808 research outputs found

    Computed Normal Range of Iowa Statewide July Precipitation

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    Iowa summer rainfall distributions are examined to identify small-scale anomalies. Examination of extremely wet and dry summer months shows that large rain amounts fall mainly in small, cellular areas for both extremely wet and dry months. These configurations result from individual rainfall events. Analysis of the distribution of mean July rainfall across the state reveals significant anomalous wet and dry regions that contrast with the background, east-west rainfall gradient. Because of the skewed nature of summer rainfall distributions, the median value is used to represent a more realistic expected rainfall amount for any given year. Some parts of the stare have a more variable distribution and are more sensitive to the expected annual swing of one standard deviation. On the basis of statistical probabilities, these areas can expect summers of more severe moisture deficiencies to occur more often than in the rest of the stare

    Faculty versus Student Repeatability on Evaluating Translucency of the Anterior Dentition

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    The objective was to compare the repeatability between dental faculty, whose clinical practice was primarily restorative dentistry, and final year dental students in categorizing the inherent translucency of images selected at random using either a 3- or 7-point scale (translucent to opaque). Digital images of anterior dentition were randomly selected based on inherent translucency. Thirty images (five were repeated) were randomized and categorized by 20 dental students and 20 faculty on their inherent translucency. Statistical analysis was performed using an F test for analysis of variance at 95% confidence interval. A covariance parameter estimate (CPE) was accomplished to compare the inter-rater variability of the dental faculty and dental students. Statistically, more variability occurred between Slides (CPE of 0.185 (p = 0.001)) and between Subject and Slide (CPE of 0.122 (p = 0.0002)) than within subjects (CPE of 0.021 (p = 0.083)). Viewing repeat Slides, Students (CPE = 0.16) were more consistent (p \u3c 0.05) than faculty (CPE = 1.8) using the 3- point scale, while the CPE was the same (CPE = 0.669) using 7-point scale. Dental students and faculty were consistent using the 7-point scale to judge repeat slides, while dental students in this limited pilot study were more consistent when viewing a repeat slide using the 3-point scale

    Allometric trajectories of body and head morphology in three sympatric Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) morphs

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    A study of body and head development in three sympatric reproductively isolated Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) morphs from a subarctic lake (Skogsfjordvatn, northern Norway) revealed allometric trajectories that resulted in morphological differences. The three morphs were ecologically assigned to a littoral omnivore, a profundal benthivore and a profundal piscivore, and this was confirmed by genetic analyses (microsatellites). Principal component analysis was used to identify the variables responsible for most of the morphological variation of the body and head shape. The littoral omnivore and the profundal piscivore morph had convergent allometric trajectories for the most important head shape variables, developing bigger mouths and relatively smaller eyes with increasing head size. The two profundal morphs shared common trajectories for the variables explaining most of the body and head shape variation, namely head size relative to body size, placement of the dorsal and pelvic fins, eye size and mouth size. In contrast, the littoral omnivore and the profundal benthivore morphs were not on common allometric trajectories for any of the examined variables. The findings suggest that different selective pressures could have been working on traits related to their trophic niche such as habitat and diet utilization of the three morphs, with the two profundal morphs experiencing almost identical environmental conditions

    In Vivo Evaluation of Quantitative Percussion Diagnostics for Determining Implant Stability

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    PURPOSE: A percussion instrument (Periometer(Ÿ), Perimetrics LLC, Newport Beach, CA, USA) and rat model were used to test the hypothesis: percussion diagnostics provides reliable, reproducible indications of osseointegration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Titanium implants were placed in femurs of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats. Each animal was assigned to one of six groups of six defined by one of three time points (2, 4, or 8 weeks post-placement) and one of two treatments (MMP inhibitor or vehicle). Percussion testing was conducted three times/subject at implant placement and at one of the time points. For each time point, there was an experimental group that received daily intraperitoneal injections of GM6001, and a control group that received no MMP inhibitor. The percussion data consisted of loss coefficient (LC) values that characterize energy dissipation. Statistical analysis was performed on the LC values for two animal groups using the paired Student t test to assess differences as a function of time, and the independent t test to compare mean LC for the study groups at sacrifice (α=0.05). Histological evaluation using the osteogenic CD40 protein marker was also performed. RESULTS: A nearly significant difference in mean LC at the 2-week time point was observed between the two treatments with the GM6001 group having the higher value (p = 0.053). There was a greater difference between the mean LC values for the 4-week GM6001 and vehicle groups (p = 0.001). The histological evidence for subjects in these two groups confirmed reduction of osteogenesis at the implant interface after administration of the MMP inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Lower vehicle LC values relative to the GM6001 therapeutic group were observed, consistent with the effect MMP inhibition has on matrix remodeling at the implant bone interface. This finding in conjunction with histological observations confirms that osseointegration can be monitored using percussion diagnostics

    Education policy as an act of white supremacy: whiteness, critical race theory and education reform

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    The paper presents an empirical analysis of education policy in England that is informed by recent developments in US critical theory. In particular, I draw on ‘whiteness studies’ and the application of Critical Race Theory (CRT). These perspectives offer a new and radical way of conceptualising the role of racism in education. Although the US literature has paid little or no regard to issues outside North America, I argue that a similar understanding of racism (as a multifaceted, deeply embedded, often taken-for-granted aspect of power relations) lies at the heart of recent attempts to understand institutional racism in the UK. Having set out the conceptual terrain in the first half of the paper, I then apply this approach to recent changes in the English education system to reveal the central role accorded the defence (and extension) of race inequity. Finally, the paper touches on the question of racism and intentionality: although race inequity may not be a planned and deliberate goal of education policy neither is it accidental. The patterning of racial advantage and inequity is structured in domination and its continuation represents a form of tacit intentionality on the part of white powerholders and policy makers. It is in this sense that education policy is an act of white supremacy. Following others in the CRT tradition, therefore, the paper’s analysis concludes that the most dangerous form of ‘white supremacy’ is not the obvious and extreme fascistic posturing of small neonazi groups, but rather the taken-for-granted routine privileging of white interests that goes unremarked in the political mainstream

    The role of TcdB and TccC subunits in secretion of the photorhabdus Tcd toxin complex

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    The Toxin Complex (TC) is a large multi-subunit toxin encoded by a range of bacterial pathogens. The best-characterized examples are from the insect pathogens Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus and Yersinia. They consist of three large protein subunits, designated A, B and C that assemble in a 5:1:1 stoichiometry. Oral toxicity to a range of insects means that some have the potential to be developed as pest control technology. The three subunit proteins do not encode any recognisable export sequences and as such little progress has been made in understanding their secretion. We have developed heterologous TC production and secretion models in E. coli and used them to ascribe functions to different domains of the crucial B+C sub-complex. We have determined that the B and C subunits use a secretion mechanism that is either encoded by the proteins themselves or employ an as yet undefined system common to laboratory strains of E. coli. We demonstrate that both the N-terminal domains of the B and C subunits are required for secretion of the whole complex. We propose a model whereby the N-terminus of the C-subunit toxin exports the B+C sub-complex across the inner membrane while that of the B-subunit allows passage across the outer membrane. We also demonstrate that even in the absence of the B-subunit, that the C-subunit can also facilitate secretion of the larger A-subunit. The recognition of this novel export system is likely to be of importance to future protein secretion studies. Finally, the identification of homologues of B and C subunits in diverse bacterial pathogens, including Burkholderia and Pseudomonas, suggests that these toxins are likely to be important in a range of different hosts, including man
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