Strongly graded groupoids and strongly graded Steinberg algebras

We study strongly graded groupoids, which are topological groupoids $\mathcal G$ equipped with a continuous, surjective functor $\kappa: \mathcal G \to \Gamma$, to a discrete group $\Gamma$, such that $\kappa^{-1}(\gamma)\kappa^{-1}(\delta) = \kappa^{-1}(\gamma \delta)$, for all $\gamma, \delta \in \Gamma$. We introduce the category of graded $\mathcal G$-sheaves, and prove an analogue of Dade's Theorem: $\mathcal G$ is strongly graded if and only if every graded $\mathcal G$-sheaf is induced by a $\mathcal G_{\epsilon}$-sheaf. The Steinberg algebra of a graded ample groupoid is graded, and we prove that the algebra is strongly graded if and only if the groupoid is. Applying this result, we obtain a complete graphical characterisation of strongly graded Leavitt path and Kumjian-Pask algebras

Establishment and Trends in Persistence of Selected Perennial Cool-season Grasses

The choice of plant materials is an important factor in restoration or revegetation of disturbed rangelands. To better identify plant materials that could be adapted to increased competition from invasive grasses and fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, there is a need to understand potential seedling establishment, plant persistence, and dry-matter yield (DMY) as a measure of plant vigor in the newly developed varieties across a wide range of environmental conditions. Experiments were conducted on four semiarid range sites to compare these traits in 14 perennial cool-season grass species currently used for revegetation in the Western U.S.A. There were location differences, with overall seedling establishment ranging from 28 to 70% seedling frequency at Malta, ID and Tintic, UT sites, respectively. No one species was statistically highest for seedling frequency at all four locations. However, there were four species that had higher seedling frequency at three of the four locations: Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyron fragile [Roth] Candargy), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertn), and (Agropyron desertorum [Fish. ex Link] J. A. Schultes), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) and Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth). The newer varieties, in most instances, had increased seedling frequency vs. older varieties. Intermediate wheatgrass had the highest dry matter yields (DMY) at the Beaver location while crested and Siberian wheatgrass were highest for DMY at the Cheyenne location. Plant frequency was evaluated every year for five years after planting to determine stand persistence. Trends in plant persistence showed that, although difficult to establish, stands of western wheatgrass increased in the years after establishment due to rhizome development. Slender wheatgrass had a negative linear trend in stand persistence at the four tested locations. These results can help land managers make informed decisions concerning the choice of plant materials for revegetation projects, as related to potential seedling establishment, stand persistence, and relative biomass production

Numerical predictions of the negative phase

The field of blast protective design emerged in the late 1940s and focussed mainly on large scale (nuclear) explosive loading massive structures. In these situations, positive phase effects were seen to dominate and the negative phase could effectively be ignored. Recently, however, the threat has moved to smaller scale explosives and increasingly lightweight structures. Here, the negative phase becomes important, however despite this the negative phase is often overlooked. This research presents a numerical investigation on the negative phase, with a primary focus on an accurate numerical scheme for modelling the negative phase blast pressure. Numerical tests are performed on deformable targets to determine fully reflected blast parameters, with associated numerical modelling conducted using Abaqus/Explicit. Moreover, the failure modes are obtained for light-weight panel employing the Perzyna model for metallic materials. The computational methods are adapted for better representation of the negative phase, including mesh refinement strategies, modelling of the explosive event and accurate description of the air behaviour. The results herein can be used to inform blast resistant designers on how to accurately model negative phase effects

The relationship between intimate partner violence and HIV: A model-based evaluation

Background: Many studies have shown that women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) are at a greater risk of HIV, but the factors accounting for this association are unclear, and trials of interventions to reduce IPV have not consistently reduced HIV incidence. Methods: This study uses an agent-based model, calibrated to South African data sources, to evaluate hypotheses about likely causal pathways linking IPV, HIV, and other confounding factors. Assumptions about associations between IPV and HIV risk behaviours were based on reviews of international literature. Findings: There is an association between past IPV experience and HIV incidence even when no causal effects are assumed (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.23e1.34), because women with a propensity for multiple partners are more likely to have ever been in a relationship with a violent partner. If, in addition, men with a propensity for concurrent relationships are more likely to perpetrate IPV, the IRR increases to 1.42 (95% CI 1.36e1.48), consistent with empirical IRR estimates. Alternative scenarios in which experience of IPV is assumed to cause changes in women's sexual behaviour have little effect on the IRR. An intervention that reduces IPV by 50% could be expected to reduce HIV incidence by at most 1.3%. Interpretation: Much of the observed association between IPV and HIV is likely to be due to confounding behavioural factors. Although interventions to reduce IPV are important, these interventions alone are unlikely to have a substantial impact on HIV incidence

Transoral laser surgery for laryngeal carcinoma: has Steiner achieved a genuine paradigm shift in oncological surgery?

Transoral laser microsurgery applies to the piecemeal removal of malignant tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract using the CO2 laser under the operating microscope. This method of surgery is being increasingly popularised as a single modality treatment of choice in early laryngeal cancers (T1 and T2) and occasionally in the more advanced forms of the disease (T3 and T4), predomi- nantly within the supraglottis. Thomas Kuhn, the American physicist turned philosopher and historian of science, coined the phrase ‘paradigm shift’ in his groundbreaking book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. He argued that the arrival of the new and often incompatible idea forms the core of a new paradigm, the birth of an entirely new way of thinking. This article discusses whether Steiner and col- leagues truly brought about a paradigm shift in oncological surgery. By rejecting the principle of en block resection and by replacing it with the belief that not only is it oncologically safe to cut through the substance of the tumour but in doing so one can actually achieve better results, Steiner was able to truly revolutionise the man- agement of laryngeal cancer. Even though within this article the repercussions of his insight are limited to the upper aerodigestive tract oncological surgery, his willingness to question other peoples’ dogma makes his contribution truly a genuine paradigm shift

A classification of ideals in Steinberg and Leavitt path algebras over arbitrary rings

We give a one-to-one correspondence between ideals in the Steinberg algebra of a Hausdorff ample groupoid $G$, and certain families of ideals in the group algebras of isotropy groups in $G$. This generalises a known ideal correspondence theorem for Steinberg algebras of strongly effective groupoids. We use this to give a complete graph-theoretic description of the ideal lattice of Leavitt path algebras over arbitrary commutative rings, generalising the classification of ideals in Leavitt path algebras over fields

Critical Role of FLRT1 Phosphorylation in the Interdependent Regulation of FLRT1 Function and FGF Receptor Signalling

Background Fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane (FLRT) proteins have dual properties as regulators of cell adhesion and potentiators of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) mediated signalling. The mechanism by which the latter is achieved is still unknown and is the subject of this investigation. Principal Findings Here we show that FLRT1 is a target for tyrosine phosphorylation mediated by FGFR1 and implicate a non-receptor Src family kinase (SFK). We identify the target tyrosine residues in the cytoplasmic domain of FLRT1 and show that these are not direct substrates for Src kinase suggesting that the SFK may exert effects via potentiation of FGFR1 kinase activity. We show that whilst FLRT1 expression results in a ligand-dependent elevation of MAP kinase activity, a mutant version of FLRT1, defective as an FGFR1 kinase substrate (Y3F-FLRT1), has the property of eliciting ligand-independent chronic activation of the MAP kinase pathway which is suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of either FGFR1 or Src kinase. Functional investigation of FGFR1 and FLRT1 signalling in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells reveals that FLRT1 alone acts to induce a multi-polar phenotype whereas the combination of FLRT1 and FGFR activation, or expression of Y3F-FLRT1, acts to induce neurite outgrowth via MAPK activation. Similar results were obtained in a dendrite outgrowth assay in primary hippocampal neurons. We also show that FGFR1, FLRT1 and activated Src are co-localized and this complex is trafficked toward the soma of the cell. The presence of Y3F-FLRT1 rather than FLRT1 resulted in prolonged localization of this complex within the neuritic arbour. Conclusions This study shows that the phosphorylation state of FLRT1, which is itself FGFR1 dependent, may play a critical role in the potentiation of FGFR1 signalling and may also depend on a SFK-dependent phosphorylation mechanism acting via the FGFR. This is consistent with an ‘in vivo’ role for FLRT1 regulation of FGF signalling via SFKs. Furthermore, the phosphorylation-dependent futile cycle mechanism controlling FGFR1 signalling is concurrently crucial for regulation of FLRT1-mediated neurite outgrowth

High Resolution STIS/HST and HIRES/Keck Spectra of Three Weak MgII Absorbers Toward PG 1634+706

High resolution optical (HIRES/Keck) and UV (STIS/HST) spectra, covering a large range of chemical transitions, are analyzed for three single-cloud weak MgII absorption systems along the line of sight toward the quasar PG 1634+706. Weak MgII absorption lines in quasar spectra trace metal-enriched environments that are rarely closely associated with the most luminous galaxies (>0.05L^*). The two weak MgII systems at z=0.81 and z=0.90 are constrained to have >=solar metallicity, while the metallicity of the z=0.65 system is not as well-constrained, but is consistent with >1/10th solar. These weak MgII clouds are likely to be local pockets of high metallicity in a lower metallicity environment. All three systems have two phases of gas, a higher density region that produces narrower absorption lines for low ionization transitions, such as MgII, and a lower density region that produces broader absorption lines for high ionization transitions, such as CIV. The CIV profile for one system (at z=0.81) can be fit with a single broad component (b~10 km/s), but those for the other two systems require one or two additional offset high ionization clouds. Two possible physical pictures for the phase structure are discussed: one with a low-ionization, denser phase embedded in a lower density surrounding medium, and the other with the denser clumps surrounding more highly ionized gas.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures; to appear in ApJ on May 20, 200