Charged bottomonium-like structures Zb(10610)Z_b(10610) and Zb(10650)Z_b(10650)

The observation of two charged bottomonium-like structures $Z_b(10610)$ and $Z_b(10650)$ has stimulated extensive studies of the properties of $Z_b(10610)$ and $Z_b(10650)$. In this talk, we briefly introduce the research status of $Z_b(10610)$ and $Z_b(10650)$ combined with our theoretical progress.Comment: 6 pages, 1 table, 5 figures. Plenary talk given at the international conference The Fifth Asia-Pacific Conference on Few-Body Systems in Physics 2011 (APFB2011), Seoul, Republic of Korea, 22-26 August 201

Two charged strangeonium-like structures observable in the Y(2175)→ϕ(1020)π+π−Y(2175) \to \phi(1020)\pi^{+} \pi^{-} process

Via the Initial Single Pion Emission (ISPE) mechanism, we study the $\phi(1020)\pi^{+}$ invariant mass spectrum distribution of $Y(2175) \to \phi(1020)\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$. Our calculation indicates there exist a sharp peak structure ($Z_{s1}^+$) close to the $K\bar{K}^\ast$ threshold and a broad structure ($Z_{s2}^+$) near the $K^\ast\bar{K}^\ast$ threshold. In addition, we also investigate the $\phi(1680) \to \phi(1020)\pi^{+} \pi^{-}$ process due to the ISPE mechanism, where a sharp peak around the $K\bar{K}^\ast$ threshold appears in the $\phi(1020)\pi^{+}$ invariant mass spectrum distribution. We suggest to carry out the search for these charged strangeonium-like structures in future experiment, especially Belle II, Super-B and BESIII.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by Eur. Phys. J.

Pulsed Eddy Current Testing of Inner Wall Flaws in Pipe under Insulation

AbstractThe localized inner wall corrosions in the pipe under insulation are especially hazardous to pipelines. An inspection system is designed to detect inner wall flaws in pipe based on pulsed eddy current technique. Simulation specimens with large area thinning, localized grove-like corrosions and pit-like corrosions are machined, and probes are designed and manufactured. A series of experiments are performed to optimize testing parameters and improve detection sensitivity. The experiments show that the system can detect 10 percent thinning of wall under insulation when the thickness of pipe and insulation is respectively 10mm and 110mm. The detection accuracy can meet the requirement in the inspection of pressure pipeline. The system can also detect some localized corrosions under insulation

Collision-induced dissociation of bradykinin ions in the interface region of an ESI-MS

AbstractBy applying different electric field strengths to the orifice–skimmer region of an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, the rate of dissociation can be varied based on the amount of internal energy acquired by an ion through collisions with the curtain gas molecules. Both the Arrhenius equation and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel (RRK) theory can be used to predict the rate of dissociation of internally excited molecules. A previously determined model for collision-induced dissociation is tested by comparison of predicted and experimentally observed orifice–skimmer potential differences for dissociation of ions. The rate of collision-induced dissociation of bradykinin ions is determined by monitoring the fragments produced in a mass spectrometer. The semi-quantitative model is found to yield effective predictions when accurate Arrhenius and RRK parameters are utilized

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases : An update on the role of atherogenic electronegative ldl and potential therapeutic strategies

Altres ajuts: Vascular and Medicinal Research Fund, Texas Heart Institute (#765-64050), Houston, TX, USA; Ministry of Science and Technology (Taiwana grant MOST 107-2314-B-039-053-MY3); Ministerio de Sanidad, Spain (co-financed by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)).Atherosclerosis has been linked with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and ASCVD. However, the mechanisms underlying the high ASCVD burden in patients with AIRDs cannot be explained only by conventional risk factors despite disease-specific factors and chronic inflammation. Nevertheless, the normal levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol observed in most patients with AIRDs do not exclude the possibility of increased LDL atherogenicity. By using anion-exchange chromatography, human LDL can be divided into five increasingly electronegative subfractions, L1 to L5, or into electropositive and electronegative counterparts, LDL (+) and LDL (−). Electronegative L5 and LDL (−) have similar chemical composi-tions and can induce adverse inflammatory reactions in vascular cells. Notably, the percentage of L5 or LDL (−) in total LDL is increased in normolipidemic patients with AIRDs. Electronegative L5 and LDL (−) are not recognized by the normal LDL receptor but instead signal through the lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) to activate inflammasomes involving interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Here, we describe the detailed mechanisms of AIRD-related ASCVD mediated by L5 or LDL (−) and discuss the potential targeting of LOX-1 or IL-1β signaling as new therapeutic modalities for these diseases

Increasing levels of circulating Th17 cells and interleukin-17 in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an inadequate response to anti-TNF-α therapy

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors on circulating T helper-type 17 (Th17) cells and Th17-related cytokines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The frequencies of circulating Th17 cells and serum levels of Th17-related cytokines were determined using flow cytometry analysis and ELISA, respectively, in 48 RA patients both before (baseline) and six months after anti-TNF-alpha therapy. Therapeutic response was evaluated using European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. Results: Significantly higher baseline frequencies of circulating Th17 cells and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL17, IL-21, IL-23 and TNF-alpha were observed in active RA patients than in 12 healthy controls (all P < 0.001). After anti-TNF-alpha therapy, 36 patients (75%) were EULAR responders (20 good responders and 16 moderate responders) and 12 (25.0%) were non-responders. The mean levels of circulating Th17 cells and IL-17 significantly decreased (1.13% vs. 0.79%; 43.1 pg/ml vs. 27.8 pg/ml; respectively, both P < 0.001) in parallel with clinical remission in responders. Levels of IL-6, IL-21, IL-23 and TNF-alpha were significantly decreased after anti-TNF-alpha therapy in responders. In contrast, the mean levels of circulating Th17 cells and IL-17 significantly increased after anti-TNF-alpha therapy (2.94% vs. 4.23%; 92.1 pg/ml vs. 148.6 pg/ml; respectively, both P < 0.05) in non-responders. Logistic regression analysis identified a high baseline level of IL-17 as a significant predictor of poor therapeutic response. Conclusions: The beneficial effect of anti-TNF-alpha therapy might involve a decrease in Th17-related cytokines in responders, whereas rising levels of circulating Th17-cells and IL-17 were observed in patients with an inadequate response to anti-TNF-alpha therapy

γ-Glutamyl carboxylase mutations differentially affect the biological function of vitamin K–dependent proteins

γ-Glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) is an integral membrane protein that catalyzes posttranslational carboxylation of a number of vitamin K–dependent (VKD) proteins involved in a wide variety of physiologic processes, including blood coagulation, vascular calcification, and bone metabolism. Naturally occurring GGCX mutations are associated with multiple distinct clinical phenotypes. However, the genotype–phenotype correlation of GGCX remains elusive. Here, we systematically examined the effect of all naturally occurring GGCX mutations on the carboxylation of 3 structure–function distinct VKD proteins in a cellular environment. GGCX mutations were transiently introduced into GGCX-deficient human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably expressing chimeric coagulation factor, matrix Gla protein (MGP), or osteocalcin as VKD reporter proteins, and then the carboxylation efficiency of these reporter proteins was evaluated. Our results show that GGCX mutations differentially affect the carboxylation of these reporter proteins and the efficiency of using vitamin K as a cofactor. Carboxylation of these reporter proteins by a C-terminal truncation mutation (R704X) implies that GGCX’s C terminus plays a critical role in the binding of osteocalcin but not in the binding of coagulation factors and MGP. This has been confirmed by probing the protein–protein interaction between GGCX and its protein substrates in live cells using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and chemical cross-linking assays. Additionally, using a minigene splicing assay, we demonstrated that several GGCX missense mutations affect GGCX’s pre–messenger RNA splicing rather than altering the corresponding amino acid residues. Results from this study interpreted the correlation of GGCX’s genotype and its clinical phenotypes and clarified why vitamin K administration rectified bleeding disorders but not nonbleeding disorders

Hawking temperature of rotating charged black strings from tunneling

Thermal radiations from spherically symmetric black holes have been studied from the point of view of quantum tunneling. In this paper we extend this approach to study radiation of fermions from charged and rotating black strings. Using WKB approximation and Hamilton-Jacobi method we work out the tunneling probabilities of incoming and outgoing fermions and find the correct Hawking temperature for these objects. We show that in appropriate limits the results reduce to those for the uncharged and non-rotating black strings

Operation of a DNA-Based Autocatalytic Network in Serum

The potential for inferring the presence of cancer by the detection of miRNA in human blood has motivated research into the design and operation of DNA-based chemical amplifiers that can operate in bodily fluids. As a first step toward this goal, we have tested the operation of a DNA-based autocatalytic network in human serum and mouse serum. With the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate to prevent degradation by nuclease activity, the network was found to operate successfully with both DNA and RNA catalysts

Hawking radiation of scalar particles from accelerating and rotating black holes

Hawking radiation of uncharged and charged scalars from accelerating and rotating black holes is studied. We calculate the tunneling probabilities of these particles from the rotation and acceleration horizons of these black holes. Using the tunneling method we recover the correct Hawking temperature as well