A Direct Study of 20Ne(alpha,p)23Na with the HELIcal Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS)

Type Ia Supernovae are thermonuclear explosions that occur on CO white dwarfs in binary systems, completely disrupting the system. While the exact progenitor of these events is unclear, there have been several studies exploring the nucleosynthesis that drives these stellar explosions. These studies have shown that a handful of reactions have a significant effect on Type Ia Supernova nucleosynthesis, specifically 12C(alpha, gamma), 12C+12C, 20Ne(alpha, p), 20Ne(alpha, gamma), and 30Si(p, gamma). While the 20Ne(alpha,p)23Na reaction has been shown to be one of the five most influential reactions, it has not been directly been measured at astrophysically relevant energies. We performed direct measurements of this reaction with multiple 20Ne beam energies (100 MeV, 80 MeV and 31 MeV) in inverse kinematics. The measurements were performed at Argonne National Laboratory using the HELIOS (HELIcal Orbit Spectrometer) beam line. This measurement is also a proof-of-principle test for a setup designed for reaction studies, using a cryogenic gas target and a fast position-sensitive ionization chamber (IC). This experimental setup especially targets reactions with radioactive ion beams and details of the commissioning runs for the gas target and the IC are discussed. The data obtained was analyzed using a series of timing and particle identification cuts to determine the particle yields from the 4He(20Ne,p)23Na reaction. Efficiencies were determined through a series of simulations using the Geant4 toolkit and the data were normalized using the 2H(20Ne,p)21Ne and 4He(20Ne,4He)20Ne reactions. The yields were corrected for these efficiencies and normalized to determine the reaction cross section. These newly measured cross sections are compared to the ones previously used for nuclear reaction sensitivity studies and the likely effects on Type Ia Supernova nucleosynthesis are discussed. Candidate reactions for future studies are listed and possible improvements are proposed

On a problem of Henning and Yeo about the transversal number of uniform linear systems whose 2-packing number is fixed

For $r\geq2$, let $(P,\mathcal{L})$ be an $r$-uniform linear system. The transversal number $\tau(P,\mathcal{L})$ of $(P,\mathcal{L})$ is the minimum number of points that intersect every line of $(P,\mathcal{L})$. The 2-packing number $\nu_2(P,\mathcal{L})$ of $(P,\mathcal{L})$ is the maximum number of lines such that the intersection of any three of them is empty. In [Discrete Math. 313 (2013), 959--966] Henning and Yeo posed the following question: Is it true that if $(P,\mathcal{L})$ is a $r$-uniform linear system then $\tau(P,\mathcal{L})\leq\displaystyle\frac{|P|+|\mathcal{L}|}{r+1}$ holds for all $k\geq2$?. In this paper, some results about of $r$-uniform linear systems whose 2-packing number is fixed which satisfies the inequality are given

Acupuncture for treatment of erectile dysfunction : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and Methods: We searched six major English and Chinese databases included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing acupuncture alone or in combination for ED. Dichotomous data were presented as risk ratio (RR) and continuous data were presented as mean difference (MD) both with 95% confidence interval (CI). The Revman (v.5.3) was used for data analyses. Quality of evidence across studies was assessed by the online GRADEpro tool. Results: We identified 22 RCTs, fourteen of them involving psychogenic ED. Most of the included RCTs had high or unclear risk of bias. There was no difference between electro-acupuncture and sham acupuncture with electrical stimulation on the rate of satisfaction and self-assessment (RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.71-3.16; 1 trial). Acupuncture combined with tadalafil appeared to have better effect on increasing cure rate (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00-1.71; 2 trials), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores (MD, 5.38; 95% CI, 4.46-6.29; 2 trials). When acupuncture plus herbal medicine compared with herbal medicine alone, the combination therapy showed significant better improvement in erectile function (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.31-2.15; 7 trials). Only two trials reported facial red and dizziness cases, and needle sticking and pruritus cases in acupuncture group. Conclusions: Low quality evidence shows beneficial effect of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for people mainly with psychogenic ED. Safety of acupuncture was insufficiently reported. The findings should be confirmed in large, rigorously designed and well-reported trials

Evidence synthesis of Chinese medicine for monkeypox: Suggestions from other contagious pox-like viral diseases

Background: Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease caused by an Orthopoxvirus, presents an etiology similar to smallpox in humans. Currently, there are no licensed treatments for human monkeypox, so clear and urgent research on its prophylaxis and treatment is needed. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the evidence of Chinese medicine for contagious pox-like viral diseases and provide suggestions for the multi-country outbreak management of monkeypox. Methods: The review was registered on INPLASY (INPLASY202270013). Ancient classics in China and clinical trials involving randomized controlled trials , non-RCTs, and comparative observational studies of CM on the prevention and treatment of monkeypox, smallpox, measles, varicella, and rubella were retrieved from the Chinese Medical Code (fifth edition), Database of China Ancient Medicine, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, Wanfang, Google Scholar, International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry until 6 July 2022. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to present the data collected. Results: The use of CM to control contagious pox-like viral diseases was traced back to ancient Chinese practice cited in Huangdi’s Internal Classic, where the pathogen was recorded nearly two thousand years back. There were 85 articles (36 RCTs, eight non-RCTs, one cohort study, and 40 case series) that met the inclusion criteria, of which 39 studies were for measles, 38 for varicella, and eight for rubella. Compared with Western medicine for contagious pox-like viral diseases, CM combined with Western medicine showed significant improvements in fever clearance time (mean difference, −1.42 days; 95% CI, −1.89 to −0.95; 10 RCTs), rash/pox extinction time (MD, −1.71 days; 95% CI, −2.65 to −0.76; six RCTs), and rash/pox scab time (MD, −1.57 days; 95% CI, −1.94 to −1.19; five RCTs). When compared with Western medicine, CM alone could reduce the time of rash/pox extinction and fever clearance. Chinese herbal formulas, including modified Yinqiao powder, modified Xijiao Dihaung decoction, modified Qingjie Toubiao decoction, and modified Shengma Gegen decoction, were frequently applied to treat pox-like viral diseases and also showed significant effects in shortening the time of fever clearance, rash/pox extinction, and rash/pox scabs. Compared with Western medicine (placental globulin) or no intervention, eight non-randomized trials and observational studies on the prevention of contagious pox-like viral diseases showed a significant preventive effect of Leiji powder among high-risk populations. Conclusion: Based on historical records and clinical studies of CM in managing contagious pox-like viral diseases, some botanical drugs could be an alternative approach for treating and preventing human monkeypox. Prospective, rigorous clinical trials are urgently needed to confirm the potential preventive and treatment effect of Chinese herbal formulas

A Study of New Ceramic Membrane for Use in Hemodialysis

ABSTRACT The non-uniformity of pore size and pore distribution of the current hemodialysis membrane results in low efficiency of uremic solute removal as well as the loss of albumin. By using nano technology, an anodic alumina membrane (ceramic membrane) with self-organized nano-pore structure was produced. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between various anodization conditions and the pore characteristics of the ceramic membrane as a potential use in artificial kidney / hemodialysis. An aluminum thin film was oxidized in two electrolytes consisting of 3% and 5% sulfuric acid and 2.7% oxalic acid. The applied voltages were 12.5, 15, 17.5 and 20 (V) for sulfuric acid and 20, 30, 40 and 50 (V) for oxalic acid. Pore size and porosity were determined by analyzing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and hydraulic conductivity was measured. Pore size increased linearly with voltage. Acid concentration affected pore formation but not pore size and pore distribution. Hydraulic conductivity of the ceramic membrane was higher than that of polymer dialysis membrane. The optimal formation conditions for self-organized nano-pore structure of ceramic membrane were 12.5-17.5V in 3-5% sulfuric acid at 0 o C. These conditions produced ceramic membranes with pores of ~ 10 nm diameter. Conclusion: Anodic alumina technology reliably produced in quantity structures with pore sizes in the 10-50 nm diameter range. Because of more uniform pore size, high porosity, high hydraulic conductivity and resistance to high temperature, the ceramic membrane has potential for future application as a hemodialysis membrane

Futuristic 6G Pervasive On-Demand Services:Integrating Space Edge Computing With Terrestrial Networks

Futuristic 6G technologies will integrate emerging low-Earth orbit (LEO) megaconstellations into terrestrial networks, promising to provide ubiquitous, low-latency and high-throughput network services on-demand. However, several unique characteristics of satellites (e.g., high dynamics and error-prone operational environments) make it very challenging to unleash the potential of megacons-tellations and accomplish these aforementioned promises

α-Glucosidase Inhibitors From the Coral-Associated Fungus Aspergillus terreus

Nine novel butenolide derivatives, including four pairs of enantiomers, named (±)-asperteretones A–D (1a/1b–4a/4b), and a racemate, named asperteretone E (5), were isolated and identified from the coral-associated fungus Aspergillus terreus. All the structures were established based on extensive spectroscopic analyses, including HRESIMS and NMR data. The chiral chromatography analyses allowed the separation of (±)-asperteretones A–D, whose absolute configurations were further confirmed by experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis. Structurally, compounds 2–5 represented the first examples of prenylated γ-butenolides bearing 2-phenyl-3-benzyl-4H-furan-1-one motifs, and their crucial biogenetically related metabolite, compound 1, was uniquely defined by an unexpected cleavage of oxygen bridge between C-1 and C-4. Importantly, (±)-asperteretal D and (4S)-4-decarboxylflavipesolide C were revised to (±)-asperteretones B (2a/2b) and D (4), respectively. Additionally, compounds 1a/1b–4a/4b and 5 were evaluated for the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and all these compounds exhibited potent inhibitory potency against α-glucosidase, with IC50 values ranging from 15.7 ± 1.1 to 53.1 ± 1.4 μM, which was much lower than that of the positive control acarbose (IC50 = 154.7 ± 8.1 μM), endowing them as promising leading molecules for the discovery of new α-glucosidase inhibitors for type-2 diabetes mellitus treatment