The Top Quark Production Asymmetries AFBtA_{FB}^t and AFBℓA_{FB}^{\ell}

A large forward-backward asymmetry is seen in both the top quark rapidity distribution $A_{FB}^t$ and in the rapidity distribution of charged leptons $A_{FB}^\ell$ from top quarks produced at the Tevatron. We study the kinematic and dynamic aspects of the relationship of the two observables arising from the spin correlation between the charged lepton and the top quark with different polarization states. We emphasize the value of both measurements, and we conclude that a new physics model which produces more right-handed than left-handed top quarks is favored by the present data.Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Expressions of COX-2 and VEGF-C in gastric cancer: correlations with lymphangiogenesis and prognostic implications

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has recently been considered to promote lymphangiogenesis by up-regulating vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in breast and lung cancer. However, the impact of COX-2 on lymphangiogenesis of gastric cancer remains unclear. This study aims to test the expression of COX-2 and VEGF-C in human gastric cancer, and to analyze the correlation with lymphatic vessel density (LVD), clinicopathologic features and survival prognosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using immunohistochemistry, COX-2, VEGF-C and level of LVD were analyzed in 56 R0-resected primary gastric adenocarcinomas, while paracancerous normal mucosal tissues were also collected as control from 25 concurrent patients. The relationships among COX-2 and VEGF-C expression, LVD, and clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed. The correlations of COX-2, VEGF-C and level of LVD with patient prognosis were also evaluated by univariate tests and multivariate Cox regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The expression rates of COX-2 and VEGF-C were 69.64% and 55.36%, respectively, in gastric carcinoma. Peritumoral LVD was significantly higher than that in both normal and intratumoral tissue (<it>P </it>< 0.05). It was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and invasion depth (<it>P </it>= 0.003, <it>P </it>= 0.05). VEGF-C was significantly associated with peritumoral LVD (<it>r </it>= 0.308, <it>P </it>= 0.021). However, COX-2 was not correlated with VEGF-C (<it>r </it>= 0.110, <it>P </it>= 0.419) or LVD (<it>r </it>= 0.042, <it>P </it>= 0.758). Univariate analysis showed that survival time was impaired by higher COX-2 expression and higher peritumoral LVD. Multivariate survival analysis showed that age, COX-2 expression and peritumoral LVD were independent prognostic factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although COX-2 expression was associated with survival time, it was not correlated with VEGF-C and peritumoral LVD. Our data did not show that overexpression of COX-2 promotes tumor lymphangiogenesis through an up-regulation of VEGF-C expression in gastric carcinoma. Age, COX-2 and peritumoral LVD were independent prognostic factors for human gastric carcinoma.</p

Hydrostatic bath synthesis of conductive polypyrrole/reduced graphene oxide aerogel as compression sensor

A conductive and elastic polypyrrole/reduced graphene oxide aerogel (PGA) was synthesized through a hydrostatic bath method followed by freeze-drying. Through this method, the self-agglomeration and oxidative polymerization of rGO and polypyrrole occurred synergistically in a controlled environment, which resulted in a 3D conductive aerogel matrix. The optical spectroscopy, including FT-IR and XPS, showed the distinguished vibration band of polypyrrole and π-π interaction, which evidenced the successful polymerization of the pyrrole monomer through the synergistic assembly process. The presence of flexible rGO nanosheets as an aerogel backbone provided a strong mechanical support and deposition sites for polypyrrole nanoparticles, which contributed to the overall elasticity. Furthermore, the polypyrrole nanoparticles not only addressed the stacking issue of rGO but further enhanced the reactive surface area by eight times of magnitude compared to pure graphene aerogel (GA) produced by the same technique. Molecular modeling estimates adsorption energies for the polypyrrole molecule over the rGO surface and further predict the dominant functional group that involve in the formation of PGA. The as-synthesized PGA provide a significant electrical resistance changes (>80%) before and after compression, which responded exceptionally well upon compression by lighting up LEDs that were arranged in parallel in an electrical circuit

Eosinophilia triggers changes in IL-5, eotaxin and IL-17, and acts as a prognostic biomarker for atopic dermatitis

Purpose: To investigate the implication of eosinophilia in atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods: A total of 139 AD patients from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine between February 2013 and May 2015, were involved in this study. Scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index was used to evaluate the skin lesions. The levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17, INFgamma, IP-10, eotaxin and Regulated on Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES), were determined with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Eosinophil counts were carried out by granulocyte count method. Correlation between SCORAD scores and levels of cytokines was analyzed using the Spearman correlation method.Results: SCORAD scores significantly increased in the eosinophil-positive group when compared to eosinophil-negative group (p &lt; 0.05). Eosinophil counts correlated with SCORAD scores in the eosinophil-positive group (p &lt; 0.05). INF-γ, IP-10 and RANTES levels were significantly higher in the eosinophil-positive group than in eosinophil- negative group, while IL-5, eotaxin and IL-17 levels significantly decreased in eosinophil-positive group (p &lt; 0.05). In the eosinophil-positive group, IL-5, eotaxin and IL-17 levels positively correlated with SCORAD scores.Conclusion: Eosinophilia triggers lL-5, eotaxin and IL-17 changes and acts as a prognostic biomarker for atopic dermatitis. These findings may give further insights into the pathogenesis of AD.Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, Eosinophilia, SCORAD score, Biomarker, Cytokine

The role of lithium in the aging precipitation process of al-zn-mg-cu alloys and its effect on the properties

It is well known that the development of lightweight alloys with improved comprehensive performance and application value are the future development directions for the ultra-high-strength 7xxx series Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys used in the aircraft field. As the lightest metal element in nature, lithium (Li) has outstanding advantages in reducing the density and increasing the elastic modulus in aluminum alloys, so Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys containing Li have gained widespread attention. Furthermore, since the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy is usually strengthened by aging treatment, it is crucial to understand how Li addition affects its aging precipitation process. As such, in this article, the effects and mechanism of Li on the aging precipitation behavior and the impact of Li content on the aging precipitation phase of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys are briefly reviewed, and the influence of Li on the service properties, including mechanical properties, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance, of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys are explained. In addition, the corresponding development prospects and challenges of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Li alloy are also proposed. This review is helpful to further understand the role of Li in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys and provides a reference for the development of high-strength aluminum alloys containing Li with good comprehensive properties