IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE POLLUTION CONTROL BY FOOD PROCESSORS

Environmental Economics and Policy,

Automated searching for quantum subsystem codes

Quantum error correction allows for faulty quantum systems to behave in an effectively error free manner. One important class of techniques for quantum error correction is the class of quantum subsystem codes, which are relevant both to active quantum error correcting schemes as well as to the design of self-correcting quantum memories. Previous approaches for investigating these codes have focused on applying theoretical analysis to look for interesting codes and to investigate their properties. In this paper we present an alternative approach that uses computational analysis to accomplish the same goals. Specifically, we present an algorithm that computes the optimal quantum subsystem code that can be implemented given an arbitrary set of measurement operators that are tensor products of Pauli operators. We then demonstrate the utility of this algorithm by performing a systematic investigation of the quantum subsystem codes that exist in the setting where the interactions are limited to 2-body interactions between neighbors on lattices derived from the convex uniform tilings of the plane.Comment: 38 pages, 15 figure, 10 tables. The algorithm described in this paper is available as both library and a command line program (including full source code) that can be downloaded from http://github.com/gcross/CodeQuest/downloads. The source code used to apply the algorithm to scan the lattices is available upon request. Please feel free to contact the authors with question

Crystal Spectroscopy at the Johns Hopkins University, September 1966

Crystal spectroscopy research, and free ion analyse

Inhibition of Blood Coagulation Factor XII: Evaluation of Flavonoids as a Drug Candidate

This study investigated natural product inhibitors of blood coagulation Factor XII (FXII). FXII initiates the Kallikrein Kinin-System (KKS) within the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Increased expression of this system leads to proinflammatory and procoagulant activities. Inflammation occurs through downstream activation in the KKS. Following the activation of FXII-dependent pathway, bradykinin (BK) binds to the BK receptor 2 (B2) and produces inflammatory signaling. Abnormally increased BK can result in life threatening Hereditary Angioedema (HAE), characterized by severe reoccurring swelling. FXII is critical for pathogenic thrombosis, but is dispensable for hemostasis. This unique property of FXII makes it an attractive drug target. We hypothesized that the identification of a specific inhibitor for activated FXII could lead to the reduction of Hereditary Angioedema Type III (HAE III) symptoms and hinder thrombosis formation without an increased risk for bleeding. In this study, we presented an extension of our previous work, which dealt with high-throughput screening of plant extracts and a large compound collections to target FXIIa. We identified myricitin as a candidate compound via a systemic experimental screening. Chromogenic activated FXII activity assays were preformed to test the effects of myricitrin analogues on plasma enzymes (FXIIa, FXIa, and kallikrein). To assess the inhibitory effects of candidate compounds on these proteases, the release of paranitrianalide from the chromogenic substrates were measured as an indicator of FXIIa, FXIa, or kallikrein activity. The results of this study showed that myricetin, an analogue of myricitrin, significantly inhibited FXIIa at the sub-micromolar to the low micromolar concentration range. Overall, myricetin has the potential to be a useful multifunctional therapeutic drug in patients with HAE and thrombolytic diseases

Commentary on: Victor Ferry\u27s The virtues of dissoi logoi

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The Impact of Reproductive Technologies on Beef Cattle and Management

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate producer management decisions that may impact beef cattle reproductive efficiency. The over-arching hypothesis was that critical breeding management decisions would positively influence pregnancy rate, calving distribution, and calf weaning weights in crossbred beef cows. In experiment 1, the objectives were to assess two different breeding systems on reproductive and offspring outcomes in North Dakota beef herds, conduct partial budget analyses on each operation, and evaluate production, performance and profit outcomes within/across herds for each breeding system with the use of surveys, tests of knowledge, and focus group discussions. Cattle from 10 commercial beef herds were randomly assigned to one of two breeding systems: 1) only exposed to natural service herd bulls (CON), or 2) exposed to ovulation synchronization and fixed-time AI followed by natural service bulls (TAI, fixed-time artificial insemination). Producers were also enrolled in the Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software and the Farm Business Management programs. A greater proportion of calves were born early in the calving season to cows exposed to TAI and subsequent calves were heavier at weaning compared to calves born from CON cows. Producer perceived understanding increased for every parameter tested by the end of the experiment. In experiment 2, the objective was to evaluate the use of an injectable trace mineral supplement on reproductive and offspring outcomes in North Dakota beef herds. Cattle from 4 commercial beef herds were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) administered an injectable trace mineral supplement 30 d before breeding, or 2) administered no additional treatments prior to breeding. The injectable trace mineral supplement did not have any effect on pregnancy, weaning weights of calves at the side of cows, or calving distribution. Producers may be able to enhance profitability with the use of selected management strategies including the use of estrus synchronization and AI, record keeping and performance programs, and the inclusion of injectable trace mineral supplements. Selection of management strategies that fit individual operations will be key in terms of increasing profitability as well as decreasing stress of producers.USDA/NCR-SAR

Commentary on: Yun Xie, Shuying Shi, Sarah Evans, and Dale Hample\u27s Exploring the meaning of argument in China

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How the Authority of Misinformation Influences Personal Judgments of Others

The study of misinformation blossomed with the work of Elizabeth Loftus in the 1970s, looking, for example, at how the presence of information in leading questions overshadowed the existing memory of a car crash. Loftus and Palmer (1974) first used the term misinformation effect and found a connection between language and episodic memory. At first, this term only referred to when participants were asked to recall an event when prompted by a biased question, and their memory of the misinformation was measured. Quickly there grew two types of misinformation effect, one in which the misleading information is presented before the event occurs as ‘priming’ the individual ((Lewandowsky, Ecker, Seifert, Schwarz & Cook, 2012), and one in which the biasing information is presented afterwards, as in the original study. More recently, Dalal, Diab and Tinsdale (2015) applied misinformation to hiring decisions in the use of rumors by employers, a specific type of misinformation. This study was groundbreaking for misinformation research as it showed the effect could impact not just declarative memory but person judgements as well. While many variables have been studied with respect to misinformation effects on memory, there has been very little work focused on the influence of misinformation on personal judgements and feelings