Form Of Ring Research Articles

CONSTRUCTION OF AN OPEN HELICOID COIL FROM A FLAT BILLET

In technology, a very common helical surface is a straight closed helicoid, known as a screw. Its formation takes place by the spiral movement of the horizontal segment upwards in such a way that one of its ends crosses a vertical straight line - the axis of the auger. For an open helicoid, the formation of its surface is similar. The difference is that the segment is transient in relation to the axis and is at a constant distance from it. The smaller this distance, the smaller the difference between the surfaces. In both cases, rectilinear generators are perpendicular to the axis. It is known from differential geometry that any helical surface can be bent into a surface of revolution. It is this fact that is taken as the basis for the calculation of a flat blank for the manufacture of an open helicoid coil. Its surface is non-expanded, so the workpiece must be found in such a way as to minimize plastic deformations when forming the surface from a flat workpiece. The article presents parametric equations that describe the continuous bending of the turn of an open helicoid into the compartment of a single-cavity hyperboloid of rotation. Continuous bending can be imagined as a gradual deformation of a helicoid turn by decreasing its pitch. The surface is deformed, remaining helical and ultimately turning into a hyperboloid. Its meridian is the corresponding section of the hyperbola. It is proposed to approximate the section of the hyperboloid by a truncated cone. This approximation will be more accurate in the section of the hyperbola where it asymptotically approaches the line segment. After choosing a cone, its dimensions are determined and its exact sweep is built, since the cone is a sweep surface. The sweep is built in the form of a flat ring with a cut sector and will be a flat blank for forming an open helicoid turn from it. The surface of the turn of an open helicoid can be most accurately obtained by stamping the resulting blank. For low-volume production of the helical surface of an open helicoid, flat rings can be welded together and stretched along the shaft with simultaneous twisting around its axis. The accuracy of the obtained surface will depend on the accuracy of the approximation of the section of the hyperboloid of rotation by a truncated cone.

Coal ash induced ring formation for magnesian flux pellets production process and regulating control measures

The forming of rings was a bottleneck of magnesian flux pellets in a rotary kiln, which limited production efficiency. This paper analyses how the coal ash content affects bonding strength and melting behaviour by using magnesian flux pellet powder and coal ash. Also, the mineral phase, microstructure and liquid phase composition of pellet powders that have different coal ash content are analysed in a study. The results show that when the ash content is less than 0.5%, the ash has little influence on the ring-forming material, but when the ash content is more than 0.5%, the ash significantly strengthens the bonding process of the pellet powder. That is, the ash content should not exceed 0.5%. In addition, the consolidation mechanism of the magnesium fluxes spherical ring is mainly solid-phase consolidation. Anorthite and mullite are formed in magnesian flux pellet powders when coal ash is added, resulting in a change in mineral composition. It is worth noting that anorthite exhibits high reactivity with other mineral phases, leading to eutectic reactions. When more coal ash is added, the chemical composition of the mineral phase changes in the briquettes, and the liquid phase exhibits gradual increments in SiO2, MgO and Al2O3 content. According to the phase diagram of Fe2O3-CaO-SiO2-3wt%MgO-6wt%Al2O3, the position of the silicate mineral phase shifts towards the high SiO2 region, which has the lower temperature. The liquid phase ratio of the briquette increases in this region, ultimately resulting in the formation of rings in the rotary kiln.

Circumflex left aortic arch: a new vascular ring anomaly in dogs.

To describe the circumflex left aortic arch as a new form of canine congenital vascular ring anomaly leading to esophageal constriction. 3 large-breed dogs of variable age: a 9-month-old entire male German Shepherd Dog-Rottweiler cross, a 17-week-old entire male German Shepherd Dog, and a 9-year-old neutered female Labrador Retriever, seen between April 2022 and May 2023. Dogs presented for chronic postprandial regurgitation and poor growth. One dog presented for a hard mass on the caudal mandibular region. Computed tomography revealed a normal leftward-oriented cranial half and an abnormal caudal half of the aortic arch crossing toward the right dorsal hemithorax leading to esophageal constriction in all dogs. In addition, 1 dog presented with a right patent ductus arteriosus and 1 with an aberrant right subclavian artery. Circumflex left aortic arch is a newly discovered rare type of congenital vascular ring anomaly in dogs, which presents a similar anatomical derangement to the human form. Clinical signs include postprandial regurgitation and poor growth. Circumflex left aortic arch vascular anomaly cannot be surgically corrected via the left thoracotomy that is commonly used for the more common vascular ring anomalies in dogs. Computed tomography is a useful diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of this condition, detection of concomitant congenital vascular malformations, evaluation of associated pathologies, and surgical planning.

On solving and optimizing contact problems with doubly connected domains taking the nonlinear law of roughness deformation into account

Abstract A detailed study of the real properties of contacting bodies stimulated the development of the theory of contact problems in the direction of considering these properties. As a result, contact problems for rough surfaces were formulated. In this paper, an indentation of a doubly connected punch into an elastic rough half-space is investigated taking into account a nonlinear law of change in the deformation of the surface roughness. With a power dependence of the displacement due to the deformations of microasperity on the pressure, the main integral equation is the Hammerstein equation. Two-dimensional integral equations are transformed into one-dimensional ones using the small parameter method and the obtained expansion of the potential of the simple layer at an internal point. The potential expansion is applied to reduce the problem of indenting a non-circular annular punch into an elastic rough half-space into the similar problems for the contact domain with the circular ring form. Successive approximations are used for the solution. The role of the minimizing functional is played by the root-mean-square deviation of the normal pressure distribution arising under the punch from a certain optimal distribution. The result of the solution is shown by examples for ring contact domain.

Synthesis and Stability of Biomolecules in C-H-O-N Fluids under Earth's Upper Mantle Conditions.

How life started on Earth is an unsolved mystery. There are various hypotheses for the location ranging from outer space to the seafloor, subseafloor, or potentially deeper. Here, we applied extensive ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study chemical reactions between NH3, H2O, H2, and CO at pressures (P) and temperatures (T) approximating the conditions of Earth's upper mantle (i.e., 10-13 GPa, 1000-1400 K). Contrary to the previous assumptions that large organic molecules might readily disintegrate in aqueous solutions at extreme P-T conditions, we found that many organic compounds formed without any catalysts and persisted in C-H-O-N fluids under these extreme conditions, including glycine, ribose, urea, and uracil-like molecules. Particularly, our free-energy calculations showed that the C-N bond is thermodynamically stable at 10 GPa and 1400 K. Moreover, while the pyranose (six-membered ring) form of ribose is more stable than the furanose (five-membered ring) form at ambient conditions, we found that the formation of the five-membered-ring form of ribose is thermodynamically more favored at extreme conditions, which is consistent with the exclusive incorporation of β-d-ribofuranose in RNA. We have uncovered a previously unexplored pathway through which the crucial biomolecules could be abiotically synthesized from geofluids in the deep interior of Earth and other planets, and these formed biomolecules could potentially contribute to the early stage of the emergence of life.

TouchMark: Partial Tactile Feedback Design for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Virtual Reality.

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, especially in medical rehabilitation, has expanded to include tactile cues along with visual stimuli. For patients with upper limb hemiplegia, tangible handles with haptic stimuli could improve their ability to perform daily activities. Traditional VR controllers are unsuitable for patient rehabilitation in VR, necessitating the design of specialized tangible handles with integrated tracking devices. Besides, matching tactile stimulation with corresponding virtual visuals could strengthen users' embodiment (i.e., owning and controlling virtual bodies) in VR, which is crucial for patients' training with virtual hands. Haptic stimuli have been shown to amplify the embodiment in VR, whereas the effect of partial tactile stimulation from tangible handles on embodiment remains to be clarified. This research, including three experiments, aims to investigate how partial tactile feedback of tangible handles impacts users' embodiment, and we proposed a design concept called TouchMark for partial tactile stimuli that could help users quickly connect the physical and virtual worlds. To evaluate users' tactile and comfort perceptions when grasping tangible handles in a non-VR setting, various handles with three partial tactile factors were manipulated in Study 1. In Study 2, we explored the effects of partial feedback using three forms of TouchMark on the embodiment of healthy users in VR, with various tangible handles, while Study 3 focused on similar investigations with patients. These handles were utilized to complete virtual food preparation tasks. The tactile and comfort perceptions of tangible handles and users' embodiment were evaluated in this research using questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate that TouchMark with haptic line and ring forms over no stimulation would significantly enhance users' embodiment, especially for patients. The low-cost and innovative TouchMark approach may assist users, particularly those with limited VR experience, in achieving the embodiment and enhancing their virtual interactive experience.

Mechanism underlying V-type structure formation in maize starch through glycerol–ethanol thermal substitution method

V-type starches have been widely used in food science, agriculture, and biomedical science, but their mechanism of formation in nonaqueous solvents remains unclear. This study performed glycerol–ethanol thermal substitution to prepare V-type starch at atmospheric pressure. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that breakage of starch particles began in the hilum region and rapidly spread to the periphery with the temperature increased from 100 °C to 130 °C. The Maltese crosses of the starch disappeared and starch particles had the form of doughnut-shaped rings when the glycerol temperature was 140 °C. Glycerol temperature was not found to significantly affect the chain length of amylopectin, meaning that glycerol molecules may stabilize the conformation of amylose through hydrogen bonding, promoting the amylose to form a V-type spiral structure. Additionally, A-type crystallinity and double helix structure proportion of the samples significantly decreased from 30.81 % and 42.21 % to 5.70 % and 16.47 % as the temperature of glycerol was increased to 140 °C, whereas the V-type crystallinity and single helix structure proportion of the samples remarkably increased from 13.26 % and 1.05 % to 37.97 % and 25.09 %, respectively. This study provided a facile and versatile approach to effectively regulate the formation of V-type starch.

B-082 Clinical Investigation of Rods and Rings Pattern in Anti-Nuclear Antibody Test in Korean Patients

Abstract Background In the mid-2000s, a novel pattern in antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing was reported. Indirect immunofluorescence assays on HEp-2 cells, conducted with sera from patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, revealed cytoplasmic structures in the form of rods and rings (RR). These structures typically displayed rod lengths of 3-10μm and ring diameters of 2-5μm. Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) was identified as the primary component of the RR structures. Research on the administration of interferon/ribavirin (IFN/RBV) showed that ribavirin, an IMPDH inhibitor, induced RR formation in over 95% of cells. Additionally, RR patterns were reported in patients receiving other IMPDH inhibitors such as mycophenolic acid and azathioprine. While cytidine triphosphate synthase 1 (CTPS1) was suggested to be associated with RR structures, there were no reported cases in patients. Interestingly, patients receiving methotrexate, which does not directly inhibit IMPDH but hinders GTP biosynthesis, also exhibited RR structures. To explore the clinical implications of specimens showing RR patterns, a study was conducted to investigate the actual clinical scenarios associated with these findings. Methods This is a retrospective study conducted at a single center, covering the period from January 2022 to December 2023, focusing on the results of ANA testing. The ANA tests were performed using HEp-2 cells (FLUORO HEPANA TEST, MBL, Nagoya, Japan) on slides manufactured with AP 16 IF Plus (das, Palombara Sabina, RM, Italy). ANA results were obtained through qualitative testing, ranging from 1+ to 4+, or quantitative testing based on dilutions ranging from 1:40 to 1:640, depending on clinical requirements. Results Out of the 7,648 ANA test results, the RR pattern was observed in 40 cases (0.5%). Among these, 2.5% had a history of HCV infection with IFN/RBV treatment, and an additional 2.5% had concurrent use of IMPDH inhibitors. There were no reported cases of medication history related to the synthetic pathway of nucleic acids, including CTPS1. Cases where RR patterns coexisted with autoimmune diseases accounted for 35%, infections for 25%, and other inflammatory conditions for 22.5%. RR patterns reported with an intensity of 3+ or at dilutions of 1:160 or higher constituted 27.5%. Among cases displaying strong fluorescence, 45% were associated with infections, 18% with autoimmune conditions, and another 18% with unexplained inflammatory causes. In the overall sample, elevated CRP or ESR was noted in 54.5% of cases with infections, autoimmune diseases, or other inflammatory conditions. Among samples with intense intensity, 55.5% showed elevated CRP or ESR when inflammatory conditions were present. Conclusions The majority of cases exhibiting the RR pattern showed no history of exposure to IMPDH inhibitors or drugs affecting the nucleic acid synthetic pathway. A high proportion of cases clinically diagnosed with inflammation showed a concurrent RR pattern, with only approximately half of them demonstrating elevated CRP or ESR levels. This study suggests the possibility of identifying inflammatory responses not captured by conventional acute inflammation markers through the RR pattern observed in ANA testing.

Research on the influence of labyrinth ring configuration on runaway characteristics of pump-turbines

The labyrinth ring can reduce the volume loss, mitigate the influence of force characteristics when the unit is operating, and ensure the efficient, safe, and stable operation of the unit. It is usually installed in the upper crown and lower ring of the pump-turbines runner. When the pump-turbines unit is running in runaway condition, the internal flow field structure is more complicated due to the different forms of labyrinth ring, so a new method needs to be adopted to analyze it from a new perspective. In this paper, a high head pump-turbines was selected as the research object. Combined with the experimental and numerical simulation results, the flow field structure corresponding to different upper labyrinth ring forms under runaway condition was analyzed and visualized in many aspects. The results show that the mixed type labyrinth ring can improve the undesirable flow regime in the runner and draft tube. The guide vanes under the serrated type labyrinth ring are more likely to be damaged due to greater force. The influence of the mixed type labyrinth ring on the radial force of the runner is only half that of the ladder type, which has a great advantage in maintaining the radial stability of the runner. The ladder and serrated type labyrinth ring can make the unit obtain less axial water thrust. In addition, based on the Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent (FTLE) method, the flow field structure in the vaneless region was analyzed, and it was found that the labyrinth ring may affect the flow in the flow path of the guide vane and the vaneless region, thus causing the change of axial water thrust. This study reveals the internal flow and force characteristics of pump-turbines with different types of labyrinth rings under runaway condition and provides a technical reference for further understanding and studying the influence of labyrinth ring forms on pump-turbines performance and force characteristics.

Graphene-based metamaterial ultrawideband absorber with enhanced terahertz performance

In this paper, we present a graphene-based metamaterial ultrawideband absorber operating in the terahertz regime. The absorber is composed of two patterned and continuous graphene layers, a bottom gold layer, and a SiO2 substrate that separates the continuous graphene layer from the gold layer. The absorption spectrum is enhanced by integrating a graphene resonator with water, which has frequency-dependent permittivity. The water is encapsulated in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the form of a circular ring sandwiched between the two graphene layers. Simulation results show that the absorber attains a 90 % absorption bandwidth of about 14.55 THz. The proposed absorber is polarization-insensitive under normal incidence. For TE polarization, the absorption level remains stable for incident angles θ from 0° to 55° across the entire frequency band (14.55 THz), except for the 5–8 THz range. For TM polarization, the absorption level remains stable for θ ranging from 0° to 60° over the entire bandwidth. Additionally, the absorption level is consistent for both TM and TE polarizations across the entire bandwidth for incident angles φ from 0° to 90°.

Early Signs of Structure in Protostellar Disks

Protostellar disks—rotating disks of gas and dust around pre-fusion ignition young stars—are divided into four main classes: Class 0: the youngest class, still deeply embedded in their parent molecular clouds and accumulating mass, with a lifespan on the order of 100k years. Class I: still embedded in molecular clouds, characterized by strong infrared and radio emissions generated by the heat from the collapsing central protostar, with a typical lifespan of a few hundred thousand years. Class II: more evolved with decreased accretion rates and active planet formation. Lifespan on the order of 2-3 million years. Class III: low accretion rate debris (mostly dust) disks. Remnants of planetary formation process. Typical lifespan of several million years. Focusing on the youngest disks, Classes 0 and I, we are investigating how early structure begins to show in the form of gaps and rings, indicating potential future planet formation. We use high resolution and high sensitivity (sub)millimeter wavelength observations from the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) interferometer. Having identified approximately 10,700 potential Class 0 or I disks in the ALMA archive, we make use of several specialized code packages designed to fit or examine individual disks from their frequency space visibility data rather than from images to build a step-by-step process taking the initial ALMA data and providing the decision-making ability to categorize the disks into four primary categories: Smooth, Structured, Further Investigation, Not Usable. Having used the summer term to build, streamline, and document the needed process, we report building an initial catalog of usable Class 0 and Class I sources that contains 36 individual objects, with 7 categorized as Smooth, 8 as having Structure, and 6 needing Further Investigation.

Validation of real-time PCR assays for detecting Plasmodium and Babesia DNA species in blood samples

Malaria and babesiosis are global health threats affecting humans, wildlife, and domestic animals, particularly in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Malaria can lead to severe outcomes, while babesiosis usually resembles a mild illness but can be severe and fatal in individuals with weakened immune systems. Swift, accurate detection of these parasites is crucial for treatment and control. We evaluated a real-time PCR assay for diagnosing five Plasmodium and three Babesia species from blood samples, assessing its sensitivity, specificity, and analytical performance by analyzing 46 malaria-positive and 32 Babesia spp-positive samples diagnosed through microscopy. The limit of detection for Plasmodium species ranged from 30 to 0.0003 copies/µL. For mixed infections, it was 0.3 copies/µL for P. falciparum/P. vivax and 3 copies/µL for P. malariae/P. knowlesi. Babesia species had a detection limit of 0.2 copies/µL. No cross-reactivity was observed among 64 DNA samples from various microorganisms. The assay showed good sensitivity, detecting Plasmodium and Babesia species with 100 % accuracy overall, except for P. falciparum (97.7 %) and B. microti (12.5 %). The low sensitivity of detecting B. microti was attributed to limitations in microscopy for species identification. This technique heavily relies on the proficiency of the examiner, as species within the genus cannot be distinguished under a microscope. Additionally, Babesia can be confused with the early trophozoite stage (ring forms) of Plasmodium parasites. The findings support multiplex qPCR's diagnostic superiority over the gold standard, despite higher costs. It offers enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and detects mixed infections, crucial for effective monitoring and diagnosis of malaria and babesiosis in endemic regions with significant public health challenges.

The initiation and early development of apical-basal polarity in Toxoplasma gondii.

The human parasite Toxoplasma gondii has a distinctive body plan with a well-defined polarity. In the apical complex, the minus ends of the 22 cortical microtubules are anchored to the apical polar ring, a putative microtubule-organizing center. The basal complex caps and constricts the parasite posterior end, and is critical for cytokinesis. How this apical-basal polarity axis is initiated was unknown. Here we examined the development of the apical polar ring and the basal complex in nascent daughters using expansion microscopy. We found that different substructures in the apical polar ring have different sensitivity to stress. In addition, apical-basal differentiation is already established upon nucleation of the cortical microtubule array: arc forms of the apical polar ring and basal complex associate with opposite ends of the microtubules. As the construction of the daughter framework progresses towards the centrioles, the apical and the basal arcs co-develop in striking synchrony ahead of the microtubule array, and close into a ring-form before all the microtubules are nucleated. We also found that two apical polar ring components, APR2 and KinesinA, act synergistically. The removal of each protein individually has modest to no impact on the lytic cycle. However, the loss of both results in abnormalities in the microtubule array and highly reduced plaquing and invasion efficiency.

Unlocking the potential of a chemically modified blue phosphorene as anode materials for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

Blue phosphorene (Blu-Pn) has recently been identified as a new two-dimensional (2D) form of black phosphorus via the epitaxial growth method and has shown the ability to host a substantial amount of Na while serving as an anode in sodium-ion batteries (NIBs). However, its structural instability is an issue that hinders its further exploitability in NIBs. In this paper, we propose to chemically modify the Blu-Pn network by substituting six phosphorus atoms with a carbon source in the form of a C6 ring, constructing a new and robust CP2 nanosheet. Based on the state-of-the-art non-local van der Waals corrected density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamic (AIMD) simulations, we systematically explore the feasibility of the designed CP2 as a potential anode material for NIBs. Adding a C6 ring in the Blu-Pn lattice reduces its energy gap from 2 eV to 1.3 eV, which disappears after Na adsorption, indicating a conductive character. Attributed to the synergistic effect, the adsorption energy of Na on CP2 nanosheet (−2.22 eV) is greatly decreased in comparison to the pristine carbon source (e.g., graphene with −0.78 eV) and pristine Blu-Pn (−1.85 eV). The Na diffusivity on CP2 at 300 K is predicted to be 4.90 × 10−11 m2/s by AIMD. The specific capacity is up to 604.1 mAh/g, which exceeds that of the commercialized graphite anode (372 mA h/g). Ultimately, the designed electrode provides a small open circuit potential of 0.66 V that falls within a desirable voltage range. This work paves the way for exploring Blu-Pn 2D anode materials for NIBs technology and provides valuable insights into surface chemical modification towards the long-term stability of Blu-Pn.

Generating controlled gust perturbations using vortex rings.

To understand the locomotory mechanisms of flying and swimming animals, it is often necessary to develop assays that enable us to measure their responses to external gust perturbations. Typically, such measurements have been carried out using a variety of gusts which are difficult to control or characterize owing to their inherently turbulent nature. Here, we present a method of generating discrete gusts under controlled laboratory conditions in the form of a vortex rings which are well-characterized and highly controllable. We also provide the theoretical guidelines underlying the design of gust generators for specific applications. As a case study, we tested the efficacy of this method to study the flight response of freely-flying soldier flies Hermetia illucens. The vortex ring based method can be used to generate controlled gusts to study diverse phenomena ranging from a natural flight in insects to the artificial flight of insect-sized drones and micro-aerial vehicles.

P-172 Mitochondria are dysregulated in poor quality oocytes and can be targeted in vitro to alter oocyte quality

Abstract Study question Does mitochondrial gene expression differ between good and poor quality oocytes and can mitochondria be targeted in vitro to alter oocyte quality? Summary answer Mitochondrial-related genes are dysregulated in poor quality oocytes and mitochondrial inhibitors can be used during IVM to alter oocyte quality. What is known already Good oocyte quality is essential for successful pregnancy yet we still have a poor understanding of the optimal composition of a good egg. Mitochondrial number and activity are important for oocyte quality and during maturation the ultrastructure of the mitochondria changes to a hooded or ring form. We have observed differences in the timing of this morphological change between good and poor quality oocytes in a sheep model. Oligomycin treatment of oocytes decreases the proportion of hooded mitochondria and increases mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) indicating that hooded mitochondria may form during maturation to reduce mitochondrial activity prior to fertilisation. Study design, size, duration Gene expression differences were compared between poorer quality peripubertal lamb oocytes and adult oocytes harvested during estrus from pools of ∼80 abattoir-derived ovaries on three separate dates for each age. Denuded oocytes (GV stage) were frozen in three pools of ∼20 per age and total RNA isolated. Sheep oocytes (∼30 per group) were treated with oligomycin, FCCP or vehicle control in final 2 hours of IVM on five separate dates, fertilised and cultured. Participants/materials, setting, methods RNA sequencing cleaned reads were mapped using HISAT2 on sheep genome version ARS-UI_Ramb_v2. Count matrix were generated using featureCount and differential gene expression was performed using DESeq2. After normalisation, Wald test was used to define genes differentially expressed. Genes were considered significantly altered with a FDR < 5% after Benjamini-Hochberg correction. Mean cleavage rate was compared to vehicle control in five replicate experiments using one-way ANOVA with Benjamini, Krieger and Yekutieli FDR < 5%. Main results and the role of chance Oligomycin (ATP synthase inhibitor) decreased cleavage rate compared to control (P < 0.001) while FCCP (electron transport chain uncoupler) had no effect. There were 163 genes up-regulated and 194 genes down-regulated in lamb GV oocytes compared to adult GV stage (FDR <5%). Metascape pathway analysis of the up-regulated genes in lamb oocytes showed the most enriched pathway was Thermogenesis which included these genes: ACOT9, AJUBA, ATP5ME, ATP5MF, CALML4, CREB3L3, CRPPA, DNAJC15, DPM3, FMC1, LDHA, NDUFA12, NDUFAF2, NDUFS5, NT5C, PHGDH, POLR2G, PPARG, PRPS1L1, SDHAF3, SLIRP, TIMM8B and UBB. Six of these up-regulated genes were in the top 20 most highly expressed genes. Thermogenesis is the process by which the mitochondrial electron transport chain becomes uncoupled to dissipate heat and may also control production of free radicals by mitochondria and their response to oxidants. These genes and other mitochondrial related genes that were up-regulated in lamb GV oocytes (CKS2, DCN, PCP4L1, SLC51B) are involved in formation of the electron transport chain complexes, oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthesis, mitochondrial organization and regulation of membrane potential. Together these results indicate that mitochondrial function is dysregulated in poorer quality oocytes and that treatment with mitochondrial inhibitors during IVM can alter oocyte quality. Limitations, reasons for caution This study was carried out in sheep oocytes and results would need to be confirmed in human oocytes if possible. Further research is needed to determine if decreasing MMP can improve oocyte quality and embryo development. Wider implications of the findings This animal model study indicates that mitochondria may be targeted during IVM to alter oocyte quality and this knowledge could be applied to develop ways of increasing human IVM and ART success rates. Trial registration number not applicable

A Comparative Study on the Form and Content of Gift Economy Festivals, Kula Ring and Burning Man

A Comparative Study on the Form and Content of Gift Economy Festivals, Kula Ring and Burning Man

Ring-shaped odor coding in the antennal lobe of migratory locusts

The representation of odors in the locust antennal lobe with its >2,000 glomeruli has long remained a perplexing puzzle. We employed the CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate transgenic locusts expressing the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP in olfactory sensory neurons. Using two-photon functional imaging, we mapped the spatial activation patterns representing a wide range of ecologically relevant odors across all six developmental stages. Our findings reveal a functionally ring-shaped organization of the antennal lobe composed of specific glomerular clusters. This configuration establishes an odor-specific chemotopic representation by encoding different chemical classes and ecologically distinct odors in the form of glomerular rings. The ring-shaped glomerular arrangement, which we confirm by selective targeting of OR70a-expressing sensory neurons, occurs throughout development, and the odor-coding pattern within the glomerular population is consistent across developmental stages. Mechanistically, this unconventional spatial olfactory code reflects the locust-specific and multiplexed glomerular innervation pattern of the antennal lobe.

Effect of bias magnetic field on transducer efficiency in electromagnetic ultrasonic non-destructive testing of Rock bolt

Non-destructive testing (NDT) of rock bolt anchoring quality is an important part of engineering quality and safety control, electromagnetic ultrasonic NDT is one of the promising detection methods, and improving the efficiency of ultrasonic transducer by optimizing the bias magnetic field is an important factor to obtain effective information. In this paper, several factors affecting the bias magnetic field are studied, and the work is divided into simulation and demonstration: COMSOL was used to simulate the electromagnetic ultrasonic transducer(EMAT) in order to analyze the influence of the number of magnetic circuit, the thickness of magnet and the thickness of yoke iron on the bias magnetic field. Then, an experimental platform was built, the magnetic circuit structure of the transducer was set with reference to the simulation results, and several important parameters of the bias magnetic field were determined by analyzing the collected signals. The results show that with the increase of the bias magnetic field magnetic circuit structure from independent to ring form, the magnetic field strength of the rock bolt increases, the magnetic field uniformity becomes better, and the efficiency of the transducer is also improved accordingly. In addition, under the same magnetic circuit condition, increasing the thickness of permanent magnet and yoke iron does not increase the magnetic flux density of the rock bolt axis proportionally, and has a limited effect on the efficiency of the transducer. In practical application, the corresponding structure is selected according to the needs, and the better bias magnetic field structure is selected while meeting the efficiency of the transducer.

Effectiveness of Several GRAS Salts against Fungal Rot of Fruit after Harvest and Assessment of the Phytotoxicity of Sodium Metabisufite in Treated Fruit.

This study evaluates the efficacy of the salts sodium metabisulfite (SMB), ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate first in vitro against the main postharvest fruit rot fungi, Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium italicum, and Penicillium digitatum. Results showed that 0.2% SMB completely inhibited the mycelium growth of the fungal species. Ammonium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate were less effective at 0.2% in inhibiting mycelial growth, ranging from 57.6% to 77.6%. The least effective was potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate. Experiments were also performed in vivo on wounded apples inoculated with the most pathogenic fungus, B. cinerea, and treated with SMB at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3%, both preventively and curatively. Results based on the decay size showed that SMB, when used as a preventive treatment, had a reduced efficacy, even with the highest concentration. However, this salt proved to be very effective at 0.5% in curative treatment since the decay was completely blocked. Our results suggest that the appropriate concentration of SMB for post-harvest treatment is 0.5% as a curative treatment. On the other hand, the 1% dose induced the onset of phytotoxicity around the wound. To assess the extent of the phytotoxicity reaction, higher concentrations of 1-4% SMB were applied to wounded fruit. Apples and oranges were inoculated or not with B. cinerea and P. digitatum, respectively. Doses of 1-4% induced phytotoxicity in the form of a discolored ring surrounding the wound on the epidermis of the fruit; this phytotoxicity enlarged as the concentration of SMB increased. The phytotoxic features were similar on apples and oranges. The methodological procedure made it possible to carry out a quantitative assessment of SMB phytotoxicity. This method is proposed as an easy-to-use technique for quantitatively estimating the phytotoxicity of antifungal compounds on post-harvest fruit.