Temporal Structures in Positron Spectra and Charge-Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic positron fluxes in the rigidity range from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 3.4×10^{6} positrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The positron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the electron fluxes at short and long timescales. A hysteresis between the electron fluxes and the positron fluxes is observed with a significance greater than 5σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. On the contrary, the positron fluxes and the proton fluxes show similar time variation. Remarkably, we found that positron fluxes are modulated more than proton fluxes with a significance greater than 5σ for rigidities below 7 GV. These continuous daily positron fluxes, together with AMS daily electron, proton, and helium fluxes over an 11-year solar cycle, provide unique input to the understanding of both the charge-sign and mass dependencies of cosmic rays in the heliosphere.

Design of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon catheters

BACKGROUND

Eight commercially available percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), including semi-compliant and non-compliant balloons, have been assessed in detail on their tip, balloon, shaft, RX-Port, and hypotube design. Important performance characteristics such as tip deformation, balloon elongation, and deflation rate have been quantified.

METHODS

Five catheters of each model were evaluated during various tests. The robustness of the tips was evaluated through compression, measuring any occurrence of damage. The longitudinal growth of the balloons was recorded during inflation up to Rated Burst Pressure (RBP). The forces required to move the catheter forward and retract it into the guide catheter were measured in a simulated use test setup. The deflation behavior was studied by measuring extracted contrast media over time. Furthermore, balloon compliance and catheter dimensions were investigated.

RESULTS

The outer dimensions of the catheter were found to be smallest at the hypotube (0.59-0.69 mm) and highest at the balloon, respectively, the crossing profile (0.9-1.2 mm). The tip diameter increased after compression by 1.7-22%. Cross-sections of the folded balloons revealed a tri- and two-fold, respectively. The measured balloon elongation ranged from 0.6 to 2.0 mm. After the inflation of the balloon, an increase in friction between the guide wire and the catheter was observed on four catheters. A maximum increase of 0.12 N to 1.07 N was found. Cross-sections of the RX-Port revealed a semicircular-shaped inflation lumen and a circular guide wire lumen. The measured deflation rate ranged from 0.004 to 0.013 µL/s, resulting in an estimated balloon deflation time of 10.2-28.1 s.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into the design characteristics of RX PTCA balloon catheters, which can contribute to facilitating the development of improved catheter designs and enhancing clinical outcomes. Distinctions between SC and NC catheters, such as balloon performance and dimensions, are evident. It is important to note that no single catheter excels in all aspects, as each possesses unique strengths. Therefore, it is essential to consider individual intervention requirements when selecting a catheter. The research also identifies specific catheter weaknesses, such as reduced wall thickness, fringes at the tip, and reduced performance characteristics.

Properties of Cosmic-Ray Sulfur and Determination of the Composition of Primary Cosmic-Ray Carbon, Neon, Magnesium, and Sulfur: Ten-Year Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the properties of primary cosmic-ray sulfur (S) in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.38×10^{6} sulfur nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment (AMS). We observed that above 90 GV the rigidity dependence of the S flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of Ne-Mg-Si fluxes, which is different from the rigidity dependence of the He-C-O-Fe fluxes. We found that, similar to N, Na, and Al cosmic rays, over the entire rigidity range, the traditional primary cosmic rays S, Ne, Mg, and C all have sizeable secondary components, and the S, Ne, and Mg fluxes are well described by the weighted sum of the primary silicon flux and the secondary fluorine flux, and the C flux is well described by the weighted sum of the primary oxygen flux and the secondary boron flux. The primary and secondary contributions of the traditional primary cosmic-ray fluxes of C, Ne, Mg, and S (even Z elements) are distinctly different from the primary and secondary contributions of the N, Na, and Al (odd Z elements) fluxes. The abundance ratio at the source for S/Si is 0.167±0.006, for Ne/Si is 0.833±0.025, for Mg/Si is 0.994±0.029, and for C/O is 0.836±0.025. These values are determined independent of cosmic-ray propagation.

Temporal Structures in Electron Spectra and Charge Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic electron fluxes in the rigidity interval from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 2.0×10^{8} electrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The electron fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. Recurrent electron flux variations with periods of 27 days, 13.5 days, and 9 days are observed. We find that the electron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the proton fluxes. Remarkably, a hysteresis between the electron flux and the proton flux is observed with a significance of greater than 6σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. Furthermore, significant structures in the electron-proton hysteresis are observed corresponding to sharp structures in both fluxes. This continuous daily electron data provide unique input to the understanding of the charge sign dependence of cosmic rays over an 11-year solar cycle.

Properties of Daily Helium Fluxes

We present the precision measurement of 2824 daily helium fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 in the rigidity interval from 1.71 to 100 GV based on 7.6×10^{8} helium nuclei collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The helium flux and the helium to proton flux ratio exhibit variations on multiple timescales. In nearly all the time intervals from 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent helium flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. In the entire time period, we found that below ∼7  GV the helium flux exhibits larger time variations than the proton flux, and above ∼7  GV the helium to proton flux ratio is time independent. Remarkably, below 2.4 GV a hysteresis between the helium to proton flux ratio and the helium flux was observed at greater than the 7σ level. This shows that at low rigidity the modulation of the helium to proton flux ratio is different before and after the solar maximum in 2014.

Apport de la microscopie 2-photon (M2P) dans l’exploration des mécanismes immunitaires après infection par le virus de la grippe d’un modèle murin

Introduction

Même si depuis 18 mois, le SARS-Cov2 a fait disparaître toute trace des virus respiratoires hivernaux historiques, les virus de la grippe, responsables de plusieurs pandémies durant le 20^e siècle et d’une mortalité non négligeable, restent un sujet d’étude d’actualité. De nombreux travaux ont étudié la réaction immune innée post infection grippale mais sous un angle quantitatif en terme cellulaire et cytokinique. Le développement de technologie de microscopie moderne permettant d’étudier un organe entier en profondeur en conservant une excellente résolution mérite d’être évaluée. Peu de données sont disponibles sur l’intérêt de la M2P dans l’exploration du poumon et aucune sur son intérêt dans l’exploration des mécanismes immunitaires post infection grippale. Le but de ce travail est donc d’étudier l’intérêt de la M2P dans l’exploration des dommages structurales pulmonaires et du recrutement cellulaire après infection par le virus de la grippe d’un modèle murin.

Méthodes

Nous avons infecté des souris C57bl/6 J génétiquement modifiées, dont les cellules CD11C+ expriment une protéine fluorescente jaune, par voie inhalée avec Influenzavirus (adapté à la souris) auquel la protéine NS1 a été couplée à une protéine fluorescente rouge. En plus de cette fluorescente endogène, nous avons utilisé un Ac anti F4/80 couplé à une protéine fluorescente bleue pour visualiser les macrophages. Nous avons ensuite étudié les poumons à jour 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 post infection en cytométrie en flux pour quantification cellulaire, dosage cytokinique et exploration en M2P. Nous avons développé un protocole d’imagerie M2P Intravital ex vivo pour évaluer le trafficking cellulaire.

Résultats

M2P a permis de mettre en évidence des dommages structuraux pulmonaires, de localiser les sites infectés, d’étudier les interactions cellulaires et d’étudier l’évolution dans le temps post infection. Ces résultats enrichissent et complètent les données quantitatives déjà publiées (cytométrie) et permettent d’étudier dans le temps la cinétique et la localisation des lésions et du recrutement cellulaire. De plus, le protocole d’imagerie Intravitale ex vivo a été mis au point.

Conclusion

En complément des analyses usuelles (cytométrie en flux, dosage cytokines…), M2P est donc une technologie pertinente et prometteuse dans les études précliniques en infectiologie respiratoire nous a permis de décrire une base physiopathologique de référence pour de futures études notamment d’impact des traitements anti-viraux ou anti-inflammatoires.

Periodicities in the Daily Proton Fluxes from 2011 to 2019 Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from 1 to 100 GV

We present the precision measurement of the daily proton fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 (a total of 2824 days or 114 Bartels rotations) in the rigidity interval from 1 to 100 GV based on 5.5×10^{9} protons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. The proton fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. From 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. The rigidity dependence of the 27-day periodicity is different from the rigidity dependences of 9-day and 13.5-day periods. Unexpectedly, the strength of 9-day and 13.5-day periodicities increases with increasing rigidities up to ∼10  GV and ∼20  GV, respectively. Then the strength of the periodicities decreases with increasing rigidity up to 100 GV.

Temperature-dependent tensile properties of polyamide 12 for the use in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon catheters

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon catheters must withstand high pressures required for the lesion treatment, pushing loads during insertion, and pulling loads during withdrawal. These loads pose a challenge especially for polymeric tubular shafts with small cross sections. In order to enable new design innovations and to better understand the mechanics of current catheter technologies, the tensile properties of polyamide (PA) 12 were investigated. PA 12 dog bone specimens and medical PA 12 tubes were either stored at ambient temperature and humidity or conditioned in water, and subjected to tensile loads at different temperatures. In addition, the effect on the tensile properties of the necking process, a forming process to reduce the wall thickness of the tubes, was determined.

RESULTS

The tested tubes showed a reduction in both Young's Modulus (- 41.5%) and yield stress (- 29.2%) compared to standardized specimens. Furthermore, an increase in temperature and water absorption softens the material and reduces the mechanical properties like the Young's Modulus and the yield stress. It was found that the material strengthens during the necking process. Likely due to the orientation of the polymers chain molecules in load direction (Rösler et al., 2007), the Young's Modulus of the material could be increased by 43.5%. Furthermore, the absence of a yield point after necking allows for a greater loading capacity of the material without unstable neck growth. Besides the strengthening, the ultimate strain is reduced by 50%. This indicates that the necking process induces plastic deformation.

CONCLUSION

The investigation showed that the environmental conditions like temperature and humidity can influence mechanical properties. It could also be shown that pre-forming processes such as necking can enhance the mechanical properties, such as the Young's Modulus, while reducing the wall thickness. These findings suggest possible further development of catheters with a small cross section and higher mechanical strength and highlight the importance to account for the targeted operating temperature during the design process.

Erratum: Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 021101 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.021101.

Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen

We report the properties of sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.46 million sodium and 0.51 million aluminum nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. We found that Na and Al, together with nitrogen (N), belong to a distinct cosmic ray group. In this group, we observe that, similar to the N flux, both the Na flux and Al flux are well described by the sums of a primary cosmic ray component (proportional to the silicon flux) and a secondary cosmic ray component (proportional to the fluorine flux). The fraction of the primary component increases with rigidity for the N, Na, and Al fluxes and becomes dominant at the highest rigidities. The Na/Si and Al/Si abundance ratios at the source, 0.036±0.003 for Na/Si and 0.103±0.004 for Al/Si, are determined independent of cosmic ray propagation.

Ancient genomes provide insights into family structure and the heredity of social status in the early Bronze Age of southeastern Europe

Twenty-four palaeogenomes from Mokrin, a major Early Bronze Age necropolis in southeastern Europe, were sequenced to analyse kinship between individuals and to better understand prehistoric social organization. 15 investigated individuals were involved in genetic relationships of varying degrees. The Mokrin sample resembles a genetically unstructured population, suggesting that the community’s social hierarchies were not accompanied by strict marriage barriers. We find evidence for female exogamy but no indications for strict patrilocality. Individual status differences at Mokrin, as indicated by grave goods, support the inference that females could inherit status, but could not transmit status to all their sons. We further show that sons had the possibility to acquire status during their lifetimes, but not necessarily to inherit it. Taken together, these findings suggest that Southeastern Europe in the Early Bronze Age had a significantly different family and social structure than Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age societies of Central Europe.

Properties of Heavy Secondary Fluorine Cosmic Rays: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Precise knowledge of the charge and rigidity dependence of the secondary cosmic ray fluxes and the secondary-to-primary flux ratios is essential in the understanding of cosmic ray propagation. We report the properties of heavy secondary cosmic ray fluorine F in the rigidity R range 2.15 GV to 2.9 TV based on 0.29 million events collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. The fluorine spectrum deviates from a single power law above 200 GV. The heavier secondary-to-primary F/Si flux ratio rigidity dependence is distinctly different from the lighter B/O (or B/C) rigidity dependence. In particular, above 10 GV, the F/Si/B/O ratio can be described by a power law R^{δ} with δ=0.052±0.007. This shows that the propagation properties of heavy cosmic rays, from F to Si, are different from those of light cosmic rays, from He to O, and that the secondary cosmic rays have two classes.

Properties of Iron Primary Cosmic Rays: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the observation of new properties of primary iron (Fe) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.65 GV to 3.0 TV with 0.62×10^{6} iron nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. Above 80.5 GV the rigidity dependence of the cosmic ray Fe flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of the primary cosmic ray He, C, and O fluxes, with the Fe/O flux ratio being constant at 0.155±0.006. This shows that unexpectedly Fe and He, C, and O belong to the same class of primary cosmic rays which is different from the primary cosmic rays Ne, Mg, and Si class.

Properties of Neon, Magnesium, and Silicon Primary Cosmic Rays Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the observation of new properties of primary cosmic rays, neon (Ne), magnesium (Mg), and silicon (Si), measured in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV with 1.8×10^{6}  Ne, 2.2×10^{6}  Mg, and 1.6×10^{6}  Si nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. The Ne and Mg spectra have identical rigidity dependence above 3.65 GV. The three spectra have identical rigidity dependence above 86.5 GV, deviate from a single power law above 200 GV, and harden in an identical way. Unexpectedly, above 86.5 GV the rigidity dependence of primary cosmic rays Ne, Mg, and Si spectra is different from the rigidity dependence of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O. This shows that the Ne, Mg, and Si and He, C, and O are two different classes of primary cosmic rays.

Properties of Cosmic Helium Isotopes Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Precision measurements by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) on the International Space Station of ^{3}He and ^{4}He fluxes are presented. The measurements are based on 100 million ^{4}He nuclei in the rigidity range from 2.1 to 21 GV and 18 million ^{3}He from 1.9 to 15 GV collected from May 2011 to November 2017. We observed that the ^{3}He and ^{4}He fluxes exhibit nearly identical variations with time. The relative magnitude of the variations decreases with increasing rigidity. The rigidity dependence of the ^{3}He/^{4}He flux ratio is measured for the first time. Below 4 GV, the ^{3}He/^{4}He flux ratio was found to have a significant long-term time dependence. Above 4 GV, the ^{3}He/^{4}He flux ratio was found to be time independent, and its rigidity dependence is well described by a single power law ∝R^{Δ} with Δ=-0.294±0.004. Unexpectedly, this value is in agreement with the B/O and B/C spectral indices at high energies.

Recovery of Furfural and Acetic Acid from Wood Hydrolysates in Biotechnological Downstream Processing

Wood hydrolysates contain sugars that can be used as feedstock in fermentation processes. For that purpose, the hydrolysate must be concentrated and inhibitors that harm fermentation must be removed. Herein, the integration of these tasks with the recovery of inhibitors is studied. The wood hydrolysate is represented as a mixture of water, xylose, acetic acid, and furfural. Acetic acid and furfural are two frequently occurring inhibitors and valuable chemicals, and thus, their recovery is studied. Furfural is recovered from the vapors by heteroazeotropic distillation. It is shown that this can be achieved without additional energy. The recovery of acetic acid by distillation is also possible, but not attractive. The new process is simulated by using a thermodynamic model based on experimental data.

Solid-Liquid Equilibrium in the System 2-Keto-L-Gulonic Acid + L-Ascorbic Acid + Water

The solid-liquid equilibrium (SLE) in the ternary system 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (HKGA) + L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) + water was investigated experimentally at temperatures between 276 K and 308 K at ambient pressure, i.e., under conditions that are of particular interest for industrial applications. Phase diagrams with one eutonic point were obtained for all temperatures. The dissociation constant and the solubility constant of vitamin C were determined as a function of temperature. Based on an extended version of the Debye-Hückel theory, a physicochemical model was developed that describes the SLE in the ternary system. The agreement between experimental data and results from the model is excellent.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Electrons

Precision results on cosmic-ray electrons are presented in the energy range from 0.5 GeV to 1.4 TeV based on 28.1×10^{6} electrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. In the entire energy range the electron and positron spectra have distinctly different magnitudes and energy dependences. The electron flux exhibits a significant excess starting from 42.1_{-5.2}^{+5.4}  GeV compared to the lower energy trends, but the nature of this excess is different from the positron flux excess above 25.2±1.8  GeV. Contrary to the positron flux, which has an exponential energy cutoff of 810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV, at the 5σ level the electron flux does not have an energy cutoff below 1.9 TeV. In the entire energy range the electron flux is well described by the sum of two power law components. The different behavior of the cosmic-ray electrons and positrons measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is clear evidence that most high energy electrons originate from different sources than high energy positrons.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Positrons

Precision measurements of cosmic ray positrons are presented up to 1 TeV based on 1.9 million positrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. The positron flux exhibits complex energy dependence. Its distinctive properties are (a) a significant excess starting from 25.2±1.8  GeV compared to the lower-energy, power-law trend, (b) a sharp dropoff above 284_{-64}^{+91}  GeV, (c) in the entire energy range the positron flux is well described by the sum of a term associated with the positrons produced in the collision of cosmic rays, which dominates at low energies, and a new source term of positrons, which dominates at high energies, and (d) a finite energy cutoff of the source term of E_{s}=810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV is established with a significance of more than 4σ. These experimental data on cosmic ray positrons show that, at high energies, they predominantly originate either from dark matter annihilation or from other astrophysical sources.