Effects of Fracture Seepage on the Stability of Landslide during Reservoir Water Level Fluctuation

The hydraulic conductivity function of fractures is a key scientific question to describe and reveal the process and the role of water seepage reasonably. In this paper, the generation technology of random fracture network and the latest numerical computation method for equivalent permeability tensor of fracture network are applied to analyze the landslide located at Wangjiayuanzi in Wanzhou District of Chongqing by simulating the changes of the seepage field caused by the running of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The influences of the fracture seepage on the seepage field and stability of the landslide were discussed with emphasis. The results show that the fractures existing in the soil increase the permeability coefficient of the landslide body and reduce the delay time of the underground water level in the landslide which fluctuates relative to the water level of reservoir，that causes the safe coefficient of the slope changes more gently than that of the same slope without fractures. It means, if only water level fluctuating condition is concerned, the fractures existing in the soil plays a positive role to the stability of slopes.

Microscopic Three-Body Force Effect on Nucleon-Nucleon Cross Sections in Symmetric Nuclear Matter

We provide a microscopic calculation of neutron-proton and proton-proton cross sections in symmetric nuclear matter at various densities, using the Brueckner-Hartee-Fock approximation scheme with the Argonne V-14 potential including the contribution of microscopic three-body force. We investigate separately the effects of three-body force on the effective mass and on the scattering amplitude. In the present calculation, the rearrangement contribution of three-body force is considered, which will reduce the neutron and proton effective mass, and depress the amplitude of cross section. The effect of three body force is shown to be repulsive, especially in high densities and large momenta, which will suppress the cross section markedly.

Early effects of carbon-ion irradiation on murine lymphocytes and thymocytes

To estimate the biological risks from space radiation encountered by cosmonauts in outer space, the effects from whole-body exposure to carbon ions or X-rays irradiations at 0, 0.39, 0.55 and 1 Gy at a dose rate of 0.2 Gy/min were investigated in BALB/c mice. The relative thymus and spleen weights were measured at 24 h after exposure, and the cell cycle distribution and percentage of apoptosis of thymocytes and spleen and peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. The data showed that exposure to carbon ions delayed cell progression of peripheral blood lymphocytes in S-phase, and delayed thymocytes and spleen lymphocytes in G(0)/G(1)-phase. Apoptosis of thymocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by carbon ions increased more rapidly with dose than was the case for X-rays. There were some differences between the relative weight loss of the thymus and the spleen with increasing dose of either carbon ions or X-rays. The results obtained provide evidence of dose- and organ-specific differences induced by carbon ions compared to X-rays, with increased apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes and thymocytes, but not spleen lymphocytes. Our data may suggest that further work would be of interest to estimate risk of changes in immune function during particle radiation exposures in space travel. (c) 2007 COSPAR

Isospin dependence of three-body force rearrangement contribution

Within the isospin-dependent Brueckner framework, we investigate the contribution of three-body force ( TBF) rearrangement to isospin symmetry potential as well as its momentum and density dependence. In particular, we investigate the TBF rearrangement effects on the isospin splitting of neutron and proton effective masses in neutron-rich nuclear matter. We show that the rearrangement contribution of TBF to neutron and proton single-particle potentials is repulsive and increases rapidly with increasing density and momentum. At low densities, the influence of the TBF rearrangement on symmetry potential is rather small, and the TBF rearrangement effect becomes more and more pronounced as the density rises. At high densities, the contribution of TBF rearrangement increases considerably the symmetry potential and modifies remarkably the momentum dependence of the symmetry potential. In both cases with and without including the TBF rearrangement contribution, the predicted neutron effective mass in neutron-rich matter is greater than the proton effective mass. The TBF rearrangement effect is to decrease remarkably both the proton and neutron effective masses, and reduce the magnitude of neutron-proton effective mass splitting in neutron-rich matter at high densities.

Adaptive hormetic response of pre-exposure of mouse brain with low-dose C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray on growth hormone (GH) and body weight induced by subsequent high-dose irradiation

The brain of the Kun-Ming strain mice were irradiated with 0.05 Gy of C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray as the pre-exposure dose, and were then irradiated with 2 Gy of 12C6+ ion or Co-60 gamma-ray as challenging irradiation dose at 4 h after per-exposure. Body weight and serum growth hormone (GH) concentration were measured at 35th day after irradiation. The results showed that irradiation of mouse brain with 2 Gy of C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray significantly diminished mouse body weight and level of serum GH. The relative biological effectiveness values of a 2 Gy dose of C-12(6+) ion calculated with respect to Co-60 gamma-ray were 1.47 and 1.34 for body weight and serum GH concentration, respectively. Pre-exposure with a low-dose (0.05 Gy) of C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray significantly alleviated reductions of mouse body weight and level of serum GH induced by a subsequent high-dose (2 Gy) irradiation. The data suggested that low-dose ionizing irradiation can induce adaptive hormetic responses to the harmful effects of pituitary by subsequent high-dose exposure.

Properties of proto-neutron star and effect of three-body forces

Within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock framework, the equation of state and the properties of newborn neutron stars are investigated by adopting a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction AV(18) supplemented with a microscopic three-body force or a phenomenological three-body force. The maximum mass of newborn neutron star and the proton fraction in the newborn beta-stable neutron-star matter are calculated. The neutrino-trapping and the three-body force effects are discussed, and the interplay between the effects of the trapped neutrino and the three-body force are especially explored. It is shown that neutrino trapping considerably affects the proton abundance and the equation of state of the newborn neutron star in both cases with and without the three-body forces. The effect of neutrino trapping remarkably enhances the proton abundance, and the contribution of the three-body force makes the equation of state of the newborn neutron star much stiffer at high densities and consequently increases the proton abundance strongly. The trapped neutrinos significantly reduce the influence of the three-body force on the proton abundance in newborn neutron stars.

Three-body force rearrangement contribution to single nucleon potential in nuclear matter

Within the framework of microscopic Brueckner-Hatree-Fock, the contribution of the three-body force (TBF) rearrangement to the. single nucleon potential is calculated. The TBF rearrangement effects on the momentum and the density dependence of the single nucleon potential are investigated. The influence of the TBF rearrangement on the effective mass of nucleon is also discussed. It is shown that the rearrangement contribution of TBF is repulsive and momentum-dependent. The TBF rearrangement effect and its momentum dependence increase rapidly as increasing density and momentum. At high densities and high momenta, the repulsive rearrangement contribution reduces strongly the attraction of the single nucleon potential and enhances considerably the momentum dependence of the single nucleon potential.

Effects of ion beam irradiation on adventitious shoot regeneration from in vitro leaf explants of Saintpaulia ionahta

The effects of 960 MeV carbon ion beam and 8 MeV X-ray irradiation on adventitious shoots from in vitro leaf explants of two different Saintpaulia ionahta (Mauve and Indikon) cultivars were studied with regard to tissue increase, shoots differentiation and morphology changes in the shoots. The experimental results showed that the survival fraction of shoot formation for the Mauve and Indikon irradiated with the carbon ion beam at 20 Gy were 0.715 and 0.600, respectively, while those for both the cultivars exposed to the Xray irradiation at the same dose were 1.000. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of Mauve with respect to X-ray was about two. Secondly, the percentage of regenerating explants with malformed shoots in all Mauve regenerating explants irradiated with carbon ion beam at 20 Gy accounted for 49.6%, while that irradiated with the same dose of X-ray irradiation was only 4.7%; as for Saintpatdia ionahta Indikon irradiated with 20 Gy carbon ion beam, the percentage was 43.3%, which was higher than that of X-ray irradiation. Last, many chlorophyll deficient and other varieties of mutants were obtained in this study. Based on the results above, it can be concluded that the effect of mutation induction by carbon ion beam irradiation on the leaf explants of Saintpaulia ionahta is better than that by X-ray irradiation; and the optimal mutagenic dose varies from 20 Gy to 25 Gy for carbon ion beam irradiation.

Early effects of low dose C-12(6+) ion or X-ray irradiation on human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The aim of this study was to estimate the acute effects of low dose C-12(6+) ions or X-ray radiation on human immune function. The human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) of seven healthy donors were exposed to 0.05 Gy C-12(6+) ions or X-ray radiation and cell responses were measured at 24 h after exposure. The cytotoxic activities of HPBL were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT); the percentages of T and NK cells subsets were detected by flow cytometry; mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma were examined by real time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR); and these cytokines protein levels in supematant of cultured cells were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The results showed that the cytotoxic activity of HPBL, mRNA expression of IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in HPBL and their protein levels in supernatant were significantly increased at 24 h after exposure to 0.05 Gy C-12(6+) ions radiation and the effects were stronger than observed for X-ray exposure. However, there was no significant change in the percentage of T and NK cells subsets of HPBL. These results suggested that 0.05 Gy high linear energy transfer (LET) C-12(6+) radiation was a more effective approach to host immune enhancement than that of low LET X-ray. We conclude that cytokines production might be used as sensitive indicators of acute response to LDL (C) 2009 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Three-Dimensional Human Vessel Models: Differential Effects According to Radiation Quality and Cellular Development

Little is known about the effects of space radiation on the human body. There are a number of potential chronic and acute effects, and one major target for noncarcinogenic effects is the human vasculature. Cellular stress, inflammatory response, and other radiation effects on endothelial cells may affect vascular function. This study was aimed at understanding the effects of space ionizing radiation on the formation and maintenance of capillary-like blood vessels. We used a 3D human vessel model created with human endothelial cells in a gel matrix to assess the effects of low-LET protons and high-LET iron ions. Iron ions were more damaging and caused significant reduction in the length of intact vessels in both developing and mature vessels at a dose of 80 cGy. Protons had no effect on mature vessels up to a dose of 3.2 Gy but did inhibit vessel formation at 80 cGy. Comparison with gamma radiation showed that photons had even less effect, although, as with protons, developing vessels were more sensitive. Apoptosis assays showed that inhibition of vessel development or deterioration of mature vessels was not due to cell death by apoptosis even in the case of iron ions. These are the first data to show the effects of radiation with varying linear energy transfer on a human vessel model. (C) 2011 In Radiation Research Society

Spatio-temporal changes in annual accumulated temperature in China and the effects on cropping systems, 1980s to 2000

Change in thermal conditions can substantially affect crop growth, cropping systems, agricultural production and land use. In the present study, we used annual accumulated temperatures > 10 degrees C (AAT10) as an indicator to investigate the spatio-temporal changes in thermal conditions across China from the late 1980s to 2000, with a spatial resolution of 1 x 1 km. We also investigated the effects of the spatio-temporal changes on cultivated land use and cropping systems. We found that AAT10 has increased on a national scale since the late 1980s, Particularly, 3.16 x 10(5) km(2) of land moved from the spring wheat zone (AAT10: 1600 to 3400 degrees C) to the winter wheat zone (AAT10: 3400 to 4500 degrees C). Changes in thermal conditions had large influences on cultivated land area and cropping systems. The areas of cultivated land have increased in regions with increasing AAT10, and the cropping rotation index has increased since the late 1980s. Single cropping was replaced by 3 crops in 2 years in many regions, and areas of winter wheat cultivation were shifted northward in some areas, such as in the eastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and in western Liaoning and Jilin Provinces.

Toxicological effects of cinnabar in rats by NMR-based metabolic profiling of urine and serum

Cinnabar, an important traditional Chinese mineral medicine, has been widely used as a Chinese patent medicine ingredient for sedative therapy. However, the pharmaceutical and toxicological effects of cinnabar, especially in the whole organism, were subjected to few investigations. In this study, an NMR-based metabolomics approach has been applied to investigate the toxicological effects of cinnabar after intragastrical administration (dosed at 0.5, 2 and 5 g/kg body weight) on male Wistar rats.

Metabolic profiling studies on the toxicological effects of realgar in rats by H-1 NMR spectroscopy

The toxicological effects of realgar after intragastrical administration (1 g/kg body weight) were investigated over a 21 day period in male Wistar rats using metabonomic analysis of H-1 NMR spectra of urine, serum and liver tissue aqueous extracts. Liver and kidney histopathology examination and serum clinical chemistry analyses were also performed. H-1 NMR spectra and pattern recognition analyses from realgar treated animals showed increased excretion of urinary Kreb's cycle intermediates, increased levels of ketone bodies in urine and serum, and decreased levels of hepatic glucose and glycogen, as well as hypoglycemia and hyperlipoidemia, suggesting the Perturbation of energy metabolism. Elevated levels of choline containing metabolites and betaine in serum and liver tissue aqueous extracts and increased serum creatine indicated altered transmethylation. Decreased urinary levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide, phenylacetylglycine and hippurate suggested the effects on the gut microflora environment by realgar.

Biochemical effects of gadolinium chloride in rats liver and kidney studied by H-1 NMR metabolomics

The biochemical effects of gadolinium chloride were studied using high-resolution H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate the biochemical composition of tissue (liver and kidney) aqueous extracts obtained from control and gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) (10 and 50 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal injection. i.p.) treated rats. Tissue samples were collected at 48, 96 and 168 h p.d. after exposure to GdCl3, and extracted using methanol/chloroform solvent system. H-1 NMR spectra of tissue extracts were analyzed by pattern recognition using principal components analysis. The liver damages caused by GdCl3 were characterized by increased succinate and decreased glycogen level and elevated lactate, alanine and betaine concentration in liver. Furthermore, the increase of creatine and lactate, and decrease of glutamate, alanine, phosphocholine, glycophosphocholine (GPC), betaine, myo-inositol and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels in kidney illustrated kidney disturbance induced by GdCl3.

Solvent effects on spectrophotometric titrations and vibrational spectroscopy of 5,10,15-triphenyl-20-(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin in aqueoius DMF

The spectrophotometric titration by sodium hydroxide of 5,10,15-triphenyl-20-(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin ((OH)(1)PH2) is studied as a function of solvent composition of DMF-H2O binary solvent mixture ([OH-] = 0.04 M). Combining the structure changes of the porphyrin and the "four orbital" model of Gouterman, many features of the optical spectra of this deprotonated para-hydroxy-substituted tetraphenylporphyrin in different composition of binary solvent mixtures can be rationalized. In highly aqueous solvents, the changes of the titration curves are shown to be mainly due to hydrogen-bonding of the oxygen of the phenoxide anion group by the hydroxylic solvent, Which decreases the energy of the phenoxide anion pi orbital. Thus the phenoxide anion pi orbital cannot cross over the porphyrin Tr orbital being a different HOMO. However, its energy is close to that of the porphyrin pi orbitals. As a result, in the visible region, no charge-transfer band is observed, while in the visible-near region, the Soret peak split into two components. In nonaqueous solvents, the changes are mainly attributed to further deprotonation of pyrrolic-Hs of (OH) 1PH2 by NaOH and coordination with two sodium ions to form the sodium complex of (OH) 1PH2, which turns hyperporphyrin spectra of deprotonated of phenolic-H of (OH)(1)PH2 into three-banded spectra of regular metalloporphyrin.