In this paper, we discuss some key aspects for the maintenance of biological diversity in grassland–forest mosaics in southern Brazil (Campos Sulinos) not explored yet. Campos Sulinos are grasslands distributed throughout the Pampa and the Atlantic Forest biomes. Since these grasslands remain from past dryer and colder climatic conditions, they are acknowledged as native rather than anthropogen...

We show how to compactly represent any n-dimensional subspace of R as a banded product of Householder reflections using n(m − n) floating point numbers. This is optimal since these subspaces form a Grassmannian space Grn(m) of dimension n(m− n). The representation is stable and easy to compute: any matrix can be factored into the product of a banded Householder matrix and a square matrix using ...

We report on experiments with a stable algorithm for the parallel solution of banded and periodically banded linear systems. In contrast to most of the known parallel algorithms which are stable only for symmetric positive deenite or diagonally dominant systems, the new algorithm incorporates pivoting without sacriicing eeciency. We report on numerical experiments conducted on an Intel Paragon,...

Previous research using microdensitometric scanning and computer graphic image analysis showed that T-banded segments of human metaphase chromosomes usually exhibit an asymmetrical distribution of high density (HD) chromatin between sister chromatids. Here, we employed the same methods to analyze HD chromatin distribution at opposite ends of T-banded human lymphocyte chromosomes. This study rev...

Elements of pattern formation in nematic liquid crystal polymers are presented using the Doi-Marrucci-Greco (DMG) moment-averaged theory. The theory yields a full tensor orientation equation, accounting for excluded-volume and distortional elasticity potentials, with rotational molecular diffusion. Spinodal decomposition associated with unstable homogeneous phases is described first by way of a...

OBJECTIVE To use DNA detection methodologies to test for M. leprae in nine-banded armadillos inhabiting forested regions located around the cities and towns where leprosy patients have been identified. DESIGN Ear lobe biopsies of 22 nine-banded armadillos were studied during a 2 year period. The biopsies were processed for DNA extraction and amplification by nested polymerase chain reaction (...

BACKGROUND Though long known to affect smooth muscle biology, recent studies indicate that phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) is also expressed in myocardium. Recognizing that the regulation of PDE5 in hypertrophy is not well understood, we assessed the response of PDE5 expression and the level of cGMP-dependent kinase I (cGKI) in the left and right ventricles of feline hypertrophy models. METHODOLOG...

A list of technical reports, including some abstracts and copies of some full reports may be found at: A parallel architecture for query processing over a terabyte of text. June 1996. Abstract. We propose a stable algorithm for the parallel solution of banded and periodically banded linear systems. While most of the known parallel algorithms are stable only for symmetric positive deenite or dia...

Variation in bumble bee color patterns is well-documented within and between species. Identifying the genetic mechanisms underlying such variation may be useful in revealing evolutionary forces shaping rapid phenotypic diversification. The widespread North American species Bombus bifarius exhibits regional variation in abdominal color forms, ranging from red-banded to black-banded phenotypes an...

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for discriminating Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria, M. javanica, M. hapla, and M. chitwoodi was developed. Single juveniles were ruptured in a drop of water and added directly to a PCR reaction mixture in a microcentrifuge tube. Primer annealing sites were located in the 3' portion of the mitochondrial gene coding for cytochrome oxidase subunit II and...