Near surface seismic investigation of the regolith in South Australia

Investigation of the regolith is an important part of the mineral exploration. Large territories are overlaid by the regolith rocks and recent trends show a clear tendency of discovery major mineral deposits under the thick cover. Thorough regolith exploration involving geophysical techniques is required to push new deep mineral discoveries. Knowledge about the regolith structure and properties is necessary for designing the mine excavation and production as well. A shot 2D seismic was acquired to investigate regolith’s structure and properties at the Hillside prospect, situated on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. The small 3D dataset has been conducted to evaluate potential for seismic imaging of deep structures. The survey has been designed to be able to accommodate good data for various seismic methods simultaneously. Data analysis included processing and interpretation of surface, refracted and reflected waves. The study also involved an application of diffraction imaging to detect faults and fracture zones. The experiment has demonstrated a cost effective near surface seismic setup that is capable to obtain a comprehensive set of information about undersurface. The results include imaging of the regolith structure, estimating of dynamic elastic properties of the ground and obtaining images of deep structure

Entire domain basis function expansion of the differential surface admittance for efficient broadband characterization of lossy interconnects

This article presents a full-wave method to characterize lossy conductors in an interconnect setting. To this end, a novel and accurate differential surface admittance operator for cuboids based on entire domain basis functions is formulated. By combining this new operator with the augmented electric field integral equation, a comprehensive broadband characterization is obtained. Compared with the state of the art in differential surface admittance operator modeling, we prove the accuracy and improved speed of the novel formulation. Additional examples support these conclusions by comparing the results with commerical software tools and with measurements

Wear behaviour of Cr-Ni steels in H2SO4 solution

Bu çalışmada, Fe-0.4C-27Cr-5Ni ve Fe-0.4C-18Cr-9Ni dökme çeliklerin konsantrasyonu % 0-10 arasında değişen H2SO4 çözeltisi içerisindeki aşınma davranışları incelenmiştir. Aşınma deneyleri, ileri-geri aşınma deney cihazında, 275 gr sabit yük altında ve 26 mm/s deney hızında 10 mm çapındaki Al2O3 bilyenin numune yüzeylerine sürtünmesi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Deney sonrası numune yüzeyinde oluşan aşınma izleri, yüzey profilometresi yardımı ile incelenmiş ve deney sonuçları aşınma iz alanları ölçülerek mm2 cinsinden alan kaybına göre değerlendirilmiştir. Deney sonuçları, Fe-0.4C-27Cr-5Ni çeliğinin Fe-0.4C-18Cr-9Ni çeliğine nazaran daha fazla aşındığını göstermiştir. Aşınma deneylerinin yapıldığı çözeltinin konsantrasyonunun artması çeliklerin aşınma direncini ve sürtünme katsayısını azaltmıştır. Anahtar Kelimler :Cr-Ni çelikleri, aşınma, korozif aşınma, korozyon.In this study, wear performances of Fe-0.4C-27Cr-5Ni and Fe-0.4C-18Cr-9Ni steels were examined. Microstructural characterization of the as-cast steels was made by microscopic examinations and X-ray diffraction analysis. Mechanical properties of the steels were determined by hardness measurements and Charpy impact tests at room temperature. Wear tests were performed on a reciprocating wear tester in        %0-10 H2SO4 solutions. The tests were made under normal load of 275 g by rubbing a 10 mm diameter Al2O3 ball on the surface of the samples with a sliding velocity of 26 mm/s. After the wear tests, wear tracks developed on the worn surfaces were investigated by a profilometer and the results of the wear tests were quantified in the units of mm2 according to wear track area measurements. The matrixes of the Fe-0.4C-27Cr-5Ni and Fe-0.4C-18Cr-9Ni were identified as ferritic and austenitic, respectively. In the microstructures of both steels dominant carbide was Cr23C6. Fe-0.4C-27Cr-5Ni steel exhibited higher hardness and lower toughness than Fe-0.4C-18Cr-9Ni steel. In H2SO4 solutions, Fe-0.4C-27Cr-5Ni steel exhibited higher wear resistance than Fe-0.4C-18Cr-9Ni steel. Increase of concentration of H2SO4 solution resulted in decrease of wear resistance and friction coefficient of both steels.Keywords: Cr-Ni steels, wear, corrosive wear, corrosion

Doppler-free, Multi-wavelength Acousto-optic deflector for two-photon addressing arrays of Rb atoms in a Quantum Information Processor

We demonstrate a dual wavelength acousto-optic deflector (AOD) designed to deflect two wavelengths to the same angles by driving with two RF frequencies. The AOD is designed as a beam scanner to address two-photon transitions in a two-dimensional array of trapped neutral Rb atoms in a quantum computer. Momentum space is used to design AODs that have the same diffraction angles for two wavelengths (780 nm and 480 nm) and have non-overlapping Bragg-matched frequency response at these wavelengths, so that there will be no crosstalk when proportional RF frequencies are applied to diffract the two wavelengths. The appropriate crystal orientation, crystal shape, transducer size, and transducer height are determined for an AOD made with a Tellurium dioxide crystal (TeO2). The designed and fabricated AOD has more than 100 resolvable spots, widely separated bandshapes for the two wavelengths within an overall octave bandwidth, spatially overlapping diffraction angles for both wavelengths (780 nm and 480 nm), and a 4 usec or less access time. Cascaded AODs in which the first device upshifts and the second downshifts allow Doppler-free scanning as required for addressing the narrow atomic resonance without detuning. We experimentally show the diffraction-limited Doppler-free scanning performance and spatial resolution of the designed AOD.Comment: 28 pages, 16 figures, submitted to Applied Optic

Suppression of Klotho expression by protein-bound uremic toxins is associated with increased DNA methyltransferase expression and DNA hypermethylation

The expression of the renoprotective antiaging gene Klotho is decreased in uremia. Recent studies suggest that Klotho may be a tumor suppressor, and its expression may be repressed by DNA hypermethylation in cancer cells. Here we investigated the effects and possible mechanisms by which Klotho expression is regulated during uremia in uninephrectomized B-6 mice given the uremic toxins indoxyl sulfate or p-cresyl sulfate. Cultured human renal tubular HK2 cells treated with these toxins were used as an in vitro model. Injections of indoxyl sulfate or p-cresyl sulfate increased their serum concentrations, kidney fibrosis, CpG hypermethylation of the Klotho gene, and decreased Klotho expression in renal tubules of these mice. The expression of DNA methyltransferases 1, 3a, and 3b isoforms in HK2 cells treated with indoxyl sulfate or p-cresyl sulfate was significantly increased. Specific inhibition of DNA methyltransferase isoform 1 by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine caused demethylation of the Klotho gene and increased Klotho expression in vitro. Thus, inhibition of Klotho gene expression by uremic toxins correlates with gene hypermethylation, suggesting that epigenetic modification of specific genes by uremic toxins may be an important pathological mechanism of disease

A trial for the use of qigong in the treatment of pre and mild essential hypertension: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and the prevalence of hypertension tends to increase with age. Current treatments for hypertension have side effects and poor adherence. Qigong has been studied as an alternative therapy for hypertension; however, the types of qigong used in those studies were diverse, and there have not been many well-designed randomized controlled trials.</p> <p>Our objectives are the following: 1) To evaluate the effects of qigong on blood pressure, health status and hormone levels for pre- or mild hypertension. 2) To test the methodological appropriateness of this clinical trial and calculate a sample size for future randomized trials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty subjects with pre- or mild hypertension will be randomized to either the qigong exercise group or the non-treated group. Participants in the qigong group will conduct qigong exercises 5 times per week for 8 weeks, and participants in the non-treated group will maintain their current lifestyle, including diet and exercise. The use of antihypertensive medication is not permitted. The primary endpoint is a change in patient blood pressure. Secondary endpoints are patient health status (as measured by the SF-36 and the MYMOP2 questionnaires) and changes in hormone levels, including norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will be the first randomized trial to investigate the effectiveness of qigong exercises for the treatment of pre- and mild hypertension. The results of this study will help to establish the optimal approach for the care of adults with pre- or mild hypertension.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinical Research Information Service KCT0000140</p

QT dispersion in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the impact of disease activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although autopsy studies have documented that the heart is affected in most SLE patients, clinical manifestations occur in less than 10%. QT dispersion is a new parameter that can be used to assess homogeneity of cardiac repolarization and autonomic function. We compared the increase in QT dispersion in SLE patients with high disease activity and mild or moderate disease activity.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>One hundred twenty-four patients with SLE were enrolled in the study. Complete history and physical exam, ECG, echocardiography, exercise test and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) were recorded. Twenty patients were excluded on the basis of our exclusion criteria. The patients were divided to two groups based on SLEDAI: 54 in the high-score group (SLEDAI > 10) and 50 in the low-score group (SLEDAI < 10).</p> <p>QT dispersion was significantly higher in high-score group (58.31 ± 18.66 vs. 47.90 ± 17.41 respectively; <it>P </it>< 0.004). QT dispersion was not significantly higher in patients who had received hydroxychloroquine (54.17 ± 19.36 vs. 50.82 ± 15.96, <it>P </it>= 0.45) or corticosteroids (53.58 ± 19.16 vs. 50.40 + 11.59, <it>P </it>= 0.47). There was a statistically significant correlation between abnormal echocardiographic findings (abnormalities of pericardial effusion, pericarditis, pulmonary hypertension and Libman-Sacks endocarditis) and SLEADI (<it>P </it>< 0.004).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>QT dispersion can be a useful, simple noninvasive method for the early detection of cardiac involvement in SLE patients with active disease. Concerning high chance of cardiac involvement, cardiovascular evaluation for every SLE patient with a SLEDAI higher than 10 may be recommended.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinicaltrial.gov registration <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01031797">NCT01031797</a></p

Deep sequencing-based expression analysis shows major advances in robustness, resolution and inter-lab portability over five microarray platforms

The hippocampal expression profiles of wild-type mice and mice transgenic for δC-doublecortin-like kinase were compared with Solexa/Illumina deep sequencing technology and five different microarray platforms. With Illumina's digital gene expression assay, we obtained ∼2.4 million sequence tags per sample, their abundance spanning four orders of magnitude. Results were highly reproducible, even across laboratories. With a dedicated Bayesian model, we found differential expression of 3179 transcripts with an estimated false-discovery rate of 8.5%. This is a much higher figure than found for microarrays. The overlap in differentially expressed transcripts found with deep sequencing and microarrays was most significant for Affymetrix. The changes in expression observed by deep sequencing were larger than observed by microarrays or quantitative PCR. Relevant processes such as calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity and vesicle transport along microtubules were found affected by deep sequencing but not by microarrays. While undetectable by microarrays, antisense transcription was found for 51% of all genes and alternative polyadenylation for 47%. We conclude that deep sequencing provides a major advance in robustness, comparability and richness of expression profiling data and is expected to boost collaborative, comparative and integrative genomics studies