Dead Benny

Dead Benny is a collection of poetry

Distribution of ABC Transporter Genes across the Plant Kingdom

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene superfamily is ubiquitous among extant organisms. ABC transporters act to transport compounds across cellular membranes and are involved in a diverse range of biological processes and functions including cancer resistance in humans, drug resistance among vertebrates, and herbicide resistance in weeds. This superfamily of genes appears to be larger and more diverse in the plant kingdom—yet, we know relatively less about ABC transporter function in plants compared with mammals and bacteria. Therefore, we undertook a plant kingdom-wide transcriptomic survey of ABC transporters to better understand their diversity. We utilized sequence similarity-based informatics techniques to deduce likely ABC transporter genes from 1,301 phylogenetically-diverse plant transcriptomes. A total of 97,149 putative ABC transporter gene members were identified with an average of 88 gene members per RNASeq library and a standard deviation of 30 gene members. Of 97,149 ABC transporter sequences identified, 22,343 were full length. Fewer unique ABC transporter gene members appeared among algae compared with vascular and non-vascular land plants. Differences were also noted in abundance of certain ABC transporter subfamilies. Non-algae taxa had relatively more unique ABCB, ABCC, and ABCG transporter gene members on average (p \u3c 0.005), and both algae and early non-vascular plants averaged significantly more ABCF transporter gene members (p \u3c 0.005). Ferns had significantly fewer ABCA transporter gene members than most plant taxa (p \u3c 0.005). Our study provides an overview of ABC transporter protein gene members among many plant taxa including: algae, non-vascular land plants, lycophytes, ferns, conifers, and angiosperms. An increase in the number of gene family members present in the ABCB, ABCC, and ABCD transporter subfamilies may indicate greater variability of the ABC transporter protein superfamily among plant taxa since the divergence of non-vascular plants from algae. We conclude that the number of ABCD, ABCE, and ABCI subfamily proteins gene members has remained relatively unchanged throughout the plant kingdom. The striking difference between the number of ABCA subfamily transporter protein gene members between ferns and other plant taxa is surprising and merits further investigation

Evaluation of X-ray Spectroscopic Techniques for Determining Temperature and Density in Plasmas

Temperature and density measurements of plasmas are important for understanding various phenomena. For example, equations of state, most scaling arguments for Inertial Confinement Fusion and laboratory astrophysics all rely upon accurate knowledge of temperature and density. Spectroscopy is a non-invasive technique to measure these quantities. In this work we establish a new spectroscopic technique by using it to determine temperature. We also compare and contrast the capability of two codes, PrismSPECT and ATOMIC, to infer electron density from experimentally acquired spectra via Stark broadening. We compare and contrast the capability of isoelectronic line ratios and inter-stage line ratios in an absorption spectra to determine electron temperature of a plasma in Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium. The isoelectronic line ratio method has been used previously for experimentally required emission spectra. Stark broadening is often used with a tracer element to diagnose a plasma’s electron density. Our objective is testing quantitatively how well Stark broadening models can predict the plasma density from multiple elements within the same plasma, and whether this is done self-consistently. We measure a transmission spectrum through a ~0.4 $\mu$m Mg-NaF multi-layered foil, tamped with a uniform layer of CH. We use X-rays from the Z facility at Sandia for heating and backlighting. Measurements were acquired in the 7-15$\AA$ range. We found that temperatures inferred from isoelectronic line ratios agree with temperatures inferred from inter-stage line ratios within error. We also found that densities inferred from different elements do not agree when using PrismSPECT, but do agree when using ATOMIC

A Conceptual Model of the Effects of Taxation, Exchange Rate, and Regulations on the Transfer Pricing Behavior of Multinational Firm Managers

We review a sample of transfer pricing literature and conceptualize a moderated mediation model of the transfer pricing behavior of managers of multinational firms (MNFs). Our conceptual model suggests that transfer pricing decisions present complex problems to MNF managers that involve interactions between many factors, which could have many consequences, some of which may be at odds with each other. We provide relevant information to managers of MNFs and the regulatory agencies that will assist them in continuing the search for a regulatory and compliance frame work that works in the mutual interest of all relevant stakeholders

Strategic Choice And Institutional Ambiguity: A History Of Entrepreneurial Emergence In Rural China

This conceptual research suggests that path dependence historically created a limited array of entrepreneurial choices in rural China including various forms of collective and private business ownership. However, collective ownership historically gave rural Chinese entrepreneurs increased sociopolitical legitimacy thereby increasing access to resources such as capital; however, during China’s reform era many rural entrepreneurs chose private rather than collective ownership, an economically illogical choice. This seemingly illogical choice resulted in changes in China’s institutional fabric such that the most historically illogical choice—private business ownership—became the most logical choice. This suggests that entrepreneurial choice extends beyond economic rationality to a more complex environment of options

Income Polarization and Income Inequality in Connecticut During the Great Recession

In this paper, using Bureau of the Census family income data we formally examine the income polarization hypothesis for the State of Connecticut. We ask and answer two questions. First, did the polarization of income deteriorate over the Great Recession years of 2007-2009? If the observed clustering around two opposite poles that existed in Connecticut prior to the Great Recession increased between the years immediately prior to the recession and immediately after (2006-2010) it would be consistent with the perception that the size of the middle class decreased over this period. Second, have income polarization and income inequality fared significantly differently during this period in the state? Income polarization and income inequality, albeit related, are generally distinct features of income distributions. There was no statistically significant change in the polarization of Connecticut’s income over the recent recessionary period. We also find that income inequality and income polarization followed distinct and different trajectories over the time period examined

Educating and advocating: A professional responsibility for school leaders and school counselors

While educators are tasked with many competing professional responsibilities, it is necessary that the focus of advocacy for student well-being stay at the forefront. In particular, for school counselors and school leaders, advocating has never been more important. This article will highlight the role of advocacy found within the professional standards for school counselors and school leaders, and shine light on the need to advocate for social-emotional learning