Some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have a tera-electron volt (TeV) afterglow, but the early onset of this has not been observed. We report observations with the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory ...(LHAASO) of the bright GRB 221009A, which serendipitously occurred within the instrument's field of view. More than 64,000 photons >0.2 TeV were detected within the first 3000 seconds. The TeV flux began several minutes after the GRB trigger and then rose to a peak ~10 seconds later. This was followed by a decay phase, which became more rapid ~650 seconds after the peak. We interpret the emission using a model of a relativistic jet with half-opening angle of ~0.8°. This is consistent with the core of a structured jet and could explain the high isotropic energy of this GRB.
The phase III, randomized, open-label ENSURE study (NCT01342965) evaluated first-line erlotinib versus gemcitabine/cisplatin (GP) in patients from China, Malaysia and the Philippines with epidermal ...growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Patients ≥18 years old with histologically/cytologically confirmed stage IIIB/IV EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2 were randomized 1:1 to receive erlotinib (oral; 150 mg once daily until progression/unacceptable toxicity) or GP G 1250 mg/m(2) i.v. days 1 and 8 (3-weekly cycle); P 75 mg/m(2) i.v. day 1, (3-weekly cycle) for up to four cycles. Primary end point: investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Other end points include objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety.
A total of 217 patients were randomized: 110 to erlotinib and 107 to GP. Investigator-assessed median PFS was 11.0 months versus 5.5 months, erlotinib versus GP, respectively hazard ratio (HR), 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.51; log-rank P < 0.0001. Independent Review Committee-assessed median PFS was consistent (HR, 0.42). Median OS was 26.3 versus 25.5 months, erlotinib versus GP, respectively (HR, 0.91, 95% CI 0.63-1.31; log-rank P = .607). ORR was 62.7% for erlotinib and 33.6% for GP. Treatment-related serious adverse events (AEs) occurred in 2.7% versus 10.6% of erlotinib and GP patients, respectively. The most common grade ≥3 AEs were rash (6.4%) with erlotinib, and neutropenia (25.0%), leukopenia (14.4%), and anemia (12.5%) with GP.
These analyses demonstrate that first-line erlotinib provides a statistically significant improvement in PFS versus GP in Asian patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC (NCT01342965).
A new alpha-emitting isotope U-214, produced by the fusion-evaporation reaction W-182(Ar-36,4n) U-214, was identified by employing the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS and the recoil-a correlation ...technique. More precise a-decay properties of even-even nuclei U-216,U-218 were also measured in the reactions of Ar-40, Ca-40 beams with W-180,W-182,W- 184 targets. By combining the experimental data, improved alpha-decay reduced widths delta(2) for the even-even Po-Pu nuclei in the vicinity of the magic neutron number N = 126 are deduced. Their systematic trends are discussed in terms of the N-p N-n scheme in order to study the influence of protonneutron interaction on a decay in this region of nuclei. It is strikingly found that the reduced widths of( 214,216)U are significantly enhanced by a factor of two as compared with the NpNn systematics for the 84 <= Z <= 90 and N < 126 even-even nuclei. The abnormal enhancement is interpreted by the strong monopole interaction between the valence protons and neutrons occupying the pi 1f (7/2) and nu 1f(5/2) spin-orbit partner orbits, which is supported by the large-scale shell model calculation.
Solution treatment is a very important method to modify the microstructure and mechanical properties of additive-manufactured nickel-based superalloy. This study mainly investigated the effect of ...solution temperature on static recrystallization and ductility of Inconel 625 superalloy fabricated by directed energy deposition (DED). The microstructural results showed that static recrystallization occurred after solution treatment, and as the solution temperature increased, the recrystallization volume fraction in the alloy gradually increased. When the solution temperature reached 1200 °C, static recrystallization occurred more completely. The tensile results indicated that the elongation and strain hardening exponent of Inconel 625 improved with the solution temperature increased, while the yield strength decreased. The deformation behaviors during the tensile process of different samples were obtained by digital image correlation (DIC), and the results showed that the uniform plastic deformation ability was strengthened with the solution temperature increased. In addition, due to the decrease of dislocation density, the yield strength decreased, too. Besides, the increase of strain hardening exponent delayed the appearance of the necking and the dissolution of the Laves phase caused the ductility increasing.
Abstract This study evaluates the safety and efficacy against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis of the oral live attenuated human rotavirus vaccine RIX4414 ( Rotarix ™) during the first 2 years of ...life in Asian infants from high-income countries. Healthy infants were enrolled to receive 2 doses of RIX4414 ( N = 5359) or placebo ( N = 5349). From 2 weeks post-dose 2 to 2 years of age, vaccine efficacy was 96.1% (95%CI:85.1%; 99.5%) against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis, 100% (95%CI:80.8%; 100%) against wild-type G1P8 and 93.6% (95%CI:74.7%; 99.3%) against circulating non-G1 rotavirus types. No intussusception cases were reported within 31 days post-vaccination. RIX4414 shows a good safety profile and offers high protection during the first 2 years of life with potentially significant public health impact in this population.
During winter 2013, extremely high concentrations (i.e., 4–20 times higher than the World Health Organization guideline) of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) mass ...concentrations (24 h samples) were found in four major cities in China including Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Statistical analysis of a combined data set from elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), 14C and biomass-burning marker measurements using Latin hypercube sampling allowed a quantitative source apportionment of carbonaceous aerosols. Based on 14C measurements of EC fractions (six samples each city), we found that fossil emissions from coal combustion and vehicle exhaust dominated EC with a mean contribution of 75 ± 8% across all sites. The remaining 25 ± 8% was exclusively attributed to biomass combustion, consistent with the measurements of biomass-burning markers such as anhydrosugars (levoglucosan and mannosan) and water-soluble potassium (K+). With a combination of the levoglucosan-to-mannosan and levoglucosan-to-K+ ratios, the major source of biomass burning in winter in China is suggested to be combustion of crop residues. The contribution of fossil sources to OC was highest in Beijing (58 ± 5%) and decreased from Shanghai (49 ± 2%) to Xi'an (38 ± 3%) and Guangzhou (35 ± 7%). Generally, a larger fraction of fossil OC was from secondary origins than primary sources for all sites. Non-fossil sources accounted on average for 55 ± 10 and 48 ± 9% of OC and total carbon (TC), respectively, which suggests that non-fossil emissions were very important contributors of urban carbonaceous aerosols in China. The primary biomass-burning emissions accounted for 40 ± 8, 48 ± 18, 53 ± 4 and 65 ± 26% of non-fossil OC for Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, respectively. Other non-fossil sources excluding primary biomass burning were mainly attributed to formation of secondary organic carbon (SOC) from non-fossil precursors such as biomass-burning emissions. For each site, we also compared samples from moderately to heavily polluted days according to particulate matter mass. Despite a significant increase of the absolute mass concentrations of primary emissions from both fossil and non-fossil sources during the heavily polluted events, their relative contribution to TC was even decreased, whereas the portion of SOC was consistently increased at all sites. This observation indicates that SOC was an important fraction in the increment of carbonaceous aerosols during the haze episode in China.
It has been generally assumed that the cell body (soma) of a neuron, which contains the nucleus, is mainly responsible for synthesis of macromolecules and has a limited role in cell-to-cell ...communication. Using sniffer patch recordings, we show here that electrical stimulation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons elicits robust vesicular ATP release from their somata. The rate of release events increases with the frequency of nerve stimulation; external Ca²⁺ entry is required for the release. FM1-43 photoconversion analysis further reveals that small clear vesicles participate in exocytosis. In addition, the released ATP activates P2X7 receptors in satellite cells that enwrap each DRG neuron and triggers the communication between neuronal somata and glial cells. Blocking L-type Ca²⁺ channels completely eliminates the neuron-glia communication. We further show that activation of P2X7 receptors can lead to the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) from satellite cells. TNFα in turn potentiates the P2X3 receptor-mediated responses and increases the excitability of DRG neurons. This study provides strong evidence that somata of DRG neurons actively release transmitters and play a crucial role in bidirectional communication between neurons and surrounding satellite glial cells. These results also suggest that, contrary to the conventional view, neuronal somata have a significant role in cell-cell signaling.
The open-cell porous Ti-6Al-4V structure, intended to be applied as replacement for human cortical and cancellous bone, are fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The computer aided design ...(CAD) was used to design porous structures in various porosity levels from 40% to 80% and with pore sizes from 600 to 1000 μm, in order to fit the bone-tissue in-growth. The SLM porous samples with 40% to 70% porosity matched well with the CAD structure, but the 80% porosity one was found to be difficult to achieve the design. In comparison with the CAD structures and the SLM samples, there are minor discrepancies in terms of pore size and ligament width, mainly a result of laser beam broadening. To achieve more precise SLM porous morphologies, further reduction of powder size and laser beam diameter would be necessary. The measured data on the Young's modulus and yield strength of the SLM porous samples can be roughly estimated by the Gibson and Ashby model. The sample with 67% porosity was found to match best with human bone, with Young's modulus of 15 GPa and yield stress of 129 MPa, preventing from the risk of stress shielding effect.
•The porous Ti-6Al-4V foams are prepared by selective laser melting.•Minor discrepancies between CAD and SLM are due to laser beam broadening.•The 67% porosity sample matches with human bone avoiding stress shielding effect.
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