Chiral Couplings of W' and Top Quark Polarization at the LHC

If a TeV-scale charged gauge boson (W') is discovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), it will become imperative to determine its chiral couplings to standard model (SM) fermions in order to learn about the underlying theory containing the W'. We describe the reconstruction of the t, b decay mode of the W' at the LHC, and identify various kinematic observables such as the angular distributions of the top quark and the lepton resulting from top decay that can be used to disentangle the chiral couplings of the W' to SM fermions. We demonstrate by presenting analytical expressions, numerical simulations, as well as intuitive illustrations for these observables at the LHC that among the SM fermions, the polarized top quark can most directly probe the chirality of such couplings.Comment: 35 pages, 12 Figure

Structural Performance of Smart CFRP-FBG Reinforced Steel Beams

Many beam structures suffer from gradual performance degradation with the increase of service life. To recover the bearing capacity of these beams, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates are developed to attached on the beam bottom. To check the structural performance of the CFRP reinforced beams, smart CFRP plate with FBGs in series is designed and LVDTs are adopted to measure the deformations. The deflection of the reinforced beam is given based on the elastic conversion cross-section method. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The study shows that the CFRP reinforced zone has a larger flexural rigidity than the pure steel beam zone. The general distribution of the deflection along the span of the CFRP reinforced beam can be described by the proposed formula. It provides a scientific design guidance for the deflection control of CFRP reinforced structures

Interfacial Interaction of CFRP Reinforced Steel Beam Structures

Due to the increase of service life, the phenomenon of performance degradation of bridge structures becomes more and more common. It is important to strengthen the bridge structures so as to restore the resistance level and extend the normal service life. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials are thus used for the assembly reinforcement of bridges for the advantages of high strength, light weight, corrosion resistance and long-term stability of physical and chemical properties, etc. In view of this, based on the previous theoretical study and the established formula of the interfacial shear stress of CFRP reinforced steel beam and the normal stress of CFRP plate, this paper discusses the sensitive parameters that affect the interfacial interaction of CFRP strengthened beam structures. Through the analysis, the priority design indicators and suggestions are accordingly given for the design of reinforced beam structures. Young’s modulus of CFRP composite and shear modulus of the adhesive have the greatest influence on the interfacial interaction, which should be carefully considered. It is suggested that CFRP material with Ec close to 300 GPa and thickness no less than 3 mm, and adhesive material with Ga less than 5 GPa and 3-mm thickness can be adopted in CFRP reinforced steel beam. The conclusions of this paper can provide guidance for the interfacial damage control of CFRP reinforced steel beam structures

C1q/TNF-related protein 3 (CTRP3) and 9 (CTRP9) concentrations are decreased in patients with heart failure and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Biochemical marker has revolutionized the approach to the diagnosis of heart failure. However, it remains difficult to assess stability of the patient. As such, novel means of stratifying disease severity are needed. C1q/TNF-Related Protein 3 (CTRP3) and C1q/TNF-Related Protein 9 (CTRP9) are novel adipokines that contribute to energy homeostasis with additional anti-inflammatory and anti-ischemic properties. The aim of our study is to evaluate concentrations of CTRP3 and CTRP9 in patients with HFrEF (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction) and whether associated with mortality. METHODS: Clinical data and plasma were obtained from 176 healthy controls and 168 patients with HFrEF. CTRP3 and CTRP9 levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Both CTRP3 and CTRP9 concentrations were significantly decreased in the HFrEF group compared to the control group (p \u3c 0.001). Moreover, patients with higher New York Heart Association class had significantly lower CTRP3 or CTRP9 concentrations. Correlation analysis revealed that CTRP3 and CTRP9 levels were positively related with LVEF% (CTRP3, r = 0.556, p \u3c 0.001; CTRP9, r = 0.526, p \u3c 0.001) and negatively related with NT-proBNP levels (CTRP3, r = - 0.454, p \u3c 0.001; CTRP9, r = - 0.483, p \u3c 0.001). After a follow up for 36 months, after adjusted for age, LVEF and NT-proBNP, we observed that CTRP3 or CTRP9 levels below the 25th percentile was a predictor of total mortality (CTRP3,HR:1.93,95%CI1.03~3.62,P = 0.042;CTRP9,HR:1.98,95%CI:1.02~3.85,P = 0.044) and hospitalizations (CTRP3,HR:2.34,95% CI:1.43~3.82,P = 0.001;CTRP9,HR:2.67,95%CI:1.58~4.50,P \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CTRP3 and CTRP9 are decreased in patients with HFrEF, proportionate to disease severity, and each is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01372800 . Registered May 2011

Case Report: Adrenal glands degenerated schwannoma: Report of three cases and literature review

BackgroundSchwannoma is a benign tumor, of which degenerated schwannoma is a subtype. Retroperitoneal schwannomas are extremely rare, as they account for only 3% of retroperitoneal tumors.Degenerated schwannoma is a schwannoma subtype. However,degenerated schwannoma occurring in the adrenal glands is extremely rare.Case summaryCase 1: A 42-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further examination of a left adrenal mass that was incidentally discovered during a routine physical check-up.No significant abnormalities were found in laboratory tests results. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic excision of the left adrenal gland was performed under general anesthesia. Case 2: A 47-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of a left adrenal mass found on a routine physical examination.The patient was previously in good health, and there was no family history of a similar disorder. Left-sided laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed under general anaesthesia. Case 3: A 62-year-old woman with hypertension and diabetes mellitus was referred to our hospital after an incidentally found left adrenal mass.There was no family history of a similar disorder. Left-sided laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed under general anaesthesia. None of the patients had a recurrence in our study during the postoperative follow-up.ConclusionDegenerated schwannoma of the adrenal glands is very rare. The clinical presentations of degenerated schwannoma are nonspecific; a small number of patients do not have any symptoms, and the mass is only found incidentally during physical examination for any number of reasons. The preoperative diagnosis of adrenal degenerated schwannoma is difficult because the diagnosis must rely on pathological examination and immunohistochemistry assays. The management is surgical excision and regular follow-up

Florid cystitis glandularis (intestinal type) with mucus extravasation: Two case reports and literature review

BackgroundCystitis glandularis is a common bladder epithelial lesion characterized by hyperplasia and metaplasia of the bladder mucosa epithelium. The pathogenesis of cystitis glandularis of the intestinal type is unknown and less common. When cystitis glandularis (intestinal type) is extremely severely differentiated, it is called florid cystitis glandularis (the occurrence is extremely rare).Case summaryBoth patients were middle-aged men. In patient 1, the lesion was also seen in the posterior wall and was diagnosed more than 1 year ago as cystitis glandularis with urethral stricture. Patient 2 was examined for symptoms such as hematuria and was found to have an occupied bladder; both were treated surgically, and the postoperative pathology was diagnosed as florid cystitis glandularis (intestinal type), with mucus extravasation.ConclusionThe pathogenesis of cystitis glandularis (intestinal type) is unknown and less common. When cystitis glandularis of the intestinal type is extremely severely differentiated, we call it florid cystitis glandularis. It is more common in the bladder neck and trigone. The clinical manifestations are mainly symptoms of bladder irritation, or hematuria as the main complaint, which rarely leads to hydronephrosis. Imaging is nonspecific and the diagnosis depends on pathology. Surgical excision of the lesion is possible. Due to the malignant potential of cystitis glandularis of intestinal type, postoperative follow-up is required

Expressions of Neuregulin 1β and ErbB4 in Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus of a Rat Schizophrenia Model Induced by Chronic MK-801 Administration

Recent human genetic studies and postmortem brain examinations of schizophrenia patients strongly indicate that dysregulation of NRG1 and ErbB4 may be important pathogenic factors of schizophrenia. However, this hypothesis has not been validated and fully investigated in animal models of schizophrenia. In this study we quantitatively examined NRG1 and ErbB4 protein expressions by immunohistochemistry and Western blot in the brain of a rat schizophrenia model induced by chronic administration of MK-801 (a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist). Our data showed that NRG1β and ErbB4 expressions were significantly increased in the rat prefrontal cortex and hippocampus but in different subregions. These findings suggest that altered expressions of NRG1 and ErbB4 might be attributed to the schizophrenia. Further study in the role and mechanism of NRG1 and ErbB4 may lead to better understanding of the pathophysiology for this disorder

Engineering medium-range order and polyamorphism in a nanostructured amorphous alloy

Like crystalline materials, the properties of amorphous materials can be tailored by tuning the local atomic-to-nanoscale structural configurations. Polyamorphism is evident by the coexistence of kinetically stabilized amorphous structures with tailorable short-to-medium-range orders, providing a viable means to engineer the degree of local order and heterogeneity. Here, we report experimental evidence of the coexistence of liquid-like and solid-like amorphous phases in a Ni$_{82}$P$_{18}$ amorphous alloy with enhanced thermal stability and plasticity prepared by pulsed electrodeposition. The two amorphous phases, of comparable volume fraction of ~50% each, have similar short-range order but are distinguished by packing at the medium-range length scale (>6 Å). Upon heating, a structure crossover at ~450 K was observed, where the liquid-like structure transforms to the solid-like structure, as evidenced by the enthalpy release and an anomalous contraction of atomic structure over the medium-range length scale, due to the metastable nature of the liquid-like structure