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A theoretical attempt is made to present the unparticles contribution to the muon processes μ ± μ − → μ ± μ − , in Standard Model (SM), Randall–Sundrum (RS) model and RS model with unparticles (RS()) including scalar and vector unparticles. We evaluated the cross-sections versus the scattering angle cos θ , the kinetic energy W μ − of the outgoing muon beams, the collision energy s , the scaling dimension d and the energy scale Λ . The numerical results show that the cross-sections of two processes in RS() are much larger than in SM. The μ + and μ − beams can be accelerated and collided, producing the outgoing μ + and μ − beams as final states with large kinetic energy to probe new physics effects. The total cross-sections depend strongly on the polarization conditions of incoming muon and anti-muon beams, the scaling dimension d and the energy scale Λ . The final states of the muon collisions also depend on s of colliders and unparticles parameter: ( Λ , d ) if unparticle physics included. The results subsequently lead to the unparticle contribution as propagator significantly larger than SM and Higgs–radion propagator. Hence, it would be worthwhile probing at the future colliders when the muons become the accelerating candidates in the collisions we restricted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of different placement methods of applying slow-release fertilizer on the growth and foliar nutrients of three contrasting tree species (i.e., fast-growing Betula platyphylla and Larix kaempferi and slow-growing Chamaecyparis obtusa) to provide implications for increasing their growth and survival in marginal forest lands. We applied 84 g pot-1 of solid compound fertilizer (SCF) at different positions: no fertilization (CON), subsurface placement (SCFs), and bottom placement [35-cm depth (SCFb)] in a greenhouse condition. Results revealed that the height and RCD (root collar diameter) of the three species had the highest growth under SCFs. Total biomass across SCFs, SCFb, and CON ordered as follows 130, 72, and 28 g seedling-1 in B. platyphylla, 89, 38, and 27 g seedling-1 in L. kaempferi, and 61, 24, and 23 g seedling-1 in C. obtusa. In contrast, SCFb resulted in the highest root length across the treatments in all species. The root biomass allocation was also higher in SCFb (28%-40%) than that of SCFs (12%-24%). SCFs had higher N uptake in all species than the other treatments. In conclusion, SCFs has shown to be the most effective placement method of SCF application for increasing aboveground biomass and nutrient (N) acquisition, while SCFb was the placement effective for increasing root length and root biomass growth in all species. These results are relevant to the promotion of ecofriendly and cost-effective fertilization approach of increasing growth and survival of economically important forest tree species, especially in steep slope and erosion-prone areas or marginal forest lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a mechanism of earthquake-induced landslides with pulse-like ground motion (PLGM) based on the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method. In recent near-fault earthquake-induced landslides, the two phenomena confusing landslide researchers are observed. One is that large-scale landslides occurred in the area with small PGA but no landslide in the area with large PGA, for example, the landslides occurred during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. The other is that one side slopes collapsed while the opposite side slopes back to back remain stable. For example, most west-faced slopes collapsed while the east-faced slopes back to back remain stable in the 2018 Hokkaido earthquake. To explain the two phenomena in near-fault earthquake-induced landslides with PLGM, a symmetrical slope model subjected to different ground motions during these two earthquakes are analyzed and discussed by using the DDA method. The analysis results show that PLGM may be a major triggering factor for co-seismic landslides in the near-fault region, while PGA may not be the right parameter for the initiation of the earthquake-induced landslides. Meanwhile, the aspect of collapsed slope is related to both the velocity pulse of PLGM and strength parameters of the slope. The proposed mechanism for the earthquake-induced landslides in the near-fault region with PLGM considers both tensile and shear strengths of the slope, which can well explain the landslide initiation phenomena in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake and the 2018 Hokkaido earthquake. The relationship between PLGM and forward directivity effect is also studied in combination with two earthquake cases to more accurately clarify the mechanism of the initiation of co-seismic landslides in the near-fault region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methamphetamine use could jeopardize the current efforts to address opioid use disorder and HIV infection. Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBI) are effective in reducing methamphetamine use. However, evidence on optimal combinations of EBI is limited. This protocol presents a type-1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness of adaptive methamphetamine use interventions, and their implementation barriers in Vietnam. Method: Design: Participants will be first randomized into two frontline interventions for 12 weeks. They will then be placed or randomized to three adaptive strategies for another 12 weeks. An economic evaluation and an ethnographic evaluation will be conducted alongside the interventions. Participants: We will recruit 600 participants in 20 methadone clinics. Eligibility criteria: (1) age 16+; (2) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores ≥ 10 for methamphetamine use or confirmed methamphetamine use with urine drug screening; (3) willing to provide three pieces of contact information; and (4) having a cell phone. Outcomes: Outcomes are measured at 13, 26, and 49 weeks and throughout the interventions. Primary outcomes include the (1) increase in HIV viral suppression, (2) reduction in HIV risk behaviors, and (3) reduction in methamphetamine use. COVID-19 response: We developed a response plan for interruptions caused by COVID-19 lockdowns to ensure data quality and intervention fidelity. Discussion: This study will provide important evidence for scale-up of EBIs for methamphetamine use among methadone patients in limited-resource settings. As the EBIs will be delivered by methadone providers, they can be readily implemented if the trial demonstrates effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04706624. Registered on 13 January 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04706624 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Cr3C2-25NiCr cermet coatings were fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying on 304 stainless steel substrate. Then, the coatings were sealed with a Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion by using two methods: conventional impregnation and ultrasonic vibration. The phase composition, surface morphology, porosity, permeability of PTFE emulsion into the coating, wear and corrosion resistance of the coatings were investigated. The results showed that in the PTFE sealed coatings, besides carbide phases, a PTFE phase with an hexagonal crystal structure was formed. The PTFE covered the surface of the coating. The ultrasonic vibration method increased the permeability of the PTFE emulsion into the coating by more than 2 times that of the conventional impregnation method. The PTFE sealed coating by ultrasonic vibration method had a lower porosity, higher wear and corrosion resistances in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution than the PTFE coating sealed by conventional impregnation method and PTFE unsealed coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used in applications where inorganic material layers with uniform thickness down to the nanometer range are required. For such thicknesses, the growth mode, defining how the material is arranged on the surface during the growth, is of critical importance. In this work, the growth mode of the zirconium tetrachloride/water and the trimethyl aluminum/water ALD process on hydrogen-terminated silicon was investigated by combining information on the total amount of material deposited with information on the surface fraction of the material. The total amount of material deposited was measured by Rutherford backscattering, x-ray fluorescence, and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy, and the surface fractions by low-energy ion scattering. Growth mode modeling was made assuming two-dimensional growth or random deposition (RD), with a “shower model” of RD recently developed for ALD. Experimental surface fractions of the ALD-grown zirconium oxide and aluminum oxide films were lower than the surface fractions calculated assuming RD, suggesting the occurrence of island growth. Island growth was confirmed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements, from which the island size and number of islands per unit surface area could also be estimated. The conclusion of island growth for the aluminum oxide deposition on hydrogen-terminated silicon contradicts earlier observations. In this work, physical aluminum oxide islands were observed in TEM after 15 ALD reaction cycles. Earlier, thicker aluminum oxide layers have been analyzed, where islands have not been observed because they have already coalesced to form a continuous film. The unreactivity of hydrogen-terminated silicon surface towards the ALD reactants, except for reactive defect areas, is proposed as the origin of island growth. Consequently, island growth can be regarded as “undesired surface-selective ALD.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]