Shell-like Structure Research Articles

UVIT Study of the MAgellanic Clouds (U-SMAC). II. A Far-UV Catalog of the Small Magellanic Cloud: Morphology and Kinematics of Young Stellar Population

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is an irregular dwarf galaxy that has recently undergone an interaction with the Large Magellanic Cloud. The young massive stars in the SMC formed in the disturbed low-metallicity environment are important targets in astrophysics. We present a catalog of ∼76,800 far-ultraviolet (FUV) sources toward the SMC detected using the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope onboard AstroSat. We created an FUV catalog with ∼62,900 probable SMC members which predominantly comprise main-sequence, giant, and subgiant stars. We selected four young populations (Young 1, Young 2, Young 3, and Blue Loop (BL) stars) identified from the Gaia optical color–magnitude diagram to study the morphology and kinematics of the young SMC using this catalog. We detect a clumpy morphology with a broken bar, a shell-like structure, and the inner SMC Wing for the four stellar populations. The eastern region and the northeastern regions are mainly populated by Young 1, 2, and 3 stars. The central region predominantly has the Young 2 and 3 populations, whereas the SW has BL stars, and Young 2 and 3 stars. The 2D kinematic study using proper motion (PM) reveals that Young 2 and 3 populations show two kinematically distinct subpopulations with low and high PM dispersion, whereas the Young 1 and BL stars show two kinematically distinct populations with low dispersion. Our analysis points to a kinematic disturbance along the R.A. direction for stars younger than ∼150 Myr located in the eastern region, with no significant disturbance along the decl.

High-temperature anaerobic calcination for stabilizing environmentally stressful elements in phosphoric acid production by-products

Phosphorus tailings (P) refer to the waste materials left over after the extraction of phosphorus from phosphate rock during mining and processing. phosphogypsum (PG) is typical by-products of phosphoric acid production (PPB), containing numerous environmentally hazardous elements (EHE) that pose significant risks to ecological safety. In this study, we examined the impact of high-temperature anaerobic calcination on the migration and immobilization of EHE in PPB. The results indicated that higher temperature ranges favorably controlled the leaching toxicity of PPB. In the calcination products of P and PG, the inhibition efficiency of Pb leaching toxicity reached 84.93% and 89.33%, respectively. Under higher temperature conditions (P at 700 °C, PG at 600 °C), the inhibition of Cr leaching toxicity reached 100%. The inhibitory effects of high-temperature environments on EHE in PPB were ranked as fluorine > phosphorus > heavy metals. The mechanisms of migration and transformation of EHE in PPB under high-temperature anaerobic calcination were elucidated in three aspects, ranked from strongest to weakest. Firstly, the encapsulation of EHE by a shell-like structure, attributed to the “melt-wrap” phenomenon. Secondly, the decomposition-gasification phenomenon induced by high-temperature conditions. Thirdly, the effect of high temperature on the transformation of the storage forms of EHE. This study fills a research gap in the field of thermal treatment of PPB, enhancing the understanding of the specific effects of thermal treatment on the transformation of EHE in PPB, and provides theoretical and data support for the high-temperature thermal treatment of solid wastes.

Affinity hierarchies and amphiphilic proteins underlie the co-assembly of nucleolar and heterochromatin condensates.

Nucleoli are surrounded by Pericentromeric Heterochromatin (PCH), reflecting a close spatial association between the two largest biomolecular condensates in eukaryotic nuclei. Nucleoli are the sites of ribosome synthesis, while the repeat-rich PCH is essential for chromosome segregation, genome stability, and transcriptional silencing. How and why these two distinct condensates co-assemble is unclear. Here, using high-resolution live imaging of Drosophila embryogenesis, we find that de novo establishment of PCH around the nucleolus is highly dynamic, transitioning from the nuclear edge to surrounding the nucleolus. Eliminating the nucleolus by removing the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) resulted in increased PCH compaction and subsequent reorganization into a toroidal structure. In addition, in embryos lacking rDNA, some nucleolar proteins were redistributed into new bodies or 'neocondensates', including enrichment in the PCH toroidal hole. Combining these observations with physical modeling revealed that nucleolar-PCH associations can be mediated by a hierarchy of interaction strengths between PCH, nucleoli, and 'amphiphilic' protein(s) that have affinities for both nucleolar and PCH components. We validated this model by identifying a candidate amphiphile, a DEAD-Box RNA Helicase called Pitchoune, whose depletion or mutation of its PCH interaction motif disrupted PCH-nucleolar associations. Together, this study unveils a dynamic program for establishing nucleolar-PCH associations during animal development, demonstrates that nucleoli are required for normal PCH organization, and identifies Pitchoune as an amphiphilic molecular link required for PCH-nucleolar associations.

A novel shell-like structure Zn-5Mn alloy with high strength and high plasticity for degradable oil fracturing tools

Fracturing tools for oil and gas exploitation require high mechanical properties and degradability. Zn alloys are possible to have good mechanical properties and much lower cost than widely used rare-earth Mg alloys, so it is worthy to develop Zn alloys as alternative materials. In this paper, a novel shell-like microstructure of Zn-5Mn alloy has been realized by bottom circulating water cooling. MnZn9 phase appears by the first time in Zn-Mn alloys with Mn < 6.4 wt%. This phase leads to the formation of hard MnZn9/MnZn13 core/shell structure with a high volume fraction of 76 %, dispersed uniformly in soft Zn phase. The alloy has excellent compressive properties without fracture even when stress and strain reach 2776 MPa and 80 %, respectively. Its ultimate uniform compressive stress and strain are 865 MPa and 56 % respectively, beyond widely used dissoluble Mg alloys. Weight loss rate of the Zn-5Mn alloy is two times that of pure Zn, immersed in 3 wt% KCl solution at 93°C. The shell-like Zn-5Mn alloy provides guiding significance of applying Zn alloys in fracturing tools for oil and gas exploitation.

Unveiling the purely young star formation history of the SMC’s northeastern shell from colour–magnitude diagram fitting

ABSTRACT We obtain a quantitative star formation history (SFH) of a shell-like structure (‘shell’) located in the northeastern part of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We use the Survey of the MAgellanic Stellar History to derive colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs), reaching below the oldest main-sequence turnoff, from which we compute the SFHs with CMD-fitting techniques. We present, for the first time, a novel technique that uses red clump (RC) stars from the CMDs to assess and account for the SMC’s line-of-sight depth effect present during the SFH derivation. We find that accounting for this effect recovers a more accurate SFH. We quantify an $\sim$7 kpc line-of-sight depth present in the CMDs, in good agreement with depth estimates from RC stars in the northeastern SMC. By isolating the stellar content of the northeastern shell and incorporating the line-of-sight depth into our calculations, we obtain an unprecedentedly detailed SFH. We find that the northeastern shell is primarily composed of stars younger than $\sim$500 Myr, with significant star formation enhancements around $\sim$250 and $\sim$450 Myr. These young stars are the main contributors to the shell’s structure. We show synchronicity between the northeastern shell’s SFH with the Large Magellanic Cloud’s (LMC) northern arm, which we attribute to the interaction history of the SMC with the LMC and the Milky Way (MW) over the past $\sim$500 Myr. Our results highlight the complex interplay of ram pressure stripping and the influence of the MW’s circumgalactic medium in shaping the SMC’s northeastern shell.

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In this paper, we construct a Dirac star model composed of |κ|\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$|\\kappa |$$\\end{document} pairs of spinor fields. The azimuthal harmonic indices m of these spinor fields are half-integers, and they satisfy -(|κ|-12)≤m≤|κ|-12\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$-(|\\kappa |-\\frac{1}{2})\\le m \\le |\\kappa |-\\frac{1}{2}$$\\end{document}. 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When |κ|>1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$|\\kappa |>1$$\\end{document}, among these |κ|\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$|\\kappa |$$\\end{document} pairs of spinor fields, there exist spinor fields with azimuthal harmonic indices m>12\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$m>\\frac{1}{2}$$\\end{document}, and all spinor fields still conform to the same Dirac field equation. Different families of solutions are distinguished by the value of κ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\kappa $$\\end{document}, so we named these solutions κ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\kappa $$\\end{document}-Dirac stars. We obtain solutions for κ=±1,±2,±3,±4,±5,±6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\kappa =\\pm 1,\\pm 2,\\pm 3,\\pm 4,\\pm 5,\\pm 6$$\\end{document} by using numerical methods. Additionally, we compute their ADM mass M, Noether charge Q, and binding energy E, and illustrate how these quantities change with the spinor field’s frequency ω\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\omega $$\\end{document} for different κ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\kappa $$\\end{document}. We observe significant differences between solutions for |κ|>1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$|\\kappa |>1$$\\end{document} and the |κ|=1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$|\\kappa |=1$$\\end{document} case. Furthermore, we provide the energy density distribution of the Dirac stars, wherein for |κ|>1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$|\\kappa |>1$$\\end{document} scenarios, the Dirac stars exhibit a spherical shell-like structure. Moreover, we employ three-dimensional diagrams to intuitively depict how κ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\kappa $$\\end{document} influences the combination of spinor fields to form a spherically symmetric configuration.

Unlocking high-efficiency lithium-ion batteries: Sucrose-derived carbon coating on nickel-rich single crystal Li[Ni₀.₈Co₀.₁Mn₀.₁]O₂ cathodes

This study introduces a novel approach to enhancing the electrochemical properties of nickel-rich single crystal NCM811 (Li[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O2) cathodes through carbon surface coating. Utilizing low-cost sucrose as a precursor, we applied a carbon-doped shell-like structure to the sNCM811 surface via convective flow treatment, optimized for temperature and coating density. This carbon surface layer significantly improved the delithiation kinetics, enabling rapid and stable electrochemical reactions. Notably, it mitigated electrical isolation, suppressed irreversible phase transitions, and reduced electrolyte-related side reactions within the sNCM811 during repeated charge-discharge cycles. Cathodes with a 7 wt.% sucrose coating demonstrated a high discharge capacity of 218 mAh g−1 at 0.1C/0.1C charge/discharge rates, with impressive capacity retention of 89 % after 100 cycles at 1C/1C charging/discharging. This represents a performance enhancement of 16 % and an improvement in cycle stability of 5.6 % over bare sNCM811. Furthermore, even at high charging/discharging rates of 5C/5C, the coated cathodes maintained a notable capacity of 125 mAh g−1, effectively mitigating structural degradation under high-output conditions. These findings suggest that carbon-coated sNCM811 is a promising solution for addressing degradation issues in high-capacity, high-output nickel-rich cathodes, potentially revolutionizing lithium-ion battery systems in demanding applications.

Activation of peroxymonosulfate using heterogeneous Fe-doped carbon-based catalyst to generate singlet oxygen for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole

Non-radical catalytic oxidation processes can eliminate refractory pollutants from wastewater containing complex substrates such as dissolved organic matter, but the production of selective non-radicals is challenging during the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Herein, a novel magnetic carbon-based catalyst (Fe3O4@CD-8, where 8 represents an annealing temperature of 800 ℃) with N and Fe species as catalytic active sites was fabricated to remediate sulfamethoxazole (SMX)-containing water. It showed excellent SMX removal efficiency and facilitated singlet oxygen (1O2) production. The characterization results revealed that Fe3O4@CD-8 had a microscopically hierarchical pore structure and an overall core–shell-like structure. Due to its large specific surface area, N-containing species, and Fe nanoparticles, 0.1 g/L Fe3O4@CD-8 removed almost 100% SMX (24 min) and achieved a 44.1% mineralization (40 min) efficiency in the presence of 0.5 mM PMS. This catalytic system also maintained its removal performance in the presence of inorganic anions and humic acids and over a wide pH range of 3–11, showing good tolerance to various environmental factors. 1O2 was confirmed to be the predominant active species for SMX degradation using the Fe3O4@CD-8/PMS system. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, intermediate monitoring, and toxicity evaluation demonstrated that SMX was transformed into low-toxicity molecules and completely mineralized into CO2 and H2O. The addition of Fe nanoparticles enhanced PMS adsorption and facilitated the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle to accelerate the activation of PMS. This study provides new insights and strategies for the controlled production of non-radicals for remediating antibiotic-containing wastewater.

The Axial Compressive Response of Thin, Elastic, Polygonal Shells

Abstract Thin-walled cylindrical shell structures are revisited with the objective of increasing the axial load-carrying capacity. By using the postbuckling reserve of rectangular plates, polygonal shells are studied, which combines the response of a plate-like structure with a shell-like structure. These “plate-shells” are shown to be imperfection insensitive for a range of polygonal shell designs. Furthermore, their collapse load exceeds the corresponding load for a circular cylindrical shell. These results are a significant departure from the well-known imperfection sensitivity in the axial compressive response of cylindrical shells.

Tracing the Layers of Photodissociated Gas in the Trifid Nebula

Photodissociated gas bears the signature of the dynamical evolution of the ambient interstellar medium impacted by the mechanical and radiative feedback from an expanding H ii region. Here we present an analysis of the kinematics of the young Trifid Nebula, based on velocity-resolved observations of the far-infrared fine structure lines of [C ii] at 158 μm and [O i] at 63 μm. The distribution of the photodissociated regions (PDRs) surrounding the nebula is consistent with a shell-like structure created by the H ii region expanding at a velocity of 5 km s−1. Comparison of ratios of [C ii] and [O i]63 μm intensities for identical velocity components with PDR models indicate a density of 104 cm−3. The redshifted and blueshifted PDR shells with a combined mass of 516 M ⊙ have a kinetic energy of ∼1047 erg. This is consistent with the thermal energy of the H ii region as well as with the energy deposited by the stellar wind luminosity from HD 169442A, an O7 V star, over the 0.5 Myr lifetime of the star. The observed momentum of the PDR shell is lower than what theoretical calculations predict for the radial momentum due to the shell being swept up by an expanding H ii region, which suggests that significant mass loss has occurred in M20 due to the dispersal of the surrounding gas by the advancing ionization front.

An integrative taxonomy study reveals a rare new species of the genus Creptotrema (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) in an endangered frog in South America.

During an ecological study with a near-endangered anuran in Brazil, the Schmidt's Spinythumb frog, Crossodactylus schmidti Gallardo, 1961, we were given a chance to analyze the gastrointestinal tract of a few individuals for parasites. In this paper, we describe a new species of an allocreadiid trematode of the genus Creptotrema Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928, which possesses a unique trait among allocreadiids (i.e., a bivalve shell-like muscular structure at the opening of the ventral sucker); the new species represents the fourth species of allocreadiid trematode parasitizing amphibians. Besides, the new species is distinguished from other congeners by the combination of characters such as the body size, ventral sucker size, cirrus-sac size, and by having small eggs. DNA sequences through the 28S rDNA and COI mtDNA further corroborated the distinction of the new species. Phylogenetic analyses placed the newly generated sequences in a monophyletic clade together with all other sequenced species of Creptotrema. Genetic divergences between the new species and other Creptotrema spp. varied from 2.0 to 4.2% for 28S rDNA, and 15.1 to 16.8% for COI mtDNA, providing robust validation for the recognition of the new species. Even though allocreadiids are mainly parasites of freshwater fishes, our results confirm anurans as hosts of trematodes of this family. Additionally, we propose the reallocation of Auriculostoma ocloya Liquin, Gilardoni, Cremonte, Saravia, Cristóbal & Davies, 2022 to the genus Creptotrema. This study increases the known diversity of allocreadiids and contributes to our understanding of their evolutionary relationships, host-parasite relationships, and biogeographic history.

Preparation of water-soluble nanocurcumin with enhanced superoxide scavenging activity

Abstract Background: Curcumin, a curcuminoid derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been extensively studied for various bioactivities. However, its limited water solubility and sensitivity to light restrict its therapeutic applications. In recent years, researchers have been exploring ways to enhance the properties of curcumin. In the current investigation, curcumin was transformed into its nanoform by utilizing d-glucose in an aqueous phase at room temperature, creating water-soluble nanocurcumin. Since this study focuses on altering the architecture of the curcumin sphere, it has been examined explicitly for antioxidant activity through well-defined in vitro assays. Materials and Methods: Nanocurcumin was synthesized through the conversion of curcumin using d-glucose. The zeta potential of nanocurcumin was measured to assess its water solubility. The orientation of curcumin in its nanoform was confirmed through ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) was employed to provide evidence of its potential assembly. At the same time, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was conducted to discern alterations in peaks and stretches indicative of the transition to the nanoform. The prepared nanocurcumin was examined for superoxide and free radical scavenging activities, given curcumin’s well-known antioxidant properties. Results: The zeta potential measurement of nanocurcumin yielded a mean value of −53.4 mV. The nanoform orientation of curcumin was confirmed through UV–Vis spectroscopy, revealing a shift in the maximum absorption from 450 to 430 nm. Photoluminescence analysis, conducted with excitation at a wavelength of 478 nm, recorded a significant 5.01-fold increase in fluorescence intensity, from 193.6 to 971.8 a.u., accompanied by a slight shift in the emission maxima peak. HR-TEM was done, and various field images have been taken. Some images illustrated the probable assembly of curcumin into a spherical nanoform with a shell-like structure embedded inside the glucose sphere. Fourier-transform infrared analysis indicated alterations in some peaks and stretches due to the transition to the nanoform. Upon examination of the prepared nanocurcumin for superoxide and free radical scavenging activity, a noteworthy enhancement in superoxide scavenging activity was observed, increasing from 21.42 ± 5.01% in the native form to 69.94 ± 5.84% in the nanoform at a concentration of 10 µg/mL of curcumin. Conversely, a slight reduction in free radical scavenging activity was noted, decreasing from 55.57 ± 5.16% in native curcumin to 47.43 ± 6.83% in the nanoform at the same concentration. Conclusion: The water-soluble curcumin synthesized in this study can be regarded as an advanced molecule with the potential to address diseases mediated by oxidative stress effectively.

Growth prolongation of human induced pluripotent stem cell aggregate in three-dimensional suspension culture system by addition of botulinum hemagglutinin

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be used in regenerative therapy as an irresistible cell source, and so the development of scalable production of hiPSCs for three-dimensional (3D) suspension culture is required. In this study, we established a simple culture strategy for improving hiPSC aggregate growth using botulinum hemagglutinin (HA), which disrupts cell-cell adhesion mediated by E-cadherin. When HA was added to the suspension culture of hiPSC aggregates, E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion was temporarily disrupted within 24h, but then recovered. Phosphorylated myosin light chain, a contractile force marker, was also recovered at the periphery of hiPSC aggregates. The cell aggregates were suppressed the formation of collagen type I shell-like structures at the periphery by HA and collagen type I was homogenously distributed within the cell aggregates. In addition, these cell aggregates retained the proliferation marker Ki-67 throughout the cell aggregates. The apparent specific growth rate with HA addition was maintained continuously throughout the culture, and the final cell density was 1.7-fold higher than that in the control culture. These cells retained high expression levels of pluripotency markers. These observations indicated that relaxation of cell-cell adhesions by HA addition induced rearrangement of the mechanical tensions generated by actomyosin in hiPSC aggregates and suppression of collagen type I shell-like structure formation. These results suggest that this simple and readily culture strategy is a potentially useful tool for improving the scalable production of hiPSCs for 3D suspension cultures.

Deformation behavior of core–shell-like structure in β-solidified TiAl alloy during isothermal compression

The remnant lamellar colonies are the main factor affecting the homogeneity of the deformed microstructure of TiAl alloys. The remnant colonies can be eliminated during hot compression by obtaining a core–shell-like structure. In this study, the deformation behaviors of the core–shell-like structure at different strains are investigated. Due to the different components of the core and the shell, they exhibit different deformation behavior. At small strains, the shell is preferentially broken by dynamic recrystallization of α phases. With increasing strain, the core will be fragmented by recrystallization of α and γ lamellae. In addition, the γ recrystallized grains are gradually dissolved after formation.

3D structure of H ii regions in the star-forming complex S254-S258

ABSTRACT The S254-258 star-forming complex is a place of massive star formation where five OB-stars have created H ii regions, visible as optical nebulae, and disrupted the parental molecular gas. In this work, we study the 3D structure of these H ii regions using optical spectroscopy and tunable-filter photometry with the 6- and 1-m telescopes of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We construct maps of the optical extinction and find that the H ii emission is attenuated by neutral material with 2 ≤ AV ≤ 5 mag. The typical electron density in S255, and S257 is ≈100 cm−3, with enhancements up to 200 cm−3 in their borders, and up to 400 cm−3 toward the dense molecular cloud between them, where active star formation is taking place. We show that either a model of a clumpy dense neutral shell, where UV photons penetrate through and ionize the gas, or a stellar wind, can explain the shell-like structure of the ionized gas. S255 is surrounded by neutral material from all sides, but S257 is situated on the border of a molecular cloud and does not have dense front and rear walls. The compact H ii regions S256 and S258 are deeply embedded in the molecular clouds.

Measuring cochlear duct length in North Indian population: a detailed study

Background: The cochlea is a shell-like structure of the inner ear which is comprised of two canals (the Scala vestibule and the Scala tympani) and the Organ of Corti. Cochlear duct length is defined as the length of the scala media as measured from the middle of the round window to the helicotrema. Preoperative measurement of CDL is significantly important if the desired intracochlear electrode array placement is required. Methods: This retrospective study was done in Mehrotra ENT Hospital, Kanpur, India, which is a tertiary care hospital and referral centre for cochlear implants. We included 800 patients (400 males and 400 females) in the study with bilateral hearing loss who were evaluated for cochlear implantation. HRCT temporal bone of these patients were analyzed and a variable A was measured. Results: Our study included 800 patients, Mean of distance A value for male children is 7.94mm (range 7.0-9.2mm). Mean of distance A value for female children is 7.72mm (range 6.95-8.8mm). So the overall average is 7.83mm. We calculated cochlear duct length using the formula, CDL=4.16A-3.98. The mean cochlear duct length was 28.6mm with a range from 24.9-34.3mm. Conclusions: Our study is one of the most detailed large (800 cases) study of cochlear duct length in the North Indian population. Our results suggest that an average smaller cochlear duct length in our geographical area is a significant finding in the understanding of cochlear anatomy and physiology. It will have great importance on the insertion depth in cochlear implantation.

Ex-situ versus in-situ synthesis of NZFO/f-MWCNTs nanocomposites

The comparison between NZFO/f-MWCNTs composites based on Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (NFZO) nanoparticles with 5 wt% and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) synthesized via ex-situ and in-situ method is discussed. The significant difference in the NZFO average crystallite size between both nanohybrids is unveiled. The slight redistribution of cations over tetrahedral and octahedral sites versus the synthesis route is confirmed by the variant inversion factor in Raman spectroscopy. The dominant role of the f-MWCNTs matrix was exposed by electronic structure analysis. The photoemission and absorption spectra confirm the formation of NZFO/f-MWCNTs composites. The redistribution of iron cations versus synthesis type is revealed by studying Fe2p and Fe L-edge spectra. The cluster-glass magnetic state of NZFO interacting nanoparticles with different sizes for ex-situ and in-situ hybrids is demonstrated by the magnetic properties analysis. The core–shell-like structure with a magnetic core and disordered dead layer is evidenced. The influence of Fe-based carbon residues was revealed as more dominant for in-situ synthesized composite.

Exploring Stellar Cluster and Feedback-driven Star Formation in the Galactic Mid-infrared Bubble [HKS2019] E70

We present a comprehensive analysis of the Galactic mid-infrared bubble [HKS2019] E70 (E70) by adopting a multiwavelength approach to understand the physical environment and star formation scenario around it. We identified a small (radius ∼1.7 pc) stellar cluster inside the E70 bubble, and its distance is estimated as 3.26 ± 0.45 kpc. This cluster is embedded in the molecular cloud and hosts massive stars, as well as young stellar objects (YSOs), suggesting active star formation in the region. The spectral type of the brightest star (M1) of the E70 cluster is estimated as O9V, and a circular ring/shell of gas and dust is found around it. The diffuse radio emission inside this ring/shell, the excess pressure exerted by the massive star M1 at the YSO’s core, and the distribution of photodissociation regions, a class I YSO, and two ultracompact H ii regions on the rim of this ring/shell clearly suggest positive feedback of the massive star M1 in the region. We also found a low-density shell-like structure in the 12CO(J = 1–0) molecular emission along the perimeter of the E70 bubble. The velocity structure of the 12CO emission suggests that the feedback from the massive star appears to have expelled the molecular material, and the subsequent swept-up material is what appears as the E70 bubble.

Synthesis and Characterization of Dimeric Artesunate Glycerol Monocaprylate Conjugate and Formulation of Nanoemulsion Preconcentrate.

Malaria is one of the major life-threatening health problems worldwide. Artesunate is the most potent antimalarial drug to combat severe malaria. However, development of drug resistance, short plasma half-life, and poor bioavailability limit the efficacy of this drug. Here, we applied the dimerization concept to synthesize dimeric artesunate glycerol monocaprylate conjugate (D-AS-GC) by conjugating artesunate (AS) with glycerol monocaprylate (GC) via esterification reaction. D-AS-GC conjugate, AS, and GC were well characterized by 1H NMR, attached proton test (APT) 13C NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy. D-AS-GC conjugate was further analyzed by ESI-TOF MS. Finally, a series of nanoemulsion preconcentrate (F1-F6) of D-AS-GC was prepared by mixing different ratios of oil and surfactant/cosurfactant and evaluated after dilution with an aqueous phase. The optimized formulation (F6) exhibits a clear nanoemulsion and the hydrodynamic diameter of the dispersed phase was determined by DLS and DOSY NMR spectroscopy. The morphology of the nanoemulsion droplets of F6 was investigated by AFM, which revealed the formation of tiny nanoemulsion droplets on a hydrophilic mica substrate. Moreover, using a less polar silicon wafer led to the formation of larger droplets with a spherical core shell-like structure. Overall, the rational design of the dimeric artesunate-based nanoemulsion preconcentrate could potentially be used in more efficient drug delivery systems.

Albumosomes formed by cytoplasmic pre-folding albumin maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and inhibit nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the factors that maintain mitochondrial homeostasis, especially in hepatocytes, are largely unknown. Hepatocytes synthesize various high-level plasma proteins, among which albumin is most abundant. In this study, we found that pre-folding albumin in the cytoplasm is completely different from folded albumin in the serum. Mechanistically, endogenous pre-folding albumin undergoes phase transition in the cytoplasm to form a shell-like spherical structure, which we call the “albumosome”. Albumosomes interact with and trap pre-folding carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2) in the cytoplasm. Albumosomes control the excessive sorting of CPT2 to the mitochondria under high-fat-diet-induced stress conditions; in this way, albumosomes maintain mitochondrial homeostasis from exhaustion. Physiologically, albumosomes accumulate in hepatocytes during murine aging and protect the livers of aged mice from mitochondrial damage and fat deposition. Morphologically, mature albumosomes have a mean diameter of 4μm and are surrounded by heat shock protein Hsp90 and Hsp70 family proteins, forming a larger shell. The Hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG promotes hepatic albumosomal accumulation in vitro and in vivo, through which suppressing the progression of NAFLD in mice.