Future challenges of forest policy analysis.

XVIII IUFRO World Congress, Ljubljana 1986.

Photoconductivity in β-AgI

Excitation spectra and transient and steady-state photoconductivity have been studied in undoped and 0.8-mole% Cu-doped single-crystal β-AgI between 150 and 260°K. A single peak in the spectral response was found to occur in each case, at 2.88 eV for undoped and at 2.81 eV for copper-doped specimens at 260 K, the difference being due to a decrease in band gap. The anisotropy due to polarization of incident radiation parallel or perpendicular to the c direction, which is a measure of the energy difference between the Γ9 and Γ7 levels in the valence band, was found to be 0.010 eV. Transient-photoconductivity experiments showed that the hole lifetime was 6 μ sec at 300°K, an order of magnitude larger than the electron lifetime. The hole drift mobility was found to be 12±2 cm2/ V sec at 300°K and limited by traps at a depth of 0.51±0.01 eV with concentration (3-5)×109/cm3 and capture cross section 10-11 cm2. The study of photoconductivity decay versus temperature revealed the presence of shallow hole traps at 0.14±0.02 eV with concentration greater than 1016/cm3 and capture cross section 10-19 cm2. The steady-state photoconductivity was determined by the deep hole traps at 0.51 eV, and showed the presence of shallow electron traps at a depth of 0.28 eV. The trap distribution was found to be substantially the same in pure and copper-doped specimens, indicating the monovalent substitutional role of copper. The effects of iodine annealing, cadmium doping, and heating above the transition temperature were also studied. The possible nature of the traps is discussed.

An optimal local approximation algorithm for max-min linear programs

In a max-min LP, the objective is to maximise ω subject to Ax ≤ 1, Cx ≥ ω1, and x ≥ 0 for nonnegative matrices A and C. We present a local algorithm (constant-time distributed algorithm) for approximating max-min LPs. The approximation ratio of our algorithm is the best possible for any local algorithm; there is a matching unconditional lower bound.

Chemical potential of oxygen for iron-rutile-ilmenite and iron-ilmenite-ulvospinel equilibria

The chemical potential of oxygen corresponding to the iron-rutile-ilmenite (IRI) and iron-ilmenite-ulvospinel (IIU) equilibria has been measured employing solid-state galvanic cells,$$Pt, Fe + TiO_2 + FeTiO_3 //(Y_2 O_3 ) ZrO_2 //Fe + FeO, Pt$$ and $${\text{Pt, Fe + FeTiO}}_{\text{3}} {\text{ + Fe}}_{\text{2}} {\text{TiO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{//(Y}}_{\text{2}} {\text{0}}_{\text{3}} {\text{) ZrO}}_{\text{2}} {\text{//Fe + FeO, Pt}}$$ in the temperature range of 875 to 1275 K and 900 to 1373 K, respectively. The cells are written such that the right-hand electrodes are positive. The electromotive force (emf) of both the cells was found to be reversible and to vary linearly with temperature over the entire range of measurement. The chemical potential of oxygen for IRI equilibrium is represented by Δμo2(IRI) = -550,724 - 29.445T + 20.374T InT(±210) J mol−1 (875 <-T<- 1184 K) = -620,260 + 369.593T - 27.716T lnT(±210) J mol−1 (1184 <-T<- 1275 K) and that for IIU equilibrium by Δμo2(IIU) = -501,800 - 49.035T + 20.374T lnT(±210) J mol−1 (900 <-T<- 1184 K) = -571,336 + 350.003T− 27.716T lnT(=−210) J mol-1 (1184 <-T<- 1373 K) The standard Gibbs energy changes for IRI and IIU equilibria have been deduced from the measured oxygen potentials. Since ilmenite contains small amounts of Ti³+ ions, a correction for the activity of FeTiO3 has been incorporated by assuming ideal mixing on each cation sublattice in the FeTiO3-Ti2O3 system. Similarly, the ulvospinel contains some Fe³+ ions and a correction for the activity of Fe2TiO4 has been included by modeling the Fe2TiO4-Fe3O4 system. The third-law analysis of the results obtained for IRI equilibrium gives ΔH 298 0 = -575 (±1.0) kJ mol-1 and for IIU equilibrium yields ΔH 298 0 = -523.7 (±0.7) kJ mol−1}. The present results suggest that Fe2+ and Ti4+ cations mix almost ideally on the octahedral site of spinel lattice in Fe2TiO4, giving rise to a configurational contribution of 2R In 2 (11.5256 J mol-1 K-1) to the entropy of Fe2TiO4.

Effect of the pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate on sodium current of rat dorsal root ganglion neuron

Fenvalerate is a widely used pyrethroid insecticide. The report presents our findings on the effect of fenvalerate on isolated whole-cell sodium currents in single rat dorsal root ganglionic neurons in culture, studied with patch-clamp technique. Fenvalerate decreased the amplitude of whole-cell sodium current and slowed the inactivation and tail current kinetics.

Conformational analysis and design of cross-strand disulfides in antiparallel beta-sheets

Cross-strand disulfides bridge two cysteines in a registered pair of antiparallel beta-strands. A nonredundant data set comprising 5025 polypeptides containing 2311 disulfides was used to study cross-strand disulfides. Seventy-six cross-strand disulfides were found of which 75 and 1 occurred at non-hydrogen-bonded (NHB) and hydrogen-bonded (HB) registered pairs, respectively. Conformational analysis and modeling studies demonstrated that disulfide formation at HB pairs necessarily requires an extremely rare and positive chi(1) value for at least one of the cysteine residues. Disulfides at HB positions also have more unfavorable steric repulsion with the main chain. Thirteen pairs of disulfides were introduced in NHB and HB pairs in four model proteins: leucine binding protein (LBP), leucine, isoleucine, valine binding protein (LIVBP), maltose binding protein (MBP), and Top7. All mutants LIVBP T247C V331C showed disulfide formation either on purification, or on treatment with oxidants. Protein stability in both oxidized and reduced states of all mutants was measured. Relative to wild type, LBP and MBP mutants were destabilized with respect to chemical denaturation, although the sole exposed NHB LBP mutant showed an increase of 3.1 degrees C in T-m. All Top7 mutants were characterized for stability through guanidinium thiocyanate chemical denaturation. Both exposed and two of the three buried NHB mutants were appreciably stabilized. All four HB Top7 mutants were destabilized (Delta Delta G(0) = -3.3 to -6.7 kcal/mol). The data demonstrate that introduction of cross-strand disulfides at exposed NHB pairs is a robust method of improving protein stability. All four exposed Top7 disulfide mutants showed mild redox activity. Proteins 2011; 79: 244-260. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Snapthrough instability of a stochastic a von Mises truss

A von Mises truss with stochastically varying material properties is investigated for snapthrough instability. The variability of the snap-through load is calculated analytically as a function of the material property variability represented as a stochastic process. The bounds are established which are independent of the knowledge of the complete description of correlation structure which is seldom possible using the experimental data. Two processes are considered to represent the material property variability and the results are presented graphically. Ein von Mises Fachwerk mit stochastisch verteilten Materialeigenschaften wird bezüglich der Durchschlagsinstabilität untersucht. Die Spannbreite der Durchschlagslast wird analytisch als Funktion der Spannbreite der Materialeigenschaften berechnet, die stochastisch verteilt angenommen werden. Eine explizite Gesamtbeschreibung der Struktur ist bei Benutzung experimenteller Daten selten möglich. Deshalb werden Grenzen für die Durchschlagskraft entwickelt, die von der Kenntnis dieser Gesamtbeschreibung unabhängig sind. Zwei Grenzfälle werden betrachtet, um die Spannbreite der Materialeigenschaften darzustellen. Die Ergebnisse werden grafisch dargestellt.

Hot-working characteristics of Zircaloy-2 in the temperature range of 650–950°C

The hot-working characteristics of Zircaloy-2 have been studied in the temperature range of 650 to 950°C and in the strain-rate range of 10−3 to 102 s−1 using power dissipation maps which describe the variation of the efficiency of power dissipation, η = 2m /(m + 1) where m is the strain-rate sensitivity of flow stress. The individual domains exhibited by the map have been interpreted and validated by detailed metallographic investigations. Dynamic recrystallization occurs in the temperature range of 730 to 830°C and in the strain-rate range of 10−2 to 2 s−1. The peak efficiency occurs at 800°C and 0.1 s−1 which may be considered as the optimum hot-working parameters in the α-phase field of Zircaloy-2. Superplastic behaviour, characterized by a high efficiency of power dissipation is observed at temperatures greater than 860°C and at strain rates lower than 10−2 s−1. When deformed at 650°C and 10−3 s−1, the primary restoration mechanism is dynamic recovery, while at rates higher than 2s−1, the material exhibits microstructural instabilities in the form of localized shear bands.

Primary structure of sesbania mosaic virus coat protein: its implications to the assembly and architecture of the virus

Sesbania mosaic virus (SMV) is a plant virus that infects Sesbania grandiflora plants in Andhra Pradesh, India. The amino acid sequence of the coat protein of SMV was determined using purified peptides generated by cleavage with trypsin, chymotrypsin, V8 protease and clostripain. The 230 residues so far determined were compared to the corresponding residues of southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV), the type member of sobemoviruses. The overall identity between the sequences is 61.7%. The amino terminal 64 residues, which constitute an independent domain (R-domain) known to interact with RNA, are conserved to a lower extent (52.5%). Comparison of the positively charged residues in this domain suggests that the RNA-protein interactions are considerably weaker in SMV. The residues that constitute the major domain of the coat protein, the surface domain (S-domain, residues 65-260), are better conserved (66.5%). The positively charged residues of this domain that face the nucleic acid are well conserved. The longest conserved stretch of residues (131-142) corresponds to the loop involved in intersubunit interactions between subunits related by the quasi 3-fold symmetry. A unique cation binding site located on the quasi 3-fold axis contributes to the stability of SMV. These differences are reflected in the increased stability of the SMV coat protein and its ability to be reconstituted with RNA at pH 7.5. A major epitope was identified using monoclonal antibodies to SMV in the segment 201-223 which contains an exposed helix in the capsid structure. This region is highly conserved between SMV and SBMV (70%) suggesting that it could represent the site of an important function such as vector recognition.

The mean and turbulence structure simulation of the monsoon trough boundary layer using a one-dimensional model with e-l and e-epsilon closures

An attempt has been made here to study the sensitivity of the mean and the turbulence structure of the monsoon trough boundary layer to the choice of the constants in the dissipation equation for two stations Delhi and Calcutta, using one-dimensional atmospheric boundary layer model with e-epsilon turbulence closure. An analytical discussion of the problems associated with the constants of the dissipation equation is presented. It is shown here that the choice of the constants in the dissipation equation is quite crucial and the turbulence structure is very sensitive to these constants. The modification of the dissipation equation adopted by earlier studies, that is, approximating the Tke generation (due to shear and buoyancy production) in the epsilon-equation by max (shear production, shear + buoyancy production), can be avoided by a suitable choice of the constants suggested here. The observed turbulence structure is better simulated with these constants. The turbulence structure simulation with the constants recommended by Aupoix et al (1989) (which are interactive in time) for the monsoon region is shown to be qualitatively similar to the simulation obtained with the constants suggested here, thus implying that no universal constants exist to regulate dissipation rate. Simulations of the mean structure show little sensitivity to the type of the closure parameterization between e-l and e-epsilon closures. However the turbulence structure simulation with e-epsilon closure is far better compared to the e-l model simulations. The model simulations of temperature profiles compare quite well with the observations whenever the boundary layer is well mixed (neutral) or unstable. However the models are not able to simulate the nocturnal boundary layer (stable) temperature profiles. Moisture profiles are simulated reasonably better. With one-dimensional models, capturing observed wind variations is not up to the mark.

Advances in storage batteries

Over the years, new power requirements for telecommunication, space, automotive and traction applications have arisen which need to be met. Although lead-acid and nickel-cadmium storage batteries continue to be the work horses with limited advances, associated environmental hazards and recycling are still the issues to be resolved. As a result, lead-acid and nickel-cadmium storage batteries have declined in importance whilst nickel-metal hydride and lithium secondary batteries with superior performances have shown greater acceptability in newer applications. These developments are reflected in this article.

Effect of chronic administration of Tamoxifen on fertility in male bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata)

Administration of Tamoxifen via the Alzet pump at a rate of 50 mu g hr(-1) for 90 days in the adult male bonnet monkeys Macaca radiata had no effect on the serum testosterone concentration determined at 10 AM and 10 PM as well as total sperm count determined at 15-day intervals over a period of 260 days. However, a significant reduction in sperm motility was observed beyond 90 days up until the 225th day. Breeding studies conducted from day 90 to 260 revealed that these males were infertile.

Stabilities of ternary carbides UWC1.75 and UWC2

The methane-hydrogen gas equilibration technique has been used to measure the chemical potential of carbon associated with two three-phase fields of the system U-W-C in the temperature range 973 to 1173 K. By combining the values of the chemical potential of carbon in the three-phase fields UC + W + UWC1.75 and UC + UWC1.75 + UWC2 Obtained in this study with the data on the Gibbs energy of formation of UC available in the literature, expressions for the Gibbs energies of formation of the two ternary carbides were derived: Delta(f)G degrees [UWC1.75] = -131, 600 - 300 T (+/-8000) J mol(-1) Delta(f)G degrees [UWC2] = -144, 800 - 32.0 T (+/- 10,000) J mol(-1) Although estimates of Gibbs energies of formation of the two ternary carbides TSWC1.75 and UWC2 have been reported, there have been no previous experimental determinations of thermodynamic properties of these compounds.