On the Origin of Seemingly Non-Surface Active Particles Partitioning between Phase Separated Solutions of Incompatible Non-Adsorbing Polymers and Their Adsorption at the Phase Boundary.

We have computed the free energy per unit area (i.e., interfacial tension) between a solid surface and two co-existing polymer solutions, where there is no specific interaction between the particles and either polymer, via self-consistent field calculations. Several different systems have been studied, including those where the two polymers differ in molecular weight (Mw) by a factor of ~ 2, or where the polymers have the same Mw but one set of chains is branched with the other being linear. In the absence of any enthalpic contribution resulting from adsorption on the particle, the differences in free energy per unit area resulting from the polymer depleted regions around the particles in the two co-exiting phases are found to be ~ 1 μN m-1. Although this value may seem rather small, this difference is more than capable of inducing the partitioning of particles of 100 nm in size (or larger) into the phase with the lower interfacial free energy at a solid surface. By examining the density profile variation of the polymers close to the solid surface, we can also infer information about the wettability and contact angle (Θ) of the solid particle at the interface between the two co-existing phases. This leads to the conclusion that for all systems of this type, when the incompatibility between the two polymers is sufficiently large, will be close to 90°

Information Gathering in Ad-Hoc Radio Networks with Tree Topology

We study the problem of information gathering in ad-hoc radio networks without collision detection, focussing on the case when the network forms a tree, with edges directed towards the root. Initially, each node has a piece of information that we refer to as a rumor. Our goal is to design protocols that deliver all rumors to the root of the tree as quickly as possible. The protocol must complete this task within its allotted time even though the actual tree topology is unknown when the computation starts. In the deterministic case, assuming that the nodes are labeled with small integers, we give an O(n)-time protocol that uses unbounded messages, and an O(n log n)-time protocol using bounded messages, where any message can include only one rumor. We also consider fire-and-forward protocols, in which a node can only transmit its own rumor or the rumor received in the previous step. We give a deterministic fire-and- forward protocol with running time O(n^1.5), and we show that it is asymptotically optimal. We then study randomized algorithms where the nodes are not labelled. In this model, we give an O(n log n)-time protocol and we prove that this bound is asymptotically optimal

Species composition, plant cover and diversity of recently reforested wild lands near Dabao Highway in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region of Yunnan Province, China

Deforestation, over-cultivation and rural growth have severely damaged native vegetation of woodlands along roadsides in the Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region of Yunnan Province. This study wasconducted to evaluate the effect of different reforestation practices, which consisted of natural restoration or planting with tree seedlings that varied in species composition, coverage and diversity,on damaged roadside woodlands. Three randomly selected 10 m x 10 m plots in each reforestation practice were investigated. The results showed that the species composition, plant cover and speciesdiversity of the planted communities varied with reforestation strategies and time since planting. A higher number of species, proportion of native species and woody plants, canopy cover and speciesdiversity were found in naturally restored plots and in 3 - 4 year old plots that were planted with native plants. In the early stages of reforestation, herbs dominated the plant community in most plots, andwoody plants became more important with time after reforestation. Preliminary results suggest that plant height can be used an auxiliary indicator of plant cover to assess ecosystem function status ofthe restoration project. Also, evenness may be easier to restore than species richness. Natural restoration or reforestation with native dominant plants is a good management strategy for vegetationrestoration or improvement

The optical microscopy with virtual image breaks a record: 50-nm resolution imaging is demonstrated

We demonstrate a new 'microsphere nanoscope' that uses ordinary SiO2 microspheres as superlenses to create a virtual image of the object in near field. The magnified virtual image greatly overcomes the diffraction limit. We are able to resolve clearly 50-nm objects under a standard white light source in both transmission and reflection modes. The resolution achieved for white light opens a new opportunity to image viruses, DNA and molecules in real time

A new method to assess spatial variations of outdoor thermal comfort: Onsite monitoring results and implications for precinct planning

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At Least Bias Is Bipartisan: A Meta-Analytic Comparison of Partisan Bias in Liberals and Conservatives

Both liberals and conservatives accuse their political opponents of partisan bias, but is there empirical evidence that one side of the political aisle is indeed more biased than the other? To address this question, we meta-analyzed the results of 51 experimental studies, involving over 18,000 participants, that examined one form of partisan bias—the tendency to evaluate otherwise identical information more favorably when it supports one’s political beliefs or allegiances than when it challenges those beliefs or allegiances. Two hypotheses based on previous literature were tested: an asymmetry hypothesis (predicting greater partisan bias in conservatives than in liberals) and a symmetry hypothesis (predicting equal levels of partisan bias in liberals and conservatives). Mean overall partisan bias was robust (r = .245), and there was strong support for the symmetry hypothesis: Liberals (r = .235) and conservatives (r = .255) showed no difference in mean levels of bias across studies. Moderator analyses reveal this pattern to be consistent across a number of different methodological variations and political topics. Implications of the current findings for the ongoing ideological symmetry debate and the role of partisan bias in scientific discourse and political conflict are discussed