Typing supernova remnant G352.7−-0.1 using XMM-Newton X-ray observations

G352.7$-$0.1 is a mixed-morphology (MM) supernova remnant (SNR) with multiple radio arcs and has a disputed supernova origin. We conducted a spatially resolved spectroscopic study of the remnant with XMM-Newton X-ray data to investigate its explosion mechanism and explain its morphology. The global X-ray spectra of the SNR can be adequately reproduced using a metal-rich thermal plasma model with a temperature of $\sim 2$ keV and ionization timescale of $\sim 3\times 10^{10}~{\rm cm^{-3}~s}$. Through a comparison with various supernova nucleosynthesis models, we found that observed metal properties from Mg to Fe can be better described using core-collapse supernova models, while thermonuclear models fail to explain the observed high Mg/Si ratio. The best-fit supernova model suggests a $\sim 13$ $M_\odot$ progenitor star, consistent with previous estimates using the wind bubble size. We also discussed the possible mechanisms that may lead to SNR G352.7$-$0.1 being an MMSNR. By dividing the SNR into several regions, we found that the temperature and abundance do not significantly vary with regions, except for a decreased temperature and abundance in a region interacting with molecular clouds. The brightest X-ray emission of the SNR spatially matches with the inner radio structure, suggesting that the centrally filled X-ray morphology results from a projection effect.Comment: 12 pages, 19 figures; Accepted for publication in MNRA

Globalization and its Effect on World Poverty and Inequality

James D. Wolfensohn who is the former World Bank President stated that poverty amid plenty is the world’s greatest challenge until now. In 1996, United Nation General Assembly came to terms that eradicating poverty is an ethical, political, social and economic imperative of humankind. International development, trade organizations, and financial, as well as practitioners and academics in this field confirmed to this statement (World Bank, 2001) In a world of 7 billion people, 80 percent live on less than $10 per day and 3 billion people, about half of the world, live on less than$2.50 a day. About 5 percent of global income was generated by the poorest 40 percent of the world’s population, while the wealthiest 20 percent of the population generates 75 percent of world income (Shah, 2013). The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2011) estimates that poverty is the cause of daily mortality for 22,000 children ages five and younger in 2009. Thus, in a calendar year, more than eight million children do not progress past the age of five years. Poverty literally has two central meanings. The first refers to an absolute standard of living which is reflected in satisfying the minimum basic needs required for survival. The second is relative poverty reflected in the income gap between the rich and the poor, which often is measured by economists in the form of artificial currency called “purchasing power disparity dollars’. In the world of globalization and without boundaries, one would wonder how in certain parts of the world, poverty is still a major issue. Why is the standard of living in certain countries far better than the others and why is a large part of the world poor? Typically defined as the process by which different countries become more closely integrated through international technology transfers, trade liberalization, and greater mobility of information and capital, whether globalization helps or hurts the world’s poverty level is a constant debate

Studies on the protective effect of total flavonoids from Cichorium glandulosum roots against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Purpose: To study the protective influence of total flavonoids from Cichorium glandulosum roots (TFCG) against carbon tetrachloride-mediated hepatic fibrosis in rats, and the probable mechanism of action involved.Methods: Rats with liver fibrosis were orally administered TFCG (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) once a day for 13 weeks. Liver index and liver injury indices in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), hydroxyproline (HYP), albumin (ALB) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined using electronic balance or corresponding assay kits, as appropriate. Following staining with hematoxylin and eosin and Van Gieson, histopathological changes in liver tissues were examined by light microscopy. TGF-β/Smad pathway-related protein expressions in liver tissues, viz, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3), Smad7, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were determined using immunohistochemical techniques.Results: Exposure to TFCG significantly reversed abnormal serum levels of ALT, AST, AKP, LDH, γ- GT, HYP, ALB and MDA rats with liver fibrosis to normal levels, and also decreased their liver index values (p < 0.01). Moreover, TFCG improved histopathological changes in the liver tissues of fibrotic rats, and significantly reversed abnormal TGF-β1, Smad3, Smad7, TLR4 and α-SMA protein expressions in the liver tissues of fibrotic rats to normal levels (p < 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion: These results indicate that TFCG exerts protective effect against liver fibrosis via a mechanism related to inactivation of TGF-β/Smad pathway. Thus, TFCG may find application in liver fibrosis therapy.Keywords: Cichorium glandulosum, Flavonoids, Liver, Fibrosis, TGF-β/Smad pathwa

Bis{2-[(E)-benzyl­imino­meth­yl]-4-methyl­phen­olato-κ2 N,O}cobalt(II)

In the title complex, [Co(C15H14NO)2], the CoII atom, situated on an inversion centre, is coordinated by two O and two N atoms from two symmetry-related bidentate Schiff base ligands in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry. The two phenolate rings form a dihedral angle of 10.53 (2)°

Isolation and Characterization of Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for Two Subterranean Termites

We isolated 15 and 18 highly polymorphic genomic microsatellite markers from two subterranean termites, Reticulitermes aculabialis and R. labralis, respectively. A total of 53 alleles were detected in 15 microsatellite loci of R. aculabialis, and the alleles were 3.533±1.302 (mean±SD), while the corresponding data of R. labralis were 115 detected alleles in 18 microsatellite loci with 6.389±1.754 alleles. The observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.496±0.236 and 0.564±0.125 in R. aculabialis, and 0.368±0.263 and 0.702±0.115 in R. labralis, respectively. Seven loci were highly polymorphic (PIC>0.5) in R. aculabialis, and 15 loci were highly polymorphic (PIC>0.5) in R. labralis. All loci showed Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. These polymorphic markers provide useful tools for population genetic and breeding system studies of subterranean termites

The Impact of Bankers on the Board on Corporate Dividend Policy: Evidence from an Emerging Market

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Research on Evaluation of the Quality of Different Varieties of Highland Barley Flour and the Suitability of Noodle Processing

In order to clarify the relationship among nutritional quality of highland barley flour, processing quality and edible quality of noodles, the flour of 21 highland barley varieties in Qinghai Province was used as raw the materials. The key indexes for evaluating the suitability of highland barley noodle processing were screened out through correlation analysis and cluster analysis to construct an evaluation system for the suitability of highland barley noodle processing. The results showed that the contents of starch, fat, the fiber and the protein of highland barley flour were 69.95%~83.36%, 0.87%~2.38%, 1.13%~3.69%, and 6.88%~11.64%, respectively. Beiqing No. 8 (gate) had the highest peak viscosity (2 378.50 mPa·s), and Kunlun No. 15 (Dulan) had the highest regeneration value (756.00 mPa·s). Kunlun No. 16 (Guinan) had the best water holding capacity (4.32 g/g), and Chai Qing No. 1 (Dulan) had the highest oil holding capacity (0.94 g/g). Kunlun No. 14 (Guide) had the largest solubility (27.46%), and Kunlun No. 15 (Dulan) had the largest expansion (9.15%). Kunlun No. 18 (gate) had the greatest transparency (28.40%), and freeze-thaw stability was the largest (77.16%). The nutritional quality and processing characteristics of highland barley noodles were significantly related to the cooking quality and texture characteristics of noodles, flour water content, total starch content, resistant starch content, flour L* value and peak viscosity were the key indicators to evaluate the suitability of highland barley noodle processing. Through the construction of processing suitability evaluation system, the evaluation level of highland barley noodle processing suitability was determined. Beiqing No. 9 (Xining), Kunlun No. 14 (Xining), Kunlun No. 17 (Menyuan), Chai Qing No. 1 (Guinan) were screened out, while Kunlun No. 14 (Guinan), Kunlun No. 15 (Guinan) and other 6 highland barley flours were suitable for processing into highland barley noodles. The results of this study could provide a theoretical basis for the selection of raw materials for processing highland barley noodles

Room Temperature Mott Hopping and Spin pumping Characterization of Amorphous Gd-alloyed Bi2Se3

Disordered films have gained intense interest because of their possibility for spintronics applications by benefiting from other exotic transport properties. Here, we have fabricated disordered Gd-alloyed Bi_x Se_(1-x) (BSG) thin films by magnetron sputtering methods and have investigated their magneto-transport and spin-torque properties. Structural characterizations show a mainly amorphous feature for the 8nm thick BSG film, while Bi rich crystallites are developed inside the 16nm thick BSG film. The bulk resistivity of BSG film is found to be relatively high, up to 6x10^4 uOhm.cm, with respect to the resistivity of the polycrystalline Bi_x Se_(1-x) film. Temperature dependent resistivity measurements display the evident character of a variable range hopping transport from 80K to 300K. Spin pumping transport characterizations have been performed on the BSG(t)/CoFeB(5 nm) bilayer structures with different thickness of BSG (t= 6, 8, 12, 16 nm). The possible various origins of the spin-to-charge conversion are related to extrinsic effects. Our study provides a new experimental direction, beyond crystalline solids, to the search for strong SOC systems in amorphous solids and other engineered random systems