States in the N=35 and 37 isotopes 55,57Ca have been populated by direct proton-induced nucleon removal reactions from 56,58Sc and 56Ca beams at the RIBF. In addition, the (p,2p) quasi-free ...single-proton removal reaction from 56Ca was studied. Excited states in 55K, 55Ca, and 57Ca were established for the first time via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Results for the proton and neutron removal reactions from 56Ca to states in 55K and 55Ca for the level energies, excited state lifetimes, and exclusive cross sections agree well with state-of-the-art theoretical calculations using different approaches. The observation of a short-lived state in 57Ca suggests a transition in the calcium isotopic chain from single-particle dominated states at N=35 to collective excitations at N=37.
In 1957, Agodi predicted that the neutron angular distribution in (γ, n) reactions with a 100% linearly polarized γ-ray beam for dipole excitation should be anisotropic and universally described by ...the simple function of a+b⋅cos(2ϕ) at the polar angle θ=90°, where ϕ is the azimuthal angle. However, this prediction has not been experimentally confirmed in over half a century. We have verified experimentally this angular distribution in the (γ, n) reaction for 197Au, 127I, and natural Cu targets using linearly polarized laser Compton scattering γ-rays. The result suggests that the (γ→, n) reaction is a novel tool to study nuclear physics in the giant dipole resonance region.
We aimed to evaluate the caries-preventive effect of a fissure sealant containing surface reaction-type pre-reacted glass ionomer (S-PRG) filler and bonded by self-etching primer versus those of 2 ...conventional resin-based sealants bonded by acid etching in terms of its impact on enamel demineralization and remineralization, enamel bond strength, and integrity of debonded enamel surfaces.
Demineralization, remineralization, and bond strength on untreated enamel and enamel subsurface lesions of bovine incisors were assessed among the sealants by polarizing microscopy and microradiography; debonded enamel surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy.
The conventional resin-based sealants bonded by acid etching caused surface defects on the enamel subsurface lesions and significantly increased the lesion depth (p = 0.014), indicative of enamel demineralization. However the S-PRG filler-containing sealant bonded by self-etching primer maintained the enamel surface integrity and inhibited enamel demineralization. No difference in bond strength on both untreated enamel and enamel subsurface lesions was noted among the sealants.
An S-PRG filler-containing fissure sealant bonded by self-etching primer can prevent enamel demineralization, microleakage, and gaps without the tags created by acid etching regardless of the enamel condition. Such sealants are suitable for protecting the pits and fissures of immature permanent teeth.
The ansa cervicalis (AC) is part of the cervical plexus and is formed by the ventral rami of spinal nerves C1-C3. It is usually formed by two roots that run parallel to each other and then form a ...loop anterior to the internal jugular vein. Herein, we report a rare case where the AC was found deep to the internal carotid artery and common carotid artery and had sympathetic contributions.
Thin silicon nitride films were prepared at 350
°C by inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition on Si(100) substrates under different NH
3/SiH
4 or N
2/SiH
4 gas mixture. The chemical ...composition and bonding structure of the deposited films were investigated as a function of the process parameters, such as the gas flow ratio NH
3/SiH
4 or N
2/SiH
4 and the RF power, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The gas flow ratio was 1.4, 4.3, 7.2 or 9.5 and the RF power, 50 or 100
W. Decomposition results of Si 2p XPS spectra indicated the presence of bulk Si, under-stoichiometric nitride, stoichiometric nitride Si
3N
4, oxynitride SiN
x
O
y
, and stoichiometric oxide SiO
2, and the amounts of these compounds were strongly influenced by the two process parameters. These results were consistent with those obtained from N 1s XPS spectra. The chemical composition ratio N/Si in the film increased with increasing the gas flow ratio until the gas flow ratio reached 4.3, reflecting the high reactivity of nitrogen, and stayed almost constant for further increase in gas flow ratio, the excess nitrogen being rejected from the growing film. A considerable and unexpected incorporation of contaminant oxygen and carbon into the depositing film was observed and attributed to their high chemical reactivity.
Messinian evaporates are widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea as outcropping sediments in small marginal basins and in marine cores. Progressive filling of subbasins led to the formation of ...complex aquifer systems in different regions where hypersaline and fresh water coexist and interact in different manner. It also generates a significant diversification of groundwater hydrochemical signature and different microbial communities. In the case study, the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the whole system are influenced by good hydraulic connection between the shallower pyroclastic horizon and the underlying evaporate-bearing fine-grained Messinian succession. This is demonstrated by the merge of hydrogeological, chemical, isotopic, and microbiological data. No mixing with deep ascending waters has been observed. As shown by geophysical, hydraulic, and microbiological investigations, the hydraulic heterogeneity of the Messinian bedrock, mainly due to karstified evaporitic interstrata/lenses, causes the hydraulic head to significantly vary with depth. Somewhere, the head increases with the depth’s increase and artesian flow conditions are locally observed. Moreover, the metagenomic investigations demonstrated the existence of a poor hydraulic connection within the evaporate-bearing fine-grained succession at metric and decametric scales, therefore leading to a patchwork of geochemical (and microbiological) subenvironments.
To examine the early changes of retinal sensitivity by fundus-related microperimetry after subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation (SMDLP) for diabetic macular oedema (DMO).
Twenty-eight ...eyes of 28 patients with diffuse DMO were treated with SMDLP. The mean retinal sensitivity within the central 10 degrees measured with a fundus-related microperimeter, MP1, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution units, and optical coherence tomography-determined foveal thickness (FT) were examined before and 3 months after SMDLP. The pretreatment values of the retinal sensitivity, FT, BCVA, and funduscopic findings were compared with the corresponding values at 3 months after SMDLP.
At 3 months, the BCVA was significantly improved (P=0.03), and the FT was significantly reduced (P=0.0043). The mean retinal sensitivity within the central 10 degree, however, did not change significantly (P=0.70). The correlation between the changes in the retinal sensitivities and the decrease in the FT was not significant. The correlation between the changes in the retinal sensitivities and the BCVA was also not significant.
Significant improvements in retinal sensitivities within the central 10 degrees were not observed even though the decrease in FT and the improvement of BCVA were significant. On account of this difference of changes in retinal sensitivity and BCVA, the combination of retinal sensitivity by MP1 and BCVA may be beneficial in assessing the visual function from various angles after SMDLP for eyes with DMO.
Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a pleiotropic disorder with 14 BBS genes identified. BBS1, BBS2, BBS4, BBS5, BBS7, BBS8, and BBS9 form a complex called the BBSome, which is believed to recruit Rab8(GTP) to ...the primary cilium and promote ciliogenesis. The second group, the chaperonin-like proteins BBS6, BBS10, and BBS12, have been defined as a vertebrate-specific branch of the type II chaperonin superfamily. These may play a role in the regulation of BBSome assembly.
Using sequence analysis, the role of BBS6, 10 and 12 was assessed in the patient population comprising 93 cases from 74 families. Systemic and ocular phenotypes were defined. In the study, chaperonin-like BBS gene mutations accounted for the disease in approximately 36.5% of BBS families. A total of 38 different non-polymorphic exonic sequence variants were identified in 40.5% of BBS families (41.9% cases), of which 26 were novel (68%). Six cases had mutations present in more than one chaperonin-like BBS gene. One case with four mutations in BBS10 had a phenotype of overall greater severity. The phenotypes observed were beyond the classic BBS phenotype as they overlapped with characteristics of MKKS (congenital heart defect, vaginal atresia, hydrometrocolpos, cryptorchidism), as well as Alström syndrome (diabetes, hearing loss, liver abnormalities, endocrine anomalies, cardiomyopathy).
While overlap between the MKKS and BBS phenotypes has previously been reported for cases with BBS6 mutations, we also observed MKKS phenotypes involving BBS10 and BBS12 and Alström-like phenotypes associated with mutations in BBS1, BBS2, BBS6, BBS7, BBS9, BBS10 and BBS12 for the first time.
Using a tritium imaging plate technique, kinetics of tritium dissolution and its solubility in several oxides were examined. Mirror-polished single crystals of alumina, spinel and zirconia were used ...as specimens, which were exposed to 133Pa of a tritium(T)–deuterium(D) gas mixture (T/(T+D)∼0.17) at temperatures ranging from 673 to 973K for 1–5h. The T surface activity on the specimens increased with increasing temperature and exposure time, it almost saturated at 873K and reached 2×105Bq/cm2 (1×1014T/cm2), and no clear difference appeared among the types of specimens. The T activity in the oxide bulk also increased with temperature, in which there was a trend for the oxides: spinel≧zirconia≧alumina. In the T dissolution process for all oxides, the concentration gradient due to its diffusion was not observed even for short exposure times: the T density was almost uniform over the specimens in transition states and increased with exposure time up to the saturated value. These experimental results suggested that the rate-controlling process of T dissolution in the temperature region should be not its diffusion in the oxides but dissociation of hydrogen molecules (T–D mixture in this case) into atoms, its adsorption on the surface and/or T penetration from the surface into the bulk.
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