The journey continues in Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145188/1/40842_2018_Article_67.pd

Stability of Quasicrystals Composed of Soft Isotropic Particles

Quasicrystals whose building blocks are of mesoscopic rather than atomic scale have recently been discovered in several soft-matter systems. Contrary to metallurgic quasicrystals whose source of stability remains a question of great debate to this day, we argue that the stability of certain soft-matter quasicrystals can be directly explained by examining a coarse-grained free energy for a system of soft isotropic particles. We show, both theoretically and numerically, that the stability can be attributed to the existence of two natural length scales in the pair potential, combined with effective three-body interactions arising from entropy. Our newly gained understanding of the stability of soft quasicrystals allows us to point at their region of stability in the phase diagram, and thereby may help control the self-assembly of quasicrystals and a variety of other desired structures in future experimental realizations.Comment: Revised abstract, more detailed explanations, and better images of the numerical minimization of the free energ

Tropical tele-connections to the Mediterranean climate and weather

Some strong natural fluctuations of climate in the Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region are shown to be connected to the major tropical systems. Potential relations between EM rainfall extremes to tropical systems, e.g. El Niño, Indian Monsoon and hurricanes, are demonstrated. For a specific event, high resolution modelling of the severe flood on 3-5 December 2001 in Israel suggests a relation to hurricane Olga. In order to understand the factors governing the EM climate variability in the summer season, the relationship between extreme summer temperatures and the Indian Monsoon was examined. Other tropical factors like the Red-Sea Trough system and the Saharan dust are also likely to contribute to the EM climate variability

Growth Hormone (GH) Secretion in Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: Effects of Cortisol Withdrawal and Patterned Replacement on GH Pulsatility and Circadian Rhythmicity

We studied the effects of cortisol withdrawal and patterned replacement upon spontaneous GH secretion and circadian rhythmicity in 7 patients with Addison's disease. Hydrocortisone was administered in physiological daily total dosages, and all resulting plasma cortisol values were 2–15 μg/dl. It was given in 3 pulsatile modes: simulating “physiological” rhythm, “reverse” diurnal rhythmicity and “continuous” pulsatility. All modes of cortisol administration increased mean 24h, GH pulse amplitude and interpulse GH levels. During saline infusions circadian GH rhythmicity was preserved, with GH being at its highest between 2400–0400 h. Administration of hydrocortisone in any mode did not modify circadian GH rhythmicity. We conclude: Cortisol replacement in physiological daily doses increases GH output in patients with Addison's disease by augmenting GH pulse amplitude and interpulse levels. This is likely due to the attenuation of hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIF) secretion by physiologic levels of cortisol. By inference, it implies that cortisol deficiency leads to diminution of GH output with low GH pulse amplitude, likely as a result of an augmented hypothalamic somatostatin secretion. However, circadian rhythmicity of GH secretion is glucocorticoid-independent.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47487/1/11102_2004_Article_324056.pd

Comparison of in vitro and in situ plankton production determinations

Plankton production was measured using 8 techniques at 4 stations in the Celtic Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, in April 2002. Primary production (PP) was derived from 14C incorporation into particulate carbon after 24 h simulated in situ, PP(14CSIS), and 2 h photosynthesis-irradiance incubations, PP(14CPUR), and from 2 published satellite algorithms, PP(VGPM) and PP (M91). Gross production (GP) was calculated from O2 evolution, GP(O2), and 18O enrichment of dissolved O 2, GP(18O), after 24 h simulated in situ incubations, and from in situ active fluorescence measured by fast repetition rate fluorometry (FRRF). Net community production (NCP) was determined from changes in in situ dissolved oxygen, NCP(?O2), and from changes in oxygen during 24 h simulated in situ incubations, NCP(O2). Dark community respiration (DCR) was derived from changes in oxygen during a 24 h dark incubation, DCR(O2), and daily oxygen uptake, DOU(18O, O2), was calculated from the difference between GP(18O) and NCP(O2). Three stations were dominated by picoautotrophs and the fourth station was dominated by diatoms. While most of the comparisons between techniques fell within previously published ranges, 2 anomalies occurred only at the diatom-dominated station. Rates of PP(14CPUR) were oxygen uptake in the dark. The low rates of PP( 14CPUR) in relation to PP(14CSIS) may have resulted from the heterogeneous nature of the bloom and differences in sampling time. However, it is also possible that dissolved organic material (DOM) released by the stressed diatom population restricted the diffusion of 14C into the cells, thereby causing a greater underestimate of PP by techniques using short incubations. The significantly higher rates of oxygen uptake in the light are difficult to reconcile, and we do not know whether the light enhanced oxygen uptake was directly linked to carbon fixation. However, the release of DOM may also have provided substrate for enhanced respiration in the light. These anomalies were only revealed through the concurrent measurement of plankton production by this wide range of techniques. Further investigation of DOM excretion and light-enhanced respiration during diatom blooms is warranted

The failed liberalisation of Algeria and the international context: a legacy of stable authoritarianism

The paper attempts to challenge the somewhat marginal role of international factors in the study of transitions to democracy. Theoretical and practical difficulties in proving causal mechanisms between international variables and domestic outcomes can be overcome by defining the international dimension in terms of Western dominance of world politics and by identifying Western actions towards democratising countries. The paper focuses on the case of Algeria, where international factors are key in explaining the initial process of democratisation and its following demise. In particular, the paper argues that direct Western policies, the pressures of the international system and external shocks influence the internal distribution of power and resources, which underpins the different strategies of all domestic actors. The paper concludes that analysis based purely on domestic factors cannot explain the process of democratisation and that international variables must be taken into more serious account and much more detailed

Моделі процесів захисту цілісності інформаційних об’єктів з використанням коду умовних лишків. Алгоритм нулізації

The models of processes of defense of integrity of information’s holding object with application of code of conditional tailings which provide high probabilities of exposure of violations of integrity and correction of the exposed curvatures are examined

Long-range attraction between particles in dusty plasma and partial surface tension of dusty phase boundary

Effective potential of a charged dusty particle moving in homogeneous plasma has a negative part that provides attraction between similarly charged dusty particles. A depth of this potential well is great enough to ensure both stability of crystal structure of dusty plasma and sizable value of surface tension of a boundary surface of dusty region. The latter depends on the orientation of the surface relative to the counter-ion flow, namely, it is maximal and positive for the surface normal to the flow and minimal and negative for the surface along the flow. For the most cases of dusty plasma in a gas discharge, a value of the first of them is more than sufficient to ensure stability of lenticular dusty phase void oriented across the counter-ion flow.Comment: LATEX, REVTEX4, 7 pages, 6 figure