Azimuthal charged-particle correlations and possible local strong parity violation

Parity-odd domains, corresponding to nontrivial topological solutions of the QCD vacuum, might be created during relativistic heavy-ion collisions. These domains are predicted to lead to charge separation of quarks along the system's orbital momentum axis. We investigate a three-particle azimuthal correlator which is a P even observable, but directly sensitive to the charge separation effect. We report measurements of charged hadrons near center-of-mass rapidity with this observable in Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at square root of s(NN) = 200 GeV using the STAR detector. A signal consistent with several expectations from the theory is detected. We discuss possible contributions from other effects that are not related to parity violation.

Overexpression of ZWF1 and POS5 improves carotenoid biosynthesis in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing exogenous carotenogenic genes can synthesize carotenoids. NADPH is a key cofactor for carotenoid biosynthesis, while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Zwf1) and an NADH kinase (Pos5) are the two main NADPH-supplying sources in S. cerevisiae. Here, the effect of ZWF1 and POS5 overexpression on carotenoid yield in recombinant S. cerevisiae was explored. The initial carotenogenic strain Sc-EYBIH+I which expressed crtE, crtYB, crtI, cHMG1 and another copy of crtI could synthesize 1·35 ± 0·13 mg l(-1) of lycopene and 0·32 ± 0·02 mg l(-1) of β-carotene. When ZWF1 was overexpressed (Sc-EYBIZH+I), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity increased by 103-fold, the transcription level of crtE and crtI increased significantly, the lycopene and β-carotene yield increased to 2·29 ± 0·06 and 0·38 ± 0·02 mg l(-1) respectively. When POS5 was overexpressed (Sc-EYBIPH+I), NAD kinase activity increased by 5·5-fold, the transcription level of crtE, crtYB and crtI increased obviously, the lycopene and β-carotene yield increased to 2·50 ± 0·11 and 0·53 ± 0·03 mg l(-1) respectively. Therefore, improvement of NADPH supply contributed to carotenoids biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae and overexpression of POS5 was more effective than overexpression of ZWF1. This study provides a new strategy for enhancing carotenoid biosynthesis.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

NADPH is a key cofactor for carotenoid biosynthesis. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Zwf1) and an NADH kinase (Pos5) are effective NADPH-supplying sources in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When ZWF1 and POS5 were overexpressed in a carotenoid-producing S. cerevisiae strain individually, the total yield of lycopene and β-carotene increased by 59·9% and 81·4%, respectively, and the final product β-carotene yield increased by 18·8% and 65·6% respectively. This suggests the improvement of NADPH supply as a useful strategy for carotenoids biosynthesis.

Forward neutral-pion transverse single-spin asymmetries in p + p collisions at sqrt[s] = 200 GeV

We report precision measurements of the Feynman x (xF) dependence, and first measurements of the transverse momentum (pT) dependence, of transverse single-spin asymmetries for the production of pi0 mesons from polarized proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 200 GeV. The xF dependence of the results is in fair agreement with perturbative QCD model calculations that identify orbital motion of quarks and gluons within the proton as the origin of the spin effects. Results for the pT dependence at fixed xF are not consistent with these same perturbative QCD-based calculations.

Percutaneous laser ablation for treatment of locally recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma <15 mm

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for recurrent papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) <15 mm in the neck.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in 21 patients with 27 recurrent PTC lesions who underwent PLA. The extent of ablation was assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) after PLA. Measurement of the volume of tumour and serum thyroglobulin, and clinical evaluation were performed at 7 days, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and every 6 months thereafter.

RESULTS

The procedure was well tolerated. Of 21 patients, 18 were successfully treated in a single session. Incomplete ablation was detected by CEUS in three patients, and a second ablation was performed. The mean largest diameter and the average baseline volume were reduced from 7.5±2.8 mm and 105.4±114 mm³ to 0.4±1 mm and 0.8±2.4 mm³ at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-guided PLA is effective for the treatment of recurrent PTCs with a comparable success rate to radio-iodine therapy, and it may become a primary choice of treatment for recurrent PTCs in selected patients who are ineligible for surgery and/or prefer not to have further surgery.

VimA is part of the maturation pathway for the major gingipains of Porphyromonas gingivalis W83

The authors have shown previously that the vimA gene, which is part of the bcp-recA-vimA operon, plays an important role in protease activation in Porphyromonas gingivalis. The gingipain RgpB proenzyme is secreted in the vimA-defective mutant P. gingivalis FLL92. An important question that is raised is whether the vimA gene product could directly interact with the proteases for their activation or regulate a pathway responsible for protease activation. To further study the mechanism(s) of VimA-dependent protease activation, the vimA gene product was further characterized. A 39 kDa protein consistent with the size of the predicted VimA protein was purified. In protein–protein interaction studies, the VimA protein was shown to interact with gingipains RgpA, RgpB and Kgp. Immune sera from mice immunized with P. gingivalis immunoreacted with the purified VimA protein. Taken together, these data suggest an interaction of VimA with the gingipains and further confirm the role of this protein in their regulation or maturation.

White matter alterations in cognitively normal apoE ε2 carriers: insight into Alzheimer resistance?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The basis for decreased vulnerability to AD among apoE ε2 carriers is unknown. The purpose of this study was to use diffusion tensor imaging to detect possible differences in white matter integrity between cognitively normal elderly apoE ε2 carriers and apoE ε3/ε3 controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-nine cognitively normal elderly individuals (19 heterozygous carriers of the apoE ε2 allele, 20 apoE ε3/ε3 subjects as controls) underwent diffusion tensor MR imaging on a 4T scanner. Fractional anisotropy, MD, and axial and radial diffusivity were compared using a ROI approach. In addition, an exploratory whole-brain analysis of fractional anisotropy between the 2 groups was undertaken using TBSS.

RESULTS

apoE ε2 carriers had higher FA in the posterior cingulate white matter (P = .01) and anterior corpus callosum (P = .005) than apoE ε3/ε3 controls, secondary to lower radial diffusivity. No significant differences in the FA of the posterior corpus callosum, anterior cingulate white matter, or parahippocampal white matter were seen. Whole-brain TBSS analysis detected regions of higher FA in the apoE ε2 group in the superior longitudinal fasciculus, right thalamus, and the bilateral anterior limbs of the internal capsule, in addition to the posterior cingulum and corpus callosum (P < .005). There were no regions in which the apoE ε3/ε3 group had higher FA.

CONCLUSIONS

apoE ε2 carriers harbor more robust white matter integrity that may be associated with decreased vulnerability to developing AD. This provides further evidence that regional DTI metrics may serve as early imaging biomarkers of AD risk.

Higher moments of net proton multiplicity distributions at RHIC

We report the first measurements of the kurtosis (κ), skewness (S), and variance (σ2) of net-proton multiplicity (Np-Np) distributions at midrapidity for Au+Au collisions at square root of s(NN)=19.6, 62.4, and 200 GeV corresponding to baryon chemical potentials (μB) between 200 and 20 MeV. Our measurements of the products κσ2 and Sσ, which can be related to theoretical calculations sensitive to baryon number susceptibilities and long-range correlations, are constant as functions of collision centrality. We compare these products with results from lattice QCD and various models without a critical point and study the square root of s(NN) dependence of κσ2. From the measurements at the three beam energies, we find no evidence for a critical point in the QCD phase diagram for μB below 200 MeV.

The delayed massive hemorrhage after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer: characteristics, management opinions and risk factors

AIMS

This study was designed to investigate the clinical features of delayed massive hemorrhage (DMH) after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed 1536 GC patients with major gastrectomy between 1998 and 2011. Based on the time onset of postoperative bleeding, patients were divided into early postoperative hemorrhage (EPH), delayed massive hemorrhage (DMH), and no-bleeding groups. Postoperative mortality, bleeding treatment, and risk factors of hemorrhage were explored.

RESULTS

In sum, 15 (0.9%) patients suffered from DMH, with three (20%) dead cases. None of 18 (1.2%) patients with EPH died, but there were three dead cases in no-bleeding group. DMH had more extra-intestinal bleeding (P = 0.037) than EPH. Angiographic embolization was performed in 12 (80%) of DMH patients and successful in ten cases. Surgical procedures were applied in only two embolization-failed cases. Extended lymphadenectomy (P = 0.038), vascular skeletonization (P = 0.012) and advanced TNM stage (P < 0.001) were correlated with DMH.

CONCLUSIONS

DMH can be successfully managed with angiographic embolization, followed by alternative surgery. Extensive lymphadenectomy and vascular skeletonization should be discreetly performed during gastrectomy.

Transverse momentum and centrality dependence of high-pT nonphotonic electron suppression in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s NN]=200 GeV

The STAR collaboration at the BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) reports measurements of the inclusive yield of nonphotonic electrons, which arise dominantly from semileptonic decays of heavy flavor mesons, over a broad range of transverse momenta (1.2<p(T)<10 GeV/c) in p+p, d+Au, and Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. The nonphotonic electron yield exhibits an unexpectedly large suppression in central Au+Au collisions at high p(T), suggesting substantial heavy-quark energy loss at RHIC. The centrality and p(T) dependences of the suppression provide constraints on theoretical models of suppression.

Derivatization, extraction and concentration of amino acids and peptides by using organic/aqueous phases in capillary electrophoresis with fluorescence detection

We report a novel method that facilitates sample pretreatment and detection in amino acid analysis by coupling solvent extraction with capillary electrophoresis. Amino acids and peptides were fluorescently labeled, concentrated into an organic solvent, and then separated by capillary zone electrophoresis with fluorescence detection. To achieve this, acetophenone was first employed to dissolve the derivatizing reagent, fluorescamine. The products, which possessed both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, could be extracted and concentrated into the organic phase by suppressing the deprotonation of carboxyl groups, thus enhancing the hydrophobicity of the resulting molecules through pH modification in the aqueous solution. Furthermore, by fine-tuning the pH value, individual amino acids and short peptide molecules could be separated selectively from the sample bulk. This convenient, chemically controllable concentration technique may be useful in sample concentration and purification of biologically related samples such as amino acids and short peptides.

Longitudinal double-spin asymmetry and cross section for inclusive jet production in polarized proton collisions at square root of s = 200 GeV

We report a measurement of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A(LL) and the differential cross section for inclusive midrapidity jet production in polarized proton collisions at square root of s = 200 GeV. The cross section data cover transverse momenta 5 < pT < 50 GeV/c and agree with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD evaluations. The A(LL) data cover 5 < pT < 17 GeV/c and disfavor at 98% C.L. maximal positive gluon polarization in the polarized nucleon.

Strange baryon resonance production in sqrt s NN=200 GeV p+p and Au+Au collisions

We report the measurements of Sigma(1385) and Lambda(1520) production in p+p and Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s{NN}]=200 GeV from the STAR Collaboration. The yields and the p(T) spectra are presented and discussed in terms of chemical and thermal freeze-out conditions and compared to model predictions. Thermal and microscopic models do not adequately describe the yields of all the resonances produced in central Au+Au collisions. Our results indicate that there may be a time span between chemical and thermal freeze-out during which elastic hadronic interactions occur.

Longitudinal double-spin asymmetry for inclusive jet production in p[over -->] + p[over -->] collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV

We report a new STAR measurement of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A(LL) for inclusive jet production at midrapidity in polarized p + p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=200 GeV. The data, which cover jet transverse momenta 5<p(T)<30 GeV/c, are substantially more precise than previous measurements. They provide significant new constraints on the gluon spin contribution to the nucleon spin through the comparison to predictions derived from one global fit to polarized deep-inelastic scattering measurements.

Identified baryon and meson distributions at large transverse momenta from Au + Au collisions at square root sNN=200 GeV

Transverse momentum spectra of pi+/-, p, and p up to 12 GeV/c at midrapidity in centrality selected Au + Au collisions at square root sNN=200 GeV are presented. In central Au + Au collisions, both pi +/- and p(p) show significant suppression with respect to binary scaling at pT approximately >4 GeV/c. Protons and antiprotons are less suppressed than pi+/-, in the range 1.5 approximately < pT approximately < 6 GeV/c. The pi-/pi+ and p/p ratios show at most a weak pT dependence and no significant centrality dependence. The p/pi ratios in central Au + Au collisions approach the values in p + p and d + Au collisions at pT approximately >5 GeV/c. The results at high pT indicate that the partonic sources of pi+/-, p, and p have similar energy loss when traversing the nuclear medium.

Coupling of solvent semimicroextraction with capillary electrophoresis using ethyl acetate as sample matrix

This paper reports a strategy to couple liquid-liquid semimicroextraction (LLsME) with capillary electrophoresis (CE) based on a newly introduced on-column decomposable sample matrix, ethyl acetate (EA). LLsME was performed in volumetric flasks of 100 mL. Samples containing an aqueous phase were first saturated with EA. Then, an extra 500 microL of EA was added to extract the samples. Sample injection in CE could be made in hydrodynamic mode by dipping the injection end of the capillary into the organic (EA) phase in the volumetric flasks. As a demonstration, alkylphenones in water samples were extracted by LLsME into EA and subjected to separation by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Alkylphenones of C8-C12 with concentrations of about 10 ppb can be concentrated and detected after extraction; extraction efficiencies range from 72- to 334-fold. Linearity of extraction was determined and the effect on reproducibility by spiking an internal standard was studied. The method developed is time-saving and requires no further special experimental device other than a basic CE setup. Therefore, it would be readily acceptable for routine analysis, especially in analytical laboratories dealing with environmental samples.

Recombinant phosphoglucomutase and CAMP factor as potential subunit vaccine antigens induced high protection against Streptococcus iniae infection in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

AIMS

The aim of this study was to screen vaccine candidates from virulence factors of Streptococcus iniae in flounder model.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The immunogenicity of recombinant phosphoglucomutase (rPGM) and rCAMP factor was confirmed by Western blot. The percentage of surface membrane immunoglobulin-positive (sIg⁺ ) lymphocytes in peripheral blood leucocytes, the specific and total serum IgM and the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and peroxidase (POD) in flounder were determined with flow cytometry, ELISA and commercial enzyme activity kits, respectively, after intraperitoneal immunization with rPGM and rCAMP factor. The results showed that rPGM and rCAMP factor could induce significant rise in sIg⁺ lymphocytes, specific serum IgM and activities of ACP and POD. Additionally, the relative percent survival rate of the vaccinated flounder was 64 and 54% in challenge experiment using S. iniae, respectively. These results indicated that rPGM and rCAMP factor could evoke humoural and innate immune response in flounder and provide high-efficiency immunoprotection against S. iniae infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) and CAMP factor were promising vaccine candidates against S. iniae in flounder.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Phosphoglucomutase and CAMP factor have the potential to be vaccine candidates, which provide important information for us to develop the effective subunit vaccines, especially the multivaccine, against S .iniae in aquaculture.

Measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries for Dijet production in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV

We report the first measurement of the opening angle distribution between pairs of jets produced in high-energy collisions of transversely polarized protons. The measurement probes (Sivers) correlations between the transverse spin orientation of a proton and the transverse momentum directions of its partons. With both beams polarized, the wide pseudorapidity (-1< or = eta < or = +2) coverage for jets permits separation of Sivers functions for the valence and sea regions. The resulting asymmetries are all consistent with zero and considerably smaller than Sivers effects observed in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering. We discuss theoretical attempts to reconcile the new results with the sizable transverse spin effects seen in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering and forward hadron production in pp collisions.

Identified hadron compositions in p+p and Au+Au collisions at high transverse momenta at √S(NN)=200 GeV

We report transverse momentum (p(T)≤15  GeV/c) spectra of π(±), K(±), p, p[over ¯], K(S)(0), and ρ(0) at midrapidity in p+p and Au+Au collisions at √S(NN)=200  GeV. Perturbative QCD calculations are consistent with π(±) spectra in p+p collisions but do not reproduce K and p(p[over ¯]) spectra. The observed decreasing antiparticle-to-particle ratios with increasing p(T) provide experimental evidence for varying quark and gluon jet contributions to high-p(T) hadron yields. The relative hadron abundances in Au+Au at p(T)≳8  GeV/c are measured to be similar to the p+p results, despite the expected Casimir effect for parton energy loss.

Adolescents and young adults with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes demonstrate greater carotid intima-media thickness than those with Type 1 diabetes

AIM

To compare the carotid intima-media thickness in patients with newly diagnosed Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes ranging from 14 to 30 years of age.

METHODS

Demographic, anthropometric and laboratory data were obtained from 404 adolescents and young adults (103 subjects with Type 1 diabetes, 94 with Type 2 diabetes, 153 obese subjects and 54 normal control subjects). Carotid intima-media thickness was assessed based on Doppler ultrasound examination and compared among the four groups.

RESULTS

Our data showed significant increases in carotid intima-media thickness in subjects with Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and obese subjects compared with the control subjects, with those in the group with Type 2 diabetes demonstrating the greatest change (P < 0.001). Age, BMI, percentage of fat, waist-hip ratio and total triglycerides were significantly correlated with both common and internal carotid intima-media thickness segments. From a stepwise multiple linear regression model, the independent determinants of common carotid intima-media thickness were age, BMI, HbA1c and HDL cholesterol (adjusted R(2)  = 0.152, P < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and HbA1c , the odds ratio for increased carotid intima-media thickness was 1.67 (95% CI 1.19-2.33, P = 0.003) for obese subjects, 2.38 (95% CI 1.59-9.47, P = 0.001) for subjects with Type 1 diabetes and 3.93 (95% CI 1.90-6.07, P = 0001) for subjects with Type 2 diabetes compared with the control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with young control subjects, we found significant increases in carotid intima-media thickness in patients with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes, with patients with Type 2 diabetes showing greater carotid intima-media thickness. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and hyperglycaemia, could cause vessel changes even in adolescents and young adults.

Scaling properties of hyperon production in Au+Au collisions at square root [sNN]=200 GeV

We present the scaling properties of Lambda, Xi, and Omega in midrapidity Au+Au collisions at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. The yield of multistrange baryons per participant nucleon increases from peripheral to central collisions more rapidly than that of Lambda, indicating an increase of the strange-quark density of the matter produced. The strange phase-space occupancy factor gamma_{s} approaches unity for the most central collisions. Moreover, the nuclear modification factors of p, Lambda, and Xi are consistent with each other for 2<p_{T}<5 GeV/c in agreement with a scenario of hadron formation from constituent quark degrees of freedom.

Vaginal reconstruction with an island flap of the inferior epigastric vascular pedicle

This paper presents a new method of vaginal reconstruction. On the basis of anatomic study, we designed an island flap obtained from the upper abdomen to carry the deep inferior epigastric vasculature. At operation, the flap was transferred to the artificial cavity created between the urinary bladder and rectum for vaginal reconstruction. Eight patients received the operation. Complete survival of the flap occurred in seven patients, and one flap failed because of a twist in the flap vascular pedicle. During a follow-up of 6 months to 2 years, it was found that the reconstructed vaginal wall was not only soft but also elastic, and the patients were able to have a satisfying sexual life after marriage.