Differentiation of embryonic stem cells into fibroblast-like cells in three-dimensional type I collagen gel cultures

Fibroblasts are heterogeneous mesenchymal cells that play important roles in the production and maintenance of extracellular matrix. Although their heterogeneity is recognized, progenitor progeny relationships among fibroblasts and the factors that control fibroblast differentiation are poorly defined. The current study was designed to develop a reliable method that would permit in vitro differentiation of fibroblast-like cells from human and murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Undifferentiated ESCs were differentiated into embryoid bodies (EBs) with differentiation media. EBs were then cast into type I collagen gels and cultured for 21 d with basal media. The spindle-shaped cells that subsequently grew from the EBs were released from the gels and subsequently cultured as monolayers in basal media supplemented with serum. Differentiated cells showed a characteristic spindle-shaped morphology and had ultrastructural features consistent with fibroblasts. Immunocytochemistry showed positive staining for vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin but was negative for stage-specific embryonic antigens and cytokeratins. Assays of fibroblast function, including proliferation, chemotaxis, and contraction of collagen gels demonstrated that the differentiated cells, derived from both human and murine ESCs, responded to transforming growth factor-β1 and prostaglandin E2 as would be expected of fibroblasts, functions not expected of endothelial or epithelial cells. The current study demonstrates that cells with the morphologic and functional features of fibroblasts can be reliably derived from human and murine ESCs. This methodology provides a means to investigate and define the mechanisms that regulate fibroblast differentiation

Evidence for direct CP violation in B-0 -> K+pi(-) decays

We report evidence for direct CP violation in the decay B-0-->K(+)pi(-) with 253 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. Using 275x10(6) B(B) over bar pairs we observe a B-->K(+/-)pi(-/+) signal with 2140+/-53 events. The measured CP violating asymmetry is A(CP)(K(+)pi(-))=-0.101+/-0.025(stat)+/-0.005(syst), corresponding to a significance of 3.9sigma including systematics. We also search for CP violation in the decays B+-->K(+)pi(0) and B+-->pi(+)pi(0). The measured CP violating asymmetries are A(CP)(K(+)pi(0))=0.04+/-0.05(stat)+/-0.02(syst) and A(CP)(pi(+)pi(0))=-0.02+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.01(syst), corresponding to the intervals -0.05< A(CP)(K(+)pi(0))<0.13 and -0.18< A(CP)(pi(+)pi(0))<0.14 at 90% confidence level

OGLE-2017-BLG-0482Lb: A Microlensing Super-Earth Orbiting a Low-mass Host Star

© 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. We report the discovery of a planetary system in which a super-Earth orbits a late M-dwarf host. The planetary system was found from the analysis of the microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-0482, wherein the planet signal appears as a short-term anomaly to the smooth lensing light curve produced by the host. Despite its weak signal and short duration, the planetary signal was firmly detected from the dense and continuous coverage by three microlensing surveys. We find a planet/host mass ratio of q ∼ 1.4 × 10-4. We measure the microlens parallax from the long-term deviation in the observed lensing light curve, but the angular Einstein radius cannot be measured because the source trajectory did not cross the planet-induced caustic. Using the measured event timescale and the microlens parallax, we find that the masses of the planet and the host are and , respectively, and the projected separation between them is au. The estimated distance to the lens is kpc. The discovery of the planetary system demonstrates that microlensing provides an important method to detect low-mass planets orbiting low-mass stars

Upper bound on the decay tau ->mu gamma from the Belle detector

We have performed a search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay tau-->mugamma using a data sample of 86.3 fb(-1) accumulated by the Belle detector at KEK. No evidence for a signal is seen, and we set an upper limit for the branching fraction of B(tau-->mugamma) < 3.1x10(-7) at the 90% confidence level

Observation of B -> K(*)l(+)l(-)

We report the observation of the flavor-changing neutral current decay B-->K*l(+l-) and an improved measurement of the decay B-->Kl(+l-), where l represents an electron or a muon, with a data sample of 140 fb(-1) accumulated at the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. The results for the branching fractions are B(B-->K*l(+l-))=(11.5(-2.4)(+2.6)+/-0.8+/-0.2)x10(-7) and B(B-->Kl(+l-))=(4.8(-0.9)(+1.0)+/-0.3+/-0.1)x10(-7), where the first error is statistical, the second is systematic and the third is from model dependence

Measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B-0 ->phi K-S(0), (K+K-KS0), and eta K-'(S)0 decays

We present an improved measurement of CP-violation parameters in B-0-->phiK(S)(0), (K+K-KS0), and eta(')K(S)(0) decays based on a 140 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Y(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in one of the specified decay channels, and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. CP-violation parameters for each of the three modes are obtained from the asymmetries in the distributions of the proper-time intervals between the two B decays. We find that the observed CP asymmetry in the B-->phiK(S)(0) decay differs from the standard model (SM) expectation by 3.5 standard deviations, while the other cases are consistent with the SM

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS