How to optimize Lipton’s business model in order to stimulate tea consumption in Portugal and increase Lipton Leaf tea market share?: The importance of distribution and sales channels management in a B2B2C market

Field Lab Entrepreneurial Innovative Ventures

Using artificial neural networks to generate trading signals for crude oil, copper and gold futures

In this thesis, a feed-forward, back-propagating Artificial Neural Network using the gradient descent algorithm is developed to forecast the directional movement of daily returns for WTI, gold and copper futures. Out-of-sample back-test results vary, with some predictive abilities for copper futures but none for either WTI or gold. The best statistically significant hit rate achieved was 57% for copper with an absolute return Sharpe Ratio of 1.25 and a benchmarked Information Ratio of 2.11.

The role of a transcrustal shear zone in orogenic gold mineralization at the Aijanahalli Mine, Dharwar Craton, South India

The Ajjanahalli gold mine is spatially associated with a Late Archean craton-scale shear zone in the eastern Chitradurga greenstone belt of the Dharwar craton, India. Gold mineralization is hosted by an similar to100-m-wide antiform in a banded iron formation. Original magnetite and siderite are replaced by a peak metamorphic alteration assemblage of chlorite, stilpnomelane, minnesotaite, sericite, ankerite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, and gold at ca. 300degrees to 350degreesC. Elements enriched in the banded iron formation include Ca, Mg, C, S, An, As, Bi. Cu, Sb, Zn, Pb, Se, Ag, and Te, whereas in the wall rocks As, Cu, Zn, Bi, Ag, and An are only slightly enriched. Strontium correlates with CaO, MgO, CO2, and As, which indicates cogenetic formation of arsenopyrite and Mg-Ca carbonates. The greater extent of alteration in the Fe-rich banded iron formation layers than in the wall rock reflects the greater reactivity of the banded iron formation layers. The ore fluids, as interpreted from their isotopic composition (delta(18)O = 6.5-8.5parts per thousand; initial Sr-87/Sr-86 = 0.7068-0.7078), formed by metamorphic devolatilization of deeper levels of the Chitradurga greenstone belt. Arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite have delta(34)S values within a narrow range between 2.1 and 2.7 per mil, consistent with a sulfur source in Chitradurga greenstone belt lithologies. Based on spatial and temporal relationships between mineralization, local structure development, and sinistral strike-slip deformation in the shear zone at the eastern contact of the Chitradurga greenstone belt, we suggest that the Ajjanahalli gold mineralization formed by fluid infiltration into a low strain area within the first-order structure. The ore fluids were transported along this shear zone into relatively shallow crustal levels during lateral terrane accretion and a change from thrust to transcurrent tectonics. Based on this model of fluid flow, exploration should focus on similar low strain areas or potentially connected higher order splays of the first-order shear zone.

Discordances between phylogenetic and morphological patterns in alpine leaf beetles attest to an intricate biogeographic history of lineages in postglacial Europe.

Pleistocene glacial and interglacial periods have moulded the evolutionary history of European cold-adapted organisms. The role of the different mountain massifs has, however, not been accurately investigated in the case of high-altitude insect species. Here, we focus on three closely related species of non-flying leaf beetles of the genus Oreina (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), which are often found in sympatry within the mountain ranges of Europe. After showing that the species concept as currently applied does not match barcoding results, we show, based on more than 700 sequences from one nuclear and three mitochondrial genes, the role of biogeography in shaping the phylogenetic hypothesis. Dating the phylogeny using an insect molecular clock, we show that the earliest lineages diverged more than 1 Mya and that the main shift in diversification rate occurred between 0.36 and 0.18 Mya. By using a probabilistic approach on the parsimony-based dispersal/vicariance framework (MP-DIVA) as well as a direct likelihood method of state change optimization, we show that the Alps acted as a cross-roads with multiple events of dispersal to and reinvasion from neighbouring mountains. However, the relative importance of vicariance vs. dispersal events on the process of rapid diversification remains difficult to evaluate because of a bias towards overestimation of vicariance in the DIVA algorithm. Parallels are drawn with recent studies of cold-adapted species, although our study reveals novel patterns in diversity and genetic links between European mountains, and highlights the importance of neglected regions, such as the Jura and the Balkanic range.

The Arabidopsis PHYTOCHROME KINASE SUBSTRATE2 protein is a phototropin signaling element that regulates leaf flattening and leaf positioning.

In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the blue light photoreceptor phototropins (phot1 and phot2) fine-tune the photosynthetic status of the plant by controlling several important adaptive processes in response to environmental light variations. These processes include stem and petiole phototropism (leaf positioning), leaf flattening, stomatal opening, and chloroplast movements. The PHYTOCHROME KINASE SUBSTRATE (PKS) protein family comprises four members in Arabidopsis (PKS1-PKS4). PKS1 is a novel phot1 signaling element during phototropism, as it interacts with phot1 and the important signaling element NONPHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL3 (NPH3) and is required for normal phot1-mediated phototropism. In this study, we have analyzed more globally the role of three PKS members (PKS1, PKS2, and PKS4). Systematic analysis of mutants reveals that PKS2 (and to a lesser extent PKS1) act in the same subset of phototropin-controlled responses as NPH3, namely leaf flattening and positioning. PKS1, PKS2, and NPH3 coimmunoprecipitate with both phot1-green fluorescent protein and phot2-green fluorescent protein in leaf extracts. Genetic experiments position PKS2 within phot1 and phot2 pathways controlling leaf positioning and leaf flattening, respectively. NPH3 can act in both phot1 and phot2 pathways, and synergistic interactions observed between pks2 and nph3 mutants suggest complementary roles of PKS2 and NPH3 during phototropin signaling. Finally, several observations further suggest that PKS2 may regulate leaf flattening and positioning by controlling auxin homeostasis. Together with previous findings, our results indicate that the PKS proteins represent an important family of phototropin signaling proteins.

Dechanneling of 2 Mev Heâ ½ in gold

Thick gold single crystals of high quality were prepared for Rutherford Backscattering Dechanneling studies by electropolishing and annealing. The variation.; with temperature of the Random Fraction versus Depth spectrtnn for 2 MeV He+ on < 110> gold was extracted from measured Aligned and Random (Energy) Spectra. The measured dechanneling rate showed a sixfold increase in going from 4loK to 293°K and is in reasonable agreement with calculations made using the Steady Increase in Transverse Energy (SITE) approximation.

Rapid [Gamma]-amino acid synthesis and the inhibition of the growth and development of oblique banded leaf-roller larvae

The hypothesis that rapid y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation is a plant defense against phytophagous insects was investigated. Simulation of mechanical damage resulting from phytophagous insect activity increased soybean (Glycine max L.) leaf GABA 10- to 25-fold within 1 to 4 min. Pulverizing leaf tissue resulted in a value of 2. 15 (±O. 11 SE) ~mol GABA per gram fresh weight. Increasing the GABA levels in a synthetic diet from 1.6 to 2.6 Jlffiol GABA per gram fresh weight reduced the growth rates, developmental rates, total biomass (50% reduction), and survival rates (30% reduction) of cultured Oblique banded leaf-roller (OBLR) (Choristonellra rosacealla Harris) larvae. In field experiments OBLR larvae were found predominantly on young terminal leaves which have a reduced capacity to produce GABA in response to mechanical damage. Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is a cytosolic enzyme which catalyses the decarboxylation of L-Glu to GABA. GAD is a calmodulin binding enzyme whose activity is stimulated dramatically by increased cytosolic H+ or Ca2 + ion concentrations. Phytophagous insect activity will disrupt the cellular compartmentation of H+ and Ca2 +, activate GAD and subsequent GABA accumulation. In animals GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. The possible mechanisms resulting in GABA inhibited growth and development of insects are discussed.

Synthesis of nanoporous materials for preconcentration and determination of trace elements by ICP-AES ; Investigation and elimination of the memory effects of mercury, gold, silver and boron in ICP-AES

Nanoporous materials with large surface area and well-ordered pore structure have been synthesized. Thiol groups were grafted on the materials' surface to make heavy metal ion pre-concentration media. The adsorption properties ofthe materials were explored. Mercury, gold and silver can be strongly adsorbed by these materials, even in the presence of alkaline earth metal ion. Though the materials can adsorb other heavy metal ions such as lead and copper, they show differential adsorption ability when several ions are present in solution. The adsorption sequence is: mercury> == silver> copper » lead and cadmium. In the second part of this work, the memory effects of mercury, gold, silver and boron were investigated. The addition of 2% L-cysteine and 1% thiourea eliminates the problems of the three metal ions completely. The wash-out time for mercury dropped from more than 20 minutes to 18 seconds, and the wash-out time for gold decreased from more than 30 minutes to 49 seconds. The memory effect of boron can be reduced by the use of mannitol.

Gold Coast

Crate label for Gold Coast brand oranges picked and packaged by the Placentia Orange Company, which was owned and managed by Charles C. Chapman.

Maple Leaf Mills Records 1955, 1960-1964, 1975-1987, 1989, n.d.

Ontario Editorial Bureau (O.E.B.)

Two leaves from a Medieval breviary (prayer-book), c.1350-1400

The actual scripture quotations begin with blue and gold illuminated letters. Towards the end of each passage, there is a small red “R” that marks the “Response”. At the conclusion of the Response, the next lesson is announced. There are three lessons on these leaves. The first leaf begins with the word “Requiem” with the initial letter illuminated. The third lesson begins with the illuminated letter “M” on the word “Manus”. This passage is from the Book of Job, Chapter 10, verses 8-11 which reads: Your hands have formed me and fashioned me; will you then turn and destroy me? Oh, remember that you fashioned me from clay. Will you then bring me down to dust again? Did you not pour me out as milk, and thicken me like cheese? With skin and flesh you clothed me, with bones and sinews knit me together.

Leaf from a Liturgical Music Manuscript for Holy Saturday

The text reads as follows: nomen Domini invocabo. V. Date magnitudinem Deo nostro: Deus, vera opera eius, et omnes viae eius indicia. V. Deus fidelis, in quo….. Translated: I will invoke the name of the Lord. V. Give ye magnificence to our God: The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments. V. Let my doctrine gather as the rain…..

Leaf from a Liturgical Music Manuscript for Good Friday

The text reads as follows: Narrator: Passio domini nostri iesu christi secundum matheum. In illo tempore dixit iusus discipulis suis. Christ: Scritis quia post biduum pascha fiet, et filius hominis tradetur ut crucifigatur. Narrator: Tumc congregati sunt principes sacerdotum et seniores populi, in atrium principis… Translated: Narrator: The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. “And it came to pass when Jesus had finished all of these words that he said to his disciples: Christ: You know that after two days the Passover will be here; and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified. Narrator: Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered together in the court of the high priest…

Four Leaf Clover & Lock of Hair

Envelope containing a four leaf clover “for luck” and little Margaret’s hair (9 mos. old), Sept. 3, 1937.