Based on \((2712.4\pm14.1)\times10^{6}~\psi(2S)\) events, 7.9 fb\(^{-1}\) \(\psi(3773)\) data, and 0.8 fb\(^{-1}\) off-resonance data samples collected with the BESIII detector, we measure the ...branching fraction of \(\psi(2S)\rightarrow\gamma\pi^{0}\) and \(e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow\gamma\pi^{0}\) form factor at momentum transfers \(Q^{2}\sim13\) GeV\(^{2}\). The \(e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow\gamma\pi^{0}\) cross section is fitted with considering the interference between the \(\psi(2S)\) and continuum amplitudes and two solutions are found, \({\cal B}=3.74\times10^{-7}\) with \(\phi=3.93\) rad and \({\cal B}=7.87\times10^{-7}\) with \(\phi=2.08\) rad. Here, \({\cal B}\) is the branching fraction of \(\psi(2S)\rightarrow\gamma\pi^{0}\) and \(\phi\) is the relative phase angle between the \(\psi(2S)\) and continuum amplitudes. Due to insufficient off-resonance data, the branching fraction \({\cal B}(\psi(2S)\rightarrow\gamma\pi^{0})\) is determined to be in the range \(2.7, 9.7\times10^{-7}\) within one standard deviation of the contour region.
Summary Since the beginning of the 1980s, 33 emerging tick-borne agents have been identified in mainland China, including eight species of spotted fever group rickettsiae, seven species in the family ...Anaplasmataceae, six genospecies in the complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 11 species of Babesia , and the virus causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. In this Review we have mapped the geographical distributions of human cases of infection. 15 of the 33 emerging tick-borne agents have been reported to cause human disease, and their clinical characteristics have been described. The non-specific clinical manifestations caused by tick-borne pathogens present a major diagnostic challenge and most physicians are unfamiliar with the many tick-borne diseases that present with non-specific symptoms in the early stages of the illness. Advances in and application of modern molecular techniques should help with identification of emerging tick-borne pathogens and improve laboratory diagnosis of human infections. We expect that more novel tick-borne infections in ticks and animals will be identified and additional emerging tick-borne diseases in human beings will be discovered.
Abstract Background The burden of HIV is high in men who have sex with men (MSM), but the factors associated with increased disease burden are not fully understood. We did a prospective cohort study ...among MSM in Beijing, China, to explore these issues further. Methods The study took place between May 1, 2007, and Dec 31, 2012. Participants were recruited from HIV-infected MSM seeking care at Youan Hospital, Beijing. After discharge, study participants agreed to be trained and were hired to distribute study recruitment flyers at venues frequented by MSM, including clubs, bars, parks, and bathhouses. Participants were also encouraged to refer their peers to enrol into the study. MSM were eligible to participate in the study if they were aged 18 years and older, reported sexual behaviours including vaginal or anal intercourse in the past 6 months, and had received no previous serological test for HIV antibody or an antibody-negative result. After enrolment, HIV-negative MSMs were encouraged to return for study visits, which included a standardised interview about sexual behaviour at 3 months. A service package was provided at each visit, including HIV antibody and syphilis tests, free condoms, an allowance of 50 CNY (US$7·40) for transport, and counselling on use of condoms to prevent HIV transmission. Primary outcomes were HIV infection at initial screening and during the 5-year follow-up, and the effect of condom use against acquisition of HIV infection according to consistency of condom use (50%, 75%, and 100%). Factors associated with increased disease burden were also examined with a Cox proportional hazards model. Findings At enrolment, among 5800 MSM we identified 484 (8·3%) prevalent cases of HIV infection and 293 (5·1%) prevalent cases of syphilis. 2045 (64%) of 3178 MSM were aged between 18 and 30 years, 2320 (73%) of 3178 had attained at least high school education, and 2166 (68%) of 3178 had never married. 466 (26%) of 1758 reported being in only steady partnerships, 642 (37%) of 1758 reported both steady and casual partnerships, and 650 (37%) of 1758 reported only casual partnerships. Among 3178 MSM who were HIV negative at enrolment and who had also completed at least one follow-up interview, 387 infections were observed in up to 5467 person-years of follow-up, implying an incidence of 7·1 per 100 person-years (95% CI 6·2–7·6), with median follow-up of 1·7 years (IQR 0·5–2·7) and an average retention rate of 84% per 6 month interval. Most study participants (2317 84% of 2766) were migrants, with major reasons for drop out being leaving Beijing, seroconversion, or feeling that testing was unnecessary. Comparing the final visit to the baseline visit, the probability of reporting 100% condom use increased by 47% among those in steady partnerships (from 322 of 969 participants to 624 of 1281 participants) and 42% in MSM in casual partnerships (from 414 of 1090 to 574 of 1068). Consistent condom use within steady partnerships was associated with lower HIV incidence than was inconsistent use: incidence was 11·5 per 100 person-years (95% CI 6·8–16·2), 9·4 per 100 person-years (5·9–12·9), and 8·7 per 100 person-years (6·0–11·3) in those reporting 50%, 75%, and 100% condom use, respectively. Interpretation Overall HIV incidence and baseline levels of risk were high in this sample of Chinese MSM. During the study, preventive efforts increased, and condom promotion was associated with reduced risk. However, reliance on self-reported condom use is an important limitation. Further interventions (eg, sexually transmitted disease treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis) might be needed to curtail the spread of HIV in this population. Funding The study was funded by the Chinese Government 12th Five-Year Plan ( 2012ZX10001-003, 2012ZX10001-006 , and 2012ZX10004904-002-002 ), National Natural Science Foundation (number 81372958 ), and Beijing Key Laboratory (number BZ0089 ). The sponsors of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.
Benzothiophenes bearing piperazine side chains were synthesized and identified to be high-affinity ligands with high selectivity for ER α subtype, and they were potent agonists in bone tissue.
The ...synthesis of benzothiophenes containing a piperazine side chain and their binding affinities for estrogen receptors are described. These compounds bearing piperazine side chains were identified to be high-affinity ligands with high selectivity for ER α subtype. They were also potent agonists in bone tissue.
Purpose: Identification of tumor antigen and subsequent identification of T-cell epitope from these antigens make specific immunotherapy
for malignant tumor applicable. Because TRAG-3 antigen is ...expressed in most melanomas and 54% of non-small cell lung carcinomas
and HLA-A2.1-expressing individuals cover >50% in the population of China, we aim at identifying TRAG-3-encoded peptide presented
by HLA-A2.1.
Experimental Design: In our study, a HLA-A2.1-restricted CTL epitope was identified by using the following four-step procedure: ( a ) computer-based epitope prediction from the amino acid sequence of TRAG-3 antigen; ( b ) peptide-binding assay to determine the affinity of the predicted peptide with HLA-A2.1 molecule; ( c ) stimulation of primary T-cell response against the predicted peptides in vitro ; and ( d ) testing of the induced CTLs toward LB373-MEL cells expressing TRAG-3 antigen and HLA-A2.1.
Results: Of the four tested peptides, effectors induced by a peptide of TRAG-3 at residue position 58–66 lysed LB373-MEL cells expressing
both TRAG-3 and HLA-A2.1. Our results indicate that peptide TRAG-3 (58∼66) (ILLRDAGLV) is a new HLA-A2.1-restricted CTL epitope capable of inducing TRAG-3 specific CTLs in vitro .
Conclusions: Because TRAG-3 is a cancer/testis antigen expressed in most melanomas and half of non-small cell lung carcinomas, identification
of the TRAG-3/HLA-A2.1 peptide ILLRDAGLV may facilitate peptide-based specific immunotherapy for various histological tumors.
Microstructure, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of Mg–4Al-xLa (x = 2, 4, 6 wt%) were investigated. The concentration of Al dissolved in α-Mg matrix decreases with the increase of La ...content, and the volume fraction of Al11La3 in the Mg–4Al-xLa alloys increases because La tends to consume Al to form Al11La3. As a consequence, both yield strength and thermal conductivity of the Mg–4Al-xLa alloys in as-cast condition increase with the increasing La content. After extrusion, both thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the Mg–4Al-xLa alloys further increase due to dynamic precipitation of Al11La3 which consumes the Al solutes dissolved in the α-Mg. The extruded Mg–4Al–6La alloy exhibits high thermal conductivity of 130 W/m·K, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 337 MPa, yield strength of 256 MPa and elongation to failure of 8.4%.
•Both thermal conductivity and strength increase with higher La content.•Hot extrusion can further increase strength and thermal conductivity.•Mg–4Al–6La alloy has a thermal conductivity of 130 W/m·K and a YS of 256 MPa.•The mechanism of strength and thermal conductivity improvement are discussed.
We report here the clinical, genetic, and molecular characterization of three Chinese families with maternally transmitted Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Clinical and genetic evaluations ...revealed the variable severity and age-of-onset in visual impairment in these families. In the affected matrilineal relatives, the loss of central vision is bilateral, the fellow eye becoming affected either simultaneously (45%) or sequentially (55%). The penetrances of vision loss in these pedigrees were 27%, 50%, and 60%, respectively. The age-at-onset of vision loss in these families was 14, 19, and 24 years, respectively. Furthermore, the ratios between affected male and female matrilineal relatives were 1:1, 1:1.2, and 1:2, respectively. Mutational analysis of mitochondrial DNA revealed the presence of homoplasmic ND6 T14484C mutation, which has been associated with LHON. The incomplete penetrance and phenotypic variability implicate the involvement of nuclear modifier gene(s), environmental factor(s) or mitochondrial haplotype(s) in the phenotypic expression of the LHON-associated T14484C mutation in these Chinese pedigrees.
We present a measurement of the integrated luminosity of \(e^+e^-\) collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at a center-of-mass energy of \(E_{\rm cm} = 3.773\)~GeV. ...The integrated luminosities of the data sets taken from December 2021 to June 2022, from November 2022 to June 2023, and from October 2023 to February 2024 are determined to be \(4.995 \pm 0.019\)~fb\(^{-1}\), \(8.157 \pm 0.031\)~fb\(^{-1}\), and \(4.191 \pm 0.016\)~fb\(^{-1}\), respectively, by analyzing large angle Bhabha scattering events. The uncertainties are dominated by systematic effects and the statistical uncertainties are negligible. Our results provide essential input for future analyses and precision measurements.
A novel tunable grating exhibiting a linear dispersion in a channel is designed and fabricated for the first time. The equivalent chirp is formed through chirping of the sampling function in a ...sampled Bragg grating. The sampling period is in the order of millimeter, which can be easily controlled. By employing the tunable grating, the dispersion of 50-km single-mode fiber is completely compensated in a 10-Gb/s transmission with a power penalty of -0.7 dB.
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