Silica, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Dynamics of Tallgrass Prairie

Experiments were conducted on big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) 10 the greenhouse and on a tallgrass site on Konza Prairie to evaluate the effects of simulated grazing on the cycling of silica (SiO2), nitrogen, and phosphorus. Concentrations of all elements increased in vegetation that had been clipped or pruned. The absolute amount of nitrogen obtained by plants 10 the greenhouse experiment was increased by clipping foliage. Phosphorus exhibited only neutral or negative responses, while the absolute amount of silica declined in all but one experiment involving root pruning. In that experiment, the absolute amount of silica in roots was increased 25% by cutting a portion of the root system. These results suggest that the direct effects of clipping or pruning on the absolute amounts of elements cycled through vegetation are usually neutral or negative. Increased silicification or grazed foliage is suggested to be a consequence of dela.yed senescence and reduced leaf area. This interpretation provides a proximate reason why silicification is an inducible defense against herbivores

On the Correlation Between Tactile Stimulation and Pleasantness

: several studies in the affective haptics research field showed the potential of using haptic technology to convey emotions in remote communications. In this context, it is of interest to simplify the haptic feedback without altering the informative content of the stimulus, with a two-fold advantage. on one side, it would allow the development of affective haptic devices whose technological complexity is limited, hence more compatible with wearability and portability requirements. On the other side, having a simplified set of stimuli would decrease the amount of data to be transmitted, thus improving the overall quality of remote haptic interactions. In this work, we investigated the correlation between the parameters regulating a caress-like stimulation and the perceived pleasantness. This was done by means of two experiments, in which we asked subjects to adjust the temperature and the motion velocity of a set of stimuli in order to find the most pleasant combination. results indicated that subjects preferred different values of temperature and velocity of the stimulus depending on the proposed tactile stimulation. a small difference in the pleasantness ratings was observed between caresses provided with linear movements and those given as discrete sequences of taps. In particular, participants preferred linear movements set at 34.5 °C and 3.4 cms-1. As regards caress-like stimuli provided with discrete sequences of taps, the preferred temperature and velocity were 33.2 °C and 2.9 cms-1, respectively. the presence of vibration had a little effect on the perceived pleasantness

Computing, Design, Art: Reflections on an Innovative Moment in History

The paper is concerned with the role of art and design in the history and philosophy of computing. It offers insights arising from research into a period in the 1960s and 70s, particularly in the UK, when computing became more available to artists and designers, focusing on John Lansdown (1929-1999) and Bruce Archer (1922-2005) in London. Models of computing interacted with conceptualisations of art, design and related creative activities in important ways

Genomics and epidemiology of the P.1 SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Manaus, Brazil

Cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Manaus, Brazil, resurged in late 2020 despite previously high levels of infection. Genome sequencing of viruses sampled in Manaus between November 2020 and January 2021 revealed the emergence and circulation of a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. Lineage P.1 acquired 17 mutations, including a trio in the spike protein (K417T, E484K, and N501Y) associated with increased binding to the human ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptor. Molecular clock analysis shows that P.1 emergence occurred around mid-November 2020 and was preceded by a period of faster molecular evolution. Using a two-category dynamical model that integrates genomic and mortality data, we estimate that P.1 may be 1.7- to 2.4-fold more transmissible and that previous (non-P.1) infection provides 54 to 79% of the protection against infection with P.1 that it provides against non-P.1 lineages. Enhanced global genomic surveillance of variants of concern, which may exhibit increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion, is critical to accelerate pandemic responsiveness

Beyond Market Failures: The Market Creating and Shaping Roles of State Investment Banks

Recent decades witnessed a trend whereby private markets retreated from financing the real economy, while, simultaneously, the real economy itself became increasingly financialized. This trend resulted in public finance becoming more important for investments in capital development, technical change, and innovation. Within this context, this paper focuses on the roles played by a particular source of public finance: state investment banks (SIBs). It develops a conceptual typology of the different roles that SIBs play in the economy, which together show the market creation/shaping process of SIBs rather than their mere "market fixing" roles. This paper discusses four types of investments, both theoretically and empirically: countercyclical, developmental, venture capitalist, and challenge led. To develop the typology, we first discuss how standard market failure theory justifies the roles of SIBs, the diagnostics and evaluation toolbox associated with it, and resulting criticisms centered on notions of "government failures." We then show the limitations of this approach based on insights from Keynes, Schumpeter, Minsky, and Polanyi, as well as other authors from the evolutionary economics tradition, which help us move toward a framework for public investments that is more about market creating/shaping than market fixing. As frameworks lead to evaluation tools, we use this new lens to discuss the increasingly targeted investments that SIBs are making, and to shed new light on the usual criticisms that are made about such directed activity (e.g., crowding out and picking winners). The paper ends with a proposal of directions for future research

Predictive factors of antiproliferative activity of octreotide LAR as first-line therapy for advanced neuroendocrine tumours

background: The antiproliferative activity of octreotide LAR in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) has been demonstrated by small retrospective studies and confirmed by a prospective phase III trial (PROMID). However, there are limited data about the duration and predictors of response. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the time to radiological progression (TTRP) of disease and the factors that were associated with better response. methods: A total of 254 treatment naïve patients with advanced NETs and positive somatostatin receptor scintigraphy were included. Mean follow-up period was 42 months. results: The location of primary was in the small bowel in 204, pancreas in 22, lungs in 14, rectum in 7 and unknown in 7 patients. Most tumours were well-differentiated, G1 (58%) and G2 (23%). The majority of patients commenced octreotide LAR due to functional symptoms (57%), radiological progression (10%) or in the presence of asymptomatic and stable disease on the basis of data from the PROMID trial (18.5%). Partial response occurred in 5%. For all patients, the median TTRP was 37 months (95% confidence interval, CI: 32–52 months). There was a statistically significant shorter TTRP in patients with pancreatic tumours, liver metastases and intermediate grade tumours. Extremely raised (>10 times the upper limit of normal) baseline chromogranin A levels were associated with an unfavourable outcome. In contrast, male sex, carcinoid heart disease and initiation of treatment in the presence of stable disease were predictive of a better response. Age, extra-hepatic metastases, presence of mesenteric desmoplasia, previous resection and functional status of the primary tumour did not affect response. conclusions: The duration of the antiproliferative effect of octreotide LAR seems to be longer than previously reported. This study has identified several predictors of response in a large cohort of patients with NETs on somatostatin analogue therapy

Effects of Manipulation on Foliage Characteristics of \u3ci\u3eAndropogon gerardii \u3c/i\u3eVitman

The effects of burning, mowing, and nitrogen fertilizer on the chlorophyll, nitrogen, and phosphorus content of big bluestem were measured using a factorial experimental design at Konza Prairie Research Natural Area. While spring burning usually increased foliage production, burning had no effect on mid-season chlorophyll or nitrogen concentrations. Chlorophyll concentrations were significantly increased by fertilizer and mowing treatments. Nitrogen concentrations of foliage were higher on fertilized and mowed plots. Mowing also increased phosphorus concentrations of foliage, but nitrogen fertilizer significantly reduced phosphorus concentrations. These results support other research indicating that: 1) nitrogen use efficiency (grams biomass produced per gram of foliage nitrogen) is higher on burned prairie, 2) removal of foliage by mowing results in more nutrient-rich regrowth, and 3) the amount of phosphorus available to big bluestem foliage is limited. The dilution of phosphorus caused by added nitrogen was a consequence of increased productivity on these plots and suggests phosphorus uptake in excess of requirements for maximum growth. The relationships between burning, mowing, and nitrogen on the spectral reflectance patterns of vegetation indicated that chlorophyll (or nitrogen) concentrations of foliage appeared to more strongly affect indices of greenness and plant vigor than did the amount of plant biomass