158 research outputs found
Determination of neutrino mass hierarchy by 21 cm line and CMB B-mode polarization observations
We focus on the ongoing and future observations for both the 21 cm line and
the CMB B-mode polarization produced by a CMB lensing, and study their
sensitivities to the effective number of neutrino species, the total neutrino
mass, and the neutrino mass hierarchy. We find that combining the CMB
observations with future square kilometer arrays optimized for 21 cm line such
as Omniscope can determine the neutrino mass hierarchy at 2 sigma. We also show
that a more feasible combination of Planck + POLARBEAR and SKA can strongly
improve errors of the bounds on the total neutrino mass and the effective
number of neutrino species to be Delta Sigma m_nu ~ 0.12 eV and Delta N_nu ~
0.38 at 2 sigma.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Lett.
Remote training as a common tool for the different professionals involved in the acute phase after terror attacks across Europe:Perspectives from an expert panel
The acute response after a terror attack may have a crucial impact on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the victims. Preparedness of the professionals involved in the acute response is a key element to ensure effective interventions, and can be improved through trainings. Today in Europe there is a recognized lack of inter-professional and international trainings, which are important, among others, to respond to the needs and the rights of victims affected by a terrorist attack in another country than their home country. In this paper we report the perspectives of an expert panel composed by different categories of professionals on the possible role of interprofessional trainings provided remotely. The experts discussed the pertinence of remote trainings for professionals involved in the acute response of a terror attack, and highlighted their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT analysis). We concluded that, while remote trainings cannot replace in-person trainings, they may be useful to share knowledge about the role and the organization of the different categories of professionals, thus potentially improving response coordination, and to easily share good practices across professionals and countries
Effect of Mill Type on Morphology of AA6013 Aluminium Powder
ABSTRACTIn conventional recycling method, metal chips are cast after pressing and melting in electric arc furnace. Material loss occurs during the recycling from liquid metal due to the several reasons. Direct recycling method which produces the aluminium powder from aluminium chips using mechanical mill can be an alternative to conventional recycling method. Thus material and energy losses, and labour cost will be reduced by direct recycling method without melting.In this study, the particle morphology of powder direct recycled from AA6013 aluminium alloy chips with cryogenic, disc and ball type grinders is investigated. Mechanical milling resulted flaky and irregular shaped AA6013 particles. It was ascertained that the chips did not break sufficiently in despite of the long duration milling mechanisms by ball mill. Cryogenic mill provides the energy required for milling mechanisms to act. Disc mill has the highest impact energy was determined. Consequently, efficiency of ball mill is lower than the efficiency of cryogenic and disc type mills. Shape factors of powders produced with ball and cryogenic mills were found greater than that of the powder produced by disc mill. Disc mill has the most efficient and effective impact energy which produces the smaller particles per minute, was determined.Keywords: Direct recycling method, powder production, scrap chips, aluminium alloy.
Infrared spectroscopy of phytochrome and model pigments
Fourier-transform infrared difference spectra between the red-absorbing and far-red-absorbing forms of oat phytochrome have been measured in H2O and 2H2O. The difference spectra are compared with infrared spectra of model compounds, i.e. the (5Z,10Z,15Z)- and (5Z,10Z,15E)-isomers of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-bilindion (Et8-bilindion), 2,3-dihydro-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-bilindion (H2Et8-bilindion), and protonated H2Et8-bilindion in various solvents. The spectra of the model compounds show that only for the protonated forms can clear differences between the two isomers be detected. Since considerable differences are present between the spectra of Et8-bilindion and H2Et8-bilindion, it is concluded that only the latter compound can serve as a model system of phytochrome. The 2H2O effect on the difference spectrum of phytochrome supports the view that the chromophore in red-absorbing phytochrome is protonated and suggests, in addition, that it is also protonated in far-red-absorbing phytochrome. The spectra show that protonated carboxyl groups are influenced. The small amplitudes in the difference spectra exclude major changes of protein secondary structure
Branch Mode Selection during Early Lung Development
Many organs of higher organisms, such as the vascular system, lung, kidney,
pancreas, liver and glands, are heavily branched structures. The branching
process during lung development has been studied in great detail and is
remarkably stereotyped. The branched tree is generated by the sequential,
non-random use of three geometrically simple modes of branching (domain
branching, planar and orthogonal bifurcation). While many regulatory components
and local interactions have been defined an integrated understanding of the
regulatory network that controls the branching process is lacking. We have
developed a deterministic, spatio-temporal differential-equation based model of
the core signaling network that governs lung branching morphogenesis. The model
focuses on the two key signaling factors that have been identified in
experiments, fibroblast growth factor (FGF10) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) as well
as the SHH receptor patched (Ptc). We show that the reported biochemical
interactions give rise to a Schnakenberg-type Turing patterning mechanisms that
allows us to reproduce experimental observations in wildtype and mutant mice.
The kinetic parameters as well as the domain shape are based on experimental
data where available. The developed model is robust to small absolute and large
relative changes in the parameter values. At the same time there is a strong
regulatory potential in that the switching between branching modes can be
achieved by targeted changes in the parameter values. We note that the sequence
of different branching events may also be the result of different growth
speeds: fast growth triggers lateral branching while slow growth favours
bifurcations in our model. We conclude that the FGF10-SHH-Ptc1 module is
sufficient to generate pattern that correspond to the observed branching modesComment: Initially published at PLoS Comput Bio
Single-Electron Detection and Spectroscopy via Relativistic Cyclotron Radiation
It has been understood since 1897 that accelerating charges must emit electromagnetic radiation. Although first derived in 1904, cyclotron radiation from a single electron orbiting in a magnetic field has never been observed directly. We demonstrate single-electron detection in a novel radio-frequency spectrometer. The relativistic shift in the cyclotron frequency permits a precise electron energy measurement. Precise beta electron spectroscopy from gaseous radiation sources is a key technique in modern efforts to measure the neutrino mass via the tritium decay end point, and this work demonstrates a fundamentally new approach to precision beta spectroscopy for future neutrino mass experiments
Expression of Stretch-Activated Two-Pore Potassium Channels in Human Myometrium in Pregnancy and Labor
Background: We tested the hypothesis that the stretch-activated, four-transmembrane domain, two pore potassium channels (K2P), TREK-1 and TRAAK are gestationally-regulated in human myometrium and contribute to uterine relaxation during pregnancy until labor. Methodology: We determined the gene and protein expression of K2P channels in non-pregnant, pregnant term and preterm laboring myometrium. We employed both molecular biological and functional studies of K2P channels in myometrial samples taken from women undergoing cesarean delivery of a fetus. Principal Findings: TREK-1, but not TREK-2, channels are expressed in human myometrium and significantly up-regulated during pregnancy. Down-regulation of TREK-1 message was seen by Q-PCR in laboring tissues consistent with a role for TREK-1 in maintaining uterine quiescence prior to labor. The TRAAK channel was unregulated in the same women. Blockade of stretch-activated channels with a channel non-specific tarantula toxin (GsMTx-4) or the more specific TREK-1 antagonist L-methionine ethyl ester altered contractile frequency in a dose-dependent manner in pregnant myometrium. Arachidonic acid treatment lowered contractile tension an effect blocked by fluphenazine. Functional studies are consistent with a role for TREK-1 in uterine quiescence. Conclusions: We provide evidence supporting a role for TREK-1 in contributing to uterine quiescence during gestation an
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