First measurement of the CP-violating phase in Bs(0) → ϕϕ decays

A first flavor-tagged measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in B(s)(0) → ϕϕ decays is presented. In this decay channel, the CP-violating weak phase arises due to CP violation in the interference between B(s)(0)-B(s)(0) mixing and the b → sss gluonic penguin decay amplitude. Using a sample of pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb(-1) and collected at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with the LHCb detector, 880 B(s)(0) → ϕϕ signal decays are obtained. The CP-violating phase is measured to be in the interval [-2.46,-0.76] rad at a 68% confidence level. The p value of the standard model prediction is 16%.

Comparative immunogenicity of outer membrane protein K and whole-cell antigens of Vibrio parahaemolyticus for diagnosis

The immunogenicity of soluble outer membrane protein K (OmpK)- small ubiquitin-like modifier, OmpK inclusion bodies, formalin, and heat-killed Vibrio parahaemolyticus cells were prepared and studied in a mouse model. The results of whole-cell ELISA and Western blot (WB) revealed that the serum against soluble OmpK and OmpK inclusion bodies reacted only with homologous V. parahaemolyticus. Furthermore, recombinant OmpK proteins were not recognized by the serum against whole-cell V. parahaemolyticus antigens. Unexpectedly, the serum against formalin and heat-killed V. parahaemolyticus reacted broadly with homologous (an immunization strain) and heterologous (non-immunization strains) V. parahaemolyticus and Vibrio species. The WB results revealed that the serum against the two V. parahaemolyticus whole-cell antigens primarily reacted with proteins that were approximately 100, 70, 36, 28, and 22 kDa in the cell lysates from different Vibrio strains, rather than the recombinant OmpK. The 70 and 28 kDa proteins exhibited specificity to Vibrio species, while the 22 kDa protein was more specific to V. parahaemolyticus. This study showed the limitation of recombinant OmpK to prepare diagnostic antibodies and revealed several specific Omps of Vibrio sp. and V. parahaemolyticus that were promising in diagnosis and vaccine development.

Determination of Strong-Phase Parameters in D→K_{S,L}^{0}π^{+}π^{-}

We report the most precise measurements to date of the strong-phase parameters between D^{0} and D[over ¯]^{0} decays to K_{S,L}^{0}π^{+}π^{-} using a sample of 2.93  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. Our results provide the key inputs for a binned model-independent determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle γ/ϕ_{3} with B decays. Using our results, the decay model sensitivity to the γ/ϕ_{3} measurement is expected to be between 0.7° and 1.2°, approximately a factor of three smaller than that achievable with previous measurements, based on the studies of the simulated data. The improved precision of this work ensures that measurements of γ/ϕ_{3} will not be limited by knowledge of strong phases for the next decade. Furthermore, our results provide critical input for other flavor-physics investigations, including charm mixing, other measurements of CP violation, and the measurement of strong-phase parameters for other D-decay modes.

Observation of New Ξ_{c}^{0} Baryons Decaying to Λ_{c}^{+}K^{-}

The Λ_{c}^{+}K^{-} mass spectrum is studied with a data sample of pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6  fb^{-1} collected by the LHCb experiment. Three Ξ_{c}^{0} states are observed with a large significance and their masses and natural widths are measured to be m[Ξ_{c}(2923)^{0}]=2923.04±0.25±0.20±0.14  MeV, Γ[Ξ_{c}(2923)^{0}]=7.1±0.8±1.8  MeV, m[Ξ_{c}(2939)^{0}]=2938.55±0.21±0.17±0.14  MeV, Γ[Ξ_{c}(2939)^{0}]=10.2±0.8±1.1  MeV, m[Ξ_{c}(2965)^{0}]=2964.88±0.26±0.14±0.14  MeV, Γ[Ξ_{c}(2965)^{0}]=14.1±0.9±1.3  MeV, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the limited knowledge of the Λ_{c}^{+} mass. The Ξ_{c}(2923)^{0} and Ξ_{c}(2939)^{0} baryons are new states. The Ξ_{c}(2965)^{0} state is in the vicinity of the known Ξ_{c}(2970)^{0} baryon; however, their masses and natural widths differ significantly.

Denis RD, Stabile A, Stahlman J, Stamen R, Stamm S, Stanecka E, Stanek RW, Stanescu C, Stanescu-Bellu M, Stanitzki MM, Stapnes S, Starchenko EA, Stark GH, Stark J, Staroba P, Starovoitov P, Stärz S, Staszewski R, Steinberg P, Stelzer B, Stelzer HJ, Stelzer-Chilton O, Stenzel H, Stewart GA, Stillings JA, Stockton MC, Stoebe M, Stoicea G, Stolte P, Stonjek S, Stradling AR, Straessner A, Stramaglia ME, Strandberg J, Strandberg S, Strandlie A, Strauss M, Strizenec P, Ströhmer R, Strom DM, Stroynowski R, Strubig A, Stucci SA, Stugu B, Styles NA, Su D, Su J, Subramaniam R, Suchek S, Sugaya Y, Suk M, Sulin VV, Sultansoy S, Sumida T, Sun S, Sun X, Sundermann JE, Suruliz K, Susinno G, Sutton MR, Suzuki S, Svatos M, Swiatlowski M, Sykora I, Sykora T, Ta D, Taccini C, Tackmann K, Taenzer J, Taffard A, Tafirout R, Taiblum N, Takai H, Takashima R, Takeda H, Takeshita T, Takubo Y, Talby M, Talyshev AA, Tam JYC, Tan KG, Tanaka J, Tanaka R, Tanaka S, Tannenwald BB, Tapia Araya S, Tapprogge S, Tarem S, Tartarelli GF, Tas P, Tasevsky M, Tashiro T, Tassi E, Tavares Delgado A, Tayalati Y, Taylor AC, Taylor GN, Taylor PTE, Taylor W, Teischinger FA, Teixeira-Dias P, Temming KK, Temple D, Ten Kate H, Teng PK, Teoh JJ, Tepel F, Terada S, Terashi K, Terron J, Terzo S, Testa M, Teuscher RJ, Theveneaux-Pelzer T, Thomas JP, Thomas-Wilsker J, Thompson EN, Thompson PD, Thompson RJ, Thompson AS, Thomsen LA, Thomson E, Thomson M, Tibbetts MJ, Ticse Torres RE, Tikhomirov VO, Tikhonov YA, Timoshenko S, Tipton P, Tisserant S, Todome K, Todorov T, Todorova-Nova S, Tojo J, Tokár S, Tokushuku K, Tolley E, Tomlinson L, Tomoto M, Tompkins L, Toms K, Tong B, Tornambe P, Torrence E, Torres H, Torró Pastor E, Toth J, Touchard F, Tovey DR, Trefzger T, Tremblet L, Trepanier H, Tricoli A, Trigger IM, Trincaz-Duvoid S, Tripiana MF, Trischuk W, Trocmé B, Trofymov A, Troncon C, Trottier-McDonald M, Trovatelli M, Truong L, Trzebinski M, Trzupek A, Tseng JCL, Tsiareshka PV, Tsipolitis G, Tsirintanis N, Tsiskaridze S, Tsiskaridze V, Tskhadadze EG, Tsui KM, Tsukerman II, Tsulaia V, Tsuno S, Tsybychev D, Tudorache A, Tudorache V, Tuna AN, Tupputi SA, Turchikhin S, Turecek D, Turgeman D, Turra R, Turvey AJ, Tuts PM, Tylmad M, Tyndel M, Ucchielli G, Ueda I, Ueno R, Ughetto M, Ukegawa F, Unal G, Undrus A, Unel G, Ungaro FC, Unno Y, Unverdorben C, Urban J, Urquijo P, Urrejola P, Usai G, Usanova A, Vacavant L, Vacek V, Vachon B, Valderanis C, Valdes Santurio E, Valencic N, Valentinetti S, Valero A, Valery L, Valkar S, Vallecorsa S, Valls Ferrer JA, Van Den Wollenberg W, Van Der Deijl PC, van der Geer R, van der Graaf H, van Eldik N, van Gemmeren P, Van Nieuwkoop J, van Vulpen I, van Woerden MC, Vanadia M, Vandelli W, Vanguri R, Vaniachine A, Vankov P, Vardanyan G, Vari R, Varnes EW, Varol T, Varouchas D, Vartapetian A, Varvell KE, Vazeille F, Vazquez Schroeder T, Veatch J, Veloce LM, Veloso F, Veneziano S, Ventura A, Venturi M, Venturi N, Venturini A, Vercesi V, Verducci M, Verkerke W, Vermeulen JC, Vest A, Vetterli MC, Viazlo O, Vichou I, Vickey T, Vickey Boeriu OE, Viehhauser GHA, Viel S, Vigne R, Villa M, Villaplana Perez M, Vilucchi E, Vincter MG, Vinogradov VB, Vittori C, Vivarelli I, Vlachos S, Vlasak M, Vogel M, Vokac P, Volpi G, Volpi M, von der Schmitt H, von Toerne E, Vorobel V, Vorobev K, Vos M, Voss R, Vossebeld JH, Vranjes N, Vranjes Milosavljevic M, Vrba V, Vreeswijk M, Vuillermet R, Vukotic I, Vykydal Z, Wagner P, Wagner W, Wahlberg H, Wahrmund S, Wakabayashi J, Walder J, Walker R, Walkowiak W, Wallangen V, Wang C, Wang C, Wang F, Wang H, Wang H, Wang J, Wang J, Wang K, Wang R, Wang SM, Wang T, Wang T, Wang X, Wanotayaroj C, Warburton A, Ward CP, Wardrope DR, Washbrook A, Watkins PM, Watson AT, Watson IJ, Watson MF, Watts G, Watts S, Waugh BM, Webb S, Weber MS, Weber SW, Webster JS, Weidberg AR, Weinert B, Weingarten J, Weiser C, Weits H, Wells PS, Wenaus T, Wengler T, Wenig S, Wermes N, Werner M, Werner P, Wessels M, Wetter J, Whalen K, Whallon NL, Wharton AM, White A, White MJ, White R, White S, Whiteson D, Wickens FJ, Wiedenmann W, Wielers M, Wienemann P, Wiglesworth C, Wiik-Fuchs LAM, Wildauer A, Wilkens HG, Williams HH, Williams S, Willis C, Willocq S, Wilson JA, Wingerter-Seez I, Winklmeier F, Winston OJ, Winter BT, Wittgen M, Wittkowski J, Wollstadt SJ, Wolter MW, Wolters H, Wosiek BK, Wotschack J, Woudstra MJ, Wozniak KW, Wu M, Wu M, Wu SL, Wu X, Wu Y, Wyatt TR, Wynne BM, Xella S, Xu D, Xu L, Yabsley B, Yacoob S, Yakabe R, Yamaguchi D, Yamaguchi Y, Yamamoto A, Yamamoto S, Yamanaka T, Yamauchi K, Yamazaki Y, Yan Z, Yang H, Yang H, Yang Y, Yang Z, Yao WM, Yap YC, Yasu Y, Yatsenko E, Yau Wong KH, Ye J, Ye S, Yeletskikh I, Yen AL, Yildirim E, Yorita K, Yoshida R, Yoshihara K, Young C, Young CJS, Youssef S, Yu DR, Yu J, Yu JM, Yu J, Yuan L, Yuen SPY, Yusuff I, Zabinski B, Zaidan R, Zaitsev AM, Zakharchuk N, Zalieckas J, Zaman A, Zambito S, Zanello L, Zanzi D, Zeitnitz C, Zeman M, Zemla A, Zeng JC, Zeng Q, Zengel K, Zenin O, Ženiš T, Zerwas D, Zhang D, Zhang F, Zhang G, Zhang H, Zhang J, Zhang L, Zhang R, Zhang R, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Zhao X, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, Zhemchugov A, Zhong J, Zhou B, Zhou C, Zhou L, Zhou L, Zhou M, Zhou N, Zhu CG, Zhu H, Zhu J, Zhu Y, Zhuang X, Zhukov K, Zibell A, Zieminska D, Zimine NI, Zimmermann C, Zimmermann S, Zinonos Z, Zinser M, Ziolkowski M, Živković L, Zobernig G, Zoccoli A, zur Nedden M, Zurzolo G, Zwalinski L. Search for supersymmetry at [Formula: see text] TeV in final states with jets and two same-sign leptons or three leptons with the ATLAS detector

A search for strongly produced supersymmetric particles is conducted using signatures involving multiple energetic jets and either two isolated leptons (e or [Formula: see text]) with the same electric charge or at least three isolated leptons. The search also utilises b-tagged jets, missing transverse momentum and other observables to extend its sensitivity. The analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2015 corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb[Formula: see text]. No significant excess over the Standard Model expectation is observed. The results are interpreted in several simplified supersymmetric models and extend the exclusion limits from previous searches. In the context of exclusive production and simplified decay modes, gluino masses are excluded at [Formula: see text] confidence level up to 1.1-1.3 TeV for light neutralinos (depending on the decay channel), and bottom squark masses are also excluded up to 540 GeV. In the former scenarios, neutralino masses are also excluded up to 550-850 GeV for gluino masses around 1 TeV.

Insight into the impacts and mechanisms of ketone stress on the antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli

Accumulation of toxic organic has posed a substantial pressure on the proliferation of bacterial resistance. While aromatic organics have been demonstrated to enhance the antibiotic resistance in bacteria, no information is yet available on the effects of non-aromatic organics on the variations of bacterial resistance. Here, we investigated the effects of a typical ketone (i.e., methylisobutanone (MIBK)) on the variations of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the growth of resistant E. coli under environmental concentration of 50 μg/L MIBK was firstly inhibited as explained by the transient disruption in the cell membrane and then recovered possibly due to the reactive oxygen species. Exposure to 50 μg/L MIBK gradually raised the abundance of representative resistance gene (ampR) in E. coli. In contrast, the high concentration of 50 mg/L MIBK continuously inhibited the growth of resistant E. coli by disrupting cell membrane and notably promoted the proliferation of ampR through enhancing the horizontal transformation and up-regulating the expression of efflux pump gene. These findings provided the first evidence for the evolution of bacterial resistance in response to ketone organics.

KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 promotes aggressive biological behaviors of cervical cancer cells via regulating microRNA-491-5p and pyruvate kinase M1/2

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) KCNQ1 and opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) have been validated to be carcinogenic in several cancers. However, the role of KCNQ1OT1 in regulating the malignant biological behavior and radiotherapy resistance of cervical cancer (CC) remains largely unknown. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to detect KCNQ1OT1 and miR-491-5p expression in CC tissues and cells. Pyruvate kinase M1/2 (PKM2) expression was detected by Western blot. CC cell proliferation, movement, migration and invasion were monitored by CCK-8, scratch healing and Transwell assay, respectively. The CC cell colony survival was detected by colony formation assay under different doses of radiation. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay, pull-down assay and RIP assay were employed to verify the targeting relationship between KCNQ1OT1, miR-491-5p and PKM2. In this study, KCNQ1OT1 was significantly up-regulated in CC patient cancerous tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was significantly related to tumor volume increase and poor differentiation. KCNQ1OT1 overexpression significantly promoted CC cell proliferation, metastasis and radioresistance. On the contrary, KCNQ1OT1 knockdown compared to the control group inhibited the above biological behavior of CC cells. The underlying mechanism suggested that KCNQ1OT1 promoted progression and radioresistance of CC by modulating the miR-491-5p/PKM2 axis. In conclusion, KCNQ1OT1 enhances CC cell progression through the miR-491-5p/PKM2 axis.

Measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy of neutral pions in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s](NN)] = 2.76 TeV

First measurements of the azimuthal anisotropy of neutral pions produced in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV are presented. The amplitudes of the second Fourier component (v(2)) of the π(0) azimuthal distributions are extracted using an event-plane technique. The values of v(2) are studied as a function of the neutral pion transverse momentum (p(T)) for different classes of collision centrality in the kinematic range 1.6<p(T) <8.0 GeV/c, within the pseudorapidity interval |η|<0.8. The CMS measurements of v(2) (p(T)) are similar to previously reported π(0) azimuthal anisotropy results from sqrt[s(NN)] = 200 GeV Au-Au collisions at RHIC, despite a factor of ∼ 14 increase in the center-of-mass energy. In the momentum range 2.5<p(T)<5.0 GeV/c, the neutral pion anisotropies are found to be smaller than those observed by CMS for inclusive charged particles.

Observation of the Decays Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c1}pK^{-} and Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c2}pK^{-}

The first observation of the decays Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c1}pK^{-} and Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c2}pK^{-} is reported using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb^{-1}, collected by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The following ratios of branching fractions are measured: B(Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c1}pK^{-})/B(Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-})=0.242±0.014±0.013±0.009,B(Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c2}pK^{-})/B(Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-})=0.248±0.020±0.014±0.009,B(Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c2}pK^{-})/B(Λ_{b}^{0}→χ_{c1}pK^{-})=1.02±0.10±0.02±0.05,where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to the uncertainty on the branching fractions of the χ_{c1}→J/ψγ and χ_{c2}→J/ψγ decays. Using both decay modes, the mass of the Λ_{b}^{0} baryon is also measured to be m_{Λ_{b}^{0}}=5619.44±0.28±0.26  MeV/c^{2}, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Identification of boosted, hadronically decaying W bosons and comparisons with ATLAS data taken at [Formula: see text] TeV

This paper reports a detailed study of techniques for identifying boosted, hadronically decaying W bosons using 20.3 fb[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy [Formula: see text]. A range of techniques for optimising the signal jet mass resolution are combined with various jet substructure variables. The results of these studies in Monte Carlo simulations show that a simple pairwise combination of groomed jet mass and one substructure variable can provide a 50 % efficiency for identifying W bosons with transverse momenta larger than 200 GeV while maintaining multijet background efficiencies of 2-4 % for jets with the same transverse momentum. These signal and background efficiencies are confirmed in data for a selection of tagging techniques.

KMT2D and TP53 mutation status improve the prognostic value of the International Prognostic Index (IPI) stratification in ENKTL patients

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type (ENKTL) is a subtype of T cell lymphoma with poor prognosis. In this study, we designed a new prognostic model specifically for ENKTL to improve the risk stratification. In 29 ENKTL patients, we screened mutations in 9 ENKTL-associated genes using next-generation sequencing (NGS). We have found that mutated KMT2D was associated with the inferior overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) and KMT2D or TP53 mutations were associated with a higher mortality rate. Moreover, the difference in PFS among different stratifications was not significant using the International Prognostic Index (IPI) alone but was significant after the mutation status of KMT2D and TP53 were incorporated into the IPI model, forming a harmonious risk stratification reflecting the clinical features and genetic information of ENKTL. In summary, we demonstrate that the prognostic value of the IPI system can be enhanced by integrating the status of genetic mutations.

Diameter modulation by fast temperature control in laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Diameter modulation by fast temperature control in laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) was successfully achieved to tune the diameters of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in different segments. Due to the inverse relationship between the SWNT diameter and the growth temperature, SWNTs with ascending diameters were obtained by reducing the LCVD temperature from high to low. The diameter-modulated SWNTs were integrated in electrodes to form field-effect transistors (FETs) and to investigate their electronic transport properties. The SWNTs in the FET structures have electronic properties similar to Schottky diodes, indicating clear evidence of different bandgap structures at the two ends of the SWNTs. Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electronic transport characteristics were studied to investigate the influence of temperature variation on the structural and electronic characteristics of the SWNTs.

cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway-mediated effects of melatonin receptor genes on clock gene expression in Bactrian camel ovarian granulosa cells

The cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway is involved in the regulation of melatonin during important physiological activities in mammals. However, the regulation of circadian clock genes in ovarian granulosa cells remains unclear. Herein, we determined the relationship between melatonin and biological clock genes using cultured Bactrian camel ovarian granulosa cells. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed that the cAMP content was reduced when melatonin receptor (MT) genes or cryptochrome (Cry) genes were overexpressed; the quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses revealed that the expression levels of all circadian clock genes (GNB2, PKA, CREB, Per1/2/3, and Clock) except Cry1/2 decreased significantly at 24 h. Cellular immunolocalization analysis showed that melatonin receptors were localized in the cell membrane and cytoplasm; the CRY protein was mainly localized in the nucleus. Overall, our findings indicated that the rhythmic regulation of ovarian granulosa cells was consistent with the regulatory action of the central circadian clock.

Engineering a synthetic anaerobic respiration for reduction of xylose to xylitol using NADH output of glucose catabolism by Escherichia coli AI21

Background

Anaerobic rather than aerobic fermentation is preferred for conversion of biomass derived sugars to high value redox-neutral and reduced commodities. This will likely result in a higher yield of substrate to product conversion and decrease production cost since substrate often accounts for a significant portion of the overall cost. To this goal, metabolic pathway engineering has been used to optimize substrate carbon flow to target products. This approach works well for the production of redox neutral products such as lactic acid from redox neutral sugars using the reducing power NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced) generated from glycolysis (2 NADH per glucose equivalent). Nevertheless, greater than two NADH per glucose catabolized is needed for the production of reduced products (such as xylitol) from redox neutral sugars by anaerobic fermentation.

Results

The Escherichia coli strain AI05 (ΔfrdBC ΔldhA ΔackA Δ(focA-pflB) ΔadhE ΔptsG ΔpdhR::pflBp₆-(aceEF-lpd)), previously engineered for reduction of xylose to xylitol using reducing power (NADH equivalent) of glucose catabolism, was further engineered by 1) deleting xylAB operon (encoding for xylose isomerase and xylulokinase) to prevent xylose from entering the pentose phosphate pathway; 2) anaerobically expressing the sdhCDAB-sucABCD operon (encoding for succinate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA synthetase) to enable an anaerobically functional tricarboxcylic acid cycle with a theoretical 10 NAD(P)H equivalent per glucose catabolized. These reducing equivalents can be oxidized by synthetic respiration via xylose reduction, producing xylitol. The resulting strain, AI21 (pAI02), achieved a 96 % xylose to xylitol conversion, with a yield of 6 xylitol per glucose catabolized (molar yield of xylitol per glucose consumed (Y_RPG) = 6). This represents a 33 % improvement in xylose to xylitol conversion, and a 63 % increase in xylitol yield per glucose catabolized over that achieved by AI05 (pAI02).

Conclusions

Increasing reducing power (NADH equivalent) output per glucose catabolized was achieved by anaerobic expression of both the pdh operon (pyruvate dehydrogenase) and the sdhCDAB-sucABCD operon, resulting in a strain capable of generating 10 NADH equivalent per glucose under anaerobic condition. The new E. coli strain AI21 (pAI02) achieved an actual 96 % conversion of xylose to xylitol (via synthetic respiration), and 6 xylitol (from xylose) per glucose catabolized (Y_RPG = 6, the highest known value). This strategy can be used to engineer microbial strains for the production of other reduced products from redox neutral sugars using glucose as a source of reducing power.

Measurement of the Soft-Drop Jet Mass in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

Jet substructure observables have significantly extended the search program for physics beyond the standard model at the Large Hadron Collider. The state-of-the-art tools have been motivated by theoretical calculations, but there has never been a direct comparison between data and calculations of jet substructure observables that are accurate beyond leading-logarithm approximation. Such observables are significant not only for probing the collinear regime of QCD that is largely unexplored at a hadron collider, but also for improving the understanding of jet substructure properties that are used in many studies at the Large Hadron Collider. This Letter documents a measurement of the first jet substructure quantity at a hadron collider to be calculated at next-to-next-to-leading-logarithm accuracy. The normalized, differential cross section is measured as a function of log_{10}ρ^{2}, where ρ is the ratio of the soft-drop mass to the ungroomed jet transverse momentum. This quantity is measured in dijet events from 32.9  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV proton-proton collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector. The data are unfolded to correct for detector effects and compared to precise QCD calculations and leading-logarithm particle-level Monte Carlo simulations.

Effect of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 on the intraperitoneal adhesion formation

In order to study the role of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the intra-peritoneal adhesion formation, 23 infertile patients undergoing laparoscopic operation were divided into two groups: experimental group including 12 patients with intra-peritoneal adhesion and control group including 11 patients without intra-peritoneal adhesion. Peritoneal fluid (PF) and peritoneum were collected from these patients during laparoscopic examination. The expression levels of MCP-1 protein and MCP-1 mRNA were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot blot analysis method respectively. It was found that the levels of MCP-1 protein in PF of the patients with peritoneal adhesion were significantly higher than in the control group (0.44 +/- 0.11 ng/ml vs 0.19 +/- 0.09 ng/ml respectively, P < 0.01). The level of MCP-1 mRNA in the peritoneum of the patients with peritoneal adhesion was significantly higher than in the control group (48.61 +/- 3.72 vs 19.87 +/- 2.54 respectively, P < 0.01). It was suggested that MCP-1 might play a role in the adhesion formation, and chemotactic cytokines expressing in the peritoneal mesothelial cells might be take part in the process.

Model-Independent Observation of Exotic Contributions to B^{0}→J/ψK^{+}π^{-} Decays

An angular analysis of B^{0}→J/ψK^{+}π^{-} decays is performed, using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1} collected with the LHCb detector. The m(K^{+}π^{-}) spectrum is divided into fine bins. In each m(K^{+}π^{-}) bin, the hypothesis that the three-dimensional angular distribution can be described by structures induced only by K^{*} resonances is examined, making minimal assumptions about the K^{+}π^{-} system. The data reject the K^{*}-only hypothesis with a large significance, implying the observation of exotic contributions in a model-independent fashion. Inspection of the m(J/ψπ^{-}) vs m(K^{+}π^{-}) plane suggests structures near m(J/ψπ^{-})=4200 and 4600 MeV.

Transcription factor EGR2 controls homing and pathogenicity of TH17 cells in the central nervous system

CD4+ T helper 17 (TH17) cells protect barrier tissues but also trigger autoimmunity. The mechanisms behind these opposing processes remain unclear. Here, we found that the transcription factor EGR2 controlled the transcriptional program of pathogenic TH17 cells in the central nervous system (CNS) but not that of protective TH17 cells at barrier sites. EGR2 was significantly elevated in myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis and mice with autoimmune neuroinflammation. The EGR2 transcriptional program was intricately woven within the TH17 cell transcriptional regulatory network and showed high interconnectivity with core TH17 cell-specific transcription factors. Mechanistically, EGR2 enhanced TH17 cell differentiation and myeloid cell recruitment to the CNS by upregulating pathogenesis-associated genes and myelomonocytic chemokines. T cell-specific deletion of Egr2 attenuated neuroinflammation without compromising the host's ability to control infections. Our study shows that EGR2 regulates tissue-specific and disease-specific functions in pathogenic TH17 cells in the CNS.

Immediate post-abortal insertion of the frameless GyneFix IUD: initial experience in China

The promising results obtained with the frameless GyneFix IUD for interval insertion led to the belief that the technology could be useful for immediate post-abortal application to reduce the number of induced and repeat abortions. IUDs have many advantages and the method is acceptable and safe. However, side effects and expulsion of conventional IUDs remain a problem. In an attempt to minimise these problems, the frameless GyneFix IUD was developed. Clinical studies conducted over the past 14 years have shown that the principles on which the device is based are valid. An increasing bulk of clinical evidence shows that the design characteristics of the device (fixed, frameless and flexible) are responsible for the low expulsion, high effectiveness, and high tolerance and continuation rates.1 Experience with the frameless IUD in China since 1989 confirms the international experience with the device. The present communication is a second report from China with the GyneFix IUD. In the present study the GyneFix IUD is inserted immediately following termination of pregnancy of less than 10 weeks amenorrhea. It is concluded that immediate post-abortal insertion of the frameless IUD is easy and safe, and appears to be as reliable and as effective as when it is inserted at interval. The GyneFix IUD could, therefore, constitute an important new option in the prevention of abortion.

Determination of f(s)/f(d) for 7 TeV pp collisions and measurement of the B0→D-K+ branching fraction

The relative abundance of the three decay modes B(0)→D(-)K(+), B(0)→D(-)π(+), and B(s)(0)→D(s)(-)π(+) produced in 7 TeV pp collisions at the LHC is determined from data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35 pb(-1). The branching fraction of B(0)→D(-)K(+) is found to be B(B(0)→D(-)K(+)) = (2.01 ± 0.18(stat) ± 0.14(syst)) × 10(-4). The ratio of fragmentation fractions f(s)/f(d) is determined through the relative abundance of B(s)(0)→D(s)(-)π(+) to B(0)→D(-)K(+) and B(0)→D(-)π(+), leading to f(s)/f(d) = 0.253 ± 0.017 ± 0.017 ± 0.020, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and theoretical, respectively.

Monthly variation of trace metals in North Sea sediments. From experimental data to modeling calculations

Seasonal variation in trace metal contamination in surface sediments was studied through high resolution profiles assessed monthly by DGT probes in muddy sediments of the North Sea. General parameters such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and sulfides were also recorded to estimate their role in the speciation of trace metals. Experimental data were included in a thermodynamic equilibrium model to calculate major (geo)chemical processes at the water-sediment interface and to predict the fate of the trace metals in case of (physico-)chemical changes. Results showed lowest Fe, Co, Ni and Cd concentrations in summer, which are most probably due to the very high sulfide concentrations according to our theoretical calculations. Cu and Pb behavior were found to be less influenced by sulfides, since they are also strongly associated to organic matter. The whole set of results clearly indicated that metal speciation in these sediments is controlled by sulfides and OM contents.