Gel Textural Characteristics of Hair Gel with Cocoa Shell Extract by Using Mixture D-optimal Method

This study was used a mixture design to optimize the spreadability and viscosity of topical hair gel incorporates cocoa shell extract. The factor of the hair gel ingredient was thickener (0.2 – 0.8%), styling polymer A (2-5%), styling polymer B (2-6%), and solvent (84.63-91.63%) were studied on two responses selected spreadability and viscosity. The data collected were fitted to the model with high coefficient determination (R2= 0.994 for the spreadability and 0.9937 for the viscosity). The model can be predicted by showing the good lack of fit test result not significant with the p-value bigger than 0.05. From the ramp function simulation, the optimized formulation was selected and established at thickener (0.55%), styling polymer A (3.61%), styling polymer B (3.72%), and solvent (88.55%) with the spreadability and viscosity at 353.77 g.s and 39.91 pa.s respectively. The benefit of using mixture design in this experiment, it can help a formulator to understand the complex interaction between factors and can easily modify the formulation through ramp function simulation to obtain the desired result. The predicted validation test shows that both values were comparable. Under this condition showed that the model development could be used to predict future observations within the design range thickener (0.2 – 0.8%), styling polymer A (2-5%), styling polymer B (2-6%), and solvent (84.63-91.63%).

CGRP, adrenomedullin and adrenomedullin 2 display endogenous GPCR agonist bias in primary human cardiovascular cells

Agonist bias occurs when different ligands produce distinct signalling outputs when acting at the same receptor. However, its physiological relevance is not always clear. Using primary human cells and gene editing techniques, we demonstrate endogenous agonist bias with physiological consequences for the calcitonin receptor-like receptor, CLR. By switching the receptor-activity modifying protein (RAMP) associated with CLR we can “re-route” the physiological pathways activated by endogenous agonists calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), adrenomedullin (AM) and adrenomedullin 2 (AM2). AM2 promotes calcium-mediated nitric oxide signalling whereas CGRP and AM show pro-proliferative effects in cardiovascular cells, thus providing a rationale for the expression of the three peptides. CLR-based agonist bias occurs naturally in human cells and has a fundamental purpose for its existence. We anticipate this will be a starting point for more studies into RAMP function in native environments and their importance in endogenous GPCR signalling.

Very-Long-Period (VLP) Seismic Artifacts during the 2018 Caldera Collapse at Kīlauea, Hawai‘i

Throughout the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea volcano (Hawai‘i), episodic collapses of a portion of the volcano’s summit caldera produced repeated Mw 4.9–5.3 earthquakes. Each of these 62 events was characterized by a very-long-period (VLP) seismic signal (>40 s). Although collapses in the later stage of the eruption produced earthquakes with significant amplitude clipping on near-summit broadband seismometers, the first 12 were accurately recorded. For these initial collapse events, we compare average VLP seismograms at six near-summit locations to synthetic seismograms derived from displacements at collocated Global Positioning System stations. We show that the VLP seismic signal was generated by a radially outward and upward ramp function in displacement. We propose that at local distances the period of the VLP seismic signal is solely dependent on the duration of this ramp function and the instrument transfer function, that is, the seismic VLP is an artifact of the bandlimited instrument response and not representative of real ground motion. The displacement ramp function imposes a sinc-function velocity amplitude spectrum that cannot be fully recovered through standard seismic instrument deconvolution. Any near-summit VLP signals in instrument-response-corrected velocity or displacement seismograms from these collapse events are subject to severe band limitation. Similarly, the seismic amplitude response is not flat through the low-frequency corner, for example, instrument-response-uncorrected seismograms scaled by instrument sensitivity are equally prone to band limitation. This observation is crucial when attempting to clarify the different contributions to the VLP source signature. Not accounting for this effect could lead to misunderstanding of the magmatic processes involved.

THE FRACTAL DIMENSION-BASED DESCRIPTOR OF THE MICROVASCULAR PATTERN ON THE HISTOLOGICAL SECTION

The microvascular pattern in the histological section, i.e. the point-pattern composed of capillaries perpendicular to the plane of section, contains information about the three-dimensional structure of the capillary network. Histological processing is followed by the shrinkage of tissue of uncertain magnitude. In order to obtain relevant information, the scale-independent analysis is necessary. We used an approach based on the Minkowski cover of measured set. The true fractal dimension of the point pattern is obviously of zero, but the artificial result of the algorithm can be related to the complexity of shape. We fitted the log-log plot by the modified rounded ramp function and the slope of the oblique part was used as the fractal based descriptor. We demonstrated on histological samples of the heart that this fractal-based parameter has the property of scale and rotation invariance.

Application of Time Recursive Processing for the Development of a Time/Phase Shifter

This paper describes a powerful digital time and/or phase shifter of pulse rates, based on Time Recursive Processing. It can function either as a time shifter or as a phase shifter. The circuit can generate precise shifting for a pulse rate with a constant input period, but it is also capable to shift a pulse rate whose period is a ramp function. Besides that, the shifter can be used in tracking and prediction applications. The shifter is described by recursive equations as a linear discrete system. All mathematical analyses are made using the Z transform. Computer simulations are employed to prove the correctness of the mathematical analysis. The realization of the shifter is described and, to demonstrate the shifter functioning, actual oscilloscope screenshots are presented.

Parametric Study of Influence of Structure Stiffness and Vehicle Characteristics on Dynamic Amplification

This work presents the results of a parametric study on the dynamic amplification or impact factor due to transit vehicles. The study was performed on a single span simply supported bridge composed of prestressed concrete bulb tee girders with a concrete deck and direct fixation track. The study varied the key parameters affecting the structural response of the bridge, viz. stiffness of the bridge, vehicle speed and axle configuration. The bridge was numerically modeled using CSI-Bridge software. Stiffness was manipulated in the models by varying the elastic modulus of the concrete. Vehicle speed varied form quasi-static speed of 0.45 m/s (1 mph) to 35.32 m/s (79 mph) in increments of 1.34 m/s (3 mph). Different axle configurations were obtained by modeling trains consisting of different numbers of cars as well as considering different light rail vehicle types. Light rail vehicles defined by transit agencies in Denver, Boston, Washington DC, Phoenix and Houston were considered, which provided a total of 22 different configurations. Vehicle lengths as well the number of axles and spacing between axles varied. The moving loads were modeled using a linear elastic time history analysis. It was assumed that the rail was connected to the bridge deck at distinct points represented by the rail clip connections at approximately 0.76 m (30 inches) on-center. The magnitude of the axle load at a point ramped up from zero to maximum as the axle traveled from the preceding rail clip to the point under consideration and then decreased to zero as the axle traveled onto the following connection point. This triangular variation with time was modeled as a time dependent ramp function which was applied to the different light rail vehicle trains. The time between the start and end of the ramp function was dependent on the speed of the vehicles and train speed was modeled by changing the time base of the ramp function. Dynamic impact was estimated from the models from the ratio of the maximum deflection at midspan under time dependent moving load to the deflection due to a static load analysis. The results showed that the dynamic impact effects on the structure vary greatly with speed and configuration of the vehicle. While the effects generally increased with vehicle speed, the change was not linear and showed in general more than one peak value within the speed range selected. The maximum computed dynamic effect did not occur at the highest speed. The dynamic effect was also dependent on vehicle configuration, with a clear difference in responses between two axle and three axle cars. The overall length of the vehicle had less of an effect. The results were compared to the impact factors typically used by transit agencies and showed that in general for normal ranges of structure stiffness the Agency criteria are conservative or extremely close for vehicle speeds under 35.3 m/s (79 mph). However, the ACI equation for dynamic impact which is the only equation that incorporates vehicle speed and structural stiffness is usually conservative at higher speeds but may be unconservative at lower and medium speeds and does not reflect effects of axle configuration.