Energy and width measurements of low-Z pionic X-ray transitions

High resolution spectrometric measurement of energy and natural line widths of 2p-1s pionic X ray transitions, as well as muonic transition energies in Li, Be, B, and C isotope

A new measurement of the lifetime of the positive pion

Digital timing method for measuring positive pion lifetim

The Motivation to “Like”: Do “Likes” Cause Conformity on Social Media?

Social media has become the norm in westernized culture in many households. Many companies ranging from small to large organizations have employed multiple forms of social media in order to promote their business. Some companies are inclined to buy “likes” from other businesses in order that their product may seem more appealing to viewers online. The question that this study aimed to address whether participants were more likely to “like” a picture if the picture has more associated “likes”, rather than if it is a good picture as deemed by a professional photographer. This would follow the traditional conformity principles, but applied to the 21st century media. In this study, 628 participants were surveyed from Cedarville University via an online survey that was sent out over email. In the survey, participants were shown 12 pairs of the photos and asked to choose which one that they would “like”. The photos of the same item were paired together of high and low quality, and larger and smaller number of “likes” were associated. Those photos included water bottle, laptop, Bluetooth speakers, and backpack. The high and low quality of the photos were determined based on the evaluation of a professional photographer and group of 35 students. The small number of “likes” was chosen at random and the larger number was calculated at a 150% increase. The number of participants’ “likes” were tallied for each photo. Chi-square goodness of fit tests were calculated comparing the frequency of “likes “of each photo in each pair of the photos. Contrary to the prediction, the preliminary data analysis indicated that participants were significantly more to like the higher than lower quality photos regardless of the number of “likes” associated. But they were not significantly more to “like” either of the photos in a pair when the quality of both photos were the same. In conclusion, the present study provide evidence that participants were more interested in the quality of a photo rather than the associated number of “likes” when they chose their preferred pictures. Limitations and implication of the current study would be discussed

Effect of maternal restraint stress during gestation on temporal lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroendocrine and immune responses of progeny

The impact of gestational dam restraint stress on progeny immune and neuroendocrine temporal hormone responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was assessed. Maternal stress (5-min snout snare restraint stress during days 84 to 112 of gestation) increased (P \u3c 0.05) the magnitude of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6, epinephrine (E), norepinephrine, and serum amyloid A (SAA) production following LPS infusion in the offspring. Moreover, these effects appear to be dependent on gender for TNF-α, E, and cortisol production. However, maternal stress did not affect (P \u3c 0.05) the normalization of proinflammatory cytokines or neuroendocrine hormones produced following LPS. Collectively, these results indicate that maternal stress impacts aspects of the proinflammatory cytokine and stress hormone response in their progeny following LPS dosing of the offspring. This response is potentially responsible in part for the resultant changes to SAA production. Because several of the changes observed here are dependent on pig gender, these results are also the first evidence that inherent epigenetic factors coupled with maternal stress impact the cumulative response to stress and LPS in young pigs

International Space Station Crew Quarters Ventilation and Acoustic Design Implementation

The International Space Station (ISS) United States Operational Segment has four permanent rack sized ISS Crew Quarters (CQs) providing a private crew member space. The CQs use Node 2 cabin air for ventilation/thermal cooling, as opposed to conditioned ducted air-from the ISS Common Cabin Air Assembly (CCAA) or the ISS fluid cooling loop. Consequently, CQ can only increase the air flow rate to reduce the temperature delta between the cabin and the CQ interior. However, increasing airflow causes increased acoustic noise so efficient airflow distribution is an important design parameter. The CQ utilized a two fan push-pull configuration to ensure fresh air at the crew member's head position and reduce acoustic exposure. The CQ ventilation ducts are conduits to the louder Node 2 cabin aisle way which required significant acoustic mitigation controls. The CQ interior needs to be below noise criteria curve 40 (NC-40). The design implementation of the CQ ventilation system and acoustic mitigation are very inter-related and require consideration of crew comfort balanced with use of interior habitable volume, accommodation of fan failures, and possible crew uses that impact ventilation and acoustic performance. Each CQ required 13% of its total volume and approximately 6% of its total mass to reduce acoustic noise. This paper illustrates the types of model analysis, assumptions, vehicle interactions, and trade-offs required for CQ ventilation and acoustics. Additionally, on-orbit ventilation system performance and initial crew feedback is presented. This approach is applicable to any private enclosed space that the crew will occupy

Salmonella Typhimurium and Multidirectional Communication in the Gut

The mammalian digestive tract is home to trillions of microbes, including bacteria, archaea, protozoa, fungi and viruses. In monogastric mammals the stomach and small intestine harbor diverse bacterial populations but are typically less populated than the colon. The gut bacterial community (microbiota hereafter) varies widely among different host species and individuals within a species. It is influenced by season of the year, age of the host, stress and disease. Ideally, the host and microbiota benefit each other. The host provides nutrients to the microbiota and the microbiota assists the host with digestion and nutrient metabolism. The resident microbiota competes with pathogens for space and nutrients and, through this competition, protects the host in a phenomenon called colonization resistance. The microbiota participates in development of the host immune system, particularly regulation of autoimmunity and mucosal immune response. The microbiota also shapes gut-brain communication and host responses to stress; and, indeed, the microbiota is a newly recognized endocrine organ within mammalian hosts.Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium hereafter) is a food-borne pathogen which adapts to and alters the gastrointestinal (GI) environment. In the GI tract, S. Typhimurium competes with the microbiota for nutrients and overcomes colonization resistance to establish infection. To do this, S. Typhimurium uses multiple defense mechanisms to resist environmental stressors, like the acidic pH of the stomach, and virulence mechanisms which allow it to invade the intestinal epithelium and disseminate throughout the host. To coordinate gene expression and disrupt signaling within the microbiota and between host and microbiota, S. Typhimurium employs its own chemical signaling and may regulate host hormone metabolism.This review will discuss the multidirectional interaction between S. Typhimurium, host and microbiota as well as mechanisms that allow S. Typhimurium to succeed in the gut

Ariel - Volume 5 Number 6

Editors J.D. Kanofsky Mark Dembert Entertainment Robert Breckenridge Joe Conti Gary Kaskey Photographer Scot Kastner Overseas Editor Mike Sinason Circulation Jay Amsterdam Humorist Jim McCann Staff Ken Jaffe Bob Sklaroff Janet Welsh Dave Jacoby Phil Nimoityn Frank Chervane

Calm Cattle Have Better Responses to Weaning Vaccinations

Last updated: 6/1/200