A survey on composition and microbiota of fresh and fermented yak milk at different Tibetan altitudes

Yak milk is a type of milk that people are less familiar with due to its remote geographical location, the particular geographical environment and climatic conditions in Tibet, which may have significant effects on composition, microbiota and fermentation outcome. To investigate the chemical composition and microbiota of fresh and fermented yak milk, and to isolate and characterize the predominant microorganisms in the fermented milk, yak milk (24 fresh and 30 fermented milk samples) was collected from four areas of different altitudes in Tibet, and their microbiological profile and chemical composition were investigated. Yak milk had a higher fat, crude protein, lactose and dry matter content than cow milk. The fermented yak milk showed a great diversity in fat and dry matter levels due to the different ways of processing in different localities, and lower pH and higher lactic acid content compared with commercial cow milk yogurt. Fermented yak milk had a better sanitary quality than fresh yak milk. Three species of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus and Lactobacillus curvatus) and five species of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida kefyr, Candida lambica, Candida famat and Candida holmii) were identified phenotypically and encountered as predominant fermentation microbiota. The predominant lactic species in fermented milk was L. fermentu

Birkhoff's theorem in the f(T) gravity

Generalized from the so-called teleparallel gravity which is exactly equivalent to general relativity, the $f(T)$ gravity has been proposed as an alternative gravity model to account for the dark energy phenomena. In this letter we prove that the external vacuum gravitational field for a spherically symmetric distribution of source matter in the $f(T)$ gravity framework must be static and the conclusion is independent of the radial distribution and spherically symmetric motion of the source matter that is, whether it is in motion or static. As a consequence, the Birkhoff's theorem is valid in the general $f(T)$ theory. We also discuss its application in the de Sitter space-time evolution phase as preferred to by the nowadays dark energy observations.Comment: 5p

Extended Birkhoff's Theorem in the f(T) Gravity

The f(T) theory, a generally modified teleparallel gravity, has been proposed as an alternative gravity model to account for the dark energy phenomena. Following our previous work [Xin-he Meng and Ying-bin Wang, EPJC(2011), arXiv:1107.0629v1], we prove that the Birkhoff's theorem holds in a more general context, specifically with the off diagonal tetrad case, in this communication letter. Then, we discuss respectively the results of the external vacuum and internal gravitational field in the f(T) gravity framework, as well as the extended meaning of this theorem. We also investigate the validity of the Birkhoff's theorem in the frame of f(T) gravity via conformal transformation by regarding the Brans-Dicke-like scalar as effective matter, and study the equivalence between both Einstein frame and Jordan frame.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to EPJ-C. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1107.062

Inhibitory effect of rhubarb on intestinal α-glucosidase activity in type 1 diabetic rats

Purpose: To investigate the inhibitory effect of rhubarb on α-glucosidase activity in the small intestine of rats with type 1 diabetes.Methods: Type 1 diabetic rat model was established by intraperitoneally injecting 30 male SD rats with 1 % streptozocin (STZ). Rats with fasting blood glucose > 11 mmol/L (24) were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into three equal groups including control, acarbose and rhubarb groups. Arcabose® (20 mg/kg /day) and rhubarb (100 mg/kg /day) were given by intra-gastric route via insertion of the cannula through the esophagus. Daily fasting blood glucose and daily postprandial glucose levels were assayed for all groups. On day 6, postprandial blood glucose, blood levels of C-peptide and insulin, and intestinal α-glucosidase were also determined.Results: There were no significant differences in levels of C-peptide, insulin and fasting blood glucose between control, Acarbose® and rhubarb groups (p > 0.05). However, α-glucosidase activity at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min in the rhubarb group was 1759.2, 1812.8, 1379.8 and 772.1 U, respectively,) while in the Acarbose® group it was 178.6, 1260.1, 1126.5, 599.2 U, respectively. α-Glucosidase activity in both groups initially showed an increase (p < 0.05), followed by a decline from 60 to 120 min (p ˂ 0.05). After 120 min, α-glucosidase activity in each of the two groups was significantly decreased compared with untreated control (1200 U) (p ˂ 0.05).Conclusion: The inhibitory effect of rhubarb on intestinal α-glucosidase activity of Type 1 diabetic rats is comparable to that of Arcabose®.This suggests that this plant may have clinically potent anti-diabetic properties.Keywords: Type 1 diabetes, α-Glucosidase activity, Acarbose®, Rhubarb, Postprandial glucose leve

Finite Element Analysis of the Displacement Adjustment Scheme for Column Bases of a 10000 m3 Spherical Tank During Whole-body Heat Treatment

AbstractThe stress of spherical tank and displacement of column bases were calculated by finite element method, considering the uneven gravity loads on support columns which was caused by manufacturing and setting errors. The preliminary displacement adjustment scheme for column bases was made, according to the safety range of column bases displacement which was determined by the maximum stress restricted by allowable stress at the set heat treatment temperatures. The final scheme was made after checking the preliminary scheme. The method of making adjustment scheme of column bases for a 10000m3 spherical tank during the whole-body heat treatment may provide a reference for other large spherical tank

Birkhoff's Theorem in f(T) Gravity up to the Perturbative Order

f(T) gravity, a generally modified teleparallel gravity, has become very popular in recent times as it is able to reproduce the unification of inflation and late-time acceleration without the need of a dark energy component or an inflation field. In this present work, we investigate specifically the range of validity of Birkhoff's theorem with the general tetrad field via perturbative approach. At zero order, Birkhoff's theorem is valid and the solution is the well known Schwarzschild-(A)dS metric. Then considering the special case of the diagonal tetrad field, we present a new spherically symmetric solution in the frame of f(T) gravity up to the perturbative order. The results with the diagonal tetrad field satisfy the physical equivalence between the Jordan and the so-called Einstein frames, which are realized via conformal transformation, at least up to the first perturbative order.Comment: 8 pages, no figure. Final version, accepted for publication in EPJ

Magnetic phase diagram in Eu1−x_{1-x}Lax_xFe2_2As2_2 single crystals

We have systematically measured resistivity, susceptibility and specific heat under different magnetic fields (H) in Eu$_{1-x}$La$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ single crystals. It is found that a metamagnetic transition from A-type antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism occurs at a critical field for magnetic sublattice of $Eu^{2+}$. The jump of specific heat is suppressed and shifts to low temperature with increasing H up to the critical value, then shifts to high temperature with further increasing H. Such behavior supports the metamagnetic transition. Detailed H-T phase diagrams for x=0 and 0.15 crystals are given, and possible magnetic structure is proposed. Magnetoresistance measurements indicate that there exists a strong coupling between local moment of $Eu^{2+}$ and charge in Fe-As layer. These results are very significant to understand the underlying physics of FeAs superconductors.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Understanding local government debt financing of infrastructure projects in China: evidence based on accounting data from local government financing vehicles

This study develops an analytical framework to investigate the complex relationship between local government debt issuing for infrastructure financing, state control, land finance, and development activities in the private sector in China. Using local government financing vehicles’ accounting data, we find that local governments are working creatively to meet infrastructure development targets handed down by the central government. Moreover, local government financing vehicles became more responsive to development activities from the private sector in their debt issuing decisions after the regulations of local government debt issuing in 2013/14. By modelling the effect of three distinct forces, i.e., the central government, local governments, and the market, in one unified framework, our study provides reliable and practical evidence on how infrastructure financing works in China. Our research extends the studies of land finance into the infrastructure development domain. The findings are also helpful for studies on China’s land use policy under its leasehold land right system, and particularly the impacts of different land planning uses on infrastructure development

Charge ordering in charge-compensated Na0.41CoO2Na_{0.41}CoO_2 by oxonium ions

Charge ordering behavior is observed in the crystal prepared through the immersion of the $Na_{0.41}CoO_2$ crystal in distilled water. Discovery of the charge ordering in the crystal with Na content less than 0.5 indicates that the immersion in water brings about the reduction of the $Na_{0.41}CoO_2$. The formal valence of Co changes from +3.59 estimated from the Na content to +3.5, the same as that in $Na_{0.5}CoO_2$. The charge compensation is confirmed to arise from the intercalation of the oxonium ions as occurred in the superconducting sodium cobalt oxide bilayer-hydrate.\cite{takada1} The charge ordering is the same as that observed in $Na_{0.5}CoO_2$. It suggests that the Co valence of +3.5 is necessary for the charge ordering.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Repairing damaged lungs using regenerative therapy

There is an urgent need for better treatment of lung diseases that are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This urgency is illustrated by the current COVID-19 health crisis. Moderate-to-extensive lung injury characterizes several lung diseases, and not only therapies that reduce such lung injury are needed but also those that regenerate lung tissue and repair existing lung injury. At present, such therapies are not available, but as a result of a rapid increase in our understanding of lung development and repair, lung regenerative therapies are on the horizon. Here, we discuss existing targets for treatment, as well as novel strategies for development of pharmacological and cell therapy-based regenerative treatment for a variety of lung diseases and clinical studies. We discuss how both patient-relevant in vitro disease models using innovative culture techniques and other advanced new technologies aid in the development of pulmonary regenerative medicine.Pathogenesis and treatment of chronic pulmonary disease