Visual propaganda in editorial design

The focus of this investigation is to determine how graphic design decision making can influence the understanding of information in news magazine articles ... this thesis will identify specific visual elements and show how the treatment of those elements can amplify or diffuse content bias

Molecular basis of ecological speciation in sticklebacks

The constant race to outcompete other organisms, either from the same or another species drives the continuous emergence of new and, better-adapted individuals. As these phenotypes become increasingly specialized to the specific environmental conditions they are exposed too, they grow progressively divergent from both their ancestors as well as their conspecifics in other environmental contexts. In freshwater three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), this has resulted in a number of specific phenotypes, which have adapted different reproductive strategies or have evolved habitat specific growth and parasite resistance. Each of which is characterized by specific adaptations to the environmental context they are exposed to and maintained through environmental pressures and sexual selection. A key difference between rivers and lakes are the different parasite communities they harbor. Parasites impose strong selection pressures on their stickleback host by diverting resources, restricting reproduction and promoting their host’s death. Hence, it is crucial for sticklebacks to minimize their parasite load, resulting in a co-evolutionary arms race between parasite and host. As the parasite community varies between habitat types they demand different adaptations, resulting in increasing divergence between sticklebacks in their respective habitats. The globally reoccurring distinction of river and lake habitats implies an equally reoccurring habitat dependent differentiation into specific river respectively lake ecotypes. Specializing to their environment bestows an ecological advantage onto the resident individuals. This is reinforced by sexual selection which privileges well-adapted phenotypes by actively selecting for such individuals with low parasite burdens and optimal immune gene composition. Incidentally, this selects against potential migrants from other habitats, thus generating genetic isolation, a prerequisite for speciation

Interaction between positive and negative effectors of embryonic and postnatal muscle growth in the chicken and the mouse

Myostatin, belonging to the TGF-beta family, negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth. The current study was conducted to assess the efficacy of in ovo administration of exogenous myostatin antagonist (MA) to enhance skeletal muscle growth and improve feed efficiency of broilers.;Growth hormone secretion is under the control of a pair of hypothalamic factors, growth hormone releasing hormone and somatostatin. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) and its endogenous ligand represent a novel third mechanism regulating the release of growth hormone. Early chicken embryonic development, prior to day 14, has been proposed to be independent of GH. However, recent evidence shows that peripheral GH secretion has paracrine/autocrine functions during embryonic development. In the current study, we used the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to determine the expression pattern of the GHSR during embryonic development and the effects of in ovo recombinant human (rh) IGF-I administration on its expression pattern.;Administration of the recently identified ligand of the growth hormone secretagoue receptor (GHSR) has been found to increase feed intake and fat deposition. During growth and aging, the myostatin knockout mouse has been shown to have a significant reduction in fat accumulation. In this study, we used RT-PCR to investigate the relationship between ghrelin and myostatin expression. Ghrelin expression was significantly reduced in the heart (P \u3c 0.05) and showed a trend for reduced expression in the pectoralis muscle (P = 0.07) in myostatin knockout mice. However, ghrelin expression was not different in the brain, heart and liver between the control and myostatin knockout mice. These data indicate loss of myostatin may act by down regulating the expression of ghrelin to reduce the accumulation of fat in the myostatin knockout mouse. Additionally, these data are consistent with an autocrine/paracrine role for ghrelin, in the peripheral tissues, in metabolic regulation and nutrient partitioning. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Pseudohypocalcemia caused by perchlorate (Irenat (R))

Background: Blood gas analysis (BGA), including measurement of ionized calcium, is performed routinely in patients with end stage renal disease on renal replacement therapy, especially when using citrate for regional anticoagulation. After installation of a new blood gas analyzer (RAPIDpoint (R) 405; BGA), we observed lower ionized calcium concentrations in a few patients without signs of hypocalcemia, whereas calcium concentrations were normal using a standard laboratory method. Pseudohypocalcemia was of limited duration and correlated with the short-term intake of sodium perchlorate monohydrate (Irenat (R)). Methods: We prepared dilution series from whole blood samples and stock solutions of calcium and perchlorate with different concentrations of ionized calcium and perchlorate. Measurement of ionized calcium concentrations was performed using two different blood gas analyzers (RAPIDpoint (R) 405; BGA and Roche AVL 9180; standard laboratory method). Results: After addition of different amounts of perchlorate, significant lower ionized calcium concentrations were measured with BGA compared to the standard laboratory method using either preparations from whole blood samples or stock solutions. The addition of potassium or methylene blue known to complex perchlorate had no effect on the concentrations of ionized calcium measured with BGA. Using different mathematical methods, a calculation of the "real" ionized calcium concentration from the value measured with BGA was not possible. Conclusions: Based on our experiments, we confirm the hypothesis that perchlorate can influence the measurement of ionized calcium by BGA. As the effect depends on the ion selective electrode that is used, it is advisable to test the blood gas analyzer with calcium and perchlorate solutions

A comparison of three seismic methods in the arid environment

Eight locations in the vicinity of Las Vegas, Nevada, were noise tested using a shotgun, high frequency geophones, and an engineering seismograph. The noise spreads were examined for reflection events to determine shotpoint to geophone offset for an optimum window reflection profile. No reflection events were observed in the noise spreads. Trial optimum offset lines were run at location 1 and location 8. The resulting profiles contain spurious reflecting horizons that appear to be teal reflectors. At the eighth location, a delay time profile and a series of over-lapping refraction soundings were performed at the site of the optimum offset line. The delay time profile contains false structure that is an artifact of error accumulation in data reduction. The over-lapping refraction soundings produced a useful low resolution profile of an alluvial contact approximately five to ten feet deep; The surface geologic environment in the southwestern desert was found to be unfavorable to the optimum offset reflection profiling method and the delay time method. Both yield misleading results when applied to shallow targets in the desert southwest. The refraction sounding technique provided useful profiles and should continue to be used in the southwest for profiling shallow refraction targets

Topology Detection in Microgrids with Micro-Synchrophasors

Network topology in distribution networks is often unknown, because most switches are not equipped with measurement devices and communication links. However, knowledge about the actual topology is critical for safe and reliable grid operation. This paper proposes a voting-based topology detection method based on micro-synchrophasor measurements. The minimal difference between measured and calculated voltage angle or voltage magnitude, respectively, indicates the actual topology. Micro-synchrophasors or micro-Phasor Measurement Units ({\mu}PMU) are high-precision devices that can measure voltage angle differences on the order of ten millidegrees. This accuracy is important for distribution networks due to the smaller angle differences as compared to transmission networks. For this paper, a microgrid test bed is implemented in MATLAB with simulated measurements from {\mu}PMUs as well as SCADA measurement devices. The results show that topologies can be detected with high accuracy. Additionally, topology detection by voltage angle shows better results than detection by voltage magnitude.Comment: 5 Pages, PESGM2015, Denver, C

Cambios del nivel del mar y extinción en masa: la respuesta de la fauna bentónica en el Toarciense Inferior (Jurásico Inferior) de la Península Ibérica

La combinación de un análisis paleoecológico de faunas bentónicas del Toarciense Inferior de la uenca Lusitánica (Portugal) y la Cordillera Ibérica (España) con un análisis de la secuencia estratigráfi ca muestra la conexión íntima entre parámetros ambientales, como estabilidad del sustrato y suministro de nutrientes, y cambios del nivel del mar. Como estos parámetros ambientales en un ambiente determinado se mantienen mas o menos constantes durante el tiempo geológico, las comunidades faunísticas que estuvieron controladas por estos parámetros pueden ser comparadas con comunidades similares de de diferentes edades geológicas. Además de los parámetros ambientales, también parámetros biológicos tienen infl uencia sobre la composición y la distribución de la fauna bentónica, especialmente durante la extinción masiva del Toarciense Inferior. Puede apreciarse como entre estos parámetros biológicos uno de los más importantes es el número de taxones competitivos, pues si este número es pequeño, aquellos oportunistas pueden extenderse rápidamente sobre un área enorme, mientras que, si este número es grande, el estrés biológico creado puede producir condiciones de inestabilidad y cambios frecuentes en las composiciones de la fauna. La composición y la distribución de la fauna bentónica de la Cuenca Lusitánica y la Cordillera Ibérica está controlada por parámetros ambientales sólo en el Toarciense más bajo (Zona Tenuicostatum), mientras que en la parte superior del Toarciense (Zona Serpentinum) los parámetros biológicos son los que predominan

AN IN-VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM PROVIDING ACCIDENT HOTSPOT WARNINGS

Accident hotspots, locations where accidents are historically concentrated, contribute significantly to road traffic accidents being the leading cause of death by injury. A notable improvement in driver safety can be achieved through warnings of known upcoming hazardous features. However, as installing and maintaining traditional road sign infrastructure can be costly, warnings on accident hotspots are not typically available. This paper presents an in-vehicle information system prototype which provides warnings of upcoming accident hotspots based initially on historic data. Additionally, significant research has focused on the identification, analysis and treatment of these accident hotspots. However, a true picture of road safety can be hard to achieve as many traffic accidents go unreported. Information on near-miss events, such as heavy braking or taking evasive action to avoid an accident, could help identify and provide life saving insights into hazardous areas before an accident occurs. The prototype therefore additionally collects vehicle data in order to learn characteristics of accident hotspots and identify near-miss events, in order to improve the system and provide new insights