Research investigation directed toward extending the useful range of the electromagnetic spectrum Third quarterly progress report, Jun. 16 - Sep. 15, 1965

Investigations in astronomy, solid state physics, optical masers, atomic physics, and radioactive atoms for electromagnetic application

Properties of simple atoms and ions Semiannual report, 1 Jul. - 31 Dec. 1968

Optical excitation and decay of helium atom, and relaxation of excited alkali ato

Research on the properties and interactions of simple atomic and ionic systems

Simple ionic systems were studied, such as metastable autoionizing states of the negative He ion, two-photon decay spectrum of metastable He ion, optical excitation with low energy ions, and lifetime measurements of singly ionized Li and metastable He ion. Simple atomic systems were also investigated. Metastable autoionizing atomic energy levels in alkali elements were included, along with lifetime measurements of Cr-53, group 2A isotopes, and alkali metal atoms using level crossing and optical double resonance spectroscopy

X-ray astronomy

Various experiments in X-ray astronomy are described. The occurrence of lunar occultations of the Crab Nebula were utilized to determine the spatial distribution of X-ray emitting regions in the nebula. Study of the Cygnus Loop included a search for a central X-ray point source for the area and measurement of the energy spectrum of the flux from the supernova remnant. The X-ray morphology of the Perseus cluster of galaxies was studied. X-ray spectra of different points in the cluster were also obtained. In addition, the construction of a high resolution gas fluorescence proportional counter for application to X-ray astronomy is discussed

Multidisciplinary research in the space sciences. Scope B: Experimental X-ray astronomy

A research program to design and develop instruments suitable for rocket-borne X-ray astronomy experiments is discussed. Successful designs that were implemented are summarized. The designs include the following: (1) a large area modular X-ray focusing system, (2) incoherent scattering polarimeters, (3) Bragg crystal spectrometers and polarimeters, and (4) a focusing collector for long wavelength. The applications of these instruments to the observation of X-ray sources in rocket-borne experiments are analyzed

Data reduction and analysis for the graphite crystal X-ray spectrometer and polarimeter experiment flown aboard OSO-8 spacecraft

The documentation and software programs developed for the reception, initial processing (quickbook), and production analysis of data obtained by solar X-ray spectroscopy, stellar spectroscopy, and X-ray polarimetry experiments on OSO-8 are listed. The effectiveness and sensitivity of the Bragg crystal scattering instruments used are assessed. The polarization data polarimetric data obtained shows that some X-ray sources are polarized and that a larger polarimeter of this type is required to perform the measurements necessary to fully understand the physics of X-ray sources. The scanning Bragg crystal spectrometer was ideally suited for studying rapidly changing solar conditions. Observations of the Crab Nebula and pulsar, Cyg X-1, Cyg X-2, Cyg X-3, Sco X-1, Cen X-3, and Her X-1 are discussed as well as of 4U1656-53 and 4U1820-30. Evidence was obtained for iron line emission from Cyg X-3

Presume It Not: True Causes in the Search for the Basis of Heredity

Kyle Stanford has recently given substance to the problem of unconceived alternatives, which challenges the reliability of inference to the best explanation (IBE) in remote domains of nature. Conjoined with the view that IBE is the central inferential tool at our disposal in investigating these domains, the problem of unconceived alternatives leads to scientific anti-realism. We argue that, at least within the biological community, scientists are now and have long been aware of the dangers of IBE. We re-analyze the nineteenth-century study of inheritance and development (Stanford’s case study) and extend it into the twentieth century, focusing in particular on both classical Mendelian genetics and the studies by Avery et al. on the chemical nature of the hereditary substance. Our extended case studies show the preference of the biological community for a different methodological standard: the vera causa ideal, which requires that purported causes be shown on non-explanatory grounds to exist and be competent to produce their effects. On this basis, we defend a prospective realism about the biological sciences

Bem1p contributes to secretory pathway polarization through a direct interaction with Exo70p.

The exocyst serves to tether secretory vesicles to cortical sites specified by polarity determinants, in preparation for fusion with the plasma membrane. Although most exocyst components are brought to these sites by riding on secretory vesicles as they are actively transported along actin cables, Exo70p displays actin-independent localization to these sites, implying an interaction with a polarity determinant. Here we show that Exo70p directly and specifically binds to the polarity determinant scaffold protein Bem1p. The interaction involves multiple domains of both Exo70p and Bem1p. Mutations in Exo70p that disrupt its interaction with Bem1, without impairing its interactions with other known binding partners, lead to the loss of actin-independent localization. Synthetic genetic interactions confirm the importance of the Exo70p-Bem1p interaction, although there is some possible redundancy with Sec3p and Sec15p, other exocyst components that also interact with polarity determinants. Similar to Sec3p, the actin-independent localization of Exo70p requires a synergistic interaction with the phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2

Some remarks on stability for a phase-field model with memory

The phase field system with memory can be viewed as a phenomenological extension of the classical phase equations in which memory effects have been taken into account in both fields. Such memory effects could be important for example during phase transition in polymer melts in the proximity of the glass transition temperature where configurational degrees of freedom in the polymer melt constitute slowly relaxing "internal modes" which are di±cult to model explicitly. They should be relevant in particular to glass-liquid-glass transitions where re-entrance effects have been recently reported [27]. We note that in numerical studies based on sharp interface equations obtained from (PFM), grains have been seen to rotate as they shrink [35, 36]. While further modelling and numerical efforts are now being undertaken, the present manuscript is devoted to strengthening the analytical underpinnings of the model