8,983 research outputs found
Phylogenetically distinct Wolbachia gene and pseudogene sequences obtained from the African onchocerciasis vector Simulium squamosum.
No full textWolbachia are intracellular bacteria mostly found in a diverse range of arthropods and filarial nematodes. They have been classified into seven distinct 'supergroups' and other lineages on the basis of molecular phylogenetics. The arthropod-infecting Wolbachia are usually regarded as reproductive parasites because they manipulate their host species' sexing system to enhance their own spread, and this has led to their investigation as potential agents of genetic control in medical entomology. We report 12 partial Wolbachia gene sequences from: aspC, aspS, dnaA, fbpA, ftsZ, GroEL, hcpA, IDA, rpoB, rpe, TopI and wsp as well as a single ftsZ pseudogene sequence, which have all been PCR-amplified from Simulium squamosum (Diptera: Simuliidae). To our knowledge this is the first such report from Simuliidae. Uninterrupted open-reading frame sequences were obtained from all 12 genes, covering approximately 6.2kb of unique DNA sequence. Phylogenetic analyses with the different coding genes gave consistent results suggesting that the Wolbachia sequences obtained here do not derive from any of the known Wolbachia supergroups or lineages. Consistent with a unique genetic status for the S. squamosumWolbachia, the hypervariable regions of the Wolbachia-specific wsp gene were distinct from all previous records in both sequence and length. As well as potential implications for newly emerging Wolbachia-based disease control methods, the results may be relevant to some problems experienced in the laboratory colonisation of Simulium damnosum sensu lato and why it is such a diverse species complex
Pharmacological interventions for patients experiencing acute post-operative pain
No full textWhat is pain? It is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. What are goals for postoperative pain management?To increase a patients quality of life, to facilitate a full and healthy recovery, to decrease the risk for complications (Impaired mobility -
pneumonia, pressure ulcers, DVT), to allow for early discharge from the hospital. Conclusion: by using a combination of pharmacological interventions we can more accurately provide pain management to patients by addressing multiple types of pain at once. By performing a thorough pain assessment and using our clinical judgement to determine what pharmacological interventions are necessary, we can move closer to achieving our postoperative pain management goals.Not peer reviewedStudent Research Day Poster (2017
An 18S ribosomal DNA barcode for the study of Isomermis lairdi, a parasite of the blackfly Simulium damnosum s.l.
No full textThe mermithid parasite, Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou (Nematoda: Mermithidae), is known to have a major impact on populations of Simulium damnosum s.l. Theobald (Diptera: Simuliidae) and on their efficiency as vectors of Onchocerca volvulus (Leuckart) (Nematoda: Filarioidea). However, the value of I. lairdi and other mermithid parasites as potential means of integrated vector control has not been fully realized. This is partly because traditional taxonomic approaches have been insufficient for describing and analysing important aspects of their biology and host range. In total, rDNA barcode sequences have been obtained from over 70 I. lairdi mermithids found parasitizing S. damnosum s.l. larvae in three different rivers. No two sequences were found to vary by more than 0.5%, and cytospecies identification of mermithid hosts revealed that I. lairdi with identical rDNA barcodes can parasitize multiple cytoforms of the S. damnosum complex, including S. squamosum (Enderlein). Phylogenetic analysis using a partial sequence from the 18S ribosomal DNA barcode, grouped I. lairdi in a monophyletic group with Gastromermis viridis Welch (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and Isomermis wisconsinensis Welch (Nematoda: Mermithidae)
Clowns, Fools, and Killers: An Exploration of Horror, Comedy, and Madness Through the Roles of Murderer 2 and Sir Richard Ratcliffe in William Shakespeare\u27s Richard III
No full textThis document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts with a Concentration in Musical Theatre. It is a detailed account of author RJ Magee’s artistic and scholarly process in creating the roles of Murderer 2 and Sir Richard Ratcliffe in William Shakespeare’s Richard III. The production was performed as part of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s mainstage season in October of 2022. In five chapters, this thesis chronicles the actor’s process: a preproduction analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis, and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included
The Critical Knowledge Gap in Evaluating Restorative Justice Practices as a Response to Sexual Misconduct / Sexual Violence in Post-Secondary Institutions: A Call to Action
No full textIn this professional practice paper I set out to discover whether there is data indicating Restorative Justice Practices are effective with respect to victim/survivor satisfaction and engendering systemic culture change when used as a response to incidents of Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence in Post-Secondary Institutions (PSIs). I discovered ample and convincing literature making a case for Restorative Justice (RJ) as a valid response to such incidents; as well as, frameworks to guide PSIs in developing this approach within their own institutions. The critical knowledge gap lies in evaluation. What is currently lacking is data on whether institutions are adopting this approach, in what circumstances, in what ways, and to what effect. I suggest this lack of data exists because it is only within the last five years that PSIs, in many Provinces in Canada but not all, have been legislated to respond to these kinds of incidents. This has driven an emergent interest in RJ specific to Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence within the Post-Secondary setting. Despite the promise inherent in Restorative Justice Practices, there are legitimate challenges to implementation. This paper seeks to provide some ideas to address those challenges; highlighting work I have undertaken within my own institution. My call to action is for PSIs that implement RJ Practices to do so with evaluation in mind and for researchers to focus scholarship in this area. My hope is to inspire others to strive towards infusing a restorative and relational approach in their work
Kunst in Archiven: andrea RJ "Inchoate"
No full textInchoate from andrea RJ on Vimeo. "This piece was done in collaboration with sound artist Pabo GaV for the audiovisual concert “Sound expansion” presented at the festival at the festival, Hybrid Syntax in the National Sound Archive in México City. The sound was gave by eight speakers positioned around the audience, in a way to live a immersive listening experience. We combined the expressive possibilities of spatial sound and video image.
Post-typhoon prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder in a Vietnamese sample
No full textIn 2006, typhoon Xangsane disrupted a multiagency health needs study of 4,982 individuals in Vietnam. Following this disaster, 798 of the original participants were reinterviewed to determine prevalence and risk factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), panic disorder (PD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Posttyphoon prevalences were PTSD 2.6%, MDD 5.9%, PD 9.3%, and GAD 2.2%. Of those meeting criteria for a disorder, 70% reported only one disorder, 15% had two, 14% had three, and 1% met criteria for all four disorders. Risk factors for posttyphoon psychopathology differed among disorders, but generally were related to high typhoon exposure, prior trauma exposure, and in contrast to Western populations, higher age, but not gender
The effect of administering a dopamine agonist (cabergoline) on follicular and luteal development during pro-estrus and estrus in the female greyhound.
No full textTo study the effect of the dopamine agonist Cabergoline, on ovarian activity in the female dog during pro-estrus and estrus, 6 greyhounds were treated with 5 μg/kg per os of Cabergoline for 20 days beginning on the first day of pro-estrus; 6 animals were left untreated (controls). Ovarian morphology was determined by ultrasound examination once a day during pro-estrus and twice a day during estrus. Follicles were divided into three classes on the basis of their diameter: F1 (6 mm). The presence and diameters of post-ovulatory follicles (F-POST) and corpora lutea (CL) were also recorded. Blood samples were taken once a day during pro-estrus and twice a day during estrus. The plasma was assayed for LH, prolactin and progesterone by radioimmunoassay. There were no differences between Cabergoline-treated and control dogs in the duration of pro-estrus or estrus. There was a progressive increase in follicle diameter from the start of pro-estrus when follicles were mainly class F1 to the day of estrus when follicles were mainly class F3. Three days after the start of estrus, the first F-POST follicles were detected. This pattern of development continued and on day 5 the first CLs were detected. By day 9, only CLs were detected. The peak of pre-ovulatory LH was within 3 days of estrus and ovulation was detected in all animals within 3 days of the LH peak. There were no differences in LH concentrations between groups. Plasma prolactin levels varied between animals and were reduced in treated dogs, however, this was not statistically significant (P = 0.12). Plasma progesterone levels were below 1.0 ng/ml before the LH surge and thereafter gradually increased. There were no differences in plasma progesterone concentrations between treated and control dogs. In conclusion these results show that the administration of the dopamine agonist Cabergoline during pro-estrus and estrus did not affect the duration of pro-estrus or estrus or the pattern of follicular and luteal development in female do
Reformulating the rj-McMC Algorithm for 3D Inversion of Passive Seismic Data for Near-Surface Characterization
No full textGeophysical subsurface characterization techniques could, due to their non-invasive nature, play a crucial role in the design and subsequent construction of infrastructure in urban & industrial environ- ments. Geo-data specialist company Fugro sees potential in upgrading their current ambient-seismic- noise-tomography workflow, to make use of state-of-the-art inversion schemes with the main goal of increasing the quality and accuracy of the initial-site characterization delivered to clients. In this thesis I explore the feasibility of utilizing the reverse-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (rj-McMC) algorithm for the inversion of ambient seismic noise for characterization in urban & industrial environments. Specif- ically, testing the potential of scaling down this inversion algorithm to fit in a small scale, near-surface framework. To achieve this, I first carried out analyses to evaluate the appropriate Rayleigh wave frequency range, after which realistic noise hyperparameters, suited for this reduced scale problem, were obtained. Because of the potential exploitation of in-situ borehole measurements, I reformulated the Bayesian prior within the rj-McMC algorithm to implement these constraining shear wave velocity values appropriately. I conducted extensive synthetic experiments to gain insight into the behavior of this adapted algorithm, from which it was concluded that the inherent dynamic discretization partially prevents these constraints from being implemented to their full extent. Nevertheless, promising results lead me to conclude that the use of the rj-McMC algorithm for application in near-surface urban & industrial environments is feasible.Applied Geophysics | IDEA Leagu
Financial market determinants of the real cost of funds to public corporations in the US: 2SLS and GMM findings
No full textPurpose – The purpose of this study is to provide new empirical evidence on the impact of a variety of
financial market forces on the ex post real cost of funds to corporations, namely, the ex post real interest
rate yield on AAA-rated long-term corporate bonds in the USA. The study is couched within an
open-economy loanable funds model, and it adopts annual data for the period 1973-2013, so that the
results are current while being applicable only for the post-Bretton Woods era. The auto-regressive
two-stage least squares (2SLS) and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations reveal that the
ex post real interest rate yield on AAA-rated long-term corporate bonds in the USA was an increasing
function of the ex post real interest rate yields on six-month Treasury bills, seven-year Treasury notes,
high-grade municipal bonds and the Moody’s BAA-rated corporate bonds, while being a decreasing
function of the monetary base as a per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and net financial capital
inflows as a per cent of GDP. Finally, additional estimates reveal that the higher the budget deficit as a
per cent of GDP, the higher the ex post real interest rate on AAA-rated long-term corporate bonds.
Design/methodology/approach – After developing an initial open-economy loanable funds model,
the empirical dimension of the study involves auto-regressive, two-stage least squares and GMM
estimates. The model is then expanded to include the federal budget deficit, and new AR/2SLS and
GMM estimates are provided.
Findings – The AR/2SLS and GMM (generalized method of moments) estimations reveal that the ex
post real interest rate yield on AAA-rated long-term corporate bonds in the USA was an increasing
function of the ex post real interest rate yields on six-month Treasury bills, seven-year Treasury notes,
high-grade municipal bonds and the Moody’s BAA-rated corporate bonds, while being a decreasing
function of the monetary base as a per cent of GDP and net financial capital inflows as a per cent of GDP.
Finally, additional estimates reveal that the higher the budget deficit as a per cent of GDP, the higher the
ex post real interest rate on AAA-rated long -term corporate bonds.
Originality/value – The author is unaware of a study that adopts this particular set of real interest rates
along with net capital inflows and the monetary base as a per cent of GDP and net capital inflows. Also, the
data run through 2013. There have been only studies of deficits and real interest rates in the past few years
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