Wildland fires are increasing in both severity and intensity leading to severe and lasting biogeochemical effects on soil. The CZU lightning complex started on August 16th, 2020, and burned 86,509 acres causing severe social and ecological damage. To better understand the impact of fire on soil properties at the landscape scale, we created a digital soil mapping model with the inclusion of remotely sensed burn severity covariates. We combined a raster-stack of environmental covariates with rasters for fire severity and soil samples, to disentangle the relative contribution of fire to the spatial distribution of soil properties in the recently burned Little Creek watershed in Santa Cruz, Ca. Soils were sampled via a conditional Latin hypercube sampling design and analyzed for soil health and soil Fe/Al-oxide mineralogy. To ascertain the relative contribution of remotely sensed fire severity covariates and standard digital soil mapping covariates (e.g. SCORPAN factors) to explain the variance in post-fire soil properties, we deployed multi-linear regression and random forest modeling. We report that remotely sensed indicators of fire severity explained the variance of Ntotal, Caex, pH, oxalate extractable P, NO3-, and NH4+ in both the MLR and RF models at the watershed scale. The inclusion of rasters of fire effects improved the description of target soil property variance, in concert with more traditional raster-based proxies for the soil forming factors, indicating that fire helps explain the spatial variability of these soil properties in recently burned post-fire landscapes. Furthermore, we report that an increase in remotely sensed fire severity led to an increase in sorbed P (as measured via oxalate extractable P), suggesting a potentially unreported change to post-fire soil P dynamics. Results inform remotely sensed assessment of fire induced changes to soil properties at the landscape scale.

This study aimed to provide insights into the opportunities and challenges perceived by employees regarding the integration of large language models (LLMs) into their daily work routines, focusing on the Microsoft Copilot tool. Despite existing research showcasing the potential benefits of LLM-driven AI tools such as efficiency and fostering creativity, there remained a gap in understanding how such tools, particularly Copilot, influenced employees' work routines and tasks. Employing a qualitative approach, this study conducted 10 semi-structured interviews to investigate employees' experiences and perceptions. Hermeneutics served as the guiding methodological framework, allowing for a nuanced exploration of participants' experiences. The findings revealed a multifaceted use of Copilot within the IT company, ranging from idea generation to support in creation processes. Copilot facilitated both formal and informal learning by providing quick access to internal information and feedback, thereby streamlining tasks and freeing up time for other activities. However, challenges such as the limited Swedish language support and formal onboarding hindered its full utilization. Additionally, employees' attitudes toward technology and AI significantly influenced their adoption of Copilot, with technologically inclined individuals being more inclined to embrace and explore its functionalities. Furthermore, the study highlighted changes in work routines, including altered thought processes, support for idea generation, and verification of generated information.  Information security emerged as a notable concern, necessitating caution to prevent leakage of sensitive data. Discrepancies were observed between how employees presented Copilot to clients and their actual utilization, suggesting areas for improvement such as tailored training programs. In conclusion, while Copilot showed promise in enhancing work processes and facilitating learning and idea generation, there were challenges to address, particularly in terms of mindset shifts and integration into existing workflows. Nevertheless, being in the early stages of adaptation there was room for improvement and opportunities to enhance usage, ultimately benefiting the organization's operations.

This investigation was planned to observe if the leukemic thymic tissue in vitro would inactivate TSH and to study the effect that TSH would have on the leukemogenic properties of these cells when transplanted into a high-leukemia strain of mice.

Einleitung: Das Darmmikrobiom, ein hochkomplexes Ökosystem an Mikroorganismen, geht eine lebenslange wechselseitige Beziehung mit seinem Wirt ein und beeinflusst wesentlich dessen Darmreifung post partum. Dazu interagieren Darmbakterien direkt und indirekt mit den intestinalen Stammzellen in den Krypten und regulieren Zellteilung und -differenzierung, wobei die Mechanismen nicht abschließend geklärt sind. Das Darmmikrobiom stellt eine wichtige Quelle für Mikroben-assoziierte molekulare Muster (MAMPs) dar, die von Mustererkennungsrezeptoren wie den Toll-like-Rezeptoren (TLR) auf den intestinalen Epithelzellen erkannt werden können. Somit können TLR auf den intestinalen Epithelzellen eine mögliche Verbindung zwischen Darmmikrobiom und Anpassungsreaktionen der Dünndarmmorphologie darstellen. Ziele der Untersuchung: Folgende Hypothesen sollten untersucht werden: 1. Die Anwesenheit von Darmbakterien beeinflusst die Morphologie der Dünndarmschleimhaut. 2. Diese Wirkung wird über Toll-like-Rezeptoren und den Hedgehog-Signalweg in Epithelzellen vermittelt. 3. Über diese Signalwege werden auch funktionelle Eigenschaften wie die Durchlässigkeit der Darmbarriere verändert. Tiere, Material und Methoden: Zur Untersuchung des Einflusses des Mikrobioms wurden in einem gnotobiotischen Mausmodell keimfreie Tiere mit dem minimalen mikrobiellen Konsortium Altered Schaedler Flora (ASF) besiedelt. Die ASF, welche sich aus acht definierten Bakterienarten zusammensetzt, wurde aus dem Caecum ASF-besiedelter C3H/HeNTac-Mäuse entnommen und männlichen und weiblichen keimfreien C57BL/6J-Mäusen appliziert. Der Nachweis der Bakterienspezies erfolgte aus bakterieller DNA, die aus frischen Kotpellets isoliert wurde. Der Vergleich wurde zwischen Dünndärmen ASF-kolonisierter Mäuse (n = 13), keimfreien Tieren (n = 8), konventionell gehaltenen (n = 7) und einer Gruppe Antibiotika-behandelter Mäuse (n = 8) durchgeführt. Zur Untersuchung des Einflusses der Toll-like-Rezeptoren TLR2 und TLR4 wurden epithelspezifische TLR2-defiziente (TLR2ΔIEC) bzw. TLR4-defiziente Mäuse (TLR4ΔIEC) verwendet und mit ihren jeweiligen Wildtyp-Geschwistertieren (WT) verglichen. Die morphometrische Eigenschaften des Dünndarms wurden anhand von histologischen Schnitten untersucht, die mit Hämatoxylin-Eosin oder Periodic-Acid-Schiff gefärbt waren. Hierbei wurden u.a. Mukosahöhe und Villuslänge gemessen sowie die Anzahl der Epithelzellen und Anzahl der Becherzellen pro Villus gezählt. Weiterhin wurden sowohl in Dünndarmgewebe als auch in isolierten intestinalen Epithelzellen mittels qPCR die mRNAExpression der Liganden des Hedgehog (Hh)-Signalwegs Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) und Indian Hedgehog (Ihh) sowie Hedgehog-Zielgene wie Glioma-associated oncogene transcription factor 1 (Gli-1), Patched-1 (Ptch-1) und Hedgehog Interacting Protein (Hhip) untersucht. In einem Teil der Tiere wurde der Hedgehog-Signalweg durch Applikation des Inhibitors Vismodegib gehemmt. Ein möglicher Einfluss auf die Permeabilität des Dünndarms wurde über die mRNA-Expression diverser Tight Junction-Proteine wie Occludin oder Claudin-4 sowie durch einen Permeabilitätsassay mit FITC-Dextran untersucht. Gruppenvergleiche wurden mit einer einfaktoriellen Varianzanalyse (ANOVA) und Holm-Šídák post-hoc Test bzw. zwischen den TLR2ΔIEC oder TLR4ΔIEC und WT-Mäusen mittels zweiseitigem ungepaarten t-Test durchgeführt. Unterschiede wurden bei P < 0,05 als statistisch signifikant betrachtet. Ergebnisse: Durch den Nachweis aller acht Bakterienarten in den Kotproben der behandelten Mäuse konnte die erfolgreiche Übertragung der ASF auf die Empfängertiere nachgewiesen werden. Hinsichtlich Mukosahöhe, Villuslänge, Anzahl der Epithelzellen und der Becherzellen wiesen keimfreie gegenüber konventionell gehaltenen Mäusen signifikant höhere Werte auf. Die Kolonisierung mit ASF führte zu einer signifikanten Verringerung dieser Merkmale, so dass sie sich denen der konventionell gehaltenen Tiere annäherten. Die mRNA-Expression der Hh-Liganden Shh und Ihh war sowohl im Dünndarm als auch in isolierten intestinalen Epithelzellen ASF-besiedelter Mäuse signifikant erhöht. Die Hh-Zielgene Gli-1, Ptch-1 und Hhip waren auf mRNA-Ebene im Dünndarm ASF-besiedelter Mäuse ebenfalls signifikant höher exprimiert. Mukosahöhe, Epithelzellzahl und Villuslänge waren im Jejunum von TLR2ΔIEC- und TLR4ΔIEC-Mäusen gegenüber ihren WT-Geschwistern signifikant höher. Während bei TLR2ΔIEC-Mäusen außer Shh alle untersuchten Hh-Zielgene vermehrt exprimiert waren, waren bei TLR4ΔIEC-Mäusen die gleichen Gene signifikant weniger exprimiert. Wurde hingegen der Hh-Signalweg in konventionell gehaltenen C57BL/6-Mäusen mit Vismodegib inhibiert, waren der Expression der Hh-Zielgene, des TLR2 und des TLR4 signifikant vermindert. Sowohl die Hemmung des Hh-Signalwegs mit Vismodegib als auch das Fehlen der epithelialen TLR2 oder TLR4 bedingte eine verminderte Expression von Tight Junction-Proteinen, die mit einer erhöhten Darmpermeabilität einherging. Konventionell gehaltene Mäuse hatten sowohl gegenüber keimfreien als auch gegenüber mit ASF besiedelten Tieren eine signifikant niedrigere Expression von Tight Junction-Proteinen, was mit einer signifikant höheren Darmpermeabilität verbunden war. Schlussfolgerungen: Zusammenfassend lassen die Ergebnisse dieser Studie darauf schließen, dass Darmbakterien über intestinale TLR2 und TLR4 den Hh-Signalweg regulieren und darüber die Morphologie der Dünndarmmukosa als auch deren funktionelle Eigenschaften wie die Durchlässigkeit der Darmbarriere beeinflussen. / Introduction: The intestinal microbiome, a highly complex ecosystem of microorganisms, enters into a lifelong reciprocal relationship with its host and significantly influences its intestinal maturation postpartum. To this end, intestinal bacteria interact directly and indirectly with intestinal stem cells in the crypts and regulate cell division and differentiation, although the mechanisms are not conclusively understood. The intestinal microbiome represents an important source of microbeassociated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that can be recognized by pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like-Receptors (TLRs) on intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, TLRs on intestinal epithelial cells may represent a potential link between gut microbiome and adaptation responses of small intestinal morphology. Aims: The following hypotheses should be investigated: 1. The presence of intestinal bacteria affects the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa. 2. This effect is mediated via Toll-like-Receptors and the Hedgehog signaling pathway in epithelial cells. 3. Functional properties such as the permeability of the intestinal barrier are also altered via these signaling pathways. Animals, materials and methods: To investigate the influence of the microbiome, germ-free animals were colonized with the minimal microbial consortium Altered Schaedler Flora (ASF) in a gnotobiotic mouse model. The ASF, which is composed of eight defined bacterial species, was harvested from the caecum of ASF-colonized C3H/HeNTac mice and applied to male and female germ-free C57BL/6J mice. Bacterial species were detected from bacterial DNA isolated from fresh fecal pellets. Comparison was made between small intestines of ASF-colonized mice (n = 13), germ-free animals (n = 8), conventionally housed (n = 7), and a group of antibiotic-treated mice (n = 8). To investigate the influence of Toll-like-Receptors TLR2 and TLR4, epithelial-specific TLR2-deficient (TLR2ΔIEC) or TLR4-deficient mice (TLR4ΔIEC) were used and compared with their respective wild-type (WT) littermates. Morphometric characteristics of the small intestine were examined using histological sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin or periodic-acid-Schiff. Here, mucosa height and villus length were measured, and the number of epithelial cells and number of goblet cells per villus were counted, among other measurements. Furthermore, mRNA expression of the ligands of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh) as well as Hedgehog target genes such as Gliomaassociated oncogene transcription factor 1 (Gli-1), Patched-1 (Ptch-1) and Hedgehog Interacting Protein (Hhip) were examined in small intestinal tissue as well as in isolated intestinal epithelial cells by qPCR. In a subset of animals, Hedgehog signaling was inhibited by application of the inhibitor Vismodegib. A possible influence on small intestinal permeability was investigated by mRNA expression of various tight junction proteins such as Occludin or Claudin-4 and by permeability assay with FITC-dextran. Group comparisons were performed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Holm-Šídák post-hoc test or between the TLR2ΔIEC or TLR4ΔIEC and WT mice by two-tailed unpaired t test. Differences were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: Detection of all eight bacterial species in the fecal samples of treated mice demonstrated successful transfer of ASF to recipient animals. In terms of mucosa height, villus length, number of epithelial cells and goblet cells, germ-free mice had significantly higher values compared to conventionally housed mice. Colonization with ASF significantly decreased these characteristics to approach those of conventionally housed animals. The mRNA expression of the Hh ligands Shh and Ihh was significantly increased in the small intestine as well as in isolated intestinal epithelial cells of ASF colonized mice. The Hh target genes Gli-1, Ptch-1, and Hhip were also significantly higher expressed at the mRNA level in the small intestine of ASF-colonized mice. Mucosa height, epithelial cell number, and villus length were significantly higher in the jejunum of TLR2ΔIEC and TLR4ΔIEC mice compared with their WT littermates. Whereas in TLR2ΔIEC mice, except for Shh, all Hh target genes examined were increased in expression, the same genes were significantly less expressed in TLR4ΔIEC mice. In contrast, when the Hh pathway was inhibited with Vismodegib in conventionally maintained C57BL/6J mice, the expression of Hh target genes, TLR2, and TLR4 were significantly decreased. Both inhibition of the Hh pathway with Vismodegib and absence of epithelial TLR2 or TLR4 caused decreased expression of tight junction proteins, which was associated with increased intestinal permeability. Conventionally housed mice had significantly lower expression of tight junction proteins compared with both germ-free and ASF-populated animals, which was associated with significantly higher intestinal permeability. Conclusions: In summary, the results of this study suggest that intestinal bacteria regulate the Hh signaling pathway via intestinal TLR2 and TLR4 and thereby influence the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa as well as its functional properties such as intestinal barrier permeability.

The preface to this collection "Dust Clouding: Ambiguity and the Poetic Image," highlights the ways in which poets such as W.S Merwin and Donald Revell use ambiguity and the poetic image to strengthen their poems and encourage equality between reader and writer. Hand Amputees have an Altered Perception of Images at Arm's Length is a collection of poems and poem like adventures.

BACKGROUND: Smile esthetics play a major role in the perception of a person’s attractiveness, as well as other social parameters. The study aim was to see if altering the gingival display of patients would affect perceptions of the aforementioned social parameters. METHODS: Smiling photographs were taken and then digitally altered so as to lengthen the teeth and reduce the amount of gingiva. These photographs were shown to a group of senior dental students, and a group of evaluators with no formal dental training. Groups were asked to rate each picture’s attractiveness, friendliness, trustworthiness, intelligence, and self-confidence. RESULTS: The digitally altered photographs were rated higher for all five social parameters than were their unaltered counterparts (p<0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of evaluators. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive gingival display positively affected how attractive a person’s smile is judged, and also how friendly, trustworthy, intelligent, and self-confident they are.

This practice-as-research project (a) invents, examines and self-reflects upon two techniques - 'Whirling in Pain' and 'Neurobreathing' - that the author has developed for dealing with pain in performance, (b) creates a framework for the qualitative analysis of pain retraining techniques by conducting an interdisciplinary study of the parameters that describe Somatic Practices and the psychology of Altered States of Consciousness, (c) establishes a taxonomy and classifications for describing and assessing techniques of pain management in the performing arts, (d) qualitatively assesses the training techniques of three practitioners —Antonin Artaud, Jerzy Grotowski and Marina Abramović—who have used Somatic Practices and Altered States of Consciousness in their techniques, and draws out patterns and themes in their practice, (e) distils generic principles of practice that are essential for training pain perception and could be used by other practitioners for developing their own techniques, or to better embody the techniques that the author has developed. These transferable principles are: reinforcement, exhaustion of pain-processing resources, inquisitive modes towards otherness, embodied knowledge, surrendering, Sisyphean reiteration, and music’s capacity for fascination. This dissertation considers the issue of dealing with pain in performance beyond the limited area of theatre pedagogy, suggesting an interdisciplinary approach and expanding its scope into the wider realms of theoretical discourse around culture and pain. This dissertation argues that since pain is not only a biochemical process but one that is culturally constructed, it is therefore possible to retrain or un-train the perception of pain through the facility of Somatic Practices that induce Altered States of Consciousness. Such retraining of pain perception has wider socio-political ramifications that challenge the pervading modern and neoliberal culture around pain, which understands it only through a reductively biological model and relies heavily on the use of exogenous analgesics to alleviate pain. Finally, this dissertation proposes that dealing with pain is possible not only by transcending and moving attentional focus away from pain, but also by entering a plane of immanence, achieved through working synergistically with pain in order to find the coping mechanisms and hidden reserves that lie dormant within the individual. The practical element of this submission consists of: (a) a Manual for Practitioners that describes the techniques step-by-step, and explains the principles behind them, and, (b) two performance videos that exhibit how the author has used the two techniques to create and manage pain within performances.

In 1952 a pro-Japanese group in Hawai'i became the religious movement Tenshō-Kōtai-Jingū-kyō, after the arrival of Sayo Kitamura, a charismatic woman from Japan called Ōgamisama. Her teaching was filled with traditional elements, and Japanese imperialism acquired a new form, and became a spiritual world – a world filled with spirits in need of redemption. To dance in an ego-free state and redeem the evil spirits was a goal for her followers, who learnt how to perform the ecstasy dance and to achieve an altered state of consciousness. Some families, though, were suspected of being carriers of evil spirits called inu-gami (dog spirits). This was a relic of witchcraft, and since hatred, jealousy, envy, and other emotional antipathies produced possession spirits among those who refused to accept Japan's position at the end of the war, Ōgamisama – the mouthpiece of The Sun Goddess Amaterasu – was welcomed as a faith healer and face saver.

Κατά την διάρκεια των τελευταίων δεκαετιών η εξέλιξη στον τεχνολογικό τομέα έχει κάνει αλματώδη πρόοδο. Η πρόοδος αυτή εισάγει νέες εφαρμογές οι οποίες απαιτούν κυκλώματα υψηλής ακρίβειας και αξιοπιστίας αυτό οδήγησε σε ανάπτυξη των κυκλωματικών στοιχείων και ειδικότερα των αντιστάσεων, οι οποίες αποτελούν βασικά στοιχεία στην λειτουργία κάθε κυκλώματος, έτσι ώστε να υπάρχουν πλέον αντιστάσεις διαφόρων τύπων, ώστε να ικανοποιούνται όλες οι ανάγκες. Τα βασικά ηλεκτρικά μεγέθη κάθε αντίστασης οποιουδήποτε τύπου είναι η ωμική τιμή της και η ονομαστική της ισχύ. Ωστόσο, υπάρχουν και δευτερεύοντα μεγέθη τα οποία βοηθούν στην καλύτερη γνώση των χαρακτηριστικών και της λειτουργίας κάθε αντίστασης. Τα χαρακτηριστικά αυτά μεταβάλλονται από τον κατασκευαστή της αντίστασης ώστε να ικανοποιούνται όλες οι εφαρμογές. Οι αντιστάσεις διαχωρίζονται σε 3 βασικές κατηγορίες: Σταθερές, μεταβλητές και μεταβαλλόμενες. Ο διαχωρισμός αυτός γίνεται με βάση την δυνατότητα ρύθμισης της τιμής τους από αυτόν που την χρησιμοποιεί. Οι σταθερές αντιστάσεις έχουν τιμή αντίστασης και ισχύος που ορίζεται από τον κατασκευαστή και παραμένει σταθερή για όλη την διάρκεια ζωής της αντίστασης. Κατασκευάζονται με διάφορες μεθόδους, με αποτέλεσμα να δημιουργούνται αντιστάσεις που έχουν διαφορετικά χαρακτηριστικά, τα οποία εξαρτώνται άμεσα από τον τρόπο και τα υλικά κατασκευή τους. Καλύπτονται, έτσι όλες οι ανάγκες λόγω της μεγάλης ποικιλίας. Οι μεταβλητές αντιστάσεις έχουν τιμή που μπορεί να ρυθμιστεί από όποιον την χρησιμοποιεί. Οι μεταβαλλόμενες αντιστάσεις είναι αυτές που δεν υπακούουν στον νόμο του Ohm(V=I*R), αλλά μεταβάλλουν την αντίσταση τους σε συνάρτηση με την μεταβολή διαφόρων μεγεθών όπως η θερμοκρασία, το φώς ή η τάση. Οι αντιστάσεις σύρματος είναι σταθερές αντιστάσεις με πολύ καλά ηλεκτρικά χαρακτηριστικά, καθώς έχουν μικρές ηλεκτρικές ανοχές επιτυγχάνουν καλή ευστάθεια και πολύ χαμηλούς συντελεστές θερμότητας. Διαχωρίζονται σε χαμηλής ισχύος και υψηλής ανάλογα με την ισχύ της εφαρμογής στην οποία τις χρησιμοποιούμε. Τα τυλίγματα κατασκευάζονται από μεταλλικά κράματα, τα οποία μπορούν να γίνουν πιο ανθεκτικά σε μηχανικές καταπονήσεις, και επιτυγχάνουν υψηλή ειδική αντίσταση. Για την κατασκευή του πυρήνα χρησιμοποιούνται διάφορα μονωτικά. Τα χαρακτηριστικά αυτού του τύπου των αντιστάσεων τις καθιστά ιδανικές για την κατασκευή μιας αντίστασης υψηλής τάσης. Έτσι, επιλέξαμε μια αντίσταση ονομαστικής τιμής 700 ΚΩ και ισχύος 250 W, δημιουργώντας μια σειρά από 10 αντιστάσεις συνολικής αντίστασης 7ΜΩ και ισχύος 2.5 ΚW. Πάνω σε αυτή την αντίσταση διεξήγαμε σειρά μετρήσεων για να μελετήσουμε την συμπεριφορά τους υπό την επίδραση υψηλής τάσης. Παρατηρήσαμε, λοιπόν, ότι υπάρχει εξάρτηση της τιμής της αντίστασης από το ρεύμα που την διαρρέει, καθώς αυτή λειτουργεί σαν πηνίο. Αυτό οφείλεται στον τρόπο κατασκευής της αντίστασης σύρματος και ήταν αναμενόμενο. Παρ’ όλα αυτά παραμένει ο ιδανικός τύπος αντίστασης για εφαρμογές υψηλών τάσεων, καθώς έχουν μεγάλη αξιοπιστία και παρέχονται σε μεγάλες τιμές ισχύος. / At the duration of last decades the development in the technological sector has made swift progress. This progress imports new applications that require circuits of high precision and reliability. This led to growth of circuit elements and more specifically to the resistances, which constitute basic elements in the operation of each circuit, so as to exist henceforth resistances of various types, in order to meet all needs. The basic electric sizes of each resistance of any type are her omik value and her nominal force. However, there are also secondary sizes which lead to better knowledge of the characteristics and the operation of each resistance. These features vary from manufacturer of resistance so as to suit in all applications. The resistances are separated into 3 main categories: Constant, variable and altered. This distinction is based on the adjustment of value by the person who uses it. The constant resistances have a value of resistance and a value of power that is provided by the manufacturer and is constant throughout the life of resistance. They are formed by various methods, so that are created resistances that have different characteristics, which depend directly on the construction methods and the materials manufacture. This covers all the needs of the large variety. The variable resistances have value that can be set from whoever uses it. The altered resistances are those that do not obey the law of Ohm (V = I * R),but they change their resistance according to the change of various sizes such as temperature, light or voltage. The resistances of wire are constant resistances with very good electrical characteristics as they have small electric tolerances and can achieve a good level of stability and very low rates of heat. They are separated into low and high power, depending on the strength of the application in which we use them. The windings are made of metal alloys, which can be more resistant to mechanical stress and can achieve high special resistivity. For the manufacture of core there are used different insulating materials. The characteristics of this type of resistances make them ideal for the construction of a high voltage resistance. Thus, we selected a resistance with nominal value 700 KOS and power 250 W, generating a series of 10 resistances with total resistance 7[MO] and power 2.5 KW. Over these series we had resistance measurements to study their behaviour under the influence of high voltage and we noticed that there is dependence of the resistance value with the stream which flows through, as it acts as ballast.. This is owed in the way the resistance wire is manufactured and the result was expected. Nevertheless, it remains the ideal type of resistance for high voltage applications, while they are very reliable and are provided in big prices of power.

When a molecule, which possess a permanent dipole moment is exposed to an intense electric field, its absorption spectrum may be altered. These alterations are manifest as shifts in energy and as changes in band shape and intensity. The electric dichroism of absorption bands can be used to probe the excited state that is formed when a molecule undergoes a transition. The properties that may be investigated include transition polarization, excited state dipole moment and mean polarizability, and field-induced mixing of symmetrically equivalent excited states. The theoretical model and experimental devices that have been developed to determine these properties are presented and discussed. The data, taken in total, and its combination with other existing evidence, adds credence to the assignment of the second excited singlet of aldehydes and ketones to be extravalent, accompanied by relatively large delocalization of electronic charge, and polarized in-planiie and perpendicularly to the C-0 axis.