1,462 research outputs found
Time-dependent generator coordinate method study of mass-asymmetric fission of actinides
Low-energy positive and negative parity collective states in the equilibrium
minimum, and the dynamics of induced fission of actinide nuclei are
investigated in a unified theoretical framework based on the generator
coordinate method (GCM) with the Gaussian overlap approximation (GOA). The
collective potential and inertia tensor, both at zero and finite temperature,
are computed using the self-consistent multidimensionally constrained
relativistic mean field (MDC-RMF) model, based on the energy density functional
DD-PC1. Pairing correlations are treated in the BCS approximation with a
separable pairing force of finite range. A collective quadrupole-octupole
Hamiltonian characterized by zero-temperature axially-symmetric deformation
energy surface and perturbative cranking inertia tensor, is used to model the
low-lying excitation spectrum. The fission fragment charge distributions are
obtained by propagating the initial collective states in time with the
time-dependent GCM+GOA that uses the same quadrupole-octupole Hamiltonian, but
with the collective potential and inertia tensor computed at finite
temperature. The illustrative charge yields of Th, U,
Pu, Cm, and Cf are in very good agreement with
experiment, and the predicted mass asymmetry is consistent with the result of a
recent microscopic study that has attributed the distribution (peak) of the
heavier-fragment nuclei to shell-stabilized octupole deformations.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with
arXiv:1809.0614
Bis[2-(2-pyridylmethylamino)ethanesulfonato-κ3 N,N′,O]zinc(II)
The title mononuclear complex, [Zn(C8H11N2O3S)2], is a zinc salt of 2-(2-pyridylmethylamino)ethanesulfonic acid (Hpmt). The ZnII ion is located on an inversion centre and is octahedrally surrounded by four N and two O atoms. The deprotonated pmt− anion coordinates in a facial arrangement through its two N atoms and one of the sulfonate O atoms. The crystal packing is determined by intermolecular N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds
Risk of congenital anomalies associated with antithyroid treatment during pregnancy: a meta-analysis
To evaluate the association of either propylthiouracil or methimazole treatment for hyperthyroidism during pregnancy with congenital malformations, relevant studies were identified by searching Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE. We intended to include randomized controlled trials, but no such trials were identified. Thus, we included cohort studies and case-control studies in this meta-analysis. A total of 7 studies were included in the meta-analyses. The results revealed an increased risk of birth defects among the group of pregnant women with hyperthyroidism treated with methimazole compared with the control group (odds ratio 1.76, 95% confidence interval 1.47-2.10) or the non-exposed group (odds ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.39-2.10). A maternal shift between methimazole and propylthiouracil was associated with an increased odds ratio of birth defects (odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.27-2.77). An equal risk of birth defects was observed between the group of pregnant women with hyperthyroidism treated with propylthiouracil and the non-exposed group (odds ratio 1.18, 95% confidence interval 0.97-1.42). There was only a slight trend towards an increased risk of congenital malformations in infants whose mothers were treated with propylthiouracil compared with in infants whose mothers were healthy controls (odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.55). The children of women receiving methimazole treatment showed an increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes relative to those of mothers receiving propylthiouracil treatment. We found that propylthiouracil was a safer choice for treating pregnant women with hyperthyroidism according to the risk of birth defects but that a shift between methimazole and propylthiouracil failed to provide protection against birth defects
Research on the Effect of Light and Heat Sensing along Meridian of Chinese Medicine
INTRODUCTION: Photonics refers to the technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. Photonic technology in the meridian and acupoints research has shown the unique advantages, by which the microcosmic material basis and macroscopic phenomena research can be integrated to interpret the occurrence of propagated sensation along meridian (PSM) and its underlying mechanism. This study seeks to investigate light and heat sensing action along meridian.METHODS: From the modern research of meridian point of view, PSM is the break point to research the essentiality of meridian. The bio-photonic feature of meridian is the most promising research direction to investigate the PSM phenomena for its contribution to prove the existence of meridian objectively and spontaneously. Therefore, the bio-photonic features of meridian under physiological, pathological, therapeutic, and mechanical conditions were analyzed. Firstly, the four aspects of light sensing action were discussed, i.e. light sensing effect along meridian, blocking effect, laser induced effect and underlying mechanism of light sensing action along meridian. Secondly, the four items of heat sensing action were discussed as well, i.e. thermo-effects, heat perception ability, laser induced heat effect, underlying mechanism on heat sensing effect along meridian.RESULTS: The authors point out that photonic technology, e.g. ultra-weak luminescence, photonic imaging, infrared imaging and infrared spectrum analysis, biological photons detection and laser Doppler application, can achieve purposes of in vivo, dynamic, multiple comparable studies. Thereby, the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian can be detected and illustrated by the use of natural science. The effect of light sensing and heat sensing along meridians with the help of advantages of photonics is expected to interpret and quantify the meridian doctrine, to provide an important experimental basis for meridians and acupoint properties of light and heat, to find a kind of non-invasive diagnostic technique, and to promote the integration and development of meridians and modern medicine.CONCLUSION: Light and heat information can be investigated to analyze the relationship between zang-fu organs and meridians, and the functional characteristics of the meridian. Hence, the effect of light and heat sensing along meridian is the break point of the research of photonics in meridian, which is beneficial to further study the meridian optics
Single-photon-memory measurement-device-independent quantum secure direct communication
Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) uses the quantum channel to
transmit information reliably and securely. In order to eliminate the security
loopholes resulting from practical detectors, the
measurement-device-independent (MDI) QSDC protocol has been proposed. However,
block-based transmission of quantum states is utilized in MDI-QSDC, which
requires practical quantum memory that is still unavailable at the time of
writing. For circumventing this impediment, we propose a single-photon-memory
MDI QSDC protocol (SPMQC) for dispensing with high-performance quantum memory.
The performance of the proposed protocol is characterized by simulations
considering realistic experimental parameters, and the results show that it is
feasible to implement SPMQC by relying on present-day technology.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Single-Photon-Memory Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Secure Direct Communication -- Part I: Its Fundamentals and Evolution
Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) has attracted a lot of attention,
which exploits deep-rooted quantum physical principles to guarantee
unconditional security of communication in the face of eavesdropping. We first
briefly review the fundamentals of QSDC, and then present its evolution,
including its security proof, its performance improvement techniques, and
practical implementation. Finally, we discuss the future directions of QSDC.Comment: IEEE Communications Letters, 202
Effect of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bunge extract on streptozocin-induced diabetic in rats
Purpose: To investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. extract (AMBE) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: The aqueous extract of AMB was obtained by steeping the dried Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. in water at 60 oC three times, each for 1 h, before first drying in an oven at 100 oC and then freeze-drying the last extract thus obtained. Diabete model rats was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of a freshly prepared solution of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of ten rats each: negative control group, normal control group, reference group (glibenclamide1 mg/kgbody weight) as well as AMB extract groups, namely, 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg body weight. Antihyperglycemic effect was measured by blood glucose and plasma insulin levels. Oxidative stress was evaluated in liver and kidney by antioxidant markers, viz, lipidperoxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT), while blood serum levels of creatinine and urea were also determined in both diabetic control and treated rats.Results: Compared with diabetic rats, oral administration of AMBE at a concentration of 160 mg/kg daily for 30 days showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (109.438 ± 3.52, p < 0.05) and increased insulin level (13.96 ± 0.74, p < 0.05). Furthermore, it significantly reduced biochemical parameters (serum creatinine, 0.86 ± 0.29, p < 0.05) and serum urea (45.14 ± 1.79, p < 0.05). The treatment also resulted in significant increase in GSH (49.21 ± 2.59, p < 0.05), GPx (11.96 ± 1.16, p < 0.05), SOD (14.13 ± 0.49, p < 0.05), CAT (83.25 ± 3.14, p < 0.05) level in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats.Conclusion: The results suggest that AMBE may effectively normalize impaired antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in a dose-dependent manner. AMBE has a protective effect against lipid peroxidation by scavenging free radicals and is thus capable of reducing the risk of diabetic complications.Keywords: Astragalus membranaceus, Diabetic, Antihyperglycemic, Antioxidant Oxidative stress, Fasting blood glucos
Gene transfer to human trabecular meshwork cells in vitro and ex vivo using HIV-based lentivirus
AIM:To investigate whether the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene could be transferred into human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells by a HIV-based lentivirus both in vitro and ex vivo.
METHODS:The HIV-based lentivirus that contains an EF1-α promoter driving EGFP expression cassette was constructed following the standard molecular cloning methods. The cultured HTM cells were transduced at a range of multiplicity of infection (MOI) with HIV-based lentivirus. EGFP positive cell populations were detected by flow cytometry. Human anterior eye segments were cultured with perfusion culture system and transfected by HIV-based lentivirus with a 1×108 transducing unit (TU) virus in perfusion liquid. The intraocular pressure was recorded every 8h for 21d. The expression of EGFP in the anterior segment of the human eye was detected by fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the distribution of EGFP expression was confirmed by anti-EGFP immunohistochemical staining.
RESULTS:The HIV-based lentivirus which contains an EF1-α promoter driving EGFP expression cassette was constructed successfully. After HTM cells were transduced with HIV-based lentivirus containing EGFP in vitro, the ratio of EGFP positive cells to the total cell number reached 92.3%, with the MOI of 15. After the lentivirus containing EGFP were used to transduce human anterior eye segments, the EGFP could be directly detected by fluorescence microscopy in vivo. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that 88.19% EGFP-positive trabecular meshwork (TM) cells were observed in the human anterior segment. Nevertheless, the intraocular pressure in the lentivirus-transduced group kept constant when compared with control group (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION:EGFP gene could be efficiently transferred into HTM cells both in vitro and ex vivo by using HIV-based lentivirus
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