Measurement of the mass difference between t and t quarks

We present a direct measurement of the mass difference between t and t quarks using tt candidate events in the lepton+jets channel, collected with the CDF II detector at Fermilab's 1.96 TeV Tevatron pp Collider. We make an event by event estimate of the mass difference to construct templates for top quark pair signal events and background events. The resulting mass difference distribution of data is compared to templates of signals and background using a maximum likelihood fit. From a sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6  fb(-1), we measure a mass difference, ΔM(top) = M(t) - M(t) = -3.3 ± 1.4(stat) ± 1.0(syst)  GeV/c2, approximately 2 standard deviations away from the CPT hypothesis of zero mass difference.

Search for heavy bottomlike quarks decaying to an electron or muon and jets in pp collisions at √s = 1.96 TeV

We report the most sensitive direct search for pair production of fourth-generation bottomlike chiral quarks (b') each decaying promptly to tW. We search for an excess of events with an electron or muon, at least five jets (one identified as due to a b or c quark), and an imbalance of transverse momentum by using data from pp collisions collected by the CDF II detector at Fermilab with an integrated luminosity of 4.8  fb(-1). We observe events consistent with background expectation, calculate upper limits on the b' pair-production cross section (σ(bb')) ≲30  fb for m(b') > 375  GeV/c2), and exclude m(b') < 372  GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level assuming a 100% branching ratio of b' to tW.

Measurement of b hadron lifetimes in exclusive decays containing a J/ψ in pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We report on a measurement of b-hadron lifetimes in the fully reconstructed decay modes B(+)→J/ψK(+), B⁰→J/ψK*(892)⁰, B⁰→J/ψK(s)⁰, and Λ(b)⁰→J/ψΛ⁰ using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.3 fb⁻¹, collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The measured lifetimes are τ(B(+))=[1.639±0.009(stat)±0.009(syst)] ps, τ(B⁰)=[1.507±0.010(stat)±0.008(syst)] ps, and τ(Λ(b)⁰)=[1.537±0.045(stat)±0.014(syst)] ps. The lifetime ratios are τ(B(+))/τ(B⁰)=[1.088±0.009(stat)±0.004(syst)] and τ(Λ(b)⁰)/τ(B⁰)=[1.020±0.030(stat)±0.008(syst)]. These are the most precise determinations of these quantities from a single experiment.

Search for high mass resonances decaying to muon pairs in √s=1.96 TeV pp collisions

We present a search for a new narrow, spin-1, high mass resonance decaying to μ(+)μ⁻+X, using a matrix-element-based likelihood and a simultaneous measurement of the resonance mass and production rate. In data with 4.6 fb⁻¹ of integrated luminosity collected by the CDF detector in pp collisions at √s=1960 GeV, the most likely signal cross section is consistent with zero at 16% confidence level. We therefore do not observe evidence for a high mass resonance and place limits on models predicting spin-1 resonances, including M>1071 GeV/c² at 95% confidence level for a Z' boson with the same couplings to fermions as the Z boson.

Dijet azimuthal decorrelations in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Measurements of dijet azimuthal decorrelations in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC are presented. The analysis is based on an inclusive dijet event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb⁻¹. The results are compared to predictions from perturbative QCD calculations and various Monte Carlo event generators. The dijet azimuthal distributions are found to be sensitive to initial-state gluon radiation.

Serum cytokines markers in toluene diisocyanate-induced asthma

BACKGROUND

Toluene diisocyante-induced occupational asthma (TDI-OA) is an inflammatory disease of airway, composing inflammatory cells and cytokines associated with airway remodeling. Majority of the patients with TDI-OA presented persistent asthma. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential for the favorable prognosis. We investigated to identify serologic markers for early diagnosis of TDI-OA.

METHODS

We enrolled 69 patients with TDI-OA and 95 asymptomatic exposed controls (AECs). Neutrophil-related cytokines, including myeloperoxidase (MPO) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), as well as airway remodeling-related cytokines, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were measured by ELISA in the sera of each subject. To evaluate the validity of the each cytokine and combined cytokines for discriminating between TDI-OA and AEC, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in the serum levels of MMP-9 and VEGF between two groups (p < 0.05). Using the optimal cutoff value of MMP-9 (182.96 ng/mL), the sensitivity and specificity were 79.7% and 80.0%, respectively, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.815. When the cytokines were combined to improve sensitivity, the combined values of MMP-9, VEGF, and IL-8 comprised the best set, for which the AUC increased to 0.822 and the sensitivity increased to 82.6% but specificity decreased to 75.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The single serum cytokine MMP-9 level or the combined cytokines MMP-9, VEGF, and IL-8 can be used as meaningful serologic markers for identifying patients with TDI-OA among exposed workers.

Measurement of the B(+) production cross section in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV

Measurements of the total and differential cross sections dσ/dp(T)(B) and dσ/dy(B) for B(+) mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7  TeV are presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.8  pb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment operating at the LHC. The exclusive decay B(+)→J/ψK(+), with J/ψ→μ(+)μ(-), is used to detect B(+) mesons and to measure the production cross section as a function of p(T)(B) and y(B). The total cross section for p(T)(B)>5  GeV and |y(B)|<2.4 is measured to be 28.1±2.4±2.0±3.1  μb, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the last is from the luminosity measurement.

Efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine in treating major depressive disorder with anxiety symptoms: an 8-week open-label randomised paroxetine-controlled trial

AIMS

Prominent anxiety symptoms are related to poor clinical course and outcome in major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this randomised, open-label, controlled study is to compare the efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine in the form of orally disintegrating tablets against paroxetine in treating MDD patients with anxiety symptoms.

METHODS

A total of 60 MDD patients with a score above 18 on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of fixed dosing treatment with mirtazapine (15-30 mg/day) and paroxetine (10-20 mg/day). Efficacy was primarily assessed with the HARS and with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8 after treatment. Tolerability was assessed from adverse events.

RESULTS

The generalised estimating equations (GEE) models showed that the rates of improvement in HDRS scores from baseline to week 8 were similar between mirtazapine and paroxetine groups. However, patients with mirtazapine exhibited earlier improvement in HARS scores at weeks 1 and 2. Week-by-week GEE models showed that these significant differences in improvement of HARS scores between the two treatment groups were detectable from the first evaluation after the treatment (week 1) and maintained through week 2. There was no difference in the overall frequency of adverse events experienced between the two treatment groups. The most common adverse event in the mirtazapine group was somnolence (n = 8), whereas that in the paroxetine group was gastrointestinal discomfort (n = 9).

CONCLUSIONS

Mirtazapine and paroxetine were equally effective and well tolerated for the depressive symptoms in MDD patients with the high level of anxiety symptoms. Mirtazapine was, however, more effective in reducing the anxiety symptoms than paroxetine in the early weeks of treatment, suggesting that mirtazapine may have an earlier-onset action for the anxiety symptoms in MDD patients.

Precalcaneal congenital fibrolipomatous hamartoma

Precalcaneal congenital fibrolipomatous hamartomas (PCFHs) are characterized clinically by the presence of unilateral or bilateral, asymptomatic nodules in the medial precalcaneal plantar region of the heel. They are skin colored and usually painless nodules. In most patients, the lesions appear within the first few months of life, but they may also be present at birth. Generally PCFHs are benign, but they can grow in proportion to the growth of the infants. Here, we report the case of a 4-month-old boy with a solitary, localized skin-colored nodule on the precalcaneal plantar region of his right heel, diagnosed as a PCFH.

Measurement of the isolated prompt photon production cross section in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

The differential cross section for the inclusive production of isolated prompt photons has been measured as a function of the photon transverse energy E(T)(γ) in pp collisions at √s=7  TeV using data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9  pb(-1). Photons are required to have a pseudorapidity |η(γ)|<1.45 and E(T)(γ)>21  GeV, covering the kinematic region 0.006<x(T)<0.086. The measured cross section is found to be in agreement with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations.

New sensitization to house dust mites in cefteram-induced occupational asthma: a case report

Occupational asthma (OA) can improve after cessation of exposure; however, some patients suffer from persistence or aggravation of their asthmatic symptoms. Here we report a case of a new sensitization to house dust mites during the follow-up period in a 37-year-old female patient with OA induced by cefteram pivoxil powder (cefteram powder). She was previously diagnosed with OA caused by inhalation of cefteram powder. Consequently, she left her job and had been well for 9 subsequent years. She began to experience aggravation of her rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms again several months prior to presentation. Her skin-prick test results had converted to strongly positive responses to two types of house dust mites. The serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and the total and specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels against the two types of house dust mites were elevated. An inhalation challenge test with Dermatophagoides farinae was performed, and significant bronchoconstriction (21.1% reduction in the forced expiratory volume in the first second) with asthma symptoms was observed at 10 minutes. To our knowledge, this is the first case demonstrating a new sensitization to house dust mites in a patient with OA caused by cefteram powder. Regular monitoring, including skin-prick tests and measurement of specific serum IgE/ECP levels, may help to screen potential cases.

Occupational Asthma Induced by the Reactive Dye Synozol Red-K 3BS

Various reactive dyes can elicit occupational asthma in exposed textile industry workers. To date, there has been no report of occupational asthma caused by the red dye Synozol Red-K 3BS (Red-K). Here, we report a 38-year-old male textile worker with occupational asthma and rhinitis induced by inhalation of Red-K. He showed positive responses to Red-K extract on skin-prick testing and serum specific IgE antibodies to Red-K-human serum albumin conjugate were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A bronchoprovocation test with Red-K extract resulted in significant bronchoconstriction. These findings suggest that the inhalation of the reactive dye Red-K can induce IgE-mediated occupational asthma and rhinitis in exposed workers.

0.5% Liposome-encapsulated 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy for acne treatment

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy using topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been successful in treating acne vulgaris, but sun avoidance for at least 48 hours after treatment is necessary due to the risk of post-treatment photosensitivity. Recently, a lower concentration of liposome-encapsulated 5-ALA was introduced to minimize this risk.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of liposome-encapsulated 0.5% 5-ALA in the photodynamic therapy of inflammatory acne and its effects on sebum secretion in Asian skin.

METHODS

Thirteen Korean subjects with inflammatory acne were administered 0.5% ALA spray before photoradiation treatment. Photoradiation was performed at 3.5-6.0 J/cm(2) three times during each of two visits, performed 2 weeks apart. Improvement of acne was evaluated subjectively and objectively based on the Korean Acne Grading System. Sebum secretion was measured quantitatively at each visit.

RESULTS

The mean reduction in acne grade at the end of the treatment was 43.2%. Of the patients, 69.2% reported improvements in subjective skin oiliness, but fewer showed objective reductions in sebum secretion as determined by the Sebumeter® SM10. No serious adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSION

Photodynamic therapy using liposome-encapsulated 0.5% 5-ALA improved inflammatory acne with minimal side effects in Asians.

Effect of sodium fluoride on the virulence factors and composition of Streptococcus mutans biofilms

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of NaF (2, 10, 50 and 125 ppm F(-)) on the virulence factors and composition of Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

METHODS

S. mutans UA159 biofilms were formed on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite discs. To assess the influence of NaF on the virulence factors of S. mutans biofilm cells, glycolytic pH drop, proton-permeability and F-ATPase activity assay were performed using 74 h old S. mutans biofilms. Glucosyltransferase (GTF) activity assay in suspension was also performed. To examine the influence of NaF on S. mutans biofilm composition, the biofilms were treated twice daily (5 min exposure/treatment) a total of five times during biofilm formation. After a total of 5 treatments, the biomass, colony forming unit (CFU) and polysaccharide composition of the treated 74h old S. mutans biofilms were analysed by microbiological and biochemical methods, and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

NaF showed inhibitory effects on the acid production and acid tolerance of S. mutans biofilm cells at 10, 50 and 125 ppm F(-), compared to the vehicle control (P<0.05) and the treatments at these concentrations also affected the biomass, water-insoluble extracellular polysaccharides and intracellular iodophilic polysaccharides of the biofilms, compared to the vehicle control (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that NaF (10, 50 and 125 ppm F(-)) has inhibitory effects on the virulence factors and composition of S. mutans biofilms, suggesting the potential use of these concentrations as an effective measure for controlling dental biofilms.

Search for stopped Gluinos in pp collisions at square root s=7 TeV

The results of the first search for long-lived gluinos produced in 7 TeV pp collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider are presented. The search looks for evidence of long-lived particles that stop in the CMS detector and decay in the quiescent periods between beam crossings. In a dataset with a peak instantaneous luminosity of 1×10(32) cm-2 s-1, an integrated luminosity of 10 pb-1, and a search interval corresponding to 62 hours of LHC operation, no significant excess above background was observed. Limits at the 95% confidence level on gluino pair production over 13 orders of magnitude of gluino lifetime are set. For a mass difference mg - mχ1(0) >100 GeV/c2, and assuming BR(g→gχ1(0))=100%, mg < 370 GeV/c2 are excluded for lifetimes from 10 μs to 1000 s.

Search for quark compositeness with the dijet centrality ratio in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

A search for quark compositeness in the form of quark contact interactions, based on hadronic jet pairs (dijets) produced in proton-proton collisions at √s=7 TeV, is described. The data sample of the study corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb(-1) collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The dijet centrality ratio, which quantifies the angular distribution of the dijets, is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the dijet system and is found to agree with the predictions of the standard model. A statistical analysis of the data provides a lower limit on the energy scale of quark contact interactions. The sensitivity of the analysis is such that the expected limit is 2.9 TeV; because the observed value of the centrality ratio at high invariant mass is below the expectation, the observed limit is 4.0 TeV at the 95% confidence level.

Top quark mass measurement in the lepton + jets channel using a matrix element method and in situ jet energy calibration

A precision measurement of the top quark mass m(t) is obtained using a sample of tt events from pp collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron with the CDF II detector. Selected events require an electron or muon, large missing transverse energy, and exactly four high-energy jets, at least one of which is tagged as coming from a b quark. A likelihood is calculated using a matrix element method with quasi-Monte Carlo integration taking into account finite detector resolution and jet mass effects. The event likelihood is a function of m(t) and a parameter Δ(JES) used to calibrate the jet energy scale in situ. Using a total of 1087 events in 5.6 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity, a value of m(t)=173.0 ± 1.2 GeV/c(2) is measured.

Improved search for a Higgs boson produced in association with Z → l+ l- in pp collisions sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We search for the standard model Higgs boson produced with a Z boson in 4.1 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Tevatron. In events consistent with the decay of the Higgs boson to a bottom-quark pair and the Z boson to electrons or muons, we set 95% credibility level upper limits on the ZH production cross section multiplied by the H → bb branching ratio. Improved analysis methods enhance signal sensitivity by 20% relative to previous searches. At a Higgs boson mass of 115 GeV/c2 we set a limit of 5.9 times the standard model cross section.

Separation of an effective fraction from turmeric against Streptococcus mutans biofilms by the comparison of curcuminoid content and anti-acidogenic activity

Turmeric has long been used as a colouring and flavouring agent for foods. Curcuminoids are the main component of turmeric and have a range of pharmacological activities. In this study, a fraction that could show anti-biofilm activity was separated from turmeric, based on a comparison of curcuminoid content and anti-acidogenic activity against Streptococcus mutans, and the effects of the separated fraction and curcuminoids on the adherence ability of S. mutans and the physiological ability of S. mutans biofilms were examined at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels. The separated fraction and curcuminoids had inhibitory effects on the sucrose-dependant adherence of S. mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (sHA) discs and the acidogenicity and aciduricity of S. mutans biofilms. These results suggest that the separated turmeric fraction and its components, curcuminoids, may be useful for controlling dental biofilms and subsequent dental caries formation.

Direct top-quark width measurement at CDF

We present a measurement of the top-quark width in the lepton+jets decay channel of tt events produced in p p collisions at Fermilab's Tevatron collider and collected by the CDF II detector. From a data sample corresponding to 4.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity, we identify 756 candidate events. The top-quark mass and the mass of the hadronically decaying W boson that comes from the top-quark decay are reconstructed for each event and compared with templates of different top-quark widths (Γ(t)) and deviations from nominal jet energy scale (Δ(JES)) to perform a simultaneous fit for both parameters, where Δ(JES) is used for the in situ calibration of the jet energy scale. By applying a Feldman-Cousins approach, we establish an upper limit at 95% confidence level (CL) of Γ(t) <7.6 GeV and a two-sided 68% CL interval of 0.3 GeV <Γ(t) <4.4  GeV for a top-quark mass of 172.5 GeV/c(2), which are consistent with the standard model prediction.

Search for dijet resonances in 7 TeV pp collisions at CMS

A search for narrow resonances in the dijet mass spectrum is performed using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb⁻¹ collected by the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Upper limits at the 95% confidence level are presented on the product of the resonance cross section, branching fraction into dijets, and acceptance, separately for decays into quark-quark, quark-gluon, or gluon-gluon pairs. The data exclude new particles predicted in the following models at the 95% confidence level: string resonances, with mass less than 2.50 TeV, excited quarks, with mass less than 1.58 TeV, and axigluons, colorons, and E6 diquarks, in specific mass intervals. This extends previously published limits on these models.

Inhibitory effect of a bioactivity-guided fraction from Rheum undulatum on the acid production of Streptococcus mutans biofilms at sub-MIC levels

Rheum undulatum root has been used traditionally in Korea for the treatment of dental diseases. The purpose of this study was to separate a fraction from R. undulatum showing anti-acid production activity against Streptococcus mutans biofilms and identify the main components in that fraction. Methanol extract of R. undulatum root and its fractions were prepared. To select a fraction exhibiting anti-acid production activity, suspension glycolytic pH-drop assay was performed. Among the fractions tested, dichloromethane fraction exhibited the strongest activity in a dose-dependent manner. To examine the effect of the selected fraction on the anti-acid production of S. mutans biofilms, 74 h old S. mutans biofilms were used. The selected fraction reduced the initial rate of acid production of S. mutans biofilms at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels. HPLC qualitative analysis of the selected fraction indicated that the presence of anthraquinone derivatives, such as aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion, as main components.

Search for R-parity violating decays of sneutrinos to eμ, μτ, and eτ pairs in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for supersymmetric neutrino ν production using the Tevatron pp collision data collected with the CDF II detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb-1. We focus on the scenarios predicted by the R-parity violating (RPV) supersymmetric models in which sneutrinos decay to two charged leptons of different flavor. With the data consistent with the standard model expectations, we set upper limits on σ(pp→ν)×BR(ν→eμ,μτ,eτ) and use these results to constrain the RPV couplings as a function of the sneutrino mass.