Change of Ruminoreticular Temperature and Body Activity before and after Parturition in Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) Cows

How do body temperature and activity change before and after parturition in pregnant cows? Changes in body temperature such as ruminal, rectal, and vaginal temperature during the parturition have been reported, but there are no results of the simultaneous observation of body temperature and activity. The aim of this study was to simultaneously confirm changes in the ruminoreticular temperature and body activity before and after parturition using the ruminoreticular bio-capsule sensor every 1 h. The 55 pregnant cows were used for the experiment, the ruminoreticular bio-capsule sensor was inserted and stabilized, and the ruminoreticular temperature and body activity were measured. The ruminoreticular temperature was lower by 0.5° from −24 h to −3 h in parturition compared to 48 h before parturition and then recovered again after parturition. Body activity increased temporarily at the time of parturition and 12 h after parturition. Therefore, the ruminoreticular temperature and body activity before and after parturition was simultaneously confirmed in pregnant cows.

Proximal Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy: An Effective Tool to Discern Rain from Irrigation

Proximal gamma-ray spectroscopy is a consolidated technology for a continuous and real‑time tracing of soil water content at field scale. New developments have shown that this method can also act as an unbiased tool for remotely distinguishing rainwater from irrigation without any meteorological support information. Given a single detector, the simultaneous observation in a gamma spectrum of a transient increase in the 214Pb signal, coupled with a decrease in the 40K signal, acts as an effective proxy for rainfall. A decrease in both 214Pb and 40K signals is, instead, a reliable fingerprint for irrigation. We successfully proved this rationale in two data-taking campaigns performed on an agricultural test field with different crop types (tomato and maize). The soil moisture levels were assessed via the 40K gamma signal on the basis of a one-time setup calibration. The validation against a set of gravimetric measurements showed excellent results on both bare and vegetated soil conditions. Simultaneously, the observed rain-induced increase in the 214Pb signal permitted to identify accurately the rain and irrigation events occurred in the 8852 h of data taking.

Simultaneous Observation of Tungsten Spectra of W0 to W46+ Ions in Visible, VUV and EUV Wavelength Ranges in the Large Helical Device

Spectroscopic studies for emissions released from tungsten ions have been conducted in the Large Helical Device (LHD) for contribution to the tungsten transport study in tungsten divertor fusion devices and for expansion of the experimental database of tungsten line emissions. Tungsten ions are distributed in the LHD plasma by injecting a pellet consisting of a small piece of tungsten metal wire enclosed by a carbon tube. Line emissions from W0, W5+, W6+, W24+–W28+, W37+, W38+, and W41+–W46+ are observed simultaneously in the visible (3200–3550 Å), vacuum ultraviolet (250–1050 Å), and extreme ultraviolet (5–300 Å) wavelength ranges and the wavelengths are summarized. Temporal evolutions of line emissions from these charge states are compared for comprehensive understanding of tungsten impurity behavior in a single discharge. The charge distribution of tungsten ions strongly depends on the electron temperature. Measurements of emissions from W10+ to W20+ are still insufficient, which is addressed as a future task.

Toughening mechanisms for the attachment of architectured materials: The mechanics of the tendon enthesis

Architectured materials offer tailored mechanical properties but are limited in engineering applications due to challenges in maintaining toughness across their attachments. The enthesis connects tendon and bone, two vastly different architectured materials, and exhibits toughness across a wide range of loadings. Understanding the mechanisms by which this is achieved could inform the development of engineered attachments. Integrating experiments, simulations, and novel imaging that enabled simultaneous observation of mineralized and unmineralized tissues, we identified putative mechanisms of enthesis toughening in a mouse model and then manipulated these mechanisms via in vivo control of mineralization and architecture. Imaging uncovered a fibrous architecture within the enthesis that controls trade-offs between strength and toughness. In vivo models of pathology revealed architectural adaptations that optimize these trade-offs through cross-scale mechanisms including nanoscale protein denaturation, milliscale load-sharing, and macroscale energy absorption. Results suggest strategies for optimizing architecture for tough bimaterial attachments in medicine and engineering.