1,598 research outputs found
Don't cut to the chase: hunting experiences for zoo animals and visitors
This workshop explores different ways to use technology to facilitate hunting behaviour enrichment for zoo-housed animals and parallel gaming experiences for zoo visitors
River history and settlement pattern in eastern Sardinia: integrative geoarchaeology in the Rio Posada basin
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Expression of three intelectins in sheep and response to a Th2 environment
Sheep intelectin1 and sheep intelectin3 (sITLN1 and sITLN3) were cloned and sequenced. The amino acid sequences of sITLN1 and sITLN3 shared 86% and 91% homology with the previously cloned sheep intelectin2 (sITLN2), respectively. Expression of sITLN1 and sITLN3 transcript was demonstrated in abomasum, lung, colon and gastric lymph node, terminal rectum, skin, jejunum, mesenteric lymph node, ileal peyer’s patches, brain, kidney, liver, spleen, skin, ear pinna, heart and ovary in normal sheep tissues. sITLN2 transcript expression was restricted to the abomasal mucosa in normal sheep tissues. Using a non selective chicken anti-intelectin antibody, tissue intelectin protein was demonstrated in mucus neck cells in the abomasum, mucus cells in the colon, free mucus in ileum, goblet cells in the lung, small intestinal epithelium and brush border, epidermal layer of the skin and skin sebaceous glands. The expression of the three sITLN transcripts was examined in two nematode infections in sheep known to induce a Th2 response; a Teladorsagia circumcincta challenge infection model and a Dictyocaulus filaria natural infection. The three sITLN were absent in unchallenged naïve lambs and present in the abomasal mucosa of both naïve and immune lambs following T. circumcincta challenge infection. Upregulation of sITLN2 and sITLN3 was shown in sheep lung following D. filaria natural infection. Intelectins may play an important role in the mucosal response to nematode infections in ruminants
Gallbladder Cancer Incidence Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, US, 1999–2004
BACKGROUND. Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is rare; however, it disproportionately affects the American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) population. The purpose of the study was to characterize GBC among AI/AN in the US population.
METHODS. Cases of GBC diagnosed between 1999 and 2004 and collected by state-based cancer registries were included. Registry records were linked with Indian Health Service (IHS) administration records to decrease race misclassification of AI/AN. GBC rates and/or percent distributions for AI/AN and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) were calculated by sex, IHS region, age, and stage for all US counties and IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) counties, in which approximately 56% of US AI/AN individuals reside.
RESULTS. In CHSDA counties, the GBC incidence rate among AI/AN was 3.3 per 100,000, which was significantly higher than that among NHW (P \u3c .05). Rates varied widely among IHS regions and ranged from 1.5 in the East to 5.5 in Alaska. Rates were higher among AI/AN females than males in all regions, except the Northern Plains. Higher percentages of GBC were diagnosed among AI/AN aged
CONCLUSIONS. To the authors’ knowledge to date, this is the most comprehensive study of GBC incidence among AI/AN in the US. The accurate characterization of GBC in this population could help inform the development of interventions aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from this diseas
CMOS compatible integrated all-optical radio frequency spectrum analyzer
We report an integrated all-optical radio frequency spectrum analyzer based on a ~4cm long doped silica glass waveguide, with a bandwidth greater than 2.5 THz. We use this device to characterize the intensity power spectrum of ultrahighrepetition rate mode-locked lasers at repetition rates up to 400 GHz, and observe dynamic noise related behavior not observable with other technique
Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning
This paper introduces a theory about the role of language in learning
physics. The theory is developed in the context of physics students' and
physicists' talking and writing about the subject of quantum mechanics. We
found that physicists' language encodes different varieties of analogical
models through the use of grammar and conceptual metaphor. We hypothesize that
students categorize concepts into ontological categories based on the
grammatical structure of physicists' language. We also hypothesize that
students over-extend and misapply conceptual metaphors in physicists' speech
and writing. Using our theory, we will show how, in some cases, we can explain
student difficulties in quantum mechanics as difficulties with language.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. ST:PE
Ab initio Equation of State data for hydrogen, helium, and water and the internal structure of Jupiter
The equation of state of hydrogen, helium, and water effects interior
structure models of giant planets significantly. We present a new equation of
state data table, LM-REOS, generated by large scale quantum molecular dynamics
simulations for hydrogen, helium, and water in the warm dense matter regime,
i.e.for megabar pressures and temperatures of several thousand Kelvin, and by
advanced chemical methods in the complementary regions. The influence of
LM-REOS on the structure of Jupiter is investigated and compared with
state-of-the-art results within a standard three-layer model consistent with
astrophysical observations of Jupiter. Our new Jupiter models predict an
important impact of mixing effects of helium in hydrogen with respect to an
altered compressibility and immiscibility.Comment: to appear in ApJ in August 2008, 11 figure
Analysis of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms closely positioned in the ovine PRNP gene using linear fluorescent probes and melting curve analysis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Resistance and susceptibility to scrapie has been associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms located within codons 136, 154 and 171 of the ovine prion protein gene (<it>PRNP</it>). Dual-labelled HyBeacon probes were developed to analyse single and clustered polymorphisms within these and neighbouring codons.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Extracted DNAs and unpurified blood samples were genotyped with respect to polymorphisms in <it>PRNP </it>codons 136, 141, 154 and 171. PCR amplicons were investigated using a LightTyper instrument, measuring the stability of probe/target hybridisation through peak melting temperatures and determining the sequence of nucleotides at polymorphic sites.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The performance of HyBeacon assays was evaluated in a validation study comparing genotypes with those obtained using a primer extension assay (Sequenom MassEXTEND) analysed on a MALDI-ToF mass spectrometer. Over 12,000 sheep samples were successfully genotyped, reliably detecting A<sup>136</sup>, V<sup>136</sup>, T<sup>136</sup>, T<sup>137</sup>, L<sup>141</sup>, F<sup>141 </sup>R<sup>154</sup>, H<sup>154</sup>, L<sup>168</sup>, R<sup>171</sup>, Q<sup>171</sup>, H<sup>171 </sup>and K<sup>171 </sup>sequence variants using only 4 HyBeacon probes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HyBeacon assays provide an extremely robust and accurate method for the analysis of single and clustered <it>PRNP </it>polymorphisms in a high-throughput format. The flexibility of the diagnostic tests ensures that samples are correctly genotyped even in the presence of additional sequence variations that flank the polymorphisms of interest. Such sequence variations may also be neutralised using universal bases such as 5-nitroindole if required.</p
Measuring Slepton Masses and Mixings at the LHC
Flavor physics may help us understand theories beyond the standard model. In
the context of supersymmetry, if we can measure the masses and mixings of
sleptons and squarks, we may learn something about supersymmetry and
supersymmetry breaking. Here we consider a hybrid gauge-gravity supersymmetric
model in which the observed masses and mixings of the standard model leptons
are explained by a U(1) x U(1) flavor symmetry. In the supersymmetric sector,
the charged sleptons have reasonably large flavor mixings, and the lightest is
metastable. As a result, supersymmetric events are characterized not by missing
energy, but by heavy metastable charged particles. Many supersymmetric events
are therefore fully reconstructible, and we can reconstruct most of the charged
sleptons by working up the long supersymmetric decay chains. We obtain
promising results for both masses and mixings, and conclude that, given a
favorable model, precise measurements at the LHC may help shed light not only
on new physics, but also on the standard model flavor parameters.Comment: 24 pages; v2: fixed a typo in our computer program that led to some
miscalculated branching ratios, various clarifications and minor
improvements, conclusions unchanged, published versio
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