University of Florida funds to purchase a pyrolysis mass spectrometer (to W.V.). Abstract The maize brittle stalk2 (bk2) is a recessive mutant, the aerial parts of which are easily broken. The bk2 phenotype is developmentally regulated and appears four weeks after planting, at about the fifth-leaf stage. Before this time, mutants are indistinguishable from wild-type siblings. Afterwards, all or...

Due to their exceptional mechanical and chemical properties natural abundance, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are promising building blocks of sustainable polymer composites. However, the rapid gelation CNC dispersions has generally limited CNC-based composites low fractions, in which remains dominant phase. Here we report on formulation processing crosslinked CNC-epoxy with a fraction exceeding...

A mixed-gel of high acyl (HA) gellan gum and maltodextrin (MD) (potato DE2) demonstrated a range physical properties with proposed interpenetrating network. Mixed hydrocolloid gels allow for the development novel that neither polymer alone could create allowing unique functionality in textures or controlled release. The aim this work was to identify type network formation by examining material ...

Einkorn and emmer wheat together with barley were among the first cereals domesticated by humans more than 10,000 years ago, long before durum or bread wheat originated. Domesticated einkorn wheat differs from its wild progenitor in basic morphological characters such as the grain dispersal system. This study identified the Non-brittle rachis 1 (btr1) and Non-brittle rachis 2 (btr2) in einkorn ...

Many plant and animal species reproduce both sexually and asexually. These 2 reproductive modes are both likely to be costly and, in many species, they occur at different times of the year. Here, I present information on the sexual and asexual reproductive biology of the brittle star Ophiactis savignyi (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) in the Florida Keys, USA. Small brittle stars (less than 3 mm) a...

Crazing is a failure mode of bulk polymers and occurs under predominant uniaxial tensile load when the bulk eventually forms denser ligaments (or fibrils) while preserving its continuity. The bridging of cracks by such fibrils is an importantmechanism for energy dissipation and toughening in thermoplastic polymers. However, craze phenomena are not observed in thermosetting polymers such as epox...

Two unrelated children presenting with mental and physical retardation and sulphur deficient brittle hair are reported. These are thought to be further cases of the autosomal recessive neurotrichocutaneous syndrome of Pollitt, of which eight cases have been previously reported.

BACKGROUND Anti-cancer potential of marine natural products such as polysaccharides represented therapeutic potential in oncological researches. In this study, total polysaccharide from brittle star [Ophiocoma erinaceus (O. erinaceus)] was extracted and chemopreventive efficacy of Persian Gulf brittle star polysaccharide was investigated in HeLa human cervical cancer cells. METHODS To extract...