Technology and Its Associations with the Meaningfulness of Interpersonal Relationships

The usage of technology is steadily increasing globally. More and more individuals are using mobile phones and social media as a way to communicate with others. This literature review explores the relationship between technology and the meaningfulness of relationships. Specifically, it examines how technology may impact levels of connectedness, relationship satisfaction, and empathy in friendships. The review finds that technology has both positive and negative associations with the meaningfulness of friendships, which in turn can affect the general well-being of an individual. Further research is also needed to understand the extent of the impact technology has on friendships, individuals, and other interpersonal relationships

Corequisite Mathematics Remediation: Results Over Time and in Different Contexts

Traditional mathematics remediation is based on the theory that traditional mathematics remedial courses increase students’ subsequent academic performance. However, most students assigned to these courses do not pass them, and thus cannot graduate. An alternative approach, corequisite remediation, assigns students instead to college-level quantitative courses with additional academic support, often aligned to a student’s major. Here we report the longer-term results of a randomized controlled trial comparing corequisite remediation (with statistics) and traditional algebra remediation (297 students per group). The corequisite group not only demonstrated significantly higher quantitative course pass rates, but also success in many other disciplines, as well as significantly higher graduation rates. We also report the results of two quasi-experimental analyses (propensity score matching) demonstrating higher pass rates for corequisite mathematics remediation with 347 additional students in different settings. Policies requiring corequisite mathematics remediation can result in greater student success than is obtained with traditional remediation

The Analysis of Cyanide and its Metabolites in Biological Samples

Cyanide is a toxic chemical that may be introduced to living organisms as a result of both legal and illicit uses of cyanide. Exposure to cyanide can be verifi ed by analyzing cyanide or one of its break-down products from biological samples. This verifi cation is important for medical, law-enforcement, forensic, research, and veterinary purposes. This review will identify common problems associated with the analysis of cyanide and its metabolites, discuss current bioanalytical techniques used for verifi cation of cyanide exposure, and briefl y address the metabolism and toxicokinetics of cyanide and its break-down products in biological systems

Developments in the Application of Florida\u27s Capital Felony Sentencing Law

The authors discuss the Florida capital felony sentencing law, as amended in response to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Furman v. Georgia. They examine developments in the construction and application of the statutory provisions for sentencing and appellate review, with a particular emphasis on the aggravating circumstances that the statute provides as standards to guide and control the imposition of the death sentence

Developments in the Application of Florida\u27s Capital Felony Sentencing Law

The authors discuss the Florida capital felony sentencing law, as amended in response to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Furman v. Georgia. They examine developments in the construction and application of the statutory provisions for sentencing and appellate review, with a particular emphasis on the aggravating circumstances that the statute provides as standards to guide and control the imposition of the death sentence

The Analysis of Protein-Bound Thiocyanate in Plasma of Smokers and Non-Smokers as a Marker of Cyanide Exposure

When cyanide is introduced into the body, it quickly transforms through a variety of chemical reactions, normally involving sulfur donors, to form more stable chemical species. Depending on the nature of the sulfur donor, cyanide may be transformed into free thiocyanate, the major metabolite of cyanide transformation, 2-amino-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid or protein-bound thiocyanate (PB-SCN) adducts. Because protein adducts are generally stable in biological systems, it has been suggested that PB-SCN may have distinct advantages as a marker of cyanide exposure. In this study, plasma was analyzed from 25 smokers (chronic low-level cyanide exposure group) and 25 non-smokers for PB-SCN. The amount of PB-SCN found in the plasma of smokers, 1.35 µM, was significantly elevated (p \u3c 0.0001) when compared to non-smokers, 0.66 µM. Differences in sub-groups of smokers and non-smokers were also evaluated. The results of this study indicate the effectiveness of analyzing PB-SCN in determining instances of chronic cyanide exposure with possible extension to confirmation of acute cyanide exposure

Quantification of α-ketoglutarate cyanohydrin in Swine Plasma by Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Determination of exposure to cyanide can be accomplished by direct cyanide analysis or indirectly by analysis of cyanide detoxification products, such as thiocyanate and 2-amino-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid. A potentially important marker and detoxification product of cyanide exposure, α-ketoglutarate cyanohydrin (α-KgCN), is produced by the reaction of cyanide and α-ketoglutarate. Therefore, an ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method to determine α-KgCN in plasma was developed. Swine plasma was spiked with α-KgCN and α-KgCN-d4 (internal standard) and proteins were precipitated with 1% formic acid in acetonitrile. After centrifugation, the supernatant was dried, reconstituted, separated by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. The method produced a dynamic range of 0.3–50 μM and a detection limit of 200 nM for α-KgCN. Furthermore, the method produced a %RSD of less than 13% for all intra- and inter-assay analyses. The stability of α-KgCN was poor for most storage conditions tested, except for −80 °C, which produced stable concentrations of α-KgCN for the 30 days tested. The validated method was tested by analysis of α-KgCN in the plasma of cyanide-exposed swine. α-KgCN was not detected pre-exposure, but was detected in all post-exposure plasma samples tested. To our knowledge, this method is the first reported analytical method for detecting α-KgCN in any matrix

The Influence of Signaling Conspecific and Heterospecific Neighbors on Eavesdropper Pressure

The study of tradeoffs between the attraction of mates and the attraction of eavesdropping predators and parasites has generally focused on a single species of prey, signaling in isolation. In nature, however, animals often signal from mixed-species aggregations, where interactions with heterospecific group members may be an important mechanism modulating tradeoffs between sexual and natural selection, and thus driving signal evolution. Although studies have shown that conspecific signalers can influence eavesdropper pressure on mating signals, the effects of signaling heterospecifics on eavesdropper pressure, and on the balance between natural and sexual selection, are likely to be different. Here, we review the role of neighboring signalers in mediating changes in eavesdropper pressure, and present a simple model that explores how selection imposed by eavesdropping enemies varies as a function of a signaling aggregation\u27s species composition, the attractiveness of aggregation members to eavesdroppers, and the eavesdroppers\u27 preferences for different member types. This approach can be used to model mixed-species signaling aggregations, as well as same-species aggregations, including those with non-signaling individuals, such as satellites or females. We discuss the implications of our model for the evolution of signal structure, signaling behavior, mixed-species aggregations, and community dynamics

Evidence of recent interkingdom horizontal gene transfer between bacteria and Candida parapsilosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To date very few incidences of interdomain gene transfer into fungi have been identified. Here, we used the emerging genome sequences of <it>Candida albicans </it>WO-1, <it>Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Clavispora lusitaniae, Pichia guilliermondii</it>, and <it>Lodderomyces elongisporus </it>to identify recent interdomain HGT events. We refer to these as CTG species because they translate the CTG codon as serine rather than leucine, and share a recent common ancestor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phylogenetic and syntenic information infer that two <it>C. parapsilosis </it>genes originate from bacterial sources. One encodes a putative proline racemase (PR). Phylogenetic analysis also infers that there were independent transfers of bacterial PR enzymes into members of the Pezizomycotina, and protists. The second HGT gene in <it>C. parapsilosis </it>belongs to the phenazine F (PhzF) superfamily. Most CTG species also contain a fungal PhzF homolog. Our phylogeny suggests that the CTG homolog originated from an ancient HGT event, from a member of the proteobacteria. An analysis of synteny suggests that <it>C. parapsilosis </it>has lost the endogenous fungal form of PhzF, and subsequently reacquired it from a proteobacterial source. There is evidence that <it>Schizosaccharomyces pombe </it>and Basidiomycotina also obtained a PhzF homolog through HGT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our search revealed two instances of well-supported HGT from bacteria into the CTG clade, both specific to <it>C. parapsilosis</it>. Therefore, while recent interkingdom gene transfer has taken place in the CTG lineage, its occurrence is rare. However, our analysis will not detect ancient gene transfers, and we may have underestimated the global extent of HGT into CTG species.</p

Translating models of organization: Can the Mittelstand move from Bavaria to Geelong?

Copyright © 2015 Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management. In this paper, we examine the increasing global attention being given to the German organizational form of the Mittelstand over the past decade. We do so, especially, in consideration of the construction of Australian analogues to the Mittelstand. Such translations have been posited as a solution to the current crisis facing Australian manufacturing. Translation out of context always poses problems: can a specifically national form of organization, such as the German Mittelstand, be something that can, potentially, be translated to other nations and industrial contexts? The Australian case offers an empirical setting in which to explore understandings of transnational translation of management innovations. Our findings demonstrate how globally theorized models subject to translation align abstract value orientations with local templates. Our discussion focuses on the translation of a Bavarian model of organization into very different locations, such as Geelong, Australia