Implications on η\eta-η′\eta'-glueball mixing from Bd/s→J/Ψη(′)B_{d/s} \to J/\Psi \eta^{(')} Decays

We point out that the recent Belle measurements of the $B_{d/s} \to J/\Psi \eta^{(')}$ decays imply large pseudoscalar glueball contents in the $\eta^{(\prime)}$ meson. These decays are studied in the perturbative QCD (PQCD) approach, considering the $\eta$-$\eta'$-$G$ mixing, where $G$ represents the pseudoscalar glueball. It is shown that the PQCD predictions for the $B_{d/s} \to J/\Psi \eta^{(')}$ branching ratios agree well with the data for the mixing angle $\phi_G\approx 30^\circ$ between the flavor-singlet state and the pure pseudoscalar glueball. Extending the formalism to the $\eta$-$\eta'$-$G$-$\eta_c$ tetramixing, the abnormally large observed $B_d\to K\eta'$ branching ratios are also explained. The proposed mixing formalism is applicable to other heavy meson decays into $\eta^{(\prime)}$ mesons, and could be tested by future LHCb and Super-$B$ factory data.Comment: Improved version, references added, 7 pages, 1 figur

Quantification of atherosclerotic plaque volume in coronary arteries by computed tomographic angiography in subjects with and without diabetes.

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and volume of coronary artery plaque in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) vs. those without DM.MethodsThis study recruited consecutive patients who underwent coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (CCTA) between October 2016 and November 2017. Personal information including conventional cardiovascular risk factors was collected. Plaque phenotypes were automatically calculated for volume of different component. The volume of different plaque was compared between DM patients and those without DM.ResultsAmong 6381 patients, 931 (14.59%) were diagnosed with DM. The prevalence of plaque in DM subjects was higher compared with nondiabetic group significantly (48.34% vs. 33.01%, χ = 81.84, P < 0.001). DM was a significant risk factor for the prevalence of plaque in a multivariate model (odds ratio [OR] = 1.465, 95% CI: 1.258-1.706, P < 0.001). The volume of total plaque and any plaque subtypes in the DM subjects was greater than those in nondiabetic patients significantly (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques were significantly higher in diabetic patients than those in non-diabetic patients

9-[4-Hydr­oxy-3-(hydroxy­meth­yl)but­yl]guanine monohydrate

In the mol­ecular structure of the title compound, also named penciclovir monohydrate, C10H15N5O3·H2O, the 4-hydr­oxy-3-hydroxy­methyl­but-1-yl group is connected to guanine through an N atom of the imidazole ring. Water mol­ecules stabilize the mol­ecular packing by forming O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. A three-dimensional network is generated via inter­molecular N—H⋯N, N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding

Single-step bioconversion of lignocellulose to hydrogen using novel moderately thermophilic bacteria

BACKGROUND: Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic biomass to hydrogen offers great potential for lower cost and higher efficiency compared to processes featuring dedicated cellulase production. Current studies on CBP-based hydrogen production mainly focus on using the thermophilic cellulolytic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum and the extremely thermophilic cellulolytic bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus. However, no studies have demonstrated that the strains in the genus Thermoanaerobacterium could be used as the sole microorganism to accomplish both cellulose degradation and H(2) generation. RESULTS: We have specifically screened for moderately thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria enabling to produce hydrogen directly from conversion of lignocellulosic materials. Three new strains of thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria in the genus Thermoanaerobacterium growing at a temperature of 60°C were isolated. All of them grew well on various plant polymers including microcrystalline cellulose, filter paper, xylan, glucose, and xylose. In particular, the isolated bacterium, designated as Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum M18, showed high cellulolytic activity and a high yield of H(2). When it was grown in 0.5% microcrystalline cellulose, approximately 82% cellulose was consumed, and the H(2) yield and maximum production rate reached 10.86 mmol/g Avicel and 2.05 mmol/L/h, respectively. Natural lignocellulosic materials without any physicochemical or biological pretreatment also supported appreciable growth of strain M18, which resulted in 56.07% to 62.71% of insoluble cellulose and hemicellulose polymer degradation in corn cob, corn stalk, and wheat straw with a yield of 3.23 to 3.48 mmol H(2)/g substrate and an average production rate of 0.10 to 0.13 mmol H(2)/L/h. CONCLUSIONS: The newly isolated strain T. thermosaccharolyticum M18 displayed effective degradation of lignocellulose and produced large amounts of hydrogen. This is the first report of a Thermoanaerobacterium species presenting cellulolytic characteristics, and this species thus represents a novel cellulolytic bacterium distinguished from all other known cellulolytic bacteria. In comparison, the extraordinary yield and specific rate of hydrogen for strain M18 obtained from lignocellulose make it more attractive in monoculture fermentation. T. thermosaccharolyticum M18 is thus a potential candidate for rapid conversion of lignocellulose to biohydrogen in a single step

Modified frequency computation method for optimal environmental flows

The paper describes a modified frequency computation method to calculate the optimal environmental flows. This method was used to design monthly environmental flows in Lancang river. The environmental flows calculated by the method are compared with those by the ecological flow method and the Tennant method, revealing its effectiveness

Isolation and Characterization of Minipig Perivascular Stem Cells for Bone Tissue Engineering

Human subcutaneous adipose tissue has been recognized as a rich source of tissue resident mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) in recent years. The current study was designed to sort the minipig (mp) perivascular stem cells (PSCs) and investigate the osteogenic potential. Purification of human PSCs was achieved via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from human liposuction samples [cluster of differentiation (CD)45-CD34-CD146+ perithelial cells and CD45-CD34+CD146- adventitial cells]. Subsequently, PSCs were isolated from mp adipose tissue samples (n=9), characterized and, using purified mpPSCs (obtained by FACS, which is used in human PSC purification), the mpPSC osteogenic and adipogenic potential was evaluated by Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining in vitro, respectively. The cell morphometry was observed following cell isolation and culture, and hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to identify the fat tissue structure and vascular distribution. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation-associated gene expression levels were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that the same antigens used for human PSC identification and isolation were working in mp tissue (CD45, CD146 and CD34). The two cell groups: CD45-CD34-CD146+ pericytes and CD45-CD34+CD146- adventitial cells were successfully isolated from the subcutaneous fat in the posterior neck of mps, mpPSCs accounted for 8.6% of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) with 1.4% pericytes and 7.2% adventitial cells. mpPSCs demonstrated characteristics of MSCs, including cell surface marker expression, colony forming unit-fibroblast inclusion, and the stronger osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential than that of the non-selected vascular stromal cells. The mRNA expression levels of osteocalcin, collagen, type I, α1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ in the mpPSCs group were significantly higher than those of the unsorted pSVF group (P\u3c0.05). Thus, the current study successfully isolated and cultured CD146+ and CD34+ cell populations from mp tissues, characterized the cells\u27 PSC-like phenotype and identified their distinctly osteogenic and adipogenic potential. © Spandidos Publications. All rights reserved