Supermassive Black Holes with High Accretion Rates in Active Galactic Nuclei. V. A New Size-Luminosity Scaling Relation for the Broad-Line Region

This paper reports results of the third-year campaign of monitoring super-Eddington accreting massive black holes (SEAMBHs) in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) between 2014-2015. Ten new targets were selected from quasar sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), which are generally more luminous than the SEAMBH candidates in last two years. H$\beta$ lags ($\tau_{_{\rm H\beta}}$) in five of the 10 quasars have been successfully measured in this monitoring season. We find that the lags are generally shorter, by large factors, than those of objects with same optical luminosity, in light of the well-known $R_{_{\rm H\beta}}-L_{5100}$ relation. The five quasars have dimensionless accretion rates of $\dot{\mathscr{M}}=10-10^3$. Combining measurements of the previous SEAMBHs, we find that the reduction of H$\beta$ lags tightly depends on accretion rates, $\tau_{_{\rm H\beta}}/\tau_{_{R-L}}\propto\dot{\mathscr{M}}^{-0.42}$, where $\tau_{_{R-L}}$ is the H$\beta$ lag from the normal $R_{_{\rm H\beta}}-L_{5100}$ relation. Fitting 63 mapped AGNs, we present a new scaling relation for the broad-line region: $R_{_{\rm H\beta}}=\alpha_1\ell_{44}^{\beta_1}\,\min\left[1,\left(\dot{\mathscr{M}}/\dot{\mathscr{M}}_c\right)^{-\gamma_1}\right]$, where $\ell_{44}=L_{5100}/10^{44}\,\rm erg~s^{-1}$ is 5100 \AA\ continuum luminosity, and coefficients of $\alpha_1=(29.6_{-2.8}^{+2.7})$ lt-d, $\beta_1=0.56_{-0.03}^{+0.03}$, $\gamma_1=0.52_{-0.16}^{+0.33}$ and $\dot{\mathscr{M}}_c=11.19_{-6.22}^{+2.29}$. This relation is applicable to AGNs over a wide range of accretion rates, from $10^{-3}$ to $10^3$. Implications of this new relation are briefly discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, 5 table, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentrations in Breast Milk from Chinese Mothers: Comparison with Other Regions

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), especially linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), alpha- linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential to infant growth and development during early life. Up till now, there is only limited number of studies with large sample size on LC-PUFA in breast milk in China. In order to better understand the LC-PUFA levels in Chinese women, we report an analysis that included 44 studies of 3815 subjects from the latest 10-year peer-reviewed papers of breast milk studies of fatty acid profiles from China and other regions: Asia (excluding China), Europe, America and Africa. The results showed that Chinese women had significantly higher LA and ALA levels in the breast milk than European and other Asian women. The DHA level in the breast milk of Chinese women meets the Chinese and international recommended intake for young infants. This review provides comprehensive investigation on the LC-PUFA levels in the mature milk of Chinese women in most recent publications and server as a reference for further studies on human milk in China

Fine-Grained Location-Free Planarization in Wireless Sensor Networks

Extracting planar graph from network topologies is of great importance for efficient protocol design in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. Previous techniques of planar topology extraction are often based on ideal assumptions, such as UDG communication model and accurate node location measurements. To make these protocols work effectively in practice, we need extract a planar topology in a location-free and distributed manner with small stretch factors. The planar topologies constructed by current location-free methods often have large stretch factors. In this paper, we present a fine-grained and location-free network planarization method under rho-quasi-UDG communication model with rho >= 1/root 2. Compared with existing location-free planarization approaches, our method can extract a provably connected planar graph, called topological planar simplification (TPS), from the connectivity graph in a fine-grained manner using local connectivity information. We evaluate our design through extensive simulations and compare with the state-of-the-art approaches. The simulation results show that our method produces high-quality planar graphs with a small stretch factor in practical large-scale networks

Biocompatibility of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the synthesis and biocompatibility of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles and investigate their therapeutic effects when combined with magnetic fluid hyperthermia on cultured MCF-7 cancer cells. METHODS: Magnetic Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were prepared using a coprecipitation method. The appearance, structure, phase composition, functional groups, surface charge, magnetic susceptibility, and release in vitro were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and a vibrating sample magnetometer. Blood toxicity, in vitro toxicity, and genotoxicity were investigated. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] and flow cytometry assays. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the shapes of the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were approximately spherical, with diameters of about 26.1 ± 5.2 nm. Only the spinel phase was indicated in a comparison of the x-ray diffraction data with Joint Corporation of Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS) X-ray powder diffraction files. The O-to-Fe ratio of the Fe(3)O(4) was determined by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy elemental analysis, and approximated pure Fe(3)O(4). The vibrating sample magnetometer hysteresis loop suggested that the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were superparamagnetic at room temperature. MTT experiments showed that the toxicity of the material in mouse fibroblast (L-929) cell lines was between Grade 0 to Grade 1, and that the material lacked hemolysis activity. The acute toxicity (LD(50)) was 8.39 g/kg. Micronucleus testing showed no genotoxic effects. Pathomorphology and blood biochemistry testing demonstrated that the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles had no effect on the main organs and blood biochemistry in a rabbit model. MTT and flow cytometry assays revealed that Fe(3)O(4) nano magnetofluid thermotherapy inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation, and its inhibitory effect was dose-dependent according to the Fe(3)O(4) nano magnetofluid concentration. CONCLUSION: The Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles prepared in this study have good biocompatibility and are suitable for further application in tumor hyperthermia

Efficacy and safety of combination therapy with vildagliptin and metformin versus metformin up-titration in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: study design and rationale of the vision study

Background and aim: Limitations of the currently recommended stepwise treatment pathway for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially the failure of monotherapies to maintain good glycemic control, have prompted use of early, more aggressive combination therapies. The VISION study is designed to explore the efficacy and safety of vildagliptin as an add-on to metformin therapy compared with up-titration of metformin monotherapy in Chinese patients with T2DM. Methods: VISION, a 24-week, phase 4, prospective, randomized, multicenter, open-label, parallel-group study, will include 3312 Chinese T2DM patients aged >= 18 years who are inadequately controlled (6.5% >HbA1c <= 9%) by metformin (750-1000 mg/day). Eligible patients will be randomized to receive either vildagliptin plus metformin or up-titration of metformin monotherapy (5: 1). Patients will also be subgrouped (1: 1: 1: 1) based on their age and body mass index (BMI): <60 years and <24 kg/m(2); <60 years and >= 24 kg/m(2); >= 60 years and <24 kg/m(2); and >= 60 years and >= 24 kg/m(2). Conclusion: The VISION study will test the hypothesis that early use of combination therapy with vildagliptin and metformin will provide good glycemic control and will be better tolerated than up-titration of metformin monotherapy. The study will also correlate these benefits with age and BMI.Cardiac & Cardiovascular SystemsEndocrinology & MetabolismSCI(E)PubMed1ARTICLE1181

Solenoid-free current drive via ECRH in EXL-50 spherical torus plasmas

As a new spherical tokamak (ST) designed to simplify engineering requirements of a possible future fusion power source, the EXL-50 experiment features a low aspect ratio (A) vacuum vessel (VV), encircling a central post assembly containing the toroidal field coil conductors without a central solenoid. Multiple electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) resonances are located within the VV to improve current drive effectiveness. Copious energetic electrons are produced and measured with hard X-ray detectors, carry the bulk of the plasma current ranging from 50kA to 150kA, which is maintained for more than 1s duration. It is observed that over one Ampere current can be maintained per Watt of ECRH power issued from the 28-GHz gyrotrons. The plasma current reaches Ip>80kA for high density (>5e18me-2) discharge with 150kW ECHR heating. An analysis was carried out combining reconstructed multi-fluid equilibrium, guiding-center orbits of energetic electrons, and resonant heating mechanisms. It is verified that in EXL-50 a broadly distributed current of energetic electrons creates smaller closed magnetic-flux surfaces of low aspect ratio that in turn confine the thermal plasma electrons and ions and participate in maintaining the equilibrium force-balance

The technique of S2-alar-iliac screw fixation: a literature review

The distal fixation in thoracolumbar deformity surgery can be challenging for spine surgeons. When isolated S1-pedicle screws are utilized as the sole distal fixation in long thoracolumbar posterior constructs, there is a high rate of failure, due to loosening, breakage, and pseudarthrosis. Unfortunately, with iliac screw fixation the entry point at the posterior superior iliac spine requires considerable soft tissue dissection and may potentially increase the likelihood of wound complications. S2-alar-iliac (S2AI) screw fixation technique was developed recently to provide increased fixation with a lower profile screw and rod construct. These screws can be inserted with percutaneous or free hand techniques. This fixation also has comparable biomechanical properties to the S1 iliac screw. This technique may provide advantages such as decreased rates of reoperation, surgical site infection, wound dehiscence and symptomatic screw prominence as compared to traditional iliac screw fixation. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the S2AI screw fixation literature including anatomy, technique, biomechanics, and clinical outcomes

Amplitude analysis and branching fraction measurement of the decay Ds+→π+π0π0D_{s}^{+} \to \pi^{+}\pi^{0}\pi^{0}

Using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6.32~$\rm fb^{-1}$ recorded by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4.178 and 4.226~GeV, an amplitude analysis of the decay $D_{s}^{+} \to \pi^{+}\pi^{0}\pi^{0}$ is performed, and the relative fractions and phases of different intermediate processes are determined. The absolute branching fraction of the decay $D_{s}^{+} \to \pi^{+}\pi^{0}\pi^{0}$ is measured to be $(0.50\pm 0.04_{\text{stat}}\pm 0.02_{\text{syst}})\%$. The absolute branching fraction of the intermediate process $D_{s}^{+} \to f_0(980)\pi^{+}, f_0(980)\to\pi^{0}\pi^{0}$ is determined to be $(0.21\pm 0.03_{\text{stat}}\pm 0.03_{\text{syst}})\%$