The present study was conducted for the production of transgenic cloned cows by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that secrete human prourokinase into milk. To establish an efficient production system for bovine transgenic SCNT embryos, the offset was examined of various conditions of donor cells including cell type, size, and passage number on the developmental competence of transgenic SCNT embryos. An expression plasmid far human prourokinase (pbeta-ProU) was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and a human prourokinase target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Three types of bovine somatic cells including two adult cells (cumulus cells and ear fibroblasts) and fetal fibroblasts were prepared and transfected using a lipid-meidated method. In Experiment 1, developmental competence and rates of GFP expression in bovine transgenic SCNT embryos reconstructed with cumulus cells were significantly higher than those from fetal and ear fibroblasts. In Experiment 2, the effect of cellular senescence in early (2 to 4) and late (8 to 12) passages was investigated. No significant differences in the development of transgenic SCNT embryos were observed. In Experient 3, different sizes of GFP-expressing transfected cumulus cells [large (>30 ) or small cell (<30 )] were used for SCNT. A significant improvement in embryo development and GFP expression was observed when small cumulus cells were used for SCNT. Taken together, these results demonstrate that (1) adult somatic cells could serve as donor cells in transgenic SCNT embryo production and cumulus cells with small size at early passage were the optimal cell type, and (2) transgenic SCNT embryos derived from adult somatic cells have embryonic development potential.

The present study was conducted for the production of transgenic cloned cows those secrete human lactoferricin into milk by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT). To estimate detrimental effects of gene transfection on transgenic cloned embryo production, development rates of NT embryos were compared between transfected and non-transfected cumulus and ear fibroblast cells. An expression plasmid for human lactofericin (pbeta-LFC) was constructed by inserting a bovine beta-casein promoter, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene, and human lactoferricin target gene into a pcDNA3 plasmid. Two bovine somatic cell lines (cumulus cell and ear fibroblast) were established and transfected with the expression plasmid using a liposomal transfection reagent, Fugene6 as a carrier. Cumulus cell and ear fibroblast were transfected at the passage of 2 to 4, trypsinized and GFP-expressing cells were randomly selected and used for somatic cell NT. Developmental competences (rates of fusion, cleavage, and blastocyst formation) in bovine transgenic somatic cell NT embryos reconstructed with non-transfectecd cells were significantly higher than those from transfected cells in cumulus cell and ear fibroblast (P＜0.05). This study indicated that transfection of done. cell has detrimental effect on embryo development in bovine transgenic NT.

Much of our knowledge about the formation and evolution of high-redshift galaxies has come from studying the absorption signatures they impress on the spectra of background QSOs. The damped Lyman α (DLA) systems, in particular, have proved to be valuable probes of the metallicity and dust at redshifts z ~2-3 in what are the likely progenitors of galaxies like our own. At z ~ 2 we find that the typical metallicity of the universe was 1/15 solar. In addition, we find clear evidence for the existence of trace amounts of interstellar dust in DLA galaxies and show that this is consistent with recent high resolution spectra of DLAs with the Keck telescope, despite claims to the contrary.

This report describes the inception, development and extensive use over 30 years of elliptical polarimeters at the Uni\-versity of Pennsylvania. The initial Mark I polarimeter design utilized oriented retarder plates and a calcite Foster-Clarke prism as the analyzer. The Mark I polarimeter was used on the Kitt Peak 0.9 m in 1969-70 to accomplish a survey of ap\-proximately 70 objects before the device was relocated to the 0.72 m reflector at the Flower and Cook Observatory. Suc\-cessive generations of automation and improvements included the early-80’s optical redesign to utilize a photoelastic modulated wave plate and an Ithaco lock-in amplifier–the photoelastic modulating polarimeter. The final design in 2000 concluded with a fully remote operable device. The legacy of the polarimetric programs includes studies of close binaries, pulsating hot stars, and luminous late-type variables.

In this study, growth of pepper seedlings was testedby treating organic materials in a plastic green house in Ssangok-ri Dogok-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam Province from February 3, 2010 to April 19, 2010. The raised seedlings were planted to the organic planting area with an interval of 70cmx55cm on April 20 in Deogam-ri Gogeum-myeon Wando-gun and red peppers were harvested at 7 times from July 22 to September 29. Before planting, the plant length of the overgrowth of seedlings was reduced by 26.8% using plant powder treatment as compared to the control group. The red pepper yield was 27% higher than in the control group when 20g of bone ash powder and 20g of plant powder were mixed. The yield tended to increase in other treatments compared to the control group.

"Early Valley", is an early maturing potato cultivar with high yield potential. "Early Valley" is a clonal selection resulting from the cross between 'Suncrisp' and 'A87109-10'. It has medium plant height and light green foliage. "Early Valley" has medium flowering habit and white flowers. Tubers are smooth, yellow skin, light yellow flesh, round tuber shape, medium eye depth, and medium dormancy and good keeping quality. It has stable yield under wide range of climatic conditions. "Early Valley" is resistance to late blight, but moderately susceptible to common scab and hollow heart. This cultivar is also resistant to potato rotting at harvesting during the raining season. "Early Valley" has high level of antioxidant activity (about three times higher) and vitamin C (higher by 40%) than the 'Superior'. This cultivar has high level of tuber uniformity and capable of yielding 36.56 t/ha which is 17.07% higher than the control potato cultivar 'Superior' under optimum agronomical practices.