The Bagmati River in Kathmandu Valley (Nepal) receives seven major polluted tributaries. Discharges of wastewaters containing degradable organics and nutrients have resulted in decrease in DO ...concentrations along its course. A one-dimensional stream water quality model QUAL2Kw was calibrated and confirmed using the data in 2000. The model represented the field data quite well with some exceptions. The sensitivity analysis showed the model was highly sensitive for water depth and moderate to point sources flow, TN, CBOD and nitrification rate. The model was applied to simulate various water quality management strategies during critical period to maintain the targeted water quality criteria (minimum DO at or above 4
mg/L; maximum CBOD, TN, TP and temperature at or below 3, 2.5 and 0.1
mg/L and 20
°C, respectively, and pH range 6.5–8.5) considering: (i) pollution loads modification (ii) flow augmentation and (iii) local oxygenation. Except for CBOD, all the stated quality limits were achieved with 30
mg/L CBOD, 5
mg/L TN, 0.25
mg/L TP limits at point sources and with flow augmentation of 1
m
3/s and local oxygenations at three critical locations. The simulated maximum CBOD was 8.5
mg/L. It was considered reasonable for the developing country, Nepal, as the European water quality with maximum CBDO of 3
mg/L is difficult to achieve. The results showed the local oxygenation is effective to maintain minimum DO concentrations in the river. The combination of wastewater modification, flow augmentation and local oxygenation is suitable to maintain the acceptable limits of water quality criteria.
Neutrophils act as critical mediators of innate immunity, which depends on their rapid responses to chemokines followed by their migration towards sites of infection during chemotaxis. Chemokine ...receptors expressed on the surface of neutrophils mediate chemotaxis by activating contractile machinery as the cells escape from capillary beds and then attack pathogens. Neutrophils also contribute to inflammatory responses, which support pathogen destruction but can lead to acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. CXCR2, a G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor expressed on both myeloid and epithelial cells, is well-characterized for its capacities to bind multiple chemokines, including interleukin-8 and growth-related oncogene alpha in humans or keratinocyte chemokine (KC) in mice. Here we show that a small molecule CXCR2 antagonist termed RIST4721 can effectively inhibit KC-stimulated chemotaxis by neutrophils derived from ex vivo-cultured mouse bone marrow in a potent and dose-dependent manner. Antagonistic properties of RIST4721 are thoroughly characterized, including the maximal, half-maximal and minimum concentrations required to inhibit chemotaxis. Importantly, RIST4721-treated neutrophils exhibit robust phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production, confirming drug specificity to chemotaxis inhibition. Together our data indicate that RIST4721 acts to inhibit inflammation mediated and potentiated by neutrophils and therefore promises to facilitate treatment of a host of inflammatory conditions.
When teachers are more supportive of autonomy and less controlling, students demonstrate higher levels of intrinsic motivation and self-determination. The purpose of this study was to examine ...social-contextual conditions that led teachers (
N
= 254) who taught classes from Grades 1 to 12 to be more autonomy supportive versus controlling with their students. Using structural equation modeling, the authors observed that the more teachers perceive pressure from above (they have to comply with a curriculum, with colleagues, and with performance standards) and pressure from below (they perceived their students to be nonself-determined), the less they are self-determined toward teaching. In turn, the less they are self-determined toward teaching, the more they become controlling with students.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Spo11 protein catalyses DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) that initiate meiotic recombination. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana possesses at least three SPO11 ...homologues. T‐DNA and ethyl‐methane sulfonate mutagenesis allowed us to show that meiotic progression is altered in plants in which the AtSPO11‐1 gene is disrupted. Both male and female meiocytes formed very few bivalents. Furthermore, no fully synapsed chromosomes were observed during prophase I. Later, in meiosis I, we observed that chromosomes segregated randomly, leading to the production of a large proportion of non‐functional gametes. These meiotic aberrations were associated with a drastic reduction in meiotic recombination. Thus, our data show that initiation of meiotic recombination by SPO11‐ induced DSBs is a mechanism conserved in plants. Furthermore, unlike Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, but like fungi, SPO11 is necessary for normal synapsis in plants.
Plastic contamination in cotton lint poses significant challenges to the U.S. cotton industry, with plastic wrap from John Deere round module harvesters being a primary contaminant. Despite efforts ...to manually remove this plastic during module unwrapping, some inevitably enters the cotton gin’s processing system. To address this, a machine-vision detection and removal system has been developed. This system uses inexpensive color cameras to identify plastic on the gin stand feeder apron, triggering a mechanism that expels the plastic from the cotton stream. However, the system, composed of 30–50 Linux-based ARM computers, requires substantial effort for calibration and tuning and presents a technological barrier for typical cotton gin workers. This research aims to transition the system to a more user-friendly, plug-and-play model by implementing an auto-calibration function. The proposed function dynamically tracks cotton colors while excluding plastic images that could hinder performance. A critical component of this auto-calibration algorithm is the hand intrusion detector, or “HID”, which is discussed in this paper. In the normal operation of a cotton gin, the gin personnel periodically have to clear the machine, which entails running a stick or their arm/hand under the detection cameras. This results in the system capturing a false positive, which interferes with the ability of auto-calibration algorithms to function correctly. Hence, there is a critical need for an HID to remove these false positives from the record. The anticipated benefits of the auto-calibration function include reduced setup and maintenance overhead, less reliance on skilled personnel, and enhanced adoption of the plastic removal system within the cotton ginning industry.
Plastic contamination in marketable cotton bales, predominantly from plastic wraps used in John Deere round module harvesters, poses a significant challenge to the U.S. cotton industry. Despite ...rigorous manual efforts, the intrusion of plastic into the cotton gin’s processing system persists. We have developed a machine-vision detection and removal system aimed at mitigating this problem. This system employs inexpensive color cameras to detect plastic on the gin-stand feeder apron and subsequently removes it, reducing contamination. This system, built around low-cost ARM computers running Linux, comprises 30–50 machines and requires considerable effort to calibrate and tune. Moreover, its operation represents a technological challenge to typical cotton gin workers. This research presents a solution to this calibration operational hurdle by introducing an auto-calibration algorithm that has potential to simplify the system into a plug-and-play device. The auto-calibration system is designed to dynamically track the cotton color and utilizes frequency statistics to avoid plastic images that could compromise the system’s performance if incorporated into the auto-calibration process. We detail the design of the auto-calibration algorithm, which is expected to significantly reduce the setup overhead and facilitate the system’s continuous use. This innovation minimizes the need for skilled personnel and, therefore, is expected to expedite the system’s adoption across the cotton ginning industry.
Physical activity rates have prevailed as a worldwide health concern. The WHO’s 'Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030' articulated the need to test effective communication strategies ...that deliver information to enhance physical activity behaviors. The Comprehensive Messaging Strategy for Sustained Behavior Change (CMSSBC) is a promising approach that advocates tailoring messages to one’s stage of change and framing them intrinsically rather than extrinsically. This study examined adults’ decisions to read and engage with physical activity messages aligned with CMSSBC, considering the role of the message frame, stage of change of the message, stage of change of the participant, as well as the participants goal orientation. Participants ('nmale' = 91; 'nfemale' = 103) aged 25 to 65 ('x̅' = 39.53; 'SD' = 10.80) completed an online survey including; demographic questions, assessments of their physical activity goals and stage of change, decision to read eight messages, and a follow-up question providing the option to complete a behavior change task embedded within the messages they chose to read. Results indicated that participants were more likely to choose to read a message if it fit their goal orientation, and overall, they were significantly more likely to read intrinsic as opposed to extrinsic messages. Further, findings demonstrated that participants were more likely to complete the optional behavior change activity contained within the message if they had an intrinsic goal orientation. These findings demonstrate that physical activity information should be framed intrinsically and recognizes that one’s goal orientation may significantly influence how people respond to messages.
As an initial step in extending Deci and Ryan' (1985) self‐determination theory to the investigation of motivation in second language (L2) learning, the first goal of our study was to assess the ...validity and reliability of a scale of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for L2 learning. The second purpose was to examine the relations between these types of motivationand the four orientations discussed by Clément and Kruidenier (1983). The results generally supported the psychometric integrity of the scale. Moreover, the 7 correlated motivational subscales corresponded with different orientations. The results are discussed with reference to how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are relevant to theorizing on the role of orientations in L2 motivation.
According to self-determination theory, when the social context is autonomy supportive, people are motivated to internalize the regulation of important activities, and whereas when the context is ...controlling, self-determined motivation is undermined. A model that incorporates perceptions of coaches' interpersonal behaviors (autonomy support vs. control), 5 forms of regulation (intrinsic motivation, identified, introjected and external regulation, and amotivation), and persistence was tested with competitive swimmers (N = 369) using a prospective 3-wave design. Analyses using structural equation modeling revealed that experiencing relationships as controlling fostered non-self-determined forms of regulation (external regulation and amotivation). Greater levels of self-determined motivation occurred when relationships were experienced as autonomy supportive. Individuals who exhibited self-determined types of regulation at Time 1 showed more persistence at both Time 2 (10 months later) and Time 3 (22 months later). Individuals who were amotivated at Time 1 had the highest rate of attrition at both Time 2 and Time 3. Introjected regulation was a significant predictor of persistence at Time 2 but became nonsignificant at Time 3. External regulation was not a significant predictor of behavior at Time 2, but became negatively associated with persistence at Time 3. The findings are discussed in light of the determinants of the internalization process and the consequences of different forms of self-regulation for psychological functioning.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Four studies examined primed and chronic autonomous and heteronomous motivations. Study 1 showed that autonomy and heteronomy can be primed and influence perceptions and behavior in a way consistent ...with consciously regulated motives. In Study 2, a measure of chronic motivation was developed and its construct validity and reliability were assessed. In Study 3, the chronicity measure predicted behavior while consciously regulated motives predicted intention but not behavior. Results of Study 4 replicated results of the priming manipulation in Study 1. However, this effect was moderated by level of motivational chronicity. The priming effect was found to be stronger for non-chronics than for chronics. Overall, the findings suggest that autonomous and heteronomous motivations can be regulated automatically as well as consciously.
PDF
