Immigrant Benefit Receipt: Sensitivity to the Choice of Survey years and Model Specification.

Receipt of unemployment insurance by immigrant men and social assistance by immigrant families are analysed using thirteen surveys from Canada. Estimates from a cohort fixed effects model are found to be sensitive to the choice of survey years. This is due to the mis-specification of the fixed effects model which is rejected when tested against a model allowing for separate year-since-migration effects by arrival cohort. The estimates from the more general model provide little evidence of higher receipt of these benefits, ceteris paribus, for more recent cohorts or that immigrants assimilate toward greater receipt of these benefits.UNEMPLOYMENT ; PUBLIC EXPENDITURES ; IMMIGRANTS

Lentiviral manipulation of gene expression in human adult and embryonic stem cells

Human stem cells could revolutionize the field of medicine by providing a diverse range of cell types for tissue replacement therapies and drug discovery. To achieve this goal, genetic tools need to be optimized and developed for controlling and manipulating stem cells ex vivo. Here we describe a lentiviral delivery system capable of high infection rates in human mesenchymal and embryonic stem cells. The lentiviral backbone was modified to express mono- and bi-cistronic transgenes and was also used to deliver short hairpin ribonucleic acid for specific silencing of gene expression in human stem cells. We show that lentiviral transduction can be used to alter gene expression without altering the genes' ability to differentiate in vitro. These vectors will enable rapid analysis of gene function in stem cells and permit the generation of knock-in / knock-out models of human disease in the rapidly developing field of gene therapy

Who the hell was that? Stories, bodies and actions in the world

This article explores a two-way relationship between stories and the experiential actions of bodies in the world. Through an autoethnographic approach, the article presents a series of interlinked story fragments in an effort to show and evoke a feel for the ways in which stories, bodies, and actions influence and shape each other over time. It offers some reflections on the experiences the stories portray from the perspective of a social constructionist conception of narrative theory and suggest that while stories exert a powerful influence on the actions of our bodies, our bodies intrude on or ‘talk back’ to this process because bodies have an existence beyond stories

Adjustable mount for electro-optic transducers in an evacuated cryogenic system

The invention is an adjustable mount for positioning an electro-optic transducer in an evacuated cryogenic environment. Electro-optic transducers are used in this manner as high sensitivity detectors of gas emission lines of spectroscopic analysis. The mount is made up of an adjusting mechanism and a transducer mount. The adjusting mechanism provided five degrees of freedom, linear adjustments and angular adjustments. The mount allows the use of an internal lens to focus energy on the transducer element thereby improving the efficiency of the detection device. Further, the transducer mount, although attached to the adjusting mechanism, is isolated thermally such that a cryogenic environment can be maintained at the transducer while the adjusting mechanism remains at room temperature. Radiation shields also are incorporated to further reduce heat flow to the transducer location

Through-conjugation of two phosphaalkyne (‘CP’) moieties mediated by a bimetallic scaffold†

Through-conjugation of two phosphaalkyne moieties within an isolable molecule is demonstrated for the first time with the synthesis of [{Ru(dppe)2}2{μ-(CC)2C6H4-p}(CP)2], via base induced desilylation of [{Ru(dppe)2}2{μ-(CC)2C6H4 p}Cl2]. The nature of the cyaphide ligands and their influence upon the bimetallic core are studied electrochemically

Determination of C-reactive protein in female dogs with benign and malignant mammary tumors

Indexación: ScieloSUMMARY The aim of this study was to determine C-reactive protein levels in dogs with benign and malignant mammary tumors. Thirty female dogs, with ages ranging between 6 and 15 years and with no distinction of breed were used for this purpose. The animals were divided into 3 different groups of 10 dogs each: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (benign mammary tumor) and Group 3 (malignant mammary tumor). The neoplasias were classified histologically and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were analyzed using a human turbidimetric immunoassay validated for dogs. Group 3 had the highest values (mean: 8.2 mg/L; median: 7.1 mg/L) of C-reactive protein compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). According to a discriminant analysis, a female dog with a mammary tumor and CRP values ≥ 8 mg/L has a 61% or greater probability of this tumor being malignant. Key words: C-reactive protein, mammary tumors, malignant. RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los niveles séricos de proteína C-reactiva en caninos con neoplasias mamarias benignas y malignas. Se determinaron concentraciones séricas de proteína C-reactiva en 30 hembras caninas con edades entre 6 y 15 años, sin discriminación de raza y no esterilizadas. Los animales fueron divididos en tres grupos de 10 individuos cada uno: grupo 1 (control), grupo 2 (neoplasia mamaria benigna) y grupo 3 (neoplasia mamaria maligna). Las neoplasias mamarias fueron clasificadas mediante estudio histopatológico en benignas o malignas. Los niveles séricos de proteína C-reactiva se determinaron a partir de un ensayo inmunoturbidimétrico de uso humano validado en caninos. El grupo 3 fue el que presentó los valores más altos (media 8,2 mg/L, mediana 7,1 mg/L) de proteína C-reactiva con respecto a los otros dos grupos (P < 0,05). De acuerdo con un análisis discriminante, una perra con neoplasia mamaria y valores de CRP ≥ 8 mg/L tiene una probabilidad de un 61% o más de que ésta sea maligna. Palabras clave: proteína C-reactiva, neoplasia mamaria, maligna

Progress in thin film GaAs solar cells

Solar cells using polycrystalline films of gallium arsenid

Engagine me, engaging you ....Ah Haa

As a non-traditional research office, we have been heavily involved in dissemination activity and, increasingly, rather than just academic staff who are already interested in the outcome of research projects, this means attempting to engage, involve and inspire the public. Public engagement involves a range of approaches that universities or research institutes can take to involve the public with their work. An important part of any public engagement work is to think about the people you want to engage with – but who are the public and how can you ensure that you identify and engage with them effectively? Whoever you are interested in disseminating your research findings to we will consider ways to ensure your planned activity is appropriate and relevant to the target audience so they can effectively contribute to your research. The workshop will help you to identify your audience and, using new technology to track, monitor and evaluate events, to engage with them to further disseminate and promote research. This interactive workshop will involve working in groups using a range of craft materials to create a mood board to demonstrate how you would identify and engage with your audience to maximise participation for your event