Abstract

After three years of research Texas Southern University's professors of chemistry have made a major breakthrough in the area of nanotechnology. Working in collaboration with the United States Air Force, TSU researchers discovered a new use for Nanotube technology that will have a major impact on the next generation of aerospace technology. Texas Southern students are now working to take this new nanotechnology discovery to the next level. Working with NASA, TSU students will train and fly their nanotechnology experiment in the simulated zero gravity environment on NASA's Zero G - the weightless experience.

The CRSP will not be distributing this publication. Copies may be obtained by writing to the authors. No marketing studies, either qualitative or quantitative, have been done on the potential to develop a domestic market for farm-raised tilapia in Nicaragua. Domestic markets would provide stability by offering additional market alternatives that reduce risks associated with one target market. A comprehensive study was conducted in Nicaragua of potential buyers of farm-raised tilapia: restaurants, supermarkets, and open-stands market vendors. Three survey instruments designed for marketing studies in Honduras were used as a basis for the Nicaraguan studies. Approximately 20% of the restaurant managers, 66% of the stands in open-air markets, and 23% of the supermarkets sold tilapia. Restaurants, supermarkets, and open market vendors generally had positive attitudes towards tilapia. In the Northwest region, few people were familiar with tilapia. In the South-Central region, people had positive attitudes toward tilapia, but were afraid of contamination of tilapia from Lake Managua. It may be important for tilapia growers to differentiate farm-raised from wildcaught tilapia. According to the managers interviewed, consumers perceive tilapia as a freshwater fish caught in a polluted lake, and are unaware of the advantages of a high quality farm-raised fish. Tilapia farms and processors in Nicaragua will need to guarantee and ensure the flavor, quality, and safety of their product and promote these attributes. Broad-based consumer education and labeling programs may be needed to assist consumers to differentiate between farm-raised and wild-caught tilapia.

A technique described as Root Pulling Resistance (RPR) wasused to evaluate genotypic differences in root growth and developmentof 50 rice germplasm accessions and cultivars. Several root characteristics in rice are associated with drought tolerance and avoidance capability of plants. The RPR measurements showed a significant positive correlation withmaximum root length (r = 0.69), root thickness (r = 0.75), branching number (r = 0.75), and root dry weight (r = 0.82). Rice genotypes that had a high RPR value were identified as having longer, thicker, and denser root systems. The data indicated that high RPR measurements arestrongly correlated withgreater root penetration. MunjiSufaid Pak, IR 52 (IR5853-1 18-5) and Saunfia or Mabla Pak 329 had a significantly greater root length, root thickness, root number, root branching and dry weight as compared to IR 36. Also, there wasno correlation between plant height and RPR. Furthermore, the data demonstrated that the RPR technique is ideal for selecting superior root systems and potential drought tolerant rice germplasm and cultivars.