Theory of a general class of dissipative processes

General theory of dissipative periodic processes for systems defined by partial, functional, or neutral differential equation

In the Name of Profit: Canada’s Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve as Economic Development and Colonial Placemaking

Taking a critical heritage approach to late modern naming and placemaking, we discuss how the power to name reflects the power to control people, their land, their past, and ultimately their future. Our case study is the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve (MABR), a recently invented place on Vancouver Island, located in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Through analysis of representations and landscape, we explore MABR as state-sanctioned branding, where a dehumanized nature is packaged for and marketed to wealthy ecotourists. Greenwashed by a feel-good “sustainability” discourse, MABR constitutes colonial placemaking and economic development, representing no break with past practices

Charles Willson Peale at Belfield

A selection of the works of Charles Willson Peale executed between 1810 and 1821 while in residence at Belfield Farm; October 1971.https://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/exhibition_catalogues/1004/thumbnail.jp

Lyapunov Control on Quantum Open System in Decoherence-free Subspaces

A scheme to drive and manipulate a finite-dimensional quantum system in the decoherence-free subspaces(DFS) by Lyapunov control is proposed. Control fields are established by Lyapunov function. This proposal can drive the open quantum system into the DFS and manipulate it to any desired eigenstate of the free Hamiltonian. An example which consists of a four-level system with three long-lived states driven by two lasers is presented to exemplify the scheme. We have performed numerical simulations for the dynamics of the four-level system, which show that the scheme works good.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Gene induction during differentiation of human monocytes into dendritic cells: an integrated study at the RNA and protein levels

Changes in gene expression occurring during differentiation of human monocytes into dendritic cells were studied at the RNA and protein levels. These studies showed the induction of several gene classes corresponding to various biological functions. These functions encompass antigen processing and presentation, cytoskeleton, cell signalling and signal transduction, but also an increase in mitochondrial function and in the protein synthesis machinery, including some, but not all, chaperones. These changes put in perspective the events occurring during this differentiation process. On a more technical point, it appears that the studies carried out at the RNA and protein levels are highly complementary.Comment: website publisher: http://www.springerlink.com/content/ha0d2c351qhjhjdm

Coordinate regulation of DNA methyltransferase expression during oogenesis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Normal mammalian development requires the action of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) for the establishment and maintenance of DNA methylation within repeat elements and imprinted genes. Here we report the expression dynamics of <it>Dnmt3a </it>and <it>Dnmt3b</it>, as well as a regulator of DNA methylation, <it>Dnmt3L</it>, in isolated female germ cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results indicate that these enzymes are coordinately regulated and that their expression peaks during the stage of postnatal oocyte development when maternal methylation imprints are established. We find that Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Dnmt3L and Dnmt1o transcript accumulation is related to oocyte diameter. Furthermore, DNMT3L deficient 15 dpp oocytes have aberrantly methylated <it>Snrpn</it>, <it>Peg3 </it>and <it>Igf2r </it>DMRs, but normal IAP and LINE-1 methylation levels, thereby highlighting a male germ cell specific role for DNMT3L in the establishment of DNA methylation at repeat elements. Finally, real-time RT-PCR analysis indicates that the depletion of either DNMT3L or DNMT1o in growing oocytes results in the increased expression of the <it>de novo </it>methyltransferase <it>Dnmt3b</it>, suggesting a potential compensation mechanism by this enzyme for the loss of one of the other DNA methyltransferases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Together these results provide a better understanding of the developmental regulation of <it>Dnmt3a</it>, <it>Dnmt3b </it>and <it>Dnmt3L </it>at the time of <it>de novo </it>methylation during oogenesis and demonstrate that the involvement of DNMT3L in retrotransposon silencing is restricted to the male germ line. This in turn suggests the existence of other factors in the oocyte that direct DNA methylation to transposons.</p

Loss of spermatogonia and wide-spread DNA methylation defects in newborn male mice deficient in DNMT3L

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Formation of haploid spermatozoa capable of fertilization requires proper programming of epigenetic information. Exactly how DNMT3L (DNA methyltransferase 3-Like), a postulated regulator of DNA methyltransferase activity, contributes to DNA methylation pattern acquisition during gametogenesis remains unclear. Here we report on the role of DNMT3L in male germ cell development.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A developmental study covering the first 12 days following birth was conducted on a <it>Dnmt3L </it>mutant mouse model; lower germ cell numbers and delayed entry into meiosis were observed in <it>Dnmt3L</it>^-/-males, pointing to a mitotic defect. A temporal expression study showed that expression of <it>Dnmt3L </it>is highest in prenatal gonocytes but is also detected and developmentally regulated during spermatogenesis. Using a restriction enzyme qPCR assay (qAMP), DNA methylation analyses were conducted on postnatal primitive type A spermatogonia lacking DNMT3L. Methylation levels along 61 sites across chromosomes 4 and X decreased significantly by approximately 50% compared to the levels observed in <it>Dnmt3L</it>^+/+germ cells, suggesting that many loci throughout the genome are marked for methylation by DNMT3L. More so, hypomethylation was more pronounced in regions of lower GC content than in regions of higher GC content.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, these data suggest that DNMT3L plays a more global role in genomic methylation patterning than previously believed.</p

Evaluation of cowpea accessions for resistance to flower bud thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) in Mali

Open Access JournalFlower bud thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) is one of the most damaging pests to cowpea in Africa and varietal resistance is one of the effective approaches to minimize the pest damage. Study was conducted to assess variability among 117 genotypes in addition to two resistant (Sanzisabinli and TVu 1509) and one susceptible (Vita7) checks at Cinzana and N’Tarla locations under natural and artificial infestations of thrips. Parameters such as total number of pods per plant and damage scoring were used to assess the test entries. Genotypes CIPEA82672, Suivita2, TVu 1509 and Sanzisabinli were found highly tolerant, Diaye and TVu7677 moderately tolerant whilst nine genotypes were found tolerant to thrips attacks. CIPEA82672 and Suivita2 had higher grain yield than the resistant checks. Year by genotype, year by location and year by location by genotype interactions were significant for most traits. Genotype by genotype by environment (GGE) effect on yield showed CIPEA82672 most stable across both locations while Suivita2 was only stable at N’Tarla. High broad sense heritability (H2b) was observed for some traits such as damage scoring across locations. Highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) of 81.24 and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) of 75.62 were attributed to total number of pods per plant. Positive correlations were detected between the damage scoring and the number of adult thrips from Cinzana (R2= 0.264) and N’Tarla (R2= 0.603) locations. Confirmation of identified cowpea genotypes highly and moderately tolerant to thrips attacks could be used to improve farmers’ preferred cowpea genotypes susceptible to thrips

Evaluation of cowpea accessions for resistance to flower bud thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) in Mali

Open Access JournalFlower bud thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) is one of the most damaging pests to cowpea in Africa and varietal resistance is one of the effective approaches to minimize the pest damage. Study was conducted to assess variability among 117 genotypes in addition to two resistant (Sanzisabinli and TVu 1509) and one susceptible (Vita7) checks at Cinzana and N’Tarla locations under natural and artificial infestations of thrips. Parameters such as total number of pods per plant and damage scoring were used to assess the test entries. Genotypes CIPEA82672, Suivita2, TVu 1509 and Sanzisabinli were found highly tolerant, Diaye and TVu7677 moderately tolerant whilst nine genotypes were found tolerant to thrips attacks. CIPEA82672 and Suivita2 had higher grain yield than the resistant checks. Year by genotype, year by location and year by location by genotype interactions were significant for most traits. Genotype by genotype by environment (GGE) effect on yield showed CIPEA82672 most stable across both locations while Suivita2 was only stable at N’Tarla. High broad sense heritability (H2b) was observed for some traits such as damage scoring across locations. Highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) of 81.24 and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) of 75.62 were attributed to total number of pods per plant. Positive correlations were detected between the damage scoring and the number of adult thrips from Cinzana (R2= 0.264) and N’Tarla (R2= 0.603) locations. Confirmation of identified cowpea genotypes highly and moderately tolerant to thrips attacks could be used to improve farmers’ preferred cowpea genotypes susceptible to thrips

Collapse in the nonlocal nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation

We discuss spatial dynamics and collapse scenarios of localized waves governed by the nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation with nonlocal nonlinearity. Firstly, we prove that for arbitrary nonsingular attractive nonlocal nonlinear interaction in arbitrary dimension collapse does not occur. Then we study in detail the effect of singular nonlocal kernels in arbitrary dimension using both, Lyapunoff's method and virial identities. We find that for for a one-dimensional case, i.e. for $n=1$, collapse cannot happen for nonlocal nonlinearity. On the other hand, for spatial dimension $n\geq2$ and singular kernel $\sim 1/r^\alpha$, no collapse takes place if $\alpha<2$, whereas collapse is possible if $\alpha\ge2$. Self-similar solutions allow us to find an expression for the critical distance (or time) at which collapse should occur in the particular case of $\sim 1/r^2$ kernels. Moreover, different evolution scenarios for the three dimensional physically relevant case of Bose Einstein condensate are studied numerically for both, the ground state and a higher order toroidal state with and without an additional local repulsive nonlinear interaction. In particular, we show that presence of an additional local repulsive term can prevent collapse in those cases