Plotinus and Paranormal Phenomena

The present paper is intended primarily for classicists who are not specialists in Neoplatonism and will therefore tell experts in Plotinus little of which they are not already well aware. Its purpose is to explain Plotinus\u27 views on a subject which finds itself, perhaps surprisingly, once again of some contemporary interest, and where misunderstandings and emotionally toned judgments are only too easy. It will be concerned as much with the reasons underlying Plotinus\u27 beliefs as with those beliefs themselves, and in particular will show how his views on paranormal phenomena spring naturally from some of the most fundamental principles of his whole philosophy

Statistical Properties of Interacting Bose Gases in Quasi-2D Harmonic Traps

The analytical probability distribution of the quasi-2D (and purely 2D) ideal and interacting Bose gas are investigated by using a canonical ensemble approach. Using the analytical probability distribution of the condensate, the statistical properties such as the mean occupation number and particle number fluctuations of the condensate are calculated. Researches show that there is a continuous crossover of the statistical properties from a quasi-2D to a purely 2D ideal or interacting gases. Different from the case of a 3D Bose gas, the interaction between atoms changes in a deep way the nature of the particle number fluctuations.Comment: RevTex, 10pages, 4 figures, E-mail: [email protected]

Studies of high latitude current systems using MAGSAT vector data

The magnetic disturbance fields caused by global external current systems are considered with particular emphasis on improving the understanding of the physical processes which control high latitude current systems. Following processing the MAGSAT data were routinely plotted in the Universal Time (UT) format as well as in a polar plot format. The H'D'U' coordinate system, was adopted as the standard for representing the MAGSAT residual magnetic field vectors. A data file was generated and the TPOLAR computer code was developed to determine from the orbital elements, the time, latitude, and MLT of the extremum latitude of each transpolar segment of orbit. The precision of the vector data set from MAGSAT prompted an extended exploratory phase for data analysis procedures, modeling techniques and phenomenology

Studies of high latitude current systems using Magsat vector data

Disturbance fields caused by global external current systems are analyzed in order to gain an improved understanding of the phydical processes which control high latitude current systems and to increase the confidence level in the identification of internal field levels. The basic approach is to: (1) categorize the vector data by those physical parameters important for investigation of external current systems; (2) map the disturbances for appropriate conditions; (3) model the currents which might cause the mapped disturbances; and (4) correlate results with data from other sources. It is concluded that the Magsat data set appears to have remarkably high precision and quality and should permit major advances to be made in modeling current distribution at high latitudes in the ionosphere and magnetosphere

How Fine should Grain be Ground for Milk Cows?

IntroductionThe ground beef bin on the Jones farm was empty. Mr. Jones pulled the switch and soon the little mill was humming a song that scarcely changed a note as the first few shovels of grain disappeared down its mouth. Mr. Jones noted that the grain was scarcely more than cracked. He readjusted the mill to grind it finer, and soon it was spewing out an entirely different product. Did Mr. Jones make a mistake when he readjusted his mill to grind the feed finer for his dairy cows?Results of an experiment conducted at the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station would indicate that Jones did make a mistake by grinding the grain fine – one that is common in the dairy industry. These are a few results of the experiment:1. It made little difference in the case of milk cows whether grain was ground coarse or fine in relation to the food value obtained by the cow from the entire ration. Feeds need only to be cracked sufficiently to expose the kernel interiors to digestive juices.2. More benefit was derived from grinding corn than from grinding oats. A total of 110 pounds of alfalfa hay and whole corn ration was required to equal 100 pounds of an alfalfa hay and medium-ground corn ration in food value. For whole oats the comparison was 102 pounds to 100 pounds.3. After subtracting the food value of the alfalfa hay, it was found 119 pounds of whole corn were required to equal 100 pounds of medium ground corn in food value, and 105 pounds of whole oats were required to equal 100 pounds of medium ground oats. These figures may be used when combining these grains with o�her roughages in a ration. Little difference was noted in the food value of either grain when ground medium or fine.4. Greater benefits were derived from grinding corn largely because greater amounts pass through the animal undigested when whole corn is fed. Nearly one-fifth (19.9 percent) of the whole corn fed was recovered from the feces (solid manure). For whole oats, recoveries in the feces ranged from 10.8 to 14.8 percent.5. Ground grain rations were much more palatable than whole grain, and were more convenient for mixing with other ingredients in the ration.Futhermore, it is generally understood that it costs more in time and money for fine grinding than for medium coarse grinding. The power cost is greater chiefly because of the greater length of time that the power must be used in grinding fine as compared with coarse. Calculations made from figures obtained from the South Dakota, Indiana and Ohio Stations indicate that it would take about 2 or 2Yz times as much power to grind the finely ground grain as for the medium coarse as used in this experiment. For instance, Indiana reported that it took 0.21 kilowatt hours (K.W.H. electrical power) for coarse grinding of 100 pounds of corn and oats and 0.57 kilowatt hours for fine grinding. If one were paying for electrical power from a highline the cost would be directly proportional to the kilowatt hours used. Essentially the same relationships would exist if tractors or gas engines were used as a source of power

A multi-physics method for fracture and fragmentation at high strain-rates

This work outlines a diffuse interface method for the study of fracture and fragmentation in ductile metals at high strain-rates in Eulerian finite volume simulations. The work is based on an existing diffuse interface method capable of simulating a broad range of different multi-physics applications, including multi-material interaction, damage and void opening. The work at hand extends this method with a technique to model realistic material inhomogeneities, and examines the performance of the method on a selection of challenging problems. Material inhomogeneities are included by evolving a scalar field that perturbs a material's plastic yield stress. This perturbation results in non-uniform fragments with a measurable statistical distribution, allowing for underlying defects in a material to be modelled. As the underlying numerical scheme is three dimensional, parallelisable and multi-physics-capable, the scheme can be tested on a range of strenuous problems. These problems especially include a three-dimensional explosively driven fracture study, with an explicitly resolved condensed phase explosive. The new scheme compares well with both experiment and previous numerical studies

Emerging treatment options for short bowel syndrome: potential role of teduglutide

INTRODUCTION: Current medical management of short bowel syndrome (SBS) involves the use of lifelong parenteral nutrition (PN). Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), an important intestinotrophic growth factor has been shown to increase intestinal absorption in SBS through augmentation of post-resection intestinal adaptation. This may lead to the reduction of PN dependence in patients with SBS. AREAS COVERED IN REVIEW: Advancing research of GLP-2 physiology has spurred the growing understanding of the diverse effects of GLP-2. The development of the degradation resistant GLP-2 analog, teduglutide (Gattex(TM), NPS Pharmaceuticals, Bedminster, NJ), has allowed its exploration as a therapeutic agent in a variety of clinical settings. Recent multicenter, placebo-controlled studies of GLP-2 in SBS patients demonstrate meaningful reductions in PN requirements with good safety profiles. The reparative and immunomodulatory effects of teduglutide may also be beneficial in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Safety concerns about possible carcinogenic properties during long-term use require ongoing evaluation. SUMMARY: GLP-2 appears to offer a novel adjuvant treatment modality for SBS. Promise for its use in other clinical settings like IBD has been shown in small pilot studies