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Genome in a Bottle benchmarks are widely used to help validate clinical sequencing pipelines and develop variant calling and sequencing methods. Here we use accurate linked and long reads to expand benchmarks in 7 samples to include difficult-to-map regions and segmental duplications that are challenging for short reads. These benchmarks add more than 300,000 SNVs and 50,000 insertions or deletions (indels) and include 16% more exonic variants, many in challenging, clinically relevant genes not covered previously, such as PMS2. For HG002, we include 92% of the autosomal GRCh38 assembly while excluding regions problematic for benchmarking small variants, such as copy number variants, that should not have been in the previous version, which included 85% of GRCh38. It identifies eight times more false negatives in a short read variant call set relative to our previous benchmark. We demonstrate that this benchmark reliably identifies false positives and false negatives across technologies, enabling ongoing methods development.

The error-related negativity (ERN) is an event-related potential (ERP) component generated in anterior cingulate cortexthat reflects reward sensitivity and error aversion (Hajcak & Foti, 2008). In a spelling decision task that included a mon-etary reward for good performance, Harris, Perfetti, and Rickles (2014) found that mean ERN amplitude was associatedwith an offline behavioral measure of spelling knowledge, suggesting that expert spellers are more error-averse during areward-based spelling task than those with less expertise. However, task performance alone is an imperfect indicator of ex-pertise, because a correct response could result from guessing or motor error. In the present study, we investigated whetherthe left-lateralized N170, an ERP component directly tied to orthographic expertise, was associated with ERN effect size inthe spelling decision task. We found that mean N170 amplitude correlated positively with mean ERN amplitude, indicatingthat experts experience greater aversion to errors than non-experts.

The purpose of this thesis is to identify the internal effects of corporate social responsibility on firm performance. It also examines the definition of corporate social responsibility and two varying theories about the topic. This thesis explores the human resource, quality and financial aspects of firm performance and how those aspects of a company are affected by adopting significant corporate social responsibility programs. This research seeks to answer the claim that corporate social responsibility programs do not have a positive effect on the actual performance of an organization. It will examine the effect of CSR on employee attitudes, moral and overall satisfaction, seeking to determine if it affects employees in such a way that would affect their performance. This thesis will also examine the effect of implementing CSR programs on the quality of the company’s service or products. Finally, it will investigate the financial effects of implementing CSR programs on an organization.

The purpose of this thesis is to identify the internal effects of corporate social responsibility on firm performance. It also examines the definition of corporate social responsibility and two varying theories about the topic. This thesis explores the human resource, quality and financial aspects of firm performance and how those aspects of a company are affected by adopting significant corporate social responsibility programs. This research seeks to answer the claim that corporate social responsibility programs do not have a positive effect on the actual performance of an organization. It will examine the effect of CSR on employee attitudes, moral and overall satisfaction, seeking to determine if it affects employees in such a way that would affect their performance. This thesis will also examine the effect of implementing CSR programs on the quality of the company’s service or products. Finally, it will investigate the financial effects of implementing CSR programs on an organization.

Kerry K Assil, Lindsay Harris, Jeannie Cecka Assil Eye Institute, Beverly Hills, CA, USA Purpose: To compare surgical efficiency and multiple early clinical outcome variables in eyes undergoing phacoemulsification using either transversal or torsional ultrasound systems.Setting: Assil Eye Institute, Beverly Hills, CA, USA.Design: Prospective, randomized, clinician-masked, contralaterally controlled single-center evaluation.Patients and methods: Patients seeking cataract removal in both eyes with implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses were randomly assigned to one of two treatment rooms for phacoemulsification with either a transverse ultrasound system or torsional handpiece system. The contralateral eye was treated at a later date with the alternate device. A total of 54 eyes of 27 patients having similar degrees of cataract, astigmatism, and visual potential were included. All operative data were collected for analysis, and patients were followed for 3 months after surgery.Results: Similar visual acuity was reported at all postoperative visits between the two groups. Mean phacoemulsification time and total power required were both significantly lower with the transverse system than with the torsional technique (P<0.05 for both). Similarly, mean total balanced salt solution used was significantly less with the transverse system vs torsional (P<0.05). Postoperative safety demonstrated significantly lower endothelial cell loss at 1 day and 1 month (P<0.05) with transverse vs torsional. Macular swelling was less at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months with transverse vs torsional, although the difference did not achieve significance (P=0.1) at any single time point. Clinically detectable corneal edema was reported less frequently at all postoperative time points with the transverse system.Conclusion: The transverse ultrasound system was found to be possibly associated with less balanced salt-solution use

Four studies were conducted to determine the range of phonological information that can affect orthographic processes during reading under different conditions, and to investigate how the influence of phonology on orthography is affected by other relevant factors, such as linguistic context and individual differences in reading-related skills. Study 1 employed a spelling decision task in which phonemic, lexical stress, and syllabic variables were factorially manipulated in misspelled words. Both phonemes and lexical stress affected the speed and accuracy with which misspellings were detected, indicating that both segmental and suprasegmental phonological information can influence orthographic processing. Study 2 comprised two separate experiments designed to compare phonological effects on orthographic processing in a spelling decision task versus a lexical decision task. Both stress and phoneme effects were reduced in the lexical decision experiment relative to the spelling decision experiment, suggesting that the influence of phonology on orthography is stronger when more extensive phonological processing is required or allowed by a task. Study 3 included two series of analyses examining the roles of phonological feedback and individual differences in Study 2 outcomes. The analyses indicated that better spellers are less sensitive than poorer spellers to the influence of phonological feedback during reading, which supports the hypothesis that phonological feedback is a mechanism for orthographic learning. Study 4 embedded stimuli in a proofreading passage to test the hypothesis that the role of stress in reading is enhanced when upcoming stress patterns can be more easily predicted. Misspellings were detected more often in words misspelled in stressed syllables, and in words that were less predictable from context. Spelling error detection for more predictable words was improved when the misspelling occurred in a stressed syllable. These results were consistent wi

Four studies were conducted to determine the range of phonological information that can affect orthographic processes during reading under different conditions, and to investigate how the influence of phonology on orthography is affected by other relevant factors, such as linguistic context and individual differences in reading-related skills. Study 1 employed a spelling decision task in which phonemic, lexical stress, and syllabic variables were factorially manipulated in misspelled words. Both phonemes and lexical stress affected the speed and accuracy with which misspellings were detected, indicating that both segmental and suprasegmental phonological information can influence orthographic processing. Study 2 comprised two separate experiments designed to compare phonological effects on orthographic processing in a spelling decision task versus a lexical decision task. Both stress and phoneme effects were reduced in the lexical decision experiment relative to the spelling decision experiment, suggesting that the influence of phonology on orthography is stronger when more extensive phonological processing is required or allowed by a task. Study 3 included two series of analyses examining the roles of phonological feedback and individual differences in Study 2 outcomes. The analyses indicated that better spellers are less sensitive than poorer spellers to the influence of phonological feedback during reading, which supports the hypothesis that phonological feedback is a mechanism for orthographic learning. Study 4 embedded stimuli in a proofreading passage to test the hypothesis that the role of stress in reading is enhanced when upcoming stress patterns can be more easily predicted. Misspellings were detected more often in words misspelled in stressed syllables, and in words that were less predictable from context. Spelling error detection for more predictable words was improved when the misspelling occurred in a stressed syllable. These results were consistent wi

Summary: Elasmobranch fishes use electroreception to detect electric fields in the environment, particularly minute bioelectric fields produced by potential prey. A single elasmobranch family (Potamotrygonidae) is composed of obligate freshwater stingrays endemic to the Amazon River. A freshwater existence has imposed morphological adaptions on their electrosensory system due to life in a high impedance medium. Because their electrosensory morphology differs from their marine relatives, freshwater stingrays may demonstrate corresponding differences in behavioral sensitivity. The objective of this study was to quantify behavioral sensitivity of the obligate freshwater stingray Potamotrygon motoro to prey-simulating voltage. The voltage produced by common teleost prey of P. motoro were measured and replicated for behavioral trials. The best response was 10.62 cm, and the smallest voltage gradient detected was 0.005 mVcm-1. This sensitivity is reduced compared to marine species. The conductivity of the medium, more so than ampullary morphology, may dictate sensitivity of the elasmobranch electrosensory system., by Lindsay L. Harris., Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013., Includes bibliography., Mode of access: World Wide Web., System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Understanding the role of phonological awareness in reading has been the focus of much psycholinguistic research, but less attention has been paid to understanding knowledge of the spellings that activate phonology. We carried out two experiments using ERPs to expose linguistic processes related to orthographic knowledge during judgments about the spellings of English words. In the first experiment, we confirmed that the error-related negativity (ERN) can be elicited during spelling decisions, and that its magnitude was correlated with behavioral measures of spelling knowledge. In the second experiment, we manipulated the phonology of misspelled stimuli and observed that ERN magnitudes were larger when misspelled words altered the phonology of their correctly spelled counterparts than when they preserved it. This finding has implications for the influence of internal phonological and orthographic representations on error monitoring during reading. In both experiments, ERN effect sizes were correlated with performance on a number of reading-related assessments, including offline spelling ability and vocabulary knowledge, affirming the interdependent nature of reading processes and suggesting the usefulness of ERNs for indexing knowledge of a wide range of reading-related skills.

Understanding the role of phonological awareness in reading has been the focus of much psycholinguistic research, but less attention has been paid to understanding knowledge of the spellings that activate phonology. We carried out two experiments using ERPs to expose linguistic processes related to orthographic knowledge during judgments about the spellings of English words. In the first experiment, we confirmed that the error-related negativity (ERN) can be elicited during spelling decisions, and that its magnitude was correlated with behavioral measures of spelling knowledge. In the second experiment, we manipulated the phonology of misspelled stimuli and observed that ERN magnitudes were larger when misspelled words altered the phonology of their correctly spelled counterparts than when they preserved it. This finding has implications for the influence of internal phonological and orthographic representations on error monitoring during reading. In both experiments, ERN effect sizes were correlated with performance on a number of reading-related assessments, including offline spelling ability and vocabulary knowledge, affirming the interdependent nature of reading processes and suggesting the usefulness of ERNs for indexing knowledge of a wide range of reading-related skills.

"London 2012: How Was It For Us?" Mark Perryman. Lawrence and Wishart. June 2013. --- The memories of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics will remain with us forever, but what did those four weeks tell us about ourselves, our society’s values and its possibilities? This collection of critical reflections aims to address the reality of the Games’ impact, question what the ceremonies and Team GB represented, and deconstruct the organisers’ claims of economic regeneration and boosting participation. Lindsay Harris finds this an important and enjoyable read.

"People-Centred Public Health." Jane South, Judy White and Mark Gamsu. Policy Press. December 2012. --- People-Centred Public Health examines how members of the public can be involved in delivering health improvement, primarily as volunteers or lay health workers. Drawing on a major study of lay engagement in public health, and using case studies and real life examples, this book aims to provide a comprehensive and accessible overview of policy, practice and research in this area. Lindsay Harris feels that a more international perspective would have added invaluable insight and broadened the audience for which this book will appeal.

For centuries, the colour-code shaped state and national ideals, created social and emotional distances between social groups, permeated public and private spheres, and dehumanized Africans of all nationalities in South Africa. Two decades after the demise of official apartheid – and despite four successive black governments – apartheid vertigo still distorts South Africa’s post-colonial reality. Lindsay Harris believes that those who enjoy the works of Zygmunt Bauman and Hannah Arendt will find this an interesting, if somewhat frustrating, read. Apartheid Vertigo Apartheid Vertigo: The Rise in Discrimination Against Africans in South Africa. David M. Matsinhe. Ashgate.