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Foraging ecology of California quail and response of key foods to habitat manipulations in western Oregon
Seasonal diet and food selection of California quail (Callipepla
californica) were studied at E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Oregon,
during 1985 to 1987. Analysis of diets of 105 quail, along with
information from 117 quail taken during 1976 to 1978 revealed 14 key
plant foods. Collectively, the key foods composed 87% of the diet by
dry weight during 1985-87; 6 species of legumes constituted 63% of
the diet. The most frequently consumed foods included wild carrot,
vetch, Scot's broom, dandelions, teasel, and grasses; the bulk of the
diet was composed of deervetch, peavine, Scot's broom, vetch, and
grasses. Legumes composed the bulk of the diet, were among the most
frequently consumed, and were highly preferred. Invertebrate matter
(primarily ants, beetles, bugs, and grasshoppers) was present
seasonally (51% annual frequency) and composed 0.5% of the diet by
dry weight. Frequencies of invertebrate matter were higher in spring
and summer (71% and 80%, respectively) than in fall and winter (37%
and 43%, respectively). Male and female quail consumed invertebrates
with similar frequency. The seasonal response of key foods to
disking and burning was evaluated from spring 1986 to spring 1989.
Treatments produced increased percent cover and frequencies of
occurrence for 7 key foods (6 key foods did not occur with sufficient
frequency to evaluate response). Wild carrot and dandelions showed
the greatest response with immediate and sustained increases in cover
and frequency. Vetch and clover also responded positively. Reduced
cover of grasses persisted for only a few seasons. Disking
consistently afforded the most immediate increases and maintenance of
key foods compared with burning, although treatment effects persisted
for only 1-2 years. Management for quail foods should include the
establishment and maintenance of legumes and other early seral plant
foods. Manipulations should be conducted every 2-3 years in western
Oregon and other mesic ranges
Survival disparities in Indigenous and non-Indigenous New Zealanders with colon cancer: the role of patient comorbidity, treatment and health service factors
Background Ethnic disparities in cancer survival have been documented in many populations and cancer types. The causes of these inequalities are not well understood but may include disease and patient characteristics, treatment differences and health service factors. Survival was compared in a cohort of Maori ( Indigenous) and non-Maori New Zealanders with colon cancer, and the contribution of demographics, disease characteristics, patient comorbidity, treatment and healthcare factors to survival disparities was assessed. Methods Maori patients diagnosed as having colon cancer between 1996 and 2003 were identified from the New Zealand Cancer Registry and compared with a randomly selected sample of non-Maori patients. Clinical and outcome data were obtained from medical records, pathology reports and the national mortality database. Cancer-specific survival was examined using Kaplane-Meier survival curves and Cox hazards modelling with multivariable adjustment. Results 301 Maori and 328 non-Maori patients with colon cancer were compared. Maori had a significantly poorer cancer survival than non-Maori ( hazard ratio (HR) 1.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.71) that was not explained by demographic or disease characteristics. The most important factors contributing to poorer survival in Maori were patient comorbidity and markers of healthcare access, each of which accounted for around a third of the survival disparity. The final model accounted for almost all the survival disparity between Maori and non-Maori patients ( HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.47). Conclusion Higher patient comorbidity and poorer access and quality of cancer care are both important explanations for worse survival in Maori compared with non-Maori New Zealanders with colon cancer
Novel large-scale chromosomal transfer in bacteroides fragilis contributes to its pan-genome and rapid environmental adaptation
Kinetics and thermodynamics of carbon segregation and graphene growth on Ru(0001)
We measure the concentration of carbon adatoms on the Ru(0001) surface that
are in equilibrium with C atoms in the crystal's bulk by monitoring the
electron reflectivity of the surface while imaging. During cooling from high
temperature, C atoms segregate to the Ru surface, causing graphene islands to
nucleate. Using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), we measure the growth
rate of individual graphene islands and, simultaneously, the local
concentration of C adatoms on the surface. We find that graphene growth is fed
by the supersaturated, two-dimensional gas of C adatoms rather than by direct
exchange between the bulk C and the graphene. At long times, the rate at which
C diffuses from the bulk to the surface controls the graphene growth rate. The
competition among C in three states - dissolved in Ru, as an adatom, and in
graphene - is quantified and discussed. The adatom segregation enthalpy
determined by applying the simple Langmuir-McLean model to the
temperature-dependent equilibrium concentration seriously disagrees with the
value calculated from first-principles. This discrepancy suggests that the
assumption in the model of non-interacting C is not valid
A comprehensive platform for highly multiplexed mammalian functional genetic screens
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genome-wide screening in human and mouse cells using RNA interference and open reading frame over-expression libraries is rapidly becoming a viable experimental approach for many research labs. There are a variety of gene expression modulation libraries commercially available, however, detailed and validated protocols as well as the reagents necessary for deconvolving genome-scale gene screens using these libraries are lacking. As a solution, we designed a comprehensive platform for highly multiplexed functional genetic screens in human, mouse and yeast cells using popular, commercially available gene modulation libraries. The Gene Modulation Array Platform (GMAP) is a single microarray-based detection solution for deconvolution of loss and gain-of-function pooled screens.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Experiments with specially constructed lentiviral-based plasmid pools containing ~78,000 shRNAs demonstrated that the GMAP is capable of deconvolving genome-wide shRNA "dropout" screens. Further experiments with a larger, ~90,000 shRNA pool demonstrate that equivalent results are obtained from plasmid pools and from genomic DNA derived from lentivirus infected cells. Parallel testing of large shRNA pools using GMAP and next-generation sequencing methods revealed that the two methods provide valid and complementary approaches to deconvolution of genome-wide shRNA screens. Additional experiments demonstrated that GMAP is equivalent to similar microarray-based products when used for deconvolution of open reading frame over-expression screens.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Herein, we demonstrate four major applications for the GMAP resource, including deconvolution of pooled RNAi screens in cells with at least 90,000 distinct shRNAs. We also provide detailed methodologies for pooled shRNA screen readout using GMAP and compare next-generation sequencing to GMAP (i.e. microarray) based deconvolution methods.</p
The Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph for JWST -- V. Kernel Phase Imaging and Data Analysis
Kernel phase imaging (KPI) enables the direct detection of substellar
companions and circumstellar dust close to and below the classical (Rayleigh)
diffraction limit. We present a kernel phase analysis of JWST NIRISS full pupil
images taken during the instrument commissioning and compare the performance to
closely related NIRISS aperture masking interferometry (AMI) observations. For
this purpose, we develop and make publicly available the custom "Kpi3Pipeline"
enabling the extraction of kernel phase observables from JWST images. The
extracted observables are saved into a new and versatile kernel phase FITS file
(KPFITS) data exchange format. Furthermore, we present our new and publicly
available "fouriever" toolkit which can be used to search for companions and
derive detection limits from KPI, AMI, and long-baseline interferometry
observations while accounting for correlated uncertainties in the model fitting
process. Among the four KPI targets that were observed during NIRISS instrument
commissioning, we discover a low-contrast (~1:5) close-in (~1 )
companion candidate around CPD-66~562 and a new high-contrast (~1:170)
detection separated by ~1.5 from 2MASS~J062802.01-663738.0. The
5- companion detection limits around the other two targets reach ~6.5
mag at ~200 mas and ~7 mag at ~400 mas. Comparing these limits to those
obtained from the NIRISS AMI commissioning observations, we find that KPI and
AMI perform similar in the same amount of observing time. Due to its 5.6 times
higher throughput if compared to AMI, KPI is beneficial for observing faint
targets and superior to AMI at separations >325 mas. At very small separations
(<100 mas) and between ~250-325 mas, AMI slightly outperforms KPI which suffers
from increased photon noise from the core and the first Airy ring of the
point-spread function.Comment: 34 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in PAS
Crop Updates 2003 - Geraldton
This session covers twenty eight papers from different authors
Seasonal Outlook: What is in store for 2003, David Stephens, Department of Agriculture
Examining The Management Options For Wheat Crops In The Coming Season, James Fisher, Department of Agriculture
GMO’s – what do they offer? Ian Edwards, Grain Bio Tech Australia Pty Ltd
The Big Gamble – Wheat prices for 2003, Dennis Wise, Profarmer
Market outlook for other grains, Andrew Young, General Manager Agricorp
Stripe rust – where to now for the WA wheat industry? Robert Loughman, Ciara Beard and Greg Shea, Department of Agriculture
Baudin and Hamlin – new generation of malting barley developed in Western Australia, Blakely Paynter, Roslyn Jettner and Kevin Young, Department of Agriculture
DBM in Canola, Kevin Walden, Department of Agriculture
The latest on Lupin diseases, Geoff Thomas, Department of Agriculture
Wheat variety performance in 2002 compared to the long term, Robin Wilson, Iain Barclay, Robyn McLean, Robert Loughman, Jenny Garlinge, Bill Lambe, Neil Venn and Peter Clarke, Department of Agriculture
Do wide rows drought proof lupins on red loam? Martin Harries, Bob French, Wayne Parker and Murray Blyth, Department of Agriculture
Do wide rows drought proof lupins on a sandy loam? Martin Harries, Bob French, Wayne Parker and Murray Blyth, Department of Agriculture
Profit Proving Precision Agriculture, Peter Norris, Agronomy For Profit, Greg Lyle, CSIRO Land and Water, Yuna Farm Improvement Group
Annual ryegrass seedbanks: the good, the bad, and the ugly, Kathryn Steadman, University of Western Australia, Amander Ellery, CSIRO Plant Industry, Sally C Peltzer, Department of Agriculture
Wheat management packages for low rainfall areas, Kari-Lee Falconer, Department of Agriculture
Ground water 1. Atrazine, Russell Speed, Department of Agriculture
Groundwater 2. Current Trends, Russell Speed, Department of Agriculture
Herbicide tolerance of wheat, lupins and pastures, Terry Piper and Harmohinder Dhammu, Department of Agriculture
Farming with Tramlines, Bindi Webb, Paul Blackwell, Department of Agriculture, Phil Logue, Binnu, Nigel Moffat, Geraldton, Rohan Ford, Binnu, Miles Obst, Mingenew,
The role of green manure crops in renovating poor performing paddocks: What’s it worth? Frances Hoyle, Leanne Schulz and Judith Devenish Department of Agriculture
The looming threat of wild radish, Peter Newman, Department of Agriculture
Does one ‘size’ fit all? Grant Morrow, Syngenta Crop Protection
Climate Forecasts on the Internet, Ian Foster and David Stephens, Department of Agriculture
Moisture delving = more reliable lupin establishment, Paul Blackwell, and Wayne Parker, Department of Agriculture
Tramline Designs for better Weed control and Wheat value from non-spraying tramlines in a dry season, Paul Blackwell, Bindi Webb and Darshan Sharma, Department of Agriculture
Biserrula Grazing Trial, Marnie Thomas, Department of Agriculture
Performance of IT and TT canola varieties in the medium and high rainfall agzones of W.A., 2001-02, Graham Walton, Hasan Zaheer and Paul Carmody, Department of Agriculture
Rapid Catchment Appraisal in Northern Agricultural Region, Mike Clarke, Paul Raper, Department of Agricultur
Repeated amphetamine treatment induces neurite outgrowth and enhanced amphetamine-stimulated dopamine release in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) via a protein kinase C- and mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent mechanism
Repeated intermittent treatment with amphetamine (AMPH) induces both neurite outgrowth and enhanced AMPH-stimulated dopamine (DA) release in PC12 cells. We investigated the role of protein kinases in the induction of these AMPH-mediated events by using inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) or protein kinase A (PKA). PKC inhibitors chelerythrine (100 nm and 300 nm), Ro31-8220 (300 nm) and the MAP kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059 (30 µm) inhibited the ability of AMPH to elicit both neurite outgrowth and the enhanced AMPH-stimulated DA release. The direct-acting PKC activator, 12- O -tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA, 250 nm) mimicked the ability of AMPH to elicit neurite outgrowth and enhanced DA release. On the contrary, a selective PKA inhibitor, 100 µm Rp-8-Br-cAMPS, blocked only the development of AMPH-stimulated DA release but not the neurite outgrowth. Treatment of the cells with acute AMPH elicited an increase in the activity of PKC and MAP kinase but not PKA. These results demonstrated that AMPH-induced increases in MAP kinase and PKC are important for induction of both the enhancement in transporter-mediated DA release and neurite outgrowth but PKA was only required for the enhancement in AMPH-stimulated DA release. Therefore the mechanisms by which AMPH induces neurite outgrowth and the enhancement in AMPH-stimulated DA release can be differentiated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66040/1/j.1471-4159.2003.02127.x.pd
Crop Updates 2001 - Grower Booklet
1. Strategies for leaf disease management in wheat, Jatinderpal Bhathal1, Cameron Weeks2, Kith Jayasena1 and Robert Loughman1, 1Agriculture Western Australia. 2Mingenew-Irwin Group Inc.
2. Burn stubble windrows: to diagnose soil fertility problems, Bill Bowden, Chris Gazey and Ross Brennan, Agriculture Western Australia
3. Rainfall – what happened in 2000 and the prospects for 2001, Ian Foster, Agriculture Western Australia
4. Strategies for leaf disease management in malting barley, K. Jayasena1, Q. Knight2 and R. Loughman1, 1Agriculture Western Australia, 2IAMA Agribusiness
5. Planning your cropping program in season 2001, Dr Ross Kingwell, Agriculture Western Australia and University of Western Australia
6. Rotational crops and varieties for management of root lesion nematodes in Western Australia, S.B. Sharma, S. Kelly and R. Loughman, Crop Improvement Institute, Agriculture Western Australia
7. When and where to grow oats, Glenn McDonald, Agriculture Western Australia
8. Managing Gairdner barley for quality, Kevin Young and Blakely Paynter, Agriculture Western Australia
FARMING SYSTEMS, PASTURES AND WEEDS
9.Evaluation of pasture species for phase pasture systems, Keith Devenish, Agriculture Western Australia
10. Competitiveness of wild radish in a wheat – lupin rotation, Abul Hashem, Nerys Wilkins, and Terry Piper, Agriculture Western Australia
11. Can we eradicate barley grass? Sally Peltzer, Agriculture Western Australia
12. Short term pasture phase for weed control, Clinton Revell and Candy Hudson, Agriculture Western Australia
13. Herbicide tolerance of some annual pasture legumes adapted to coarse textured sandy soils, Clinton Revell and Ian Rose, Agriculture Western Australia
14. Integrated weed management: Cadoux, Alexandra Wallace, Agriculture Western Australia
LUPINS
15. Inter-row knockdowns for profitable lupins, Paul Blackwell, Agriculture Western Australia and Miles Obst, farmer, Mingenew
16.. Wild radish – the implications for our rotations, Dr David Bowran, Centre for Cropping Systems
17. Lupin variety performance: Are you making the most of it? Bevan J. Buirchell, Senior Plant Breeder, Agriculture Western Australia
18. Anthracnose in lupins – understanding the risk, Moin Salam, Art Diggle, Geoff Thomas, Mark Sweetingham and Bill O’Neill, Agriculture Western Australia
OILSEEDS
19. Effect of stubble, seeding technique and seed size on crop establishment and yield of canola, Rafiul Alam, Glen Riethmuller and Greg Hamilton, Agriculture Western Australia
20. Canola – More responses to lime, Chris Gazey and Paul Carmody,Agriculture Western Australia
22. Performance of new canola varieties in AGWEST variety trials in 2000, G. Walton, Crop Improvement Institute, Agriculture Western Australia
PULSES
23. The ascochyta management package for 2001, B. MacLeod, Agriculture Western Australia
24. Herbicide tolerance of new field pea varieties and lines, M. Seymour, H. Dhammu, T. Piper, D. Nicholson, M. D\u27Antuono, Agriculture Western Australi
The Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph for the James Webb Space Telescope. IV. Aperture Masking Interferometry
The James Webb Space Telescope’s Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (JWST-NIRISS) flies a 7-hole non-redundant mask (NRM), the first such interferometer in space, operating at 3-5 μm wavelengths, and a bright limit of ≃4 mag in W2. We describe the NIRISS Aperture Masking Interferometry (AMI) mode to help potential observers understand its underlying principles, present some sample science cases, explain its operational observing strategies, indicate how AMI proposals can be developed with data simulations, and how AMI data can be analyzed. We also present key results from commissioning AMI. Since the allied Kernel Phase Imaging (KPI) technique benefits from AMI operational strategies, we also cover NIRISS KPI methods and analysis techniques, including a new user-friendly KPI pipeline. The NIRISS KPI bright limit is ≃8 W2 (4.6 μm) magnitudes. AMI NRM and KPI achieve an inner working angle of ∼70 mas, which is well inside the ∼400 mas NIRCam inner working angle for its circular occulter coronagraphs at comparable wavelengths.</p
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