A calcium molybdate (Formula Omitted) crystal scintillator, with molybdenum enriched in Formula Omitted and calcium depleted in Formula Omitted (Formula Omitted), was developed by the Advanced ...Molybdenum based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE) collaboration to search for a neutrinoless double beta (Formula Omitted) decay of Formula Omitted. We are planning to use about 10 kg of Formula Omitted crystals as cryogenic bolometers for the first phase of the experiment (AMoRE-I) at the Yang Yang underground laboratory (Y2L) in Korea. This experiment calls for an extremely low level of radioactive contamination in detectors, particularly by thorium, uranium, and radium decay chains. We measured scintillation properties and radioactive contamination of Formula Omitted and Formula Omitted crystals at the Y2L. We also estimated the acceptable level of internal radioactive background using Monte Carlo simulation for the AMoRE-I.
In February 2012, an outbreak of gastroenteritis was reported in school A; a successive outbreak was reported at school B. A retrospective cohort study conducted in school A showed that seasoned ...green seaweed with radishes (relative risk 7·9, 95% confidence interval 1·1–56·2) was significantly associated with illness. Similarly, a case-control study of students at school B showed that cases were 5·1 (95% confidence interval 1·1–24·8) times more likely to have eaten seasoned green seaweed with pears. Multiple norovirus genotypes were detected in samples from students in schools A and B. Norovirus GII.6 isolated from schools A and B were phylogenetically indistinguishable. Green seaweed was supplied by company X, and norovirus GII.4 was isolated from samples of green seaweed. Green seaweed was assumed to be linked to these outbreaks. To our knowledge, this is the first reported norovirus outbreak associated with green seaweed.
This paper mainly concerns application of the Mg-Al-Sn-Zn alloy to the control-arm of an automobile with warm-forging process since Mg-Al-Sn-Zn alloy (ATZ842) exhibits enhanced strengths in tension ...and compression as well as the improved YR reaching 1.0. In order to validate the Mg control-arm, two wrought Mg alloys such as AZ80 (Mg–7.45wt% Al–0.38wt% Zn) and ATZ842 (Mg–7.59wt% Al–3.96wt% Sn–1.94wt% Zn) alloy have been produced with casting and extrusion processes, which have been applied to warm-forging of the Mg control-arm. As-forged two Mg control-arms with AZ80 and ATZ842 alloys have been evaluated with the static strength test to measure the maximum reaction force under the quasi-static compressive deformation. It is highly recommended to adopt the ATZ842 control-arm forged at 250°C since it does not only have comparably high reaction force in the static strength test, but also demonstrates fine grain structure if the abnormal grain growth is suppressed during the warm-forging process.
Molecules with weak ground-state absorption that form strongly absorbing excited states can be used in optical limiters, which can protect sensors or human eyes from optical damage. Phthalocyanine ...complexes bearing heavy atoms or paramagnetic groups or in solvents containing heavy atoms show optical limiting enhanced by excited triplet-state absorption. A nonhomogeneous distribution of indium tetra(tert-butyl)phthalocyanine chloride along the beam path substantially enhances the excited-state absorption, yielding an optical limiter with a linear transmittance of 0.70 that can attenuate 8-nanosecond, 532-nanometer laser pulses by factors of up to 540.
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. Recent studies suggest relevance between cysteine protease cathepsin S (CTSS) expression and ...SLE. To investigate the mechanism of CTSS in SLE, CTSS-overexpressing transgenic (TG) mice were generated, and induced lupus-like symptoms. Eight months later, the TG mice spontaneously developed typical SLE symptoms regardless of the inducement. Furthermore, we observed increased toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) expression with increased monocyte and neutrophil populations in the TG mice. In conclusion, overexpression of CTSS in mice influences TLR7 expression, autoantibodies and IFN-α, which leads to an autoimmune reaction and exacerbates lupus-like symptoms.
In this paper, a new guidance problem with the impact time constraint is investigated, which can be applied to salvo attack of anti-ship missiles. The closed form solution based on the linear ...formulation is derived, suggesting an additional loop for adjusting the impact time in addition to the traditional optimal guidance loop. This solution is a combination of the well-known PNG law and the feedback of the impact time error, which is the difference between the impact time by PNG and the prescribed impact time. The new guidance law called ITCG (Impact-Time-Control Guidance) can be used to guide multiple missiles to hit a stationary target simultaneously at a desirable impact time. Nonlinear simulation of several engagement situations demonstrates the performance and feasibility of ITCG. In addition, the similarity of the closed form solution and APNG is investigated and the switching rule for practical implementation is discussed.
C3HC4-type RING zinc finger proteins are known to be essential in the regulation of plant processes, including responses to abiotic stress. Here, we identify, clone and examine the first C3HC4-type ...RING zinc finger protein (BrRZFP1) from Brassica rapa under stress conditions. Phylogenetic analysis of BrRZFP1 revealed strong sequence similarity to C3HC4-type zinc finger proteins from Arabidopsis that are induced by abiotic stresses. Diverse environmental stresses, including salt and cold, were found to induce BrRZFP1 transcripts greater than eightfold in B. rapa. Additional strong induction was shown of the stress hormone abscisic acid, together suggesting that BrRZFP1 could play a role as a general stress modulator. Similar profiles of induction for each of these stresses was found in both root and shoot tissues, although at much higher levels in roots. Constitutive expression of BrRZFP1 in Nicotiana tabacum was conducted to further analyse how changes in gene expression levels would affect plant stress responses. BrRZFP1 overexpression conferred increased tolerance to cold, salt and dehydration stresses. This was observed in several assays examining growth status throughout development, including increased germination, fresh weight and length of shoots and roots, as well as enhanced chlorophyll retention. These results suggest that the transcription factor BrRZFP1 is an important determinant of stress response in plants and that changes in its expression level in plants could increase stress tolerance.
Abstract Background While hemiarthroplasty (HA) is considered the treatment of choice for displaced femoral neck (FN) fractures in elderly patients, HA has been partly performed as an alternative ...treatment option for unstable intertrochanteric (IT) fractures. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the risk and availability of HA for unstable IT fractures compared to HA for displaced FN fractures in elderly patients. Therefore, we performed this case-control study to determine whether HA for unstable IT fractures provides clinical results and survival comparable to HA for displaced FN fractures in elderly patients. Hypothesis HA for unstable IT fractures in elderly patients provides clinical results and 1-year survival comparable to HA for displaced FN fractures in the same aging group. Materials and methods We identified 80 patients aged 75 years or older, who underwent cementless bipolar HA for unstable IT fracture (AO/OTA type 31-A2.2/3 and A3.3). Their clinical results and 1-year survival were compared to the matched control group of 80 patients with displaced FN fractures (Garden type 3 and 4) treated with the same procedure. Perioperative results, postoperative complications, and 1-year survival were investigated between the two groups. Functional outcome was assessed by walking status and Harris hip score (HHS) 6 months after surgery. Results Operating time was significantly longer in the IT group than the FN group (97.3 min 50 to 255 vs. 79.3 min 40 to 175, P = 0.016). However, the two groups did not significantly differ regarding perioperative results, such as total blood loss, transfusion, intraoperative fracture, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complication. No statistically significant differences in walking status and HHS were observed between the groups. No significant difference in cumulative survival was observed between the two groups ( P = 0.836), with a 1-year survival rate of 80% (95% confidence interval CI, 71.8 to 87.5) in the IT group and 82% (95% CI, 73.1 to 89.4) in the FN group. Conclusion HA for unstable IT fractures in elderly patients showed clinical results and 1-year survival comparable to HA as the treatment of choice for displaced FN fractures in the same aging group. Level of evidence Level III, case-control study.
The effects of mixing powders with various particle sizes on the fracture toughness and wear resistance of thermally sprayed WC–10Co–4Cr coating layers fabricated by the HVOF (High-Velocity Oxygen ...Fuel) process on a S45C steel substrate were investigated. In order to obtain a high fracture toughness and wear resistance, the powder size and powder mixing ratio were varied. The microstructure and chemical composition of the phases in the coatings were characterized by means of the SEM and XRD techniques. Image analysis was used for the evaluation of the porosity of the coatings. Indentations tests were carried out on the cross sections of the coatings to evaluate the hardness and fracture toughness. The wear properties of the coatings were assessed using a pin-on-disk wear tester at ambient temperature without lubrication. The mixing of a small amount of coarse powders with fine powders resulted in the highest fracture toughness and wear resistance, due to the formation of coating layers having the lowest porosity.
PDF
