Showing papers by "University of Wollongong published in 1977"

The salt relations of Dunaliella. Further observations on glycerol production and its regulation.

Abstract: Dunaliella tertiolecta (marine) and D. viridis (halophilic) were each trained by serial transfer to growth at salt concentrations previously regarded as the other's domain. D. viridis then had a salt optimum at 1.0–1.5 M sodium chloride whereas that for D. tertiolecta was less than 0–2 M. Nevertheless D. tertiolecta grew faster than the halophil at all salt concentrations up to 3.5 M, the highest at which they were compared. Both species accumulate glycerol, which is necessary for growth at elevated salinities and which responds in its content to water activity (a w ) rather than specifically to salt concentration. Variation in glycerol content is a metabolic process which occurs in the dark from accumulated starch as well as photosynthetically. Regulation of glycerol content by a w does not require protein synthesis. The NADP-specific glycerol dehydrogenase of each of the algae is likely to be directly involved in the regulation of glycerol content. Kinetic studies, together with those described in an earlier publication, show that the enzyme has regulatory properties, and that both glycerol and dihydroxyacetone act as effectors as well as reactants. A mechanism of the reaction is tentatively proposed.

Accident reporting systems: A basic problem area in industrial society

Abstract: This paper examines accident-reporting and information-processing systems associated with industrial accidents. Detailed analyses were made of semistructured interviews with personnel from a number of plants in the steel industry, supplemented by a wider ranging series of discussions in other industries and organizations. Some suggestions are made for dealing with a number of specific problems identified. The major problem revealed is a composite one, its essence being that accident-reporting systems have not been designed as information systems, but have grown in a relatively unplanned way to meet individual needs and preferences as these arose. Criteria for a more effective accident-reporting system are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bem Sex-role Inventory

Abstract: Two hundred and twenty six Australian University students were given two administrations of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, yielding high test-retest reliability scores. These results were then compared with Bem's American data. Both samples indicate the existence of a core of subjects who are Androgynous. A possible cultural difference with respect to the social desirability of the ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ characteristics in the Inventory is discussed.

Theoretical evidence for metastable cyclic ozone

Abstract: OZONE is a vital component of the atmosphere. Knowledge of its properties is important to the understanding of its involvement in chemical and photo-induced reactions which can affect the stability of the ozone concentration in the upper atmosphere. The reactivity of ozone and its unusually low thermochemical stability with respect to partial dissociation are difficult to reconcile with an apparently multiply bonded symmetric bent structure. This has led to speculation1,2 concerning alternative forms of ozone such as the equilateral triangular cyclic form (isoelectronic with cyclopropane) from which facile partial dissociation could be envisioned. To have an important role such a form would presumably need to be thermally accessible from the ground state and bound with respect to partial dissociation. The spectroscopic structure determination of the symmetric bent ground state3–10 has been finalised10 (re (O–O) 127.1 pm, angle 116.8°), and there was recently experimental confirmation11,12 of excited states of this species13–16,22 which are bound with respect to dissociation, including the predicted 3B2 state13–17,22. Investigations of bound excited states which are stable to partial dissociation have been stimulated by the sequential observation during O2 radiolysis experiments12,18,19 of two short-lived ‘ozone precursors’ O3α and O3β following recombination of ground state O2 and O. O3β may be vibrationally excited ground state ozone20, whereas the O3α precursor which shows absorption12 at ∼ 315 nm in the ultraviolet (and possibly21 the emission observed at 1500 cm−1 in the infrared) has not yet been given an identity beyond an apparent lifetime of 5 µs. The species showing the single infrared emission21 is interesting as D3h cyclic ozone is expected to show one (degenerate) infrared active fundamental, fewer than any alternative structure. Theoretical evidence for the stability of cyclic ozone has been conflicting. In 1973 Wright1 calculated it to be 26 kJ mol−1 more stable than the ground state; in 1972 and 1975 Hay et al.13,22 calculated it to be less stable by ∼ 150kJ mol−1 (that is, above partial dissociation energy ΔH° = 101 kJ mol−1) and in 1974 Shih et al.14 have concluded it is 63 kJ mol−1 above the ground state. Shih et al.14 have recognised that considerable uncertainty still exists in their computation on total and relative energies, and their calculated ground state structural parameters differ significantly from experiment. We have reinvestigated the relative stability of cyclic ozone and symmetric bent ozone and have obtained a total energy for the ground state of−224.7710 hartree which is 471 kJ mol−1 lower than the previous best model wavefunction of Hay et al.13 who predicted cyclic ozone to be above dissociation. In other words, the relative shortcoming in total energy in all previous computations on each conformer has been around five times the key energy difference between ground state ozone and the partial dissociation products, ΔH° = 101 kJ mol−1. The computed optimum geometric parameters (bond length re = 126.4pm and bond angle αe = 117.3°) are sufficiently close to the experimental values to lend some confidence to our model wavefunctions in regard to structural predictions. The corresponding wavefunction for cyclic ozone has an energy expectation of−224.7637 hartree at an optimum bond length of re = 143.5 pm (bond angle 60°). On this evidence the difference in the energy of the local minima on the ozone ground state conformation hypersurface is less than one fifth of the partial dissociation energy. We, therefore, confidently predict the existence of a bound species of ozone having an equilateral triangle conformation. We believe this species may be the O3α precursor, which in the experiments referred to18,19 is presumably vibrationally excited.

A comparative isotopic study of the Lady Loretta zinc-lead-silver deposit

Abstract: Measurements of the 34S/32S ratios in sulphides from the slightly metamorphosed Lady Loretta deposit show the sphalerite and galena to be in isotopic equilibrium Pyrite in immediate association with these sulphides is not isotopically related A similar distribution of sulphur isotopes had previously been noted in the even less altered McArthur deposit, for which a dual sulphur source was postulated This fresh isotopic evidence from Lady Loretta now suggests that such a genesis for stratiform sulphides from the Proterozoic is not uncommon

Rapid and quantitative blood amino acid analysis by chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract: A quantitative analysis of amino acids in microsamples of dried blood spots by chemical ionization mass spectrometry has been developed. Isotope ratio determination was used as the quantitating technique via multiple labelled internal standards. This procedure yields excellent precision and accuracy as demonstrated by the analysis of known amino acid mixtures and of phenylalanine in the blood from newborns.

Metabolic Studies on Two Patients with Nonhepatic Tyrosinemia Using Deuterated Tyrosine Loads

Abstract: Summary: Metabolic studies on two patients with defects in the tyrosine oxidation pathway arc reported. Scrum tyrosine was greatly elevated in both patients (1.37 and 1.52 mmol/liter, respectively) and both excreted large quantities of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, p-hydroxyphenyllactie acid, and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid. Deuterated tyrosine loads were administered to both patients, before and after lowering of the serum tyrosine concentration by dietary treatment, and to a normal adult control subject. In one patient the excretion of the deutcrated (D2)-tyrosine load was more than 300 times that found in the control subject whether the test was done at high or low scrum tyrosine level and the pattern of metabolites indicated a persistent defect in p- hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidasc. Enzyme assays on needle liver biopsy supported this finding. In the second patient excretion of the D2 label was 300 times that of the control at high scrum tyrosine levels, but only 5 times normal at low serum tyrosine levels. This finding was interpreted as indicating substrate inhibition of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid oxidase. The primary defect has not been established in this patient, but the findings are compatible with a defect in hepatic-soluble tyrosine aminotransfcrase. Speculation: We have shown that loading rates of 220 μmol deuteratcd tyrosine/kg body weight are adequate for precise measurement of the stable isotope content of urinary tyrosine and tyrosine metabolites. This load approximates that provided by a protein containing meal; therefore, stable isotope load studies can be claimed to mimic physiologic events.

Isolation and identification of gamma-aminobutyryl-cystathionine from human brain and CSF.

Abstract: — A new dipeptide, γ-aminobutyryl-cystathionine, has been identified in human brain and CSF. The compound was isolated from peptide concentrates which were prepared by removing free a-amino acids from deproteinized brain extracts on a copper Sephadex column. The isolated peptide was shown to be GABA-Cysta by standard chemical methods, and its identification was confirmed by mass spectrometry. GABA-Cysta is present in both biopsy and autopsy specimens of adult human brain, its content in some brain areas being as high as 0.090 μrnol/g wet weight. Its concentration in CSF is much lower. What physiologic role this unusual peptide plays in brain remains to be determined.

Rent Extraction and the Survival of the Agricultural Production Cooperative

Abstract: During the last twenty years there has been a proliferation of production cooperatives in the agricultural sector of low income countries. This paper examines the prospects for this type of firm in light of their poor historical record. A theoretical model is presented that shows the extraction of scarcity rents is a necessary condition for survival. Several case studies examined are found to be empirically consistent with the model. It is shown that policies can be devised for the extraction of rents.

Australian data on the attitude toward woman scale: Norms, sex differences, reliability

Abstract: The Attitude toward Women Scale, an American questionnaire, was administered to 330 Australian University Students over 1975 and 1976, to establish some Australian norms and to obtain reliability and sex difference information. Results indicated that the scale had reliability over time and that there was a sex difference in 1975 but not in 1976. Attitudes were found to be more liberal in 1976 than in 1975 for both males and females.

A case of onychomycosis due to candida ravautii

Abstract: The patient, a 50 year old man, presented with a dai'kish grey discolouration of both great toe-nails (Figure 1). He stated that the condition had been present for approximately five years. His general health was good, with no evidence of diabetes. Examination showed the nails to be quite hai-d and the distal portions showed dark grey discolouration. Little subungual debris was present at the time of examination, although the patient stated that he regularly removed debris with a nail file as it accumulated. No paronychia was present.

The accuracy of refractive and absorptive indices derived from reflectance measurements on low‐reflecting materials

Abstract: SUMMARY Errors in the refractive and absorptive indices derived from reflectance measurements on relatively low-absorbing organic substances in two media are discussed, with particular reference to coal macerals and cokes. Variation of errors in refractive and absorptive indices at different levels of reflectance, and the effect of different combinations of sign and magnitude of reflectance error on the two parameters, are presented in both tabulated form and as diagrams. The errors in the refractive and absorptive indices vary in relation to reflectance level, the reflectance difference between standard and unknown, the difference between the refractive indices of the unknown and the immersion oil and the wavelength of reflectance measurement within the visible spectrum. Despite the variation, it is possible to obtain useful values for the parameters within the low-absorbing range. If the absorption is negligible, it may not be possible to obtain realistic values for absorptive index, but even where this is the case, satisfactory values for refractive index can still be obtained. Suggestions are made on how to minimize reflectance errors and to increase the accuracy of dispersion curves for derived refractive and absorptive indices within the visible spectrum.

Analysis of the correlating versus polarizing role of bond functions in CEPA-PNO computations of diazene

Abstract: Basis set expansion by inclusion of s and p-type gaussian functions centred on bond axes is shown to be effective in accounting for electronic relaxation due to correlation effects in molecular wavefunctions of diazene. This study demonstrates the effective correlating role of bond functions and so extends their established role as polarization functions. Extensive bond-function optimization at the CEPA level in diazene indicates that more restricted optimizations may be adequate in further studies.

An Approximate Load-deflection Relation for a Long Half-cylindrical Tube Compressed between Parallel Plates

Abstract: Based on a new exact solution for finite elastic deformations of an incompressible Mooney material an approximate load-deflection relation is formulated for the problem of a long rubber halfcylindrical tube which is compressed uniformly along its length between parallel rigid metal plates. This solution includes a transition from a ‘one-point contact’ to a ‘two-point contact’ problem and the load-deflection relation obtained is approximate in the sense that boundary conditions of stress are satisfied in an average or mean sense only.

The characteristics and origin of coarse debris deposits near Wollongong, N.S.W., Australia

Abstract: Summary The slopes of the Illawarra escarpment, near Wollongong, Australia, are masked by a discontinuous cover of mass movement deposits. Although their composition and matrix properties are variable, the deposits can be classified on the basis of their soil profiles and their topographic distribution. The extensive deposits found on the dissected foothills are bouldery and strongly-mottled. The deposits which mantle the benches are not well-mottled; the individual masses are thin and of limited extent. The mottled deposits appear to have formed in a past period of greater seismicity or more active erosion, whereas the masses on the benches are still accumulating.

The mount Kembla mine explosion of 1902: Towards the study of the impact of a disaster on a community 1

Abstract: (1977). The mount Kembla mine explosion of 1902: Towards the study of the impact of a disaster on a community. Journal of Australian Studies: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 52-69.