The NLR family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays an important role in liver fibrosis (LF) development. However, the mechanisms involved in NLRP3‐induced fibrosis are unclear. Our ...aim was to test the hypothesis that the NLRP3 inflammasome in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can directly regulate their activation and contribute to LF. Primary HSCs isolated from wild‐type (WT), Nlrp3–/–, or Nlrp3L351PneoR knock‐in crossed to inducible (estrogen receptor Cre‐CreT) mice were incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), or 4OH‐tamoxifen, respectively. HSC‐specific Nlrp3L351P knock‐in mice were generated by crossing transgenic mice expressing lecithin retinol acyltransferase (Lrat)‐driven Cre and maintained on standard rodent chow for 6 months. Mice were then sacrificed; liver tissue and serum were harvested. Nlrp3 inflammasome activation along with HSC phenotype and fibrosis were assessed by RT‐PCR, western blotting, fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS), enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Stimulated WT HSCs displayed increased levels of NLRP3 inflammasome‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cathepsin B activity, accompanied by an up‐regulation of mRNA and protein levels of fibrotic makers, an effect abrogated in Nlrp3–/– HSCs. Nlrp3L351P CreT HSCs also showed elevated mRNA and protein expression of fibrotic markers 24 hours after inflammasome activation induced with 4‐hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT). Protein and mRNA expression levels of fibrotic markers were also found to be increased in isolated HSCs and whole liver tissue from Nlrp3L351P Lrat Cre mice compared to WT. Liver sections from 24‐week‐old NlrpL351P Lrat Cre mice showed fibrotic changes with increased alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and desmin‐positive cells and collagen deposition, independent of inflammatory infiltrates; these changes were also observed after LPS challenge in 8‐week‐old NlrpL351P Lrat Cre mice. Conclusion: Our results highlight a direct role for the NLRP3 inflammasome in the activation of HSCs directly triggering LF.
Using data collected with the BESIII detector in e(+)e(-) collisions at center-of-mass energies between 4.178 and 4.226 GeV and corresponding to 6.32 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity, we report the ...amplitude analysis and branching-fraction measurement of the D-s(+) -> pi(+)pi(0)eta' decay. We find that the dominant intermediate process is D-s(+) -> rho(+)eta' and the significances of other resonant and nonresonant processes are all less than 3 sigma. The upper limits on the branching fractions of S-wave and P-wave nonresonant components are set to 0.10% and 0.74% at the 90% confidence level, respectively. In addition, the branching fraction of the D-s(+) -> pi(+)pi(0)eta' decay is measured to be (6.15 +/- 0.25(stat.) +/- 0.18(syst.))%, which receives significant contribution only from D-s(+) -> rho(+)eta' according to the amplitude analysis.
Abstract We report the first measurement of the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive decay $$\Lambda _c^+ \rightarrow K_S^0X$$ Λ c + → K S 0 X . The analysis is performed using an $$e^+e^-$$ ...e + e - collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567 $$\hbox {pb}^{-1}$$ pb - 1 taken at $$\sqrt{s}$$ s = 4.6 GeV with the BESIII detector. Using eleven Cabibbo-favored $${\bar{\Lambda }}_c^-$$ Λ ¯ c - decay modes and the double-tag technique, this absolute branching fraction is measured to be $${\mathcal {B}}(\Lambda _c^+ \rightarrow K_S^0X)=(9.9\pm 0.6\pm 0.4)\%$$ B ( Λ c + → K S 0 X ) = ( 9.9 ± 0.6 ± 0.4 ) % , where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The relative deviation between the branching fractions for the inclusive decay and the observed exclusive decays is $$(18.7\pm 8.3)\%$$ ( 18.7 ± 8.3 ) % , which indicates that there may be some unobserved decay modes with a neutron or excited baryons in the final state.
Abstract Using a sample of $$1.31\times 10^{9} ~J/\psi $$ 1.31×109J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, we perform a study of $$J/\psi \rightarrow \gamma K{\bar{K}}\eta '$$ J/ψ→γKK¯η′ . ...X(2370) is observed in the $$K{\bar{K}}\eta '$$ KK¯η′ invariant-mass distribution with a statistical significance of $$8.3\sigma $$ 8.3σ . Its resonance parameters are measured to be $$M=2341.6\pm 6.5 \, \text {(stat.)} \pm 5.7 \, \text {(syst.)}~ \hbox {MeV}/c^{2}$$ M=2341.6±6.5(stat.)±5.7(syst.)MeV/c2 and $$\Gamma = 117\pm 10 \, \text {(stat.)}\pm 8 \, \text {(syst.)}~\hbox {MeV}$$ Γ=117±10(stat.)±8(syst.)MeV . The product branching fractions for $$J/\psi \rightarrow \gamma X(2370),X(2370)\rightarrow K^{+}K^{-}\eta '$$ J/ψ→γX(2370),X(2370)→K+K-η′ and $$J/\psi \rightarrow \gamma X(2370),X(2370)\rightarrow K_{S}^{0}K_{S}^{0}\eta '$$ J/ψ→γX(2370),X(2370)→KS0KS0η′ are determined to be $$(1.79\pm 0.23\, \text {(stat.)}\pm 0.65\,\text {(syst.)})\times 10^{-5}$$ (1.79±0.23(stat.)±0.65(syst.))×10-5 and $$(1.18\pm 0.32\, \text {(stat.)}\pm 0.39\, \text {(syst.)})\times 10^{-5}$$ (1.18±0.32(stat.)±0.39(syst.))×10-5 , respectively. No evident signal for X(2120) is observed in the $$K{\bar{K}}\eta '$$ KK¯η′ invariant-mass distribution. The upper limits for the product branching fractions of $${\mathcal {B}}(J/\psi \rightarrow \gamma X(2120)\rightarrow \gamma K^{+} K^{-} \eta ')$$ B(J/ψ→γX(2120)→γK+K-η′) and $${\mathcal {B}}(J/\psi \rightarrow \gamma X(2120)\rightarrow \gamma K_{S}^{0} K_{S}^{0} \eta ')$$ B(J/ψ→γX(2120)→γKS0KS0η′) are determined to be $$1.49\times 10^{-5}$$ 1.49×10-5 and $$6.38\times 10^{-6}$$ 6.38×10-6 at the 90% confidence level, respectively.
A methodology developed for technology-oriented emission forecasts is outlined. It comprises predictions of activity rates for all anthropogenic emission sources as well as assessment of the ageing ...and technology substitution processes of individual installations or equipment, and combines these with submodules that calculate emissions for each subsector on an annual basis. All data necessary to apply this methodology for the pre-1995 12 European Union member states (i.e. Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom) have been collected and are included in databanks of a computer model called CASPER. The results of a run performed with the model according to a realistic base case scenario are presented and discussed.
Abstract We measured the Born cross sections for the process e + e − → ωη′ at 22 center-of-mass energies from 2.000 to 3.080 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We observed a ...resonant structure with a statistical significance of 9.6σ. A Breit-Wigner fit determines its mass to be M R = (2153 ± 30 ± 31) MeV/c 2 and its width to be Γ R = (167 ± 77 ± 7) MeV, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.
Abstract Using e + e − annihilation data sets corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb −1, collected with the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4.600 and 4.699 GeV, we ...report the first measurements of the absolute branching fractions B Λ c + → p K L 0 $$ \mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to p{K}_L^0\right) $$ = (1.67 ± 0.06 ± 0.04)%, B Λ c + → p K L 0 π + π − $$ \mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to p{K}_L^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}\right) $$ = (1.69 ± 0.10 ± 0.05)%, and B Λ c + → p K L 0 π 0 $$ \mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to p{K}_L^0{\pi}^0\right) $$ = (2.02 ± 0.13 ± 0.05)%, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic. Combining with the known branching fractions of Λ c + → p K S 0 $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+}\to p{K}_S^0 $$ , Λ c + → p K S 0 π + π − $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+}\to p{K}_S^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-} $$ , and Λ c + → p K S 0 π 0 $$ {\Lambda}_c^{+}\to p{K}_S^0{\pi}^0 $$ , we present the first measurements of the K S 0 $$ {K}_S^0 $$ - K L 0 $$ {K}_L^0 $$ asymmetries R Λ c + K S , L 0 X = B Λ c + → K S 0 X − B Λ c + → K L 0 X B Λ c + → K S 0 X + B Λ c + → K L 0 X $$ R\left({\Lambda}_c^{+},{K}_{S,L}^0X\right)=\frac{\mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to {K}_S^0X\right)-\mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to {K}_L^0X\right)}{\mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to {K}_S^0X\right)+\mathcal{B}\left({\Lambda}_c^{+}\to {K}_L^0X\right)} $$ in charmed baryon decays: R Λ c + p K S , L 0 = − 0.025 ± 0.031 $$ R\left({\Lambda}_c^{+},p{K}_{S,L}^0\right)=-0.025\pm 0.031 $$ , R Λ c + p K S , L 0 π + π − = − 0.027 ± 0.048 $$ R\left({\Lambda}_c^{+},p{K}_{S,L}^0{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}\right)=-0.027\pm 0.048 $$ and R Λ c + p K S , L 0 π 0 = − 0.015 ± 0.046 $$ R\left({\Lambda}_c^{+},p{K}_{S,L}^0{\pi}^0\right)=-0.015\pm 0.046 $$ . No significant asymmetries with statistical significance are observed.
Abstract The processes h c → γP (P = η′, η, π 0) are studied with a sample of (27.12 ± 0.14) × 108 ψ(3686) events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The decay h c → γη is ...observed for the first time with the significance of 9.0 σ, and the branching fraction is determined to be (3.77 ± 0.55 ± 0.13 ± 0.26) × 10 −4, while B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (h c → γη′) is measured to be (1.40 ± 0.11 ± 0.04 ± 0.10) × 10 −3, where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second systematic, and the third from the branching fraction of ψ(3686) → π 0 h c . The combination of these results allows for a precise determination of R h c = B h c → γη B h c → γ η ′ , $$ {R}_{h_c}=\frac{\mathcal{B}\left({h}_c\to {\pi}^0\gamma \eta \right)}{\mathcal{B}\left({h}_c\to {\pi}^0\gamma {\eta}^{\prime}\right)}, $$ which is calculated to be (27.0 ± 4.4 ± 1.0)%. The results are valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of η − η′ mixing, and its manifestation within quantum chromodynamics. No significant signal is found for the decay h c → γπ 0, and an upper limit is placed on its branching fraction of B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (h c → γπ 0) < 5.0 × 10 −5, at the 90% confidence level.
Abstract Using (27.12 ± 0.14) × 108 ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, the decay of ψ(3686) → Ω − K + Ξ ¯ 0 $$ {\varOmega}^{-}{K}^{+}{\overline{\Xi}}^0 $$ + c.c. is observed ...for the first time. The branching fraction of this decay is measured to be B ψ 3686 → Ω − K + Ξ ¯ 0 + c . c . $$ {\mathcal{B}}_{\psi (3686)\to {\varOmega}^{-}{K}^{+}{\overline{\Xi}}^0+\textrm{c}.\textrm{c}.} $$ = (2.78 ± 0.40 ± 0.18) × 10 −6, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Possible baryon excited states are searched for in this decay, but no evident intermediate state is observed with the current sample size.
Abstract Using e + e − collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at center-of-mass energies between 3.510 and 4.914 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 25 ...fb −1, we measure the Born cross sections for the process e + e − → K − Ξ ¯ + Λ / Σ 0 $$ {e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda /{\Sigma}^0 $$ at thirty-five energy points with a partial-reconstruction strategy. By fitting the dressed cross sections of e + e − → K − Ξ ¯ + Λ / Σ 0 $$ {e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda /{\Sigma}^0 $$ , evidence for ψ 4160 → K − Ξ ¯ + Λ $$ \psi (4160)\to {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda $$ is found for the first time with a significance of 4.4σ, including systematic uncertainties. No evidence for other possible resonances is found. In addition, the products of electronic partial width and branching fraction for all assumed resonances decaying into K − Ξ ¯ + Λ / Σ 0 $$ {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda /{\Sigma}^0 $$ are determined.
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