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This study provides a road map for creating and operating a student-managed investment fund (SMIF) as an experiential learning opportunity in commodity market analysis. We describe the reasons for implementing a SMIF and the benefits it offers relative to traditional simulation approaches. We outline the necessary steps for starting a SMIF and explain its organizational structure. We discuss a SMIF’s operation and main activities, which include recruitment, training, trading, and interaction with the client and alumni. The implications of participating in a SMIF are reviewed within a cost-benefit framework.

The problem of dynamics of incompressible homogeneous viscous liquid spots in stratified fluid is considered. Stratification component of medium is saltiness. A mathematical model for this problem is described by the Navier-Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation. Bearing in mind that in such flows there are areas with large gradients of hydrodynamic parameters required methods should possess such properties as a high order of accuracy, minimum scheme dissipation and dispersion, as well as monotony. To solve the task, use the authors developed method of splitting by physical factors, the method SMIF (Splitting on physical factors Method for Incompressible Fluid flows) possessing by the above-mentioned properties. Fore steps splitting scheme is considered. This paper will provide a brief description of the method SMIF. The test calculations and comparison with some theoretical, experimental data and calculations of other authors will be demonstrated.The problem of dynamics of incompressible homogeneous viscous liquid spots in stratified fluid is considered. Stratification component of medium is saltiness. A mathematical model for this problem is described by the Navier-Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation. Bearing in mind that in such flows there are areas with large gradients of hydrodynamic parameters required methods should possess such properties as a high order of accuracy, minimum scheme dissipation and dispersion, as well as monotony. To solve the task, use the authors developed method of splitting by physical factors, the method SMIF (Splitting on physical factors Method for Incompressible Fluid flows) possessing by the above-mentioned properties. Fore steps splitting scheme is considered. This paper will provide a brief description of the method SMIF. The test calculations and comparison with some theoretical, experimental data and calculations of other authors will be demonstrated.

Attempted syntheses of (smif)(2)Ti (smif =1,3-di-(2-pyridyl)-2-azaallyl) based on metatheses of TiCl(n)L(m) (n = 2-4) with M(smif) (M = Li, Na), in the presence of a reducing agent (Na/Hg) when necessary, failed, but several apparent Ti(II) species were identified by X-ray crystallography and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy: (smif){Li(smif-smif)}Ti (1, X-ray), [(smif)Ti](2)(μ-κ(3),κ(3)-N,N(py)(2)-smif,smif) (2), (smif)Ti(κ(3)-N,N(py)(2)-smif,(smif)H) (3), and (smif)Ti(dpma) (4, dpma = di-2-pyridylmethyl-amide). NMR spectroscopy and K-edge XAS showed that each compound possesses ligands that are redox noninnnocent, such that d(1) Ti(III) centers AF-couple to ligand radicals: (smif){Li(smif-smif)(2-)}Ti(III) (1), [(smif(2-))Ti(III)](2)(μ-κ(3),κ(3)-N,N(py)(2)-smif,smif) (2), [(smif(2-))Ti(III)](κ(3)-N,N(py)(2)-smif,(smif)H) (3), and (smif(2-))Ti(III)(dpma) (4). The instability of (smif)(2)Ti relative to its C-C coupled dimer, 2, is rationalized via the complementary nature of the amide and smif radical dianion ligands, which are also common to 3 and 4. Calculations support this contention.

This paper presents the design process for an innovative latch mechanism in a standard mechanical interfaced (SMIFed) wafer container, in which the manufactured integrated circuits are stored. An innovative latch mechanism is proposed and applied to the wafer container, such that the container door can be latched and air-tightly sealed during storage or transportation. The design process is divided into two stages. In the first stage, an output slot-cam is designed in order to generate decoupled fine motions of the output link. The issue is formulated as an optimization problem where the output link dimensions are optimized to minimize the resultant pin forces subject to an adequate transmission angle. In the second stage, the input slot-cam is designed to achieve that kinetic energy of the elastic gasket on the container lid is absorbed at a uniform rate. Finally, a numerical example and computer simulations are given to demonstrate the results of design process. It is believed that this work could aid in enhancing the performance and reliability of the latch mechanism in the SMIF environment.

The application of mini-environment and standard mechanical interface (SMIF) enclosure in the clean room can efficiently reduce airborne particles and isolate the personnel from the product. The purpose of this article is to reduce the recirculation zone and to maintain the positive pressure from the analysis results of the airflow field and pressure distribution of SMIF enclosure and mini-environment. The simulation code CFX will be used to study the flow field of air movement corresponding to the associated design parameters. The results show that proper drilling holes or slots can reduce the circulation zones of SMIF enclosure. The positive pressure of SMIF enclosure is mainly affected by inlet air flux, area of outlets, and leakage area. The calculated results can provide the design rules for SMIF robot inside the SMIF enclosure and reduce the particle accumulation during robot moving.

Polyclonal antibodies were generated to the 105 kDa herring sperm motility initiation factor (SMIF) and used to explore the role of SMIF in sperm-egg interaction. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting with SMIF antibodies, it was demonstrated that SMIF is present as a minor (4–7% of total chorion protein) component of the chorion. The major polypeptides in the chorion migrated at 117 kDa and in a grouping between 48–54 kDa, with other minor bands above and below. The only detectable glycosylated component was the 105 kDa band, which was resolved at two isoelectric points (8.22 and 8.31) after isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis. Using antibodies to SMIF, fertilization was blocked, sperm motility was inhibited in vitro in the presence of solubilized SMIF and SMIF binding sites on sperm were localized. Lastly, SMIF was localized to the region of the herring egg that encircles the micropyle.

Sperm of the Pacific herring are immotile at spawning. Two egg-derived molecules are capable of initiating sperm motility. One is herring sperm activating protein(s) (HSAPs) and the other is sperm motility initiation factor (SMIF). These two motility initiators differ in their location and association with the chorion, and in thier isoelectric points and molecular weights. In this study we have investigated the roles of these two inducers with respect to motility and fertilization. Using computer analysis of sperm motility, we found that HSAPs, as well as the C-terminal HSAPs peptide, elicit a linear motility pattern, while SMIF induced a highly circular and asymmetric pattern. HSAPs induced a two-fold increase in intracellular calcium, whereas SMIF induced a four-fold increase of motility initiation. SMIF-exposed sperm, preloaded with BAPTA-AM, showed a more linear motility and this motility trajectory decreased with their fertilizing capability. The difference in intracellular calcium levels between HSAPs and SMIF is consistent with the observed linear and circular motility. In the absence of SMIF, HSAPs do not support fertilization. Fertilization is rescued in these experiments if SMIF is reintroduced. We propose that diffusible HSAPs are not essential for fertilization, but enhance sperm-egg collisions via linear motility. SMIF, which is bound to the micropylar region of the chorion, is required for fertilization and induces circular motility that is a prerequisite for sperm to enter the micropylar canal and fertilize the egg.

EUVL mask blanks consist of a distributed Bragg reflector made of 6.7 nm-pitch bi-layers of Mo and Si deposited upon a precision Si or glass substrate. The layer deposition process has been optimized for low defects, by application of a vendor-supplied but highly modified ion-beam sputter deposition system. This system is fully automated using SMIF technology to obtain the lowest possible environmental- and handling-added defect levels. Originally designed to coat 150 mm substrates, it was upgraded in July 1999 to 200 mm and has coated runs of over 50 substrates at a time with median added defects > 100 nm below 0.05/cm2. These improvements have resulted from a number of ion-beam sputter deposition system modifications, upgrades, and operational changes, which will be discussed. Success in defect reduction is highly dependent upon defect detection, characterization, and cross- platform positional registration. We have made significant progress in adapting and extending commercial tools to this purpose, and have identified the surface scanner detection limits for different defect classes, and the signatures of false counts and non-printable scattering anomalies on the mask blank. We will present key results and how they have helped reduce added defects. The physics of defect reduction and mitigation is being investigated by a program on multilayer growth over deliberately placed perturbations (defects) of varying size. This program includes modeling of multilayer growth and modeling of defect printability. We developed a technique for depositing uniformly sized gold spheres on EUVL substrates, and have studied the suppression of the perturbations during multilayer growth under varying conditions. This work is key to determining the lower limit of critical defect size for EUV Lithography. We present key aspects of this work. We will summarize progress in all aspects of EUVL mask blank development, and present detailed results on defect reduction and mask blank performance at EUV wavelengths.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Application of the dipyridylazaallyl ligand (2-py)CHNCH(2-py) (smif) to a series of first-row transition metals afforded (smif)(2)M(n) [n = 0, M = Fe (1), Co (2), Ni (3); n = +1, M = Co (2+)] and {(TMS)(2)NFe}(2)(smif)(2) (4(2)) via metathetical procedures. The Mossbauer spectrum of 1 (S = 0) and TDDFT calculations, including a UV-vis spectral simulation, reveal it to be a covalent, strong-field system with Delta(o) estimated as approximately 18,000 cm(-1) and B approximately 470 cm(-1). (smif)(2)Co (2) has S = 1/2 according to SQUID data at 10 K. DFT calculations suggest that the odd electron is localized in a smif pi* orbital, i.e., smif is redox-active. EPR-silent (smif)(2)Ni (3) has S = 1 (SQUID), and calculations show that the unpaired spins reside in the d(z(2)) and d(x(2))(-y(2)) orbitals. X-ray structural parameters suggest that low-spin d(6) 1 and 2+ are relatively symmetric D(2d) species, but 2 and 3 manifest a distortion in which one smif is canted in the plane perpendicular to the other. (smif)FeN(TMS)(2) (4) is principally monomeric in solution, but reversibly dimerizes (K(eq) approximately 10(-4) M(-1)) via C-C bond formation in the azaallyl backbone to crystallize as {(TMS)(2)NFe}(2)(smif)(2) (4(2)). The azaallyl compounds possess extraordinary UV-vis absorptivities (epsilon approximately 18,000-52,000) at 580 +/- 15 nm and 406(25) nm that have been identified as intraligand bands with C(nb) --smif pi* character.

EVH1 (enabled VASP (vasodilator-stimulated protein) homology 1)/WH1 (WASP (Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein) homology 1) domains, present in Ena VASP and WASP, are protein interaction modules specialised in binding proline-rich ligands. An EVH1/WH1 domain is here identified in the recently cloned SMIF protein, a key protein in transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signalling which was not yet related to defined domains. The SMIF EVH1/WH1 domain interacts with the proline-rich Smad4 activation domain, leading to translocation of so-formed complex to the nucleus where SMIF possesses strong intrinsic TGFβ-inducible transcriptional activity. This finding highlights the pivotal role that the EVH1/WH1 family of domains play in multiple eukaryotic signal transduction pathways.

Gel chromatography of normal human serum exhibits a low molecular weight fraction, which significantly inhibits the action of somatomedin on porcine rib cartilage segments. This somatomedin inhibitory fraction (SmIF) has a molecular weight of about 1250 daltons, an iso-electric point between 5 to 5.5 and shows several characteristics of a peptide nature (Ped. Res. 18:101,1984). This SmIF strongly reduces both 35S-sulphate and 3H-Thymidine incorporation into costal cartilage of young pigs and rabbits and 35S-sulphate uptake by embryonic chick cartilage. This effect is dose-dependent, both in basal and in serum stimulated conditions, and is reversible. To a similar extent, SmIF decreases the conversion of 14C-glucose into 14CO2 in epididymal fat pads of young rats, with or without addition of normal serum, insulin or triiodothyronine. In conclusion, this low molecular weight SmIF does not only inhibit specifically the in vitro action of somatomedin on cartilage of several animal species, but also counteracts the insulin-like activity of normal serum and the effect of insulin and triiodothyronine on glucose metabolism of rat adipose tissue.