The influence of antiferroelectric compounds on helical pitch of orthoconic W-1000 mixture

The influence of six antiferroelectric compounds on the helical pitch of mixture W-1000, which was reported as long pitch orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystalline mixture, was checked by spectrophotometry and polarimetry methods. The electro-optical properties for the mixture with the longest pitch were measured. An improvement in electro-optical response due to the long pitch is reported. The novelty in electro-optical properties is the good symmetry response.

Short-term response of the Ca cycle of a montane forest in Ecuador to low experimental CaCl2 additions

The tropical montane forests of the E Andean cordillera in Ecuador receive episodic Sahara- dust inputs particularly increasing Ca deposition. We added CaCl2 to isolate the effect of Ca deposition by Sahara dust to tropical montane forest from the simultaneously occurring pH effect. We examined components of the Ca cycle at four control plots and four plots with added Ca (2 × 5 kg ha?1 Ca annually as CaCl2) in a random arrangement. Between August 2007 and December 2009 (four applications of Ca), we determined Ca concentrations and fluxes in litter leachate, mineral soil solution (0.15 and 0.30 m depths), throughfall, and fine litterfall and Al con- centrations and speciation in soil solutions. After 1 y of Ca addition, we assessed fine-root bio- mass, leaf area, and tree growth. Only < 3% of the applied Ca leached below the acid organic layer (pH 3.5?4.8). The added CaCl2 did not change electrical conductivity in the root zone after 2 y. In the second year of fertilization, Ca retention in the canopy of the Ca treatment tended to decrease relative to the control. After 2 y, 21% of the applied Ca was recycled to soil with throughfall and litterfall. One year after the first Ca addition, fine-root biomass had decreased significantly. Decreasing fine-root biomass might be attributed to a direct or an indirect beneficial effect of Ca on the soil decomposer community. Because of almost complete association of Al with dissolved organic matter and high free Ca2+ : Al3+ activity ratios in solution of all plots, Al toxicity was unlikely. We conclude that the added Ca was retained in the system and had benefi- cial effects on some plants.

Cloning, expression, and distribution of a Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel beta-subunit from human brain.

We have cloned and expressed a Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel beta-subunit from human brain. The open reading frame encodes a 191-amino acid protein possessing significant homology to a previously described subunit cloned from bovine muscle. The gene for this subunit is located on chromosome 5 at band q34 (hslo-beta). There is no evidence for alternative RNA splicing of this gene product. hslo-beta mRNA is abundantly expressed in smooth muscle, but expression levels are low in most other tissues, including brain. Brain subregions in which beta-subunit mRNA expression is relatively high are the hippocampus and corpus callosum. The coexpression of hslo-beta mRNA together with hslo-alpha subunits in either Xenopus oocytes or stably transfected HEK 293 cells give rise to Ca(2+)-activated potassium currents with a much increased calcium and/or voltage sensitivity. These data indicate that the beta-subunit shows a tissue distribution different to that of the alpha-subunit, and in many tissues there may be no association of alpha-subunits with beta-subunits. These beta-subunits can play a functional role in the regulation of neuronal excitability by tuning the Ca2+ and/or the voltage dependence of alpha-subunits.

The antient customs of Harvard College, established by the Government of it, [ca. 1760s]

One-leaf undated handwritten fragment from the College customs signed "A true copy Attest Edward Wigglesworth" with the postscript "Thomas Leonards penison."

[Figures related to the University of Cambridge, ca. 1800]

Four pieces of paper containing notes and figures related to colleges in the University of Cambridge including calculations of the number of fellows, scholars, and masters. The verso of one leaf contains a February 21, 1800 request for the creation of a pamphlet with eulogies for George Washington.

[Notes from the minutes of the Board of Overseers, ca. 1799]

Small notebook containing handwritten entries of actions for the years 1718-1799 recorded in Volumes I-IV of the Harvard Board of Overseers formal meeting minutes. The entries note the appointment of Committees of inquiry and votes related to salary increases and allowances.

Reading notes on Fanny Burney's Camilla, or a Picture of Youth, ca. 1796-1800

Shapleigh's notes are written on the verso of a Harvard commencement theses broadside from 1792. Additional commencement theses broadsides from 1792 are available in the Harvard University Commencement theses, quaestiones, and orders of exercises collection (HUC 6642).

Compilation of Mg/Ca ratios of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma (sinistral) and SST estimates from the northern North Atlantic

A map of estimated calcification temperatures of the planktic foraminifer Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral (TNps) for the Nordic Seas and the northern North Atlantic for the Last Glacial Maximum was produced from oxygen isotopes with support of Mg/Ca ratios. To arrive at the reconstruction, several constraints concerning the plausible salinity and ?18O-fields were employed. The reconstruction indicates inflow of temperate waters in a wedge along the eastern border of the Nordic Seas and at least seasonally ice-free waters. The reconstruction from oxygen isotopes shows similarities with Mg/Ca based paleotemperatures in the southern and southeastern sector, while unrealistically high Mg/Ca values in the central Nordic Seas prevent the application of the method in this area. The oxygen isotope based reconstruction shows some agreement with temperature reconstructions based on the modern analogue technique, but with somewhat lower temperatures and a stronger internal gradient inside the Nordic Seas. All told, our results suggest a much more ice-free and dynamic high latitude ocean than the CLIMAP reconstruction.