Prediction of Undrained Sinkhole Collapse

Sinkholes are surface depressions or shafts resulting from the collapse of a submerged cavity in soil. The cavities that lead to sinkholes form as a result of underlying geology in limestone areas, or as a result of human activity such as mining or leakage from a sewer. The formation of sinkholes is often sudden and can lead to extensive damage and loss of life, especially in urban areas. Much of the literature on the subject of sinkhole formation is empirical in nature, often being associated with specific locations. This paper presents the results of a study, using numerical modeling, of the undrained stability of the submerged cavities that lead to sinkhole formation. Finite-element limit analysis techniques (using programs developed at the University of Newcastle) are used to obtain upper and lower bound values of a suitable load parameter, which bracket the exact solution. The results are compared to analytical solutions, both from literature and derived independently.     

Cellular UDP-glucose deficiency caused by a single point mutation in the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene

We previously isolated a mutant cell that is the only mammalian cell reported to have a persistently low level of UDP-glucose. In this work we obtained a spontaneous revertant whose UDP-glucose level lies between those found in the wild type and the mutant cell. The activity of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDPG:PP), the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of UDP-glucose, was in the mutant 4% and in the revertant 56% of the activity found in the wild type cell. Sequence analysis of UDPG: PP cDNAs from the mutant cell showed one missense mutation, which changes amino acid residue 115 from glycine to aspartic acid. The substituted glycine is located within the largest stretch of strictly conserved residues among eukaryotic UDPG:PPs. The analysis of the cDNAs from the revertant cell indicated the presence of an equimolar mixture of the wild type and the mutated mRNAs, suggesting that the mutation has reverted in only one of the alleles. In summary, we demonstrate that the G115D substitution in the Chinese hamster UDPG:PP dramatically impairs its enzymatic activity, thereby causing cellular UDP-glucose deficiency.     

Specific heat of amorphous3He films and confined liquid3He

We have measured the heat capacities of³He films and liquid³He in porous Vycor glass at 10 to 600 mK. With increasing the film thickness from 1 to 3 atomic layers, the specific heat evolves gradually from that typical to solid to that of liquid³He. At about 2 atomic layers, however, its low-temperature part is nearly temperature-independent; we interpret this as a result of gradual freezing of spins in an amorphous solid³He film with decreasing the temperature. The contribution of liquid³He in the center of the Vycor pores can be described as the specific heat of bulk liquid³He at corresponding pressures in the range 0 to 28 bar. The thickness of amorphous solid on the pore walls increases with external pressure roughly linearly. Preplating the walls with⁴He allows to determine the positions of³He atoms contributing to the surface specific heat at 10 to 50 mK. In addition, the contribution from the specific heat of³ He -⁴He mixing at 100 to 600 mK is discussed as a function of pressure and amount of⁴He.0n leave from ISSP Acad. Sci. of Russia, Chernogolovka, Russia     

Wax Diffusivity: Is It a Physical Property or a Pivotable Parameter?

In order to predict wax deposition problems the key parameter is the wax diffusion coefficient. While it is quite easy to find measured diffusivity values for well-defined compounds at quite low concentrations, very few experimental data are available for wax diffusivity in oil. Most of the literature data are estimated by interpolating experimental data obtained by loop tests and then they are affected by a noticeable uncertainty. In fact this parameter collects the whole uncertainty of the test and the paradoxical situation is that the key parameter ends to be the most error-affected or to be used as a pivotable parameter in “predictive” models. This article describes an experimental procedure to determine the overall diffusivity coefficient of waxes into the oil; the main advantage of this technique is that it allows the direct measure of diffusivity on the oil. Besides it is a very simple and straightforward technique. Results obtained were used to gain insight into the deposition process; the conclusion was that, due to the counter-intuitive diffusivity dependence on temperature, it is likely that noncompositional models available at present are structurally incorrect.     

Macroscopic model for multispecies ion-exchange kinetics

A model for multispecies ion-exchange kinetics based on the Nernst-Planck equation is suggested. It is analyzed in comparison with the “locally-determinate” model described by Hwang and Helfferich [1]. The model makes possible simple computation. The conditions for the occurrence of unusual kinetic curves with a maximum are clarified. The proposed model is developed for different types of kinetic problems and verified by the experimental investigation of a kinetics in ternary systems.     

Telomere Length in Metaphase Chromosomes of Human Triploid Zygotes

The human lifespan is strongly influenced by telomere length (TL) which is defined in a zygote—when two highly specialised haploid cells form a new diploid organism. Although TL is a variable parameter, it fluctuates in a limited range. We aimed to establish the determining factors of TL in chromosomes of maternal and paternal origin in human triploid zygotes. Using Q-FISH, we examined TL in the metaphase chromosomes of 28 human triploid zygotes obtained from 22 couples. The chromosomes’ parental origin was identified immunocytochemically through weak DNA methylation and strong hydroxymethylation in the sperm-derived (paternal) chromosomes versus strong DNA methylation and weak hydroxymethylation in the oocyte-derived (maternal) ones. In 24 zygotes, one maternal and two paternal chromosome sets were identified, while the four remaining zygotes contained one paternal and two maternal sets. For each zygote, we compared mean relative TLs between parental chromosomes, identifying a significant difference in favour of the paternal chromosomes, which attests to a certain “imprinting” of these regions. Mean relative TLs in paternal or maternal chromosomes did not correlate with the respective parent’s age. Similarly, no correlation was observed between the mean relative TL and sperm quality parameters: concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology. Based on the comparison of TLs in chromosomes inherited from a single individual’s gametes with those in chromosomes inherited from different individuals’ gametes, we compared intraindividual (intercellular) and interindividual variability, obtaining significance in favour of the latter and thus validating the role of heredity in determining TL in zygotes. A comparison of the interchromatid TL differences across the chromosomes from sets of different parental origin with those from PHA-stimulated lymphocytes showed an absence of a significant difference between the maternal and paternal sets but a significant excess over the lymphocytes. Therefore, interchromatid TL differences are more pronounced in zygotes than in lymphocytes. To summarise, TL in human zygotes is determined both by heredity and parental origin; the input of other factors is possible within the individual’s reaction norm.     

Pickup (critical) velocity of particles

This work presents experimental results on pickup velocity (critical velocity) measurements for a variety of particulate solids. The present experiments together with previously published experiments of a number of researchers encompass about 100 measurements of 24 materials for a wide range of particle sizes, shapes and densities. Based on the experimental results, three zones are defined by establishing simple relationships between the Reynolds and Archimedes numbers. The empirical relationships were further modified by taking into account the pipe diameter and particle shape (sphericity). The three-zone model was shown to reasonably correlate to Geldart's classification groups.