Methods Acronyms - The Witty Side of Science

The name of a method usually contains its basic principles. To simplify the name of a method and make it easier to remember, an acronym is often used. However, sometimes the name of a method and its acronym are formed in such a way that the result often has quite a different or even humorous meaning. Here we have sorted out acronyms of scientific methods that have unusual or humorous meaning. The summation is a list of representative methods that represent the true face of science: an interesting, skillful and joyful human activity

Mitochondrial DNA Suggests Stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) From Upper Shavers Fork Have Strong Genetic Similarities With The Recently Identified New River Form

A recent analysis of cytochrome b sequence data suggested the presence of two distinct lineages of stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) in West Virginia: one form that occurs throughout most waters of the Ohio and Potomac River basins, and a second that is restricted to the New River basin. In Michael Sovic and Dr. Kody Kuehnl\u27s study, cytochrome b data are presented for individuals sampled from the upper reaches of Shavers Fork, a tributary of the Cheat River that is geographically proximate to, but not within the New River drainage. Haplotypes observed in the individuals from Shavers Fork are most similar to those from the New River. This result is consistent with the hypothesis of a historical connection between Shavers Fork and waters of the New River basin. In addition, if the two forms are formally recognized taxonomically, these data suggest that the range of the New River form may extend into Shavers Fork, and highlight the need for additional sampling in nearby drainages to better understand the full extent of the distribution of this unique stoneroller lineage in West Virginia.https://fuse.franklin.edu/forum-2013/1023/thumbnail.jp

Molecular Assessment of Three Reproducing Populations of the Clubshell Mussel (Pleurobema clava) Reveals Historic Hybridization with Pleurobema Sintoxia

The clubshell (Pleurobema clava) is a federally endangered species of freshwater mussel endemic to Ohio that is currently found in fewer than ten river systems in the United States (\u3e85% range reduction). Two of the USFWS’s (1993) recovery goals are to establish ten viable populations and maintain any existing genetic viability. In order to recover the clubshell, conservation efforts including translocation and captive propagation have been used to augment existing populations. In order to maintain the genetic diversity and population level specificity, a molecular assessment is needed. In this study, we generated nuclear microsatellite data and mitochondrial (mtDNA) sequence data from three populations of clubshell to assess population structure.https://fuse.franklin.edu/forum-2013/1020/thumbnail.jp

Scalable Distributed Computing Hierarchy: Cloud, Fog and Dew Computing

The paper considers the conceptual approach for organization of the vertical hierarchical links between the scalable distributed computing paradigms: Cloud Computing, Fog Computing and Dew Computing. In this paper, the Dew Computing is described and recognized as a new structural layer in the existing distributed computing hierarchy. In the existing computing hierarchy, the Dew computing is positioned as the ground level for the Cloud and Fog computing paradigms. Vertical, complementary, hierarchical division from Cloud to Dew Computing satisfies the needs of high- and low-end computing demands in everyday life and work. These new computing paradigms lower the cost and improve the performance, particularly for concepts and applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Internet of Everything (IoE). In addition, the Dew computing paradigm will require new programming models that will efficiently reduce the complexity and improve the productivity and usability of scalable distributed computing, following the principles of High-Productivity computing

Effects of 17β-Estradiol Exposure on Gamete Development and Viability in Freshwater Unionids

Evidence of a functional role for vertebrate steroids has been demonstrated in a number of invertebrate species, including molluscs. This knowledge has generated interest into the possibility of invertebrate endocrine disruption due to exposure to both exogenous steroid hormones and xenobiotics which can mimic the action of these compounds. Exposure to the natural vertebrate estrogen, 17β-estradiol (E2), for example, has been shown to induce accelerated gamete development in multiple mollusc species. Little information exists, however, for freshwater mussels, a group of exceptional conservation interest. Here, Daniel Sovic, Raoman Lanno, Dr. Kody Kuehnl, and G. Thomas Watters report the findings of two field studies on gametogenesis (Elliptio complanata, Pleurobema clava) as they relate to seasonal estrogenicity of extracts from Polar Organic Compound Integrative Samplers (POCIS) as determined using the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay. In order to investigate effects of E2 exposure on gamete maturation and viability in freshwater mussels, Elliptio insulsa were dosed at one of three exposure levels. Effects on ova and sperm development were determined on biopsies collected 10 days and 6 months post-exposure and biopsy-generated data were compared with histological sections of vicera collected immediately following final biopsy collection. Comparisons of data collected via biopsy and traditional histological techniques provided data to evaluate the potential for utilizing non-lethal biopsy sampling to assess Unionid gametogenesis.https://fuse.franklin.edu/forum-2013/1022/thumbnail.jp

Development of the model for quantification of innovation activity magnitude effect

В статье разработана модель квантификации эффекта масштаба инновационной деятельности, которая включает систему показателей, выведенных из общетеоретических понятий предельной доходности. Предложенные предельные индикаторы позволяют получать количественные оценки положительного или отрицательного качества изменения объемов инновационной деятельности

Antiproliferative activity and mode of action analysis of novel amino and amido substituted phenantrene and naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene derivatives

Herein we present and describe the design and synthesis of novel phenantrene derivatives substituted with either amino or amido side chains and their biological activity. Antiproliferative activities were assessed in vitro on a panel of human cancer cell lines. Tested compounds showed moderate activity against cancer cells in comparison with 5-fluorouracile. Among all tested compounds, some compounds substituted with cyano groups showed a pronounced and selective activity in the nanomolar range of inhibitory concentrations against HeLa and HepG2. The strongest selective activity against HeLa cells was observed for acrylonitriles 8 and 11 and their cyclic analogues 15 and 17 substituted with two cyano groups with a corresponding IC50 = 0.33, 0.21, 0.65 and 0.45 μM, respectively. Compounds 11 showed the most pronounced selectivity being almost non cytotoxic to normal fibroblasts. Additionally, mode of biological action analysis was performed in silico and in vitro by Western blot analysis of HIF-1-α relative expression for compounds 8 and 11

The 6 May 1976 Friuli earthquake: re-evaluating and consolidating

The aim of this paper is to propose the creation, in terms of European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98), of the entire macroseismic fi eld of the 6 May 1976 Friuli earthquake. Only forty odd years have passed, and nothwithsatnding that there is a huge quantity of existing data, it was still disturbing to fi nd that much of the original data are missing and probably lost forever Efforts have therefore been made to fi nd additional and still unknown primary data. For the majority of the collected national data sets, a reevaluation was then possible. This study presents the comprehensive macroseismic data set for 14 European countries. It is, to our knowledge, one of the largest European data sets, consisting of 3423 intensity data points (IDPs). The earthquake was felt from Rome to the Baltic Sea, and from Belgium to Warsaw. The maximum intensity 10 EMS-98 was reached in eight localities in Friuli (Italy). Compared to previous studies, the Imax values have changed from country to country, in some cases being lowered due to methodological differences, but in the case of three among the most hit countries, Imax is now higher than in the previous studies, mainly due to the new data.Published417-4444T. Sismicità dell'ItaliaJCR Journa