Here, in an analysis of a 2.92 fb–1 data sample taken at 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector operated at the BEPCII collider, we measure the absolute decay branching fractions to be B(D0 → K–e+νe) = ...(3.505 ± 0.014 ± 0.033)% and B(D0 → π–e+νe) = (0.295 ± 0.004 ± 0.003)%. From a study of the differential decay rates we obtain the products of hadronic form factor and the magnitude of the CKM matrix element $f$ $^{K}_{+}$(0)|Vcs| = 0.7172 ± 0.0025 ± 0.0035 and $f$ $^{π}_{+}$(0)|Vcd| = 0.1435 ± 0.0018 ± 0.0009.
Abstract
The control of the in-plane domain evolution in ferroelectric thin films is not only critical to understanding ferroelectric phenomena but also to enabling functional device fabrication. ...However, in-plane polarized ferroelectric thin films typically exhibit complicated multi-domain states, not desirable for optoelectronic device performance. Here we report a strategy combining interfacial symmetry engineering and anisotropic strain to design single-domain, in-plane polarized ferroelectric BaTiO
3
thin films. Theoretical calculations predict the key role of the BaTiO
3
/PrScO
3
$${({{{\boldsymbol{110}}})}_{{{\bf{O}}}$$
(
110
)
O
substrate interfacial environment, where anisotropic strain, monoclinic distortions, and interfacial electrostatic potential stabilize a single-variant spontaneous polarization. A combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy, piezoresponse force microscopy, ferroelectric hysteresis loop measurements, and second harmonic generation measurements directly reveals the stabilization of the in-plane quasi-single-domain polarization state. This work offers design principles for engineering in-plane domains of ferroelectric oxide thin films, which is a prerequisite for high performance optoelectronic devices.
Background
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of axillary lymphadenopathy is a helpful tool in the pre‐operative diagnosis of breast cancer patients with axillary lymphadenopathy. To date, no ...published meta‐analysis or systematic review has been performed to assess its overall value. We therefore conducted a meta‐analysis to establish the overall diagnostic value of FNAC for axillary lymph node metastasis.
Methods
After a review and quality assessment of 31 studies, published either in Chinese or English, the sensitivity, specificity and other measurements of accuracy of FNAC of axillary lymphadenopathy were pooled using random‐effects models. A summary of the receiver‐operating characteristic curves was used to summarize overall accuracy.
Results
We provided the following estimated values for FNAC in the diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis: sensitivity, 0.63 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61–0.65; specificity, 0.99 (95% CI, 0.99–0.99); positive likelihood ratio, 26.52 (95% CI, 18.42–38.18); negative likelihood ratio, 0.34 (95% CI, 0.29–0.40); diagnostic odds ratio, 76.73 (95% CI, 51.98–113.28).
Conclusions
FNAC has adequate sensitivity and high specificity in the diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis. A positive axillary FNA result could potentially alter disease management.
Objectives
Experimental evidence suggest that tea polyphenols have anti-depressant effect and tea consumption may reduce the risk and severity of depression. We investigated whether tea consumption ...was associated with changes in depressive symptoms over time among Asian older adults.
Design
Population-based prospective cohort study with mean 4 years of follow up.
Setting
Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study (SLAS) of community-living older persons.
Participants
3177 participants overall (mean age 67 years) and 3004 participants who were depression-free at baseline.
Measurements
Baseline tea consumption which include Chinese (black, oolong or green) tea or Western (mixed with milk) tea and change in Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) measure of depression. Incident depression was defined by GDS≥5, and GDS depression improvement or deterioration by GDS change of ≥4 points. Estimated odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95%CI) were adjusted for baseline age, sex, ethnicity, education, housing type, single/divorced/widowed, living alone, physical and social activity, smoking, alcohol, number of comorbidities, MMSE, and baseline GDS level.
Results
Compared to non-tea drinkers, participants who consumed ≥3 cups of tea of all kinds were significantly less likely to have worsened GDS symptoms: OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.12, 0.84. Among baseline depression-free participants, the risk of incident GDS (≥5) depression was significantly lower (OR=0.34, 95%CI=0.13, 0.90) for daily consumption of all types of tea, and Chinese (black, oolong or green) tea (OR=0.46, 95%CI=0.21,0.99).
Conclusion
This study suggests that tea may prevent the worsening of existing depressive symptoms and the reduce the likelihood of developing threshold depression.
Abstract Previous studies indicated the beneficial effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) on stroke. Here, we explored whether ...transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) modified by GDNF gene provides a better therapeutic effect than native NSCs after stroke. Primary rat NSCs were transfected with GDNF plasmid (GDNF/NSCs, labeled by green fluorescent protein from AdEasy-1, GFP). Adult rats were subjected to two-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, followed by infusion of NSCs (labeled with5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine before infusion, BrdU), GDNF/NSCs and saline at 3 days after reperfusion (NSCs group, GDNF/NSCs group, control group), respectively. All rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after reperfusion. Modified Neurological Severity Scores (mNSS) test and H and E staining were respectively performed to evaluate neurological function and lesion volume. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify implanted cells and observe the expressions of Synaptophysin (Syp) and postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) and caspase-3. TdT-mediated dUTP–biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was employed to observe apoptotic cells. Western blotting was used to detect brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NT-3 protein expression. Significant recovery of mNSS was found in GDNF/NSCs rats at 2 and 3 weeks after reperfusion compared with NSCs rats. Lesion volume in the NSCs and GDNF/NSCs groups was reduced significantly compared with control group. The number of NSCs in the GDNF/NSCs group was significantly increased in comparison with NSCs group. Moreover, Syp-immunoreactive product at 2 and 3 weeks after reperfusion and PSD-95 immunoreactive product in the GDNF/NSCs group were significantly increased compared with NSCs group. In contrast, caspase-3 positive cells and TUNEL-positive cells in the GDNF/NSCs group were significantly decreased compared with NSCs group. Significant increase of BDNF protein in the GDNF/NSCs and NSCs groups was observed compared to the control group at different time points of reperfusion, and GDNF/NSCs grafting significantly increased BDNF protein expression compared to NSCs grafting. In addition, significant increase of NT-3 protein in GDNF/NSCs and NSCs groups was detected only at 1 week of reperfusion compared to control group. The results demonstrate that grafting NSCs modified by GDNF gene provides better neuroprotection for stroke than NSCs grafting alone.
Metabolism in most organisms can show variations between the day and night. These variations may also affect the composition of products derived from livestock. The aim of the present study was to ...investigate the difference in composition between the day milk and night milk of dairy cows. Ten multiparous Holstein cows (milk yield = 25.2 ± 5.00 kg/d) were randomly selected during mid lactation. Milk samples were collected at 0500 h (“night milk”) and 1500 h (“day milk”) and analyzed to determine their composition. Mid-infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze macronutrient content of milk. Metabolomics and lipidomics were used to detect and analyze small molecules and fatty acids, respectively. An automatic biochemical analyzer and ELISA kits were used to determine biochemical indicators, as well as antioxidant and immune parameters in the milk. Though milk fat, protein, lactose, and total milk solids were not different between day milk and night milk, small molecules, metabolites and lipids, and hormones and cytokines differed between day milk and night milk. Regarding biochemical and immune-related indicators, the concentrations of malondialdehyde, HSP70, and HSP90 in night milk were lower than that in day milk. However, interferon-γ levels were higher in night milk. Additionally, night milk was naturally rich in melatonin. Lipidomics analyses showed that the levels of some lipids in night milk were higher than those in day milk. Metabolomics analyses identified 36 different metabolites between day milk and night milk. Higher concentrations of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, cis-aconitate, and d-sorbitol were observed in day milk. However, the other 33 metabolites analyzed, including carbohydrates, lipids, AA, and aromatic compounds, showed lower concentrations in day milk than in night milk. The present findings show that the composition of night milk differs considerably from that of day milk. Notable changes in the circadian rhythm also altered milk composition. These results provide evidence to support the strategic use and classification of day milk and night milk.
Charged polar interfaces such as charged ferroelectric walls or heterostructured interfaces of ZnO/(Zn,Mg)O and LaAlO3/SrTiO3, across which the normal component of electric polarization changes ...suddenly, can host large two-dimensional conduction. Charged ferroelectric walls, which are energetically unfavourable in general, were found to be mysteriously abundant in hybrid improper ferroelectric (Ca,Sr)3Ti2O7 crystals. From the exploration of antiphase boundaries in bilayer-perovskites, here we discover that each of four polarization-direction states is degenerate with two antiphase domains, and these eight structural variants form a Z4 × Z2 domain structure with Z3 vortices and five distinct types of domain walls, whose topology is directly relevant to the presence of abundant charged walls. We also discover a zipper-like nature of antiphase boundaries, which are the reversible creation/annihilation centres of pairs of two types of ferroelectric walls (and also Z3-vortex pairs) in 90° and 180° polarization switching. Our results demonstrate the unexpectedly rich nature of hybrid improper ferroelectricity.
•50%MWT decreased after surgery in a modified rat model of LDH.•Microglia and astrocytes were activated at different time periods in rat model of LDH.•P-p38MAPK was mainly expressed in activated ...microglia in rat model of LDH.•Both SB203580 and minocycline released pain and inhibited p38MAPK activation.•P-p38MAPK in microglia contributed to mechanical hyperalgesia in rat model of LDH.
Recent studies have implicated the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and glial cells contribute to hyperalgesia following nerve injury or nerve compression. In our work, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of autologous nucleus pulposus (NP)-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in a modified rat model of lumbar disk herniation (LDH). Firstly, our results showed that 50% mechanical withdrawal threshold (50% MWT) decreased on postoperative day (POD) 1 and significantly minimally reduced on POD 7 and lasted for day 28 after surgery (P < 0.05). Secondly, phosphorylation of p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK) and glial cells were monitored on POD 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 using immunofluorescence staining. P38MAPK activation, observed in the spinal cord, began to increase on POD 1, peaked on POD 3, and significantly decreased on POD 14 and POD 28 (P < 0.05). Microglia activation was initiated at day 1, maximal at day 3, and maintained until day 14 after surgery (P < 0.05). Astrocytic activation was found in 7 to 14 days after modelling (P < 0.05). Then, double immunostaining method was applied to observe the co-expression of p-p38MAPK and glial cells, and it showed that p-p38MAPK was mainly expressed in activated microglia, rarely in neurons, and none in astrocytes. Lastly, we discovered that both SB203580 (50ug, p38MAPK inhibitor) and minocycline (0.5 mg, microglial inhibitor) would inhibit the p-p38MAPK protein expression tested by western blot analysis and reduce mechanical hyperalgesia. In conclusion, current study suggest that activation or phosphorylation of p38MAPK in spinal microglia contributes to autologous NP-induced mechanical hyperalgesia in our animal model.
•The folic acid-conjugated Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by amidation method.•The conjugation of folic acid was verified qualitatively by UV–vis spectrum.•We confirmed the exothermic effect of ...the nanoparticles in alternating magnetic field.•The nanoparticles showed targeting effect to KB cells with FA receptors over-expression.
The folic acid (FA)-conjugated Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe3+ and Fe2+ solution followed by surface modification with carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) to form carboxymethyl group terminated MNPs, then FA was conjugated with the carboxyl group functionalized MNPs. The morphology and properties of obtained nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible spectra (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FA-conjugated MNPs exhibited relatively high saturation magnetization and fast magneto-temperature response which could be applied to hyperthermia therapy. To determine the accurate targeting effect of FA, we chose FA-conjugated MNPs as MRI contrast enhancement agent for detection of KB cells with folate receptor over-expression in vitro and in vivo. The results show that these magnetic nanoparticles appear to be the promising materials for local hyperthermia and MRI.
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