Identification of the expressome by machine learning on omics data.

Accurate annotation of plant genomes remains complex due to the presence of many pseudogenes arising from whole-genome duplication-generated redundancy or the capture and movement of gene fragments by transposable elements. Machine learning on genome-wide epigenetic marks, informed by transcriptomic and proteomic training data, could be used to improve annotations through classification of all putative protein-coding genes as either constitutively silent or able to be expressed. Expressed genes were subclassified as able to express both mRNAs and proteins or only RNAs, and CG gene body methylation was associated only with the former subclass. More than 60,000 protein-coding genes have been annotated in the reference genome of maize inbred B73. About two-thirds of these genes are transcribed and are designated the filtered gene set (FGS). Classification of genes by our trained random forest algorithm was accurate and relied only on histone modifications or DNA methylation patterns within the gene body; promoter methylation was unimportant. Other inbred lines are known to transcribe significantly different sets of genes, indicating that the FGS is specific to B73. We accurately classified the sets of transcribed genes in additional inbred lines, arising from inbred-specific DNA methylation patterns. This approach highlights the potential of using chromatin information to improve annotations of functional genes

Reexamining the Impact of Employee Relocation Assistance on Housing Prices

In this paper, we reexamine the issue of whether corporate relocation assistance programs for transferred employees significantly affect sale prices of single-family homes. We estimate a hedonic price equation that includes physical housing characteristics, location factors, occupancy status, and type of seller for a sample of 2,441 transactions. Seller types include (a) transferred employees who were given direct relocation assistance, (b) transferred employees who were not given direct relocation assistance, and (c) sellers who were not facing an employment transfer. After controlling for vacancy and tenant occupancy, we find that houses sold by transferred employees who receive direct relocation assistance exhibit no significant price differential, but that houses sold by transferred employees who do not receive direct relocation assistance sell at a discount of approximately 3%.

Complexified sigma model and duality

We show that the equations of motion associated with a complexified sigma-model action do not admit manifest dual SO(n,n) symmetry. In the process we discover new type of numbers which we called `complexoids' in order to emphasize their close relation with both complex numbers and matroids. It turns out that the complexoids allow to consider the analogue of the complexified sigma-model action but with (1+1)-worldsheet metric, instead of Euclidean-worldsheet metric. Our observations can be useful for further developments of complexified quantum mechanics.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, improved versio

Property Tax Lids and the Effect on Kansas

Cross sectional time series data in a partial adjustment model examine local government behavior under an aggregate property tax levy limit and under Truth in Taxation in Kansas. Results indicate that the aggregate levy limit would have continued to restrict property tax revenue and spending had it not been replaced.Public Economics,

Dynamic Patterns of Transcript Abundance of Transposable Element Families in Maize.

Transposable Elements (TEs) are mobile elements that contribute the majority of DNA sequences in the maize genome. Due to their repetitive nature, genomic studies of TEs are complicated by the difficulty of properly attributing multi-mapped short reads to specific genomic loci. Here, we utilize a method to attribute RNA-seq reads to TE families rather than particular loci in order to characterize transcript abundance for TE families in the maize genome. We applied this method to assess per-family expression of transposable elements in >800 published RNA-seq libraries representing a range of maize development, genotypes, and hybrids. While a relatively small proportion of TE families are transcribed, expression is highly dynamic with most families exhibiting tissue-specific expression. A large number of TE families were specifically detected in pollen and endosperm, consistent with reproductive dynamics that maintain silencing of TEs in the germ line. We find that B73 transcript abundance is a poor predictor of TE expression in other genotypes and that transcript levels can differ even for shared TEs. Finally, by assessing recombinant inbred line and hybrid transcriptomes, complex patterns of TE transcript abundance across genotypes emerged. Taken together, this study reveals a dynamic contribution of TEs to maize transcriptomes

A shadowgraph study of two proposed Shuttle-C launch vehicle configurations

A shadowgraph study concerning two of the proposed Shuttle-C launch vehicle configurations are presented. These shadowgraphs were obtained from a wind tunnel test performed in Marshall Space Flight Center's 14-in trisonic wind tunnel at various angles-of-attack and roll angles over the Mach range of 0.6 to 4.96. Variations in payload bay length were also evaluated. Major flow field phenomena can easily be seen in the shadowgraphs. Shadowgraphs are a valuable resource. They are used in the analysis of the external flow conditions the launch vehicle encounters through the ascent stage of flight. Subsequent reports will contain shadowgraph studies for other launch vehicle configurations also tested in the Marshall Space Flight Center's 14-in trisonic wind tunnel

Aerodynamic characteristics of the National Launch System (NLS) 1 1/2 stage launch vehicle

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is studying ways of assuring more reliable and cost effective means to space. One launch system studied was the NLS which included the l l/2 stage vehicle. This document encompasses the aerodynamic characteristics of the 1 l/2 stage vehicle. To support the detailed configuration definition two wind tunnel tests were conducted in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's 14x14-Inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel during 1992. The tests were a static stability and a pressure test, each utilizing 0.004 scale models. The static stability test resulted in the forces and moments acting on the vehicle. The aerodynamics for the reference configuration with and without feedlines and an evaluation of three proposed engine shroud configurations were also determined. The pressure test resulted in pressure distributions over the reference vehicle with and without feedlines including the reference engine shrouds. These pressure distributions were integrated and balanced to the static stability coefficients resulting in distributed aerodynamic loads on the vehicle. The wind tunnel tests covered a Mach range of 0.60 to 4.96. These ascent flight aerodynamic characteristics provide the basis for trajectory and performance analysis, loads determination, and guidance and control evaluation

A shadowgraph study of the National Launch System's 1 1/2 stage vehicle configuration and Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle configuration

A shadowgraph study of the National Launch System's (NLS's) 1 1/2 stage and heavy lift launch vehicle (HLLV) configurations is presented. Shadowgraphs are shown for the range of Mach numbers from Mach 0.6 to 5.0 at various angles-of-attack and roll angles. Since the 1 1/2 stage configuration is generally symmetric, no shadowgraphs of any roll angle are shown for this configuration. The major flow field phenomena over the NLS 1 1/2 stage and HLLV configurations are shown in the shadowgraphs. These shadowgraphs are used in the aerothermodynamic analysis of the external flow conditions the launch vehicle would encounter during the ascent stage of flight. The shadowgraphs presented in this study were obtained from configurations tested in the Marshall Space Flight Center's 14-Inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel during 1992

An oil flow study of the reference Shuttle-C configuration

An oil flow study of the reference Shuttle-C configuration is presented. The Shuttle-C vehicle was a proposed shuttle derived vehicle where the orbiter was to be replaced by an unmanned cargo carrier element. Oil flows are shown for the range of Mach numbers from Mach 1.10 to 3.48 at various angles-of-attack and roll angles. The major flow field phenomena over the Shuttle-C reference configuration are shown in these oil flows. Using the oil flows, a qualitative understanding of the flow around the vehicle can be determined, aiding the quantitative definition of aerodynamic data from theoretical analyses and test results. The oil flows presented in this study were obtained from configurations tested in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center's 14-Inch Trisonic Wind Tunnel from October 1988 through February 1989