Domain structure in the monoclinic Pm phase of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 - PbTiO3 single crystals

The domain structure of (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3- xPbTiO3 single crystals with composition x ~ 0.33 in the range of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) was studied. Based on the analysis of spontaneous strain compatibility and charge of domain walls, we have established the permissible domain arrangements for the ferroelectric phases of different symmetry, which are expected to occur in the range of the MPB. Examination of (001)-oriented unpoled and electrically poled (along the [001] direction) crystal plates in polarizing microscope reveals a monophase state with the domain structure compatible with the structure theoretically predicted for the Mc monoclinic phase (space group Pm), which was recently discovered in the compositions close to the MPB by x-ray and neutron diffraction studies. In the unpoled crystal the 180 deg. walls between the domains whose spontaneous polarization vectors are parallel to the plane of the crystal plate (i.e. a-domains) are observed. The domain structure of the poled crystal is predominantly composed of crystallographically prominent Wf walls parallel to (001) (i.e. the plane of the crystal plate) and inclined S walls parallel to [110] or [1-10] direction. In poled and unpoled samples the optical rotatory polarization effect is found, which is related to the inhomogeneity of the sample resulting from the mixture of domains.Comment: PDF file, 30 pages, 15 figures (3 in color) collected on pp.18-3

Results of the Study for the Antihypertensive Effect in the Panzeria Alaschanica Kupr Plant

Objectives: To study the effect of the plant Panzeria alaschanica Kupr on lowering blood pressure. Methods: The experiment was performed using Sharon Leng Hong Ong (2009) using a male rat weighing 150 - 250 grams. On days 5, 8, 13, and 15 of the experiment, ECG, heart rate, and arterial pressure were measured in the rat’s tail with a Neurobotic systole 1.2 instruments. At the end of the experiment, the content of renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: According to the results of the study, the experimental group of plant Panzeria alaschanica Kupr ingested a dose of 160 mg/kg of renin 36.8 % compared with the control group that caused the pathological model, the amount of aldosterone in animals plant Panzeria alaschanica Kupr who ingested a dose of 32 mg/kg were 43.5 % of the ingested animals compared with the pathogenic group, the amount of angiotensin II in the plant Panzeria alaschanica Kupr was 64 mg/kg animals that ingested in, was reduced by a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) of 34.3 % compared with the control group generated by the pathological model. Conclusion: Panzeria alaschanica Kupr has a 36.8 % reduced blood pressure by affecting the renin, angiotensin, and aldosterone systems

Organizational Commitment of Tour Guides

The commitment of employees to the organization receives special attention from managers. This is because when employees are closely attached to the organization, the efficiency of work is improved, enhancing the organization’s innovation and creativity, and aiming for sustainable development. This study was conducted to demonstrate the factors influencing the commitment to the organization of tour guides. Research data was collected from a survey of 305 tour guides working in travel companies in Vietnam. Using quantitative research methods, the study has shown that the organizational commitment of tour guides is influenced by 8 factors, including job nature, work environment, training and promotion, income and benefits, leadership style, relationships with colleagues, rewards and recognition, and empowerment. Among them, empowerment is identified as the most significant factor, with the strongest influence on the organizational commitment of tour guides. Finally, the study has proposed some managerial implications to enhance the commitment to the organization of tour guides

The Effect of Panzeria Alaschanica Kupr. on Carrageenan-Induced Acute Inflammation in Rats

Objectives: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Panzeria alaschanica Kupr. (P. alaschanica) on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats. Method: Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. P. alaschanica extract (32, 64, and 160 mg/kg/ BW) or vehicle was given orally 60 minutes before the subplantar injection of carrageenan. Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug. The carrageenan-injected paw was measured 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after the carrageenan injection. The levels of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-ELISA measured 1β, and IL-6. Results: The P. alaschanica at all given doses significantly (p˂0.01) inhibited carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. Moreover, it significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 serum levels at different doses (p˂0.01). The anti-inflammatory effect of P. alaschanica was comparable to ibuprofen. Conclusion: P. alaschanica has an anti-inflammatory impact on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. The mechanism of action may partly be via reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6

Porcine innate and adaptative immune responses to influenza and coronavirus infections

Both innate and adaptative immune responses contribute to the control of infectious diseases, including by limiting the spreading of zoonotic diseases from animal reservoirs to humans. Pigs represent an important animal reservoir for influenza virus infection of human populations and are also naturally infected by coronaviruses, an important group of viruses, which includes the recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. Studies on both innate and adaptative immune responses of pigs to influenza virus and coronaviruses contribute, therefore, to a better control of these infections in their natural hosts and will be briefly reviewed in this article. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including type I interferon (IFN), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were found in lung secretions of influenza virus infected pigs, and correlated with the intensity of clinical signs, whereas prior vaccination against influenza strongly reduced the production of infectious virus and cytokines in the lungs upon challenge, which was associated with clinical protection. An early type I IFN production was also found in coronavirus infected pigs, including at mucosal sites. IFN induction by coronavirus is shown to involve interaction between a viral glycoprotein and a leukocyte subset, likely equivalent to plasmacytoid dendritic cells, present in the mucosae and associated lymphoid tissues. Given the IFN mediated antiviral and immunomodulatory effects, the use of IFN or IFN inducers may prove an efficient strategy for a better control of influenza virus and coronavirus infections in pigs. Because influenza and coronaviruses target mucosal surfaces, adaptative immune responses have to be characterized at mucosal sites. Thus, nasal and pulmonary antibody responses were analyzed in influenza virus infected or vaccinated pigs showing short-lived, but potentially protective local IgA and IgG antibody (Ab) responses. Interestingly, primary influenza virus infection induced long-lived increase of lung CD8(+) T cells and local lymphoproliferative responses. Pigs infected by a respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) showed virus-specific IgG Ab-secreting cells in the bronchial lymph nodes, whereas the transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) induced more IgA Ab-secreting cells in gut tissues, which illustrates the importance of the route of antigen administration for inducing local immune effector mechanisms. Porcine viral infections provide, therefore, valuable models for evaluating the immune parameters that are important for controlling transmission of important viral zoonotic infections

IDENTIFICATION OF A BACTERIOCIN PRODUCING BY LACTOCOCCUS LACTIS SUBSP. LACTIS PD14

The strain Lactococcus PD14 isolated from cow’s fresh milk was identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. The bacteriocin produced by PD14  was isolated and purified by absorption-desorption method described and then this bacteriocin was purified by solid-phase extraction-SPE and HPLC method with column C18. The result of tricine- SDS-PAGE indicated the molecular weight of bacteriocin was about 3.5 kDa, the same as nisin. The prenisin encoding gene was cloned and sequenced successfully for PD14. The nis gene of the strain PD14 was 99 % homology with nisA and nisZ while 98 % with nisF, 97 % with nisQ. The deduced amino acid sequence of prenisin was determined, which had minor difference from published sequence of nisA in one amino acid. At the position aminoacid -18, prenisin of PD14 had valine while  the known prenisin A had phenylalanine. The matured nisin of PD14 was completely similar to the known amino acid sequence of nisA. Thus, the strain Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. PD14 produced a bacteriocin which was identified as nisin A

A Shell-Neutral Modeling Approach Yields Sustainable Oyster Harvest Estimates: A Retrospective Analysis of the Louisiana State Primary Seed Grounds

A numerical model is presented that defines a sustainability criterion as no net loss of shell, and calculates a sustainable harvest of seed (\u3c75 mm) and sack or market oysters (\u3e= 75 mm). Stock assessments of the Primary State Seed Grounds conducted east of the Mississippi from 2009 to 2011 show a general trend toward decreasing abundance of sack and seed oysters. Retrospective simulations provide estimates of annual sustainable harvests. Comparisons of simulated sustainable harvests with actual harvests show a trend toward unsustainable harvests toward the end of the time series. Stock assessments combined with shell-neutral models can be used to estimate sustainable harvest and manage cultch through shell planting when actual harvest exceeds sustainable harvest. For exclusive restoration efforts (no fishing allowed), the model provides a metric for restoration success namely, shell accretion. Oyster fisheries that remove shell versus reef restorations that promote shell accretion, although divergent in their goals, are convergent in their management; both require vigilant attention to shell budgets

A Bright, Slow Cryogenic Molecular Beam Source for Free Radicals

We demonstrate and characterize a cryogenic buffer gas-cooled molecular beam source capable of producing bright beams of free radicals and refractory species. Details of the beam properties (brightness, forward velocity distribution, transverse velocity spread, rotational and vibrational temperatures) are measured under varying conditions for the molecular species SrF. Under typical conditions we produce a beam of brightness 1.2 x 10^11 molecules/sr/pulse in the rovibrational ground state, with 140 m/s forward velocity and a rotational temperature of approximately 1 K. This source compares favorably to other methods for producing beams of free radicals and refractory species for many types of experiments. We provide details of construction that may be helpful for others attempting to use this method.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure

Modulation of Localized States in Electroconvection

We report on the effects of temporal modulation of the driving force on a particular class of localized states, known as worms, that have been observed in electroconvection in nematic liquid crystals. The worms consist of the superposition of traveling waves and have been observed to have unique, small widths, but to vary in length. The transition from the pure conduction state to worms occurs via a backward bifurcation. A possible explanation of the formation of the worms has been given in terms of coupled amplitude equations. Because the worms consist of the superposition of traveling waves, temporal modulation of the control parameter is a useful probe of the dynamics of the system. We observe that temporal modulation increases the average length of the worms and stabilizes worms below the transition point in the absence of modulation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure