Period and toroidal knot mosaics

Knot mosaic theory was introduced by Lomonaco and Kauffman in the paper on `Quantum knots and mosaics' to give a precise and workable definition of quantum knots, intended to represent an actual physical quantum system. A knot (m,n)-mosaic is an $m \! \times \! n$ matrix whose entries are eleven mosaic tiles, representing a knot or a link by adjoining properly. In this paper we introduce two variants of knot mosaics: period knot mosaics and toroidal knot mosaics, which are common features in physics and mathematics. We present an algorithm producing the exact enumeration of period knot (m,n)-mosaics for any positive integers m and n, toroidal knot (m,n)-mosaics for co-prime integers m and n, and furthermore toroidal knot (p,p)-mosaics for a prime number p. We also analyze the asymptotics of the growth rates of their cardinality

(2R)-N-(2-Benzoyl­phen­yl)-1-benzyl­pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide

In the title compound, C25H24N2O2, the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings of the benzophenone moiety is 59.10 (6)°. An intra­molecular, bifurcated N—H⋯(O,N) hydrogen bond, which generates S(6) and S(5) rings, respectively, helps to establish the overall conformation of the mol­ecule

Comparison of air pollution and the prevalence of allergy-related diseases in Incheon and Jeju City

PurposeA high level of air pollutants can increase the number of patients with allergy-related diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). To analyze the association between air pollution and allergic disease, we investigated 2 areas in Korea: Incheon, an industrial area, and Jeju, a non-industrialized area.MethodsSecond grade students at elementary schools (11 schools in Incheon and 45 schools in Jeju) were examined in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used and a skin prick test was performed. The levels of NO2, CO2, O3, particulate matter (PM) PM10/2.5, formaldehyde, tVOCs, and dust mites in the classrooms and grounds were determined.ResultsThe levels of outdoor CO, PM10, and PM2.5 were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The levels of indoor CO, CO2, PM10, PM2.5 were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rates of AR symptoms at any time, AR symptoms during the last 12 months, diagnosis of rhinitis at any time, and AR treatment during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rate of wheezing or whistling at any time, and wheezing during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01).ConclusionWe found that the children living in Incheon, which was more polluted than Jeju, had a higher rate of AR and asthma symptoms compared to children in Jeju. To determine the effect of air pollution on the development of the AR and asthma, further studies are needed

Fibrinolytic Activity of Thai Indigenous Vegetables

ABSTRACT Thai indigenous vegetables having high antioxidant activity were selected and their fibrinolytic activities were screened. Among them, Careya sphaerica Roxb., Anacadrium occidentale Linn., and Barringtonea acutangula Linn. showed very high fibrinolytic activity followed by Bonea macrophylla Griff., Azadirachta indica Juss. var. siamensis, Gymnema inodorum Pecne. and Tricholoma crassum Berk. The activity was significantly affected by heating; all the samples lost their fibrinolytic activities upon heating at 100°C for 10 min. Tricholoma crassum Berk., in particular, showed relatively high stability upon heating. Upon 5 min heating, 43% of its activity remained stable. Comparing the activity ratio between fibrinolysis and proteolysis (F/P ratio) of the vegetable extracts, Tricholoma crassum Berk. and Careya sphaerica Roxb. showed very high F/P ratio indicating their extracts acted as fibrinolytic enzymes

CHARACTERIZATION OF THERMOMECHANICAL PULP MADE FROM PINE TREES INFECTED WITH NEMATODES

Pine wilt is a lethal disease caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. It causes tree death by blocking water and nutrient uptake in pine trees. Pine trees infected by these nematodes are used as fertilizer or fuel for thermal power plants, but their utilization is still only about 37%. To increase the utilization of the infected trees, this study investigated whether the shredded wood chips prepared from them could be used as raw materials for manufacturing thermomechanical pulp (TMP) and chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP). TMP and CTMP prepared from the infected pine chips showed fewer pitch contents and better strength properties than those made from domestic pine. In conclusion, if the nematode-infected pine was used as raw materials for manufacturing TMP and CTMP, it is expected that it would contribute to the diversification of raw materials along with a high-temperature insecticidal effect. Keywords: Pine wilt, nematode disease, thermomechanical pulp, chemithermomechanical pulp, pulp strength, insecticidal effect &nbsp

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF TMP PITCH CONTROL AGENTS WITH DIFFERENT MECHANISMS

The pitch contained in thermomechanical pulp negatively affects paper quality, pulp, and the papermaking process. Serious pitch and stickies problems may occur in paper recycling processes. In this study, the effects of chemicals used to control the pitch in the TMP(Themomechanical Pulp) rocess were compared. The method used to analyze the pitch-control effect was to perform image analysis after using a reagent that selectively stains only the hydrophobic pitch. Three different mechanisms, namely fixation, detackification, and dispersion, were applied to solve the pitch problem from TMP. All the control agents were effective in pitch control, and, in particular, the agents related to fixation and dispersion were found to be more effective in reducing the number and area of tacky particles per unit area in sheets and white water. However, for the detackifiers and the dispersants, but not for the fixatives, it was difficult to clearly distinguish the difference of the pitch control effects according to the change in the amount of these agents through image analysis after staining