In order to introduce molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) in commercial applications, the target lifetime of a MCFC has been set at 40,000
h. We have carried out long-term operation tests on several ...bench-scale MCFCs, which include a 66,000-h continuous operation, and clarified the question of voltage degradation in relation to operating time. We have also carried out post-test analyses on the long-term operated cell components including the electrodes, the electrolyte matrix and the current collectors. The results of the long-term operation and the post-test analyses are described in this paper. The degradation mechanisms of voltage and components are discussed.
We present the results of searches for gamma-ray counterparts of the LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave events using CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) observations. The main instrument of CALET, ...CALorimeter (CAL), observes gamma-rays from ∼1 GeV up to 10 TeV with a field of view (FOV) of nearly 2 sr. In addition, the CALET gamma-ray burst monitor views ∼3 sr and ∼2π sr of the sky in the 7 keV-1 MeV and the 40 keV-20 MeV bands, respectively, by using two different crystal scintillators. The CALET observations on the International Space Station started in 2015 October, and here we report analyses of events associated with the following gravitational wave events: GW151226, GW170104, GW170608, GW170814, and GW170817. Although only upper limits on gamma-ray emission are obtained, they correspond to a luminosity of 1049 ∼ 1053 erg s−1 in the GeV energy band depending on the distance and the assumed time duration of each event, which is approximately on the order of luminosity of typical short gamma-ray bursts. This implies that there will be a favorable opportunity to detect high-energy gamma-ray emission in further observations if additional gravitational wave events with favorable geometry will occur within our FOV. We also show the sensitivity of CALET for gamma-ray transient events, which is on the order of 10−7 erg cm−2 s−1 for an observation of 100 s in duration.
The CALorimetric Electron Telescope primary detector (CALET-CAL) is a 30 radiation-length-deep hybrid calorimeter designed for the accurate measurement of high-energy cosmic rays. It is capable of ...triggering on and giving near complete containment of electromagnetic showers from primary electrons and gamma rays from 1 GeV to over 10 TeV. The first 24 months of on-orbit scientific data (2015 November 01-2017 October 31) provide valuable characterization of the performance of the calorimeter based on analyses of the gamma-ray data set in general and bright point sources in particular. We describe the gamma-ray analysis, the expected performance of the calorimeter based on Monte Carlo simulations, the agreement of the flight data with the simulated results, and the outlook for long-term gamma-ray observations with the CAL.
► Tetragonally distorted antiperovskite Mn3CuN is a different class of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy. ► Mn3CuN exhibits a large magnetostriction of up to 2000ppm in the tetragonally distorted ...ferromagnetic phase, even in the polycrystalline form. ► The peculiarity of Mn3CuN as an FSMA is its small magnetocrystalline anisotropy, exemplified by rotation of the magnetic easy axis because of nitrogen deficiency. ► The operating magnetic field for magnetostriction is drastically reduced in the vicinity of the compositional region of easy-axis rotation, suggesting possible supermagnetostriction.
Tetragonally distorted antiperovskite Mn3CuN1−δ exhibits huge magnetostriction of up to 2000ppm, which is reasonably ascribed to ferromagnetic shape memory effects. The uniqueness of Mn3CuN1−δ as a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy is exemplified by its nitrogen deficiency. The easy axis for magnetization rotates from the longer a axis in Mn3CuN0.97 to the shorter c axis in Mn3CuN0.78. The operating magnetic field for magnetostriction is much lower for Mn3CuN0.78 than for Mn3CuN0.97, suggesting supermagnetostriction. These characteristic behaviors can be explained consistently in terms of low magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is a striking difference from other ferromagnetic shape memory alloys such as Heusler Ni2MnGa.
Clinical data on various ethnicities collected in multiregional clinical trials (MRCTs) have increased in regulatory review for drug approval. However, how such data should be included on the drug ...labels has not been discussed. We compared information related to ethnicities on the labels of drugs that were approved in both Japan and the United States, and discussed the issues to be considered for providing better information to healthcare professionals in this era of globalized drug development.
We report on the multiwavelength observations of the bright, long gamma-ray burst GRB 110731A, by the Fermi and Swift observatories, and by the MOA and GROND optical telescopes. The analysis of the ...prompt phase reveals that GRB 110731A shares many features with bright Large Area Telescope bursts observed by Fermi during the first three years on-orbit: a light curve with short time variability across the whole energy range during the prompt phase, delayed onset of the emission above 100 MeV, extra power-law component and temporally extended high-energy emission. In addition, this is the first GRB for which simultaneous GeV, X-ray, and optical data are available over multiple epochs beginning just after the trigger time and extending for more than 800 s, allowing temporal and spectral analysis in different epochs that favor emission from the forward shock in a wind-type medium. The observed temporally extended GeV emission is most likely part of the high-energy end of the afterglow emission. Both the single-zone pair transparency constraint for the prompt signal and the spectral and temporal analysis of the forward-shock afterglow emission independently lead to an estimate of the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet Gamma ~ 500-550.
Gallbladder Agenesis in 17 Dogs: 2006–2016 Sato, K.; Sakai, M.; Hayakawa, S. ...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine,
January/February 2018, 2018-Jan, 2018-01-00, 20180101, Letnik:
32, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background
Gallbladder agenesis (GBA) is extremely rare in dogs.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To describe the history, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of dogs with GBA.
Animals
Seventeen ...client‐owned dogs with GBA.
Methods
Medical records from 2006 through 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were included when GBA was suspected on abdominal ultrasonography and confirmed by gross evaluation. Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, diagnostic imaging, histopathology, treatment, and outcome were recorded.
Results
Dogs were of 6 different breeds, and Chihuahuas (10 of 17) were most common. Median age at presentation was 1.9 (range, 0.7–7.4) years. Clinical signs included vomiting (5 of 17), anorexia (2 of 17), ascites (2 of 17), diarrhea (1 of 17), lethargy (1 of 17), and seizures (1 of 17). All dogs had increased serum activity of at least 1 liver enzyme, most commonly alanine aminotransferase (15 of 17). Fifteen dogs underwent computed tomography (CT) cholangiography; common bile duct (CBD) dilatation was confirmed in 12, without evidence of bile duct obstruction. Gross evaluation confirmed malformation of the liver lobes in 14 of 17 dogs and acquired portosystemic collaterals in 5 of 17. Ductal plate malformation was confirmed histologically in 16 of 17 dogs. During follow‐up (range, 4–3,379 days), 16 of 17 dogs remained alive.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Dogs with GBA exhibit clinicopathological signs of hepatobiliary injury and hepatic histopathological changes consistent with a ductal plate abnormality. Computed tomography cholangiography was superior to ultrasound examination in identifying accompanying nonobstructive CBD distention. Computed tomography cholangiography combined with laparoscopic liver biopsy is the preferable approach to characterize the full disease spectrum accompanying GBA in dogs.
•If dFAT results are negative or inconclusive, rabies diagnosis may require auxiliary tools.•RABV non-homogenous distribution in CNS may interfere in the diagnosis.•Molecular techniques can detect ...RABV in low viral load samples.
The direct-fluorescent antibody test (dFAT) is considered the “gold standard” assay to diagnose rabies. However, it is crucial to develop molecular techniques, such as RT-PCR and RT-qPCR, since many laboratories lack the needed supplies for performing complementary methods (viral isolation, for example). For this purpose, diagnostic techniques must be specific and sensitive to guarantee accuracy. This present investigation aimed to detect rabies virus (RABV) in 126 clinically suspected cattle in Brazil using different diagnostic tests dFAT, mouse inoculation test (MIT), immunohistochemistry (IHC), RT-PCR and RT-qPCR and to compare those results obtained under routine laboratory conditions. The results of the present investigation demonstrate that the molecular techniques are more sensitive and may detect low viral load, even though the non-homogeneous viral distribution caused a false-negative result in dFAT. We also observed a usual alteration in antigens distribution among regions of the central nervous system (CNS). By both dFAT and IHC assays, the most reliable CNS structures were thalamus and midbrain. Although this investigation demonstrated diagnostic sensitivity and specificity close to 100 % in all laboratory techniques employed, a dFAT auxiliary test is required for bovine specimens, such as molecular techniques, when there are poor sampling conditions (low viral load combined with unavailability of brainstem structures).
We simulate neutrino production in a gamma-ray burst (GRB) with the most detailed method to date. We show that the highest energy neutrinos from GRBs mainly come from kaons. Although there is little ...chance to detect such neutrinos, attempts of detection are very important to prove physical conditions in GRBs.
MOSFETs with gate length down to 17 nm are reported. To suppress the short channel effect, a novel self-aligned double-gate MOSFET, FinFET, is proposed. By using boron-doped Si/sub 0.4/Ge/sub 0.6/ as ...a gate material, the desired threshold voltage was achieved for the ultrathin body device. The quasiplanar nature of this new variant of the vertical double-gate MOSFETs can be fabricated relatively easily using the conventional planar MOSFET process technologies.