Free-electron lasers (FELs) are fourth-generation light sources that deliver extremely high intensity, ultrashort light pulses over a broad wavelength range from far-infrared to hard x ray. FELs ...based on the self-amplified spontaneous emission principle have been successfully operated with ultrahigh brightness and a broad wavelengths tuning range with good transverse coherence but poor temporal coherence. In contrast, the laser-seeded FELs have provided full coherence but at selected central wavelengths, usually the harmonics of the laser seeds, with relatively narrower tuning range. We report the experimental demonstration of a high-gain harmonic-generation (HGHG) FEL that is continuously tunable over a wide range using the combination of optical parametrical amplification, variable-gap undulator, and harmonic selection, where the temporal coherence is preserved as confirmed with the Michelson interferometry. In order to achieve higher photon energies, the first try of cascaded HGHG with a fresh-bunch technique is also made at the Shanghai Deep Ultraviolet Free-electron Laser test facility.
Based on ( 2.712 ± 0.014 ) × 10 9 ψ ( 3686 ) events collected by the BESIII Collaboration, evidence of the hadronic decay h c → K S 0 K + π − + c . c . is found with a significance of 4.3 σ in the ψ ...( 3686 ) → π 0 h c process. The branching fraction of h c → K S 0 K + π − + c . c . is measured to be ( 7.3 ± 1.8 ± 0.8 ) × 10 − 4 , where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. Combining with the exclusive decay width of η c → K K ¯ π , our result indicates inconsistencies with both pQCD and NRQCD predictions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
The Born cross sections of the processes $e^+e^–$ → $ωπ^0$ and $e^+e^–$ → $ωη$ are measured at center-of-mass energies between 3.773 and 4.701 GeV using a total integrated luminosity of 22.7 fb–1 ...collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider. A simple $s^{-n}$ dependence for the continuum process can describe the measured Born cross sections. No significant contributions from the ψ(4160), Y(4230), Y(4360), ψ(4415), Y(4660) resonances are found, which indicates relative small branching fractions for these resonances into the $ωπ^0$ and $ωη$ final states.
Using data samples with an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb − 1 collected by the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.66 GeV to 4.95 GeV, we study the processes of e + e − → ω X ( ...3872 ) and e + e − → γ X ( 3872 ) . With the e + e − → ω X ( 3872 ) process, the branching fraction ratio R ≡ B ( X ( 3872 ) → γ J / ψ ) B ( X ( 3872 ) → π + π − J / ψ ) is measured to be 0.38 ± 0.2 0 stat ± 0.0 1 syst ( R < 0.83 at 90% confidence level). In addition, we measure the ratio of the average cross section of e + e − → ω X ( 3872 ) to e + e − → ω χ c 1 ( ω χ c 2 ) to be σ ω X ( 3872 ) / σ ω χ c 1 ( σ ω X ( 3872 ) / σ ω χ c 2 ) = 5.2 ± 1.0 stat ± 1.9 syst ( 5.5 ± 1.1 stat ± 2.4 syst ) . Finally, we search for the process of e + e − → γ X ( 3872 ) , and no obvious signal is observed. The upper limit on the ratio of the average cross section of e + e − → γ X ( 3872 ) to e + e − → ω X ( 3872 ) is set as σ γ X ( 3872 ) / σ ω X ( 3872 ) < 0.23 at 90% confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
The cause of preeclampsia remains unclear. Limited data suggest that excess circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), which binds placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular ...endothelial growth factor (VEGF), may have a pathogenic role.
We performed a nested case-control study within the Calcium for Preeclampsia Prevention trial, which involved healthy nulliparous women. Each woman with preeclampsia was matched to one normotensive control. A total of 120 pairs of women were randomly chosen. Serum concentrations of angiogenic factors (total sFlt-1, free PlGF, and free VEGF) were measured throughout pregnancy; there were a total of 655 serum specimens. The data were analyzed cross-sectionally within intervals of gestational age and according to the time before the onset of preeclampsia.
During the last two months of pregnancy in the normotensive controls, the level of sFlt-1 increased and the level of PlGF decreased. These changes occurred earlier and were more pronounced in the women in whom preeclampsia later developed. The sFlt-1 level increased beginning approximately five weeks before the onset of preeclampsia. At the onset of clinical disease, the mean serum level in the women with preeclampsia was 4382 pg per milliliter, as compared with 1643 pg per milliliter in controls with fetuses of similar gestational age (P<0.001). The PlGF levels were significantly lower in the women who later had preeclampsia than in the controls beginning at 13 to 16 weeks of gestation (mean, 90 pg per milliliter vs. 142 pg per milliliter, P=0.01), with the greatest difference occurring during the weeks before the onset of preeclampsia, coincident with the increase in the sFlt-1 level. Alterations in the levels of sFlt-1 and free PlGF were greater in women with an earlier onset of preeclampsia and in women in whom preeclampsia was associated with a small-for-gestational-age infant.
Increased levels of sFlt-1 and reduced levels of PlGF predict the subsequent development of preeclampsia.
Based on a sample of ( 448.1 ± 2.9 ) × 10 6 ψ ( 3686 ) events collected with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, the decays of ψ ( 3686 ) → K − Λ Ξ ¯ + + c . c . with Ξ ¯ + → Λ ¯ π + , Λ ¯ → p ¯ π + are ...studied. We investigate the two excited resonances, Ξ ( 1690 ) − and Ξ ( 1820 ) − , which are each observed with large significance ( ≫ 10 σ ) in the K − Λ invariant mass distributions. A partial wave analysis is performed, and the spin-parities of Ξ ( 1690 ) − and Ξ ( 1820 ) − are measured to be 1 2 − and 3 2 − , respectively. The masses, widths, and product branching fractions of Ξ ( 1690 ) − and Ξ ( 1820 ) − are also measured. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
We search for an axion-like particle (ALP) a through the process psi (3686) ->pi+pi-J/psi, J/psi -> gamma a, a -> gamma gamma in a data sample of (2.71 + 0.01) x 109 psi (3686) events ...collected by the BESIII detector. No significant ALP signal is observed over the expected background, and the upper limits on the branching fraction of the decay J/psi -> gamma a and the ALP-photon coupling constant ga gamma gamma are set at 95% confidence level in the mass range of 0.165 < ma < 2.84 GeV/c2. The limits on B(J/psi -> gamma a) range from 8.3 x 10-8 to 1.8 x 10-6 over the search region, and the constraints on the ALP-photon coupling are the most stringent to date for 0.165 < ma < 1.468 GeV/c2. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons .org /licenses /by /4 .0/). Funded by SCOAP3.
Using e + e − collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 892 pb − 1 collected at center-of-mass energies from 4.84 to 4.95 GeV with the BESIII detector, we search for the process e ...+ e − → K + K − ψ ( 3770 ) by reconstructing two charged kaons and one D meson from ψ ( 3770 ) . No significant signal of e + e − → K + K − ψ ( 3770 ) is found and the upper limits of the Born cross sections are reported at 90% confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Using a data sample of e + e − collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19 fb − 1 collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we search for the production of ...deuterons and antideuterons via e + e − → p p π − d ¯ + c . c . for the first time at center-of-mass energies between 4.13 and 4.70 GeV. No significant signal is observed and the upper limit of the e + e − → p p π − d ¯ + c . c . cross section is determined to be from 9.0 to 145 fb depending on the center-of-mass energy at the 90% confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) with suitable bio-compatible coatings have been used in biomedicine, particularly in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tissue engineering, and drug ...delivery applications. In this study, we describe the synthesis of SPION and its use for experimental in-vivo applications in MRI. SPION with a mean size of 6 nm have been prepared under inert atmosphere, in a polymeric starch matrix, by controlled chemical coprecipitation of magnetite phase from aqueous solutions containing suitable salts of Fe2+ and Fe3+. X-ray powder diffraction was used to confirm a pure magnetite phase for the SPION. The influence of oxidizing agents on the cleavage of the starch chains was investigated by changing the concentration of H2O2. An aqueous solution of H2O2/NaOH cleaves the glycosidic bonds and reduces the polymer chains to a critical average molecular weight. From the dynamic light scattering (DLS) size distribution, the bulk agglomeration size was decreased by approximately 50% of the bulk size when treated by H2O2. Freshly synthesized starch-coated SPION in buffered artificial cerebro-spinal fluid were injected into the brain parenchyma of anaesthetized rats for in-vivo monitoring. Analysis of T 2 *-weighted images and T 2 *-maps revealed formation of a concentration gradient for the SPION at the injection site, indicating SPION dispersion in the living brain parenchyma from the center of the injection site toward the periphery. The starch-coated SPION show a biocompatibility and possibility of being transported in the extracellular space as well as being internalized in nerve cells.
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