Exponential stability of the wave equation with memory and time delay

We study the asymptotic behaviour of the wave equation with viscoelastic damping in presence of a time-delayed damping. We prove exponential stability if the amplitude of the time delay term is small enough

Exponential dichotomies of evolution operators in Banach spaces

This paper considers three dichotomy concepts (exponential dichotomy, uniform exponential dichotomy and strong exponential dichotomy) in the general context of non-invertible evolution operators in Banach spaces. Connections between these concepts are illustrated. Using the notion of Green function, we give necessary conditions and sufficient ones for strong exponential dichotomy. Some illustrative examples are presented to prove that the converse of some implication type theorems are not valid

USDA Plant Genome Research Program

The U.S. Congress appropriated funds in 1991 for the USDA Plant Genome Research Program, four years after its initial conception in 1987. The goal of the USDA Plant Genome Research Program is to improve plants (agronomic, horticultural, and forest tree species) by locating marker DNA or genes on chromosomes, determining gene structure, and transferring genes to improve plant performance with accompanying reduced environmental impact to meet marketplace needs and niches. The Plant Genome Research Program is one program with two parts: National Research Initiative and Plant Genome Database (PGD). The PGD is now a real and functioning information and data resource for agricultural and other plant science genome researchers, and it is in the public domain. Additional progress is given according to major plant groups. The PGD is a suite of several information products produced at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Service and Forest Service species coordinators

Lead in exterior paints from the urban and suburban environs of Plymouth, south west England

The dry weight concentrations of lead in paints on a variety of structures in the urban and suburban environs of a British city (Plymouth, south west England) have been determined in situ and ex situ by field-portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Lead was detected in 221 out of 272 analyses, with overall median and mean concentrations of 4180 g g-1 and 29,300 g g-1, respectively, and a maximum concentration of 390,000 g g-1. The highest concentrations were observed in extant paints on poorly maintained, metallic structures, including railings, gates, telephone kiosks and bridges, in various yellow road line paints, and in paints of varying condition on public playground facilities (ramps, climbing frames, monkey bars). Occupants of households in the vicinity of structures that are shedding leaded paint are at potential risk of exposure from paint particles being tracked in on shoes while children in contact with leaded paints in playgrounds and recreational areas are at potential risk from the direct ingestion of paint flakes. Since the issues highlighted in the present study are neither likely to be restricted to this city, nor to the UK, a greater, general awareness and understanding of the sources and routes of exposure of exterior leaded paint is called for

A unified parameter identification method for nonlinear time-delay systems

This paper deals with the problem of identifying unknown time-delays and model parameters in a general nonlinear time-delay system. We propose a unified computational approach that involves solving a dynamic optimization problem, whose cost function measures the discrepancy between predicted and observed system output, to determine optimal values for the unknown quantities. Our main contribution is to show that the partial derivatives of this cost function can be computed by solving a set of auxiliary time-delay systems. On this basis, the parameter identification problem can be solved using existing gradient-based optimization techniques. We conclude the paper with two numerical simulations

A new vesicle trafficking regulator CTL1 plays a crucial role in ion homeostasis

Ion homeostasis is essential for plant growth and environmental adaptation, and maintaining ion homeostasis requires the precise regulation of various ion transporters, as well as correct root patterning. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain largely elusive. Here, we reported that a choline transporter gene, CTL1, controls ionome homeostasis by regulating the secretory trafficking of proteins required for plasmodesmata (PD) development, as well as the transport of some ion transporters. Map-based cloning studies revealed that CTL1 mutations alter the ion profile of Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that the phenotypes associated with these mutations are caused by a combination of PD defects and ion transporter misregulation. We also established that CTL1 is involved in regulating vesicle trafficking and is thus required for the trafficking of proteins essential for ion transport and PD development. Characterizing choline transporter-like 1 (CTL1) as a new regulator of protein sorting may enable researchers to understand not only ion homeostasis in plants but also vesicle trafficking in general