Peak height pattern in dichloro-rhodamine and energy transfer dye terminator sequencing

Establishing the pattern in peak heights within local sequence contexts improves the accuracy of base calling and the identification of DNA sequence variations in dye-terminator cycle sequencing. We have systematically examined pairs of sequence-tagged sites (STSs) that vary at only a single nucleotide to determine how base changes influence the peak heights of neighboring bases in sequencing traces generated by two recently commercialized dye-terminator chemistries, the dichloro-rhodamine (dRhodamine) and the energy transfer (BigDye) terminators. For sequencing traces generated with the dRhodamine terminators, the peak height of a particular base in 28 of 64 possible 3-base windows (44%) can be predicted by knowing just one or two bases 5\u27 to the base in question. For those generated with the BigDye terminators, the peak height of a particular base in 23 of 64 possible 3-base windows (36%) can be predicted by knowing the local sequence context. When the peak heights are binned slightly differently, 75% (48 out of 64 cases) of the base peaks generated by both dRhodamine and BigDye terminators fall in the middle half, confirming that the peak patterns of these two new dye terminator chemistries are much more even than those found in the original rhodamine dye terminator sequences

Continuous Uniform Finite Time Stabilization of Planar Controllable Systems

Continuous homogeneous controllers are utilized in a full state feedback setting for the uniform finite time stabilization of a perturbed double integrator in the presence of uniformly decaying piecewise continuous disturbances. Semiglobal strong $\mathcal{C}^1$ Lyapunov functions are identified to establish uniform asymptotic stability of the closed-loop planar system. Uniform finite time stability is then proved by extending the homogeneity principle of discontinuous systems to the continuous case with uniformly decaying piecewise continuous nonhomogeneous disturbances. A finite upper bound on the settling time is also computed. The results extend the existing literature on homogeneity and finite time stability by both presenting uniform finite time stabilization and dealing with a broader class of nonhomogeneous disturbances for planar controllable systems while also proposing a new class of homogeneous continuous controllers

Achieving provider engagement: providers' perceptions of implementing and delivering integrated care

The literature on integrated care is limited with respect to practical learning and experience. Although some attention has been paid to organizational processes and structures, not enough is paid to people, relationships, and the importance of these in bringing about integration. Little is known, for example, about provider engagement in the organizational change process, how to obtain and maintain it, and how it is demonstrated in the delivery of integrated care. Based on qualitative data from the evaluation of a large-scale integrated care initiative in London, United Kingdom, we explored the role of provider engagement in effective integration of services. Using thematic analysis, we identified an evolving engagement narrative with three distinct phases: enthusiasm, antipathy, and ambivalence, and argue that health care managers need to be aware of the impact of professional engagement to succeed in advancing the integrated care agenda

Workplace violence in Queensland, Australia: the results of a comparative study

[Abstract]: This paper presents the results on workplace violence from a larger study undertaken in 2004. Comparison is made with the results of a similar study undertaken in 2001. The study involved the random sampling of 3000 nurses from the Queensland Nurses’ Union’s membership in the public (acute hospital and community nursing), private (acute hospital and domiciliary nursing) and aged care sectors (both public and private aged care facilities). The self-reported results suggest an increase in workplace violence in all three sectors. Whilst there are differences in the sources of workplace violence across the sectors, the major causes of workplace violence are: clients/patients, visitors/relatives, other nurses, nursing management and medical practitioners. Associations were also found between workplace violence and gender, the designation of the nurse, hours of employment, the age of the nurse, morale and perceptions of workplace safety. Whilst the majority of nurses reported that policies were in place for the management of workplace violence, these policies were not always adequate

Unique metabolites protect earthworms against plant polyphenols

All higher plants produce polyphenols, for defence against above-ground herbivory. These polyphenols also influence the soil micro- and macro-fauna that break down plant leaf litter. Polyphenols therefore indirectly affect the fluxes of soil nutrients and, ultimately, carbon turnover and ecosystem functioning in soils. It is unknown how earthworms, the major component of animal biomass in many soils, cope with high-polyphenol diets. Here, we show that earthworms possess a class of unique surface-active metabolites in their gut, which we term ‘drilodefensins’. These compounds counteract the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on earthworm gut enzymes, and high-polyphenol diets increase drilodefensin concentrations in both laboratory and field populations. This shows that drilodefensins protect earthworms from the harmful effects of ingested polyphenols. We have identified the key mechanism for adaptation to a dietary challenge in an animal group that has a major role in organic matter recycling in soils worldwide