In 1644 a regulation was enacted by the Sephardi community in Amsterdam condemning any member who would abandon Judaism and go to Spain or Portugal or to one of their colonies, or to any other Christian country where the practice of Judaism was forbidden. Those who transgressed this regulation would be required, after returning from 'the Lands of Idolatry', to ask forgiveness before the whole congregation, and for four years would be denied the honor of being called to the Torah. They would not be able to hold any office in the community during that time. Similar regulations were enacted in the Sephardi communities of Leghorn (1655), Hamburg (1657), and London (1677). This article analyzes the historical background of these regulations and in doing so examines the economic and political relations between the western Sephardi Jews and the Iberian kingdoms during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. These regulations were established during a period of intensive economic interactio
In 1644 a regulation was enacted by the Sephardi community in Amsterdam condemning any member who would abandon Judaism and go to Spain or Portugal (or to one of their colonies) or to any other Christian country where the practice of Judaism was forbidden. Those who transgressed this regulation would be required, after returning from "the Lands of Idolatry," to ask forgiveness before the whole congregation, and for four years would be denied the honor of being called to the Torah. They would not be able to hold any office in the community during that time. Similar regulations were enacted in the Sephardi communities of Leghorn (1655), Hamburg (1657), and London (1677). This article analyzes the historical background of these regulations and in doing so examines the economic and political relations between the Western Sephardi Jews and the Iberian kingdoms during the 17th and 18th centuries. These regulations were established during a period of intensive economic interaction between th
The feedback mode of the scanning electrochem. microscope (SECM) was used for studying a surface-catalyzed electron-transfer reaction. As a model system the authors examd. the redn. of protons by reduced N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium, methylviologen radical cation, MV+•, catalyzed by a platinum surface. The exptl. configuration comprises a biased amalgamated Au ultramicroelectrode (UME) that approaches an unbiased Pt UME substrate of the same radius. MV+• that is electrochem. generated at the amalgamated UME is oxidized at the Pt surface as a result of reducing protons. This novel configuration permits the simultaneous measurement of the catalytic current and the mixed potential (open-circuit potential) attained at the Pt surface. The results are interpreted by an electrochem. model which was previously suggested; however, the authors' approach makes it possible to measure, for the 1st time, the current-potential relation predicted by the theory. The authors' results indicate that methylviologen behaves reversibly under all the exptl. conditions, and that the rate const. of hydrogen evolution, that is calcd., is in perfect agreement with previous reports. The significant advantages of the authors' approach are discussed as well as its applicability for studying other electrochem. systems. [on SciFinder(R)]
In multicellular organisms, the higher order organization of chromatin during interphase and the reassembly of the nuclear envelope during mitosis are thought to involve an interaction between the nuclear lamina and chromatin. The nuclear distribution of lamins and of peripheral chromatin is highly correlated in vivo, and lamins bind specifically to chromatin in vitro. Deletion mutants of Drosophila lamin Dm0 were expressed to map regions of the protein that are required for its binding to chromosomes. The binding activity requires two regions in the lamin Dm0 tail domain. The apparent Kd of binding of the lamin Dm0 tail domain was found to be approximately 1 microM. Chromatin subfractions were examined to search for possible target molecules for the binding of lamin Dm0. Isolated polynucleosomes, nucleosomes, histone octamer, histone H2A/H2B dimer, and histones H2A or H2B displaced the binding of lamin Dm0 tail to chromosomes. This displacement was specific, because polyamines or proteins such as histones H1, H3, or H4 did not displace the binding of the lamin Dm0 tail to chromosomes. In addition, DNA sequences, including M/SARs, did not interfere with the binding of lamin Dm0 tail domain to chromosomes. Taken together, these results suggest that the interaction between the tail domain of lamin Dm0 and histones H2A and H2B may mediate the attachment of the nuclear lamina to chromosomes in vivo.
Reprinted in The Russian Twentieth Century Short Story: A Critical Companion. Ed. Lyudmila Parts. Brighton, MA: Academic Studies Press, 2010, pp. 185–200.
The formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ω-mercaptoalkanoic acids on a mercury surface under potential control was studied. Cyclic voltammetry and a.c. voltammetry were used for studying the different phases and transitions that the homologous series of these thiols form and undergo. The thiols are either physisorbed or chemisorbed depending on the applied potential and the transition between these two states occurs through a faradaic process. Also, the chemisorption of the thiols results in multilayer deposition when the thiol monolayer does not block electron transfer. Finally, the implications of this study to the formation and manipulation of SAMs of ω-functionalized alkanethiols on Hg are discussed. [on SciFinder(R)]
Stabilized total nutrient admixt. (TNA) compns. are useful for the in vivo parenteral delivery of pharmacol. acceptable lipids or fats. The lipid or fat is contained within a protein walled shell. Thus, a TNA compn. using human serum albumin (HSA) as a stabilizer is prepd. as a convenient three-in-one formulation (i.e., contg. a fat emulsion, dextrose, and amino acids plus electrolytes). This "three-in-one" formulation can be prepd. in liq. form or in dry form (comprising submicron-sized nanoparticles). The dried material is stable, even under long term storage, and is easily reconstituted immediately before use by simply adding sterile water (with or without vitamin supplementation). This serves to rehydrate the powder into a TNA suitable for injection. The long shelf life, ease of reconstitution, and single-component injectability provide significant cost savings, as such compns. can be reconstituted and administered safely, even in the home. In addn., HSA, the stabilizing agent of choice, is known to improve survival and wellness when given as a supplement to patients receiving conventional forms of total nutrient admixts. [on SciFinder(R)]
In this paper we introduce the Molecular Layer Epitaxy (MLE) method for epitaxial growth of covalently-linked organic multilayered structures. This method combines vapor phase and solution based multilayers assembly techniques in a unified concept. The MLE approach was proved fruitful by applying Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques. The resulting MLE-derived low-dimensional multilayered structures exhibited high structural regularity and thermal stability. The above vapor phase assembly technique led to the formation of organic multiple quantum wells (OMQW) structures, where the solid-state electronic properties are governed by finite size effects. The various emitting species in the solid state were studied by modeling intermolecular interactions in solution. The strong tendency for π-aggregation in model compounds is evident in their crystal structure as well. This driving force for in-plane stacking also enhances the mobilities of electrons with-in this layer leading to unique electroluminescent properties. The suggested MLE approach for multilayered thin film deposition should enable the future advance in areas of material science connected with nano-technologies, and better understanding of fundamental issues in quantum mechanic and solid state physics.
Helium atoms are scattered from a beam of water clusters with mean size (n) over bar = 10 in an angular and velocity resolved collision experiment. The measured peaks are identified as elastic scattering, rotationally inelastic scattering of monomers, and vibrational excitation of the clusters. To interpret the latter processes quantum calculations are performed for He+(H2O)(11) collisions using the TDSCF approximation which includes the anharmonic force field of the water clusters and energy transfer between the modes. By comparison of the calculated and experimental results, the most probable excitations correspond to energy transfer for around 7 meV and, with smaller intensities, up to 20 meV. The excitations correspond to shearing modes of the outer rings and the middle ring of the highly nonrigid cluster against each other. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)01546-9].
This article claims that the local welfare effects of employment generation are often treated inadequately in the evaluation of economic development programs. Opportunity costs of labor are often either ignored or overstated, resulting in misleading indicators of welfare changes. Appropriately accounting for these costs requires recognizing employment creation as a benefit in terms of the chain reaction that it sets off in the local labor market. This article uses the concept of “job chains” and describes the different labor market circumstances in which they are likely to form. The local development of these chains, the impacts of in-migrants on their length, and the likelihood of their completion within the local area are all particularly important economic development issues with public policy implications. The article discusses the empirical estimation of these chains and their implications for evaluating the welfare impacts of alternative economic development projects.
Lay summary:
The article proposes that social scientists missed a valuable research opportunity to approach the Y2K bug as an area for social science study. The article demonstrates that studying public reactions to and national policy regarding Y2K holds rich potential for social science research. It explicates four areas where social science and Y2K converge and concludes that social scientists often mistakenly consider technological issues to be unrelated to social science interests.
Publication significance:
The article argues for broadening the parameters of social science research. It claims that the apparent separation between social science and technological fields leads to missed opportunities for social science research. Social scientists have much to learn from examining the human and cultural aspects that shape our response to technology at both the individual and national levels.
All-optical multistage interconnection networks are desirable for overcoming the limitations of optical signal regeneration in switching systems. We present a new implementation of the perfect-shuffle interconnection pattern that is coupled with an all-optical switching element, forming a complete stage of a multistage network. Switching is performed with birefringent calcite crystals and a ferroelectric liquid-crystal device, while interconnection is achieved with a space-semivariant imaging configuration. Cascading the layout allows this system to be used to construct an all-optical multistage interconnection network. An experimental demonstration of the stage is presented.
In this paper we study the cost of adding additional capacity to transport oil from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the Red Sea. If this capacity is obtained by adding power to the existing pipelines, the cost would increase by approximately 14 cents per barrel, but would require large capital expenditures. If this capacity is obtained by using Drag Reduction Agents, the cost would increase by 25 to 65 cents per barrel with minor capital expenditures. Since Arabian oil is inframarginal, these increased costs should have no impact on the supply of oil.
