Search

This article relates with the interaction of water waves obliquely incident on a semi-infinite submerged elastic plate of insignificant thickness. The solution is obtained using method of mode matching. Reflection coefficients under the variation of various physical parameters: submergence depth, angle of incidence, stiffness of elastic plate and Poisson's ratio, for two different edge conditions (i) pinned edge condition and (ii) sliding edge condition are discussed. Convergence and validation of results is also given. Behaviour of the velocity potentials around semi-infinite submerged elastic plate for different physical parameters are also analyzed. The consequences are explained through numerical and graphical results. More over energy balance relation is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: ZmRLCK58, a negative growth regulator, reduces tolerance of maize seedlings to low Mg via enhancing H2O2 accumulation in the shoot. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is one of critical limiting factors for crop production in widespread acidic soils worldwide. However, the molecular mechanism of crop response to Mg deficiency is still largely unclear. Here, we found higher concentrations of H2O2, soluble sugars, and starch (1.5-, 1.9-, and 1.4-fold, respectively) in the shoot of low-Mg-treated maize seedlings, compared with Mg sufficient plants under hydroponic culture. Consistent with over-accumulation of H2O2, transcriptome profiling revealed significant enrichment of 175 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in “response to oxygen-containing compound” out of 641 DEGs in the shoot under low Mg. Among 175 DEGs, a down-regulated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase ZmRLCK58 underwent a recent duplication event before Poaceae divergence and was highly expressed in the maize shoot. ZmRLCK58 overexpression enhanced H2O2 accumulation in shoots by 21.3% and 29.8% under control and low-Mg conditions, respectively, while reducing biomass accumulation compared with wild-type plants. Low Mg further led to 39.7% less starch accumulation in the ZmRLCK58 overexpression shoot and lower Mg utilization efficiency. Compared with wild-type plants, overall down-regulated expression of genes related to response to carbohydrate, photosynthesis, H2O2 metabolic, oxidation–reduction, and ROS metabolic processes in ZmRLCK58 overexpression lines preconditioned aforementioned physiological alterations. Together, ZmRLCK58, as a negative growth regulator, reduces tolerance of maize seedlings to low Mg via enhancing H2O2 accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doped semiconductors are more advantageous than pure semiconductors, because doping of a semiconductor can tune electrical conductivity and optical bandgap engineering that allows flexible designs of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices, respectively. In the present work, pure and Mn-doped SnO2 nanocrystallites have been prepared using single-step wet chemical method calcined at 500 °C and 650 °C to investigate structural, optical, impedance, and ferromagnetic properties. X-ray diffraction confirmed single-phase Mn-doped SnO2, and NEXAFS spectra further revealed + 2 oxidation state of Mn ions in SnO2. The surface morphology depicted densely packed grains and optical spectra showed Mn and temperature-dependent variation of bandgaps. While dielectric and impedance study disclosed frequency response and dominance of grains resistance. Further, conduction mechanism and room temperature ferromagnetism were improved with doping and sintering temperature. Hence, prepared compounds are attractive for frequency-related devices and data storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidimensional achievement tests are recently gaining more importance in educational and psychological measurements. For example, multidimensional diagnostic tests can help students to determine which particular domain of knowledge they need to improve for better performance. To estimate the characteristics of candidate items (calibration) for future multidimensional achievement tests, we use optimal design theory. We generalize a previously developed exchange algorithm for optimal design computation to the multidimensional setting. We also develop an asymptotic theorem saying which item should be calibrated by examinees with extreme abilities. For several examples, we compute the optimal design numerically with the exchange algorithm. We see clear structures in these results and explain them using the asymptotic theorem. Moreover, we investigate the performance of the optimal design in a simulation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bile salt export pump (ABCB11/BSEP) is a hepatocyte plasma membrane‐resident protein translocating bile salts into bile canaliculi. The sequence alignment of the four full‐length transporters of the ABCB subfamily (ABCB1, ABCB4, ABCB5 and ABCB11) indicates that the NBD‐NBD contact interface of ABCB11 differs from that of other members in only four residues. Notably, these are all located in the noncanonical nucleotide binding site 1 (NBS1). Substitution of all four deviant residues with canonical ones (quadruple mutant) significantly decreased the transport activity of the protein. In this study, we mutated two deviant residues in the signature sequence to generate a double mutant (R1221G/E1223Q). Furthermore, a triple mutant (E502S/R1221G/E1223Q) was generated, in which the deviant residues of the signature sequence and Q‐loop were mutated concurrently to canonical residues. The double and triple mutants showed 80% and 60%, respectively, of the activity of wild‐type BSEP. As expected, an increasing number of mutations gradually impair transport as an intricate network of interactions within the ABC proteins ensures proper functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]