We report the first observation of a$0\atop{0}$(980)-f0(980) mixing in the decays of J/$\psi$ → Φf0(980) → Φa$0\atop{0}$(980) → Φηπ0 and χc1 → a$0\atop{0}$(980)π0 → f0(980)π0 → π+ π- π0, using data ...samples of 1.31 × 109 J/$\psi$ events and 4.48 × 108 $\psi$(3686) events accumulated with the BESIII detector. The signals of f0(980) → a$0\atop{0}$(980) and a$0\atop{0}$(980) → f0(980) mixing are observed with a statistical significance of 7.4σ and 5.5σ, respectively. The corresponding branching fractions and mixing intensities are measured, and the constraint regions on the coupling constants, ga0K+K- and gf0K+K-, are estimated. The results improve the understanding of the nature of a$0\atop{0}$(980) and f0(980).
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Using a data set of 2.93 fb taken at a center-of-mass energy root s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we perform a search for an extra U(1) gauge boson, also denoted as a ...dark photon. We examine the initial state radiation reactions e(+)e(-) -> e(+)e(-) gamma(ISR) and e(+)e(-) -> mu(+)mu(-) gamma(ISR) for this search, where the dark photon would appear as an enhancement in the invariant mass distribution of the leptonic pairs. We observe no obvious enhancement in the mass range between 1.5 and 3.4 GeV/c(2) and set a 90% confidence level upper limit on the mixing strength of the dark photon and the Standard Model photon. We obtain a competitive limit in the tested mass range.
Epigenetic mutations caused by pollutants are possibly linked to many diseases. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is one of the most representative air pollutants and has aroused wide concern because of its ...strong carcinogenicity. The reproductive toxicity induced by BaP has been identified, but little is known about the characteristics of the methylation changes induced by BaP. In this study, a methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing method was used to detect the methylation of sperm DNA of rats exposed to BaP. Compared with the respective genes in normal rats, there were 3227 hypomethylated genes and 828 hypermethylated genes after BaP exposure. Gene ontology enrichment analysis reported that differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were enriched in the localization, single-multicellular organism process and plasma membrane. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that the DMGs were significantly enriched in the Ras signalling pathway, Rap1 signalling pathway, pancreatic secretion and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction. DisGeNET disease spectrum analysis showed that DMGs were associated with infertility and certain genetic diseases. Further research needs to be done to explore whether these abnormal methylation are transgenerational.
Aluminum-doped ZnO (ZnO:Al) films were prepared at room temperature in pure argon ambient on glass substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The influence of sputtering power, deposition pressure and ...film thickness on the film properties was investigated. The deposited ZnO:Al films were characterized to examine the electrical, optical, and structural properties for the application of thin copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells. The deposition parameters of ZnO:Al films were optimized. The optimized ZnO:Al films showed a strong and sharp (0
0
2) X-ray diffraction peak. The 600–800
nm thick ZnO–Al films showed a high transparency above 85% in the visible range and a sheet resistance low to 10
Ω/□. CIGS solar cells with 1.2
μm thick absorbers were fabricated using bi-layer ZnO films (low resistive and thick ZnO:Al/high resistive and transparent thin i-ZnO) as front contacts. The thin absorber layers were prepared by the low cost technique involving co-sputtering of Cu–Ga alloy and In targets and selenization with Se powders. Efficiencies of the order of 6–7% were achieved for the manufactured thin CIGS solar cells without antireflective films. The results demonstrated that RF sputtered ZnO:Al films are suitable for application in low cost and thin CIGS solar cells as transparent conductive electrode layers.
CO481 corn inbred line Kebede, A.Z.; Voloaca, C.; Wu, J. ...
Canadian journal of plant science,
02/2024, Volume:
104, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
CO481 is an early maturing (57–58 days to flowering, 1283–1310 crop heat units (CHUs)) yellow, semi-dent inbred line. CO481 has mixed heterotic group and combines well with stiff stalk testers to ...produce hybrids with high grain yield. Additional key features include fast kernel drydown rate and moderate to high resistance to gibberella ear rot. CO481 is most suitable for short-season regions of North America with CHUs ranging from 2500 to 2750. These include the corn-growing regions of Canada in Prince Edward Island, eastern parts of Ontario, and southern parts of Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta.
Bone defects larger than a critical size are major challenges in orthopedic medicine. We combined tissue-engineered bone and gene therapy to provide osteoprogenitor cells, osteoinductive factors, and ...osteo-conductive carrier for ideal bone regeneration in critical-sized bone defects. Goat diaphyseal bone defects were repaired with tissue and genetically engineered bone implants, composed of biphasic calcined bone (BCB) and autologous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) transduced with human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (hBMP-2). Twenty six goats with tibial bone defects were divided into groups receiving implants by using a combination of BCB and BMSCs with or without the hBMP-2 gene. In eight goats that were treated with BCB that contained hBMP-2 transduced BMSC, five had complete healing and three showed partial healing. Goats in other experimental groups had only slight or no healing. Furthermore, the area and biochemical strength of the callus in the bone defects were significantly better in animals treated with genetically engineered implants. We concluded that the combination of genetic and tissue engineering provides an innovative way for treating critical-sized bone defects.
Bupropion is indicated to promote smoking cessation. Animal studies suggest that the pharmacologic activity of bupropion can be mediated by its major metabolite, hydroxybupropion. We measured plasma ...bupropion and its metabolite levels in a double‐blind, placebo controlled, randomized smoking‐cessation trial. Among the treatment‐adherent individuals, higher hydroxybupropion concentrations (per μg/ml) resulted in better smoking‐cessation outcomes (week 3, 7, and 26 odds ratio (OR) = 2.82, 2.96, and 2.37, respectively, P = 0.005–0.040); this was not observed with bupropion levels (OR = 1.00–1.03, P = 0.59–0.90). Genetic variation in CYP2B6, the enzyme that metabolizes bupropion to hydroxybupropion, was identified as a significant source of variability in hydroxybupropion formation. Our data indicate that hydroxybupropion contributes to the pharmacologic effects of bupropion for smoking cessation, and that variability in response to bupropion treatment is related to variability in CYP2B6‐mediated hydroxybupropion formation. These findings suggest that dosing of bupropion to achieve a hydroxybupropion level of 0.7 μg/ml or increasing bupropion dose for CYP2B6 slow metabolizers could improve bupropion's cessation outcomes.
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2012); 92 6, 771–777. doi:10.1038/clpt.2012.186
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