Título en español.

Several native materials were evaluated as bedding materials for the growth of Anthurium at two sites in Puerto Rico. The materials were compared to peat moss for the production of cut flowers. After more than 3 years of data statistically analyzed, the results showed that materials such as cane bagasse, coffee leaf mold, wood shavings, spent ground coffee, cured coffee pulp or coffee parchment, chicken manure, tree bark, and top soil + filter press cake were as effective as peat moss for production of Anthurium flowers.Se evaluaron algunos materiales nativos como camadas para la siembra de anturios en dos localidades en Puerto Rico: las Subestaciones Experimentales Agrícolas de Gurabo y Adjuntas. Los materiales se compararon con la turba de pantano en la producción de flores cortadas. Después de cuatro años de observaciones los resultados reflejaron que materiales tales como bagazo de caña, hojarasca de la línea de café, viruta de madera, borra de café, pergamino y pulpa de café curada, gallinaza, corteza de árboles y suelo con cachaza de caña curada comparan favorablemente con la turba de pantano en la producción de anturios

Título en español

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) was evaluated at 20-, 40-, and 60- day growth stages in three trials for chemical composition, yield, and intake with Holstein steers, respectively. Crude protein and ash contents decreased while crude fiber and nitrogen free extract contents increased as ramie advanced in maturity from 20 to 60 days of age. The ether extract content remained about the same between 20- and 40-day stages but decreased at the 60 day stage. Significant differences (P < .01) were obtained in green forage yields between 20- and 40- or 60-day ramie, and in dry forage and crude protein yields between 20- and 40-day, 20- and 60-day, and 40- and 60-day ramie. Significant differences (P < .01) were also obtained in green forage intakes between 20- and 40-day, 20- and 60-day, and 40- and 60-day ramie, and in dry forage intakes between 20- or 40- and 60-day ramie. Although ramie has a high crude protein content, its yields and intakes are very low in comparison to those of tropical grasses and alfalfa. It may be utilized as a feed or feed ingredient for livestock, principally monogastrics or small ruminants.El ramio (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) es una planta textil de excelente calidad, rica en proteína y con un potencial como alimento para animales domésticos. Se evaluó en 3 pruebas a etapas de crecimiento de 20, 40 y 60 días de edad en la Subestación Experimental de Gurabo, con respecto a composición química, producción y consumo por novillos Holstein castrados. Los contenidos en proteína bruta y ceniza disminuyeron mientras los de fibra bruta y extracto libre de nitrógeno aumentaron de los 20 a los 60 días de edad. El contenido en extracto etéreo permaneció igual en nuestras cosechadas a los 20 y 40 días pero disminuyó en la de 60 días. Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas (P < .01) en producción de forraje verde entre ramio de 20 y de 40 ó 60 días de edad, y en producción de forraje seco y de proteína bruta entre ramio de 20 y 40 días, 20 y 60 días y 40 y 60 días de edad. Los consumos de forraje verde entre las edades de 20 y 40 días, 20 y 60 días y 40 y 60 días y de forraje seco entre las edades de 20 ó 40 y 60 días fueron significativos (P < .01 ). Se puede concluir que, aunque el ramio es rico en proteína bruta, su producción y consumo son bajos, al compararse con gramíneas tropicales y alfalfa. Sin embargo, su utilización como alimento o como ingrediente en raciones de alimentos para animales, principalmente monogástricos o rumiantes pequeños, es una posibilidad

Analysis of Driver Behavior in Dilemma Zones at Signalized Intersections

A field study evaluated the stopping characteristics of vehicles 2.5 to 5.5 s upstream of signalized intersections at the start of a yellow interval, a region typically considered drivers’ indecision zone or dilemma zone. Characteristics included brake-response times for first-to-stop vehicles, deceleration rates for first-to-stop vehicles, distinguishing characteristics and prediction of first-to-stop versus last-to-go events, and distinguishing characteristics and prediction of red-light-running events. Consumer-grade video cameras temporarily installed at four high-speed and two low-speed intersections in the Madison, Wisconsin, area recorded dilemma zone vehicles. Several factors were measured for each last-to-go (n = 435) and first-to-stop (n = 463) vehicle in each lane during each yellow interval, including approach speed; distance upstream at start of yellow; brake-response time; deceleration rate; vehicle type; headway; tailway; action of vehicles in adjacent lanes; presence of side-street vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, or opposing vehicles waiting to turn left; flow rate; length of yellow interval; and cycle length. The observed 15th, 50th, and 85th percentile brake-response times for first-to-stop vehicles were 0.7, 1.0, and 1.6 s, respectively; their observed deceleration rates were 7.2, 9.9, and 12.9 ft/s², respectively. Vehicles were more likely to go through than to stop under the following conditions: shorter estimated travel time to intersection at start of yellow; longer yellow interval; the subject was a heavy vehicle (truck, bus, recreational vehicle); absence of side-street vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and opposing left-turn vehicles; and presence of vehicles in adjacent lanes that went through. Heavy vehicles were more likely than passenger vehicles to run a red light. Vehicles were more likely to run a red light when vehicles in adjacent lanes that also went through were present and when side-street vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and opposing left-turn vehicles were absent

Aggregate Structure And Free Energy Changes In Chromonic Liquid Crystals

Past and recent x-ray and absorption data on chromonic liquid crystals are analyzed in a consistent manner to reveal both the cross-sectional areas and stacking free energy changes for a number of systems. Two tentative conclusions result from this study. First, the locations of the charged groups on the dye molecule determine the number of molecules in the cross-section of the aggregate. Second, among systems with the same aggregate structure, the higher the stacking free energy change as measured in dilute solutions, the lower the concentration at which a room temperature liquid crystal phase forms at higher concentrations

Direct-write polymer nanolithography in ultra-high vacuum

Polymer nanostructures were directly written onto substrates in ultra-high vacuum. The polymer ink was coated onto atomic force microscope (AFM) probes that could be heated to control the ink viscosity. Then, the ink-coated probes were placed into an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) AFM and used to write polymer nanostructures on surfaces, including surfaces cleaned in UHV. Controlling the writing speed of the tip enabled the control over the number of monolayers of the polymer ink deposited on the surface from a single to tens of monolayers, with higher writing speeds generating thinner polymer nanostructures. Deposition onto silicon oxide-terminated substrates led to polymer chains standing upright on the surface, whereas deposition onto vacuum reconstructed silicon yielded polymer chains aligned along the surface

Aggregation Properties Of The Chromonic Liquid Crystal Benzopurpurin 4B

Optical polarization, absorption, and scattering studies along with confocal microscopy reveal that Benzopurpurin 4B forms aggregates of micrometer size at very low concentrations in aqueous solution. A chromonic liquid crystal phase is stable at room temperature down to concentrations as low as 0.4 wt %, which can only be possible if the aggregates contain an ample amount of water. The kinetics of aggregate formation are extremely slow, with changes going on for days before equilibrium is reached. The stacking free energy change is estimated to be 10.3 +/- 0.4 k(B)T, which is in the higher range of values for recently Studied chromonic liquid crystals. However, the very low concentration of the liquid crystal phase puts it in a different class, probably more similar to Scheibe or Jelly aggregates than the typical chromonic systems that are formed by simple stacks of molecules

Absence of HIV transmission from an infected dentist to his patients. An epidemiologic and DNA sequence analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a general dentist with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection transmitted HIV to any of his patients. DESIGN: A cohort study in which all patients treated by a dentist who developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were identified and attempts were made to contact all patients for HIV antibody testing. SETTING: A general dentistry clinic operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs in southeastern Florida. PARTICIPANTS: All patients treated by a dentist during the 5 3/4 years before he developed AIDS were identified in a computerized registry of dental care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attempts were made to contact all living patients for counseling and HIV antibody testing. Living patients with newly identified HIV infection were interviewed, and DNA sequence analysis was performed to compare genetic relatedness of their HIV to that of the dentist. Death certificates were obtained for decreased patients, and the medical records of those with diagnoses suggestive of HIV disease or drug abuse and those dying under the age of 50 years were reviewed in detail. RESULTS: There were 1192 patients who had undergone 9267 procedures, of whom 124 were deceased. A review of the death certificates of the deceased patients identified five who had died with HIV infection, all of whom were either homosexuals or users of illicit intravenous drugs. We were able to locate 962 (92%) of the remaining 1048 patients, and 900 agreed to be tested. Infection with HIV was documented in five of the 900 patients, including four who had clear evidence of risk factors for acquiring HIV infection. One patient who had only a single evaluation by the dentist denied high-risk behavior. Comparative DNA sequence analysis demonstrated that the viruses from the dentist and these five patients were not closely related. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the risk for transmission of HIV from a general dentist to his patients is minimal in a setting in which universal precautions are strictly observed. Programs to ensure compliance with universal precautions would appear preferable to programs for widespread testing of dentists