Raman spectrum of strontium titanate

The Raman spectrum of strontium titanate has been recorded using λ 4358 of mercury as exciter. The observed spectrum consists of 7 Raman lines, one of which is of low frequency, as expected from the recent theory of Cochran. 6 of these Raman lines have been interpreted as the first order spectrum arising from a small deviation of the cubic strontium titanate from its idealized symmetry. It has been shown that one normal mode of SrTiO3 neglected by J.T. Last, will be really active in infrared absorption in the region of 440 cm-1 and that it has to be taken into account in the interpretation of the infrared spectra of titanates. The four vibrational modes of the unit cell of SrTiO3 correspond to frequencies of 90, 335, 441 and 620 cm-1 observed in Raman effect. The large width of the Raman lines and the additional lines at 256 cm-1 and 726 cm-1 have been attributed to a splitting of the longitudinal and transverse optical modes. With the observed frequencies it has been found possible to account for in a satisfactory manner the specific heat of SrTiO3 in the range 54·84° K to 1800° K.

Becoming to Know: Essays on Extended Epistemology of Knowledge Creation

This qualitative, explorative study, which comprises four essays, focuses on knowledge management (KM). It seeks to answer the question: How can the knowledge creation theory of KM benefit from social learning theories? While studying the five development phases of knowledge creation theory of KM through 1995-2008 and applying some social learning theories in essays, the concepts of knowing, learning and becoming have emerged. Drawing on these three concepts and on becoming ontology and extended epistemology as research philosophies the study suggests the ‘becoming epistemology’ concept and develops the ‘becoming to know’ framework. The framework proposes becoming as phronesis of dialectic interactions between learning and knowing. It shows how becoming to know evolves as an interplay between concrete experience and logical thinking in the present and in a living context. The proposed framework could be considered a contribution to the current development phase of the knowledge creation theory of KM because it illustrates how ontological and epistemological knowledge spirals come together, which is the essence of the knowledge creation theory of KM.

An extended verifiable secret redistribution protocol for archival systems

Existing protocols for archival systems make use of verifiability of shares in conjunction with a proactive secret sharing scheme to achieve high availability and long term confidentiality, besides data integrity. In this paper, we extend an existing protocol (Wong et al. [9]) to take care of more realistic situations. For example, it is assumed in the protocol of Wong et al. that the recipients of the secret shares are all trustworthy; we relax this by requiring that only a majority is trustworthy.

Hole pairing within an extended Anderson impurity model applicable to the high-Tc cuprates

We calculate the binding energy of a hole pair within the extended Anderson Hamiltonian for the high-Tc cuprates including a Cu impurity and an oxygen-derived band. The results indicate that stable hole pairs can be formed for intra-atomic and interatomic Coulomb repulsion strengths larger than 6 and 3.5 eV, respectively. It is also shown that the total hybridization strength between the Cu 3d and oxygen p band should be less than 2.5 eV. The hole pairing takes place primarily within the oxygen-derived p band. The range of parameter values for which hole pairing occurs is also consistent with the earlier photoemission results from these cuprates.

Change in spectrum of Brownian fluctuations of optically trapped red blood cells due to malarial infection

We study the properties of single red blood cells (RBCs) held in an optical-tweezers trap. We observe a change in the spectrum of Brownian fluctuations between RBCs from normal and malaria-infected samples. The change, caused by infection-induced structural changes in the cell, appears as a statistical increase in the mean (by 25%) and standard deviation (by 200%) of the corner frequency measured over similar to 100 cells. The increase is observed even though the ensemble of cells being measured consists mostly of cells that do not actually host the parasite, but are from an infected pool. This bystander effect appears to vindicate other observations that infected cells can affect the biomechanical properties of uninfected cells. The change is also observed to be independent of the stage of infection and its duration, highlighting its potential for disease detection. (C) 2010 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [DOI: 10.1117/1.3427142].

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) : Diagnostic methods and molecular pathology

Myotonic dystrophies type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are the most common forms of muscular dystrophy affecting adults. They are autosomal dominant diseases caused by microsatellite tri- or tetranucleotide repeat expansion mutations in transcribed but not translated gene regions. The mutant RNA accumulates in nuclei disturbing the expression of several genes. The more recently identified DM2 disease is less well known, yet more than 300 patients have been confirmed in Finland thus far, and the true number is believed to be much higher. DM1 and DM2 share some features in general clinical presentation and molecular pathology, yet they show distinctive differences, including disease severity and differential muscle and fiber type involvement. However, the molecular differences underlying DM1 and DM2 muscle pathology are not well understood. Although the primary tissue affected is muscle, both DMs show a multisystemic phenotype due to wide expression of the mutation-carrying genes. DM2 is particularly intriguing, as it shows an incredibly wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. For this reason, it constitutes a real diagnostic challenge. The core symptoms in DM2 include proximal muscle weakness, muscle pain, myotonia, cataracts, cardiac conduction defects and endocrinological disturbations; however, none of these is mandatory for the disease. Myalgic pains may be the most disabling symptom for decades, sometimes leading to incapacity for work. In addition, DM2 may cause major socio-economical consequences for the patient, if not diagnosed, due to misunderstanding and false stigmatization. In this thesis work, we have (I) improved DM2 differential diagnostics based on muscle biopsy, and (II) described abnormalities in mRNA and protein expression in DM1 and DM2 patient skeletal muscles, showing partial differences between the two diseases, which may contribute to muscle pathology in these diseases. This is the first description of histopathological differences between DM1 and DM2, which can be used in differential diagnostics. Two novel high-resolution applications of in situ -hybridization have been described, which can be used for direct visualization of the DM2 mutation in muscle biopsy sections, or mutation size determination on extended DNA-fibers. By measuring protein and mRNA expression in the samples, differential changes in expression patterns affecting contractile proteins, other structural proteins and calcium handling proteins in DM2 compared to DM1 were found. The dysregulation at mRNA level was caused by altered transciption and abnormal splicing. The findings reported here indicate that the extent of aberrant splicing is higher in DM2 compared to DM1. In addition, the described abnormalities to some extent correlate to the differences in fiber type involvement in the two disorders.

A series of transition metal-azido extended complexes with various anionic and neutral co-ligands: synthesis, structure and their distinct magnetic behavior

The crystal structures and magnetic properties of five new transition metal-azido complexes with two anionic [pyrazine-2-carboxylate (pyzc) and p-aminobenzoate (paba)] and two neutral [pyrazine (pyz) and pyridine (py)] coligands are reported All five complexes were synthesized bysolvothermal methods The complex [Co-2(pyzc)(2)(N-3)(2)(H2O)(2)](n) (1) is 1D and exhibit canted antiferromagnetism, while the 3D complex [MnNa(pyzc)(N-3)(2)(H2O)(2)](n) (2) has a complicated structure and is weakly ferromagnetic in nature [Mn-2(paba)(2)(N-3)(2)(H2O)(2)](n) (3). is a 2D sheet and the Mn-II ions are found to be antiferromagnetically coupled The isostructural 2D complexes [Cu-3(pyz)(2)(N-3)(6)](n) (4) and [Cu-3(py)(2)(N-3)(6)](n) (5) resemble remarkably in their magnetic properties exhibiting moderately strong ferromagnetism. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP functional) have been performed to provide a qualitative theoretical interpietation of the overall magnetic behavior shown by these complexes.

Simultaneous display of image and spectrum in the same plane: a generalized analysis

A generalized analysis, using the Vander Lugt operational notation, of the building block optical system comprising a single holographic optical element (HOE) for achieving simultaneous display of the spectrum and the image of an object in a single plane, has been carried out. The salient features of this analysis are: (1) it allows comprehensive characterization of the HOE, (2) it provides insights into the many possible configurations for the system, and (3) it explains the existing results in a consistent manner.

Systems between information and knowledge : In a memory management model of an extended enterprise

The research question of this thesis was how knowledge can be managed with information systems. Information systems can support but not replace knowledge management. Systems can mainly store epistemic organisational knowledge included in content, and process data and information. Certain value can be achieved by adding communication technology to systems. All communication, however, can not be managed. A new layer between communication and manageable information was named as knowformation. Knowledge management literature was surveyed, together with information species from philosophy, physics, communication theory, and information system science. Positivism, post-positivism, and critical theory were studied, but knowformation in extended organisational memory seemed to be socially constructed. A memory management model of an extended enterprise (M3.exe) and knowformation concept were findings from iterative case studies, covering data, information and knowledge management systems. The cases varied from groups towards extended organisation. Systems were investigated, and administrators, users (knowledge workers) and managers interviewed. The model building required alternative sets of data, information and knowledge, instead of using the traditional pyramid. Also the explicit-tacit dichotomy was reconsidered. As human knowledge is the final aim of all data and information in the systems, the distinction between management of information vs. management of people was harmonised. Information systems were classified as the core of organisational memory. The content of the systems is in practice between communication and presentation. Firstly, the epistemic criterion of knowledge is not required neither in the knowledge management literature, nor from the content of the systems. Secondly, systems deal mostly with containers, and the knowledge management literature with applied knowledge. Also the construction of reality based on the system content and communication supports the knowformation concept. Knowformation belongs to memory management model of an extended enterprise (M3.exe) that is divided into horizontal and vertical key dimensions. Vertically, processes deal with content that can be managed, whereas communication can be supported, mainly by infrastructure. Horizontally, the right hand side of the model contains systems, and the left hand side content, which should be independent from each other. A strategy based on the model was defined.

A study of the spectrum of an acoustic field in shallow water due to noise sources at the surface

An expression for the spectrum and cross spectrum of an acoustic field measured at two vertically separated sensors in shallow water has been obtained for any correlated noise sources distributed over the surface. Numerical results are presented for the case where the noise sources, white noise and wind-induced colored noise, are contained within a circular disk centered over the sensors. The acoustic field is generally inhomogeneous except when the channel is deep. The coherence function becomes real for a large disk, for a radius greater than 25 times the depth of the channel, decreases with further increase of the size of the disk, and finally tapers off after certain limiting size, approximately given by 1/alpha, where alpha is the attenuation coefficient.

A microcomputer program to analyze the CD spectrum of proteins and nucleic acids—Use of LOTUS 1-2-3 spread sheet

A user friendly interactive computer program, CIRDIC, is developed which calculates the molar ellipticity and molar circular dichroic absorption coefficients from the CD spectrum. This, in combination with LOTUS 1-2-3 spread sheet, will give the spectra of above parameters vs wavelength. The code is implemented in MicroSoft FORTRAN 77 which runs on any IBM compatible PC under MSDOS environment.

Detection, epidemiology and host spectrum of cowpox and Borna disease virus infections

Several orthopoxviruses (OPV) and Borna disease virus (BDV) are enveloped, zoonotic viruses with a wide geographical distribution. OPV antibodies cross-react, and former smallpox vaccination has therefore protected human populations from another OPV infection, rodent-borne cowpox virus (CPXV). Cowpox in humans and cats usually manifests as a mild, self-limiting dermatitis and constitutional symptoms, but it can be severe and even life-threatening in the immunocompromised. Classical Borna disease is a progressive meningoencephalomyelitis in horses and sheep known in central Europe for centuries. Nowadays the virus or its close relative infects humans and also several other species in central Europe and elsewhere, but the existence of human Borna disease with its suspected neuropsychiatric symptoms is controversial. The epidemiology of BDV is largely unknown, and the present situation is even more intriguing following the recent detection of several-million-year-old, endogenized BDV genes in primate and various other vertebrate genomes. The aims of this study were to elucidate the importance of CPXV and BDV in Finland and in possible host species, and particularly to 1) establish relevant methods for the detection of CPXV and other OPVs as well as BDV in Finland, 2) determine whether CPXV and BDV exist in Finland, 3) discover how common OPV immunity is in different age groups in Finland, 4) characterize possible disease cases and clarify their epidemiological context, 5) establish the hosts and possible reservoir species of these viruses and their geographical distribution in wild rodents, and 6) elucidate the infection kinetics of BDV in the bank vole. An indirect immunofluorescence assay and avidity measurement were established for the detection, timing and verification of OPV or BDV antibodies in thousands of blood samples from humans, horses, ruminants, lynxes, gallinaceous birds, dogs, cats and rodents. The mostly vaccine-derived OPV seroprevalence was found to decrease gradually according to the year of birth of the sampled human subjects from 100% to 10% in those born after 1977. On the other hand, OPV antibodies indicating natural contact with CPXV or other OPVs were commonly found in domestic and wild animals: the horse, cow, lynx, dog, cat and, with a prevalence occasionally even as high as 92%, in wild rodents, including some previously undetected species and new regions. Antibodies to BDV were detected in humans, horses, a dog, cats, and for the first time in wild rodents, such as bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Because of the controversy within the human Borna disease field, extra verification methods were established for BDV antibody findings: recombinant nucleocapsid and phosphoproteins were produced in Escherichia coli and in a baculovirus system, and peptide arrays were additionally applied. With these verification assays, Finnish human, equine, feline and rodent BDV infections were confirmed. Taken together, wide host spectra were evident for both OPV and BDV infections based on the antibody findings, and OPV infections were found to be geographically broadly distributed. PCR amplification methods were utilised for hundreds of blood and tissue samples. The methods included conventional, nested and real-time PCRs with or without the reverse transcription step and detecting four or two genes of OPVs and BDV, respectively. OPV DNA could be amplified from two human patients and three bank voles, whereas no BDV RNA was detected in naturally infected individuals. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, the Finnish OPV sequences were closely related although not identical to a Russian CPXV isolate, and clearly different from other CPXV strains. Moreover, the Finnish sequences only equalled each other, but the short amplicons obtained from German rodents were identical to monkeypox virus, in addition to German CPXV variants. This reflects the close relationship of all OPVs. In summary, RNA of the Finnish BDV variant could not be detected with the available PCR methods, but OPV DNA infrequently could. The OPV species infecting the patients of this study was proven to be CPXV, which is most probably also responsible for the rodent infections. Multiple cell lines and some newborn rodents were utilised in the isolation of CPXV and BDV from patient and wildlife samples. CPXV could be isolated from a child with severe, generalised cowpox. BDV isolation attempts from rodents were unsuccessful in this study. However, in parallel studies, a transient BDV infection of cells inoculated with equine brain material was detected, and BDV antigens discovered in archival animal brains using established immunohistology. Thus, based on several independent methods, both CPXV and BDV (or a closely related agent) were shown to be present in Finland. Bank voles could be productively infected with BDV. This experimental infection did not result in notable pathological findings or symptoms, despite the intense spread of the virus in the central and peripheral nervous system. Infected voles commonly excreted the virus in urine and faeces, which emphasises their possible role as a BDV reservoir. Moreover, BDV RNA was regularly reverse transcribed into DNA in bank voles, which was detected by amplifying DNA by PCR without reverse transcription, and verified with nuclease treatments. This finding indicates that BDV genes could be endogenized during an acute infection. Although further transmission studies are needed, this experimental infection demonstrated that the bank vole can function as a potential BDV reservoir. In summary, multiple methods were established and applied in large panels to detect two zoonoses novel to Finland: cowpox virus and Borna disease virus. Moreover, new information was obtained on their geographical distribution, host spectrum, epidemiology and infection kinetics.

Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum of β-turn in solution

The vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum of an isolated 4 → 1 hydrogen bonded β-turn is reported. The observed spectrum of N-acetyl-Pro-Gly-Leu-OH at − 40°C in trifluoroethanol is in good agreement with the theoretically calculated CD spectrum of the β-turn conformation. This spectrum, particularly the presence of a strong negative band around 180 nm and a large ratio [θ]201/[θ]225, can be taken as a characteristic feature of the isolated β-turn conformation. These CD spectral features can thus be used to distinguish the β-turn conformation from the β-structure in solution.