2002 National Survey of Latinos

Explores the attitudes and experiences of Hispanics on identity and assimilation, discrimination, economics, and the healthcare system. Highlights key areas of demographic differences among subgroups, to illustrate the diversity of the Latino population

Universities, knowledge networks and regional policy

As knowledge becomes an increasingly important part of regional innovation and development processes, the role of universities has come to the fore of regional innovation and economic development policy The objective of this paper is to critically review and assess the structure and function of knowledge networks and modes of engagement between universities and the business community in regional settings and contexts. It is argued that while regional knowledge networks and modes of engagement between universities and the business community are becoming increasingly prevalent, it is often difficult to ascribe investments in knowledge-based infrastructure to improved regional competitiveness. It is concluded that in a globalised knowledge environment the engagement between universities and regional business communities must be based on a mutual understanding of the role of both network and market-based knowledge interactions

Mapping spot blotch resistance genes in four barley populations

Bipolaris sorokiniana (teleomorph: Cochliobolus sativus) is the fungal pathogen responsible for spot blotch in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and occurs worldwide in warmer, humid growing conditions. Current Australian barley varieties are largely susceptible to this disease and attempts are being made to introduce sources of resistance from North America. In this study we have compared chromosomal locations of spot blotch resistance reactions in four North American two-rowed barley lines; the North Dakota lines ND11231-12 and ND11231-11 and the Canadian lines TR251 and WPG8412-9-2-1. Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT)-based PCR, expressed sequence tag (EST) and SSR markers have been mapped across four populations derived from crosses between susceptible parental lines and these four resistant parents to determine the location of resistance loci. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to spot blotch in adult plants (APR) were detected on chromosomes 3HS and 7HS. In contrast, seedling resistance (SLR) was controlled solely by a locus on chromosome 7HS. The phenotypic variance explained by the APR QTL on 3HS was between 16 and 25% and the phenotypic variance explained by the 7HS APR QTL was between 8 and 42% across the four populations. The SLR QTL on 7HS explained between 52 to 64% of the phenotypic variance. An examination of the pedigrees of these resistance sources supports the common identity of resistance in these lines and indicates that only a limited number of major resistance loci are available in current two-rowed germplasm

Association mapping of stem rust race TTKSK resistance in US barley breeding germplasm

KEY MESSAGE: Loci conferring resistance to the highly virulent African stem rust race TTKSK were identified in advanced barley breeding germplasm and positioned to chromosomes 5H and 7H using an association mapping approach. ABSTRACT: African races of the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) are a serious threat to barley production worldwide because of their wide virulence. To discover and characterize resistance to African stem rust race TTKSK in US barley breeding germplasm, over 3,000 lines/cultivars were assessed for resistance at the seedling stage in the greenhouse and also the adult plant stage in the field in Kenya. Only 12 (0.3 %) and 64 (2.1 %) lines exhibited a resistance level comparable to the resistant control at the seedling and adult plant stage, respectively. To map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to race TTKSK, an association mapping approach was conducted, utilizing 3,072 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. At the seedling stage, two neighboring SNP markers (0.8 cM apart) on chromosome 7H (11_21491 and 12_30528) were found significantly associated with resistance. The most significant one found was 12_30528; thus, the resistance QTL was named Rpg-qtl-7H-12_30528. At the adult plant stage, two SNP markers on chromosome 5H (11_11355 and 12_31427) were found significantly associated with resistance. This resistance QTL was named Rpg-qtl-5H-11_11355 for the most significant marker identified. Adult plant resistance is of paramount importance for stem rust. The marker associated with Rpg-qtl-5H-11_11355 for adult plant resistance explained only a small portion of the phenotypic variation (0.02); however, this QTL reduced disease severity up to 55.0 % under low disease pressure and up to 21.1 % under heavy disease pressure. SNP marker 11_11355 will be valuable for marker-assisted selection of adult plant stem rust resistance in barley breeding. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00122-014-2297-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

The Institutionalisation of EU-US relations: decision making, institution building and the new transatlantic agenda

This thesis represents an attempt to make an original contribution to knowledge about transatlantic institutions and transatlantic governance. It investigates attempts in the 1990s to foster a 'new transatlantic dialogue' between the EU and the US, through three bilateral agreements: the Transatlantic Declaration (1990), the New Transatlantic Agenda (1995) and the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (1998). The thesis questions whether and to what extent the relationship has been institutionalised into a structure for transatlantic governance, and how the composition of transatlantic institutions impacts the way the transatlantic actors govern. Consideration is given to both 'who' governs in transatlantic relations and 'how', as evidence is sought to prove or disprove the claim that a decentralisation of decision-making powers has resulted in 'policy setting' and 'policy shaping' by lower level civil servants and non-state actors participating in transgovernmental and transnational institutions. Three policy sectors-the EU-US anti-trafficking in women campaigns, the EU-US Mutual Recognition Agreements and the EU-US banana dispute-serve as case studies for the transatlantic policy process

Coital frequency and condom use in monogamous and concurrent sexual relationships in Cape Town, South Africa

Introduction: A decreased frequency of unprotected sex during episodes of concurrent relationships may dramatically reduce the role of concurrency in accelerating the spread of HIV. Such a decrease could be the result of coital dilution - the reduction in per-partner coital frequency from additional partners - and/or increased condom use during concurrency. To study the effect of concurrency on the frequency of unprotected sex, we examined sexual behaviour data from three communities with high HIV prevalence around Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from June 2011 to February 2012 using audio computer-assisted self-interviewing to reconstruct one-year sexual histories, with a focus on coital frequency and condom use. Participants were randomly sampled from a previous TB and HIV prevalence survey. Mixed effects logistic and Poisson regression models were fitted to data from 527 sexually active adults reporting on 1210 relationship episodes to evaluate the effect of concurrency status on consistent condom use and coital frequency. Results: The median of the per-partner weekly average coital frequency was 2 (IQR: 1 - 3), and consistent condom use was reported for 36% of the relationship episodes. Neither per-partner coital frequency nor consistent condom use changed significantly during episodes of concurrency (aIRR = 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99-1.24 and aOR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.38-2.68, respectively). Being male, coloured, having a tertiary education, and having a relationship between 2 weeks and 9 months were associated with higher coital frequencies. Being coloured, and having a relationship lasting for more than 9 months, was associated with inconsistent condom use. Conclusions: We found no evidence for coital dilution or for increased condom use during concurrent relationship episodes in three communities around Cape Town with high HIV prevalence. Given the low levels of self- reported consistent condom use, our findings suggest that if the frequency of unprotected sex with each of the sexual partners is sustained during concurrent relationships, HIV-positive individuals with concurrent partners may disproportionately contribute to onward HIV transmission

Are Rule 26(c) Protective Orders Viable Against Grand Juries? The Ninth Circuit Rejects Balancing Test in Favor of a per se Rule: United States v. Janet Greeson\u27s A Place for Us (in re Grand Jury Subpoena Served on Meserve)

This comment compares the Fourth, Eleventh, and Ninth Circuits\u27 per se rule with the Second Circuit\u27s balancing approach. It concludes that the courts adopting the per se rule made unwarranted findings by overstating the reach of protective orders by construing them as improper de facto grants of immunity. The courts also understated the retained power of a grand jury by declining to recognize that even when a protective order exists, a grand jury can still call witnesses, have a court compel testimony, or use leaked information for prosecution even though it is sealed.s Further, these courts could have applied a balancing approach without experiencing the problems they suggest such an approach creates

Validation of rice blast resistance genes in barley using a QTL mapping population and near-isolines

There are prior reports of Pyricularia grisea-the causal agent of blast of rice-causing disease in barley. In order to determine the specificity of this resistance in barley, we extended our previous mapping efforts to include blast isolates from barley and rice grown in Thailand and we assessed two resistance phenotypes: leaf blast (LB) and neck blast (NB). The largest-effect resistance QTL, on chromosome I H, was associated with NB and LB and is located in a region rich in resistance genes, including QTL conferring resistance to stripe rust (incited by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei) and the mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei) resistance gene Mla. The LB, NB and mildew resistance alleles trace to one parent (Baronesse) whereas the stripe rust resistance allele traces to the other parent (BCD47) of the mapping population. Baronesse is the susceptible recurrent parent of a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) for three stripe rust resistance QTL, including one on 1H. Unigene (EST) derived single nucleotide polymorphism haplotypes of these NILs were aligned with the blast mapping population QTL using Mla as an anchor. Baronesse and all NILs without the 1H introgression were resistant to LB and NB. However, two NILs with the I H introgression were resistant to LB and NB. Both are resistant to stripe rust. Therefore, the QTL conferring resistance to stripe rust is separable by recombination from the blast resistance QTL