Flange design for large-scale modular assembly jigs

Technique incorporates weld-free method for securing flanges to projecting ends of unmachined box-beam framework so flanged structure may be reused without modification. One such framework may be readily assembled to another by simply matching flanges together and passing connecting members between preformed holes in structures

Closed circuit TV system monitors welding operations

TV camera system that has a special vidicon tube with a gradient density filter is used in remote monitoring of TIG welding of stainless steel. The welding operations involve complex assembly welding tools and skates in areas of limited accessibility

Flanged major modular assembly jig

Weldless methods and means are described for securing flanges to the projecting ends of an unmachined box beam framework in such a manner that the flanged structure may be reused without modification. And one framework may be readily assembled to another by simply matching the flanges together and passing connecting members between performed holes in the structures

Precision Measurements of the Semileptonic Charm Decays D0→π−ℓ+νD^0 \to \pi^- \ell^+ \nu and D0→K−ℓ+νD^0 \to K^- \ell^+ \nu

We investigate the decays $D^0\to\pi^-\ell^+\nu$ and $D^0\to K^-\ell^+ \nu$, where $\ell$ is $e$ or $\mu$, using approximately 7 ${\rm fb}^{-1}$ of data collected with the CLEO III detector. We find $R_0\equiv {\cal B}(D^0\to \pi^-e^+\nu)/{\cal B}(D^0\to K^-e^+\nu)= 0.082 \pm 0.006 \pm 0.005$. Fits to the kinematic distributions of the data provide parameters describing the form factor of each mode. Combining the form factor results and $R_0$ gives $|f^{\pi}_{+}(0)|^2 |V_{cd}|^2/|f^K_{+}(0)|^2 |V_{cs}|^2 = 0.038^{+0.006+0.005}_{-0.007-0.003}$.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, talk given at DPF'04, UC Riverside, C

The c-fos serum response element responds to protein kinase C-dependent and -independent signals but not to cyclic AMP

Transcription of the c-fos proto-oncogene is rapidly induced by serum growth factors. A short c-fos DNA element, the serum response element (SRE), is required for this response to serum. However, serum activates a series of distinct intracellular signaling pathways, and it is not known to which of these pathways the SRE responds. To address this question, mutations have been introduced into the SRE of an otherwise intact c-fos promoter/enhancer. These mutations strongly reduce the binding of a nuclear factor to this site. Plasmids carrying either a wild-type or mutant c-fos SRE were transfected into fibroblasts and tested for their response to whole serum, purified recombinant c-sis protein, the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate, and activators of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger system. Assays were carried out under normal conditions and after chronic phorbol ester-treatment to deplete phorbol ester activatable protein kinase C activity from transfected cells. The results show that the SRE is necessary and sufficient for response to both protein kinase C-dependent and -independent intracellular signaling pathways but not for response to the cAMP pathway

Simplified Daylight Spectrum Approximation by Blending Two Light Emitting Diode Sources

Energy-conscious facility designs strive to include natural daylight in workspaces. To improve the efficiency of illumination, significant efforts are underway to adopt more efficient light emitting diode (LED) lamps and to effectively integrate daylight with active dimming of electric lighting. However, the correlated color temperature (CCT) and spectral content of daylight varies throughout the day while existing electric light sources produce light with a fixed CCT, resulting in mixed-illumination environments. The color rendering requirements for a lamp that permits the selection of color temperature across a significant portion of the daylight locus is explored. The analysis indicates that it is possible to form a lamp having only two independently controllable groups of narrowband emitters that is capable of producing light that achieves a nearly colorimetric match to daylight from 4000-10,000K. A prototype LED lamp, with a simple control and novel drive scheme, which produces white light over a range of CCTs by blending light from a pair of sources, each with numerous, tuned LED emitters, is demonstrated. The prototype validates the lamp concept -- producing light over a broad range of CCT values (4000-8000K) while maintaining a stable color quality rendering score without requiring computations for spectral approximation once employed

The relative fitness of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a modelling study of household transmission in Peru.

The relative fitness of drug-resistant versus susceptible bacteria in an environment dictates resistance prevalence. Estimates for the relative fitness of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains are highly heterogeneous and mostly derived from in vitro experiments. Measuring fitness in the field allows us to determine how the environment influences the spread of resistance. We designed a household structured, stochastic mathematical model to estimate the fitness costs associated with multidrug resistance (MDR) carriage in Mtb in Lima, Peru during 2010-2013. By fitting the model to data from a large prospective cohort study of TB disease in household contacts, we estimated the fitness, relative to susceptible strains with a fitness of 1, of MDR-Mtb to be 0.32 (95% credible interval: 0.15-0.62) or 0.38 (0.24-0.61), if only transmission or progression to disease, respectively, was affected. The relative fitness of MDR-Mtb increased to 0.56 (0.42-0.72) when the fitness cost influenced both transmission and progression to disease equally. We found the average relative fitness of MDR-Mtb circulating within households in Lima, Peru during 2010-2013 to be significantly lower than concurrent susceptible Mtb If these fitness levels do not change, then existing TB control programmes are likely to keep MDR-TB prevalence at current levels in Lima, Peru

Differential rotation and meridional flow in the solar supergranulation layer: Measuring the eddy viscosity

We measure the eddy viscosity in the outermost layers of the solar convection zone by comparing the rotation law computed with the Reynolds stress resulting from f-plane simulations of the angular momentum transport in rotating convection with the observed differential rotation pattern. The simulations lead to a negative vertical and a positive horizontal angular momentum transport. The consequence is a subrotation of the outermost layers, as it is indeed indicated both by helioseismology and the observed rotation rates of sunspots. In order to reproduce the observed gradient of the rotation rate a value of about 1.5 x 10^{13} cm/s for the eddy viscosity is necessary. Comparison with the magnetic eddy diffusivity derived from the sunspot decay yields a surprisingly large magnetic Prandtl number of 150 for the supergranulation layer. The negative gradient of the rotation rate also drives a surface meridional flow towards the poles, in agreement with the results from Doppler measurements. The successful reproduction of the abnormally positive horizontal cross correlation (on the northern hemisphere) observed for bipolar groups then provides an independent test for the resulting eddy viscosity.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics (subm.

DNA bending and orientation-dependent function of YY1 in the c-fos promoter

The assembly of multicomponent complexes at promoters, enhancers, and silencers likely entails perturbations in the path of the DNA helix. We present evidence that YY1, a ubiquitously expressed DNA-binding protein, regulates the activity of the c-fos promoter primarily through an effect on DNA structure. YY1 binds to and induces a phased DNA bend at three sites in this promoter. By use of a truncated c-fos promoter activity containing a single functional YY1 site, we show that YY1 represses promoter activity but that repression does not appear to be an intrinsic property of the protein in this context. Moreover, when the orientation of the YY1 site is reversed, YY1 activates the same promoter. Repression by YY1 is also alleviated by changing the relative phasing of factor-binding sites on either side of YY1. We conclude that the principal function of YY1 in this promoter is to bend DNA to regulate contact between other proteins. Thus, YY1 represents a new class of transcription factors that influences promoter function by affecting promoter structure rather than by directly contacting the transcriptional machinery. We provide evidence that the product of the male sex determination gene SRY may also belong to this class of structural factors

Private Juries Within the Arbitration Framework: A Third Path In Dispute Resolution

In the context of a global pandemic and a resulting backlog of jury trials in the United States court system, this article explores the potential for employing a private jury system within existing arbitration law to provide a third path for parties seeking an expedient resolution of disputes by juries when impediments exist to jury trial in court. After an introduction and background on the current state of the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and its effect on court backlogs, we outline the law applicable to private jury proceedings, including (a) whether an arbitral award predicated on a private jury determination is enforceable; and (b) the requirements and limitations of a private jury award. We then conclude with a brief analysis of the considerations that parties seeking to employ private jury proceedings might implement to ensure such proceedings lead to a full and fair hearing and an enforceable award