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ALL-STAR: First Night Race 'A Defining Moment'
get-wired-feb-10_20110210073214_JPG
States' casino tax revenue tops $7 billion
Casino Night benefits FdL Humane Society
F1: Alonso Leads, Vettel Wrecks In Turkey P1
Molecules, Vol. 16, Pages 3845-3854: Optimization of the Selective Monohydrolysis of Diethyl 4-Aryl-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylates
Forests, Vol. 2, Pages 590-609: Application of the 3-PG Model for Gross Primary Productivity Estimation in Deciduous Broadleaf Forests: A Study Area in Japan
Marine Drugs, Vol. 9, Pages 757-771: Carotenoid β-Ring Hydroxylase and Ketolase from Marine Bacteria—Promiscuous Enzymes for Synthesizing Functional Xanthophylls
IJERPH, Vol. 8, Pages 1420-1440: A Geostatistical Approach to Assess the Spatial Association between Indoor Radon Concentration, Geological Features and Building Characteristics: The Case of Lombardy, Northern Italy
IJERPH, Vol. 8, Pages 1402-1419: Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators
IJERPH, Vol. 8, Pages 1388-1401: Biomarkers of Immunotoxicity for Environmental and Public Health Research
Information, Vol. 2, Pages 302-326: Experimental Approaches to Referential Domains and the On-Line Processing of Referring Expressions in Unscripted Conversation
On the Spot - Shadows of the Damned, COD:BO Escalation DLC
Water, Vol. 3, Pages 526-550: Trade Liberalization and Climate Change: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis of the Impacts on Global Agriculture
Game Bring the noise : 06/05/2011
Game Communist christmas : 06/05/2011
Game Abba : 06/05/2011
Game Cats movie : 06/05/2011
Game Block slide 2 : 06/05/2011
Game The focks app - fingus mc fee : 06/05/2011

ALL-STAR: First Night Race 'A Defining Moment'

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

NASCAR on FOX announcer and former crew chief Larry McReynolds will never forget the first all-star race held at night...

get-wired-feb-10_20110210073214_JPG

Posted: 06 May 2011 01:41 AM PDT

One of the most tedious and dedicated forms of moving pictures-and one often featured on "Get Wired"-is stop-motion animation.

States' casino tax revenue tops $7 billion

Posted: 05 May 2011 09:36 PM PDT

If someone asked you which state took in the most money from casino gambling taxes last year, you probably wouldn't have to think very hard.

Casino Night benefits FdL Humane Society

Posted: 05 May 2011 05:22 PM PDT

Renee Webb hopes a successful fundraiser is in the cards for Fond du Lac Humane Society.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

F1: Alonso Leads, Vettel Wrecks In Turkey P1

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Fernando Alonso paces opening practice from Istanbul Park while Sebastian Vettel crashes out...

Molecules, Vol. 16, Pages 3845-3854: Optimization of the Selective Monohydrolysis of Diethyl 4-Aryl-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylates

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

A simple, efficient and eco-friendly procedure for the selective monohydrolysis of diethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-aryl-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylates under quaternary ammonium salt catalysis conditions is presented. The catalytic activities of various quaternary ammonium salts were investigated using different molar ratios of NaOH and water-organic solvent mixtures. The results indicate that the combination of 1.0 equivalent of tetraethyl-ammonium bromide (TEAB) with 1.2 equivalents of NaOH in a 10% water-ethanol media at 40 °C displays remarkable selectivity for the monohydrolysis of diethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-aryl-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylates. The utility of this process is demonstrated by the monohydrolysis of a series of 4-aryl-4H-pyran-3,5-dicarboxylate esters to afford the corresponding monoesters in 20–80% yields under the optimized conditions.

Forests, Vol. 2, Pages 590-609: Application of the 3-PG Model for Gross Primary Productivity Estimation in Deciduous Broadleaf Forests: A Study Area in Japan

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

The physiological principles predicting growth (3-PG) model is generally used to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) in forest plantations. All existing parameter values in the 3-PG model for GPP estimation have been set as the standard values for eucalyptus and pine plantations. We propose that the 3-PG model can be applied to deciduous broadleaf forests dominated by Betula platyphylla via appropriate parameterization of their structure and functions. The allometric relationships between stem biomass and stem diameter, and between foliage biomass and stem biomass, were determined for the biomass partitioning ratio. Additionally, a temperature modifier was considered appropriate because it affected canopy quantum efficiency. After parameterization, the model showed a good correlation between the estimated results and the data from experimental plots in central and northern Japan. At both sites, GPP peaked around August and was 0 during the winter, when the canopy is bare of leaves. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the most influential parameter relative to the output. GPP was sensitive to changes in canopy quantum efficiency and optimum temperature. Among the meteorological data used, solar radiation and temperature had great impacts on GPP, therefore, these parameters should be carefully considered to produce accurate results.

Marine Drugs, Vol. 9, Pages 757-771: Carotenoid β-Ring Hydroxylase and Ketolase from Marine Bacteria—Promiscuous Enzymes for Synthesizing Functional Xanthophylls

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Marine bacteria belonging to genera Paracoccus and Brevundimonas of the α-Proteobacteria class can produce C40-type dicyclic carotenoids containing two β-end groups (β rings) that are modified with keto and hydroxyl groups. These bacteria produce astaxanthin, adonixanthin, and their derivatives, which are ketolated by carotenoid β-ring 4(4′)-ketolase (4(4′)-oxygenase; CrtW) and hydroxylated by carotenoid β-ring 3(3′)-hydroxylase (CrtZ). In addition, the genus Brevundimonas possesses a gene for carotenoid β-ring 2(2′)-hydroxylase (CrtG). This review focuses on these carotenoid β-ring-modifying enzymes that are promiscuous for carotenoid substrates, and pathway engineering for the production of xanthophylls (oxygen-containing carotenoids) in Escherichia coli, using these enzyme genes. Such pathway engineering researches are performed towards efficient production not only of commercially important xanthophylls such as astaxanthin, but also of xanthophylls minor in nature (e.g., β-ring(s)-2(2′)-hydroxylated carotenoids).

IJERPH, Vol. 8, Pages 1420-1440: A Geostatistical Approach to Assess the Spatial Association between Indoor Radon Concentration, Geological Features and Building Characteristics: The Case of Lombardy, Northern Italy

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Radon is a natural gas known to be the main contributor to natural background radiation exposure and second to smoking, a major leading cause of lung cancer. The main source of radon is the soil, but the gas can enter buildings in many different ways and reach high indoor concentrations. Monitoring surveys have been promoted in many countries in order to assess the exposure of people to radon. In this paper, two complementary aspects are investigated. Firstly, we mapped indoor radon concentration in a large and inhomogeneous region using a geostatistical approach which borrows strength from the geologic nature of the soil. Secondly, knowing that geologic and anthropogenic factors, such as building characteristics, can foster the gas to flow into a building or protect against this, we evaluated these effects through a multiple regression model which takes into account the spatial correlation of the data. This allows us to rank different building typologies, identified by architectonic and geological characteristics, according to their proneness to radon. Our results suggest the opportunity to differentiate construction requirements in a large and inhomogeneous area, as the one considered in this paper, according to different places and provide a method to identify those dwellings which should be monitored more carefully.

IJERPH, Vol. 8, Pages 1402-1419: Pesticide Exposure, Safety Issues, and Risk Assessment Indicators

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Pesticides are widely used in agricultural production to prevent or control pests, diseases, weeds, and other plant pathogens in an effort to reduce or eliminate yield losses and maintain high product quality. Although pesticides are developed through very strict regulation processes to function with reasonable certainty and minimal impact on human health and the environment, serious concerns have been raised about health risks resulting from occupational exposure and from residues in food and drinking water. Occupational exposure to pesticides often occurs in the case of agricultural workers in open fields and greenhouses, workers in the pesticide industry, and exterminators of house pests. Exposure of the general population to pesticides occurs primarily through eating food and drinking water contaminated with pesticide residues, whereas substantial exposure can also occur in or around the home. Regarding the adverse effects on the environment (water, soil and air contamination from leaching, runoff, and spray drift, as well as the detrimental effects on wildlife, fish, plants, and other non-target organisms), many of these effects depend on the toxicity of the pesticide, the measures taken during its application, the dosage applied, the adsorption on soil colloids, the weather conditions prevailing after application, and how long the pesticide persists in the environment. Therefore, the risk assessment of the impact of pesticides either on human health or on the environment is not an easy and particularly accurate process because of differences in the periods and levels of exposure, the types of pesticides used (regarding toxicity and persistence), and the environmental characteristics of the areas where pesticides are usually applied. Also, the number of the criteria used and the method of their implementation to assess the adverse effects of pesticides on human health could affect risk assessment and would possibly affect the characterization of the already approved pesticides and the approval of the new compounds in the near future. Thus, new tools or techniques with greater reliability than those already existing are needed to predict the potential hazards of pesticides and thus contribute to reduction of the adverse effects on human health and the environment. On the other hand, the implementation of alternative cropping systems that are less dependent on pesticides, the development of new pesticides with novel modes of action and improved safety profiles, and the improvement of the already used pesticide formulations towards safer formulations (e.g., microcapsule suspensions) could reduce the adverse effects of farming and particularly the toxic effects of pesticides. In addition, the use of appropriate and well-maintained spraying equipment along with taking all precautions that are required in all stages of pesticide handling could minimize human exposure to pesticides and their potential adverse effects on the environment.

IJERPH, Vol. 8, Pages 1388-1401: Biomarkers of Immunotoxicity for Environmental and Public Health Research

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

The immune response plays an important role in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases including asthma, autoimmunity and cancer. Application of biomarkers of immunotoxicity in epidemiology studies and human clinical trials can improve our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the associations between environmental exposures and development of these immune-mediated diseases. Immunological biomarkers currently used in environmental health studies include detection of key components of innate and adaptive immunity (e.g., complement, immunoglobulin and cell subsets) as well as functional responses and activation of key immune cells. The use of high-throughput assays, including flow cytometry, Luminex, and Multi-spot cytokine detection methods can further provide quantitative analysis of immune effects. Due to the complexity and redundancy of the immune response, an integrated assessment of several components of the immune responses is needed. The rapidly expanding field of immunoinformatics will also aid in the synthesis of the vast amount of data being generated. This review discusses and provides examples of how the identification and development of immunological biomarkers for use in studies of environmental exposures and immune-mediated disorders can be achieved.

Information, Vol. 2, Pages 302-326: Experimental Approaches to Referential Domains and the On-Line Processing of Referring Expressions in Unscripted Conversation

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

This article describes research investigating the on-line processing of language in unscripted conversational settings. In particular, we focus on the process of formulating and interpreting definite referring expressions. Within this domain we present results of two eye-tracking experiments addressing the problem of how speakers interrogate the referential domain in preparation to speak, how they select an appropriate expression for a given referent, and how addressees interpret these expressions. We aim to demonstrate that it is possible, and indeed fruitful, to examine unscripted, conversational language using modified experimental designs and standard hypothesis testing procedures.

On the Spot - Shadows of the Damned, COD:BO Escalation DLC

Posted: 05 May 2011 07:46 PM PDT

Coming up next On The Spot we've got demos of Shadows of the Damned, Call of Duty: Black Ops - Escalation, Guardian Heroes and more!

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"On the Spot - Shadows of the Damned, COD:BO Escalation DLC" was posted by DanM on Thu, 05 May 2011 19:46:26 -0700

Water, Vol. 3, Pages 526-550: Trade Liberalization and Climate Change: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis of the Impacts on Global Agriculture

Posted: 06 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Based on predicted changes in the magnitude and distribution of global precipitation, temperature and river flow under the A1B and A2 scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (IPCC SRES), this study assesses the potential impacts of climate change and CO2 fertilization on global agriculture, and its interactions with trade liberalization, as proposed for the Doha Development Round. The analysis uses the new version of the GTAP-W model, which distinguishes between rainfed and irrigated agriculture and implements water as an explicit factor of production for irrigated agriculture. Significant reductions in agricultural tariffs lead to modest changes in regional water use. Patterns are non-linear. On the regional level, water use may go up for partial liberalization, and down for more complete liberalization. This is because different crops respond differently to tariff reductions, and because trade and competition matter too. Moreover, trade liberalization tends to reduce water use in water scarce regions, and increase water use in water abundant regions, even though water markets do not exist in most countries. Considering impacts of climate change, the results show that global food production, welfare and GDP fall over time while food prices increase. Larger changes are observed under the SRES A2 scenario for the medium term (2020) and under the SRES A1B scenario for the long term (2050). Combining scenarios of future climate change with trade liberalization, countries are affected differently. However, the overall effect on welfare does not change much.

Game Bring the noise : 06/05/2011

Posted: 04 Dec 2010 10:06 PM PST