Photosynthetic Pigments

Pigments are colorful compounds.

Pigments are chemical compounds which reflect only certain wavelengths of visible light. This makes them appear "colorful". Flowers, corals, and even animal skin contain pigments which give them their colors. More important than their reflection of light is the ability of pigments to absorb certain wavelengths.
Because they interact with light to absorb only certain wavelengths, pigments are useful to plants and other autotrophs --organisms which make their own food using photosynthesis. In plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, pigments are the means by which the energy of sunlight is captured for photosynthesis. However, since each pigment reacts with only a narrow range of the spectrum, there is usually a need to produce several kinds of pigments, each of a different color, to capture more of the sun's energy.

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There are three basic classes of pigments.

Chlorophylls are greenish pigments which contain a porphyrin ring. This is a stable ring-shaped molecule around which electrons are free to migrate. Because the electrons move freely, the ring has the potential to gain or lose electrons easily, and thus the potential to provide energized electrons to other molecules. This is the fundamental process by which chlorophyll "captures" the energy of sunlight. There are several kinds of chlorophyll, the most important being chlorophyll "a". This is the molecule which makes photosynthesis possible, by passing its energized electrons on to molecules which will manufacture sugars. All plants, algae, and cyanobacteria which photosynthesize contain chlorophyll "a". A second kind of chlorophyll is chlorophyll "b", which occurs only in "green algae" and in the plants. A third form of chlorophyll which is common is (not surprisingly) called chlorophyll "c", and is found only in the photosynthetic members of the Chromista as well as the dinoflagellates. The differences between the chlorophylls of these major groups was one of the first clues that they were not as closely related as previously thought.

Carotenoids are usually red, orange, or yellow pigments, and include the familiar compound carotene, which gives carrots their color. These compounds are composed of two small six-carbon rings connected by a "chain" of carbon atoms. As a result, they do not dissolve in water, and must be attached to membranes within the cell. Carotenoids cannot transfer sunlight energy directly to the photosynthetic pathway, but must pass their absorbed energy to chlorophyll. For this reason, they are called accessory pigments. One very visible accessory pigment is fucoxanthin the brown pigment which colors kelps and other brown algae as well as the diatoms.

 

Phycobilins are water-soluble pigments, and are therefore found in the cytoplasm, or in the stroma of the chloroplast. They occur only in Cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta.

The picture at the right shows the two classes of phycobilins which may be extracted from these "algae". The vial on the left contains the bluish pigment phycocyanin, which gives the Cyanobacteria their name. The vial on the right contains the reddish pigment phycoerythrin, which gives the red algae their common name. unsecured loans
Phycobilins are not only useful to the organisms which use them for soaking up light energy; they have also found use as research tools. Both pycocyanin and phycoerythrin fluoresce at a particular wavelength. That is, when they are exposed to strong light, they absorb the light energy, and release it by emitting light of a very narrow range of wavelengths. The light produced by this fluorescence is so distinctive and reliable, that phycobilins may be used as chemical "tags". The pigments are chemically bonded to antibodies, bad credit loans which are then put into a solution of cells. When the solution is sprayed as a stream of fine droplets past a laser and computer sensor, a machine can identify whether the cells in the droplets have been "tagged" by the antibodies. This has found extensive use in cancer research, for "tagging" tumor cells.  

Dark shadows

The first weekend's takings are in, and The Wrap reports that the Dark Shadows has done respectable business in its opening few days, raking in $28.8 million in the US and a further $36.7 million in oversea territories, making over $65 million so far. 

As was widely predicted, family-friendly The Avengers continued its record-breaking blockbuster run, taking the lion's share of the weekend's business with over $100 million in the US alone, plus the number one slot. bad credit loans Depp's Barnabas comfortably made second place ahead of nearest competitor, Think Like A Man, which took $6.3 million. The Hollywood Reporter adds that Dark Shadows "came in No. 1 ahead of Avengers in several European markets, including France (where Depp lives), where it grossed $4.6 million. It scored its biggest number in Russia, grossing $5.3 million."

Elsewhere, Collider has interviewed Dark Shadows screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, who echoed comments from director Tim Burton earlier this week that the film's DVD and BluRay release will feature deleted scenes: "There was a lot cut out... As a writer, you want all of those great actors to have those [great] moments... What happens then, is you then have a three-hour movie!"

"There's some stuff with Barnabas and David getting to know each other, a little earlier on," says Seth. "I think that the plan is to release those scenes on the BluRay. unsecured loans I'd love to – personally – see an extended cut of this movie. Because there is so much other stuff, not just with Barnabas, but so many other characters." The interview also includes Seth reflecting on the film's box office prospects and the development of the script from John August's initial draft. 

Driving in switzerland

Switzerland Driving Advice and Car Hire Info


Driving in Switzerland

You can drive in Switzerland using the photo licence of most countries including all EU countries. Roads are usually in excellent condition but expect steep, winding roads in the mountains, where driving conditions will deteriorate after rain or snow. Swiss road safety standards are high and drivers generally abide by traffic rules and regulations which are strictly enforced. In winter you may need snow chains, winter tyres or even a 4WD if heading to remote areas. Travel on expressways (indicated by green signs with a white expressway symbol) requires purchase of a sticker (“vignette”), which must be affixed to the car’s windshield. Vignettes can be purchased at most border crossings points, gas stations and at Swiss post offices. If your car doesn’t have a vignette you may be fined on the spot so check with the rental company if you don’t notice one when you collect the car. Driving abroad in Switzerland is usually stress free and even city centre traffic generally moves freely and roads are well sign posted.

Switzerland Car Rental -

Avis, Hertz,Budget,Europcar, Alamo, National, Sixt have branches here . Also usually features on Car rental broker sites and Web discount sites such unsecured loans as LastMinute.com
This is a well established company who operate in Switzerland, Germany and Austria

Switzerland Self Drive Rules

Most Rental companies allow cars to be driven into bad credit loans other mainland Europe countries including UK and will generally allow one way rentals to neighbouring bad credit loans countries. There may be restrictions on taking cars into some Eastern European countries.

Lovefilm and Netflix no threat to Sky

Ofcom says there is no clear evidence that Lovefilm or Netflix will be able to mount a competitive challenge against Sky Movies.

In its latest submission to the Competition unsecured loans Commission enquiry into the UK pay-TV market, the regulator says there is no need for the Commission to alter the conclusions made in its Provisional Findings.

The Commission had said that Sky’s market power in the pay-TV retail market had given rise to barriers to the acquisition of first subscription pay-TV window (FSPTW) movie rights. It found that Sky’s control of the acquisition and distribution of FSPTW movie content on pay-TV affects adversely competition between pay-TV retailers.

“While Lovefilm and Netflix have movie rights from some major and non-major studios in the second subscription pay-TV window (SSPTW), their rights to FSPTW movie content are dwarfed by those of Sky, which retains control of all FSPTW movie rights from the six major studios,” said the Ofcom submission.

It added that the Lovefilm and Netflix services relied heavily on US and UK TV services to the extent that they were akin to a general entertainment channel service. This was backed up by the pricing, £4.99 (€6.08) per month for Lovefilm and £5.99 per month for Netflix, compared to £16 per month for the Sky “Movies Pack” on top of the basic £20 per month subscription.

Sky’s response to its new competitors, the pay-as-you-go Now TV, was likened by Ofcom to the aborted pay-DTT service Picnic, which it said may also be intended bad credit loans to encourage consumers to take up the full DTH offering.

The 10 Most Bad-Ass Chemistry Scenes From Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad recently wrapped up its fourth season, leaving us despondent that it will be a good couple months until we see the further misadventures of cancer victim/chemistry teacher/crystal meth chef Walter "Heisenberg" White and his brash partner Jesse Pinkman.

While we twiddle our thumbs in anticipation for Season 5, here are 10 times Breaking Bad flaunted its chemistry for nefarious purposes. There are some pretty significant spoilers ahead, so don't say we didn't warn you.

10.) Walt blows up a douchebag's car
When: Season 1, Episode 4
("Cancer Man")
After the twin psychological duresses of terminal cancer and slinging meth begin to sink in, Walt entertains himself by inserting a moist sponge into an obnoxious man's car engine. This is more automotive shenanigans than chemistry, but Bryan Cranston sells Walt as a haunted man toying with his dark side.

9.) Walt saves his life by building electrochemical cells
When: Season 2, Episode 9
("Four Days Out")
When the RV's battery dies in the middle of nowhere, Walt and Jesse must build something to start the engine. On the verge of fatal dehydration, Walt constructs salvation out of found materials.

8.) Jesse's lab cleanliness speech
When: Season 4, Episode 10 ("Salud")
When the cartels force Jesse to travel south of the border to cook up his patented Blue Sky methamphetamine, the surly young meth chef is confronted by a group of dubious Mexican chemists. After they doubt his credentials, Jesse shoots back by demanding better workplace standards.

7.) Walt and Jesse synthesize thermite from Etch A Sketches
When: Season 1, Episode 7
("A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal")
To steal a barrel of methylamine from a guarded warehouse, Jesse and Walt crack open a few Etch A Sketches, purloin the aluminum powder inside, and whip up a batch of thermite to burn through security. I'm assuming Bruce Wayne is a major stockholder in the Ohio Art Company, as Batman always seems to have plenty of unsuspicious thermite lying around.

6.) Walt serves Tuco a ricin burrito
When: Season 2, Episode 2 ("Grilled")
When Walt and Jesse realize that they've hitched their apple cart to mentally unstable drug kingpin Tuco Salamanca, Walt synthesizes ricin from castor beans, laces it with a batch of meth, and offers it to the meth-happy Tuco. After Tuco complains that the ricin meth stinks like "head cheese," Walt adds it as a garnish to his burrito. This plan goes about as well as you'd expect.

5.) Walt blows up Tuco's HQ with fulminated Mercury
When: Season 1, Episode 6
("Crazy Handful of Nothin'")
The burrito wasn't the first time Walter used chemistry to tussle with Tuco. Several episodes earlier, the drug lord had robbed Jesse, so Walt cooks up some Mercury Fulminate for a hostage situation. The depiction of the explosive was embellished for the episode, but it's one of the first times we see Walt go into 100% bugfuck "Heisenberg mode."

4.) Walt poisons a child using plant toxins
When: Season 4, Episode 12 ("Face-Off")
There were a few shockers in the Season 4 finale, but the revelation that Walt poisoned innocent little kid Brock to break Gus Fring's spell on Jesse was a jaw-dropper. After using Lily of the Valley to put Brock in the hospital, Walt's officially past redemption. Here's a play-by-play of his actions.

3.) Walt murders a drug dealer with phosphine gas
When: Season 1, Episode 1 ("Pilot")
During the very first episode, drug dealers force Walt into revealing his recipe for meth. Rather than give up his secrets and die in the desert, he intentionally creates phosphine gas to kill his captors.

2.) Disposing of bodies in hydrofluoric acid
When: Several times, namely Season 1, Episode 2 ("The Cat's In The Bag")
Whenever the protagonists on Breaking Bad need to dispose of a corpse, unsecured loans they usually shove the dead person in a barrel of hydrofluoric acid. The first time Jesse tries this, he fails miserably. To quote Walt, "Hydrofluoric acid won't eat through plastic. It will, however, dissolve metal, rock, glass, ceramic. So there's that."

1.) Heisenberg's impromptu chemistry lesson
When: Season 2, Episode 10 ("Over")
"Over" is a spectacular episode, as it shows Walt trying to balance his family obligations with his increasingly dominant Heisenberg persona. In the episode's final scene, bad credit loans he meets a novice meth chef in a home supply store. At first, Walt gives the confused cook some avuncular tips straight out of high school chemistry class. But after a moment of reflection, Walt metamorphoses into Heisenberg, and he utters the grimiest five words of the entire series. TV on the Radio makes this scene.

Front mag make sexy deal with myspace

Front magazine has secured a deal with social networking site MySpace that will see video content from the magazine featured on the MySpace UK homepage.

The magazine, which was purchased earlier this year by Sport Media Group, currently uses MySpace as its only web offering, with a magazine website bad credit loans set to launch in the coming months.

The video content will also feature on the magazine’s MySpace page and will be used in mailouts to the eight million users of the network in the UK. Content will include interviews with bands and video diaries from Front models.

Front will also be asking readers to join in with the creation a special MySpace edition of the print magazine, due out on 29 November. Readers will be offered the chance to direct a photo shoot, interview bands and contribute their own music.

Editor Joe Barnes said MySpace was essential to the magazine, adding: "We’ve used the site to great effect over the last year or so to consult with readers and shape the magazine to their needs. This just seemed like the next step in giving readers an even more hands-on chance to shape the magazine.

"Front and MySpace are definitely pursuing the same demographic. Both brands appeal to a slightly more alternative, music-loving audience - young, intelligent people who enjoy nothing more than being completely and utterly stupid.”

Front was bought by Sport Media Group in June this year, after impressing the company’s editorial consultant, Loaded founder James Brown.

The title had gone into administration under its third owner unsecured loans SMD at the end of 2006 and missed three issues before head designer Richard Olsen led a staff buy-out and they revived the magazine, with Barnes taking the helm.

Barnes said the magazine has been slowly putting on sales, with around 40,000 newsstand sales a month. He said he aimed to have the title ABC-audited next year.

Royal Mail Stamp Prices Increase

The Royal Mail announced yesterday the cost of posting letters will rise, with first and second-class stamps costing 60p and 50p respectively.

Daphne Savage, chief executive of Age UK Suffolk, said: “This is a huge increase to impose in one go and the people it hits the most are those who do not have access to computers so they have to use the postal system to keep in touch.

“Although many retired people do have and use computers unsecured loans, a majority do not, either because of the cost of buying them or they have never learned to use a unsecured loans computer.
“If older people can afford it, I would encourage them stock up on stamps [only buying just marked first or second class, not those with the price on them] before the deadline to delay the effect of this large increase in the cost.”

Royal Mail warned the universal service, under which post is delivered to any house in the UK for the same price, was “in peril without higher stamp prices”.
Chief executive Moya Greene said: “This is a very high-quality, cherished service, but it needs to be paid for. The increase will restore our finances and maintain the universal service. We had no alternative but to increase prices.”

Prices will rise from the current 46p for first class and 36p for second class from April 30, while the cost of posting large letters will increase from 75p to 90p for first class and 58p to 69p for second class.
Mrs Savage added: “This is going to hit charities too, bad credit loans of all sizes, who use the mail to send newsletters to their clients or supporters. We mail 14,000 older people in Suffolk twice a year with an information magazine and that one activity will cost us nearly £4,000 more.

“We receive hundreds of enquiries a week at our help centres which require us to send information out by post, that will add another £2,100 to our costs.”

John Dugmore, chief executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said the price rise will affect small businesses. “Whilst we understand this strategic decision is designed to safeguard the UK’s postal service, ensuring it is sustainable and high-quality, these price rises will not be welcomed by the majority,” he added.
“Whilst we note the news that small business will receive some discounts on some products, it does not go far enough.

“This is yet another rising cost to business on a service that is used by the majority and so the Chamber calls for the extension of a price freeze throughout 2012, in what will continue to be a difficult year for many households and businesses.”