On the nucleotide distribution in bacterial DNA sequences

It is probable that the distributional structure of DNA sequences arises from the accumulation of many successive stochastic events such as nucleotide deletions, insertions, substitutions and elongations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Although the existence of long-range correlations in non-coding portions of DNA sequences is well established [8, 9, 10, 11], first order Markov chains might well capture aspects of their nucleotide distributions [12]. Here we propose a hidden Markov model based on a coupling of an urn process with a Markov chain to approximate the distributional structure of primitive DNA sequences. Then, by supposing that a bacterial DNA sequence can be derived from uniformly distributed mutations of some primitive DNA, we use the model to explain and predict some distributional properties of bacterial DNA sequences. The distributional properties intrinsic to the model were compared to statistical estimates from 1049 bacterial DNA sequences. In particular, the proposed model provides another possible theoretical explanation for Chargaff’s second parity rule for short oligonucleotides [13, 14]

Cashman Equipment Co. v. West Edna Assocs., 132 Nev. Adv. Op. 69 (Sep. 29, 2016)

The Court determined that (1) NRS 108.2457(5)(e) precludes enforcement of an unconditional release from a bottom-tiered contractor to a higher-tiered contractor, when the higher-tiered contractor properly paid the middle-tiered contractor, but the middle-tiered contractor failed to pay the bottom-tiered contractor; and (2) that equitable fault analysis may not be used to reduce an award in a mechanic’s lien case

Pizarro-Ortega v. Cervantes-Lopez, 133 Nev. Adv. Op. 37 (June 22, 2017)

The court held that future medical expenses are a category of damages to which NRCP 16.1(a)(1)(C)’s computation requirement applies, and that a plaintiff is not absolved of complying with NRCP 16.1(a)(1)(C) simply because the plaintiff’s treating physician has indicated in medical records that future medical care is necessary

Motivating the professional learning community; assembling a framework for generative professional development: A generative professional development model by and for teachers

This project examined teachers’ motivation to engage with the construction of a framework for professional development (PD), underpinned by generative learning principles in a school requiring a shift in practice for its teacher. The project also explored how generative PD practices within such a framework might support the development of an emergent Professional Learning Community (PLC). It was proposed that a shift in ownership of PD, through the application of generative practices, might enhance teachers’ intrinsic motivation to engage with PD and provide momentum for PLC genesis. Participants contributed to the school’s PD cycle for one year. TeachMeet principles were employed, where anything of interest within teachers’ professional spheres was shared in a low-stakes setting. Data emanated from semi-structured interviews (SSIs) after the implementation of the generative framework, followed by inductive coding and narrative analysis. This permitted an exploration of beliefs and authentic experiences of each teacher, with a holistic recount of teachers’ experiences of PD throughout their careers emerging, in tandem with their current engagement and motivation regarding the generative framework. Teachers clearly articulated that some models of PD, such as the deficit model, had been detrimental to motivation. Teachers expressed eagerness to share knowledge and skills with colleagues in the findings, with the generative PD framework facilitating the co-creation of knowledge within spheres of professional interest. Teachers were clear that the new framework supported their motivation to engage with PD and was supportive of their growth as autonomous professionals. These findings indicated that generative learning principles, when applied to PD, supported the early formation of a PLC in the project school and suggested that a significant contributory factor was engaging with the process of seeking to understand teachers’ motivation to engage with the PD framework itself

Work stress and well-being : a longitudinal study of the job demands-resources model in Australian Clergy

Background: Work stress and well-being continue to be a major concern warranting research and intervention. The Job Demands-Resources (JDR) model has been supported as a model of clergy well-being in Australian Salvation Army clergy by Cotton (2006). This research aims to examine the JDR model among clergy in other denominations, with general and occupation-specific demands and job (and personal) resources. In addition to other health and work outcomes, work-related depression was investigated. This research also sought to contribute to job redesign through an evaluation of a pilot work stress intervention focussed on individual job redesign. Method: A longitudinal web-based survey of 283 respondents at Time 1 and 64 of these respondents at Time 2 was conducted with NSW/ACT clergy in four denominations. The first survey measured job demands, burnout, health, depression, and resources, work engagement, self-rated performance and resignation intention. The second survey focussed on the health impairment pathway of the JDR model retaining job demands, burnout, health, and depression as well as resources from the first survey. Results: Time 1 The results at Time 1 provided cross-sectional support for the JDR model for clergy. The health impairment pathway, and the motivational enhancement pathway were supported. Job resources, particularly co-worker support buffered the effect of job demands on burnout, depression and health. Work home interference had a broader role than as a job demand, as it mediated the relationship between job demands and health, as well as the relationship between burnout and health. The relationship between depression and burnout was explored with cynicism particularly prominent in its relationship with the depression scale and mediation of the effect of job demands for this occupational sample. Results: Time 2 The longitudinal results showed correlational evidence for the hypotheses of the health impairment pathway for depression, and some support for the buffering of the effect of job demands on depression by job resources from Time 1 to Time 2. However, despite these findings analysis of the JDR model through structural equation modelling and ordinal logistic regression did not find evidence to support the health impairment pathway and associated hypotheses of the JDR model longitudinally. Conclusion The JDR model provides a valuable way of understanding clergy well-being, as this research found support across several denominations for both pathways as well as some support for the buffering by resources of the effect of demands on burnout, depression and health. The inclusion of clergy-specific demands and resources improved the applicability of the model. There was cross-sectional support for the application of the JDR model in work-related depression. Research recommendations include longitudinal research of the role of work home interference, use of all burnout scales in research on depression, further consideration of the match hypotheses, and use of collaborative research approaches with denominations. Limitations A major limitation of this research is the small number of respondents at Time 2 that reduced the capacity to undertake effective longitudinal analysis. The response rate was also low which impacts on the capacity to make research and practical recommendations

Why we can't help working when ill: the perverse causes of presenteeism in the UK, with a focus on prison officers and academics

The term ‘presenteeism’ refers to situations where employees continue to attend work while they are sick. In this report we look at why absenteeism policies can encourage presenteeism and how presenteeism presents in two working populations: UK prison officers and UK academics