Quasi-monoenergetic Tens-of-MeV Proton Beams by a Laser-Illuminated Funnel-Like Target

From numerical simulations,we study the generation of quasi-monoenergetic MeV proton beams from a laserilluminated funnel-like target.We show that,when passing through such a target,the laser beam can be focused and constricted within a cylindrical bore at the funnel apex from which proton beams are produced.Accompanied by a much-enhanced laser intensity,the proton beams experience more acceleration time than with normal funnel targets.Constriction from the cylinder bore,combined with an enhancement of a separated charge field from Al electrons,protons can attain higher energies up to several tens of MeV.At the same time,strong suppression of the transverse divergence of the laser and proton beams yields a localized,collimated,mono-energetic proton beam.

Comparative Expression Profiling of Lactogenic Hormone Receptor and It’s Signaling Molecules of Bovine Mammary Glands during lactation

Milk synthesis is known to be modulated by peptide hormones such as prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Previous studies suggested that PRL and IGF-I acted directly on mammary epithelial cells and were involved in lactation. Meanwhile, GH is thought to be indirectly involved in lactation by stimulating the secretion of IGF-I. It is controversial as growth hormone receptors (GHR) is expressed in the mammary epithelial cells. In order to clarify whether GH acted directly on mammary gland tissue, we investigated the prolactin receptors (PRLR), IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR), and GHR as well as the gene expression levels of the downstream signaling molecule for each receptor in the mammary gland tissue of Holstein cows during different stages of lactation. The results revealed that the mRNA expressions of PRLR and IGF-IR were highest during early lactation, and the mRNA expression of the GHR was highest during mid-lactation. We also found that the expression profiling of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) genes was similar to that of the GHR gene. On the other hand, the expression profiling of the PRLR gene was similar to that of the SHP2 gene. These results suggest that GH acts on the mammary glands directly, milk synthesis and secretion are chiefly stimulated in mid-lactation, and the timing of the action is different for PRL and IGF-I.

A review of home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors

As breast cancer relative survival continues to increase, many breast cancer patients face many issues, including recurrence of cancer and cancer-related side effects that impact several aspects of their quality of life. With breast cancer patients living longer, there is more of a concern for negative breast cancer outcomes. Although physical activity is an affordable and relatively convenient way to improve breast cancer outcomes, only about one-third of breast cancer survivors engage in the recommended level of physical activity. This article reviews articles published to date to examine whether home-based physical activity interventions are effective in improving physical activity and other outcomes among breast cancer survivors who have completed primary therapy for the disease. The present review is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL and relevant search terms. Articles published in English from 1980 through February 28, 2019 were identified. A total of 360 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL. After screening the abstracts or full texts of these articles and reviewing the references of previous review articles, 20 studies that met the eligibility criteria. Three of the studies were pre-/post-test trials and 17 were randomized controlled trials. Home-based exercise programs are effective in improving physical activity among breast cancer survivors who have completed primary therapy for the disease. Home-based exercise programs such as walking programs offer a convenient and affordable option for women who wish to increase their physical activity and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Reinforcement Effect and Permeability Assessment of Gravel-Tire Chips Mixture (GTCM) for Use in Marine Landfill

The number of marine landfills in Japan has increased over the past decade due to the lack of suitable land. For marine landfills, protection of the alluvium clay layer and improvement of the drainage performance in waste inflow are important aspects. In this paper, an economical construction method for these problems is proposed using gravel-tire chips mixture (GTCM) as the horizontal reinforcement and drainage medium beneath the waste. The content and particle size of tire chips mixed with gravel are essential factors that affect the bearing capacity and permeability of the reinforcement layer. Therefore, a series of permeability tests are conducted using newly developed large-scale triaxial compression and permeability test apparatus to investigate the effect of tire chips particle size, the mass proportion of tire chips (MPTC), and triaxial stress on the permeability of GTCM. In addition, the effectiveness of this technique is evaluated by numerical simulations. The experimental results confirm that the shear strength of GTCM is influenced by tire chips content. Furthermore, permeability coefficient of GTCM is on the order of 0.02 cm/s to 0.08 cm/s, which is higher than the tolerable level of permeability of drainage layer in landfills. GTCM sample shows excellent permeability even on higher compression. Moreover, the Non-Darcy flow properties of GTCM (non-linear) are introduced in this study, and an approximate power function relationship between the permeability coefficient and the non-Darcy flow coefficient is developed. The numerical results confirm that GTCM performs better than the sand, a traditional reinforcement material.

Sapphirine granulites from Panasapattu,Eastern Ghats belt,India:Ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism in a Proterozoic convergent plate margin

We report equilibrium sapphirine ＋ quartz assemblage in biotite-orthopyroxene-garnet granulites from a new locality in Panasapattu of Paderu region in the Eastern Ghats granulite belt, which provide new evidence for ultrahigh-temperature （UHT） metamorphism at 1030-1050 ℃ and 10 kbar in this region. The development of migmatitic texture, stabilization of the garnet-orthopyroxene- plagioclase-K-feldspar association, prograde biotite inclusions within garnet and sapphirine as well as sapphirine and cordierite inclusions within garnet in these granulites indicate that the observed peak assemblages probably formed during prograde dehydration melting of a Bt-Sill-Qtz assemblage, and constrain the prograde stage of the p--T path. The core domains of orthopyroxene porphyroblasts have up to w（Al203） 9.6%, which suggest that the temperatures reached up to 1150 ~C suggesting extreme crustal metamorphism. These conditions were also confirmed by the garnet-orthopyroxene thermobar- ometery, which yields a p--T range of 1012--960 ~C and 9.4 kbar. The p--T phase topologies computed using isochemical sections calculated in the model system Na20-CaO-K20--FeO-MgO-A1203-SiO2 --H2O （NCKFMASH） for metapelites, garnet-free sapphirine granulites and garnet-bearing sapphirine granulites match the melt-bearing assemblages observed in these rocks. Isochemical sections constructed in the NCKFMASH system for an average sub-aluminous metapelite bulk composition, and contoured for modal proportions of melt and garnet, as well as for the compositional isopleths of garnet, predict phase and reaction relations that are consistent with those observed in the rocks. Garnet and orthopyroxene contain Ti-rich phlogopite inclusions, suggesting formation by prograde melting reactions at the expense of phlogopite during ultrahigh-temperature conditions. These p--T results underestimate ＇peak＇ condi- tions, in part as a result of the modification of garnet compositions in the domains where some melt was retained. The post-peak evolution is constrained by a succession of melt-present reactions that occur at p 〈 10 kbar, inferred from micro-structural relations among various minerals. After high-temperature decompression from the metamorphic peak, the p--T path followed a near isobaric cooling stage to T 〈 900℃. The UHT rocks investigated in this study occur within a continental collision suture which witnessed prolonged subduction-accretion history prior to the final collision. We correlate the extreme metamorphism and the stabilization of UHT mineral assemblages to heat and volatile input from an upwelled asthenosphere during subduction--collision tectonics in a Proterozoic convergent plate margin.

Context dependent song-flight performance and timing in the Black-headed Bunting(Emberiza melanocephala)

Many songbirds produce song-flights;however,the function,vocal and motor characteristics,as well as the diel and seasonal variation of song-flight in songbirds remain not well understood.Here,we studied two types of song-flight in male Black-headed Buntings(Emberiza melanocephala),the Moth—a standard,i.e.,perch song produced during a horizontal flight,and the Towering—a specifically structured song produced during a complex ascending and descending flight.While perch song,used during Moth flight,has already been described,here we provide the first description and sonogram representation of the more elaborate and less stereotyped Towering song.While males started to perform Moth song-flights as soon as they arrived at the breeding site,Towering did not start before the female arrival.Males usually delivered spontaneous Moth song-flights before chasing rivals or undertaking aerial fights,suggesting Moth is directed towards conspecific males and serves as a threat display.Furthermore,playback of conspecific perch songs triggered males to approach the loudspeaker with Moth song-flights.The Towering started after females arrived at the breeding site,suggesting the Towering is directed towards conspecific females.We detected a seasonal difference in the peak Towering rate between forenoon and afternoon,suggesting that Towerings performed at different times of the day have different functions.Forenoon Towerings were strongly positively related to the number of fertile females at the breeding site,while afternoon Towerings peaked very early in the breeding season and coincided with the number of females at the breeding site before the onset of nest-building.These results provide evidence that birds can direct different types of song-flight towards different receivers and suggest the possibility that time of the day determines the context of the display,namely to attract social mates or solicit copulation.Further work is needed to account for the effect of between male variability in song-flight rate,as well as in height/steepness of flight or song quality.

Structural Gender Inequality and Mental Health among Chinese Men and Women

Little is known about the association between structural gender inequality and health in patriarchal China.This study employed a sample from the Chinese Women’s Social Status,consisting of 26,139 participants aged 18 and 70 years(13,494 women and 12,645 men).Structural gender inequality was assessed at the macro-,meso-,and micro-levels.Mental health was measured by the summed scores of eight questions on depressive symptoms.Multilevel linear regression was applied for analysis.Results showed that total sex ratio at birth was associated with poorer mental health among women and men but sex ratio at birth of the second-born child predicted better mental health.Gender inequality at meso-level resulted in poorer mental health and gender inequality at micro-level was associated with poorer mental health both for men and women.Eliminating structural gender inequality promotes populations’mental health in China.

Free-ranging dogs match a human’s preference in a foraging task

Social learning is a mechanism used by many species to effciently gain information about their environment.Although many animals live in an environment where members of other species are present,little is known about interspecifc social learning.Domesticated and urbanized species provide the opportunity to investigate whether nonhuman animals can learn from heterospecifcs such as humans,who are integral parts of their social landscape.Although domestic dogs Canis familiaris have been intensively researched for their ability to learn from humans,most studies have focused on dogs living as pets.However,free-ranging dogs represent the majority of the world’s dog population,they live alongside humans,scavenge on human refuse,and are subject to natural and sexual selection.Thus,free-ranging dogs with extensive exposure to humans and their artifacts provide the opportunity to investigate interspecifc social learning in a naturalistic setting,where learning from humans might be a beneft for them.Here we tested individual free-ranging dogs in a between-subject design:Dogs in the control group could spontaneously choose between two novel and differently patterned food-delivering boxes.In the experimental group,instead,dogs could frst observe an unfamiliar human approaching and eating from 1 of the 2 boxes.We provide the frst evidence that free-ranging dogs match the choice of an unfamiliar human.These results show that at least simple forms of interspecifc social learning might be involved in dogs’success in living alongside humans in a complex urbanized environment.

Mucormycosis during COVID-19 era:A retrospective assessment

In a retrospective view,this review examines the impact of mucormycosis on health workers and researchers during the COVID era.The diagnostic and treatment challenges arising from unestablished underlying pathology and limited case studies add strain to healthcare systems.Mucormycosis,caused by environmental molds,poses a significant threat to COVID-19 patients,particularly those with comorbidities and compromised immune systems.Due to a variety of infectious Mucorales causes and regionally related risk factors,the disease’s inci-dence is rising globally.Data on mucormycosis remains scarce in many countries,highlighting the urgent need for more extensive research on its epidemiology and prevalence.This review explores the associations between COVID-19 disease and mucormycosis pathology,shedding light on potential future diagnostic techniques based on the fungal agent’s biochemical components.Medications used in ICUs and for life support in ventilated patients have been reported,revealing the challenge of managing this dual onslaught.To develop more effective treatment strategies,it is crucial to identify novel pharmacological targets through“pragmatic”multicenter trials and registries.In the absence of positive mycology culture data,early clinical detection,prompt treatment,and tissue biopsy are essential to confirm the specific morphologic features of the fungal agent.This review delves into the history,pathogens,and pathogenesis of mucormycosis,its opportunistic nature in COVID or immunocompromised individuals,and the latest advancements in therapeutics.Additionally,it offers a forward-looking perspective on potential pharmacological targets for future drug development.