A new alpha-emitting isotope U-214, produced by the fusion-evaporation reaction W-182(Ar-36,4n) U-214, was identified by employing the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS and the recoil-a correlation ...technique. More precise a-decay properties of even-even nuclei U-216,U-218 were also measured in the reactions of Ar-40, Ca-40 beams with W-180,W-182,W- 184 targets. By combining the experimental data, improved alpha-decay reduced widths delta(2) for the even-even Po-Pu nuclei in the vicinity of the magic neutron number N = 126 are deduced. Their systematic trends are discussed in terms of the N-p N-n scheme in order to study the influence of protonneutron interaction on a decay in this region of nuclei. It is strikingly found that the reduced widths of( 214,216)U are significantly enhanced by a factor of two as compared with the NpNn systematics for the 84 <= Z <= 90 and N < 126 even-even nuclei. The abnormal enhancement is interpreted by the strong monopole interaction between the valence protons and neutrons occupying the pi 1f (7/2) and nu 1f(5/2) spin-orbit partner orbits, which is supported by the large-scale shell model calculation.
Glycolysis is critical for cancer stem cell reprogramming; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) is enriched in ...breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), whereas depletion of PDK1 remarkably diminishes ALDH
subpopulations, decreases stemness-related transcriptional factor expression, and inhibits sphere-formation ability and tumor growth. Conversely, high levels of PDK1 enhance BCSC properties and are correlated with poor overall survival. In mouse xenograft tumor, PDK1 is accumulated in hypoxic regions and activates glycolysis to promote stem-like traits. Moreover, through screening hypoxia-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in PDK1-positive tissue, we find that lncRNA H19 is responsible for glycolysis and BCSC maintenance. Furthermore, H19 knockdown decreases PDK1 expression in hypoxia, and ablation of PDK1 counteracts H19-mediated glycolysis and self-renewal ability in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, H19 and PDK1 expression exhibits strong correlations in primary breast carcinomas. H19 acting as a competitive endogenous RNA sequesters miRNA let-7 to release Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, leading to an increase in PDK1 expression. Lastly, aspirin markedly attenuates glycolysis and cancer stem-like characteristics by suppressing both H19 and PDK1. Thus, these novel findings demonstrate that the glycolysis gatekeeper PDK1 has a critical role in BCSC reprogramming and provides a potential therapeutic strategy for breast malignancy.
Summary
Our study demonstrated a high incidence of recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after PVP treatment for OVCFs. A risk score based on all significant factors can predict the rate of ...recollapse and gain clinical benefits to prevent recollapse in patients at high risk.
Background
Recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) has obtained much attention. However, little is known about risk factors and score for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae.
Objective
To determine risk factors and furthermore develop a risk score related to recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after PVP treatment for OVCFs.
Methods
Patients who were treated with PVP for single OVCFs and met this study’s inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The follow-up period was at least 2 years. Associations of recollapse with co-variates (age, gender, bone mass density BMD with a T-score, fracture level, intravertebral cleft IVC, fracture type, cement volume, cement leakage, leakage into a disc, cement distribution pattern, Non-PMMA-endplate-contact NPEC, preoperative fracture severity, reduction rate RR, reduction angle RA) were analyzed and a risk score for recollapse was further developed to predict recollapse.
Results
A total of 152 patients were included. Recollapse group was found in 42 (27.6%) patients. Preoperative IVC, solid lump cement distribution pattern, more RR (a cutoff value of 7%) and larger RA (a cutoff value of 3°) was significantly associated with increased risk for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae. A risk score was developed based on the number of risk factors present in each patient. Patients with a score of 4 had an approximately ninefold increased risk of developing recollapse over patients with a score of 0. The receiver operating characteristic curve of the risk score generated an area under the curve of 0.899 (95% CI 0.642–0.836,
P
= 0.000).
Conclusion
A risk score based on preoperative IVC, cement distribution pattern, reduction rate, and reduction angle predicts the rate of recollapse. Additional studies should aim to validate this score and inspect clinical benefits of recollapse prophylaxis in patients at high risk.
Anyons are exotic quasiparticles obeying fractional statistics, whose behavior can be emulated in artificially designed spin systems. Here we present an experimental emulation of creating anyonic ...excitations in a superconducting circuit that consists of four qubits, achieved by dynamically generating the ground and excited states of the toric code model, i.e., four-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states. The anyonic braiding is implemented via single-qubit rotations: a phase shift of π related to braiding, the hallmark of Abelian 1/2 anyons, has been observed through a Ramsey-type interference measurement.
HIAF (High Intensity heavy ion Accelerator Facility), a new facility planned in China for heavy ion related researches, consists of two ion sources, a high intensity Heavy Ion Superconducting Linac ...(HISCL), a 45 Tm Accumulation and Booster Ring (ABR-45) and a multifunction storage ring system. The key features of HIAF are unprecedented high pulse beam intensity and versatile operation mode. The HIAF project aims to expand nuclear and related researches into presently unreachable region and give scientists possibilities to conduct cutting-edge researches in these fields. The general description of the facility is given in this article with a focus on the accelerator design.
Summary
What is known and objectives
Tacrolimus (TAC) is widely used as part of immunosuppressive regimens. There is great interindividual variation on the disposition of TAC. The aim of this study ...was to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model for Chinese liver transplant patients and evaluate genetic polymorphism and other possible factors on the PK parameters. The exposure of TAC is to be estimated through Bayesian modelling.
Methods
A total of 47 sets of rich‐time PK and 1234 conventional therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data were collected from 125 Chinese liver transplant patients. The pathophysiological data of these patients were recorded. CYP3A5*3 and ABCB1 genotypes were determined for each patient. The PPK model for TAC was established by nonlinear mixed‐effects modelling (nonmem). The impact of pathophysiology and genotype on PPK parameters was evaluated. Bayesian estimators for the area under concentration‐time curve (AUC) of TAC were validated.
Results
A two‐compartment model with lag time was found to be the most suitable model for the pooled full PK and TDM data for Chinese liver transplant patients. The CL/F, V2/F, Q/F, V3/F, Ka and lag time were 17.4±0.81 L/h, 165±44.1 L, 54.9±25.8L/h, 594±87.5 L, 0.51±0.095 L/h and 1.57±0.34 h. Post‐operative day (POD), creatinine clearance (CLcr) and ABCB1 C3435T genotypes were found to have significant influences on CL/F (P<.01). ABCB1 C3435T genotypes showed a significant correlation with V2/F (P<.01). C0–C2 and C0–C2–C4 were shown to be suitable for the estimation of AUC in Chinese liver transplant patients.
What is new and conclusion
A PPK model for TAC was established successfully in Chinese liver transplant patients. POD, CLcr and ABCB1 C3435T genotypes were shown to have significant effects on CL/F. The AUC of TAC in Chinese liver transplant patients could be estimated through Bayesian modelling, based on which individualized immunosuppressive regimens can be designed.
Visual predictive check based on the final model in patients with ABCB1 CC (A), CT (B) and TT (C) genotypes. A population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model for tacrolimus (TAC) was established successfully based on 47 sets of rich time PK and 1234 conventional therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data Chinese liver transplant patients. ABCB1 C3435T genotypes were shown to have significant effects on CL/F. The area under concentration‐time curve (AUC) of TAC in Chinese liver‐transplant patients could be estimated through Bayesian modelling, based on which individualized immunosuppressive regimens can be designed.
We compile and analyze approximately 200 trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions of molecular masers associated with very young high-mass stars. Most of the measurements come from the BeSSeL ...Survey using the VLBA and the Japanese VERA project. These measurements strongly suggest that the Milky Way is a four-arm spiral, with some extra arm segments and spurs. Fitting log-periodic spirals to the locations of the masers, allowing for "kinks" in the spirals and using well-established arm tangencies in the fourth Galactic quadrant, allows us to significantly expand our view of the structure of the Milky Way. We present an updated model for its spiral structure and incorporate it into our previously published parallax-based distance-estimation program for sources associated with spiral arms. Modeling the three-dimensional space motions yields estimates of the distance to the Galactic center, , the circular rotation speed at the Sun's position, km s−1, and the nature of the rotation curve. Our data strongly constrain the full circular velocity of the Sun, km s−1, and its angular velocity, km s−1 kpc-1. Transforming the measured space motions to a Galactocentric frame which rotates with the Galaxy, we find non-circular velocity components typically 10 km s−1. However, near the Galactic bar and in a portion of the Perseus arm we find significantly larger non-circular motions. Young high-mass stars within 7 kpc of the Galactic center have a scale height of only 19 pc, and thus are well suited to define the Galactic plane. We find that the orientation of the plane is consistent with the IAU-defined plane to within 0 1, and that the Sun is offset toward the north Galactic pole by pc. Accounting for this offset places the central supermassive black hole, Sgr A*, in the midplane of the Galaxy. The measured motions perpendicular to the plane of the Galaxy limit precession of the plane to 4 km s−1 at the radius of the Sun. Using our improved Galactic parameters, we predict the Hulse-Taylor binary pulsar to be at a distance of 6.54 0.24 kpc, assuming its orbital decay from gravitational radiation follows general relativity.
Non-Hermitian systems generically have complex energies, which may host topological structures, such as links or knots. While there has been great progress in experimentally engineering non-Hermitian ...models in quantum simulators, it remains a significant challenge to experimentally probe complex energies in these systems, thereby making it difficult to directly diagnose complex-energy topology. Here, we experimentally realize a two-band non-Hermitian model with a single trapped ion whose complex eigenenergies exhibit the unlink, unknot, or Hopf link topological structures. Based on non-Hermitian absorption spectroscopy, we couple one system level to an auxiliary level through a laser beam and then experimentally measure the population of the ion on the auxiliary level after a long period of time. Complex eigenenergies are then extracted, illustrating the unlink, unknot, or Hopf link topological structure. Our work demonstrates that complex energies can be experimentally measured in quantum simulators via non-Hermitian absorption spectroscopy, thereby opening the door for exploring various complex-energy properties in non-Hermitian quantum systems, such as trapped ions, cold atoms, superconducting circuits, or solid-state spin systems.
Aims
To purify and characterize the biosurfactants produced by Achromobacter sp. HZ01.
Methods and Results
After fermentation, one biosurfactant was successfully purified from the fermentation broth ...of strain HZ01 by centrifugation, extraction using ethyl acetate, silica gel chromatography and reversed phase–high performance liquid chromatography. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the biosurfactant and the effects of temperatures, pH and salinities on its stability were determined. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, analysis of fatty acids and amino acids and mass spectrometry were used to characterize the biosurfactant. The maximum production yield of the crude biosurfactant reached to 6·84 g l−1 after incubation for 96 h. Except the favourable adaptability to a wide range of temperatures, pH and salinities, the biosurfactant with a CMC value of 48 mg l−1 could efficiently emulsify diverse hydrophobic compounds. The chemical formula of this biosurfactant was confirmed to be CH3‐(CH2)17‐CHO‐CH2‐CO‐Gly‐Gly‐Leu‐Met‐Leu‐Leu, in which the oxygen atom of group CHO linked to the last amino acid (Leu), a structure had never been reported before.
Conclusions
The purified biosurfactant is a novel cyclic lipopeptide.
Significance and Impact of the Study
One novel lipopeptide was purified and characterized. The novel biosurfactant exhibited good potential applications, such as bioremediation.
Accurate prediction of extrathyroidal extension and subsequent recurrence is crucial in papillary thyroid cancer clinical management. Our aim was to conduct iodine map-based radiomics to predict ...extrathyroidal extension and to explore its prognostic value for recurrence-free survival in papillary thyroid cancer.
A total of 452 patients with papillary thyroid cancer were retrospectively recruited between June 2017 and June 2020. Radiomics features were extracted from noncontrast images, dual-phase mixed images, and iodine maps, respectively. Random forest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were applied to build 6 radiomics scores (noncontrast radiomics score_random forest; noncontrast rad-score_LASSO; mixed rad-score_random forest; mixed rad-score_LASSO; iodine radiomics score_random forest; iodine radiomics score_LASSO) respectively. Logistic regression was used to construct 6 radiomics models incorporating 6 radiomics scores with clinical risk factors and to compare them with the clinical model. A radiomics model that achieved the highest performance was presented as a nomogram and assessed by discrimination, calibration, clinical usefulness, and prognosis evaluation.
Iodine radiomics scores performed significantly better than mixed radiomics scores. Both of them outperformed noncontrast radiomics scores. Iodine map-based radiomics models significantly surpassed the clinical model. A radiomics nomogram incorporating size, capsule contact, and iodine radiomics score_random forest was built with the highest performance (training set, area under the curve = 0.78; validation set, area under the curve = 0.84). Stratified analysis confirmed the nomogram stability, especially in group negative for CT-reported extrathyroidal extension (area under the curve = 0.69). Nomogram-predicted extrathyroidal extension risk was an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival. A high risk for extrathyroidal extension portended significantly lower recurrence-free survival than low risk (
< .001).
Iodine map-based radiomics might be a supporting tool for predicting extrathyroidal extension and subsequent recurrence risk in patients with papillary thyroid cancer, thus facilitating clinical decision-making.
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