The Clock affecting 1 mutation of Neurospora is a recurrence of the frq\u3csup\u3e7\u3c/sup\u3e mutation7

The clock affecting-1 (cla-1) mutation of Neurospora crassa increases the period and decreases temperature compensation of the circadian rhythm, and was thought to define an uncloned gene with a possible role in the Neurospora clock. This defect, thought to be due to a translocation, was associated with a slow growth rate and a period of about 27 h at 25cla-1 and found the growth rate and period defects to be due to linked independent mutations. The translocation was not the cause of the long period. The csp-1 mutation, present in the original cla-1 strain, had a period shortening effect, thus cla-1 strains lacking csp-1 had a period length similar to that of frequency7 (frq7). The cla-1 period defect mapped to the frq locus, and sequencing of frq revealed cla-1 to be a re-isolation of frq7

Responses of songbirds and small mammals to harvests of native grasslands for biofuels in Western Minnesota

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. February 2014. Major: Natural Resources Science and Management. Advisor: Dr. Todd W. Arnold. 1 computer file (PDF); viii, 76 pages, appendix A.Some grassland birds and small mammals exhibit changes in abundance following vegetation removal in the previous year, but it is unknown to what extent these organisms respond to harvests of diverse, native grasslands. This thesis examines the effects of harvesting such grasslands on songbirds and small mammals, representing an important step in evaluating the conservation value of grasslands used for biofuel harvest. I analyzed abundance data collected from area-based bird surveys in grassland biofuel plots harvested via different pattern and percentage in western Minnesota, USA, from 2009 to 2013 (Chapter 1). Small mammal trapping was conducted in the same plots from 2009 to 2012, and abundance and occupancy data collected from these surveys was also analyzed (Chapter 2). I estimated relative abundance of 11 species of grassland birds and 7 species/genera of small mammals among the different harvest intensities and years of study. Four bird species and species richness showed declines in abundance following harvests, whereas two species showed increases in abundance. Harvests also resulted in negative impacts on two small mammals. The removal of vegetation in fall results in shorter, less dense vegetation the following spring, which creates largely unsuitable habitat for tall-grass songbirds (e.g., sedge wren) but more optimal habitat for species that prefer shorter vegetation (e.g., grasshopper sparrow). Additionally, the reduction in ground litter is detrimental to small mammals that prefer thicker vegetation (e.g., voles of the genus Microtus). At the community level, harvesting native grasslands appears to have little impact on grassland birds and small mammals, but it is nonetheless important to identify what species are present prior to harvesting so that harvesting activities do not result in detriment to these species

Service Quality Determinants and Effectiveness in the Real Estate Brokerage Industry

This study provides an analysis of the real estate brokerage industry for the purposes of identifying the determinants of service quality, the level of service quality, and possible service quality improvement measures. Factor analysis of survey response data is used to develop an empirical application of a theoretical service quality model. Except for rank order, real estate service quality determinants are found to match those in other industries. Real estate service quality met expectations in three areas, and was below expectations in two areas. Salesperson performance evaluation measures are suggested to improve service quality.

Effects of Compression, Staging, and Braid Angle on Braided Rope Seal Performance

This viewgraph presentation describes the effects of compression, staging and braid angle on braided rope seals. The contents include: 1) Test Fixture Schematics; 2) Comparison of Hybrid Seal Braid Architecture; 3) Residual Interference After Compression Cycling; 4) Effect of Compression, Braid, and Staging on Seal Flow; 5) Effect of Staging on Seal Pressure Drop; 6) Three Stag Seal Durability; 7) P&W Turbine Vane Seal Requirements; and 8) Next Generation Fighter F-22 P&W F119 Engines

Modular Rake of Pitot Probes

The figure presents selected views of a modular rake of 17 pitot probes for measuring both transient and steady-state pressures in a supersonic wind tunnel. In addition to pitot tubes visible in the figure, the probe modules contain (1) high-frequency dynamic-pressure transducers connected through wires to remote monitoring circuitry and (2) flow passages that lead to tubes that, in turn, lead to remote steady-state pressure transducers. Prior pitot-probe rakes were fabricated as unitary structures, into which the individual pitot probes were brazed. Repair or replacement of individual probes was difficult, costly, and time-consuming because (1) it was necessary to remove entire rakes in order to unbraze individual malfunctioning probes and (2) the heat of unbrazing a failed probe and of brazing a new probe in place could damage adjacent probes. In contrast, the modules in the present probe are designed to be relatively quickly and easily replaceable with no heating and, in many cases, without need for removal of the entire rake from the wind tunnel. To remove a malfunctioning probe, one first removes a screw-mounted V-cross-section cover that holds the probe and adjacent probes in place. Then one removes a screw-mounted cover plate to gain access to the steady-state pressure tubes and dynamicpressure wires. Next, one disconnects the tube and wires of the affected probe. Finally, one installs a new probe in the reverse of the aforementioned sequence. The wire connections can be made by soldering, but to facilitate removal and installation, they can be made via miniature plugs and sockets. The connections between the probe flow passages and the tubes leading to the remote pressure sensors can be made by use of any of a variety of readily available flexible tubes that can be easily pulled off and slid back on for removal and installation, respectively

Soil Structure and Chemistries of Brine-Impacted Soils in West Texas

This project examines the impacts that brine water has on soil chemistry and structure at a west texas ranch.The goal of this research is to use geoinformatics, geochemistry, hydrogeology, and soil chemistry to form a multidisciplinary approach aimed at remediating brine impacted soils. The primary research location is a 14-acre “kill zone” located on a private ranch approximately 14 kilometers south of San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) classifies the site soils as part of the Angelo Series, a clay loam derived from limestone. A Geospatial Information System for 3-D soil chemistry modeling which includes measuring for total alkalinity, extractable calcium, chloride, total copper, potassium, magnesium, sodium, total phosphorus, nitrate, pH, SAR, and total nitrogen was compiled from soil sampling over 2015. Average sodium levels exceed 2500 mg/kg, and average chloride levels exceed 5500 mg/kg. This excess of sodium classifies the soils not only as saline soils, but also as a sodic soil. Chemistry data was analyzed by creating ternary diagrams allowing for soil classifications. All data collected are stored in a ArcGIS database for data management, project planning, and various models. Lithologic data manipulated in ArcGIS is transferred to ArcSCENE to create 3-D models of the subsurface. Techniques for remediation that are being investigated include: bioremediation with halophytes, physical soil ripping and furrowing, and using various soil amendments including magnesium sulfate, gypsum, and compost. This research is ongoing and further exploration regarding soil chemistry and forage quality will be analyzed 2016.Angelo State Undergraduate Carr Research, Shell Oil

Effects of transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation on drug use and responses to cue-induced craving: a pilot study

Background: Transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) avoids the use of needles, and instead delivers a mild electric current at traditional acupoints. This technique has been used for treating heroin addiction, but has not been systematically tested for other drugs of abuse. This study aims to investigate the effects of TEAS on drug addiction. Methods: Volunteers who were either cocaine-dependent (n = 9) or cannabis-dependent (n = 11) but were not seeking treatment for their dependence participated in a within-subject, single-blind study. Treatment consisted of twice daily 30-minute sessions of TEAS or sham stimulation for 3.5 days. The active TEAS levels were individually adjusted to produce a distinct twitching response in the fingers, while the sham stimulation involved 2 minutes of stimulation at threshold levels followed by 28 minutes of stimulation below the detection levels. The participants recorded their drug use and drug cravings daily. At 1 hour after the last morning session of TEAS or sham stimulation, a cue-induced craving EEG evaluation was conducted. Event-related P300 potentials (ERPs) were recorded, sorted, and analyzed for specific image types (neutral objects, non-drug-related arousing images, or drug-related images). Results: TEAS treatment did not significantly reduce the drug use or drug cravings, or significantly alter the ERP peak voltage or latency to peak response. However, the TEAS treatment did significantly modulate several self-reported measures of mood and anxiety. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study with a limited sample size suggest that the acupoint stimulation techniques and protocol used in this trial alone do not significantly reduce cravings for or use of cocaine or cannabis. The findings that TEAS modulates mood and anxiety suggest that TEAS could be used as an adjunct in a multimodal therapy program to treat cocaine and cannabis dependence if confirmed in a full randomized controlled clinical trial

Alternative Markers of Performance in Simulation: Where We Are and Where We Need To Go

This article on alternative markers of performance in simulation is the product of a session held during the 2017 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference â Catalyzing System Change Through Health Care Simulation: Systems, Competency, and Outcomes.â There is a dearth of research on the use of performance markers other than checklists, holistic ratings, and behaviorally anchored rating scales in the simulation environment. Through literature review, group discussion, and consultation with experts prior to the conference, the working group defined five topics for discussion: 1) establishing a working definition for alternative markers of performance, 2) defining goals for using alternative performance markers, 3) implications for measurement when using alternative markers, identifying practical concerns related to the use of alternative performance markers, and 5) identifying potential for alternative markers of performance to validate simulation scenarios. Five research propositions also emerged and are summarized.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142535/1/acem13321_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142535/2/acem13321.pd

Live-Cell Monitoring of Periodic Gene Expression in Synchronous Human Cells Identifies Forkhead Genes involved in Cell Cycle Control

We developed a system to monitor periodic luciferase activity from cell cycle-regulated promoters in synchronous cells. Reporters were driven by a minimal human E2F1 promoter with peak expression in G1/S or a basal promoter with six Forkhead DNA-binding sites with peak expression at G2/M. After cell cycle synchronization, luciferase activity was measured in live cells at 10-min intervals across three to four synchronous cell cycles, allowing unprecedented resolution of cell cycle-regulated gene expression. We used this assay to screen Forkhead transcription factors for control of periodic gene expression. We confirmed a role for FOXM1 and identified two novel cell cycle regulators, FOXJ3 and FOXK1. Knockdown of FOXJ3 and FOXK1 eliminated cell cycle-dependent oscillations and resulted in decreased cell proliferation rates. Analysis of genes regulated by FOXJ3 and FOXK1 showed that FOXJ3 may regulate a network of zinc finger proteins and that FOXK1 binds to the promoter and regulates DHFR, TYMS, GSDMD, and the E2F binding partner TFDP1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing analysis identified 4329 genomic loci bound by FOXK1, 83% of which contained a FOXK1-binding motif. We verified that a subset of these loci are activated by wild-type FOXK1 but not by a FOXK1 (H355A) DNA-binding mutant