X-ray Scattered Halo around IGR J17544-2619

X-ray photons coming from an X-ray point source not only arrive at the detector directly, but also can be strongly forward-scattered by the interstellar dust along the line of sight (LOS), leading to a detectable diffuse halo around the X-ray point source. The geometry of small angle X-ray scattering is straightforward, namely, the scattered photons travel longer paths and thus arrive later than the unscattered ones; thus the delay time of X-ray scattered halo photons can reveal information of the distances of the interstellar dust and the point source. Here we present a study of the X-ray scattered around IGR J17544-2619, which is one of the so-called supergiant fast X-ray transients. IGR J17544-2619 underwent a striking outburst when observed with Chandra on 2004 July 3, providing a near delta-function lightcurve. We find that the X-ray scattered halo around IGR J17544-2619 is produced by two interstellar dust clouds along the LOS. The one which is closer to the observer gives the X-ray scattered at larger observational angles; whereas the farther one, which is in the vicinity of the point source, explains the halo with a smaller angular size. By comparing the observational angle of the scattered halo photons with that predicted by different dust grain models, we are able to determine the normalized dust distance. With the delay times of the scattered halo photons, we can determine the point source distance, given a dust grain model. Alternatively we can discriminate between the dust grain models, given the point source distance.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 25 pages, 9 figures, 6 table

Leveraging Micro Blogging to Build Trust by Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Pioneers in China

Similar to regions which undergo transformation from developing to developed economy, China has been facing various problems during the rapid urbanization process: loss of agricultural land, threatened food safety, and problems caused by migrant work force. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a possible solution to some of the problems. CSA is a sustainable agriculture model, and emphasizes partnership between farmers and members – citizens who are willing to become part of the farming community. In CSA model, members support the farm through advance payment or working on the farm and they share risks with farmers. In risk sharing, it is crucial to build trust between farmers and members. However, most members do not have enough information to evaluate farmers’ trustworthiness as they cannot visit farms frequently. Micro blogging technology offers farmers a new channel to communicate and interact with members. Since micro blogging platform is open, and various mobile devices make micro blogging convenient, farmers can easily keep members updated and address members’ problems timely. The embedded social networking feature also enables farmers to facilitate interactions among CSA members. In this study, we investigate how the CSA pioneers in China adopt micro bogging technology to engage their members and develop the CSA community. We analyze micro blog posts of the first CSA farm in China and we share our finding

HOW DO EXPLICITLY EXPRESSED EMOTIONS INFLUENCE INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION? A FIELD STUDY OF EMOJI’S EFFECTS ON COMMENTING AND RETWEETING ON A MICROBLOG PLATFORM

The proliferation of microblogs greatly facilitated interpersonal communication and information diffusion. Prior studies mainly examined effects of user and network characteristics on information diffusion. In this study, we examine how explicitly expressed emotions through emojis influence commenting and retweeting, two types of interactions enabled by microblogging platforms. While existent research largely focused on retweeting, we also take commenting into consideration. A distinction is made between commenting and retweeting, since commenting is more related to interpersonal communication, and retweeting is more related to information diffusion. Hypotheses are tested using data from a leading microblogging platform in China. The results show clear differences between emoji’s effects on commenting and retweeting. Overall speaking, messages with more emojis receive more comments but less retweets. Specifically, positive emojis increase the number of comments, but decrease the numbers of retweets. Similarly, negative emojis increase the number of comments, but decrease the numbers of retweets. Our findings suggest explicitly expressed emotions have different influences on interpersonal communication and information diffusion. Hence, the use of emojis in social media communication shall be catered in order to achieve desired effects

TRANSFORM FARMING WITH THE HELP OF SOCIAL MEDIA A PIONEERING CHINESE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) FARM AND ITS MICRO BLOG USA

This study explores the role of social media technology, especially micro blogging technology in the introduction of a new agricultural business model in China. As the rapid urbanization process brings challenges such as loss of agricultural land and food safety problems, some people try to address the challenges through transforming farming with a new business model, i.e. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). The CSA model emphasizes risk sharing, and requires significant trust between farmers and consumers. Yet the general public lack awareness of the model when it was first introduced, and trust among each other is quite low in the general public. Social media tools, such as the micro blogging technology, are adopted by the young CSA farmers to develop public awareness of the CSA model and cultivate consumers’ trust toward the farm. Through content analysis of micro blog posts of the CSA pioneers in China, the study contributes to our understanding of the role of micro blogging technology in transforming farming and addressing complex societal problems

Effect of Lixujieyu recipe in combination with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome

AbstractObjectiveTo observe the clinical effects of the Lixujieyu recipe combined with Five Elements music therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) identified as the symptom patterns of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MethodsPatients with CFS were randomly divided into treatment group 1 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Gong-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 2 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Jiao-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 3 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Yu-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 4 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Shang-Tune, n = 15); treatment group 5 (Lixujieyu recipe combined with Zhi-Tune, n = 15); and the control group (Lixujieyu recipe alone, n = 15). Chinese medicine was given twice daily, and music was listened to for 45 minutes daily, 5 days a week. All patients were treated for 4 weeks. Patients were assessed via the Fatigue Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale before and after treatment.ResultsTreatment groups 1 and 2 had better effects on relieving the symptoms of physical fatigue related to anxiety and depression than the control group (P < 0.05).ConclusionLixujieyu recipe combined with Gong-Tune or Jiao-Tune significantly relieved the symptoms of CFS

Effects of Gene Methylation Reprogramming in Cloned Calves Derived from In Vitro-Transfected Somatic Cells

AbstractIn vitro transfection of cultured cells combined with nuclear transfer currently is the most effective procedure to produce transgenic livestock. In the present study, bovine primary fetal fibroblasts were transfected with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter transgene and used as nuclear donor cells in oocyte reconstructions. To examine the role of host cytoplasm on transgene expression and developmental outcome, GFP-expressing fibroblasts were fused to oocytes reconstructed either metaphase or telophase activation, and PCR technology was also employed. The results showed that GFP became detectable at the 8- to 16-cell stage, approximately 80h after reconstruction, and remained positive at all later stages. Embryonic development to the blastocyst stage was not significantly different among metaphase and telophase groups. Therefore, GFP transgene technology can be used to select embryoes derived from transgenic animals

Monte Carlo simulation of light transport in dark-field confocal photoacoustic microscopy

A modified MC convolution method for integration extension of MC simulation is developed for finite photon beam with random shape of translational or rotational invariance, which is proven consistent with the conventional convolution extension of MC simulation for normal incident finite beam. The method is applied to analyze the positions of fluence foci and ratios of fluence at the focus and surface which are two key factors in the application of dark-field confocal and some interesting points are presented including: 1) The fluence profile has a saddle-like shape with highest peak in the bright field and low valley near the surface and a second rise in the center of dark field which is defined as the effective optical focus; 2) Besides a little peak near zero inner radius, the ratio of fluences at the focus and surface increases linearly with the inner radius, suggesting the large inner radius more advantageous to image at the effective optical focus; 3) The position of effective optical foci deepens linearly with the increase of the inner radius, suggesting that to get a high quality image of deeper target, a dark-field with larger size is more beneficial. But the position of fluence foci are far away from the foci of geometrical laser beam in high scattering tissue, so aligning the foci of geometrical laser beam and acoustic transducer doesn't guarantee that effective optical focus is accurately overlapping with the acoustic focus. An MC simulation with integration extension presented in this paper maybe helpful to determine where the acoustic focus should be to maximize the SNR in tissue imaging; 4) incident angle makes little difference to ratio of fluences at the focus and surface and an incident angle between 30 and 50 degrees gives the highest fluence at the effective optical focus; 5) the depth of fluence focus is insensitive to the incident angle

The Einstein Probe Mission

The Einstein Probe (EP) is a mission designed to monitor the sky in the soft X-ray band. It will perform systematic surveys and characterisation of high-energy transients and monitoring of variable objects at unprecedented sensitivity and monitoring cadences. It has a large instantaneous field-of-view (3,600 sq. deg.), that is realised via the lobster-eye micro-pore X-ray focusing optics. EP also carries a conventional X-ray focusing telescope with a larger effective area to perform followup observations and precise positioning of newly-discovered transients. Alerts for transient objects will be issued publicly and timely. The scientific goals of EP are concerned with discovering faint, distant or rare types of high-energy transients and variable sources. Within the confines of a modest-sized mission, EP will cover a wide range of scientific topics, from the nearby to high-redshift Universe. The Einstein Probe is a mission of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and also an international collaborative project. This paper presents the background, scientific objectives, and the mission design including the micro-pore optics and CMOS technologies adopted, the instruments and their expected performance, and the mission profile. The development status of the project is also presented.Comment: 29 pages, 23 figures; Invited chapter for Handbook of X-ray and Gamma-ray Astrophysics (Eds. C. Bambi and A. Santangelo, Springer Singapore, expected in 2022