Next-to-leading order QCD corrections to tZtZ associated production via the flavor-changing neutral-current couplings at hadron colliders

We present the complete next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections to $tZ$ associated production induced by the model-independent $tqg$ and $tqZ$ flavor-changing neutral-current couplings at hadron colliders, respectively. Our results show that, for the $tuZ$ coupling the NLO QCD corrections can enhance the total cross sections by about 60% and 42%, and for the $tcZ$ coupling by about 51% and 43% at the Tevatron and LHC, respectively. The NLO corrections, for the $tug$ couplings, can enhance the total cross sections by about 27%, and by about 42% for the $tcg$ coupling at the LHC. We also consider the mixing effects between the $tqg$ and $tqZ$ couplings for this process, which can either be large or small depending on the values of the anomalous couplings. Besides, the NLO corrections reduce the dependence of the total cross sections on the renormalization or factorization scale significantly, which lead to increased confidence on the theoretical predictions. And we also evaluate the NLO corrections to several important kinematic distributions.Comment: Published version in Phys. Rev.

Study on wave localization in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures

AbstractThe two-dimensional wave propagation and localization in disordered periodic layered 2-2 piezoelectric composite structures are studied by considering the mechanic-electric coupling. The transfer matrix between two consecutive sub-layers is obtained based on the continuity conditions. Regarding the variables of mechanical and electrical fields as the elements of the state vector, the expression of the localization factors in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures is derived. Numerical results are presented for two cases—disorder of the thickness of the polymers and disorder of the piezoelectric and elastic constants of the piezoelectric ceramics. The results show that due to the piezoelectric effects, the characteristics of the wave localization in disordered periodic layered piezoelectric composite structures are different from those in disordered periodic layered purely elastic ones. The wave localization is strengthened due to the piezoelectricity. And the larger the piezoelectric constant is, the larger the wave localization factors are. It is found that slight disorder in the piezoelectric or elastic constants of the piezoelectric ceramics can lead to more prominent localization phenomenon

Design Features and Academic Emotions in Educational Games

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the design features affect the players’ academic emotions in educational games. As a sample, 36 players were recruited to evaluate six electronic games on training players’ abilities to use the games. The researchers averaged their evaluation scores and considered related scales of three games concerning “Balance”, “Rescue” and “Gates of Logic.” Forty participants (19 female and 21 male) were tested on academic emotions and on the Learners’ Psychological Pleasure Scale. Results of this study reveal significant differences in educational games design features and academic emotions, such as a positive correlation between control and positive-high arousal emotions/ concentration and positive-high arousal emotions; a negative correlation between concentration and negative-low arousal emotions/ challenge; and a negative-high arousal emotions/immersion and negative emotions. Therefore, these results may contribute to the emotional design embedded in educational games

Next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the top quark associated with γ\gamma production via model-independent flavor-changing neutral-current couplings at hadron colliders

We present the complete next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections to the top quark associated with $\gamma$ production induced by model-independent $tq\gamma$ and $tqg$ flavor-changing neutral-current (FCNC) couplings at hadron colliders, respectively. We also consider the mixing effects between the $tq\gamma$ and $tqg$ FCNC couplings for this process. Our results show that, for the $tq\gamma$ couplings, the NLO QCD corrections can enhance the total cross sections by about 50% and 40% at the Tevatron and LHC, respectively. Including the contributions from the $tq\gamma$, $tqg$ FCNC couplings and their mixing effects, the NLO QCD corrections can enhance the total cross sections by about 50% for the $tu\gamma$ and $tug$ FCNC couplings, and by about the 80% for the $tc\gamma$ and $tcg$ FCNC couplings at the LHC, respectively. Moreover, the NLO corrections reduce the dependence of the total cross section on the renormalization and factorization scale significantly. We also evaluate the NLO corrections for several important kinematic distributions.Comment: 25 pages, 16 figure

Angiogenesis and Vasculogenesis at 7-Day of Reperfused Acute Myocardial Infarction

Objectives 
This study is to investigate the angiogenesis and vasculogenesis at the first week of reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Methods 
16 of mini-swines (20 to 30 Kg) were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group and the AMI group. The acute myocardial infarction and reperfusion model was created and the pig tail catheter was performed to monitor hemodynamics before left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion, 90 min of LAD occlusion and 120 min of LAD reperfusion. Pathologic myocardial tissue was collected at 7-day of LAD reperfusion and further assessed by immunochemistry, dual immunochemistry, in-situ hybridization, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot. 
Results 
The infarcted area had higher FLK1 mRNA expression than sham-operated area and the normal area (all P<0.05), and the infarcted and marginal areas showed higher CD146 protein expression than the sham-operated area (all P<0.05), but the microvessel density (CD31 positive expression of microvessels/HP) was not significantly different between the infarcted area and the sham-operated area (8.92±3.05 vs 6.43±1.54) at 7-day of reperfused acute myocardial infarction (P>0.05). 
Conclusions 
FLK1 and CD146 expression significantly increase in the infarcted and marginal areas, and the microvessel density is not significantly different between the infarcted area and the sham-operated area, suggesting that angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in the infarcted area appear to high frequency of increase in 7-day of reperfused myocardial infarction. 
&#xa

Acquisition of non-canonical word orders in Mandarin Chinese

To better understand Mandarin-speaking children’s acquisition of non-canonical word orders, we tested comprehension and production of Mandarin non-canonical active ba-construction and passive bei-construction, in comparison with canonical active SVO sentences among 180 children between three and 6 years of age. Our results showed that children had more difficulties with bei-construction compared to SVO sentences in both comprehension and production, but early problems of ba-construction only lied in production. We discussed these patterns in connection with two accounts of language acquisition which attribute language development to the maturation of grammar or to the exposure to the input, respectively

Effect of YiShenJianPi recipe on semen quality and sperm mitochondria in mice with oligoasthenozoospermia induced by tripterygium glycosides

Background：Kidney tonifying - spleen strengthening method being one of the modalities for treatment of astheno-oligozoospermia is currently commonly used in the clinical setting. To investigate the mechanism of YiShenJianPi (YSJP) Recipe, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to benefit “the kidney” and strengthen “the spleen”.Materials and Methods: Oligoasthenozoospermia, male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control, disease model, positive control, low-dosage and high-dosage groups. Oligoasthenozoospermia was induced by tripterygium glucosides intragastric administration before treatment started.Through using computer-aided sperm analysis to test the changes in sperm quality, utilizing flow cytometry to test the percentage of sperm with normal mitochondrial transmembrane potential (JC-1 + %), utilizing X-ray microscopy to observe epididymal sperm ultra-microstructure placing special emphasis and photographing the differences in mitochondria of the flagellum region.Results: Compared with DM, sperm quality of the treated mice was significantly better (P<0.05, respectively). Compared with PC, the LD group had significantly better quality sperms, while the parameters in the HD group were numerically better. Compared with NC, all other groups had significantly lower percentage of sperms with normal mitochondrial membrane potential. In PC, LD and HD groups, the percentage of sperms with normal mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly higher than that of D. The 9+9+2 mitochondrial sheath structure was complete in NC but damaged in DM. In the treatment groups, this structure was fairly clear.Conclusion: YSJP improved semen quality with oligoasthenozoospermia by improving sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and restoring sperm mitochondrial ultrastructure.Keywords: traditional Chinese medicine, oligoasthenozoospermia, semen quality, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ultrastructur