480 research outputs found
A Simple Method for Estimating Alfalfa Fiber Content in the Field
Predictive equations for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) quality (PEAQ) based on length of the longest stem and maturity stage of the most mature stem in a sample were developed and validated for estimating neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations in alfalfa. The objective of this research was to validate PEAQ with a simplified maturity scale when estimating fiber content. Alfalfa samples varying in height and maturity were collected throughout the growing season from fields across six states in USA. Observed NDF and ADF values (determined via wet chemistry) were regressed on estimated values. The estimated values were calculated with PEAQ using the Kalu and Fick maturity scale (stages 2 to 6) and using a modified 3-stage scale consisting of vegetative stage (Kalu and Fick stage 2.0), bud stage (stage 3.5, i.e. averaged Kalu and Fick bud stages 3 and 4), and flower stage (stage 5.5, i.e. averaged Kalu and Fick flower stages 5 and 6). Regression equations for NDF and ADF were slightly biased (b 1.0 and/or y-intercept 0) for two of the three datasets regardless of the staging scale used. Prediction errors were similar regardless of the staging scale, ranging from 16.8 to 25.4 g kg-1 for NDF and 14.3 to 19.3 g kg-1 for ADF. We conclude that the 3-stage maturity scale can be used effectively in these equations for estimating alfalfa fiber content based on a combination of stem length and maturity
Phenotype bias determines how natural RNA structures occupy the morphospace of all possible shapes
The relative prominence of developmental bias versus natural selection is a long standing controversy in evolutionary biology. Here we demonstrate quantitatively that developmental bias is the primary explanation for the occupation of the morphospace of RNA secondary structure (SS) shapes. By using the RNAshapes method to define coarse-grained SS classes, we can measure the frequencies that non-coding RNA SS shapes appear in nature. Our main findings are firstly that only the most frequent structures appear in nature; the vast majority of possible structures in the morphospace have not yet been explored. Secondly, and perhaps more surprisingly, these frequencies are accurately predicted by the likelihood that structures appear upon uniform random sampling of sequences. The ultimate cause of these patterns is not natural selection, but rather strong phenotype bias in the RNA genotype-phenotype (GP) map, a type of developmental bias which tightly constrains evolutionary dynamics to only act within a reduced subset of structures that are easy to “find”.
Preprint on:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.03.410605v
Qudits of composite dimension, mutually unbiased bases and projective ring geometry
The Pauli operators attached to a composite qudit in dimension may
be mapped to the vectors of the symplectic module
( the modular ring). As a result, perpendicular vectors
correspond to commuting operators, a free cyclic submodule to a maximal
commuting set, and disjoint such sets to mutually unbiased bases. For
dimensions , and 18, the fine structure and the incidence
between maximal commuting sets is found to reproduce the projective line over
the rings , , ,
and ,
respectively.Comment: 10 pages (Fast Track communication). Journal of Physics A
Mathematical and Theoretical (2008) accepte
New Exclusion Limits for the Search of Scalar and Pseudoscalar Axion-Like Particles from "Light Shining Through a Wall"
Physics beyond the Standard Model predicts the possible existence of new
particles that can be searched at the low energy frontier in the sub-eV range.
The OSQAR photon regeneration experiment looks for "Light Shining through a
Wall" from the quantum oscillation of optical photons into "Weakly Interacting
Sub-eV Particles", such as axion or Axion-Like Particles (ALPs), in a 9 T
transverse magnetic field over the unprecedented length of m.
In 2014, this experiment has been run with an outstanding sensitivity, using an
18.5 W continuous wave laser emitting in the green at the single wavelength of
532 nm. No regenerated photons have been detected after the wall, pushing the
limits for the existence of axions and ALPs down to an unprecedented level for
such a type of laboratory experiment. The di-photon couplings of possible
pseudo-scalar and scalar ALPs can be constrained in the nearly massless limit
to be less than GeV and
GeV, respectively, at 95% Confidence Level.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Production Systems to Integrate Livestock Grazing and Grain Production in Southern Brazil and Midwestern USA
Agriculture in the USA and Brazil has undergone similar and dramatic changes in the past 20 years. In both countries, production systems have become increasingly specialized. Large farms are characterized by single enterprises, simple crop rotations, and livestock production is segregated from grain production. The lack of diversification and high production costs expose producers to risk from economic swings of single enterprises and greater reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to maintain profitability, along with greater risk of soil erosion from continuous row crop production. Scientists in southern Brazil and Ohio are collaborating to develop no-tillage systems that integrate livestock grazing with cash grain production. The goal is diversified production systems that are profitable as well as biologically and environmentally sound
First results from the OSQAR photon regeneration experiment: No light shining through a wall
A new method to amplify the photon-axion conversions in magnetic field is
proposed using a buffer gas at a specific pressure. As a first result, new
bounds for mass and coupling constant for purely laboratory experiments aiming
to detect any hypothetical scalars and pseudo-scalars which can couple to
photons were obtained at 95% confidence level, excluding the PVLAS result newly
disclaimed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Search for weakly interacting sub-eV particles with the OSQAR laser-based experiment: results and perspectives
Recent theoretical and experimental studies highlight the possibility of new
fundamental particle physics beyond the Standard Model that can be probed by
sub-eV energy experiments. The OSQAR photon regeneration experiment looks for
"Light Shining through a Wall" (LSW) from the quantum oscillation of optical
photons into "Weakly Interacting Sub-eV Particles" (WISPs), like axion or
axion-like particles (ALPs), in a 9 T transverse magnetic field over the
unprecedented length of m. No excess of events has been
detected over the background. The di-photon couplings of possible new light
scalar and pseudo-scalar particles can be constrained in the massless limit to
be less than GeV. These results are very close to the
most stringent laboratory constraints obtained for the coupling of ALPs to two
photons. Plans for further improving the sensitivity of the OSQAR experiment
are presented.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
Weak mutually unbiased bases
Quantum systems with variables in are considered. The
properties of lines in the phase space of
these systems, are studied. Weak mutually unbiased bases in these systems are
defined as bases for which the overlap of any two vectors in two different
bases, is equal to or alternatively to one of the
(where is a divisor of apart from ). They are designed for the
geometry of the phase space, in the sense
that there is a duality between the weak mutually unbiased bases and the
maximal lines through the origin. In the special case of prime , there are
no divisors of apart from and the weak mutually unbiased bases are
mutually unbiased bases
Comparable, but distinct: Perceptions of primary care provided by physicians and nurse practitioners in full and restricted practice authority states
AimsTo understand patients- and providers- perceptions of primary care delivered by nurse practitioners (NPs) in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.DesignQualitative exploratory study (in convergent mixed- methods design).MethodsSemi- structured interviews in 2016 with primary care providers and patients from facilities in states with full and restricted practice authority for NPs. Patient sample based on reassignment to: (a) a NP; or (b) a different physician following an established physician relationship. Data were analysed using content analysis.ResultsWe interviewed 28 patients, 17 physicians and 14 NPs. We found: (a) NPs provided more holistic care than physicians; (b) patients were satisfied with NPs; and (c) providers- professional experience outweighed provider type.ConclusionsPatients- preferences for NPs (compared with prior physicians) contributed to perceptions of patient centredness. Similarities in providers- perceptions suggest NPs and physicians are both viable providers for primary care.ImpactNurse Practitioners (NPs): practice authorityVeterans Affairs Health care: nurse practitioners will continue to be a viable resource for primary care deliveryUnited States Health care: challenges notions patients may not be satisfied with care provided by NPs and supports expanding their use to provide much- needed access to primary care services; expanding Full Practice Authority would allow states to provide acceptable primary care without diminishing patient or provider experiencesæ è¦ ç ®æ äº è§£æ £è å å »ç æ ºæ 对é ä¼ å äººå »ç ä¿ å ¥ç³»ç» ä¸æ ¤ç å¸ æ ä¾ å çº§æ ¤ç ç ç æ³ ã è®¾è®¡æ ¢ç´¢æ §ç å® æ §ç 究(æ ¶æ æ··å æ ¹æ³ è®¾è®¡)ã æ ¹æ³ 2016å¹´è¿ è¡ ç å ç» æ å è®¿è° ,é è®¿äº å· å æ ¥æ æ ¤ç å¸ ç å ¨ç§ å é å ¨ç§ æ §ä¸ æ ºæ ç å çº§æ ¤ç æ ä¾ è å æ £è ã é æ °å é æ £è æ ·æ ¬:(a) ä¸ å æ ¤ç å¸ ;æ (b)ç¡®ç« å »ç å ³ç³»ç å ¦ä¸ å å »ç ã é ç ¨å 容å æ æ³ å¯¹æ °æ ®è¿ è¡ å æ ã ç» æ æ 们é è®¿äº 28å æ £è ,17å å »ç å 14å æ ¤ç å¸ ã æ 们å ç °:(a)æ ¤ç å¸ æ¯ å »ç æ ä¾ ç æ ¤ç æ ´å ¨é ¢;(b)æ £è å¯¹æ ¤ç å¸ æ å °æ»¡æ ;(c)å »ç æ ºæ ç ä¸ ä¸ ç» éª ç æ é æ¯ å »ç æ ºæ ç±»å ç æ é æ ´å¤§ã ç» è®ºæ £è å¯¹æ ¤ç å¸ ç å 好(ä¸ ä»¥å ç å »ç ç ¸æ¯ )æ å ©äº å»ºç« ä»¥æ £è 为ä¸å¿ ç è®¤ç ¥ã æ ä¾ è ç è§ å¿µç±»ä¼¼,表æ æ ¤ç å¸ å å »ç é ½æ ¯å ¯è¡ ç å çº§æ ¤ç æ ä¾ è ã å½±å - ¢æ ¤ç å¸ :æ §ä¸ æ ºæ - ¢é ä¼ å äººå »ç ä¿ å ¥ç³»ç» :æ ¤ç å¸ å° ç»§ç»ä½ 为æ ä¾ å çº§æ ¤ç æ å ¡ç å ¯ç ¨èµ æº ã - ¢ç¾ å ½å «ç ä¿ å ¥:æ æ è§ å¿µ
æ £è å ¯è ½ä¸ æ»¡æ ç ±æ ¤ç å¸ æ ä¾ ç æ ¤ç ,å ¶ä¼ æ ¯æ æ ©å¤§ä½¿ç ¨è å ´,以æ ä¾ æ ¥é ç å çº§ä¿ å ¥æ å ¡;æ ©å¤§å ¨ç§ æ §ä¸ æ ºæ å° ä½¿å å· è ½å¤ æ ä¾ å ¯æ ¥å ç å çº§ä¿ å ¥æ å ¡,è ä¸ ä¼ å å¼±æ £è æ æ ä¾ è ç ä½ éª ãPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163369/2/jan14501.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163369/1/jan14501_am.pd
Outcomes of primary care delivery by nurse practitioners: Utilization, cost, and quality of care
ObjectiveTo examine whether nurse practitioner (NP)- assigned patients exhibited differences in utilization, costs, and clinical outcomes compared to medical doctor (MD)- assigned patients.Data SourcesVeterans Affairs (VA) administrative data capturing characteristics, outcomes, and provider assignments of 806Â 434 VA patients assigned to an MD primary care provider (PCP) who left VA practice between 2010 and 2012.Study DesignWe applied a difference- in- difference approach comparing outcomes between patients reassigned to MD and NP PCPs, respectively. We examined measures of outpatient (primary care, specialty care, and mental health) and inpatient (total and ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations) utilization, costs (outpatient, inpatient and total), and clinical outcomes (control of hemoglobin A1c, LDL, and blood pressure) in the year following reassignment.Principal FindingsCompared to MD- assigned patients, NP- assigned patients were less likely to use primary care and specialty care services and incurred fewer total and ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations. Differences in costs, clinical outcomes, and receipt of diagnostic tests between groups were not statistically significant.ConclusionsPatients reassigned to NPs experienced similar outcomes and incurred less utilization at comparable cost relative to MD patients. NPs may offer a cost- effective approach to addressing anticipated shortages of primary care physicians.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154625/1/hesr13246_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154625/2/hesr13246-sup-0001-Authormatrix.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154625/3/hesr13246.pd
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