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Another Possibility (another + possibility)
Selected AbstractsTHE TIMING AND MECHANISMS OF THE OFFENDING-DEPRESSION LINK,CRIMINOLOGY, Issue 3 2007SONJA E. SIENNICK Why is juvenile delinquency associated with depression in young adulthood? One possibility is that delinquency interferes with socioeco-nomic attainment and disrupts entry into adult roles, perhaps because of official labeling processes or adolescent socialization into deviance, and these repercussions of delinquency lead to depression. Another possibility is that grown delinquents may show high levels of depression because they tend to offend in adulthood, and adult offenders tend to be depressed. I use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine the timing and mechanisms of the offending-depression relationship. The results suggest that delinquency is negatively associated with later status attainment and that the status attainment deficits of grown delinquents are not fully explained by justice system contacts or by adolescent delinquent peer influence. A portion of the longitudinal delinquency-depression link is explained by the low levels of education of grown delinquents and by their involvement with the justice system. Still, young adult depression is more closely tied to recent offending than it is to juvenile delinquency, official labeling, or the status attainment consequences of delinquency. [source] Dynamics of Benzene and Toluene Degradation in Pseudomonas putida F1 in the Presence of the Alternative Substrate SuccinateENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2007I. Rüegg Abstract In batch and continuous culture, the regulation of benzene and toluene degradation by Pseudomonas putida,F1 was investigated in the presence of the alternative carbon and energy source succinate. In batch culture, benzene and toluene were used simultaneously, whereas succinate suppressed benzene consumption under carbon excess conditions resulting in diauxic growth. In carbon-limited continuous culture mixed substrate growth was observed. Since in nature low substrate concentrations and ever changing conditions prevail, this paper focuses on the dynamics of benzene/toluene degradation, biomass synthesis, and the regulation of benzene/toluene-degrading enzymes in cultures growing continuously at a dilution rate of 0.1,h,1, when shifting the supply of the carbon and energy source from succinate to various mixtures of succinate and benzene/toluene, or to benzene only. When the succinate concentration was kept constant (1.25,mM) and the medium was supplemented with benzene (2,mM), growth with benzene began already two hours after the shift. In contrast, replacing succinate with benzene only led to a wash out of biomass for more then ten hours, before biomass production from benzene started. A striking and reproducible transition pattern was observed for all shifts where the succinate concentration was reduced or succinate was omitted. After an initial period of biomass production from benzene, the culture collapsed and a wash-out of biomass was observed. However, this wash-out was not accompanied by an increase in benzene in the cultivation liquid, indicating a benzene uptake without conversion into biomass. Another possibility is that in phases of low biomass concentrations, cells were only able to use the low amounts of benzene/toluene dissolved in the cultivation liquid yielding low biomass concentrations whereas in phases of high biomass concentrations, they were able to rapidly utilize the aromatic solvents so that additional benzene from the gas phase diffused into the cultivation liquid resulting in more biomass production. In most cases, growth resumed again after 10 to 80,h. Currently, the reasons for the decrease in biomass after the first rise are unknown. However, several indications rule out intoxication of the cells by either the solvents benzene or toluene themselves, or by toxic degradation intermediates, or by-products. [source] Full waveform inversion of seismic waves reflected in a stratified porous mediumGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2010Louis De Barros SUMMARY In reservoir geophysics applications, seismic imaging techniques are expected to provide as much information as possible on fluid-filled reservoir rocks. Since seismograms are, to some degree, sensitive to the mechanical parameters and fluid properties of porous media, inversion methods can be devised to directly estimate these quantities from the waveforms obtained in seismic reflection experiments. An inversion algorithm that uses a generalized least-squares, quasi-Newton approach is described to determine the porosity, permeability, interstitial fluid properties and mechanical parameters of porous media. The proposed algorithm proceeds by iteratively minimizing a misfit function between observed data and synthetic wavefields computed with the Biot theory. Simple models consisting of plane-layered, fluid-saturated and poro-elastic media are considered to demonstrate the concept and evaluate the performance of such a full waveform inversion scheme. Numerical experiments show that, when applied to synthetic data, the inversion procedure can accurately reconstruct the vertical distribution of a single model parameter, if all other parameters are perfectly known. However, the coupling between some of the model parameters does not permit the reconstruction of several model parameters at the same time. To get around this problem, we consider composite parameters defined from the original model properties and from a priori information, such as the fluid saturation rate or the lithology, to reduce the number of unknowns. Another possibility is to apply this inversion algorithm to time-lapse surveys carried out for fluid substitution problems, such as CO2 injection, since in this case only a few parameters may vary as a function of time. We define a two-step differential inversion approach which allows us to reconstruct the fluid saturation rate in reservoir layers, even though the medium properties are poorly known. [source] Executive cognitive functioning and the recognition of facial expressions of emotion in incarcerated violent offenders, non-violent offenders, and controlsAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2007Peter N.S. Hoaken Violence is a social problem that carries enormous costs; however, our understanding of its etiology is quite limited. A large body of research exists, which suggests a relationship between abnormalities of the frontal lobe and aggression; as a result, many researchers have implicated deficits in so-called "executive function" as an antecedent to aggressive behaviour. Another possibility is that violence may be related to problems interpreting facial expressions of emotion, a deficit associated with many forms of psychopathology, and an ability linked to the prefrontal cortex. The current study investigated performance on measures of executive function and on a facial-affect recognition task in 20 violent offenders, 20 non-violent offenders, and 20 controls. In support of our hypotheses, both offender groups performed significantly more poorly on measures of executive function relative to controls. In addition, violent offenders were significantly poorer on the facial-affect recognition task than either of the other two groups. Interestingly, scores on these measures were significantly correlated, with executive deficits associated with difficulties accurately interpreting facial affect. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of a broader understanding of violent behaviour. Aggr. Behav. 33:412,421, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] INFLUENCE OF PULSED ELECTRIC FIELD ON SELENOCYSTEINE CONTENT IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAEJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2008URSZULA PANKIEWICZ ABSTRACT Culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with sodium selenite addition in medium was treated by pulsed electric fields (PEFs). Amino acids from yeast hydrolysates were separated by means of ion-exchange chromatography on amino acid analyzer according to previously established procedure. Selenocysteine was determined in a form of complex with ninhydrin, applying photometric technique. PEF treatment of S. cerevisiae cells resulted in about threefold content increase of selenium bonded within selenocysteine. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Se yeast is an attractive source of Se because of its low cost and its ability to act as a precursor for selenoprotein synthesis. Se yeast can be consumed as such and as a nutritional supplement. Another possibility is to use selenized yeast instead of conventional yeast for baking bread. Bread is generally low in Se, and hence the use of selenized yeast for this purpose could result in higher Se intakes because bread is a common product consumed by many individuals (Dumont et al. 2006). The presented way to enrich the baking yeast in selenium, namely selenomethionine, may be successfully applied in yeast production, because the studied method is a relatively simple, nontoxic and cheap technique for introducing macrocompounds into the yeast cells. Such enriched selenium yeast may be a valuable and safe source of selenium at diet supplementation. [source] Neither molecular diversity of the envelope, immunosuppression status, nor proviral load causes indeterminate HTLV western blot profiles in samples from human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2)-infected individualsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 5 2010Ingrid Olah Abstract Although human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2) is considered of low pathogenicity, serological diagnosis is important for counseling and monitoring. The confirmatory tests most used are Western blot (WB) and PCR. However, in high-risk populations, about 50% of the indeterminate WB were HTLV-2 positives by PCR. The insensitivity of the WB might be due to the use of recombinant proteins of strains that do not circulate in our country. Another possibility may be a high level of immunosuppression, which could lead to low production of virus, resulting in low stimulation of antibody. We found one mutation, proline to serine in the envelope region in the position 184, presented at least 1/3 of the samples, independent the indeterminate WB profile. In conclusion, we found no correlation of immune state, HTLV-2 proviral load, or env diversity in the K55 region and WB indeterminate results. We believe that the only WB kit available in the market is probably more accurate to detect HTLV-1 antibodies, and some improvement for HTLV-2 detection should be done in the future, especially among high-risk population. J. Med. Virol. 82: 837,842, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Controlled Delivery Achieved with Bi-Layer Matrix Devices Produced by Co-Injection MouldingMACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 8 2004Cláudia M. Vaz Abstract Summary: The aim of this study was to design new soy protein-based bi-layered co-injection moulded matrix systems aimed to achieve controlled drug delivery. The devices consisted of a drug-free outer layer (skin) and a drug-containing core. The systems overcame the inherent disadvantage of non-linear release associated with diffusion-controlled single-layer matrix devices by providing additional releasing area with time to compensate for the decreasing release rate. As expected, the bi-layer devices presented a significant decrease in drug release rate when compared with a correspondent single layer matrix system. The skin thickness and the degree of crosslinking of the core appeared to be very important tools to tailor the release patterns. Furthermore, due to the amphoteric nature of the soy protein, the developed devices evidenced a pH-dependent behaviour. The mechanisms of drug release were also elucidated at two different pH values: i) pH 5.0, near the isoelectric point of soy (low matrix solubility); and ii) pH 7.4, physiological pH (high matrix solubility). Consequently, changing the release medium from pH 5.0 to pH 7.4 after two hours, led to an abrupt increase in drug release and the devices presented a typical controlled drug delivery profile: slow release/fast release. These evidences may provide for the development of individual systems with different release onsets that in combination may exhibit drug releases at predetermined times in a pre-programmed way. Another possibility is the production of three-layer devices presenting bimodal release profiles (fast release/slow release/fast release) by similar technologies. Scanning electron micrograph of a developed bi-layer device. [source] Origin and evolution of magnetarsMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: LETTERS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2008Lilia Ferrario ABSTRACT We present a population synthesis study of the observed properties of the magnetars investigating the hypothesis that they are drawn from a population of progenitors that are more massive than those of the normal radio pulsars. We assume that the anomalous X-ray emission is caused by the decay of a toroidal or tangled up field that does not take part in the spin-down of the star. Our model assumes that the magnetic flux of the neutron star is distributed as a Gaussian in the logarithm about a mean value that is described by a power law , where Mp is the mass of the progenitor. We find that we can explain the observed properties of the magnetars for a model with ,0= 2 × 1025 G cm2 and ,= 5 if we suitably parametrize the time evolution of the anomalous X-ray luminosity as an exponentially decaying function of time. Our modelling suggests that magnetars arise from stars in the high-mass end (20 M,,Mp, 45 M,) of this distribution. The lower mass progenitors are assumed to give rise to the radio pulsars. The high value of , can be interpreted in one of two ways. It may indicate that the magnetic flux distribution on the main sequence is a strong function of mass and that this is reflected in the magnetic fluxes of the neutron stars that form from this mass range (the fossil field hypothesis). The recent evidence for magnetic fluxes similar to those of the magnetars in a high fraction (,25 per cent) of massive O-type stars lends support to such a hypothesis. Another possibility is that the spin of the neutron star is a strong function of the progenitor mass, and it is only for stars that are more massive than ,20 M, that magnetar-type fields can be generated by the ,,, dynamo mechanism (the convective dynamo hypothesis). In either interpretation, it has to be assumed that all or a subset of stars in the mass range ,20,45 M,, which on standard stellar evolution models lead to black holes via the formation of a fall-back disc, must give rise to magnetars. Unlike with the radio pulsars, the magnetars only weakly constrain the birth spin period, due to their rapid spin-down. Our model predicts a birthrate of ,1.5,3 × 10,3 yr,1 for the magnetars. [source] Sequential Tests for Noninferiority and SuperiorityBIOMETRICS, Issue 1 2003W. Brannath Summary. The problem of simultaneous sequential tests for noninferiority and superiority of a treatment, as compared to an active control, is considered in terms of continuous hierarchical families of one-sided null hypotheses, in the framework of group sequential and adaptive two-stage designs. The crucial point is that the decision boundaries for the individual null hypotheses may vary over the parameter space. This allows one to construct designs where, e.g., a rigid stopping criterion is chosen, rejecting or accepting all individual null hypotheses simultaneously. Another possibility is to use monitoring type stopping boundaries, which leave some flexibility to the experimenter: he can decide, at the interim analysis, whether he is satisfied with the noninferiority margin achieved at this stage, or wants to go for more at the second stage. In the case where he proceeds to the second stage, he may perform midtrial design modifications (e.g., reassess the sample size). The proposed approach allows one to "spend," e.g., less of , for an early proof of noninferiority than for an early proof of superiority, and is illustrated by typical examples. [source] Tailoring Materials Properties by Accumulative Roll Bonding,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 8 2010Tina Hausöl Accumulative roll bonding (ARB) as a method of severe plastic deformation (SPD) is an interesting established process to produce ultrafine-grained (UFG) sheet materials with high potential for light weight constructions. The ARB process offers a high flexibility for tailored material design. Al2O3 particles, carbon fibers and titanium foils are used as reinforcement of aluminum sheets introduced during accumulative roll bonding. Furthermore multicomponent materials are produced by cladding of different aluminum alloys. These sandwich-like structures allow to combine desired properties of the materials involved. Post-ARB heat treatment offers another possibility for tailoring materials properties of graded structures as shown by formation of TiAl3 in Al/Ti laminates. The tailored materials are investigated by means of SEM, EDX, nanoindentation experiments and tensile testing. [source] On the binding mode of urease active site inhibitors: A density functional studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 11 2008M. Leopoldini Abstract The way with which boric acid, a rapid reversible competitive inhibitor, binds the urease active site was explored at density functional B3LYP level of theory. The catalytic core of the enzyme was simulated by two models of different size. In both cases, amino acid residues belonging to the inner and to the outer coordination spheres of nickel ions were replaced by smaller molecular species. Contrary to the experimental indication that attributes the inhibitory ability of this acid to the lack of a nucleophilic attack by the enzyme to the boron atom, we instead found that another possibility exists based on the presence of a strong covalent , bond between boron and urease that we think can be hardly broken to allow any course of the reaction. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008 [source] Approximation of magnetic behavior of complex nanomagnetic materials, using the "P " curves for structural characterization of magnetic suspensionsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 8 2008N. C. Popa Abstract The "P " curves for the structural characterization of magnetic nanoparticles suspensions (complex fluids, complex powders, complex composite materials, or living biological materials having magnetic properties) are the graphical representation of the first derivative (relative to the magnetic field strength H) of the magnetization curve relative to its saturation magnetization. In the case of the above materials, the magnetic properties are conferred to various carrier liquids by artificially integrating in their structure ferromagnetic particles of different sizes. The magnetic properties are usually shown by the hysteresis curve. The structure can be seen by (electronic) micrography. The P curves offer another possibility to determine the structure of the magnetic component of a complex fluid by numerical analysis of the magnetization curve experimentally obtained. Starting from these P curves, the paper presents the possibility to approximate the magnetic behavior of these complex nanomagnetic materials. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Adult female crickets, Gryllus texensis, maintain reproductive output after repeated immune challengesPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2007KELLY L. SHOEMAKER Abstract Both immunity and reproduction are thought to be energetically costly and therefore likely to make trade-offs with one another. To assess whether increasing immune system activity results in a decline in egg production, the immune system in the cricket Gryllus texensis is activated over a period of 12 days with regular injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Serratia marcescens, and the number of eggs laid during this time counted. Egg quality is also assessed by measuring total protein of eggs laid, fertilization and hatching success, and the weight of individual eggs laid after the series of injections. Indirect evidence suggests that LPS induces an immune response in G. texensis. However, the number of eggs produced is not affected. There is also no effect of repeated LPS injections on female weight, egg protein content, or fertilization and hatching success. Taken together, these results suggest that with food and water provided ad libitum, females can protect many aspects of fitness in the face of increased immune system activity. However, there is some evidence to suggest that large (100 ,g) doses of LPS lead to reduced female longevity, and also in egg weight that could affect offspring success. Although the possibility exists that the decline in lifespan and egg weight after high-dose injections reflects a trade-off between reproduction and immune investment, another possibility is that these doses yield nonspecific effects, or that the high-dose induces an overwhelming immune response that leads to self-damage. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||