The Kinetics of Crystallization of Calcium Fluoride. A New Constant Composition Method

A new method is described for studying reproducibly, the kinetics of crystallization of calcium fluoride under conditions of constant solution composition. The method can be used even at very low supersaturation. The rate is proportional to the square of the supersaturation, over the range of relative supersaturation, S = 0.20 - 1.66. The results point to a surface controlled crystallization. The rate is markedly influenced by the presence of phosphate

The Kinetics of Crystallization of Calcium Fluoride. A New Constant Composition Method

A new method is described for studying reproducibly, the kinetics of crystallization of calcium fluoride under conditions of constant solution composition. The method can be used even at very low supersaturation. The rate is proportional to the square of the supersaturation, over the range of relative supersaturation, S = 0.20 - 1.66. The results point to a surface controlled crystallization. The rate is markedly influenced by the presence of phosphate

Characterization of grain boundaries in silicon

Zero-bias conductance and capacitance measurements at various temperatures were used to study trapped charges and potential barrier height at the boundaries. Deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) was applied to measure the density of states at the boundary. A study of photoconductivity of grain boundaries in p-type silicon demonstrated the applicability of the technique in the measurement of minority carrier recombination velocity at the grain boundary. Enhanced diffusion of phosphorus at grain boundaries in three cast polycrystalline photovoltaic materials was studied. Enhancements for the three were the same, indicating that the properties of boundaries are similar, although grown by different techniques. Grain boundaries capable of enhancing the diffusion were found always to have strong recombination activities; the phenomena could be related to dangling bonds at the boundaries. Evidence that incoherent second-order twins of (111)/(115) type are diffusion-active is presented

An interdisciplinary intervention for older Taiwanese patients after surgery for hip fracture improves health-related quality of life

Abstract Background The effects of intervention programs on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with hip fracture have not been well studied. We hypothesized that older patients with hip fracture who received our interdisciplinary intervention program would have better HRQOL than those who did not. Methods A randomized experimental design was used. Older patients with hip fracture (N = 162), 60 to 98 years old, from a medical center in northern Taiwan were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 80) or control (n = 82) group. HRQOL was measured by the SF-36 Taiwan version at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results The experimental group had significantly better overall outcomes in bodily pain (β = 9.38, p = 0.002), vitality (β = 9.40, p < 0.001), mental health (β = 8.16, p = 0.004), physical function (β = 16.01, p < 0.001), and role physical (β = 22.66, p < 0.001) than the control group at any time point during the first year after discharge. Physical-related health outcomes (physical functioning, role physical, and vitality) had larger treatment effects than emotional/mental- and social functioning-related health outcomes. Conclusions This interdisciplinary intervention program may improve health outcomes of elders with hip fracture. Our results may provide a reference for health care providers in countries using similar programs with Chinese/Taiwanese immigrant populations. Trial registration NCT01052636http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78259/1/1471-2474-11-225.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78259/2/1471-2474-11-225.pdfPeer Reviewe

Negative feedback control of jasmonate signaling by an alternative splice variant of JAZ10

The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) activates gene expression by promoting ubiquitin-dependent degradation of JAZ transcriptional repressor proteins. A key feature of all JAZ proteins is the highly conserved Jas motif, which mediates both JAZ degradation and JAZ binding to the transcription factor MYC2. Rapid expression of JAZ genes in response to JA is thought to attenuate JA responses, but little is known about the mechanisms by which newly synthesized JAZ proteins exert repression in the presence of the hormone. Here, we show that desensitization to JA is mediated by an alternative splice variant (JAZ10.4) of JAZ10 that lacks the Jas motif. Unbiased protein-protein interaction screens identified three related bHLH transcription factors (MYC2, MYC3, and MYC4) and the co-repressor NINJA as JAZ10.4-binding partners. We show that the N-terminal region of JAZ10.4 contains a cryptic MYC2-binding site that resembles the Jas motif, and that the ZIM motif of JAZ10.4 functions as a transferable repressor domain whose activity is associated with recruitment of NINJA. Functional studies showed that expression of JAZ10.4 from the native JAZ10 promoter complemented the JA-hypersensitive phenotype of a jaz10 mutant. Moreover, treatment of these complemented lines with JA resulted in rapid accumulation of JAZ10.4 protein. Our results provide an explanation for how the unique domain architecture of JAZ10.4 links transcription factors to a co-repressor complex, and suggest how JA-induced transcription and alternative splicing of JAZ10 pre-mRNA creates a regulatory circuit to attenuate JA responses.Fil: Moreno, Javier Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; Argentina. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Shyu, Christine. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Campos, Marcelo L.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Patel, Lalita C.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Chung, Hoo Sun. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Yao, Jian. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: He, Sheng Hang. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Howe, Gregg A.. Michigan State University; Estados Unido

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in experimental stroke and its effects on infarct size and functional outcome: a systematic review

Background Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) shows promise as a treatment for stroke. This systematic review assesses G-CSF in experimental ischaemic stroke. Methods Relevant studies were identified with searches of Medline, Embase and PubMed. Data were extracted on stroke lesion size, neurological outcome and quality, and analysed using Cochrane Review Manager using random effects models; results are expressed as standardised mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR). Results Data were included from 19 publications incorporating 666 animals. G-CSF reduced lesion size significantly in transient (SMD -1.63, p4 weeks post ischaemia) was not (SMD 0.76, p=0.35). Death (OR 0.27, p<0.0001) was reduced with G-CSF. Median study quality was 4 (range 0-7/8); Egger’s test suggested significant publication bias (p=0.001). Conclusions G-CSF significantly reduced lesion size in transient but not permanent models of ischaemic stroke. Motor impairment and death were also reduced. Further studies assessing dose-response, administration time, length of ischaemia and long-term functional recovery are needed

One-electron states and interband optical absorption in single-wall carbon nanotubes

Explicit expressions for the wave functions and dispersion equation for the band p - electrons in single-wall carbon nanotubes are obtained within the method of zero-range potentials. They are then used to investigate the absorption spectrum of polarized light caused by direct interband transitions in isolated nanotubes. It is shown that, at least, under the above approximations, the circular dichroism is absent in chiral nanotubes for the light wave propagating along the tube axis. The results obtained are compared with those calculated in a similar way for a graphite plane.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

A Rule-based Forecasting System Integrating combining and Single Forecast for Decision Making

Many studies demonstrated that combining forecasts produces consistent but modest gains in accuracy. However, little researches define well the conditions under neither which combining is most effective nor how methods should be combined in each situation. In this paper, a rule-based forecasting system industry is proposed in order to compare forecast performance between combining forecasts and single forecasts, then define these conditions and to specify more effective combinations, finally suggest the best methods. Two comparative case studies for the telecommunications and TFT-LCD industry are proposed to examine the performance of the proposed system. Results from this study indicate that combining forecasts outperform single forecasts only when data set is data have various nonlinear characteristics. In this research, empirical evidence shows that rules based on causal forces improved the selection of forecasting methods, the structuring of time series, and the assessment of prediction intervals