Skylab 4 visual observations project report

The Skylab 4 Visual Observations Project was undertaken to determine the ways in which man can contribute to future earth-orbital observational programs. The premission training consisted of 17 hours of lectures by scientists representing 16 disciplines and provided the crewmen information on observational and photographic procedures and the scientific significance of this information. During the Skylab 4 mission, more than 850 observations and 2000 photographs with the 70-millimeter Hasselblad and 35-millimeter Nikon cameras were obtained for many investigative areas. Preliminary results of the project indicate that man can obtain new and unique information to support satellite earth-survey programs because of his inherent capability to make selective observations, to integrate the information, and to record the data by describing and photographing the observational sites

Settlement of Macoma balthica larvae in response to benthic diatom films

The role of multi-species benthic diatom films (BDF) in the settlement of late pediveliger larvae of the bivalve Macoma balthica was investigated in still-water bioassays and multiple choice flume experiments. Axenic diatom cultures that were isolated from a tidal mudflat inhabited by M. balthica were selected to develop BDF sediment treatments characterized by a different community structure, biomass, and amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Control sediments had no added diatoms. Although all larvae settled and initiated burrowing within the first minute after their addition in still water, regardless of treatment, only 48-52% had completely penetrated the high diatom biomass treatments after 5 min, while on average 80 and 69% of the larvae had settled and burrowed into the control sediments and BDF with a low diatom biomass (<3.5 mu g Chl a g(-1) dry sediment), respectively. The percentage of larvae settling and burrowing into the sediment was negatively correlated with the concentration of Chl a and EPS of the BDF. This suggests higher physical resistance to bivalve penetration by the BDF with higher diatom biomass and more associated sugar and protein compounds. The larval settlement rate in annular flume experiments at flow velocities of 5 and 15 cm s(-1) was distinctly lower compared to the still-water assays. Only 4.6-5.8% of the larvae were recovered from BDF and control sediments after 3 h. Nonetheless, a clear settlement preference was observed for BDF in the flume experiments; i.e., larvae settled significantly more in BDF compared to control sediments irrespective of flow speed. Comparison with the settlement of polystyrene mimics and freeze-killed larvae led to the conclusion that active selection, active secondary dispersal and, at low flow velocities (5 cm s(-1)), passive adhesion to the sediment are important mechanisms determining the settlement of M. balthica larvae in estuarine biofilms

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on four research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-419

Topological Insulators

Topological insulators are electronic materials that have a bulk band gap like an ordinary insulator, but have protected conducting states on their edge or surface. The 2D topological insulator is a quantum spin Hall insulator, which is a close cousin of the integer quantum Hall state. A 3D topological insulator supports novel spin polarized 2D Dirac fermions on its surface. In this Colloquium article we will review the theoretical foundation for these electronic states and describe recent experiments in which their signatures have been observed. We will describe transport experiments on HgCdTe quantum wells that demonstrate the existence of the edge states predicted for the quantum spin Hall insulator. We will then discuss experiments on Bi_{1-x}Sb_x, Bi_2 Se_3, Bi_2 Te_3 and Sb_2 Te_3 that establish these materials as 3D topological insulators and directly probe the topology of their surface states. We will then describe exotic states that can occur at the surface of a 3D topological insulator due to an induced energy gap. A magnetic gap leads to a novel quantum Hall state that gives rise to a topological magnetoelectric effect. A superconducting energy gap leads to a state that supports Majorana fermions, and may provide a new venue for realizing proposals for topological quantum computation. We will close by discussing prospects for observing these exotic states, a well as other potential device applications of topological insulators.Comment: 23 pages, 20 figures, Published versio

Inflammation and CFTR: might neutrophils be the key in cystic fibrosis?

The aim of this hypothesis is to provide new insights into the still unclear mechanisms governing airway inflammation in cystic fibrosis. Although the genetic basis of cystic fibrosis as well as the molecular structure of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), the mutated protein which causes the disease, have been well defined, a clear relationship between the genetic defect and the pulmonary pathophysiology, especially chronic infections and neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation has not been established. Cystic fibrosis is thus a unique pathological situation in that neutrophils can be depicted as both an antiinfectious and a proinflammatory cell. In cystic fibrosis there is an emerging picture of an imbalance between these two roles with both a reduction in the antiinfectious efficacy and an augmentation of the proinflammatory functions. Better knowledge of fundamental defects in neutrophil function in cystic fibrosis as well as a novel cellular function of CFTR, which will be reviewed, will allow identification of potentially new clinical targets and aid selective therapeutic action aimed at counteracting the lethal neutrophil-induced airway inflammation. The rationale for colchicine therapy is a significant example of a drug which might act both at the molecular levels on CFTR expression in epithelial cells and on neutrophils to mediate antiinflammatory effects. Preliminary results are presented in this issue (Med Inflamm 1999; 8: 13-15)

Influence de la teneur en ciment sur les propriétés thermomécaniques des blocs d’argile comprimée et stabilisée

Ce travail vise à déterminer la résistance à la compression et la conductivité thermique des blocs à base d’argile comprimée et stabilisée au ciment d’une part et à étudier la variation de ces propriétés en fonction de la teneur en ciment d’autre part. Les mesures réalisées indiquent que la résistance des blocs sans ciment est de 3,7 MPa par « voie sèche » pour une conductivité thermique de 0,91 Wm-1K-1 (déterminée à l’aide d’un fluxmètre). L’incorporation de ciment entraine une variation de ces deux propriétés. Ainsi on note d’abord une baisse de la résistance suivie d’une augmentation au delà de 4% de ciment. Toutefois la conductivité thermique des blocs ayant les teneurs en ciment les plus importantes reste proche de celle des blocs sans ciment.Mots-clés: bloc d’argile, ciment portland, stabilisation, résistance en compression, conductivité thermique. Influence of cement content on the thermomechanical properties of compressed and stabilized clay blocks This work aims to determine the compressive strength and the thermal conductivity of clay compressed blocks and stabilized with cement and to study the influence of the cement ratio on these characteristics of the blocks. The resistance of blocks without cement is (determined at dry state) is 3.7 MPa and measurements made with a fluxmeter show that the thermal conductivity of these blocks is 0,91 Wm-1 K-1. The results show also that the thermal conductivity and the compressive strength of the blocks vary according to the cement ratio. However the thermal conductivity of the blocks with high cement ratio is close to that of the blocks without cement.Keywords: clay blocks, Portland cement, stabilization, compressive strength, thermal conductivity

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on four research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-240-62)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-419)Lincoln Laboratory (Purchase Order DDL BB-107)U. S. Air Force (Contract AF 19(628)-500)Office of Naval Research (Contract Nonr 3963(02

Radio Astronomy

Contains reports on five research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-419)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DA36-039-AMC-03200(E)