A simple handling technique for mammalian oocytes and embryos during preparation for transmission electron microscopy

Due to their small size, mammalian oocytes and embryos pose unique problems during preparation for transmission electron microscopy. This paper outlines a method which combines protein embedding with centrifugation to locate the specimens on the face of a Beem capsule mould. This method facilitates both the processing of oocytes with minimal loss and rapid location of the specimens within the block for simultaneous sectioning, staining and examination.     

Analysis of the effect of car size on accident injury probability using automobile insurance data

The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) compiles injury and collision claim information from major insurance companies. These data have indicated that a disproportionately large number of injury claims are made for small cars. As a result, it might be concluded that small cars increase injury risk to their occupants. Recent advertisements by a major automobile manufacturer suggest a similar conclusion should be drawn from these data. In this paper it is shown that the apparent higher injury risk attributed to small cars can reflect the behavior of persons driving small cars. The number of injury claim accidents per collision claim accident is examined as an alternative measure of injury risk. Possible problems in interpretation are discussed.     

N.m.r. line shape-relaxation correlation analysis of bitumen and oil sands

The first results of the analysis of bitumen and oil sands using the recently developed n.m.r. spingrouping technique are presented. The n.m.r. relaxation experiments were carried out on bitumen, and on natural and dried oil sands samples. The results indicate that the spin-grouping can resolve and quantify several components of the samples studied. The bitumen and bitumen fraction of the oil sands are resolved according to their spin-spin relaxation times into three major groups: solid-like (rigid), solid-like (mobile) and semi-liquid. The water in the oil sands exists in two different environments. Tentatively one environment is assigned to be the bridges between the sand grains, while the other is assigned to be the clay surface. One can conclude that with spin grouping of complex mixtures the decomposition (in which components are resolved according to their dynamic state) is possible. The accuracy of such resolution is of the order of a few per cent.     

Mechanism of void formation in cable covering

Solidification after extrusion of coaxial cables has been experimentally simulated. Solidification tests were performed with two HDPE grades and under several pressures; the extrusion velocity was varied in a suitable range so as to detect the critical velocity for void formation. A qualitative analysis of the void formation mechanism is carried out, and the predicted trends favorably compare with the critical velocity data.