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.

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.

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

我们报导平衡在从在在东方 Ghats granulite 的 Paderu 区域的 Panasapattu 的一个新地区的 biotiteorthopyroxenegarnet granulites 的蓝宝石的 + 石英集合系上带子，哪个提供新证据为超离频温度(UHT ) 在 10301050 汵瑩獥 ? 的变态 ??? 桇瑡吗？？

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.