Role of gravitational stress in land plant evolution - The gravitational factor in lignification Semiannual status report, period ending 31 Oct. 1968

Gravitational and mechanical stress effects on lignification in land plant

Experimental quantum key distribution over highly noisy channels

Error filtration is a method for encoding the quantum state of a single particle into a higher dimensional Hilbert space in such a way that it becomes less sensitive to phase noise. We experimentally demonstrate this method by distributing a secret key over an optical fiber whose noise level otherwise precludes secure quantum key distribution. By filtering out the phase noise, a bit error rate of 15.3% +/- 0.1%, which is beyond the security limit, can be reduced to 10.6% +/- 0.1%, thereby guaranteeing the cryptographic security.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Provably Secure Experimental Quantum Bit-String Generation

Coin tossing is a cryptographic task in which two parties who do not trust each other aim to generate a common random bit. Using classical communication this is impossible, but non trivial coin tossing is possible using quantum communication. Here we consider the case when the parties do not want to toss a single coin, but many. This is called bit string generation. We report the experimental generation of strings of coins which are provably more random than achievable using classical communication. The experiment is based on the ``plug and play'' scheme developed for quantum cryptography, and therefore well suited for long distance quantum communication.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. A complete security analysis for the experiment is given in quant-ph/040812

Mice expressing HLA-DQ6α8β transgenes develop polychondritis spontaneously

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a human autoimmune disease of unknown etiology in which cartilaginous sites are destroyed by cyclic inflammatory episodes beginning, most commonly, during the fourth or fifth decade of life. We have previously described collagen-induced polychondritis that closely mirrors RP occurring in young (6–8 weeks old) HLA-DQ6αβ8αβ transgenic Aβ0 mice, following immunization with heterologous type II collagen (CII). We present evidence here that transgenic strains expressing the DQ6α8β transgene develop spontaneous polychondritis (SP) at the mouse equivalent of human middle age (4.5–6 months and 40–50 years old, respectively) and display polyarthritis, auricular chondritis and nasal chondritis – three of the most common sites affected in RP. Auricular chondritis in SP, like RP but unlike CII-induced polychondritis, exhibited a relapsing/remitting phenotype, requiring several inflammatory cycles before the cartilage is destroyed. Elevated serum levels of total IgG corresponded with the onset of disease in SP, as in RP and CII-induced polychondritis. No CII-specific immune response was detected in SP, however – more closely mirroring RP, in which as few as 30% of RP patients have been reported to have CII-specific IgG. CII-induced polychondritis displays a strong CII-specific immune response. SP also demonstrated a strong female preponderance, as some workers have reported in RP but has not observed in CII-induced polychondritis. These characteristics of SP allow for the examination of the immunopathogenesis of polychondritis in the absence of an overwhelming CII-specific immune response and the strong adjuvant-induced immunostimulatory influence in CII-induced polychondritis. This spontaneous model of polychondritis provides a new and unique tool to investigate both the initiatory events as well as the immunopathogenic mechanisms occurring at cartilaginous sites during the cyclic inflammatory assaults of polychondritis

Soil weathering rates in 21 catchments of the Canadian Shield

Soil mineral weathering represents an essential source of nutrient base cation (Ca, Mg and K) for forest growth in addition to provide a buffering power against precipitation acidity for soils and surface waters. Weathering rates of base cations were obtained for 21 catchments located within the temperate and the boreal forest of the Canadian Shield with the geochemical model PROFILE. Weathering rates ranged from 0.58 to 4.46 kmol<sub>c</sub> ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup> and their spatial variation within the studied area was mostly in agreement with spatial variations in soil mineralogy. Weathering rates of Ca and Mg were significantly correlated (<i>r</i> = 0.80 and 0.64) with their respective lake concentrations. Weathering rates of K and Na did not correlate with lake concentrations of K and Na. The modeled weathering rates for each catchment were also compared with estimations of net catchment exportations. The result show that modeled weathering rates of Ca were not significantly different than the net catchment exportations while modeled weathering rates of Mg were higher by 51%. Larger differences were observed for K and Na weathering rates that were significantly different than net catchment exportations being 6.9 and 2.2 times higher than net exportations, respectively. The results for K were expected given its high reactivity with biotic compartments and suggest that most of the K produced by weathering reactions was retained within soil catchments and/or above ground biomass. This explanation does not apply to Na, however, which is a conservative element in forest ecosystems because of the insignificant needs of Na for soil microorganisms and above ground vegetations. It raises concern about the liability of the PROFILE model to provide reliable values of Na weathering rates. Overall, we concluded that the PROFILE model is powerful enough to reproduce spatial geographical gradients in weathering rates for relatively large areas as well as adequately predict absolute weathering rates values for the sum of base cations, Ca and Mg

Inhibition of protein kinase C decreases sensitivity of GABA receptor subtype to fipronil insecticide in insect neurosecretory cells.

Phosphorylation by serine/threonine kinases has been described as a new mechanism for regulating the effects of insecticides on insect neuronal receptors and channels. Although insect GABA receptors are commercially important targets for insecticides (e.g. fipronil), their modulation by kinases is poorly understood and the influence of phosphorylation on insecticide sensitivity is unknown. Using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we investigated the modulatory effect of PKC and CaMKinase II on GABA receptor subtypes (GABAR1 and GABAR2) in DUM neurons isolated from the terminal abdominal ganglion (TAG) of Periplaneta americana. Chloride currents through GABAR2 were selectively abolished by PMA and PDBu (the PKC activators) and potentiated by Gö6983, an inhibitor of PKC. Furthermore, using KN-62, a specific CaMKinase II inhibitor, we demonstrated that CaMKinase II activation was also involved in the regulation of GABAR2 function. In addition, using CdCl(2) (the calcium channel blocker) and LOE-908, a blocker of TRPγ, we revealed that calcium influx through TRPγ played an important role in kinase activations. Comparative studies performed with CACA, a selective agonist of GABAR1 in DUM neurons confirmed the involvement of these kinases in the specific regulation of GABAR2. Furthermore, our study reported that GABAR1 was less sensitive than GABAR2 to fipronil. This was demonstrated by the biphasic concentration-response curve and the current-voltage relationship established with both GABA and CACA. Finally, we demonstrated that GABAR2 was 10-fold less sensitive to fipronil following inhibition of PKC, whereas inhibition of CaMKinase II did not alter the effect of fipronil

Temporal trends in the cardiorespiratory fitness of 2,525,827 adults between 1967 and 2016

Objective To estimate international and national temporal trends in the cardiorespiratory ftness (CRF) of adults, and to examine relationships between trends in CRF and trends in health-related, socioeconomic, and environmental indicators. Methods Data were obtained from a systematic search of studies that explicitly reported temporal trends in the CRF of apparently healthy adults aged 18–59 years. Sample-weighted temporal trends were estimated using best-ftting regression models relating the year of testing to mean CRF. Post-stratifed population-weighted mean changes in percent and standardized CRF were estimated. Pearson’s correlations were used to describe associations between linear trends in CRF and linear trends in health-related, socioeconomic, and environmental indicators. Results 2,525,827 adults representing eight high- and upper-middle-income countries between 1967 and 2016 collectively showed a moderate decline of 7.7% (95% CI −8.4 to −7.0) or 1.6% per decade (95% CI −1.7 to −1.5). Internationally, CRF improved in the 1960s and 1970s, and progressively declined at an increasing rate thereafter. Declines were larger for men than for women, and for young adults (\u3c40 \u3eyears) than for middle-aged adults (≥40 years). All countries experienced declines in CRF with a very strong negative correlation between CRF trends and obesity trends. Conclusions There has been a meaningful decline in the CRF of adults since 1980, which has progressively increased in magnitude over time, suggestive of a corresponding decline in population health. Continuous national and international surveillance systems are needed in order to monitor health and ftness trends, especially among low- and middle-income countries for which data do not currently exist. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42013003678

Exploring the Flame Chemistry of C5Tetrahydrofuranic Biofuels: Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol and 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran

Recently, the combustion chemistry of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA), a potential biofuel, was investigated in a stoichiometric 20 mol % THFA/methane co-fueled premixed flame at 5.3 kPa by our group (Tran, L.-S.; Carstensen, H.-H.; Foo, K. K.; Lamoureux, N.; Gosselin, S.; Gasnot, L.; El-Bakali, A.; Desgroux, P. Experimental and modeling study of the high-temperature combustion chemistry of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Proc. Combust. Inst. 2021, 38, 631-640, 10.1016/j.proci.2020.07.057). With regard to this, we continue to further explore the combustion chemistry of this biofuel to understand the influence of THFA-doping amounts on the flame chemistry of its mixture with methane and the impact of the alcohol function of THFA on the product spectrum compared to its non-alcoholic fuel counterpart, i.e., 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF). To accomplish the above said objective, a methane flame, a 10% THFA/methane flame, and a 20% MTHF/methane flame were additionally analyzed at similar conditions using gas chromatography for quantitative species detection and NO laser-induced fluorescence thermometry. More than 40 species (reactants, CO, CO2, H2O, H2, and about 14 hydrocarbons as well as 26 oxygenated intermediates up to 5 carbon atoms) were quantified for each doped biofuel flame. The product distributions and consumption pathways of THFA are similar for the 10 and 20% THFA-doped flames. The maximum yields of most products increase linearly with the amount of doped THFA. However, some species do not follow this trend, indicating interaction chemistry between methane and THFA, which is found to be mainly caused by the reaction of the methyl radical. The difference in the chemical structure in THFA and MTHF has no notable impact on the mole fractions of CO, CO2, H2O, and H2, but significant differences exist for the yields of intermediate species. The doped THFA flame produces more aldehydes, alcohols, and ethers but forms clearly less ketones and hydrocarbons. A slightly upgraded version of our previous kinetic model reproduces most experimental data well and is able to explain the observed differences in intermediate production. © 2021 American Chemical Society

Developable Rotationally Symmetric Kirigami‐Based Structures as Sensor Platforms

Developable surfaces based on closed‐shape, planar, rotationally symmetric kirigami (RSK) sheets approximate 3D, globally curved surfaces upon (reversible) out‐of‐plane deflection. The distribution of stress and strain across the structure is characterized experimentally and by finite‐element analysis as a function of the material and cut parameters, enabling the integration with strain gauges to produce a wearable, conformal patch that can capture complex, multiaxis motion. Using the patch, real‐time tracking of shoulder joint and muscle behavior is demonstrated. The facile fabrication and unique properties of the RSK structures potentially enable wearable, textile‐integrated joint monitoring for athletic training, wellness, rehabilitation, feedback control for augmented mobility, motion of soft and traditional robotics, and other applications.This work introduces a new paradigm for realizing 2D to curved, 3D, functional surface transformation using rotationally symmetric kirigami as a platform for deploying wearable sensors; here it is demonstrated for real‐time tracking of complex motion of joints within the body and circumventing longstanding tradeoffs in the design of materials, structures, and devices for conformable, wearable electronics.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153082/1/admt201900563-sup-0001-SuppMat.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153082/2/admt201900563.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153082/3/admt201900563_am.pd