Local u'g'r'i'z' Standard Stars in the Chandra Deep Field-South

Because several observing programs are underway in various spectral regimes to explore the Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S), the value of local photometric standards is obvious. As part of an NOAO Surveys Program to establish u'g'r'i'z' standard stars in the southern hemisphere, we have observed the central region of the CDF-S to create local standards for use by other investigators using these filters. As a courtesy, we present the CDF-S standards to the public now, although the main program will not finish until mid-2005.Comment: Accepted by AJ (scheduled for October 2003 issue). 26 pages, 5 tables, 5 figures. High resolution version of Figure 7 available at http://home.fnal.gov/~dtucker/Southern_ugriz/index.htm

Utilization of Actinomycetes to increase phosphate availability at different soil moisture conditions in Andisols Namanteran, North Sumatera

The high phosphate retention in Andisols causes the availability of P to be low, can not be absorbed by plants. Actinomycetes are capable of solubilizing bound phosphates. This research aimed to identify Actinomycetes in Andisols Namanteran, assess their ability to increase phosphate availability, and understand how they work to increase phosphate availability in this soil. The research design used a factorial randomized block design with 2 factors; factor 1 was Actinomycetes isolate, consisting of A₀ = No Inoculant, A₁ = Inoculant A₁₃₂ (vegetable crops; 32 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₂ = A₄₆₈ (forest plants; 41 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₃ = A₄₅₈ (forest plant; 58 × 10⁸ CFUmL⁻¹), A₄ = A₄₇₁ (coffee plant; 35 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₅ = A₄₅₉ (forest plant; 63 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₆ = A₃₂₁ (hibiscus plant; 37 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), and A₇ = A₃₅₆ (vegetable plant; 33 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), and factor 2 was soil water content, consisting of K₁ = 50%, K₂ = 75% and K₃ = 100% of field capacity. The results showed that the availability of P in Andisols increased due to the application of Actinomycetes from 42.46 ppm to 159.20−266.60 ppm. The population of Actinomycetes in Actinomycetes treatment ranged from 27.33−31.58 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), with a soil pH of 4.41. Water content of 100% was the best in increasing soil pH and Actinomycetes population, but not having significant effects on the available P of the soil. The results of molecular identification of Actinomycetes that have the best potential in dissolving P include A₃>A₅>A₂>A₄>A₁

Investigation on Willingness of Employees to Share Information Security Advice

As modern organizations rely more on their information systems, mitigating information security risks becomes essential. Weaknesses in the information security management chain have continued to be challenged by employees. Therefore, enhancing employee security awareness becomes critical. Considering the effectiveness of informal methods, this research examines security advice sharing as one of the operative ways. Accordingly, in this paper, by adapting the theory of planned behavior as our theoretical lens, we propose a conceptual model of factors that are anticipated to impact the willingness of employees to share security advice. Finally, conclusion and avenues for future research are discussed

Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Benzimidazole Derivatives

In this paper the new starting material 2-(5-chloro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl) aniline (1) was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 4-chloro-o-phenylenediamine and anthranilic acid .The new Mannich base derivatives were synthesized using formaldehyde and different secondary amines to synthesize a new set of benzimidazole derivatives(2-5). Also, the new Schiff-base derivatives (6-10) were synthesized from the reaction of compound (1) with various aromatic aldehydes and the closure-ring was done successfully using mercapto acetic acid to get the new thiazolidine derivatives(11-12).These new compounds were characterized using some physical techniques like:FT-IR Spectra and 1HNMR Spectra

Effect of Surgical Fusion on Volitional Weight-Shifting in Individuals With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Prospective. Objectives The goals of this study were to (1) evaluate the differences in weightbearing symmetry between individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and typically developing controls; (2) observe the effect of posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) on volitional weight-shifting at 1 and 2 years postoperatively; and (3) evaluate whether lowest instrumented fusion level (ie, lowest instrumented vertebra [LIV]) in PSFI has an effect on volitional weight-shifting. Summary of Background Data Previous studies have conflicting findings with regard to the effect of scoliosis on postural control tasks as well as the effect of surgery. They have also noted an inconsistent effect of PSFI at different LIVs, with more distal LIVs exhibiting greater reductions in postoperative range of motion. Methods The study was designed with an AIS group of 41 patients (8 males and 33 females) with AIS who underwent PSFI, along with a Control Group of 24 age-matched typically developing participants (12 male and 12 female). Both groups performed postural control tasks (static balance and volitional weight-shifting), with the AIS group repeating the tasks at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Results At baseline, the AIS group showed increased weightbearing asymmetry than the Control Group (p = .01). The AIS group showed improvements in volitional weight-shifting at 2 years over baseline (p \u3c .01). There was no effect of LIV on volitional weight-shifting by the second postoperative year. Conclusions Individuals with AIS have greater weightbearing asymmetry but improved volitional weight-shifting over typically developing controls. PSFI improves volitional weight-shifting beyond preoperative baseline but does not differ significantly by LIV

Pms2 suppresses large expansions of the (GAA·TTC)n sequence in neuronal tissues

Copyright @ 2012 Bourn et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Expanded trinucleotide repeat sequences are the cause of several inherited neurodegenerative diseases. Disease pathogenesis is correlated with several features of somatic instability of these sequences, including further large expansions in postmitotic tissues. The presence of somatic expansions in postmitotic tissues is consistent with DNA repair being a major determinant of somatic instability. Indeed, proteins in the mismatch repair (MMR) pathway are required for instability of the expanded (CAG·CTG)(n) sequence, likely via recognition of intrastrand hairpins by MutSβ. It is not clear if or how MMR would affect instability of disease-causing expanded trinucleotide repeat sequences that adopt secondary structures other than hairpins, such as the triplex/R-loop forming (GAA·TTC)(n) sequence that causes Friedreich ataxia. We analyzed somatic instability in transgenic mice that carry an expanded (GAA·TTC)(n) sequence in the context of the human FXN locus and lack the individual MMR proteins Msh2, Msh6 or Pms2. The absence of Msh2 or Msh6 resulted in a dramatic reduction in somatic mutations, indicating that mammalian MMR promotes instability of the (GAA·TTC)(n) sequence via MutSα. The absence of Pms2 resulted in increased accumulation of large expansions in the nervous system (cerebellum, cerebrum, and dorsal root ganglia) but not in non-neuronal tissues (heart and kidney), without affecting the prevalence of contractions. Pms2 suppressed large expansions specifically in tissues showing MutSα-dependent somatic instability, suggesting that they may act on the same lesion or structure associated with the expanded (GAA·TTC)(n) sequence. We conclude that Pms2 specifically suppresses large expansions of a pathogenic trinucleotide repeat sequence in neuronal tissues, possibly acting independently of the canonical MMR pathway.IDB was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Ataxia Foundation. RMP was supported by Ataxia UK. SA was supported by The Wellcome Trust. This research was made possible by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NINDS) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association to S.I.B

Is there any putative mediatory role of inflammatory markers on the association between ultra-processed foods and resting metabolic rate?

The resting metabolic rate (RMR) represents the largest component of total daily energy expenditure. The sale of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is increasing globally; however, UPF can have many adverse effects, including increasing inflammatory markers and altering RMRs. This cross-sectional study included 285 healthy overweight and obese women. Anthropometric measurements were evaluated using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer InBody 770 scanner. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), plasminogen activator-1 (PAI-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) blood levels were measured after a 12-h fasting. Indirect calorimetry was used to evaluate the RMR by using the Weir equation, and RMR deviation (RMR estimated - RMR actual), RMR per body mass index (BMI), and free fat mass (FFM) were estimated. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used, and seven groups of UPFs were extracted based on the NOVA method. A negative association between the RMR [β = −0.159, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.471, −0.052, P = 0.044], RMR per BMI (β = −0.014, 95% CI: −0.025, −0.006, P = 0.036), and RMR per FFM (β = −0.241, 95% CI: −0.006, −0.000, P = 0.041) using the NOVA score was observed after adjusting for confounders. This association disappeared after inclusion of each inflammatory marker. All the markers may inversely mediate the relationship between the mentioned variables and the NOVA score. hs-CRP and MCP-1 also had a negative effect on the relationship between the NOVA score and RMR deviation. Finally, UPF intake is likely related with the RMR, mediated through changes in the production of hs-CRP, PAI-1, MCP-1, and IL-1β