Investigation of excited states in Mg-22 via resonant elastic scattering of Na-21+p and its astrophysical implications

The excited states in 22Mg have been investigated by the resonant elastic scattering of 21Na + p. A 4.0 MeV/nucleon 21Na beam was separated by the Center for Nuclear Study (CNS) radioactive ion beam separator (CRIB) and then used to bombard a thick (CH2)n target. The energy spectra of recoiled protons were measured at scattering angles of θc.m. ≈ 172◦ , 146◦, and 134◦, respectively. A wide energy-range of excitation function in 22Mg (up to Ex ∼ 8.9 MeV) was obtained simultaneously with a thick-target method, and a state at 7.06 MeV was newly observed. The resonant parameters were deduced from an R-matrix analysis of the center-of-mass (c.m.) differential cross-section data with a SAMMY-M6-BETA code. The astrophysical resonant reaction rate for the 18Ne(α,p)21Na reactionwas recalculated based on the present parameters. Generally speaking, the present rates are much smaller than the previous ones.

Complex organization of the Streptomyces avermitilis genes encoding the avermectin polyketide synthase

The avermectin (Av) polyketide synthase (PKS) and erythromycin (Er) PKS are encoded by modular repeats of DNA, but the genetic organization of the modules encoding Av PKS is more complex than Er PKS. Sequencing of several related DNA fragments from Streptomyces avermitilis that are part of the Av biosynthetic gene cluster, revealed that they encode parts of large multifunctional PKS proteins. The Av PKS proteins show strong similarity to each other, as well as similarity to Er PKS proteins [Donadio et al., Science 252 (1991) 675–679] and fatty acid synthases. Partial DNA sequencing of the 65-kb region containing all the related sequence elements in the avr genes provides evidence for twelve modular repeats encoding FAS-like domains. The genes encoding the Av PKS are organized as two sets of six modular repeats which are convergently transcribed.

Controlled organization of silver nanoparticles into network assemblies by tuning pH values

We demonstrate the pH-induced assembly of 2-mercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized silver nanoparticles (MSA-Ag NPs) in the absence of hard or soft template. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) networks of silver NPs were achieved by tuning pH of the medium. The assembly process was monitored using atomic forces microscopy. The key factor affects the formation of network of silver NPs may be intermolecular hydrogen bonding between two carboxylic acid groups of MSA on two adjacent silver NPs.

Self-organization of BaF2 single crystal film under a compressed Langmuir monolayer

Self-organization of BaF2 single crystal film under a compressed monolayer of behenic acid (BA) has been investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicated the (100)-oriented single crystal film of BaF2 was formed under the BA monolayer. The relation between the BaF2 single crystal and the monolayer was discussed.

Self-organization of interlaced network lamellar crystals of trans-1,4-polybutadiene (TPBD) on an amorphous surface

A novel morphology of TPBD crystals consisting of a three-dimensional interlaced network was obtained by casting the self-seeded 0.1% benzene solution onto carbon-boated mica. Both the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED) analyses showed that the network was composed of well-developed lamellae. It is imagined this interesting morphology is the results of asymmetrical growth of the original TPBD lamellae on the amorphous interface, and that their preferred orientation changed when they encountered each other.

Synchronous fluorescence spectra of hemoglobin: A study of aggregation states in aqueous solutions

The synchronous fluorescence spectra of hemoglobin solutions are reported for the first rime. The main fluorescence peaks observed in the spectra are assigned. The effect of the concentration of hemoglobin solution on the spectra is studied. Characteristic fluorescence peaks due to the dimer and tetramer of hemoglobin molecules are recognized. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

FACTOR-ANALYSIS SPECTROPHOTOMETRY FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF VALENCE STATES OF METALS

Two M(n+)-2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol systems for the simultaneous determination of the valence states of Cr and Fe using factor analysis were studied. (1) At pH 4.0, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) react with the reagent to form stable complexes and a slight difference in the wavelengths of maximum absorption (lambda(max.)) between the two complexes is observed when the sodium lauryl sulfate, which also acts as a solubilizing and sensitizing agent, is added, viz., 590 nm for Cr(III) and 593 nm for Cr(VI) complexes. (2) In the presence of ethanol, both Fe(II) and Fe(III) form 1:2 complexes with the reagent at pH 2.5-3.5 and the lambda(max.) of the Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes is at 557 and 592 nm, respectively. In the target transformation factor analysis, the K coefficients calculated from the standard mixtures by classical least-squares analysis and a non-zero intercept added to each wavelength are used as the target vector instead of the pure component standards; this can decrease the analysis errors introduced by the interaction between the two species and by deviations from Beer's law.

The Failure of American and British Propaganda in the Arab Middle East, 1945-1957: Unconquerable Minds

Vaughan, J. (2005). The Failure of American and British Propaganda in the Arab Middle East, 1945-1957: Unconquerable Minds. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. RAE2008

Religion in the lives of American adolescents

The purpose of the project is to research the shape and influence of religion and spirituality in the lives of U.S. adolescents; to identify effective practices in the religious, moral, and social formation of the lives of youth; to describe the extent to which youth participate in and benefit from the programs and opportunities that religious communities are offering to their youth; and to foster an informed national discussion about the influence of religion in youth's lives, in order to encourage sustained reflection about and rethinking of our cultural and institutional practices with regard to youth and religion.

Religion and the life attitudes and self-images of American adolescents

The purpose of the project is to research the shape and influence of religion and spirituality in the lives of U.S. adolescents; to identify effective practices in the religious, moral, and social formation of the lives of youth; to describe the extent to which youth participate in and benefit from the programs and opportunities that religious communities are offering to their youth; and to foster an informed national discussion about the influence of religion in youth's lives, in order to encourage sustained reflection about and rethinking of our cultural and institutional practices with regard to youth and religion.

Distributed Hypothesis Testing, Attention Shifts and Transmitter Dynatmics During the Self-Organization of Brain Recognition Codes

BP (89-A-1204); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (90-0083); National Science Foundation (IRI-90-00530); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (90-0175, 90-0128); Army Research Office (DAAL-03-88-K0088)

Design and Emergence in the Making of American Grand Strategy

The main research question of this thesis is how do grand strategies form. Grand strategy is defined as a state's coherent and consistent pattern of behavior over a long period of time in search of an overarching goal. The political science literature usually explains the formation of grand strategies by using a planning (or design) model. In this dissertation, I use primary sources, interviews with former government officials, and historical scholarship to show that the formation of grand strategy is better understood using a model of emergent learning imported from the business world. My two case studies examine the formation of American grand strategy during the Cold War and the post-Cold War eras. The dissertation concludes that in both these strategic eras the dominating grand strategies were formed primarily by emergent learning rather than flowing from advanced designs.