Observation of the associated production of a single top quark and a W boson in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 8 TeV.

The first observation of the associated production of a single top quark and a W boson is presented. The analysis is based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 12.2 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 8 TeV recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC.

Linking Bacterial Endophytic Communities to Essential Oils: Clues from Lavandula angustifolia Mill.

Endophytic bacteria play a crucial role in plant life and are also drawing much attention for their capacity to produce bioactive compounds of relevant biotechnological interest. Here we present the characterisation of the cultivable endophytic bacteria of Lavandula angustifolia Mill.-a species used since antiquity for its therapeutic properties-since the production of bioactive metabolites from medical plants may reside also in the activity of bacterial endophytes through their direct production, PGPR activity on host, and/or elicitation of plant metabolism.

A single-chain-variable-fragment fluorescence biosensor activates fluorogens from dissimilar chemical families.

Current advancements in biological protein discovery utilize bi-partite methods of fluorescence detection where chromophore and scaffold are uncoupled. One such technology, called fluorogen-activating proteins (FAPs), consists of single-chain-variable-fragments (scFvs) selected against small organic molecules (fluorogens) that are non-fluorescent in solution, but highly fluorescent when bound to the scFv. In unusual circumstances a scFv may activate similar fluorogens from a single chemical family.

Organic azides: "energetic reagents" for the intermolecular amination of C-H bonds.

This feature article provides an overview of the application of organic azides for the intermolecular amination of sp(3) and sp(2) C-H bonds. The catalytic activity of several metal complexes was reviewed underlining both synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the C-H amination. The majority of the aminated compounds reported in literature have been collected in this paper to provide a compendium of published procedures.

Thymic epithelial tumors express vascular endothelial growth factors and their receptors as potential targets of antiangiogenic therapy: a tissue micro array-based multicenter study.

Objectives: Tumor angiogenesis is an essential and complex process necessary for the growth of all tumors which represents a potential therapeutic target. Angiogenesis inhibitors targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or their receptor tyrosine kinases have been approved by the FDA. In thymic epithelial tumors (TET), targeted therapies have been sporadically applied due to their rarity.

MicroRNA expression profiling of thymic epithelial tumors.

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are the most frequent human primary mediastinal tumors in adults. A deep biological characterization of the processes at the basis of the transformed phenotype could strongly improve our understanding of the morphological and clinical heterogeneity of these diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulation and their altered expression accounts for the pathogenesis of several tumors.

Valence to core X-ray emission spectroscopy.

This Progress Report discusses the chemical sensitivity of Kβ valence to core X-ray emission spectroscopy (vtc-XES) and its applications for investigating 3d-transition-metal based materials. Vtc-XES can be used for ligand identification and for the characterization of the valence electronic levels. The technique provides information that is similar to valence band photoemission spectroscopy but the sample environment can be chosen freely and thus allows measurements in presence of gases and liquids and it can be applied for measurements under in situ/operando or extreme conditions.

Measurements of tt spin correlations and top-quark polarization using dilepton final states in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV.

Spin correlations and polarization in the top quark-antiquark system are measured using dilepton final states produced in pp collisions at the LHC at sqrt[s]=7  TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.0  fb(-1) collected with the CMS detector.

Search for top squark and Higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays.

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top quark (the top squark) and the Higgs boson (Higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets.

Interaction of NH3 with Cu-SSZ-13 Catalyst: A Complementary FTIR, XANES, and XES Study.

In the typical NH3-SCR temperature range (100-500 °C), ammonia is one of the main adsorbed species on acidic sites of Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst. Therefore, the study of adsorbed ammonia at high temperature is a key step for the understanding of its role in the NH3-SCR catalytic cycle. We employed different spectroscopic techniques to investigate the nature of the different complexes occurring upon NH3 interaction.

Bovine lactoferrin supplementation for prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis in very-low-birth-weight neonates: a randomized clinical trial.

Importance: NEC is a common and severe complication in premature neonates, particularly those with very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, <1500 g at birth). Probiotics including lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) proved effective in preventing NEC in preterm infants in several RCTs.

Objective: Lactoferrin, a mammalian milk glycoprotein involved in innate immune host defences, can reduce the incidence of NEC in animal models, and its action is enhanced by LGG.

Exploring the Anti-Burkholderia cepacia Complex Activity of Essential Oils: A Preliminary Analysis.

In this work we have checked the ability of the essential oils extracted from six different medicinal plants (Eugenia caryophyllata, Origanum vulgare, Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, and Thymus vulgaris) to inhibit the growth of 18 bacterial type strains belonging to the 18 known species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc). These bacteria are opportunistic human pathogens that can cause severe infection in immunocompromised patients, especially those affected by cystic fibrosis (CF), and are often resistant to multiple antibiotics. The analysis of the aromatograms produced by the six oils revealed that, in spite of their different chemical composition, all of them were able to contrast the growth of Bcc members.

Pharmacovigilance of herb-drug interactions among preoperative patients.

The Pharmacovigilance Center of the University of Florence conducted a survey across 3 hospitals in Tuscany (Empoli, Florence, and Prato) on a sample population consisting of 478 patients admitted to the hospital for a preoperative assessment before surgical intervention. The aim of the study was to assess the concomitant use of herbal remedies (HRs) and prescribed medications and to evaluate the most important potential interactions. Almost 50% of the patients surveyed-238 of 478 (49.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus with eosinophilic spongiosis and autoantibodies against desmocollins 2 and 3.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune blistering disease associated with neoplasms, typically lymphoproliferative disorders. PNP is characterized clinically by painful erosive stomatitis and polymorphous skin lesions. Histopathological findings are also very varied, and include lichen planus-like and pemphigus-like changes.

Fluorogen-activating scFv biosensors target surface markers on live cells via streptavidin or single-chain avidin.

Fluorescence biosensors are indispensable tools for understanding protein behavior and function in cells. Recent advancements utilize fluorogen-activating-proteins (FAPs) that form complexes with small organic molecules (fluorogens) and result in their fluorescence activation. The technology has found multiple uses in protein discovery applications; however, the current method of detection requires the expression of FAPs as gene fusion tags in cells-a process that is time- and labor-intensive.

Herbalists' perception of risks involving commonly sold medicinal plants in Italy.

Objective: Although there are several studies which have investigated pharmacists' knowledge of the safety of medicinal plants (MPs), no studies have examined herbalists' perception of risks associated with MPs.

Methods: We conducted a survey of 159 herbalists (participation rate 85.9%) in the region of Tuscany (Italy).

Highly diastereoselective cyclopropanation of α-methylstyrene catalysed by a C2-symmetrical chiral iron porphyrin complex.

A new chiral iron porphyrin-based catalyst performed α-methylstyrene stereoselective cyclopropanation with excellent yields (up to 99%), enantio- and diastereoselectivities (ee(trans) up to 87%, trans/cis ratios up to 99 : 1) and outstanding TON and TOF values (up to 20,000 and 120,000 h(-1) respectively).

Measurement of top quark-antiquark pair production in association with a W or Z boson in pp collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text].

A measurement of the cross section for the production of top quark-antiquark pairs ([Formula: see text]) in association with a vector boson V (W or Z) in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] is presented. The results are based on a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb[Formula: see text] recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC.

Searches for electroweak production of charginos, neutralinos, and sleptons decaying to leptons and W, Z, and Higgs bosons in pp collisions at 8 TeV.

Searches for the direct electroweak production of supersymmetric charginos, neutralinos, and sleptons in a variety of signatures with leptons and [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and Higgs bosons are presented. Results are based on a sample of proton-proton collision data collected at center-of-mass energy [Formula: see text] with the CMS detector in 2012, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 [Formula: see text].

Search for invisible decays of Higgs bosons in the vector boson fusion and associated ZH production modes.

A search for invisible decays of Higgs bosons is performed using the vector boson fusion and associated ZH production modes. In the ZH mode, the Z boson is required to decay to a pair of charged leptons or a [Formula: see text] quark pair. The searches use the 8 [Formula: see text] pp collision dataset collected by the CMS detector at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of up to 19.

Measurement of WZ and ZZ production in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] in final states with b-tagged jets.

Measurements are reported of the WZ and ZZ production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] in final states where one Z boson decays to b-tagged jets. The other gauge boson, either W or Z, is detected through its leptonic decay (either [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], or [Formula: see text]). The results are based on data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 18.