Stacked phase-space density of galaxies around massive clusters: Comparison of dynamical and lensing masses

We present a measurement of average histograms of line-of-sight velocities over pairs of galaxies and galaxy clusters. Since the histogram can be measured at different galaxy-cluster separations, this observable is commonly referred to as the stacked phase-space density. We formulate the stacked phase-space density based on a halo-model approach so that the model can be applied to real samples of galaxies and clusters. We examine our model by using an actual sample of massive clusters with known weak-lensing masses and spectroscopic observations of galaxies around the clusters. A likelihood analysis with our model enables us to infer the spherical-symmetric velocity dispersion of observed galaxies in massive clusters. We find the velocity dispersion of galaxies surrounding clusters with their lensing masses of $1.1\times10^{15}\, h^{-1}M_{\odot}$ to be $1180^{+83}_{-70}\, \mathrm{km/s}$ at the 68\% confidence level. Our constraint confirms that the relation between the galaxy velocity dispersion and the host cluster mass in our sample is consistent with the prediction in dark-matter-only N-body simulations under General Relativity. Assuming that the Poisson equation in clusters can be altered by an effective gravitational constant of $G_\mathrm{eff}$, our measurement of the velocity dispersion can place a tight constraint of $0.88 < G_\mathrm{eff}/G_\mathrm{N} < 1.29\, (68\%)$ at length scales of a few Mpc about $2.5$ Giga years ago, where $G_\mathrm{N}$ is the Newton's constant.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Separation and recovery of carbon dioxide by a membrane flash process utilizing waste thermal energy

AbstractThe membrane flash process utilizing waste thermal energy was developed to realize an energy-saving technology and to substitute it for a conventional regenerator. The operating conditions of a membrane flash at high temperature were studied. The DEA concentration and the flashing pressure had optimum values to improve the performance and reduce the energy consumption for CO2 recovery. The petroleum refinery process and iron manufacturing process were proposed for candidate processes that actually had waste energy sources. Energy consumption and costs for CO2 recovery in the membrane flash and chemical absorption were estimated by custom-made program and discussed under the same conditions. The membrane flash was suitable for the CO2 emission sources that had high CO2 concentration independently of the plant scale. The chemical absorption was suitable for large-scale sources, even if the CO2 concentration was low

Effects of dissolved oxygen and pH on nitrous oxide production rates in autotrophic partial nitrification granules

The effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH on nitrous oxide (N2O) production rates and pathways in autotrophic partial nitrification (PN) granules were investigated at the granular level. N2O was primarily produced by betaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, mainly Nitrosomonas europaea, in the oxic surface layer (<200 μm) of the autotrophic PN granules. N2O production increased with increasing bulk DO concentration owing to activation of the ammonia (i.e., hydroxylamine) oxidation in this layer. The highest N2O emissions were observed at pH 7.5, although the ammonia oxidation rate was unchanged between pH 6.5 and 8.5. Overall, the results of this study suggest that in situ analyses of PN granules are essential to gaining insight into N2O emission mechanisms in a granule

Decomposition Process of Woody Debris and Fungal Community Structure

We examined the relationship between the community structure of wood-decaying fungi, detected by high-throughput sequencing, and the decomposition rate using 13 years of data from a forest dynamics plot. For molecular analysis and wood density measurements, drill dust samples were collected from logs and stumps of Fagus and Quercus in the plot. Regression using a negative exponential model between wood density and time since death revealed that the decomposition rate of Fagus was greater than that of Quercus. The residual between the expected value obtained from the regression curve and the observed wood density was used as a decomposition rate index. Principal component analysis showed that the fungal community compositions of both Fagus and Quercus changed with time since death. Principal component analysis axis scores were used as an index of fungal community composition. A structural equation model for each wood genus was used to assess the effect of fungal community structure traits on the decomposition rate and how the fungal community structure was determined by the traits of coarse woody debris. Results of the structural equation model suggested that the decomposition rate of Fagus was affected by two fungal community composition components: one that was affected by time since death and another that was not affected by the traits of coarse woody debris. In contrast, the decomposition rate of Quercus was not affected by coarse woody debris traits or fungal community structure. These findings suggest that, in the case of Fagus coarse woody debris, the fungal community structure is related to the decomposition process of its host substrate. Because fungal community structure is affected partly by the decay stage and wood density of its substrate, these factors influence each other. Further research on interactive effects is needed to improve our understanding of the relationship between fungal community structure and the woody debris decomposition process

Absence of surface mode in a visco-elastic material with surface tension

The surface waves in the visco-elastic media with the surface tension are studied using the Voigt-Kelvin model of the visco-elasticity. It is shown that the surface mode of oscillation does not exist in the parameter region where the effect of surface tension is larger than that of the elastic stress at the surface unless the viscous stress masks the elastic stress in the bulk. In the region, the surface oscillation is suppressed and the oscillation beneath the surface diffuses after the pulse goes into the bulk. The experimental relevance of the present results is also discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Vasospastic angina resulting in sudden cardiac arrest, initially misdiagnosed as a psychiatric disorder

AbstractA 51-year-old-woman with a history of ablation therapy due to Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome had been suffering from ambiguous chest pain, prompting investigation by several cardiologists. After being dissatisfied with a psychiatric disorder diagnosis, she was admitted to our hospital for further investigation. She lost her consciousness due to a sudden cardiac arrest shortly after admission. A provocation test indicated vasospastic angina associated with a diffuse spastic pattern of her left anterior descending artery.<Learning objective: This case demonstrates that implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator may be avoided if the angiographic pattern of the vasospasm is recognized, the condition is correctly diagnosed, and appropriate medications are prescribed.

Adsorption characteristics of an enteric virus-binding protein to norovirus, rotavirus and poliovirus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Water contamination with human enteric viruses has posed human health risks all over the world. Reasonable and facile methodologies for recovering and quantifying infectious enteric viruses in environmental samples are needed to address the issues of waterborne viral infectious diseases. In this study, a bacterial protein that has a binding capability with several enteric viruses is discovered, and its binding characteristics were investigated for utilizing it as a viral adsorbent in virus recovery and detection technologies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A gene of an enteric virus-binding protein (EVBP), derived from a monomer of a bacterial chaperon protein GroEL, was successfully acquired from a genomic DNA library of activated sludge microorganisms with nested PCR. Equilibrium dissociation constants between EVBP and norovirus-like particles (NoVLPs) of genotypes GI.7 and GII.4, estimated with quartz crystal microbalance method, were 240 and 210 nM, respectively. These values of equilibrium dissociation constant imply that the binding affinity between EVBP and NoVLPs is 1 to 3-log weaker than that in general antigen-antibody interactions, but about 2-log stronger than that in weak specific interactions of proteins with cations and organic polymers. The adsorptions of EVBP to norovirus, group A rotavirus and poliovirus type 1 were found to be significant in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Meanwhile, the binding of native GroEL tetradecamer to viral particles was weaker than that of EVBP, presumably because of a steric hindrance. The small molecule of EVBP could have an advantage in the access to the surface of viral particles with rugged structure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>EVBP that has a broad binding spectrum to enteric viruses was newly discovered. The broad binding characteristic of EVBP would allow us to utilize it as a novel adsorbent for detecting diverse enteric viruses in clinical and environmental samples.</p

Colorectal Carcinoma: Local Tumor Staging and Assessment of Lymph Node Metastasis by High-Resolution MR Imaging in Surgical Specimens

Purpose. To assess the accuracy of high-resolution MR imaging as a means of evaluating mural invasion and lymph node metastasis by colorectal carcinoma in surgical specimens. Materials and Methods. High-resolution T1-weighted and T2-weighted MR images were obtained in 92 surgical specimens containing 96 colorectal carcinomas. Results. T2-weighted MR images clearly depicted the normal colorectal wall as consisting of seven layers. In 90 (94%) of the 96 carcinomas the depth of mural invasion depicted by MR imaging correlated well with the histopathologic stage. Nodal signal intensity on T2-weighted images (93%) and nodal border contour (93%) were more accurate than nodal size (89%) as indicators of lymph node metastasis, and MR imaging provided the highest accuracy (94%–96%) when they were combined. Conclusion. High-resolution MR imaging is a very accurate method for evaluating both mural invasion and lymph node metastasis by colorectal carcinoma in surgical specimens

Improvement of a Phosphate Ion-selective Microsensor Using Bis(dibromophenylstannyl)methane as a Carrier

An ionophore-doped sensing membrane phosphate (PO4) microsensor based on bis(dibromophenylstannyl)methane (Bis microsensor) is described. The Bis microsensor showed a Nernstian response. The response of the Bis microsensor was log-linear down to a monohydrogen phosphate ion (HPO42−) concentration of 0.5 μM (corresponding to 1.0 μM of orthophosphate at pH 7.2), whereas the detection limit of PO4-microsensors based on trialkyl/aryltin chloride was 50 μM of HPO42−. The Bis microsensor showed excellent selectivity for HPO42− against nitrite, nitrate, chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate, as compared with PO4 microsensors based on trialkyl/aryltin chloride. Dissolved oxygen, which is known to interfere with the response of a previously developed cobalt-based potentiometric solid-state PO4 microsensor, had no effect on the response of the ionophore-doped sensing membrane-type microsensors described herein. Only OH− (i.e., pH) interfered with the ionophore-doped sensing membrane-type microsensors