Search

In this paper, we present an improved calculation for the decay rate of the rare Z-boson decay into J / ψ + J / ψ. This decay is dominated by the photon fragmentation mechanism, i.e., the transition Z → J / ψ + γ ∗ followed by the fragmentation γ ∗ → J / ψ. In our calculation, the amplitude of γ ∗ → J / ψ is extracted from the measured value of Γ (J / ψ → e + e -) , and the amplitude of Z → J / ψ + γ ∗ is calculate through the light-cone approach. The higher-order QCD and relativistic corrections in the amplitude of γ ∗ → J / ψ and the large logarithms of m Z 2 / m c 2 that appear in the amplitude of Z → J / ψ + γ ∗ are resummed in our calculation. Besides, the non-fragmentation amplitude is calculated based on the NRQCD factorization, and the next-to-leading order QCD and relativistic corrections are included. The obtained branching fraction for this Z decay channel is 8. 66 - 0.69 + 1.48 × 10 - 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In group decision support systems, it is important on how to process and manage individual decision information. In the paper, a sequential model is proposed to manage individual judgements with additively reciprocal property over paired alternatives. The process of realizing additive complementary pairwise comparisons (ACPCs) is captured. A real-time feedback mechanism is constructed to address the irrational behavior of individuals. An optimization model is established and solved by using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, such that the consistency of individual judgements can be improved fast yet effectively. For the aggregation of individual decision information in group decision making (GDM), the weighted averaging operator is used. It is found that when all individual judgements are acceptably additively consistent, the collective matrix is with acceptable additive consistency. Under the control of individual consistency degrees, the approach of reaching consensus in GDM is further proposed. By comparing with some existing models, the observations reveal that the sequential model of originating additive complementary pairwise comparisons possesses the ability to rationally manage individual decision information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of testing the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter (DM) models by applying the simplest phenomenological model which introduces an interaction term between dark energy (DE) and WIMP DM, i.e., Q = 3γDMHρDM. In general, the coupling strength γDE is close to 0 as the interaction between DE and WIMP DM is very weak, thus the effect of γDE on the evolution of Y associated with DM energy density can be safely neglected. Meanwhile, our numerical calculation also indicates that xf ≈ 20 is associated with DM freeze-out temperature, which is the same as the vanishing interaction scenario. As for DM relic density, it will be magnified by 2 − 3 γ DM 2 2 π g ∗ m DM 3 / 45 s 0 x f 3 γ DM times, which provides a new way to test WIMP DM models. As an example, we analyze the case in which WIMP DM is a scalar DM. (SGL+SNe+Hz) and (CMB+BAO+SNe) cosmological observations will give γDM = 0.134 − 0.069 + 0.17 and γDM = −0.0008 ± 0.0016, respectively. After further considering the constraints from DM direct detection experiment, DM indirect detection experiment, and DM relic density, we find that the allowed parameter space of the scalar DM model will be completely excluded for the former cosmological observations, while it will increase for the latter ones. Those two cosmological observations lead to an almost paradoxical conclusion. Therefore, one could expect more stringent constraints on the WMIP DM models, with the accumulation of more accurate cosmological observations in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contentment is an emotion that arises from the perception of completeness in life. Through a series of validation studies, the purpose of this work was to develop a scale of dispositional contentment, The Positive Emotion Assessment of Contentment Experience (PEACE) Scale. The PEACE Scale demonstrated favorable psychometric properties, including single factor structure, high internal consistency (α =.93), temporal reliability (r =.86), and construct and predictive validity. Scores on the PEACE Scale were positively correlated with all Big Five personality traits except for neuroticism. Scores also correlated positively with unconditional self-acceptance, and negatively with depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition, high levels of contentment were predictive of lower materialism and greed. Potential uses of the scale are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, ferroelectric polymer composites are desirable for novel electrocaloric cooling technology. Ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) thin films with the different electronegativity (EN) rare earth fillers Erbium (Er) and Dysprosium (Dy) have been studied in this work. Solution casting method was used to fabricate the thin films. The electroactive β phase on both crystalline and amorphous regions of PVDF-HFP was intensified by this filler. However, the stronger EN filler Er induced the β phase on crystalline region more strongly than Dy, resulting in total crystalline region reduction along with dielectric constant. On increasing the filler loading, the Curie temperature decreased dramatically by 40 °C with decreasing maximum negative temperature change (∆Tmax). The best performance in the Curie temperature reduction was found with 1 wt% Er filler. This reduced the Curie temperature and increased the dielectric constant related with micro-phase structure and interfacial charge mobility that will be discussed for future electrocaloric cooling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(o-phenylenediamine) was synthesized in different inorganic acid media, hydrochloric (HCl), nitric (HNO3), and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The aim was to investigate the protective effect of doped coatings on mild steel in an aggressive environment. The synthesized doped-PoPD products were characterized by x-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The inhibition abilities of doped coatings were evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 3.5% NaCl solution. In the present article, the lowest corrosion current and highest protection efficiency of the doped polymer were observed for the polymer synthesized in HNO3 medium. The results showed that good protection of mild steel can be achieved by PoPD coating doped with inorganic acid in 3.5% NaCl solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When one estimates the importance of alternatives under rational choice, it is natural to avoid self-contradiction from the viewpoint of psychology. Due to the vagueness encountered in a manner analogous to human thought, decision makers always exhibit limited rationality. The judgements could be expressed as interval-valued comparison matrices within the framework of analytic hierarchy process. In this study, for additive reciprocal matrices (ARMs), three axiomatic properties are proposed to characterize the additive consistency and the multiplicative consistency under fully rational behavior. For interval additive reciprocal matrices (IARMs), the concept of weak consistency is used to capture the limited rationality. By weakening some axiomatic properties of consistent ARMs, the reasonable properties of IARMs with weak consistency are presented. Two kinds of IARMs satisfying the properties of weak consistency are analyzed and some comparisons are offered. It is observed that the consistency of ARMs can be defined exactly and characterized by using the axiomatic properties. The properties of characterizing the consistency degree of IARMs should be captured by weakening the axiomatic ones of consistent ARMs. The proposed approach visualizes the development process starting from cardinal consistency of numeric-valued preference relations to weak consistency of interval-valued comparison matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aldosterone (Aldo), a pivotal hormone that is ubiquitously expressed in systemic tissues of mammals, is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of cardiac disease. Accumulating evidence suggests that disturbances in cell energy metabolism are involved in increasing aldosterone levels. However, the precise mechanism underlying the impact of cardiac metabolic remodeling underlying aldosterone stimulation remains limited. In this work, we evaluated the underlying effect of aldosterone on regulating cardiac metabolism remodeling in a canine model. Fifteen beagle dogs were divided into a control group (n = 5), Aldo group (n = 5), and a group treated with spironolactone (SP), a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (n = 5), for 4 weeks. Blood pressure, electrocardiogram and respiratory parameters, H&E, Masson staining, ultrastructural changes, the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels of ventricular tissues, the level of mRNA, and the protein expression of key metabolic factors and regulators were assessed. The Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway was significantly inhibited in the canine model of aldosterone stimulation, resulting in a reduction of the key downstream metabolic factors involved in glucose and fatty acid oxidation. The dysregulation of expression of key factors in glycogen metabolism led to glycogen deposition, an increase in FFA levels, a reduction in ATP levels, apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and mitochondrial damage in the ventricular myocardium. These effects were significantly restored by spironolactone. Aldosterone stimulation induced cardiac metabolic remodeling in ventricular cardiomyocytes possibly through the Sirt1/AMPK signaling pathway, implying that this pathway may provide a novel therapeutic target for cardiac metabolic remodeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cooling effect is better than conventional cooling channels because the conformal cooling channels have a uniform distance between the mold surfaces and the channels. In this study, a new method aiming to enhance cooling efficiency in the low-pressure wax injection molding process was proposed. It was found that a reduction in cooling time of about 81% can be obtained when a wax injection mold with conformal cooling channels is compared to that without cooling channels. In addition, a rapid tooling fabricated by this technology has some distinct advantages such as rapid tooling size, interior quality of conformal cooling channels, production costs, and post-processing operations compared to the selective laser sintering technology, selective laser melting technology, and diffusion bonding technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary NiCoPd nanocatalyst dispersed on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), NiCoPd/CNTs, was synthesized using a simple and green sonochemical method. The as-prepared NiCoPd/CNT hybrids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The electrochemical measurements revealed that the ternary NiCoPd/CNTs exhibited an enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), much superior to those of the binary NiPd/CNT and CoPd/CNT, as well as monometallic Pd/CNT counterparts, which likely resulted from the synergistic function of the dopant metals of Ni and Co. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method of tool posture global collision-free area generation for 5-axis machining point clouds. For obtaining precise collision-free area efficiently, discrete inclination angles and their collision-free rotation angle ranges are calculated to construct the area in two-dimensional configuration space (C-space), which avoids mapping obstacles to C-space or searching boundaries. An equation is derived to calculate the maximum available angle tolerance between an inclination angle and its neighboring angle. For collision-free rotation angle ranges, possible colliding cells containing data points are obtained to calculate the approximations of ranges quickly. An efficient iterative algorithm based on distances is presented to search critical colliding points to calculate theoretical ranges, which effectively avoids unnecessary additional computation. Finally, the collision-free area in C-space is constructed by the calculated collision-free rotation angle ranges of all inclination angles. Two typical point clouds are tested by the presented method, and the calculation results illustrate the feasibility to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method of tool posture local collision-free area generation for 5-axis machining point clouds. Considering it is time-consuming and complicated to calculate the entire precise area, in this paper, discrete inclination angles are obtained in its available range, and the precise collision-free rotation angle ranges of each inclination angle are calculated to construct the collision-free area in 2-dimensional configuration space (C-space). In local gouging avoidance, an algorithm is presented to calculate the maximum equivalent tool radius with the local contour line of the point cloud near the cutter contact (CC) point, which defines the local gouging-free ranges of rotation angles and discrete inclination angles. In rear gouging avoidance, if the tool rotates by some specific angles, a rear gouging point will be outside the tool and the gouging is avoided. Based on the way, an algorithm is presented to calculate the gouging-free ranges for discrete inclination angles. Finally, the intersections of local and rear gouging-free rotation angle ranges define the collision-free area. This presented method applies to flat-end milling cutter and torus milling cutter, and two examples are given to illustrate the feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of a qualitative study on teacher leadership in the context of university-school collaboration for school improvement (USCSI) on the Chinese Mainland. Through the lens of structuration theory, it explores the process of teacher leaders exercising their power in a USCSI project. During the school improvement process, teacher leaders exercised that power related to the control resources existing by the domination structure of the school. However, this study found that teacher leaders could also transform control resources, as power referred to the transformative capacity of human action. The data that is informed this paper were collected from three middle schools involved in the same USCSI project in Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published data on the relationship between T309G polymorphism in the murine double minute 2 ( MDM2) gene and susceptibility of digestive tract cancers (DTC) are inconclusive. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine whether MDM2 T309G polymorphism is associated with the risk of diverse DTC, including esophagus, stomach, liver, bile duct, pancreas, and colorectum cancers. Relevant studies were identified up to October 1, 2013. Crude odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were used as a measure of the strength of the association. The pooled result based on all studies showed that there was a statistically significant link between MDM2 T309G polymorphism and DTC susceptibility (T vs. G: OR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.76-0.88). When stratified by race, significant associations were observed for all genetic models among Asians (especially in Chinese population), but not among Caucasians. Subgroup analyses according to tumor location indicated that the genetic variant was associated with esophageal (OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.81-0.96 for T vs. G), hepatocellular (OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.57-0.84 for T vs. G) and pancreatic cancer risk but not associated with cholangiocarcinoma or colorectum cancer susceptibility. Meanwhile, the G allele was also suggested to be associated with increased gastric cancer risk (OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.54-0.87 for TT + TG vs. GG for intestinal type of gastric cancer and OR = 0.18, 95%CI = 0.06-0.50 for TT vs. GG for Helicobacter pylori infection positive stomach cancer). Our study indicates that the MDM2 T309G polymorphism may be an ethnicity-dependent risk factor for DTC, especially for the upper gastrointestinal tract malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu(In,Ga)Se (CIGS) thin films are prepared by a single-stage process and a three-stage process at low temperature in the co-evaporation equipment. The quite different morphologies of CIGS thin films deposited by two methods are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The orientation of CIGS thin films is identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectrum, respectively. Through analyzing the film-forming mechanisms of two preparation processes, we consider the cause of such differences is that the films deposited by three-stage process at low temperature evolve from Cu-poor to Cu-rich ones and then back to Cu-poor ones. The three-stage process at low temperature results in the CIGS thin films with the (220)/(204) preferred orientation, and the ordered vacancy compound (OVC) layer is formed on the surface of the film. This study has great significance to large-scale industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: ST13, is the gene encoding the HSP70 interacting protein (HIP). Previous research has shown that ST13 mRNA and protein levels are down-regulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. This study aims at the role of ST13 in the proliferation and migration of CRC cells. Methods: The transcript level of ST13 in different CRC cell lines was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). ST13-overexpressed and ST13-knockdown CRC cells were constructed respectively by lentiviral transduction, followed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, plate colony formation, cell-cycle analysis, and migration assays to evaluate the influence of ST13 on proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, a mouse xenograft study was performed to test in vivo tumorigenicity of ST13-knockdown CRC cells. Results: Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of ST13 in CRC cells inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration in vitro. In contrast, down-regulation of ST13 by lentiviral-based short hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference in CRC cells significantly increased cell proliferation and cloning efficiency in vitro. In addition, down-regulation of ST13 expression significantly increased the tumorigenicity of CRC cells in vivo. Conclusions: ST13 gene is a proliferation regulator that inhibits tumor growth in CRC and may affect cell migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Deng et al. (Eur. Phys. J. C 70:113, ), we have dealt with the production of the two color-singlet S-wave $(c\bar{b})$-quarkonium states $B_{c}(|(c\bar {b})_{\mathbf{1}}[^{1}S_{0}]\rangle)$ and $B^{*}_{c}(|(c\bar{b})_{\mathbf{1}}[^{3}S_{1}]\rangle)$ through the Z boson decays. As an important sequential work, we make a further discussion on the production of the more complicated P-wave excited $(c\bar{b})$-quarkonium states, i.e. $|(c\bar{b})_{\mathbf{1}}[^{1}P_{1}]\rangle$ and $|(c\bar{b})_{\mathbf{1}}[^{3}P_{J}]\rangle$ (with J=(1,2,3)). More over, we also calculate the channel with the two color-octet quarkonium states $|(c\bar{b})_{\mathbf{8}}[^{1}S_{0}]g\rangle$ and $|(c\bar{b})_{\mathbf{8}}[^{3}S_{1}]g\rangle$, whose contributions to the decay width maybe at the same order of magnitude as that of the color-singlet P-wave states according to the naive nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics scaling rules. The P-wave states shall provide sizable contributions to the B production, whose decay width is about 20% of the total decay width $\varGamma _{Z^{0}\to B_{c}}$. After summing up all the mentioned $(c\bar {b})$-quarkonium states' contributions, we obtain $\varGamma _{Z^{0}\to B_{c}}=235.9^{+352.8}_{-122.0}$ KeV, where the errors are caused by the main sources of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the role of a novel Obg-like ATPase 1 (OLA1) in cancer metastasis, small interference RNA (siRNA) was used to knockdown the protein, and the cells were subjected to in vitro cell migration and invasion assays. Knockdown of OLA1 significantly inhibited cell migration and invasion in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The knockdown caused no changes in cell growth but affected ROS production. In wound-healing assays, decreased ROS in OLA1-knockdown cells were in situ associated with the cells’ decreased motile morphology. Further, treatment of N-acetylcysteine, a general ROS scavenger, blunted the motility and invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells, similar to the effect of OLA1-knockdown. These results suggest that knockdown of OLA1 inhibits breast cancer cell migration and invasion through a mechanism that involves the modulation of intracellular ROS levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of berbamine on human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721. The effects of 24 h and 48 h incubation with different concentrations (0∼64 µg/ml) of the berbamine on SMMC7721 cells were evaluated using 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Hoechst 33258 staining was conducted to distinguish the apoptotic cell, and the appearance of sub-G1 stage was determined by PI (propidium iodide) staining, the percentage of apoptotic cell was determined by flow cytometry following annexin V/PI staining. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the cell cycle distribution and the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ ψ m); the expression of activated caspase3 and caspase9 was analyzed by Western-blot. The proliferation of SMMC7721 was decreased after treatment with berbamine in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Berbamine could induce apoptosis in SMMC7721 cells and could cause cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase, to induce loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ ψ m) and activate caspase3 and caspase9. Berbamine-induced apoptosis could be blocked by the broad caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk. Berbamine exerts antiproliferative effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC7721 cells. The anticancer activity of berbamine could be attributed partly to its inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells through loss in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and caspase activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is to summarize the molecular and functional analysis of the gene “suppression on of tumorigenicity 13” (ST13). ST13 is in fact the gene encoding Hsp70 interacting protein (Hip), a co-factor (co-chaperone) of the 70-kDa heat shock proteins (Hsc/Hsp70). By collaborating with other positive co-factors such as Hsp40 and the Hsp70-Hsp90 organizing protein (Hop), or competing with negative co-factors such as Bcl2-associated athanogen 1 (Bag1), Hip facilitates may facilitate the chaperone function of Hsc/Hsp70 in protein folding and repair, and in controlling the activity of regulatory proteins such as steroid receptors and regulators of proliferation or apoptosis. Although the nomenclature of ST13 implies a role in the suppression of tumorigenicity (ST), to date available experimental data are not sufficient to support its role in cancer development, except for the possible down-regulation of ST13 in gastric and colorectal cancers. Further investigation of this gene at the physiological level would benefit our understanding of diseases such as endocrinological disorders, cancer, and neurodegeneration commonly associated with protein misfolding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]