Beam energy dependence of moments of the net-charge multiplicity distributions in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of the moments--mean (M), variance (σ(2)), skewness (S), and kurtosis (κ)--of the net-charge multiplicity distributions at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at seven energies, ranging from sqrt[sNN]=7.7 to 200 GeV, as a part of the Beam Energy Scan program at RHIC. The moments are related to the thermodynamic susceptibilities of net charge, and are sensitive to the location of the QCD critical point. We compare the products of the moments, σ(2)/M, Sσ, and κσ(2), with the expectations from Poisson and negative binomial distributions (NBDs). The Sσ values deviate from the Poisson baseline and are close to the NBD baseline, while the κσ(2) values tend to lie between the two. Within the present uncertainties, our data do not show nonmonotonic behavior as a function of collision energy. These measurements provide a valuable tool to extract the freeze-out parameters in heavy-ion collisions by comparing with theoretical models.

Clinical and experimental role of ring finger protein 180 on lymph node metastasis and survival in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

The hypermethylation of ring finger protein (RNF) 180 DNA promoter is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. The present study explored the potential mechanism of RNF180-regulated lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.

METHODS

Associations between clinicopathological and survival data and RNF180 expression in gastric cancer tissues were analysed. The effects of RNF180 re-expression on gastric cancer cells were determined by means of proliferation, invasion, growth and lymphangiogenesis assays. A genome microarray was used to find potential target genes associated with lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer cells regulated by RNF180.

RESULTS

RNF180 was silenced or downregulated in 99 (73·9 per cent) of 134 gastric cancer tissues compared with 41·8 per cent of paired non-tumour tissues from patients. As an independent prognostic indicator of gastric cancer, RNF180 expression in gastric cancer tissues was negatively related to the number of metastatic lymph nodes. RNF180 was also downregulated in all seven gastric cancer cell lines examined. The re-expression of RNF180 in gastric cancer cells inhibited colony formation, proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro; re-expression of RNF180 also suppressed tumour growth and lymphangiogenesis in mice. Furthermore, re-expression of RNF180 downregulated the expression of hepatocyte growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, MMP-14, vascular endothelial growth factor C/D and chemokine receptor 7 in gastric cancer cells; it also downregulated the expression of podoplanin in tumour tissue of nude mice.

CONCLUSION

RNF180 appears to act as a suppressor gene that inhibits lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

SURGICAL RELEVANCE

Biological mechanisms that lead to lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer have not been clarified. Ring finger protein (RNF) 180 has been shown to participate in the processes of lymph node metastasis in several human malignancies. In this study, silencing or downregulation of RNF180 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. In vitro, RNF180 expression suppressed the common biological characteristics of gastric cancer cells (HGC-27), including proliferation, invasion, lymphangio genesis and chemotaxis. RNF180 expression also inhibited tumour growth and tumour lymphangiogenesis in vivo. These results show that RNF180 is capable of inhibiting lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer by suppressing the intracellular activation of malignant molecular signals. Therefore, RNF180 could be considered as a promising biomarker for evaluation of the tumour aggressiveness and may be a target for future therapeutic intervention.

Forward-backward asymmetry in top-quark production in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present measurements of the forward-backward charge asymmetry in top pair production using 1.9 fb;{-1} of pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II. Correcting for acceptance and measurement dilutions we obtain parton-level asymmetries of A_{FB};{pp[over ]}=0.17+/-0.08 in the pp[over ] frame and A_{FB};{tt[over ]}=0.24+/-0.14 in the tt[over ] frame. The values are consistent with the standard model expectation and disfavor exotic production mechanisms with significant negative values.

Anticoagulation endpoints with clinical implementation of warfarin pharmacogenetic dosing in a real-world setting: A proposal for a new pharmacogenetic dosing approach

Achieving therapeutic anticoagulation efficiently with warfarin is important to reduce thrombotic and bleeding risks and is influenced by genotype. Utilizing data from a diverse population of 257 patients who received VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genotype-guided warfarin dosing, we aimed to examine genotype-associated differences in anticoagulation endpoints and derive a novel pharmacogenetic nomogram to more optimally dose warfarin. We observed significant differences across patients with 0, 1, or ≥2 reduced-function VKORC1 or CYP2C9 alleles, respectively, in time to achieve therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) (7.8 ± 5.8, 7.2 ± 4.7, and 5.4 ± 4.6 days, P = 0.0004) and mean percentage of time in therapeutic range in the first 28 days (22.2, 27.8, and 32.2%, P = 0.0127) with use of existing pharmacogenetic algorithms. These data suggest that more aggressive dosing is necessary for patients with 0 to 1 VKORC1/CYP2C9 variants to more efficiently achieve therapeutic anticoagulation. Herein, we provide a novel kinetic/pharmacodynamic-derived dosing nomogram optimized for a heterogeneous patient population.

Observation of electroweak single top-quark production

We report the observation of single top-quark production using 3.2 fb(-1) of pp[over ] collision data with sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The significance of the observed data is 5.0 standard deviations, and the expected sensitivity for standard model production and decay is in excess of 5.9 standard deviations. Assuming m(t) = 175 GeV/c(2), we measure a cross section of 2.3(-0.5);(+0.6)(stat + syst) pb, extract the CKM matrix-element value |V(tb)| = 0.91 + or - 0.11(stat + syst) + or - 0.07(theory), and set the limit |V(tb)| > 0.71 at the 95% C.L.

Characterization of microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity from bovine adipose and muscle tissue

The activity of the triacylglycerol bioassembly enzyme, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), was characterized in microsomal fractions prepared from bovine subcutaneous (SC) adipose, intramuscular (IM) adipose, and muscle (pars costalis diaphragmatis) tissue. The activity of DGAT was generally higher from SC adipose tissue than from IM adipose or muscle tissue. The characteristics of DGAT activity from the three bovine tissues resembled the activity characteristics observed in previous studies from various other organisms and tissues; the pH optimum was near neutrality, the activity was almost completely inhibited by pre-incubation with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), and the enzyme accepted a broad range of acyl-CoAs and sn-1,2-diacylglycerols. In some aspects, the SC adipose tissue DGAT activity was different from the DGAT activity from the other two tissues. The SC adipose tissue DGAT activity was not as susceptible to inhibition by NEM as the enzymes from the two other tissue sources, and it exhibited increased specificity for substrates containing oleoyl moieties. The differences in DGAT properties between the three bovine tissues may account to some extent for the differences in the relative fatty acid composition and the positional distribution of fatty acids in triacylglycerol between bovine tissues. The observed differences in enzymatic properties also support recent biochemical and molecular genetic observations that imply the existence of multiple DGAT genes and/or isoforms.

First flavor-tagged determination of bounds on mixing-induced CP violation in Bs0 --> J/psiphi decays

This Letter describes the first determination of bounds on the CP-violation parameter 2beta(s) using B(s)(0) decays in which the flavor of the bottom meson at production is identified. The result is based on approximately 2000 B(s)(0)-->J/psiphi decays reconstructed in a 1.35 fb(-1) data sample collected with the CDF II detector using pp collisions produced at the Fermilab Tevatron. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of 2beta(s) and the decay-width difference DeltaGamma. Assuming the standard model predictions of 2beta(s) and DeltaGamma, the probability of a deviation as large as the level of the observed data is 15%, corresponding to 1.5 Gaussian standard deviations.

Immobilization of glucose oxidase with the blend of regenerated silk fibroin and poly(vinyl alcohol) and its application to a 1,1'-dimethylferrocene-mediating glucose sensor

The structure and properties of the blend of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were investigated. The two polymers in the blend are in the state of phase segregation. Infrared (IR) spectra indicate that the RSF in the blend maintains its intrinsic properties, thus, ethanol treatment can transfer silk I structure of RSF to silk II structure. The water absorption property and mechanical property of the blend are improved in comparison with those of RSF. The blend maintains the major merit of RSF, that is, it can immobilize glucose oxidase on the basis of the conformational transition from silk I structure to silk II structure. The properties of the immobilized enzyme are examined. Moreover, the second generation of glucose sensor based on the immobilized enzyme is fabricated and it has a variety of advantages including easy maintenance of enzyme, simplicity of construction, fast response time and high stability.

Novel technique for three-dimensional visualisation and quantification of deformable, moving soft-tissue body parts

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of delicate, moving soft-tissue body parts is very difficult. Our understanding of the muscles that control lip movements is based largely on histological and cadaveric studies, which provide scant information about dynamic morphology. Our aim was to develop an innovative scanning technique for the imaging and reconstruction of dynamic orofacial morphology by use of 3D and four-dimensional (4D, ie, 3D plus time) ultrasonography.

METHODS

Four volunteers (including one patient) underwent ultrasonography with 3D/4D imaging systems. To avoid deformation of the delicate orofacial structures, a water bath with an acoustic window was devised. The orofacial part was immersed in the bath throughout scanning, and a timer was used to synchronize lip movements with the 4D scan.

FINDINGS

4D views showed the functional differences in superficial and deep muscle groups of the lips, and clearly showed the changes occurring with movement of the lips and mouth. In the patient, a pathological layer and its extension corresponding to surface malformation were clearly identified.

INTERPRETATION

We have developed a prototype device that has made possible 3D and 4D examination of orofacial anatomy and function. With further refinement of the device and improvement in 4D acquisition timing, this technique may offer a new way of dynamically imaging and quantifying many soft-tissue parts in 3D without deforming structure or disturbing function.

Search for magnetic monopoles in sqrt[s]=7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This Letter presents a search for magnetic monopoles with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider using an integrated luminosity of 2.0  fb(-1) of pp collisions recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=7  TeV. No event is found in the signal region, leading to an upper limit on the production cross section at 95% confidence level of 1.6/ϵ  fb for Dirac magnetic monopoles with the minimum unit magnetic charge and with mass between 200 GeV and 1500 GeV, where ϵ is the monopole reconstruction efficiency. The efficiency ϵ is high and uniform in the fiducial region given by pseudorapidity |η|<1.37 and transverse kinetic energy 600-700<E(kin)sinθ<1400  GeV. The minimum value of 700 GeV is for monopoles of mass 200 GeV, whereas the minimum value of 600 GeV is applicable for higher mass monopoles. Therefore, the upper limit on the production cross section at 95% confidence level is 2 fb in this fiducial region. Assuming the kinematic distributions from Drell-Yan pair production of spin-1/2 Dirac magnetic monopoles, the efficiency is in the range 1%-10%, leading to an upper limit on the cross section at 95% confidence level that varies from 145 fb to 16 fb for monopoles with mass between 200 GeV and 1200 GeV. This limit is weaker than the fiducial limit because most of these monopoles lie outside the fiducial region.

Observation of exclusive charmonium production and gammagamma --> micro;{+}micro;{-} in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

In CDF we have observed the reactions p + p[over] --> p + X + p[over], with X being a centrally produced J/psi, psi(2S), or chi_{c0}, and gammagamma-->micro;{+}micro;{-} in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV. The event signature requires two oppositely charged central muons, and either no other particles or one additional photon detected. Exclusive vector meson production is as expected for elastic photoproduction, gamma + p --> J/psi(psi(2S)) + p, observed here for the first time in hadron-hadron collisions. We also observe exclusive chi_{c0} --> J/psi + gamma. The cross sections dsigma/dy|_{y = 0} for J/psi, psi(2S), and chi_{c0} are 3.92 +/- 0.25(stat) +/- 0.52(syst) nb, 0.53 +/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.10(syst) nb, and 76 +/- 10(stat) +/- 10(syst) nb, respectively, and the continuum is consistent with QED. We put an upper limit on the cross section for Odderon exchange in exclusive J/psi production.

Invariant mass distribution of jet pairs produced in association with a W boson in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We report a study of the invariant mass distribution of jet pairs produced in association with a W boson using data collected with the CDF detector which correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.3  fb(-1). The observed distribution has an excess in the 120-160  GeV/c(2) mass range which is not described by current theoretical predictions within the statistical and systematic uncertainties. In this Letter, we report studies of the properties of this excess.

Dynamic three-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound of human fetal intracardiac flow

OBJECTIVES

To develop dynamic three-dimensional ultrasound techniques for prenatal imaging of the intracardiovascular flow as well as the cardiovascular structure to address difficulties in assessing the spatially complex hemodynamics and morphology of the fetal heart.

METHODS

Gray-scale and color (velocity) Doppler echocardiography were performed on 12 fetuses to provide serial anatomical and rheological tomograms which were spatially registered in three dimensions. Using a second ultrasound machine simultaneously, spectral Doppler ultrasound was performed to record umbilical arterial waveforms, thus providing the temporal (fourth) dimension in terms of the cardiac cycle and facilitating removal of motion artifacts.

RESULTS

Acquisitions were successful in eight of 15 attempts. Imaging of the flow of blood in four dimensions was achieved in six of the eight datasets. In one case with complex cardiac malformations, three-dimensional reconstructions at systole and diastole offered dynamic diagnostic views not appreciated on the cross-sectional images.

CONCLUSIONS

Our novel technique has made possible the prenatal visualization of the spatial distribution and true direction of intracardiac flow of blood in four dimensions in the absence of motion artifacts. The technique suggests that diagnosis of cardiac malformations can be made on the basis of morphological and hemodynamic changes throughout the entire cardiac cycle, offering unique and significant information complementary to conventional techniques. Further work to integrate the several non-purpose-built machines into a single system will improve the rate of acquisition of data, and may provide a new means of imaging and modeling structure and hemodynamics, not only for the fetal heart but for many other moving body parts.

p47phox and reactive oxygen species production modulate expression of microRNA-451 in macrophages

The production of microRNAs (miRNA) is influenced by various stimuli, including environmental stresses. We hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated stress could regulate macrophage miRNA synthesis. miRNAs undergo unique steps of maturation processing through either one of two pathways of cytoplasmic processing. Unlike the canonical pathway, the regulation of alternative cytoplasmic processing of miRNA has not been fully elucidated yet. We cultured bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) from wild type (WT) and p47(phox-/-) mice and profiled miRNA expression using microarrays. We analyzed 375 miRNAs including four endogenous controls to normalize the data. At resting state, p47(phox-/-) BMDM has the markedly reduced expression of miR-451 compared to WT BMDM, without other significant differences. Unlike majority of miRNAs, miR-451 goes through the unique alternative processing pathway, in which Ago2 plays a key role. In spite of significant reduction of mature miR-451, however, its precursor form, pre-mir-451, was similar in both BMDMs, suggesting that the processing of pre-mir-451 is impaired in p47(phox-/-) BMDM. Moreover, p47(phox-/-) BMDM expressed significantly reduced level of Ago2. In contrast, Ago2 mRNA levels were similar in WT and p47(phox-/-) BMDM, suggesting a post-transcriptional defect of Ago2 production in p47(phox-/-) macrophages, which resulted in impaired processing of pre-miR-451. In order to examine the functional significance of miR-451 in macrophages, we cultured BMDMs from miR-451 knock-out mice. Of interest, miR-451-deficient BMDM exhibited reduced ROS generation upon zymosan stimulation, compared to WT BMDM. Our studies suggest functional crosstalk between ROS and miR-451 in the regulation of macrophage oxidant stress.

Three-dimensional morphometry in ultrasound

The clinical use of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound has rapidly spread to many specialities over the last ten years. The reason is easy to see, namely that single two-dimensional (2D) scans are often difficult to interpret and the mental correlation of multiple 2D scans to form a 3D image of anatomical morphology is taxing and uncertain. The rapid development of techniques for the realtime tracking of the spatial position and orientation of ultrasound probes and the development of computer graphics techniques for the presentation of anatomical images have made 3D ultrasound a realistic diagnostic tool. The authors describe the range of methods of data acquisition and display and provide illustrations of some current clinical applications.

Level of Organ Donation-Related Knowledge and Attitude and Willingness Toward Organ Donation Among a Group of University Students in Western China

BACKGROUND

This study aims at analyzing the levels of organ donation-related knowledge and attitude and willingness toward organ donation and identifying factors that might influence willingness in organ donation among a selected group of university students in western China.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed among 1589 second-year students recruited by stratified cluster sampling from 5 universities in western China. The data were collected using a questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

In comparison with the general public in China, the participants of our survey are better informed with organ donation-related knowledge and are more positive toward organ donation and death and more willing to donate organs. However, willingness in organ donation (9.81%) and the actual organ donation rate (0.45%) are still relatively low. We find that the Chinese family plays a critical role in organ donation decision making (β = -1.849, odds ratio = 0.157, P < .001) and the upholding of willingness in organ donation (β = -0.695, odds ratio = 0.499, P < .05), which probably stems from the family-centered traditional values. Furthermore, a positive attitude toward death appears to be positively associated with willingness in organ donation (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the urgent need of improved education and training in organ donation-related knowledge and the development of positive attitude toward death among the potential donors and their family members as well as the general public to raise the organ donation rate in this country.

Downregulation of DNA (cytosine-5-)methyltransferase is a late event in NGF-induced PC12 cell differentiation

DNA methylation patterns are a critical component of the epigenetic machinery that controls the expression of genetic programs in vertebrates. DNA methyltransferase gene (dnmt1) encodes the enzyme catalyzing the methylation of DNA during replication. We tested the hypothesis that the expression of dnmt1 is regulated with the developmental state of neuronal cells. We show that DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt1) activity is sharply reduced 4 days after induction of differentiation of PC12 cells with NGF. Similarly, the adult brain expresses reduced levels of Dnmt1 activity. We propose that the level of Dnmt1 is downregulated to adjust the activity of the DNA methyltransferase to a different role in mature post-mitotic neurons. Both the abundance of dnmt1 mRNA as well as the Dnmt1 polypeptide are downregulated. Downregulation of dnmt1 parallels other indicators of withdrawal from the cell cycle such as induction of p21, and downregulation of the S phase maker PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). The temporal pattern of downregulation of dnmt1 in nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced PC12 cells is different from myotube differentiation where downregulation of DNA methyltransferase and demethylation is an early event and was proposed to play a causal role in differentiation. We propose that NGF differentiation of PC12 cells represents a different paradigm of involvement of DNA methylation in terminal differentiation.

First measurement of the tt[over ] differential cross section dsigma/dM_{tt[over ]} in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the tt[over ] differential cross section with respect to the tt[over ] invariant mass, dsigma/dM_{tt[over ]}, in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 2.7 fb;{-1} collected by the CDF II experiment. The tt[over ] invariant mass spectrum is sensitive to a variety of exotic particles decaying into tt[over ] pairs. The result is consistent with the standard model expectation, as modeled by PYTHIA with CTEQ5L parton distribution functions.

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of the postmortem fetal heart

Five postmortem fetuses were scanned by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of eight three-dimensional (3D) data sets reconstructed on an MGI workstation, five sets demonstrated detailed 3D fetal cardiac structures, and one depicted clear information regarding the disposition and compression of the heart and lungs in diaphragmatic hernia. This study has shown the potential of 3D MR imaging in support of postmortem examination and for interactive visual teaching of the fetal cardiac structures. The new technique may eventually be of significance in prenatal detection of cardiac abnormalities with the development of fast real-time MR imaging.