Production of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] 7 TeV

The production of the strange and double-strange baryon resonances ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) has been measured at mid-rapidity ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]) in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 7 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. Transverse momentum spectra for inelastic collisions are compared to QCD-inspired models, which in general underpredict the data. A search for the [Formula: see text] pentaquark, decaying in the [Formula: see text] channel, has been carried out but no evidence is seen.

Exclusive J/ψ photoproduction off protons in ultraperipheral p-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV

We present the first measurement at the LHC of exclusive J/ψ photoproduction off protons, in ultraperipheral proton-lead collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. Events are selected with a dimuon pair produced either in the rapidity interval, in the laboratory frame, 2.5<y<4 (p-Pb) or -3.6<y<-2.6 (Pb-p), and no other particles observed in the ALICE acceptance. The measured cross sections σ(γ+p→J/ψ+p) are 33.2±2.2(stat)±3.2(syst)±0.7(theor)  nb in p-Pb and 284±36(stat)_{-32}^{+27}(syst)±26(theor)  nb in Pb-p collisions. We measure this process up to about 700 GeV in the γp center of mass, which is a factor of two larger than the highest energy studied at HERA. The data are consistent with a power law dependence of the J/ψ photoproduction cross section in γp energies from about 20 to 700 GeV, or equivalently, from Bjorken x scaling variable between ∼2×10^{-2} and ∼2×10^{-5}, thus indicating no significant change in the gluon density behavior of the proton between HERA and LHC energies.

Measurement of prompt D-meson production in p-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons D^{0}, D^{+}, D^{*+}, and D_{s}^{+} and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval -0.96<y_{cms}<0.04 were measured in p-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor R_{pPb}, quantifying the D-meson yield in p-Pb collisions relative to the yield in pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, is compatible within the 15%-20% uncertainties with unity in the transverse momentum interval 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. No significant difference among the R_{pPb} of the four D-meson species is observed. The results are described within uncertainties by theoretical calculations that include initial-state effects. The measurement adds experimental evidence that the modification of the momentum spectrum of D mesons observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to pp collisions is due to strong final-state effects induced by hot partonic matter.

Tetraploid complementation proves pluripotency of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from adipose tissue

OBJECTIVES

Recently, pluripotency of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has been displayed after producing adult mice, in tetraploid complementation assays. These studies lead us to the last piece of the puzzle for reprogramming somatic cells into fully pluripotent cells which function as embryonic stem cells in most applications. However, in all of previous studies, skin fibroblasts were used as the starting population for reprogramming, raising questions as to whether the pluripotency of the iPS cells was dependent on the particular starting cell type.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our iPS cell lines were prepared from murine adipose stem cells (ASCs). Their multi-potency was first tested by teratoma formation in nude mice. Then, tetraploid complementation was performed to generate progeny from them.

RESULTS

We succeeded to the birth of viable and fertile adult mice derived entirely from reprogrammed ASC, indicating cell types other than fibroblasts can also be restored to the embryonic level of pluripotency.

CONCLUSIONS

We also directed differentiation of iPS cells into chondrocytes, thus adipose-derived iPS cells can be used as models to study chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage regeneration.

Observation of e(+)e(-)→π(0)π(0)hc and a neutral charmoniumlike structure Zc(4020)(0)

Using data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider at center-of-mass energies of sqrt[s]=4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, we observe e(+)e(-)→π(0)π(0)hc for the first time. The Born cross sections are measured and found to be about half of those of e(+)e(-)→π(+)π(-)hc within less than 2σ. In the π(0)hc mass spectrum, a structure at 4.02  GeV/c(2) is found. It is most likely to be the neutral isospin partner of the Zc(4020)(±) observed in the process of e(+)e(-)→π(+)π(-)hc being found. A fit to the π(0)hc invariant mass spectrum, with the width of the Zc(4020)(0) fixed to that of its charged isospin partner and possible interferences with non-Zc(4020)(0) amplitudes neglected, gives a mass of (4023.9±2.2±3.8)  MeV/c(2) for the Zc(4020)(0), where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

Empirical Bayesian elastic net for multiple quantitative trait locus mapping

In multiple quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, a high-dimensional sparse regression model is usually employed to account for possible multiple linked QTLs. The QTL model may include closely linked and thus highly correlated genetic markers, especially when high-density marker maps are used in QTL mapping because of the advancement in sequencing technology. Although existing algorithms, such as Lasso, empirical Bayesian Lasso (EBlasso) and elastic net (EN) are available to infer such QTL models, more powerful methods are highly desirable to detect more QTLs in the presence of correlated QTLs. We developed a novel empirical Bayesian EN (EBEN) algorithm for multiple QTL mapping that inherits the efficiency of our previously developed EBlasso algorithm. Simulation results demonstrated that EBEN provided higher power of detection and almost the same false discovery rate compared with EN and EBlasso. Particularly, EBEN can identify correlated QTLs that the other two algorithms may fail to identify. When analyzing a real dataset, EBEN detected more effects than EN and EBlasso. EBEN provides a useful tool for inferring high-dimensional sparse model in multiple QTL mapping and other applications. An R software package 'EBEN' implementing the EBEN algorithm is available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN).

Adipogenic differentiation potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from ovariectomized mice

OBJECTIVES

In human post-menopausal osteoporosis, enhanced adipogenesis in bone marrow and enhanced formation of adipose tissue in vivo are observed. These changes correlate with reduced trabecular bone volume and increased adipocyte cell size as well as cell number. However, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying osteoporosis-related changes in adipocyte cell volume are not known. This study was designed to compare adipogenic potential of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) obtained from ovariectomized mice with that of control ADSCs, and to analyse pathological mechanisms from the point of functional changes of ADSCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Healthy female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into ovariectomy and sham-surgery groups. Mouse ADSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro up to passage 3. After adipogenic induction, oil red O staining of lipid droplets was used to detect adipogenic ability of ADSCs; real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect expression of adipogenesis-related genes and proteins.

RESULTS

As indicated by increased expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes and proteins, and lipid droplets accumulation shown by oil red-O staining, adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs was significantly enhanced in the ovariectomy group compared to the sham-surgery group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that enhanced adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs is likely to be the important cause for increased adipogenesis in vivo and subsequent obesity-like changes in body mass, in mice, after ovariectomy.

Measurement of quarkonium production at forward rapidity in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text]TeV

The inclusive production cross sections at forward rapidity of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text](1S) and [Formula: see text](2S) are measured in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text] with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.35 pb[Formula: see text]. Quarkonia are reconstructed in the dimuon-decay channel and the signal yields are evaluated by fitting the [Formula: see text] invariant mass distributions. The differential production cross sections are measured as a function of the transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and rapidity [Formula: see text], over the ranges [Formula: see text] GeV/c for [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] GeV/c for all other resonances and for [Formula: see text]. The measured cross sections integrated over [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and assuming unpolarized quarkonia, are: [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]b, [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]b, [Formula: see text] nb and [Formula: see text] nb, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second one is systematic. The results are compared to measurements performed by other LHC experiments and to theoretical models.

Electrospun P34HB fibres: a scaffold for tissue engineering

OBJECTIVES

Amongst the fourth generation of PHAs is bio-plasticpoly3-hydroxybutyrate4-hydroxybutyrate (P34HB); it is thus appropriate to perform novel research on its uses and applications. The main objective of this study was to determine whether electrospun P34HB fibres would accommodate viability, growth and differentiation of mouse adipose-derived stem cells (mASCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, we looked at P34HB in two forms, electrospun P34HB fibres and P34HB film. Morphology of electrospun P34HB fibres and P34HB film were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, after cell seeding. Cell adhesion, proliferation and cytotoxicity tests were conducted on both by MTT and CCK-8 assays, respectively. After being cultured with osteogenic induction, expression of adipogenic genes Runx2, OPN and OCN, were examined by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

By scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we observed that the mASCs grew well associated with the P34HB materials. After MTT and CCK-8 assay, we concluded that P34HB would, indeed, be a material suitable for further cell adhesion and proliferation studies. More importantly, we found that the P34HB matrices promoted expression of Runx2, OPN and OCN with osteogenic induction.

CONCLUSIONS

In this investigation, we can confirm that the electrospun P34HB fibres accommodated survival, proliferation and differentiation of mASCs, and we have been able to draw the conclusion that fibre scaffolds produced by the electrospinning process are promising for application of bone tissue engineering.

First Report of Leptosphaeria biglobosa Causing Black Leg on Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis var. purpurea in Central China

Purple cai-tai (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis var. purpurea) is a traditional vegetable widely grown in southern China. In 2012 and 2013, black leg disease was observed on purple cai-tai in three surveyed cities (Jingzhou, Qianjiang, and Huanggang) in Hubei Province of China. Disease incidence ranged from 5 to 88% in eight surveyed fields. White cankers occurred on basal stems and numerous black pycnidia and pink conidia were present on the stem surface. Surface-sterilized (5% NaOCl for 90 s, rinsed in sterilized water three times) stem pieces were plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 20°C and 12 h light/12 h dark for 7 days. A total of 22 isolates were obtained. All of the isolates appeared similar in colony morphology on PDA (20°C, 7 to 10 days), producing yellow pigment and black-brown, globose pycnidia containing cylindrical hyaline conidia (4 to 5 × 2 μm). These characteristics matched the description for Phoma lingam, the anamorph Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa (2). Species-specific primers LbigF, LmacF, and LmacR (1) were used in PCR-based identification of the isolates. A 444-bp DNA fragment characteristic of L. biglobosa was amplified from DNA extracted from all of the collected isolates. DNA amplification from the isolate UK-1 of L. maculans from B. napus in Hertfordshire of the United Kingdom yielded a 331-bp fragment. Two isolates, HGHCT2-1 and HGHCT2-2, were further identified by cloning and analysis of the ITS sequences and the partial sequences encoding β-tubulin and actin (3,4). The ITS sequences (586 bp, GenBank Accession. Nos. KF371660 and KF371661) were 100% identical to L. biglobosa 'brassicae' strain UK28 (DQ133893). The DNA sequences for β-tubulin (479 bp, KF307760 and KF307761) and actin (899 bp, KF307758 and KF307759) were 99 and 100% identical to the partial β-tubulin gene sequence (AY748997) and the partial actin gene sequence (AY748949) of the L. biglobosa 'brassicae' strain 2379-4, respectively. Pathogenicity of six randomly selected isolates was determined on two purple cai-tai cvs. Wanzi Qianhong and Jiu Yue Xian. Cotyledons of 10-day-old seedlings grown in potting mix in pots were pricked with a sterilized needle, and each wound was inoculated with 10 μl of conidial suspension (1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml) of an isolate or 10 μl sterilized water (control). There were 12 cotyledons for each isolate and control. The experiment was repeated once. The treated seedlings were incubated at 20°C in an incubator under 12 h light/12 h dark for 12 days. The control cotyledons were healthy, but necrotic lesions were developed on the cotyledons that were inoculated with L. biglobosa and formation of pycnidia was observed on some lesions. Fungi re-isolated from the lesions were similar to the original L. biglobosa isolates both in colony morphology on PDA and in species-specific PCR testing. No fungi were isolated from the control cotyledons. This is the first report of L. biglobosa causing black leg on B. campestris ssp. chinensis var. purpurea in central China. The finding will be useful for understanding of the epidemiology of black leg on cruciferous crops and for management of this disease. References: (1) S. Y. Liu et al. Plant Pathol. 55:401, 2006. (2) R. A. Shoemaker and H. Burn. Can J Bot. 79:412, 2001. (3) L. Vincenot et al. Phytopathology 98:321, 2008. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.

Susceptibility-diffusion mismatch predicts thrombolytic outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Asymmetric hypointensity of cerebral veins on susceptibility-weighted imaging has been shown to indirectly reflect tissue hypoxia after cerebral ischemia. We therefore investigated whether patients with prominent asymmetry of the cerebral veins on SWI and a relatively small diffusion-weighted imaging lesion (SWI-DWI mismatch), representing the presence of salvageable tissue, were more likely to benefit from thrombolytic therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of the anterior circulation of patients with ischemic stroke with SWI/DWI acquired before thrombolysis. The asymmetry index was defined as the ratio of cerebral vein voxel count between the ischemic and normal hemisphere on the SWI phase map. We defined SWI-DWI mismatch as an asymmetry index score of ≥1.75 with a DWI lesion volume of ≤25 mL. Favorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale 0-2 at 3 months. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between the mismatch profile and favorable outcome.

RESULTS

Fifty-four patients undergoing thrombolytic treatment were enrolled in this study. The rate of favorable outcome was significantly higher among patients with baseline SWI-DWI mismatch compared with those without (78% versus 44%; adjusted odds ratio, 6.317; 95% CI, 1.12-35.80; P = .037). Patients with SWI-DWI mismatch were also more likely to have a favorable outcome from reperfusion (91% versus 43%, P = .033) or recanalization (100% versus 40%, P = .013). The accuracy of SWI-DWI mismatch for predicting favorable outcome was higher than that of perfusion-diffusion mismatch (63% versus 48.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of SWI-DWI mismatch may identify patients with ischemia who would benefit from early reperfusion therapy.

First Report of Leptosphaeria biglobosa Causing Black Leg on Raphanus sativus in Central China

Chinese radish (Raphanus sativus) is an important vegetable grown widely in China. In 2010 to 2013, surveys for Leptosphaeria spp. on cruciferous vegetables were conducted in 17 counties in Hubei Province, China. Black leg symptoms on tuber roots and basal stems of radish were observed in Hanchuan, Jingmen, and Macheng counties. Disease incidence ranged from 2 to 25% in 10 surveyed radish fields. Five fungal isolates were obtained from diseased radish plants by surface-sterilizing radish tissue (5% NaOCl for 90 s, and then rinsed in sterilized water three times) and plating onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates incubated at 20°C. The isolations produced fluffy white colonies with a yellow pigment, and black-brown, globose pycnidia with pink conidial ooze formed after 10 days. Pycnidia were 150 to 200 × 80 to 100 μm. Conidia were hyaline, cylindrical, and 4 to 5 × 2 μm. The cultural and morphological characteristics of the isolates matched the description for Phoma lingam, anamorph of Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa (3). All five isolates were identified by PCR assay using the species-specific primers LbigF, LmacF, and LmacR (1), and isolate HCLB-1 was identified further by PCR cloning and analysis of the sequences coding for actin, β-tubulin, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (3,4). Genomic DNA was extracted from mycelium of each isolate harvested from 7-day-old cultures in V8 broth using the CTAB method (5). A 444-bp DNA fragment was detected by PCR assay, suggesting that all five isolates belonged to L. biglobosa rather than L. maculans as the latter generates a 331-bp DNA fragment (1). The HCLB-1 sequences for ITS (587 bp, GenBank Accession. No. KC880981), actin (899 bp, KF307762), and β-tubulin (432 bp, KF220296) genes were 99 to 100% identical to those of L. biglobosa isolates in GenBank. All five isolates were tested for pathogenicity on R. sativus cultivars Duan Ye 13 and Qi Ye Hong. Cotyledons of 10-day-old radish seedlings and post-harvest mature roots were wounded using a sterilized needle, and 10 μl of a conidial suspension (1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml) of each isolate was pipetted onto the wounded area on each cotyledon or root, respectively, with 12 cotyledons (= 24 wounded sites) and 1 root (= 6 wounded sites) inoculated/isolate. One wounded root and 12 wounded cotyledons inoculated with water were used as control treatments. Treated roots and seedlings were incubated at 20°C and 100% RH in the dark for 7 days, and under a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle for 12 days, respectively. While the control roots and cotyledons remained asymptomatic, the roots and cotyledons inoculated with all five test isolates formed black cankers and necrotic lesions, respectively, in the inoculated wounds. A fungus re-isolated from symptomatic roots and cotyledons resembled the original isolates in colony morphology and the 444-bp DNA fragment detected by PCR assay. No fungus was isolated from control seedlings or roots. Thus, L. biglobosa appears to be the causal agent of black leg observed on radish in Hubei, China. L. biglobosa was reported to infect wild radish (R. raphanistrum) (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. biglobosa causing black leg on R. sativus. References: (1) S. Y. Liu et al. Plant Pathol. 55:401, 2006. (2) A. Maxwell and J. K. Scott. Australas. Plant Pathol. 37:523, 2008. (3) L. Vincenot et al. Phytopathology 98:321, 2008. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, Academic Press, 1990. (5) J. Zhang et al. Mycologia 102:1114, 2010.

Observation of η'→π+ π π+ π- and η'→π+π- π0 π0

Using a sample of 1.3 × 10(9)  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of η(')→π(+)π(-)π(+)π(-) and η(')→π(+)π(-)π(0)π(0). The measured branching fractions are B(η(')→π(+)π(-)π(+)π(-)) = [8.53 ± 0.69(stat.) ± 0.64(syst.)]×10(-5) and B(η(')→π(+)π(-)π(0) π(0)) = [1.82 ± 0.35(stat.) ± 0.18(syst.)] × 10(-4), which are consistent with theoretical predictions based on a combination of chiral perturbation theory and vector-meson dominance.

Enhanced spin-triplet superconductivity near dislocations in Sr₂RuO₄

Superconductors with a chiral p-wave pairing are of great interest because they could support Majorana modes that could enable the development of topological quantum computing technologies that are robust against decoherence. Sr₂RuO₄ is widely believed to be a chiral p-wave superconductor. Yet, the mechanism by which superconductivity emerges in this, and indeed most other unconventional superconductors, remains unclear. Here we show that the local superconducting transition temperature in the vicinity of lattice dislocations in Sr₂RuO₄ can be up to twice that of its bulk. This is all the more surprising for the fact that disorder is known to easily quench superconductivity in this material. With the help of a phenomenological theory that takes into account the crystalline symmetry near a dislocation and the pairing symmetry of Sr₂RuO₄, we predict that a similar enhancement should emerge as a consequence of symmetry reduction in any superconductor with a two-component order parameter.

Total synthesis of the antitumor natural product polycarcin V and evaluation of its DNA binding profile

The convergent total synthesis of polycarcin V, a gilvocarcin-type natural product that shows significant cytotoxicity with selectivity for nonsmall-cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma cells, has been achieved in 13 steps from 7, 8, and 22; the sequence features a stereoselective α-C-glycosylation reaction for the union of protected carbohydrate 7 and naphthol 8. The association constant for the binding of polycarcin V to duplex DNA is similar to that previously reported for gilvocarcin V.

Mixed Nipple Infections Caused by Variant of BPV3 and a Putative New Subtype of BPV in Cattle

Bovine papilloma is a chronic and proliferative skin and mucosal wart caused by Bovine papillomavirus (BPV). In June, 2013, a leaf-and flat-shaped wart disease was observed on the nipple skins in a cattle farm in Xinjiang. To diagnose the disease, we collected the diseased skins for pathological biopsy and DNA analysis by PCR amplification using a pair of degenerate primers FAP59 and FAP64. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the infection was caused by a variant of BPV3 and putatively a new subtype of BPV (BPV/CHI-SW1, belonging to the Xi papillomavirus genus). This is the first report of mixed infection caused by variant of BPV3 and BPV (putatively new subtype) in China, and would be of importance for the molecular epidemiological study of the disease.