Direct Measurement of the Astrophysical

Fluorine is one of the most interesting elements in nuclear astrophysics, where the ^{19}F(p,α)^{16}O reaction is of crucial importance for Galactic ^{19}F abundances and CNO cycle loss in first generation Population III stars. As a day-one campaign at the Jinping Underground Nuclear Astrophysics experimental facility, we report direct measurements of the essential ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O reaction channel. The γ-ray yields were measured over E_{c.m.}=72.4-344 keV, covering the Gamow window; our energy of 72.4 keV is unprecedentedly low, reported here for the first time. The experiment was performed under the extremely low cosmic-ray-induced background environment of the China JinPing Underground Laboratory, one of the deepest underground laboratories in the world. The present low-energy S factors deviate significantly from previous theoretical predictions, and the uncertainties are significantly reduced. The thermonuclear ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O reaction rate has been determined directly at the relevant astrophysical energies.

[Surgical outcome evaluation and prediction analysis of laparoscopic left sided hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of long-term treatment outcomes and establish predicting model for laparoscopic left hepatectomy in hepatolithiasis. Methods: Clinical data of 108 patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent laparoscopic left sided hepatectomy and with complete follow-up data were retrospectively collected from June 2011 to June 2016 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. Twenty-six males and 82 females were enrolled. The age was (52.4±11.7) years (range:20-80 years) , and the median follow-up time was 36 months (range: 24-83 months) . Patients were randomly divided into training group (79 cases) and validation group (29 cases) with a ratio of about 3∶1. Twenty-five preoperative and intraoperative clinical factors were selected for potential factors that might affect long-term outcomes, and quality of life was used as an surrogate evaluation index. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the potential risk factors, and to construct and validate the predictive nomogram for surgical outcomes. Results: Among 108 patients, 10 patients (9.3%) had residual stones, 8 patients (7.4%) had recurrent stones, 12 patients (11.1%) had recurrent cholangitis and 3 patients (2.8%) died. Univariate analysis showed that history of hepatobiliary surgery, gender, activation of partial thromboplastin time, alkaline phosphatase, use of choledochoscopy, postoperative stone residual, serum creatinine, postoperative biliary drainage and operation time were risk factors that may affect long-term outcomes (all P<0.15) . Multivariate analysis showed that the history of previous hepatobiliary surgery (OR=2.305, 95% CI: 0.383-4.227, P=0.019) , postoperative biliary drainage (OR=2.043, 95% CI: 0.182-4.209, P=0.048) , operation time ≥262.5 minutes (OR=1.971, 95% CI: 0.154-4.023, P=0.045) were independent risk factor affecting long-term outcomes. Based on the above factors, the predictive nomogram model was constructed. Internal and external validations showed good discrimination (area under the curve of receiver operating curve>0.7) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: P>0.05) performance, which indicated that the prediction effect was favorable. Conclusions: History of previous hepatobiliary surgery, postoperative biliary drainage and operation time ≥262.5 minutes are independent risk factors for long-term outcome. The predictive nomogram model based on risk factors relates to surgical outcomes presented good clinical predictive effects, which might contribute to the prediction of the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic left sided hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis.

Specific genes related to nucleopolyhedrovirus in Bombyx mori susceptible and near-isogenic resistant strains through comparative transcriptome analysis.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of the primary pathogens that causes severe economic losses to sericulture. Comparative transcriptomics analysis has been widely applied to explore the antiviral mechanism in resistant strains. Here, to identify genes involved in BmNPV infection, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) between two Bombyx mori strains: strain 871 (susceptible to BmNPV infection) and the near-isogenic strain 871C (resistant to BmNPV). Our results showed that 400 genes were associated with resistance in strain 871C, and 76 genes were related to susceptibility in strain 871. In addition, the correlation analysis of DEGs and WGCNA showed that 40 genes related to resistance were highly expressed in the resistant strain. Among them, gene BGIBMGA004291 was the most noticeable. We further identified the effect of gene BGIBMGA004291, which encoded a multiprotein bridge factor 2 (MBF2) family member (MBF2-10), on viral infection in cells. Our data suggested that MBF2-10 inhibited viral infection. Taken together, this study showed specific module trait correlations related to viral infection in strains 871 and 871C, and we identified a resistance-related gene. These findings suggested promising candidate genes with antiviral activity, aiding in the analysis of the antiviral molecular mechanisms in resistant strains.

CD14 gene polymorphisms associated with increased risk of bovine tuberculosis in Chinese Holstein cows.

Cluster differentiation antigen 14 (CD14) is an important pattern recognition receptor protein in innate immunity. The aim of this study was to identify and assess the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CD14 gene with susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Chinese Holstein cows. DNA samples from 517 Chinese Holstein cows (257 tuberculosis positive cases and 259 healthy controls) were collected from dairy farms in China. SNPs in the entire CD14 gene, including exonic regions, intronic regions and close to the 5'- and 3'-terminal untranslated regions, were detected by PCR, followed by direct sequencing. Five SNPs (-5C/T, 613G/A, 1023G/A, 1306G/A and 1326G/T) were found in the CD14 gene region. Significantly increased BTB susceptibility was evident in T allele carriers of -5C/T (P<0.001; odds ratio, OR 2.02; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.57-2.77), G allele carriers of 613G/A (P<0.001; OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.50-3.08) and TG haplotype carriers of both SNPs (P<0.001; OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.24-4.50). These results suggest that -5C/T and 613G/A are risk factors for BTB in Chinese Holstein cattle and might be used as candidate genetic markers in breeding cows with natural resistance to BTB.

[The application value of two-dimensional image technology and three-dimensional visualization technology in hepatocellular carcinoma treated by associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy: a preliminary study].

OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily explore the application value of two-dimensional image technology and three-dimensional visualization technology in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) treated by associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy(ALPPS). METHODS: Clinical data of nineteen HCC patients treated by ALPPS were retrospectively analyzed in Sun-Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from August 2013 to May 2015.Preoperative assessment, surgical planning and intraoperative guidance were assisted by traditional two-dimensional imaging technology(group 2D) in 15 cases, and the rest 4 cases were assisted by three-dimensional visualization technology(group 3D). RESULTS: Three-dimensional visualization technology offered precise, visual, and distinct images, calculated the liver volume precisely, achieved virtual simulation operations, and assisted the formulation of intraoperative decisions.The mean operation time of the first stage were(331.3±61.7)minutes and (261.3±21.4)minutes in group 2D and group 3D, and the mean volume of intraoperative bleedings were (360.7±51.9)ml and (300.0±40.8)ml, respectively.The mean operation time of the second stage were (199.3±41.0)minutes and (170.0±29.4)minutes in group 2D and group 3D, and the mean volume of intraoperative bleedings were (285.3±132.6)ml and (257.5±99.5)ml, respectively.The mean interval time between two stages of operations were (15.3±6.5)d and (13.8±5.1)d in group 2D and group 3D, and the mean hospital stays were (39.3±5.8)d and (31.5±7.5)d, respectively.There were 4 cases and 12 cases who accepted the second stage operation in group 2D and group 3D respectively.There were 7 cases(4 with grade A, 2 with grade B, 1 with grade C) and 2 cases(1 with grade A, 1 with grade B) with post-hepatectomy liver failure and 9 cases(4 with grade Ⅰ, 2 with grade Ⅱ, 1 with grade Ⅲ, 2 with grade Ⅳ) and 3 cases (1 with grade Ⅰ, 1 with grade Ⅱ, 1 with grade Ⅲ)with postoperative complications in group 2D and group 3D respectively.There were 2 cases and 0 case died after operation in group 2D and group 3D respectively.There were 3 cases and 1 case who were recurrent and 4 cases and 1 case died 6 months after surgery in group 2D and group 3D respectively. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional visualization technology assisted the formulation of preoperative assessments and surgical planning individually and precisely, which displayed potential application value in HCC treated by ALPPS.

Photoluminescence study on polar nanoregions and structural variations in Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 ₋ PbTiO3 single crystals.

We report polar nanostructure and electronic transitions in relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 ₋ PbTiO (PMN-PT) single crystals around morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region by variable-temperature (80-800 K) photoluminescence (PL) spectra and low-wavenumber Raman scattering (LWRS). The discontinuous evolution from peak positions and intensity of luminescence emissions can be corresponding to formation of polar nanoclusters and phase transitions. Six emissions have been derived from PL spectra and show obvious characteristics near phase transition temperatures, which indicates that PL spectral measurement is promising in understanding the microcosmic mechanism. The Raman mode at 1145 cm(-1) indicates that temperature dependent luminescence phenomena can be modulated by thermal quenching.

A first-principles study on the intrinsic asymmetric ferroelectricity of the SrTiO3-BaTiO3-CaTiO3 tricolor superlattice at the nanoscale.

We report a systematic theoretical study on the ferroelectric behavior of ultrathin three-component ferroelectric films, e.g., CaTiO3-BaTiO3-SrTiO3, sandwiched between electrodes. Using first-principles calculations we demonstrate that such structures have intrinsic asymmetric ferroelectricity which is robust even at the nanoscale. In addition, there exists a certain relationship between the polarization directions and geometric stacking sequences of the superlattices. Specifically, the lowest energy states always have polarizations pointing from CaTiO3 via BaTiO3 to SrTiO3, while the sequence in the metastable states is SrTiO3-BaTiO3-CaTiO3. Therefore we were able to distinguish one ferroelectric state from its opposite state by means of their geometric stackings along the polarization directions. Besides this, band alignment analysis reveals that such structures are well behaved at the metal/ferroelectric interface, confirming the credibility and reliability of our first-principles calculation. Our finding may suggest a controllable and unambiguous way to build ferroelectric and multiferroic tunnel junctions.

Mass measurements of the neutron-deficient 41Ti, 45Cr, 49Fe, and 53Ni nuclides: first test of the isobaric multiplet mass equation in f p-shell nuclei.

Isochronous mass spectrometry has been applied to neutron-deficient 58Ni projectile fragments at the HIRFL-CSR facility in Lanzhou, China. Masses of a series of short-lived T(z)=-3/2 nuclides including 41Ti, 45Cr, 49Fe, and 53Ni have been measured with a precision of 20-40 keV. The new data enable us to test for the first time the isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) in fp-shell nuclei. We observe that the IMME is inconsistent with the generally accepted quadratic form for the A=53, T=3/2 quartet. We perform full space shell model calculations and compare them with the new experimental results.

Results of carbon ion radiotherapy for skin carcinomas in 45 patients.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND; Heavy ions represent the best tool for external radiotherapy (RT) of inoperable tumours. Heavy ion RT has been used in the treatment of various tumours, especially for radioresistant tumours mediated by hypoxia, localized near organs at risk. Most of these treatments are concentrated in deep-seated tumours such as those of the brain, head, lung, liver, rectum and urogenital organs, and treatment of skin carcinomas is limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcome and toxicity after carbon ion RT for skin carcinomas at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou, China. METHODS: Between November 2006 and March 2009, 45 patients with skin carcinoma [squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 16), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (n = 12), malignant melanoma (MM) (n = 7), Bowen disease (n = 8) and Paget disease (n = 2)] were treated with carbon ion RT within a clinical Phase I trial. Patients received total doses of 60-70 GyE for SCC and BCC, 61-75 GyE for MM, 60 GyE for Bowen disease and 42·5 GyE for Paget disease, administered in 6-11 fractions over 6-11 days, with a fraction dose of 7-10 GyE. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 24 months, range 12-36 months. The actuarial local control rates at 1 and 3 years were 90·9% and 65·5% for SCC, 91·7% and 80·2% for BCC, 85·7% and 42·9% for MM, 90% and 90% for Bowen and Paget diseases, respectively. The actuarial 1- and 3-year overall survival rates for 45 patients were 88·9% and 86%, respectively. No severe side-effects greater than Common Toxicity Criteria grade 3 have been observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that heavy ion RT offers high local tumour control and progression-free survival rates without significant radiation-induced toxicity for patients with skin carcinomas.

Influences of oxygen pressure on optical properties and interband electronic transitions in multiferroic bismuth ferrite nanocrystalline films grown by pulsed laser deposition.

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO(3)) nanocrystalline films with the crystalline size of 27-40 nm have been grown on c-sapphire substrates under various oxygen pressures of 1 × 10(-4) to 1 Pa by pulsed laser deposition. The X-ray diffraction spectra show that the films are polycrystalline and present the pure rhombohedral phase. It was found that the Raman-active phonon mode E(TO1) shifts towards a higher energy side from 74 to 76 cm(-1) with increasing oxygen pressure, indicating a larger tensile stress in the films deposited at higher oxygen pressure. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis suggests that the concentrations of both Fe(2+) ions and oxygen vacancies in the BiFeO(3) films increase with decreasing oxygen pressure. Moreover, the dielectric functions in the photon energy range of 0.47-6.5 eV have been extracted by fitting the transmittance spectra with the Tauc-Lorentz dispersion model. From the transmittance spectra, the fundamental absorption edge is observed to present a redshift trend with increasing the temperature from 8 to 300 K. Note that the optical band gap (E(g)) decreases with increasing the temperature due to the electron-phonon interactions associated with the interatomic distance in the BiFeO(3) films. However, the E(g) decreases from 2.88 to 2.78 eV with decreasing oxygen pressure at 8 K, which can be attributed to the increment of oxygen vacancies leading to the formation of some impurity states between the valence and conduction band. It can be concluded that the oxygen pressure during the film fabrication has the significant effects on microstructure, optical properties, and electronic band structure modification of the BiFeO(3) films.

Direct mass measurements of short-lived A=2Z-1 nuclides (63)Ge, (65)As, (67)Se, and (71)Kr and their impact on nucleosynthesis in the rp process.

Mass excesses of short-lived A=2Z-1 nuclei (63)Ge, (65)As, (67)Se, and (71)Kr have been directly measured to be -46,921(37), -46,937(85), -46,580(67), and -46,320(141) keV, respectively. The deduced proton separation energy of -90(85) keV for (65)As shows that this nucleus is only slightly proton unbound. X-ray burst model calculations with the new mass excess of (65)As suggest that the majority of the reaction flow passes through (64)Ge via proton capture, indicating that (64)Ge is not a significant rp-process waiting point.

Growth, microstructure, and infrared-ultraviolet optical conductivity of La(0.5)Sr(0.5)CoO(3) nanocrystalline films on silicon substrates by pulsed laser deposition.

La(0.5)Sr(0.5)CoO(3) (LSCO) nanocrystalline (nc) films have been directly grown on silicon wafers under different substrate temperatures by pulsed laser deposition. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicate that the films are polycrystalline with the pure perovskite phase at higher substrate temperatures. The columnar growth formation with the nanocrystalline structure in the films has been confirmed by microscopy experiments. Infrared-ultraviolet optical properties of the LSCO films have been investigated with the aid of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Dielectric function in the photon energy range of 1.1-3.1 eV (400-1100 nm) has been extracted by reproducing the experimental data with a Lorentz oscillator model. It is found that the real part is decreased from 4.7 to -0.7 at the near-infrared region with increasing substrate temperature. The optical conductivity shows a different variation trend for the lower and higher growth temperatures, respectively. Note that the films deposited above 650 degrees C exhibit the well-defined metallic phase behavior. The discrepancies could be mainly ascribed to different crystalline structure and surface morphology. The present results may be crucial for future applications of ferromagnetic-based optoelectronic and spin-electronic devices.

Correlation between adiponectin polymorphisms and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with or without metabolic syndrome in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) 45 and 276 of the adiponectin gene on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with or without metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A total of 165 NAFLD, 83 NAFLD with metabolic syndrome and 160 healthy controls from Chinese population were genotyped for the adiponectin gene (+45T>G and +276G>T) by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. Plasma adiponectin and insulin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Insulin resistance (IR) was evaluated by using homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: NAFLD with metabolic syndrome had further extent of IR and hypoadiponectinemia. No association of SNP45 or SNP276 was found in NAFLD or NAFLD with metabolic syndrome. Subjects carrying the G allele of SNP45 showed higher levels of triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), HOMA, body mass index (BMI), and alanine transaminase (ALT), as well as lower plasma adiponectin levels. In the normal-weight group of SNP276, subjects carrying the G allele showed higher HOMA and subjects carrying the T allele showed lower BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Our study observed further hypoadiponectinemia and IR in NAFLD with metabolic syndrome. The T45G and G276T of the adiponectin gene may not be the important determinants of NAFLD in Chinese people, but some of them still influence serum ALT, BMI, IR, lipid, glucose metabolism and plasma adiponectin concentration.

Infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry of n-alkylthiol (C5-C18) self-assembled monolayers on gold.

The infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry (IRSE) of n-alkylthiol (CH3(CH2)xSH, x = 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, and 17, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), with 5-18 carbon atoms (C5-C18), grown on gold-coated Si(100) substrates) was investigated at room temperature. The C-H stretching vibrations could be resolved even for pentathiol, the shortest chain studied. The symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of the CH2 groups are located at about 2850 and 2920 cm(-1), and those of CH3 are at about 2877 and 2962 cm(-1), respectively; they show a slight shift with the number of CH2 units. In addition, Fermi resonance of the symmetric CH3 stretching vibration at 2940 cm(-1) appears with decreasing chain length due to weak coupling with the asymmetric CH2 stretching vibration. The "odd-even effect" of the n-alkylthiol SAMs with varying CH2 units could be distinguished by the two interactive IRSE parameters. The relative ellipsometric spectra for the four longest chains could be reproduced quite well by using a Lorentz multioscillator model with a three-phase optical model (air/SAMs/gold). On the basis of the theoretical calculations, the vibrational strength of these oscillators is very weak, its magnitude being 10(-4)-10(-5). The full width at half-maximum (fwhm) of the peaks varies from 7 to 33 cm(-1). Moreover, the intensity of the C-H vibrations increases with the number of methylene units, due to strong lateral interactions and ordering effects occurring for longer chains.

Binary latent variable modelling and its applicationin the study of air pollution in Hong Kong.

A binary latent variable is constructed to account for the correlation between multiple binary outcomes and is treated as a dependent variable in modelling for covariate effects. This modelling method is similar to the structural equation modelling. Three models are considered: (1) all covariates affecting the binary latent variable directly; (2) some covariates affecting the binary latent variable while other affecting the manifestation of the binary outcomes; and (3) no covariates are included. Gibbs sampling, a special case of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, is used to estimate the parameters in the models. Simulation studies show that this method is valid and reliable in estimating covariate effects. But Model (1) fitted the data best with lowest value in the deviance information criteria. The method is illustrated by applying it to the data analysis of an environmental air pollution study. The results show that air pollution (i.e. the most versus the least polluted district) (odds ratio 1.20; 95% confidence interval 0.97-1.49; p=0.102), smoking (relative to not smoking) (2.75; 2.21-3.41; p < 0.001) and mosquito coil use (relative to non-use) (1.27; 0.99-1.62; p=0.058) had an impact on the respiratory health of male adults in Hong Kong.

Effects of ambient air pollution and environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory health of non-smoking women in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Two-thirds of complaints received by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department in 1988 were related to poor air quality. In July 1990 legislation was implemented to reduce fuel sulphur levels. The intervention led to a reduction in respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness of primary school children. The objectives of this study were to investigate the differences in respiratory health between non-smoking women living in the more polluted district (Kwai Tsing) and those living in the less polluted district (Southern); to assess the impact of the government air quality intervention; and to study the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory health in non-smoking women in both districts. METHOD: A total of 3405 non-smoking women, aged 36.5 years (standard deviation = 3.0), from two districts with good and poor air quality respectively before the intervention were followed yearly from 1989 to 1991. Binary latent variable modelling was used to summarize the six respiratory symptoms and to estimate the effects of risk factors. RESULTS: In 1989, living in the polluted district was associated with poor respiratory health (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-2.17, P < 0.01). After the intervention, in the polluted district only, sulphur dioxide levels fell by up to 80% and sulphate concentrations in respirable particulates by 38%. Between 1989 and 1990-1991, there was no significantly greater decline (P > 0.241) in the more polluted compared with the less polluted district for poor respiratory health. In 1989, the effects on poor respiratory health for exposure to two or more categories of smokers relative to none in the home (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.15-2.83, P < 0.01) were higher but not significantly than those for living in polluted relative to less polluted district (95% CI of the two effects overlapping each other). CONCLUSIONS: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and outdoor air pollution had independent adverse effects on respiratory health of non-smoking women and improvement in air quality had produced some but non-significant benefits.