7,786 research outputs found
A Pilot Program to Assist CAFOs in Using Weather Data to Minimize Manure Management Risk
This paper summarizes a pilot project to disseminate site specific weather information that has been processed to estimate field runoff potential of land applied manure. Preliminary feedback indicate the program has value but that additional information is needed to understand how farmers use weather information to make decisions within the regulatory constraints they face.Environmental Economics and Policy,
Searching for "monogenic diabetes" in dogs using a candidate gene approach
BACKGROUND: Canine diabetes is a common endocrine disorder with an estimated breed-related prevalence ranging from 0.005% to 1.5% in pet dogs. Increased prevalence in some breeds suggests that diabetes in dogs is influenced by genetic factors and similarities between canine and human diabetes phenotypes suggest that the same genes might be associated with disease susceptibility in both species. Between 1-5% of human diabetes cases result from mutations in a single gene, including maturity onset diabetes of the adult (MODY) and neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM). It is not clear whether monogenic forms of diabetes exist within some dog breeds. Identification of forms of canine monogenic diabetes could help to resolve the heterogeneity of the condition and lead to development of breed-specific genetic tests for diabetes susceptibility. RESULTS: Seventeen dog breeds were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eighteen genes that have been associated with human MODY/NDM. Six SNP associations were found from five genes, with one gene (ZFP57) being associated in two different breeds. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the genes that have been associated with susceptibility to MODY and NDM in humans appear to also be associated with canine diabetes, although the limited number of associations identified in this study indicates canine diabetes is a heterogeneous condition and is most likely to be a polygenic trait in most dog breeds. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2052-6687-1-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
Identification of 8 INTEGRAL hard X-ray sources with Chandra
We report the results of identification of 8 hard X-ray sources discovered by
the INTEGRAL observatory during the ongoing all-sky survey. These sources have
been observed by Chandra. In 6 cases a bright X-ray source was found within the
INTEGRAL localization region, which permitted to unambigously identify 5 of the
objects with nearby galaxies, implying that they have an active galactic
nucleus (AGN), whereas one source is likely an X-ray binary in LMC. 4 of the 5
newly discovered AGNs have measured redshifts in the range 0.025-0.055. The
X-ray spectra reveal the presence of significant amounts of absorbing gas (NH
in the range 10^22-10^24 cm^-2) in all 5 AGNs, demonstrating that INTEGRAL is
starting to fill in the sample of nearby obscured AGNs.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, corrected Fig.
Gene editing restores dystrophin expression in a canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a protein that maintains muscle integrity and function, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The deltaE50-MD dog model of DMD harbors a mutation corresponding to a mutational âhotspotâ in the human DMD gene. We used adeno-associated viruses to deliver CRISPR gene editing components to four dogs and examined dystrophin protein expression 6 weeks after intramuscular delivery (n = 2) or 8 weeks after systemic delivery (n = 2). After systemic delivery in skeletal muscle, dystrophin was restored to levels ranging from 3 to 90% of normal, depending on muscle type. In cardiac muscle, dystrophin levels in the dog receiving the highest dose reached 92% of normal. The treated dogs also showed improved muscle histology. These large-animal data support the concept that, with further development, gene editing approaches may prove clinically useful for the treatment of DMD
Mesoscopic two-phase model for describing apparent slip in micro-channel flows
The phenomenon of apparent slip in micro-channel flows is analyzed by means
of a two-phase mesoscopic lattice Boltzmann model including non-ideal
fluid-fluid and fluid-wall interactins. The weakly-inhomogeneous limit of this
model is solved analytically.
The present mesoscopic approach permits to access much larger scales than
molecular dynamics, and comparable with those attained by continuum methods.
However, at variance with the continuum approach, the existence of a gas layer
near the wall does not need to be postulated a priori, but emerges naturally
from the underlying non-ideal mesoscopic dynamics. It is therefore argued that
a mesoscopic Lattice Boltzmann approach with non-ideal fluid-fluid and
fluid-wall interactions might achieve an optimal compromise between physical
realism and computational efficiency for the study of channel micro-flows.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Transnational social capital: the socioâspatialities of civil society
Civil society remains a contested concept, but one that is widely embedded in global development processes. Transnationalism within civil society scholarship is often described dichotomously, either through hierarchical dependency relations or as a more amorphous networked global civil society. These two contrasting spatial imaginaries produce very particular ideas about how transnational relations contribute to civil society. Drawing on empirical material from research with civil society organizations in Barbados and Grenada, in this article I contend that civil society groups use forms of transnational social capital in their work. This does not, however, resonate with the horizontal relations associated with grassroots globalization or vertical chains of dependence. These social relations are imbued with power and agency and are entangled in situated historical, geographical and personal contexts. I conclude that the diverse transnational social relations that are part of civil society activity offer hope and possibilities for continued civil society action in these unexpected spatial arrangements
Effects of Distillers Grains and Manure Management on Nutrient Management Plans and Economics
Feed Nutrient Management Plan Economics software (FNMP$; Koelsch et al., 2007; available at http://cnmp.unl.edu under software resources) was used to evaluate the effect of distillers grains inclusion and manure application rate on feedlot nutrient management plans. Inclusion of distillers grains in diets resulted in greater nutrient excretion, land requirements, and manure hauling distances. However, the increased cost of manure management from feeding byproducts has the potential to be offset by increased manure fertilizer value. Changing from N-based to a P-based application rate increased the amount of land required and costs to apply manure. However, when manure was applied at a 4-year P-based rate instead of a 1-year P-based rate, single year land requirement remained similar and application-time was reduced by 41% from the 1-year P-based rate
The nongravitational interactions of dark matter in colliding galaxy clusters
Collisions between galaxy clusters provide a test of the nongravitational forces acting on dark matter. Dark matterâs lack of deceleration in the âbullet clusterâ collision constrained its self-interaction cross section ÏDM/m < 1.25 square centimeters per gram (cm2/g) [68% confidence limit (CL)] (ÏDM, self-interaction cross section; m, unit mass of dark matter) for long-ranged forces. Using the Chandra and Hubble Space Telescopes, we have now observed 72 collisions, including both major and minor mergers. Combining these measurements statistically, we detect the existence of dark mass at 7.6Ï significance. The position of the dark mass has remained closely aligned within 5.8 ± 8.2 kiloparsecs of associated stars, implying a self-interaction cross section ÏDM/m < 0.47 cm2/g (95% CL) and disfavoring some proposed extensions to the standard model
Chandra and Hubble Study of a New Transient X-ray Source in M31
We present X-ray and optical observations of a new transient X-ray source in
M31 first detected 23-May-2004 at R.A.=00:43:09.940 +/- 0.65'',
Dec.=41:23:32.49 +/- 0.66''. The X-ray lightcurve shows two peaks separated by
several months, reminiscent of many Galactic X-ray novae. The location and
X-ray spectrum of the source suggest it is a low mass X-ray binary (LMXB).
Follow-up HST ACS observations of the location both during and after the
outburst provide a high-confidence detection of variability for one star within
the X-ray position error ellipse. This star has B ~ 1 mag, and there is
only a ~1% chance of finding such a variable in the error ellipse. We consider
this star a good candidate for the optical counterpart of the X-ray source. The
luminosity of this candidate provides a prediction for the orbital period of
the system of 2.3 days.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in Ap
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