The Effect of Gender on Ethical Investing

Prior literature related to gender and risk propensity would suggest that females are risk-averse, compassionate, and value ethics over return. This ideology of traditional gender norms stereotypically implies that females may be more likely to engage in ethical investing, as there is inherently less risk in investing in companies with strong corporate social responsibility. On the other hand, males are often portrayed as risk-seeking, competitively motivated, and valuing profits over principle, thus may be more willing to compromise ethics if the ends justify the means. The following paper seeks to investigate this relationship between gender and ethical investing, as examined by a study of business students. Respondents were randomly distributed a survey with either an environmental scandal, a personal ethical scandal, or no scandal at all and were prompted to select a portfolio of four stocks with the various financial and ethical positions. The study results contradicted the hypothesis that female students were more likely to respond to the ethical scenario and revealed that it was the males who were more responsive. The study also indicated that the participants were more concerned about environmental scandals than personal ethical scandals, such as an embezzlement incident. The results most likely represent a shift in dynamics where Millennials and Generation Z are generally more socially conscious than prior generations of investors

Scorpion toxin peptide action at the ion channel subunit level

This review categorizes functionally validated actions of defined scorpion toxin (SCTX) neuropeptides across ion channel subclasses, highlighting key trends in this rapidly evolving field. Scorpion envenomation is a common event in many tropical and subtropical countries, with neuropharmacological actions, particularly autonomic nervous system modulation, causing significant mortality. The primary active agents within scorpion venoms are a diverse group of small neuropeptides that elicit specific potent actions across a wide range of ion channel classes. The identification and functional characterisation of these SCTX peptides has tremendous potential for development of novel pharmaceuticals that advance knowledge of ion channels and establish lead compounds for treatment of excitable tissue disorders. This review delineates the unique specificities of 320 individual SCTX peptides that collectively act on 41 ion channel subclasses. Thus the SCTX research field has significant translational implications for pathophysiology spanning neurotransmission, neurohumoral signalling, sensori-motor systems and excitation-contraction coupling

Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: IV. Markcooperite, Pb(UO_2)Te^(6+)O_6, the first natural uranyl tellurate

Markcooperite, Pb_2(UO_2)Te^(6+)O_6, is a new tellurate from Otto Mountain near Baker, California, named in honor of Mark A. Cooper of the University of Manitoba for his contributions to mineralogy. The new mineral occurs on fracture surfaces and in small vugs in brecciated quartz veins. Markcooperite is directly associated with bromian chlorargyrite, iodargyrite, khinite-4O, wulfenite, and four other new tellurates: housleyite, thorneite, ottoite, and timroseite. Various other secondary minerals occur in the veins, including two other new secondary tellurium minerals: paratimroseite and telluroperite. Markcooperite is monoclinic, space group P2_1/c, a = 5.722(2), b = 7.7478(2), c = 7.889(2) Å, β = 90.833(5)°, V = 349.7(2) Å^3, and Z = 2. It occurs as pseudotetragonal prisms to 0.2 mm with the forms {100} and {011} and as botryoidal intergrowths to 0.3 mm in diameter; no twinning was observed. Markcooperite is orange and transparent, with a light orange streak and adamantine luster, and is non-fluorescent. Mohs hardness is estimated at 3. The mineral is brittle, with an irregular fracture and perfect {100} cleavage. The calculated density is 8.496 g/cm3 based on the empirical formula. Markcooperite is biaxial (+), with indices of refraction α= 2.11, β = 2.12, γ= 2.29 calculated using the Gladstone-Dale relationship, measured α-β birefringence of 0.01 and measured 2V of 30(5)°. The optical orientation is X = c, Y = b, Z = a. The mineral is slightly pleochroic in shades of orange, with absorption: X > Y = Z. No dispersion was observed. Electron microprobe analysis provided PbO 50.07, TeO_3 22.64, UO_3 25.01, Cl 0.03, O≡Cl –0.01, total 97.74 wt%; the empirical formula (based on O+Cl = 8) is Pb_(2.05)U_(0.80)Te^(6+)_(1.18)O_(7.99)Cl_(0.01). The strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [d_(obs) in Å (hkl) I]: 3.235 (120, 102, 1[overbar]02) 100, 2.873 (200) 40, 2.985 (1[overbar]21, 112, 121) 37, 2.774 (022) 30, 3.501 (021, 012) 29, 2.220 (221, 2[overbar]21, 212) 23, 1.990 (222, 2[overbar]22) 21, and 1.715 (320) 22. The crystal structure (R_1 = 0.052) is based on sheets of corner-sharing uranyl square bipyramids and tellurate octahedra, with Pb atoms between the sheets. Markcooperite is the first compound to show Te^(6+) substitution for U^(6+) within the same crystallographic site. Markcooperite is structurally related to synthetic Pb(UO_2)O_2

Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: V. Timroseite, Pb_2Cu_5^(2+)(Te^(6+)O_6)_2(OH)_2, and paratimroseite, Pb_2Cu_4^(2+)(Te^(6+)O_6)_2(H_2O)_2, two new tellurates with Te-Cu polyhedral sheets

Timroseite, Pb_2Cu_5^(2+)(Te^(6+)O_6)_2(OH)_2, and paratimroseite, Pb_2Cu_4^(2+)(Te^(6+)O_6)_2(H_2O)_2, are two new tellurates from Otto Mountain near Baker, California. Timroseite is named in honor of Timothy (Tim) P. Rose and paratimroseite is named for its relationship to timroseite. Both new minerals occur on fracture surfaces and in small vugs in brecciated quartz veins. Timroseite is directly associated with acanthite, cerussite, bromine-rich chlorargyrite, chrysocolla, gold, housleyite, iodargyrite, khinite-4O, markcooperite, ottoite, paratimroseite, thorneite, vauquelinite, and wulfenite. Paratimroseite is directly associated with calcite, cerussite, housleyite, khinite-4O, markcooperite, and timroseite. Timroseite is orthorhombic, space group P2_1nm, a = 5.2000(2), b = 9.6225(4), c = 11.5340(5) Å, V = 577.13(4) Å^3, and Z = 2. Paratimroseite is orthorhombic, space group P2_12_12_1, a = 5.1943(4), b = 9.6198(10), c = 11.6746(11) Å, V = 583.35(9) Å^3, and Z = 2. Timroseite commonly occurs as olive to lime green, irregular, rounded masses and rarely in crystals as dark olive green, equant rhombs, and diamond-shaped plates in subparallel sheaf-like aggregates. It has a very pale yellowish green streak, dull to adamantine luster, a hardness of about 2 1/2 (Mohs), brittle tenacity, irregular fracture, no cleavage, and a calculated density of 6.981 g/cm^3. Paratimroseite occurs as vibrant "neon" green blades typically intergrown in irregular clusters and as lime green botryoids. It has a very pale green streak, dull to adamantine luster, a hardness of about 3 (Mohs), brittle tenacity, irregular fracture, good {001} cleavage, and a calculated density of 6.556 g/cm^3. Timroseite is biaxial (+) with a large 2V, indices of refraction > 2, orientation X = b, Y = a, Z = c and pleochroism: X = greenish yellow, Y = yellowish green, Z = dark green (Z > Y > X). Paratimroseite is biaxial (–) with a large 2V, indices of refraction > 2, orientation X = c, Y = b, Z = a and pleochroism: X = light green, Y = green, Z = green (Y = Z >> X). Electron microprobe analysis of timroseite provided PbO 35.85, CuO 29.57, TeO_3 27.75, Cl 0.04, H_2O 1.38 (structure), O≡Cl –0.01, total 94.58 wt%; the empirical formula (based on O+Cl = 14) is Pb_(2.07) Cu^(2+)_(4.80)Te^(6+)_(2.04)O_(12)(OH)_(1.98)Cl_(0.02). Electron microprobe analysis of paratimroseite provided PbO 36.11, CuO 26.27, TeO_3 29.80, Cl 0.04, H_2O 3.01 (structure), O≡Cl –0.01, total 95.22 wt%; the empirical formula (based on O+Cl = 14) is Pb_(1.94)Cu^(2+)_(3.96)Te^(6+)_(2.03)O_(12)(H_2O)_(1.99)Cl_(0.01). The strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines for timroseite are [d_(obs) in Å (hkl) I]: 3.693 (022) 43, 3.578 (112) 44, 3.008 (023) 84, 2.950 (113) 88, 2.732 (130) 100, 1.785 (multiple) 33, 1.475 (332) 36; and for paratimroseite 4.771 (101) 76, 4.463 (021) 32, 3.544 (120) 44, 3.029 (023,122) 100, 2.973 (113) 48, 2.665 (131) 41, 2.469 (114) 40, 2.246 (221) 34. The crystal structures of timroseite (R_1 = 0.029) and paratimroseite (R_1 = 0.039) are very closely related. The structures are based upon edge- and corner-sharing sheets of Te and Cu polyhedra parallel to (001) and the sheets in both structures are identical in topology and virtually identical in geometry. In timroseite, the sheets are joined to one another along c by sharing the apical O atoms of Cu octahedra, as well as by sharing edges and corners with an additional CuO_5 square pyramid located between the sheets. The sheets in paratimroseite are joined only via Pb-O and H bonds

Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: VI. Telluroperite, Pb_3Te^(4+)O_4Cl_2, the Te analog of perite and nadorite

Telluroperite, Pb_3Te^(4+)O_4Cl_2, is a new tellurite from Otto Mountain near Baker, California. The new mineral occurs on fracture surfaces and in small vugs in brecciated quartz veins in direct association with acanthite, bromine-rich chlorargyrite, caledonite, cerussite, galena, goethite, and linarite. Various other secondary minerals occur in the veins, including six new tellurates, housleyite, markcooperite, paratimroseite, ottoite, thorneite, and timroseite. Telluroperite is orthorhombic, space group Bmmb, a = 5.5649(6), b = 5.5565(6), c = 12.4750(14) Å, V = 386.37(7) Å^3, and Z = 2. The new mineral occurs as rounded square tablets and flakes up to 0.25 mm on edge and 0.02 mm thick. The form {001} is prominent and is probably bounded by {100}, {010}, and {110}. It is bluish-green and transparent, with a pale bluish-green streak and adamantine luster. The mineral is non-fluorescent. Mohs hardness is estimated to be between 2 and 3. The mineral is brittle, with a curved fracture and perfect {001} cleavage. The calculated density based on the empirical formula is 7.323 g/cm^3. Telluroperite is biaxial (–), with very small 2V (~10°). The average index of refraction is 2.219 calculated by the Gladstone-Dale relationship. The optical orientation is X = c and the mineral exhibits moderate bluish-green pleochrosim; absorption: X < Y = Z. Electron microprobe analysis provided PbO 72.70, TeO_2 19.26, Cl 9.44, O≡Cl –2.31, total 99.27 wt%. The empirical formula (based on O+Cl = 6) is Pb_(2.79)Te_(1.03)^(4+)O_(3.72)Cl_(2.28). The six strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [d_(obs) in Å (hkl) I]: 3.750 (111) 58, 2.857 (113) 100, 2.781 (020, 200) 43, 2.075 (024, 204) 31, 1.966 (220) 30, and 1.620 (117, 313, 133) 52. The crystal structure (R_1 = 0.056) is based on the Sillén X_1 structure-type and consists of a three-dimensional structural topology with lead-oxide halide polyhedra linked to tellurium/lead oxide groups. The mineral is named for the relationship to perite and the dominance of Te (with Pb) in the Bi site of perite

The crystal structure of munakataite, Pb_2Cu_2(Se^(4+)O_3)(SO_4)(OH)_4, from Otto Mountain, San Bernardino County, California, USA

Munakataite, Pb_2Cu_2(Se^(4+)O_3)(SO_4)(OH)_4, has been found in association with a variety of rare secondary Te minerals at Otto Mountain, San Bernardino County, California, USA. It is very rare and occurs as subparallel bundles of blue needles up to 1 mm long. Electron microprobe analyses provided the empirical formula Pb_(1.96)Cu_(1.60)[(Se^(4+)_(0.89)S_(0.11)_(∑1)O_3](SO_4)[(OH)_(3.34)(H_2O)_(0.66)]_(∑4). Munakataite is monoclinic, space group P2_1/m, with cell parameters a = 9.8023(26), b = 5.6751(14), c = 9.2811(25) Å , β = 102.443(6), V = 504.2(2) Å^3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure, solved by direct methods and refined to R_1 = 0.0308 for 544 F_o > 4σF reflections, consists of Jahn-Teller-distorted Cu^(2+)O_6 square bipyramids, which form chains along b by sharing trans edges across their square planes. The chains are decorated by SO_4 tetrahedra and Se^4+O_3 pyramids, which bond to apical corners of adjacent bipyramids. The chains are linked to one another via bonds to two different PbO_9 polyhedra, only one of which exhibits one-sided coordination typical of Pb^(2+) with a stereochemically active 6s^2 lone-electron-pair. Munakataite is isostructural with schmiederite and the structure is closely related to that of linarite

The Lowland Maya "Protoclassic"

The term "Protoclassic," employed regularly but inexplicitly in the literature of lowland Maya archaeology, has become increasingly nebulous and ambiguous in both meaning and usage. This paper reviews the history and use of the term and presents a formal redefinition of the Protoclassic as a ceramic stage based explicitly and exclusively on ceramic criteria. Some suggestions regarding future use of the term also are offered. The paper further addresses and resolves a number of persisting questions regarding Protoclassic orange wares, including problems concerning the actual existence of the "Aguacate ceramic group." and the relationships of Aguacate-group pottery to other emergent orange wares of the terminal Late Preclassic and initial Early Classic periods. The nature and significance of the "Holmul I Style," the "Floral Park Ceramic Sphere." and the relationships of the two to each other and the larger, redefined "protoclassic" ceramic stage also are examined. A spatial distribution for protoclassic ceramics considerably expanded over what has ever been reported previously is described, and chronometric data are presented to support a revised chronology for the protoclassic ceramic stage. Finally, ceramic data are offered that suggest a real subdivision of the protoclassic ceramic stage into an early, emergent facet originating entirely within Late Preclassic lowland traditions, and a later, fully "Classic" facet corresponding to the early Tzakol (Tzakol 1) ceramic horizon

Design factors that influence PCR amplification success of cross-species primers among 1147 mammalian primer pairs

BACKGROUND: Cross-species primers have been used with moderate success to address a variety of questions concerning genome structure, evolution, and gene function. However, the factors affecting their success have never been adequately addressed, particularly with respect to producing a consistent method to achieve high throughput. Using 1,147 mammalian cross-species primer pairs (1089 not previously reported), we tested several factors to determine their influence on the probability that a given target will amplify in a given species under a single amplification condition. These factors included: number of mismatches between the two species (the index species) used to identify conserved regions to which the primers were designed, GC-content of the gene and amplified region, CpG dinucleotides in the primer region, degree of encoded protein conservation, length of the primers, and the degree of evolutionary distance between the target species and the two index species. RESULTS: The amplification success rate for the cross-species primers was significantly influenced by the number of mismatches between the two index species (6–8% decrease per mismatch in a primer pair), the GC-content within the amplified region (for the dog, GC ≥ 50%, 56.9% amplified; GC<50%, 74.2% amplified), the degree of protein conservation (R(2 )= 0.14) and the relatedness of the target species to the index species. For the dog, 598 products of 930 primer pairs (64.3%) (excluding primers in which dog was an index species) were sequenced and shown to be the expected product, with an additional three percent producing the incorrect sequence. When hamster DNA was used with the single amplification condition in a microtiter plate-based format, 510 of 1087 primer pairs (46.9%) produced amplified products. The primer pairs are spaced at an average distance of 2.3 Mb in the human genome and may be used to produce up to several hundred thousand bp of species-specific sequence. CONCLUSION: The most important factors influencing the proportion of successful amplifications are the number of index species mismatches, GC-richness of the target amplimer, and the relatedness of the target species to the index species, at least under the single PCR condition used. The 1147 cross-species primer pairs can be used in a high throughput manner to generate data for studies on the genetics and genomics of non-sequenced mammalian genomes

Does gated beam delivery impact delivery accuracy on an Elekta linac?

In this study, we evaluated the performance of an Elekta linac in the delivery of gated radiotherapy. Delivery accuracy was examined with an emphasis on the impact of using short gating windows (low monitor unit beam-on segments) or long beam hold times. The performance was assessed using a 20cm by 20cm open field with the radiation delivered using a range of beam-on and beam-off time periods. Gated delivery measurements were also performed for two SBRT plans delivered using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Tests included both free-breathing based gating (covering a variety of gating windows) and simulated breath-hold based gating. An IBA MatriXX 2D ion chamber array was used for data collection, and the gating accuracy at low MU was evaluated using gamma passing rates. For the 20 cm by 20 cm open field, the measurements generally showed close agreement between the gated and non-gated beam deliveries. Discrepancies, however, began to appear with a 5-to-1 ratio of the beam-off to beam-on times. The discrepancies observed for these tight gating windows can be attributed to the small number of monitor units delivered during each beam-on segment. Dose distribution analysis from the delivery of the two SBRT plans showed gamma passing rates (± 1%, 2%/1 mm) in the range of 95% to 100% for gating windows of 25%, 38%, 50%, 63%, 75%, and 83%. Using a simulated sinusoidal breathing signal with a 4 second period, the gamma passing rate of free-breathing gating and breath-hold gating deliveries were measured in the range of 95.7% to 100%. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that Elekta linacs can accurately deliver respiratory gated treatments for both free-breathing and breath-hold patients. Some caution should be exercised with the use of very tight gating windows