Biomedical subjects

P Wang

Publications and source records attributed to P Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Measurements and simulation of forest leaf area index and net primary productivity in Northern China.

Large scale process-based modeling is a useful approach to estimate distributions of global net primary productivity (NPP). In this paper, in order to validate an existing NPP model with observed data at site level, field experiments were conducted at three sites in northern China. One site is located in Qilian Mountain in Gansu Province, and the other two sites are in Changbaishan Natural Reserve and Dunhua County in Jilin Province. Detailed field experiments are discussed and field data are used to validate the simulated NPP. Remotely sensed images including Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+, 30 m spatial resolution in visible and near infrared bands) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER, 15m spatial resolution in visible and near infrared bands) are used to derive maps of land cover, leaf area index, and biomass. Based on these maps, field measured data, soil texture and daily meteorological data, NPP of these sites are simulated for year 2001 with the boreal ecosystem productivity simulator (BEPS). The NPP in these sites ranges from 80 to 800 gCm(-2)a(-1). The observed NPP agrees well with the modeled NPP. This study suggests that BEPS can be used to estimate NPP in northern China if remotely sensed images of high spatial resolution are available.

Biomass↗

PubMed2006

Search for D0-D0 mixing and branching-ratio measurement in the decay D0-->K+ pi- pi0.

We analyze 230.4 fb;{-1} of data collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e;{+}e;{-} collider at SLAC to search for evidence of D0-D[over ];{0} mixing using regions of phase space in the decay D;{0}-->K;{+}pi;{-}pi;{0}. We measure the time-integrated mixing rate R_{M}=(0.023_{-0.014};{+0.018}(stat.)+/-0.004(syst.))%, and R_{M}<0.054% at the 95% confidence level, assuming CP invariance. The data are consistent with no mixing at the 4.5% confidence level. We also measure the branching ratio for D;{0}-->K;{+}pi;{-}pi;{0} relative to D;{0}-->K;{-}pi;{+}pi;{0} to be (0.214+/-0.008(stat.)+/-0.008(syst.))%.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Observation of a new Ds meson decaying to DK at a mass of 2.86 GeV/c2.

We observe a new D_{s} meson with mass (2856.6+/-1.5_{stat}+/-5.0_{syst}) MeV/c;{2} and width (48+/-7_{stat}+/-10_{syst}) MeV/c;{2} decaying into D0K+ and D;{+}K_{S};{0}. In the same mass distributions, we also observe a broad structure with mass (2688+/-4_{stat}+/-3_{syst}) MeV/c;{2} and width (112+/-7_{stat}+/-36_{syst}) MeV/c;{2}. To obtain this result, we use 240 fb;{-1} of data recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e;{+}e;{-} storage rings at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center running at center-of-mass energies near 10.6 GeV.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Measurement of the B-->pi l nu branching fraction and determination of absolute value of V(ub) with tagged B mesons.

We report a measurement of the B-->pi l nu branching fraction based on 211 fb(-1) of data collected with the BABAR detector. We use samples of B0 and B+ mesons tagged by a second B meson reconstructed in a semileptonic or hadronic decay and combine the results assuming isospin symmetry to obtain B(B(0)-->pi- l+ nu) = (1.33+/-0.17stat+/-0.11syst) x 10(-4). We determine the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element absolute value V(ub) by combining the partial branching fractions measured in ranges of the momentum transfer squared and theoretical calculations of the form factor. Using a recent lattice QCD calculation, we find absolute value V(ub) = (4.5+/-0.5stat+/-0.3syst(+0.7) -0.5FF x 10(-3), where the last error is due to the normalization of the form factor.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Measurement of branching fractions and charge asymmetries in B decays to an eta meson and a K* meson.

We present measurements of branching fractions and charge asymmetries for the decays B-->etaK*, where K* indicates a spin 0, 1, or 2 Kpi system. The data sample corresponds to 344x10(6) BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+ e- collider at SLAC. We measure the branching fractions (in units of 10(-6): B(B0-->etaK*0(892))=16.5+/-1.1+/-0.8, B(B+-->etaK*+(892))=18.9+/-1.8+/-1.3, B(B0-->eta(Kpi)0*0)=11.0+/-1.6+/-1.5, B(B+-->eta(Kpi)0*+)=18.2+/-2.6+/-2.6, B(B0-->etaK2*0(1430))=9.6+/-1.8+/-1.1, and B(B+-->etaK2*+(1430))=9.1+/-2.7+/-1.4. We also determine the charge asymmetries for all decay modes.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Measurements of branching fractions, polarizations, and direct CP-violation asymmetries in B-->rhoK* and B-->f0(980)K* decays.

We report searches for B-meson decays to the charmless final states rhoK* and f0(980)K* with a sample of 232x10(6) BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+e- collider. We measure in units of 10(-6) the following branching fractions, where the first error quoted is statistical and the second systematic, or upper limits are given at the 90% confidence level: B(B+-->rho0K*+)<6.1, B(B+-->rho+K*0)=9.6+/-1.7+/-1.5, B(B0-->rho-K*+)<12.0, B(B0-->rho0K*0)=5.6+/-0.9+/-1.3, B(B+-->f0(980)K*+)=5.2+/-1.2+/-0.5, and B(B0-->f0(980)K*0)<4.3. For the significant modes, we also measure the fraction of longitudinal polarization and the charge asymmetry: fL(B+-->rho+K*0)=0.52+/-0.10+/-0.04, fL(B0-->rho0K*0)=0.57+/-0.09+/-0.08, ACP(B+-->rho+K*0)=-0.01+/-0.16+/-0.02, ACP(B0-->rho0K*0)=0.09+/-0.19+/-0.02, and ACP(B+-->f0(980)K*+)=-0.34+/-0.21+/-0.03.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Photosynthetic and biochemical activities in flag leaves of a newly developed superhigh-yield hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) and its parents during the reproductive stage.

Responses of net photosynthetic rates to intercellular CO(2) concentration (P (n)/C (i) curves) and photochemical characteristics were investigated in flag leaves of newly developed superhigh-yield hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) LiangYouPeiJiu (LYPJ) and its maternal PeiAi64S (PA64S) and paternal WuMang9311 (WM9311) lines grown in the field during the reproductive stage. The results showed that photosynthetic functions, such as the electron transport activities of photosystems and photophosphorylation, assessed in vivo from P (n)/C (i) curves under field conditions declined more or earlier than those obtained in vitro. The degradation of polypeptides of thylakoid membranes was slower than those for P (Ca=360) (light-saturated net photosynthetic rate measured at 360 mumol mol(-1)) and CE (carboxylation efficiency, obtained from the initial slope of the P (n)/C (i) curve). The initial inhibition of the PSII electron transport and oxygen-evolving activity induced by senescence occurred before the degradation of the oxygen-evolving complex. In comparison, LYPJ had intermediate photosynthetic functions in the early stage of leaf development, but greater photochemical activities in the mid and late stages. WM9311 showed a similar pattern of changes but lower values, and PA64S had higher values in the early stage but showed a faster rate of senescence than LYPJ. These findings implied that the hybrid LYPJ demonstrated intermediate photosynthetic activities between its parents in the early stage of leaf development, whereas it had higher photosynthetic activities than its parents in the mid and late stages, which may be responsible for its high yield.

Carbon Dioxide↗

PubMed2006

110 W double-ended ytterbium-doped fiber superfluorescent source with M2 = 1.6.

High-power operation of a broadband superfluorescent fiber source has been achieved via the process of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in a double-clad Yb-doped multimode-offset-core fiber by using a novel fiber-end termination geometry to suppress lasing. The fiber was cladding pumped by a high-power diode source at 976 nm and yielded a maximum ASE output of 63 and 47 W from the two ends of the fiber, respectively. The maximum combined ASE output was 110 W with slope efficiency with respect to launched pump power of up to 68%. The wavelength spectrum of the ASE source spanned the range from approximately 1032 to 1120 nm, and the bandwidth (FWHM) of the emission spectrum was 40 nm. The output beam was slightly multimode with a beam-quality factor (M2) of 1.6. The prospects for further improvement in performance are considered.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Observation of B+ --> K0K+ and B0 --> K0K0.

We report observations of the b --> d penguin-dominated decays B+ --> K0K+ and B0 --> K0K0 in 316 fb(-1) of e+ e- collision data collected with the BABAR detector. We measure the branching fractions B(B+ --> K0K+) = (1.61+/-0.44+/-0.09) x 10(-6) and B(B0 --> K0K0 = (1.08+/-0.28+/-0.11) x 10(-6) and the CP-violating charge asymmetry A(CP)(K0K+) = 0.10+/-0.26+/-0.03. Using a vertexing technique previously employed in several analyses of all-neutral final states containing kaons, we report the first measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B0 --> K(S)0K(S)0, obtaining S = -1.28(-0.73-0.16)(+0.80+0.11) and C = -0.40+/-0.41+/-0.06. We also report improved measurements of the branching fraction B(B+ --> K0 pi+) = (23.9+/-1.1+/-1.0) x 10(-6) and CP-violating charge asymmetry A(CP)(K0 pi+) = -0.029+/-0.039+/-0.010.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Measurement of the branching fraction and photon energy moments of B-->Xs gamma and A(CP)(B --> X(s+d gamma)).

The photon spectrum in B-->Xs gamma decay, where Xs is any strange hadronic state, is studied using a data sample of 88.5 x 10(6) e+ e- --> Upsilon(4S) --> BB decays collected by the BABAR experiment at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The partial branching fraction, DeltaB(B --> Xs gamma) = (3.67+/-0.29(stat)+/-0.34(syst)+/-0.29(model)) x 10(-4), the first moment = 2.288+/-0.025+/-0.017+/-0.015 GeV, and the second moment E2(gamma) = 0.0328+/-0.0040+/-0.0023+/-0.0036 GeV2 are measured for the photon energy range 1.9 GeV < E gamma < 2.7 GeV. They are also measured for narrower E gamma ranges. The moments are then fit to recent theoretical calculations to extract the heavy quark expansion parameters m(b) and mu2(pi) and to extrapolate the partial branching fraction to E gamma > 1.6 GeV. In addition, the direct CP asymmetry A(CP)(B-->X(s+d gamma) is measured to be -0.110+/-0.115(stat)+/-0.017(syst).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Observation of e(+)e(-) annihilation into the C = +1 hadronic final states rho(0)rho(0) and phirho(0).

We report the first observation of e(+)e(-) annihilation into states of positive C parity, namely, rho(0)rho(0) and phirho(0). The two states are observed in the pi(+)pi(-)pi(+)pi(-) and K(+)K(-)pi(+)pi(-) final states, respectively, in a data sample of 225 fb(-1) collected by the BABAR experiment at the Positron-Electron Project II e(+)e(-) storage rings at energies near sqrt[s]=10.58 GeV. The distributions of costheta(*), where theta(*) is the center-of-mass polar angle of the phi meson or the forward rho(0) meson, suggest production by two-virtual-photon annihilation. We measure cross sections within the range |costheta(*)|<0.8 of sigma(e(+)e(-)-->rho(0)rho(0))=20.7+/-0.7(stat)+/-2.7(syst) fb and sigma(e(+)e(-)-->phirho(0))=5.7+/-0.5(stat)+/-0.8(syst) fb.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Measurement of the spin of the omega(-) hyperon.

A measurement of the spin of the Omega(-) hyperon produced through the exclusive process Xi(c)(0)-->Omega(-)K(+) is presented using a total integrated luminosity of 116 fb(-1) recorded with the BABAR detector at the e(+)e(-) asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. Under the assumption that the Xi(c)(0) has spin 1/2, the angular distribution of the Lambda from Omega(-)-->LambdaK(-) decay is inconsistent with all half-integer Omega(-) spin values other than 3/2. Lower statistics data for the process Omega(c)(0)-->Omega(-)pi(+) from a 230 fb(-1) sample are also found to be consistent with Omega(-) spin 3/2. If the Xi(c)(0) spin were 3/2, an Omega(-) spin of 5/2 could not be excluded.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Cellular effects and metabolic stability of N1-cyclic inosine diphosphoribose and its derivatives.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recently, a number of mimics of the second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) with replacement of adenosine by inosine were introduced. In addition, various alterations in the molecule ranging from substitutions at C8 of the base up to full replacement of the ribose moieties still retained biological activity. However, nothing is known about the metabolic stability and cellular effects of these novel analogues. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: cADPR and the inosine-based analogues were incubated with CD38, ADP-ribosyl cyclase and NAD-glycohydrolase and metabolism was analysed by RP-HPLC. Furthermore, the effect of the analogues on cytokine expression and proliferation was investigated in primary T-lymphocytes and T-lymphoma cells. KEY RESULTS: Incubation of cADPR with CD38 resulted in degradation to adenosine diphosphoribose. ADP-ribosyl cyclase weakly catabolised cADPR whereas NAD-glycohydrolase showed no such activity. In contrast, N1-cyclic inosine 5'-diphosphoribose (N1-cIDPR) was not hydrolyzed by CD38. Three additional N1-cIDPR analogues showed a similar stability. Proliferation of Jurkat T-lymphoma cells was inhibited by N1-cIDPR, N1-[(phosphoryl-O-ethoxy)-methyl]-N9-[(phosphoryl-O-ethoxy)-methyl]-hypoxanthine-cyclic pyrophosphate (N1-cIDP-DE) and N1-ethoxymethyl-cIDPR (N1-cIDPRE). In contrast, in primary T cells neither proliferation nor cytokine expression was affected by these compounds. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The metabolic stability of N1-cIDPR and its analogues provides an advantage for the development of novel pharmaceutical compounds interfering with cADPR mediated Ca2+ signalling pathways. The differential effects of N1-cIDPR and N1-cIDPRE on proliferation and cytokine expression in primary T cells versus T-lymphoma cells may constitute a starting point for novel anti-tumor drugs.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

PubMed2006

A virtual reality surgery simulation of cutting and retraction in neurosurgery with force-feedback.

A virtual-reality surgical simulator aimed at neurosurgery is presented. The simulator utilises boundary element (BE) technology to develop real-time realistic deformable models of the brain. The simulator incorporates the simulation of surgical prodding, pulling and cutting. Advanced features include the separation the cut surfaces by retractors and post-cutting deformations. The experience of virtual surgery is enhanced by implementing 3D stereo-vision and the use of two hand-held force-feedback devices.

Neurosurgery↗

PubMed2006

Anatomical correlates of early mutism in progressive nonfluent aphasia.

Patients with progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA) can become mute early in the course of the disease. Voxel-based morphometry showed that PNFA is associated with left anterior insula and inferior frontal atrophy. In PNFA with early mutism, volume loss was more prominent in the pars opercularis and extended into the left basal ganglia. Damage to the network of brain regions involved in both coordination and execution of speech causes mutism in PNFA.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

A comparison of traditional digital blocks and single subcutaneous palmar injection blocks at the base of the finger and a meta-analysis of the digital block trials.

A randomised, double-blinded, controlled trial was performed to compare traditional digital blocks with single subcutaneous palmar injection blocks at the base of the finger. A search for randomised controlled trials of digital blocks through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and CBM was conducted and a meta-analysis including the current trial was performed. The current trial showed no difference between traditional digital blocks and single subcutaneous palmar injection bocks at the base of the finger in respect of injection pain and time to anaesthesia. The meta-analysis suggests that traditional digital blocks and single subcutaneous palmar injection blocks are similar with regard to injection pain and are less painful than the transthecal digital block. The palmar techniques, including single subcutaneous palmar block and transthecal block, carry a risk of not anaesthetising the dorsum of the digit adequately, particularly the dorsum of the thumb and the proximal phalanx of the fingers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Insulin modulates the secretion of proteins from mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes: a role for transcriptional regulation of processing.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Under conditions of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, fat cells are subjected to increased levels of insulin, which may have a major impact on the secretion of adipokines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using transcriptomics and proteomics, we investigated how insulin affects the transcription and protein secretion profile of mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. RESULTS: We found that insulin has a significant impact on protein secretion of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. However, transcription is not the major regulation point for these secreted proteins. For extracellular matrix components, our data suggest that the mRNA level of processing enzymes, but not of target proteins, is the regulating point at which insulin stimulates secretion and function of the relevant proteins. Among these enzymes, we report a novel finding, namely that sulfatase 2 gene is regulated by insulin, which may induce a functional change in cultured adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We propose that enhancement of protein processing and secretion rather than transcription of the secreted protein genes is part of the strategic role of insulin in the induction of cellular responses.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2006

Observation of B0 meson decay to a 1 +/(1260)pi /+.

We present a measurement of the branching fraction of the decay B(0)-->a1 (+/)(1260)pi(/+) with a1 (+/)(1260)-->pi(/+)pi(+/)pi(+/). The data sample corresponds to 218 x 10(6) BB[over ] pairs produced in e+e- annihilation through the Upsilon(4S) resonance. We measure the branching fraction Beta(B(0)-->a1(+/)(1260)pi(/+))Beta(a1(+/)(1260)-->pi(/+)pi(+/)pi(+/)) = (16.6+/1.9+/1.5) x 10(-6), where the first error quoted is statistical and the second is systematic.

Journal Article↗