A model of carbon dioxide assimilation in Chlamydomonas reinhardii

A simple model of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in Chlamydomonas has been developed in order to evaluate whether a CO2-concentrating system could explain the photosynthetic characteristics of this alga (high apparent affinity for CO2, low photorespiration, little O2inhibition of photosynthesis, and low CO2 compensation concentration). Similarly, the model was developed to evaluate whether the proposed defects in the CO2-concentrating system of two Chlamydomonas mutants were consistent with their observed photosynthetic characteristics. The model treats a Chlamydomonas cell as a single compartment with two carbon inputs: passive diffusion of CO2, and active transport of HCO3-. Internal inorganic carbon was considered to have two potential fates: assimilation to fixed carbon via ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase or exiting the cell by either passive CO2 diffusion or reversal of HCO3-transport. Published values for kinetic parameters were used where possible. The model accurately reproduced the CO2-response curves of photosynthesis for wild-type Chlamydomonas, the two mutants defective in the CO2-concentrating system, and a double mutant constructed by crossing these two mutants. The model also predicts steady-state internal inorganic-carbon concentrations in reasonable agreement with measured values in all four cases. Carbon dioxide compensation concentrations for wild-type Chlamydomonas were accurately predicted by the model and those predicted for the mutants were in qualitative agreement with measured values. The model also allowed calculation of approximate energy costs of the CO2-concentrating system. These calculations indicate that the system may be no more energy-costly than C4 photosynthesis

A New Prospective on Advance Waivers of Conflict in Georgia

As law firms and their corporate clients continue to expand into different legal jurisdictions, and since the conflict of one attorney is imputed to the attorney\u27s firm, the potential for conflicts of interest increases. A law firm retained to advise a corporate subsidiary in a minor matter in one state may be disqualified from another, more significant matter in a different jurisdiction if the potential client is adverse to the parent company in the initial representation. Without a method for prospective waiver of conflicts, a law firm\u27s only recourse is seeking the consent of the currently represented client. To avoid this unfavorable situation,firms have tried to obtain and enforce prospective waivers of conflict from clients at the outset of representation. Many states have adopted Comment 22 to American Bar Association Model Rule 1.7, allowing enforceability of such waivers so long as the client is an experienced user of legal services, the client is independently represented in the giving of consent, and the consent is limited to conflicts unrelated to the subject matter of the representation,inter alia. Georgia has not adopted Comment 22 and Georgia courts have declined to enforce prospective waivers. This Note explains Georgia trial court decisions addressing the issue and advocates for reform, namely the adoption of Comment 22

Peak streamflow estimation for Kentucky streams using historical streamflow records.

This work develops a method of estimating peak daily streamflow, Qpeak, for Kentucky streams using daily average streamflow, Qave, data from the United States Geological Survey\u27s (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) website. The purpose of doing this is to develop a systematic approach to increase the number of Qpeak values available for frequency analysis. Specifically, the enhanced record of Qpeak values will allow estimation of flood flow magnitudes with recurrence intervals of less than one year. Stream gages with drainage areas less than 1,000 square miles are examined to analyze stream corridors that are most commonly considered for stream restoration projects. The developed method is applied to three stream gages for a period of one year each to demonstrate how it may be applied increase the number of Qpeak values available for frequency analysis

Radar transponder apparatus and signal processing technique

An active, phase-coded, time-grating transponder and a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) and signal processor means, in combination, allow the recognition and location of the transponder (tag) in the SAR image and allow communication of information messages from the transponder to the SAR. The SAR is an illuminating radar having special processing modifications in an image-formation processor to receive an echo from a remote transponder, after the transponder receives and retransmits the SAR illuminations, and to enhance tile transponder`s echo relative to surrounding ground clutter by recognizing special transponder modulations from phase-shifted from the transponder retransmissions. The remote radio-frequency tag also transmits information to the SAR through a single antenna that also serves to receive the SAR illuminations. Unique tag-modulation and SAR signal processing techniques, in combination, allow the detection and precise geographical location of the tag, through the reduction of interfering signals from ground clutter, and allow communication of environmental and status information from said tag to be communicated to said SAR

Guia das borboletas frugívoras da Reserva Estadual do Morro Grande e região de Caucaia do Alto, Cotia (São Paulo)

The frugivorous butterflies species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) known from Morro Grande Forest Reserve and Caucaia do Alto (Cotia, SP) are presented as a field guide.As espécies de borboletas frugívoras (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) conhecidas da Reserva Estadual do Morro Grande (Cotia, SP) e Caucaia do Alto são apresentadas na forma de um guia de campo.12

Accreting Protoplanets in the LkCa 15 Transition Disk

Exoplanet detections have revolutionized astronomy, offering new insights into solar system architecture and planet demographics. While nearly 1900 exoplanets have now been discovered and confirmed, none are still in the process of formation. Transition discs, protoplanetary disks with inner clearings best explained by the influence of accreting planets, are natural laboratories for the study of planet formation. Some transition discs show evidence for the presence of young planets in the form of disc asymmetries or infrared sources detected within their clearings, as in the case of LkCa 15. Attempts to observe directly signatures of accretion onto protoplanets have hitherto proven unsuccessful. Here we report adaptive optics observations of LkCa 15 that probe within the disc clearing. With accurate source positions over multiple epochs spanning 2009 - 2015, we infer the presence of multiple companions on Keplerian orbits. We directly detect H{\alpha} emission from the innermost companion, LkCa 15 b, evincing hot (~10,000 K) gas falling deep into the potential well of an accreting protoplanet.Comment: 35 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, 9 extended data item

Can surgical skills be taught using technological advances online? A comparative study of online and face-to-face surgical skills training

Introduction Online teaching has rapidly emerged as a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face education. How to teach surgical skills in the online environment, however, has not yet been fully established nor evaluated. Methods An international 1-day online surgical skills course consisting of lectures, pre-recorded virtual workshops, live demonstrations and along with surgical skills teaching in breakout rooms was organised. Based on existing learning theories, new methods were developed to deliver skills teaching online. Simultaneously, traditional in-person surgical skills teaching was also conducted and used as a benchmark. Skills development was assessed by trained demonstrators and self-reported competency scores were compared between the online and face-to-face event. Results 553 delegates from 20 different countries attended the online course. Of these, 64 were trained in breakout rooms with a 1:5 demonstrator-to-delegate ratio whilst the remaining 489 delegates participated in didactic skills development sessions. In a separate face-to-face course, 20 delegates were trained with traditional methods. Demonstrators rated the competency of delegates for suturing, tendon repair and vascular anastomosis. There was no significant difference in the competency ratings of delegates receiving online teaching or face-to-face teaching (p = 0.253, p = 0.084, p = 1.00, respectively). The development of the same skills to “articulation” were not different between formats (p = 0.841, p = 0.792, p = 1.00, respectively). Post course self-rated competency scores improved for all technical skills (p < 0.001). Small group sessions, both online and face-to-face, received higher satisfaction ratings compared to large group sessions in terms of clarity of instructions, answers to questions and demonstrator feedback. Overall feedback on teaching quality, however, was equivalent across both groups. Discussion Online teaching of surgical skills for early training years is an appropriate alternative to face-to-face teaching

Postpyloric enteral nutrition in the critically ill child with shock: a prospective observational study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tolerance to enteral nutrition in the critically ill child with shock has not been studied. The purpose of the study was to analyze the characteristics of enteral nutrition and its tolerance in the critically ill child with shock and to compare this with non-shocked patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective, observational study was performed including critically ill children with shock who received postpyloric enteral nutrition (PEN). The type of nutrition used, its duration, tolerance, and gastrointestinal complications were assessed. The 65 children with shock who received PEN were compared with 461 non-shocked critically ill children who received PEN.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty-five critically ill children with shock, aged between 21 days and 22 years, received PEN. 75.4% of patients with shock received PEN exclusively. The mean duration of the PEN was 25.2 days and the maximum calorie intake was 79.4 kcal/kg/day. Twenty patients with shock (30.7%) presented gastrointestinal complications, 10 (15.4%) abdominal distension and/or excessive gastric residue, 13 (20%) diarrhoea, 1 necrotising enterocolitis, and 1 duodenal perforation due to the postpyloric tube. The frequency of gastrointestinal complications was significantly higher than in the other 461 critically ill children (9.1%). PEN was suspended due to gastrointestinal complications in 6 patients with shock (9.2%). There were 18 deaths among the patients with shock and PEN (27.7%). In only one patient was the death related to complications of the nutrition.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although most critically ill children with shock can tolerate postpyloric enteral nutrition, the incidence of gastrointestinal complications is higher in this group of patients than in other critically ill children.</p