Anomalous gauge couplings of the Higgs boson at the CERN LHC: Semileptonic mode in WW scatterings

We make a full tree level study of the signatures of anomalous gauge couplings of the Higgs boson at the CERN LHC via the semileptonic decay mode in WW scatterings. Both signals and backgrounds are studied at the hadron level for the Higgs mass in the range 115 GeV to 200 GeV. We carefully impose suitable kinematical cuts for suppressing the backgrounds. To the same sensitivity as in the pure leptonic mode, our result shows that the semileptonic mode can reduce the required integrated luminosity by a factor of 3. If the anomalous couplings in nature are actually larger than the sensitivity bounds shown in the text, the experiment can start the test for an integrated luminosity of 50 inverse fb.Comment: PACS numbers updated. Version published in Phys.Rev.D79,055010(2009

Visualizing the elongated vortices in γ\gamma-Ga nanostrips

We study the magnetic response of superconducting $\gamma$-Ga via low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The magnetic vortex cores rely substantially on the Ga geometry, and exhibit an unexpectedly-large axial elongation with aspect ratio up to 40 in rectangular Ga nano-strips (width $l$ $<$ 100 nm). This is in stark contrast with the isotropic circular vortex core in a larger round-shaped Ga island. We suggest that the unusual elongated vortices in Ga nanostrips originate from geometric confinement effect probably via the strong repulsive interaction between the vortices and Meissner screening currents at the sample edge. Our finding provides novel conceptual insights into the geometrical confinement effect on magnetic vortices and forms the basis for the technological applications of superconductors.Comment: published in Phys. Rev. B as a Rapid Communicatio

The unidirectional valve patch provides no benefits to early and long-term survival in patients with ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary artery hypertension

ObjectiveOur aim was to test whether a unidirectional valve patch would provide benefit to early and long-term survival for patients with ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary artery hypertension.MethodsEight hundred seventy-six cases of ventricular septal defect with severe pulmonary artery hypertension were closed with or without a unidirectional valve patch and were classified as the unidirectional valve patch (UVP) group (n = 195) and nonvalve patch (NVP) group (n = 681), respectively. Propensity scores of inclusion into the UVP group were used to match 138 pairs between the 2 groups. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed to compare early and long-term survival.ResultsFor the 138 propensity-matched pairs, there were 7 and 9 early deaths (in-hospital deaths) in the UVP and NVP groups, respectively. The difference in early mortality between the 2 groups did not reach statistical significance (χ2 = 0.265, P = .6064). With a mean of 9.2 ± 4.92 years' and 2511 patient-years' follow-up, there were 6 late deaths in the UVP group and 7 late deaths in the NVP group. The difference in actuarial survival at 5, 10, 15, and 18 years between the 2 groups was not significant (log-rank test, χ2 = 0.565, P = .331). The difference in the late mortality between the groups with or without a patent patch at the time of discharge did not reach statistical significance (χ2 = 1.140, P = .2856). There was no difference between the 2 groups in the 6-minute walk distance assessed at the last follow-up (525.9 ± 88.0 meters for the UVP group and 536.5 ± 95.8 meters for the NVP group, F = 1.550, P = .214).ConclusionA unidirectional valve patch provides no benefits to early and long-term survival when it is used to deal with ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary artery hypertension

Effects of matrine on collagen proliferation and TNF-α, TGF-β1 and CTGF in atrial tissues of dogs with persistent atrial fibrillation

目的 探讨苦参碱对犬心房颤动（房颤）心房肌组织中胶原合成以及肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor alpha,TNF-α）、转化生长因子（transforming growth factor-β1，TGF-β1）和结缔组织生长因子（connective Tissue Growth Factor，CTGF）表达变化的影响。方法 健康比格犬10只采用快速右心室起搏造房颤模型，随机分成房颤组和房颤+苦参碱组各5只。采用天狼星红染色，计算胶原容积分数（collagen volume fraction，CVF）以测定纤维化程度；采用免疫组织化学法检测右心房TNF-α、TGF-β1和CTGF的蛋白表达情况；用逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）技术检测TNF-α、TGF-β1和CTGF的mRNA水平表达情况。结果 与房颤组相比，房颤+苦参碱组纤维化程度降低，CVF明显下降（P＜0.05），TNF-α、TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达水平下降，且TNF-α和TGF-β1的mRNA表达水平显著下降（P＜0.05，P＜0.01）。结论 苦参碱可能通过抑制TNF-α、TGF-β1和CTGF的表达，抑制房颤心房肌胶原合成，改善心房组织纤维化程度。Objective:To study the effects of matrine (mat) on collagen synthesis and expression of tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in atrial tissues of dogs with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods : Ten healthy beagle dogs were randomly divided into two groups: AF group (n=5) and AF/Mat group (n=5), using right ventricular pacing to establish AF model. The collagen volume fraction (CVF) in atrial tissue were detected by sirius red staining to determine the level of fabrication. The level of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and CTGF were detected by immunohisto-chemistry. The mRNA expression level of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and CTGF were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results:  Compared with the AF group, the fabriation level of AF/Mat was decreased obviously (P&lt;0.05), the expression levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and CTGF were decreased, and the mRNA expression level were decreased significantly in atrial tissues (P&lt;0.05 and P&lt;0.01). Conclusion: Matrine may inhibits fabrosis in atrial tissues through inhibition collagen proliferation and expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1 and CTGF