Cultural Diversity in the United States and Its Impact on Human Development

Previous studies have yielded mixed results on the impact of cultural diversity on economic performance. We find a positive relationship in the United States between cultural diversity and a comprehensive measure of human development that incorporates health, education, and income. We also disaggregate cultural diversity into three components including ethnicity, language, and religion. We find a positive relationship between human development and both religious and language diversity, and a negative relationship with ethnic diversity. These relationships are robust, using several alternative mathematical measures of diversity. Our results are consistent with diversity generating benefits from exposure to a variety of experiences, ideas, and skills while introducing costs due to difficulty in communication, difference in preferences, and conflict between polarized groups. We conclude that strong institutions are essential to maximize the benefits of diversity while mitigating the associated costs

Synthesis and characterisation of some novel low-coordinate phosphorus compounds containing bulky electron-withdrawing substituents

The synthesis of several new phosphorus derivatives including new monophosphanes of the type RPX(_2) (X = F, CI and H), containing either the Fluoromes [2,4,6-(CF(_3))(_3)C(_6)H(_2)] or Fluoroxyl [2,6-(CF(_3))(_2)C(_6)H(_3)] group has been carried out successfully. The synthesis of a number of Cis-Platin analogous has been facilitated by the reaction of these new monophosphanes with a platinum dimer [(PCl(_2)(Pet(_3))(_2)](_2). These compounds are of the type PtCl(_2)(Pet(_3))RPX(_2) (X = CI, H and F, R = 2,6- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl). These compounds have shown an interesting correlation between bond length and (^1)J(_p-pt) NMR coupling. Disubstituted phosphanes (RPX(_2), X = CI, H) have also been synthesised and subsequent reaction has facilitated the formation, characterisation and structure solution of a new phosphorus (I) species (RP(_2)(^(-)))(Ph(_3)PCH(_3))(^1) (R - Fluoromes).Attempts have been made to synthesise the first phosphaalkyne containing a bulky electron withdrawing ligand. This involved the reaction of RP=CCl(_2) (R = 2,6- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) with a number of Pt(0) and Pd(0) species. (^31)P NMR studies have been used extensively throughout the project to help characterise and identify the products. The single crystal, solid state structures of many of the new species were elucidated by X-ray diffraction using a Siemens Smart CCD

Diversity in the Heartland of America: The Impact on Human Development in Indiana

This article is the third in a series of studies measuring the impact of cultural diversity on human development. We disaggregate cultural diversity into three components: ethnicity, language, and religion. The first study examined the impact of diversity internationally. We found that countries are worse off with greater diversity, especially religious diversity; however, we found that more-prosperous countries with strong institutions benefited from increased diversity. We concluded that strong institutions are essential to maximize the benefits of diversity while mitigating the associated costs. The second study examined the impact of diversity within the United States, where institutional strength was assumed to be relatively great and similar between states. We found an overall negative impact from diversity. Ethnic diversity was negatively associated with human development, while religious and language diversity had a positive impact. We concluded that in the United States, there is more tolerance for religious and language differences compared to ethnic differences. In this third study, we examine the impact of diversity within the state of Indiana. As with our national results, we find a generally negative relationship between human development and diversity. Ethnic diversity has a negative impact, while religious and language diversity are generally positive influences. Strong political and legal institutions may not be sufficient to extract net benefits from diversity if social attitudes that guide behavior are not supportive. The results suggest that net benefits from diversity in Indiana may depend on improvement of social attitudes and in commitment to social services that support historically disadvantaged minority groups

A small-scale RNA isolation protocol useful for high-throughput extractions from recalcitrant plants

AbstractMany plants indigenous to South Africa are rich in secondary and oxidizing compounds such as pigments, complex polysaccharides and polyphenols. This makes isolation of high quality RNA for analysis of gene expression difficult. Here we describe a cost-effective isolation protocol suitable for RNA extraction from recalcitrant plant species. This method uses small amounts of tissue, so is useful when material is limited, and is easy to process large numbers of samples at once. We have used the method successfully with mature leaves of Protea hybrid ‘Sylvia’, and species P. repens, Leucospermum hybrid ‘Succession’, resurrection plants Xerophyta humilis and Craterostigma pumilum, and mature needles of Pine (Pinus radiata). RNA was analyzed spectrophotometrically and was found to be of high purity with low levels of contaminating compounds. Electrophoretic analyses on denaturing formaldehyde agarose gels and an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer confirmed the presence of RNA of high integrity. This is the first description of plant RNA integrity number (RIN) values for these plants using the algorithm designed for analyses of plant RNA containing multiple ribosomal bands. The RNA could successfully be used for reverse transcription and gene amplification

Mechanisms by which circadian rhythm disruption may lead to cancer

Humans have evolved in a rhythmic environment and display daily (circadian) rhythms in physiology, metabolism and behaviour that are in synchrony with the solar day. Modern lifestyles have compromised the exposure to bright light during the day and dark nights, resulting in the desynchronisation of endogenously generated circadian rhythms from the external environment and loss of coordination between rhythms within the body. This has detrimental effects on physical and mental health, due to the misregulation and uncoupling of important cellular and physiological processes. Long-term shift workers who are exposed to bright light at night experience the greatest disruption of their circadian rhythms. Studies have shown an association between exposure to light at night, circadian rhythm disruption and an increased risk of cancer. Previous reviews have explored the relevance of light and melatonin in cancer, but here we explore the correlation of circadian rhythm disruption and cancer in terms of molecular mechanisms affecting circadian gene expression and melatonin secretion

The long QT syndromes: genetic basis and clinical implications

AbstractIt is becoming clear that mutations in the KVLQT1, human “ether-a-go-go” related gene, cardiac voltage-dependent sodium channel gene, minK and MiRP1 genes, respectively, are responsible for the LQT1, LQT2, LQT3, LQT5 and LQT6 variants of the Romano-Ward syndrome, characterized by autosomal dominant transmission and no deafness. The much rarer Jervell-Lange-Nielsen syndrome (with marked QT prolongation and sensorineural deafness) arises when a child inherits mutant KVLQT1 or minK alleles from both parents. In addition, some families are not linked to the known genetic loci. Cardiac voltage-dependent sodium channel gene encodes the cardiac sodium channel, and long QT syndrome (LQTS) mutations prolong action potentials by increasing inward plateau sodium current. The other mutations cause a decrease in net repolarizing current by reducing potassium currents through “dominant negative” or “loss of function” mechanisms. Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsade de pointes) is thought to be initiated by early after- depolarizations in the Purkinje system and maintained by reentry in the myocardium. Clinical presentations vary with the specific gene affected and the specific mutation. Nevertheless, patients with identical mutations can also present differently, and some patients with LQTS mutations may have no manifest baseline phenotype. The question of whether the latter situation is one of high risk for administration of QT prolonging drugs or during myocardial ischemia is under active investigation. More generally, the identification of LQTS genes has provided tremendous new insights for our understanding of normal cardiac electrophysiology and its perturbation in a wide range of conditions associated with sudden death. It seems likely that the approach of applying information from the genetics of uncommon congenital syndromes to the study of common acquired diseases will be an increasingly important one in the next millennium

The source and value of voting rights and related dividend promises

This paper examines the relative share pricing of 98 firms with two classes of common stock trading in the United States from 1984 to 1999. The firms feature common stock classes with differential voting rights and, in some cases, differential rights to dividends. The observed voting premiums are higher than those reported in previous studies of U.S. firms and are dependent on the form of dividend promise to the low-vote shareholder. The voting premium is higher in the presence of a control threat, when insiders do not hold controlling voting power, and during periods of poor firm performance

AN EVALUATION OF BETTER PRICING UNDER COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING PROCEDURES FOR NAVWAR AND NIWC PACIFIC ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES

A goal of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific is to acquire advisory and assistance services (A&AS) on time and at fair and reasonable prices. Although these organizations employ a range of competitive and non-competitive contracting procedures, the efficacy is unclear toward this end. This research project uses quantitative data analysis of FY20 and FY21 Federal Procurement Data System outputs totaling $3.4B, emphasizing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Multiple Award Contracts (IDIQ/MACs). The results indicate that both organizations achieve better pricing under competitive procedures instead of an exception to fair opportunity or when the organizations do not have a reasonable expectation of receiving multiple offers. Recommendations include maximizing competition under MACs, provided multiple offers can be expected and exceptions to fair opportunity are not applicable. In these situations, the government may want to consider single award IDIQ contract vehicles to satisfy procurement requirements. These vehicles may result in better pricing compared to using an exception to fair opportunity under a MAC.CivilianCivilian, Department of the NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Microbial Reduction of Crystalline Iron(III) Oxides: Influence of Oxide Surface Area and Potential for Cell Growth

Quantitative aspects of microbial crystalline iron- (III) oxide reduction were examined using a dissimilatory iron(III) oxide-reducing bacterium (Shewanella alga strain BrY). The initial rate and long-term extent of reduction of a range of synthetic iron(III) oxides were linearly correlated with oxide surface area. Oxide reduction rates reached an asymptote at cell concentrations in excess of ≈1 x 109/m2 of oxide surface. Experiments with microbially reduced goethite that had been washed with pH 5 sodium acetate to remove adsorbed Fe(II) suggested that formation of a Fe(II) surface phase (adsorbed or precipitated) limited the extent of iron(III) oxide reduction. These results demonstrated explicitly that the rate and extent of microbial iron (III) oxide reduction is controlled by the surface area and site concentration of the solid phase. Strain BrY grew in media with synthetic goethite as the sole electron acceptor. The quantity of cells produced per micromole of goethite reduced (2.5 X 106) was comparable to that determined previously for growth of BrY and other dissimilatory Fe (III)- reducing bacteria coupled to amorphous iron(III) oxide reduction. BrY reduced a substantial fraction (8-18%) of the crystalline iron(III) oxide content of a variety of soil and subsurface materials, and several cultures containing these materials were transferred repeatedly with continued active Fe(III) reduction. These findings indicate that Fe(III)- reducing bacteria may be able to survive and produce significant quantities of Fe(II) in anaerobic soil and subsurface environments where crystalline iron(III) oxides (e.g., goethite) are the dominant forms of Fe- (III) available for microbial reduction. Results suggest that the potential for cell growth and Fe (II) generation will be determined by the iron (III) oxide surface site concentration in the soil or sediment matrix