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This paper evaluates the perceptions of effectiveness, from those working within ARC (Assisting Rehabilitation through Collaboration); the National Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Programme in Lincolnshire. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 professionals from either the ARC core team, partner agencies, or police inspectors external to ARC. The data was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Participants identified six key themes relating to the perceived effectiveness of ARC; the ARC Cohort; ARC staff; barriers; outcomes; partnerships; and the wider policing staff. The barriers faced by the ARC implementation are also faced by other IOM programmes. The core features identified to strengthen IOM implementation are better access to housing and improving mental health provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a sealed electromagnetic relay, the change in the surface roughness mainly depends on the collision wear between the contact and the moving reed and the ablation effect of the arc on the contact surface based on the strong correlation between the contact resistance and the surface roughness of the Ag-Mg-Ni contact. With a change in contact resistance, the contact temperature increase in a hermetically sealed electromagnetic relay (HSER) is greatly affected. Under extreme overload conditions, the contact surface is severely ablated by the arc, and the roughness increases rapidly with the number of cycles, which greatly affects the contact resistance of the contact surface and the reliability of the relay. A thermal model of a relay contact system based on the surface roughness of Ag-Mg-Ni contacts was established in this paper by analyzing the effect of an arc on the surface roughness of Ag-Mg-Ni contacts under heavy overload conditions. The arc image of the Ag-Mg-Ni contact was recorded using a double-axis arc photographing platform, and the moving track of the arc center under overload conditions was drawn. This paper explored the patterns of arc center movement on the contact surface and the effects of the arc on the surface roughness of the contacts by analyzing the probabilities of the arc center appearing in various locations. A mathematical model correlating the number of contact cycles with contact resistance was established. Subsequently, a finite element simulation model for the equivalent heat source of the contact was developed. The theoretical model error was less than 10%. The accuracy of the equivalent heat source model was verified by comparing the measured data with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CircRNA plays a regulatory role in multiple life processes. Circ_0122396 could participate in the regulation of age-related cataract (ARC) progression. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of circ_0122396 In ARC remain enigmatic. Methods: Circ_0122396, microRNA (miR)-23a-3p, and matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-16 (MMP16) expression levels were detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was used to detect the levels of MMP16 and apoptosis-related proteins. Cell counting kit-8 analysis and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay were used to assess human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) proliferation. Flow cytometry was performed to determine cell apoptosis. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were measured using commercial kits. Luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and RNA pull-down assay were used to examine the interaction among circ_0122396, miR-23a-3p, and MMP16. Results: Circ_0122396 and MMP16 were down-regulated while miR-23a-3p was up-regulated in ARC. H2O2 constrained proliferation and GSH-PX level, promotes apoptosis and MDA level in HLECs, and overexpression of circ_0122396 attenuated these effects. miR-23a-3p was a direct target of circ_0122396, and MMP16 was a direct target of miR-23a-3p. The effect of circ_0122396 overexpression on H2O2-induced HLECs was reversed by miR-23a-3p, and MMP16 elevation overturned the impacts of miR-23a-3p in H2O2-induced HLECs. Conclusions: Circ_0122396 may regulate the progression of ARC via the miR-23a-3p/MMP16 pathway in H2O2-stimulated HLECs, which may serve as a potentially valuable biomarker and novel therapeutic target for ARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cotton Textile Technology is the property of Cotton Textile Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Orthodontie Française is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The modernization that is currently taking over across the world is resulting in numerous advancements in a variety of industries, and the most notable and apparent development is the rising use of solar energy, which has become more prevalent every day. Most companies, residences, schools, and other organizations rely mostly on solar energy as the main source of electricity. It was discovered that anti-reflective coating (ARC) had been applied to solar cells with the goal of increasing power conversion efficiency, decreasing reflection loss, and improving absorption. Although a single layer of ARC is sufficient, applying an additional layer might improve the solar cell application's effectiveness. Hence, the modeling and analysis of double layers of anti-reflection coating (ARC) with different types of materials have been investigated and evaluated using personal computer one-dimensional (PC1D) simulation software. In this study, the double-layer anti-reflection coating on the solar cell was modeled using PC1D, where this software allowed for one-dimensional simulation of the parameters required for the operation of semiconductor-based solar energy systems. The PC1D simulation reveals that SiO2/TiO2 has the highest efficiency (22.82%) and lowest reflection compared to Si3N4/TiO2 and ZnO/TiO2. Also, SiO2/TiO2 generates the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) among ARC double layers, making it ideal for silicon solar cell applications in order to boost the solar cell's efficiency. The results for the effects of current, voltage, reflection, and EQE of the different double layers of ARC have also been studied in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devonian successions in the Calliope and Yarrol provinces of the northern New England Orogen in central to northern Queensland have a lithological assemblage and depositional environments indicative of a close association with a subduction-related volcanic arc. These rocks have been interpreted as related to island arc and backarc settings based on geochemical characteristics of magmatic rocks. We present new detrital zircon ages from the Devonian to lower Carboniferous successions of the Calliope and Yarrol province successions. Most samples have no or relatively few zircon grains extracted except for samples of quartz-rich sandstone in the Middle Devonian Erebus beds of Hunter Island, located 160 km north-northwest of Rockhampton and another sample in the Rockhampton district. The samples with abundant zircon, and some with less common zircon, have prominent peaks of mid Cambrian to Ordovician ages and are consistent with derivation from the northern Thomson Orogen where igneous rocks of this age are documented in the Charters Towers Province. These data indicate a connection between the Devonian arc-flank deposits of the northern New England Orogen and the Thomson Orogen, which had previously been well established for Carboniferous deep-marine sandstones of the subduction complex (e.g. Shoalwater Formation). These results favour an east-facing continental margin arc setting in the Devonian contra to intra-oceanic island arc settings previously proposed. Detrital zircon age spectra from sampled early Carboniferous units of northern New England Orogen association indicate a pulse of felsic magmatism of that age. KEY POINTS: Devonian quartz-rich sandstones from the northern New England Orogen have abundant detrital zircon ages of mid Cambrian to Ordovician indicating a provenance connection with the Charters Towers Province of the northern Thomson Orogen. These results confirm a provenance linkage to Gondwana and imply that the Devonian tectonic setting was a continental margin arc and associated forearc basinal infill. Geochemical comparisons suggesting an island arc setting have overly influenced previous tectonic interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex pathophysiological process, and increasing attention has been paid to the important role of post‐synaptic density (PSD) proteins, such as glutamate receptors. Our previous study showed that a PSD protein Arc/Arg3.1 (Arc) regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neuronal necroptosis in traumatic injury in vitro. Aim: In this study, we investigated the expression, regulation and biological function of Arc in both in vivo and in vitro experimental TBI models. Results: Traumatic neuronal injury (TNI) induced a temporal upregulation of Arc in cortical neurons, while TBI resulted in sustained increase in Arc expression up to 24 h in rats. The increased expression of Arc was mediated by the activity of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), but not dependent on the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release. By using inhibitors and antagonists, we found that TNI regulates Arc expression via Gq protein and protein turnover. In addition, overexpression of Arc protects against TBI‐induced neuronal injury and motor dysfunction both in vivo and in vitro, whereas the long‐term cognitive function was not altered. To determine the role of Arc in mGluR5‐induced protection, lentivirus‐mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection was performed to knockdown Arc expression. The mGluR5 agonist (RS)‐2‐chloro‐5‐hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG)‐induced protection against TBI was partially prevented by Arc knockdown. Furthermore, the CHPG‐induced attenuation of Ca2+ influx after TNI was dependent on Arc activation and followed regulation of AMPAR subunits. The results of Co‐IP and Ca2+ imaging showed that the Arc‐Homer1 interaction contributes to the CHPG‐induced regulation of intracellular Ca2+ release. Conclusion: In summary, the present data indicate that the mGluR5‐mediated Arc activation is a protective mechanism that attenuates neurotoxicity following TBI through the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ hemostasis. The AMPAR‐associated Ca2+ influx and ER Ca2+ release induced by Homer1‐IP3R pathway might be involved in this protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of renewable energy sources to replace conventional energy sources like fossil fuels is essential. Solar panels are the most widespread technology for clear energy production. However, is crucial to raise the efficiency of solar panels. A large portion of sunlight is reflected by the front surface of the panel and thus the use of an Anti-Reflecting Coating (ARC) has become significant in raising the efficiency of solar panels, through reducing the reflection losses. The ARCs made of natural extracts were utilized to improve the efficiency of Silicon solar panels. The natural extracts were produced from Kailashpati fruit juice and Badminton ball tree flower powder. In the synthesis of these natural extracts, monometallic gallium chloride nanoparticles were used to check their effect on the efficiency of solar power generation. The novelty of this paper is the attempt to mathematically calculate the absorbance of the ARCs, at a particular wavelength, with the use of the refractive indices and thicknesses of ideal ARCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has gained popularity especially in photovoltaic applications, owing to its transparency in the visible region, and scratch resistance. In this work, the potential of TiO2 as a capping layer for c-Si p-type SiNx passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cells is studied through extensive optical and device simulations. The bifacial PERC solar cell model used in this study is calibrated with an experimental device having an efficiency of 22.19%. Device simulation results show that TiO2 deposited by the mesoporous technique outperforms atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD)-based TiO2 layers when capped over SiNx (n = 2.1) passivated solar cells. Furthermore, it is shown that the efficiency of SiNx (n = 2.1)/TiO2 based solar cells is maintained, even when the TiO2 layer thickness varies from 75 to 95 nm. To enhance the efficiency further, the type of SiNx layer (characterized by the n value), and the thicknesses of SiNx and TiO2 layers are optimized simultaneously to find the best combination of these parameters. The best front side solar cell efficiency of 22.43%, is obtained when a stack of SiNx(n = 1.99)/TiO2 (t = 58/76 nm) is used. Similarly, a rear side efficiency of 16.59% is achieved when the rear side Al2O3/SiNx stack is capped with mesoporous TiO2. These efficiencies are 0.24 and 1.25% higher, respectively, when compared to the original SiNx passivated PERC solar cell, demonstrating the prospective of using TiO2 in encapsulant-free commercial photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular visual displays from the aurora come from curtains of excited atoms and molecules, impacted by energetic charged particles. These particles are accelerated from great distances in Earth's magnetotail, causing them to precipitate into the ionosphere. Energetic particle precipitation is associated with currents that generate electric fields, and the end result is a dissipation of the hundreds of gigawatts to terrawatts of energy injected into Earth's atmosphere during geomagnetic storms. While much is known about how the aurora dissipates energy through Joule heating, little is known about how it does so via small‐scale plasma turbulence. Here we show the first set of combined radar and optical images that track the position of this turbulence, relative to particle precipitation, with high spatial precision. During two geomagnetic storms occurring in 2021, we unambiguously show that small‐scale turbulence (several meters) is preferentially created on the edges of auroral forms. We find that turbulence appears both poleward and equatorward of auroral forms, as well as being nestled between auroral forms in the north‐south direction. These measurements make it clear that small scale auroral plasma turbulence is an integral part of the electrical current system created by the aurora, in the sense that turbulent transport around auroral forms enhances ionospheric energy deposition through Joule heating while at the same time reducing the average strength of the electric field. Plain Language Summary: The aurora continuous to amaze the inhabitants and travelers of Earth's polar regions. Bright shifting folds of light extend down from the nightsky, appearing as green, red, or faint‐blue curtains. During geomagnetic storms the are particularly bright and dynamic, often visible in large parts of the inhabited globe. However, far from being simple displays of light, the aurora can wreak havoc on the thin gas of Earth's upper atmosphere. There, gigantic swirls of electric turbulence are excited in response to the energy that is being pumped into the atmosphere by the aurora. This plasma turbulence is detrimental to satellite communication, such as the principle operation of the GPS network, and future efforts are sorely needed to understand the when and how this turbulence appears. We present a series of photographical and radar‐based images of the aurora and its plasma turbulence, shedding light on the complex relationship between the two phenomena. The images and videos we present are accessible and interesting to a public readership. Key Points: Small‐scale auroral plasma turbulence is created preferably outside of but not far from optical auroral formsTurbulence appears both poleward and equatorward of auroral arcsStrong electric fields that trigger meter‐size E region turbulence are sometimes seen before the onset of optical aurora [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the research gap concerning the risks associated with 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) and to mitigate the potential for 1,3-DNB accidents, this study investigates the thermal hazards associated with 1,3-DNB under various conditions following a major accident scenario. Firstly, the thermal characteristic data of pure 1,3-DNB and under impurities conditions were obtained by experimental methods (TG-DSC, HPDSC, ARC). Next, the thermal decomposition kinetics was analyzed. Then, the mechanism of impurity action was explored by density functional theory (DFT). The findings revealed that 1,3 did not show thermal hazards under the open system. However, due to its high vapor pressure and toxicity attention should still be paid to its management. Conversely, 1,3-DNB exhibited significant exothermic properties in a closed system, posing a severe risk of explosion. Finally, when exposed to mixed acids and m-nitrochlorobenzene, 1,3-DNB demonstrated a heightened likelihood of thermal decomposition, while m-dichlorobenzene contributed to its stability. The reason was that different impurities affect the Mulliken charge, Fukui index, and frontier orbital of 1,3-DNB in distinct ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pivotal role of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the emotional modulation of hippocampal plasticity and memory consolidation is well-established. Specifically, multiple studies have demonstrated that the activation of the noradrenergic (NA) system within the BLA governs these modulatory effects. However, most current evidence has been obtained by direct infusion of synthetic NA or beta-adrenergic agonists. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of endogenous NA release in the BLA, induced by a natural aversive stimulus (coyote urine), on memory consolidation for a low-arousing, hippocampal-dependent task. Our experiments combined a weak object location task (OLT) version with subsequent mild predator odor exposure (POE). To investigate the role of endogenous NA in the BLA in memory modulation, a subset of the animals (Wistar rats) was treated with the non-selective beta-blocker propranolol at the end of the behavioral procedures. Hippocampal tissue was collected 90 min after drug infusion or after the OLT test, which was performed 24 h later. We used the obtained samples to estimate the levels of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc)—two molecular markers of experience-dependent changes in neuronal activity. The result suggests that POE has the potential to become a valuable behavioral paradigm for studying the interaction between BLA and the hippocampus in memory prioritization and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents a comprehensive numerical investigation aimed at enhancing the absorption parameters of silicon-based metamaterial inspired solar cells with anti-reflection layer integrated. This work employs the robust Finite Element Method (FEM) and introduces an Anti-Reflection Layer (ARC) into the solar cell device structure. The focal point of the investigation is a sophisticated unit solar cell design comprising a metamaterial-infused silicon layer enveloped by an essential layer of Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) ARC, and a bi-layer silicon structure serving as a PN junction. Utilizing the capabilities of ANSYS HFSS software, the study conducts elaborate simulations to examine the absorptivity properties of this complex configuration. The results remarkably showcase an absorption efficiency exceeding 75% across an expansive frequency range spanning from 490THz to 625THz. This significant achievement underscores the immense potential of this integrated approach, demonstrating its viability for achieving superior efficiency in converting incident electromagnetic waves into valuable solar energy across a diverse spectrum of frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brain responds to experience through modulation of synaptic transmission, that is synaptic plasticity. An increase in the strength of synaptic transmission is manifested as long-term potentiation (LTP), while a decrease in the strength of synaptic transmission is expressed as long-term depression (LTD). Most of the studies of synaptic plasticity have been carried out by induction via electrophysiological stimulation. It is largely unknown in which behavioural tasks such synaptic plasticity occurs. Moreover, some stimuli can induce both LTP and LTD, thus making it difficult to separately study the different forms of synaptic plasticity. Two studies have shown that an aversive memory task – inhibitory avoidance learning and contextual fear conditioning – physiologically and selectively induce LTP and an LTP-like molecular change, respectively, in the hippocampus in vivo. Here, we show that a non-aversive behavioural task – exploration of new space – physiologically and selectively elicits a biochemical change in the hippocampus that is a hallmark of LTP. Specifically, we found that exploration of new space induces an increase in the phosphorylation of GluA1(Ser831), without affecting the phosphorylation of GluA1(Ser845), which are biomarkers of early-LTP and not NMDAR-mediated LTD. We also show that exploration of new space engenders the phosphorylation of the translational regulator S6K and the expression of Arc, which are features of electrophysiologically-induced late-LTP in the hippocampus. Therefore, our results show that exploration of new space is a novel non-aversive behavioural paradigm that elicits molecular changes in vivo that are analogous to those occurring during early- and late-LTP, but not during NMDAR-mediated LTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel methodology has been established which allows to recycle steel slag as a suitable flux for submerged arc welding. The flux produced using waste slag as a raw material has been applied to deposit beads on plates. The bead geometry is dependent on welding parameters; hence optimization of parameters is essential. In this cut throat competition, researchers are striving to minimize the cost of experimentation using various experimental and optimization techniques to reduce number of experiments for save time, money, and resources. In this article various techniques have been explored for better optimized results. The welding parameters have been optimized to obtain desired bead geometry using various optimization techniques such as genetic and teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm, and desirability. It was observed that the genetic algorithm technique provides better results having a minimum error of penetration, bead width, and reinforcement (i.e. 1.12%, 1.83%, and 2.46%, respectively), as compared with other techniques applied. It is further observed that flux manufactured from waste slag is capable to produce desired bead profile which is similar with that of the fresh flux. Recycled slag is capable to produce optimum bead geometry having maximum penetration of 11.52 mm, bead width 20.73 mm, and reinforcement 3.24 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation of titanium and silicon oxides in the melt of quartz–leucoxene concentrate of the Yarega deposit under diffuse arc heating was investigated. Melting was carried out in argon at atmospheric pressure at direct current in a graphite crucible with an arc power of ≈25 kW. The crucible with the material was the anode of the arc. The arc heating was dispersed by applying an axial magnetic field. At the same time, a diffuse anode spot with a current density of 8 A/cm2 was formed on the surface of the material. The current–voltage parameters of the diffuse arc were investigated. As a result of melting, an oxide ingot consisting of two phases was obtained, one of which is enriched in titanium oxide, and the other in silicon oxide. However, the separation of these oxides did not occur completely because of the high cooling rate of the melt. Despite the low current density in the heating spot, the melt evaporated intensely. Evaporation occurred congruently. Owing to the high temperature of the bath mirror, no volatile titanium oxide evaporated along with the volatile silicon oxide. Condensation of the evaporated material occurred selectively. A condensate consisting almost entirely of SiO2 was formed in the form of powder on the cooled surfaces near the crucible. The specific surface area of the powder was 120 m2/g. The evaporated TiO2 was removed with the exhaust gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working memory (WM) is a cognitive function important for guiding the on‐going or upcoming behavior. A memory‐related protein Arc (activity‐regulated cytoskeleton‐associated protein) is implicated in long‐term memory consolidation. Recent evidence further suggests the involvement of hippocampal Arc in spatial WM. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a key brain region mediating WM. However, the role of mPFC Arc in WM is still uncertain. To investigate whether mPFC Arc protein is involved in WM performance, delayed non‐match to sample (DNMS) T‐maze task was performed in rats with or without blocking new synthesis of mPFC Arc. In DNMS task, a 10‐s or 30‐s delay between the sample run and the choice run was given to evaluate WM performance. To block new Arc protein synthesis during the DNMS task, Arc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were injected to the bilateral mPFC. The results show that, in rats without surgery for cannula implantation and subsequent intracerebral injection of ODNs, WM was functioning well during the DNMS task with a delay of 10 s but not 30 s, which was accompanied with a significantly increased level of mPFC Arc protein, indicating a possible link between enhanced Arc protein expression and the performance of WM. After preventing the enhancement of mPFC Arc protein expression with Arc antisense ODNs, rat's WM performance was impaired. These findings support enhanced mPFC Arc protein expression playing a role during WM performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A current-limiting and consequent direct current (DC) arc interruption requires an increase in arc resistance r a r c for a DC fuse. Flattery silica (SiO2) sand has been used as an arc quenching medium in fuses for decades. However, there are few reports about a novel arc quenching medium which enables more r a r c increases compared to flattery SiO2 sand. This paper uniquely selected a novel arc quenching medium based on the following material properties: (1) electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity in the solid phase, (2) the possibility of r a r c increasing in the gas phase, (3) the possibility of electrical insulation after re-solidification, and (4) the cost of materials. As a result, we originally selected a powder mixture of silicon-nitride (Si3N4) and flattery SiO2 sand as a promising novel arc quenching medium. Therefore, DC interruption experiments were performed using a Si3N4/flattery SiO2 sand powder mixture under different Si3N4 concentration conditions. As a result of 1000 A DC arc quenching experiments, the utilization of Si3N4 powder with the flattery SiO2 sand successfully increased the arc resistance r a r c during the arc quenching process. The increasing Si3N4 concentration exhibited a further increase in r a r c during the arc quenching process. As a result of the r a r c increase, the arc quenching time was significantly shortened to 30 ms for 30 wt.% Si3N4 conditions from 54 ms for the SiO2 sand conditions. In addition, utilization of Si3N4 powder achieved high insulation resistance over few MΩ after DC arc interruption. The above results clearly indicate that utilization of Si3N4 powder with flattery SiO2 sand can increase the DC interruption performance of the fuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the electrical safety problem of a high-voltage lithium-ion battery system caused by an arc, and based on the establishment of a battery arc fault experimental platform, the evolution law of safety caused by an arc in the negative terminal of a battery system under different working conditions is discussed. On this basis, a battery arc evolution model based on magnetohydrodynamics is established to analyze the arc's electro-thermal coupling characteristics to further obtain the distribution of the arc's multi-physical field. The results show that the arc generated by the high-voltage grade battery pack will break down the cell's shell and form a hole, resulting in electrolyte leakage. When the loop current is 10 A, the evolution law of arc voltage and current is basically the same under different supply voltages, charges, and discharges. The accuracy of the battery arc simulation model is verified by comparing the simulation with the experimental results. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the electrical safety design of lithium-ion batteries caused by the arc, fills the gaps in the field of battery system arc simulation, and is of great significance for improving the safety performance of arc protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated if acylated ghrelin (AG) could inhibit myocardial infarction (MI)-induced apoptosis in the left ventricles (LV) of male rats and tested if this protection involves modulating ARC anti-apoptotic protein. Rats (n = 12/group) were assigned as a sham-operated, a sham + AG (100 µg/kg, 2x/d, S.C.), MI, and MI + AG. With no antioxidant activity or expression of FAS, AG inhibited caspase-3, 8, and 9 and decreased cytosolic/mitochondrial levels of cytochrome-c, Bax, Bad, and Bad-BCL-2 complex in the LVs of the sham-operated and MI-treated rats. Concomitantly, AG preserved the mitochondria structure, decreased mtPTP, and enhanced state-3 respiration in the LVs of both treated groups. These effects were associated with increased mitochondrial levels of ARC and a reduction in the activity of calcineurin. Overall, AG suppresses MI-induced ventricular apoptosis by inhibition of calcineurin, activation of ARC, and preserving mitochondria integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mali Médical is the property of Mali Medical, Faculte de Medecine, de Pharmacie et d'Odonto-stomatologie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Electric Drive for Locomotives is the property of Electric Drive for Locomotives Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Macrocrysts (large crystals) in magmas offer a premier record of pre‐eruptive magma storage conditions encoded in their chemistry and texture. Careful study of macrocryst zoning can deconvolve the conditions of crystal growth and the relative time a magma spends in a given physical‐chemical state prior to eruption. Importantly, identifying discrete macrocryst zones requires consideration of both chemistry and texture simultaneously. Here, we employ a novel image segmentation approach to characterize zoning from 2D chemical maps of plagioclase macrocrysts. We apply the method to 15 volcanic eruptions, across three stratigraphic sections, to track statistical differences in crystal zoning through relative time at an arc volcano (Mount Liamuiga, Saint Kitts). Plagioclase from the 15 eruptions are described by 7 unique textural‐chemical zoning populations, which we term "zoning groups," each of which has a unique An# fingerprint. Two of the studied stratigraphic sections overwhelmingly record low‐An# zoning groups (ZGs), whereas the other section records mostly high‐An# ZGs, suggestive of two distinct storage conditions. Using observations from equilibrium experiments relevant to Saint Kitts bulk magma compositions, we show that differences in melt H2O are the primary drivers of the An# variability. Negative whole rock K2O versus predicted H2O trends are suggestive of ubiquitous H2O‐saturated conditions throughout the middle and upper crust, with a correlation between H2O‐saturated storage pressure (Psat) and eruptive dynamics; magmas stored in the upper‐crust (0.48 ± 0.28–1.08 ± 0.45 kbar) produce larger‐volume, pumice‐rich eruptions compared to magmas stored in the middle crust (3.29 ± 0.87–3.88 ± 1.05 kbar) which generally produce smaller‐volume, centimeter to decimeter‐thick fall deposits. Plain Language Summary: The physical and chemical conditions under which a magma, a mixture of liquid melt and solid crystals, is stored in the Earth's crust determines how it erupts on Earth's surface. A reliable record of these pre‐eruptive conditions is the complex zoning inside crystals, which consist of textural‐chemical patterns that are interpretable by petrologists. Here, we study a series of volcanic eruptions from Mount Liamuiga (Saint Kitts, Lesser Antilles) and focus on the mineral plagioclase which is present in all samples. A novel image segmentation approach was used to rapidly break down 624 crystals from 15 volcanic samples into coherent zones. By combining plagioclase zoning data with published experimental observations, we identified two distinct pre‐eruptive magma storage regions, namely a deeper (∼3.5 kbar) and a shallower (∼1 kbar) region. Over the entire pressure range, magmas are shown to coexist with a volatile phase, which has implications for the physical properties of the Earth's crust in which these magmas are stored. Shallower stored magmas produce larger‐volume, pumice‐rich eruptions compared to magmas stored deeper, which generally produce smaller‐volume centimeter‐thick to decimeter‐thick fall deposits. The information we gather is important for interpreting the monitoring signals of future volcanic unrest on Saint Kitts. Key Points: Our image segmentation method identifies zoning features in 624 plagioclase crystals that are correlated across 15 volcanic eruptionsNegatively correlated whole rock K2O and pre‐eruptive H2O demonstrates that H2O‐saturated conditions were ubiquitous prior to eruptionLarger‐volume deposits record shallower storage (0.6–0.7 kbar) than the commonest centimetric fall deposits (3.3–3.9 kbar) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of polarity and shielding gases on the droplet transfer behavior and formation trend of cable-type welding wire gas metal arc welding was studied under the same welding parameters. An acquisition system was used to observe welding parameters, droplet transfer and arc behavior. The results showed that the arc shapes with different polarities under the same shielding gas were different. The arc length and width in direct current electrode positive (DCEP) mode were smaller than those in direct current electrode negative (DCEN) mode. For the same polarity and different shielding gases, with increasing CO2 gas content, the arc length and width gradually decreased. In DCEP mode, droplet transfer was characterized by globular and projected droplet transfer modes. The droplet transfer modes with different polarities differed under different shielding gases. The droplet transfer mode was basically the same for the same polarity. With increasing CO2 content, the weld bead formation gradually improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arc beads generated from metal conductors by arc discharges have a risk of causing fires when contacting the combustibles. In this work, the process of arc bead generation from conductors due to arc discharge was investigated experimentally. The copper conductors with four different diameters (1.5, 2.5, 4, 6 mm2) were chosen to produce arc beads by the arc discharges with currents from 60 to 220 A. It was observed that the arc bead was generated when its gravity overcame the surface tension between the arc bead and the conductor. The diameter of the arc bead was found to increase with the conductor diameter, and an expression was established to describe this relationship. It was also found that the minimum discharge time required for the arc bead formation was negatively correlated with the discharge current, but positively correlated with the conductor diameter. The findings of this work help assess the ignition risk caused by arc beads [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: This research aimed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of interval training and the use of cineole, linalool, and bourbonene on MAPK/Arc gene expression and learning in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 AD rats were randomized into eight groups, including (1) control, (2) AD, (3) AD+aerobic training (AT), (4) AD+linalool, cineole, and bourbonene (LCB), (5) AD+AT+LCB, (6) AT+AD, (7) LCB+AD, and (8) AT+LCB+AD. AD was induced by injecting amyloid-beta (Aβ1)-42 into the hippocampus of rats. The interval training protocol was performed five days per week for eight weeks before and after AD induction. Linalool at a concentration of 25 mg/kg, cineole at a concentration of 10 µM, and β-bourbonene at a concentration of 10 µg/mL were used for eight weeks. One-way analysis of variance was used for between-group comparisons, and Tukey’s test was used for pairwise comparisons at P≤0.05. Results: AD induction caused a significant decrease in MAPK/Arc gene expression in hippocampal tissue (P=0.001). Interval exercise and consumption of three herbal drugs significantly increased gene expression of Arc (P=0.001) and MAPK (P=0.001). AD induction decreased learning (P=0.001). Interval exercise and consumption of three herbal medicines caused a significant increase in learning (P=0.001). Conclusion: Interval exercise and using three herbal medicines have more favorable effects on improving MAPK/Arc gene expression and learning in AD than each alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Igneous rocks of the Jurassic continental arc of southwest North American Cordillera crop out in the region between Cananea and Nacozari, in northeastern Sonora, Mexico. Contemporaneous igneous rocks occur farther south in the Nazas rift province; however, their tectonic affinity is debated between the southern extension of the Cordilleran arc and an origin associated with decompressive mantle melting during the Pangea breakup. We consider that the studied rocks represent the southernmost expression of the Jurassic continental arc. Four magmatic units are distinguished based on geology, U–Pb zircon geochronology, and geochemical composition. They comprise the Buenos Aires granite dated at 183.8 ± 1.1 Ma, the Mababi granite with ages of 175.5 ± 1.8, 173.5 ± 1.8, and 171.7 ± 1.0 Ma, the Elenita Formation volcanic rocks dated at 169.7 ± 1.7 Ma, and the Cerro Blanco granite dated at 162.3 ± 2.4 Ma. The studied samples correspond to highly differentiated rocks with high-silica contents (69–76 wt.%), low Mg# values (mostly <45), and alkali–calcic and peraluminous compositions suggesting crustal contamination. LREE-enriched normalized slopes with negative Eu anomalies and multielement plots characterized by well-developed negative anomalies of Nb–Ta, P, and Ti provide an unequivocal signal of the continental arc nature. In contrast to the Nazas province, where the Jurassic magmatism consists of discreet volcaniclastic sequences deposited in extensional basins with no evidence of plutonic rocks, the Jurassic continental arc of Arizona and northern Sonora forms a regionally coherent geological feature characterized by large exposures of volcanic and plutonic rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper defines a new operation through extending the idea of the 0-dimensional crossing change and Shimizu's 2-dimensional region crossing change [A. Shimizu, Region crossing change is an unknotting operation, J. Math. Soc. Jpn. 66(3) (2014) 693–708, doi:10.2969/jmsj/06630693] to a 1-dimensional version called the arc crossing change. We will also prove that the arc crossing change is an unknotting operation with the help of Gauss diagrams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Age-related cognitive decline has been linked to distinct patterns of cellular dysfunction in the prelimbic cortex (PL) and the CA3 subregion of the hippocampus. Because higher cognitive functions require both structures, selectively targeting a neurobiological change in one region, at the expense of the other, is not likely to restore normal behavior in older animals. One change with age that both the PL and CA3 share, however, is a reduced ability to utilize glucose, which can produce aberrant neural activity patterns. Methods: The current study used a ketogenic diet (KD) intervention, which reduces the brain’s reliance on glucose, and has been shown to improve cognition, as a metabolic treatment for restoring neural ensemble dynamics in aged rats. Expression of the immediate-early genes Arc and Homer1a were used to quantify the neural ensembles that were active in the home cage prior to behavior, during a working memory/biconditional association task, and a continuous spatial alternation task. Results: Aged rats on the control diet had increased activity in CA3 and less ensemble overlap in PL between different task conditions than did the young animals. In the PL, the KD was associated with increased activation of neurons in the superficial cortical layers, establishing a clear link between dietary macronutrient content and frontal cortical activity. The KD did not lead to any significant changes in CA3 activity. Discussion: These observations suggest that the availability of ketone bodies may permit the engagement of compensatory mechanisms in the frontal cortices that produce better cognitive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited tritium resources available for the first fusion power plants (FPPs) make fuel self-sufficiency and tritium inventory minimization leading issues in FPP design. This work builds on the model proposed by Abdou et al (2020 Nucl. Fusion 61 013001), which analyzed the fuel cycle (FC) of a DEMOnstration nuclear FPP-class FPP with a time-dependent system-level model. Here, we use a modified version of their model to analyze the FC of an Affordable, Robust, Compact (ARC)-class tokamak and two versions of a Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)-class tokamak. The ARC-class tokamak breeds tritium in a 2LiF + BeF2 liquid immersion blanket, while the STEP-class tokamak breeds tritium utilizing either a liquid-lithium blanket design or an encapsulated breeding blanket. A time-dependent system-level model is developed in Matlab Simulink® to simulate the evolution of tritium flows and tritium inventories in the FC. The main goals of this work are to assess tritium self-sufficiency of the ARC- and STEP-class designs and to determine quantitative design requirements that can be used to analyze the adequacy of a proposed FC system. These design requirements are aimed at achieving a low tritium inventory doubling time ( t d ) and a low start-up inventory ( I s t a r t u p ) while keeping the required tritium breeding ratio (TBR r ) as low as possible. We also consider how improvements in FC technology and POs affect TBR r and I s t a r t u p . The model results show that TBR r for ARC- and STEP-class FPPs should be achievable if the tritium burn efficiency (TBE) reaches 0.5%–1% (TBR r < 1.2). This assumes significant, but attainable, improvements over current abilities. However, the model results indicate that an FPP must achieve ambitious performance targets, including FPP availability > 70%, tritium processing time < 4 h, and the implementation of direct internal recycling (DIR). If future research yields major improvements to achievable TBE, it may be possible to achieve tritium self-sufficiency while operating at lower availability and without implementing DIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive an equation that enables to get the floating distance of floating images of an arc 3D display by the radius of the arc, the angle of the arc 3D substrate, the light source illumination angle, and the observer's angle. Conventional theoretical expression for the positions of the light source and observer relative to the center of the arc have been used to calculate the floating distance. However, when the arc3D substrate is inclined, it becomes more difficult to determine the floating distance from the actual positions of the light source and observer. In this paper, we derive an equation to approximate the floating distance from the positions of the light source and the observer while considering the tilt of the arc3D substrate and check the accuracy of the derived equation through experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1) is a neuronspecific immediate early gene (IEG) product. The protein regulates synaptic strength through modulation of spine density and morphology, AMPA receptor endocytosis, and as being part of a retrovirus-like inter-cellular communication mechanism. However, little is known about the detailed subsynaptic localization of the protein, and especially its possible presynaptic localization. In the present study, we provide novel electron microscopical data of Arc localization at hippocampal Schaffer collateral synapses in the CA1 region. The protein was found in both pre-and postsynaptic cytoplasm in a majority of synapses, associated with small vesicles. We also observed multivesicular body-like structures positive for Arc. Furthermore, the protein was located over the presynaptic active zone and the postsynaptic density. The relative concentration of Arc was 25% higher in the postsynaptic spine than in the presynaptic terminal. Notably, small extracellular vesicles labeled for Arc were detected in the synaptic cleft or close to the synapse, supporting a possible transsynaptic transmission of the protein in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of the immediate early gene Arc/Arg3.1 (Arc), a key mediator of synaptic plasticity, is enhanced by neural activity and then reduced by proteasome‐dependent degradation. We have previously shown that the disruption of Arc degradation, in an Arc knock‐in mouse (ArcKR), where the predominant Arc ubiquitination sites were mutated, reduced the threshold to induce, and also enhanced, the strength of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor‐mediated long‐term depression (DHPG‐LTD). Here, we have investigated if ArcKR expression changes long‐term potentiation (LTP) in CA1 area of the hippocampus. As previously reported, there was no change in basal synaptic transmission at Schaffer collateral/commissural‐CA1 (SC‐CA1) synapses in ArcKR versus wild‐type (WT) mice. There was, however, a significant increase in the amplitude of synaptically induced (with low frequency paired‐pulse stimulation) LTD in ArcKR mice. Theta burst stimulation (TBS)‐evoked LTP at SC‐CA1 synapses was significantly reduced in ArcKR versus WT mice (after 2 h). Group 1 mGluR priming of LTP was abolished in ArcKR mice, which could also potentially contribute to a depression of LTP. Although high frequency stimulation (HFS)‐induced LTP was not significantly different in ArcKR compared with WT mice (after 1 h), there was a phenotype in environmentally enriched mice, with the ratio of LTP to short‐term potentiation (STP) significantly reduced in ArcKR mice. These findings support the hypothesis that Arc ubiquitination supports the induction and expression of LTP, likely via limiting Arc‐dependent removal of AMPA receptors at synapses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localization of messenger RNA (mRNA) in dendrites is crucial for regulating gene expression during long‐term memory formation. mRNA binds to RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) to form messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes that are transported by motor proteins along microtubules to their target synapses. However, the dynamics by which mRNPs find their target locations in the dendrite have not been well understood. Here, we investigated the motion of endogenous β‐actin and Arc mRNPs in dissociated mouse hippocampal neurons using the MS2 and PP7 stem‐loop systems, respectively. By evaluating the statistical properties of mRNP movement, we found that the aging Lévy walk model effectively describes both β‐actin and Arc mRNP transport in proximal dendrites. A critical difference between β‐actin and Arc mRNPs was the aging time, the time lag between transport initiation and measurement initiation. The longer mean aging time of β‐actin mRNP (~100 s) compared with that of Arc mRNP (~30 s) reflects the longer half‐life of constitutively expressed β‐actin mRNP. Furthermore, our model also permitted us to estimate the ratio of newly generated and pre‐existing β‐actin mRNPs in the dendrites. This study offers a robust theoretical framework for mRNP transport, which provides insight into how mRNPs locate their targets in neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cataract, defined as the opacification of the lens that prevents clear vision, is a leading cause of vision loss and impairment worldwide. Elderly people comprise the highest proportion of those suffering from this eye disease. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the risk of developing aged-related cataract (ARC) increases with every decade of life, starting from the age of 40. Despite progress in surgical treatment methods, life-style modifications may be beneficial in prevention or slowing down the progression of ARC. This systematic review aims to summarize studies on the significance of specific nutritional patterns, dietary products, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids intake in the onset or progression of ARC. In this context, the presented paper thoroughly analyzes 24 articles, following the PRISMA guidelines. The results indicate significant protective effects of various dietary patterns, including the Korean balanced diet, vegetarian diet, "dairy products and vegetables", "traditional", "antioxidant", and "omega-3" patterns. Additionally, the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, skimmed yoghurt, fish, coffee, and vitamins has shown positive effects on cataract incidence. Therefore, further research seems to be essential to gain a better understanding of these associations and to create uniform dietary recommendations for both the vulnerable population and ARC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have developed a numerical model of the pulsed tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc, with a primary focus on the influence of the ambient atmosphere in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), which is more approached to practical instances. The arc plasma behaviour and air transport during the pulsed TIG-based WAAM are investigated, and the effects of the nozzle diameter on the air transport are examined. It is indicated that the air is transported significantly into the zone near the sidewall of the AM buildup. Both the air concentration and the arc temperature vary periodically with the pulsed current, whereas the change in the air distributions noticeably falls behind that in the arc temperature fields. The variation in the air concentration is mainly caused by the backward flow of the arc plasma near the sidewall of the build, which varies periodically with the arc current and transports the air into the vicinity of the sidewall. Such an effect is an essential source of oxygen for the oxidation and contamination of the deposition layer during the WAAM process. Increasing the nozzle diameter can effectively lower air concentration near the build's sidewall, suggesting an enhancement in both shielding effectiveness and part quality. Our simulated outcomes are in reasonable consistency with experimental measurements, encompassing both arc plasma flow as observed through shadowgraphy imaging and the element distribution gauged via EDS line scans of the oxide layer formed during the build's deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental investigation introduced the gas metal arc welding-based additive manufacturing to deposit single-layered beads of ER70S–6 and 316 L stainless steel (SS). Different experimental conditions are generated through response surface methodology for illustrating the effect of wire electrode material and deposition parameters on bead characteristics. From parametric analysis, wire feed speed and torch speed are found to be the most controlling factors for bead width, height, deposition area, penetration depth, dilution, and contact angle. Deposition with 316 L SS wire exhibits minimal bead characteristic features than ER70S–6 because of high electrical resistivity that restricts excessive flow of arc current (low thermal energy development) and maintains the molten pool stability. Microstructural transformation from the continuous nature of δ-ferrite into an isolated core-like structure indicates the heat input's role over grain refinement. X-ray diffraction depicts α-Fe and ϒ-austenite phases (with δ-Fe) in ER70S–6 and 316 L SS deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar cell has become one of the options for a greener world. Various studies have been done to achieve a solar cell with high efficiency and reasonable price. This study's objective is to investigate how the thickness and base angle of the front layer affect the optical and electrical characteristics of Si-Based Solar cells. To accomplish this study, heterojunction solar cells using Al2O3/ITO as the double layer antireflection coating are analyzed using the Wafer Ray Tracer simulation by the PV Lighthouse. Al2O3 and ITO layers are used as a double anti-reflection coating (DLARC) in the light trapping strategy to support the reflection, absorption, and transmission (R, A and T) of the silicon solar cell. It acts to minimize reflectance and improves the overall efficiency of the solar cell. DLARC variation focuses on increasing absorption while decreasing reflection and transmission. The high refractive index of the hydrogenated a-Si (a-Si: H) emitter layer generates excessive reflection losses in SHJ solar cells making the silicon wafer have a low absorption efficiency. The DLARC thickness and base angle are varied as part of the simulation using the Wafer Ray Tracer by PV Lighthouse. The surface morphology of upright pyramid texture, height is 3.536 µm, texture base angle 54.74 °, and width 5 µm are used for reference scheme. Four schemes will be analyzed throughout this study along with the reference scheme. The result of this study is that Scheme 3 gives the optimum result with 99 % absorption, 21 % reflection and 67 % transmission. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of ARC thickness on optical and electrical characteristics. The best outcome is produced by varying the thickness and base angle of Scheme 3. The highest Jmax value, 0.3842 mA/cm2, is found in Scheme 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, 4,5-dinitro-1-methylimidazole (4,5-MDNI) was synthesized and characterized. The thermal decomposition performance of 4,5-MDNI was studied by accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) under adiabatic conditions, and the thermal decomposition reaction order, possible thermal decomposition kinetic model, and self-accelerating decomposition temperature were calculated. The stability of 4,5-MDNI and its compatibility with high-energy explosives (RDX, HMX, CL-20) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The test results show that 4,5-MDNI has a good stability, poor compatibility with HMX, and basically incompatibility with RDX or CL-20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to enhance the efficiency of the utilization of arc energy by adding ultrasonic and magnetic fields. A new welding method is proposed and named as ultrasonic-magnetic coaxial hybrid gas tungsten arc welding (U-M-GTAW). In this paper, the effect of tungsten extension and welding current on the arc characteristics under different welding methods and the effect of different welding methods on the 304 stainless steel weld formation were investigated. The arc shape changed significantly with increasing tungsten extension, and the addition of ultrasonic waves can increase the arc energy and stiffness. As the current increases, the arc area increases, and the degree of contraction and rotation of the arc decreases. Compared to the weld penetration of GTAW, U-GTAW and M-GTAW increased by 58.6% and 11.5%, respectively, while the weld penetration of U-M-GTAW decreased slightly. Compared with the weld width of GTAW, U-GTAW increased by 97.1%, M-GTAW increased by 44.5%, and U-M-GTAW increased the most by 123.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Obesity during childhood has become a pandemic disease, mainly caused by a diet rich in sugars and fatty acids. Among other negative effects, these diets can induce cognitive impairment and reduce neuroplasticity. It is well known that omega-3 and probiotics have a beneficial impact on health and cognition, and we have hypothesized that a diet enriched with Bifidobacterium breve and omega-3 could potentiate neuroplasticity in prepubertal pigs on a high-fat diet. Methods: Young female piglets were fed during 10 weeks with: standard diet (T1), high-fat (HF) diet (T2), HF diet including B. breve CECT8242 (T3) and HF diet including the probiotic and omega-3 fatty acids (T4). Using hippocampal sections, we analyzed by immunocytochemistry the levels of doublecortin (DCX) to study neurogenesis, and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) as a synaptic plasticity related protein. Results: No effect of T2 or T3 was observed, whereas T4 increased both DCX+ cells and Arc expression. Therefore, a diet enriched with supplements of B. breve and omega-3 increases neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in prepubertal females on a HF diet from nine weeks of age to sexual maturity. Furthermore, the analysis of serum cholesterol and HDL indicate that neurogenesis was related to lipidic demand in piglets fed with control or HF diets, but the neurogenic effect induced by the T4 diet was exerted by mechanisms independent of this lipidic demand. Conclusion: Our results show that the T4 dietary treatment is effective in potentiating neural plasticity in the dorsal hippocampus of prepubertal females on a HF diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arc radiation-induced polymer nozzle ablation plays a crucial role in the operation of self-blast circuit breakers. Up to now, there is no study specifically on the spectral distribution of radiated power from a switching arc towards the nozzle surface and its implication to nozzle ablation. Three-dimensional radiation transfer calculation has been performed in this study for arcs burning in the mixture of C 4 F 7 N + C O 2 + PTFE , a gaseous environment that is under significant focus in the development of SF6 free switching technology to aim net-zero by the middle of this century. Results show that photons from infrared to extreme ultraviolet (UV, up to 5 × 1015 Hz) are emitted from the core of high current arcs. However, the high-frequency photons are mostly absorbed within the arc column, especially at the arc edge, and only photons up to 1.7 × 10 15 Hz (far UV, 7 eV) can penetrate the arc edge and cold gas and reach the nozzle surface. The spectral distribution of the radiative energy at different instantaneous currents (15 kA, 28 kA and 60 kA peak) and different locations of the nozzle is presented and compared in detail. The location of the radiation absorption zone at the arc edge and the radiative power reaching the nozzle wall as a function of the instantaneous current is, in particular, purposely considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twin tungsten electrode – wire electrode indirect arc welding (TTW IAW) was a novel welding method. In this paper, the wettability and spreading of weld bead of TTW IAW were investigated by comparing with single tungsten electrode – wire electrode indirect arc welding (STW IAW). Results showed that compared to STW IAW, TTW IAW possessed larger arc width and greater arc heat distribution range with smaller variation gradient, due to the lower velocity of charged particles toward the arc center, caused by the smaller electromagnetic force acting on the arc plasma. So did the temperature distribution of weld pool of TTW IAW. Moreover, the process stability of TTW IAW was better. Besides, at the molten pool front, the transverse convection of the melted metal of TTW IAW was adequate, because of the superior wettability and long flow duration of the melted metal; at the molten pool rear, the inward convection of the melted metal of TTW IAW was weak mainly owing to the low Marangoni force. Therefore, the weld bead width of TTW IAW increased by about 25.0% and the wetting angle of the weld bead decreased by about 25.7% compared to STW IAW, which indicated that the weld bead spreading of TTW IAW was better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a combinatorial characterization of a quasi-Hermitian surface as a set H of points of PG (3 , q) , q = p 2 h h ≥ 1 , p a prime number and q ≠ 4 , having the same size as the Hermitian surface and containing no plane, such that either a line is contained in H or intersects H in at most q + 1 points and every plane intersects H in at least q q + 1 points. Moreover, if there is no external line, the set H is a Hermitian surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bidirectional subduction system, island arc magmatic activities, and thermal structure of the forearc basin in the Molucca Sea are taken into consideration in this study. The active volcanic arcs on both sides of the bidirectional subduction zone in the Molucca Sea are undergoing arc-arc collisions. We applied a finite element thermal simulation method to reconstruct the thermal evolution history of the Molucca Sea Plate based on geophysical data. Then, we analyzed the thermodynamic characteristics of island arc volcanism on both sides of the bidirectional subduction zone. The results showed that at 10 Myr, the oceanic ridge of the Molucca Sea Plate was asymmetrically biased to the west, causing this bidirectional subduction to be deeper in the west than in the east. Furthermore, the oceanic ridge subducted under the Sangihe arc at 5.5 Myr, causing intermittent cessation of volcanic activities. Due to the convergence of bidirectional subduction, the geothermal gradient in the top 3 km depth of the forearc area between the Sangihe and Halmahera arcs decreased from about 60 °C km−1 at 4 Myr to about 38 °C km−1 today. Finally, within the 45–100 km depth range of the sliding surface of the subduction, anomalously high-temperature zones formed due to shear friction during the bidirectional subduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local electrochemical deposition is a fabrication method that has great advantages for three-dimensional microstructures. In this study, for non-uniform arc widths deposited using a closed anode, an open anode was employed. Arcs were deposited under different applied voltages, step angles, and diameters. The difference in arc uniformity caused by the two types of anodes was analyzed using COMSOL simulations. The results showed that the arcs deposited using an open anode were more uniform than those deposited using a closed anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the dosimetric results and treatment delivery efficiency among four techniques to explore the preferred technique in prostate treatment. Materials and methods: 7 IMRT, 9 IMRT, 1 ARC, and 2 ARC plans were created for 30 prostate cancer patients using the Eclipse™ treatment planning system (Varian Medical Systems). All the plans were designed to deliver 80.0 Gy in 40 fractions to the prostate planning target volume (PTV). Target coverage, organs at risk (OARs), number of monitor units, homogeneity, and conformity were compared across the four techniques to assess the quality of the plans. Results: The study revealed better Planning Target Volume (PTV) dose coverage in the VMAT-2A than in the other plans. At the same time, VMAT-2A plans were found to be significantly lower in terms of Bladder and rectum doses than other techniques. In addition, VMAT has the advantage of considerably reducing the number of monitor units and treatment time. Conclusion: For prostate cancer, VMAT may offer a favorable dose gradient profile, conformity, and MU and treatment time compared to IMRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intensities (i.e., number of protons in monitor unit [MU]) of deliverable proton spots need to be either zero or meet a minimum‐MU (MMU) threshold, which is a nonconvex problem. Since the dose rate is proportionally associated with the MMU threshold, higher‐dose‐rate proton radiation therapy (RT) (e.g., efficient intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) and ARC proton therapy, and high‐dose‐rate‐induced FLASH effect needs to solve the MMU problem with larger MMU threshold, which however makes the nonconvex problem more difficult to solve. Purpose: This work will develop a more effective optimization method based on orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) for solving the MMU problem with large MMU thresholds, compared to state‐of‐the‐art methods, such as alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), proximal gradient descent method (PGD), or stochastic coordinate descent method (SCD). Methods: The new method consists of two essential components. First, the iterative convex relaxation (ICR) method is used to determine the active sets for dose‐volume planning constraints and decouple the MMU constraint from the rest. Second, a modified OMP optimization algorithm is used to handle the MMU constraint: the non‐zero spots are greedily selected via OMP to form the solution set to be optimized, and then a convex constrained subproblem is formed and can be conveniently solved to optimize the spot weights restricted to this solution set via OMP. During this iterative process, the new non‐zero spots localized via OMP will be adaptively added to or removed from the optimization objective. Results: The new method via OMP is validated in comparison with ADMM, PGD and SCD for high‐dose‐rate IMPT, ARC, and FLASH problems of large MMU thresholds, and the results suggest that OMP substantially improved the plan quality from PGD, ADMM and SCD in terms of both target dose conformality (e.g., quantified by max target dose and conformity index) and normal tissue sparing (e.g., mean and max dose). For example, in the brain case, the max target dose for IMPT/ARC/FLASH was 368.0%/358.3%/283.4% respectively for PGD, 154.4%/179.8%/150.0% for ADMM, 134.5%/130.4%/123.0% for SCD, while it was <120% in all scenarios for OMP; compared to PGD/ADMM/SCD, OMP improved the conformity index from 0.42/0.52/0.33 to 0.65 for IMPT and 0.46/0.60/0.61 to 0.83 for ARC. Conclusions: A new OMP‐based optimization algorithm is developed to solve the MMU problems with large MMU thresholds, and validated using examples of IMPT, ARC, and FLASH with substantially improved plan quality from ADMM, PGD, and SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]