Simulation study of BESIII with stitched CMOS pixel detector using ACTS

Reconstruction of tracks of charged particles with high precision is very crucial for HEP experiments to achieve their physics goals. As the tracking detector of BESIII experiment, the BESIII drift chamber has suffered from aging effects resulting in degraded tracking performance after operation for about 15 years. To preserve and enhance the tracking performance of BESIII, one of the proposals is to add one layer of thin CMOS pixel sensor in cylindrical shape based on the state-of-the-art stitching technology, between the beam pipe and the drift chamber. The improvement of tracking performance of BESIII with such an additional pixel detector compared to that with only the existing drift chamber is studied using the modern common tracking software ACTS, which provides a set of detector-agnostic and highly performant tracking algorithms that have demonstrated promising performance for a few high energy physics and nuclear physics experiments

Quantitative Analysis of Groundwater Recharge in an Arid Area, Northwest China

The Mixing Cell Model (MCM) is a useful tool that can be applied to areas with limited hydrogeological data, such as arid areas in northwest China, to transform available groundwater hydrochemical data into quantitative information about an aquifer. In this study, we used the MCM to quantify water circulation in the study area and to analyze information such as the supply source composition and proportion of the confined aquifer, the main supply aquifer for local drinking water. The MCM simulation results showed that the confined aquifer in the study area is mainly recharged by leakage of water from the upper unconfined aquifer and lateral flow from the eastern and southern tablelands. Unconfined groundwater and lateral flow contributed to 67.69% and 32.31% of the recharge, respectively. The groundwater circulation model of the study area provided quantitative information about water circulation in different parts of the study area, represented by different cells known as A–F. The information from this model provides a scientific basis for the sustainable use and development of water resources in different parts of the study area

Pressure-induced decomposition of cadmium iodide

A static pressure-induced decomposition of cadmium iodide into cadmium and iodine solids is reported in this work using a structure prediction approach combined with first-principles calculations. By compression, CdI2 decomposes into Cd and I at 61.5 GPa, which goes against the common intuition that applying pressure makes the material stable and dense. The increase in the ${\Delta}PV$ term and ${\Delta}U$ with pressure between the compound and the element contributes to the increase in the enthalpy difference, leading to the decomposition of CdI2. On the other hand, the analyses of interatomic interaction demonstrate that under the action of pressure, the decrease of charge transfer between atoms leads to the decrease of the Coulomb interaction, which finally induces CdI2 to decompose into Cd and I solids. Our work represents a significant step toward an understanding of the high-pressure behaviors of Cd-I systems and draws attention to the influence of pressure parameters in certain materials

Interferon-γ upregulates expression of IFP35 gene in HeLa cells via interferon regulatory factor-1.

BackgroundInterferon-induced 35-kDa protein (IFP35) plays important roles in antiviral defense and the progression of some skin cancer diseases. It can be induced by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in multiple human cells. However, the mechanisms by which IFN-γ contributes to IFP35 induction remain to be elucidated.Methods/principal findingsWe identified the transcription start sites of IFP35 by 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and cloned the promoter of IFP35. Sequence analysis and luciferase assays revealed two GC boxes and an IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) in the 5' upstream region of the transcription start sites, which were important for the basal transcription of IFP35 gene. Furthermore, we found that interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2 could bind to IFP35 promoter and upregulate endogenous IFP35 protein level. Depletion of endogenous IRF-1 by interfering RNA reduced the constitutive and IFN-γ-dependent expression of IFP35, whereas depletion of IRF-2 had little effect on IFN-γ-inducible IFP35 expression. Moreover, IRF-1 was recruited to the ISRE site in IFP35 promoter in IFN-γ treated HeLa cells, as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.Conclusions/significanceThese findings provide the first evidence that IRF-1 and IRF-2 are involved in constitutive IFP35 expression in HeLa cells, while IRF-1 also activates IFP35 expression in an IFN-γ-inducible manner. Our data therefore identified a new IRF-1 and IRF-2 target gene, which may expand our current understanding of the versatile functions of IRF-1 and IRF-2

Design and Fabrication of a UV Fused Silica GRISM Prototype for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope

Modern telescope imaging spectrographs utilize high-quality gratings to achieve high resolution and throughput. However, when it comes to UV wavelengths, traditional volume phase holographic gratings (VPHGs) mostly used in telescopes may not provide ideal efficiency due to the absorption caused by the dichromate layer. In this study, we introduce a prototype of a fused silica transmission GRISM (prism-grating-prism) that offers several notable advantages over emerging VPHGs. Firstly, it exhibits a peak diffraction efficiency up to 95% and the efficiency is higher than 80% in the wavelength range 370-470nm. Secondly, it demonstrates high mechanical stability in humid or other harsh environments. Thirdly, it provides significant angular dispersion while maintaining a nearly constant angular dispersion profile. Here, we report a universal and convenient optical design method for the GRISM to meet the requirements of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET). Additionally, we provide the fabrication procedure involving holographic lithography, ion-beam etching, and wafer direct bonding technology

IRF-1 binds to IFP35 promoter upon IFN-γ treatment.

<p>(<b>A</b>) HeLa cells were either untreated or treated with IFN-γ (10 ng/ml) for 12 h. Nuclear extracts prepared from these cells were subjected to EMSA. The competitor represents 40×excess cold 3×ISRE. (<b>B</b>) Nuclear extracts (4 µg) from HeLa cells unstimulated or stimulated with IFN-γ (10 ng/ml) for 12 h were subjected to EMSA by using 3×ISRE probe. Supershift assays were performed by preincubating the nuclear extracts with 2 µg anti-IRF-1 or anti-IRF-3. The specific IRF-1 complex and supershifted complex were indicated by arrows. The free probes have run out of the gel. (<b>C</b>) HeLa cells were either untreated or treated with IFN-γ (10 ng/ml) for 12 h and processed for ChIP assays by using anti-IRF-1, anti-IRF-3 or control IgG. Precipitated DNA encompassing the IFP35 ISRE was then assayed by PCR. The negative control indicates a genomic fragment (+976 to +1337, relative to the translation start site) downstream of IL-7 promoter. (<b>D</b>) The experiment was similarly performed as in (C) except that anti-IRF-1 and anti-IRF-2 were used.</p

ISRE is responsible for IFN-γ induced IFP35 promoter activation.

<p>(<b>A</b>) HeLa cells were transfected with pGL-210 or pGL-359 and stimulated with IFN-γ (10 ng/ml) for different time periods. The response to IFN-γ is presented as fold induction relative to pGL3-Basic. (<b>B</b>) HeLa cells were stimulated with IFN-γ (10 ng/ml) for different time periods. The expression of IFP35 and α-tubulin was monitored by Western blot analysis. (<b>C</b>) HeLa cells were transfected with the pGL3-Basic, pGL-210 or pGL-210mISRE constructs. At 36 h after transfecion, cells were incubated with medium alone or with IFN-γ (10 ng/ml) for 12 h before luciferase assays were performed.</p

IRF-1 participates in IFP35 transcription by binding directly to the ISRE of the IFP35 promoter <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(<b>A</b>) pGL-210 or pGL-210mISRE was co-transfected with the empty vector or the IRF-1 expression plasmid into HeLa cells. Luciferase assays were performed at 48 h after transfection. Data are the mean and standard error from three experiments. (<b>B</b>) Schematic diagram of the probes used in EMSA assay. (<b>C</b>) EMSA was performed with GST or GST–IRF-1. Digoxigenin-labeled S93 or S93m were used as probes. Arrowheads indicate DNA–protein complexes. (<b>D</b>) EMSA was performed with GST or GST–IRF-1. Digoxigenin-labeled 3×ISRE or 3×ISREm were used as probes. Arrowheads indicate DNA–protein complexes.</p

IFP35 expression is upregulated by constitutively active forms of IRF-3 and IRF-7 in HeLa cells.

<p>HeLa cells were transfected with the expression plasmids encoding IRF-1, IRF-2 and constitutively active forms of IRF-3, IRF-5 and IRF-7. At 48 h after transfection, whole cell extracts were prepared and Western blot analysis was performed with antibodies as indicated.</p