22,722 research outputs found
Human African trypanosomiasis : the current situation in endemic regions and the risks for non-endemic regions from imported cases
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by Trypanosoma brucei
gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense and caused devastating epidemics during the 20th
century. Due to effective control programs implemented in the last two decades, the
number of reported cases has fallen to a historically low level. Although fewer than
977 cases were reported in 2018 in endemic countries, HAT is still a public health
problem in endemic regions until it is completely eliminated. In addition, almost 150
confirmed HAT cases were reported in non-endemic countries in the last three
decades. The majority of non-endemic HAT cases were reported in Europe, United
States and South Africa, due to historical alliances, economic links or geographic
proximity to disease endemic countries. Furthermore, with the implementation of the
“Belt and Road” project, sporadic imported HAT cases have been reported in China
as a warning sign of tropical diseases prevention. In this paper, we explore and
interpret the data on HAT incidence and find no positive correlation between the
number of HAT cases from endemic and non-endemic countries.This data will
provide useful information for better understanding the imported cases of HAT
globally in the post-elimination phase
Evolution of O Abundance Relative to Fe
We present a three-component mixing model for the evolution of O abundance
relative to Fe, taking into account the contributions of the first very massive
(> 100 solar masses) stars formed from Big Bang debris. We show that the
observations of O and Fe abundances in metal-poor stars in the Galaxy by
Israelian et al. and Boesgaard et al. can be well represented both
qualitatively and quantitatively by this model. Under the assumption of an
initial Fe ([Fe/H] = -3) and O inventory due to the prompt production by the
first very massive stars, the data at -3 < [Fe/H] < -1 are interpreted to
result from the addition of O and Fe only from type II supernovae (SNII) to the
prompt inventory. At [Fe/H] = -1, SNII still contribute O while both SNII and
type Ia supernovae contribute Fe. During this later stage, (O/Fe) sharply drops
off to an asymptotic value of 0.8(O/Fe)_sun. The value of (O/Fe) for the prompt
inventory at [Fe/H] = -3 is found to be (O/Fe) = 20(O/Fe)_sun. This result
suggests that protogalaxies with low ``metallicities'' should exhibit high
values of (O/Fe). The C/O ratio produced by the first very massive stars is
expected to be much less than 1 so that all the C should be tied up as CO and
that C dust and hydrocarbon compounds should be quite rare at epochs
corresponding to [Fe/H] < -3.Comment: 25 pages, 8 postscript figures, to appear in Ap
Semimetal to semimetal charge density wave transition in 1T-TiSe
We report an infrared study on 1-TiSe, the parent compound of the
newly discovered superconductor CuTiSe. Previous studies of this
compound have not conclusively resolved whether it is a semimetal or a
semiconductor: information that is important in determining the origin of its
unconventional CDW transition. Here we present optical spectroscopy results
that clearly reveal that the compound is metallic in both the high-temperature
normal phase and the low-temperature CDW phase. The carrier scattering rate is
dramatically different in the normal and CDW phases and the carrier density is
found to change with temperature. We conclude that the observed properties can
be explained within the scenario of an Overhauser-type CDW mechanism.Comment: 4 pages, 4 page
A Model for Abundances in Metal-Poor Stars
It is argued that the abundances of r-process related elements in stars with
-3<[Fe/H]<-1 can be explained by the contributions of three sources. The
sources are: the first generations of very massive (>100 solar masses) stars
that are formed from Big Bang debris and are distinct from SNII, and two types
of SNII, the H and L events, which can occur only at [Fe/H]>-3. The H events
are of high frequency and produce dominantly heavy (A>130) r-elements but no Fe
(presumably leaving behind black holes). The L events are of low frequency and
produce Fe and dominantly light (A<130) r-elements (essentially none above Ba).
By using the observed abundances in two ultra-metal-poor stars and the solar
r-abundances, the initial or prompt inventory of elements produced by the first
generations of very massive stars and the yields of H and L events can be
determined. The abundances of a large number of elements in a star can then be
calculated from the model by using only the observed Eu and Fe abundances. To
match the model results and the observational data for stars with -3<[Fe/H]<-1
requires that the solar r-abundances for Sr, Y, Zr, and Ba must be
significantly increased from the standard values. Whether the solar
r-components of these elements used here to obtain a fit to the stellar data
can be reconciled with those obtained from solar abundances by subtracting the
s-components calculated from models is not clear.Comment: 47 pages, 19 figures, to appear in Ap
Effect of modified starch on separation of fluorite from barite using sodium oleate
© Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. In this study, a modified starch was utilized to selectively separate barite from fluorite. The results of flotation tests showed that highly selective separation of fluorite from barite was obtained when 250 mg/dm3 of modified starch and 13.16×10-5 mol/dm3 sodium oleate was used in neutral solutions. FTIR spectra results showed that the modified starch can adsorb on the fluorite and barite surfaces. Zeta potential analyses indicated that the modified starch had little effect on adsorption of sodium oleate on the fluorite surface, although it interfered with the adsorption of sodium oleate on the barite surface. Contact angle measurements results corresponded well with the flotation results
Anomalous metallic state of CuTiSe: an optical spectroscopy study
We report an optical spectroscopy study on the newly discovered
superconductor CuTiSe. Consistent with the development from a
semimetal or semiconductor with a very small indirect energy gap upon doping
TiSe, it is found that the compound has a low carrier density. Most
remarkably, the study reveals a substantial shift of the "screened" plasma edge
in reflectance towards high energy with decreasing temperature. This
phenomenon, rarely seen in metals, indicates either a sizeable increase of the
conducting carrier concentration or/and a decrease of the effective mass of
carriers with reducing temperature. We attribute the shift primarily to the
later effect.Comment: 4 figures, 4+ page
Prompt Iron Enrichment, Two r-Process Components, and Abundances in Very Metal-Poor Stars
We present a model to explain the wide range of abundances for heavy
r-process elements (mass number A > 130) at low [Fe/H]. This model requires
rapid star formation and/or an initial population of supermassive stars in the
earliest condensed clots of matter to provide a prompt or initial Fe inventory.
Subsequent Fe and r-process enrichment was provided by two types of supernovae:
one producing heavy r-elements with no Fe on a rather short timescale and the
other producing light r-elements (A < or = 130) with Fe on a much longer
timescale.Comment: 5 pages, 2 postscript figures, to appear in ApJ
Supernovae versus Neutron Star Mergers as the Major r-Process Sources
I show that recent observations of r-process abundances in metal-poor stars
are difficult to explain if neutron star mergers (NSMs) are the major r-process
sources. In contrast, such observations and meteoritic data on Hf182 and I129
in the early solar system support a self-consistent picture of r-process
enrichment by supernovae (SNe). While further theoretical studies of r-process
production and enrichment are needed for both SNe and NSMs, I emphasize two
possible direct observational tests of the SN r-process model: gamma rays from
decay of r-process nuclei in SN remnants and surface contamination of the
companion by SN r-process ejecta in binaries.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in ApJ
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