Foreground separation methods for satellite observations of the cosmic microwave background

A maximum entropy method (MEM) is presented for separating the emission due to different foreground components from simulated satellite observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR). In particular, the method is applied to simulated observations by the proposed Planck Surveyor satellite. The simulations, performed by Bouchet and Gispert (1998), include emission from the CMBR, the kinetic and thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effects from galaxy clusters, as well as Galactic dust, free-free and synchrotron emission. We find that the MEM technique performs well and produces faithful reconstructions of the main input components. The method is also compared with traditional Wiener filtering and is shown to produce consistently better results, particularly in the recovery of the thermal SZ effect.Comment: 31 pages, 19 figures (bitmapped), accpeted for publication in MNRA

A problem with ecologically sustainable development in Australian waters

A federal court decision has ruled that social and community issues are irrelevant to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in pursuing its statutory objectives laid down in the Fisheries Management Act 1991. The matter is discussed in relation to recent statements put forward by Australian Governments

Poetry translation

After a short history of poetry translation, this article describes poetry’s key textual and extratextual features. The next section, Attitudes and approaches, looks at social attitudes towards poetry translation: the notion that poetry gets “lost in translation”, and the fact that poetry translators are highly visible. It then surveys overall approaches to poetry translation: literal cribs and interlinears; “re-creatively” conveying the source poem’s message in a target-language poem; adaptations/‌versions/‌imitations; poems inspired by other-language poems; and pseudo-translations. It also discusses debates within the re-creative approach: source versus target orientation; creativity; plus whether to convey source-poem fixed form – and if so, how. Finally, poetry-translation norms are mentioned. The following two sections describe translating processes, plus how translated poetry is brought to audiences and how it is read. Discussion then turns to translators’ skills, motivations and emotions, plus questions of loyalty and identity. The article subsequently addresses how poetry translators work with others: in a project team with people like an editor, a publisher and/or a source poet; and collaboratively, in a multi-translator grouping involving a source poet, one or more target-language poets, and/or one or more cross-language experts. There follows an overview of the social context that poetry translators and teams work in: the vocational “field” of poetry translators; remuneration, accreditation and training; and poetry translators’ social status. An overview of the publishing market for translated poetry follows, plus a discussion of how poetry translations have influenced target-language poetry, translation theory and the target language itself. After this, relationships between poetry translation and macro-social concepts such as culture or nation are explored. Finally, the article mentions areas of poetry translation worthy of future research, and relevant research methods

Modelling TGFbR and Hh pathway regulation of prognostic matrisome molecules in ovarian cancer

In a multi-level ‘deconstruction’ of omental metastases, we previously identified a prognostic matrisome gene expression signature in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and twelve other malignancies. Here, our aim was to understand how six of these extracellular matrix, ECM, molecules, COL11A1, COMP, FN1, VCAN, CTSB and COL1A1, are up-regulated in cancer. Using biopsies, we identified significant associations between TGFβR activity, Hedgehog signalling and these ECM molecules and then studied the associations in mono-, co- and tri-culture. Activated omental fibroblasts produced more matrix than malignant cells, directed by TGFβR and Hedgehog signalling crosstalk. We ‘reconstructed’ omental metastases in tri-culture of HGSOC cells, omental fibroblasts and adipocytes. This combination was sufficient to generate all six ECM proteins and the matrisome expression signature. TGFβR and Hedgehog inhibitor combinations attenuated fibroblast activation, gel remodelling and ECM remodelling in these models. The tri-culture model reproduces key features of omental metastases and allows study of diseased-associated ECM

Performance of Glass Woven Fabric Composites with Admicellar-Coated Thin Elastomeric Interphase

Adequate stress transfer between the inorganic reinforcement and surrounding polymeric matrix is essential for achieving enhanced structural integrity and extended lifetime performance of fiber-reinforced composites. The insertion of an elastomeric interlayer helps increase the stress-transfer capabilities across the fiber/matrix interface and considerably reduces crack initiation phenomena at the fiber ends. In this study, admicellar polymerization is used to modify the fiber/matrix interface in glass woven fabric composites by forming thickness-controlled poly(styrene-co-isoprene) coatings. These admicellar interphases have distinct characteristics (e.g., topology and surface coverage) depending on the surfactant/monomer (S/M) ratios used during the polymerization reaction. Overall, the admicellar coatings have a positive effect on the mechanical response of resin transfer molded (RTM), E-glass/epoxy parts. For instance, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of composites with admicellar sizings improved 50 to 55% over the control desized samples. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) also showed increases ranging from 18 to 38% over the same control group. Interestingly, the flexural properties of these composites proved sensitive to the type of interphase formed for various admicellar polymerization conditions. Higher surface coverage and film connectedness in admicellar polymeric sizings are observed to enhance stress transfer at the interfacial region.Ye

Nontransgenic models of breast cancer

Numerous models have been developed to address key elements in the biology of breast cancer development and progression. No model is ideal, but the most useful are those that reflect the natural history and histopathology of human disease, and allow for basic investigations into underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. We describe two types of models: those that are directed toward early events in breast cancer development (hyperplastic alveolar nodules [HAN] murine model, MCF10AT human xenograft model); and those that seek to reflect the spectrum of metastatic disease (murine sister cell lines 67, 168, 4T07, 4T1). Collectively, these models provide cell lines that represent all of the sequential stages of progression in breast disease, which can be modified to test the effect of genetic changes