Measurement of the bottom quark contribution to nonphotonic electron production in p + p collisions at √s=200 GeV

The contribution of B meson decays to nonphotonic electrons, which are mainly produced by the semileptonic decays of heavy-flavor mesons, in p + p collisions at √s=200  GeV has been measured using azimuthal correlations between nonphotonic electrons and hadrons. The extracted B decay contribution is approximately 50% at a transverse momentum of pT≥5  GeV/c. These measurements constrain the nuclear modification factor for electrons from B and D meson decays. The result indicates that B meson production in heavy ion collisions is also suppressed at high pT.

The polymorphism of catalase T/C codon 389 in exon 9 and vitiligo susceptibility: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The exact aetiology of vitiligo has not yet been established. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of vitiligo. It has been described that some polymorphisms in the catalase (CAT) gene may affect the risk of vitiligo. However, the results were inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

We performed a meta-analysis of the published studies to derive a more precise estimate of the association between CAT T/C at codon 389 in exon 9 polymorphisms and vitiligo risk.

METHODS

The PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched to identify relevant published studies.

RESULTS

Four case-control studies (cases, 645; controls, 689) that investigated the association between C/T polymorphisms of CAT exon 9 and the risk of vitiligo were retrieved and analysed. Our findings suggested a significant association between the CAT T/C exon 9 polymorphism and vitiligo risk (CT + TT vs. CC pooled odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.80; P = 0 .002).

CONCLUSION

We found a significant correlation between the CAT T/C exon 9 polymorphism and the risk of vitiligo.

Generation of three-qubit entangled states using superconducting phase qubits

Entanglement is one of the key resources required for quantum computation, so the experimental creation and measurement of entangled states is of crucial importance for various physical implementations of quantum computers. In superconducting devices, two-qubit entangled states have been demonstrated and used to show violations of Bell's inequality and to implement simple quantum algorithms. Unlike the two-qubit case, where all maximally entangled two-qubit states are equivalent up to local changes of basis, three qubits can be entangled in two fundamentally different ways. These are typified by the states |GHZ>= (|000+ |111>)/ sqrt [2] and |W>= (|001> + |010> + |100>)/ sqrt [3]. Here we demonstrate the operation of three coupled superconducting phase qubits and use them to create and measure |GHZ> and |W>states. The states are fully characterized using quantum state tomography and are shown to satisfy entanglement witnesses, confirming that they are indeed examples of three-qubit entanglement and are not separable into mixtures of two-qubit entanglement.

Utilizing spiral computerized tomography during the removal of a fractured endodontic instrument lying beyond the apical foramen

AIM

To present a case that used spiral computerized tomography (CT) to locate and successfully remove a fractured endodontic instrument lying beyond the apical foramen using a surgical approach.

SUMMARY

The fracture of an endodontic instrument beyond the apical foramen is rare. In this case report, after an attempt to remove a fractured instrument failed, a multi-slice spiral computerized tomography (MSCT) was used for diagnosis and treatment planning. The fractured segment was precisely located and found in the soft tissue and successfully removed by surgery. For the successful removal of a fractured endodontic instrument beyond the apical foramen, the following are necessary: (i) knowledge of the cause of fracture and how to plan treatment; (ii) determining the precise location of the fractured segment using CT; and 3) skilful operation.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

•  Fractured endodontic instruments might lie within the soft tissue. •  Computerized tomography is an effective diagnostic aid for localizing the precise position of fractured instruments.

Spectral graph analysis of modularity and assortativity

Expressions and bounds for Newman's modularity are presented. These results reveal conditions for or properties of the maximum modularity of a network. The influence of the spectrum of the modularity matrix on the maximum modularity is discussed. The second part of the paper investigates how the maximum modularity, the number of clusters, and the hop count of the shortest paths vary when the assortativity of the graph is changed via degree-preserving rewiring. Via simulations, we show that the maximum modularity increases, the number of clusters decreases, and the average hop count and the effective graph resistance increase with increasing assortativity.

-509C>T polymorphism in the TGF-β1 gene promoter is not associated with susceptibility to and progression of colorectal cancer in Chinese

AIM

Colorectal cancer is common, accounting for nearly 10% of all cancers. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of colorectal neoplasia. The most studied -509C>T polymorphism of TGF-β1 gene has been associated with various kinds of cancer. This study investigated the association between this genetic variant and the risk and/or progression of colorectal cancer.

METHOD

A case-control study was carried out of 150 colorectal cancer cases and 503 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from blood cell nuclear materials, and -509C>T polymorphism in the TGF-β1 gene promoter was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Colorectal cancer tissues (n = 70) were obtained from the studied cases for measurement of TGF-β1 mRNA expression levels. We also assessed the plasma TGF-β1 levels of cases (n = 88) and healthy subjects (n = 120).

RESULTS

The TGF-β1 producer genotype, -509TT, was not associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer compared with other genotypes. Colorectal cancer patients especially those with a more aggressive disease behaviour were more frequently associated with C allele.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that TGF-β1 -509C>T polymorphism is not associated with either an increased risk or progression of colorectal cancer.

The cotton ATP synthase δ1 subunit is required to maintain a higher ATP/ADP ratio that facilitates rapid fibre cell elongation

The δ subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase serves as a linker between the F(0) and F(1) sectors. Here, through microarray and quantitative RT-PCR, we found that the δ1 subunit was significantly up-regulated during cotton fibre cell elongation. Both the relative level and duration of GhATPδ1 transcripts correlated positively with the final length of different cotton germplasms. Elongating fibre cells had a significantly elevated ATP/ADP ratio, suggesting that a higher energy input is probably required for primary fibre cell wall formation and elongation. We obtained a putative full-length GhATPδ1 cDNA that shows 37% sequence identity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATP16 at the deduced amino acid level. An almost wild-type growth rate was restored in atp16Δ cells that expressed GhATPδ1, with a resultant ATP/ADP ratio similar to that found in wild-type cells, indicating that the cotton gene was functional in yeast. Mitochondria prepared from 10 dpa wild-type fibre cells showed significantly higher ATP synthase activity in comparison to ovule samples from wild type and leaf samples. Exogenous application of piceatannol (PA) or oligomycin (OM), inhibitors of ATP synthase F(1) or F(0) subunits, respectively, in ovule culture media resulted in much shorter fibre cells and a significantly lower ATP/ADP ratio. Our data suggest that GhATPδ1 is important for activity of mitochondrial ATP synthase and is probably related to cotton fibre elongation.

Some results of our research on composite facial allograft transplantation in dogs

Composite facial allograft transplantation is a complicated surgical procedure, requiring evaluation of several questions. How should the facial allograft be preserved? What are the proper surgical skills to reduce surgery duration? Can composite facial allograft transplantation rebuild the motor functions of the facial muscles? In our research, University of Wisconsin (UW) solution was used to preserve canine facial tissue. We manipulated the surgical procedures of complete facial allograft transplantation on cadavers to improve surgery skills Canine facial allograft models with neuromuscular motor units were performed to evaluate nerve regeneration after allotransplantation. We observed that canine facial allografts could be preserved in UW solution for at least 18 hours. Superficial temporal artery and facial artery bipedicle flaps were safer and saved more time than single pedicle flaps from the external carotid artery. Facial neuromuscular activities were shown in the canine model by the blinking reflex.

The importance of the on-site electron-electron interaction for the magnetic coupling in the zigzag spin-chain compound In2VO5

We present first-principles electronic structure calculations for the zigzag spin-chain compound In(2)VO(5) using the generalized gradient approximation both with and without inclusion of an on-site Coulomb interaction. It has been proposed that In(2)VO(5) is characterized by itinerant V 3d electrons at high temperature and localized electrons at low temperature. Consequently, it is to be expected that electronic correlations play an important role for the magnetic transition from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic exchange around 120 K. In this context, we study the electronic and magnetic properties of a set of possible spin configurations. Our calculations show that inclusion of an on-site Coulomb interaction in fact changes the ground state from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic.

TLR-signaling networks: an integration of adaptor molecules, kinases, and cross-talk

Toll-like receptors play a critical role in innate immunity by detecting invading pathogens. The ability of TLRs to engage different intracellular signaling molecules and cross-talk with other regulatory pathways is an important factor in shaping the type, magnitude, and duration of the inflammatory response. The present review will cover the fundamental signaling pathways utilized by TLRs and how these pathways regulate the innate immune response to pathogens.

ABBREVIATIONS

TLR, Toll-like receptor; PRR, pattern recognition receptor; PAMP, pathogen-associated molecular pattern; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; APC, antigen-presenting cell; IL, interleukin; TIR, Toll/IL-1R homology; MyD88, myeloid differentiation factor 88; IFN, interferon; TRIF, TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β; IRAK, IL-1R-associated kinase; TAK1, TGF-β-activated kinase; TAB1, TAK1-binding protein; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; NLR, NOD-like receptors; LRR, leucine-rich repeats; DC, dendritic cell; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinases; GSK3, glycogen synthase kinase-3; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; DAF, decay-accelerating factor; IKK, IκB kinase; IRF, interferon regulatory factors; TBK1, TANK-binding kinase 1; CARD, caspase activation and recruitment domain; PYD, pyrin N-terminal homology domain; ATF, activating transcription factor; and PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog.

Tunable oscillating lateral photovoltaic effect in surface-patterned metal-semiconductor structures

The linear output of lateral photovoltage (LPV) with light position is the main feature of conventional lateral photovoltaic effect (LPE), which can be used to detect small displacement. In this study, we report a novel oscillating LPE in a surface-patterned metal-semiconductor structure, which can be well manipulated by the metal thickness and the comb properties. Compared with the conventional linear LPE, this oscillating LPE not only contributes a considerable higher sensitivity of LPV along the lateral direction, but also shows a distinguishable response to the vertical direction, indicating a new way of detecting two-dimensional displacement with much higher precision.