On the nature of the lightest scalar resonances

We briefly review the recent progresses in the new unitarization approach being developed by us. Especially we discuss the large $N_c$ $\pi\pi$ scatterings by making use of the partial wave $S$ matrix parametrization form. We find that the $\sigma$ pole may move to the negative real axis on the second sheet of the complex $s$ plane, therefore it raises the interesting question that this `$\sigma$' pole may be related to the $\sigma$ in the linear $\sigma$ model.Comment: Talk presented by Zheng at ``Quark Confinement and Hadron Spectroscopy VI'', 21--25 Sept. 2004, Cagliari, Italy. 3 pages with 2 figure

Analyticity and the NcN_c counting rule of SS matrix poles

By studying $\pi\pi$ scattering amplitudes in the large $N_c$ limit, we clarify the $N_c$ dependence of the $S$ matrix pole position. It is demonstrated that analyticity and the $N_c$ counting rule exclude the existence of $S$ matrix poles with ${\cal M}, \Gamma\sim O(1)$. Especially the properties of $\sigma$ and $f_0(980)$ with respect to the $1/N_c$ expansion are discussed. We point out that in general tetra-quark resonances do not exist.Comment: This paper replaces hep-ph/0412175. The latter is withdraw

Effects of polysaccharide from Lycium barbarum in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of polysaccharide from Lycium barbarum (LBP) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The various parameters studied included body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in diabetic and normal mice. LBP treatment(20, 40 mg/ kg body weight) for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in diabetes mellitus mice. Furthermore, LBP significantly increased body weight (bw). The data demonstrated LBP at the dose of 40 mg/kg bw exhibited the optimal effect

Inherent-opening-controlled pattern formation in carbon nanotube arrays

We have introduced inherent openings into densely packed carbon nanotube arrays to study self-organized pattern formation when the arrays undergo a wetting–dewetting treatment from nanotube tips. These inherent openings, made of circular or elongated hollows in nanotube mats, serve as dewetting centres, from where liquid recedes from. As the dewetting centres initiate dry zones and the dry zones expand, surrounding nanotubes are pulled away from the dewetting centres by liquid surface tension. Among short nanotubes, the self-organized patterns are consistent with the shape of the inherent openings, i.e. slender openings lead to elongated trench-like structures, and circular holes result in relatively round nest-like arrangements. Nanotubes in a relatively high mat are more connected, like in an elastic body, than those in a short mat. Small cracks often initialize themselves in a relatively high mat, along two or more adjacent round openings; each of the cracks evolves into a trench as liquid dries up. Self-organized pattern control with inherent openings needs to initiate the dewetting process above the nanotube tips. If there is no liquid on top, inherent openings barely enlarge themselves after the wetting–dewetting treatment

Circulating lipocalin-2 and retinol-binding protein 4 are associated with intima-media thickness and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes

The lipocalin family proteins, including lipocalin-2 and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), are adipokines closely associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders. In this study, we evaluated the association of serum lipocalin-2 and RBP4 with intima-media thickness (IMT) and subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum levels of lipocalin-2 and RBP4 were measured in 284 type 2 diabetic patients. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by IMT at carotid, femoral and iliac arteries with ultrasound. Patients with subclinical atherosclerosis showed significantly higher circulating concentrations of lipocalin-2 and RBP4 when compared to those without [112.9 (86.4 to 202.1) µg/L versus 77.2(55.0-150.4) µg/L, 37.1(32.3-40.8) mg/L versus 23.2(20.1-29.2) mg/L, respectively; P = 0.002, P<0.001, respectively]. Moreover, positive correlations were observed between carotid IMT and lipocalin-2 (r = 0.170, P = 0.018) or RBP4 (r = 0.132, P = 0.040), femoral IMT and lipocalin-2 (r = 0.160, P = 0.027), as well as between iliac IMT and RBP4 (r = 0.241, P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis further demonstrated that these two adipokines were independent risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: Background: Circulating levels of lipocalin-2 and RBP4 are positively correlated with carotid IMT and subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes, which suggests a potential role of these two lipid-binding chaperones in the pathogenesis of vascular complications of diabetes.published_or_final_versio

Three-dimensional magnetic flux rope structure formed by multiple sequential X-line reconnection at the magnetopause

On 14 June 2007, four Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms spacecraft observed a flux transfer event (FTE) on the dayside magnetopause, which has been previously proved to be generated by multiple, sequential X-line reconnection (MSXR) in a 2-D context. This paper reports a further study of the MSXR event to show the 3-D viewpoint based on additional measurements. The 3-D structure of the FTE flux rope across the magnetospheric boundary is obtained on the basis of multipoint measurements taken on both sides of the magnetopause. The flux rope&apos;s azimuthally extended section is found to lie approximately on the magnetopause surface and parallel to the X-line direction; while the axis of the magnetospheric branch is essentially along the local unperturbed magnetospheric field lines. In the central region of the flux rope, as distinct from the traditional viewpoint, we find from the electron distributions that two types of magnetic field topology coexist: opened magnetic field lines connecting the magnetosphere and the magnetosheath and closed field lines connecting the Southern and Northern hemispheres. We confirm, therefore, for the first time, the characteristic feature of the 3-D reconnected magnetic flux rope, formed through MSXR, through a determination of the field topology and the plasma distributions within the flux rope. Knowledge of the complex geometry of FTE flux ropes will improve our understanding of solar wind-magnetosphere interaction.Astronomy &amp; AstrophysicsSCI(E)5ARTICLE51904-191111

Energy deposition by heavy ions: Additivity of kinetic and potential energy contributions in hillock formation on CaF2

The formation of nano-hillocks on CaF2 crystal surfaces by individual ion impact has been studied using medium energy (3 and 5 MeV) highly charged ions (Xe19+ to Xe30+) as well as swift (kinetic energies between 12 and 58 MeV) heavy ions. For very slow highly charged ions the appearance of hillocks is known to be linked to a threshold in potential energy while for swift heavy ions a minimum electronic energy loss is necessary. With our results we bridge the gap between these two extreme cases and demonstrate, that with increasing energy deposition via electronic energy loss the potential energy threshold for hillock production can be substantially lowered. Surprisingly, both mechanisms of energy deposition in the target surface seem to contribute in an additive way, as demonstrated when plotting the results in a phase diagram. We show that the inelastic thermal spike model, originally developed to describe such material modifications for swift heavy ions, can be extended to case where kinetic and potential energies are deposited into the surface.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

An ultrathin rechargeable solid-state zinc ion fiber battery for electronic textiles.

Electronic textiles (e-textiles), having the capability of interacting with the human body and surroundings, are changing our everyday life in fundamental and meaningful ways. Yet, the expansion of the field of e-textiles is still limited by the lack of stable and biocompatible power sources with aesthetic designs. Here, we report a rechargeable solid-state Zn/MnO2 fiber battery with stable cyclic performance exceeding 500 hours while maintaining 98.0% capacity after more than 1000 charging/recharging cycles. The mechanism of the high electrical and mechanical performance due to the graphene oxide–embedded polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel electrolytes was rationalized by Monte Carlo simulation and finite element analysis. With a collection of key features including thin, light weight, economic, and biocompatible as well as high energy density, the Zn/MnO2 fiber battery could seamlessly be integrated into a multifunctional on-body e-textile, which provides a stable power unit for continuous and simultaneous heart rate, temperature, humidity, and altitude monitoring

Correlation of interfacial bonding mechanism and equilibrium conductance of molecular junctions

We report theoretical investigations on the role of interfacial bonding mechanism and its resulting structures to quantum transport in molecular wires. Two bonding mechanisms for the Au-S bond in an Au(111)/1,4-benzenedithiol(BDT)/Au(111) junction were identified by ab initio calculation, confirmed by a recent experiment, which, we showed, critically control charge conduction. It was found, for Au/ BDT/Au junctions, the hydrogen atom, bound by a dative bond to the Sulfur, is energetically non-dissociative after the interface formation. The calculated conductance and junction breakdown forces of H-non-dissociative Au/BDT/Au devices are consistent with the experimental values, while the H-dissociated devices, with the interface governed by typical covalent bonding, give conductance more than an order of magnitude larger. By examining the scattering states that traverse the junctions, we have revealed that mechanical and electric properties of a junction have strong correlation with the bonding configuration. This work clearly demonstrates that the interfacial details, rather than previously believed many-body effects, is of vital importance for correctly predicting equilibrium conductance of molecular junctions; and manifests that the interfacial contact must be carefully understood for investigating quantum transport properties of molecular nanoelectronics.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, to be appeared in Frontiers of Physics 9(6), 780 (2014