A spatio-temporal analysis of groundwater level changes in relation to urban growth and groundwater recharge potential for Waukesha County, Wisconsin

The main objective of this study was to spatially and temporally analyze groundwater level changes using geographic information systems and spatial analysis with respect to urban development, groundwater water withdrawal, and groundwater recharge potential. The study focused on Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin, where urban development has been accelerating while groundwater has been declining during the last several decades. We analyzed data about groundwater withdrawal, groundwater level, land use/land cover, and precipitation utilizing correlation analysis, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), land-use change analysis, and map overlay. As a result, we found that (1) Urban areas increased faster in areas with high recharge potential than in areas with low or moderate recharge potential, (2) The effect of urban growth on groundwater level is highly variable by time and space, and (3) The changes in groundwater level are strongly related to the spatial distribution of groundwater withdrawal. The study pinpoints the need to consider the spatial unevenness of groundwater withdrawal in understanding the changes in groundwater level and groundwater recharge potential for better managing groundwater resources

Optical Spectroscopy of Supernova Remnants in M81 and M82

We present spectroscopy of 28 SNR candidates as well as one H II region in M81, and two SNR candidates in M82. Twenty six out of the M81 candidates turn out to be genuine SNRs, and two in M82 may be shocked condensations in the galactic outflow or SNRs. The distribution of [N II]/H{\alpha} ratios of M81 SNRs is bimodal. M81 SNRs are divided into two groups in the spectral line ratio diagrams: an [O III]-strong group and an [O III]-weak group. The latter have larger sizes, and may have faster shock velocity. [N II]/H{\alpha} ratios of the SNRs show a strong correlation with [S II]/H{\alpha} ratios. They show a clear radial gradient in [N II]/H{\alpha} and [S II]/H{\alpha} ratios: dLog ([N II]/H{\alpha})/dLog R = -0.018 {\pm} 0.008 dex/kpc and dLog ([S II]/H{\alpha})/dLog R = -0.016 {\pm} 0.008 dex/kpc where R is a deprojected galactocentric distance. We estimate the nitrogen and oxygen abundance of the SNRs from the comparison with shock-ionization models. We obtain a value for the nitrogen radial gradient, dLog(N/H)/dLogR = -0.023 {\pm} 0.009 dex/kpc, and little evidence for the gradient in oxygen. This nitrogen abundance shows a few times flatter gradient than those of the planetary nebulae and H II regions. We find that five SNRs are matched with X-ray sources. Their X-ray hardness colors are consistent with thermal SNRs.Comment: 19 pages, 24 figures, 5 tables, ApJ accepte

Red supergiant stars in IC 1613 and metallicity-dependent mixing length in the evolutionary model

We report a spectroscopic study on red supergiant stars (RSGs) in the irregular dwarf galaxy IC 1613 in the Local Group. We derive the effective temperatures ($T_\mathrm{eff}$) and metallicities of 14 RSGs by synthetic spectral fitting to the spectra observed with the MMIRS instrument on the MMT telescope for a wavelength range from 1.16 $\mu$m to 1.23 $\mu$m. A weak bimodal distribution of the RSG metallicity centered on the [Fe/H]=$-0.65$ is found, which is slightly lower than or comparable to that of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). There is no evidence for spatial segregation between the metal rich ([Fe/H]$>-0.65$) and poor ([Fe/H]$<-0.65$) RSGs throughout the galaxy. The mean effective temperature of our RSG sample in IC 1613 is higher by about 250 K than that of the SMC. However, no correlation between $T_\mathrm{eff}$ and metallicity within our RSG sample is found. We calibrate the convective mixing length ($\alpha_{\mathrm{MLT}}$) by comparing stellar evolutionary tracks with the RSG positions on the HR diagram, finding that models with $\alpha_{\mathrm{MLT}}=2.2-2.4 H_P$ can best reproduce the effective temperatures of the RSGs in IC 1613 for both Schwarzschild and Ledoux convection criteria. This result supports our previous study that a metallicity dependent mixing length is needed to explain the RSG temperatures observed in the Local Group, but we find that this dependency becomes relatively weak for RSGs having a metallicity equal to or less than the SMC metallicity.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, accepted in Ap

Structure stability evaluation of offshore heave compensator using multi-body dynamics analysis method

Heave compensator attenuate vessel heave motion during drilling operation of drillship. Heave compensator functions as damping form motion of drillship, such as principle spring of suspension system. The load transfers on the parts of heave compensator. Stress and deformation of all parts is evaluated to diagnose the stability of the compensator. This study makes a decision on the safety of structure. Results of analysis confirm the structure stability of heave compensator for simulation. This result can be used as data for structural analysis to determine safety of a structure

Hepatitis C Virus NS5B Protein Is a Membrane-Associated Phosphoprotein with a Predominantly Perinuclear Localization

AbstractHepatitis C virus NS5B protein is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. To investigate the properties and function of this protein, we have expressed the NS5B protein in insect and mammalian cells. NS5B was found to be present as fine speckles in the cytoplasm, particularly concentrated in the perinuclear region, suggesting its association with the nuclear membrane, the endoplasmic reticulum, or the Golgi complex. This conclusion was supported by the biochemical demonstration that NS5B was associated with the membranes in the cells. Furthermore, it was shown that NS5B protein is a phosphoprotein. These properties may be related to its function as an RNA polymerase

Vascular Injury Associated with Blunt Trauma without Dislocation of the Knee

Failure to recognize popliteal artery injury and restore vessel continuity of flow after blunt trauma is a major cause of lower extremity amputation and morbidity. A high index of suspicion and early recognition of the injury are paramount for limb salvage. We experienced a rare case of poplitial artery occlusion with the presence of arterial pulses due to collateral circulation after blunt trauma. Expeditious revascularization was achieved by using posterior approach, allowing two surgical teams to work simultaneously. This case illustrates that, even in the absence of knee dislocation, surgeons must always consider the possibility of a popliteal artery damage whenever a blunt trauma near the knee

Controlling the Magnetic Anisotropy of the van der Waals Ferromagnet Fe3GeTe2 through Hole Doping.

Identifying material parameters affecting properties of ferromagnets is key to optimized materials that are better suited for spintronics. Magnetic anisotropy is of particular importance in van der Waals magnets, since it not only influences magnetic and spin transport properties, but also is essential to stabilizing magnetic order in the two-dimensional limit. Here, we report that hole doping effectively modulates the magnetic anisotropy of a van der Waals ferromagnet and explore the physical origin of this effect. Fe3-xGeTe2 nanoflakes show a significant suppression of the magnetic anisotropy with hole doping. Electronic structure measurements and calculations reveal that the chemical potential shift associated with hole doping is responsible for the reduced magnetic anisotropy by decreasing the energy gain from the spin-orbit induced band splitting. Our findings provide an understanding of the intricate connection between electronic structures and magnetic properties in two-dimensional magnets and propose a method to engineer magnetic properties through doping

Preparation and evaluation of polymeric microparticulates for improving cellular uptake of gemcitabine

Ji-Ho Lim1,*, Sung-Kyun You1,*, Jong-Suep Baek1, Chan-Ju Hwang1, Young-Guk Na1, Sang-Chul Shin2, Cheong-Weon Cho11College of Pharmacy and Institute of Drug Research and Development, Chungnam National University, Gungdong, Yuseonggu, Daejeon, South Korea, 2College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Buggu, Gwangju, South Korea *These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: Gemcitabine must be administered at high doses to elicit the required therapeutic response because of its very short plasma half-life due to rapid metabolism. These high doses can have severe adverse effects.Methods: In this study, polymeric microparticulate systems of gemcitabine were prepared using chitosan as a mucoadhesive polymer and Eudragit L100-55 as an enteric copolymer. The physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of the resulting systems were then evaluated.Results: There was no endothermic peak for gemcitabine in any of the polymeric gemcitabine microparticulate systems, suggesting that gemcitabine was bound to chitosan and Eudragit L100-55 and its crystallinity was changed into an amorphous form. The polymeric gemcitabine microparticulate system showed more than 80% release of gemcitabine in 30 minutes in simulated intestinal fluid. When mucin particles were incubated with gemcitabine polymeric microparticulates, the zeta potential of the mucin particles was increased to 1.57 mV, indicating that the polymeric gemcitabine microparticulates were attached to the mucin particles. Furthermore, the F53 polymeric gemcitabine microparticulates having 150 mg of chitosan showed a 3.8-fold increased uptake of gemcitabine into Caco-2 cells over 72 hours compared with gemcitabine solution alone.Conclusion: Overall, these results suggest that polymeric gemcitabine microparticulate systems could be used as carriers to help oral absorption of gemcitabine.Keywords: gemcitabine, polymeric microparticulates, mucoadhesive, enteric coating, cellular uptake, oral absorptio

Reappraisal of Plasmapheresis as a Supportive Measure in a Patient with Hepatic Failure after Major Hepatectomy

Major resection of cirrhotic livers can result in hepatic failure, but no supportive treatment has been found to be generally effective. We successfully treated a 63-year-old woman with post-hepatectomy liver failure with plasmapheresis. Following right hepatectomy, the initial postoperative recovery of liver function was favorable, except for ascites. One month later, however, the amount of drained ascites increased up to 2 l/day. In addition, serum cholesterol concentration gradually decreased to around 30 mg/dl, and serum total bilirubin rose to 11.1 mg/dl. Plasmapheresis was performed, and after just 2 sessions, serum cholesterol level was rapidly corrected and prothrombin time was restored. After 3 sessions of plasmapheresis, the usual rebound rise of serum bilirubin disappeared, and the amount of ascites drained also decreased slowly. The patient underwent a total of 5 sessions of plasmapheresis over 2 weeks, after which liver function improved slowly, and she was finally discharged 72 days after liver resection. Mild ascites requiring diuretic therapy persisted over 3 months. She is doing well to date 10 months after liver resection without tumor recurrence or hepatic decompensation. This limited experience suggests that plasmapheresis can be a useful liver support for post-hepatectomy liver failure