A Contribution to the Genetic Epidemiology of Structured Populations

A mating system, previously derived, which is more general than random mating is defined by the gene frequency q and a parameter F which measures divergence from Hardy-Weinberg proportions commonly used in genetic analysis. F can be viewed as the average coefficient of inbreeding in a population, the use emphasized here. Also it can characterize the variation in gene frequency in a stratified population. Taking q as fixed, the distribution of F over values admissible under the general mating system is derived by simulation. The mating system may be seen to be based on indifference as to choice of mates. This is the first object of the paper. The second uses the derived distribution of F to make a Bayesian estimate of F from a single sample of genotypic counts. Such an estimate has a number of uses in genetic analysis

Validity and Reliability of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Working Alliance Self-Efficacy Scales

In this paper, the authors report on the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Working Alliance Self-Efficacy Scales (LGB-WASES) with data collected from two studies and 534 counseling trainees. Exploratory factor analysis results yielded a 32-item scale with a three-factor model (a) Emotional Bond, (b) Establishing Tasks, and (c) Setting Goals. LGB-WASES scores were internally consistent and remained stable over a 3-week period. Construct validity evidence suggests the LGB-WASES scores were (a) positively related to general perceptions of counseling self-efficacy and multicultural counseling competency, (b) negatively related to attitudes toward lesbians and gay men, and (d) unrelated to social desirability. Recommendations for future research are also discussed

A recursive algorithm to generate piecewise linear budget contraints

This paper introduces a recursive algorithm with which to generate complete and accurate budget constraints using static microsimulation models. We describe the generic algorithm and discuss and extension by which reasons for any change in the marginal effective tax rate may be explained. We derive continuous expressions for average tax rate (ATR), average marginal tax rate (AMTR), replacement rate (RR) and marginal effective tax rate (METR) schedules, expressed solely in terms of the marginal wage rate and 'virtual' income. A practical application serves to highlight the usefulness of this algorithm in fiscal policy analysis at micro level.

Oscillator strengths and line widths of dipole-allowed transitions in ¹⁴N₂ between 89.7 and 93.5 nm

Line oscillator strengths in the 20 electric dipole-allowed bands of ¹⁴N₂ in the 89.7–93.5nm (111480–106950cm⁻¹) region are reported from photoabsorptionmeasurements at an instrumental resolution of ∼6mÅ (0.7cm⁻¹) full width at half maximum. The absorptionspectrum comprises transitions to vibrational levels of the 3pσᵤc′₄¹Σᵤ⁺, 3pπᵤc³Πᵤ, and 3sσgo₃¹ΠᵤRydberg states and of the b′¹Σᵤ⁺ and b¹Πᵤ valence states. The J dependences of band f values derived from the experimental line f values are reported as polynomials in J′(J′+1) and are extrapolated to J′=0 in order to facilitate comparisons with results of coupled Schrödinger-equation calculations. Most bands in this study are characterized by a strong J dependence of the band f values and display anomalous P-, Q-, and R-branch intensity patterns. Predissociation line widths, which are reported for 11 bands, also exhibit strong J dependences. The f value and line width patterns can inform current efforts to develop comprehensive spectroscopic models that incorporate rotational effects and predissociation mechanisms, and they are critical for the construction of realistic atmospheric radiative-transfer models.This work was supported in part by NASA Grant No. NNG05GA03G to Wellesley College and Australian Research Council Discovery Program Grant No. DP0558962

Teaching Agile Development with DevOps in a Software Engineering and Database Technologies Practicum

[EN] DevOps is a new concept for Software Engineering. Teaching DevOps can be challenging with the limited resources that are available at many universities. This paper exams how to teach of an Agile Development Methodology using a DevOps approach for the Regis University (RU) M.S. in Software Engineering and Database Technologies Practicum. With faculty support, heavy stakeholder involvement and RU Information Technology Services (Operations Support) mentoring, students were able to successfully follow the Agile Development methodology to create an application that was incoporated into the RU Web-site infrastructure.Mason, R.; Masters, W.; Stark, A. (2017). Teaching Agile Development with DevOps in a Software Engineering and Database Technologies Practicum. En Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1353-1362. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD17.2017.5607OCS1353136

Life History of the Alfalfa Weevil, Hypera Postica, and Temporal Predictions for Larval Populations Exceeding the Economic Threshold in Oklahoma

Entomolog

Concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid are reduced in maternal liver, adipose, and heart in rats fed high-fat diets without docosahexaenoic acid throughout pregnancy

The final publication is available at Elsevier via https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2018.10.003 © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Fetal accretion for DHA is high during late pregnancy due to the brain growth spurt. Prior evidence suggests that DHA is mobilized from maternal liver and adipose to meet fetal accretion and physiological requirements. However, changes in the DHA levels of various maternal tissues throughout pregnancy and into lactation of mothers on diets with and without dietary DHA, and with a background dietary fatty acid profile that resembles human intake has not been examined. Sprague Dawley rats were fed a total western diet with (TWD + ) or without DHA (TWD-) along with a commercial rodent chow control (Chow) throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The fatty acid compositions of adipose, brain, heart, liver, erythrocytes, and plasma were determined before pregnancy, at 15 and 20 days of pregnancy, and 7 days postpartum. The placenta, fetuses, and pups were also examined when available. Maternal DHA concentrations were increased in plasma at 20 days pregnancy in all the diets with TWD + > Chow > TWD-. Maternal DHA concentrations in the TWD- group were lower in adipose throughout pregnancy as compared with the other diets. At postpartum, DHA concentrations decreased below baseline levels in the heart of the TWD- and Chow dams and the liver of the TWD- dams. Whole body DHA concentrations of the fetuses did not differ but there was evidence of decreased DHA in the whole body and tissues of the TWD- and Chow 7d old pups. In conclusion, it appears that in this rodent model of pregnancy, maternal adaptations were made to meet fetal DHA requirements, but they may compromise maternal DHA status and the ability to deliver DHA during lactation.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [327149-2013]Canada Research Chairs program as a Chair in Nutritional Lipidomics [950-228125

A Search for Exozodiacal Clouds with Kepler

Planets embedded within dust disks may drive the formation of large scale clumpy dust structures by trapping dust into resonant orbits. Detection and subsequent modeling of the dust structures would help constrain the mass and orbit of the planet and the disk architecture, give clues to the history of the planetary system, and provide a statistical estimate of disk asymmetry for future exoEarth-imaging missions. Here we present the first search for these resonant structures in the inner regions of planetary systems by analyzing the light curves of hot Jupiter planetary candidates identified by the Kepler mission. We detect only one candidate disk structure associated with KOI 838.01 at the 3-sigma confidence level, but subsequent radial velocity measurements reveal that KOI 838.01 is a grazing eclipsing binary and the candidate disk structure is a false positive. Using our null result, we place an upper limit on the frequency of dense exozodi structures created by hot Jupiters. We find that at the 90% confidence level, less than 21% of Kepler hot Jupiters create resonant dust clumps that lead and trail the planet by ~90 degrees with optical depths >~5*10^-6, which corresponds to the resonant structure expected for a lone hot Jupiter perturbing a dynamically cold dust disk 50 times as dense as the zodiacal cloud.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Oscillator strengths and line widths of dipole-allowed transitions in ¹⁴N₂ between 86.0 and 89.7 nm

Oscillator strengths of 23 electric-dipole-allowed bands of ¹⁴N₂ in the 86.0–89.7 nm (111 480–116 280 cm⁻¹) region are reported from synchrotron-based photoabsorptionmeasurements at an instrumental resolution of 6.5×10⁻⁴ nm (0.7 cm⁻¹) full width at half maximum.Partial support for this research was provided by the Australian Research Council Discovery Program through Grant No. DP0558962 and by NASA Grant No. NNX08AE786 to Wellesley College

Deutetrabenazine for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease

This is a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the use of Deutetrabenazine in treating chorea associated with Huntington’s disease. Unfortunately, treatment has been limited for many aspects of this neurodegenerative disease. The present investigation presents the background, evidence, and indications for the use Deutetrabenazine in the setting of Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease is characterized by a variety of motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms with chorea being one of the more notable ones. Chorea is a movement disorder present in multiple neurologic diseases that causes involuntary and irregular muscle movements theorized to be stemming from high dopamine levels. Deutetrabenazine is thought to function as an inhibitor of the VMAT2 vesicular monoamine transporter resulting in decreased monoamine release, including dopamine, in the synaptic cleft which has a therapeutic effect in management of chorea. This drug was approved by the FDA in 2017 with a specific indication for tardive dyskinesia and choreiform movement in Huntington’s disease. Currently, there is no definitive treatment for Huntington’s disease. Thus, management is primarily focused on symptom management with the use of a variety of pharmaceutical agents. Chorea is one of the many manifestations that significantly alter the quality of life of many patients. Deutetrabenazine is a promising new option for the treatment of chorea in the setting of Huntington’s disease. Although studies so far have displayed mixed results, further research, including head-to-head studies, is necessary to elucidate the true potential of this drug