The Orbifold-String Theories of Permutation-Type: I. One Twisted BRST per Cycle per Sector

We resume our discussion of the new orbifold-string theories of permutation-type, focusing in the present series on the algebraic formulation of the general bosonic prototype and especially the target space-times of the theories. In this first paper of the series, we construct one twisted BRST system for each cycle $j$ in each twisted sector $\sigma$ of the general case, verifying in particular the previously-conjectured algebra $[Q_{i}(\sigma),Q_{j}(\sigma)]_{+} =0$ of the BRST charges. The BRST systems then imply a set of extended physical-state conditions for the matter of each cycle at cycle central charge $\hat{c}_{j}(\sigma)=26f_{j}(\sigma)$ where $f_{j}(\sigma)$ is the length of cycle $j$.Comment: 31 page

Viruses disrupt functions of human lymphocytes. Effects of measles virus and influenza virus on lymphocyte-mediated killing and antibody production.

We present experimental data that offer, in part, a better understanding of the immunosuppression that accompanies measles virus infection. We note that measles virus "silently" infects human lymphocytes and that the infection does not alter lymphocyte survival in vitro. Yet such infected lymphocytes fail to generate natural killer (NK) cell activity or synthesize immunoglobulins (Ig). Thus, the presence of virus within lymphocytes impairs their specific immune functions in the absence of cytolysis. Influenza virus also infects human lymphocytes. In contrast to measles virus infection of resting lymphocytes in which viral antigen is rarely expressed, influenza virus infection of these cells yields viral antigens expressed in the cytoplasm and on the cell surface. Influenza virus-infected lymphocytes have normal NK cell activity but fail to synthesize IgG or IgM

Playing the Goblin Post Office game improves movement control of the core: a case study

Movement function of the core (trunk and pelvis) can be improved in cerebral palsy, potentially leading to benefits which transfer to activities of daily living. A single child with CP diplegia played our custom made game which runs on the CAREN system. Three playing postures gradually introduced more and more joints in the legs to be controlled. Vicon cameras tracked trunk and pelvic rotations which drove a dragon towards envelope targets. Forward speed of the game was adjusted by an adaptive algorithm leading to a maximum settled speed for the various conditions. Results showed that core control improved after the six week training period. The trunk was better controlled than the pelvis, sideways rotations were better controlled than fore-aft rotations of body segments, and single plane rotations were more efficient than cross-plane rotations of the core. The quantifiable improvements suggest a good potential for our technique to improve core control which is a prerequisite for good movement control of the legs and arms

Designing materials for electrochemical carbon dioxide recycling

Electrochemical carbon dioxide recycling provides an attractive approach to synthesizing fuels and chemical feedstocks using renewable energy. On the path to deploying this technology, basic and applied scientific hurdles remain. Integrating catalytic design with mechanistic understanding yields scientific insights and progresses the technology towards industrial relevance. Catalysts must be able to generate valuable carbon-based products with better selectivity, lower overpotentials and improved current densities with extended operation. Here, we describe progress and identify mechanistic questions and performance metrics for catalysts that can enable carbon-neutral renewable energy storage and utilization

Laminar fluid flow in microchannels with complex shape

This paper was presented at the 4th Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2014), which was held at University College, London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute, ASME Press, LCN London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL University College London, UCL Engineering, the International NanoScience Community, www.nanopaprika.eu.Laminar flow of newton incompressible fluid with constant viscosity in system of channels (Fig.1) is considered. It’s demonstrated that there are infinitely many stationary solutions with same boundary conditions. Possible flow fields and ways of practical realization are studied. Solutions are investigated numerically, scheme of calculation is described partially in [1, 2]

Diversity in the organization of elastin bundles and intramembranous muscles in bat wings

Unlike birds and insects, bats fly with wings composed of thin skin that envelops the bones of the forelimb and spans the area between the limbs, digits, and sometimes the tail. This skin is complex and unusual; it is thinner than typical mammalian skin and contains organized bundles of elastin and embedded skeletal muscles. These elements are likely responsible for controlling the shape of the wing during flight and contributing to the aerodynamic capabilities of bats. We examined the arrangement of two macroscopic architectural elements in bat wings, elastin bundles and wing membrane muscles, to assess the diversity in bat wing skin morphology. We characterized the plagiopatagium and dactylopatagium of 130 species from 17 families of bats using cross‐polarized light imaging. This method revealed structures with distinctive relative birefringence, heterogeneity of birefringence, variation in size, and degree of branching. We used previously published anatomical studies and tissue histology to identify birefringent structures, and we analyzed their architecture across taxa. Elastin bundles, muscles, neurovasculature, and collagenous fibers are present in all species. Elastin bundles are oriented in a predominantly spanwise or proximodistal direction, and there are five characteristic muscle arrays that occur within the plagiopatagium, far more muscle than typically recognized. These results inform recent functional studies of wing membrane architecture, support the functional hypothesis that elastin bundles aid wing folding and unfolding, and further suggest that all bats may use these architectural elements for flight. All species also possess numerous muscles within the wing membrane, but the architecture of muscle arrays within the plagiopatagium varies among families. To facilitate present and future discussion of these muscle arrays, we refine wing membrane muscle nomenclature in a manner that reflects this morphological diversity. The architecture of the constituents of the skin of the wing likely plays a key role in shaping wings during flight

Radical-cation salts of BEDT-TTF with lithium tris(oxalato)metallate(III)

The first radical-cation salts in the extensive family (BEDT-TTF)x[(A)M(C2O4)3]·Guest containing lithium as the counter cation have been synthesized and characterised

Modification of the National Weather Service Distributed Hydrologic Model for subsurface water exchanges between grids

To account for spatial variability of precipitation, as well as basin physiographic properties, the National Weather Service (NWS) has developed a distributed version of its hydrologic component, termed the Hydrology Laboratory-Research Distributed Hydrologic Model (HL-RDHM). Because channels are the only source of water exchange between neighboring computational elements, the absence of such exchange has been identified as a weakness in the model. The primary objective of this paper is to modify the model structure to account for subsurface water exchanges without dramatically altering the conceptual framework of the water balance module. The subsurface exchanges are established by partitioning the slow response components released from the lower layer storages into two parts: the first part involves the grid's conceptual channel, while the second is added to the lower layer storages of the downstream pixel. Realizing the deficiency of the water balance module to locate the lower zone layers in sufficient depths, a complementary study is conducted to test the feasibility of further improvement in the modified model by equally shifting downward the lower zone layers of all pixels over the basin. The Baron Fork at Eldon, Oklahoma, is chosen as the test basin. Ten years of grid-based multisensor precipitation data are used to investigate the effects of the modification, plus shifting the lower zone layers on model performance. The results show that the modified-shifted HL-RDHM can markedly improve the streamflow simulations at the interior point, as well as very high peak-flow simulations at the basin's outlet. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union

Defining and developing an energy retrofitting approach

This paper identifies the dilemma faced by the stakeholders of existing buildings in regards to a decision making process for energy retrofitting. This paper also identifies the missing stage viewed as the “integrity audit “which can lead to substantial savings in the area of building operation. The methodology is centered on identifying energy waste first, reducing the overall peak electrical demand and then retrofitting for energy-efficiency. A proposed “integrity audit” leads to the classification of three main energy culprits: the identification of waste, missed opportunities, and rescheduling the operation of equipment use. A case study indicating the financial advantages of applying this methodology for a commercial building are presented. The energy retrofitting strategy is divided into two main categories, namely building control improvements and building component implementation. The payback periods are often within months if not immediate