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Introduction: An effective space opening for band placement with minimal pain and gingival inflammation is a prime requisite during fixed orthodontic procedures. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two types of separators, elastomeric and Kansal, in the amount of space opening, pain perception elicited, and gingival inflammation. Methods: A random split-mouth study was designed with 30 subjects undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Two different separators (Elastomer and Kansal) were placed alternatively on the left and right sides around the mesial and distal sides of the first molars in the mandibular arch of each subject. After 3 days, the amount of separation after 3 days was assessed with a leaf gauge on both mesial and distal sides. The subjective pain perception by visual analog Scale (VAS) at different points and during different functions for each of the 3 days was evaluated. A self-filled chart was utilized to be performed by the patients. Gingival index was used to assess the inflammatory changes. Results: The most significant amount of separation (0.28 mm) was found with elastomers on the mesial side and is statistically significant (p < 0.001) compared to the mesial side (0.18 mm). The Kansal separators produced equivalent separation on mesial (0.19 mm) and distal sites (0.17 mm). The highest pain score was found after 24 h with elastomeric separators (median-40) for chewing and biting and the least for sleep (median-30). There is a statistical difference of pain perception between elastomers and Kansal separators at different points for the given function (p < 0.001). Both the separators resulted in mild gingival index of score less than 1 (0.70 ± 0.65, 0.97 ± 0.720, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two types of separators. Conclusion: Both the separators produced adequate separation after a minimum 3 days. Kansal produces minimum discomfort and pain compared to elastomeric separators. Mild gingival inflammation was observed with both the separators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organization of promoters of developmental gene promoters and promoter of genes necessary for general cellular functions—the "housekeeping" of the cell in the complete genome of Drosophila melanogaster—were studied here for the first time. Using bioinformatic methods, it has been shown that the genes whose promoters are located in the interbands of polytene chromosomes are enriched in functions associated with general cellular processes, while the rest of the genes (approximately half of the Drosophila genome) are associated with highly specialized processes occurring during development. In the promoter zone of the housekeeping genes, four specific motifs were found that can be present in different genes individually or in various combinations. A significant part of interband promoters do not contain identified motifs. The analysis carried out using Gene Ontology showed that certain groups of interband genes containing one motif in promoters or their combinations are characterized by the performance of certain functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, the RCC1 gene (Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 1), which is considered a regulator of chromosome condensation in the cell cycle, was characterized. This gene encodes a nuclear protein whose amino acid sequence is highly conserved among all eukaryotes and consists of seven repeating units. The authors have shown that all the most prominent black bands of polytene chromosomes (260 bands) and the chromocenter bind antibodies to this protein. Antibodies to the xenopus RCC1 protein specifically bind to the Drosophila and human RCC1 protein, while the relative amount of the RCC1 protein increases in Drosophila lines with under-replication suppression compared to the wild type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry systems (AFS) promote a continuous deposition of organic material in the soil via litter and roots. Litter has a diversity of organic compounds with different chemical complexities, and which act as raw materials in forming and maintaining soil organic carbon. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of litter provided in soils under natural forest, rubber tree and cacao AFSs of different ages (old and young AFS) and a pure rubber plantation. Litter samples were collected in each of the AFSs in both cacao and rubber lines. The determination of functional groups was performed by Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The results showed that the old AFS (cacao line) mainly presented bands associated with aromatic compounds (1600−1500 cm−1), while the highest absorbance intensity observed in the old AFS (rubber line) was in the range of 1097−1040 cm−1, attributed to the presence of cellulose. The main difference observed between cacao line and rubber line in the young AFS was the presence of polysaccharide functional groups (1380−1240 cm−1) in the rubber line. The similarity between the young AFS cacao line and rubber line, old AFS (rubber line) and the pure rubber plantation can be explained by the presence of phenolic (3690, 3620, 3290 cm−1) and aliphatic (2922 cm−1) compounds. The natural forest was dissimilar to the other systems mainly in the bands around 1051−1040 cm−1 and 918 cm−1, suggesting a forest litter with a predominance of less complex chemical structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fourth chromosome smallest in the genome of Drosophila melanogaster differs from other chromosomes in many ways. It has high repeat density in conditions of a large number of active genes. Gray bands represent a significant part of this polytene chromosome. Specific proteins including HP1a, POF, and dSETDB1 establish the epigenetic state of this unique chromatin domain. In order to compare maps of localization of genes, bands, and chromatin types of the fourth chromosome, we performed FISH analysis of 38 probes chosen according to the model of four chromatin types. It allowed clarifying the dot chromosome cytological map consisting of 16 loose gray bands, 11 dense black bands, and 26 interbands. We described the relation between chromatin states and bands. Open aquamarine chromatin mostly corresponds to interbands and it contains 5′UTRs of housekeeping genes. Their coding parts are embedded in gray bands substantially composed of lazurite chromatin of intermediate compaction. Polygenic black bands contain most of dense ruby chromatin, and also some malachite and lazurite. Having an accurate map of the fourth chromosome bands and its correspondence to physical map, we found that DNase I hypersensitivity sites, ORC2 protein, and P–elements are mainly located in open aquamarine chromatin, while element 1360, characteristic of the fourth chromosome, occupies band chromatin types. POF and HP1a proteins providing special organization of this chromosome are mostly located in aquamarine and lazurite chromatin. In general, band organization of the fourth chromosome shares the features of the whole Drosophila genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper establishes connections between the structure of a semigroup and the minimum spans of distance labellings of its Cayley graphs. We show that certain general restrictions on the minimum spans are equivalent to the semigroup being combinatorial, and that other restrictions are equivalent to the semigroup being a right zero band. We obtain a description of the structure of all semigroups S and their subsets C such that $$\,{\mathrm {Cay}}(S,C)$$ is a disjoint union of complete graphs, and show that this description is also equivalent to several restrictions on the minimum span of $$\,{\mathrm {Cay}}(S,C)$$ . We then describe all graphs with minimum spans satisfying the same restrictions, and give examples to show that a fairly straightforward upper bound for the minimum spans of the underlying undirected graphs of Cayley graphs turns out to be sharp even for the class of combinatorial semigroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lattice of varieties of bands with a semilattice transversal is a replica of the lattice of all band varieties. We solve the word problem for the free band with a semilattice transversal and for all relatively free objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic diversity among cereals and millets were assessed based on PCR amplification pattern derived from 4 Dof domain and 20 Dof genes specific primers. Multiple bands showing variability in terms of both number and sizes of bands ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 kbp were observed. Out of a total of 906 bands, 894 polymorphic and 12 monomorphic bands were obtained and the percentage of polymorphism ranged from 69.23 to 100 %. A very high degree of polymorphism was observed with all the primers except Dof-24 primer and the genetic diversity ranged from 0.0601 to 0.2118 among these crops. The Jaccard's similarity matrices based dendrogram obtained using UPGMA method revealed two major clusters designated as A and B. The major cluster A comprises of rice, sorghum, maize, finger millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet and proso millet representing Oryzoideae, Panicoideae, Chloridoideae subfamilies while cluster B with wheat, barley, oat, little millet and kodo millet represents predominantly pooideae subfamily. These major clusters were further bifurcated into two sub-clusters each having members representing almost the same subfamilies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cathodoluminescence (CL) of titanium dioxide powder at 87 K was investigated and bands at 265, 275, 490, 515, 815, and 1080 nm were recorded. The maximum at 590 nm was found on the long wavelength wing of the 515 nm band. The bands in the visible region of the spectrum are the most intense. The band assignments are suggested. The band at 1080 nm was recorded for the first time and its nature is unknown. Irradiation with accelerated electrons results in the decrease in the band intensities. The increase in the 815 nm band intensity was observed at the beginning of irradiation. The luminescence enhancement is explained by the cleaning of the powder surface with the electron beam, and the decline is explained by the concentration quenching on radiation defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovering the underlying structure of a given graph is one of the fundamental goals in graph mining. Given a graph, we can often order vertices in a way that neighboring vertices have a higher probability of being connected to each other. This implies that the edges form a band around the diagonal in the adjacency matrix. Such structure may rise for example if the graph was created over time: each vertex had an active time interval during which the vertex was connected with other active vertices. The goal of this paper is to model this phenomenon. To this end, we formulate an optimization problem: given a graph and an integer $$K$$ , we want to order graph vertices and partition the ordered adjacency matrix into $$K$$ bands such that bands closer to the diagonal are more dense. We measure the goodness of a segmentation using the log-likelihood of a log-linear model, a flexible family of distributions containing many standard distributions. We divide the problem into two subproblems: finding the order and finding the bands. We show that discovering bands can be done in polynomial time with isotonic regression, and we also introduce a heuristic iterative approach. For discovering the order we use Fiedler order accompanied with a simple combinatorial refinement. We demonstrate empirically that our heuristic works well in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We complete the characterization of finite bands admitting a natural duality, by showing that every finite normal band admits a natural duality. In particular we show that every finite normal band is finitely related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital kyphoscoliosis (CKS) results from abnormal vertebral chondrification. Congenital fibrous bands occur in several locations with variable impact on vertebral development. We report a previously unreported case of a female infant with CKS presenting with an L2 hypoplastic vertebra and a costo-vertebral fibrous band extending to the skin in the form of a dimple. We also describe the therapeutic approach, consisting of surgical excision of the fibrous band and postoperative fulltime bracing, with a 7-year follow-up. We recommend a high index of suspicion in any unusual presentation of CKS and insist on case by case management in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three levels of social organization are recognized among human hunter-gatherers: the community, the domestic unit, and the band. We describe the key features of these three levels and show how they are intimately connected. We hypothesize that, in the course of human social evolution, bands emerged as a level of social organization within existing communities. As predators, hunter-gatherers live at lower population densities than chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes), even where the two species are sympatric. We propose that band formation evolved in humans from the more transient fissioning behavior seen within chimpanzee communities as a solution to the conflicting pressures of sustaining higher levels of cooperation required in hunting and the division of labor in a more dispersed community. If disputes break out, or if resources in the band territory are temporarily depleted, the existence of a wider community continues to be adaptive. To reconstruct the evolution of band society, we draw upon four lines of evidence: group (or network) size predicted from neocortex ratios, the distance materials were moved from their source during various periods in hominin evolution, ethnographic data on hunter-gatherer daily foraging ranges and population densities collated by the authors, and fossil hominin morphology. From these data, we conclude that key features of modern human hunter-gatherer social organization probably appear in the course of the evolution of Homo heidelbergensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a general technique for finding sets of axioms for a given class of semigroups. To illustrate the technique, we provide new sets of defining axioms for groups of exponent n, bands, and semilattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here the first studies of optical maps in the primary visual cortex of the cat constructed using internal signals and reflecting the population activity of detector neurons for first- and second-order image features on presentation of grids consisting of bars and crosses. Superimposition of maps of responses to the bars making up the crosses on maps of responses to crosses allowed assessment of overlapping cortical regions producing responses to these stimuli, as well as areas without overlap, i.e., those activated by only one of the stimuli. Overlapping is evidence of the packing of detector neurons in the corresponding orientation columns. Responses to straight and inclined crosses differed not only topographically, but also in terms of the extent of overlap. It is suggested that this results from different contributions being made by the detectors of bands of different types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A large corpus of data obtained by means of empirical study of neuromuscular adaptation is currently of limited use to athletes and their coaches. One of the reasons lies in the unclear direct practical utility of many individual trials. This paper introduces a mathematical model of adaptation to resistance training, which derives its elements from physiological fundamentals on the one side, and empirical findings on the other. The key element of the proposed model is what is here termed the athlete's capability profile. This is a generalization of length and velocity dependent force production characteristics of individual muscles, to an exercise with arbitrary biomechanics. The capability profile, a two-dimensional function over the capability plane, plays the central role in the proposed model of the training-adaptation feedback loop. Together with a dynamic model of resistance the capability profile is used in the model's predictive stage when exercise performance is simulated using a numerical approximation of differential equations of motion. Simulation results are used to infer the adaptational stimulus, which manifests itself through a fed back modification of the capability profile. It is shown how empirical evidence of exercise specificity can be formulated mathematically and integrated in this framework. A detailed description of the proposed model is followed by examples of its application-new insights into the effects of accommodating loading for powerlifting are demonstrated. This is followed by a discussion of the limitations of the proposed model and an overview of avenues for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the ongoing environmental and ecological changes in the Western Ghats, it is important to understand the environmental parameters pertaining to the sustenance of the region. Rainfall is one such parameter governing the hydrological processes crucial to agriculture planning, afforestation and eco-system management. Therefore, it is essential to understand rainfall distribution and its variation in relevance to such activities. The present study is an attempt to gain in-depth understanding in this direction. The study area comprises of one coastal district and its adjoining areas in Karnataka State. Mean annual rainfall data of 93 rain gauge stations distributed over the study area for a period of 10-50 years are used for the study. In order to assess the variation of rainfall across the ghats, several bands were constructed parallel to the latitudes to facilitate the analysis. The statistical analyses conducted included cluster analysis and analysis of variance. The study revealed that there exist three distinct zones of rainfall regimes in the study area, namely, Coastal zone, Transition zone and Malanad zone. It is observed that, the maximum rainfall occurs on the windward side ahead of the geographical peak. Further, mean monthly rainfall distribution over the zones has been depicted to enable agricultural planning in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full sets of the optical functions of a BiI3 crystal in the range 1–5 eV have been calculated from the experimental spectra ℇ1(E) and ℇ2(E) for the polarizations E ⊥ c and E ∥ c at 300 K. The spectra of permittivity and volumetric characteristic losses have been decomposed into elementary components and their main parameters have been determined. A schematic representation of the nature of the basic maxima of transitions on the basis of the well‐known theoretical calculations of the bands and spectra of reflection of the BiI3 crystal has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of temperature on the photoluminescene spectra of luminophore based coating for the development of visible light-emitting diodes. It mentions that the ZnS-Ag emission spectra was broadened and displaced towards longer wavelengths as the temperature of luminophore increases.

After having reported preliminary results of soft system stabilization according to Graf in a series of 27 patients with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine in early 1995 the authors report long term clinical and radiological results of this patient series (n=25). At a mean period of postoperative observation of 50 months excellent, good, satisfactory, moderate and poor results were obtained in 62,9%, 11,1% and 11,1%, 7,4% and 7,4 % of the patients, respectively. The well-known phenomenon of loss of disc height at the level of posterolateral fusion and instrumentation as well as overcharge of adjacent segments were not observed after soft system stabilization. Regional as well as global lumbar lordosis were maintained and, although statistically not significant, an increase of intervertebral distance was observed in adjacent segments in flexion of the lumbar spine. These phenomena might represent pressurization of instrumented as well as adjacent discs after the insertion of ligament prostheses. It is the impression of the authors, that the Graf technique leads to good surgical results in degenerative disc disease with destabilization of lumbar motion segment(s) if the following criteria are strictly respected: 1.*No or only mild arthrotic changes of the facet joints 2.*Preferably minor disc degeneration/only mild loss of intervertebral distance 3.*Well trained low back muscles and 4.*A clear-cut, repeatedly demonstrated pain-relief on trial anaesthesia of the corresponding articular nerves and while wearing a probatory jacket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present preliminary results in a series of 27 patients with a lumbar and/or lumbosacral facet syndrome operated on by use of the soft-system-Stabilization (SSS) according to Graf. Attention is paid to the correct selection of patients for this surgical technique. Excellent, good, satisfactory, moderate, and poor results were obtained in 19 (70%), 2 (7.5%), 5 (18.5%), 1 (3.5%), and 0 instances, respectively. The authors think that a Graf-procedure may be indicated in young to middle-aged patients with a lumbar and/or lumbosacral facet syndrome with 1.) no arthrotic changes of the facet joints, 2.) a still intact disc and/or only mild loss of intervertebral distance, 3.) well trained low-back muscles, and 4.) a clear-cut pain relief on test-anaesthesia of articular nerves and trial immobilization in a plastic jacket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathways and terminal projections of the inferior olivary complex and the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) to the cerebellar nuclei and cortex in the rat were studied using unilateral and bilateral injections of S-methionine followed by light microscope autoradiography. The cerebellar projections from unilateral olivary injections show heavy contralateral, crossed and light, ipsilateral, uncrossed projections in sagittal bands in the deep nuclei and in the molecular layer. The crossed projections occupy all cortical lobules. Bilateral olivary injections that encompassed all subdivisions of the nuclear complex on both sides demonstrated that the same pattern of sagittal zonation is preserved although in this case distributed bilaterally. Thus, the representations of ipsilateral and contralateral projections of both sides overlap precisely and banding is preserved. These data suggest that the olivocerebellar climbing fibers occupy the banded areas and that the empty strips of molecular layer between them must have climbing fibers of extra-olivary origin. It was also found that climbing fiber rosettes are present in the granular layer borne by collaterals of axons en route to the molecular layer; their distribution is not restricted to the molecular layer bands. Unilateral injections in the LRN produced heavy, uncrossed, ipsilateral and light, crossed, contralateral projections with the crossing occurring in the cerebellum. Projections to the deep nuclei occur and the terminal arborizations in the cortex are dense fields of mossy fiber rosettes forming narrow sagittal bands restricted to the granular layer. These mossy fiber rosettes contrast sharply in their number and distribution to the climbing fiber rosettes. The data from these studies strengthen the evidence gathered from morphological and physiological studies that the entire cerebellum may be organized on a plan involving narrow sagittal strips with structural, functional and chemical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a stud on the thickness of photoluminophore (PL) coatings in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). It mentions that luminophore coating thickness is an important consideration in PL power output for is can determine the amount of absorbed, reflected and emitted light. It adds that absorption band resulted from the difference of reflection coefficient with the curve approximating the spectra.