Long-term polarimetric observations of OH127.8+0.0

OH 1612 and 1667 MHz masers from the well known object OH127.8+0.0 were mon- itored in full-polarization mode over a period of 6.5 years and mapped with MERLIN at one epoch. The OH variability pattern of the star is typical of extremely long- period AGB stars. The distance determined from the 1612 MHz light curve and a new measurement of the angular radius is 3.87 (0.28) kpc. At both frequencies, the flux of polarized emission tightly follows the total flux variations while, the degrees of circu- lar and linear polarization are constant within measurement accuracy.. There is net polarization at both lines. The magnetic field strength estimated from a likely Zeeman pair is -0.6 mG at the distance of 5400 au from the star.At the near and far sides of the envelope, the polarization vectors are well aligned implying a regular structure of the magnetic field. The polarization characteristics of the OH maser emission suggest a radial magnetic field which is frozen in the stellar wind.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Differential expressions and activities of the cysteine proteinases of cellular slime molds (Dictyostelium discoideum, Polysphondylium pallidum).

In the present study the differential expression of the cysteine proteinases (CPs) has been examined in detail for two slime molds i.e., the AX3 strain of Dictyostelium discoideum and the WS320 strain of Polysphondylium pallidum. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan both components of the bacterial cell wall were tested for the CPCF activity. Additionally the effects of the presence bacterial components on the germination kinetics were examined. This study shows that peptidoglycan is a very likely candidate for being cysteine proteinase converting factor. The peptidoglycan was able to induce changes in the types of proteinases expressed in the slime molds within the time expected time period. Secondly, it was able to override the dormancy of the wild type young spores of NC4, and it also affected the germination kinetics of SG1 spores by decreasing the lag period. Similar effects have been noted when whole bacterial cell extracts were used. Further, this work also supports the view that the conformational change is responsible for the activation of cysteine proteinases in slime molds. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1999 .W65. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-03, page: 0640. Adviser: D. A. Cotter. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1999

Electricity markets: Designing auctions where suppliers have uncertain costs

We analyse how the market design influences the bidding behaviour in multi-unit auctions, such as wholesale electricity markets. It is shown that competition improves for increased market transparency and we identify circumstances where the auctioneer prefers uniform to discriminatory pricing. We note that political risks could significantly worsen competition in hydro-dominated markets. It would be beneficial for such markets to have clearly defined contingency plans for extreme market situations.market transparenc

More knowledgeable electorates secure more representative policy outcomes for everyone

Having an informed electorate is traditionally considered a necessary prerequisite for realizing participatory democracy, as this enables voters to make meaningful choices about who they elect and to hold officials accountable for their actions. But do more informed electorates lead to more favorable policy outcomes? In new research which uses state-level data, William P. Jaeger, Jeffrey Lyons, and Jennifer Wolak find that the strength of the correlation between voter ideology and policy outcomes does indeed increase as the electorate’s knowledge rises. They suggest that state elected officials are particularly responsive to well-informed electorates whilst in office

Finitness of the basic intersection cohomology of a Killing foliation

We prove that the basic intersection cohomology ${I H}^{^{*}}_{_{\bar{p}}}{(M/\mathcal{F})},$ where $\mathcal{F}$ is the singular foliation determined by an isometric action of a Lie group $G$ on the compact manifold $M$, is finite dimensional

Cohomological tautness for Riemannian foliations

In this paper we present some new results on the tautness of Riemannian foliations in their historical context. The first part of the paper gives a short history of the problem. For a closed manifold, the tautness of a Riemannian foliation can be characterized cohomologically. We extend this cohomological characterization to a class of foliations which includes the foliated strata of any singular Riemannian foliation of a closed manifold