Publications by authors named "J Randall"
The optical properties of lobed palisade mesophyll cells remain poorly understood despite their presence in diverse taxa and the critical role of the palisade layer in leaf-light interactions and carbon assimilation. Using micro-computed tomography, 3D ray tracing simulations, and physiological experiments, we tested the interactions between palisade cell geometry, chloroplast localization, light directional quality, and leaf optical and photosynthetic performance in the model taxon Viburnum. Simulations showed that lobed cells shifted between absorptance- or transmittance-dominated states depending on chloroplast localization, irrespective of light directional quality.
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- The study aimed to determine normal levels of cardiac troponin-I in stable newborns and see how factors like maternal diabetes, delivery method, and Apgar scores influence these levels.
- A total of 132 newborns were analyzed, with 119 for baseline troponin-I levels and 13 who were born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2.
- Results showed a mean troponin-I level of 0.019 ± 0.018 ng/mL in healthy newborns, with no significant differences based on maternal health or delivery method, while those born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 had higher levels at 0.081 ± 0.1 ng/mL.
Article Synopsis
- - Pecan scab, caused by Venturia effusa, severely impacts pecan crops in the southeastern U.S., with resistance influenced by host genetics interacting with different disease forms.
- - A transcriptome analysis of the 'Desirable' pecan cultivar revealed distinct gene expression patterns when exposed to both pathogenic and non-pathogenic scab isolates, particularly highlighting early defense mechanisms.
- - The study identified key gene modules linked to defense responses, suggesting that the early activation of signal transduction and barrier formation are critical for resistance against the fungus, laying the groundwork for future resistance gene research.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how environmental changes impact the presence and abundance of parasites in black-spotted croaker fish in Northern Territory, Australia, using hierarchical modelling of species communities (HMSC).
- It finds that the size of the fish significantly influences the diversity and number of parasites they host, highlighting potential future implications as fishing and climate change affect fish body sizes.
- Additionally, water temperature and salinity were identified as key environmental factors affecting parasite populations, suggesting that climate change will likely alter parasite-host dynamics in marine ecosystems over time.
Moisture absorption into hygroscopic/hydrophilic materials used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) can diminish desired mechanical properties. Sensitivity to moisture is dependent on material properties and environmental factors and needs characterization. In this article, moisture sensitivity of four grades of polylactic acid (PLA) filaments and four different ratios of PLA/polybutylene succinate (PBS) blended filaments were characterized through FDM printed American society for testing and materials (ASTM-D638) test samples after conditioning the filaments at different relative humidity levels.
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