Heat Transfer Analysis of MgB₂ Coil in Heat Treatment Process for Future Fusion Reactor

State of the art MgB2 is reviewed as a potential material for the poloidal field (PF) coils of the future fusion reactor due to its high critical temperature and low material cost. The heat treatment process is a crucial step in the development of MgB2 magnets. The temperature lag in heat treatment of large magnets can lead to insufficient thermal reaction time. It may be infeasible to control the temperature of a magnet according to the heat treatment scheme recommended for the MgB2 wire. Hence, the heat treatment process of a large magnet needs to be evaluated. Therefore, the dynamic temperature distribution of a MgB2 PF coil is obtained by simulating the heat transfer in heat treatment process. A suitable heat treatment schedule for a large magnet is proposed and the experimental results of a sub-size Cable-In-Conduit Conductor manufactured with MgB2 strand confirmed the feasibility of the newly proposed heat treatment process. The results provide a reference for the heat treatment method of a future larger MgB2 coil.</p

CARDIOPROTECTIVE ROLES OF THE CHINESE MEDICINAL FORMULA BAO-XIN-TANG ON ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

Background: Bao-Xin-Tang (BXT) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula used for the treatment of coronary heart disease and known to have favorable therapeutic benefits. The current study was designed to determine whether BXT has a cardioprotective role for acute myocardial infarction. The underlying mechanisms were also explored. Materials and Methods: The Sprague-Dawley rat model of acute myocardial infarction was established by occluding the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. After a 3-h ischemic period, we determined the myocardial infarction size, inflammatory components, and antioxidant activities. Results: The data showed that BXT could reduce the infarction size and lower the levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and myeloperoxidase, and increase the activities of superoxide dismutase and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10. These results indicate that administration of BXT, following acute myocardial infarction, could reduce infarct size. Conclusion: The effects of BXT may be related to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties

A snoRNA modulates mRNA 3' end processing and regulates the expression of a subset of mRNAs.

mRNA 3' end processing is an essential step in gene expression. It is well established that canonical eukaryotic pre-mRNA 3' processing is carried out within a macromolecular machinery consisting of dozens of trans-acting proteins. However, it is unknown whether RNAs play any role in this process. Unexpectedly, we found that a subset of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are associated with the mammalian mRNA 3' processing complex. These snoRNAs primarily interact with Fip1, a component of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF). We have functionally characterized one of these snoRNAs and our results demonstrated that the U/A-rich SNORD50A inhibits mRNA 3' processing by blocking the Fip1-poly(A) site (PAS) interaction. Consistently, SNORD50A depletion altered the Fip1-RNA interaction landscape and changed the alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiles and/or transcript levels of a subset of genes. Taken together, our data revealed a novel function for snoRNAs and provided the first evidence that non-coding RNAs may play an important role in regulating mRNA 3' processing

High speed self-testing quantum random number generation without detection loophole

Quantum mechanics provides means of generating genuine randomness that is impossible with deterministic classical processes. Remarkably, the unpredictability of randomness can be certified in a self-testing manner that is independent of implementation devices. Here, we present an experimental demonstration of self-testing quantum random number generation based on an detection-loophole free Bell test with entangled photons. In the randomness analysis, without the assumption of independent identical distribution, we consider the worst case scenario that the adversary launches the most powerful attacks against quantum adversary. After considering statistical fluctuations and applying an 80 Gb $\times$ 45.6 Mb Toeplitz matrix hashing, we achieve a final random bit rate of 114 bits/s, with a failure probability less than $10^{-5}$. Such self-testing random number generators mark a critical step towards realistic applications in cryptography and fundamental physics tests.Comment: 34 pages, 10 figure

PRL-3 promotes the motility, invasion, and metastasis of LoVo colon cancer cells through PRL-3-integrin β1-ERK1/2 and-MMP2 signaling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) plays a causative role in tumor metastasis, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In our previous study, we observed that PRL-3 could decrease tyrosine phosphorylation of integrin β1 and enhance activation of ERK1/2 in HEK293 cells. Herein we aim to explore the association of PRL-3 with integrin β1 signaling and its functional implications in motility, invasion, and metastasis of colon cancer cell LoVo.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Transwell chamber assay and nude mouse model were used to study motility and invasion, and metastsis of LoVo colon cancer cells, respectively. Knockdown of integrin β1 by siRNA or lentivirus were detected with Western blot and RT-PCR. The effect of PRL-3 on integrin β1, ERK1/2, and MMPs that mediate motility, invasion, and metastasis were measured by Western blot, immunofluorencence, co-immunoprecipitation and zymographic assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrated that PRL-3 associated with integrin β1 and its expression was positively correlated with ERK1/2 phosphorylation in colon cancer tissues. Depletion of integrin β1 with siRNA, not only abrogated the activation of ERK1/2 stimulated by PRL-3, but also abolished PRL-3-induced motility and invasion of LoVo cells in vitro. Similarly, inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation with U0126 or MMP activity with GM6001 also impaired PRL-3-induced invasion. In addition, PRL-3 promoted gelatinolytic activity of MMP2, and this stimulation correlated with decreased TIMP2 expression. Moreover, PRL-3-stimulated lung metastasis of LoVo cells in a nude mouse model was inhibited when integrin β1 expression was interfered with shRNA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that PRL-3's roles in motility, invasion, and metastasis in colon cancer are critically controlled by the integrin β1-ERK1/2-MMP2 signaling.</p