Radion Production in External Electromagnetic Field

A review of Randall-Sundrum model with stressing on radion phenomenology is presented. The radion production in the external electromagnetic field is considered. The total cross sections for the conversions in the presence of the electric field of the flat condenser as well as in the magnetic field of the solenoid are calculated in details. Based on our results a laboratory experiment for production and detection of the light radions may be described

Raphiocarpus taygiangensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from central Vietnam

Raphiocarpus taygiangensis, a new species of Gesneriaceae family discovered in Tay Giang District, Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam, is here described and illustrated. The new species is diagnosed by the combination of its stem up to 2 m long, sericeous hairs on young stem, leaf petiole and adaxial mid-vein, sparsely and minutely serrate leaf margin, axillary inflorescence spreading along stem, sparsely long gland-tipped hairs on peduncle, pedicel, calyx, outside corolla and pistil, calyx 5-disparted from base, purplish white flower with purple stripes inside corolla tube, and dish-shaped stigma formed by 2 semi-orbicular lobes horizontally expanding. Distinct features of the new species and its morphologically closest congener, Rhaphiocarpus axillaris, are compared and discussed. The conservation status of the described species is estimated as Vulnerable (VU D2) according to the IUCN Red List Criteria

High active and coke-resistant CeNiO3-based catalyst for methane bi-reforming

In this study, Ce1-xLaxNiO3 catalysts (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) and Ce1-xLaxNiO3 on porous silica were prepared by co-precipitation. The effect of the La content on the catalytic activity in methane bi-reforming was investigated in the temperature range of 550 °C-750 °C. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were analysed by several methods, including X-ray diffraction, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, CO2 temperature-programmed desorption, N2 adsorption isotherm, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. From the research results, the suitable substitution rate of La in Ce1-xLaxNiO3 was found to be x = 0.4; its conversions of CH4 of 94% and CO2 of 92% were achieved at 700 °C and GHSV 30000 mL/(g.h). However, the intense coke accumulation on Ce0.6La0.4NiO3 limited its development. The porous silica carrier improved the structure and properties of the Ce0.6La0.4NiO3 catalyst. The SiO2-supported catalyst (Ce0.6La0.4NiO3/SiO2) showed excellent stability and coke resistance, which had stable activity for 100 h of time on stream, structure stability and low coke accumulation; 2.37 mgC/gcat formed after 100 h (coke formation rate of 0.02 mmolC/(gcat.h)), which demonstrated that it was one of the best coke-resistant perovskite catalysts for the BRM reaction. The large surface area of silica and strong interaction of Ni with metal oxide reduced the metal Ni particle size to the threshold size (2−4 nm), where the strongly reduced coke accumulation, high basicity, and vacancy oxygen content of CeO2 and La2O3 were considered major contributors to the high activity and exceptional coke resistance. The high structural stability, anti-sintering performance and high coke resistance all contributed to the excellent durability of the Ce0.6La0.4NiO3/SiO2 catalyst. This work provides a new resolution for the development of coke-resistant perovskite catalysts for methane reforming

Impact of Infectious Disease after <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> Strain Plasma Intake in Vietnamese Schoolchildren: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma) is reported to have anti-viral effects via direct activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which upregulate the production of type I and III interferons. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was designed for elementary schoolchildren, grades 1 to 3, in Vietnam. LC-Plasma or a control were administered to schoolchildren as a beverage (1.0 × 1011 count LC-Plasma/day/person). The primary endpoint was to determine the efficacy of LC-Plasma in reducing the cumulative days absent from school due to upper respiratory disease (URID) and gastrointestinal disease (GID), and the secondary endpoint was to evaluate the potency of LC-Plasma on URID/GID symptoms and general well-being scores. LC-Plasma intake significantly reduced the cumulative days absent from school due to URID/GID (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.57, p = 0.004) and URID alone (OR = 0.56, p = 0.005); LC-Plasma also significantly reduced the number of cumulative fever positive days during the first 4 weeks of intervention (OR = 0.58, p = 0.001) and cumulative days with diarrhea during the last 4 weeks of the intervention period (OR = 0.78, p = 0.01). The number of positive general wellbeing days was significantly improved in the LC-Plasma group compared with the control throughout the intervention period (OR = 0.93, 0.93, p = 0.03, 0.04 in the first and last 4 weeks of the intervention, respectively). These data suggest that LC-Plasma seems to improve the health condition of elementary schoolchildren and reduces school absenteeism due to infectious disease, especially URID