Consistent alpha-cluster description of the 12C (0^+_2) resonance

The near-threshold 12C (0^+_2) resonance provides unique possibility for fast helium burning in stars, as predicted by Hoyle to explain the observed abundance of elements in the Universe. Properties of this resonance are calculated within the framework of the alpha-cluster model whose two-body and three-body effective potentials are tuned to describe the alpha - alpha scattering data, the energies of the 0^+_1 and 0^+_2 states, and the 0^+_1-state root-mean-square radius. The extremely small width of the 0^+_2 state, the 0_2^+ to 0_1^+ monopole transition matrix element, and transition radius are found in remarkable agreement with the experimental data. The 0^+_2-state structure is described as a system of three alpha-particles oscillating between the ground-state-like configuration and the elongated chain configuration whose probability exceeds 0.9

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННОЙ ДИФФЕРЕНЦИАЦИИ СНЕЖНОГО ПОКРОВА В НИЗКОГОРНЫХ ЛАНДШАФТАХ РУССКОГО АЛТАЯ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ БАССЕЙНА Р. МАЙМА)

The paper presents results of snow route measurements carried out during two winter seasons (2014/15 and 2015/16) over the period of maximum snow accumulation. The region of investigation was mainly the lowmountain basin of the river Maima (North, North-East Altai). Meteorological conditions for these periods (amounts of precipitation and mean monthly temperatures) were compared with climatic data (1985– 2016). The results obtained allowed establishing a relationship between the spatial and temporal variability of the snow depth, density and SWE (snow-water equivalent) and the weather conditions, orographic features (exposure and steepness of slopes), and characteristics of the underlying surface. The winter of 2014/15 was warm and moderately snowy season, while the winter of 2015/16 was warm but with small amount of snow. At the subtype level of the landscapes the maximum values of the snow cover thickness and the snow storage were observed in the chern-taiga landscapes, and the smallest ones – in the sub-taiga part of the basin area. The maximum snow storages (SWE) are characteristic for the secondary small-leaved forests and meadows, where these values exceed similar ones under the indigenous fir trees by 30%.The paper presents results of snow route measurements carried out during two winter seasons (2014/15 and 2015/16) over the period of maximum snow accumulation. The region of investigation was mainly the lowmountain basin of the river Maima (North, North-East Altai). Meteorological conditions for these periods (amounts of precipitation and mean monthly temperatures) were compared with climatic data (1985– 2016). The results obtained allowed establishing a relationship between the spatial and temporal variability of the snow depth, density and SWE (snow-water equivalent) and the weather conditions, orographic features (exposure and steepness of slopes), and characteristics of the underlying surface. The winter of 2014/15 was warm and moderately snowy season, while the winter of 2015/16 was warm but with small amount of snow. At the subtype level of the landscapes the maximum values of the snow cover thickness and the snow storage were observed in the chern-taiga landscapes, and the smallest ones – in the sub-taiga part of the basin area. The maximum snow storages (SWE) are characteristic for the secondary small-leaved forests and meadows, where these values exceed similar ones under the indigenous fir trees by 30%

Оценка параметров снежного покрова по данным наблюдений на метеостанциях в небольших речных бассейнах на юге Западной Сибири

In this study, we analyzed the accuracy of snow observations at weather stations compared to the data of snow measurements in the vicinity of these stations. Also, the variations of measurement errors were estimated considering the inter-annual snowpack variability and landscape heterogeneity of the river basins. The studies were conducted in three catchments in the south of Western Siberia: forest-steppe the Kasmala River (2011–2020), low mountain the Mayma River (2015–2020), and steppe the Kuchuk River (2019–2020). The results showed that the accuracy of snow measurements at the weather stations was higher in the low mountain catchment than in the plain basins. Interannual differences in precipitation combined with wind transport influenced the most significant errors in the Kasmala catchment (relative error of snow depth on the snow gauge – 46,3%, and SWE on the permanent course – 17,3%). However, in the Mayma catchment, the snow depth measurements on the snow gauge agreed well with the catchment means in all years (mean relative error 7,7%). The relative error of snow depth measurements on the snow gauge in the Kuchuk catchment was 7,5%, and of SWE on the permanent snow course was 19,1%. The small snow depth error occurred due to the composition of the error distribution and large differences between open and forested areas.Сравниваются материалы наблюдений за снежным покровом на метеостанциях и снегомерные наблюдения в водосборных бассейнах, где расположены эти станции. Исследования вели в трёх бассейнах на юге Западной Сибири: в лесостепном бассейне р. Касмала (2011–2020 гг.), низкогорном бассейне р. Майма (2015–2020 гг.) и степном бассейне р. Кучук (2019–2020 гг.). Сравнение проводилось на трёх пространственно-временных уровнях изменчивости: межгодовом (влияние межгодовой изменчивости осадков); внутрибассейновом (влияние рельефа и растительности); внутригодовом (влияние метеорологических условий конкретного зимнего периода)

Nuclear Alpha-Particle Condensates

The $\alpha$-particle condensate in nuclei is a novel state described by a product state of $\alpha$'s, all with their c.o.m. in the lowest 0S orbit. We demonstrate that a typical $\alpha$-particle condensate is the Hoyle state ($E_{x}=7.65$ MeV, $0^+_2$ state in $^{12}$C), which plays a crucial role for the synthesis of $^{12}$C in the universe. The influence of antisymmentrization in the Hoyle state on the bosonic character of the $\alpha$ particle is discussed in detail. It is shown to be weak. The bosonic aspects in the Hoyle state, therefore, are predominant. It is conjectured that $\alpha$-particle condensate states also exist in heavier $n\alpha$ nuclei, like $^{16}$O, $^{20}$Ne, etc. For instance the $0^+_6$ state of $^{16}$O at $E_{x}=15.1$ MeV is identified from a theoretical analysis as being a strong candidate of a $4\alpha$ condensate. The calculated small width (34 keV) of $0^+_6$, consistent with data, lends credit to the existence of heavier Hoyle-analogue states. In non-self-conjugated nuclei such as $^{11}$B and $^{13}$C, we discuss candidates for the product states of clusters, composed of $\alpha$'s, triton's, and neutrons etc. The relationship of $\alpha$-particle condensation in finite nuclei to quartetting in symmetric nuclear matter is investigated with the help of an in-medium modified four-nucleon equation. A nonlinear order parameter equation for quartet condensation is derived and solved for $\alpha$ particle condensation in infinite nuclear matter. The strong qualitative difference with the pairing case is pointed out.Comment: 71 pages, 41 figures, review article, to be published in "Cluster in Nuclei (Lecture Notes in Physics) - Vol.2 -", ed. by C. Beck, (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2011

Пространственная и временная изменчивость снежного покрова в южной лесостепи Верхней Оби

The study area is the forest-steppe in the Upper Ob basin located on the south of the West Siberian Plain. The results of studies of the dates of setting-up and loss of a stable snow cover and its duration are presented, the thickness of snow and snow storages for the period of maximum snow accumulation are analyzed. We used observational data obtained on routes and meteorological sites in 1966–2018 together with our own snow measurements of 2011–2019. It was found that in the southern forest-steppe, the duration of the stable snow cover presence decreases mainly as a result of its earlier destruction. At the same time, on the routes in a «field» the thickness of snow and snow storage increase due to growth of winter precipitation. But no such trend is observed on the routes in a «forest» which is explained by influence of its canopy density. The snow cover here is unevenly distributed over the territory because the driſted snow transport depends mainly on features of the vegetation cover and the terrain relief. The route snow surveys performed near weather stations do not reflect the entire landscape diversity of the territory.Проанализированы особенности сезонного снегонакопления за многолетний период. Установлены тенденции изменений характеристик снежного покрова с середины 1960-х годов и его пространственное распределение в зависимости от ландшафтов в пределах южной лесостепи Верхней Оби. Использованы данные государственных гидрометеостанций и собственных снегомерных работ 2011–2019 гг

Transplanted Human Amniotic Membrane-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Mouse

BACKGROUND: Human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMCs) have the potential to reduce heart and lung fibrosis, but whether could reduce liver fibrosis remains largely unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Hepatic cirrhosis model was established by infusion of CCl₄ (1 ml/kg body weight twice a week for 8 weeks) in immunocompetent C57Bl/6J mice. hAMCs, isolated from term delivered placenta, were infused into the spleen at 4 weeks after mice were challenged with CCl₄. Control mice received only saline infusion. Animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks post-transplantation. Blood analysis was performed to evaluate alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Histological analysis of the livers for fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells activation, hepatocyte apoptosis, proliferation and senescence were performed. The donor cell engraftment was assessed using immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction. The areas of hepatic fibrosis were reduced (6.2%±2.1 vs. control 9.6%±1.7, p<0.05) and liver function parameters (ALT 539.6±545.1 U/dl, AST 589.7±342.8 U/dl,vs. control ALT 139.1±138.3 U/dl, p<0.05 and AST 212.3±110.7 U/dl, p<0.01) were markedly ameliorated in the hAMCs group compared to control group. The transplantation of hAMCs into liver-fibrotic mice suppressed activation of hepatic stellate cells, decreased hepatocyte apoptosis and promoted liver regeneration. More interesting, hepatocyte senescence was depressed significantly in hAMCs group compared to control group. Immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction revealed that hAMCs engraftment into host livers and expressed the hepatocyte-specific markers, human albumin and α-fetoproteinran. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The transplantation of hAMCs significantly decreased the fibrosis formation and progression of CCl₄-induced cirrhosis, providing a new approach for the treatment of fibrotic liver disease

Uplifting manhood to wonderful heights? News coverage of the human costs of military conflict from world war I to Gulf war Two

Domestic political support is an important factor constraining the use of American military power around the world. Although the dynamics of war support are thought to reflect a cost-benefit calculus, with costs represented by numbers of friendly war deaths, no previous study has examined how information about friendly, enemy, and civilian casualties is routinely presented to domestic audiences. This paper establishes a baseline measure of historical casualty reporting by examining New York Times coverage of five major wars that occurred over the past century. Despite important between-war differences in the scale of casualties, the use of conscription, the type of warfare, and the use of censorship, the frequency of casualty reporting and the framing of casualty reports has remained fairly consistent over the past 100 years. Casualties are rarely mentioned in American war coverage. When casualties are reported, it is often in ways that minimize or downplay the human costs of war

Clinical Cell Therapy Guidelines for Neurorestoration (IANR/CANR 2017)

Cell therapy has been shown to be a key clinical therapeutic option for central nervous system diseases or damage. Standardization of clinical cell therapy procedures is an important task for professional associations devoted to cell therapy. The Chinese Branch of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) completed the first set of guidelines governing the clinical application of neurorestoration in 2011. The IANR and the Chinese Association of Neurorestoratology (CANR) collaborated to propose the current version "Clinical Cell Therapy Guidelines for Neurorestoration (IANR/CANR 2017)". The IANR council board members and CANR committee members approved this proposal on September 1, 2016, and recommend it to clinical practitioners of cellular therapy. These guidelines include items of cell type nomenclature, cell quality control, minimal suggested cell doses, patient-informed consent, indications for undergoing cell therapy, contraindications for undergoing cell therapy, documentation of procedure and therapy, safety evaluation, efficacy evaluation, policy of repeated treatments, do not charge patients for unproven therapies, basic principles of cell therapy, and publishing responsibility

Gerschenkron revisited: The new corporate Russia

© 2015, Journal of Economic Issues / Association for Evolutionary Economics. Our analysis is based on firm-specific data compiled from the Russian Trading System stock exchange and SKRIN (CKP-H in Russian) database. We seek to identify the factors behind Russias dramatically improved corporate sector performance from the beginning of the 2000s to December 2007. We argue that improved long-term corporate performance was a consequence of several policy initiatives associated with the state-dominated banking sector, which enabled statesubsidized investment funds to be channeled from a structurally reengineered energy sector to targeted investment projects located in other industries. We claim that Russias industrial strategy closely conforms to Alexander Gerschenkrons catch-up theory