7,985 research outputs found
Environmental and Parental Influences on Offspring Health and Growth in Great Tits (Parus major)
No full textPMCID: PMC3728352This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
The Current Anxiety About JD Advantage Jobs: An Analysis
No full textThis Article will proceed in three parts. Part II provides background on how major changes in politics, economics, social organization, and conceptions of law produce change in the work lawyers do. Section II.A examines earlier eras and Section II.B situates the current changes taking place in the legal profession in this history of transformation. Section II.C examines current anxiety about JD Advantage jobs and Section II.D locates this anxiety in the forces currently producing change in how law work is organized.
Part III then undertakes a detailed empirical assessment of the publicly available data on the growth in JD Advantage employment for new law graduates. This investigation produces surprising results, including the fact, demonstrated in Section III.A, that JD Advantage jobs outpace Bar Passage Required jobs in salaries in all but one employment sector. Section III.B looks at the very incomplete data about job satisfaction in JD Advantage jobs; much more needs to be known to reach reliable conclusions here.
Finally, Part IV suggests some of the ways in which legal educators should respond to the growth in JD Advantage jobs for new law graduates, approaching this question as part of the larger issue of how legal education should respond to rapid ongoing transformations in law and legal practice. Part V offers a summary and conclusions
Consideration of Interference Correlation Properties in a JD-CDMA Mobile Radio System with Coherent Receiver Antenna Diversity
No full textIn code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile radio systems, both intersymbol interference and multiple access interference arise which can be combatted by using Joint Detection (JD) techniques, to reduce the degradation in performance resulting from time variance, coherent receiver antenna diversity (CRAD) can be used. The application of JD techniques offers the possibility to exploit the knowledge of noise covariances at the receiver. If only intercell (cochannel) interference is considered, the noise covariances in the uplink receiver of a multiple receiver antenna CDMA mobile radio system depend mainly on the directions of arrival (DOAs) of the interfering signals and the receiver antenna placement. Therefore, if the interferer DOAs are known at the base station, these covariances could be estimated. In this thesis, a realistic model of the uplink of a JD CDMA mobile radio system with CRAD is described in which the above mentioned interference cancelling method is used. Simulation results according to this model are given and evaluated.Applied SciencesElectrical EngineeringTelecommunications and Traffic Control Systems Grou
Dairy farmers’ perceptions toward the implementation of on-farm Johne’s disease prevention and control strategies
No full textmplementation of specific management strategies on dairy farms is currently the most effective way to reduce the prevalence of Johne’s disease (JD), an infectious chronic enteritis of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). However, dairy farmers often fail to implement recommended strategies. The objective of this study was to assess perceptions of farmers participating in a JD prevention and control program toward recommended practices, and explore factors that influence whether or not a farmer adopts risk-reducing measures for MAP transmission. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 dairy farmers enrolled in a voluntary JD control program in Alberta, Canada. Principles of classical grounded theory were used for participant selection, interviewing, and data analysis. Additionally, demographic data and MAP infection status were collected and analyzed using quantitative questionnaires and the JD control program database. Farmers’ perceptions were distinguished according to 2 main categories: first, their belief in the importance of JD, and second, their belief in recommended JD prevention and control strategies. Based on these categories, farmers were classified into 4 groups: proactivists, disillusionists, deniers, and unconcerned. The first 2 groups believed in the importance of JD, and proactivists and unconcerned believed in proposed JD prevention and control measures. Groups that regarded JD as important had better knowledge about best strategies to reduce MAP transmission and had more JD risk assessments conducted on their farm. Although not quantified, it also appeared that these groups had more JD prevention and control practices in place. However, often JD was not perceived as a problem in the herd and generally farmers did not regard JD control as a “hot topic” in communications with their herd veterinarian and other farmers. Recommendations regarding how to communicate with farmers and motivate various groups of farmers according to their specific perceptions were provided to optimize adoption of JD prevention and control measures and thereby increase success of voluntary JD control programs
Codon usage suggests that translational selection has a major impact on protein expression in trypanosomatids.
No full textBACKGROUND: Different proteins are required in widely different quantities to build a living cell. In most organisms, transcription control makes a major contribution to differential expression. This is not the case in trypanosomatids where most genes are transcribed at an equivalent rate within large polycistronic clusters. Thus, trypanosomatids must use post-transcriptional control mechanisms to balance gene expression requirements. RESULTS: Here, the evidence for translational selection, the enrichment of 'favoured' codons in more highly expressed genes, is explored. A set of highly expressed, tandem-repeated genes display codon bias in Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major. The tRNA complement reveals forty-five of the sixty-one possible anticodons indicating widespread use of 'wobble' tRNAs. Consistent with translational selection, cognate tRNA genes for favoured codons are over-represented. Importantly, codon usage (Codon Adaptation Index) correlates with predicted and observed expression level. In addition, relative codon bias is broadly conserved among syntenic genes from different trypanosomatids. CONCLUSION: Synonymous codon bias is correlated with tRNA gene copy number and with protein expression level in trypanosomatids. Taken together, the results suggest that translational selection is the dominant mechanism underlying the control of differential protein expression in these organisms. The findings reveal how trypanosomatids may compensate for a paucity of canonical Pol II promoters and subsequent widespread constitutive RNA polymerase II transcription
Factors associated with participation of Alberta dairy farmers in a voluntary, management-based Johne’s disease control program
No full textThe Alberta Johne's Disease Initiative (AJDI) is a voluntary, management-based prevention and control program for Johne's disease (JD), a wasting disease in ruminants that causes substantial economic losses to the cattle industry. Despite extensive communication about the program's benefits and low cost to participating producers, approximately 35% of Alberta dairy farmers have not enrolled in the AJDI. Therefore, the objective was to identify differences between AJDI nonparticipants and participants that may influence enrollment. Standardized questionnaires were conducted in person on 163 farms not participating and 61 farms participating in the AJDI. Data collected included demographic characteristics, internal factors (e.g., attitudes and beliefs of the farmer toward JD and the AJDI), external factors (e.g., farmers' JD knowledge and on-farm goals and constraints), as well as farmers' use and influence of various information sources. Nonparticipants and participants differed in at least some aspects of all studied categories. Based on logistic regression, participating farms had larger herds, higher self-assessed knowledge of JD, better understanding of AJDI details before participation, and used their veterinarian more often to get information about new management practices and technologies when compared with nonparticipants. In contrast, nonparticipants indicated that time was a major on-farm constraint and that participation in the AJDI would take too much time. They also indicated that they preferred to wait and see how the program worked on other farms before they participated
Major Limb Amputations: A Tertiary Hospital Experience in Northwestern Tanzania.
No full textMajor limb amputation is reported to be a major but preventable public health problem that is associated with profound economic, social and psychological effects on the patient and family especially in developing countries where the prosthetic services are poor. The purpose of this study was to outline the patterns, indications and short term complications of major limb amputations and to compare our experience with that of other published data. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre between March 2008 and February 2010. All patients who underwent major limb amputation were, after informed consent for the study, enrolled into the study. Data were collected using a pre-tested, coded questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 11.5 computer software. A total of 162 patients were entered into the study. Their ages ranged between 2-78 years (mean 28.30 ± 13.72 days). Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 2:1. The majority of patients (76.5%) had primary or no formal education. One hundred and twelve (69.1%) patients were unemployed. The most common indication for major limb amputation was diabetic foot complications in 41.9%, followed by trauma in 38.4% and vascular disease in 8.6% respectively. Lower limbs were involved in 86.4% of cases and upper limbs in 13.6% of cases giving a lower limb to upper limb ratio of 6.4:1 Below knee amputation was the most common procedure performed in 46.3%. There was no bilateral limb amputation. The most common additional procedures performed were wound debridement, secondary suture and skin grafting in 42.3%, 34.5% and 23.2% respectively. Two-stage operation was required in 45.4% of patients. Revision amputation rate was 29.6%. Post-operative complication rate was 33.3% and surgical site infection was the most common complication accounting for 21.0%. The mean length of hospital stay was 22.4 days and mortality rate was 16.7%. Complications of diabetic foot ulcers and trauma resulting from road traffic crashes were the most common indications for major limb amputation in our environment. The majority of these amputations are preventable by provision of health education, early presentation and appropriate management of the common indications
Oral History Interview with Yoshihiro Minamoto, September 15, 2005
No full textTranscript of an oral interview with Major General Yoshihiro Minamoto. Through the work of the translator, Minamoto recalls attending a military academy in Tokyo and granduating in April, 1944. From there, he was assigned to a Japanese Army shipping division in Hiroshima. Through the translator, Minamoto describes training a special squadron of suicide boat operators for deployment on Okinawa. He arrived on Okinawa in September, 1944. Minamoto never got a chance to attack with his suicide boat squadron at Okinawa, so he was folded into an infantry unit already on Okinawa. Minamoto also describes surrendering once he heard the war was finished. When he returned to Japan after the war, he volunteered for service in the Japanese Defense Forces
Cybernetic Revelation: Deconstructing Artificial Intelligence
No full textCybernetic Revelation explores the dual philosophical histories of deconstruction and artificial intelligence, tracing the development of concepts like "logos" and the notion of modeling the mind technologically from pre-history to contemporary thinkers such as Slavoj Zizek and Steven Pinker. The writing is clear and accessible throughout, yet the text probes deeply into major philosophers seen by JD Casten as "conceptual engineers." Philosophers covered include: Anaximander, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Philo, Augustine, Shakespeare, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Freud, Jung, Joyce, Dewey, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Adorno, Benjamin, Derrida, Chomsky, Zizek, Pinker, Dennett, Hofstadter, Stiegler + more; with special chapters on: AI's history, Complexity, Deconstructing AI, Aesthetics, Consciousness + more..
New concepts in bilirubin and jaundice: Report of the Third International Bilirubin Workshop, April 6-8, 1995, Trieste, Italy
No full textThe workshop covered three major areas: Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) chemistry and physical chemistry; UCB transport and intracellular trafficking; and evaluation and therapy of neonatal and congenital hyperbilirubinemias. Findings of studies in the chemistry and physical chemistry area were as follows. (1) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of highly enriched 13COOH mesobilirubin in water-dimethyl sulfoxide systems indicated that the pKa values of the carboxyl groups are 4.2 and 4.9, respectively. This finding differs from some reports that suggest that the two pKa values in aqueous systems are near or above pH 7.0. (2) Contrasting views of the hydrophobic interactions of UCB with bile salts were presented: one suggested that multiple bile salt monomers bind to one UCB molecule; the other suggested that UCB binds to the nonpolar surface of helical bile salt micelles. (3) Structures were proposed for the varied calcium and copper bilirubinate salts formed at various pH values and cation/UCB ratios. (4) Studies of binding of UCB to human serum albumin (HSA) showed marked diminution of UCB-binding affinity as albumin and chloride concentrations increased. (5) A unique UCB derivative, bilirubin-C10-sulfonic acid, was identified as the major bile pigment in bullfrog bile. (6) New methods were presented for removal of impurities from preparations of bile salts and UCB. Findings of studies in the transport area were as follows. (1) Four putative basolateral and two putative canalicular hepatocytic transporters of UCB and related organic anions were described. Special emphasis was given to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent canalicular multi-specific organic anion transporter that is defective in three strains of mutant rats with congenital conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. (2) The roles of the classical and newer molecular biological approaches to identification of these transporters were contrasted, and their limitations were discussed. (3) The relative roles of the multiple carriers in UCB transport under different conditions and substrate concentrations were discussed. (4) Cytosolic UCB-binding proteins (e.g., ligandin) were shown to promote transcellular movement of UCB by solubilizing and transporting the pigment in the aqueous phase while limiting binding of UCB to the relatively immobile membranes of cell organelles. (5) Mechanisms were presented for translocation of UDP-glucuronic acid (UDPGA) into the lumenal location of UDPGA transferase in the endoplasmic reticulum, as well as the enhancement of this process by N-acetyl-glucosamine. Studies in the neonatal and congenital jaundice area were as follows. (1) Criteria were reviewed for initiating treatment of neonatal jaundice, emphasizing the primacy of serum bilirubin levels, gestational age, and hemolysis as risk factors for kernicterus. (2) New methods were presented for frequent, automated monitoring of serum bilirubin levels and breath CO levels as an index of rates of formation of UCB from heme. (3) The current status and limitations of new approaches to treatment of severe unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were discussed: hepatocyte transplantation and gene therapy, still in the stage of development in animal models, have provided only partial and temporary relief of hyperbilirubinemia; extracorporeal liver assist devices have had some success in initial human studies; and inhibition of heme oxygenase (HO) with metalloporphyrins, especially tin mesoporphyrin, which markedly decreases bilirubin production for prolonged periods, is a new alternative to phototherapy. (4) The ontogeny of the two HO isozymes was contrasted in the liver, spleen, kidney, and lung
- …
