Investigation of community composition on abalone (Haliotis midae) shells at two sites in the Western Cape, South Africa

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (p. 32-35).Algal and invertebrate assemblages resident on abalone (Haliotis midae) shells at two subtidal locations in the western Cape of South Africa were investigated. Forty medium-sized (linear length 10 - 20 cm) abalone were harvested (along with forty complementary rock-face quadrat samples) from one site at Cape Point and two sites at Gansbaai and the resident species were identified and statistically compared

The Growth of Smart Contracts

In December 2017, the frenzy surrounding cryptocurrencies hit its peak with bitcoin trading at nearly $20,000 for one bitcoin. Every public company across the country was discussing how they intended to implement the blockchain into their business and the changes coming in their sector. Two years later and we’ve seen massive growth in the blockchain industry, with more growth coming. One report projects a nearly 70% compounded annual growth rate over the next 6 years in the blockchain industry throughout the world. This post was originally published on the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal website on February 12, 2020. The original post can be accessed via the Archived Link button above

Alien Registration- Farrell, Daniel P. (Millinocket, Penobscot County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/7254/thumbnail.jp

The effects of aluminum concentration on growth responses in six Spartina alterniflora genotypes

Elevated soluble aluminum concentrations can adversely affect plant growth. During a drought, wetland soils may experience higher than normal soluble aluminum due to the oxidation of metal sulfides and resulting decreases in pH, which mobilizes metallic cations. Louisiana coastal salt marshes were subject to a record-setting drought in the winter and spring of 2000 which was coincident with the die-off of large expanses of salt marsh, termed brown marsh . Spartina alterniflora was the primary plant species affected. However, because some individuals within large areas of die-off survived the brown marsh event, they may have been the more resistant genotypes. To determine if genotypic resistance to aluminum existed, six genotypes of the common salt-marsh cord-grass Spartina alterniflora, five surviving genotypes, and a commercial variety (Vermillion), were dosed with aluminum chloride (AlCl3) at concentrations ranging from 0.2 mM to 10.8 mM. No death was observed in any of the genotypes at aluminum concentrations as high as 10.8 mM, although growth rates decreased to near zero. The results of this study indicate that, as a species, the resistance of Spartina alterniflora to aluminum may surpass the threshold of any plant species studied to date. All genotypes in the experiment were found to tolerate extremely high concentrations of aluminum, although declines in stem elongation rate and cumulative stem height were evident in all Al treatments. I estimated the differential aluminum tolerance by using the first significant decrease in growth rate when the genotype x concentration effect was significant. The first significant decrease approach had the best resolution for determining genotype variability when used with the stem elongation data. Although insufficient evidence exists to determine if aluminum toxicity caused the brown marsh event in Louisiana, based on the results of this thesis, the aluminum concentrations would have had to reach extremely high levels to have been the sole cause of the brown marsh dieback

A randomised controlled study of high intensity exercise as a dishabituating stimulus to improve hypoglycaemia awareness in people with type 1 diabetes:a proof of concept study

Aims/hypothesis Approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes have suppressed counterregulatory hormonal and symptomatic responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, which renders them at increased risk of severe, disabling hypoglycaemia. This is called impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH), the cause of which is unknown. We recently proposed that IAH develops through habituation, a form of adaptive memory to preceding hypoglycaemia. Consistent with this hypothesis, we demonstrated restoration of defective counterregulatory hormonal responses to hypoglycaemia (referred to as dishabituation) in a rodent model of IAH following introduction of a novel stress stimulus (high intensity training [HIT]). In this proof-of-concept study we sought to further test this hypothesis by examining whether a single episode of HIT would amplify counterregulatory responses to subsequent hypoglycaemia in people with type 1 diabetes who had IAH (assessed by Gold score ≥4, modified Clarke score ≥4 or Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) hypoglycaemia awareness rating 2 or 3). The primary outcome was the difference in adrenaline response to hypoglycaemia following both a single episode of HIT and rest. Methods In this randomised, crossover study 12 participants aged between 18 and 55 years with type 1 diabetes for ≥5 years and an HbA1c < 75 mmol/mol (9%) were recruited. Individuals were randomised using computer generated block randomisation to start with one episode of HIT (4 × 30 s cycle sprints [2 min recovery] at 150% of maximum wattage achieved during V˙O2peak assessment) or rest (control). The following day they underwent a 90 min hyperinsulinaemic–hypoglycaemic clamp study at 2.5 mmol/l with measurement of hormonal counterregulatory response, symptom scores and cognitive testing (four-choice reaction time and digit symbol substitution test). Each intervention and subsequent clamp study was separated by at least 2 weeks. The participants and investigators were not blinded to the intervention or measurements during the study. The investigators were blinded to the primary outcome and blood analysis results. Results All participants (six male and six female, age 19–54 years, median [IQR] duration of type 1 diabetes 24.5 [17.3–29.0] years, mean [SEM] HbA1c 56 [3.67] mmol/mol; 7.3% [0.34%]) completed the study (both interventions and two clamps). In comparison with the rest study, a single episode of HIT led to a 29% increase in the adrenaline (epinephrine) response (mean [SEM]) (2286.5 [343.1] vs 2953.8 [384.9] pmol/l); a significant increase in total symptom scores (Edinburgh Hypoglycaemia Symptom Scale: 24.25 [2.960 vs 27.5 [3.9]; p < 0.05), and a significant prolongation of four-choice reaction time (591.8 [22.5] vs 659.9 [39.86] ms; p < 0.01] during equivalent hypoglycaemia induced the following day. Conclusions/interpretation These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that IAH develops in people with type 1 diabetes as a habituated response and that introduction of a novel stressor can restore, at least partially, the adapted counterregulatory hormonal, symptomatic and cognitive responses to hypoglycaemia.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Onlin

Analysis of Archived Residual Newborn Screening Blood Spots After Whole Genome Amplification

Deidentified newborn screening bloodspot samples (NBS) represent a valuable potential resource for genomic research if impediments to whole exome sequencing of NBS deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), including the small amount of genomic DNA in NBS material, can be overcome. For instance, genomic analysis of NBS could be used to define allele frequencies of disease-associated variants in local populations, or to conduct prospective or retrospective studies relating genomic variation to disease emergence in pediatric populations over time. In this study, we compared the recovery of variant calls from exome sequences of amplified NBS genomic DNA to variant calls from exome sequencing of non-amplified NBS DNA from the same individuals. Results: Using a standard alignment-based Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK), we find 62,000-76,000 additional variants in amplified samples. After application of a unique kmer enumeration and variant detection method (RUFUS), only 38,000-47,000 additional variants are observed in amplified gDNA. This result suggests that roughly half of the amplification-introduced variants identified using GATK may be the result of mapping errors and read misalignment. Conclusions: Our results show that it is possible to obtain informative, high-quality data from exome analysis of whole genome amplified NBS with the important caveat that different data generation and analysis methods can affect variant detection accuracy, and the concordance of variant calls in whole-genome amplified and non-amplified exomes.National Institute of Health P01HD067244, NS076465, R01ES021006Nutritional Science

Letter from the Editors

The Editorial Board of the Cornell Real Estate Review is pleased to present Volume 16 (2018). The Review is a student run publication under the direction of the Baker Program in Real Estate founded as a forum for faculty, professionals, and real estate students to focus attention on current issues in the real estate industry. The Review focuses on the interdisciplinary nature of real estate, blending informative articles on real estate practice with application-based academic research. The Review covers a broad range of issues from the various real estate disciplines including design, business economics, engineering, finance, law, planning, development, marketing, and property management