We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in B(s)(0) → J/ψϕ decays, using data collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. The decay time distribution of B(s)(0) → J/ψϕ is characterized by the decay widths Γ(H) and Γ(L) of the heavy and light mass eigenstates, respectively, of the B(s)(0) - B(s)(0) system and by a CP-violating phase ϕ(s). In a sample of about 8500 B(s)(0) → J/ψϕ events isolated from 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA search is performed for the lepton number violating decay B+ → h- μ+ μ+, where h- represents a K- or a π-, using an integrated luminosity of 36 pb(-1) of data collected with the LHCb detector. The decay is forbidden in the standard model but allowed in models with a Majorana neutrino. No signal is observed in either channel and limits of B(B+ → K- μ+ μ+) < 5.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Phys J C Part Fields
August 2012
The relative rates of -meson decays into / and (2) mesons are measured for the three decay modes in collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. The ratios of branching fractions ([Formula: see text]) are measured to be [Formula: see text] where the third uncertainty is from the ratio of the (2) and / branching fractions to .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Phys J C Part Fields
August 2012
The differential cross-section for the inclusive production of (2) mesons in collisions at [Formula: see text] has been measured with the LHCb detector. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb. The (2) mesons are reconstructed in the decay channels (2)→ and (2)→/, with the / meson decaying into two muons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe production of (1), (2) and (3) mesons in proton-proton collisions at the centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] is studied with the LHCb detector. The analysis is based on a data sample of 25 pb collected at the Large Hadron Collider. The mesons are reconstructed in the decay mode → and the signal yields are extracted from a fit to the invariant mass distributions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe calibration and performance of the opposite-side flavour tagging algorithms used for the measurements of time-dependent asymmetries at the LHCb experiment are described. The algorithms have been developed using simulated events and optimized and calibrated with →/, →/ and → decay modes with 0.37 fb of data collected in collisions at [Formula: see text] during the 2011 physics run.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe relative abundance of the three decay modes B(0)→D(-)K(+), B(0)→D(-)π(+), and B(s)(0)→D(s)(-)π(+) produced in 7 TeV pp collisions at the LHC is determined from data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35 pb(-1). The branching fraction of B(0)→D(-)K(+) is found to be B(B(0)→D(-)K(+)) = (2.01 ± 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe thermal stability of funtionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been studied experimentally by direct in-situ observations using a heating stage in a transmission electron microscope, from room temperature (RT) to about 1000 °C. It was found that the thermal stability of the functionalized CNTs was significantly reduced during the in-situ heating process. Their average diameter dramatically expanded from RT to about 500 °C, and then tended to be stable until about 1000 °C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Despite increased use of integrative medicine in cancer therapy, little data exist on its efficacy. This prospective, randomized, pilot trial sought to evaluate the feasibility of combined modality integrative medicine (CM-IM) in women with ovarian cancer (OvCA) and evaluate its effects on quality of life (QoL), chemotherapy toxicity and immunologic profiles.
Methods: Women with newly diagnosed OvCA requiring chemotherapy were offered enrollment.
Acid functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grafted to chitosan by first reacting the oxidized CNTs with thionyl chloride to form acyl-chlorinated CNTs. This product was subsequently dispersed in chitosan and covalently grafted to form CNT-chitosan. CNT-chitosan was further grafted onto 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate by free radical polymerization conditions, to yield CNT-g-chitosan-g-3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TMSPM), hereafter referred to as CNT-chitosan-3-TMSPM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study we report for the first time the comprehensive inhibitor profiling of the Proteus mirabilis metalloprotease virulence factor ZapA (mirabilysin) using a 160 compound focused library of N-alpha mercaptoamide dipeptides, in order to map the S(1)(') and S(2)(') binding site preferences of this important enzyme. This study has revealed a preference for the aromatic residues tyrosine and tryptophan in P(1)(') and aliphatic residues in P(2)('). From this library, six compounds were identified which exhibited sub- to low-micromolar K(i) values.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the disease characteristics and comorbidities predictive of vulvar cancer specific mortality and five year overall survival among older women, ages 65 and above.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of women diagnosed with vulvar cancer at a single regional cancer center from 1989 to 2003, with a follow up to 2009. Treatment records were extracted for: demographics and treatment information, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and Charlson comorbidity index score.
Objective: Our objective was to demonstrate that, despite recognition by both the gastroenterology and headache communities, abdominal migraine (AM) is an under-diagnosed cause of chronic, recurrent, abdominal pain in childhood in the USA.
Background: Chronic, recurrent abdominal pain occurs in 9-15% of all children and adolescents. After exclusion of anatomic, infectious, inflammatory, or other metabolic causes, "functional abdominal pain" is the most common diagnosis of chronic, idiopathic, abdominal pain in childhood.
Objective: To determine feasibility and efficacy of administering docetaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy followed by pelvic radiotherapy and then consolidation chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
Methods: Patients with surgically staged III-IV (excluding IIIA from positive cytology alone) endometrial cancer or biopsy confirmed recurrent disease were eligible. Treatment consisted of 3 cycles of docetaxel (75 mg/m²) and carboplatin (AUC 6) on a q21 day schedule followed by involved field irradiation (45 Gy)± brachytherapy and three additional cycles of docetaxel and carboplatin.
Objectives: (1) To determine the response rate of advanced, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix to ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and carboplatin chemotherapy; (2) to determine the progression free interval and survival rate in patients treated with this regimen; (3) to describe the toxicities associated with this regimen; and (4) to evaluate the quality of life of patients while on treatment.
Methods: Eligible patients had histologically proven stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent carcinoma of the cervix not amenable to curative treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy was given on day 1 of a 28-day cycle: mesna (600 mg/m(2)) prior to ifosfamide (2 g/m(2)), paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)), carboplatin (AUC 5).
Background: Natural killer (NK) cells derived from patients with cancer exhibit diminished cytotoxicity compared with NK cells from healthy individuals. We evaluated the tumor response and in vivo expansion of allogeneic NK cells in recurrent ovarian and breast cancer.
Methods: Patients underwent a lymphodepleting preparative regimen: fludarabine 25 mg/m(2) × 5 doses, cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg × 2 doses, and, in seven patients, 200 cGy total body irradiation (TBI) to increase host immune suppression.
Background: The primary objective was to study the antitumor activity of prolonged subcutaneous dosing of systemic 852A, a Toll-like receptor-7 agonist (TLR-7), in recurrent breast, ovarian and cervix cancer. Secondary objectives included assessment of safety and immune system activation.
Methods: Adults with recurrent breast, ovarian or cervix cancer failing multiple therapies received 0.
Objective: Effective patient -clinician communication at diagnosis is important, yet decreased provider time for face-to-face interactions makes traditional paradigms in cancer care difficult. We evaluated the effects of an educational video on patients' distress, cancer knowledge, coping skills and attitudes regarding learning about cancer at the time of ovarian cancer diagnosis.
Methods: An educational video was developed in which oncology professionals, women with ovarian cancer, and their relatives discussed cancer information and experiences.
FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol
August 2010
Antibiotics have been the cornerstone of the clinical management of bacterial infections since their discovery in the early part of the last century. Eight decades later, their widespread, often indiscriminate use, has resulted in an overall reduction in their effectiveness, with reports of multidrug-resistant bacteria now commonplace. Increasing reliance on indwelling medical devices, which are inherently susceptible to biofilm-mediated infections, has contributed to unacceptably high rates of nosocomial infections, placing a strain on healthcare budgets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcid functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes were covalently grafted to chitosan by first reacting the oxidized carbon nanotubes with thionyl chloride to form acyl-chlorinated carbon nanotubes which are subsequently dispersed in chitosan and covalently grated to form composite material, CNT-chitosan, 1, which was washed several times to remove un-reacted materials. This composite has been characterized by FTIR, 13C NMR, TGA, SEM and TEM and has been shown to exhibit enhanced thermal stability. The reaction of 1, with poly lactic acid has also been accomplished to yield CNTchitosan-g-poly(LA), 2 and fully characterized by the above techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine whether an exercise intervention using an active video game (Dance Dance Revolution [DDR]) is effective in improving endothelial dysfunction (EDF) and other risk factors in overweight children.
Design: Thirty-five children (Body mass index > or = 85(th) percentile, mean age 10.21+/-1.
Objective. The goal of treating recurrent ovarian cancer is disease control while minimizing toxicity. Fulvestrant, a novel estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, has proven clinically beneficial and well-tolerated in treating recurrent breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlack men "on the down low" have been considered prime agents of HIV transmission in the Black community despite little empirical evidence. We assessed the relationship between down-low identification and sexual risk outcomes among 1151 Black MSM. Down-low Identification was not associated with unprotected anal or vaginal sex with male or female partners.
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