, and perhaps coals. To some extent, the great attention to nano-carbons has been ignited by the discovery of the structurally least obvious, counterintuitive, small strained fullerene cages. Carbon nanotubes, discovered soon thereafter, and recently, the great interest in graphene, ignited by its extraordinary physics, are all interconnected in a blend of cross-fertilizing fields. Here we review the theoretical and computational models development in our group at Rice University, towards understanding the key structures and behaviors in the immense diversity of carbon allotropes. Our particular emphasis is on the role of certain transcending concepts (like elastic instabilities, dislocations, edges, etc.) which serve so well across the scales and for chemically various compositions. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Higher Order Chemistry Models in the CFD Simulation of Laser-Ablated Carbon Plumes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greendyke, R. B.; Creel, J. R.; Payne, B. T.; Scott, C. D.

2005-01-01

Production of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) has taken place for a number of years and by a variety of methods such as laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, and arc-jet ablation. Yet, little is actually understood about the exact chemical kinetics and processes that occur in SWNT formation. In recent time, NASA Johnson Space Center has devoted a considerable effort to the experimental evaluation of the laser ablation production process for SWNT originally developed at Rice University. To fully understand the nature of the laser ablation process it is necessary to understand the development of the carbon plume dynamics within the laser ablation oven. The present work is a continuation of previous studies into the efforts to model plume dynamics using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The ultimate goal of the work is to improve understanding of the laser ablation process, and through that improved understanding, refine the laser ablation production of SWNT.

Using a Teaching Intervention and Calibrated Peer Review™ Diagnostics to Improve Visual Communication Skills.

PubMed

Saterbak, Ann; Moturu, Anoosha; Volz, Tracy

2018-03-01

Rice University's bioengineering department incorporates written, oral, and visual communication instruction into its undergraduate curriculum to aid student learning and to prepare students to communicate their knowledge and discoveries precisely and persuasively. In a tissue culture lab course, we used a self- and peer-review tool called Calibrated Peer Review™ (CPR) to diagnose student learning gaps in visual communication skills on a poster assignment. We then designed an active learning intervention that required students to practice the visual communication skills that needed improvement and used CPR to measure the changes. After the intervention, we observed that students performed significantly better in their ability to develop high quality graphs and tables that represent experimental data. Based on these outcomes, we conclude that guided task practice, collaborative learning, and calibrated peer review can be used to improve engineering students' visual communication skills.

Differences among Thai Agricultural Workers' Health, Working Conditions, and Pesticide Use by Farm Type.

PubMed

Kongtip, Pornpimol; Nankongnab, Noppanun; Mahaboonpeeti, Redeerat; Bootsikeaw, Sasivimol; Batsungnoen, Kiattisak; Hanchenlaksh, Chalalai; Tipayamongkholgul, Mathuros; Woskie, Susan

2018-02-13

More than 11 million Thai people (38%) work in agriculture, but since most are in the informal sector, government enforcement and support are very limited. As a result, working conditions on Thai farms vary greatly, putting the health of many agricultural workers at risk. A cross-sectional study in three Thai provinces collected information on the work activities and conditions of 424 farmers representing five farm types: rice, vegetable, flower, rice/vegetable, and flower/vegetable. The agricultural workers were mainly women (60%); their average age was 53 but ranged from 18 to 87 years. More than 64% worked more than 5 days/week. Seventy-four percent of them had only primary school education. A number of the health and hazardous working conditions surveyed were significantly different by farm type. Rice farmers were found to have the highest prevalence of allergies, nasal congestion, wheezing, and acute symptoms after pesticide use, while flower farmers had the lowest prevalence of these health outcomes. Rice farmers reported the highest prevalence of hazardous working conditions including high noise levels, working on slippery surfaces, sitting or standing on a vibrating machine, spills of chemicals/pesticides, and sharp injuries. The lowest prevalence of these working conditions (except noise) was reported by flower farmers. Vegetable farmers reported the highest prevalence knee problems, while rice farmers had the lowest prevalence. Among these farmers, more than 27 different types of pesticides were reported in use during the past year, with the majority reporting use once a month. The flower/vegetable farming group reported the highest frequency of good exposure prevention practices during pesticide use. They were the most likely to report using cotton or rubber gloves or a disposable paper masks during insecticide spraying. Those farmers who only grew vegetables had the lowest frequency of good exposure prevention practices, including use of personal protective equipment. The economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses among informal sector agricultural workers in Thailand is unknown and in need of study. Gaps in the regulations covering pesticide sales allow farmers to purchase pesticides without adequate training in their safe use. Training targeted to farm type regarding safe pesticide use and the prevention of accidents and musculoskeletal disorders is needed. Studies of chronic health effects among Thai farmers are needed, with special emphasis on respiratory, metabolic disease and cancer. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.

Peer review statement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2012-11-01

All papers published in this volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the editors of the 26th IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems proceedings. Reviews were conducted by expert referees from the International Technical Committee to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing. The members of the Scientific Committee who selected and reviewed the papers included in the Proceedings of the 26th IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems are: Yulin WU Tsinghua University China François AVELLAN EPFL-LMH Switzerland (principal) Xingqi LUO Xi'an University of Sci & Tech China Martin BÖHLE Kaiserslautern University Germany Gerard BOIS Arts et Métiers ParisTech France Luca D'AGOSTINO University of Pisa Italy Eduard EGUSQUIZA Polytechnical University Catalonia Spain Richard FISHER Voith Hydro Inc USA Regiane FORTES-PATELLA Institute Polytechnique de Grenoble France Aleksandar GAJIC University of Belgrade Serbia Wei YANG China Agriculture University China YinLu YOUNG University of Michigan USA Adrian LUNGU Dunarea de Jos University of Galati Romania Arpad FAY University of Miskolcz Hungary José GONZÁLEZ Universidad de Oviedo Spain Baoshan ZHU Tsinghua University China Hongxun CHEN Shanghai University China Chisachi KATO University of Tokyo Japan Zhenyue MA Dalian University of Sci & Tech China Honggang FAN Tsinghua University China François GUIBAULT Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal Canada Pengcheng GUO Xian University of Technology China Leqing WANG Zhejiang University China Toshiaki IKOHAGI Tohoku University Japan Jiandong YANG Wuhan University China Jianzhong ZHOU Huazhong University of Sci & Tech China Jinwei LI NULL China Rennian LI Lanzhou University of Sci & Tech China Houlin LIU NULL China Juan LIU Tsinghua University China Shuhong LIU Tsinghua University China Xianwu LUO Tsinghua University China Michihiro NISHI Tsinghua University China Peter PELZ Darmstadt University Germany František POCHYLY Brno University Czech Republic Rudolf SCHILLING Technische Universität München Germany Minguan YANG Jiangsu University China Smaine KOUIDRI Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6) France Kazuhiro TANAKA Kyushu Institute of Technology Japan Xuelin TANG Tsinghua University China Yoshinobu TSUJIMOTO Osaka University Japan Fujun WANG China Agriculture University China Guoyu WANG Beijing University of Sci & Tech China Wenwu SONG NULL China Zhengwei WANG Tsinghua University China Hongyuan XU Tsinghua University China Lefu XIAO NULL China Fan YANG Tsinghua University China Yuan ZHENG Hehai University China Zhigang ZUO Tsinghua University China Hongwu ZHU China Petroleum University China Lixiang ZHANG Yunnan University of Sci & Tech China Shengchang ZHANG Zhejiang University of Tech China

Currently available medical engineering degrees in the UK. Part 2: Postgraduate degrees.

PubMed

Joyce, T

2009-05-01

This paper considers taught medical engineering MSc degrees, based on mechanical engineering, which are provided in the UK. Currently there are 19 institutions which provide such postgraduate degree programmes. These are the University of Aberdeen, University of Bath, University of Bradford, Brunel University, University of Dundee, University of Hull, Imperial College London, Keele University, King's College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, University of Southampton, University of Strathclyde, University of Surrey, University of Ulster, and University of Warwick. While most courses are delivered on a 1 year full-time basis, other delivery modes are also available. Relatively few modules are offered as distance learning or short courses. A wide range of modules are offered by the various universities for the different taught MSc degrees. Common modules include biomaterials and biomechanics. The medical-engineering-related modules offered by a number of universities are also made available to students on allied MSc programmes and undergraduate degrees in medical engineering.

Introduction and Committees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angelova, Maia; Zakrzewski, Wojciech; Hussin, Véronique; Piette, Bernard

2011-03-01

This volume contains contributions to the XXVIIIth International Colloquium on Group-Theoretical Methods in Physics, the GROUP 28 conference, which took place in Newcastle upon Tyne from 26-30 July 2010. All plenary and contributed papers have undergone an independent review; as a result of this review and the decisions of the Editorial Board most but not all of the contributions were accepted. The volume is organised as follows: it starts with notes in memory of Marcos Moshinsky, followed by contributions related to the Wigner Medal and Hermann Weyl prize. Then the invited talks at the plenary sessions and the public lecture are published followed by contributions in the parallel and poster sessions in alphabetical order. The Editors:Maia Angelova, Wojciech Zakrzewski, Véronique Hussin and Bernard Piette International Advisory Committee Michael BaakeUniversity of Bielefeld, Germany Gerald DunneUniversity of Connecticut, USA J F (Frank) GomesUNESP, Sao Paolo, Brazil Peter HanggiUniversity of Augsburg, Germany Jeffrey C LagariasUniversity of Michigan, USA Michael MackeyMcGill University, Canada Nicholas MantonCambridge University, UK Alexei MorozovITEP, Moscow, Russia Valery RubakovINR, Moscow, Russia Barry SandersUniversity of Calgary, Canada Allan SolomonOpen University, Milton Keynes, UK Christoph SchweigertUniversity of Hamburg, Germany Standing Committee Twareque AliConcordia University, Canada Luis BoyaSalamanca University, Spain Enrico CeleghiniFirenze University, Italy Vladimir DobrevBulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria Heinz-Dietrich DoebnerHonorary Member, Clausthal University, Germany Jean-Pierre GazeauChairman, Paris Diderot University, France Mo-Lin GeNankai University. China Gerald GoldinRutgers University, USA Francesco IachelloYale University, USA Joris Van der JeugtGhent University, Belgium Richard KernerPierre et Marie Curie University, France Piotr KielanowskiCINVESTAV, Mexico Alan KosteleckyIndiana University, USA Mariano del OlmoValladolid University, Spain George PogosyanUNAM, Mexico, JINR, Dubna, Russia Christoph SchweigertUniversity of Hamburg, Germany Reidun TwarockYork University, UK Luc VinetMontréal University, Canada Apostolos VourdasBradford University, UK Kurt WolfUNAM, Mexico Local Organising Committee Maia Angelova - ChairNorthumbria University, Newcastle Wojtek Zakrzewski - ChairDurham University, Durham Sarah Howells - SecretaryNorthumbria University, Newcastle Jeremy Ellman - WebNorthumbria University, Newcastle Véronique HussinNorthumbria, Durham and University of Montréal Safwat MansiNorthumbria University, Newcastle James McLaughlinNorthumbria University, Newcastle Bernard PietteDurham University, Durham Ghanim PutrusNorthumbria University, Newcastle Sarah ReesNewcastle University, Newcastle Petia SiceNorthumbria University, Newcastle Anne TaorminaDurham University, Durham Rosemary ZakrzewskiAccompanying persons programme Lighthouse Photograph by Bernard Piette: Souter Lighthouse, Marsden, Tyne and Wear, England

Honors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2013-12-01

Twenty-three AGU members are among the newly elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, announced on 25 November 2013. They are Lance F. Bosart, University at Albany, State University of New York; William Henry Brune III, Pennsylvania State University; Robert H. Byrne, University of South Florida; Walter K. Dodds, Kansas State University; Sherilyn Claire Fritz, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Kevin P. Furlong, Pennsylvania State University; Arnold L. Gordon, Columbia University; Thomas A. Herring, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Malcolm Hughes, University of Arizona; Thomas C. Johnson, University of Minnesota Duluth; Jack A. Kaye, NASA; Samuel P. Kounaves, Tufts University; Klaus S. Lackner, Columbia University; Yiqi Luo, University of Oklahoma; Jean-Bernard Minster, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego (UCSD); Kenneth H. Nealson, University of Southern California; Walter Clarkson Pitman III, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; James E. Quick, Southern Methodist University; Ross J. Salawitch, University of Maryland, College Park; Didier Sornette, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology); Michael Stein, University of Chicago; Bradley M. Tebo, Oregon Health and Science University; and Mark H. Thiemens, UCSD.

PREFACE: International Conference on Inverse Problems 2010

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hon, Yiu-Chung; Ling, Leevan

2011-03-01

Following the first International Conference on Inverse Problems - Recent Theoretical Development and Numerical Approaches held at the City University of Hong Kong in 2002, the fifth International Conference was held again at the City University during December 13-17, 2010. This fifth conference was jointly organized by Professor Yiu-Chung Hon (Co-Chair, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR), Dr Leevan Ling (Co-Chair, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR), Professor Jin Cheng (Fudan University, China), Professor June-Yub Lee (Ewha Womans University, South Korea), Professor Gui-Rong Liu (University of Cincinnati, USA), Professor Jenn-Nan Wang (National Taiwan University, Taiwan), and Professor Masahiro Yamamoto (The University of Tokyo, Japan). It was agreed to alternate holding the conference among the above places (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong) once every two years. The next conference has been scheduled to be held at the Southeast University (Nanjing, China) in 2012. The purpose of this series of conferences is to establish a strong collaborative link among the universities of the Asian-Pacific regions and worldwide leading researchers in inverse problems. The conference addressed both theoretical (mathematics), applied (engineering) and developmental aspects of inverse problems. The conference was intended to nurture Asian-American-European collaborations in the evolving interdisciplinary areas and it was envisioned that the conference would lead to long-term commitments and collaborations among the participating countries and researchers. There was a total of more than 100 participants. A call for the submission of papers was sent out after the conference, and a total of 19 papers were finally accepted for publication in this proceedings. The papers included in the proceedings cover a wide scope, which reflects the current flourishing theoretical and numerical research into inverse problems. Finally, as the co-chairs of the Inverse Problems Conference 2010, we wish to express our cordial thanks to all the keynote, plenary, and invited speakers and members of the Advisory Board. We would like to thank the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Mathematical Society, the K C Wong Education Foundation, the Lee Hysan Foundation, and the Wei Lun Foundation for their generous financial support. Particularly, we wish to thank Miss Lonn Chan for her excellent administrative work in making all the arrangements for the conference. March 2011Yiu-Chung Hon, City University of Hong Kong, HKSARLeevan Ling, Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSAR Invited Keynote SpeakerH Thomas Banks, North Carolina State University, USA Invited Plenary SpeakersRyuichi Ashino, Osaka Kyoiku University, JapanAndrea Caponnetto, City University of Hong Kong, HKSARJeng-Tzong Chen, National Taiwan Ocean University, TaiwanHiromichi Itou, Gunma University, JapanHyeonbae Kang, Inha University, South KoreaMichael Klibanov, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USAKim Knudsen, Technical University of Denmark, DenmarkRainer Kress, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, GermanyJérôme Le Rousseau, University of Orleans, FranceChang-Ock Lee, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South KoreaGui-Rong Liu, University of Cincinnati, USAShuai Lu, Fudan University, ChinaFadil Santosa, University of Minnesota, USATomoya Takeuchi, North Carolina State University, USAXiang Xu, Zhejiang University, ChinaJun Zou, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSAR Invited SpeakersMohamed Abdel-Mooty, The American University in Cairo, EgyptKrishna Agarwal, National University of Singapore, SingaporeHui Cao, Sun Yat-sen University, ChinaWen Chen, Hohai University, ChinaJin Cheng, Fudan University, ChinaLian Duan, University of Oxford, UKMeibao Ge, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, ChinaRalf Hielscher, TU Chemnitz, GermanyGuanghui Hu, Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS), GermanyKiwan Jeon, National Institute for Mathematical Sciences, South KoreaYu Jiang, Hokkaido University, JapanDe-Xing Kong, Zhejiang University, ChinaOlga Krivorotko, Novosibirsk State University, RussiaPhilipp Küegler, Austrian Academy of Sciences, AustriaKiwoon Kwon, Dongguk University, South KoreaChun-Kong Law, National Sun Yat-sen University, TaiwanJune-Yub Lee, Ewha Womans University, South KoreaMing Li, City University of Hong Kong, HKSARMikyoung Lim, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South KoreaJijun Liu, Southeast University, ChinaXiaodong Liu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, ChinaFuming Ma, Jilin University, ChinaHang Ma, Shanghai University, ChinaValdemar Melicher, Ghent University, BelgiumGen Nakamura, Hokkaido University, JapanLong Tuan Nguyen, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, GermanyEtibar Panakhov, Firat University, TurkeyRobert Plato, University of Siegen, GermanyJean-Pierre Puel, The University of Tokyo, JapanHans-Jürgen Reinhardt, University of Siegen, GermanyMaxim Shishlenin, Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, RussiaIlya Silvestrov, Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, RussiaMourad Sini, Austrian Academy of Sciences, AustriaJán Sládek, Slovak Academy of Sciences, SlovakiaZhijun Tan, Sun Yat-sen University, ChinaQuan-Fang Wang, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKSARWenyan Wang, The University of Tokyo, JapanPihua Wen, Queen Mary, University of London, UKZhihai Xiang, Tsinghua University, ChinaXiang-Tuan Xiong, Northwest Normal University, ChinaDinghua Xu, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, ChinaYongzhi Steve Xu, University of Louisville, USAJiaqing Yang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, ChinaJian Zhang, Sichuan Normal University, ChinaYing Zhang, Fudan University, ChinaTing Zhou, University of Washington, USAJianxin Zhu, Zhejiang University, China Advisory BoardH Thomas Banks, North Carolina State University, USATony F Chan, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKSARHeinz W Engl, Johannes Kepler Universitát Linz, AustriaRainer Kress, Georg-August-Universitát Góttingen, GermanyTatsien (Daqian) Li, Fudan University, ChinaGunther Uhlmann, University of Washington, USA Organizing CommitteeJin Cheng, Fudan University, ChinaYiu-Chung Hon (Co-Chair), City University of Hong Kong, HKSARJune-Yub Lee, Ewha Womans University, South KoreaLeevan Ling (Co-Chair), Hong Kong Baptist University, HKSARGui-Rong Liu, University of Cincinnati, USAJenn-Nan Wang, National Taiwan University, TaiwanMasahiro Yamamoto, The University of Tokyo, Japan

Whole-plant growth and N utilization in transgenic rice plants with increased or decreased Rubisco content under different CO2 partial pressures.

PubMed

Sudo, Emi; Suzuki, Yuji; Makino, Amane

2014-11-01

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) strongly limits photosynthesis at lower CO2 concentration [CO2] whereas [corrected] Rubisco limitation is cancelled by elevated [CO2]. Therefore, increase or reduction in Rubisco content by transformation with a sense or an antisense RBCS construct are expected to alter the biomass production under different CO2 levels. RBCS-sense (125% Rubisco of wild-type) and -antisense (35% Rubisco of wild-type) rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were grown for 63 days at three different CO2 levels: low [CO2] (28 Pa), normal [CO2] (40 Pa) and elevated [CO2] (120 Pa). The biomass of RBCS-sense plants was 32% and 15% greater at low [CO2] and normal [CO2] than that of the wild-type plants, respectively, but did not differ at elevated [CO2]. Conversely, the biomass of RBCS-antisense plants was the smallest at low [CO2]. Thus, overproduction of Rubisco was effective for biomass production at low [CO2]. Greater biomass production at low [CO2] in RBCS-sense plants was caused by an increase in the net assimilation rate, and associated with an increase in the amount of N uptake. Furthermore, Rubisco overproduction in RBCS-sense plants was also promoted at low [CO2]. Although it seems that low [CO2]-growth additionally stimulates the effect of RBCS overexpression, such a phenomenon observed at low [CO2] was mediated through an increase in total leaf N content. Thus, the dependence of the growth improvement in RBCS-sense rice on growth [CO2] was closely related to the degree of Rubisco overproduction which was accompanied not only by leaf N content but also by whole plant N content. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The rice endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit is essential for optimal catalysis and allosteric regulation of the heterotetrameric enzyme.

PubMed

Tuncel, Aytug; Kawaguchi, Joe; Ihara, Yasuharu; Matsusaka, Hiroaki; Nishi, Aiko; Nakamura, Tetsuhiro; Kuhara, Satoru; Hirakawa, Hideki; Nakamura, Yasunori; Cakir, Bilal; Nagamine, Ai; Okita, Thomas W; Hwang, Seon-Kap; Satoh, Hikaru

2014-06-01

Although an alternative pathway has been suggested, the prevailing view is that starch synthesis in cereal endosperm is controlled by the activity of the cytosolic isoform of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase). In rice, the cytosolic AGPase isoform is encoded by the OsAGPS2b and OsAGPL2 genes, which code for the small (S2b) and large (L2) subunits of the heterotetrameric enzyme, respectively. In this study, we isolated several allelic missense and nonsense OsAGPL2 mutants by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) treatment of fertilized egg cells and by TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes). Interestingly, seeds from three of the missense mutants (two containing T139I and A171V) were severely shriveled and had seed weight and starch content comparable with the shriveled seeds from OsAGPL2 null mutants. Results from kinetic analysis of the purified recombinant enzymes revealed that the catalytic and allosteric regulatory properties of these mutant enzymes were significantly impaired. The missense heterotetramer enzymes and the S2b homotetramer had lower specific (catalytic) activities and affinities for the activator 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA). The missense heterotetramer enzymes showed more sensitivity to inhibition by the inhibitor inorganic phosphate (Pi) than the wild-type AGPase, while the S2b homotetramer was profoundly tolerant to Pi inhibition. Thus, our results provide definitive evidence that starch biosynthesis during rice endosperm development is controlled predominantly by the catalytic activity of the cytoplasmic AGPase and its allosteric regulation by the effectors. Moreover, our results show that the L2 subunit is essential for both catalysis and allosteric regulatory properties of the heterotetramer enzyme. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Genetic Enhancer Analysis Reveals that FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 and OsMADS3 Co-operatively Regulate Maintenance and Determinacy of the Flower Meristem in Rice.

PubMed

Yasui, Yukiko; Tanaka, Wakana; Sakamoto, Tomoaki; Kurata, Tetsuya; Hirano, Hiro-Yuki

2017-05-01

Meristems such as the shoot apical meristem and flower meristem (FM) act as a reservoir of stem cells, which reproduce themselves and supply daughter cells for the differentiation of lateral organs. In Oryza sativa (rice), the FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 (FON2) gene, which is similar to Arabidopsis CLAVATA3, is involved in meristem maintenance. In fon2 mutants, the numbers of floral organs are increased due to an enlargement of the FM. To identify new factors regulating meristem maintenance in rice, we performed a genetic screening of mutants that enhanced the fon2 mutation, and found a mutant line (2B-424) in which pistil number was dramatically increased. By using a map-based approach and next-generation sequencing, we found that the line 2B-424 had a complete loss-of-function mutation (a large deletion) in OsMADS3, a class C MADS-box gene that is known to be involved in stamen specification. Disruption of OsMADS3 in the fon2 mutant by CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9) technology caused a flower phenotype similar to that of 2B-424, confirming that the gene responsible for enhancement of fon2 was OsMADS3. Morphological analysis showed that the fon2 and osmads3 mutations synergistically affected pistil development and FM determinacy. We also found that whorl 3 was duplicated in mature flowers and the FM was enlarged at an early developmental stage in severe osmads3 single mutants. These findings suggest that OsMADS3 is involved not only in FM determinacy in late flower development but also in FM activity in early flower development. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

CO2 Enhancement of Growth and Photosynthesis in Rice (Oryza sativa) 1

PubMed Central

Ziska, Lewis H.; Teramura, Alan H.

1992-01-01

Two cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) IR-36 and Fujiyama-5 were grown at ambient (360 microbars) and elevated CO2 (660 microbars) from germination through reproduction in unshaded greenhouses at the Duke University Phytotron. Growth at elevated CO2 resulted in significant decreases in nighttime respiration and increases in photosynthesis, total biomass, and yield for both cultivars. However, in plants exposed to simultaneous increases in CO2 and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation, CO2 enhancement effects on respiration, photosynthesis, and biomass were eliminated in IR-36 and significantly reduced in Fujiyama-5. UV-B radiation simulated a 25% depletion in stratospheric ozone at Durham, North Carolina. Analysis of the response of CO2 uptake to internal CO2 concentration at light saturation suggested that, for IR-36, the predominant limitation to photosynthesis with increased UV-B radiation was the capacity for regeneration of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP), whereas for Fujiyama-5 the primary photosynthetic decrease appeared to be related to a decline in apparent carboxylation efficiency. Changes in the RuBP regeneration limitation in IR-36 were consistent with damage to the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II as estimated from the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence. Little change in RuBP regeneration and photochemistry was evident in cultivar Fujiyama-5, however. The degree of sensitivity of photochemical reactions with increased UV-B radiation appeared to be related to leaf production of UV-B-absorbing compounds. Fujiyama-5 had a higher concentration of these compounds than IR-36 in all environments, and the production of these compounds in Fujiyama-5 was stimulated by UV-B fluence. Results from this study suggest that in rice alterations in growth or photosynthesis as a result of enhanced CO2 may be eliminated or reduced if UV-B radiation continues to increase. PMID:16668910

OsWOX3A is involved in negative feedback regulation of the gibberellic acid biosynthetic pathway in rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Cho, Sung-Hwan; Kang, Kiyoon; Lee, Sang-Hwa; Lee, In-Jung; Paek, Nam-Chon

2016-03-01

The plant-specific WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) nuclear proteins have important roles in the transcriptional regulation of many developmental processes. Among the rice (Oryza sativa) WOX proteins, a loss of OsWOX3A function in narrow leaf2 (nal2) nal3 double mutants (termed nal2/3) causes pleiotropic effects, such as narrow and curly leaves, opened spikelets, narrow grains, more tillers, and fewer lateral roots, but almost normal plant height. To examine OsWOX3A function in more detail, transgenic rice overexpressing OsWOX3A (OsWOX3A-OX) were generated; unexpectedly, all of them consistently exhibited severe dwarfism with very short and wide leaves, a phenotype that resembles that of gibberellic acid (GA)-deficient or GA-insensitive mutants. Exogenous GA3 treatment fully rescued the developmental defects of OsWOX3A-OX plants, suggesting that constitutive overexpression of OsWOX3A downregulates GA biosynthesis. Quantitative analysis of GA intermediates revealed significantly reduced levels of GA20 and bioactive GA1 in OsWOX3A-OX, possibly due to downregulation of the expression of KAO, which encodes ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase, a GA biosynthetic enzyme. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that OsWOX3A directly interacts with the KAO promoter. OsWOX3A expression is drastically and temporarily upregulated by GA3 and downregulated by paclobutrazol, a blocker of GA biosynthesis. These data indicate that OsWOX3A is a GA-responsive gene and functions in the negative feedback regulation of the GA biosynthetic pathway for GA homeostasis to maintain the threshold levels of endogenous GA intermediates throughout development. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

Technial Programme Committee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2014-06-01

Chairpersons Dr Dinesh Sathyamoorthy, Science & Technology Research Institute for Defence (STRIDE), Ministry of Defence, Malaysia Associate Professor Sr Dr Abdul Rashid Mohamed Shariff, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia Dr Ahmad Fikri Abdullah, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia Dr Farrah Melissa Muharram, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia Members Professor Dr Li Jing, Beijing Normal University, China Professor Dr Iyyanki Muralikrishna, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), India Professor Dr Alias Abdul Rahman, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia Professor Dr Ismat Mohamed El Hassan, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia Professor Dr George Miliaresis, Open University of Cyprus, Cyprus Professor Dr Christine Pohl, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia Professor Dr Mahender Kotha, Goa University, India Associate Professor Dr Paolo Gamba, University of Pavia, Italy Associate Professor Dr Behara Seshadri Daya Sagar, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), India Associate Professor Sr Ranjit Singh, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Abdul Nasir Matori, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Malaysia Associate Dr Lucian Dragut, West University of Timişoara, Romania Associate Professor Dr Saied Pirasteh, Islamic Azad University, Iran Associate Professor Dr Peter Yuen, Cranfield University, United Kingdom Associate Professor Dr Lim Hwee San, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Wayan Suparta, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Tuong Thuy Vu, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Maged Mahmoud Marghany, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Rami Al-Ruzouq, University of Sharjah, UAE Associate Professor Dr Biswajeet Pradhan, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Helmi Zulhaidi Mohd Shafri, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Benny Peter, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Norzailawati Mohd Nor, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Malaysia Dr Josée Lévesque, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), Canada Dr Ali Ariapour, Islamic Azad University, Iran Dr Zulkiflee Abd Latif, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia Dr Lim Tien Sze, Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia Dr Ruzinoor Che Mat, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Malaysia Dr Eran Sadek Said Md Sadek, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia Dr Siti Khairunniza Bejo, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Dr Ramin Nourqolipour, National Organization of Forest, Range and Watershed Manage Sr Mohktar Azizi Mohd Din, Universiti Malaya Col (Rt) Frederic Hernoust, Magelli Marzieh Mokarram, University of Isf Mohd Fadhil Abuhan, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysia

COMMITTEES: Committees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2010-01-01

TAUP STEERING COMMITTEE F T Avignone, University of South Carolina B C Barish, CALTECH E Bellotti, University of Milano, INFN J Bernabeu, University of Valencia A Bottino (Chair), University of Torino, INFN N Fornengo, University of Torino, INFN T Kajita, ICRR University of Tokyo C W Kim, Johns Hopkins University, KIAS V Matveev, INR Moscow J Morales, University of Zaragoza G Raffelt, MPI Munchen D Sinclair, University of Carleton M Spiro, IN2P3 TAUP 2009 INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE J J Aubert, CNRS Marseille M Baldo-Ceolin, University of Padova, INFN G Bellini, University of Milano, INFN L Bergstrom, University of Stockholm R Bernabei, University of Roma Tor Vergata, INFN A Bettini, University of Padova, INFN, LSC S Bilenky, JINR Dubna D O Caldwell, UCSB J Cronin, University of Chicago A Dar, Technion Haifa G Domogatsky, INR Moscow J Ellis, CERN E Fernandez, IFAE Barcelona E Fiorini, University of Milano, INFN T Gaisser, University of Delaware G Gelmini, UCLA G Gerbier, CEA Saclay A Giazotto, INFN Pisa F Halzen, University of Wisconsin W Haxton, University of Washington T Kirsten MPI Heidelberg L Maiani, University of Roma La Sapienza, INFN A McDonald, Queen's University K Nakamura, KEK R Petronzio, INFN, University of Roma Tor Vergata L Resvanis, University of Athens F Ronga INFN, LNF C Rubbia INFN, LNGS A Smirnov, ICTP Trieste C Spiering, DESY N Spooner, University of Sheffield A Suzuki, KEK S Ting MIT, CERN M S Turner, FNAL, University of Chicago J W F Valle, IFIC Valencia D Vignaud, APC Paris G Zatsepin, INR Moscow TAUP 2009 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE R Aloisio, LNGS R Antolini, LNGS F Arneodo, LNGS Z Berezhiani, University of L'Aquila, INFN V Berezinsky, LNGS R Cerulli, LNGS E Coccia [Chair], LNGS/INFN, U of Roma Tor Vergata N D'Ambrosio, LNGS N Fornengo, University of Torino, INFN M Laubenstein, LNGS O Palamara, LNGS L Pandola [Scientific Secretary], LNGS

L-asparaginase and L-glutaminase activities in submerged rice soil amended with municipal solid waste compost and decomposed cow manure.

PubMed

Bhattacharyya, P; Chakrabarti, K; Tripathy, S; Chakraborty, A; Kim, K; Kim, S H

2007-01-01

The field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) as a soil amendment on L-asparaginase (LA) and L-glutaminase (LG) activities. Experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 1997, 1998 and 1999 on rice grown under a submerged condition, at the Agriculture Experimental Farm, Calcutta University at Baruipur, West Bengal, India. The treatments consisted of control, no input; MSWC, at 60 Kg N ha(- 1); well-decomposed cow manure (DCM), at 60 Kg N ha(- 1); MSWC (30 Kg N ha(- 1)) + Urea (U) (30 Kg N ha(- 1)); DCM (30 Kg N ha(- 1)) + U (30 Kg N ha(- 1)) and Fertilizer, (at 60:30:30 NPK kg ha(- 1)) through urea, single superphosphate and muriate of potash respectively). LA and LG activities alone and their ratio with organic-C (ratio index value, RIV), straw and grain yield were higher in DCM than MSWC-treated soils, due to higher amount of biogenic organic materials like water-soluble organic carbon, carbohydrate and mineralizable nitrogen in the former. The studied parameters were higher when urea was integrated with DCM or MSWC, compared to their single applications. The heavy metals in MSWC did not detrimentally influence the above-measured activities of soil. In the event of long term MSWC application, changes in soil quality parameters should be monitored regularly, since heavy metals once entering into soil persist over a long period.

Glycaemic index of selected foodstuffs in healthy persons.

PubMed

Fajkusova, Zuzana; Jadviscokova, Tereza; Pallayova, Maria; Matuskova, Veronika; Luza, Jiri; Kuzmina, Galina

2007-12-01

The aim of this study was to determine glycaemic index (GI) of 10 popular foodstuffs/mixed meals in healthy persons. Ten tested foodstuffs and glucose standard were consumed in three replicates in the course of a defined 9-day meal plan: puffed rice squares with chocolate, dark chocolate, white bread, honey and glucose for breakfast (at 7 a.m.) and dinner (at 8 p.m.); pasta with meat, fried fish with mashed potatoes, and buttered apricot dumplings for lunch (at 12 a.m.); wafers, puffed spelt squares with chocolate, and tomato soup for snack (at 4 p.m.). Each portion contained 50 g of carbohydrates and was consumed within 30 minutes. Glucose concentrations were measured by means of the Continous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS, Medtronic Minimed, Northridge, CA, USA). The results were processed by Solutions Software (Medtronic Minimed, Northridge, CA, USA) and DegifXL4 software, Palacký University, Olomouc, CZ. Twenty healthy persons aged 21.9 +/- 1.39 y (mean +/- SE), BMI 23.6 +/- 0.63 kg/m(2) completed the study. GI of tested foodstuffs ranged from 34.7 % (chocolate) to 105.3 % (puffed rice squares with chocolate). There were more than tenfold differences between minimal and maximal values of the GI for some foodstuffs. Significant interindividual differences were found between GIs of foodstuffs. In twenty healthy persons the glycaemic indexes of ten popular foodstuffs were determined, to be added to the nutritional labels in order to facilitate the optimum meal planning.

Yield Response to Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Injury in Bioenergy and Conventional Sugarcane and Sorghum.

PubMed

Vanweelden, M T; Wilson, B E; Beuzelin, J M; Reagan, T E; Way, M O

2015-10-01

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive stem borer of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.), and poses a threat against the production of dedicated bioenergy feedstocks in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. A 2-yr field study was conducted in Jefferson County, TX, to evaluate yield losses associated with E. loftini feeding on bioenergy and conventional cultivars of sugarcane and sorghum under natural and artificially established E. loftini infestations. Bioenergy sugarcane (energycane) 'L 79-1002' and 'Ho 02-113' and sweet sorghum 'M81E' exhibited reduced E. loftini injury; however, these cultivars, along with high-biomass sorghum cultivar 'ES 5140', sustained greater losses in fresh stalk weight. Negative impacts to sucrose concentration from E. loftini injury were greatest in energycane, high-biomass sorghum, and sweet sorghum cultivars. Even under heavy E. loftini infestations, L 79-1002, Ho 02-113, and 'ES 5200' were estimated to produce more ethanol than all other cultivars under suppressed infestations. ES 5200, Ho 02-113, and L 79-1002 hold the greatest potential as dedicated bioenergy crops for production of ethanol in the Gulf Coast region; however, E. loftini management practices will need to be continued to mitigate yield losses. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Finding the Subcellular Location of Barley, Wheat, Rice and Maize Proteins: The Compendium of Crop Proteins with Annotated Locations (cropPAL).

PubMed

Hooper, Cornelia M; Castleden, Ian R; Aryamanesh, Nader; Jacoby, Richard P; Millar, A Harvey

2016-01-01

Barley, wheat, rice and maize provide the bulk of human nutrition and have extensive industrial use as agricultural products. The genomes of these crops each contains >40,000 genes encoding proteins; however, the major genome databases for these species lack annotation information of protein subcellular location for >80% of these gene products. We address this gap, by constructing the compendium of crop protein subcellular locations called crop Proteins with Annotated Locations (cropPAL). Subcellular location is most commonly determined by fluorescent protein tagging of live cells or mass spectrometry detection in subcellular purifications, but can also be predicted from amino acid sequence or protein expression patterns. The cropPAL database collates 556 published studies, from >300 research institutes in >30 countries that have been previously published, as well as compiling eight pre-computed subcellular predictions for all Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Oryza sativa and Zea mays protein sequences. The data collection including metadata for proteins and published studies can be accessed through a search portal http://crop-PAL.org. The subcellular localization information housed in cropPAL helps to depict plant cells as compartmentalized protein networks that can be investigated for improving crop yield and quality, and developing new biotechnological solutions to agricultural challenges. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

New Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Tool for Surveillance and Local Epidemiology of Bacterial Leaf Blight and Bacterial Leaf Streak of Rice Caused by Xanthomonas oryzae

PubMed Central

Poulin, L.; Grygiel, P.; Magne, M.; Rodriguez-R, L. M.; Forero Serna, N.; Zhao, S.; El Rafii, M.; Dao, S.; Tekete, C.; Wonni, I.; Koita, O.; Pruvost, O.; Verdier, V.; Vernière, C.

2014-01-01

Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) is efficient for routine typing and for investigating the genetic structures of natural microbial populations. Two distinct pathovars of Xanthomonas oryzae can cause significant crop losses in tropical and temperate rice-growing countries. Bacterial leaf streak is caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzicola, and bacterial leaf blight is caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzae. For the latter, two genetic lineages have been described in the literature. We developed a universal MLVA typing tool both for the identification of the three X. oryzae genetic lineages and for epidemiological analyses. Sixteen candidate variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) loci were selected according to their presence and polymorphism in 10 draft or complete genome sequences of the three X. oryzae lineages and by VNTR sequencing of a subset of loci of interest in 20 strains per lineage. The MLVA-16 scheme was then applied to 338 strains of X. oryzae representing different pathovars and geographical locations. Linkage disequilibrium between MLVA loci was calculated by index association on different scales, and the 16 loci showed linear Mantel correlation with MLSA data on 56 X. oryzae strains, suggesting that they provide a good phylogenetic signal. Furthermore, analyses of sets of strains for different lineages indicated the possibility of using the scheme for deeper epidemiological investigation on small spatial scales. PMID:25398857

Dark conditions enhance aluminum tolerance in several rice cultivars via multiple modulations of membrane sterols.

PubMed

Wagatsuma, Tadao; Maejima, Eriko; Watanabe, Toshihiro; Toyomasu, Tomonobu; Kuroda, Masaharu; Muranaka, Toshiya; Ohyama, Kiyoshi; Ishikawa, Akifumi; Usui, Masami; Hossain Khan, Shahadat; Maruyama, Hayato; Tawaraya, Keitaro; Kobayashi, Yuriko; Koyama, Hiroyuki

2018-01-23

Aluminum-sensitive rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars showed increased Al tolerance under dark conditions, because less Al accumulated in the root tips (1 cm) under dark than under light conditions. Under dark conditions, the root tip concentration of total sterols, which generally reduce plasma membrane permeabilization, was higher in the most Al-sensitive japonica cultivar, Koshihikari (Ko), than in the most Al-tolerant cultivar, Rikuu-132 (R132), but the phospholipid content did not differ between the two. The Al treatment increased the proportion of stigmasterol (which has no ability to reduce membrane permeabilization) out of total sterols similarly in both cultivars under light conditions, but it decreased more in Ko under dark conditions. The carotenoid content in the root tip of Al-treated Ko was significantly lower under dark than under light conditions, indicating that isopentenyl diphosphate transport from the cytosol to plastids was decreased under dark conditions. HMG2 and HMG3 (encoding the key sterol biosynthetic enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase) transcript levels in the root tips were enhanced under dark conditions. We suggest that the following mechanisms contribute to the increase in Al tolerance under dark conditions: inhibition of stigmasterol formation to retain membrane integrity; greater partitioning of isopentenyl diphosphate for sterol biosynthesis; and enhanced expression of HMGs to increase sterol biosynthesis. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

New Openings in University-Industry Cooperation: Aalto University as the Forerunner of European University Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markkula, Markku; Lappalainen, Pia

2009-01-01

The Innovation University (IU)--to be called the Aalto University after Alvav Aalto, a famous Finnish architect and MIT professor--is a new university which will be created through a merger of three existing universities: the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK), the Helsinki School of Economics (HSE) and the University of Art and Design…

Ohio Board of Regents Research Incentive Program. Universities Plans for Use of Funds During the FY 2008-2009 Biennium

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio Board of Regents, 2008

2008-01-01

This document presents the research incentive plans of these Ohio institutions: (1) The University of Akron; (2) Bowling Green State University; (3) Central State University; (4) University of Cincinnati; (5) Cleveland State University; (6) Kent State University; (7) Miami University; (8) Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine; (9) The…

Selling University Reform: The University of Melbourne and the Press

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Potts, Anthony

2012-01-01

Since the advent of the "Times Higher Education Supplement World University Rankings" and the "Academic Rankings of World Universities" by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, some Australian universities have become especially concerned with being ranked among the 100 leading universities. The University of Melbourne, Australia's…

Alphabetic List of All DoD Prime Contractors (No Dollars), FY83.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

AIRCRAFT PARTS INC UNIVERSAL LINER OF NEW MEXICO INC UNIVERSITY FACULTY ASSOCIATES UNIVERSAL APPLICATORS INC UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS CORP UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS...LTD UNIVERSAL ASPHALT PAVING CO INC UNIVERSAL LUSITANIA MFG CORP UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES THE CONTRACTORS RECEIVING CONTRACTS OF S25,000 OR MORE

Linking ecophysiological modelling with quantitative genetics to support marker-assisted crop design for improved yields of rice (Oryza sativa) under drought stress.

PubMed

Gu, Junfei; Yin, Xinyou; Zhang, Chengwei; Wang, Huaqi; Struik, Paul C

2014-09-01

Genetic markers can be used in combination with ecophysiological crop models to predict the performance of genotypes. Crop models can estimate the contribution of individual markers to crop performance in given environments. The objectives of this study were to explore the use of crop models to design markers and virtual ideotypes for improving yields of rice (Oryza sativa) under drought stress. Using the model GECROS, crop yield was dissected into seven easily measured parameters. Loci for these parameters were identified for a rice population of 94 introgression lines (ILs) derived from two parents differing in drought tolerance. Marker-based values of ILs for each of these parameters were estimated from additive allele effects of the loci, and were fed to the model in order to simulate yields of the ILs grown under well-watered and drought conditions and in order to design virtual ideotypes for those conditions. To account for genotypic yield differences, it was necessary to parameterize the model for differences in an additional trait 'total crop nitrogen uptake' (Nmax) among the ILs. Genetic variation in Nmax had the most significant effect on yield; five other parameters also significantly influenced yield, but seed weight and leaf photosynthesis did not. Using the marker-based parameter values, GECROS also simulated yield variation among 251 recombinant inbred lines of the same parents. The model-based dissection approach detected more markers than the analysis using only yield per se. Model-based sensitivity analysis ranked all markers for their importance in determining yield differences among the ILs. Virtual ideotypes based on markers identified by modelling had 10-36 % more yield than those based on markers for yield per se. This study outlines a genotype-to-phenotype approach that exploits the potential value of marker-based crop modelling in developing new plant types with high yields. The approach can provide more markers for selection programmes for specific environments whilst also allowing for prioritization. Crop modelling is thus a powerful tool for marker design for improved rice yields and for ideotyping under contrasting conditions. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Spatial Hearing in Echoic Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-29

Erick Gallun Graduate Students: Scott Bressler (Boston University, BME ), Antje Ihlefeld (Boston University, CNS), Kosuke Kawakyu, (MIT, SHBT), Ross...Maddox (Boston University, BME ), Yusuke Naka (Boston University, AME), Erol Ozmeral (Boston University, BME ), Satyavarta (Boston University, CNS...Madhu Shashanka (Boston University, CNS), and Dali Wang (Boston University, BME ) Undergraduates: Sarah Chu (MIT), Eric Larson (Michigan State

Efficient Use of Terrestrial Economic Services: A Case Study in South Korea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, T. T.; Tenhunen, J.; Hoang, V. N.; Koellner, T.; Shin, H.; Pham, V. D.; Seo, B.

2012-04-01

Understanding the linkages between social and ecological systems is crucial for managing potential responses to global change. Agricultural production requires resources, is determined by ecological processes, and results in economic goods and services for society. However, production leads at the same time to both positive and negative externalities. The externalities can be enhanced or mitigated by human behavior in management, which is mainly driven by expectations related to economic gains and losses. Ecological and economic processes are interrelated, and continuously interact in a complex manner. Therefore, understanding potential economic gains and losses in response to global change is a fundamental consideration in order to carry out well-informed decision-making. The International Research and Training Group TERRECO at the University of Bayreuth has intensively investigated ecological systems and processes in forested and agricultural landscapes as well as at regional scale in South Korea. These ongoing efforts provide a unique opportunity to examine the economic gains, losses and trade-offs that may occur with future climate and land-use change. Within this framework, we first investigated the environmental and economic efficiency of rice farms in Kangwon Province of South Korea, since rice is the most important food crop in this country. We then expanded our analysis to include dry farm highland vegetable crops in an intensively farmed region of the country, Haean Catchment. Our main objectives are (1) to categorize different types of farms, (2) determine their economic and environmental efficiency, and (3) to determine the trade-offs that occur in economic and environmental efficiencies under alternative management schemes and alternative climate regimes. Our preliminary analysis for rice farms yielded several important findings. First, both the production cost and environmental pollution by rice farms could be reduced significantly. Improvements in technical efficiency would result in both lower production costs and better environmental performance. Secondly, it is not without cost for farms to move from their current operation to an environmentally efficient operation. On average, this shift would increase production costs by 119%, but benefit water resources by a 69% reduction in eutrophication. It was estimated that the average cost of each kg of aggregate nutrient reduction would cost approximately 1.2 thousand won. These findings have several important policy implications. First, without major policy intervention, rice farms could still improve their economic and environmental performance by being more technically efficient. Training programs for rice farmers that focus on how to manage inputs and how to use the nutrients more efficiently would help farms to consume fewer inputs and cause less eutrophication problems. Second, opportunities exist for policy makers to intervene into the markets to adjust the prices of inputs so that farms, by minimizing their production costs, also improve their environmental performance. Further investigation into such policy options (such as introduction of taxes on fertilizer use, removal of subsidies or provision of incentive schemes) is being conducted.

The University-Industry Relations of an Entrepreneurial University: The Case of the University of Twente.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schutte, Frits

1999-01-01

Describes the development of the University of Twente from a regional teaching university to a national research university, the "entrepreneurial university" of the Netherlands. Focuses on spinoffs from the university, an incubator in a business and science park and the generation of venture capital. Estimates the regional impact of such…

Lincoln Advanced Science and Engineering Reinforcement

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-01

Chamblee Physics Lincoln University Kelvin Clark Physics Lincoln University Dwayne Cole Mechanical Engineering Howard University Francis Countiss Physics...Mathematics Lincoln University Spencer Lane Mechanical Engineering Howard University Edward Lawerence Physics Lincoln University Cyd Hall Actuarial Science...Pittsburgh Lloyd Hammond Ph.D., Bio-Chemistry Purdue University Timothy Moore M.S., Psychology Howard University * completedI During 1988, three (3

Extreme QCD 2012 (xQCD)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2013-04-01

Acknowledgements This conference would not have been possible without the generous support from Brookhaven National Laboratory and the George Washington University INS and IMPACT institutes, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Vice-President for Research, and the Department of Physics. We thank them wholeheartedly. We are also very grateful for the support of our colleagues on the local organizing committee, Walter Freeman and Frank Lee, and on the International Advisory Committee: Simon Hands, Tetsuo Hatsuda, Frithjof Karsch, Maria Paola Lombardo, Tereza Mendes, Atsushi Nakamura, Owe Philipsen, Claudia Ratti, Paul Romatschke, Misha Stephanov, and Nu Xu. List of participants Alexandru, Andrei George Washington University Bazavov, Alexei Brookhaven National Laboratory Bloch, Jacques University of Regensburg Braun-Munzinger, Peter EMMI, GSI Breto Rangel, Guillermo CMS/UC Davis D'Elia, Massimo University of Pisa, INFN Dexheimer, Veronica UFSC - Federal University of Santa Catarina Ding, Heng-Tong Brookhaven National Laboratory Dion, Alan Stony Brook University Dumitru, Adrian RBRC and Baruch College, CUNY Freeman, Walter George Washington University Gavai, Rajiv Tata Institute (TIFR), Mumbai Hanada, Masanori KEK Theory Center Hands, Simon Swansea University Hegde, Prasad Brookhaven National Laboratory Heinke, Craig University of Alberta Horvath, Ivan University of Kentucky Karsch, Frithjof Brookhaven National Laboratory Krieg, Stefan Wuppertal University Lattimer, James Stony Brook University Lee, Frank George Washington University Li, Anyi Institute for Nuclear Theory Liu, Keh-Fei University of Kentucky Lombardo, Maria Paola INFN - LNF Lottini, Stefano Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main Maezawa, Yu Brookhaven National Laboratory Miura, Kohtaroh Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati - INFN Monnai, Akihiko The University of Tokyo Mukherjee, Swagato Brookhaven National Laboratory Myers, Joyce University of Groningen Nakamura, Atsushi RIISE, Hiroshima university Nicholson, Amy University of Maryland Nishida, Yusuke Los Alamos National Laboratory Petreczky, Peter Brookhaven National Laboratory Sakai, Yuji RIKEN Sasaki, Takahiro Kyushu University Schmidt, Christian University of Bielefeld Scorzato, Luigi ECT* - Trento, Italy Shi, Zhifeng The College of William and Mary Shuryak, Edward Stony Brook University Skokov, Vladimir Brookhaven National Laboratory Strickland, Michael Gettysburg College Teaney, Derek Stony Brook University Wang, Qun University of Science and Technology of China Xu, Nu CCNU/LBNL Xu, Xiao-Ming Shanghai University Yamamoto, Naoki Institute for Nuclear Theory Conference photograph

PREFACE: HITES 2012: 'Horizons of Innovative Theories, Experiments, and Supercomputing in Nuclear Physics'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hecht, K. T.

2012-12-01

This volume contains the contributions of the speakers of an international conference in honor of Jerry Draayer's 70th birthday, entitled 'Horizons of Innovative Theories, Experiments and Supercomputing in Nuclear Physics'. The list of contributors includes not only international experts in these fields, but also many former collaborators, former graduate students, and former postdoctoral fellows of Jerry Draayer, stressing innovative theories such as special symmetries and supercomputing, both of particular interest to Jerry. The organizers of the conference intended to honor Jerry Draayer not only for his seminal contributions in these fields, but also for his administrative skills at departmental, university, national and international level. Signed: Ted Hecht University of Michigan Conference photograph Scientific Advisory Committee Ani AprahamianUniversity of Notre Dame Baha BalantekinUniversity of Wisconsin Bruce BarrettUniversity of Arizona Umit CatalyurekOhio State Unversity David DeanOak Ridge National Laboratory Jutta Escher (Chair)Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Jorge HirschUNAM, Mexico David RoweUniversity of Toronto Brad Sherill & Michigan State University Joel TohlineLouisiana State University Edward ZganjarLousiana State University Organizing Committee Jeff BlackmonLouisiana State University Mark CaprioUniversity of Notre Dame Tomas DytrychLouisiana State University Ana GeorgievaINRNE, Bulgaria Kristina Launey (Co-chair)Louisiana State University Gabriella PopaOhio University Zanesville James Vary (Co-chair)Iowa State University Local Organizing Committee Laura LinhardtLouisiana State University Charlie RascoLouisiana State University Karen Richard (Coordinator)Louisiana State University

Federacion de Universidades Privadas de America Central y Panama: Boletin Estadistico (Federation of Private Universities of Central America and Panama: Statistical Bulletin).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Serrano, Jorge A.

This statistical bulletin provides details on the universities belonging to the Federation of Private Universities of Central America and Panama (FUPAC): Central American University, Rafael Landivar University, Saint John's College, University of Santa Maria La Antigua, Jose Simeon Canas University, Doctor Mariano Galvez University, and the…

[Long-term effects of tillage methods on heavy metal accumulation and availability in purple paddy soil].

PubMed

Chang, Tong-Ju; Cui, Xiao-Qiang; Ruan, Zhen; Zhao, Xiu-Lan

2014-06-01

A long-term experiment, conducted at Southwest University since 1990, was used to evaluate the effect of tillage methods on the total and available contents of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) in the profile of purple paddy soil and the contents of those metals in root, stem leaf and brown rice. The experiment included five tillage methods: conventional tillage, paddy-upland rotation, no-tillage and fallow in winter, ridge-no-tillage and compartments-no-tillage. The results showed that the total concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the soil profile had no significant differences among five treatments, but it was found that total Mn has a significant decline in 0-20 cm under conventional tillage, paddy-upland rotation and no-tillage and fallow in winter compared with ridge-no-tillage and compartments-no-tillage. The availability of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd decreased with the increase of soil depth in all treatments, but the availability of Mn was found to be the highest in the 20-40 cm layers except those in the paddy-upland rotation. In the ploughed layer, the contents of available Fe, Mn was the highest in paddy-upland rotation, while the contents of available Zn and Pb was the highest in conventional tillage, but tillage treatments had not significant influence to the contents of available Cu. Correlation analysis showed that available Fe was significantly negatively related to the pH values and significantly negatively related to the organic matter of soils, available Mn was significantly negatively related to the pH values and organic matter of soils, whereas the available Zn was significantly positively related to total Zn. The contents of Fe, Mn in rice root, the contents of Fe, Mn, Cu and Cd in rice straw and Cu in brown rice were higher under paddy-upland rotation, ridge-no-tillage and compartments-no-tillage than those in conventional tillage and no-tillage and fellow in winter. Paddy-upland rotation can significantly lower the migration coefficient value of Cd in brown rice, and the Pb, Cd concentration in brown rice in the treatment of paddy-upland rotation was lower than the upper limit (< 0.2 mg x kg(-1)) of the National Standard for Food Hygiene for Cd concentration. The content of Fe in root was significantly and negatively related with soil pH and significantly and positively related with soil available Fe, the content of Mn in root was significantly negatively related with soil pH and significantly positively related with soil available Mn, the content of Mn in straw was significantly negatively related with soil pH, significantly positively related with soil total Mn and significantly positively related with soil available Mn, the content of Cu in straw and brown rice was significantly negatively related with soil pH, the content of Zn was significant related with soil pH and significant related with soil CEC. The content of Fe in root, Mn in root and straw and Cd in straw was positively related with soil available Fe, Mn and Cd, respectively, but was negatively related with pH in plough layer soil, Zn in straw was also negatively related with plough layer soil pH. From the results as above, it is concluded that different tillage methods can change the values of soil pH, alter the availability of heavy metal in soils, consequently affect uptake of heavy metal by rice. Of the tillage methods, paddy-upland rotation could increase the availability of Fe and Mn, but decrease the availability of Zn, Pb and Cd in purple paddy soils. Paddy-upland rotation can also increase the contents of Fe, Mn in rice root and straw, but decrease Cd content in brown rice, and could reduce the Pb, Cd contents in brown rice in a certain extent, however, attention should be given to long-term paddy-upland rotation cause of leaching of soil surface Mn.

Currently available medical engineering degrees in the UK. Part 1: Undergraduate degrees.

PubMed

Joyce, T

2009-05-01

This paper reviews mechanical-engineering-based medical engineering degrees which are currently provided at undergraduate level in the UK. At present there are 14 undergraduate degree programmes in medical engineering, offered by the University of Bath, University of Birmingham, University of Bradford, Cardiff University, University of Hull, Imperial College London, University of Leeds, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Surrey, and Swansea University. All these undergraduate courses are delivered on a full-time basis, both 3 year BEng and 4 year MEng degrees. Half of the 14 degree courses share a core first 2 years with a mechanical engineering stream. The other seven programmes include medical engineering modules earlier in their degrees. Within the courses, a very wide range of medical-engineering-related modules are offered, although more common modules include biomaterials, biomechanics, and anatomy and physiology.

Committees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2012-11-01

Leadership Team of the IAHR Committee for Hydraulic Machinery and Systems Eduard EGUSQUIZA, UPC Barcelona, Spain, Chair François AVELLAN, EPFL-LMH, Switzerland, Past Chair Richard K FISHER, Voith Hydro Inc., USA, Past Chair Fidel ARZOLA, Edelca, Venezuela Michel COUSTON, Alstom Hydro, France Niklas DAHLBÄCKCK, Vatenfall, Sweden Normand DESY, Andritz VA TECH Hydro Ltd., Canada Chisachi KATO, University of Tokyo, Japan Andrei LIPEJ, Turboinstitut, Slovenija Torbjørn NIELSEN, NTNU, Norway Romeo SUSAN-RESIGA, 'Politehnica' University Timisoara, Romania Stefan RIEDELBAUCH, Stuggart University, Germany Albert RUPRECHT, Stuttgart University, Germany Qing-Hua SHI, Dong Fang Electrical Machinery Co., China Geraldo TIAGO, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Brazil International Advisory Committee Shouqi YUAN (principal) Jiangsu University China QingHua SHI (principal) Dong Fang Electrical Machinery Co. China Fidel ARZOLA EDELCA Venezuela Thomas ASCHENBRENNER Voith Hydro GmbH & Co. KG Germany Anton BERGANT Litostroj Power doo Slovenia B C BHAOYAL Research & Technology Centre India Hermod BREKKE NTNU Norway Stuart COULSON Voith Hydro Inc. USA Paul COOPER Fluid Machinery Research Inc USA V A DEMIANOV Power Machines OJSC Russia Bart van ESCH Technische Universiteit Eindhoven Netherland Arno GEHRER Andritz Hydro Graz Austria Akira GOTO Ebara Corporation Japan Adiel GUINZBURG The Boeing Company USA D-H HELLMANN KSB AG Germany Ashvin HOSANGADI Combustion Research and Flow Technology USA Byung-Sun HWANG Korea Institute of Material Science Korea Toshiaki KANEMOTO Kyushu Institute of Technology Japan Mann-Eung KIM Korean Register of Shipping Korea Jiri KOUTNIK Voith Hydro GmbH & Co. KG Germany Jinkook LEE Eaton Corporation USA Young-Ho LEE Korea Maritime University Korea Woo-Seop LIM Hyosung Goodsprings Inc Korea Jun MATSUI Yokohama National University Japan Kazuyoshi Mitsubishi H I Ltd, Japan MIYAGAWA Christophe NICOLET Power Vision Engineering Srl Switzerland Maryse PAGE Hydro Quebec IREQ, Varennes Canada Etienne PARKINSON Andritz Hydro Ltd. Switzerland B V S S S PRASAD Indian Institute of Technology Madras India Stefan RIEDELBAUCH Stuttgart University Germany Michel SABOURIN Alstom Hydro Canada Inc Canada Bruno SCHIAVELLO Flowserve Corporation USA Katsumasa SHIMMEI Hitachi Ltd Japan Christoph SINGRTüN VDMA Germany Ale? SKOTAK CKD Blansko Engineering, a s Czech Republic Toshiaki SUZUKI Toshiba Corporation Japan Andy C C TAN Queensland University of Technology Australia Geraldo TIAGO FILHO Universidade Federal de Itajuba Brazi Thi C VU Andritz Hydro Ltd Canada Satoshi WATANABE Kyushu University Japan S H WINOTO National University of Singapore Singapore Woo-Seong WOO STX Institute of Technology Korea International Technical Committee François AVELLAN (principal) EPFL-LMH Switzerland Xingqi LUO (principal) Xi'an University of Technology China Martin BÖHLE Kaiserslautern University Germany Gerard BOIS ENSAM France Young-Seok CHOI KITECH Korea Luca d'AGOSTINO University of Pisa Italy Eduard EGUSQUIZA Polytechnical University Catalonia Spain Arpad FAY University of Miskolcz Hungary Richard FISHER Voith Hydro Inc USA Regiane FORTES-PATELLA Institute Polytechnique de Grenoble France Aleksandar GAJIC University of Belgrade Serbia José GONZÁLEZ Universidad de Oviedo Spain François GUIBAULT Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal Canada Toshiaki IKOHAGI Tohoku University Japan Chisachi KATO University of Tokyo Japan Kwang-Yong KIM Inha University Korea Youn-Jea KIM Sungkyunkwan University Korea Smaine KOUIDRI Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6) France Shengcai LI Warwick University UK Adrian LUNGU Dunarea de Jos University of Galati Romania Torbjøm K NIELSEN NTNU Norway Michihiro NISHI Tsinghua University China Peter PELZ Darmstadt University Germany Frantisek POCHYLY Brno University Czech Republic Albert RUPRECHT University of Stuttgart Germany Rudolf SCHILLING Technische University München Germany Wei SHYY HKUST Hong Kong,China Romeo SUSAN-RESIGA Politehnica University of Timisoara Romania Kazuhiro TANAKA Kyushu Institute of Technology Japan Yoshinobu TSUJIMOTO Osaka University Japan Local Organizing Committee Chairman Yulin WU Tsinghua University Beijing Executive Chairman Zhengwei WANG Tsinghua University Beijing Members Shuliang CAO Tsinghua University Beijing Cichang CHEN South West University of Petroleum Chengdu Hongxun CHEN Shanghai University Shanghai Jiang DAI China Sanxia General Co Yichang Huashu DOU National University of Singapore Singapore Fengqin HAN Huanan University of Sci & Tech Guangzhou Kun LI Hefei Inst of General Machinery Hefei Rennian LI Lanzhou University of Sci & Tech Lanzhou Wanhong LI National Natural Science Foundation of China Beijing Chao LIU Yangzhou University Yangzhou Li LU China Inst of Water Resources and Hydropower Research Beijing Xingqi LUO Xi'an University of Tech Xi'an Zhenyue MA Dalian University of Sci & Tech Dalian Jiegang MU Zhejiang University of Tech Hangzhou Daqing QIN Harbin Electric Machinery Group Harbin Fujun WANG China Agriculture University Beijing Guoyu WANG Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) Beijing Leqin WANG Zhejiang University Hangzhou Yuzhen WU NERCSPV Beijing Hongyuan XU Tsinghua University Beijing Jiandong YANG Wuhan University Wuhan Minguan YANG Jiangsu University Zhenjiang Shouqi YUAN Jiangsu University Zhenjiang Lefu ZHANG Harbin Electric Machinery Group Harbin Lixiang ZHANG Yunnan University of Sci & Tech Kunming Shengchang ZHANG Zhejiang University of Tech Hangzhou Kun ZHAO China Water & Electric Consulting Corp Beijing Yuan ZHENG Hehai University Nanjing Jianzhong ZHOU Huazhong University of Sci & Tech Wuhan Lingjiu ZHOU China Agriculture University Beijing Hongwu ZHU China Petroleum University Beijing Zuchao ZHU Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Hangzhou Secretaries Shuhong LIU (Academic), liushuhong@tsinghua.edu.cn Xianwu LUO (Registration), luoxw@tsinghua.edu.cn Baoshan ZHU (Finance), bszhu@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

Implementation of AN Agricultural Environmental Information System (aeis) for the Sanjiang Plain, Ne-China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Q.; Brocks, S.; Lenz-Wiedemann, V.; Miao, Y.; Jiang, R.; Chen, X.; Zhang, F.; Bareth, G.

2012-07-01

The Sino-German Project between the China Agricultural University and the University of Cologne, Germany, focuses on regional agro-ecosystem modelling. One major focus of the cooperation activity is the establishment of joint rice field experiment research in Jiansanjiang, located in the Sanjiang Plain (Heilongjiang Province, north-eastern part of China), to investigate the different agricultural practices and their impact on yield and environment. An additional task is to set-up an Agricultural Environmental Information System (AEIS) for the Sanjiang Plain (SJP), which covers more than 100 000 km2. Research groups from Geography (e.g. GIS & Remote Sensing) and Plant Nutrition (e.g. Precision Agriculture) are involved in the project. The major aim of the AEIS for the SJP is to provide information about (i) agriculture in the region, (ii) the impact of agricultural practices on the environment, and (iii) simulation scenarios for sustainable strategies. Consequently, the AEIS for the SJP provides information for decision support and therefore could be regarded as a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS), too. The investigation of agricultural and environmental issues has a spatial context, which requires the management, handling, and analysis of spatial data. The use of GIS enables the capture, storage, analysis and presentation of spatial data. Therefore, GIS is the major tool for the set-up of the AEIS for the SJP. This contribution presents the results of linking agricultural statistics with GIS to provide information about agriculture in the SJP and discusses the benefits of this method as well as the integration of methods to produce new data.

Measuring the Influence of Dielectric Environment on 2D Excitons in Monolayer Semiconductors: Insight from High Magnetic Fields1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stier, Andreas

The relatively heavy electrons and holes in monolayer semiconductors such as MoS2 form tightly-bound excitons with large binding energies, thus motivating magneto-optical studies in high magnetic fields. Because 2D excitons in these materials necessarily lie close to a surface, their properties are expected to be strongly influenced by the surrounding dielectric environment. However, systematic studies exploring this role are challenging, in part because the most readily accessible exciton parameter - the exciton's optical transition energy - is largely unaffected by the surrounding medium. Here we show that the role of the dielectric environment can be revealed through its systematic influence on the size of the exciton, which can be directly measured via the diamagnetic shift of the exciton transition in high magnetic fields. Using exfoliated WSe2 monolayers affixed to single-mode optical fibers, we tune the surrounding dielectric environment by encapsulating the monolayers with different materials, and perform polarization resolved low-temperature magneto-absorption studies to 65 tesla. The systematic increase of the exciton's size with dielectric screening, and concurrent two-fold reduction in binding energy (also inferred from these measurements), is quantitatively compared with leading theoretical models based on the Keldysh potential. These results demonstrate how exciton properties can be tuned in future 2D devices and van der Waals heterostructures. 1In collaboration with S.A. Crooker (NHMFL); J. Kono (Rice University); K.M. McCreary, B.T. Jonker (Naval Research Lab); N.P. Wilson, G. Clark, X. Xu (University of Washington).

Conventional and hyperspectral time-series imaging of maize lines widely used in field trials.

PubMed

Liang, Zhikai; Pandey, Piyush; Stoerger, Vincent; Xu, Yuhang; Qiu, Yumou; Ge, Yufeng; Schnable, James C

2018-02-01

Maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) is 1 of 3 crops, along with rice and wheat, responsible for more than one-half of all calories consumed around the world. Increasing the yield and stress tolerance of these crops is essential to meet the growing need for food. The cost and speed of plant phenotyping are currently the largest constraints on plant breeding efforts. Datasets linking new types of high-throughput phenotyping data collected from plants to the performance of the same genotypes under agronomic conditions across a wide range of environments are essential for developing new statistical approaches and computer vision-based tools. A set of maize inbreds-primarily recently off patent lines-were phenotyped using a high-throughput platform at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These lines have been previously subjected to high-density genotyping and scored for a core set of 13 phenotypes in field trials across 13 North American states in 2 years by the Genomes 2 Fields Consortium. A total of 485 GB of image data including RGB, hyperspectral, fluorescence, and thermal infrared photos has been released. Correlations between image-based measurements and manual measurements demonstrated the feasibility of quantifying variation in plant architecture using image data. However, naive approaches to measuring traits such as biomass can introduce nonrandom measurement errors confounded with genotype variation. Analysis of hyperspectral image data demonstrated unique signatures from stem tissue. Integrating heritable phenotypes from high-throughput phenotyping data with field data from different environments can reveal previously unknown factors that influence yield plasticity. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.

Universities, Knowledge and Pedagogical Configurations: Glimpsing the Complex University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guzmán-Valenzuela, Carolina

2018-01-01

This paper elaborates a typology of universities in which each university is characteristically associated with (i) diverse missions, (ii) different ways of producing knowledge and (iii) contrasting pedagogical configurations. Four university forms are identified, analysed and illustrated, namely the expert university, the non-elite university,…

The Benefits of a Quality Management System in a University Merger--A Case Study of the Merger of Two Finnish Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saarti, Jarmo; Suntioinen, Sirpa; Karjalainen, Kirsi; Tirronen, Jarkko

2012-01-01

At the turn of the century the higher education legislation and structure was reorganized in Finland. The number of universities was reduced by merging seven existing universities into three new universities. One of these new universities is the University of Eastern Finland, which was formed from the Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio. The merger…

Spring 1996 Enrollment. South Dakota Public and Private Colleges and Universities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

South Dakota Board of Regents, Pierre.

This compendium of data tables summarizes state enrollment data for six public universities in South Dakota -- Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University, and the University of South Dakota -- and 12 private institutions: Augustana…

The Medieval German University: Transformation and Innovation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwinges, Rainer Christoph

1998-01-01

Discusses the development of the university system within the Holy Roman Empire, especially in Germany, explaining that the University of Prague in 1348 was the Empire's first university. Reports that after the University of Prague, the new university type, or the "German type," developed by combining types of universities in Bologna and…

A Recap of the 2011 ISPI University Case Study Competition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hicks, Karen; Blake, Anne

2012-01-01

In early 2011, the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) invited three universities--University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Purdue University; and Wayne State University--to participate in the third annual University Human Performance Technology (HPT) Case Study Competition. Each university put together a team of three or four…

Tracing Assessment Policy Discourses in Neoliberalised Higher Education Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raaper, Rille

2017-01-01

This article explores assessment policy in two European universities with different political, historical and social backgrounds: the University of Glasgow and Tallinn University. The University of Glasgow is a well-established Russell Group university in the UK; Tallinn University is a relatively new university in post-Soviet Estonia, shaped by…

Fermilab Today | University Profiles

Science.gov Websites

June 21, 2012 University of Chicago June 13, 2012 University of Maryland June 6, 2012 University of Houston May 16, 2012 University of Illinois at Chicago May 9, 2012 Florida State University May 2, 2012

The Role of Colleges and Universities in the Stimulation of Regional Research and Service.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Elmer J.

The role of colleges and universities in regional research and service is considered on the basis of six institutional projects: Georgia Institute of Technology, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Tennessee. Case study summaries for each institution cover…

University Teachers' Perception of Inclusion of Visually Impaired in Ghanaian Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mamah, Vincent; Deku, Prosper; Darling, Sharon M.; Avoke, Selete K.

2011-01-01

This study was undertaken to examine the university teachers' perception of including students with Visual Impairment (VI) in the public universities of Ghana. The sample consisted of 110 teachers from the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW), and the University of Ghana (UG). Data were collected through…

Agreement between Oakland University and the Oakland University Chapter, American Association of University Professors, 1985-88.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between Oakland University and the University's chapter (370 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period 1985-1988 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions and recognition of AAUP, academic titles, AAUP rights, university management,…

Cases in Partnership between Independent Schools and Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Durnan, Vincent W.

2016-01-01

This study provides an in-depth look at six unique models of partnership between independent schools and a nearby college/university. The six cases include the University School of Nashville and Vanderbilt University; the Lab School and University of Chicago; the School at Columbia and Columbia University; the Boston University Academy and Boston…

The First Modern University: The University of Birmingham

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arthur, James

2017-01-01

The University of Birmingham was planned, advanced and established with both national and German models of a University in mind. Civic reasons for the planning of the University need to be viewed within a broader motivational context. Even with a strong sense of civic place, the University was conceived as a modern University with multiple…

1988-91 Agreement between Oakland University and the Oakland University Chapter, American Association of University Professors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

This document presents the 1988-91 agreement between Oakland University (Michigan) and the Oakland University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. The following 32 articles are detailed: definitions; recognition; work of the bargaining unit; academic titles; association rights; University management; faculty employment,…

Recapturing the Universal in the University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barnett, Ronald

2005-01-01

The idea of "the university" has stood for universal themes--of knowing, of truthfulness, of learning, of human development, and of critical reason. Through its affirming and sustaining of such themes, the university came itself to stand for universality in at least two senses: the university was neither partial (in its truth criteria) nor local…

Japanese Approaches to Organizational Internationalization of Universities: A Case Study of Three National University Corporations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watabe, Yuki

2010-01-01

This study aims to develop an understanding of the internationalization processes at universities in Japan by exploring a strategic model in internationally oriented universities. Universities in Japan have experienced university reform since the 1990s. The role and system of Japanese universities have been re-examined due to an emerging global…

77 FR 27487 - License Amendment Request From The State University of New York, University of Buffalo Reactor...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-10

... State University of New York, University of Buffalo Reactor Facility AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory... staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415- 4737, or by email to [email protected] . The University of Buffalo... license amendment application from the State University of New York, University of Buffalo requesting...

Geophysicists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

William W. Fox, Jr., has been appointed director of the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS). He had been director of the Southeast Fisheries Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service since 1978. CIMAS was established in 1977 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Miami.Seven of the 689 U.S. Fulbright Scholars for 1982-1983 are lecturing and conducting advanced research in geology in universities abroad. Brian Francis Farrell, a research assistant in planetary studies at Harvard University, is lecturing in oceanography at the University of Cambridge in England through June. William B. Fergusson, associate professor of civil engineering at Villanova University, will lecture in geology at the Kangwon National University in Korea until July. Ray Edward Ferrell, Jr., geology chairman at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, lectured and conducted research in marine geology at the University of Oslo in Norway. M. Allan Kays, professor of geology at the University of Oregon in Eugene, will conduct research in geology at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark through April. Richard Vernon McGehee, associate professor of health education at Southeastern Louisiana University (University Station campus), will be lecturing in geology at the University of Monrovia in Liberia through July. Bruce Warren Nelson, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, will be lecturing in geology at the Universiti Malaya in Malaysia through April. Ronald Porter Willis, professor of geology at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, will be lecturing in geology at the Seoul National University in Korea through July.

Catalog of Completed Studies, US Army Health Care Studies and Clinical Investigation Activity.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-12-10

EDUCATION: B.S., 1967, University of Texas at Austin (Chemistry) Ph.D., 1972, University of Southern California (Molecular Biology ) MEMBERSHIP...WALTER A. BRUSCH RANK: COL, Dental Corps Chief: Dental Studies EDUCATION: B.S., 1957, Xavier University ( Biology ) D.D.S., 1961, St. Louis University M.S.D... Biology , New York University D.M.D., 1971, University of Pennsylvania M.A., 1979, Education, George Washington University M.S.P.H., 1982, University of

PERSPECTIVE: Climate change, biofuels, and global food security

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassman, Kenneth G.

2007-03-01

There is a new urgency to improve the accuracy of predicting climate change impact on crop yields because the balance between food supply and demand is shifting abruptly from surplus to deficit. This reversal is being driven by a rapid rise in petroleum prices and, in response, a massive global expansion of biofuel production from maize, oilseed, and sugar crops. Soon the price of these commodities will be determined by their value as feedstock for biofuel rather than their importance as human food or livestock feed [1]. The expectation that petroleum prices will remain high and supportive government policies in several major crop producing countries are providing strong momentum for continued expansion of biofuel production capacity and the associated pressures on global food supply. Farmers in countries that account for a majority of the world's biofuel crop production will enjoy the promise of markedly higher commodity prices and incomesNote1. In contrast, urban and rural poor in food-importing countries will pay much higher prices for basic food staples and there will be less grain available for humanitarian aid. For example, the developing countries of Africa import about 10 MMt of maize each year; another 3 5 MMt of cereal grains are provided as humanitarian aid (figure 1). In a world where more than 800 million are already undernourished and the demand for crop commodities may soon exceed supply, alleviating hunger will no longer be solely a matter of poverty alleviation and more equitable food distribution, which has been the situation for the past thirty years. Instead, food security will also depend on accelerating the rate of gain in crop yields and food production capacity at both local and global scales. Maize imports and cereal donations as humanitarian aid to the developing countries of Africa Figure 1. Maize imports (yellow bar) and cereal donations as humanitarian aid to the developing countries of Africa, 2001 2003. MMT = million metric tons. Data source: faostat.fao.org/site/395/default.aspx. Given this situation, the question of whether global climate change will have a net positive, negative, or negligible impact on crop yields takes on a larger significance because additional hundreds of millions of people could be at risk of hunger and the window of opportunity for mounting an effective response is closing. To answer this question, Lobell and Field use an innovative empirical/geostatistical approach to estimate the impact of increased temperature since 1980 on crop yields—a period when global mean temperature increased ~0.4 °C [2]. For three major crops—maize, wheat, and barley—there was a significant negative response to increased temperature. For all six crops evaluated (also including rice, soybean, and sorghum), the net impact of climate trends on yield since 1980 was negative. While the approach used by Lobell and Field can be questioned on several pointsNote2, the body of their work represents an ambitious global assessment of recent climate impact on crop yields. Most noteworthy is their conclusion that: the combined effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate trends have largely cancelled each other over the past two decades. They contrast their finding with the conclusion of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that CO2 benefits will exceed temperature-related yield reductions up to a 2 °C increase in mean temperature [3]. It should be noted, however, that the IPCC is coming out with a new assessment to be released in April 2007 (www.ipcc.ch/), and it remains to be seen if this conclusion still holds. The purpose here is not to support or challenge the conclusions of either Lobell and Field or the IPCC, but rather to highlight the fact that there are substantive differences between results obtained from geostatistical assessments based on recent climate trends and actual crop yields versus assessments based on results from controlled experiments in growth chambers, greenhouses, and field enclosures and crop modeling. And while there appears to be good agreement on the predicted impact of atmospheric CO2 enrichment on crop yields across a wide range of studies conducted using different approaches [4], there is less convincing evidence on the impact of warming temperatures. There are three reasons for greater uncertainty about temperature effects. First, it is logistically more difficult to control temperature at elevated levels in studies that allow crops to grow in an 'open-air' environment comparable to field-grown plants. The 'free-air carbon dioxide enrichment' (FACE) systems were specifically designed to avoid such problems for study of CO2 effects and appear to have been largely successful [4]. In contrast, growth chamber, greenhouse, and small-enclosure studies used for temperature-effect experiments have confounding effects associated with differences in humidity, air turbulence, and reduced light intensity that result from the need to more fully enclose experimental units with a transparent barrier to achieve adequate temperature control. Second, unlike CO2 effects, yield response to temperature is often discontinuous. In many crops, pollination fails if temperatures rise above a critical threshold, which can result in dramatic yield reductions due to very small changes in temperature. Also, because climate change is predicted to increase both average temperature and temperature variability, changes in both factors must be evaluated in experiments with realistic growth conditions to fully understand climate change impact on crop yields. Such experiments would require expensive infrastructure with creative new designs—studies that have yet to be conducted, in part due to lack of adequate funding. A third factor is the interactive effect of temperature and plant nitrogen (protein) content on respiration, which is poorly understood. In the absence of such studies, it is sobering to note that one long-term field study in which the effect of temperature on rice yield could be isolated from other factors documented a 15% decrease in yield for every 1 °C increase in mean temperature [5]. The magnitude of this decrease is considerably larger than predictions of yield decreases from higher temperature obtained from crop simulation models. Like the results of Lobell and Field [2], we see a discrepancy between estimates of the effects of warmer temperatures on crop yields based on the relationship between crop yields and temperature under field conditions versus those derived from modeling and experiments conducted under controlled conditions. As we make the historic transition from an extended period of surplus food production to one in which demand for staple crop commodities exceeds supply, there is a vital need to better understand the impact of warming temperatures on current and future crop yields. References [1] Council for Agricultural Science and Technology 2006 Convergence of agriculture and energy: Implications for Research and Policy CAST Commentary QTA 2006-3 (Ames, Iowa: CAST) (www.cast-science.org) [2] Lobell D B and Field C B 2007 Global scale climate-crop yield relationships and the impacts of recent warming Environ. Res. Lett. 2 014002 [3] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group 2 Climate Change 2001 Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability IPCC Working Group 2, Third Assessment (New York: Cambridge University Press) [4] Tubiello F N et al 2006 Crop response to elevated CO2 and world food supply: A comment on 'Food for Thought...' by Long et al, Science 312:1918-1921, 2006 Eur. J. Agron. 26 215 23 [5] Peng S, Huang J, Sheehy J E, Laza R, Visperas R M, Zhong X, Centeno G S, Khush G and Cassman K G 2004 Rice yields decline with higher night temperature from global warming Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. 101 9971 5 Notes Note1 USA (40% of global maize, 56% of global maize exports), Brazil (33% of global sugar, 36% of global sugar exports), Indonesia and Malaysia (81% of global palm oil, 88% of global palm oil exports)—2005 data from FAOSTAT: faostat.fao.org/site/395/default.aspx. Note2 For example, the use of a 'global season' for calculating temperatures is problematic. In the case of soybean, a substantial portion of global soybean production occurs in the southern hemisphere, mostly in Brazil and Argentina, yet the global season for temperature was July August—a time when soybean is not grown in these countries. Likewise the global season for rice was January October, a period in which two consecutive rice crops are grown in tropical and subtropical irrigated systems of Asia—systems that account for a large portion of global rice production. Photo of Kenneth G Cassman Dr Cassman is Director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Science Research at the University of Nebraska and the Heuermann Professor of Agronomy. His work focuses on ensuring local and global food security while improving environmental quality in many of the world's most productive cropping systems. Previous positions include: research agronomist in Brazil, Egypt and the Philippines; faculty member at the University of California-Davis; division/department head at the International Rice Research Institute and the University of Nebraska. He received a PhD from the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture (1979) and a BS in Biology from the University of California, San Diego (1975).

Own-Group Face Recognition Bias: The Effects of Location and Reputation

PubMed Central

Yan, Linlin; Wang, Zhe; Huang, Jianling; Sun, Yu-Hao P.; Judges, Rebecca A.; Xiao, Naiqi G.; Lee, Kang

2017-01-01

In the present study, we examined whether social categorization based on university affiliation can induce an advantage in recognizing faces. Moreover, we investigated how the reputation or location of the university affected face recognition performance using an old/new paradigm. We assigned five different university labels to the faces: participants’ own university and four other universities. Among the four other university labels, we manipulated the academic reputation and geographical location of these universities relative to the participants’ own university. The results showed that an own-group face recognition bias emerged for faces with own-university labels comparing to those with other-university labels. Furthermore, we found a robust own-group face recognition bias only when the other university was located in a different city far away from participants’ own university. Interestingly, we failed to find the influence of university reputation on own-group face recognition bias. These results suggest that categorizing a face as a member of one’s own university is sufficient to enhance recognition accuracy and the location will play a more important role in the effect of social categorization on face recognition than reputation. The results provide insight into the role of motivational factors underlying the university membership in face perception. PMID:29066989

Genetic Confirmation of Mungbean (Vigna radiata) and Mashbean (Vigna mungo) Interspecific Recombinants using Molecular Markers.

PubMed

Abbas, Ghulam; Hameed, Amjad; Rizwan, Muhammad; Ahsan, Muhammad; Asghar, Muhammad J; Iqbal, Nayyer

2015-01-01

Molecular confirmation of interspecific recombinants is essential to overcome the issues like self-pollination, environmental influence, and inadequacy of morphological characteristics during interspecific hybridization. The present study was conducted for genetic confirmation of mungbean (female) and mashbean (male) interspecific crosses using molecular markers. Initially, polymorphic random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), universal rice primers (URP), and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers differentiating parent genotypes were identified. Recombination in hybrids was confirmed using these polymorphic DNA markers. The NM 2006 × Mash 88 was most successful interspecific cross. Most of true recombinants confirmed by molecular markers were from this cross combination. SSR markers were efficient in detecting genetic variability and recombination with reference to specific chromosomes and particular loci. SSR (RIS) and RAPD identified variability dispersed throughout the genome. In conclusion, DNA based marker assisted selection (MAS) efficiently confirmed the interspecific recombinants. The results provided evidence that MAS can enhance the authenticity of selection in mungbean improvement program.

Validation of the SWMF Magnetosphere: Fields and Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welling, D. T.; Ridley, A. J.

2009-05-01

The Space Weather Modeling Framework has been developed at the University of Michigan to allow many independent space environment numerical models to be executed simultaneously and coupled together to create a more accurate, all-encompassing system. This work explores the capabilities of the framework when using the BATS-R-US MHD code, Rice Convection Model (RCM), the Ridley Ionosphere Model (RIM), and the Polar Wind Outflow Model (PWOM). Ten space weather events, ranging from quiet to extremely stormy periods, are modeled by the framework. All simulations are executed in a manner that mimics an operational environment where fewer resources are available and predictions are required in a timely manner. The results are compared against in-situ measurements of magnetic fields from GOES, Polar, Geotail, and Cluster satellites as well as MPA particle measurements from the LANL geosynchronous spacecraft. Various metrics are calculated to quantify performance. Results when using only two to all four components are compared to evaluate the increase in performance as new physics are included in the system.

Role of communally nesting ardeid birds in the epidemiology of West Nile virus revisited.

PubMed

Reisen, William K; Wheeler, Sarah; Armijos, M Veronica; Fang, Ying; Garcia, Sandra; Kelley, Kara; Wright, Stan

2009-06-01

Although herons and egrets in the family Ardeidae frequently have been associated with viruses in the Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex, communal nesting colonies do not appear to be a focus of early season and rapid amplification of West Nile virus (WNV) in California. Evidence for repeated WNV infection was found by testing living and dead nestlings collected under trees with mixed species ardeid colonies nesting above in an oak grove near the University of California arboretum in Davis and in a Eucalyptus grove at a rural farmstead. However, mosquito infection rates at both nesting sites were low and positive pools did not occur earlier than at comparison sites within the City of Davis or at the Yolo Bypass wetlands managed for rice production and waterfowl habitat. Black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) were the most abundant and frequently infected ardeid species, indicating that WNV may be an important cause of mortality among nestlings of this species.

Toward a practical mobile robotic aid system for people with severe physical disabilities.

PubMed

Regalbuto, M A; Krouskop, T A; Cheatham, J B

1992-01-01

A simple, relatively inexpensive robotic system that can aid severely disabled persons by providing pick-and-place manipulative abilities to augment the functions of human or trained animal assistants is under development at Rice University and the Baylor College of Medicine. A stand-alone software application program runs on a Macintosh personal computer and provides the user with a selection of interactive windows for commanding the mobile robot via cursor action. A HERO 2000 robot has been modified such that its workspace extends from the floor to tabletop heights, and the robot is interfaced to a Macintosh SE via a wireless communications link for untethered operation. Integrated into the system are hardware and software which allow the user to control household appliances in addition to the robot. A separate Machine Control Interface device converts breath action and head or other three-dimensional motion inputs into cursor signals. Preliminary in-home and laboratory testing has demonstrated the utility of the system to perform useful navigational and manipulative tasks.

Collaborative Undergraduate HBCU Student Summer Prostate Cancer Training Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

Claflin University Maurissa Charles Claflin University Jasmine Elliot Claflin University Kayla Felix Claflin University Jessica Fuller Claflin...University Rachael Woods Claflin University Total Students From Claflin University= 26 Jasmine Addison Voorhees College Brittany Allen Voorhees College...significant to increase the low blood count of white blood counts in cancer patients after receiving chemotherapy. In essence , later studies can be

Factors Negatively Affecting University Adjustment from the Views of First-Year University Students: The Case of Mersin University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sevinç, Seda; Gizir, Cem Ali

2014-01-01

This qualitative case study aims to investigate the most common factors that negatively affect adjustment to university and coping strategies used by first-year university students in the adaptation process from the viewpoint of first-year university students. The participants were 25 first-year university students from various faculties at Mersin…

[Agreement between Lincoln University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education and the Lincoln University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors ("LUC-AAUP").

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lincoln Univ., PA.

This document presents the agreement between Lincoln University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education and the Lincoln University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Articles cover recognition, definitions, purpose of agreement, university administration, chapter service items, governance, no discrimination,…

New Developments Regarding the KT Event and Other Catastrophes in Earth History

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

This volume contains papers that have been accepted for presentation at the conference on New Developments Regarding the KT Event and Other Catastrophes in Earth History, February 9-12, 1994, in Houston, Texas. The Program Committee consisted of W. Alvarez (University of California, Berkeley), D. Black (Lunar and Planetary Institute), J. Bourgeois (National Science Foundation), K. Burke (University of Houston), R. Ginsburg (University of Miami), G. Keller (Princeton University), C. Koeberl (University of Vienna), J. Longoria (Florida International University), G. Ryder (Lunar and Planetary Institute), V. Sharpton, convener (Lunar and Planetary Institute), H. Sigurdsson (University of Rhode Island), R. Turco (University of California, Los Angeles), and P. Ward (University of Washington). The Scientific Organizing Committee consisted of W. Alvarez (University of California, Berkeley), D. Black (Lunar and Planetary Institute), K. Burke (University of Houston), R. Ginsburg (University of Miami), L. Hunt (National Academy of Sciences), G. Keller (Princeton University), L. Marin (UNAM, cd. Universitaria), D. Raup (University of Chicago), V. Sharpton (Lunar and Planetary Institute), E. Shoemaker (U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff), and G. Suarez (UNAM, cd. Universitaria). Logistics and administrative and publications support were provided by the Publications and Program Services Department staff at the Lunar and Planetary Institute.

Masters Program at Claremont and Other University Extension Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carroll, Ann-Marie, Ed.

1971-01-01

Descriptions of a liberal studies program at Claremont College, California; the University of British Columbia local government project; recent Syracuse University publications in continuing education; Kansas State University teleteaching efforts; the interinstitutional University without Walls" consortium; and the University of Washington…

7 CFR Appendix B to Part 3434 - List of HSACU institutions, 2012-2013

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... FOOD AND AGRICULTURE HISPANIC-SERVING AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES CERTIFICATION PROCESS... State University-Monterey Bay California State University-San Bernardino College of the Sequoias... University Miami Dade College Nova Southeastern University Saint Thomas University Illinois (2) City Colleges...

PREFACE: Preface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Qingming; Wang, Lihong V.; Tuchin, Valery V.

2011-02-01

The 9th International Conference on Photonics and Imaging in Biology and Medicine (PIBM 2010), combined with the 3rd Photonics and Optoelectronics Meetings (POEM 2010), was held from November 2-5, 2010, at Wuhan Science & Technology Convention & Exhibition Center, Wuhan, PR China. The present volume contains papers from a selection from the invited, oral, and poster presentations. PIBM is the largest international biomedical photonics conference series in Asia. It was initially held at HUST bi-yearly from 1999. After being held three times in Wuhan (1999, 2001 and 2003), it was hosted once in Tianjin (2005), before returning to Wuhan every year since 2006. PIBM is designed to bring together scientists, engineers and clinical researchers from a variety of disciplines engaged in applying optical science, photonics and imaging technologies to problems in biology and medicine. The scope of this conference ranges from basic research to instrumentation engineering, and biological and clinical studies. It is recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive international conferences in China, and represents the highest level of worldwide research in this field. In the past ten years, 7 volumes of proceedings with a total of 672 papers were published by SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering), and a volume with 75 papers was published by World Scientific Publishing Co. in 2007. Proceedings of PIBM 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009 were indexed by EI Compendex, while proceedings of PIBM 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 were indexed by SCI. Some excellent papers were recommended for publication in the peer-reviewed Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences (JIOHS). An increasing number of young researchers present and exchange their innovative ideas on this friendly and professional platform, which has made PIBM an unforgettable annual meeting in Wuhan. This year PIBM attracted distinguished scholars in the field of biomedical photonics and imaging from all over the world, including the United States, Russia, Australia, Canada, Israel, France, Ireland, Japan, Korea and China. The major topics covered at the conference and presented in this volume include: Photonic Therapeutics, Diagnostics and Instrumentations; Tissue Optics and Laser Tissue Interaction; Biomedical Spectroscopy and Microscopy; Multimodal and Hybrid Biomedical Imaging; and Optical Molecular Imaging. The conference voted for the three best student papers; awards were presented to the participant students whose posters were recognized as excellent and who took part in the oral presentation competition. The conference received 133 submitted abstracts, and this volume of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series includes a selection of 53 excellent submissions. The Conference Secretariat and Local Organizing Committee deserve recognition for planning a smoothly run and productive conference with comprehensive, instructive lectures and innovative work displayed in poster presentations. The faculties and students from Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics were dedicated to their work in reception and service during the conference. It is a pleasure to thank all of them for their efficient and hard work. We are also grateful for the financial support from 111 Project (B07038), and the assistance in organization and coordination from Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Finally, we would like to thank all the authors for their contributions to PIBM 2010 and all the members of the Committees for their cooperation and time spent reviewing submissions. Special thanks are due to the Advisory Committee members Shu Chien, Aaron Ciechanover, Steve Dahms, Da Hsuan Feng, Steven R Goodman, Brian Salzberg, Fujia Yang, Jianquan Yao, Baoyong Zheng and Olivia Ho Cheng for their participation on-site, and their significant contributions to the conference. Wuhan, PR ChinaDecember, 2010 Qingming LuoLihong V WangValery V TuchinConference Chairs 9th International Conference on Photonics and Imaging in Biology and Medicine (PIBM 2010)2-5 November 2010Wuhan, China EditorsQingming Luo, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Lihong V Wang , Washington University in St. Louis (USA)Valery V Tuchin, Saratov State University (Russia) Sponsored and Organized byHuazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (China)Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics (China) Technical Co-sponsored byIBOS-International Biomedical Optics SocietyThe Chinese Optical SocietyThe Biophysical Society of China Co-organized byKey Laboratory of Biomedical Photonics, Ministry of Education (China)Virtual Research Center of Biomedical Photonics, Ministry of Education (China)Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory (China) CONFERENCE COMMITTEES Honorary ChairsBritton Chance, University of Pennsylvania (USA)Bingkun Zhou, Tsinghua University (China) Conference ChairsQingming Luo, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Lihong V Wang , Washington University in St. Louis (USA)Valery V Tuchin, Saratov State University (Russia) Advisory CommitteeSydney Brenner, The Salk Institute in La Jolla, California (USA)Howard Chen, K&L Gates (USA)Jing Cheng, Tsinghua University (China)Shu Chien, University of California, San Diego (USA)Paul Ching-Wu Chu, University of Houston (USA)Aaron Ciechanover, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa (Israel)A Stephen Dahms, Alfred E Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering (USA)Da Hsuan Feng, National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan, China)Steven R Goodman, SUNY Upstate Medical University (USA)Barry Halliwell, National University of Singapore (Singapore)John Hart, The University of Texas at Dallas (USA)George Radda, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) (Singapore)Zihe Rao, Nankai University (China)Brian M Salzberg, University of Pennsylvania (USA)Ruey-Jen Sung, Stanford University (USA)A Dean Sherry, The University of Texas at Dallas (USA)Bruce Tromberg, University of California/Irvine (USA)Fujia Yang, Nottingham University (UK)Jianquan Yao, Tianjin University (China)Yixin Zeng, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (China)Baoyong Zheng, Hua Wei Technologies Corporation, Inc (China) Program CommitteeWei R Chen, University of Central Oklahoma (USA)Zhongping Chen, University of California/Irvine (USA)Arthur Chiou, National Yang-Ming University (Taiwan, China)Frank Y S Chuang, University of California, Davis (USA)Zhihua Ding, Zhejiang University (China)Congwu Du, Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA)Stefan Haacke, Strasbourg University - IPCMS-DON (France)Weiping Han, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) (Singapore)Zheng Huang, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (USA)Zhiwei Huang, National University of Singapore (Singapore)Steven L Jacques, Oregon Health & Science University (USA)Fu-Jen Kao, National Yang-Ming University (Taiwan, China)Hideaki Koizumi, Hitachi, Ltd (Japan)Xingde Li, Johns Hopkins University (USA)Yong-qing Li, East Carolina University (USA)Chengyi Liu, South China Normal University (China)Hong Liu, University of Oklahoma (USA)Zuhong Lu, Southeast University (China)Dennis L Matthews, University of California/Davis (USA)Avraham Mayevsky, Bar Ilan University (Israel)Stephen P Morgan, University of Nottingham (UK)Shoko Nioka, University of Pennsylvania (USA)Yingtian Pan, State University of New York at Stony Brook (USA)Alexander V Priezzhev, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia)Jianan Y Qu, The Hongkong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong, China)Colin J R Sheppard, National University of Singapore (Singapore)Mamoru Tamura, Tsinghua University (China)Sergey Ulyanov, Saratov State University (Russia)Ruikang K Wang, Oregon Health & Science University (USA)Xunbin Wei, Fudan University (China)Da Xing, South China Normal University (China)Haishan Zeng, BC Cancer Research Centre (Canada)Gang Zheng, University of Toronto (Canada)Dongping Zhong, The Ohio State University (USA) Organizing CommitteeLing Fu (Chair), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Yuandi Zhao (Chair), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Hui Gong, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Pengcheng Li, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Bifeng Liu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Qian Liu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Shaoqun Zeng, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Zhihong Zhang, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)Dan Zhu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China) Local SecretariatHua Shi, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)

University-Community Engagement: Case Study of University Social Responsibility

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chile, Love M.; Black, Xavier M.

2015-01-01

Corporatisation of universities has drawn parallels between contemporary universities and business corporations, and extended analysis of corporate social responsibility to universities. This article reports on a case study of university-community engagement with schools and school communities through youth engagement programmes to enhance…

Northern Studies at Northern Universities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Northern Review: A Multidisciplinary Journal of the Arts and Social Sciences of the North, 1994

1994-01-01

Describes college programs and research projects focused on the Arctic, northern studies, or northern concerns at Athabasca University (Alberta), the University of British Columbia, the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Scott Polar Institute at the University of Cambridge (England), and Kent State University…

Basic Guidelines for University-Industry Research Relationships.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brannock, Jean C.; Denny, Amanda M.

1998-01-01

Universities should embrace university/industry relationships because they benefit both the institution and society. As such relationships evolve, the university should continually review its policies. The model used by Wake Forest University (North Carolina) for routinely reviewing research agreements is presented to assist other universities in…

The Retreat from Race: Asian-American Admissions and Racial Politics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Takagi, Dana Y.

This book follows the debates over Asian-American admissions at Berkeley University (California), the University of California at Los Angeles, Brown University in Providence (Rhode Island), Stanford University (California), Harvard University in Cambridge (Massachusetts), and Princeton University (New Jersey). The book explores important…

The Pragmatic University: A Feasible Utopia?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Badley, Graham

2016-01-01

"Imaginings" of the modern university include such ideas as "the ecological university" and "the pragmatic university". In his attempt to separate utopian from dystopian visions of the university, Ronald Barnett concentrates on an analysis of the ecological university and ignores, for example, the case of the…

Harmonious University Construction Demands Internal and External Endeavors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lou, Xiang-yang; Zhi, Xi-zhe; Lu, Jin

2008-01-01

Universities play an irreplaceable role in the process of harmonious society construction. It becomes a critical task to construct harmonious university because of strain relations among universities, governments and society, and internal unbalance of universities. To construct harmonious university demands internal and external endeavors:…

Student Disciplinary Issues: A Legal Compendium.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Valerie L., Ed.; Buttolph, Katherine, Ed.

This legal compendium focuses on the difficult and volatile issues of student discipline in cases of both academic and nonacademic misconduct. Part I lists non-academic codes from University of Michigan, Yale College, Vanderbilt University, University of Iowa, City University of New York, Baylor University, Columbia University, George Washington…

40 CFR 273.19 - Tracking universal waste shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Tracking universal waste shipments... WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR UNIVERSAL WASTE MANAGEMENT Standards for Small Quantity Handlers of Universal Waste § 273.19 Tracking universal waste shipments. A small quantity handler of universal waste is...

NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities, Program Year 2003

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Block, David L.; Raissi, Ali

2006-01-01

This document presents the final report for the NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities project for program year 2003. This multiyear hydrogen research program has positioned Florida to become a major player in future NASA space and space launch projects. The program is funded by grants from NASA Glenn Research Center with the objective of supporting NASA's hydrogen-related space, space launch and aeronautical research activities. The program conducts over 40 individual projects covering the areas of cryogenics, storage, production, sensors, fuel cells, power and education. At the agency side, this program is managed by NASA Glenn Research Center and at the university side, co-managed by FSEC and the University of Florida with research being conducted by FSEC and seven Florida universities: Florida International University, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, University of West Florida and University of Florida. For detailed information, see the documents section of www.hydrogenresearch.org. This program has teamed these universities with the nation's premier space research center, NASA Glenn, and the nation's premier space launch facility, NASA Kennedy Space Center. It should be noted that the NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities program has provided a shining example and a conduit for seven Florida universities within the SUS to work collaboratively to address a major problem of national interest, hydrogen energy and the future of energy supply in the U.S.

Student perceptions of a healthy university.

PubMed

Holt, M; Monk, R; Powell, S; Dooris, M

2015-06-01

As complex environments within which individuals and populations operate, universities present important contexts for understanding and addressing health issues. The healthy university is an example of the settings approach, which adopts a whole system perspective, aiming to make places within which people, learn, live, work and play supportive to health and well-being. The UK Healthy Universities Network has formulated an online toolkit, which includes a Self-Review Tool, intended to enable universities to assess what actions they need to take to develop as a healthy university. This paper presents findings from consultative research undertaken with students from universities in England, Scotland and Wales, which explored what they believe, represents a healthy university. Student surveys and focus groups were used to collect data across eleven universities in England, Scotland and Wales. A priori themes were used to develop our own model for a healthy university, and for the thematic coding phase of analysis. A healthy university would promote student health and well-being in every aspect of its business from its facilities and environment through to its curriculum. Access to reasonably priced healthy food and exercise facilities were key features of a healthy university for students in this study. The Self-Review Tool has provided a crucial start for universities undertaking the journey towards becoming a healthy university. In looking to the future both universities and the UK Healthy Universities Network will now need to look at what students want from their whole university experience, and consider how the Self-Review Tool can help universities embrace a more explicit conceptual framework. The concept of a healthy university that can tailor its facilities and supportive environments to the needs of its students will go some way to developing students who are active global citizens and who are more likely to value and prioritise health and well-being, in the short and long term through to their adult lives. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Transformation of Traditional Universities into Entrepreneurial Universities to Ensure Sustainable Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bikse, Veronika; Lusena-Ezera, Inese; Rivza, Baiba; Volkova, Tatjana

2016-01-01

This paper aims to investigate the experience and to identify the drivers of transforming traditional universities into Entrepreneurial Universities for ensuring sustainable higher education in Latvia. Due to the wide scope, Entrepreneurial University characteristics, the present research study is limited and focuses on the university providing…

University Education in Kenya: Current Developments and Future Outlook.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mutula, Stephen M.

2002-01-01

Discusses university education in Kenya, with an emphasis on patterns of financing and how this has affected overall operations of the universities. Assesses reforms to reduce government grants and make public universities self-sustaining, compares private and public universities, and discusses problems facing public universities and how they are…

Academic and Diversity Consequences of Affirmative Action in Brazil

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Childs, Porsha; Stromquist, Nelly P.

2015-01-01

Since 2001, Brazilian universities have been implementing affirmative-action policies to correct the racial, social and ethnic disparities in university admissions. An examination of the social-inclusion policies at three public universities in Brazil--the University of Brasilia, the Federal University of Bahia and the State University of…

The Rankings of Research Funding among Universities in Taiwan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Ru-Jer

2010-01-01

With the current trend that universities around the world have gradually stepped into higher education systems of popularization, there has been more diversity in universities; hence it has become necessary to increase the transparency of university governance. Since that university classification or university ranking is a powerful mechanism to…

Servant Leadership in Alabama's Regional Public Universities: The President's Role in Fostering Job Satisfaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farris, Jimmy D.

2011-01-01

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between two variables, "servant leadership" and "job satisfaction," among management, executive staff, and faculty at Alabama's five regional universities: Jacksonville State University, Troy University, the University of Montevallo, the University of North Alabama,…

40 CFR 273.39 - Tracking universal waste shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste received (e.g., batteries... facility, or foreign destination to whom the universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste sent (e.g., batteries, pesticides, thermostats); (3) The date the shipment of universal...

40 CFR 273.39 - Tracking universal waste shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste received (e.g., batteries... facility, or foreign destination to whom the universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste sent (e.g., batteries, pesticides, thermostats); (3) The date the shipment of universal...

40 CFR 273.39 - Tracking universal waste shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste received (e.g., batteries... facility, or foreign destination to whom the universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste sent (e.g., batteries, pesticides, thermostats); (3) The date the shipment of universal...

40 CFR 273.39 - Tracking universal waste shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste received (e.g., batteries... facility, or foreign destination to whom the universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste sent (e.g., batteries, pesticides, thermostats); (3) The date the shipment of universal...

40 CFR 273.39 - Tracking universal waste shipments.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste received (e.g., batteries... facility, or foreign destination to whom the universal waste was sent; (2) The quantity of each type of universal waste sent (e.g., batteries, pesticides, thermostats); (3) The date the shipment of universal...

Analysis of Quality in Public and Private Universities in Bangladesh and USA

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mazumder, Quamrul H.

2014-01-01

To meet the growing need for increased capacity in higher education, the government of Bangladesh encouraged development of private universities in 1992. Currently, there are sixty private universities, thirty-four public universities and three international universities in Bangladesh. Although the increased number of universities has provided…

75 FR 5108 - Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Nebraska State Museum, University of Nebraska...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-01

... State Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professional staff in consultation with representatives of... Nebraska State Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior... of the University of Nebraska State Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE. The human...

University Presses: Problems and Prospects.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meeker, Robert B.

Historical information on university presses and their problems are considered. University presses in the United States have their roots in 15th century England when the Oxford University Press was established in 1478. The first U.S. press to use the term "university press" was Cornell University; the press operated from 1869 until it…

Astrophysical and Geophysical Flows as Dynamical Systems. 1998 Summer Study Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-01-01

Jerusalem, ISRAEL University of Miami Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Brown University University of Chicago University Politecnica de Catalunya...University Politecnica de Catalunya, SPAIN - Resonant Mode Interactions in Rayleigh-Benard Convection 2:30 pm Ian Melbourne, University of Houston... Transport in a Porous Layer 2:30 pm Michael Proctor, University of Cambridge, UK - Noise Sensitivity in Travelling-Wave Instabilities Week of July

Collective Bargaining Agreement between Lincoln University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education and Lincoln University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, September 1, 1986 to August 31, 1988.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lincoln Univ., PA.

The collective bargaining agreement between Lincoln University and the university chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is presented covering the period September 1, 1986 through August 31, 1988. The following 20 articles comprise the document: recognition; definitions; purpose of agreement; university administration;…

Globalization, China's Drive for World-Class Universities (211 Project) and the Challenges of Ethnic Minority Higher Education: The Case of Yanbian University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choi, Sheena

2010-01-01

This case study of Yanbian University, a Korean minority university in China, examines the challenges faced, strategies employed, and resources mobilized by a minority university in its attempt to become a world-class university. Specifically, this case study focuses on how the University is attempting to reach its goals within the context of the…

Early Predictors of First-Year Academic Success at University: Pre-University Effort, Pre-University Self-Efficacy, and Pre-University Reasons for Attending University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Herpen, Sanne G. A.; Meeuwisse, Marieke; Hofman, W. H. Adriaan; Severiens, Sabine E.; Arends, Lidia R.

2017-01-01

Given the large number of dropouts in the 1st year at university, it is important to identify early predictors of 1st-year academic success. The present study (n = 453 first-year students) contributes to literature on the transition from secondary to higher education by investigating how the non-cognitive factors "pre-university" effort…

The Variation of Universally Acknowledged World-Class Universities (UAWCUs) between 2010 and 2015: An Empirical Study by the Ranks of THEs, QS and ARWU

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Lu; Liu, Zhimin

2016-01-01

Due to certainty recognition in ranking systems, the commonly included top 100 universities are regarded as the Universally Acknowledged World-Class Universities (UAWCUs). From three university rankings-THEs, QS and ARWU from 2010 to 2015, the following conclusions can be drawn from this study: Firstly, 56 universities are commonly ranked in the…

Temperature-sensitive albino gene TCD5, encoding a monooxygenase, affects chloroplast development at low temperatures.

PubMed

Wang, Yufeng; Zhang, Jianhui; Shi, Xiaoliang; Peng, Yu; Li, Ping; Lin, Dongzhi; Dong, Yanjun; Teng, Sheng

2016-09-01

Chloroplasts are essential for photosynthesis and play critical roles in plant development. In this study, we characterized the temperature-sensitive chlorophyll-deficient rice mutant tcd5, which develops albino leaves at low temperatures (20 °C) and normal green leaves at high temperatures (32 °C). The development of chloroplasts and etioplasts is impaired in tcd5 plants at 20 °C, and the temperature-sensitive period for the albino phenotype is the P4 stage of leaf development. The development of thylakoid membranes is arrested at the mid-P4 stage in tcd5 plants at 20 °C. We performed positional cloning of TCD5 and then complementation and knock-down experiments, and the results showed that the transcript LOC_Os05g34040.1 from the LOC_Os05g34040 gene corresponded to the tcd5 phenotype. TCD5 encodes a conserved plastid-targeted monooxygenase family protein which has not been previously reported associated with a temperature-sensitive albino phenotype in plants. TCD5 is abundantly expressed in young leaves and immature spikes, and low temperatures increased this expression. The transcription of some genes involved in plastid transcription/translation and photosynthesis varied in the tcd5 mutant. Although the phenotype and temperature dependence of the TCD5 orthologous mutant phenotype were different in rice and Arabidopsis, OsTCD5 could rescue the phenotype of the Arabidopsis mutant, suggesting that TCD5 function is conserved between monocots and dicots. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

[The Analysis of Traditional Lime Mortars from Zhejiang Province, China].

PubMed

Liu, Xiao-bin; Cui, Biao; Zhang, Bing-jian

2016-01-01

The components of ancient mortars have always been an important research field in historic building conservation. It has been well known that using traditional mortars in conservation projects have many advantages, such as compatibility and stability. So, developing new binding materials based on traditional mortar has become an international study hotspot. With China's economic development, the protection of ancient buildings also began to put on the agenda, but the understanding on Chinese traditional mortar is limited, and rare literatures are reported. In the present work, the authors investigate seven ancient city wall sites in Zhejiang Province in situ, and subsequently laboratory analysis were carried out on collected mortar samples. The characterizations of mortar samples were made by multi-density gauge, XRD, FTIR, TG-DSC and wet chemical analysis. The experimental results showed that: the main component of masonry mortars is calcium carbonate, the content between 75% - 90%, and they should be made from relatively pure lime mortar. The raw materials of mortar samples were mainly calcareous quick lime, and sample from Taizhou city also contained magnesium quick lime. There are four city walls were built by sticky-rice mortars. It suggests that the technology of adding the sticky rice soup into mortar was universal in the Ming Dynasties. These mortars have lower density between 1.2 and 1.9 g x cm(-3); this outcome should be the result of long-term natural erosion. We have also analyzed other chemical and physical characteristics of these masonry mortars. The results can afford the basic data for the future repairmen programs, development of new protective materials, and comparative study of mortars.

Differential dietary habits among 570 young underweight Japanese women with and without a desire for thinness: a comparison with normal weight counterparts.

PubMed

Mori, Nagisa; Asakura, Keiko; Sasaki, Satoshi

2016-01-01

The strong social pressure for thinness in Japanese society has produced a dramatic increase in underweight (body mass index: <18.5 kg/m2) among young women. Being underweight is associated with several negative health outcomes, including nutritional deficiency, osteoporosis, and unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. However, evidence which would help deal with this problem from a public health perspective is scarce. Here, we aimed to identify the dietary characteristics of underweight female university students, particularly those with a desire for thinness. Data on dietary habits and other lifestyle variables, including the desire for thinness, were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire survey conducted at 54 academic institutions in Japan, from which we selected 3634 female students for analysis. The subjects were divided into three groups of normal weight (84.3%), and underweight with (6.4%) or without (9.3%) a desire for thinness. After adjusting for potential confounders, the underweight subjects with a desire for thinness consumed less cereal and rice, whereas those without a desire for thinness consumed more cereal and rice than the normal weight subjects. In addition, those without a desire for thinness consumed less confectionaries, including candies and ice cream, and less fats and oils than the normal weight subjects. These results suggest that dietary habits differ between underweight women with and without a desire for thinness. Although both groups require nutritional education to maintain appropriate body weight, underweight women with a desire for thinness require particular attention to improve recognition of their constitution and dietary habits.

Nutritional and sensory evaluation of a complementary food formulated from rice, faba beans, sweet potato flour, and peanut oil.

PubMed

Mahmoud, Amal H; El Anany, Ayman Mohammed

2014-12-01

Childhood malnutrition is a common disorder in developing countries. To formulate a complementary food from rice, germinated-decoated faba bean, orange-fleshed sweet potato flour, and peanut oil (RFPP formula) for infants aged 6 to 24 months. The nutritional and sensory characteristics of the RFPP complementary food in comparison with those of a commercial complementary food were determined using standard official procedures. The levels of protein (17.89 g/100 g), fat (10.35 g/100 g), carbohydrate (67.82 g/100 g), and energy (435.99 kcal/100 g) of the RFPP complementary food met the specifications of the Codex standard (1991) and the Egyptian Standard No. 3284 (2005). The essential amino acid contents of the RFPP complementary food were higher than the amino acid profile of the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University (2002) reference protein for children 0.5 to 1 and 1 to 2 years of age. The RFPP complementary food had high levels (54.00%) of monounsaturated fatty acids. However, the highest level of saturated fatty acids (51.10%) was recorded for the commercial complementary food. The sensory evaluation results, using a nine-point hedonic scale ranging from 1 (dislike extremely) to 9 (like extremely), show that the RFPP complementary food was acceptable in appearance (7.20), color (6.35), aroma (6.75), taste (7.25), and mouthfeel (7.10) and had an overall acceptability of 6.40. The RFPP formulated complementary food was acceptable and adequate in nutrients for weaning purposes.

Overexpression of OsCYP19-4 increases tolerance to cold stress and enhances grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa).

PubMed

Yoon, Dae Hwa; Lee, Sang Sook; Park, Hyun Ji; Lyu, Jae Il; Chong, Won Seog; Liu, Jang Ryol; Kim, Beom-Gi; Ahn, Jun Cheul; Cho, Hye Sun

2016-01-01

AtCYP19-4 (also known as CYP5) was previously identified as interacting in vitro with GNOM, a member of a large family of ARF guanine nucleotide exchange factors that is required for proper polar localization of the auxin efflux carrier PIN1. The present study demonstrated that OsCYP19-4, a gene encoding a putative homologue of AtCYP19-4, was up-regulated by several stresses and showed over 10-fold up-regulation in response to cold. The study further demonstrated that the promoter of OsCYP19-4 was activated in response to cold stress. An OsCYP19-4-GFP fusion protein was targeted to the outside of the plasma membrane via the endoplasmic reticulum as determined using brefeldin A, a vesicle trafficking inhibitor. An in vitro assay with a synthetic substrate oligomer confirmed that OsCYP19-4 had peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity, as was previously reported for AtCYP19-4. Rice plants overexpressing OsCYP19-4 showed cold-resistance phenotypes with significantly increased tiller and spike numbers, and consequently enhanced grain weight, compared with wild-type plants. Based on these results, the authors suggest that OsCYP19-4 is required for developmental acclimation to environmental stresses, especially cold. Furthermore, the results point to the potential of manipulating OsCYP19-4 expression to enhance cold tolerance or to increase biomass. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

PREFACE: International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2011)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oberauer, Lothar; Raffelt, Georg; Wagner, Robert

2012-07-01

The 12th edition of the International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2011) was held 5-9 September 2011 in Munich (and for the first time in Germany). It was organized by the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP), the Technical University Munich (TUM) and the Cluster of Excellence 'Origin and Structure of the Universe'. The conference was held in the 'Künstlerhaus', a traditional downtown location for artistic festivities. The meeting attracted 317 participants (61 of which were women) from 29 countries, see figure below. The topics covered by the meeting were Cosmology and particle physics, Dark matter and its detection, Neutrino physics and astrophysics, Gravitational waves and High-energy astrophysics and cosmic rays, and the various interfaces between these areas. The scientific sessions consisted of five mornings of plenary talks, four afternoons of parallel sessions, and an evening poster session. The co-founder of the conference series, Alessandro Bottino, has decided to retire from the position of chairman of the TAUP Steering Committee after the completion of TAUP 2011. On behalf of all followers of this series, we thank him for having started these inspiring events and his many years of dedicated service. We thank all speakers, conveners and participants as well as the members of the organizing, steering and international advisory committee for making this a successful and memorable meeting. Lothar Oberauer, Georg Raffelt, Robert Wagner Proceedings editors Figure Committees International Advisory Committee G AntonUniversity of Erlangen E AprileColumbia University M Baldo-CeolinUniversity of Padova R BattistonUniversity of Perugia & INFN L BergströmUniversity Stockholm R BernabeiUniversity of Rome 'Tor Vergata' A BettiniLSC Canfranc P BinetruyAPC Paris J BlümerKarlsruhe Institute of Technology B CabreraStanford University A CaldwellMax Planck Institute for Physics M ChenQueens University E CocciaUniversity of Rome 'Tor Vergata' K DanzmannMax Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics S DodelsonFermilab G DomogatskyINR Moscow E FioriniUniversità di Milano Bicocca & INFN K FreeseUniversity of Michigan M FukugitaICRR Tokyo T GaisserUniversity of Delaware G GerbierCEA Saclay F HalzenUniversity of Wisconsin W HaxtonLNBL & UC Berkeley J HoughGlasgow University E KomatsuUniversity of Texas E KatsavounidisMassachusetts Institute of Technology M LindnerMax Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics K LeskoLBNL & UC Berkeley A McDonaldQueens University & SNO Laboratory H MurayamaIPMU Tokyo & UC Berkeley A OlintoUniversity of Chicago L ResvanisUniversity of Athens A RubbiaETH Zurich S SarkarUniversity of Oxford A SmirnovICTP Trieste N SmithSNO Laboratory C SpieringDESY Zeuthen N SpoonerUniversity of Sheffield Y SuzukiICRR Tokyo M TeshimaMax Planck Institute for Physics J W F ValleIFIC & University of Valencia L VotanoLNGS E WaxmanWeizmann Institute J WilkersonUniversity of North Carolina TAUP Steering Committee F T AvignoneUniversity of South Carolina B C BarishCaltech E BellottiUniversity of Milan Bicoccia & INFN J BernabeuUniversity of Valencia A BottinoUniversity of Turin & INFN (chair) N FornengoUniversity of Turin & INFN T KajitaICRR Tokyo C W KimJohns Hopkins University & KIAS V MatveevINR Moscow G RaffeltMax Planck Institute for Physics D SinclairUniversity of Carleton M SpiroCEA Saclay Parallel Session Conveners Dark Matter - Candidates and Searches J-C LanfranchiTechnische Universität München T Marrodán UndagoitiaUniversity of Zurich T BringmannUniversität Hamburg Cosmology J WellerLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München S HannestadUniversity of Aarhus Double Beta Decay, Neutrino Mass M HirschIFIC/CSIC - University of Valencia A GiulianiCNRS Orsay Neutrino Oscillations T LachenmaierUniversität Tübingen F SuekaneTohoku University Low-Energy Neutrinos (Geo, Solar, Supernova) A DigheTIFR Mumbai M ChenQueen's University M WurmUniversität Hamburg Gravitational Waves E CocciaUniversity of Rome Tor Vergata and INFN S MarkaColumbia University Astrophysical Messengers (Neutrinos, Gamma-Rays, Cosmic Rays) R M WagnerMax-Planck-Institut für Physik M KachelriessUniversity of Trondheim M KowalskiUniversity of Bonn Organizing Committee N FornengoTorino University and INFN B MajorovitsMax-Planck-Institut für Physik L OberauerTechnische Universität M ü nchen (co-chair) G RaffeltMax-Planck-Institut für Physik (co-chair) S RodríguezMax-Planck-Institut für Physik (conference secretary) S SchönertTechnische Universität München D SinclairSNO Laboratory & Carleton University R M WagnerMax-Planck-Institut für Physik (scientific secretary) B WankerlExcellence Cluster 'Origin and Structure of the Universe' M WurmTechnische Universität München S ZollingerMax-Planck-Institut für Physik Conference photograph

Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Block, David L.; T-Raissi, Ali

2009-01-01

This final report describes the R&D activities and projects conducted for NASA under the 6-year NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities grant program. Contained within this report are summaries of the overall activities, one-page description of all the reports funded under this program and all of the individual reports from each of the 29 projects supported by the effort. The R&D activities cover hydrogen technologies related to production, cryogenics, sensors, storage, separation processes, fuel cells, resource assessments and education. In the span of 6 years, the NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities program funded a total of 44 individual university projects, and employed more than 100 faculty and over 100 graduate research students in the six participating universities. Researchers involved in this program have filed more than 20 patents in all hydrogen technology areas and put out over 220 technical publications in the last 2 years alone. This 6 year hydrogen research program was conducted by a consortium of six Florida universities: Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida State University (FSU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, and University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville. The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) of the University of Central Florida managed the research activities of all consortium member universities except those at the University of Florida. This report does not include any of the programs or activities conducted at the University of Florida, but can be found in NASA/CR-2008-215440-PART 1-3.

COMMITTEES: LISA 7 Science Organizing Committee and Local Organizing Committee LISA 7 Science Organizing Committee and Local Organizing Committee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2009-05-01

Science Organising Committee (SOC) Pierre Binetruy, APC - College de France Massimo Cerdonio, University of Padova Karsten Danzmann, AEI/University of Hannover Mike Cruise, University of Birmingham Jim Hough, University of Glasgow Oliver Jennrich, ESTEC Philippe Jetzer, University Zurich Alberto Lobo (Chair), ICE-CSIC and IEEC Yannick Mellier, IAP, Paris Bernard Schutz, AEI Potsdam Tim Sumner, Imperial College, London Jean-Yves Vinet, OCA, Nice Stefano Vitale, University of Trento Peter Bender, University of Colorado Sasha Buchman, Stanford University Joan Centrella, NASA/Goddard Neil Cornish, Montana State University Curt Cutler, NASA/JPL Sam Finn, Penn State University Jens Gundlach, NPL Craig Hogan, University of Washington Scott Hughes, MIT Piero Madau, Lick Observatory Tom Prince, NASA/JPL Sterl Phinney, Caltech Doug Richstone, University of Michigan Tuck Stebbins, NASA/Goddard Kip Thorne, Caltech Roger Blandford, Stanford University Eugenio Coccia, University of Roma-2 Carlos F Sopuerta,ICE-CSIC and IEEC Enrique Garcia-Berro, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona Seiji Kawamura, National Observatory, Japan Jay Marx, LIGO Laboratory Stephen Merkowitz, NASA/Goddard Benoit Mours, Laboratoire d'Annec Gijs Nelemans, IMAPP, Nijmegen Enric Verdaguer, University of Barcelona Clifford M Will, Washington University, St Louis Local Organising Committee (LOC) Anna Bertolín (IEEC) Priscilla Cañizares (ICE-CSIC and IEEC) Carlos F Sopuerta (ICE-CSIC and IEEC) Ivan Lloro (ICE-CSIC and IEEC),Chair Alberto Lobo (ICE-CSIC and IEEC) Nacho Mateos (ICE-CSIC and IEEC) Pilar Montes (IEEC) Miquel Nofrarias (IEEC) Juan Ramos-Castro (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) Josep Sanjuán (IEEC)

The Egalitarianism of Honors at a Polytechnic University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Coley, Soraya M.

2015-01-01

The Kellogg Honors College (KHC) is a distinctive community within Cal Poly Pomona (CPP), a public university in Southern California and one of twenty-three universities in the California State University (CSU) system. With over 22,000 students, CPP is the second-largest polytechnic university in the United States. The university's goal is to…

Promotional Discourse in the Websites of Two Australian Universities: A Discourse Analytic Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoang, Thi Van Yen; Rojas-Lizana, Isolda

2015-01-01

This article shows how universities represent themselves through the use of language on their institutional websites. Specifically, it compares and contrasts how a long established university, the University of Melbourne and a young university, Macquarie University construct their institutional identities and build up a relationship with potential…

"The Lengthened Shadow of One Man": The Public Intellectual and the Founding of Universities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyatt, John

1998-01-01

Identifies five intellectuals who made distinctive contributions to the founding of new universities in England, Germany, and the United States. Institutional and individual biographies profile: Thomas Jefferson (University of Virginia); Wilhelm von Humboldt (University of Berlin); Lord Brougham (University College, University of London); A.D.…

The Differentiated Market-University: Is Commodification Equally Affecting All Universities?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rikap, Cecilia

2017-01-01

We analyze the meanings of university's autonomy throughout western history and capitalism's recent transformations in order to suggest a taxonomy of present universities according to the type of capital enterprise they are imitating. As a first step, we distinguish three dimensions of university's autonomy in the Medieval University and the…

The Mission of the University--Addressing Issues of Universality, Diversity and Interdependence.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DiBiaggio, John

Rapid changes in science, technology, economics, and politics present great opportunities and even larger responsibilities to leaders in higher education. The concepts of universality, diversity, and interdependence are components of the mission of American universities. Many American universities are universal in two senses, in that they offer an…

Building Human Resources Management Capacity for University Research: The Case at Four Leading Vietnamese Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nguyen, T. L.

2016-01-01

At research-intensive universities, building human resources management (HRM) capacity has become a key approach to enhancing a university's research performance. However, despite aspiring to become a research-intensive university, many teaching-intensive universities in developing countries may not have created effective research-promoted HRM…

Corporate Governance and Intellectual Capital: Evidence from Public and Private Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wahid, Akma Hidayu Dol Abdu; Abu, Nor Asyiqin; Latif, Wannoraini Abdul; Smith, Malcolm

2013-01-01

This study was conducted to examine the perception of academics towards intellectual capital (IC) and governance practice at two Malaysian universities: University A (a Public University) and University B (a Private University). It also examines the factors which contribute to the retention of qualified academics and the relationship between…

Going Dutch: Higher Education in the Netherlands

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Law, David

2016-01-01

This article outlines some of the policy issues currently faced by research-based universities in the Netherlands. The focus is on four leading universities (University of Amsterdam: UvA; Free University of Amsterdam: VU; Leiden University; and Delft University of Technology: TUD). The author visited these institutions as part of a Study Tour…

A Textual Research on the First Private University in Modern China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tian, Zhengping; Chen, Taolan

2008-01-01

Recently there have been many viewpoints as to which private university was founded firstly in modern China. The schools, such as Fudan University (or the former Aurora Academy), Nankai University, China College, Wuchang Zhonghua University, Nanyang College and Zhengmeng Academy are all considered to be the first private university. From two…

EDITORIAL: The 24th Nordic Semiconductor Meeting The 24th Nordic Semiconductor Meeting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Páll Gunnlaugsson, Haraldur; Nylandsted Larsen, Arne; Uhrenfeldt, Christian

2012-03-01

A Nordic Semiconductor Meeting is held every other year with the venue rotating amongst the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The focus of these meetings remains 'original research and science being carried out on semiconductor materials, devices and systems'. Reports on industrial activity have usually featured. The topics have ranged from fundamental research on point defects in a semiconductor to system architecture of semiconductor electronic devices. Proceedings from these events are regularly published as a Topical Issue of Physica Scripta. All of the papers in this Topical Issue have undergone critical peer review and we wish to thank the reviewers and the authors for their cooperation, which has been instrumental in meeting the high scientific standards and quality of the series. This 24th meeting of the Nordic Semiconductor community, NSM 2011, was held at Fuglsøcentret, close to Aarhus, Denmark, 19-22 June 2011. Support was provided by the Carlsberg Foundation, Danfysik and the semiconductor group at Aarhus University. Over 30 participants presented a broad range of topics covering semiconductor materials and devices as well as related material science interests. The conference provided a forum for Nordic and international scientists to present and discuss new results and ideas concerning the fundamentals and applications of semiconductor materials. The aim of the meeting was to advance the progress of Nordic science and thus aid in future worldwide technological advances concerning technology, education, energy and the environment. The 25th Nordic Semiconductor Meeting will be organized in June 2013 in Finland, chaired by Dr Filip Tuomisto, Aalto University. A Nordic Summer School on Semiconductor Science will be organized in connection with the conference (just before), chaired by Dr Jonatan Slotte, Aalto University. Information on these events can be found at physics.aalto.fi/nsm2013. List of participants Søren Vejling AndersenAalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Pia BomholtAarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Hafliði P GíslasonUniversity of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Haraldur Páll GunnlaugssonAarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark John HansenAarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Britta JohansenAarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Volodymyr KhranovskyyLinköping University, Linköping, Sweden Arne Nylandsted LarsenAarhus University, Denmark Helge MalmbekkUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Erik Stensrud MarsteinInstitute for Energy Technology, Kjeller, Norway Antonio MartiUniversidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Torben MølholtUniversity of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Sveinn ÓlafssonUniversity of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Thomas PedersenTechnical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark Thomas Garm PedersenAalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Dirch Hjorth PetersenTechnical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark Vincent QuemenerUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Henry RadamsonKTH Royal Institute of Technology, Kista, Sweden Bahman RaeissiUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Jonatan SlotteAalto University, Aalto, Finland Xin SongUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Einar Örn SveinbjörnssonUniversity of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Mikael SyväjärviLinköping University, Linköping, Sweden Chi Kwong TangUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Erik V ThomsenTechnical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark Christian UhrenfeldtAarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark Hans Ulrik UlriksenAalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark Muhammad UsmanKTH Royal Institute of Technology, Kista, Sweden Lasse VinesUniversity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Ulrich WahlUnidade de Física e Aceleradores, Sacavém, Portugal Helge WemanNTNU, Trondheim, Norway Gerd WeyerAarhus University, Denmark

Research on the Mode of University-Enterprise Cooperation to Promote Engineering Students' Employment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hui, Yan; Lihua, Sun

2018-06-01

The employment of university students has become a hot issue of concern to the whole society. Promoting the employment of university students is a top priority for higher education institutions. University-enterprise cooperation is an important trend in the development of modern higher education. It is also an important channel for promoting the employment of university students, especially for engineering students. Through an in-depth analysis of the status quo of employment of university graduates, this paper proposes four modes of university-enterprise cooperation to promote university graduates' employment: The post-employment cooperation model, the professional internship cooperation model, the second classroom expansion cooperation model and the enterprise-oriented recruitment model, and further proposed the countermeasures to strengthen the cooperation between university and enterprise in order to promote the employment of university students.

Production and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes and Nanotube-Based Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nikolaev, Pavel; Arepalli, Sivaram; Holmes, William; Gorelik, Olga; Files, Brad; Scott, Carl; Santos, Beatrice; Mayeaux, Brian; Victor, Joe

1999-01-01

The Nobel Prize winning discovery of the Buckuball (C60) in 1985 at Rice University by a group including Dr. Richard Smalley led to the whole new class of carbon allotropes including fullerenes and nanotubes. Especially interesting from many viewpoints are single-walled carbon nanotubes, which structurally are like a single graphitic sheet wrapped around a cylinder and capped at the ends. This cylinders have diameter as small as 0.5 - 2 nm (1/100,000th the diameter of a human hair) and are as long as 0.1 - 1 mm. Nanotubes are really individual molecules and believed to be defect-free, leading to high tensile strength despite their low density. Additionally, these fibers exhibit electrical conductivity as high as copper, thermal conductivity as high as diamond, strength 100 times higher than steel at one-sixth the weight, and high strain to failure. Thus it is believed that developments in the field of nanotechnology will lead to stronger and lighter composite materials for next generation spacecraft. Lack of a bulk method of production is the primary reason nanotubes are not used widely today. Toward this goal JSC nanotube team is exploring three distinct production techniques: laser ablation, arc discharge and chemical vapor deposition (CVD, in collaboration with Rice University). In laser ablation technique high-power laser impinges on the piece of carbon containing small amount of catalyst, and nanotubes self-assemble from the resulting carbon vapor. In arc generator similar vapor is created in arc discharge between carbon electrodes with catalyst. In CVD method nanotubes grow at much lower temperature on small catalyst particles from carbon-containing feedstock gas (methane or carbon monoxide). As of now, laser ablation produces cleanest material, but mass yield is rather small. Arc discharge produces grams of material, but purity is low. CVD technique is still in baby steps, but preliminary results look promising, as well as perspective of scaling the process up. We are also working on necessary purification of nanotubes. Applications of nanotubes are in such various fields as lightweight composites, molecular electronics, energy storage (electrodes in Li ion batteries), flat panel displays, conductive polymers, etc. JSC nanotube team is focused on development of lightweight materials. We work on the injection thermoset epoxies reinforced with nanotubes. Early results show good wetting of nanotube surface with epoxy, which is very important. More research will be possible as more nanotubes become available.

Taking the Measure of the Universe: Cosmology from the WMAP Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinshaw, Gary F.

2006-01-01

The data from the first three years of operation of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite provide detailed full-sky maps of the cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropy and new full-sky maps of the polarization. Together, the data provide a wealth of cosmological information, including the age of the universe, the epoch when the first stars formed, and the overall composition of baryonic matter, dark matter, and dark energy. The results also provide constraints on the period of inflationary expansion in the very first moments of time. These and other aspects of the mission will be discussed. WMAP, part of NASA's Explorers program, was launched on June 30,2001. The WMAP satellite was produced in a partnership between the Goddard Space Flight Center and Princeton University. The WMAP team also includes researchers at the Johns Hopkins University; the Canadian Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics; University of Texas; Cornel1 University; University of Chicago; Brown University; University of British Columbia; University of Pennsylvania; and University of California, Los Angeles

The Idea of Patents vs. the Idea of University.

PubMed

de Campos, Thana Cristina

2015-01-01

It is generally accepted that patents are a driving force for innovation through research and development. But the university's involvement in patenting is problematic as well. In particular, it is in tension with the idea of a university itself. If patents entail a restriction on the accessibility of the scientific knowledge that has been patented, and if the main purpose of universities is to produce and disseminate knowledge to the public, then, there is a tension: when universities patent their research innovations, they are making the scientific knowledge they produce less accessible to the public. The paper argues that university patenting contradicts the very idea of a university as an institution whose mission is fundamentally to disseminate the knowledge it produces to the public. The practice of university patenting involves an un-academic attitude thus: by inciting an attitude towards knowledge that is not consistent with the proper attitudes and goals of a university, university patenting hurts university's integrity.

The University Treasurer's Report Can Make Sense Without Abandoning Fund Accounting or Stewardship. NACUBO, The College and University Business Officer, Studies in Management, Vol. 2, No. 9, June, 1973.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilkinson, William M.

This article suggests that all too often college and university financial reports are meaningless. They indicate the current funds "surplus" or "deficit" that has been the typical university response when asked how the university did that year. In place of this, the university financial support should look at the total picture of the university,…

[Acceptance of transsexualism among university students from Lódź].

PubMed

Antoszewski, Bogusław; Kasielska, Anna; Jedrzejczak, Marta J; Kruk-Jeromin, Julia

2008-01-01

Transsexualism is one of the gender identity disorders where psychological sex is opposed to anatomical sex. This disorder leads to a discrepancy between the preferred social gender and the biological sex. The aim of this research is to compare knowledge and attitude toward transsexualism in student's opinion, coming from three universities in Lódź. The questionnaire study was performed in the group of 300 students from three universities in Lódź: Technical University of Lódź, University of Lódź, Medical University of Lódź. The questionnaire contained 30 questions related to respondent's sex, birthplace, knowledge about definition and aetiology of transsexualism and also rights which students would grant to transsexuals. The right definition of transsexualism was pointed by 64% of students from Medical University, 57% from Technical University and 40% from University of Lódź. The right to surgical sex change for transsexuals would be granted by 87% of students from the Medical University, 69% from the University of Lódź and 40% from the Technical University. Majority of medical students (90%) and respectively 78% and 57% from the University of Lódź and Technical University would accept a transsexual as his/her co-worker. Student's knowledge about transsexualism is similar and does not differ from a foreign student's knowledge. Students from natural science studies (medicine and biology) are the most tolerant towards transsexuals.

Four Tiers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moodie, Gavin

2009-01-01

This paper posits a classification of tertiary education institutions into four tiers: world research universities, selecting universities, recruiting universities, and vocational institutes. The distinguishing characteristic of world research universities is their research strength, the distinguishing characteristic of selecting universities is…

University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University: Globalization of Higher Education in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Feng, Yi

2013-01-01

This essay studies the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University--the two Chinese campuses established respectively by the University of Nottingham and the University of Liverpool. They represent successful models of globalization of higher education in China; however their rationale, strategies, curricula,…

Analysis of Unit Costs in a University. The Fribourg Example. Program on Institutional Management in Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pasquier, Jacques; Sachse, Matthias

Costing principles are applied to a university by estimating unit costs and their component factors for the university's different inputs, activities, and outputs. The information system used is designed for Fribourg University but could be applicable to other Swiss universities and could serve Switzerland's universities policy. In general, it…

Teacher Education Program Review in the State University System of Florida, Part II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stedman, Donald

This program review examines the Colleges of Education in three of Florida's nine State University System (SUS) universities, as a follow-up to Program Review, Part 1 (1992), which examined the other six universities. Institutions reviewed are: the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), University of West Florida (UWF), and Florida…

The Impact of The University of Pittsburgh on the Local Economy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pittsburgh Univ., PA. University Urban Interface Program.

One of the projects selected for the University Urban Interface Program at the University of Pittsburgh was that of studying the impact of the university on the city of Pittsburgh. In pursuing this goal, studies were made of university-related local business volume; value of local business property committed to university-related business; credit…

The Influence of British and German Universities on the Historical Development of American Universities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fincher, Cameron

This monograph provides a historical review of British and German influences on the development of American universities. The paper traces the foundations of modern universities to medieval institutions, such as the universities of Paris and Bologna, to such institutions as Oxford and Cambridge, and to German universities, which were founded as…

Faculties of Education in Traditional Universities and Universities of the Third Age: A Partnership Model in Gerontagogy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lemieux, Andre; Boutin, Gerald; Riendeau, Jean

2007-01-01

This article discusses "Universities of the Third Age", whose function is quite distinct from established universities' traditional role in teaching, research, and community services. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a model of partnership between traditional universities and Universities of the Third Age, ensuring better…

Sciences Teacher Education Curriculum Re-Alignment: "Science Education Lecturers' Perspectives of Knowledge Integration at South African Universities"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Booi, Kwanele; Khuzwayo, Mamsie Ethel

2018-01-01

A qualitative case study was conducted at six purposively sampled universities; out of a population of approximately 23 universities. This sampling strategy was based on selecting some universities that became Universities of Technology during the process of merging Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) while other universities kept their identity;…

Do Universities Benefit Local Youth? Evidence from the Creation of New Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frenette, Marc

2009-01-01

In this study, I examine university and college participation rates, as well as graduate outcomes, following the establishment of a university in cities where there were previously none. The creation of a local university is associated with a large increase in university attendance among local youth in each affected city. However, the increase in…

Legitimating the World-Class University Concept through the Discourse of Elite Universities' Presidents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez-Pomeda, Jesus; Casani, Fernando

2016-01-01

Although well-renowned universities attempt to differentiate themselves from other universities, little research has been undertaken on the principal themes involved in the concept of the world-class university (WCU) as presented in speeches by members of WCUs. These discourses are a key tool in universities' attempt to shape the competitive…

Agreement between Fairleigh Dickinson University and Fairleigh Dickinson University Council of American Association of University Professors Chapters, September 1, 1982-August 31, 1984.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between Fairleigh Dickinson University and Fairleigh Dickinson University Council (495 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapters covering the period September 1, 1982-August 31, 1984 is presented. Items covered are: unit recognition and definitions; nondiscrimination; base…

Multimedia University: A Paperless Environment to Take the Challenges for the 21st Century

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reaz, Mamun Bin Ibne; Hussain, Sazzad; Khadem, Shajib

2007-01-01

Predictability of absolute data transaction for real time information and reduction of incalculable data delivery time are the major factors to lead the global education as well as economic system towards a paperless environment. Some universities such as the University of Phoenix, Western Governors University, UK Open University, University of…

International Agendas and Local Manifestations: Universities in Cairo, Beirut and Jerusalem after World War I

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huber, Valeska

2015-01-01

This article traces the influence of international networks in three Middle Eastern universities from the 1920s onwards: the American University of Beirut, the American University in Cairo and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. It shows how American, internationalist, imperial and religious actors competed and how the universities were placed in…

Governance of National Research University in Southeast Asia: The Case of Chiang Mai University in Thailand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rungfamai, Kreangchai

2018-01-01

This paper aims to deal with lingering governance issues of a prestigious university in a developing country of Southeast Asia. It provides a description of environments, changes, and university stakeholders' perceptions in terms of governance arrangements of Chiang Mai University (CMU), which was selected as a National Research University in…

Research universities for the 21st century

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gover, J.; Huray, P.G.

The `public outcomes` from research universities are educated students and research that extends the frontiers of knowledge. Measures of these `public outcomes` are inadequate to permit either research or education consumers to select research universities based on quantitative performance data. Research universities annually spend over $20 billion on research; 60% of these funds are provided by Federal sources. Federal funding for university research has recently grown at an annual rate near 6% during a time period when other performers of Federal research have experienced real funding cuts. Ten universities receive about 25% of the Federal funds spent on university research.more » Numerous studies of US research universities are reporting storm clouds. Concerns include balancing research and teaching, the narrow focus of engineering education, college costs, continuing education, and public funding of foreign student education. The absence of research on the `public outcomes` from university research results in opinion, politics, and mythology forming the basis of too many decisions. Therefore, the authors recommend studies of other nations` research universities, studies of various economic models of university research, analysis of the peer review process and how well it identifies the most capable research practitioners and at what cost, and studies of research university ownership of intellectual property that can lead to increased `public outcomes` from publicly-funded research performed by research universities. They advocate two practices that could increase the `public outcomes` from university research. These are the development of science roadmaps that link science research to `public outcomes` and `public outcome` metrics. Changes in the university research culture and expanded use of the Internet could also lead to increased `public outcomes`. They recommend the use of tax incentives to encourage companies to develop research partnerships with research universities.« less

Evaluation of scientific output in Dentistry in Spanish Universities.

PubMed

De la Flor-Martínez, M; Galindo-Moreno, P; Sánchez-Fernández, E; Abadal, E; Cobo, M-J; Herrera-Viedma, E

2017-07-01

The aim of this study was to assess the scientific output of Spanish universities that offer a bachelor's degree in dentistry through the use of various bibliometric indicators. A total of 21 universities offered a bachelor's degree in dentistry in academic year 2016-2017. The search for papers published by authors associated with these institutions was carried out using the selection of journals listed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and the Web of Knowledge database for the period 1986-2017. On the basis of these data, we determined the output, the h-, g- and hg-indexes, the most productive authors, international collaborations, and the most relevant journals. Public universities obtained better results than private universities. The University of Valencia was ranked first, followed by the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Granada. The most productive author was José Vicente Bagán, but the author with the highest h-index was Mariano Sanz and Manuel Toledado. The universities with the greatest output and highest citation rates had more international collaborations. The most developed fields in Spanish universities were Oral surgery, Oral medicine and Dental materials. The universities had different models of production. At universities such as Barcelona or Valencia, the production was focused on very few departments and authors. At the other extreme, the University of Granada had various sources of research and authors, which meant that its output and citation rate could increase more. University faculties must provide suitable academic and research training, and therefore must be assessed using objective criteria and bibliometric tools. Although the number of university schools and faculties that teach dentistry has increased, and particularly the number of private universities, there is no correlation between their quality and output and the number of places offered on their courses.

University of Florida Campus, Plaza of the Americas, University of ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

University of Florida Campus, Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida Campus Quad Bounded by West University Avenue, US 441/Southwest 13th Street, Stadium Road, and North-South Drive, Gainesville, Alachua County, FL

Collective Bargaining Agreement between Connecticut State University American Association of University Professors and the Board of Trustees for the Connecticut State University, 1984-1987 and The Connecticut State University Agreement for Part-Time Employees in the Instructional Faculty Bargaining Unit.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connecticut State Board of Higher Education, Hartford.

The collective bargaining agreement between Connecticut State University Board of Trustees and the Connecticut State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors covering the period April 10, 1984 to April 10, 1987 is presented. The chapter has 1,980 members, including part-timers. Items covered in the agreement include:…

JPRS Report, Science & Technology, Europe & Latin America, Brazil: Selections from the 1987 Federal S&T Budget.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-02-24

of Goias 67 . Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro 68 . Federal University of Juiz de Fora 68 . Federal University of Minas Gerais...Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte 72 . Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul • 72 . Federal University of Rio de Janeiro 73...University of Rio de Janeiro 75 . School of Agrarian Sciences of Para 76 . School of Medicine of the Minas Triangle 77 . Federal Technological Education

Teaching about a Human Instinct.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ylvisaker, Paul N.

1988-01-01

A review of college courses on the philanthropic tradition includes descriptions of programs at Babson College, Chapman College, the City University of New York's Bernard Baruch College, Georgetown University, Illinois State University, Northwestern University, Regis College, and Seton Hall University. (MSE)

Immunizing University Research from Patent Infringement: Implications of Madey v Duke University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guttag, Eric W.

2004-01-01

Prior to Madey v Duke University, universities may have felt that academic research was immunized from patent infringement by the 'experimental use' defence. However, the Madey case has made clear that this defence is 'very narrow' to the extent that universities can no longer safely rely on it. While state universities in the USA can rely on…

Agreement between Eastern Michigan University and the Eastern Michigan University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, September 1, 1985-August 31, 1987.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between Eastern Michigan University and the Eastern Michigan University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period September 1, 1985-August 31, 1987 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions, unit recognition, management rights, union rights,…

International Students, Academic Publications and World University Rankings: The Impact of Globalisation and Responses of a Malaysian Public University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Yao Sua; Goh, Soo Khoon

2014-01-01

This paper examines the responses of a Malaysian public university, namely Universiti Sains Malaysia, to the impact of globalisation vis-à-vis three key issues: international students, academic publications and world university rankings. There are concerted efforts put in place by the university to recruit more international students. But a global…

From Teacher-Education University to Comprehensive University: Case Studies of East China Normal University, Southwest University and Yanbian University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Mei

2010-01-01

Three different "logics"--that of the internal strategies of the institutions, the economic pressures of the socialist market economy and the political policies of the state drive the development of a university. The dynamic interaction and coexistence of the three logics has determined the transformation models of teacher-education or…

Academic Ranking of World Universities and the Performance of East Asian Universities. RIHE International Seminar Reports. No. 24

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Nian Cai

2016-01-01

The first multi-indicator ranking of world universities, "Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)", was published by the Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in June 2003. Although the initial purpose of ARWU was to find the global standing of top Chinese universities, it has been attracting world-wide…

Agreement between Central State University and the American Association of University Professors Central State University Chapter. September 1, 1988-August 31, 1991.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

This document presents the agreement between Central State University and the Central State University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) for the period September 1, 1988-August 31, 1991. The contract details the following 48 articles: agreement; agreement construction; recognition of the bargaining unit; AAUP…

Agreement between Rhode Island Board of Governors and University of Rhode Island Chapter, American Association of University Professors, 1987-1990.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rhode Island Univ., Kingston.

The collective bargaining agreement between the Rhode Island Board of Governors and the University of Rhode Island Chapter of the American Association of University Professors covering the period of 1987-1990 is presented. The university is defined as the administration of the University of Rhode Island, including the president and other…

The University Inventor's Obligation to Assign: A Review of US Case Law on the Enforceability of University Patent Policies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohashi, Naoko

2004-01-01

Until recently, it was unclear under US case law whether university patent policies were sufficient to obligate university personnel to assign their inventions to the university without a signed invention-assignment agreement. This paper examines the question through recent case law. These cases indicate a trend in support of university claims…

Faculty Agreement 1983-1985: Oakland University and the Oakland University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between Oakland University and the Oakland University Chapter (370 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period March 1, 1983-August 14, 1985 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions and recognition of AAUP; work of the bargaining unit;…

The Influence of Ownership and Type of University on Work Environment in South West Nigerian Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arogundade, B. B.

2012-01-01

This paper examined the influence of ownership and type of university on work environment in South West Nigerian universities. The study population consists of all academic staff of the ten public and nine private universities in South West Nigeria. In all, 500 respondents selected from eight universities constituted the sample of the study. The…

Cryogenic Frequency Domain Optical Mass Memory.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-10

Schuster Dr. William M. Jackson Chemistry Department Department of Chemistry University of Illinois Howard University Urbana, Illinois 61801 Washington...DC 20059 Dr. A. Adamson Dr. George E. Walraffen Department of Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Southern Howard University California...University of Illinois Howard University Urbana, Illinois 61801 1 Washixgton, DC 20059 Dr. A. Adamson Dr. George E. Walraffen Department of Chemistry

Scientific production of medical sciences universities in north of iran.

PubMed

Siamian, Hasan; Firooz, Mousa Yamin; Vahedi, Mohammad; Aligolbandi, Kobra

2013-01-01

NONE DECLARED. The study of the scientific evidence citation production by famous databases of the world is one of the important indicators to evaluate and rank the universities. The study at investigating the scientific production of Northern Iran Medical Sciences Universities in Scopus from 2005 through 2010. This survey used scientometrics technique. The samples under studies were the scientific products of four northern Iran Medical universities. Viewpoints quantity of the Scientific Products Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences stands first and of Babol University of Medical Sciences ranks the end, but from the viewpoints of quality of scientific products of considering the H-Index and the number of cited papers the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences is a head from the other universities under study. From the viewpoints of subject of the papers, the highest scientific products belonged to the faculty of Pharmacy affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medial Sciences, but the three other universities for the genetics and biochemistry. Results showed that the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences as compared to the other understudies universities ranks higher for the number of articles, cited articles, number of hard work authors and H-Index of Scopus database from 2005 through 2010.

Evaluation of scientific output in Dentistry in Spanish Universities

PubMed Central

De la Flor-Martínez, María; Sánchez-Fernández, Elena; Abadal, Ernest; Cobo, Manuel-Jesús; Herrera-Viedma, Enrique

2017-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to assess the scientific output of Spanish universities that offer a bachelor’s degree in dentistry through the use of various bibliometric indicators. Material and Methods A total of 21 universities offered a bachelor’s degree in dentistry in academic year 2016-2017. The search for papers published by authors associated with these institutions was carried out using the selection of journals listed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and the Web of Knowledge database for the period 1986-2017. On the basis of these data, we determined the output, the h-, g- and hg-indexes, the most productive authors, international collaborations, and the most relevant journals. Results Public universities obtained better results than private universities. The University of Valencia was ranked first, followed by the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Granada. The most productive author was José Vicente Bagán, but the author with the highest h-index was Mariano Sanz and Manuel Toledado. The universities with the greatest output and highest citation rates had more international collaborations. The most developed fields in Spanish universities were Oral surgery, Oral medicine and Dental materials. The universities had different models of production. At universities such as Barcelona or Valencia, the production was focused on very few departments and authors. At the other extreme, the University of Granada had various sources of research and authors, which meant that its output and citation rate could increase more. Conclusions University faculties must provide suitable academic and research training, and therefore must be assessed using objective criteria and bibliometric tools. Although the number of university schools and faculties that teach dentistry has increased, and particularly the number of private universities, there is no correlation between their quality and output and the number of places offered on their courses. Key words:Dentistry, h-index, impact factor, universities, Spain. PMID:28624836

Panel established to revise position statement on climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

President Robert Dickinson has appointed a panel to review the current AGU position statement on climate change and greenhouse gases, and to consider revising the statement to reflect scientific progress over the last four years. Marvin Geller of the State University of New York-Stonybrook chairs the panel.Other panel members include: Andre Berger, George Lemaître Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium; Anny Cazenave, Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Toulouse, France; John Christy, University of Alabama, Huntsville; Ellen Druffel, University of California, Irvine; Jack Fellows, University Consortium for Atmospheric Research, Boulder; Hiroshi Kanzawa, Nagoya University, Japan; William Schlesinger, Duke University, Durham; William (Jim) Shuttleworth, University of Arizona; Eric Sundquist, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole; Richard Turco, University of California, Los Angeles; Ilana Wainer, Universidade Cidade Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Animal house: University risk environments and the regulation of students' alcohol use.

PubMed

Wilkinson, Blair; Ivsins, Andrew

2017-09-01

This article extends the risk environment framework to understand the factors that universities identify as influencing university students' risky drinking behaviours and universities attempts at managing risky alcohol use on their campuses. This article examines data collected as part of qualitative fieldwork on university corporate security services, and others involved in university alcohol policy implementation (e.g., residence services), conducted at five Canadian universities. Interviews (n=56), fieldnotes from 246h of observations of university corporate security personnel, and university policy documents (i.e., codes of student behaviour, residence policies) were analysed to understand the influence of risk environments on high-risk alcohol use. We identify three risk environments on university campuses in relation to the use and regulation of alcohol: the physical, social, and policy environments. Residence buildings and abutting spaces (physical risk environment) and the university "party" culture (social risk environment) are principal contributors to risk within their risk environments. University policies and practices (policy risk environment) attempt to modify these environments in order to manage risky alcohol use. We suggest current approaches to regulating student alcohol use may not be the best approach to preventing harms (e.g., health problems, legal troubles) to students. Given university policies and practices have the potential to shape and influence risky alcohol use and associated harms we argue it is necessary for university administrators to adopt the best practices of "harm reduction" and seek new ways to address on-campus alcohol use. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

E-Commerce May Help Colleges Cut Costs and Paperwork.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olsen, Florence

2000-01-01

Describes the increasing trend of incorporating electronic commerce methods to purchasing systems at colleges and universities. Provides examples from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University (Massachusetts), California State University at Fullerton, and the University of California at Los Angeles. (DB)

Governing Public Universities in Arab Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

ElObeidy, Ahmed A.

2014-01-01

Traditionally in Arab public universities, presidents are appointed by government authorities. Recently, in uprising Arab countries universities' presidents have been elected by universities' faculty members. Neither traditional nor self-governance pattern succeeded to modernise Arab universities. Reforming patterns of governance is critical for…

Seqping: gene prediction pipeline for plant genomes using self-training gene models and transcriptomic data.

PubMed

Chan, Kuang-Lim; Rosli, Rozana; Tatarinova, Tatiana V; Hogan, Michael; Firdaus-Raih, Mohd; Low, Eng-Ti Leslie

2017-01-27

Gene prediction is one of the most important steps in the genome annotation process. A large number of software tools and pipelines developed by various computing techniques are available for gene prediction. However, these systems have yet to accurately predict all or even most of the protein-coding regions. Furthermore, none of the currently available gene-finders has a universal Hidden Markov Model (HMM) that can perform gene prediction for all organisms equally well in an automatic fashion. We present an automated gene prediction pipeline, Seqping that uses self-training HMM models and transcriptomic data. The pipeline processes the genome and transcriptome sequences of the target species using GlimmerHMM, SNAP, and AUGUSTUS pipelines, followed by MAKER2 program to combine predictions from the three tools in association with the transcriptomic evidence. Seqping generates species-specific HMMs that are able to offer unbiased gene predictions. The pipeline was evaluated using the Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana genomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analysis showed that the pipeline was able to identify at least 95% of BUSCO's plantae dataset. Our evaluation shows that Seqping was able to generate better gene predictions compared to three HMM-based programs (MAKER2, GlimmerHMM and AUGUSTUS) using their respective available HMMs. Seqping had the highest accuracy in rice (0.5648 for CDS, 0.4468 for exon, and 0.6695 nucleotide structure) and A. thaliana (0.5808 for CDS, 0.5955 for exon, and 0.8839 nucleotide structure). Seqping provides researchers a seamless pipeline to train species-specific HMMs and predict genes in newly sequenced or less-studied genomes. We conclude that the Seqping pipeline predictions are more accurate than gene predictions using the other three approaches with the default or available HMMs.

Obituary: Frank J. Low (1933-2009)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarthy, Don

2011-12-01

Frank James Low was born on November 23, 1933, in Mobile, Alabama. He received his undergraduate degree in physics from Yale University in 1955, and his Ph.D. in physics from Rice University in 1959. He worked at Texas Instruments, NRAO, Rice University, and spent most of his career at The University of Arizona with Steward Observatory and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. To honor his fundamental insight and innovations that revolutionized the fields of infrared and airborne astronomy, Frank received the Helen B. Warner Prize (1968), the Joseph Weber Award (2003), shared the Rumford Prize in physics (1986), the Karl Jansky Lectureship (2006), and the Bruce Medal (2006) for lifetime contributions in astronomy. This year the world celebrates the International Year of Astronomy, commemorating the accomplishments of Galileo. There are great parallels between Frank and Galileo. After developing a revolutionary low-temperature detector, Frank re-engineered and optimized telescopes for infrared performance. He not only oriented them to the heavens but also placed them there throughout Earth's atmosphere and to the Moon. He made fantastic new discoveries from the Sun throughout the Universe. He radically changed the way the entire world looks at the Universe and impacted generations of new scientists as well as the general public. Frank's level of innovation is stunning and diverse. Chopping and undersized secondary mirrors, cold baffling, cryogenic designs, "Low Dewars," Helium-3 systems, JFET amplifiers for the IRAS satellite, airborne astronomy, the silver-coated 28-inch survey telescope, the MMT, the 36-foot radio dish, Apollo 17 radiometer, television detector systems, infrared microscopes, and on and on. His insights enabled the IRAS and Spitzer missions and contributed to Spacelab2, KAO, SOFIA, NICMOS/HST, JWST, etc. He also established a small business (Infrared Laboratories Inc.) that for more than 40 years has supplied instrumentation to astronomers and semi-conductor industries around the world, in some cases literally giving it away. Frank applied his new tools to a wide variety of scientific fields. He measured the Sun's brightness at millimeter wavelengths, discovered the internal energy sources in Jupiter and Saturn, mapped the Milky Way in the far-infrared, discovered the Kleinmann-Low nebula of star formation in Orion, and investigated the infrared emission from active galaxies. He was especially excited about dust disks around stars such as HD 98800 and helped make the fist direct spatial measurements of circumstellar dust emission in Betelgeuse and non-spherical dusk structures around IRC +10216, VY CMa, etc. He helped initiate the first direct detection of low mass stellar companions to nearby stars. I first noticed Frank while in David Wilkinson's office at Princeton. Frank was pictured on the cover of an aviation magazine near the NASA Learjet and 12-inch telescope. That image of a new frontier attracted me to Arizona. As a graduate student, I wanted to be challenged by a great person. The pioneering nature of infrared astronomy caught my interest as did Frank's mapping-radiometer on Apollo 17, and then the opportunity to pioneer interferometry. For some reason, Frank took me on even though I was not the most talented student. Working with him was pure exploration and pioneering, always involving hands-on construction and observing. I was invigorated by his constant creativity and innovation as well as by his depth of insight not only in technical matters but also in how people think and behave. He continually provided new opportunities to learn and improve. His cutting insights and constant drive for optimization changed the way I think and how I approach life in general. Frank was a compassionate teacher and coach. He would console after defeat while urging on to the next level. He patiently taught me how to write meaningfully and concisely. He challenged me to write my first NSF proposals and scientific papers and guided me through the process. Like a good coach, Frank had a knack for finding flaws or weak points in my performance so, even when we disagreed, he was motivating me to improve my thinking and arguments for another round of discussion. He provided first-author opportunities when many professors might not. We swam and hiked together, mixed concrete and laid bricks, cut cardboard baffles for the 61-inch telescope, appeared live from the KPNO 4-meter telescope on "Good Morning America" after VB-8b, ate lunches at Eric's, and so on. I am honored to have worked with Frank, who in my mind has the stature of Galileo. The level of his accomplishments, combined with his deep enjoyment of life with a wonderful family, are amazing to me. I am happy to have opportunities to share his pioneering and insightful approach to life with new generations of students who need this perspective badly. I am proud to have been one of his students.

Green Campus initiative and its impacts on quality of life of stakeholders in Green and Non-Green Campus universities.

PubMed

Tiyarattanachai, Ronnachai; Hollmann, Nicholas M

2016-01-01

In 2010, Universitas Indonesia (UI) developed the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking for universities to share information about their sustainability practices. This ranking system was well aligned with the basis of Sustainability for Higher Education. The scoring system can also be used as a guideline for universities to achieve sustainability in their campuses. Since its first launch, more universities around the world have increasingly participated in the ranking system including many universities in Thailand. This study compared perception of stakeholders in Green Campus and Non-Green Campus universities in Thailand regarding stakeholders' satisfaction on sustainability practices and perceived quality of life at their campuses. The results showed that stakeholders at the studied Green Campus University were more satisfied and had significantly better perceived quality of life compared to stakeholders from the studied Non-Green Campus university. The results suggested that universities should adopt the criteria set in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking to achieve better sustainability in their campuses and improve quality of life of their stakeholders.

Establishment of the Education Program in the International Cooperation Graduate School which Provides Double Degrees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murakami, Ri-Ichi

The University of Tokushima has signed International Cooperation Graduate School education program provided the Double Degree with 10 Universities in 5 Countries which are Harbin Institute of Technology, Tongii University, Xidian Jiaotong University, Dalian University of Technology and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in China, University of Auckland (New Zealand) , Kyungpook National University and Korea Maritime University (Korea) , Florida Atlantic University (U.S.A.) and Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (France) . In the International Cooperation Graduate School, the students could systematically take the Major and Minor curriculums and are able to study the subjects of the field other than their major fields. In this program, we dispatch and accept the students to/from the overseas universities. We educate the engineers that create the highly and interdisciplinary scientific skill, challenge to the new field of research boldly and are active with a good communication skill on the global stage. We intend also to enhance the internationalization and communization for the education of the graduate school‧s level by dispatching/accepting the academic staffs mutually.

Altamaha River Delta, Georgia Sea Islands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

The history of sea islands in the Altamaha River delta on the coast of Georgia is revealed in this image produced from data acquired by the Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR), developed and operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. The outlines of long-lost plantation rice fields, canals, dikes and other inlets are clearly defined. Salt marshes are shown in red, while dense cypress and live oak tree canopies are seen in yellow-greens.

Agricultural development of the Altamaha delta began soon after the founding of the Georgia Colony in 1733. About 25 plantations were located on the low-lying islands and shores by the 19th century, taking advantage of the rich alluvial flow and annual inundation of water required by some crops. The first major crop was indigo; when demand for that faded, rice and cotton took its place. A major storm in 1824 destroyed much of the town of Darien (upper right) and put many of the islands under 20 feet of water. The Civil War ended the plantation system, and many of the island plantations disappeared under heavy brush and new growth pine forests. Some were used as tree farms for paper and pulp industries, while the Butler Island (center left) plantation became a wildlife conservation site growing wild sea rice for migrating ducks and other waterfowl. Margaret Mitchell is reputed to have used the former owner of the Butler Plantation as a basis for the Rhett Butler character in her novel 'Gone With The Wind,' taking the first name from Rhett's Island (lower right).

These data were obtained during a 1994-95 campaign along the Georgia coast. AIRSAR's ability to detect vegetation canopy density, hydrological features and other topographic characteristics is a useful tool in landscape archaeology. AIRSAR flies aboard a NASA DC-8 based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. The analysis on the data shown was accomplished by Dr. Gary Mckay, Department of Archaeology and Geography, and Ian Morrison, Department of Archaeology, both of the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). AIRSAR is part of NASA's Earth Enterprise program. JPL is managed by the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.

Hydro-epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD) in Sri Lanka and Its Similarities to the CKD Epidemic in Meso-America.Sarath Gunatilake M.D, Dr. P.H, Professor, California State University, Long Beach California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Illangasekera, T.; Gunatilake, S.

2015-12-01

Over 2000 years ago Sri Lanka was known as the granary of the east. This distinction was achieved with a massive rice production aided by an efficient irrigation system. The basic structural unit of this irrigation system -with thousands of man-made lakes- was a large reservoir collecting rain water from tributaries and redistributing it to a cascade of rice paddy farms. The rice cultivation used organic fertilizer and natural pesticides made from ancient Ayurvedic recipes. The sociopolitical changes initiated in the county in 1977 resulted in a modernized agricultural economy with the renovation of the old irrigation system. Heavy use of pesticides, mostly Glyphosate (brand name "Round Up") with government subsidized cheap synthetic fertilizer (mostly triple phosphate) contaminated with heavy metals, including Arsenic and Cadmium, became a common practice. As a result, the shallow aquifers in the lowest lying areas, recharged by the irrigation water, was contaminated with Calcium, Magnesium phosphates, and the heavy metals, rendering the drinking water from shallow wells in these areas, extremely hard and unpalatable. The practice of drinking water from the shallow wells in low lying areas, most of which are abandoned now, and the use and spraying of pesticides particularly Glyphosate (often without proper personal protective equipment) have been identified in a case control study, as the main risk factors responsible for a massive epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affecting 450,000 young farmers, resulting in 23,000 deaths. It is hypothesized that the Glyphosate chelates heavy metals delivering it to the kidney, with contaminated drinking water and food, causing progressive kidney damage. The same irrigation system that contributed to past prosperity has now become a scourge within the realm of a modernized agriculture. Climatic variations, global warming and severe dehydration also have been identified as contributory factors. Similar CKD epidemic killing thousands of sugar cane farmers, in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua have been documented. The same risk factors (particularly the use of Glyphosate and dehydration) may be at play in these countries but at different levels of intensity.

The Scholarly Communication Process within the University Research Corridor (Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University): A Case Study in Cooperation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Utter, Timothy; Holley, Robert P.

2009-01-01

The growth of open access publishing, the development of institutional repositories, and the availability of millions of digitized monographs and journals are rapidly changing scholarly communication. This case study looks at the current and possible uses of these tools by Michigan's three largest universities: Michigan State University, the…

A Description, Analysis, and Evaluation of the Financial Structure of Four Private Universities in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area between 1973-74 and 1982-83.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaufond-Marcano, Rafael Emilio

Financial patterns at American University, Catholic University, George Washington University, and Georgetown University were investigated. Specific areas of concern include: revenue sources and expenditures, balance sheet formats, financial health, the effect of external factors such as enrollment and inflation, financial performance, ability to…

Participation in the Center for Advanced Processing and Packaging Studies

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-24

University, the University ofCalifomia, Davis, and North Carolina State University to assist in advancing food processing and packaging technology and...University, the University of California, Davis, and North Carolina State University to assist in advancing food processing and packaging technology and...amyloliquefaciens, spore inactivation, FT-IR spectroscopy, infrared 11 spectroscopy 12 13 14 15 16 17 Department of Food Science and Technology

National Computational Infrastructure for Lattice Gauge Theory SciDAC-2 Closeout Report Indiana University Component

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gottlieb, Steven Arthur; DeTar, Carleton; Tousaint, Doug

This is the closeout report for the Indiana University portion of the National Computational Infrastructure for Lattice Gauge Theory project supported by the United States Department of Energy under the SciDAC program. It includes information about activities at Indian University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Utah, as those three universities coordinated their activities.

Forums for Dialogue between University and Industry: A Case of Kenyatta University, Kenya and University of Padua, Italy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nyerere, Jackline; Friso, Valeria

2013-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse comparatively the existing partnerships between the University of Padua and the enterprises in Veneto region, Italy, on one hand and Kenyatta University and industries in Kenya on the other. Design/methodology/approach: This was a case study of the University of Padua in Veneto Region, Italy, and Kenyatta…

Agreement between University of Cincinnati and American Association of University Professors, University of Cincinnati Chapter. September 1, 1989 to August 31, 1992.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between the University of Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), for the period September 1, 1989 through August 31, 1992 is presented. The document covers the following topics in 39 articles under the following categories: (1) "Basic…

Agreement between Board of Control, Northern Michigan University, and American Association of University Professors, Northern Michigan University Chapter, July 1, 1984-June 30, 1987.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between Northern Michigan University Board of Control and Northern Michigan University Chapter (280 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period July 1, 1984-June 30, 1987 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions and recognition of AAUP;…

Collective Bargaining Agreement by and between the Administration of Adelphi University and Adelphi University Chapter, American Association of University Professors, September 1, 1984-August 31, 1987.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Association of Univ. Professors, Washington, DC.

The collective bargaining agreement between the Adelphi University Administration and the Adelphi University Chapter (540 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period September 1, 1984-August 31, 1987 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions; recognition and definition of the…

Collective Bargaining Agreement by and between University of Bridgeport and University of Bridgeport Chapter, American Association of University Professors, September 1, 1984.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bridgeport Univ., CT.

The collective bargaining agreement between the University of Bridgeport and the University of Bridgeport chapter (245 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) for the period September 1, 1984 to August 31, 1987 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions and recognition of the bargaining unit;…

Solution Techniques for Large Eigenvalue Problems in Structural Dynamics.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-06-01

Pasadena, California 91109 Washington, D.C. 20553 Professor Paul M. Naghdi National Academy of Sciences University of California National Research...Engineering Washington, D.C. 20064 : S oProfessor Burt Paul University of Pennsylvania Dr. Samuel B. Batdorf Towns School of Civil and University of...Universities (Con’t) Dr. V. K. Varadan Professor V. H. Neubert Ohio State University Research Foundation Pennsylvania State University Department of

Collective Bargaining Agreement between Portland State University Chapter, American Association of University Professors, and Portland State University [July 1, 1983-June 30, 1985].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Portland State Univ., OR.

The collective bargaining agreement between Portland State University and Portland State University Chapter (550 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period July 1, 1983-June 30, 1985 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: definitions and recognition of AAUP, AAUP rights, exchange of…

The Private Sector/University Technology Alliance: Making It Work. Proceedings of a Conference of the National Council of University Research Administrators (Dallas, Texas, September 4-7, 1984).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freise, Earl J., Ed.

The transfer of technology from U.S. research universities in cooperation with the private sector is addressed in proceedings of a National Council of University Research Administrators conference. The first discussion session, "New Technology from University Research and Development (R&D)," examines the university research…