Growth factor in f(T) gravity

We derive the evolution equation of growth factor for the matter over-dense perturbation in $f(T)$ gravity. For instance, we investigate its behavior in power law model at small redshift and compare it to the prediction of $\Lambda$CDM and dark energy with the same equation of state in the framework of Einstein general relativity. We find that the perturbation in $f(T)$ gravity grows slower than that in Einstein general relativity if \p f/\p T>0 due to the effectively weakened gravity.Comment: 15 pages,1 figure; v2,typos corrected; v3, discussions added, accepted by JCA

The use of rapid prototyping in the design of a customised ankle brace structure for ACL injury risk reduction.

Rapid prototyping, or additive manufacturing, is becoming more useful in creating functional prototypes, especially when customisation is required. This paper explores the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing in designing a customised ankle brace structure for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk reduction. A new process is proposed to obtain ankle flexion angles and the corresponding foot surface strain associated with high ACL injury risks through motion analysis. This data is used in the design of the customised ankle brace structure and printed using rapid prototyping. One customised ankle brace structure was printed and tested to demonstrate this proposed framework. The ankle flexion range of motion (ROM) was significantly reduced in the high-risk ankle positions with the ankle brace structure. Rapid prototyping could thus be used to design customised ankle brace structures and this is useful in reducing fabrication time and complexity of customisation. © 2013 Taylor & Francis

Inflammasome Inhibition as a Pathogenic Stealth Mechanism

The activation of inflammasomes containing NBD-LRR (NLRs) or non-NLRs is critical for effective host defense against microbial pathogens. Recent discoveries have uncovered a plethora of pathogenic strategies to inhibit inflammasome-mediated processing of IL-1β and IL-18. We review recent evidence for viral and bacterial manipulation of the inflammasome ranging from perturbation of caspase-1 activation to targeting of specific inflammasome components

Performance Test Results of the NASA-457M v2 Hall Thruster

Performance testing of a second generation, 50 kW-class Hall thruster labeled NASA-457M v2 was conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center. This NASA-designed thruster is an excellent candidate for a solar electric propulsion system that supports human exploration missions. Thruster discharge power was varied from 5 to 50 kW over discharge voltage and current ranges of 200 to 500 V and 15 to 100 A, respectively. Anode efficiencies varied from 0.56 to 0.71. The peak efficiency was similar to that of other state-of-the-art high power Hall thrusters, but outperformed these thrusters at lower discharge voltages. The 0.05 to 0.18 higher anode efficiencies of this thruster compared to its predecessor were primarily due to which of two stable discharge modes the thruster was operated. One stable mode was at low magnetic field strengths, which produced high anode efficiencies, and the other at high magnetic fields where its predecessor was operated. Cathode keeper voltages were always within 2.1 to 6.2 V and cathode voltages were within 13 V of tank ground during high anode efficiency operation. However, during operation at high magnetic fields, cathode-to-ground voltage magnitudes increased dramatically, exceeding 30 V, due to the high axial magnetic field strengths in the immediate vicinity of the centrally-mounted cathode. The peak thrust was 2.3 N and this occurred at a total thruster input power of 50.0 kW at a 500 V discharge voltage. The thruster demonstrated a thrust-to-power range of 76.4 mN/kW at low power to 46.1 mN/kW at full power, and a specific impulse range of 1420 to 2740 s. For a discharge voltage of 300 V, where specific impulses would be about 2000 s, thrust efficiencies varied from 0.57 to 0.63

The Consistent Result of Cosmological Constant From Quantum Cosmology and Inflation with Born-Infeld Scalar Field

The Quantum cosmology with Born-Infeld(B-I) type scalar field is considered. In the extreme limits of small cosmological scale factor the wave function of the universe can also be obtained by applying the methods developed by Hartle-Hawking(H-H) and Vilenkin. H-H wave function predicts that most Probable cosmological constant $\Lambda$ equals to $\frac{1}{\eta}$($\frac{1}{2\eta}$ equals to the maximum of the kinetic energy of scalar field). It is different from the original results($\Lambda=0$) in cosmological constant obtained by Hartle-Hawking. The Vilenkin wave function predicts a nucleating unverse with largest possible cosmological constant and it is larger than $1/\eta$. The conclusions have been nicely to reconcile with cosmic inflation. We investigate the inflation model with B-I type scalar field, and find that $\eta$ depends on the amplitude of tensor perturbation $\delta_h$, with the form $\frac{1}{\eta}\simeq \frac{m^2}{12\pi[(\frac{9\delta_{\Phi}^2}{N \delta_h^2})^2-1]}.$ The vacuum energy in inflation epoch depends on the tensor-to-scalar ratio $\frac{\delta_h}{\delta_{\Phi}}$. The amplitude of the tensor perturbation ${\delta_{h}}$ can, in principle, be large enough to be discovered. However, it is only on the border of detectability in future experiments. If it has been observed in future, this is very interesting to determine the vacuum energy in inflation epoch.Comment: 12 pages, one figure, references added, accepted by European Physical Journal

The evolution of microstructure and electrical performance in doped Mn-Co and Cu-Mn oxide layers with the extended oxidation time

Mn-Co and Cu-Mn based alloy coatings are deposited on 430 SS by high energy micro-arc alloying process, and then alloy coatings are oxidized at 750 ℃ in air to form the spinel oxides. Some composite oxides, such as Co3O4, Mn2O3 and (Mn,Co)3O4, are formed at the initial stage of oxidation. The single-phase spinel (pure MnCo2O4) without impurity phases is only found on the surface of Co-33Mn-17Cu oxide layer with the extended oxidation time, its area-specific resistance values at 500 ℃ to 800 ℃ are low and close to that of Mn-35Cu oxide layer which mainly composed of Cu1.2Mn1.8O4 spinel

NLRP3 Plays a Critical Role in the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Mediating Th1 and Th17 Responses

The interplay between innate and adaptive immunity is important in multiple sclerosis (MS). The inflammasome complex, which activates caspase-1 to process pro–IL-1β and pro–IL-18, is rapidly emerging as a pivotal regulator of innate immunity, with nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat containing protein family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) (cryopyrin or NALP3) as a prominent player. Although the role of NLRP3 in host response to pathogen associated molecular patterns and danger associated molecular patterns is well documented, its role in autoimmune diseases is less well studied. To investigate the role of NLRP3 protein in MS, we used a mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Nlrp3 expression was elevated in the spinal cords during EAE, and Nlrp3−/− mice had a dramatically delayed course and reduced severity of disease. This was accompanied by a significant reduction of the inflammatory infiltrate including macrophages, dendritic cells, CD4, and CD8+ T cells in the spinal cords of the Nlrp3−/− mice, whereas microglial accumulation remained the same. Nlrp3−/− mice also displayed improved histology in the spinal cords with reduced destruction of myelin and astrogliosis. Nlrp3−/− mice with EAE produced less IL-18, and the disease course was similar to Il18−/− mice. Furthermore, Nlrp3−/− and Il18−/− mice had similarly reduced IFN-γ and IL-17 production. Thus, NLRP3 plays a critical role in the induction of the EAE, likely through effects on capase-1–dependent cytokines which then influence Th1 and Th17