A quasi-time-dependent radiative transfer model of OH104.9+2.4

We investigate the pulsation-phase dependent properties of the circumstellar dust shell (CDS) of the OH/IR star OH104.9+2.4 based on radiative transfer modeling (RTM) using the code DUSTY. Our previous study concerning simultaneous modeling of the spectral energy distribution (SED) and near-infrared (NIR) visibilities (Riechers et al. 2004) has now been extended by means of a more detailed analysis of the pulsation-phase dependence of the model parameters of OH104.9+2.4. In order to investigate the temporal variation in the spatial structure of the CDS, additional NIR speckle interferometric observations in the K' band were carried out with the 6 m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). At a wavelength of 2.12 micron the diffraction-limited resolution of 74 mas was attained. Several key parameters of our previous best-fitting model had to be adjusted in order to be consistent with the newly extended amount of observational data. It was found that a simple rescaling of the bolometric flux F_bol is not sufficient to take the variability of the source into account, as the change in optical depth over a full pulsation cycle is rather high. On the other hand, the impact of a change in effective temperature T_eff on SED and visibility is rather small. However, observations, as well as models for other AGB stars, show the necessity of including a variation of T_eff with pulsation phase in the radiative transfer models. Therefore, our new best-fitting model accounts for these changes.Comment: 7 pages, including 5 postscript figures and 3 tables. Published in Astronomy and Astrophysics. (v1: accepted version; v2: published version, minor grammatical changes

Fracture toughness and crack-resistance curve behavior in metallic glass-matrix composites

Nonlinear-elastic fracture mechanics methods are used to assess the fracture toughness of bulk metallic glass (BMG) composites; results are compared with similar measurements for other monolithic and composite BMG alloys. Mechanistically, plastic shielding gives rise to characteristic resistance-curve behavior where the fracture resistance increases with crack extension. Specifically, confinement of damage by second-phase dendrites is shown to result in enhancement of the toughness by nearly an order of magnitude relative to unreinforced glass

Interplay between carrier and impurity concentrations in annealed Ga1−x_{1-x}Mnx_{x}As intrinsic anomalous Hall Effect

Investigating the scaling behavior of annealed Ga$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$As anomalous Hall coefficients, we note a universal crossover regime where the scaling behavior changes from quadratic to linear, attributed to the anomalous Hall Effect intrinsic and extrinsic origins, respectively. Furthermore, measured anomalous Hall conductivities when properly scaled by carrier concentration remain constant, equal to theoretically predicated values, spanning nearly a decade in conductivity as well as over 100 K in T$_{C}$. Both the qualitative and quantitative agreement confirms the validity of new equations of motion including the Berry phase contributions as well as tunablility of the intrinsic anomalous Hall Effect.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Exceptionally elevated triglyceride in severe lipemia retinalis

PURPOSE: To report a case of successful treatment for severe lipemia retinalis with extreme severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG). DESIGN: Observational case report. OBSERVATIONS: A 6-week-old infant with severe lipemia retinalis manifested diffuse creamy retinal vessels complicated with vulvar xanthomas. Extreme sHTG with 185-folds of the normal level was reported. Chromosome microarray and lipid gene sequencing confirmed a homozygous lipoprotein lipase gene coding mutation. RESULTS: Under strict adherence to a high medium-chain triglycerides formula and discontinuation of breast milk, the lipemia retinalis and vulval lesions resolved along with a stable plasma lipid level throughout the follow-up period of 6 months. CONCLUSION: Strict adherence to a low-fat diet without breast milk appears to be effective in treating infants with severe lipemia retinalis associated with exceptionally high triglycerides

Putative spin liquid in the triangle-based iridate Ba3_3IrTi2_2O9_9

We report on thermodynamic, magnetization, and muon spin relaxation measurements of the strong spin-orbit coupled iridate Ba$_3$IrTi$_2$O$_9$, which constitutes a new frustration motif made up a mixture of edge- and corner-sharing triangles. In spite of strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of the order of 100~K, we find no hint for long-range magnetic order down to 23 mK. The magnetic specific heat data unveil the $T$-linear and -squared dependences at low temperatures below 1~K. At the respective temperatures, the zero-field muon spin relaxation features a persistent spin dynamics, indicative of unconventional low-energy excitations. A comparison to the $4d$ isostructural compound Ba$_3$RuTi$_2$O$_9$ suggests that a concerted interplay of compass-like magnetic interactions and frustrated geometry promotes a dynamically fluctuating state in a triangle-based iridate.Comment: Physical Review B accepte

Phantom for Evaluating Accuracy of Image Registration Software

Provided is a phantom for evaluating the accuracy of image registration software based on a result of matching tomograms of a predetermined position of the phantom, taken using two or more imaging apparatuses. Accordingly, it is possible to more efficiently evaluate the accuracy of the image registration software by comparing the tomograms with one another using a three-dimensional analysis. In addition, it is possible to facilitate the comparison of the tomograms with one another by installing a plurality of indicating bars in the phantom so that their cross sections can appear on each of the tomograms

Attachment Ligands of Viable Toxoplasma gondii Induce Soluble Immunosuppressive Factors in Human Monocytes

Previous studies have demonstrated that surface antigen proteins, in particular SAG-1, of Toxoplasma gondii are important to this parasite as attachment ligands for the host cell. An in vitro assay was developed to test whether these ligands and other secretory proteins are involved in the immune response of human cells to toxoplasma. Human monocytes were infected with tachyzoites in the presence of antiparasite antibodies, and their effect on mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation was examined. The presence of antibody to either parasite-excreted proteins (MIC-1 and MIC-2) or surface proteins (SAG-1 and SAG-2) during infection neutralized the marked decrease seen in mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation in the presence of infected monocytes. Conversely, antibodies to other secreted proteins (ROP-1) and cytoplasmic molecules had no effect on parasite-induced, monocyte-mediated downregulation. Fluorescence microscope analysis detected microneme and surface antigen proteins on the monocyte cell surface during infection. These results suggest that microneme and surface antigen proteins trigger monocytes to downregulate mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation