The Secret of Viral Reproduction

Nucleic acid is the basis of life. There are 2 types, ribose nucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA). DNA, the material found in the chromosomes within the nuclei of the cells of most living organisms, bears the genetic code that determines all of the characteristics of a living organism. Information from the DNA of the chromosomes is carried to all parts of the cell by one type of RNA called messenger RNA. Additional specialized RNA molecules are found inside the ribosomes, tiny bodies within the protoplasm that make proteins for the cell. Still other, smaller RNA molecules, called soluble RNAs play an active role in the synthesis of proteins by linking with the building blocks (amino acids) that form new protein. The soluble RNAs participate with specialized proteins (enzymes) and the ribosomes in following the instructions of the messenger RNA to build new protein molecules

Stochastic Volterra equations with singular kernels

Existence, uniqueness and continuity properties of solutions of stochastic Volterra equations with singular integral kernels (driven by Brownian motion) are proven. © 1995

Loss of infectivity of poliovirus 1 in river water under simulated field conditions

The effects of light, virus concentration, and turbidity on the rate of loss of infectivity (LOI) of poliovirus 1 were investigated in two test systems, which utilized flowing river water. Two levels of each variable were used in a 23 confounded factorial design. The seeded systems were sampled at regular intervals to establish LOI rates. Virus infectivity was measured by plaque assay. Loss of infectivity followed a two-component curve; an initial, rapid phase followed by a second, slower component. The slopes of the two components were examined by the analysis of variance to determine the potential influence of each variable. Both light and turbidity exerted a significant influence on the LOI rate in the second component of the LOI curve and also in the transition period between the two components; however, during the initial, rapid phase none of the variables influenced the LOI rate (at the 0.05 significance level). This research demonstrates the significance of light as a virucidal component in the aquatic environment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23757/1/0000730.pd

Solid State Physics

Contains research objectives and reports on four research projects

The Extrasolar Planet epsilon Eridani b - Orbit and Mass

Hubble Space Telescope observations of the nearby (3.22 pc), K2 V star epsilon Eridani have been combined with ground-based astrometric and radial velocity data to determine the mass of its known companion. We model the astrometric and radial velocity measurements simultaneously to obtain the parallax, proper motion, perturbation period, perturbation inclination, and perturbation size. Because of the long period of the companion, \eps b, we extend our astrometric coverage to a total of 14.94 years (including the three year span of the \HST data) by including lower-precision ground-based astrometry from the Allegheny Multichannel Astrometric Photometer. Radial velocities now span 1980.8 -- 2006.3. We obtain a perturbation period, P = 6.85 +/- 0.03 yr, semi-major axis, alpha =1.88 +/- 0.20 mas, and inclination i = 30.1 +/- 3.8 degrees. This inclination is consistent with a previously measured dust disk inclination, suggesting coplanarity. Assuming a primary mass M_* = 0.83 M_{\sun}, we obtain a companion mass M = 1.55 +/- 0.24 M_{Jup}. Given the relatively young age of epsilon Eri (~800 Myr), this accurate exoplanet mass and orbit can usefully inform future direct imaging attempts. We predict the next periastron at 2007.3 with a total separation, rho = 0.3 arcsec at position angle, p.a. = -27 degrees. Orbit orientation and geometry dictate that epsilon Eri b will appear brightest in reflected light very nearly at periastron. Radial velocities spanning over 25 years indicate an acceleration consistent with a Jupiter-mass object with a period in excess of 50 years, possibly responsible for one feature of the dust morphology, the inner cavity

Learning to Teach About Ideas and Evidence in Science : The Student Teacher as Change Agent

A collaborative curriculum development project was set up to address the lack of good examples of teaching about ideas and evidence and the nature of science encountered by student teachers training to teach in the age range 11-16 in schools in England. Student and teacher-mentor pairs devised, taught and evaluated novel lessons and approaches. The project design required increasing levels of critique through cycles of teaching, evaluation and revision of lessons. Data were gathered from interviews and students' reports to assess the impact of the project on student teachers and to what extent any influences survived when they gained their first teaching posts. A significant outcome was the perception of teaching shifting from the delivery of standard lessons in prescribed ways to endeavours demanding creativity and decision-making. Although school-based factors limited newly qualified teachers' chances to use new lessons and approaches and therefore act as change-agents in schools, the ability to critique curriculum materials and the recognition of the need to create space for professional dialogue were durable gains

K2-114b and K2-115b : two transiting warm Jupiters

A.C.C. acknowledges support from STFC consolidated grant number ST/M001296/1.We report the first results from a search for transiting warm Jupiter exoplanets—gas giant planets receiving stellar irradiation below about 108 erg−1 cm−2, equivalent to orbital periods beyond about 10 days around Sun-like stars. We have discovered two transiting warm Jupiter exoplanets initially identified as transiting candidates in K2 photometry. K2-114b has a mass of 1.85^(+0.23)_(-0.22) MJ, a radius of 0.942^(+0.032)_(-0.020) RJ, and an orbital period of 11.4 days. K2-115b has a mass of 0.84^(+0.18)_(-0.20) MJ, a radius of 1.115^(+0.057)_(-0.061) RJ, and an orbital period of 20.3 days. Both planets are among the longest-period transiting gas giant planets with a measured mass, and they are orbiting relatively old host stars. Both planets are not inflated, as their radii are consistent with theoretical expectations. Their position in the planet radius–stellar irradiation diagram is consistent with the scenario where the radius–irradiation correlation levels off below about 108 erg s−1 cm−2, suggesting that for warm Jupiters stellar irradiation does not play a significant role in determining the planet radius. We also report our identification of another K2 transiting warm Jupiter candidate, EPIC 212504617, as a false positive.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A selected bibliography on parameter optimization methods suitable for hybrid computation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68333/2/10.1177_003754976700800610.pd