Stratification of follicular thyroid tumors using data-independent acquisition proteomics and a comprehensive thyroid tissue spectral library

Thyroid nodules occur in about 60% of the population. A major challenge in thyroid nodule diagnosis is to distinguish between follicular adenoma (FA) and carcinoma (FTC). Here, we present a comprehensive thyroid spectral library covering five types of thyroid tissues. This library includes 121 960 peptides and 9941 protein groups. This spectral library can be used to quantify up to 7863 proteins from thyroid tissues, and can also be used to develop parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) assays for targeted protein quantification. Next, to stratify follicular thyroid tumours, we compared the proteomes of 24 FA and 22 FTC samples, and identified 204 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Our data suggest altered ferroptosis pathways in malignant follicular carcinoma. In all, 31 selected proteins effectively distinguished follicular tumours. Of those DEPs, nine proteins were further verified by PRM in an independent cohort of 18 FA and 19 FTC. Together, we present a comprehensive spectral library for DIA and targeted proteomics analysis of thyroid tissue specimens, and identified nine proteins that could potentially distinguish FA and FTC.

Measurement of the Cross Section for e^{+}e^{-}→Hadrons at Energies from 2.2324 to 3.6710 GeV

Based on electron-positron collision data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider II storage rings, the value of R≡σ(e^{+}e^{-}→hadrons)/σ(e^{+}e^{-}→μ^{+}μ^{-}) is measured at 14 center-of-mass energies from 2.2324 to 3.6710 GeV. The resulting uncertainties are less than 3.0% and are dominated by systematic uncertainties.

Changes in objectively-measured physical capability over 4-year, risk of diabetes, and glycemic control in older adults: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal study

AIMS

High physical capability reduces risk of diabetes, but the association of its changes with risk of diabetes and glycemic control is unclear in older adults. This study aimed to quantify their association.

METHODS

A total of 1,667 participants without diabetes and aged ≥ 60 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included and followed over 4 years. Physical capability was objectively measured at baseline and 4-year later. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of changes in physical capability with risk of diabetes.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 160 participants developed diabetes. None of the changes in physical capability expressed in continuous scales or in tertiles was associated with risk of diabetes in unadjusted or adjusted models (all P > 0.05), and no favorable joint effects were observed. Changes in physical capability were not associated with changes in fasting plasma glucose or hemoglobin A1c. Yet increases in walking speed or grip strength were related to reduced metabolic score for insulin resistance (both P ≤ 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in objectively-measured physical capability were not associated with reduced risk of diabetes but may ameliorate insulin resistance in older adults. Studies with longer follow-up periods are required to confirm these findings.

Immobilization of Sucrose Isomerase from Erwinia sp. with Graphene Oxide and Its Application in Synthesizing Isomaltulose

Sucrose isomerase (SIase) is a key enzyme used for the production of isomaltulose from sucrose. In this study, an SIase gene from Erwinia sp. Ejp617 (ErSIase) was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), and the recombinant ErSIase was served as biocatalyst combined with the graphene oxide (GO) as carrier for ErSIase immobilization. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, and confocal laser microscopy analyses showed that ErSIase was successfully immobilized on the surface of GO to form ErSIase-GO. The loading capacity of ErSIase on GO reached up to 460 mg/g with a specific activity of 727.04 U/mg protein when the optimal immobilization time of 12 h and the ErSIase/GO ratio of 7.4:4 (w/w) were applied. A high conversion rate of 95.3% was reached from sucrose to isomaltulose using ErSIase-GO as biocatalyst with 600 g/L sucrose as substrate, after 180 min at 40 °C and pH 6.0. Moreover, stabilities of the immobilized ErSIase-GO in the aspects of thermal, pH, and storage were improved, and its activity after 10 batches still remained around 80% under the optimal conditions. The Km value of ErSIase-GO was 29.32 mM, and the kcat/Km was increased to 27.34 s-1 mM-1 when 0.1% (w/v) detergent NP40 was added. These results indicated that the ErSIase was well immobilized onto GO, and the ErSIase-GO is a promising biocatalyst with high operational stability and catalytic activity for industrial production of isomaltulose.

A dual-channel optogenetic stimulator selectively modulates distinct defensive behaviors

Implantable devices and systems have been emerging as powerful tools for neuroscience research and medical applications. Here we report a wireless, dual-channel optoelectronic system for functional optogenetic interrogation of superior colliculus (SC), a layered structure pertinent to defensive behaviors, in rodents. Specifically, a flexible and injectable probe comprises two thin-film microscale light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) at different depths, providing spatially resolved optical illuminations within the tissue. Under remote control, these micro-LEDs interrogate the intermediate layer and the deep layer of the SC (ILSC and DLSC) of the same mice, and deterministically evoke distinct freezing and flight behaviors, respectively. Furthermore, the system allows synchronized optical stimulations in both regions, and we discover that the flight response dominates animals' behaviors in our experiments. In addition, c-Fos immunostaining results further elucidate the functional hierarchy of the SC. These demonstrations provide a viable route to unraveling complex brain structures and functions.

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A wireless implant with two micro-LEDs enables dual-channel optogenetic stimulations

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Two micro-LEDs stimulate the intermediate and the deep layers of superior colliculus

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Dual-channel stimulations selectively evoke suppressed or promoted moving behaviors

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Synchronized stimulations in the intermediate and the deep layers are achieved

First Measurement of Polarizations in the Decay D^{0}→ωφ

Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93  fb^{-1} collected at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=3.773  GeV by the BESIII detector, the decay D^{0}→ωϕ is observed for the first time. The branching fraction is measured to be (6.48±0.96±0.40)×10^{-4} with a significance of 6.3σ, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. An angular analysis reveals that the ϕ and ω mesons from the D^{0}→ωϕ decay are transversely polarized. The 95% confidence level upper limit on longitudinal polarization fraction is set to be less than 0.24, which is inconsistent with current theoretical expectations and challenges our understanding of the underlying dynamics in charm meson decays.

Potential Use of Serum Proteomics for Monitoring COVID-19 Progression to Complement RT-PCR Detection

RT-PCR is the primary method to diagnose COVID-19 and is also used to monitor the disease course. This approach, however, suffers from false negatives due to RNA instability and poses a high risk to medical practitioners. Here, we investigated the potential of using serum proteomics to predict viral nucleic acid positivity during COVID-19. We analyzed the proteome of 275 inactivated serum samples from 54 out of 144 COVID-19 patients and shortlisted 42 regulated proteins in the severe group and 12 in the non-severe group. Using these regulated proteins and several key clinical indexes, including days after symptoms onset, platelet counts, and magnesium, we developed two machine learning models to predict nucleic acid positivity, with an AUC of 0.94 in severe cases and 0.89 in non-severe cases, respectively. Our data suggest the potential of using a serum protein-based machine learning model to monitor COVID-19 progression, thus complementing swab RT-PCR tests. More efforts are required to promote this approach into clinical practice since mass spectrometry-based protein measurement is not currently widely accessible in clinic.

Four-year changes in central fatness, risk of diabetes, and metabolic control in older adults: a cohort study with mediation analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Older adults are vulnerable to central obesity, while the association of changes in central fatness with risk of diabetes and metabolic control has not been investigated among this particular population. This study was aimed to address these issues.

METHODS

A total of 1,815 adults aged ≥ 60 years without diabetes at baseline were followed for 4 years. Incident diabetes was ascertained based on plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, medical history, and/or the use of anti-diabetic drugs. Central fatness was assessed by waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), and body roundness index (BRI). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of changes in central fatness with risk of diabetes, along with dose-response and mediation analyses.

RESULTS

During the 4-year follow-up, 177 participants developed diabetes. The risk of diabetes was increased by 42%, 41%, and 40% per 1 standard deviation increases in WC, WHtR, and BRI, respectively, in multivariable-adjusted models (all p < 0.01). Moreover, these relationships were all linearly-shaped (all pnonlinearity ≥ 0.11). Increases in WC, WHtR, and BRI correlated with increases in hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides-and-glucose index, triglycerides, white blood cell, and C-reactive protein (all p ≤ 0.04). Yet only changes in hemoglobin A1c and triglycerides-and-glucose index were identified as the possible mediators for risk of diabetes, with their mediating effect being about 35% and 21%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Increases in central fatness were related to elevated risk of diabetes, and this association might be partly explained by the worsening of glycemic control and insulin resistance in older adults.

Resilience Among Parents of Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: Associated With Fewer Parental Depressive Symptoms and Better Pediatric Glycemic Control

BACKGROUND

Although pediatric resilience plays a significant role in resisting negative moods and improving glycaemic control, little research exists regarding resilience among the parents of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate parental resilience's correlations with parental depressive symptoms, parental diabetes distress, and pediatric glycaemic control.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited adolescents with Type 1 diabetes and their parents from two hospitals. The parents completed questionnaires. The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale measured resilience; the Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey-Parent Revised version measured diabetes distress; the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 measured depressive symptoms. Standard glycated hemoglobin tests were performed on the adolescents.

RESULTS

Data from 224 parents (77.2% female, M_age = 39.88 [SD = 5.02], age range = 30-56 years) of adolescents (50.9% boys, M_age = 13.54 years [SD = 2.48], age range = 10-19 years) were available. More than half (52.7%) of parents exceeded the criterion score for high resilience. Parental resilience was significantly negatively associated with parental depressive symptoms and diabetes distress. Parents from the high-resilience group reported fewer depressive symptoms than those from the low-resilience group. In multivariate regressions, greater parental resilience is consistently related to better pediatric glycaemic control beyond parental psychological risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the importance of parental resilience for parental mental health and glycaemic control among adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. The appropriate resilience support programme might be developed for parents, especially for those existing depressive symptoms and diabetes distress.

Improvement of catalytic performance of endoglucanase CgEndo from Colletotrichum graminicola by site-directed mutagenesis

In order to improve the catalytic efficiency of cellulase for more effective utilization of lignocellulose, a novel endoglucanase (CgEndo) from Colletotrichum graminicola was expressed by Pichia pastoris X33 and modified by site-directed mutagenesis. Two mutants, Y63S and N20D/S113T, with 62.31% and 57.14% increased enzyme activities were obtained, respectively. On this basis, their biochemical properties, kinetic parameters, structural information as well as the application in biomass degradation were investigated and compared with the wild-type CgEngo. The results indicated that the mutation Y63S and N20D/S113T resulted in an improvement of proximity between enzyme and substrate through conformational changes of the catalytic region, which might contribute to the higher enzyme activities and catalysis efficiency (K_cat/K_m) of Y63S and N20D/S113T. These findings laid important foundation for the further engineering of this endoglucanase and practical application in efficient degradation of cellulosic biomass in nature.

The effect of family-based intervention for adults with diabetes on HbA1c and other health-related outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of family-based intervention for adults with diabetes on glycosylated haemoglobin and other health-related outcomes.

BACKGROUND

The impact of family-based intervention on adults with diabetes has been evaluated in various studies, but there is uncertainty about their effect on health-related outcomes for adults with diabetes.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

METHODS

A review was performed and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Six relevant databases were searched from inception to 5 March 2021. Heterogeneity between studies was quantified by using Higgins' I² test. Sensibility and subgroup analyses were used to explore potential heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The review included 23 studies (3,114 participants). Family-based intervention had a significant effect on improving glycosylated haemoglobin levels, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting glucose, diabetes self-care, diabetes self-efficacy, diabetes distress and positive family support. Non-significant results were obtained for blood lipid, body weight, depression and negative family support. In particular, subgroup analyses indicated that family-based intervention in Asian regions was more effective in improving glycosylated haemoglobin levels than in other areas.

CONCLUSION

Family-based intervention may improve diabetes control, diabetes self-care, psychological well-being and positive family support in adults with diabetes and is especially effective in Asian regions. Given the limitations in current studies, further studies are recommended to combine family theory with family-based intervention, and to examine the effectiveness of such intervention for family members.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This review and meta-analysis provides evidence that family-based intervention can improve positive family support, which has a good effect on diabetes control and psychological well-being in adults with diabetes, and it is especially effective in Asian regions. Findings suggested that unreinforced participation by family members and integrating flexible strategies into family-based intervention may be equally effective.

Changes in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio over 4 years, risk of diabetes, and cardiometabolic control: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

BACKGROUND

Creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio has attracted substantial interest as a measure to reflect health well-being, but no studies have assessed whether its longitudinal changes are associated with risk of diabetes. We aimed to examine their association, along with the exploration of the relationship of such changes with cardiometabolic control in middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

We included a total of 3278 participants aged ≥45 years who provided measurements of creatinine and cystatin C at baseline and 4 years later from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Diabetes was diagnosed based on glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), medical history, or use of antidiabetic mediations. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

After 4-year follow-up, 272 participants developed diabetes. Larger increases in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio were associated with lower risk of diabetes. The multivariable-adjusted OR for diabetes per 1 SD increase in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio was 0.84 (95% CI 0.72-0.98). Compared with participants showing decreases in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio but increases in body mass index (BMI), those experiencing increases in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio and decreases in BMI had the largest risk reduction (multivariable-adjusted OR 0.52). Changes in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio showed inverse correlation with blood pressure, HbA1c, lipids, and C-reactive protein at the 4-year follow-up. Moreover, they also correlated inversely with changes in HbA1c and C-reactive protein (all P ≤ 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio led to reduced risk of diabetes and may benefit cardiometabolic control.

The nudge strategies for weight loss in adults with obesity and overweight: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Obesity and overweight conditions have become major health challenges worldwide. The exploration of effective weight loss strategies is essential. Nudges are currently advancing approaches that represent a new and better method for changing the behaviors of people. However, the effectiveness of nudge interventions on weight loss in overweight people who may be obese has not been synthesized in a systematic manner. In this study, a systematic literature search was performed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated as summary statistics. In total, 25 RCTs involving a population of 5,929 individuals were included. Significant effects of the nudge strategy on weight loss (WMD: -0.96 kg, 95% CI: -1.49 to -0.43), body mass index (WMD: -0.3 kg/m², 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.19) and waist circumference (WMD: -0.75 cm, 95% CI: -1.23 to -0.27) were observed. The subgroup analysis showed that the reduction in body weight associated with nudge interventions was significant in younger and more obese people. Moreover, the effect of nudge intervention on weight loss weakened over time. Overall, the nudge strategy can promote changes in weight loss, body mass index and waist circumference of adults, albeit at a mild magnitude and in particular types of individuals. Nudge strategies can be recommended to clinical practitioners and policy-makers to promote obesity management.

Glioma cell-derived FGF20 suppresses macrophage function by activating β-catenin

Macrophages, which are the main regulators of the tumor-associated microenvironment, play a crucial role in the progression of various tumors. The anti-inflammatory role of β-catenin in macrophages has been extensively studied in recent years. However, the association between macrophages and β-catenin with regards to the development of glioma has not yet been investigated, at least to the best of our knowledge. The present study found that fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20), as a paracrine cytokine, was secreted by glioma cells and acted on macrophages. FGF20 treated macrophages exhibited a decreased pro-inflammatory phenotype upon LPS and IFN-γ stimulation, characterized by the decreased the level of M1 macrophage markers and the reduced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistic analysis revealed that FGF20 interacted with FGF receptor 1 isoform of macrophages, and subsequently increased the stability of β-catenin via phosphorylating GSK3β, which suppressed macrophage polarization to the M1-phenotype. Finally, it was found that FGF20 of glioma cells expression was upregulated by the glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment, and decreased FGF20 expression of glioma cells markedly blocked the effects of GCs on the polarization of macrophages. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that FGF20, secreted from glioma cells, participates the GCs regulated macrophage function and exerts anti-inflammatory effects during the treatment of glioma by GCs. Moreover, a molecular link was identified between glioma cells and macrophages, demonstrating that FGF20 modulates the GCs-induced dysfunction of macrophages during glioma development.

Mars Methane Sources in Northwestern Gale Crater Inferred From Back Trajectory Modeling

During its first seven years of operation, the Sample Analysis at Mars Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) on board the Curiosity rover has detected seven methane spikes above a low background abundance in Gale crater. The methane spikes are likely sourced by surface emission within or around Gale crater. Here, we use inverse Lagrangian modeling techniques to identify upstream emission regions on the Martian surface for these methane spikes at an unprecedented spatial resolution. Inside Gale crater, the northwestern crater floor casts the strongest influence on the detections. Outside Gale crater, the upstream regions common to all the methane spikes extend toward the north. The contrasting results from two consecutive TLS methane measurements performed on the same sol point to an active emission site to the west or the southwest of the Curiosity rover on the northwestern crater floor. The observed spike magnitude and frequency also favor emission sites on the northwestern crater floor, unless there are fast methane removal mechanisms at work, or either the methane spikes of TLS or the non-detections of ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter cannot be trusted.

Targeting metabolic driving and minimization of by-products synthesis for high-yield production of D-pantothenate in Escherichia coli

BACKGROUND

d-Pantothenate (DPA) is an important functional chemical that has been widely applied in healthcare, cosmetics, animal food, and feed industries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, a high-yield DPA-producing strain was constructed by metabolic engineering strategies with targeting metabolic driving and by-products minimization. The metabolic driving force of push and pull was firstly obtained to improve the production of DPA via enrichment of precursor pool and synthetic pathway, accumulating 4.29 g L^-1 DPA in shake flask fermentation. To eliminate the metabolic pressure on DPA production, an amino throttling system was proposed and successfully attenuated the synthesis of four competitive amino acids by a single-step regulation of gdhA. Further minimization of acetate was carried out by pta deletion, and utilization of β-alanine was improved via enhancing its uptake system with producing 5.78 g L^-1 DPA. Finally, the engineered strain produced 66.39 g L^-1 DPA with β-alanine addition in fermentor under fed-batch fermentation.

CONCLUSION

This study paved a foundation for the industrial production of DPA.

Measurement of the Absolute Branching Fraction of D_{s}^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ} via τ^{+}→e^{+}ν_{e}ν[over ¯]_{τ}

Using a dataset of 6.32  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected with the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4178 and 4226 MeV, we have measured the absolute branching fraction of the leptonic decay D_{s}^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ} via τ^{+}→e^{+}ν_{e}ν[over ¯]_{τ}, and find B_{D_{s}^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ}}=(5.27±0.10±0.12)×10^{-2}, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The precision is improved by a factor of 2 compared to the previous best measurement. Combining with f_{D_{s}^{+}} from lattice quantum chromodynamics calculations or the |V_{cs}| from the CKMfitter group, we extract |V_{cs}|=0.978±0.009±0.012 and f_{D_{s}^{+}}=(251.1±2.4±3.0)  MeV, respectively. Combining our result with the world averages of B_{D_{s}^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ}} and B_{D_{s}^{+}→μ^{+}ν_{μ}}, we obtain the ratio of the branching fractions B_{D_{s}^{+}→τ^{+}ν_{τ}}/B_{D_{s}^{+}→μ^{+}ν_{μ}}=9.72±0.37, which is consistent with the standard model prediction of lepton flavor universality.

Influences of Xylitol Consumption at Different Dosages on Intestinal Tissues and Gut Microbiota in Rats

Xylitol is a widely used natural sweetener for the reduction of excessive sugar consumption. However, concerns of xylitol consumption existed as it is a highly permeable substance in the colon that could cause diarrhea and other adverse symptoms. To assess the relationship between xylitol dosage and diarrhea, especially the influences of diarrhea on physiological characteristics, the immune system, and gut microbiota in rats, the control, low-dose (L), medium-dose (M), and high-dose (H) groups were fed with 0, 1, 3, and 10% of xylitol, respectively, correspondingly for 15 days, followed by a 7-day recovery. Only medium- and high-dose xylitol would cause diarrhea in rats. Quantitative imaging of colonic tissue and the expression levels of proinflammatory factors revealed a higher degree of immune responses in the rats from H groups but statistically stable in M groups, despite that light diarrhea was observed. A shift of the gut microbiota composition was observed in the rats from H groups, including significant decreases of genera Ruminococcaceae and Prevotella and a notable increase and colonization of Bacteroides, accompanied with changes of short-chain fatty acid production. Tolerance and adaptation to xylitol consumption were observed in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings demonstrate that diarrhea caused by the high dosage of xylitol can exert distinctive changes on gut microbiota and lay the foundation to explore the mechanism underlying the shift in gut microbiota composition.

Efficient enzymatic synthesis of L-ascorbyl palmitate using Candida antarctica lipase B-embedded metal-organic framework

The Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) was embedded in the metal-organic framework, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), and applied in the enzymatic synthesis of L-ascorbic acid palmitate (ASP) for the first time. The obtained CALB@ZIF-8 achieved the enzyme loading of 80 mg g^-1 with 11.3 U g^-1 (dry weight) unit activity, 59.8% activity recovery, and 92.7% immobilization yield. Under the optimal condition, ASP was synthesized with over 75.9% conversion of L-ascorbic acid in a 10-batch reaction. Continuous synthesis of ASP was subsequently performed in a packed bed bioreactor with an outstanding average space-time yield of 58.1 g L^-1  h^-1 , which was higher than ever reported continuous ASP biosynthesis reactions.

Observation of D^{0}→K_{1}(1270)^{-}e^{+}ν_{e}

Using 2.93  fb^{-1} of e^{+}e^{-} collision data taken with the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV, the observation of the D^{0}→K_{1}(1270)^{-}e^{+}ν_{e} semileptonic decay is presented. The statistical significance of the decay D^{0}→K_{1}(1270)^{-}e^{+}ν_{e} is greater than 10σ. The branching fraction of D^{0}→K_{1}(1270)^{-}e^{+}ν_{e} is measured to be (1.09±0.13_{-0.16}^{+0.09}±0.12)×10^{-3}. Here, the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third originates from the assumed branching fraction of K_{1}(1270)^{-}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{-}. The fraction of longitudinal polarization in D^{0}→K_{1}(1270)^{-}e^{+}ν_{e} is determined for the first time to be 0.50±0.19_{stat}±0.08_{syst}.