Tailoring Čerenkov second-harmonic generation in bulk nonlinear photonic crystal

We investigate theoretically the Čerenkov-type second-harmonic generation in two-dimensional bulk nonlinear photonic crystal with longitudinal modulation of the (2) nonlinearity. We show that in this scheme the Čerenkov radiation can be achieved simultaneously at multiple directions with comparable intensities. The angles of emission are controllable by the spatial modulation of the nonlinearity. We propose a design of the periodically poled domain pattern, which maximizes the efficiency of the second-harmonic emission.The authors acknowledge the Australian Research Council for financial support. V. Roppo thanks Army Research Office (W911NF-10-2-0105) for the partial financial support

Angular Reconstruction of a Lead Scintillating-Fiber Sandwiched Electromagnetic Calorimeter

A new method called Neighbor Cell Deposited Energy Ratio (NCDER) is proposed to reconstruct incidence position in a single layer for a 3-dimensional imaging electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL).This method was applied to reconstruct the ECAL test beam data for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-02 (AMS-02). The results show that this method can achieve an angular resolution of 7.36\pm 0.08 / \sqrt(E) \oplus 0.28 \pm 0.02 degree in the determination of the photons direction, which is much more precise than that obtained with the commonly-adopted Center of Gravity(COG) method (8.4 \pm 0.1 /sqrt(E) \oplus 0.8\pm0.3 degree). Furthermore, since it uses only the properties of electromagnetic showers, this new method could also be used for other type of fine grain sampling calorimeters.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

Evasion of HSR in the charmless decays of excited PP-wave charmonia

We investigate the charmless decays of excited $P$-wave charmonia $\chi_{c1}^\prime \to VV$ and $\chi_{c2}^\prime \to VP$ via intermediate charmed meson loops, where $V$ and $P$ denote the light vector and pseudoscalar mesons, respectively. Within the model parameters, the charmed meson loop contributions are evaluated by using the effective Lagrangian approach. For $\chi_{c1}^\prime \to VV$, the partial widths of the $\rho\rho$, $\omega\omega$, and $K^*{\bar K}^*$ channels can reach to the order of MeV, while the partial width of the $\phi\phi$ channel is very small and in the order of keV. For $\chi_{c2}^\prime \to V P$, the partial widths of $\chi_{c2}^{\prime} \to K^\ast \bar{K}+c.c$ turns out to be sizeable, while the partial widths of $\chi_{c2}^{\prime} \to \rho^+\pi^- +c.c$ is found to be much smaller than the $K^\ast \bar{K}+c.c$ channel. Our calculations may be examined by the future BESIII experiments.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Accuracy of a Novel Non-Invasive technology based EZSCAN system for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in Chinese

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A new simple technique based on iontophoresis technology (EZSCAN, Impeto Medical, Paris, France) has recently been developed for the screening of diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the accuracy of this system for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in Chinese.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed the EZSCAN test in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. EZSCAN measures electrochemical conductance (EC) at forehead, hands and feet, and derives a diabetes index with a value ranging from 0 to 100. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a plasma glucose concentration of at least 7 mmol/l at fasting or 11.1 mmol/l at 2 hours after glucose load, or as the use of antidiabetic drugs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 195 study participants (51% men, mean age 52 years) included 75 diabetic patients (use of antidiabetic drugs 81%) and 120 non-diabetic subjects. EC (micro Siemens, μSi) was significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.001) lower in diabetic patients at the hands (44 vs. 61) and feet (51 vs. 69) locations, but not at the forehead (15 vs. 17, <it>P </it>= 0.39). When a diabetes index of 40 (suggested by the manufacturer) was used as the threshold, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus was 85% and 64%, respectively. In 80 patients who underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, EC at hands and feet and the diabetes index were significantly (<it>P </it>< 0.001) associated with both 2-hour post-load plasma glucose and serum glycosylated haemoglobin.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>EZSCAN might be useful in screening diabetes mellitus with reasonable sensitivity and specificity.</p

Extracellular RNA in a single droplet of human serum reflects physiologic and disease states.

Extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) are present in human serum. It remains unclear to what extent these circulating exRNAs may reflect human physiologic and disease states. Here, we developed SILVER-seq (Small Input Liquid Volume Extracellular RNA Sequencing) to efficiently sequence both integral and fragmented exRNAs from a small droplet (5 μL to 7 μL) of liquid biopsy. We calibrated SILVER-seq in reference to other RNA sequencing methods based on milliliters of input serum and quantified droplet-to-droplet and donor-to-donor variations. We carried out SILVER-seq on more than 150 serum droplets from male and female donors ranging from 18 y to 48 y of age. SILVER-seq detected exRNAs from more than a quarter of the human genes, including small RNAs and fragments of mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). The detected exRNAs included those derived from genes with tissue (e.g., brain)-specific expression. The exRNA expression levels separated the male and female samples and were correlated with chronological age. Noncancer and breast cancer donors exhibited pronounced differences, whereas donors with or without cancer recurrence exhibited moderate differences in exRNA expression patterns. Even without using differentially expressed exRNAs as features, nearly all cancer and noncancer samples and a large portion of the recurrence and nonrecurrence samples could be correctly classified by exRNA expression values. These data suggest the potential of using exRNAs in a single droplet of serum for liquid biopsy-based diagnostics

Branching fractions of B−→D−X0,1(2900)B^-\to D^-X_{0,1}(2900) and their implications

The exotic states $X_{0,1}(2900)$ with the quark flavor of $cs\bar{u}\bar{d}$ are recently observed in the mass spectrum of $D^+K^-$ in $B^-\to D^-D^+K^-$ by the LHCb collaboration. To explore the nature of $X_{0,1}(2900)$, except for analyzing their masses and decay widths as usually did in literatures, the study of their production mechanism in $B$-meson weak decays would provide another important information. The amplitude of $B^-\to D^- X_{0,1}$ is non-factorizable. We consider the final-state-interaction effects and calculate them via the rescattering mechanism. The measured branching fractions of $B^-\to D^- X_{0,1}$ are revealed. It is manifested by ${B}^-\to \Lambda_c^-\Xi_c^{(\prime)0}$ and $\Lambda_b^0\to P_c^+K^-$ that the rescattering mechanism can result in the relatively large branching fractions. The similar processes of $B^-\to \pi^-X_{0,1}$ are also analyzed. The isospins of $X_{0,1}$ can be investigated by $B\to DX_{0,1}^{\pm,0}$ decays.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures. Version published in EPJC. Additional contributions are added in $B\to \pi X_{0,1}$ in Fig.8. Numerical results of the isospin-partner processes are changed by a factor of 2 in Eqs.(12) and (13

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis: a double-edged sword

Abstract Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), the adipose tissue that surrounds most of the vasculature, has emerged as an active component of the blood vessel wall regulating vascular homeostasis and affecting the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Although PVAT characteristics resemble both brown and white adipose tissues, recent evidence suggests that PVAT develops from its own distinct precursors implying a closer link between PVAT and vascular system. Under physiological conditions, PVAT has potent anti-atherogenic properties mediated by its ability to secrete various biologically active factors that induce non-shivering thermogenesis and metabolize fatty acids. In contrast, under pathological conditions (mainly obesity), PVAT becomes dysfunctional, loses its thermogenic capacity and secretes pro-inflammatory adipokines that induce endothelial dysfunction and infiltration of inflammatory cells, promoting atherosclerosis development. Since PVAT plays crucial roles in regulating key steps of atherosclerosis development, it may constitute a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Here, we review the current literature regarding the roles of PVAT in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145729/1/12933_2018_Article_777.pd