Structure, mechanical properties and acoustic emissions of starch extrudates

Imperial Users onl

Discovering True Muonium at LHCb

We study the potential of the LHCb experiment to discover, for the first time, the $\mu^+\mu^-$ true muonium bound state. We propose a search for the vector $1^3S_1$ state, $\mathcal{T\!M}$, which kinetically mixes with the photon and dominantly decays to $e^+e^-$. We demonstrate that a search for $\eta \to \gamma \mathcal{T\!M}$, $\mathcal{T\!M}\to e^+e^-$ in a displaced vertex can exceed a significance of 5 standard deviations assuming statistical uncertainties. We present two possible searches: an inclusive search for the $e^+e^-$ vertex, and an exclusive search which requires an additional photon and a reconstruction of the $\eta$ mass.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures; v2: edits from comments and review, matched to PRD versio

Embedding Justice: Shaming Rituals in Reintegrative Justice Systems: Spain, California, and New South Wales

This research explores alternative justice processes that activate culturally specific rituals intending to reintegrate the offender back into the community. This study uses an ethnographic research design that began on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain in 2012 and expanded to therapeutic justice programs amidst varying political-cultural contexts in California and New South Wales, Australia. The analysis expands upon theory on rituals of reintegrative shaming in restorative justice settings and forwards the concept of “Embedding Justice.” Embedding Justice is the symbolic activation of cultural beliefs and values through justice rituals undergone at the community level. I illustrate the ritual mechanisms shared across these three sites in Embedding Justice shaming rituals and consider their implications for the study of reintegrative justice

Activation of pluripotency genes in human fibroblast cells by a novel mRNA based approach

Background: Several methods have been used to induce somatic cells to re-enter the pluripotent state. Viral transduction of reprogramming genes yields higher efficiency but involves random insertions of viral sequences into the human genome. Although induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be obtained with the removable PiggyBac transposon system or an episomal system, both approaches still use DNA constructs so that resulting cell lines need to be thoroughly analyzed to confirm they are free of harmful genetic modification. Thus a method to change cell fate without using DNA will be very useful in regenerative medicine. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we synthesized mRNAs encoding OCT4, SOX2, cMYC, KLF4 and SV40 large T (LT) and electroporated them into human fibroblast cells. Upon transfection, fibroblasts expressed these factors at levels comparable to, or higher than those in human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Ectopically expressed OCT4 localized to the cell nucleus within 4 hours after mRNA introduction. Transfecting fibroblasts with a mixture of mRNAs encoding all five factors significantly increased the expression of endogenous OCT4, NANOG, DNMT3 beta, REX1 and SALL4. When such transfected fibroblasts were also exposed to several small molecules (valproic acid, BIX01294 and 5'-aza-2'-deoxycytidine) and cultured in human embryonic stem cell (ES) medium they formed small aggregates positive for alkaline phosphatase activity and OCT4 protein within 30 days. Conclusion/Significance: Our results demonstrate that mRNA transfection can be a useful approach to precisely control the protein expression level and short-term expression of reprogramming factors is sufficient to activate pluripotency genes in differentiated cells

Sanitation of Feedlot Soil

The topic is the sanitation of feedlot soil due to the presence of coliform bacteria from feces and naturally occurring in the soil. This bacteria can caused diarrhea in lambs, calves and piglets. This article reviews a study on this topic that was conducted in the Fall of 1979 at NDSU in the Departments of Veterinary Science and Bacteriology

Effective mass and quantum lifetime in a Si/Si0.87Ge0.13/Si two-dimensional hole gas

Measurements of Shubnikov de Haas oscillations in the temperature range 0.3–2 K have been used to determine an effective mass of 0.23 m0 in a Si/Si0.87Ge0.13/Si two-dimensional hole gas. This value is in agreement with theoretical predictions and with that obtained from cyclotron resonance measurements. The ratio of the transport time to the quantum lifetime is found to be 0.8. It is concluded that the 4 K hole mobility of 11 000 cm2 V−1 s−1 at a carrier sheet density of 2.2×1011 cm−2 is limited by interface roughness and short-range interface charge scattering