Validation of the model-predicted spawning area of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Sandusky River

Spawning of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, in the Great Lakes basin was verified when eight fertilized eggs were collected in the Sandusky River, a tributary to Lake Erie, in 2015. Using a fluvial drift model (FluEgg) and simulation modeling, researchers predicted the fertilization location for those eggs was 3.8 ± 1 km (95% credible interval, CI) downstream of Ballville Dam. In June 2018, simultaneous collection of fertilized eggs and adults within the model-predicted spawning area provided the opportunity to verify the fertilization location. We used estimated developmental time (Dt) of eggs calculated from developmental stages, water temperature, and an equation that predicts Dt from cumulative thermal units experienced by developing eggs, in two analyses. First, we regressed Dt versus location of capture and solved that equation for developmental time of 0 hrs (Dt₀) to estimate fertilization location. Second, we used Dt in the Fluvial Drift Simulator (FluEgg) to simulate 23 scenarios representative of drift conditions throughout the spawning event using the model-predicted spawning area and the site of Ballville Dam as potential spawning locations. Regression analysis placed the mean fertilization location 3.36 km (95% CI 2.27, 4.24) downstream of the site of Ballville Dam, within the model-predicted spawning area. Drift models demonstrated the model-predicted spawning area was best supported. Histograms of fertilization times overlapped with capture times by boat electrofishing of diploid adult grass carp in the model-predicted spawning area. This suite of analyses confirms the model-predicted spawning area and validates the methodology used to locate it.     

Matrix elements of the relativistic electron-transition operators

The formulas, which enable us to calculate the electric and magnetic multipole transition probabilities in relativistic approximation under various gauge conditions of the electromagnetic potential, are presented. The numerical values of the coefficients of the one-electron reduced matrix elements of the relativistic operators of the electric and magnetic dipole transitions between the configurations

$\text{K}{}_0\text{n}{}_2\text{l}{}_2\text{j}{}_2\text{α}{}_0\text{J}{}_0\text{j}{}_2\text{J?K}{}_0\text{n}{}_1\text{l}{}_1\text{j}{}_1\text{α}{}^{\mathrm{\prime }}{}_0\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\prime }}{}_0\text{j}{}_1\text{J}{}^{\mathrm{\prime }}$

, where K₀ represents any electronic configuration, having the quantum number of the total angular momentum 0 ≤ J₀ ≤ 8 (the step is $\text{1}\text{2}$), and $\text{1}\text{2}\text{≤ j}{}_2$, $\text{j}{}_1\text{≤}\text{7}\text{2}$, are given.     

A serial sample loading system: interfacing multiwell plates with microfluidic devices

There is an increasing demand for novel high-throughput screening (HTS) technologies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. The robotic sample-handling techniques currently used in these industries, although fast, are still limited to operating in multiwell plates with the sample volumes per reaction in the microliter regime. Digital microfluidics offers an alternative for reduction in sample volume consumption for HTS but lacks a reliable technique for transporting a large number of samples to the microfluidic device. In this report, we develop a technique for serial delivery of sample arrays to a microfluidic device from multiwell plates, through a single sample inlet. Under this approach, a serial array of sample plugs, separated by an immiscible carrier fluid, is loaded into a capillary and delivered to a microfluidic device. Similar approaches have been attempted in the past, however, either with a slower sample loading device such as a syringe pump or vacuum-based sample loading with limited driving pressure. We demonstrated the application of our positive-pressure-based serial sample loading (SSL) system to load a series of sample plugs into a capillary. The adaptability of the SSL system to generate sample plugs with a variety of volumes in a predictable manner was also demonstrated.     

Potential biomarkers for early detection of acute graft-versus-host disease

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is the main complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. Currently, the diagnosis of aGVHD is largely made based on clinical parameters and invasive biopsies. For the past 20 years, researchers have been trying to find reliable biomarkers to enable early and accurate diagnosis of aGVHD. Although a number of potential aGVHD biomarkers have been published, as yet, no validated diagnostic test is available. Proteomics encompasses a broad range of rapidly developing technologies, which have shown tremendous promise for early detection of aGVHD. In this article, we review the current state of aGVHD biomarker discovery, provide a summary of the key proteins of interest and the most common analytical procedures for the clinic, as well as outlining the significant challenges faced in their use.     

Long-time tunneling in amorphous metals at helium temperatures

The long-time heat release in amorphous Co₆₉Fe_4.5Cr₂Si_2.5B₂₂ and Fe₈₀B₁₄Si₆ after cooling fromT ₁ (3.12T ₁292 K) toT ₀=1.3 K was measured. The power released is proportional tot ^–1 (0.5t60 hr). At lowT ₁, the experimental results are in good agreement with the standard tunneling theory. The resulting densities of states of two-level systems are close to those in vitreous silica. For higherT ₁, the observed heat release may be explained assuming the existence of a maximum energyE _f in the distribution function.On leave of absence from the Technical University, Dresden, GDR.On leave of absence from the Central Institute for Solid State Physics and Material Research of the Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic, Dresden, GDR.On leave of absence from the Institute of Physics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechoslovakia.     

Correlation of hardness and microstructure in unoriented lamellar polyethylene

The local deformation of the lamellar microstructure of isothermally melted crystallized unoriented polyethylene has been investigated using microindentation hardness (MH). The polymer can be visualized as a composite material consisting of hard and weak elements. The former, the lamellae, are considered to consist of mosaic blocks with liquid-like lattice distortions (paracrystallites). The latter are the interlamellar amorphous regions and the mosaic block lateral grain boundaries. The deformation mechanisms beneath the indenter are discussed in the light of current models of plastic deformation. MH is shown to depend on the packing density of the macromolecules in both phases and, as a result, it can be clearly correlated with the macroscopic density of the material. The unit cell expansion and lattice distortions increase in parallel as a consequence of increasing incorporation of chain defects within the lattice. This provokes a conspicuous decrease in the microhardness of the crystals. The increase in lattice distortions is consistent with the concurrent decrease of lamellar thickness and, hence, of the coherently diffracting lattice volume. These results unambiguously emphasize the physical significance of the mosaic block character of the lamellae in determining the micromechanical properties of the material. Finally it is shown that the strain boundary which defines the zone of crystal destruction under the indenter also depends on the average volume of the paracrystallites and on the volume fraction of crystalline material.     

Multiplicity and stability in a sequence of two nonadiabatic nonisothermal CSTR

An analysis of mass and enthalpy balances describing dynamic behavior of two homogeneous CSTR with recirculation is performed. Methods of investigation of regions of existence of multiple steady states and stability are described. Effect of recirculation ratio, Damköhler number, cooling parameter and cooling temperature on the exit temperature is followed. The dependence of the exit temperature on the residence time is analyzed and it is shown that bizarre situations may occur (deformated “mushrooms”, two isolas, etc.). Plots are given to show the influence of system parameters on the reactor behavior.     

Calculation of countercurrent separation processes—III. Computation of two interlinked columns.

The relaxation procedure is used for solution of two interlinked distillation columns. Both approaches-sequential iterative method and the block relaxation technique are compared. A new algorithm making use of simultaneous solution of all equations is proposed.     

The optimal structure of the system of the petrochemical industry

The optimal structures of the system of the petrochemical industry are generated, which correspond to the different development objectives. The structures are compared in order to determine the degree of structure similarity which is assumed as a convenient measure of concordance between development objectives considered.The obtained results are interpreted with regard to the coherent planning of industry's development.