Mars is close to venus - Female reproductive proteins are expressed in the fat body and reproductive tract of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) drones

Vitellogenin (Vg) and lipophorin (Lp) are lipoproteins which play important roles in female reproductive physiology of insects. Both are actively taken up by growing oocytes and especially Vg and its receptor are considered as female-specifically expressed. The finding that the fat body of in honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones synthesizes Vg and is present in hemolymph has long been viewed as a curiosity. The recent paradigm change concerning the role played by Vg in honey bee life history, especially social division of labor, has now led us to investigate whether a physiological constellation similar to that seen in female reproduction may also be represented in the male sex. By means of Western blot analysis we could show that both Vg and Lp are present in the reproductive tract of adult drones, including the accessory (mucus) glands, but apparently are not secreted. Furthermore, we analyzed the transcript levels of the genes encoding these proteins (vg and lp), as well as their putative receptors (Amvgr and Amlpr) in fat body and accessory glands. Whereas lp, vg and Amlpr transcript levels decreased with age in both tissues. Amvgr mRNA levels increased with age in fat body. To our knowledge this is the first report that vitellogenin and its receptor are co-expressed in the reproductive system of a male insect. We interpret these findings as a cross-sexual transfer of a social physiological trait, associated with the rewiring of the juvenile hormone/vitellogenin circuitry that occurred in the female sex of honey bees. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of four gutta-percha techniques used to fill mesial root canals of mandibular molars

P>Aim To compare the percentage of gutta-percha, sealer and voids and the influence of isthmuses in mesial root canals of mandibular molars filled with different techniques. Methodology Canals in 60 mesial roots of mandibular first molars were prepared with ProTaper instruments to size F2 (size 25, 0.08 taper) and filled using a single-cone, lateral compaction, System B or Thermafil techniques. An epoxy resin sealer was labelled with Rhodamine-B dye to allow analysis under a confocal microscope. The percentage of gutta-percha, sealer and area of voids was calculated at 2, 4 and 6 mm from the apex, using Image Tool 3.0 software. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests (P < 0.05). The influence of isthmuses on the presence or absence of voids was evaluated using the Fisher test. Results At the 2 mm level, the percentage of gutta-percha, sealer and voids was similar amongst the System B, lateral compaction and single-cone techniques. The single-cone technique revealed significantly less gutta-percha, more sealer and voids in comparison with the Thermafil technique at the 2 and 4 mm level (P < 0.05). The analysis of all sections (2, 4 and 6 mm) revealed that more gutta-percha and less sealer and voids were found in root canals filled with Thermafil and System B techniques (P < 0.05). The Fisher test revealed that the presence of isthmuses increased the occurence of voids in the lateral compaction group only (P < 0.05). Conclusion Gutta-percha, sealer filled area and voids were dependent on the canal-filling technique. The presence of isthmuses may influence the quality of root filling.

Bond Strength of Fiber Posts to Weakened Roots After Resin Restoration With Different Light-Curing Times

Introduction: This study evaluated the bond strength of translucent fiber posts to experimentally weakened radicular dentin restored with composite resin and polymerized with different light-exposure time. Methods: Roots of 60 maxillary incisors were used. Twenty-four hours after obturation, the filling materials of root canals were removed to a depth of 12 mm, and 4 groups were randomly formed. In 3 groups, root dentin was flared to produce a space between fiber post and canal walls. In the control group, the roots were not experimentally weakened. The flared roots were bulk restored with composite resin, which was light-activated through the translucent post for 40, 80, or 120 seconds. Posts were cemented, and after 24 hours, all roots were sectioned transversely in the coronal, middle, and apical regions, producing 1-mm-thick slices. Push-out test was performed, and failure modes were observed. Results The quantitative analysis showed significant statistical difference only among groups (P <.001). Comparing the weakened/restored groups, composite light-exposure time did not influence the results. Overall, adhesive failures occurred more frequently than other types of failures. Cohesive failures occurred only in the weakened/restored roots. Conclusions Intracanal root restoration with composite resin and translucent fiber posts provided similar or higher bond strength to dentin than the control group, regardless of the light-exposure time used for polymerization. (J Endod 2009;35:1034-1039)

Holt, Johnson and the 1966 Federal Election. A Question of Causality

US President Lyndon Johnson's state visit to Australia in October 1966, came at the pinnacle of support for Australia's military involvement in the Vietnam War. Johnson's visit also occurred just weeks before an election for the House of Representatives at which the ruling Liberal-Country Party Coalition won its eighth successive, and largest victory, The proximity of these events has led many to argue that a causal relationship exists between the two. Advocates of this thesis, however, have failed to support their position with any evidence other than the anecdotal. Contrary to the assertions made by numerous political historians and observers of the period, this paper finds no evidence to support a thesis of causality. This paper argues that the Coalition's landslide victory in 1966 was both a rejection of the tired and lacklustre leadership of Labor's Arthur Calwell and a measure of the electorate's overwhelming support for Holt and his Government's policies of conscription and military involvement in Vietnam.

Youth unemployment outflow rates and labor market programs: Australian evidence

A matching function methodology is used to investigate the macroeconomic effects of labor market program (LMP) commencements on youth unemployment outflows in Australia using unpublished data that classify commencements and outflows by duration of unemployment. The results indicate that LMPs have had significant effects on outflows from short-term unemployment. There is a net positive effect from LMP commencements on short-term unemployed female outflow rates. However; females experienced negative spillover effects from male LMP commencements. These spillover effects appear to be associated with wage subsidy programs and suggest the net impact Of such programs may have been overstated in previous studies.

Synthesis and structural properties of patellamide a derivatives and their copper(II) compounds

The synthesis, characterization and copper(II) coordination chemistry of three new cyclic peptide ligands, PatJ(1) (cyclo-(Ile -Thr- (Gly)Thz-lle-Thr(Gly)Thz)), PatJ(2) (cyclo-(Ile-Thr(Gly)Thz-(D)-Ile-Thr-(Gly)Thz)), and PatL (cyclo-(Ile-Ser-(Gly)Thz-Ile-Ser(Gly)Thz)) are reported. All of these cyclic peptides and PatN (cyclo-(Ile-Ser(Gly)Thz-Ile-Thr-(Gly)Thz)) are derivatives of patellamide A and have a [24]azacrown-8 macrocyclic structure. All four synthetic cyclic peptides have two thiazole rings but, in contrast to patellamide A, no oxazoline rings. The molecular structure of PatJ1, determined by X-ray crystallography, has a saddle conformation with two close-to-co-parallel thiazole rings, very similar to the geometry of patellamide D. The two coordination sites of PatJ1 with thiazole-N and amide-N donors are each well preorganized for transition metal ion binding. The coordination of copper(II) was monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy, and this reveals various (meta)stable mono- and dinuclear copper(II) complexes whose stoichiometry was confirmed by mass spectra. Two types of dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu-2(H4L)(OH2)(n)](2+) (n = 6, 8) and [Cu-2(H4L)(OH2)(n)] (n=4, 6; L=PatN, PatL, PatJ1, PatJ2) have been identified and analyzed structurally by EPR spectroscopy and a combination of spectra simulations and molecular mechanics calculations (MM-EPR). The four structures are similar to each other and have a saddle conformation, that is, derived from the crystal structure of PatJ(1) by a twist of the two thiozole rings. The small but significant structural differences are characterized by the EPR simulations.

Patterns of change and stability in the gender division of household labour in Australia, 1986-1997

Recent research in Australia and overseas has suggested that we are witnessing a convergence of men's and women's time on domestic labour activities. But there is disagreement about whether this is due to women reducing their time on housework or men increasing their time on housework. This article addresses these issues using national survey data collected in Australia in 1986, 1993 and 1997. The results show some changes in the proportional responsibilities of men and women in the home with men reporting a greater share of traditional indoor activities. But overall both men and women are spending less time on housework. In particular, women's time on housework has declined by six hours per week since 1986. Hence, while the gender gap between men's and women's involvement in the home is getting smaller, it is not the result of men increasing their share of the load, but is due to the large decline in women's time spent on domestic labour. There is also evidence of change in the relationship. between paid and unpaid work for women. Women's hours of,paid labour had a greater impact on their involvement in domestic labour in 1997 compared to a decade earlier. The article concludes that women's increased labour force involvement in combination with changing patterns and styles, of consumption is leading to some changes in the gender-division:of household labour, but not in the direction anticipated by earlier commentators on the domestic division of labour.

Characterization of the acidic properties of mesoporous aluminosilicates synthesized from leached saponite with additional aluminum incorporation

The acidic properties of hexagonal mesoporous aluminosilicates synthesized via a new successful short time synthesis route using leached saponite and a low concentration of surfactant are thoroughly investigated. The resulting aluminosilicate mesoporous materials with high Si/Al ratios of around 11 have a maximal surface area of 1130 m(2)/g, a pore volume of 0.92 cm(3)/g, and a narrow pore size distribution at around 3 nm. The replacement of the sodium ions, present as counterions in the synthesized aluminosilicates, with protons imparts useful catalytic acidity. This acidity is extensively studied with FTIR spectroscopy after adsorption of ammonia and cyclohexylamine, while deuterated acetonitrile differentiates between Bronsted and Lewis acidity. Al-27 NMR spectroscopy determined the coordination of the aluminum in the FSM materials. Simultaneously the effect of an additional Al incorporation, utilizing sodium aluminate, aluminum nitrate, and aluminum isopropoxide is studied. From an acidic point of view, the incorporation with Al(NO3)(3) appears to be the most optimal, as the sample has a very high amount of acid sites (1.3 mmol/g). Investigating the nature of the acid sites it is found that in all samples except the one incorporated with Al(NO3)(3), more Bronsted than Lewis sites are present, both sites being quite acidic as they resist desorption temperatures up to 300 degreesC. Probing the coordination and location of the Al atoms, all the catalysts appeared to have mostly tetrahedral aluminum, up to 95% of the total Al amount for the proton exchanged AI(NO3)(3) incorporated sample.

Insights into the structural basis for zinc inhibition of the glycine receptor

Histidines 107 and 109 in the glycine receptor ( GlyR) alpha(1) subunit have previously been identified as determinants of the inhibitory zinc-binding site. Based on modeling of the GlyR alpha(1) subunit extracellular domain by homology to the acetylcholine-binding protein crystal structure, we hypothesized that inhibitory zinc is bound within the vestibule lumen at subunit interfaces, where it is ligated by His(107) from one subunit and His(109) from an adjacent subunit. This was tested by co-expressing alpha(1) subunits containing the H107A mutation with alpha(1) subunits containing the H109A mutation. Although sensitivity to zinc inhibition is markedly reduced when either mutation is individually incorporated into all five subunits, the GlyRs formed by the co-expression of H107A mutant subunits with H109A mutant subunits exhibited an inhibitory zinc sensitivity similar to that of the wild type alpha(1) homomeric GlyR. This constitutes strong evidence that inhibitory zinc is coordinated at the interface between adjacent alpha(1) subunits. No evidence was found for beta subunit involvement in the coordination of inhibitory zinc, indicating that a maximum of two zinc-binding sites per alpha(1)beta receptor is sufficient for maximal zinc inhibition. Our data also show that two zinc-binding sites are sufficient for significant inhibition of alpha(1) homomers. The binding of zinc at the interface between adjacent alpha(1) subunits could restrict intersubunit movements, providing a feasible mechanism for the inhibition of channel activation by zinc.

Displaying the future: Techno-nationalism and the rise of the consumer in postwar Japan

This paper explains how, in the aftermath of World War II, a type of techno-nationalism emerged that linked being Japanese to science and technology and the increased consumption of electrical appliances. By closely examining official exhibitions, we can see how the state and private sector strongly encouraged this techno-scientific dreaming. Dazzling displays highlighted how the peaceful atom would help lead the nation to achieve high economic growth. At the same time, through the judicious purchase of labor saving appliances, consumers could reconcile the need to spend with the need to save.

Domain-Specific Language for Coordination patterns

The integration and composition of software systems requires a good architectural design phase to speed up communications between (remote) components. However, during implementation phase, the code to coordinate such components often ends up mixed in the main business code. This leads to maintenance problems, raising the need for, on the one hand, separating the coordination code from the business code, and on the other hand, providing mechanisms for analysis and comprehension of the architectural decisions once made. In this context our aim is at developing a domain-specific language, CoordL, to describe typical coordination patterns. From our point of view, coordination patterns are abstractions, in a graph form, over the composition of coordination statements from the system code. These patterns would allow us to identify, by means of pattern-based graph search strategies, the code responsible for the coordination of the several components in a system. The recovering and separation of the architectural decisions for a better comprehension of the software is the main purpose of this pattern language

The institutional configuration of sport policy in Brazil: organization, evolution and dilemmas

Brazil has become the center of the spotlight of the whole world recently, amongst many other reasons, one of them was because it was chosen to host a series of mega sporting events - Pan American Games in 2007, Confederations Football Cup in 2013, Fifa Football World Cup 2014 Games and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. However, little is known about the country's administrative governmental structure focused on sport policy. The available studies focus their analysis on the sport policies content, but not on the arrangement of its structural decision-making. The main aim of this article is indeed to describe, based on official documentation, the evolution and the current arrangements of the government responsible for the administrative structure for the planning and implementation of sports policies in Brazil. Thus, we tried to list the main problems arising from the organization of the Brazilian sports' management. These problems are: (1) inappropriate institutional structure in terms of human resources and obstacles to participation by other social actors beyond the officials (parliament and members of the Ministry of Sports) in the sports policy; (2) disarticulation between public institutions generating redundancies and conflicts of jurisdiction due to the poor division of labor between bureaucracy agencies; and (3) inadequate planning proved by the lack of organization of some institutions, and by the lack of assessment and continuity of public policies over time. Therefore, we must emphasize those problems from above, and due to these administrative arrangements, Brazilian sports' policy has big challenges in the sport development in this country, which includes the creation of a national "system" for sports and a priority investment in sport education.

Towards the wide implementation of standards IEC 61968/70 (CIM) and IEC 61850 in the distribution system (CIGRÉ C6-105_2010)

Currently, power systems (PS) already accommodate a substantial penetration of distributed generation (DG) and operate in competitive environments. In the future, as the result of the liberalisation and political regulations, PS will have to deal with large-scale integration of DG and other distributed energy resources (DER), such as storage and provide market agents to ensure a flexible and secure operation. This cannot be done with the traditional PS operational tools used today like the quite restricted information systems Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) [1]. The trend to use the local generation in the active operation of the power system requires new solutions for data management system. The relevant standards have been developed separately in the last few years so there is a need to unify them in order to receive a common and interoperable solution. For the distribution operation the CIM models described in the IEC 61968/70 are especially relevant. In Europe dispersed and renewable energy resources (D&RER) are mostly operated without remote control mechanisms and feed the maximal amount of available power into the grid. To improve the network operation performance the idea of virtual power plants (VPP) will become a reality. In the future power generation of D&RER will be scheduled with a high accuracy. In order to realize VPP decentralized energy management, communication facilities are needed that have standardized interfaces and protocols. IEC 61850 is suitable to serve as a general standard for all communication tasks in power systems [2]. The paper deals with international activities and experiences in the implementation of a new data management and communication concept in the distribution system. The difficulties in the coordination of the inconsistent developed in parallel communication and data management standards - are first addressed in the paper. The upcoming unification work taking into account the growing role of D&RER in the PS is shown. It is possible to overcome the lag in current practical experiences using new tools for creating and maintenance the CIM data and simulation of the IEC 61850 protocol – the prototype of which is presented in the paper –. The origin and the accuracy of the data requirements depend on the data use (e.g. operation or planning) so some remarks concerning the definition of the digital interface incorporated in the merging unit idea from the power utility point of view are presented in the paper too. To summarize some required future work has been identified.

Oxorhenium Complexes Bearing the Water-Soluble Tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate, 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, or Related Ligands, as Catalysts for Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Ketones

New rhenium(VII or III) complexes [ReO3(PTA)(2)][ReO4] (1) (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), [ReO3(mPTA)][ReO4] (2) (mPTA = N-methyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane cation), [ReO3(HMT)(2)] [ReO4] (3) (HMT = hexamethylenetetramine), [ReO3(eta(2)-Tpm)(PTA)][ReO4] (4) [Tpm = hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane, HC(pz)(3), pz = pyrazolyl), [ReO3(Hpz)(HMT)][ReO4] (5) (Hpz = pyrazole), [ReO(Tpms)(HMT)] (6) [Tpms = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate, O3SC(pz)(3)(-)] and [ReCl2{N2C(O)Ph} (PTA)(3)] (7) have been prepared from the Re(VII) oxide Re2O2 (1-6) or, in the case of 7, by ligand exchange from the benzoyldiazenido complex [ReCl2(N2C-(O)Ph}(Hpz)(PPh3)(2)], and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis and electrochemical properties. Theoretical calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level of theory indicated that the coordination of PTA to both Re(III) and Re(VII) centers by the P atom is preferable compared to the coordination by the N atom. This is interpreted in terms of the Re-PTA bond energy and hard-soft acid-base theory. The oxo-rhenium complexes 1-6 act as selective catalysts for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic and linear ketones (e.g., 2-methylcyclohexanone, 2-methylcyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, cyclobutanone, and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone or pinacolone) to the corresponding lactones or esters, in the presence of aqueous H2O2. The effects of a variety of factors are studied toward the optimization of the process.

Adam Smith on power and maritime trade

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