Electromagnetic radiation of baryons containing two heavy quarks

The two heavy quarks in a baryon which contains two heavy quarks and a light one, can constitute a scalar or axial vector diquark. We study electromagnetic radiations of such baryons, (i) \Xi_{(bc)_1} -> \Xi_{(bc)_0}+\gamma, (ii) \Xi_{(bc)_1}^* -> \Xi_{(bc)_0}+\gamma, (iii) \Xi_{(bc)_0}^{**}(1/2, l=1) -> \Xi_{(bc)_0}+\gamma, (iv) \Xi_{(bc)_0}^{**}(3/2, l=1) -> \Xi_{(bc)_0}+\gamma and (v) \Xi_{(bc)_0}^{**}(3/2, l=2) -> \Xi_{(bc)_0}+\gamma, where \Xi_{(bc)_{0(1)}}, \Xi^*_{(bc)_1} are S-wave bound states of a heavy scalar or axial vector diquark and a light quark, and \Xi_{(bc)_0}^{**}(l is bigger than 1) are P- or D-wave bound states of a heavy scalar diquark and a light quark. Analysis indicates that these processes can be attributed into two categories and the physical mechanisms which are responsible for them are completely distinct. Measurements can provide a good judgment for the diquark structure and better understanding of the physical picture.Comment: 15 pages, Late

New multi-soliton solutions for generalized Burgers-Huxley equation

The double exp-function method is used to obtain a two-soliton solution of the generalized Burgers-Huxley equation. The wave has two different velocities and two different frequencies

Modified polysulfones. III. Synthesis and characterization of polysulfone aldehydes for reactive membrane materials

Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Four new species of Perilimnastes (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Vietnam

Perilimnastes is a genus currently treated in the polyphyletic Phyllagathis. Recent phylogenomic analyses have identified a morphologically cohesive lineage referred to as the Phyllagathis (raphides) clade, which should be excluded from Phyllagathis and treated as a distinct genus under the name Perilimnastes. Morphological and phylogenomic data have confirmed that four new species collected from Vietnam are part of the Phyllagathis (raphides) clade. They are described herein as Perilimnastes multisepala, P. setipetiola, P. uniflora, and P. banaensis. Perilimnastes multisepala is phylogenetically closest to Phyllagathis setotheca, and morphologically to P. fruticosa and P. stenophylla, but is distinct in the 4- to 8-lobed calyx, 28 × 9 mm, apically long acuminate petals, and 1–2 mm pedicel at fruiting stage. Perilimnastes setipetiola, P. uniflora, and P. banaensis are phylogenetically most closely related. Perilimnastes uniflora is characterized by its prostrate habit, small size, glabrous, obovate to obovate-lanceolate leaf blade, and solitary flower. Perilimnastes setipetiola and P. banaensis resemble each other in habit, leaf size and shape, and sessile or near sessile inflorescences but can be easily distinguished by the indumentum of the stems and leaves

Decay Widths of Excited Heavy Mesons From QCD Sum Rules at the Leading Order of HQET

The widths for pionic decays of lowest two excited doublets (0^+,1^+) and (1^+,2^+) of heavy mesons are studied with QCD sum rules in the leading order of heavy quark effective theory. The ambiguity due to presence of two distinct 1^+ states are solved. The soft pion approximation is not used.Comment: RevTeX, 16 pages including 1 figure; minor changes, final version to appear in Physical Review

Reinforced films based on cross-linked water-soluble sulfonated carbon nanotubes with sulfonated polystyrene

Reinforced films based on sulfonated polystyrene cross-linked with water-soluble sulfonated carbon nanotubes were fabricated using a free-standing film-making method. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to verify the cross-linking reaction. The mechanical properties of these films demonstrated that the tensile strength increases with an increase in the sulfonated nanotube concentration. At 5 wt% nanotube loading, the tensile strength increased 84% compared with polymer containing no nanotube loading. The relationships between structure and mechanical properties are discussed and a possible direction for making ultra thin and ultra lightweight film is proposed.NRC publication: Ye

A new species of Fordiophyton (Sonerileae, Melastomataceae) from Yunnan, China

Fordiophyton jinpingense (Melastomataceae; Sonerileae), a species occurring in south-eastern Yunnan, China, is described as new, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses, based on nrITS sequence data, showed that, except F. breviscapum, all species sampled in Fordiophyton formed a strongly supported clade in which two geographical lineages were recovered. The generic placement of F. jinpingense is well supported by phylogenetic analyses and a character combination of 4-merous flowers, distinctly dimorphic stamens and the connectives basally not calcarate. Molecular divergence and morphological evidence indicate that F. jinpingense is well separated from other members of the genus, thus justifying its recognition as a distinct species. Fordiophyton jinpingense is phylogenetically closest to F. repens, but differs markedly from the latter in stem morphology (short, obtusely 4-sided vs. long, 4-angular), habit (erect vs. creeping), leaf size (6–16.5 × 4.5–13 cm vs. 4–7.5 × 4–6.5 cm) and flower number per inflorescence (5–13 vs. 3–6)

Stapled peptide PROTAC induced significantly greater anti-PD-L1 effects than inhibitor in human cervical cancer cells

IntroductionImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are monoclonal antibodies that target immune checkpoints that suppress immune cell activity. Low efficiency and high resistance are currently the main barriers to their clinical application. As a representative technology of targeted protein degradation, proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are considered to have potential for addressing these limitations.MethodsWe synthesized a stapled peptide-based PROTAC (SP-PROTAC) that specifically targeted palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC3 and resulted in the decrease of PD-L1 in human cervical cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, protein immunoblotting, Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA), and MTT assay analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of the designed peptide and verify its safety in human cells.ResultsIn cervical cancer celllines C33A and HeLa, the stapled peptide strongly downregulated PD-L1 to < 50% of baseline level at 0.1 μM. DHHC3 expression decreased in both dosedependentand time-dependent manners. MG132, the proteasome inhibitor, can alleviate the SP-PROTAC mediated degradation of PD-L1 in human cancer cells. In a co-culture model of C33A and T cells, treatment with the peptide induced IFN-γ and TNF-α release in a dose-dependent manner by degrading PD-L1. These effects were more significant than that of the PD-L1 inhibitor, BMS-8.ConclusionsCells treated with 0.1 μM of SP-PROTAC or BMS-8 for 4 h revealed that the stapled peptide decreased PD-L1 more effectively than BMS-8. DHHC3-targeting SP-PROTAC decreased PD-L1 in human cervical cancer more effectively than the inhibitor BMS-8