Large Misalignment between Stellar Bar and Dust Pattern in NGC 3488 Revealed by Spitzer and SDSS

A large position angle misalignment between the stellar bar and the distribution of dust in the late-type barred spiral NGC 3488 was discovered, using mid-infrared images from the Spitzer Space Telescope and optical images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The angle between the bar and dust patterns was measured to be 25+-2deg, larger than most of the misalignments found previously in barred systems based on Ha or HI/CO observations. The stellar bar is bright at optical and 3.6um, while the dust pattern is more prominent in the 8um band but also shows up in the SDSS u and g-band images, suggesting a rich interstellar medium environment harboring ongoing star formation. This angular misalignment is unlikely to have been caused by spontaneous bar formation. We suggest that the stellar bar and the dust pattern may have different formation histories, and that the large misalignment was triggered by a tidal interaction with a small companion. A statistical analysis of a large sample of nearby galaxies with archival Spitzer data indicates that bar structure such as that seen in NGC 3488 is quite rare in the local Universe.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in New Astronom

The discovery of trapped energetic electrons in the outer cusp

We report on the POLAR/CEPPAD discovery of a trapped, 60°\u3cθ\u3c120° pitch angle electron population in the outer cusp (7−9+ Re), whose energetic electron component extends from below 30 keV to ∼2 MeV. Because the time variability in the outer cusp precludes mapping with POLAR, we have carried out test particle simulations using the Tsyganenko 1996 model (T96) to demonstrate the trapping of these energy electrons in the outer cusp region and the resonant frequencies of its trapped motion. We discuss the boundaries and regions of the cusp trap and show that it is analogous to the dipole trap. We show that the phase space densities observed there are equal or greater than the phase space densities observed in the radiation belts at constant magnetic moment, thus allowing the possibility of diffusive filling of the radiation belts from the cus

Unconventional Superconductivity in the Layered Iron Germanide YFe2Ge2

Since the discovery of superconductivity in LaFePO, numerous iron-based superconductors have been identified within diverse structure families. Superconductivity in the layered iron germanide YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ was first reported in 2014. It stands out from the commonly known iron- based superconductor families for not containing either Group-V or Group-VI elements and has since been predicted to be an unconventional superconductor. The intermetallic $d$-electron system YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ exhibits an unusually high Sommerfeld coefficient of \approx \SI{100}{\milli\joule/\mole\kelvin^2}, signalling strong electronic correlations. Its low-temperature normal-state resistivity displays a $T^{1.5}$ power-law temperature dependence, which is an indication of non-Fermi-liquid behaviour. While superconductivity in YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ has been widely observed below T_c \approx \SI{1.9}{\kelvin} in electric transport measurements, evidence of a bulk superconducting transition has proved elusive. This has prompted significant efforts into improving the crystal quality. In this thesis, I present the crystal growth methods which have successfully produced high-quality poly- and single-crystal YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ samples. Measurements on these samples have led to conclusive evidence that superconductivity is an intrinsic property of this compound. Disorder effects on both the poly- and single-crystals have been studied through structural investigations, in which anti-site disorder of germanium substitution on the iron site was found to be the dominant factor. The fast suppression of the superconducting transition temperature, $T_c$, of YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ by disorder suggests an unconventional pairing mechanism. Using a liquid transport flux method, single crystals with residual resistivity ratios (\mathrm{RRR} = \mathrm{\rho}_{\SI{300}{\kelvin}}/\mathrm{\rho}_{\SI{2}{\kelvin}}) reaching 470 have been synthesised. These crystals exhibit clear bulk superconducting transitions. Low-temperature specific heat and $\mu$SR measurements performed on these crystals provided evidence for multi-gap superconductivity, most likely of the $s^\pm$-wave nature, which is compatible with theoretical predictions. Moreover, quantum oscillations have been detected for the first time in dHvA susceptibility and tunnel-diode oscillation measurements of high-quality YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ single crystals. Although unable to account fully for the high Sommerfeld coefficient, the current results have confirmed significant mass enhancements in the detected Fermi surface sheets.Trinity College; EPSRC of the UK (Grants No. EP/K012894 and EP/P023290/1

Study on Temperature Force Control Mechanism of CRTSⅡ Slab Track: Control Conditions of Temperature Cracking

Diseases such as track slab arching and joint concrete crushing of China Railway Track System (CRTS)II slab track were caused by huge temperature force, which seriously threatens driving safety of trains. In this study, a longitudinal weak connection scheme of CRTSII slab track was proposed to adjust the temperature force in track slab and reduce diseases of longitudinal continuous track slab. This paper focuses on the cracking characteristics of the longitudinal heterogeneous concrete composite structure. The equation which was originally developed to calculate crack width and structure stress under temperature loads, was put forward to consider deformation difference of different elastic modulus. The influence law of various parameters was analyzed. The reinforcement stress and crack width of CRTSII slab track after longitudinal connection weakening were calculated, and the reasonable limit value of tensile force of connection reinforcement and the minimum value of bond resistance of reinforcement in joint position were obtained. The result shows that, in order to reduce the bond resistance between the joint material and the reinforcement, the elastic modulus of the elastic material should be less than 5000 MPa; in order to ensure that the reinforcement does not produce large stress, the elastic modulus of the joint should be greater than 1000 MPa

A new, temporarily confined population in the polar cap during the August 27, 1996 geomagnetic field distortion period

On August 27, 1996, a two-hour energetic heavy ion event (∼1 MeV) was detected at 8:25 UT at apogee (∼9 Re and an invariant latitude of ∼80°), by the Charge and Mass Magnetospheric Ion Composition Experiment onboard POLAR. The event, with a maximum spin averaged peak flux of ∼150 particles/(cm²-sr-s-MeV), showed three local peaks corresponding to three localized regions; the ion pitch angle distributions in the three regions were different from an isotropic distribution and different from each other. No comparable flux was observed by the WIND spacecraft. The appearance of lower energy He++ and O \u3e +2 during the event period indicates a solar source for these particles. From region 1 to 2 to 3, the helium energy spectra softened. A distorted magnetic field with three local minima corresponding to the three He peak fluxes was also observed by POLAR. A possible explanation is that the energetic He ions were energized from lower energy helium by a local acceleration mechanism that preferred smaller rigidity ions in the high altitude polar cusp region

Let-7b expression determines response to chemotherapy through the regulation of Cyclin D1 in Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma is the most common type of primary brain tumors. Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for Glioblastoma patients. Despite a consistent rate of initial responses, cisplatin treatment often develops chemoresistance, leading to therapeutic failure. Cellular resistance to cisplatin is of great concern and understanding the molecular mechanisms is an utter need. METHODS: Glioblastoma cell line U251 cells were exposed to increasing doses of cisplatin for 6 months to establish cisplatin-resistant cell line U251R. The differential miRNA expression profiles in U251 and U251R cell lines were identified by microarray analysis and confirmed by Q-PCR. MiRNA mimics were transfected into U251R cells, and cellular response to cisplatin-induced apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were examined by FACS analysis. RESULTS: U251R cells showed 3.1-fold increase in cisplatin resistance compared to its parental U251 cells. Microarray analysis identified Let-7b and other miRNAs significantly down-regulated in U251R cells compared to U251 cells. Transfection of Let-7b mimics greatly re-sensitized U251R cells to cisplatin, while transfection of other miRNAs has no effect or slightly effect. Cyclin D1 is predicted as a target of Let-7b through bioinformatics analysis. Over-expression of Let-7b mimics suppressed cyclin D1 protein expression and inhibited cyclin D1-3’-UTR luciferase activity. Knockdown of cyclin D1 expression significantly increased cisplatin-induced G1 arrest and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results indicated that cisplatin treatment leads to Let-7b suppression, which in turn up-regulates cyclin D1 expression. Let-7b may serve as a marker of cisplatin resistance, and can enhance the therapeutic benefit of cisplatin in glioblastoma cells

Mediation effects of positive and negative affect on the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction in rural school teachers

Few studies have investigated the ways in which the specific facets of trait emotional intelligence (EI), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) influence individuals’ general life satisfaction, especially in teachers. This study explored the effects of three facets of trait EI [appraisal and expression of emotions (AEE), utilization of emotion (UE), and regulation of emotions (RE)] and two typical affects (PA and NA) on teachers’ general life satisfaction. The participants were 577 Chinese rural school teachers (ages 18–49 years) who completed three questionnaires—the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, Positive and Negative Affective scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. After validating the scales, a structural equation modeling analysis showed that trait EI, PA, and NA had a significant and positive effect on teachers’ general life satisfaction. PA played a partial mediating role between trait EI and life satisfaction. Furthermore, this study found that PA significantly and positively mediated the relationship between AEE, UE, RE, and life satisfaction. These results suggest that teachers with higher EI are more likely to have positive emotions, thereby enhancing their general life satisfaction, and that understanding the role of one’s own and others’ emotions and increasing positive emotions may be the key to improving teachers’ general life satisfaction. Future implications and the study limitations are discussed