Net charge fluctuation and string fragmentation

We present simulation results of net charge fluctuation in $Au+Au$ collisions at $\sqrt{s_{nn}}$=130 GeV from a dynamic model, JPCIAE. The calculations are done for the quark-gluon phase before hadronization, the pion gas, the resonance pion gas from $\rho$ and $\omega$ decays and so on. The simulations of the charge fluctuation show that the discrepancy exists between the dynamic model and the thermal model for a pion gas and a resonance pion gas from $\rho$ and $\omega$ decays while the simulated charge fluctuation of the quark-gluon phase is close to the thermal model prediction. JPCIAE results of net charge fluctuation in the hardonic phase are nearly 4-5 times larger than one for the quark-gluon phase, which implies that the charge fluctuation in the quark-gluon phase may not survive the hadronization (string fragmentation) as implemented in JPCIAE.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Analytical Modeling of a Doubly Clamped Flexible Piezoelectric Energy Harvester with Axial Excitation and Its Experimental Characterization

With the rapid development of wearable electronics, novel power solutions are required to adapt to flexible surfaces for widespread applications, thus flexible energy harvesters have been extensively studied for their flexibility and stretchability. However, poor power output and insufficient sensitivity to environmental changes limit its widespread application in engineering practice. A doubly clamped flexible piezoelectric energy harvester (FPEH) with axial excitation is therefore proposed for higher power output in a low-frequency vibration environment. Combining the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and the D’Alembert principle, the differential dynamic equation of the doubly clamped energy harvester is derived, in which the excitation mode of axial load with pre-deformation is considered. A numerical solution of voltage amplitude and average power is obtained using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. Output power of 22.5 μW at 27.1 Hz, with the optimal load resistance being 1 MΩ, is determined by the frequency sweeping analysis. In order to power electronic devices, the converted alternating electric energy should be rectified into direct current energy. By connecting to the MDA2500 standard rectified electric bridge, a rectified DC output voltage across the 1 MΩ load resistor is characterized to be 2.39 V. For further validation of the mechanical-electrical dynamical model of the doubly clamped flexible piezoelectric energy harvester, its output performances, including both its frequency response and resistance load matching performances, are experimentally characterized. From the experimental results, the maximum output power is 1.38 μW, with a load resistance of 5.7 MΩ at 27 Hz, and the rectified DC output voltage reaches 1.84 V, which shows coincidence with simulation results and is proved to be sufficient for powering LED electronics

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) contributes to the pain hypersensitivity following surgical incision in the rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pathogenic role of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the incisional pain is poorly understood. The present study explores the role of the BDNF in the incision-induced pain hypersensitivity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A longitudinal incision was made in one plantar hind paw of isoflurane-anesthetized rats. Dorsal root ganglias (DRG) and spinal cords were removed at various postoperative times (1–72 h). Expression pattern of BDNF was determined by immunohistochemistry and double-labeling immunofluorescence. Lidocaine-induced blockade of sciatic nerve function was used to determine the importance of afferent nerve activity on BDNF expression in the DRG and spinal cord after incision. BDNF antibody was administered intrathecally (IT) or intraperitoneal (IP) to modulate the spinal BDNF or peripheral BDNF after incision.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After hind-paw incision, the BDNF was upregulated in the ipsilateral lumbar DRG and spinal cord whereas thoracic BDNF remained unchanged in response to incision. The upregulated BDNF was mainly expressed in the large-sized neurons in DRG and the neurons and the primary nerve terminals in the spinal cord. Sciatic nerve blockade prevented the increase of BDNF in the DRG and spinal cord. IT injection of BDNF antibody greatly inhibited the mechanical allodynia induced by incision whereas IP administration had only marginal effect.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study showed that incision induced the segmental upregulation of BDNF in the DRG and spinal cord through somatic afferent nerve transmission, and the upregulated BDNF contributed to the pain hypersensitivity induced by surgical incision.</p

Bromido{dicyclo­hexyl[2′-(dimethyl­amino)biphenyl-2-yl]phosphine-κP}[2-(4,6-dimethyl­pyrimidin-2-yl)ferrocenyl-κ2 C 1,N]palladium(II) dichloro­methane solvate

In the title compound, [FePdBr(C5H5)(C11H10N2)(C26H36NP)]·CH2Cl2, the Pd atom displays a distorted square-planar coordination environment. The five-membered metallacycle adopts an envelope conformation with the coordinated cyclo­penta­dienyl C atom 0.4222 (4) Å out of plane. The dihedral angle between the pyrimidinyl ring and substituted cyclo­penta­dienyl ring is 21.47 (2)°. In the crystal structure, the dimeric unit is generated through the C—H⋯π contact via a crystallographic inversion centre, while the C—H⋯Cl contacts in the dimeric centre link the dichlormethane mol­ecules with the Pd complex mol­ecules

An increase in the cerebral infarction area during fatigue is mediated by il-6 through an induction of fibrinogen synthesis

OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to investigate the impact of fatigue on the severity of stroke and to explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Fatigued male rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion and the infarcted brain area was determined. Then, coagulation parameters were assessed in the fatigued group and a control group. In addition, the level of fibrinogen was determined in rats deprived of sleep for various numbers of days. To study whether interleukin-6 was involved in fibrinogen synthesis during fatigue, we also measured levels of interleukin-6 in rats deprived of sleep for various numbers of days. Furthermore, brain injury by middle cerebral artery occlusion was measured in wild-type mice, interleukin-6-/- mice and wild-type mice treated with bezafibrate. RESULTS: More severe cerebral infarction was observed in the fatigued rats, resulting in an infarct ratio of 23.4%. The infarct ratio was significantly increased in the fatigued rats compared with that in the control group (8%,

The Physiology Constant Database of Teen-Agers in Beijing

Physiology constants of adolescents are important to understand growing living systems and are a useful reference in clinical and epidemiological research. Until recently, physiology constants were not available in China and therefore most physiologists, physicians, and nutritionists had to use data from abroad for reference. However, the very difference between the Eastern and Western races casts doubt on the usefulness of overseas data. We have therefore created a database system to provide a repository for the storage of physiology constants of teen-agers in Beijing. The several thousands of pieces of data are now divided into hematological biochemistry, lung function, and cardiac function with all data manually checked before being transferred into the database. The database was accomplished through the development of a web interface, scripts, and a relational database. The physiology data were integrated into the relational database system to provide flexible facilities by using combinations of various terms and parameters. A web browser interface was designed for the users to facilitate their searching. The database is available on the web. The statistical table, scatter diagram, and histogram of the data are available for both anonym and user according to queries, while only the user can achieve detail, including download data and advanced search

Affinity purification of recombinant human plasminogen activator from transgenic rabbit milk using a novel polyolresponsive monoclonal antibody

Purpose: To develop processes for effective isolation and purification of recombinant human plasminogen activator (rhPA) from transgenic rabbit milk.Methods: Immunoaffinity chromatography was selected and improved by a special polyol-responsive monoclonal antibody (PR-mAb). Alteplase was used as immunogen because of its similarity to rhPA in terms of structure. The PR-mAb was prepared by hybridoma technology and screened by ELISA-elution assay. Screening antibody was performed using rhPA milk in an ELISA-elution assay. The antibody clone C4-PR-mAb was selected for immunoaffinity chromatography. The rhPA was effectively bound to immobilized C4-PR-mAb on the column and was eluted with Tris buffer comprising 0.75 mol/L ammonium sulfate and 40n% propanediol (pH7.9). The rhPA was further purified by passing through Chromdex75 gel filtration column.Results: There were 12 hybridoma strains selected into the polyol responsive mAbs screen step and three hybridoma strains were superior for producing PR-mAbs (C1, C4, C8). The rhPA can be purified from transgenic rabbit milk and maintained a higher thrombolytic activity in vitro by FAPA.Conclusion: The results demonstrate the suitability of the alternative approach used in this study. Using immunoaffinity chromatography and  gel filtration column is feasible and convenient for extracting rhPA from milk, and should be useful for purifying other tPA mutants or other novel recombinant milkderived proteins.Keywords: tPA, Immunoaffinity chromatography, PR-mAb, ELISA-elution, Antibody, Thrombolytic activit

Spin Fluctuation Induced Linear Magnetoresistance in Ultrathin Superconducting FeSe Films

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in FeSe/STO has trigged great research interest to reveal a range of exotic physical phenomena in this novel material. Here we present a temperature dependent magnetotransport measurement for ultrathin FeSe/STO films with different thickness and protection layers. Remarkably, a surprising linear magnetoresistance (LMR) is observed around the superconducting transition temperatures but absent otherwise. The experimental LMR can be reproduced by magnetotransport calculations based on a model of magnetic field dependent disorder induced by spin fluctuation. Thus, the observed LMR in coexistence with superconductivity provides the first magnetotransport signature for spin fluctuation around the superconducting transition region in ultrathin FeSe/STO films

Análisis de Rasch de la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) en pacientes con depresión mayor

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a widely used screening tool for depression and anxiety in patients with medical illnesses. This study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the HADS in screening for patients with major depression using item response theory method.A total of 460 patients with major depression completed the HADS. Rasch analyses were used to examine unidimensionality, item fit, local dependency, reliability, ordering of categories, differential item functioning (DIF)and targeting. The HADS showed a two-dimensional construct.All items fit the Rasch model.Three pairs of items showed minor but inconsiderate local dependency. Both subscales had acceptable reliability.None of the items displayed disordered categoriesor DIF.All items werewelltargeted, and participants with high and low levels of distress were less targeted than those with moderate levels of distress.Finally, a conversion table to transform the raw scores into interval measures was generated. The HADS demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in assessing depression and anxiety in patients with major depression. It was more appropriate for assessing moderate than high or low levels of distress.The conversion table can be used for more precise measurement.These results may pave the way for efficient and sensitive methods of ana-lyzing depression symptom response in research and in clinical practice.La Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión] es una herramienta ampliamente utilizada para detección de la depresión y la ansiedad en pacientes con enfermedades médicas. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar las propiedades psicométricas de la HADS en la detección de pacientes con depresión mayor utilizando el método de la teoría de respuesta al ítem. Un total de 460 pacientes con depresión mayor completaron el HADS. Se utilizó el análisis de Rasch para examinar la unidimensionalidad, el ajuste de los ítems, la dependencia local, la confiabilidad, el orden de las categorías, el funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems (DIF) y la focalización. La HADS mostró una construcción bidimensional. Todos los ítems se ajustaban al modelo de Rasch. Tres pares de ítems mostraron una dependencia local menor pero desconsiderada. Ambas subescalas tuvieron una confiabilidad aceptable. Ninguno de los ítems mostró categorías desordenadas o DIF. Todos los ítems estaban bien dirigidos y los participantes con niveles altos y bajos de angustia fueron menos objetivo que aquellos con niveles moderados de angustia. Finalmente, se generó una tabla de conversión para transformar las puntuaciones brutas en medidas de intervalo. El HADS demostró propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para evaluar la depresión y la ansiedad en pacientes con depresión mayor. Fue más apropiado para evaluar niveles de angustia moderados que altos o bajos. La tabla de con-versión se puede utilizar para una medición más precisa. Estos resultados pueden allanar el camino para métodos eficientes y sensibles para analizar la respuesta a los síntomas de depresión en la investigación y en la práctica clínica

Exploring the Mechanism Whereby Sinensetin Delays the Progression of Pulmonary Fibrosis Based on Network Pharmacology and Pulmonary Fibrosis Models

The incidence of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a progressively fatal disease, has increased in recent years. However, there are no effective medicines available. Previous results have shown that sinensetin probably has some curative effects on PF. Therefore, this paper aims to predict the targets of sinensetin using a network pharmacology method and to confirm its effects and functional targets in PF using a mouse PF model. First, network pharmacology analysis showed that sinensetin has 105 functional targets, and 1,698 gene targets closely relate to PF. The intersection of the functional targets and gene targets produced 52 targets for the treatment of PF with sinensetin. The PPIs (protein–protein interactions) led to several potential key target genes, including MAPK1, EGFR, SRC, and PTGS2. The results of GO and KEGG analyses suggested the crucial function of apoptosis in PF and its involvement in the PI3K signaling pathway. Subsequently, we tested the molecular docking of sinensetin with the PI3K protein using the AutoDock4 software. The results showed that sinensetin could fit well into several binding sites of the PI3K protein. Furthermore, we constructed a PF mouse model through one-off intratracheal instillation of bleomycin and then intragastrically administered different concentrations of sinensetin to the model mice. Twenty-eight days later, the mice were sacrificed, and the lung tissues, serum, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected. The in vivo tests showed that the body weight of model mice increased slightly compared with that of PF mice after intragastric sinensetin. HE and Masson staining suggested a certain extent of reduction in the pathology of lung tissues. The expression of collagens I and III, as well as hydroxyproline in the lung tissues, was reduced to a certain extent. IL-6 levels in the serum and BALF decreased markedly. The expression of vimentin and α-SMA in pulmonary tissues decreased. Cell apoptosis, as well as P-PI3K and P-AKT levels, in lung tissues also reduced. In summary, network pharmacology and in vivo test results suggest sinensetin causes an effective delay in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, and the functional mechanism is likely related to PI3K-AKT signaling