We report on sub-40 fs pulse generation from a Yb:Sc 2 SiO 5 laser pumped by a spatially single-mode fiber-coupled laser diode at 976 nm. A maximum output power of 545 mW was obtained at 1062.6 nm in ...the continuous-wave regime, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 64% and a laser threshold of 143 mW. A continuous wavelength tuning across 80 nm (1030 -1110 nm) was also achieved. Implementing a SESAM for starting and stabilizing the mode-locked operation, the Yb:Sc 2 SiO 5 laser delivered soliton pulses as short as 38 fs at 1069.5 nm with an average output power of 76 mW at a pulse repetition rate of ∼79.8 MHz. The maximum output power was scaled to 216 mW for slightly longer pulses of 42 fs, which corresponded to a peak power of 56.6 kW and an optical efficiency of 22.7%. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the shortest pulses ever achieved with any Yb 3+ -doped rare-earth oxyorthosilicate crystal.
We report the detection and successful modeling of the unusual 9.7 {mu}m Si-O stretching silicate emission feature in the type 1 (i.e., face-on) LINER nucleus of M81. Using the Infrared Spectrograph ...(IRS) instrument on Spitzer, we determine the feature in the central 230 pc of M81 to be in strong emission, with a peak at {approx}10.5 {mu}m. This feature is strikingly different in character from the absorption feature of the galactic interstellar medium, and from the silicate absorption or weak emission features typical of galaxies with active star formation. We successfully model the high signal-to-noise ratio IRS spectra with porous silicate dust using laboratory-acquired mineral spectra. We find that the most probable fit uses micron-sized, porous grains of amorphous silicate and amorphous carbon. In addition to silicate dust, there is weak polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission present (particularly at 11.3 {mu}m, arising from the C-H out-of-plane bending vibration of relatively large PAHs of {approx}500-1000 C atoms) whose character reflects the low-excitation active galactic nucleus environment, with some evidence that small PAHs of {approx}100-200 C atoms (responsible for the 7.7 {mu}m C-C stretching band) in the immediate vicinity of the nucleus have been preferentially destroyed. Analysis of the infrared fine structure lines confirms the LINER character of the M81 nucleus. Four of the infrared H{sub 2} rotational lines are detected and fit to an excitation temperature of T {approx} 800 K. Spectral maps of the central 230 pc in the Ne II 12.8 {mu}m line, the H{sub 2} 17 {mu}m line, and the 11.3 {mu}m PAH C-H bending feature reveal arc- or spiral-like structures extending from the core. We also report on epochal photometric and spectroscopic observations of M81, whose nuclear intensity varies in time across the spectrum due to what is thought to be inefficient, sub-Eddington accretion onto its central black hole. We find that, contrary to the implications of earlier photometry, the nucleus has not varied over a period of two years at these infrared wavelengths to a precision of about 1%.
Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 4-
t-nonylphenol (NP) by gavage at dosages of 0, 125 and 250
mg/kg/day for 50 days. Organ weights of liver, kidney, testis and epididymis were measured. ...Sperm number in the head of epididymis was counted. Several hormones including testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were measured. Testicular sections were observed by light and electron microscopy. Terminal dideoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay was performed to probe the apoptotic cells in seminiferous tubules. When rats were treated with nonylphenol at 250
mg/kg/day, the absolute and relative weight of epididymis decreased dramatically, while the relative weights of kidney and liver increased by 14 and 22%, respectively. In addition, the sperm density of the head of epididymis and the testosterone level descended at 250
mg/kg/day. The levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone increased in both nonylphenol treated groups. Pathological changes were detected by microscopy and the transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay showed that the number of apoptotic cells in testes increased with nonylphenol in a dose-dependent manner.
To determine the early rapid diagnosis of renal tuberculosis (RTB) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on renal biopsy specimens.
Ninety patients were selected for this study. The patients ...were divided into the following three groups: RTB, non-RTB (N-RTB) and clinically suspected RTB (CS-RTB). The renal biopsy specimens of these patients were used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detection by real-time PCR, using 35 and 40 as cycle threshold (C(T)) cut-off values. Morning urine samples were collected for M. tuberculosis culture.
In the RTB group, 25 C(T)35 and 28 C(T)40 patients were PCR-positive, seven of whom were urine M. tuberculosis culture-positive. In the N-RTB group, four C(T)35 and 13 C(T)40 patients were PCR-positive, none of whom were urine M. tuberculosis culture-positive. In the CS-RTB group, nine C(T)35 and 14 C(T)40 patients were PCR-positive, two of whom were urine M. tuberculosis culture-positive during 12 months of follow-up. The sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR (C(T)40) were respectively 93.3% and 56.7%. The sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR (C(T)35) were respectively 83.3% and 86.7%. The sensitivity and specificity of the urine M. tuberculosis culture were respectively 23.3% and 100%.
The detection of M. tuberculosis DNA in renal biopsy tissue by real-time PCR is highly sensitive. Real-time PCR can increase diagnostic accuracy and provide valuable information regarding the early diagnosis of RTB.
With the development of the technology, the working conditions, which include high temperature, assembly and working state, have important influence on the dynamic performance of finger seal. ...Therefore, it is necessary to consider above factors together when the finger seal performance is carried out. But so far, the finger seal performance under considering several factors together have not been investigated. Based on this, the material parameters, which are needed in the dynamic performance analysis process of C/C composite finger seal, are obtained by the tribology test of C/C composite. Then the equivalent dynamic model of finger seal based on distributed masses is established under considering the rotor incline, temperature, assembly and impact together. And the dynamic performance of finger seal is analyzed by the model. The results are shown that the above working states have complex influence on the finger seal performance. Meanwhile, the leakage performance of finger seal is compared with those of labyrinth seal in the bearing chamber working environment, and the advantage of finger seal is represented. The dynamic performance analysis of finger seal under considering complex working states is carried out, and the theory research system of finger seal is further improved.
Sr2CoNbO6 ceramics were prepared via the solid-state reaction route. The dielectric properties of Sr2CoNbO6 ceramics were investigated as a function of temperature (90–330 K) in the frequency range ...from 20 Hz to 10 MHz. Our results reveal that the dielectric properties of Sr2CoNbO6 are closely linked with the conductivity of the sample. The conductivity is dominated by hopping localized carriers. The hopping process not only produces considerable conductivity followed the universal dielectric response behavior, but also gives rise to dipolar effects leading to the polaron relaxation in intermediate-temperature range. At low enough temperatures, the hopping process is frozen-in and the low-temperature Maxwell-Wagner relaxation due to frozen carriers featuring the nearly constant loss behavior appears. At higher temperatures, the long-distance transportation of the carriers becomes remarkable. These carriers are easily blocked by various interfaces resulting in space charge therein and the conventional Maxwell-Wagner relaxation in the high-temperature range. Our results demonstrate that a multirelaxation mechanism instead of a single relaxation underlies the colossal dielectric properties of Sr2CoNbO6.
Abstract
We present
Magellan
/IMACS spectroscopy of the recently discovered Milky Way satellite Eridanus II (Eri II). We identify 28 member stars in Eri II, from which we measure a systemic radial ...velocity of
and a velocity dispersion of
. Assuming that Eri II is a dispersion-supported system in dynamical equilibrium, we derive a mass within the half-light radius of
, indicating a mass-to-light ratio of
/
and confirming that it is a dark matter-dominated dwarf galaxy. From the equivalent width measurements of the Ca triplet lines of 16 red giant member stars, we derive a mean metallicity of Fe/H = −2.38 ± 0.13 and a metallicity dispersion of
. The velocity of Eri II in the Galactic standard of rest frame is
v
GSR
= −66.6
, indicating that either Eri II is falling into the Milky Way potential for the first time or that it has passed the apocenter of its orbit on a subsequent passage. At a Galactocentric distance of ∼370 kpc, Eri II is one of the Milky Way’s most distant satellites known. Additionally, we show that the bright blue stars previously suggested to be a young stellar population are not associated with Eri II. The lack of gas and recent star formation in Eri II is surprising given its mass and distance from the Milky Way, and may place constraints on models of quenching in dwarf galaxies and on the distribution of hot gas in the Milky Way halo. Furthermore, the large velocity dispersion of Eri II can be combined with the existence of a central star cluster to constrain massive compact halo object dark matter with mass ≳10
.
•We assess microsphere binding assay cutoffs in the absence of gold standard assays.•Binding assay output on a continuous scale was visualised in frequency distributions.•Bimodal distributions with ...overlapping tails suggested positive and negative serogroups.•Bayesian analyses allowed identification of an optimal cutoff from distributions.
Reservoir hosts of novel pathogens are often identified or suspected as such on the basis of serological assay results, prior to the isolation of the pathogen itself. Serological assays might therefore be used outside of their original, validated scope in order to infer seroprevalences in reservoir host populations, until such time that specific diagnostic assays can be developed. This is particularly the case in wildlife disease research. The absence of positive and negative control samples and gold standard diagnostic assays presents challenges in determining an appropriate threshold, or ‘cutoff’, for the assay that enables differentiation between seronegative and seropositive individuals. Here, multiple methods were explored to determine an appropriate cutoff for a multiplexed microsphere assay that is used to detect henipavirus antibody binding in fruit bat plasma. These methods included calculating multiples of ‘negative’ control assay values, receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, and Bayesian mixture models to assess the distribution of assay outputs for classifying seropositive and seronegative individuals within different age classes. As for any diagnostic assay, the most appropriate cutoff determination method and value selected must be made according to the aims of the study. This study is presented as an example for others where reference samples, and assays that have been characterised previously, are absent.
Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays an important role in the protein C anticoagulation pathway. Previously, we have reported that EPCR can be shed from the cell surface, and that this is ...mediated by an unidentified metalloproteinase. In this study, we demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme/ADAM17 (TACE) is responsible for EPCR shedding. Phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated EPCR shedding is reduced by approximately 50% in HEK293 cells transfected with human EPCR cDNA and by 60% in human umbilical vein endothelial cells after transfection of TACE small interfering RNA (siRNA) into these cells. PMA-stimulated EPCR shedding is completely blocked in fibroblasts from TACE-deficient mice transfected with human EPCR cDNA, and restored by transfection of TACE cDNA into this cell line. To characterize the EPCR sequence requirement for shedding, we generated several mutants of EPCR. Replacing amino acids from residue 193 to residue 200 with the FLAG sequence (DYKDDDDK) completely blocks EPCR shedding, whereas a single amino acid substitution in this region has less effect on EPCR shedding.
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