text:
- Research article
- Open Access
A quantitative analysis of the mechanism that controls body size in Manduca sexta
- HF Nijhout1Email author,
- G Davidowitz2 and
- DA Roff3
© Nijhout et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2006
- Received: 30 January 2006
- Accepted: 28 April 2006
- Published: 2 August 2006
Body size is controlled by mechanisms that terminate growth when the individual reaches a species-specific size. In insects, it is a pulse of ecdysone at the end of larval life that causes the larva to stop feeding and growing and initiate metamorphosis. Body size is a quantitative trait, so it is important that the problem of control of body size be analyzed quantitatively. The processes that control the timing of ecdysone secretion in larvae of the moth Manduca sexta are sufficiently well understood that they can be described in a rigorous manner.
We develop a quantitative description of the empirical data on body size determination that accurately predicts body size for diverse genetic strains. We show that body size is fully determined by three fundamental parameters: the growth rate, the critical weight (which signals the initiation of juvenile hormone breakdown), and the interval between the critical weight and the secretion of ecdysone. All three parameters are easily measured and differ between genetic strains and environmental conditions. The mathematical description we develop can be used to explain how variables such as growth rate, nutrition, and temperature affect body size.
Our analysis shows that there is no single locus of control of body size, but that body size is a system property that depends on interactions among the underlying determinants of the three fundamental parameters. A deeper mechanistic understanding of body size will be obtained by research aimed at uncovering the molecular mechanisms that give these three parameters their particular quantitative values.
- Body Size
- Insulin Signaling
- Larval Instar
- Juvenile Hormone
- Ecdysone
Body size is an obvious and important characteristic of animals. It is highly correlated with fitness, and an increase in body size is one of the most common trends seen in evolutionary biology. The mechanisms by which genes affect body size have been widely studied. Genetic dwarf and giant strains are known for many animals. In both vertebrates and invertebrates, the genes that affect body size commonly exert their effect by altering the production of growth factors, or by altering the cellular response to growth regulators [1, 2]. There has been much recent interest in the developmental mechanisms that control body size in insects [3]. Much of this work has used Drosophila as a model system and has focused on elucidating the role of insulin signaling in the regulation of growth and size, and on discovering the degree to which genetically and environmentally induced changes in body size are associated with changes in cell size or cell number [3–9]. It is now well established that increased insulin signaling, through overexpression of insulin-like peptides or overexpression of the insulin receptor, results in increased body size, and that reduction in insulin signaling is accompanied by a reduction in body size. Although the empirical correlation between insulin signaling and body size is well documented in Drosophila and is believed to be widespread among insects, it is not at all clear by what mechanism insulin affects body size. Presumably insulin controls cytoplasmic growth and cell proliferation and this is directly related to somatic growth. But exactly how somatic growth is, in turn, related to the final body size that an individual achieves is a mystery. This gap in our understanding is in part due to the fact that in Drosophila we do not fully understand the chain of events that results in the termination of the growth phase when the larva has achieved its species-characteristic size [3].
Body size is also affected by nutrient quantity and quality [10, 11]. Nutrient restriction causes a diminution of body size, and it appears that nutrients affect growth rate and body size primarily by altering the secretion of insulin-like peptides. Temperature also has an effect on body size, and higher temperatures generally result in the development of animals of smaller body size. The mechanism by which temperature produces this effect in Drosophila has not yet been elucidated, but it is understood in the larva of another insect, the moth Manduca sexta, commonly known as the tobacco hornworm [12].
Size determination depends critically on the mechanism that causes a larva to stop growing. In all insects, including Drosophila, the immediate stimulus for the cessation of growth is the secretion of ecdysone, so the mechanism that controls the secretion of ecdysone must be part of the mechanism that controls size. The chain of events that leads to the secretion of ecdysone in the context of size regulation is today best understood in Manduca [3, 12, 13], which has long served as the model organism for insect endocrinology and postembryonic developmental physiology [14]. The sequence of physiological events and feedback mechanisms that culminate in the cessation of growth in Manduca are now sufficiently well understood that they can be described in explicit quantitative terms.
Most biological regulatory systems are sufficiently complex and nonlinear that they cannot be credibly analyzed through standard thought experiments and control diagrams. A mathematical description, however, provides an objective method for establishing the level of our understanding of a process. This is because it forces us to be explicit about all underlying assumptions, and quickly reveals whether the hypothesized interactions can actually produce the observed behavior of a system. A mathematical description allows us to explore the way in which the genetic, physiological and environmental determinants of body size interact, and allows us to examine their relative significance in body-size determination under different genetic and environmental circumstances. An accurate and well supported mathematical description of a complex process can also be used to make predictions about how a system will behave under novel or extreme conditions, and to do in silico 'experiments' that would be impractical or time-consuming to do on living organisms. We previously [12] proposed an endocrine-based physiological mechanism that describes the regulation of body size. In the two sections that follow we outline the critical features of that mechanism, which we then use to formulate a quantitative model for growth and size determination.
Larval growth
In the laboratory, M. sexta has five larval instars, and thus undergoes four larval molts. The cuticle of most of the body wall of the larva is soft and pliable. During the intermolt period the soft cuticle grows in thickness, but also increases in surface area through intercalary insertion of the chitin and protein matrix that makes up the bulk of the cuticle [15]. Presumably this soft integument could grow indefinitely, and this should obviate the need for periodic molting, were it not for the heavily sclerotized head capsule and mouthparts, which cannot grow and can therefore only increase in size through a classical molting cycle. An additional constraint to intermolt growth is provided by the outermost layer of the cuticle, the epicuticle. The epicuticle is laid down as a finely corrugated sheet that gradually flattens out as the underlying cuticle grows [15, 16]. The epicuticle is inextensible and once its fine folds are stretched flat it allows no further increase in the surface area of the cuticle.
Adult insects cannot grow and, therefore, adult body size is determined by the size the larva has reached when it stops feeding and begins the metamorphic molt. The final size of the larva, and as a consequence the size of the adult, is determined by three factors: the number of larval instars, the size increment at each larval molt, and the size within the last larval instar at which the larva stops feeding and initiates metamorphosis.
Evolution of body size could be accomplished by evolution in any one (or all) of these factors. In the insects there is a general phyletic trend to decrease the number of instars and increase the size increment at each larval molt [14, 17]. The largest of insects, the Goliath beetles of Africa, only have three larval instars, so here evolution of large body size from a small-bodied scarabaeid ancestor (all of which have three larval instars) has clearly occurred by increasing the size increment at each larval molt. In the Lepidoptera too, to which Manduca belongs, the evolution of large body size is accompanied by an increase in size increment, not an increase in the number of larval instars.
The size increment at each molt (the growth ratio) is determined by the amount of cell division and cell enlargement of the epidermis that occurs at the time of the molt when the cuticle of the next instar is laid down. Evolution of the growth ratio is presumably due to evolutionary changes in the combined effects of cell multiplication and cell enlargement.
The mechanism of body size determination in Manduca
The initial mass of each larval instar is a constant multiple of that of the previous instar (see below). This is a common feature of insect growth and is referred to as Dyar's rule. In Manduca, the last (fifth) larval instar grows from a mass of about 1.2 g to about 11 g, so almost 90% of the final mass of the larva is gained during this single instar. Because most of the body mass of Manduca accumulates during the last larval instar, variation in the mechanisms that control growth and size in the last larval instar will have a greater effect on final body size than variation in the mechanisms that operate in earlier instars.
The peak size a Manduca larva achieves in the final instar is thus a function of five variables: the initial size of the instar, the growth rate, the critical weight, the time required to break down JH, and the timing of the photoperiodic gate for PTTH secretion. There is genetic variation for each of these physiological determinants ([26] and our unpublished data); evolution of body size could therefore be due to evolutionary changes in one or more of these factors [13].
Parameters for normal growth
Exponential size increase and the critical weight
This finding suggests that the physiological changes initiated at the critical weight are somehow related to those that accompany a normal larval-larval molt. Moreover, this finding shows that the critical weight is a simple multiple of the mass of the larva at the beginning of the final larval instar.
It is therefore possible to derive an equation that relates the critical weight to the size increment and initial conditions. In general, the final size of each of the first four instars is a function of the size increment, and is given by the equation
final mass of instar = W1*eD*instar, (1)
where W1 is the mass of the hatchling larva and D is the size increment for the first four instars (= 1.66 in Figure 4). The critical weight (CW) in the fifth instar can also be estimated from the initial weight of the fifth larval instar (W5) as follows:
CW = W5*e D . (2)
In the several genetic strains of Manduca we have examined, W5 varies from 0.85 g to 2.25 g, and D varies from 1.45 g to 1.85 g. Genetic and environmental variation in the values of W5 and D will have profound effects on the value of the critical weight and, by extension, the final weight of the larva.
Growth of the fifth larval instar
The overall growth curve of methoprene-treated larvae shows a gradually increasing growth rate until they reach a mass approximately equal to the critical weight (5.3 g for this strain of Manduca), followed by a decreasing growth rate above that weight. We assume that the integument poses an increasing resistance to growth as the larva increases in size, and that this accounts for the decreasing growth rate as the larva gets bigger. It is likely that growth in these larvae finally stopped at the maximal size allowed by the stretch of the epicuticle.
The critical weight
The critical weight has an important role in controlling the final size of the larva. In the last larval instar, the critical weight marks the initiation of a dramatic change in physiology. After reaching the critical weight, the level of JHE in the hemolymph rises abruptly [21, 22] and the JH titer gradually drops to zero. Once JH has disappeared, the secretion of PTTH and ecdysone are disinhibited. When ecdysone is secreted the larva stops feeding and growth stops.
There are various mechanisms that could have this property. What would be required is a measure or process that changes with the mass of the larva and for which the larva can measure the ratio between the current state and the state at the beginning of the instar. Stretch reception in which the length of the stretch receptor is set at the beginning of the instar provides a plausible mechanism [28, 29], as does the prothoracic gland size measure described by [30].
A mathematical description of growth and size determination
Growth before the critical weight
A model for growth and size determination must accurately replicate both the normal growth trajectory of a larva and the normal duration of the growth period. In other words, the model must account for both the growth trajectory and the decision point at which growth stops.
Growth is exponential until the critical weight is reached, after which the growth rate declines gradually. Exponential growth is described by
dW/dt = k*W, (3)
where W is the mass in g and k is the growth rate. Equation (3) has a solution:
W(t) = W5*exp(k*t), (4)
where W(t) is the mass at time t, W5 is initial weight at the beginning of the fifth instar, and k is the growth exponent. The growth exponent can be deduced from the size of the larva at a given time by solving equation (4) for k:
k = ln(W(t)/W5)/t. (5)
k = 0.2*ln(GR) + . (6)
Equations (3) and (4) thus describe growth until the critical weight is achieved. The time at which the critical weight is reached (t CW ) can be obtained by setting the left-hand side of equation (4) to the value of the critical weight and solving for t, which gives:
t cw = ln(CW/W5)/k (7)
Growth after the critical weight
dW/dt = k*d*W, (8)
where d describes the rate of decline of the exponent k. The analysis in Figure 10 shows that d = 1.43*exp(-0.11*t). Substituting this formula for d into equation (8) and solving the differential equation gives the following expression for growth after the critical weight:
where CW is the critical weight and t is the time in days.
Duration of the growth period
In our strains of Manduca, ecdysis to the fifth instar occurs between 2 hours and 6 hours after the lights are switched on, on a cycle of 16 hours light and 8 hours dark (a 16L:8D photoperiod), and feeding begins within an hour after ecdysis. So, for the purposes of the model, we assume that a larva begins to grow 4 hours after lights-on. We define a day as the interval between lights-off signals, and designate the day on which growth begins as day 0 (zero).
The growth period ends with the secretion of PTTH and ecdysone. During this period growth is partitioned between the pre- and post-critical weight growth. The duration of pre-critical-weight growth is given by Equation (7). The duration of post-critical weight growth is determined by the mechanism that controls PTTH secretion. PTTH secretion can occur only during a well defined photoperiodic gate, and in fact occurs during the first photoperiodic gate after JH disappears from the hemolymph [14, 25]. The mean time required for these processes differs in different genetic strains and must be determined by means of a critical weight experiment, as outlined in Figure 2.
The photoperiodic gate for PTTH secretion is between 14 hours and 24 hours after lights-off [11]. Thus the interval between the closing of a photoperiodic gate and the opening of the next one is about 16 hours. A larva that becomes competent to secrete PTTH just before a gate closes will do so, but if a larva becomes competent to secrete PTTH just after a gate closes it will continue to grow for an additional 16 hours, during which it can add an additional 1–2 g of weight (depending on its growth rate).
Parameters of the model
The overall model thus consists of Equations (3) and (8) and requires two parameters that relate to size and growth: the initial mass of the fifth larval instar, W5 (or the critical weight, CW, which is a simple linear function of W5), and the growth rate on day 3, GR (or the growth exponent, k, which is related to GR as shown in Equation (6)). The model also requires four parameters that relate to time: the time at which growth starts, the mean time interval between achieving the critical weight and PTTH secretion (called the interval to cessation of growth, or ICG [12]), and the opening and closing times of the photoperiodic gate. All these parameters are empirically measurable and should be characteristic of a given genetic strain. Changes in only three of these parameters (GR, ICG and CW) have been shown to fully account for the evolution of body size in a laboratory strain of Manduca [13].
The model can be run on a computer by numerical integration of Equations (3) and (8), using time steps of one half hour (or less) and keeping track of the time at which the critical weight is attained (at which time Equation (8) replaces Equation (3)), and the time at which photoperiodic gates open and close. Alternatively, the model can be run by calculating the time for the critical weight and the time of opening of the first gate after the ICG and substituting these values into Equations (4) and (9).
Tests and predictions of the models
Parameter values for four genetic strains of Manduca used to generate model results shown in Figure 11
W0 (g)
CW (g)
GR (g/day)
t (days)
Peak weight (g)
As before, in real larvae all the other parameters of size regulation vary among individuals, so in real life we should not necessarily expect to observe the idealized relationships shown in Figure 13a. Imposing normal random variation (with standard deviations 8% of means, as before) on the other parameters, using the T strain parameter values (from Table 1), while varying growth rate systematically gives the relationships shown in Figure 13b. Linear regression on the simulated results in Figure 13b gives the following relationship between growth rate and peak weight: peakweight = growthrate*0.58 + 6.31. This is close to the empirically observed relationship for this strain: peakweight = growthrate*0.56 + 6.30. Using the H strain parameter values we obtain the predicted relationship peakweight = growthrate*0.90 + 8.32, whereas the empirical relationship is peakweight = growthrate*1.03 + 8.23. Using the B strain parameter values the model predicts the relationship peakweight = growthrate*0.78 + 5.05, and the empirical relationship is peakweight = growthrate*1.07 + 4.19. Thus, the model predicts the correct slope and intercepts of the linear relationship between growth rate and peak weight very accurately for the T and H strains, but not as accurately for the B strain.
Body size and development time
Covariance between body size and the components of the mechanism
The mathematical model we have developed can be used to predict how variation in the three fundamental determinants of body size should affect variation of body size. To do this we need to find the functional relationship between peak weight and each of these three parameters. Because the effect of each determinant on peak weight size is nonlinear, and because the determinants interact with each other nonlinearly, there is no unique relationship between variation in any one of them and the peak weight size.
Discussion and conclusions
Three fundamental parameters
Body size in insects is determined by the mechanism that controls the secretion of ecdysone at the end of larval life. Ecdysone secretion causes the larva to stop feeding and prepare for metamorphosis. No further growth is possible and the size the larva has achieved at the time ecdysone is secreted fully determines the body size of the adult. Our quantitative analysis of the processes that lead to the secretion of ecdysone produced a simple mathematical model that predicts the correct body size and the correct relationship between growth rate and body size for diverse genetic strains of Manduca over a broad range of parameter values.
Although the mechanism that controls the secretion of ecdysone is complex and has many steps, its properties are determined by two parameters that relate to size and growth (the initial weight or the critical weight, and the growth rate), and three parameters that relate to time. These are: the time required to eliminate JH and derepress PTTH and ecdysone secretion (the ICG); and the times of opening and closing of the photoperiodic gate for PTTH secretion. Of these, the photoperiodic gate appears to be identical for all strains we have examined so far (G.D., D.A.R. and H.F.N., unpublished results), which means that only three fundamental parameters control variation in body size in response to genetic and environmental variation: the growth rate, the critical weight and the ICG. These three parameters are the same ones that were shown to be responsible for evolutionary changes in body size [13] and for phenotypic plasticity of body size [11] in a laboratory colony of Manduca.
Our analysis has given new insight into the properties of the critical weight. Until now, the critical weight was known only as an empirical measure of the point at which development becomes independent of nutrition, a point that corresponds to the time at which JHE in the hemolymph rises and JH is cleared. Our analysis shows that there is a simple linear relation between the critical weight and the initial weight of the instar, showing that the critical weight is a relative measure that depends on the prior growth history of the larva and the growth increment at each molt, which determine the initial size of the final larval instar. Moreover, the critical weight corresponds to the weight at which a larva would have molted to the next instar (had it not been in the final instar), which indicates that there is an as yet undiscovered regulatory mechanism that determines the size at which a larva-to-larva molt will occur, and that this mechanism is somehow related to the critical weight.
The control of body size
So what 'controls' body size? Many investigators working at the molecular level have argued that insulin signaling is somehow in control, because if insulin signaling is disrupted, size regulation goes awry. It is clear from the structure of the mechanism we describe here, however, that insulin must have some intermediate role within one of the components of the mechanism, because we did not need to account for insulin explicitly. It is likely that insulin has a critical role in stimulating cellular growth and proliferation, and its function is therefore probably part of the growth-rate parameter in our mechanism. Insulin signaling also affects the synthesis of JH in Drosophila [31] and may therefore have an effect on body size regulation via this mechanism as well. The growth rate has a strong influence on body size (Figure 13, and see Equations (4) and (9)) because it affects how much mass accumulates between the critical weight and the secretion of PTTH and ecdysone. During this period the larva can more than double its mass, depending on its growth rate. In discussing Figure 13 we assumed that variation in growth rate was due to variation in nutrient intake, and insofar as nutrients exert their cellular effect by modulating insulin signaling, variation in the growth rate can be considered functionally equivalent to variation in insulin signaling. Of course there are many other variables that affect the growth rate, such as temperature and the availability of micronutrients and vitamins, and all these factors must interact in some way. It should therefore eventually be possible to write a more detailed mathematical description of the growth rate parameter that takes all these molecular and cellular interactions into account. In the meantime we can account for the effects of insulin signaling alone by assuming a specific (for example linear) relationship between insulin signaling and growth rate.
It should be clear that there is no single locus of 'control' of body size. In a complex mechanism it is possible to disrupt any number of components and affect the outcome, but that should not be construed to imply that one of those components somehow controls the outcome. Body size is a system property and results from the interplay of many equally important components. In this case we identified three fundamental parameters. Each of these parameters, in turn, is a complex system with many sub-components and long causal chains of interactions that establish their particular value in any one individual. It should therefore eventually be possible to develop a more detailed model with mathematical expressions for the growth rate as a function of nutrition and insulin signaling, and of the ICG as a function of JH synthesis, sequestration and catabolism.
Plasticity of body size
We can now give a mechanistic interpretation to our previous results [11], which showed that plasticity of body size in response to diet quality is due to variation in growth rate and critical weight, whereas plasticity of size in response to temperature is due to variation in growth rate and the ICG. The effect of diet quality is manifested as variation in the growth rate, as noted above. In earlier instars the growth rate affects the size at which the larva molts, and larvae feeding on a poor-quality diet molt to each instar at a slightly smaller size than larvae feeding on a better diet [32]. Hence the size of the larva at the outset of the fifth instar will be affected by diet quality, and this, in turn, affects the critical weight.
Temperature has a direct effect on the rate of biochemical reactions. High temperature increases the growth rate and also increases the rate at which JH decays during the ICG, and this shortens the ICG. In insects there is an inverse relationship between body size and environmental temperature [33], and in Manduca this relationship is explained by the interaction between the effects of temperature on growth rate and the length of the ICG [12].
Evolution of body size
Because the mathematical model defines the relationships between the underlying developmental parameters and final body size, it can be used to predict how the fundamental parameters should change under selection on body size. Figure 15 represents a three-dimensional phenotypic landscape [34, 35] for body size. The mean and variance of a population can be depicted as a volume within the parameter space of Figure 15 and the gradient along each parameter axis can be calculated. Given a specific assumption about the nature of genetic variability for each parameter, evolution on such a landscape can be calculated using the methods outlined in [35].
Broader applicability of the model
It is worth considering whether the mechanism we have uncovered in Manduca is applicable to other insects. Various authors, working mainly with Drosophila, have suggested that the control of body size resides at the level of insulin and signaling through the pathway involving phosphoinositide 3-kinase and target of rapamycin (TOR) [2, 9, 36], activity of the small GTPase Ras in the prothoracic glands [37], an antagonistic action between insulin and ecdysone [8], and the relative size of the prothoracic gland [30]; and that the control of body size must somehow depend on mechanisms that regulate cell size or cell number [38]. Most of this work was done using artificial genetic constructs that disrupt or enhance specific molecular pathways in specific tissues, and it has therefore been difficult to deduce how these proposed mechanisms interact and exactly how they play out in the normal regulation of growth and body size. Surely these molecular events are important parts of the complex network of interactions that establish final body size, but it is difficult to see how they can be in 'control' in the traditional meaning of the term. As noted above, body size regulation is a system property and in order to understand the system it is unhelpful to assume that control resides at any one point in the nexus of interactions.
With the exception of the recent work of Mirth et al. [30], previous studies on Drosophila have described growth and body size in qualitative, not quantitative terms. Hence it has been difficult to deduce whether the mechanism of size regulation in Drosophila and Manduca have anything in common. By carefully quantifying growth and body size, Mirth et al. [30] were able to show that Drosophila has a critical weight that is physiologically similar to that of Manduca and the mechanism we describe here for body size regulation in Manduca may therefore apply to Drosophila as well. The principal difference is that starvation in Drosophila can accelerate the onset of the PTTH and ecdysone secretion and the wandering phase. This is likely to be an adaptation to food exhaustion in a species that has little or no ability to find a new food resource, as has been described in the beetle Onthophagus [39]. This effect of starvation can be quantified and can be used to develop a Drosophila-specific variant of our model for size regulation.
Materials and methods
We focused on events in the last larval instar because 90% of the increase in mass occurs during this developmental stage, and because all the processes that affect final body size occur during the last larval instar. We derived differential equations that describe growth under normal and experimental conditions and, wherever possible, solved these equations so that they expressed the various features of the mechanisms of growth and size determination as functions of the fundamental underlying variables. We tested the resulting mathematical description by examining whether it accurately describes growth and size regulation under various aberrant or extreme genetic and environmental conditions that were not considered in developing the model. Numerical simulation of the mathematical model was done using Matlab (The Mathworks).
Several strains of Manduca were used to establish the parameter values for growth and size regulation. Unless otherwise mentioned, most of the growth data were obtained from the wild-type strain obtained by hybridizing laboratory strains obtained from University of Washington, University of Arizona and North Carolina State University, designated strain H. Other strains used were the black larval strain, a recessive mutation in the JH-regulatory pathway that approximately halves body size, designated strain B; a strain produced by selection for large body size and long development time, designated strain D; and a strain that had been recently collected from the wild, whose parameters for growth and size regulation were originally measured in 1972 (see [13]) and which is designated here as strain W.
We thank Julia Bowsher, Anna Keyte, Kevin Preuss, Alexandra Tobler and Yuichiro Suzuki for critical comments on a draft of this article. This work was supported by grants IBN-0212621 and IBN-0315897 from the National Science Foundation.
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- Nijhout HF, Williams CM: Control of moulting and metamorphosis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (L.): cessation of juvenile hormone secretion as a trigger for pupation. J Exp Biol. 1974, 61: 493-501.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Davidowitz G, Roff DA, Nijhout HF: A physiological perspective on the response of body size and development time to simultaneous directional selection. Integr Comp Biol. 2005, 45: 525-531. 10.1093/icb/45.3.525.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Rountree DB, Bollenbacher WE: The release of prothoracicotropic hormone in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is controlled intrinsically by juvenile hormone. J Exp Biol. 1986, 120: 41-58.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Nijhout HF: Stretch-induced moulting in Oncopeltus fasciatus. J Insect Physiol. 1979, 25: 277-282. 10.1016/0022-1910(79)90055-6.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Nijhout HF: Abdominal stretch reception in Dipetalogaster maximus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). J Insect Physiol. 1984, 30: 629-633. 10.1016/0022-1910(84)90047-7.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Mirth C, Truman JW, Riddiford LM: The role of the prothoracic gland in determining critical weight for metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster. Curr Biol. 2005, 15: 1796-1807. 10.1016/j.cub.2005.09.017.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Tu M-P, Yin C-M, Tatar M: Mutations in insulin signaling pathway alter juvenile hormone synthesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2005, 142: 347-356. 10.1016/j.ygcen.2005.02.009.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Nijhout HF: A threshold size for metamorphosis in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Biol Bull. 1975, 149: 214-225.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Atkinson D, Sibly RM: Why are organisms usually bigger in colder environments? Making sense of a life history puzzle. Trends Ecol Evol. 1997, 12: 235-239. 10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01058-6.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
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This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


text:
Just wanted to mention that we get a lot more attempted spam here at Freethought Blogs than I ever remember getting at the old blogspot address. Luckily, the spam filters are pretty good and I usually don't have to lift a finger to mess with it. I do, however, see a few posts a week that slip through the cracks as "uncertain" and drop into the moderation bucket to be checked.
To give you an example of what spam looks like these days, here's a post from last night by "Nicolette Snith"
Thanks for an unbelievable post, would see your personal others posts. thank you your thinking for this, I felt a trifle strike by this text. Thanks again! You commit a great aspect. Displays the beauty through great facts here. I believe that if a greater number considered it like that, they'd have a very better time frame get the grasp ofing the difficulty.
That's a pretty common variety. It's lavishly complimentary, totally unspecific, and almost written in a reasonable style of English. It only looks weird if you take the time to actually read it carefully.
Obviously the goal of spam is to drive traffic to commercial sites, and this seems to be accomplished by adding a URL in the user identity, which you can click from the person's post. It used to be the case that most such URL's were in the form of obviously suspicious locations, i.e., "http://hotgirls.ru" or something like that. (I just made that up, but I checked and it's a real site. I do not take responsibility for you surfing there or wasting any money.) These days, however, the address is more often in the form of an IP address (such as 188.8.131.52) which redirects you to a site that wants to sell you viagra or mortgages or whatever.
The behavior of spammers and spam filter writers very closely resembles the evolution of predators and prey in nature. Each side has a survival motive to improve. The spammers are obviously in it for the money. Design the perfect spam filter, and you cut off their income. In the worst case scenario, they might even have to give it up and find an alternate career that doesn't require them to be goddamned parasites.
The anti-spammers are fighting for survival of their content. I've seen quite a few abandoned blogs and forums become completely choked with spam, to the point where it's impossible to engage in a meaningful conversation.
So each one evolves competitively, and both need to be automated to an extent. The spammers are busy trying to post millions of junk messages to sites all over the world, while non-spammers are busy trying to clean up hundreds or thousands of messages without employing an army of human moderators to babysit their sites.
What's interesting is that there does seem to be an upper limit on the effectiveness of spam filters. If a human reader can't tell them difference between spam and a legitimate post, how is a computer supposed to do it? Even now, I have gotten to the point where I look at a brief, harmless compliment with deep suspicion. If I see a new poster write "Well said" or something of the kind, I have to stare at the email address, the name, and any suspicious links for a non-trivial amount of time before I decide it's safe to pass through.
Much as I hate this omnipresent intrusion into our lives in a digital age, I find it kind of fascinating to see how the race keeps shifting.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What to do if You Receive Suspicious Mail
- 9-1-1 campus phones
- Bluelight or Elevator phones
- 408-924-2222 cell phones
Non-Emergency Services
- 4-2222 campus phones
- 408-924-2222 any phone
- Bluelight or Elevator phones
- Email: Contact UPD
Anonymous Reporting
- TipNow Voicemail/Text:
- TipNow Email/Text:
- CrimeStoppers:
- File a Confidential Police Report Online
What should you do if you receive a suspicious letter or package?
- Handle with care - don't shake or bump
- Isolate and look for indicators
- Don't open, smell or taste
- Treat it as suspect -- immediately call 9-1-1 or UPD at 408-924-2222
For additional information, see FBI Advisory (pdf).
Note: Documents in PDF format require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.


text:
Stars boost playoff hopes by routing Predatorsby Steve Hunt
DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars will need plenty of secondary scoring to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2008. They got it Friday night in a 7-3 win against the Nashville Predators at American Airlines Center.
Seven players found the back of the net for Dallas, which also got three assists from defenseman Alex Goligoski, one of five Stars with multiple-point performances. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen stopped 25 shots.
"I thought we were patient," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "There wasn't a lot going on really if I looked at the first seven minutes. We were playing the way we wanted to. I thought that part was good."
Dallas (35-27-11) moved within three points of the idle Phoenix Coyotes, who hold the second wild-card position in the Western Conference. Phoenix has a game in hand on Dallas.
"They looked fresh. They jumped on us, but they're such a good transitional team," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "I didn't think our forwards did a whole lot. There were only a couple of guys that I thought were really, really good up front and that's really where it all started for me, was the poor puck management."
The Stars got started when Ryan Garbutt scored his 15th of the season 8:03 into the first period, tapping in a feed from Antoine Roussel. Vernon Fiddler made it 2-0 at 14:05 when he beat Predators goalie Pekka Rinne over the blocker with a one-timer from the right circle.
"Obviously, us role guys want to chip in a little bit more," Fiddler said. "It's not easy to score in this league. These are the games where we need to all chip in, you see guys like [Garbutt] and [Roussel] chipping in, and [Valeri Nichushkin] got one in off a D-man. It's nice to get some depth scoring. At the end of the day, we've got to continue to do that. The big guns need some help with that, and it takes a little bit of pressure off of them."
Trying to jump on the Predators, who were on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Buffalo Sabres 6-1 Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, was part of Ruff's game plan. The Stars executed it quite well.
"We knew they played last night. These back-to-backs are tough," Ruff said. "It's tough turnovers for a lot of teams. If you get down, you try to chase the game, it usually just gets worse."
Patric Hornqvist cut the Stars' lead in half at 2:53 of the second period, beating Lehtonen through the five-hole. But Dallas regained its two-goal edge at 5:37 when rookie Colton Sceviour was credited with his fifth of the season after Trevor Daley's shot went into the net off his right skate. A video review confirmed that there was no distinct kicking motion, and the goal stood.
"The puck just got to the point. I went to the net and tried to give (Goligoski) a stick to shoot at," Sceviour said. "It was a little inside and ended up stopping it and bouncing off my foot and in. Not the prettiest of goals, but I can't complain."
Dallas made it 4-1 at 8:58 when Alex Chiasson redirected a shot from Ray Whitney for a power-play goal. Whitney's shot from the high slot was deflected by Chiasson from the left circle and into the net for Chiasson's 13th of the season.
Nashville answered again at 9:53 when defenseman Michael Del Zotto blasted a slapper through Lehtonen's legs from near the blue line for his third of the season and first since being acquired from the New York Rangers.
Daley delivered his seventh of the season at 11:19 when he scored after grabbing the puck out of the air off his left glove and sending a shot that floated over Rinne's right pad before landing in the far side of the net, giving Dallas a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.
"Obviously, we tipped two in our own net. They got one off the skate and then they scored off the rush," Weber said. "They got a little bit of everything and it just wasn't good enough for us tonight."
Nashville cut it to 5-3 when Eric Nystrom, a former Star, beat Lehtonen to the short side with a wrister from the left circle 1:48 into the final period. But Dallas put the game away when rookie Valeri Nichushkin and Cody Eakin scored nine seconds apart.
"We did and we were coming," Trotz said of getting a goal early in the final period. "I really felt we were going to get the next goal and then we don't hold up on the draw, guy jumped through, think it was Nichushkin, jumped through. He got the puck and they just threw it at the net and we deflected it into the net on Pekka. To me, that was the one that killed any momentum we had in the third."
The Predators return home to host the Washington Capitals on Sunday while Dallas completes a back-to-back on Saturday night at the St. Louis Blues, the latest crucial game in their push toward a possible playoff spot.
"We got the game tonight. We have to go out and get the game tomorrow," Ruff said. "We need to score and St. Louis doesn't give up a lot, but if you get two or three you can get yourself in a ballgame with them, although they've really been on a run here lately."
Dallas had seven players score goals in one game for the first time since a 10-2 home win against the New York Rangers on Feb. 6, 2009, a game in which seven Stars found the back of the net.


text:
Dozens of anti-gun violence protesters at the lobbying offices of the NRA on Capitol Hill following the weekend shooting of 20 elementary school students and eight adults in Newtown, Connecticut
Like many other parents of school-age children, news of the Newtown, Connecticut, shootings hit close to home for David Bennahum, a New York tech entrepreneur and founder of the progressive American Independent News Network. The day after the attack, Bennahum took to Facebook: "I posted something along the lines of 'What would really shift the debate is if you had a million kids march on Washington for gun control," Bennahum says. "My friends on Facebook were like, 'That's a great idea. You should start a page about that.'" Two hours after starting the Facebook page, it had 600 "likes"; two days later, it had 3,000. With the backing of progressive leaders and organizers from his former life as a journalist, Bennahum forged ahead organizing the Million Kids March on Washington.
Since the initial outpouring of enthusiasm, Bennahum has set up a website and began the process of hiring a logistics firm, raising the funds to organize the event, and setting a date. People from across the country have already begun to arrange similar events in their hometowns. Earlier this month, the Prospect spoke with Bennahum about the idea behind the event, America's gun obsession, and whether the march constitutes the beginning of a populist anti-gun movement.
My thought when I saw the Million Kids March page and website is that kids don't generally have a voice in the political process. Talk to me about the concept.
I have two kids and "that's not fair" is one of a child's favorite phrases. They have a deep sense of justice; they're completely obsessed with what I'm getting, what my sibling is getting, etc. I think to engage kids in the debate of whether it's fair to have these high-velocity killing machines for people—is that fair? I would trust a child's judgment on this far more than an adult's frankly.
In so many of these shootings, the victims have been children. And to your point, they're voiceless. So I thought to myself, What would it mean to empower kids to state how they feel? After that originating moment, I thought, "How could you say no to those children? Not even Congress could say no to a million kids." It writes itself conceptually, which I think is part of why the idea took off so quickly on Facebook with no promotion, no celebrity tweets—there was no money behind it or anything. It was pure bottom-up awareness. It's highly unusual for something to get so much attention that isn't really part of a more orchestrated campaign.
What is the significance of this project being kickstarted on Facebook?
As someone in the technology world, I would say that what we went through on Facebook was a proof of concept. We said, "What do you think of this concept? A million kids marching on Washington?" Six thousand plus people said, "I like it" and another thousand or so actually RSVP'd. And they did that in 72 hours. This is where social media is so fantastic: You get to test an idea, see if it has legs and then say, "You know what? This has legs." Now we do the really hard work, which could be several months of raising money, coordinating, doing logistics, but we're able to do that on the backside of knowing there's a lot of enthusiasm behind it.
One of the criticisms that's been levied at progressives and progressive journalists is that after a shooting there are broad calls for gun regulation, but not specific proposals for how gun laws should be changed. Do you have concrete proposals?
No. It would be premature to say that we have a position. I do think we have a strategy and a vision. The best thing we can do is to create a cultural climate where it's easier for people who are experts in gun policy to do their jobs and encourage elected officials to make the right, hard choices to reform our laws. But what's exciting about this march is if we can bring a million kids to the mall, it would be a fundamental cultural moment. It would be the second march on Washington since 1964 where the participants were in some way disenfranchised in the political process. Kids cannot vote; they're the last group in America that is technically disenfranchised.
Another thing I've heard said in the wake of the shooting is that while gun-rights advocates have a movement in the NRA, the same really isn't the case on the other side. Could you speak to that point?
The phrase "silent majority" was used a generation ago to describe a group of people who had been silent about what was then a cultural revolution and then decided to stand up—not to be silent anymore. Today, we're part of a majority that's not going to be silent anymore when it comes to fundamental moral issues like access to high-caliber, high-speed weaponry. I think the NRA and other groups are going to have to grapple with the fact that this majority has been rising; it's been showing itself at the ballot box and had fundamental impact in the 2012 elections. It's slow rolling, it's big, it's cultural. It has different cultural values and it's beginning to flex its muscle. This march is part of that historic process and why I think ultimately it will be successful.
What is the larger cultural shift that you're talking about? Can you characterize that?
I think it's a shift from individualism to an appreciation that we're all in this together as a country. A growing awareness that "you're on your own so get your gun, get your bunker, and camp out" is no longer a good framework for living in a modern American society. With that comes a shift. How do I help my neighbor? How do we work together to solve problems? This whole notion of trickle-down economics, laissez-faire, social Darwinism—a lot of that is being pushed back very, very hard. You see a shooting like this and it reinforces a sense that we're all in this together.
How would you respond to the criticism that you are using children, whose beliefs are generally set by parents, to further a political agenda?
This is about not just a march, but genuine civic engagement for kids leading up to and past the march. It's an amazing teaching opportunity about the right to petition our government, freedom of assembly, and what it means to be an engaged citizen in a democracy. The march will be a high point in a deeply educational process. So we are confident that, in the end, kids participating in the march will be doing so out of genuine free will, and a desire to set a future course for America that they believe in.
You mentioned earlier that you're getting set up with a group to do the logistics. So have you had buy-in from larger organizations?
Through email and Facebook we've gotten a lot of messages from people working with larger organizations and also just grassroots organizers expressing their enthusiasm to help us out and to coordinate. We need outreach coordinators, people who are skilled at this because it's a full-time activity, talking and negotiating and coordinating. We are hiring a logistics firm to help with the logistics of the march. That's where having a bit of a budget will help because if it's going to become a full-time job, people doing that have to be able to do it financially.


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PITTSBURGH -- It was the last time the Pittsburgh Steelers met before heading off for their summer break. Coach Mike Tomlin called his charges together, dispensed his usual last thoughts and then slapped Jonathan Dwyer's picture up on the big screen in the meeting room. Calling out the about-to-be third-year running back's name, with every one of the Steelers players listening, Tomlin said this: show up to training camp overweight and you're fired.
"That's Coach Tomlin," receiver Jerricho Cotchery said, with a head shake and chuckle both.
"It was good how he did it," running back Isaac Redman said.
"It worked," Dwyer said.
For the first time since 2008, the Steelers have a runner who's put together back-to-back 100-yard games. That runner is Jonathan Dwyer.
With a powerful gait, a no-nonsense style and a wonderfully warm smile, Dwyer is a renewed man -- and he's revitalized the Steelers' moribund run game. Every snap Dwyer gets in the 4-3 Steelers' measure-up matchup with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Sunday will be a reminder of why the team so loved him as a prospect out of Georgia Tech.
Dwyer has neither hesitation nor qualm in discussing that day, four months ago, when Tomlin so publicly singled him out. There was no intent to embarrass, Dwyer said, and there was no real surprise, either.
(Steve Wyche and Mark Kriegel talk with Jonathan Dwyer in the latest Double Coverage podcast.)
"I already knew what he was saying," Dwyer said, acknowledging that the words had come before and often. Extremely talented and productive in college, Dwyer was dogged by weight issues after arriving in Pittsburgh as a sixth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. In turn, his coaches questioned his commitment. At that team meeting, Dwyer said, "I already was where I needed to be then, but (Tomlin) addressed it, in case. It was a challenge to prove him wrong and prove to everybody else I could do it."
This is Tomlin's style. He says exactly what he's thinking and, as Cotchery explained, "everyone knows exactly where they stand. He's honest, he tells you how it is and you don't have to guess with him."
Dwyer said it was never laziness or a lackadaisical work ethic that kept him mired in irrelevancy. There was a transition in going from college starter and star to NFL role player, behind a dynamic former first-round pick in Rashard Mendenhall.
"It's going from always being the guy to then having to sit down and learn. It hurts you a little bit," he said. "I was turning away from people trying to help me and just being upset about the whole situation instead of doing something about it. But after getting a little taste of playing last year, I wanted more."
He worked at it, and Tomlin wasn't going to let him stop. Redman and center Maurkice Pouncey both said there was never any question Dwyer would come in at or under the Tomlin-specified weight. Redman said he saw a maturity in him. Pouncey said he saw a brain in him.
"All that money and opportunity? You'd be stupid if you didn't," Pouncey said, laughing loudly.
Dwyer is well-liked and definitely rooted for. He talks about earning the respect of his teammates; Redman said he's had it.
"He is great to have in the meeting rooms. He's so focused, on and off the field," he said.
Dwyer has gotten his chance these last two weeks in large part because both Mendenhall and Redman have been sidelined by injuries. On Wednesday, Mendenhall returned to practice and did individual drills with the backs. Redman, who had been the No. 2 back ahead of Dwyer, has been participating in practice since Friday. Originally from Camden, N.J., Redman said he'll definitely be playing up the New Jersey Turnpike on Sunday. He also said no one has told him or Dwyer or anyone how the carries will be divided -- or who will get the first one.
There is no official Steelers policy that a player cannot lose his job while injured. But Dwyer said that should be the rule, no matter how well he's personally playing.
"Rashard's been here, he's earned the starting job, he's played well, he's had great years here, he's the starter and that's it," Dwyer said, adding that Mendenhall, whom he called "the head honcho," hasn't done anything to lose his job. Dwyer said his role is "to complement Rashard."
Dwyer himself was kept out of Wednesday's practice by a strained quad, though he expected to be back on the field Thursday and playing in some way Sunday.
Whatever happens, Dwyer won't take anything for granted. Just two games ago, when the Steelers lost to the Tennessee Titans, Dwyer was inactive, as he was the game before, against the Philadelphia Eagles. He had fumbled a ball late against the Oakland Raiders in Week 3, and so he was sent to the bench. That he didn't try to prove everything in his first carry back is a testament to how much he's grown.
"I just believed in myself. And I knew I'd had these moments before. In high school, I was a skinny little freshman, a guy went down, I had one game to get my chance and the rest is history. It was the same thing in college. Guys went down, I became a starter for that game, and the next game, they believed in me," he said.
Just as the Steelers do now.
Follow Aditi Kinkhabwala on Twitter @AKinkhabwala.


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Have you recently purchased a new minivan? A reporter would like to talk to you; please reach out to [email protected] by July 2 for more details.
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Hyundai Elantra Brake Problems
in Hyundai
Immediate Attention.....All Hyundai owners should check to see if their Emergency/Parking brakes work correctly.
All vehicles made after 2006, all Hyundai models, with the pull lever type of Emergency/Parking brake assemblies should be checked to see that their Emergency/Parking brakes work correctly.
Additionally, if you have had any rear brake work done on your vehicle that required removing the rear rotors or emergency/parking brake work done; more than likely...the service technicians did not repair it correctly...not repairing or making adjustments to your vehicle according to Hyundai Official Repair/Service manuals.
Apparently, someone dropped the ball at Hyundai Motor America and did not place a requirement for a force push/pull gauge on the Hyundai service departments.
Bottom line...all levels and all certifications of Service Techs, Field Service Engineers and Hyundai Representative do not have the necessary tools on-hand to perform EMERGENCY / PARKING BRAKE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURES CORRECTLY, SO THEY SKIP THE OFFICIAL PROCEDURES.
Skipping these procedures could lead to emergency/parking brake drag when the brake lever is not set or the parking brake not functioning when you believe you have set the emergency/parking brake.
Step 1. Block the front tires so the vehicle will not roll.
Step 2. Raise the vehicle as if you were going to change the driver's side rear tire.
Step 3. Rotate driver's side tire while the brake is in the released position. If you feel any drag or hear a rubbing noise, your emergency/parking brake may be dragging. If you suspect dragging, lift the emergency/parking brake lever 1 click, if the drag feeling has intensified or you cannot move the wheel, then your emergency/parking brakes need to be adjusted.
Repeat the above steps on the passenger's side rear tire.
Now that you know your emergency/parking brakes are not dragging, check to see if the emergency/parking brake will hold the vehicle.
Step 1. While a driver is in the vehicle, release the emergency/parking brake lever.
Step 2. Pull the emergency/parking brake lever up 4 clicks from the released position. Be prepared to step on your normal brakes...Place the vehicle in drive...at idle speed...
Does the vehicle move?
If YES, Repeat the above step with the lever pulled up an additional click each time until you reach 8 clicks from the released position.
Make note when the emergency/parking brake actually holds the vehicle.
If your emergency/parking brakes do not hold the car when the lever is pulled 8 clicks from the released position (where the adjustment is check according to the official manuals and around 44 LBs of pull force maximum is need to raise the lever 8 clicks), then your emergency/parking brake is not adjusted correctly.
When you take your vehicle in to have your emergency/parking brakes adjusted...ask that you be allowed to see the technician use a force push/pull gauge during the inspection/adjustment procedures.
Additionally, if you identify a problem...please email Hyundai Motor America customer service at [email protected] and have them document your issue...have them give you a case number.... this is the only way a TSB or recall will be issued, since the servicing departments are skipping the official inspection steps.
Good luck
All vehicles made after 2006, all Hyundai models, with the pull lever type of Emergency/Parking brake assemblies should be checked to see that their Emergency/Parking brakes work correctly.
Additionally, if you have had any rear brake work done on your vehicle that required removing the rear rotors or emergency/parking brake work done; more than likely...the service technicians did not repair it correctly...not repairing or making adjustments to your vehicle according to Hyundai Official Repair/Service manuals.
Apparently, someone dropped the ball at Hyundai Motor America and did not place a requirement for a force push/pull gauge on the Hyundai service departments.
Bottom line...all levels and all certifications of Service Techs, Field Service Engineers and Hyundai Representative do not have the necessary tools on-hand to perform EMERGENCY / PARKING BRAKE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURES CORRECTLY, SO THEY SKIP THE OFFICIAL PROCEDURES.
Skipping these procedures could lead to emergency/parking brake drag when the brake lever is not set or the parking brake not functioning when you believe you have set the emergency/parking brake.
Step 1. Block the front tires so the vehicle will not roll.
Step 2. Raise the vehicle as if you were going to change the driver's side rear tire.
Step 3. Rotate driver's side tire while the brake is in the released position. If you feel any drag or hear a rubbing noise, your emergency/parking brake may be dragging. If you suspect dragging, lift the emergency/parking brake lever 1 click, if the drag feeling has intensified or you cannot move the wheel, then your emergency/parking brakes need to be adjusted.
Repeat the above steps on the passenger's side rear tire.
Now that you know your emergency/parking brakes are not dragging, check to see if the emergency/parking brake will hold the vehicle.
Step 1. While a driver is in the vehicle, release the emergency/parking brake lever.
Step 2. Pull the emergency/parking brake lever up 4 clicks from the released position. Be prepared to step on your normal brakes...Place the vehicle in drive...at idle speed...
Does the vehicle move?
If YES, Repeat the above step with the lever pulled up an additional click each time until you reach 8 clicks from the released position.
Make note when the emergency/parking brake actually holds the vehicle.
If your emergency/parking brakes do not hold the car when the lever is pulled 8 clicks from the released position (where the adjustment is check according to the official manuals and around 44 LBs of pull force maximum is need to raise the lever 8 clicks), then your emergency/parking brake is not adjusted correctly.
When you take your vehicle in to have your emergency/parking brakes adjusted...ask that you be allowed to see the technician use a force push/pull gauge during the inspection/adjustment procedures.
Additionally, if you identify a problem...please email Hyundai Motor America customer service at [email protected] and have them document your issue...have them give you a case number.... this is the only way a TSB or recall will be issued, since the servicing departments are skipping the official inspection steps.
Good luck
Can you please provide more details? For example, your warning is for all Hyundais made after 2006 with a pull lever parking brake. Why is it specific to 2007 and later Hyundais? Was there a general design change Hyundai made on parking brakes on all of its cars, and specifically the Elantra, starting with the 2007 MY? I own a 2004 Elantra GT with a pull lever parking brake. Would this warning apply to it (and thus to 2001-2006 Elantras)?
Also, there are several Hyundai models (Accent, Azera, Sonata, Tiburon, Tuscon at least) for which the current design dates back before 2007. Wouldn't these cars be affected by your warning also? (Unless of course Hyundai made a general design change to all of their parking brakes starting with 2007 models.)
Also, could you please share with us how you know that it is likely that all Hyundai service techs do not repair parking brakes correctly and that no Hyundai dealer service departments have the necessary tools to perform parking brake inspections and adjustments? Because if that is the case, it won't help Elantra owners like me and other Hyundai owners to bring their vehicles into a Hyundai dealer to have the parking brake worked on. They would need to go someplace else, right?0
Hey Backy, I reported this to my dealership when I had the car for a month. They checked it out and didn't bill me as they said it was a warranty check. And they said there was nothing wrong. I told them the car was rolling backwards with the emergency brake on. Now I notice the same thing this person is saying. I can actually drive down the road with the emergency brake on. My husband can't. So I am taking it in for an oil change probably within the next 2 weeks and I was going to leave it for an overnight inspection on a Friday so my husband or they can pick me up the next day. I want them to fix my problem and if I can drive down the road with the emergency brake on, then that means I need an adjustment...wouldn't you think? Heck...I have only had the car 6 months and its been like this for 3 months. But they tell me I don't have the brake pulled up right. I say... well...check it out. Because before I go for my appt.I am calling Hyundai and putting in a report this time.0
Your 2004 does not require the use of a force push/pull gauge to adjust, repair or check the emergency brake.
It is specific to some 2006 and later, because this tool is used to inspect, adjust and repair the emergency brake. OWNERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR ON-LINE MANUAL FOR THE EXACT DETAILS.
Why they do not have the tool, look at the ESSENTIAL SERVICE TOOL SURVEY FOR 2008 (on line) not a listing for a force push/pull gauge anywhere. So this tool was not on the suggested tools or placed on requirement for servicing dealers.
The dealer has the official manuals and everyone that uses this forum could review their official inspection/ adjustment/repair procedures.
I challenge you to call any authorized Hyundia service department within your local area and ask them how they would check the emergency brakes on a 2009 Sonata. (A new car that has several requirements for the use of a force push/pull gauge).... When the say, they would put the vehicle in drive with the emergency brake on and if it holds the car, then it works... Ask them WHY they don't follow the official manual?
How do I know this; from experience, A PLATINUM TECH, A REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND A FACTORY FIELD ENGINEER ignored these procedures again (last attempt,#9, to fix my brake issues) and then started back stepping to protect their jobs.... its BBB Auto line time for me, I done with Hyundai.
As for a warranty, WHAT GOOD IS IT IF NO ONE FOLLOWS THE OFFICIAL INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROCEDURES.
As for who should work on your car, I would only suggest the dealer (under warranty) and only if you are allowed to watch them follow the official procedures....most people do not want to do this....SO I WOULD SAY SOMEONE WHO IS AUTHORIZED AND SOMEONE YOU TRUST.
Backy, I have a question for you ...I read somewhere on forum that you have driven several Hyundais over the past 3 years, I think more than a dozen... How are you able to drive so many different Hyundais?
What model and year Hyundai you own?
Print out the official inspection procedures before you go, then you'll have everything in writing and no one can tap dance around your issue.0
What is different in the design of the parking brake of the 2001-2006 Elantra (which I have) and the 2007+ Elantra (which is one of the subjects of your warning)?
I am not sure where to find an "online manual" with details on inspecting, adjusting, and repairing the parking brake on my Elantra. If you happen to know such a link, could you please post it? I don't think that level of detail is in my hardcopy owner's manual, but I don't have access to it right now.
I do know that my local Hyundai dealer, where I have the car serviced, prohibits customers from being in the service area, as a safety issue. Actually, every car repair shop I've been in in recent years has the same policy. So I don't think I would be allowed to watch a service tech work on the car. But since my Hyundai isn't affected by your warning, it's a moot point for me. As for going to someone who is "authorized" to work on a Hyundai's parking brake... I was not aware any authorization was necessary.
As for how many Hyundais I've driven over the past 3 years, I think you are referring to a recent post where I said I have driven about 15 (lost count after 12) 2006-9 Sonatas. Most of those were rentals. Others were test drives; over the past few years I've had the Sonata in my sights as a car to purchase. Have come very close to pulling the trigger a couple of times, and in fact I plan to check out some low-miles 2008 Sonatas with really good Internet pricing this Wednesday, the last day of the year, and see how much the sellers are willing to deal.0
These procedures will not be in you owners manual
They are in the Official Service/Repair manuals. (about $200 for the set)
or free through the HMA Service
Here is the Online procedures for 2007
http://www.hmaservice.com/viewer/content.asp?vehicletype=Passenger&mfrcode=HY&ar- ea=HMA&langcode=ENG&modelid=HD13&modelyr=2007&mmctype=en&mmcid=25&group=SHOP&vie- wtype=&cat1=2007+%3E+G+2%2E0+CVVT&contentssize=655&firstnodedesc=Brake+System&si- tinfolist=41%5E4120%5E41200600%5Enone%5E801%5E1%5EENG%5EHY%5EHD13%5E2007%5Eall%5- E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Eshop%5E%2441%5E4120%5E41200600%5Enone%5E801%5E8%5EENG%- 5EHY%5EHD13%5E2007%5Eall%5E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Eshop%5E%2441%5E4120%5E412006- 00%5Enone%5E801%5E4%5EENG%5EHY%5EHD13%5E2007%5Eall%5E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Esh- op%5E%24
You may have to signup for an account.
If the service departments are ignoring this, what other things are they ignoring...I thought an emergency / parking brake problem would be easy to fix. Well, if you follow the procedures, IT SHOULD BE.
On several models, the servicing dealer could perform the check in the parking lot if they had a push/pull force gauge.
Parking brake lever stroke
As for drag...raise each side and check for drag as I stated eariler.
You would think a new car owner would not have to double check this, something checked at the factory and again during the pre-inspection. I know, I have someones initials that indicated this was checked.
Additionally, I have several other initials or their numbers on service work orders....BUT HOW WAS IT CHECKED OR FIXED AND WHAT PROCEDURES WERE USED?
I hope you get a good 08 if you pull the trigger.
If you really want a used 08 Sonata, tell your dealer.... other dealers are telling their trade-in customers that their cars; an 08 Sonata GLS 2.4L, A/C, 4-speed Auto, cruise, heated mirrors, mud guards and carpeted floor mats with 10,500 miles in PRISTINE LIKE NEW CONDITION are only worth $10,000 tops (My dealers claims he can buy these cars all day long at wholesale for this price) so you should be able to pick one up for around $10,500.
I hope you get the deal of a lifetime and it works out for you.
Keep in mind that the trade-in value is considerably less than the retail value, since the dealer needs to make some profit on the sale. However, in the past couple of weeks I have seen several 2008 Sonata GLSes within 25 miles of me with I4 and AT, some with the moonroof package, with between 20-40k miles for just under $11k retail. So your dealer's estimate for trade-in value sounds about right.
Keep in mind also that EVERY used car has seen a plunge in value recently, especially over the past 2-3 months. From the prices I've been seeing, the drop is about 15-20%. A few months ago, you could have probably gotten at least $2000-3000 more for that 2008 Sonata on trade-in. That's good news for people buying cars, but bad news for those selling them. The other thing about used 2008 Sonatas is that I4 ATs could be had for under $15k when new, which doesn't exactly help their resale value now.
If I don't get a great deal this week, I'll just wait until next year. I am in no hurry. I might wait until late next year, when used 2009 Sonatas will be available in volume.
But meanwhile, my 2004 Elantra is running great, 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS work great (including parking brake) and my son appreciates having a good car to take to school, practice etc.0
I have a 2008 Elantra GLS automatic which I purchased on June 5, 2008. My hubby got one at the same date and time due to the good bargain we got. ($13,995). I was looking for a new vehicle due to losing my Toyota Taco to a recall that it was taken off the road and junked. And since I couldn't afford a new Toyota Taco and my legs were too long for the Toyota cars, this is why I bought my Hyundai. My legs were even too long for the Sonata which is what I was originally going to buy. But after the test drive I knew I would have trouble owning it with the leg room. So, we both bought the same car. Only different colors. Hubby's car is the one whose fuel pump went and caused the 3 car pileup in NJ. Then they did the recall.
Also, I just noticed everyone...even though hubby's car was fixed in July (fuel pump) as I looked over our bills I was getting in order, I noticed when he did his oil change in Sept like I did that they replaced his whole fuel pump and assembly AGAIN under recall. Now, makes me wonder what they did in July. The bill in July said fuel pump replaced. And the bill in Sept says Fuel Pump Kit Pump Kit installed under recall warranty.0
pat Posts: 10,421We have a number of Elantra topics - let's try to keep this one focused on the brakes, okay?0
Here are the official online links for the repair and component location for your 08 Elantra Parking brake issues.
Component Location
http://www.hmaservice.com/viewer/content.asp?vehicletype=Passenger&mfrcode=HY&ar- ea=HMA&langcode=ENG&modelid=HD13&modelyr=2008&mmctype=en&mmcid=25&group=SHOP&vie- wtype=&cat1=2008+%3E+G+2%2E0+CVVT&contentssize=655&firstnodedesc=Brake+System&si- tinfolist=41%5E4120
Repair procedures
http://www.hmaservice.com/viewer/content.asp?vehicletype=Passenger&mfrcode=HY&ar- ea=HMA&langcode=ENG&modelid=HD13&modelyr=2008&mmctype=en&mmcid=25&group=SHOP&vie- wtype=&cat1=2008+%3E+G+2%2E0+CVVT&contentssize=655&firstnodedesc=Brake+System&si- tinfolist=41%5E4120
I would print these out and ask that you be allowed to observe the tech when he or she makes your adjustments.
Additionally, I would have them pull both of your rear rotors a let you see the wear on your parking/emergency brake pads (compare them to a new set, I could not find the specs on these), next have them check the round-out / run out of the rotors and the emergency brake area contact area.
IF Rear brake disc thickness (rotors) less than 8.4 mm ( 0.33 in), have them replace the rotors.
IF Rear brake disc round out /run out is greater than 0.05 mm (0.0020 in), this includes the parking brake contact area... tell them you want both rotors replaced, your car is NEW.
20k is about 44 lbs of pull force and your lever should come up 7 clicks. Ask to see the push/pull gauge they are going to use and when they can not produce it... tell them to go and buy a digital fish scale at Walmart to get the adjustment close and you'll be back in a week when they have the right tool...... Or better yet, just keep the loaner they give you until they prove they are following the procedures.
A really good push/pull gauge is only about $300.00 and they will probably have to order it.
Imagine if someone dropped the ball on a requirement for a torque wrench... these cars would be falling apart all over our highways.
Good Luck0
I got "500" errors on each of the links you posted. :sick:0
Lets try this again... you may have to sign up for an account.
http://www.hmaservice.com/viewer/content.asp?vehicletype=Passenger&mfrcode=HY&ar- - ea=HMA&langcode=ENG&modelid=HD13&modelyr=2008&mmctype=en&mmcid=25&group=SHOP&vie- - wtype=&cat1=2008+%3E+G+2%2E0+CVVT&contentssize=655&firstnodedesc=Brake+System&si- - tinfolist=41%5E4120%5E41200600%5Enone%5E401%5E2%5EENG%5EHY%5EHD13%5E2008%5Eall%5- - E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Eshop%5E%2441%5E4120%5E41200600%5Enone%5E401%5E1%5EENG%- - 5EHY%5EHD13%5E2008%5Eall%5E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Eshop%5E%24
http://www.hmaservice.com/viewer/content.asp?vehicletype=Passenger&mfrcode=HY&ar- - ea=HMA&langcode=ENG&modelid=HD13&modelyr=2008&mmctype=en&mmcid=25&group=SHOP&vie- - wtype=&cat1=2008+%3E+G+2%2E0+CVVT&contentssize=655&firstnodedesc=Brake+System&si- - tinfolist=41%5E4120%5E41200600%5Enone%5E801%5E1%5EENG%5EHY%5EHD13%5E2008%5Eall%5- - E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Eshop%5E%2441%5E4120%5E41200600%5Enone%5E801%5E8%5EENG%- - 5EHY%5EHD13%5E2008%5Eall%5E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Eshop%5E%2441%5E4120%5E412006- - 00%5Enone%5E801%5E4%5EENG%5EHY%5EHD13%5E2008%5Eall%5E0%5Enone%5Enone%5Enone%5Esh- - op%5E%24
link to setup an account and login
Lastly the 20K of force should be 20Kg of force... which is equal to about 44 Lbs. of pull force.
The new 2009 Sonata procedures have the techs use a pull gauge during several step of the parking brake adjustments, with different pull force requirements... even used to establish a parking brake drag point on the rotors (then the parking brake shoes are backed off (shoe clearance).
Thanks, I was able to view these links w/o signing in (although I do have an account).
But the procedures you posted mention nothing about requiring the use of a push/pull gauge when servicing the parking brake. So I am puzzled why you seem upset that at least some Hyundai dealers (such as the one you took your Sonata to for service) don't have one.0
Look at # 10 of the PARKING BRAKE SHOE (DISC BRAKE TYPE) Installation
look at # 3 of the Parking Brake Lever Stroke Adjustment
between the yellow-orange lines
Parking brake lever stroke :
7 clicks (Pull the lever with 20kg)
BIG NOTE IN GREEN under it :
After repairing the parking brake shoe, adjust the brake shoe clearance, and then adjust the parking brake lever stroke. (Refer to "Parking brake shoe installation")
and then the picture under this NOTE
Pull up with 196 N (20kg, 44lbs) force, within 38MM of the top ot the lever not to include the push button.
I'm off to enjoy the new years celebration, I hope you have a great one too.0
I saw those notes. I did not see anything specific about using a push/pull gauge in this procedure, e.g. "WARNING: be sure to use a push/pull gauge to ensure you are applying exactly 196N/20 kg/44 lbs. of force. Failure to do so will result in an improperly adjusted parking brake." If it were important to use such a tool in the procedure, shouldn't it say so? I've seen other parking brake adjustment procedures for other cars e.g. Miata specifically mention a tool, e.g. spring scale.
Maybe the culprit here is the folks who write Hyundai's repair manuals??
Have a good celebration. I am going to stay off the icy roads and leave them to the other celebrants.0
I think many repair procedures rely on service techs knowing how to perform and understand general service procedures. I also believe, torque procedures and measurements, making thickness and clearance measurements, and performing pull / push measurements would fall into that category... Don't you?
Does someone else other that Hyundai write their Official Service/Repair manuals or maintain the Hyundai Motor America Service Web-page?
Whoever wrote the manual went to a lot of trouble to identify a certain pull force requirement, (put it in 3 different types of measurement force based on scale 196N/20 kg/44 lbs) identified a certain area position on the lever itself (within 38MM of the top of the lever not to include the push button) and how far the lever is to move from the non-set position (7 clicks).
If they did not want their techs to follow this ...I wonder why they go to so much trouble to include these measurements and a picture too in their manual?
You would think a Hyundai Field Engineer with a Hyundai Motor Representative and a Platinum Service Technician (all working together, on-site) would be able to breeze through these steps... THAT IS, IF THEY FOLLOW THE MANUAL AND HAD THE TOOLS ON HAND... RIGHT?
I'm in agreement with you, the manual could be a little more detailed, but this should not be used as an excuse on anyone's part, neither should skipping the procedures because they did not have the tool on hand.
I hope you have a spectacular 2009.
The 196N/20 kg/44 lbs. seems to be a standard or at least typical spec for cars with pull-handle parking brakes like on most Hyundais. So I am kind of curious what could be the negative impact of a service tech simply pulling up on the brake lever with reasonable force, up to 7 clicks, and if the failure to use a push/pull gauge at that step is in fact the "weak link" in the procedure, as it appears you believe it to be, or not.
Anyway, I have to take my Elantra in for an oil change and a couple of other things in the next month or so... one of those things is a parking brake adjustment, as it takes too many clicks to set now compared to when new 5 years ago. So I will be sure to ask the dealer's service tech if they employ a push/pull gauge in their adjustment procedure and let you all know what I find out.0
Just like you said, 196n/20Kg/44lbs. seems to be standard or at least a typical spec for Hyundais car with the pull type parking brake lever.
The "weak link" ... doing it by feel it not accurate... hence that's why there is a spec of 196N/20 Kg/44Lbs for these newer hyundai vehicles.
One techs feels right, might be over tight (MY CASE... BRAKE DRAG for 13 months)... while another techs feels right, might not be tight enough (AS I SUSPECT IN SCHUKANUOSLADY'S CASE AND MY CASE SINCE NOV 08)
Just out of curiosity, how many clicks do you have to raise your parking brake lever in order to hold your 04 Elantra... when you put your vehicle in drive, while at idle and let off the foot pedal brake (I assumed you have an automatic transmission)?
My son is out and about with the Elantra, I'll have to get back to you on that one. I just know that when I was last in the car in my driveway and used the parking brake, it went up a LOT farther than it ever did before, I think more than 7 clicks but I don't recall just how many. I am not sure the brake has ever been adjusted in the nearly 5 years I've had the car. I don't drive that car much now since I turned it over to my son, so I'll have to take it out and see what's what.
I would think an over-tightening or under-tightening would be more due to not turning the adjustment screw the appropriate amount, but that is just conjecture.
P.S. What I actually was trying to say was that the 196N/20 kg/44 lbs spec seems to be common for MANY different cars, not just Hyundais. Try a Google search on those terms, especially 196N, and see what you get.0
I initially did a search on 196N and could see nothing but ads for digital force push/ pull gauges (expensive too)...I see what you mean... did a search on 196 newtons and can see several makes that use that as a reference.
I think one of the things I'm going to check on when we make another purchase is HOW OUR NEW CARS SERVICE DEPARTMENT MAKES THESE ADJUSTMENTS AND REALLY LOOK HARD AT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR OTHER POSTS BEFORE WE COMMIT AGAIN ...I see, you pulled the trigger yesterday... how do you like your new VW Jetta?
Well, that is off topic but it's only a "new" car to me.... it's a 2005 model. But it looks and drives like new with new rubber, was about the same price if not a little less than a used Elantra with six airbags and ABS, has CD and cassette (I still have a lot of those), and it's a Certified car (2-year warranty) plus I was able to get 6 more years of bumper-to-bumper warranty added on for a reasonable price, so it will have low ownership costs almost until my daughter finishes college. Not as much room in back as the Elantra, but enough for around town, which is what the car is for.0
Anyone have an idea why my brakes feel blocked, maybe by ABS, when I brake on icy roads?
Not sure what you mean by "blocked". Can you please be more specific?0
dans7 Posts: 1My 04 Elantra has about 60K miles on it (have not done that service yet), last year got new tires and brakes. About 6 months ago I noticed a studder both when I release the brake or break to a stop. More recently the brakes squeek and squeal alot. I know I can take it to the dealer - would be helpful to know if others have had the same prob and how to deal with it. Thanks very much.0
December 26, 2007 I purchased a used 2005 Hyundai Elantra GTS with 23,000 miles on it. In September of 2008 I took my car in to have the 30,000 mile service done. I was told that my rear brakes were completely worn and needed to be replaced. My front brakes were fine.
I started to hear squealing in my front brakes in September 2009 so I took the car to a shop right next door to where I worked. They told me both front and back brakes were shot. I asked them to replace my front brakes, but that I would take the rear brakes back to the dealership since they should still be under warranty. I was told it was still under warranty and that it must just been a fluke and they would replace the rear brakes again. They did the work and told me that it turned out I was actually 3 days out of warranty but they were being good guys and would cover the cost.
In July 2010 I heard squealing again in my rear brakes. I took the car back to the dealership and was told that the brakes were shot for a 3rd year in a row. I was told by the service manager that because I was not charged for the brakes being repaired 3 days past 1 year in 2009, even though the brakes had worn out again in less than a year, I would have to cover the cost of the repairs. They tried to tell me that it was normal for the brakes to wear out in 1 year or 10,000 miles. I pushed them on the issue and made a fuss, including called other dealerships. The service manager told me that he would look into the issue closer and they said there was something that was loose (maybe a caliper) that was dragging on the brake and that was the issue. They charged me to replace the brakes again (the caliper was repaired under a warranty contract I have).
It is September 2011 and for a 4th year in a row my rear brakes are squealing again. I do not want to pay for a new set of brakes if they are not going to figure out the problem. Please advise me what to do. I am supposed to take the car in Friday morning.0
We won our :lemon: Lemon Law case against Hyudai and they had to buy back the car in March 2009 (always in for shifting problems which led to braking problems and finally we were told some SUPER B.S. by the district rep that we incompatible with the car...we did not accelerate fast enough and that the car was designed not to pickup speed while going down hill (the latter ended up being the emergency brake dragging for months) It cost us $3,000 for mileage we put on the car (10,000 miles) :mad: It sat parked for almost 4 months while we were making payments on it :mad:, so we were glade to see it go!
Back to your issue...when do your brakes squeal? While braking or always
Can you identify which side? Left, right or both
Can you easily see your brake pads? If not, can you remove the tire on the side or sides that are squeal?
Are the brake pads worn to the replacement indicators (metal taps that touch the rotor)
If yes, and you have only driven 10,000 normal miles (not 10,000 miles of in New York City stop and go driving) then you probably have a caliper that is not fully retracting (slides not lubricated or dirty or a bad caliper)
Good Luck with this and Make sure to get all parts replaced by the dealer (pads, rotors, calipers) unless you don't have to pay for anything!0
I am glad to hear that you won your case!! Good for you!
First of all when I put the car in reverse and start backing up it makes a horrible loud grunting noise. When I apply the brakes to stop at like a stop light it also makes a irritating squealing noise as the wheel turns.
I had the caliper replaced last year because they told me the boot over it had come off and the caliper was exposed causing the caliper to go bad. They replaced the caliper and the rear pads and told me everything should be good.
I am not mechanically inclined and because of medical issues can't get down to look at brake pads, but I was told when I brought the car in today that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the car and that it is just normal wear for in city driving. I live in a suburb of Sacramento in California. I drive 9 miles each way to work which takes me 20 minutes. I have to stop about 7 times at stop lights each way. I asked if it is possible that they aren't adjusting the parking brake correctly and therefore maybe it is causing the brake to rub constantly. They told me there is no way that would be happening, it would cause the brake to wear way to fast and they would be able to tell. I guess I am going to have to just pay $300 each year to get my brakes done. The funny thing is that I did the same amount of driving and on the same exact route in my 2001 Saturn and I didn't have to replace my brakes but once in 60,000 miles. Now I am replacing them every 10-12,000. I will never buy a Hyundai again after this.0
Sorry to hear the repair was not FREE
Which brakes did you tech replace or what did they do to fix the problem?
Front, back or both
Replacing brakes (pads and or rotors) at 10 -12 K in NOT normal. Taxi driving in all day long in stop and go (maybe), but not what you have described. I know Sac can have a lot of stop and go on the freeway during rush HOURS, but if your tech is telling you this type of replacement is normal, I would get a second opinion.
Maybe your tech is replacing parts with inferior pads, rotors or calibers. Did you get the old parts from this most recent repair?
Do you use the parking brake at all (would only affect the rear brakes)?0


text:
I have two dogs and when they were pups my vet gave me sound advice: Always make sure you assert yourself as the "alpha" dog of the pack.
Otherwise, she said, they will walk all over you.
While I know that parenting is a far cry from dog training, I happen to believe that the whole alpha dog thing can many times apply in both cases.
Since this topic is a bit lengthy I'm going to touch on a few points today and then wrap up next week.
Like most of you, I know people on both ends of the parenting spectrum.
My friend Maureen is someone I use as a measuring stick of good parenting.
While her two girls, ages 5 and 8, aren't perfect, I must say they are a pleasure to be around.
They are well mannered, behave appropriately and are able to interact easily with other children.
I attribute this to their upbringing.
Maureen has always set boundaries for the girls and is very active in her role as a mom so I'd like to share some of her tips with you.
Responsibilities and Rewards
One technique that has worked for Maureen is the use of a chore chart.
Each girl has her own chart and every time they do a chore they select a sticker and apply it to their chart.
When the chart is full of stickers they are allowed to go to the store and select a book (they LOVE books!).
The idea of earning a reward motivates them while teaching them about responsibility.
Addressing "Attitudes"
All kids can give attitude or try to sass their parents–it's going to happen no matter what.
The key is nipping it as soon as it starts so you're not dealing with an obnoxious and disrespectful teen in 10 years. Maureen has handled this by immediately letting the girls know she doesn't like the tone they are using with her.
If it continues the girls are sent to their rooms.
After a few minutes, she'll go in and discuss the situation with them (why they were sent to their rooms, what they did wrong).
In almost every instance that little bit of time alone makes them realize what they've done and she's greeted with an "I'm sorry Mommy."
She uses a similar routine when they are bickering amongst themselves.
They are given the opportunity to work it out between each other, but if it continues they receive a time out and spend it in their rooms to think about how they could have better handled the dispute.
A common theme in Maureen's parenting success is setting the rules and then sticking to them.
Each action or behavior from the girls has its own set of consequences.
There are no hollow threats or endless warnings.
Next week, we'll see how Maureen handles one of the biggest challenges for parents–how she gets her girls to eat healthy.