601 research outputs found
A survey on composition and microbiota of fresh and fermented yak milk at different Tibetan altitudes
Yak milk is a type of milk that people are less familiar with due to its remote geographical location, the particular geographical environment and climatic conditions in Tibet, which may have significant effects on composition, microbiota and fermentation outcome. To investigate the chemical composition and microbiota of fresh and fermented yak milk, and to isolate and characterize the predominant microorganisms in the fermented milk, yak milk (24 fresh and 30 fermented milk samples) was collected from four areas of different altitudes in Tibet, and their microbiological profile and chemical composition were investigated. Yak milk had a higher fat, crude protein, lactose and dry matter content than cow milk. The fermented yak milk showed a great diversity in fat and dry matter levels due to the different ways of processing in different localities, and lower pH and higher lactic acid content compared with commercial cow milk yogurt. Fermented yak milk had a better sanitary quality than fresh yak milk. Three species of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus curvatus) and five species of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida kefyr, Candida lambica, Candida famat and Candida holmii) were identified phenotypically and encountered as predominant fermentation microbiota. The predominant lactic species in fermented milk was L. fermentu
Structural response of concrete-filled elliptical steel hollow sections under eccentric compression
The purpose of this research is to examine the behaviour of elliptical concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns under a combination of axial force and bending moment. Most of the research carried out to date involving concrete-filled steel sections has focussed on circular and rectangular tubes, with each shape exhibiting distinct behaviour. The degree of concrete confinement provided by the hollow section wall has been studied under pure compression but remains ambiguous for combined compressive and bending loads, with no current design provision for this loading combination. To explore the structural behaviour, laboratory tests were carried out using eight stub columns of two different tube wall thicknesses and applying axial compression under various eccentricities. Moment-rotation relationships were produced for each specimen to establish the influence of cross-section dimension and axis of bending on overall response. Full 3D finite element models were developed, comparing the effect of different material constitutive models, until good agreement was found. Finally, analytical interaction curves were generated assuming plastic behaviour and compared with the experimental and finite element results. Ground work provided from these tests paves the way for the development of future design guidelines on the member level
Extended Birkhoff's Theorem in the f(T) Gravity
The f(T) theory, a generally modified teleparallel gravity, has been proposed
as an alternative gravity model to account for the dark energy phenomena.
Following our previous work [Xin-he Meng and Ying-bin Wang, EPJC(2011),
arXiv:1107.0629v1], we prove that the Birkhoff's theorem holds in a more
general context, specifically with the off diagonal tetrad case, in this
communication letter. Then, we discuss respectively the results of the external
vacuum and internal gravitational field in the f(T) gravity framework, as well
as the extended meaning of this theorem. We also investigate the validity of
the Birkhoff's theorem in the frame of f(T) gravity via conformal
transformation by regarding the Brans-Dicke-like scalar as effective matter,
and study the equivalence between both Einstein frame and Jordan frame.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to EPJ-C. arXiv admin note: substantial
text overlap with arXiv:1107.062
Birkhoff's Theorem in f(T) Gravity up to the Perturbative Order
f(T) gravity, a generally modified teleparallel gravity, has become very
popular in recent times as it is able to reproduce the unification of inflation
and late-time acceleration without the need of a dark energy component or an
inflation field. In this present work, we investigate specifically the range of
validity of Birkhoff's theorem with the general tetrad field via perturbative
approach. At zero order, Birkhoff's theorem is valid and the solution is the
well known Schwarzschild-(A)dS metric. Then considering the special case of the
diagonal tetrad field, we present a new spherically symmetric solution in the
frame of f(T) gravity up to the perturbative order. The results with the
diagonal tetrad field satisfy the physical equivalence between the Jordan and
the so-called Einstein frames, which are realized via conformal transformation,
at least up to the first perturbative order.Comment: 8 pages, no figure. Final version, accepted for publication in EPJ
Effect of soil particle size on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of pipeline steel in saline solution
In this study, by using a standard quartz replace of sandy soil particles, the effect of soil
particle size (0.1…0.25 mm, 0.6…1.0 mm) on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of
X70 pipeline steel in sandy soil corrosive environment simulated by 3.5 wt.% sodium
chloride (NaCl) was investigated through polarization curve and electrochemical impedance
spectroscopy (EIS) technology. The results indicated that the polarization resistance
of X70 steel decreased with a decreasing particle size. For all polarization curves the right
shift of cathodic branch with a decreasing particle size is observed. The corrosion of X70
steel is controlled by the cathode process diffusion and oxygen reduction at the metalenvironment
interface, the intensity of which increases with the decreasing particle size.З допомогою методів потенціодинамічних поляризаційних кривих та
електрохімічної імпедансної спектроскопії (EIS) досліджено корозійну поведінку трубопровідної сталі Х70 у ґрунтовому середовищі, яке змодельовано розчином 3,5 wt.% NaCl з
частинками кварцового піску різного розміру (0,1…0,25 і 0,6…1,0 mm). Встановлено, що
швидкість корозії сталі зростає зі зменшенням розміру частинок ґрунту, про що свідчить
зниження її поляризаційного опору, а також зсув катодних гілок поляризаційних кривих
вправо. Зроблено висновок, що в цьому випадку корозію сталі контролює катодний процес відновлення кисню на межі поділу метал–середовище, інтенсивність якого зростає зі
зменшенням розміру частинок ґрунту.С помощью методов потенциодинамических поляризационных кривых и
электрохимической импедансной спектроскопии (EIS) исследовано коррозионное поведение трубопроводной стали Х70 в почвенной среде, которую моделировали раствором
3,5 wt.% NaCl с частицами кварцевого песка разного размера (0,1…0,25 и 0,6...1,0 mm).
Установлено, что скорость коррозии стали растет с уменьшением размера частиц почвы,
о чем свидетельствует снижение ее поляризационного сопротивления, а также сдвиг катодных ветвей поляризационных кривых вправо. Сделан вывод, что в данном случае коррозию стали контролирует катодный процесс возобновления кислорода на грани деления
металл–среда, нитенсивность которого растет с уменьшением размера частиц почвы
Ultrahigh Energy Nuclei in the Galactic Magnetic Field
Observations are consistent with a significant fraction of heavy nuclei in
the cosmic ray flux above a few times 10^19 eV. Such nuclei can be deflected
considerably in the Galactic magnetic field, with important implications for
the search of their sources. We perform detailed simulations of heavy nuclei
propagation within recent Galactic magnetic field models. While such models are
not yet sufficiently constrained to predict deflection maps in detail, we find
general features of the distribution of (de-) magnified flux from sources.
Since in most theoretical models sources of heavy nuclei are located in the
local large scale structure of galaxies, we show examples of images of several
nearby galaxy clusters and of the supergalactic plane. Such general features
may be useful to develop efficient methods for source reconstruction from
observed ultrahigh energy cosmic ray arrival directions.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures. Published in JCA
Magnetic Fields in the Milky Way
This chapter presents a review of observational studies to determine the
magnetic field in the Milky Way, both in the disk and in the halo, focused on
recent developments and on magnetic fields in the diffuse interstellar medium.
I discuss some terminology which is confusingly or inconsistently used and try
to summarize current status of our knowledge on magnetic field configurations
and strengths in the Milky Way. Although many open questions still exist, more
and more conclusions can be drawn on the large-scale and small-scale components
of the Galactic magnetic field. The chapter is concluded with a brief outlook
to observational projects in the near future.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures, to appear in "Magnetic Fields in Diffuse Media",
eds. E.M. de Gouveia Dal Pino and A. Lazaria
Galaxy rotation curves: the effect of j x B force
Using the Galaxy as an example, we study the effect of j x B force on the
rotational curves of gas and plasma in galaxies. Acceptable model for the
galactic magnetic field and plausible physical parameters are used to fit the
flat rotational curve for gas and plasma based on the observed baryonic
(visible) matter distribution and j x B force term in the static MHD equation
of motion. We also study the effects of varied strength of the magnetic field,
its pitch angle and length scale on the rotational curves. We show that j x B
force does not play an important role on the plasma dynamics in the
intermediate range of distances 6-12 kpc from the centre, whilst the effect is
sizable for larger r (r > 15 kpc), where it is the most crucial.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science (final
printed version, typos in proofs corrected
Co-existence of lung carcinoma metastasis and enchondroma in the femur of a patient with Ollier disease
Tumour-to-tumour metastasis is very unusual and has been defined as a tumour metastasis into another histologically different tumour. It is extremely rare in bone. We report a case of lung squamous cell carcinoma metastasized to an enchondroma in the femur of a patient with Ollier disease. A 60-year-old female had a history of a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. She underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, and a follow-up MRI scan showed three lesions in the left distal femur and proximal tibia, which were initially interpreted as metastasis on radiology. Resection of the left proximal tibial lesion was performed, and the pathological findings were consistent with enchondroma with no evidence of metastasis. Subsequent curettage of lesions in the distal left femur revealed metastatic poorly differentiated carcinoma with foci of hyaline cartilage, which was most consistent with metastatic carcinoma in a pre-existing enchondroma. The MRI films were re-reviewed. Characteristic MRI features of enchondroma were found in the lesion in the left proximal tibia and one of the lesions in the left distal femur, while the features of the other lesion in the left distal femur included cortical destruction and extensive oedema in surrounding soft tissue, which were consistent with a malignant tumour. In addition, the enchondroma in the lateral condyle showed blurring and irregular inner margin and adjacent bone oedema, which likely represents a co-existing metastatic tumour and enchondroma. The difference in lineage was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The final diagnosis was metastatic poorly differentiated carcinoma of the lung into a co-existent enchondroma. The diagnosis can be challenging and could be easily overlooked both radiologically and histologically. Thorough clinical and radiological information is critical for the diagnosis, and despite a very unusual event, awareness of the tumour-to-tumour metastasis phenomenon can avoid an inaccurate diagnosis by the pathologist, therefore preventing inappropriate clinical intervention
Patients with refractory cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation are at high risk for CMV disease and non-relapse mortality
AbstractPre-emptive therapy is an effective approach for cytomegalovirus (CMV) control; however, refractory CMV still occurs in a considerable group of recipients after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Until now, hardly any data have been available about the clinical characteristics and risk factors of refractory CMV, or its potential harmful impact on the clinical outcome following allo-HSCT. We studied transplant factors affecting refractory CMV in the 100 days after allo-HSCT, and the impact of refractory CMV on the risk of CMV disease and non-relapse mortality (NRM). We retrospectively studied 488 consecutive patients with CMV infection after allo-HSCT. Patients with refractory CMV in the 100 days after allo-HSCT had a higher incidence of CMV disease and NRM than those without refractory CMV (11.9% vs. 0.8% and 17.1% vs. 8.3%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that refractory CMV infection in the 100 days after allo-HSCT was an independent risk factor for CMV disease (hazard ratio (HR) 10.539, 95% CI 2.467–45.015, p 0.001), and that refractory CMV infection within 60–100 days after allo-HSCT was an independent risk factor for NRM (HR 8.435, 95% CI 1.511–47.099, p 0.015). Clinical factors impacting on the risk of refractory CMV infection included receiving transplants from human leukocyte antigen-mismatched family donors (HR 2.012, 95% CI 1.603–2.546, p <0.001) and acute graft-versus-host disease (HR 1.905, 95% CI 1.352–2.686, p <0.001). We conclude that patients with refractory CMV infection during the early stage after allo-HSCT are at high risk for both CMV disease and NRM
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