Mobius Fermions: Improved Domain Wall Chiral Fermions

A new class of domain wall fermions is defined that interpolates between Shamir's and Bori\c{c}i's form without increasing the number of Dirac applications per CG iteration. This class represents a full (real) M\"obius transformation of the Wilson kernel. Simulations on quenched Wilson lattices with $\beta = 6.0$ show that the number of lattice sites ($L_s$) in the fifth dimension can be reduced by a factor of 2 or more at fixed value of chiral symmetry violations measured by the residual mass ($m_{res}$).Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, MOGUĆI UTJECAJ OKOLIŠNIH ČIMBENIKA I NAVODNJAVANJA KUKURUZA NA VELIČINU LIČINKI U SJEVEROZAPADNOJ ITALIJI

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, larvae were collected in different irrigated maize fields in Brescia Province in Northwestern Italy in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Head capsule widths, considered a valid indicator of larval instar stage, were measured for 2063 specimens and data for the three years were combined and grouped in increments of 20 µm width sizes. Frequency of larvae within each grouping was graphed as a histogram and three distinct peaks, interpreted to represent the peak frequency of the head capsule widths of the three larval instars, were observed. Assuming a normal distribution of head capsule widths, a multiple nonlinear Gaussian curve regression was applied to the frequency histogram. The peaks of the fitted normal curves were 227 ± 3 µm, 353 ± 6 µm, and 519 ± 3 µm for the first, second and third instars, respectively. These values are higher than those reported by other authors in similar studies. The possible impact of irrigation and other environmental factors is discussed.Ličinke kukuruzne zlatice, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte skupljane su u različito navodnjavanim poljima kukuruza provincije Brescia (SZ Italija) 2006., 2007. i 2008. godine. Širina glave smatra se valjanim pokazateljem razvojnih faza ličinki, stoga su obavljena mjerenja širine glave 2063 jedinki te vrste, a podatci trogodišnjih istraživanja spojeni su i rangirani u veličine od 20 μm širine. Frekvencija ličinki unutar istih rangiranja prikazana je grafički histogramom s tri vrha koji interpretiraju vrhove u frekvenciji širine glava ličinki triju različitih stadija razvoja. Za prikaz histograma frekvencija, uz pretpostavku normalne distribucije širine glave ličinki, korištena je višestruka nelinearna Gausova krivulja. Vrhovi normalnih krivulja bili su 227 ± 3 μm, 353 ± 6 μm i 519 ± 3 μm za prvu, drugu i treću fazu razvoja. Vrijednosti su veće od vrijednosti koje su opazili autori u sličnim studijama. Rad raspravlja o mogućem utjecaju navodnjavanja i ostalih čimbenika okoliša

ESTIMATING THE VALUE OF BT CORN: A MULTI-STATE COMPARISON

Bt corn offers a powerful tool to control European corn borers and some other pests. Because pest infestations and farming practices differ across the Corn Belt, economic benefits also differ. This research estimates the value of Bt corn across the Corn Belt. Results identify areas where Bt adoption is economically justified.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Dual Labor Markets: A Theory of Labor Market Segmentation

A growing body of empirical research has documented persistent divisions among American workers: divisions by race, sex, educational credentials, industry grouping, and so forth (F. B. Weisskoff, B. Bluestone, S. Bowles and H. Gintis, D. Gordon, 1971 and 1972, B. Harrison, M. Reich, H. Wachtel and C. Betsey, and H. Zellner). These groups seem to operate in different labor markets, with different working conditions, different promotional opportunities, different wages, and different market institutions. These continuing labor market divisions pose anomalies for neoclassical economists. Orthodox theory assumes that profit-maximizing employers evaluate workers in terms of their individual characteristics and predicts that labor market differences among groups will decline over time because of competitive mechanisms (K. Arrow). But by most measures, the labor market differences among groups have not been disappearing (R. Edwards, M. Reich, and T. Weisskopf, chs. 5, 7, 8). The continuing importance of groups in the labor market thus is neither explained nor predicted by orthodox theory. Why is the labor force in general still so fragmented? Why are group characteristics repeatedly so important in the I labor market? In this paper, we summarize an emerging radical theory of labor market segmentation; we develop the full arguments in Reich, Gordon, and Edwards. The theory argues that political and economic forces within American capitalism have given rise to and perpetuated segmented labor markets, and that it is incorrect to view the sources of segmented markets as exogenous to the economic system

Inhibition of the Aminopeptidase from \u3cem\u3eAeromonas proteolytica\u3c/em\u3e by Aliphatic Alcohols. Characterization of the Hydrophobic Substrate Recognition Site

Seven aliphatic and two aromatic alcohols were tested as reporters of the substrate selectivity of the aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica (AAP). This series of alcohols was chosen to systematically probe the effect of carbon chain length, steric bulk, and inhibitor shape on the inhibition of AAP. Initially, however, the question of whether AAP is denatured in the presence of aliphatic alcohols was addressed. On the basis of circular dichroism (CD), electronic absorption, and fluorescence spectra, the secondary structure of AAP, with and without added aliphatic alcohols, was unchanged. These data clearly indicate that AAP is not denatured in aliphatic alcohols, even up to concentrations of 20% (v/v). All of the alcohols studied were competitive inhibitors of AAP with Ki values between 860 and 0.98 mM. The clear trend in the data was that as the carbon chain length increases from one to four, the Ki values increase. Branching of the carbon chains also increases the Ki values, but large bulky groups, such as that found in tert-butyl alcohol, do not inhibit AAP as well as leucine analogues, such as 3-methyl-1-butanol. The competitive nature of the inhibition indicates that the substrate and each alcohol studied are mutually exclusive due to binding at the same site on the enzyme. On the basis of EPR and electronic absorption data for Co(II)-substituted AAP, none of the alcohols studied binds to the dinuclear metallo-active site of AAP. Thus, reaction of the inhibitory alcohols with the catalytic metal ions cannot constitute the mechanism of inhibition. Combination of these data suggests that each of these inhibitors bind only to the hydrophobic pocket of AAP and, consequently, block the binding of substrate. Thus, the first step in peptide hydrolysis is the recognition of the N-terminal amino acid side chain by the hydrophobic pocket adjacent to the dinuclear active site of AAP

The Value of Bt Corn in Southwest Kansas: A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach

While most Corn Belt farmers consider planting Bt corn to control European corn borer, southwestern Kansas farmers must also take into account an array of other insect pests, including corn rootworm, spider mites, and southwestern corn borer. This research uses a decision analysis framework to estimate the expected economic value of Bt corn in southwest Kansas. Mean per acre Bt values ranged from $12.49 to$34.60, well above the technology fee assumed to be $14 per unit, or$5.25 per acre at a seeding rate of 30,000 seeds per acre. The minimum value over all scenarios was $8.69 per acre. Using Monte Carlo simulation, it was shown that European and southwestern corn borer infestation probabilities, expected corn price, and expected pest-free yields are important determinants of the value of Bt corn.Bt corn, decision analysis, European corn borer, integrated pest management, Monte Carlo simulation, southwestern corn borer, Crop Production/Industries,

Aortic calcification and femoral bone density are independently associated with left ventricular mass in patients with chronic kidney disease

Background Vascular calcification and reduced bone density are prevalent in chronic kidney disease and linked to increased cardiovascular risk. The mechanism is unknown. We assessed the relationship between vascular calcification, femoral bone density and left ventricular mass in patients with stage 3 non-diabetic chronic kidney disease in a cross-sectional observational study. Methodology and Principal Findings A total of 120 patients were recruited (54% male, mean age 55±14 years, mean glomerular filtration rate 50±13 ml/min/1.73 m2). Abdominal aortic calcification was assessed using lateral lumbar spine radiography and was present in 48%. Mean femoral Z-score measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was 0.60±1.06. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine left ventricular mass. One patient had left ventricular hypertrophy. Subjects with aortic calcification had higher left ventricular mass compared to those without (56±16 vs. 48±12 g/m2, P = 0.002), as did patients with femoral Z-scores below zero (56±15 vs. 49±13 g/m2, P = 0.01). In univariate analysis presence of aortic calcification correlated with left ventricular mass (r = 0.32, P = 0.001); mean femoral Z-score inversely correlated with left ventricular mass (r = −0.28, P = 0.004). In a multivariate regression model that included presence of aortic calcification, mean femoral Z-score, gender and 24-hour systolic blood pressure, 46% of the variability in left ventricular mass was explained (P<0.001). Conclusions In patients with stage 3 non-diabetic chronic kidney disease, lower mean femoral Z-score and presence of aortic calcification are independently associated with increased left ventricular mass. Further research exploring the pathophysiology that underlies these relationships is warranted