RvMDM and lepton flavor violation

A model relating radiative seesaw and minimal dark matter mass scales without beyond the standard model (SM) gauge symmetry (RνMDM) is constructed. In addition to the SM particles, the RνMDM contains, a Majorana fermion multiplet N _R and scalar multiplet χ that transform respectively as (1, 5, 0) and (1,6,−1/2) under the SM gauge group SU(3)_C × SU(2) _L × U(1)_Y . The neutral component N_R^0 plays the role of dark matter with a mass in the range of 9 to 10 TeV. This scale also sets the lower limit for the scale for the heavy degrees of freedom in N_R and χ which generate light neutrino masses through the radiative seesaw mechanism. The model predicts an N_R^0-nucleus scattering cross section that would be accessible with future dark matter direct detection searches as well as observable effects in present and searches for charged lepton flavor violating processes, such as l_i → l_j γ and μ − e conversion

Calculations of thermophysical properties of cubic carbides and nitrides using the Debye–Grüneisen model

The thermal expansivities and heat capacities of MX (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta; X = C, N) carbides and nitrides with NaCl structure were calculated using the Debye–Gru¨neisen model combined with ab initio calculations. Two different approximations for the Grüneisen parameter c were used in the Debye–Gru¨neisen model, i.e. the expressions proposed by Slater and by Dugdale and MacDonald. The thermal electronic contribution was evaluated from ab initio calculations of the electronic density of states. The calculated results were compared with CALPHAD assessments and experimental data. It was found that the calculations using the Dugdale–MacDonald c can account for most of the experimental data. By fitting experimental heat capacity and thermal expansivity data below the Debye temperatures, an estimation of Poisson’s ratio was obtained and Young’s and shear moduli were evaluated. In order to reach a reasonable agreement with experimental data, it was necessary to use the logarithmic averaged mass of the constituent atoms. The agreements between the calculated and the experimental values for the bulk and Young’s moduli are generally better than the agreement for shear modulus

Construction and Characterization of a Novel Fusion Protein MG7-scFv/SEB against Gastric Cancer

Antibody-targeted superantigen has been developed into a new strategy to treat many malignant tumors. In this study, for specific targeting to gastric cancer cell, superantigen SEB (Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B) was genetically fused to the single-chain variable fragment of gastric carcinoma-associated antibody MG7(MG7-scFv) that recognizes the MG7 antigen frequently expressed in gastric cancer cell. The recombinant MG7-scFv/SEB fusion proteins are expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies, and the purified MG7-scFv/SEB retains high binding affinity with gastric cancer cell SGC-7901 (positive MG7 antigen expression). When incubated with effector cell—peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), MG7-scFv/SEB could effectively inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901. After being treated with MG7-scFv/SEB, PBMCs remarkably increased the production of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2), and slightly increased the production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) in vitro. It was observed that gastric-tumor-bearing rats administrated with MG7-scFv/SEB showed more inflammatory cell infiltration, more significant tumor inhibition, and longer survival time than those of rats treated with SEB or NS (Normal Saline). The data indicated that MG7-scFv/SEB fusion protein could specifically target gastric cancer cell, enhance the activity of T cells and induce tumor cell apoptosis to exert the antitumor effect on gastric cancer

Afforestation and Reforestation: Drivers, Dynamics, and Impacts

Afforestation/reforestation (or forestation) has been implemented worldwide as an effective measure towards sustainable ecosystem services and addresses global environmental problems such as climate change. The conversion of grasslands, croplands, shrublands, or bare lands to forests can dramatically alter forest water, energy, and carbon cycles and, thus, ecosystem services (e.g., carbon sequestration, soil erosion control, and water quality improvement). Large-scale afforestation/reforestation is typically driven by policies and, in turn, can also have substantial socioeconomic impacts. To enable success, forestation endeavors require novel approaches that involve a series of complex processes and interdisciplinary sciences. For example, exotic or fast-growing tree species are often used to improve soil conditions of degraded lands or maximize productivity, and it often takes a long time to understand and quantify the consequences of such practices at watershed or regional scales. Maintaining the sustainability of man-made forests is becoming increasingly challenging under a changing environment and disturbance regime changes such as wildland fires, urbanization, drought, air pollution, climate change, and socioeconomic change. Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on case studies of the drivers, dynamics, and impacts of afforestation/reforestation at regional, national, or global scales. These new studies provide an update on the scientific advances related to forestation. This information is urgently needed by land managers and policy makers to better manage forest resources in today’s rapidly changing environments

Study on the Confidence and Reliability of the Mean Seismic Probability Risk Model

The mean seismic probability risk model has widely been used in seismic design and safety evaluation of critical infrastructures. In this paper, the confidence levels analysis and error equations derivation of the mean seismic probability risk model are conducted. It has been found that the confidence levels and error values of the mean seismic probability risk model are changed for different sites and that the confidence levels are low and the error values are large for most sites. Meanwhile, the confidence levels of ASCE/SEI 43-05 design parameters are analyzed and the error equation of achieved performance probabilities based on ASCE/SEI 43-05 is also obtained. It is found that the confidence levels for design results obtained using ASCE/SEI 43-05 criteria are not high, which are less than 95%, while the high confidence level of the uniform risk could not be achieved using ASCE/SEI 43-05 criteria and the error values between risk model with target confidence level and mean risk model using ASCE/SEI 43-05 criteria are large for some sites. It is suggested that the seismic risk model considering high confidence levels instead of the mean seismic probability risk model should be used in the future