Objectives/Goals: Understand the impact of sarcopenia on the main respiratory muscle, the diaphragm (DIAm). We hypothesize that in the DIAm of older (i.e., 24 months) compared to younger (i.e., 6 months) rats, maximum specific force (P0) is reduced, maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) is slower, maximum power output is reduced, and endurance is improved. Methods/Study Population: Mid-costal DIAm strips were excised from 6-month (n = 8; 4 female and 4 male) and 24-month (n = 8; 4 female and 4 male) rats. The DIAm was stimulated using platinum plate electrodes, and mechanical and endurance properties were measured (at 26oC). Results/Anticipated Results: In the DIAm, maximum tetanic formce (P0) decreased by ~35%, maximum velocity of shortening (Vmax) slowed by ~20%, and peak power output was reduced by ~35% in 24-month compared to 6-month rats. During repetitive isovelocity (30% Vmax; approximating peak power output) contractions, endurance (the period during which power output was sustained) of the DIAm was unaffected by aging. Corresponding with previous findings, Discussion/Significance of Impact: The changes in DIAm mechanical performance corresponded to an age-related atrophy of type IIx/IIb muscle fibers. We conclude that force generation and endurance of the DIAm required for breathing motor function is preserved in old age, while DIAm sarcopenia does impair more forceful expulsive airway clearance and voiding behaviors.

Can researchers draw consistent inferences about the U.S. public's issue attitudes when studying survey results from both the in-person and telephone interview modes of the 2000 National Election Studies (NES) survey? We address this question through an analysis contrasting the distribution of issue attitudes across modes in the dual sample design of the 2000 NES. We find clear differences across mode even when applying a method devised by the NES to improve comparability by recoding issue attitude scales from the in-person mode. We present an alternative method of recoding these scales, which substantially improves comparability between modes. Through an analysis of the covariance structure of the issues and simple models of vote choice, we discuss the implications of the results for the study of issue attitudes in the 2000 NES.

This paper presents the first major data release and survey description for the ANU WiFeS SuperNovA Programme. ANU WiFeS SuperNovA Programme is an ongoing supernova spectroscopy campaign utilising the Wide Field Spectrograph on the Australian National University 2.3-m telescope. The first and primary data release of this programme (AWSNAP-DR1) releases 357 spectra of 175 unique objects collected over 82 equivalent full nights of observing from 2012 July to 2015 August. These spectra have been made publicly available via the WISEREP supernova spectroscopy repository.

We analyse the ANU WiFeS SuperNovA Programme sample of Type Ia supernova spectra, including measurements of narrow sodium absorption features afforded by the high spectral resolution of the Wide Field Spectrograph instrument. In some cases, we were able to use the integral-field nature of the Wide Field Spectrograph instrument to measure the rotation velocity of the SN host galaxy near the SN location in order to obtain precision sodium absorption velocities. We also present an extensive time series of SN 2012dn, including a near-nebular spectrum which both confirms its ‘super-Chandrasekhar’ status and enables measurement of the sub-solar host metallicity at the SN site.

Since its inception in mainstream scientific psychology, resilience has emerged as a popular, yet controversial, construct. As evidenced in the target article, this controversy can be attributed, at least in part, to current conceptual and methodological difficulties hampering understanding of the construct. Chief among these concerns is the discriminant validity of resilience with respect to conceptually similar individual differences constructs, such as hardiness, mental toughness, adaptability, and even the five-factor personality dimensions. Advances in research on resilience, and ultimately the utility of the construct in applied settings, hinge on its distinction from related concepts.

Huauzontle (Chenopodium berlandieri ssp. nuttalliae) is a locally important vegetable crop native to the highland valleys of Central Mexico and a potential source of genes for improving its Andean sister crop, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). A previous work involving two huauzontle lines identified one waxy genotype that lacked amylose due to mutations in granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), major amylose-synthesis genes with two constituent subgenomes, A and B. We conducted this study to determine the extent of waxy genotypes and cryptic GBSSI mutations in 11 huauzontle accessions or landrace populations extending from Puebla in the southeast to Jalisco in the northwest. This represents one of the first published studies of genetic variation in C. berlandieri ssp. nuttalliae. Accessions were phenotyped for opaque versus translucent seed morphology and their seed starches were stained with Lugol's Stain. In addition, complete or partial GBSSI genes from their A and B genomes were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified, cloned and sequenced. Seven accessions were either wholly or partially non-waxy while six were either entirely or partially waxy. All waxy accessions carried the same putatively null alleles, designated gbssIa-tp (A-genome) and gbssIb-del (B-genome). The identification of publicly available genotypes carrying gbssIa-tp and their potential use in breeding waxy grain quinoa is discussed.

The conventional wisdom on evangelical American Protestant support for the use of torture on suspected terrorists is incorrect. With data from the 2008 American National Election Studies survey, we specify the interactive influence of religious traditions on attitudes toward torture by religious commitment and belief orthodoxy. Only at low orthodoxy, and low to average commitment, are Catholics, mainline, and black Protestants more likely to support torture than the unaffiliated; the effect for evangelical Protestants is null. Greater commitment moves most traditions and the unaffiliated toward increased opposition to torture. Stronger orthodoxy, however, leads to support for torture only for the unaffiliated. The findings persist given controls for demographic characteristics, party identification, left-right self-placement, and authoritarian values.

In the literature, there is no standard approach for estimating the return to wine or testing for a portfolio risk diversification benefit from holding wine. Using auction data for Australian wine, we show that the estimation method has a material impact on the estimated wine return distribution and that the type of diversification benefit test used influences whether or not wine is found to provide a portfolio risk diversification benefit. Our results indicated that a simple modification to the hedonic model, which we call a pooled model, is an appropriate method for estimating the return to infrequently traded heterogeneous assets such as wine. Across the various approaches to testing for a risk diversification benefit, we find direct estimation of the efficient frontier with bootstrapped confidence intervals to be the most transparent and comprehensive method of illustrating wine's potential for lowering portfolio risk. (JEL Classifications: G11, C61, C13)

The existing literature on the return to wine is mixed. Some studies have found wine to be an unattractive investment option and others have found wine to be an investment class that provides excess risk adjusted returns. However, provided the return to wine does not have a strong positive correlation with standard financial assets, even if the return to wine is low, it is possible that including wine in an investment portfolio will provide a diversification benefit. Here the repeat sales regression methodology is used to estimate the return to Australian wine, and the return is shown to be lower than for standard financial assets. Several measures are then used to show that despite the return to Australian wine being lower than the return to standard financial assets, wine does provide a modest diversification benefit. (JEL Classification: G11, G12)

This study aimed to identify factors that predict employees' commitment to and support for organisational change. The three components of Herscovitch and Meyer's (2002) commitment to organisational change model were hypothesised to mediate the relationship between organisational climate and behavioural support for organisational change. Data were collected from a Queensland government department (N = 342). Analysis of correlations revealed that organisational climate, commitment to change, and behavioural support for change variables were all significantly related. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that affective, normative, and continuance commitment to change were all predictors of behavioural support for organisational change. Positive work climate also contributed directly to the prediction of behavioural support for change over and above the indirect influence through commitment to organisational change, indicating a partial mediation effect. These findings support Herscovitch and Meyer's (2002) three-component model of commitment to organisational change and extend their nomological network by showing the relevance of two types of organisational climate to the core components of the model. Affective commitment to organisational change is a positive influence on employees' behavioural support for change and also reflects healthy aspects of the organisational climate. However, continuance commitment to organisational change is detrimental influence on employees' behavioural support for change and is linked with unhealthy dimensions of the organisational climate.

We have studied the presence and distribution of α-amino-3–hydroxy-5–methyl-4–isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)-selective glutamate receptor subunits (GluR 1, 2, 3, and 4) in the adult cat visual cortical areas 17, 18, 19, and the lateral suprasylvian areas (LSA). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification indicated that the genes encoding GluR 1, 2, 3, and 4 are expressed in these areas and Western blot analysis revealed that the size of the corresponding peptides is similar to those described in the rat brain. In situ hybridization (ISH) using digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes showed that mRNAs coding for GluR1 and GluR3 were located in cells in all layers of the areas examined and also in the underlying white matter. GluR1 mRNA was relatively abundant throughout layers II–VI while GluR3 mRNA revealed a more laminated pattern of expression, preferentially labeling cells in layers II, III, V, and VI. The distribution of AMPA-selective receptor subunit peptides was studied by immunohistochemistry using subunit specific antibodies and found to be consistent with ISH results. In addition, we observed that most of the cells strongly labeled by the anti-GluR1 antibody were non-pyramidal neurons and that intense GluR2/3 immunoreactivity was seen preferentially in pyramidal neurons. Interestingly, double-labeling experiments indicated that neurons expressing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as well as the GluR1 subunit were particularly abundant in deeper layers. The GluR4 peptide was predominantly found in a relatively low number of layer III and layer V neurons with either pyramidal or non-pyramidal morphology. Finally, the distribution of neurons expressing the various receptor subunits was similar in all the visual cortical areas studied. These findings indicate a high expression of GluR1–3 subunits in the cat visual cortex and that GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits are particularly abundant in non-pyramidal and pyramidal neurons, respectively. In addition, the results described here provide a reference for future studies dealing with the effect of visual deprivation on the expression of this receptor type.

A 2-year case-control study was conducted to describe the epidemiology of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and investigate Hib disease risk factors in the Republic of Ireland. Between October 1991 and September 1993, 149 laboratory confirmed incident cases were matched with community controls. Annual Hib disease incidence was 25·4 per 100000 children under 5 years, with peak incidence (65·8 per 100000) in the 6–11 months age-group. Meningitis was the predominant clinical condition. Twenty-four (16·1%) isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Crèche or day-care attendance and the presence of chronic illness emerged as risk factors for Hib disease. Empirical first line treatment for suspected Hib infection warrants alternatives to ampicillin such as cefotaxime. Completed immunization with Hib conjugate vaccine by 6 months of age is required for maximum disease prevention. Until all children are receiving Hib vaccine on schedule, those who are crèche or day-care attendees and those with chronic illness should be prioritized for timely immunization.

Following an episode of water contamination with sewage in a rural Irish town, a community-wide survey of gastrointestinal-associated illness and health service utilization was conducted. Random sampling of households yielded residents who were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Of 560 respondents from 167 (84%) households, equal proportions lived in areas known to have been exposed and unexposed to the contaminated water, although 65% of subjects reported using contaminated water. Sixty-one percent of subjects met the case definition. The most common symptoms among cases were abdominal cramps (80%), diarhoea (75%), appetite loss (69%), nausea (68%) and tiredness (66%). Mean duration of illness was 7·4 days. Only 22 % of cases attended their general practitioner. Drinking unboiled water from the exposed area was strongly associated with being a case. A substantial degree of community illness associated with exposure to contaminated water was observed. The episode ranks as one of the largest reported water-borne outbreaks causing gastrointestinal illness in recent times.

Two 2 × 2 factorial experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction between cereal type (wheat v. barley) and exogenous enzyme supplementation (with or without) on odour and ammonia emissions (experiment 1) and growth performance (experiment 2) in grower-finisher pigs. The enzyme supplement used contained endo-1, 3 (4) - β- glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6) and endo-1, 4 - β-xylanase (E.C 3.2.1.8). The diets were formulated to contain similar levels of net energy (9.8 MJ/kg) and lysine (10.0 g/kg). The experimental treatments were as follows: (1) wheat-based diet, (2) wheat-based diet containing a β-glucanase and β-xylanase mixed enzyme supplement, (3) barley-based diet and (4) barley-based diet containing a β-glucanase and β-xylanase mixed enzyme supplement. In experiment 1, the diets were offered to the pigs for 23 days in sealed pens (eight pigs per pen) and this was repeated four times (n = 4). Odour and ammonia emissions were measured on days 9, 11, 14, 16, 21 and 23 of each replicate period. Odour samples were collected in 20-l Nalophan bags and analysed for odour concentration using an ECOMA Yes/No Olfactometer. Ammonia concentrations in the ventilation air were measured using Dräger tubes. In experiment 2, 220 pigs were group fed in mixed sex pens using single-space feeders (11 pigs per feeder, six boars and five gilts) (n = 5). There was a cereal × enzyme interaction in odour emission rates, ammonia emissions and selected microbial populations in the caecum and colon (P < 0.05). The addition of an enzyme supplement to the barley-based diet increased both odour and ammonia emission, however the addition of an enzyme to the wheat-based diet decreased ammonia emission rates and had no effect on odour emission. Pigs offered the unsupplemented barley-based diet had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower population of Enterobacteriaceae spp. and a higher population of Bifidobacteria spp. compared with enzyme-supplemented barley diets. However, there was no effect of enzyme supplementation in wheat-based diets. In the performance experiment, neither cereal type nor enzyme inclusion had an effect on pig performance or carcass characteristics. In conclusion, the inclusion of an enzyme mix to barley-based diets increased odour and ammonia emissions, while the addition of an enzyme mix to wheat-based diets decreased ammonia emissions.

Many different elements make up the strength of a president, but a president with a majority in both houses of Congress works from a position of power. While a congressional majority does not guarantee that a president can pass his agenda (witness Jimmy Carter and the first two years of the Clinton presidency), a president that has majority in Congress will have natural allies instead of natural enemies when he works to enact his legislative agenda.

The stability to proton radiation of GaN metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) diodes fabricated using the novel gate dielectric Sc2O3 was investigated. The MOS diodes were fabricated by depositing the dielectric with molecular beam epitaxy onto MOCVD-grown GaN on sapphire. The stability of GaN Schottky diodes was also investigated for comparison. Current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V), were employed to monitor any change in the electrical characteristics of the diodes. Preliminary testing indicates that the GaN-based diodes are in fact affected by proton irradiation, but only at fairly high doses. Doses equivalent to 10 years in low earth orbit, ~5x109cm-2, produce a decrease in the reverse breakdown field in both Schottky and MOS diodes. However, even after irradiation, the GaN MOS diodes showed twice the reverse breakdown voltage of non-irradiated Schottky diodes. Further, while the Schottky diodes showed reduced forward breakdown voltage, the MOS diodes showed no change in forward breakdown. These results suggest that the oxide/GaN interface is stable and is not being damaged by the radiation. The change in reverse breakdown is most likely due to generation of damage in the GaN resulting in the formation of shallow donors.

The preweaning growth and carcass characteristics offour lamb genotypes were analysed for variation attributable to the intrauterine cohabitant (IUC) phenomenon, where within-sex variation is attributed to the sex of a twin's womb-mate. The four genotypes resulted from the following matings: Poll Dorset rams × Merino ewes, Poll Dorset rams × (Border Leicester × Merino) ewes, Texel rams × Merino ewes and Texel rams × (Border Leicester × Merino) ewes. Four hundred and twenty twin lambs participated in the preweaning study and of these, 209 were slaughtered to generate carcass data. Some of these genotypes displayed within-sex variation in weaning weight and fat score, preweaning average daily gain, skin-fold thickness, carcass fatness and eye muscle dimensions attributable to the IUC phenomenon. Genotypic differences in the responses of lambs to the IUC phenomenon were also observed. The IUC phenomenon appears to involve prenatal programming, an hypothesis that attributes postnatal characteristics to events during differentiation. The IUC phenomenon is analogous to the intrauterine position phenomenon in fecund mammals, where variations in prenatal steroid concentrations programme for permanent alterations in postnatal reproductive characteristics. The growth responses reported in this paper provide evidence of variation due to prenatal programming. While the magnitude of the responses to the IUC phenomenon were not large, the data presented indicate that under field conditions, the magnitude of growth responses to the IUC phenomenon may be as great as those observed between breeds. If so, further examination of the role that an animal's IUC may have on its subsequent performance could aid the development of more sensitive indices for breed evaluation and progeny selection.

Choosing a response format is a problem when designing computerised tests. Programmers often solve this problem by highlighting a response option and allowing the user to select this option or choose another by using the cursor keys. It is possible that such well-meaning attempts to make computers more user-friendly may heighten response style tendencies. The two experiments to be reported in this study were designed to test the effect of cursor positioning in personality and ability tests. In the first experiment, sixty two Participants were randomly assigned to two groups and asked to complete computerised versions of Forms A and B of the Eysenck Personality Inventory. The position of the highlight was manipulated to produce a two-by-two factorial design with repeated measures on one factor. Results showed that there was evidence of a cursor effect but that it was confined to one of the conditions in the design. Experiment two employed the same sort of manipulation in a computerised version of the ACER Word Knowledge Test with another sample of 36 Participants. Here, no evidence was found for any effect of cursor positioning. Overall, it was concluded that the highlighting technique itself is unlikely to have any effect on measures of cognitive ability but that it may have some effect in the more subjective personality testing domain.

Sixteen pigs were given a purified diet of maize flour and casein from 5 to 25 d of age with or without a biotin supplement (100 μg/kg). From 26 to 94 d of age, eight of the pigs were changed to a wheat and casein diet with or without the biotin supplement and eight continued on the maize flour and casein diet. The weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the pigs were not affected by the dietary biotin supplement or the carbohydrate source. The pigs given the unsupplemented maize flour diet developed foot lesions, scaly skins and showed a reduction in carcass length. The excretion of biotin in the faeces was similar for the pigs given the biotin-supplemented and unsupplemented diets. The excretion of biotin in the faeces of pigs given the wheat diet was ten times as great as that of the pigs given the maize flour diet. The excretion of biotin in urine was 6 μg/d in the pigs given the unsupplemented maize flour diet and 67 μg/d in the pigs given the biotin-supplemented diet between 91 and 94 d of age. The biotin contents of the liver, heart, kidney, adrenals and plasma were increased by biotin supplementation of the maize flour diet. The 16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0 fatty acids ratios in the liver were decreased by biotin supplementation of the maize flour diet.

A group of depressed patients and a group of normal subjects were assessed on two occasions. On each they were required to recall past real life experiences associated with a series of stimulus words. Subjects were subsequently required to rate each experience for happiness and pleasantness. The depressives showed an increased probability of recalling sad memories; within this group there was a significant relationship between severity of depressed mood and the percentage of sad memories recalled. The extent of reduction in depressed mood from occasion 1 to occasion 2 was significantly related to the increase in accessibility of happy memories and the decrease in recall of sad memories. For those patients who improved between the two occasions there was a significant reduction in the probability of recall of a very unhappy memory. The results extend the previous findings on the effect of mood state on the accessibility of memories of differing affective tone. The findings are discussed in terms of context specific encoding and retrieval.