Water Sorption of Amaranthus cruentus L. Seeds Modelled by GAB Equation

The GAB (Guggenheim, Andersen, and de Boer) equation was adjusted to literature data of sorption of Amarunthus cruentus L. (Me vs. a w for adsorption and desorption) determined at 25,30, 35,40,45, 50, 55,65,70, and 90°C, in the range of water activity from 0.029 to 0.979. To quantify the goodness of fit, the correlation coefficient (R2), the sum of squares (RSS), the standard error of the estimate (Sy), the mean relative deviation (MRD) and the plots of residuals were analysed. The three theoretical parameters of the GAB model (Mo, C, and K) gave a good correlation (R2 > 0.9817, RSS < 0.0297, MRD < 0.138, Sy < 0.0143, and random residuals-plots) in the range of a w from 0.029 to 0.979, of interest in seed storage and processing. However this correlation does not consider the effect of temperature (T) on coefficient values. In a second stage, parameters Mo and K were adjusted at each temperature. Very low variances were obtained in the range 25-65°C for desorption and in the range 25-55°C for adsorption. These results suggested that Mo and K remain almost constant and a correlation with T is not justified. On the contrary sense, parameter C showed stronger variation with T. This was explained by the analysis of sensitivity for the influence of C on moisture content. On this basis, the relation C-T was proposed by an Arrhenius-type relation [C=A.exp(B/T)] and this function was incorporated to the original GAB model to re-estimate the parameters A, B, Mo, and K. The developed modification provides a generalised and precise expression of GAB model for Amaranth.Fil: Pagano, A.M.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería Olavarría. Grupo Tecnologías de Semillas; ArgentinaFil: Mascheroni, Rodolfo Horacio. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

THE SINGLE INDEX MARKET MODEL IN AGRICULTURE

This study illustrates the differences in empirical results due to data measurements and estimating procedures when applying the single index market model in agriculture. Gross and net return betas along with systematic and unsystematic risk proportions are estimated and found to be different. The stochastic coefficients model is used to show the difference in beta-risk estimates compared with the traditional fixed coefficients OLS procedure. A third estimating technique, weighted least squares/Prais Winsten method, is also proposed.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

The Extended Loop Group: An Infinite Dimensional Manifold Associated with the Loop Space

A set of coordinates in the non parametric loop-space is introduced. We show that these coordinates transform under infinite dimensional linear representations of the diffeomorphism group. An extension of the group of loops in terms of these objects is proposed. The enlarged group behaves locally as an infinite dimensional Lie group. Ordinary loops form a subgroup of this group. The algebraic properties of this new mathematical structure are analized in detail. Applications of the formalism to field theory, quantum gravity and knot theory are considered.Comment: The resubmited paper contains the title and abstract, that were omitted in the previous version. 42 pages, report IFFI/93.0

Absence of the CD1 molecule up-regulates antitumor activity induced by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides in mice

The role of NKT cells on antitumor activity of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) was evaluated by peritumoral injections of CpG-ODNs in s.c. melanoma-bearing mice of strains differing in the number of NKT cells (athymic nude mice, recombination-activating gene-/-/transgenic V\u3b114/V\u3b28.2 mice that generate NKT cells; J\u3b1281-/- mice and CD1-/- mice, which both have a strongly reduced number of NKT cells; and C57BL/6 wild-type mice). Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in strains enriched or depleted of NKT cells. The two murine strains having a reduced number of NKT cells differed significantly in the CpG-dependent tumor growth inhibition: in J\u3b1281-/- mice this inhibition was superimposable to that observed in C57BL/6 mice, while in CD1-/- mice the inhibition was dramatic. The increased tumor inhibition in CD1-/- correlated with a significantly higher ratio of IFN-\u3b3-IL-4 production in response to CpG as compared with C57BL/6 and J\u3b1281-/- mice. Experiments in which preparations of APCs and lymphocytes of the three strains were mixed showed that in the presence of APCs not expressing CD1, the production of CpG-ODN-induced type 1 cytokines was higher. Phenotype analysis of IFN-\u3b3- and IL-4-producing cells revealed that the differences between CD1-/- and C57BL/6 in the production of these two cytokines were mainly due to CD3+ T lymphocytes. These data point to a regulatory role for the CD1 molecule in antitumor activity induced by danger signals, independently of V\u3b114 NKT cells. The identification of a CD1-dependent suppressive subpopulation(s) might have important implications for the study of tolerance in the context of cancer, autoimmunity, and transplantation

Universality of the Lyapunov regime for the Loschmidt echo

The Loschmidt echo (LE) is a magnitude that measures the sensitivity of quantum dynamics to perturbations in the Hamiltonian. For a certain regime of the parameters, the LE decays exponentially with a rate given by the Lyapunov exponent of the underlying classically chaotic system. We develop a semiclassical theory, supported by numerical results in a Lorentz gas model, which allows us to establish and characterize the universality of this Lyapunov regime. In particular, the universality is evidenced by the semiclassical limit of the Fermi wavelength going to zero, the behavior for times longer than Ehrenfest time, the insensitivity with respect to the form of the perturbation and the behavior of individual (non-averaged) initial conditions. Finally, by elaborating a semiclassical approximation to the Wigner function, we are able to distinguish between classical and quantum origin for the different terms of the LE. This approach renders an understanding for the persistence of the Lyapunov regime after the Ehrenfest time, as well as a reinterpretation of our results in terms of the quantum--classical transition.Comment: 33 pages, 17 figures, uses Revtex

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl