Coherent Perfect Absorption of Arbitrary Wavefronts at an Exceptional Point.

A coherent perfect absorber exploits the interferometric nature of light to deposit all of a light field's incident energy into an otherwise weakly absorbing sample. The downside of this concept is that the necessary destructive interference in coherent perfect absorbers gets easily destroyed both by spectrally or spatially detuning the incoming light field. Each of these two limitations has recently been overcome by insights from exceptional-point physics and by using a degenerate cavity, respectively.

Imaging and identification of single nanoplastic particles and agglomerates.

Pollution by nanoplastic is a growing environmental and health concern. Currently the extent of nanoplastic in the environment can only be cumbersomely and indirectly estimated but not measured. To be able to quantify the extent of the problem, detection methods that can identify nanoplastic particles that are smaller than 1 [Formula: see text]m are critically needed.

Massively degenerate coherent perfect absorber for arbitrary wavefronts.

One of the key insights of non-Hermitian photonics is that well-established concepts such as the laser can be operated in reverse to realize a coherent perfect absorber (CPA). Although conceptually appealing, such CPAs are limited so far to a single, judiciously shaped wavefront or mode. Here, we demonstrate how this limitation can be overcome by time-reversing a degenerate cavity laser based on a unique cavity that self-images any incident light field onto itself.

Nectar biosynthesis is conserved among floral and extrafloral nectaries.

Nectar is a primary reward mediating plant-animal mutualisms to improve plant fitness and reproductive success. Four distinct trichomatic nectaries develop in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), one floral and three extrafloral, and the nectars they secrete serve different purposes. Floral nectar attracts bees for promoting pollination, while extrafloral nectar attracts predatory insects as a means of indirect protection from herbivores.

New insights into the functions of carbon-calcium inclusions in plants.

Carbon-calcium inclusions (CCaI) either as calcium oxalate crystals (CaOx) or amorphous calcium carbonate cystoliths are spread among most photosynthetic organisms. They represent dynamic structures with a significant construction cost and their appearance during evolution indicates an ancient origin. Both types of inclusions share some similar functional characteristics providing adaptive advantages such as the regulation of Ca levels, and the release of CO and water molecules upon decomposition.

IRE1, a component of the unfolded protein response signaling pathway, protects pollen development in Arabidopsis from heat stress.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated by various stresses during vegetative development in Arabidopsis, but is constitutively active in anthers of unstressed plants. To understand the role of the UPR during reproductive development, we analyzed a double mutant, ire1a ire1b. The double mutant knocks out the RNA-splicing arm of the UPR signaling pathway.

Comparison of Susceptible and Resistant Maize Hybrids to Colonization by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis.

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis causes Goss's bacterial wilt and blight on maize and is managed primarily with C. michiganensis subsp.

Determination of the Gelation Mechanism of Freeze-Thawed Hen Egg Yolk.

A study of yolks stored up to 168 d at -20 °C was conducted to determine the gelation behavior and mechanism of freeze-thawed yolk. Methods used were rheology, native and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native- and SDS-PAGE), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy for matrix mobility. Results indicate that both constituents of plasma and granules contributed to gelation of yolk under freezing.

New and unusual forms of calcium oxalate raphide crystals in the plant kingdom.

Calcium oxalate crystals in higher plants occur in five major forms namely raphides, styloids, prisms, druses and crystal sand. The form, shape and occurrence of calcium oxalate crystals in plants are species- and tissue-specific, hence the presence or absence of a particular type of crystal can be used as a taxonomic character. So far, four different types of needle-like raphide crystals have been reported in plants.

Molecular Mapping of D₁, D₂ and ms5 Revealed Linkage between the Cotyledon Color Locus D₂ and the Male-Sterile Locus ms5 in Soybean.

In soybean, genic male sterility can be utilized as a tool to develop hybrid seed. Several male-sterile, female-fertile mutants have been identified in soybean. The male-sterile, female-fertile ms5 mutant was selected after fast neutron irradiation.

A comparison of leaf crystal macropatterns in the two sister genera Piper and Peperomia (Piperaceae).

Premise Of The Study: This is the first large-scale study comparing leaf crystal macropatterns of the species-rich sister genera Piper and Peperomia. It focuses on identifying types of calcium oxalate crystals and their macropatterns in leaves of both genera. The Piper results are placed in a phylogenetic context to show evolutionary patterns.

Peperomia leaf cell wall interface between the multiple hypodermis and crystal-containing photosynthetic layer displays unusual pit fields.

Background And Aims: Leaves of succulent Peperomia obtusifolia (Piperaceae), and its related species, contain a large multilayered hypodermis (epidermis) subtended by a very small single-layered photosynthetic palisade parenchyma, the latter containing spherical aggregates of crystals called druses. Each druse is in a central vacuole surrounded by chloroplasts. All hypodermal cell walls are thin, except for thick lowermost periclinal walls associated with the upper periclinal walls of the subtending palisade cells.

Unique calcium oxalate "duplex" and "concretion" idioblasts in leaves of tribe Naucleeae (Rubiaceae).

Premise Of The Study: This basic study may help plant biologists better understand the variety and occurrence of crystal forms and their function in plants. Literature records hold four examples of two different crystal types in one cell. One, unillustrated report mentions druses and crystal sand from one species of tribe Naucleeae (Rubiaceae) and "occasional occurrences" in additional unnamed taxa.

Heterodimeric bispecific antibody-derivatives against CD19 and CD16 induce effective antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against B-lymphoid tumor cells.

Bispecific scFv antibody-derivatives (bsscFvs) recruiting natural killer (NK) cells for the lysis of malignant cells have therapeutic potential. However, a bsscFv specific for the B-lymphoid tumor antigen CD19 and the trigger molecule CD16 on NK cells had similar affinities for both antigens (42 and 58nM, respectively) and was not optimal for cytotoxicity. Therefore, a bispecific tribody (bsTb) was constructed with two binding sites for CD19 and one for CD16.

A recombinant bispecific single-chain fragment variable specific for HLA class II and Fc alpha RI (CD89) recruits polymorphonuclear neutrophils for efficient lysis of malignant B lymphoid cells.

Bispecific Abs offer new perspectives for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we describe a recombinant bispecific single-chain fragment variable (bsscFv) directed against Fc alpha RI (CD89) on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) or monocytes/macrophages and HLA class II on lymphoma target cells. Fc alpha RI and HLA class II-directed single-chain fragment variable (scFv) fragments were isolated from phage display libraries, established from the hybridomas A77 and F3.

The male sterility locus ms3 is present in a fertility controlling gene cluster in soybean.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is self-pollinated.

Intimate cell conjugate formation and exchange of membrane lipids precede apoptosis induction in target cells during antibody-dependent, granulocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.

Ab-dependent polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN)-mediated cytotoxicity may play an important role in the control of malignant diseases. However, little is known as to which particular pathways are used for the killing of malignant cells by PMN. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) has been observed to occur during Ab-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Amyloplast to chromoplast conversion in developing ornamental tobacco floral nectaries provides sugar for nectar and antioxidants for protection.

Tobacco floral nectaries undergo changes in form and function. As nectaries change from green to orange, a new pigment is expressed. Analysis demonstrated that it is β-carotene.

Oil bodies in leaf mesophyll cells of angiosperms: overview and a selected survey.

Neutral (storage) oil bodies occur in leaf mesophyll cells of many angiosperms, but their literature has been largely forgotten. We review this literature and provide a survey of 302 species and hybrids from mostly north-central US species representing 113 families. Freehand cross sections of fresh leaves stained with Sudan IV verified the presence of oil.

Tobacco nectaries express a novel NADPH oxidase implicated in the defense of floral reproductive tissues against microorganisms.

Hydrogen peroxide produced from the nectar redox cycle was shown to be a major factor contributing to inhibition of most microbial growth in floral nectar; however, this obstacle can be overcome by the floral pathogen Erwinia amylovora. To identify the source of superoxide that leads to hydrogen peroxide accumulation in nectary tissues, nectaries were stained with nitroblue tetrazolium. Superoxide production was localized near nectary pores and inhibited by diphenylene iodonium but not by cyanide or azide, suggesting that NAD(P)H oxidase is the source of superoxide.

Crystal macropattern development in Prunus serotina (Rosaceae, Prunoideae) leaves.

Background And Aims: Prunus, subgenus Padus, exhibits two completely different calcium oxalate crystal macropatterns in mature leaves. Foliar macropattern development has been described previously in P. virginiana, representing one version.

Development of the calcium oxalate crystal macropattern in pomegranate (Punica granatum, Punicaceae).

Oxalate crystals are very common in angiosperms, but few descriptions of their macropattern (crystal types, their tissue distribution, and development) exist. Because unusually large prismatic crystals and druses, are known from pomegranate, we traced the development of crystal macropattern in various-aged leaf samples from a living plant and from herbarium specimens using unstained whole mounts (some bleached and cleared), stained leaf samples, and leaf and stem cross sections. Preparations were viewed with bright-field light microscopy and with crossed polarizers.

Oxalate and phytate concentrations in seeds of soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].

This study analyzed soybean seeds from 116 cultivars for total, insoluble, and soluble oxalate (Ox), phytate (InsP6), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) because of their potential beneficial or harmful effects on human nutrition. These cultivars were divided into four groups (A-D) on the basis of the year and geographic location where they were grown. Oxalate concentration ranged from about 82 to 285 mg/100 g of dry seed.

Oxalate and phytate of soy foods.

The consumption of foods made from soybeans is increasing because of their desirable nutritional value. However, some soy foods contain high concentrations of oxalate and/or phytate. Oxalate is a component of calcium oxalate kidney stones, whereas phytate is an inhibitor of calcium kidney stone formation.