Symbolic algorithms for the Painlevé test, special solutions, and recursion operators for nonlinear PDEs

This paper discusses the algorithms and implementations of three MATHEMATICA packages for the study of integrability and the computation of closed-form solutions of nonlinear polynomial PDEs. The first package, PainleveTest.m, symbolically performs the Painlevé integrability test. The second package, PDESpecialSolutions.m, computes exact solutions expressible in hyperbolic or elliptic functions. The third package, PDERecursionOperator.m, generates and tests recursion operators

SESAME, a third generation synchrotron light source for the Middle East region

Developed under the auspices of UNESCO, SESAME is being established as an autonomous international research centre in the Middle East/Mediterranean region. It will have as its centrepiece a 2.5 GeV third Generation synchrotron light source with 13 straight sections for insertion devices and an emittance of 26.6 nm-rad. It will provide intense radiation from the IR to hard X-rays to a community that is expected to exceed 1000 users a few years after the start of operation in 2008

EXAFS study of nickel exchanged into zeolite Y

EXAFS and near edge spectroscopy were used to monitor changes i n Ni coordination as a function of treatment conditions after aqueous exchange into zeolite Y. Our results suggest that after calcination and dehydration under the conditions of this study, major site occupancy for Ni appears to be in the tri-coordinate exchange sites , and not i n the hexagonal prisms as suggested by previous x-ray diffraction results

EXAFS study of nickel tetracarbonyl and nickel clusters in zeolite Y

Adsorption and thermal decomposition of Ni(CO)4 in the cage system of zeolite Y have been studied with EXAFS, electron microscopy and IR spectroscopy , Ni(CO)4 is adsorbed as an intact molecule in both cation - free zeolite Y and NaY. Symmetry changes of the molecule in NaY are assigned to the formation of Na—OC-IMi bridges. Thermal treatment of the Ni(CO)4/NaY adduct leads to loss of CO concomitant with the formation of a binodal Ni phase. A major part of the forms clusters with diameter between 0.5 and about 1.5 nm, in addition to larger crystallites (5-30 nm), sticking at the outer surface of the zeolite matrix., The Ni-Ni scattering amplitude indicates increasing average particle size with increasing temperature

Sensitization of renal carcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by rocaglamide and analogs

Rocaglamide has been reported to sensitize several cell types to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In recent years, advances in synthetic techniques have led to generation of novel rocaglamide analogs. However, these have not been extensively analyzed as TRAIL sensitizers, particularly in TRAIL-resistant renal cell carcinoma cells. Evaluation of rocaglamide and analogs identified 29 compounds that are able to sensitize TRAIL-resistant ACHN cells to TRAIL-induced, caspase-dependent apoptosis with sub-µM potency which correlated with their potency as protein synthesis inhibitors and with loss of cFLIP protein in the same cells. Rocaglamide alone induced cell cycle arrest, but not apoptosis. Rocaglates averaged 4–5-fold higher potency as TRAIL sensitizers than as protein synthesis inhibitors suggesting a potential window for maximizing TRAIL sensitization while minimizing effects of general protein synthesis inhibition. A wide range of other rocaglate effects (e.g. on JNK or RAF-MEK-ERK signaling, death receptor levels, ROS, ER stress, eIF4E phosphorylation) were assessed, but did not contribute to TRAIL sensitization. Other than a rapid loss of MCL-1, rocaglates had minimal effects on mitochondrial apoptotic pathway proteins. The identification of structurally diverse/mechanistically similar TRAIL sensitizing rocaglates provides insights into both rocaglate structure and function and potential further development for use in RCC-directed combination therapy.This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. HHSN261200800001E. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. This research was supported [in part] by the Intramural Research Program of NIH, Frederick. National Lab, Center for Cancer Research. Research performed at Boston University was supported in part by NIH R35 GM118173. Work at the BU-CMD is supported by R24 GM111625. (HHSN261200800001E - National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Intramural Research Program of NIH, Frederick. National Lab, Center for Cancer Research; R35 GM118173 - NIH; R24 GM111625)Published versio

Encouraging play in the natural environment : a child-focused case study of Forest School

There is concern that children are becoming disengaged from the natural environment and are not being afforded the opportunities to play in such environments. To examine children\u27s perceptions, knowledge and experiences of play in the natural environment, 17 children from one school participated in small focus groups before and after a 12-week Forest School that took place within a school woodland area. Using two qualitative approaches, we found that Forest School had a positive influence on children\u27s natural play and their knowledge of the natural world around them.<br /

Voltage- and light-induced hysteresis effects at the high-k dielectric- poly(3-hexylthiophene) interface

Capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements have been undertaken on metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitors formed from atomic-layer-deposited films of aluminium titanium oxide as the insulator and poly(3-hexylthiophene) as the insulator. Upon cycling from -30 to +30 V in the dark, the C-V plots show large, temperature-dependent, reversible shifts in the flatband voltage to more negative voltages consistent with reversible, shallow hole trapping at or near the insulator-semiconductor interface. When illuminated with photons of energy exceeding the polymer band gap, even larger shifts to positive voltages are observed accompanied by inversion layer formation. This latter effect has potential applications in optical sensing. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics