3,459 research outputs found

    Impacts of Large-Scale Circulation on Convection: A 2-D Cloud Resolving Model Study

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    Studies of impacts of large-scale circulation on convection, and the roles of convection in heat and water balances over tropical region are fundamentally important for understanding global climate changes. Heat and water budgets over warm pool (SST=29.5 C) and cold pool (SST=26 C) were analyzed based on simulations of the two-dimensional cloud resolving model. Here the sensitivity of heat and water budgets to different sizes of warm and cold pools is examined

    Anatomical changes in the East Asian midface skeleton with aging

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    Background: Understanding the aging process of the midface skeleton is considered crucial for correct facial rejuvenation. However, the canine fossa, an important morphological feature of the midface skeleton, has not yet been observed in connection with aging, despite the fact that it is the most main part of the maxillary bone. Here, the authors focus on the depression of the canine fossa to evaluate the Asian midface skeleton. Materials and methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of the facial skeleton of 114 Koreans (59 males and 55 females) were reconstructed to three-dimensional (3D) images using a 3D analysis software programme. The study subjects included 27 young males, 32 old males, 28 young females and 27 old females. The angular measurements of three bony regions were measured for each 3D model: the canine fossa angle (assessing depth of the canine fossa), the maxillary angle (assessing orientation of the lateral maxilla) and the piriform angle (assessing orientation of the medial maxilla). Results: The canine fossa angle showed a statistically significant decrease with aging in both sexes, indicating the canine fossa actually becomes more concave with age. In contrast, the maxillary and piriform angle showed statistically insignificant changes with aging in female subjects. Conclusions: These results suggest that the canine fossa may be one of the effective markers to evaluate the anatomical changes to the facial skeleton with midface aging. (

    Chandra Observation of the Cluster of Galaxies MS 0839.9+2938 at z=0.194: the Central Excess Iron and SN Ia Enrichment

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    We present the Chandra study of the intermediately distant cluster of galaxies MS 0839.9+2938. By performing both the projected and deprojected spectral analyses, we find that the gas temperature is approximately constant at about 4 keV in 130-444h_70^-1 kpc. In the inner regions, the gas temperature descends towards the center, reaching <~ 3 keV in the central 37h_70^-1 kpc. This infers that the lower and upper limits of the mass deposit rate are 9-34 M_sun yr^-1 and 96-126 M_sun yr^-1, respectively within 74h_70^-1 kpc where the gas is significantly colder. Along with the temperature drop, we detect a significant inward iron abundance increase from about 0.4 solar in the outer regions to about 1 solar within the central 37h_70^-1 kpc. Thus MS 0839.9+2938 is the cluster showing the most significant central iron excess at z>~ 0.2. We argue that most of the excess iron should have been contributed by SNe Ia. By utilizing the observed SN Ia rate and stellar mass loss rate, we estimate that the time needed to enrich the central region with excess iron is 6.4-7.9 Gyr, which is similar to those found for the nearby clusters. Coinciding with the optical extension of the cD galaxy (up to about 30h_70^-1 kpc), the observed X-ray surface brightness profile exhibits an excess beyond the distribution expected by either the beta model or the NFW model, and can be well fitted with an empirical two-beta model that leads to a relatively flatter mass profile in the innermost region.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

    Gene delivery to in situ veins: Differential effects of adenovirus and adeno-associated viral vectors

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    AbstractPurpose: Gene transfer offers the potential to modify vein graft biology at the time of surgical implantation. Efficiency of gene delivery, stability of expression, and host responses are critical parameters for candidate vectors. We compared the effects of intraluminal exposure with adenovirus (AD) and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors on transgene expression and monocyte adhesion (MA) in treated vein segments. Methods: Adult New Zealand white rabbits (N = 51) were anesthetized, and the jugular veins were cannulated bilaterally. Veins were gently distended with either vector (2·108 to 1·1010 infective particles/mL) or vehicle (control) for 30 minutes, after which venous flow was restored. AD and AAV vectors encoding for the marker genes β-galactosidase (LacZ) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were used. Vessels were explanted 2 to 40 days postinfection for analysis of gene expression (X-gal staining, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), MA, and immunohistochemistry. Ex vivo adhesion assays used 51Cr-labeled THP-1 cells. Statistical significance was tested by using analysis of variance with a P value less than.05. Results: All animals survived, and all treated veins were patent at sacrifice. Intraluminal exposure to AD at a titer of 1·109 resulted in near complete transduction of the endothelium at 2 days, with no detectable expression by day 14. At an equal titer of infectious particles, transgene expression was markedly less for AAV at 2 to 7 days, but improved at 2 weeks and persisted to 40 days. MA was significantly increased 2 days after AD exposure (2.7-fold vs control, *P <.002); AAV treatment had no discernible effect on MA. Conclusion: AD-mediated gene transfer to vein segments resulted in robust, transient gene expression that disappeared after 2 weeks. In comparison, AAV-mediated gene delivery was less efficient, but resulted in delayed onset, persistent expression beyond 30 days. AD exposure induced an early increase in MA to the vein surface that was not seen with AAV treatment. Current generations of both AD and AAV vectors have significant, albeit different, limitations for vascular gene therapy. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:1149-59.

    Ocular myasthenia gravis saccades as a measure of extraocular muscle function

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    BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the pathophysiology of ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) to improve treatment. AIM: To use modern video-oculography to characterise saccadic eye movements in patients with OMG, including anti-AChR, anti-MuSK, anti-LRP4, and seronegative OMG. METHODS: In total, 21 patients with OMG and five age-matched healthy control subjects underwent video-oculography. Participants performed a sequence of horizontal saccades (3 minutes each) at ±5°, ± 10°, and ±20°, followed by 3 minutes of saccades directed at randomly presented targets at ±5°, ± 10°, and ±15°. We recorded the direction, amplitude, duration, peak, and average velocity of each saccade for each task for each participant. RESULTS: Saccadic amplitude, duration, and average velocity were all lower in OMG patients than in control subjects (p < 0.021). Saccadic amplitude and velocity decreased over time, but this decrease was similar in OMG patients and control subjects. Fixation drift and ocular disparity tended to be greater in OMG patients than in control subjects. Saccadic intrusions occurred more frequently in OMG patients than in control subjects (p < 0.001). No significant effects of time or group by time on fixation drift or ocular disparity were found. DISCUSSION: Saccadic velocities in OMG patients differed from those in normal control subjects, which suggests that OMG affects fast-twitch fibres, although fast-twitch fibres were still able to generate “twitch” or “quiver” movements in the presence of even severe ophthalmoplegia. Slow-twitch muscle fibres involved in gaze holding were also affected, accounting for increased fixation drift following saccades. Our objective finding of increased fixation drift and a larger number of saccadic intrusions mirror our anecdotal experience of patients with OMG who report significant diplopia despite minimal ophthalmoplegia on examination. Such microsaccades may be a surrogate for compensation of a gaze-holding deficit in MG

    Acoustic phonon recycling for photocarrier generation in graphene-WS_{2} heterostructures

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    Electron-phonon scattering is the key process limiting the efficiency of modern nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices, in which most of the incident energy is converted to lattice heat and finally dissipates into the environment. Here, we report an acoustic phonon recycling process in graphene-WS_{2} heterostructures, which couples the heat generated in graphene back into the carrier distribution in WS_{2}. This recycling process is experimentally recorded by spectrally resolved transient absorption microscopy under a wide range of pumping energies from 1.77 to 0.48 eV and is also theoretically described using an interfacial thermal transport model. The acoustic phonon recycling process has a relatively slow characteristic time (>100 ps), which is beneficial for carrier extraction and distinct from the commonly found ultrafast hot carrier transfer (~1 ps) in graphene-WS_{2} heterostructures. The combination of phonon recycling and carrier transfer makes graphene-based heterostructures highly attractive for broadband high-efficiency electronic and optoelectronic applications

    Atmospheric reactive nitrogen concentrations at ten sites with contrasting land use in an arid region of central Asia

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    Atmospheric concentrations of reactive nitrogen (N&lt;sub&gt;r&lt;/sub&gt;) species from 2009 to 2011 are reported for ten sites in Xinjiang, China, an arid region of central Asia. Concentrations of NH&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, particulate ammonium and nitrate (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; and &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt;) showed large spatial and seasonal variation and averaged 7.71, 9.68, 1.81 and 1.13 μg N m&lt;sup&gt;−3&lt;/sup&gt;, and PM&lt;sub&gt;10&lt;/sub&gt; concentrations averaged 249.2 μg m&lt;sup&gt;−3&lt;/sup&gt; across all sites. Lower NH&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; concentrations and higher NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; and &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt; concentrations were found in winter, reflecting serious air pollution due to domestic heating in winter and other anthropogenic sources such as increased emissions from motor traffic and industry. The increasing order of total concentrations of N&lt;sub&gt;r&lt;/sub&gt; species was alpine grassland; desert, desert-oasis ecotone; desert in an oasis; farmland; suburban and urban ecosystems. Lower ratios of secondary particles (NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; and NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;&lt;/sup&gt;) were found in the desert and desert-oasis ecotone, while urban and suburban areas had higher ratios, which implied that anthropogenic activities have greatly influenced local air quality and must be controlled

    IFNβ Protects Neurons from Damage in a Murine Model of HIV-1 Associated Brain Injury.

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    Infection with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) causes brain injury. Type I interferons (IFNα/β) are critical mediators of any anti-viral immune response and IFNβ has been implicated in the temporary control of lentiviral infection in the brain. Here we show that transgenic mice expressing HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 120 in their central nervous system (HIVgp120tg) mount a transient IFNβ response and provide evidence that IFNβ confers neuronal protection against HIVgp120 toxicity. In cerebrocortical cell cultures, neuroprotection by IFNβ against gp120 toxicity is dependent on IFNα receptor 1 (IFNAR1) and the β-chemokine CCL4, as IFNAR1 deficiency and neutralizing antibodies against CCL4, respectively, abolish the neuroprotective effects. We find in vivo that IFNβ mRNA is significantly increased in HIVgp120tg brains at 1.5, but not 3 or 6 months of age. However, a four-week intranasal IFNβ treatment of HIVgp120tg mice starting at 3.5 months of age increases expression of CCL4 and concomitantly protects neuronal dendrites and pre-synaptic terminals in cortex and hippocampus from gp120-induced damage. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro data suggests astrocytes are a major source of IFNβ-induced CCL4. Altogether, our results suggest exogenous IFNβ as a neuroprotective factor that has potential to ameliorate in vivo HIVgp120-induced brain injury

    Dynamics of Fluid Vesicles in Oscillatory Shear Flow

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    The dynamics of fluid vesicles in oscillatory shear flow was studied using differential equations of two variables: the Taylor deformation parameter and inclination angle θ\theta. In a steady shear flow with a low viscosity ηin\eta_{\rm {in}} of internal fluid, the vesicles exhibit steady tank-treading motion with a constant inclination angle θ0\theta_0. In the oscillatory flow with a low shear frequency, θ\theta oscillates between ±θ0\pm \theta_0 or around θ0\theta_0 for zero or finite mean shear rate γ˙m\dot\gamma_{\rm m}, respectively. As shear frequency fγf_{\gamma} increases, the vesicle oscillation becomes delayed with respect to the shear oscillation, and the oscillation amplitude decreases. At high fγf_{\gamma} with γ˙m=0\dot\gamma_{\rm m}=0, another limit-cycle oscillation between θ0π\theta_0-\pi and θ0-\theta_0 is found to appear. In the steady flow, θ\theta periodically rotates (tumbling) at high ηin\eta_{\rm {in}}, and θ\theta and the vesicle shape oscillate (swinging) at middle ηin\eta_{\rm {in}} and high shear rate. In the oscillatory flow, the coexistence of two or more limit-cycle oscillations can occur for low fγf_{\gamma} in these phases. For the vesicle with a fixed shape, the angle θ\theta rotates back to the original position after an oscillation period. However, it is found that a preferred angle can be induced by small thermal fluctuations.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figure

    Recurrent myositis triggered by infections: a case report

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    © 2008 Wong et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens
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