Melanocytes are selectively vulnerable to UVA-mediated bystander oxidative signaling.

Long-wave UVA is the major component of terrestrial UV radiation and is also the predominant constituent of indoor sunlamps, both of which have been shown to increase cutaneous melanoma risk. Using a two-chamber model, we show that UVA-exposed target cells induce intercellular oxidative signaling to non-irradiated bystander cells. This UVA-mediated bystander stress is observed between all three cutaneous cell types (i.e., keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts). Significantly, melanocytes appear to be more resistant to direct UVA effects compared with keratinocytes and fibroblasts, although melanocytes are also more susceptible to bystander oxidative signaling. The extensive intercellular flux of oxidative species has not been previously appreciated and could possibly contribute to the observed cancer risk associated with prolonged UVA exposure

Holographic data storage in a DX-center material

We report on the optical storage of digital data in a semiconductor sample containing DX centers. The diffraction efficiency and the bit-error-rate performance of multiplexed data images are shown to agree well with a simple model of the material. Uniform storage without an exposure schedule is demonstrated. The volume sensitivity is found to be ~10^3 times that of LiNBO3:Fe. The importance of coherent addition of scattered light with diffracted light in holographic data storage is discussed

One-pot near-ambient temperature syntheses of aryl(difluoroenol) derivatives from trifluoroethanol

Difluoroalkenylzinc reagents prepared from 1-(2’-methoxy-ethoxymethoxy)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane and 1-(N,N-diethylcarbamoyloxy)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane at ice bath temperatures, underwent Negishi coupling with a range of aryl halides in a convenient one pot procedure. While significant differences between the enol acetal and carbamate reagents were revealed, the Negishi protocol compared very favourably with alternative coupling procedures in terms of overall yields from trifluoroethanol

Quantifying the effects of background concentrations of crude oil pollution on sea ice albedo

Sea ice albedo plays an important role in modulating the climate of Earth and is affected by low background concentrations of oil droplets within the ice matrix that absorb solar radiation. In this study, the albedo response of three different types of bare sea ice (melting, first-year, and multi-year sea ice) are calculated at increasing mass ratios (0–1000 ng g−1) of crude oil by using a coupled atmosphere–sea ice radiative-transfer model (TUV-snow; Tropospheric Ultraviolet–Visible) over the optical wavelengths 400–700 nm. The different types of quasi-infinite-thickness sea ice exhibit different albedo responses to oil pollution, with a 1000 ng g−1 mass ratio of oil causing a decrease to 70.9 % in multi-year sea ice, 47.2 % in first-year sea ice, and 22.1 % in melting sea ice relative to the unpolluted albedo at a wavelength of 400 nm. The thickness of the sea ice is also an important factor, with realistic-thickness sea ices exhibiting similar results, albeit with a weaker albedo response for multi-year sea ice to 75.3 %, first-year sea ice to 66.3 %, and melting sea ice to 35.9 %. The type of oil also significantly affects the response of sea ice albedo, with a relatively opaque and heavy crude oil (Romashkino oil) causing a significantly larger decrease in sea ice albedo than a relatively transparent light crude oil (Petrobaltic oil). The size of the oil droplets polluting the oil also plays a minor role in the albedo response, with weathered submicrometre droplets (0.05–0.5 µm radius) of Romashkino oil being the most absorbing across the optical wavelengths considered. Therefore, the work presented here demonstrates that low background concentrations of small submicrometre- to micrometre-sized oil droplets have a significant effect on the albedo of bare sea ice. All three types of sea ice are sensitive to oil pollution; however, first-year sea ice and particularly melting sea ice are very sensitive to oil pollution.</p

How has the relationship between parental education and child outcomes changed in Australia since the 1980s?

Published version of the paper reproduced here with permission from the publisherThis paper examines how the relationship between parents’ educational achievement (a marker of their socio‑economic status) and children’s early developmental outcomes has evolved in Australia since the early 1980s. The specific focus of this paper is whether the gradient in children’s early developmental outcomes by parents’ education has changed since the 1980s. A comparative analysis of two surveys is undertaken that follows Australian cohorts of children through their early years – the Australian Temperament Project (following children born in Victoria in the early 1980s) and the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (following a representative sample of children born in Australia in 1999). The analysis shows that the relationship between parental education and children’s early developmental outcomes does not in general appear to have changed greatly over the years. The gradient associated with behaviour difficulties, persistence in behaviour difficulties over time, and in reading skills has either remained the same or strengthened somewhat, while the gradient associated with social skills has weakened. The paper concludes with a discussion of issues that might explain these trends

The Accreditation Process for IS Programs in Business Schools

Accreditation is a seal of recognition sought by almost all institutions of higher education. Accreditation is offered at several levels, including university, college, school and program. American academicians are familiar with the Council for Higher Education Association and the Regional Accreditation\u27\u27 associations. Faculty in colleges and schools of business worldwide recognize AACSB International and European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), as accrediting bodies for business colleges and schools. Similarly, degree programs, for example, accounting, the engineering fields, and health care professions, have accreditation bodies. One such accreditation body, very familiar to engineers and computer scientists, but new to business\u27 academicians is ABET. ABET, through its Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC), now accredits programs in Information Systems. This paper looks at the philosophy of accrediting programs, specifically information systems programs, overviews the ABET accreditation criteria and process, considers the costs and benefits\u27\u27 of accrediting information systems programs, and develops a diagram detailing the internal steps of the ABET accreditation process in a familiar systems analysis and design approach. These steps are then grouped into before, during, and after the accreditation onsite team visit. Potential impediments related to these steps are identified with resolution strategies are presented. The paper concludes by arguing that whether or not a program pursues IS accreditation, much of what is presented here and required of ABET is applicable to any well-run IS program dedicated to continuously delivering a quality curriculum to its students