Mirror QCD phase transition as the origin of the nanohertz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background.

Several Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) Collaborations have recently provided strong evidence for a nHz Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background (SGWB). Here we investigate the implications of a first-order phase transition occurring within the early Universe's dark quantum chromodynamics epoch, specifically within the framework of the mirror twin Higgs dark sector model. Our analysis indicates a distinguishable SGWB signal originating from this phase transition, which can explain the measurements obtained by PTAs.

Inert Higgs Dark Matter for CDF II W-Boson Mass and Detection Prospects.

The W-boson mass, which was recently measured at Fermilab with an unprecedented precision, suggests the presence of new multiplets beyond the standard model (SM). One of the minimal extensions of the SM is to introduce an additional scalar doublet in which the non-SM scalars can enhance W-boson mass via the loop corrections. On the other hand, with a proper discrete symmetry, the lightest new scalar in the doublet can be stable and play the role of a dark matter particle.

A common origin of muon g-2 anomaly, Galaxy Center GeV excess and AMS-02 anti-proton excess in the NMSSM.

The supersymmetric model is one of the most attractive extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In light of the most recently reported anomaly of the muon g-2 measurement by the FermiLab E989 experiment, and the excesses of gamma rays at the Galactic center observed by Fermi-LAT space telescope, as well as the antiproton excess observed by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, we propose to account for all these anomalies or excesses in the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM). Considering various experimental constraints including the Higgs mass, B-physics, collider data, dark matter relic density and direct detections, we find that a ~60 GeV bino-like neutralino is able to successfully explain all these observations.

Possible Dark Matter Annihilation Signal in the AMS-02 Antiproton Data.

Using the latest AMS-02 cosmic-ray antiproton flux data, we search for a potential dark matter annihilation signal. The background parameters about the propagation, source injection, and solar modulation are not assumed a priori but based on the results inferred from the recent B/C ratio and proton data measurements instead. The possible dark matter signal is incorporated into the model self-consistently under a Bayesian framework.

One single nucleotide difference alters the differential expression of spliced RNAs between HBV genotypes A and D.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is generally classified into eight genotypes (A to H) based on genomic sequence divergence. The sequence variation among the different HBV genotypes suggests that the spliced RNAs should be different from genotype to genotype. However, the cis-acting element involved in the modulation of the distinct expression profiles of spliced HBV RNAs remains unidentified.

HNF-4α determines hepatic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow.

Aim: To investigate the differentiation status and key factors to facilitate hepatic differentiation of human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods: Human MSCs derived from bone marrow were induced into hepatocyte-like cells following a previously published protocol. The differentiation status of the hepatocyte-like cells was compared with various human hepatoma cell lines.

Decreased expression of UK114 is related to the differentiation status of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Previous studies have identified that the expression of UK114 is tissue specific and the protein has been found to be most abundant in liver and kidney. However, the expression of UK114 in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its relationship to differentiation and transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma have not been studied. In this study, the expression of UK114 in human hepatocellular carcinoma was examined by Northern and Western blot analyses.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 suppresses hepatitis B virus replication primarily through transcriptional inhibition of pregenomic RNA.

Unlabelled: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a pleiotropic cytokine with pivotal roles in the regulation of cellular functions and immune responses. In this study, we found that TGF-beta1 was able to effectively suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. In the presence of TGF-beta1, the level of viral replicative intermediates was dramatically decreased, both in actively dividing cells and in confluent cells.