Measurement of the W(+)W(-) production cross section in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV using dilepton events

We present a measurement of the W(+)W(-) production cross section using 184 pb(-1) of p(p) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Using the dilepton decay channel W(+)W(-)-->l(+)nul(-), where the charged leptons can be either electrons or muons, we find 17 candidate events compared to an expected background of 5.0(+2.2)(-0.8) events. The resulting W(+)W(-) production cross-section measurement of sigma(pp-->W(+)W(-))=14.6(+5.8)(-5.1)(stat)(+1.8)(-3.0)(syst) +/- 0.9(lum) pb agrees well with the standard model expectation.

Measurements of branching fractions and time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B --> eta'K decays

We present measurements of the B --> eta(')K branching fractions; for B(+) --> eta(')K(+) we measure also the time-integrated charge asymmetry Alpha(ch), and for B(0) --> eta(')K(0)(S) the time-dependent CP-violation parameters S and C. The data sample corresponds to 232 x 10(6) BB pairs produced by e(+)e(-) annihilation at the Upsilon (4S). The results are Beta(B --> eta(')K(+)) = (68.9 +/- 2.0 +/- 3.2) x 10(-6), Beta(B(0) --> eta(')K(0)) = (67.4 +/- 3.2) x 10(-6), Alpha(ch) = 0.033 +/- 0.028 +/- 0.005, S = 0.30 +/- 0.140 +/- 0.02, and C = -0.21 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.02, where the first error quoted is statistical and the second is systematic.

Branching fractions and CP asymmetries in B0-->pi0pi0, B+-->pi+pi0, and B+-->K+pi0 decays and isospin analysis of the B-->pipi system

Based on a sample of 227 x 10(6) BB pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC, we measure the branching fraction B(B0-->pi(0)pi(0))=(1.17+/-0.32+/-0.10)x10(-6), and the asymmetry Cpi(0)(pi(0))=-0.12+/-0.56+/-0.06. The B0-->pi(0)pi(0) signal has a significance of 5.0 sigma. We also measure B(B+-->pi(+)pi(0))=(5.8+/-0.6+/-0.4)x10(-6), B(B+-->K+pi(0))=(12.0+/-0.7+/-0.6)x10(-6), and the charge asymmetries Api(+)(pi(0))=-0.01+/-0.10+/-0.02 and AK+(pi(0))=0.06+/-0.06+/-0.01. Using isospin relations, we find an upper bound on the angle difference |alpha-alpha(eff)| of 35 degrees at the 90% C.L.

Search for factorization-suppressed B-->chi(c)K(*) decays

We search for the factorization-suppressed decays B-->chi(c0)K(*) and B-->chi(c2)K(*), with chi(c0) and chi(c2) decaying into J/psi gamma, using a sample of 124 x 10(6) BB events collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II storage ring of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. We find no significant signal and set upper bounds for the branching fractions.

Improved measurement of CP asymmetries in B0 --> (cc)K(0(*)) decays

We present results on time-dependent CP asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurements use a data sample of about 227 x 10(6) upsilon(4S) --> BB decays collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. The amplitude of the CPasymmetry, sin2beta in the standard model, is derived from decay-time distributions from events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing a charmonium meson and the other B meson is determined to be either a B0 or B0 from its decay products. We measure sin2beta = 0.722 +/- 0.040(stat) +/- 0.023(syst) in agreement with the standard model expectation.

Measurement of branching fractions and charge asymmetries for exclusive B decays to charmonium

We report measurements of branching fractions and charge asymmetries of exclusive decays of neutral and charged B mesons into two-body final states containing a charmonium state and a light strange meson. The charmonium mesons considered are J/psi, psi(2S) and chi(c1), and the light meson is either K or K(*). We use a sample of about 124x10(6) BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II storage ring at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

Limit on the B0-->rho0rho0 branching fraction and implications for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa angle alpha

We search for the decay B0-->rho(0)rho(0) in a data sample of about 227x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider at SLAC. We find no significant signal and set an upper limit of 1.1x10(-6) at 90% C.L. on the branching fraction. As a result, the uncertainty due to penguin contributions on the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity angle alpha measured in B-->rhorho decays is decreased to 11 degrees at 68% C.L.

Measurement of partial widths and search for direct CP violation in D0 meson decays to K-K+ and pi-pi+

We present a measurement of relative partial widths and decay rate CP asymmetries in K-K+ and pi(-)pi(+) decays of D0 mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. We use a sample of 2x10(5) D(*+)-->D0pi(+) (and charge conjugate) decays with the D0 decaying to K-pi(+), K-K+, and pi(-)pi(+), corresponding to 123 pb(-1) of data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. No significant direct CP violation is observed. We measure Gamma(D0-->K-K+)/Gamma(D0-->K-pi(+))=0.0992+/-0.0011+/-0.0012, Gamma(D0-->pi(-)pi(+))/Gamma(D0-->K-pi(+))=0.035 94+/-0.000 54+/-0.000 40, A(CP)(K-K+)=(2.0+/-1.2+/-0.6)%, and A(CP)(pi(-)pi(+))=(1.0+/-1.3+/-0.6)%, where, in all cases, the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

Search for the decay B+ --> K+nunu

We search for the rare flavor-changing neutral-current decay B(+)--> K(+)nunu in a data sample of 82 fb(-1) collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B-factory. Signal events are selected by examining the properties of the system recoiling against either a reconstructed hadronic or semileptonic charged-B decay. Using these two independent samples we obtain a combined limit of B(B(+)-->K(+)nunu ) < 5.2 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level. In addition, by selecting for pions rather than kaons, we obtain a limit of B(B+-->pi(+)nunu) < 1.0 x 10(-4) using only the hadronic B reconstruction method.

Measurement of the lifetime difference between Bs mass eigenstates

We present measurements of the lifetimes and polarization amplitudes for B(0)(s)-->J/psiphi and B(0)(d)-->J/psiK(*0) decays. Lifetimes of the heavy and light mass eigenstates in the B(0)(s) system are separately measured for the first time by determining the relative contributions of amplitudes with definite CP as a function of the decay time. Using 203+/-15 B(0)(s) decays we obtain tau(L) = (1.05(+0.16)(-0.13) +/- 0.02) ps and tau(H) = (2.07(+0.58)(-0.46) +/- 0.03) ps. Expressed in terms of the difference DeltaGamma(s) and average Gamma(s), of the decay rates of the two eigenstates, the results are DeltaGamma(s)/Gamma(s) = (65(+25)(-33) +/- 1)% and DeltaGamma(s) = (0.47(+0.19)(-0.24) +/- 0.01) ps(-1).

Search for excited and exotic electrons in the egamma decay channel in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for excited and exotic electrons (e(*)) decaying to an electron and a photon, both with high transverse momentum. We use 202 pb(-1) of data collected in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector. No signal above standard model expectation is seen for associated ee(*) production. We discuss the e(*) sensitivity in the parameter space of the excited electron mass M(e(*)) and the compositeness energy scale Lambda. In the contact interaction model, we exclude 132 GeV/c(2)<M(e(*))<879 GeV/c(2) for Lambda = M(e(*)) at 95% confidence level (C.L.). In the gauge-mediated model, we exclude 126 GeV/c(2) < M(e(*)) < 430 GeV/c(2) at 95% C.L. for the phenomenological coupling f/Lambda approximately 10(-2) GeV-1.

First measurements of inclusive W and Z cross sections from run II of the fermilab tevatron collider

We report the first measurements of inclusive W and Z cross sections times leptonic branching ratios for pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV, based on their decays to electrons and muons. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 72 pb(-1) recorded with the CDF detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We test e-mu universality in W decays, and we measure the ratio of leptonic W and Z rates from which the leptonic branching fraction B(W-->lnu) can be extracted as well as an indirect value for the total width of the W and the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element, |V(cs)|.

Prognostic significance of p16 protein levels in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer

PURPOSE

Functional inactivation of p16 is an early and frequent event in head and neck squamous cell cancers. In this study, we sought to determine whether p16 expression is of prognostic importance in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

p16 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray composed of 123 oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers with a mean patient follow-up time of 33 months.

RESULTS

p16 overexpression was associated with more advanced Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage and higher histologic grade. Despite this association with unfavorable features, p16 overexpression was associated with decreased 5-year local recurrence rates (11 versus 53%) and increased 5-year disease-free survival (62 versus 19%) and overall survival (60 versus 21%). In multivariate analysis, p16 expression status remained an independent prognostic factor for local recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, overexpression of p16 as determined by immunohistochemistry is associated with significantly improved prognosis and lower local recurrence rates.

Measurements of the branching fraction and CP-violation asymmetries in B0-->f0(980)K0S

We present measurements of the branching fraction and CP-violating asymmetries in the decay B0-->f0(980)K0S. The results are obtained from a data sample of 123 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays. From a time-dependent maximum likelihood fit, we measure the branching fraction B(B0-->f0(980)(-->pi+pi-)K0)=(6.0+/-0.9+/-0.6+/-1.2)x10(-6), the mixing-induced CP violation parameter S=-1.62(+0.56)(-0.51)+/-0.09+/-0.04, and the direct CP violation parameter C=0.27+/-0.36+/-0.10+/-0.07, where the first errors are statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to model uncertainties. We measure the f0(980) mass and width to be mf0(980)=(980.6+/-4.1+/-0.5+/-4.0) MeV/c2 and Gammaf0(980)=(43(+12)(-9)+/-3+/-9) MeV/c2, respectively.

Measurement of Wgamma and Zgamma production in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV

The standard model predictions for Wgamma and Zgamma production are tested using an integrated luminosity of 200 pb(-1) of pp collision data collected at the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The cross sections are measured by selecting leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons, and photons with transverse energy ET>7 GeV that are well separated from leptons. The production cross sections and kinematic distributions for the Wgamma and Zgamma data are compared to SM predictions.

Search for radiative penguin decays B(+)-->rho(+)gamma, B(0)-->rho(0)gamma, and B(0)-->omegagamma

A search for the decays B-->rho(770)gamma and B0-->omega(782)gamma is performed on a sample of 211 x 10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB events collected by the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) storage ring. No evidence for the decays is seen. We set the following limits on the individual branching fractions: B(B+-->rho(+)gamma)<1.8 x 10(-6), B(B0-->rho(0)gamma)<0.4 x 10(-6), and B(B0-->omegagamma)<1.0 x 10(-6) at the 90% confidence level. We use the quark model to limit the combined branching fraction B [B-->(rho/omega)gamma]<1.2 x 10(-6), from which we determine a constraint on the ratio of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix elements |V(td)|/|V(ts)|.

Organochlorine micropollutants in the Jiulong River Estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China

Organochlorine contaminants including 12 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 18 insecticides were determined in water, pore water and sediments of the Jiulong River Estuary and Western Xiamen Sea, China. The results showed that the levels of the total PCBs ranged from non-detectable to 1500 ng l(-1) in water, from 209 to 3870 ng l(-1) in pore water, and from 2.78 to 14.8 ng g(-1) dry weight in sediments. Total organochlorine insecticide concentrations were from below the limit of detection to 2480 ng l(-1) in water, from 267 to 33400 ng l(-1) in pore water, and from 4.22 to 46.3 ng g(-1) dry weight in sediments. Concentrations of PCBs and insecticides in pore water were significantly higher than those in surface water, due to the high affinity of these hydrophobic compounds for sediment phase. The PCB congeners with the highest concentrations were CB153, CB180 and CB194, which together accounted for 68-87% of total PCBs in water, pore water and sediment. Among the hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) compounds, beta-HCH was found to be a major isomer. Analysis of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-chlorophenyl-ethane (DDT) and its metabolites showed that 1,1-dichloro-2[o-chlorophenyl]-2[p-chlorophenyl]-ethylene (DDE) was dominant in the group. In comparison to a 1998 study in the Western Xiamen Sea, levels of organochlorines were enhanced due probably to recent inputs and changes in sediments.

[Experimental study on simultaneous selective reinnervation of the adductors and the abductor muscle for the treatment of the laryngeal paralysis]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to estimate the value of a new surgical procedure in the treatment of the chronic unilateral laryngeal paralysis.

METHODS

The recurrent laryngeal nerve of the left side of the dog was totally cut and served as a model of unilateral laryngeal paralysis at the first step of the research. The adductor and abductor branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve were then, selected and cut. Afterwards, they were micro-sutured respectively with one branch of ansa cervicalis and phrenic nerve immediately (group 1) and 4 months later (group 2). Six months after this reinnervation, the laryngeal physiologic function of the lateral crico-arytenoid muscle (LCA) and the posterior crico-arytenoid muscle (PCA) have been checked by the methods of electromyography (EMG) and direct laryngoscopy. All the data have been analysed by the statistic methods.

RESULTS

Among all the data of EMG, only the wave amplitude of action potential of the LCA muscle of the group 2 was diminished (p < 0.05). Under the direct laryngoscopy, the adductor movement of the left vocal cord of the group 2 was also lightly reduced. But the adductor and abductor movements of the left vocal cord were synchronous with the mouvements of the right vocal cord.

CONCLUSION

Though the result of nervous reinnervation of a four month's laryngeal paralysis was not so good by comparison with that of an immediate reinnervation, this surgical procedure can however on the clinical point of view, reach a satisfactory level. The duration maximum of the reinnervation operation after laryngeal paralysis, is, at the present, not clear. It is necessary for us to make further studies.

[Edema and the nephrotic syndrome]

If proteinuria is of sufficient amount, and persists for long enough, then a series of consequences arises which is called the nephrotic syndrome. The most notable consequence of massive proteinuria is salt and water retention leading to edema formation. This edema is found in association with proteinuria usually greater than 3.5 g/day, accompanied by hypoalbuminemia, usually less than 25 g/l. The underlying disease is usually a glomerulonephritis, albeit in rare situations severe renal artery stenosis can lead to proteinuria by hyperfiltration. Two theories have been proposed. In the classical "underfill" theory edema is considered to be secondary to salt retention resulting from renal hypoperfusion. According to this theory the primary event is the decrease in plasma volume due to the diminution of plasma oncotic pressure resulting from hypoalbuminemia, causing transfer of fluid from the plasma to the interstitial space "underfilling" the blood compartment and resulting to secondary renal sodium retention. This mechanism applies mainly to the nephrotic syndrome associated with minimal change disease observed in children. By contrast, in most adults with the nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease or other glomerular lesions such as membranous or proliferative glomerulonephritis, an initial plasma volume expansion is observed. Therefore, the primary event responsible for the sodium retention is a renal intrinsic excretory defect, which leads to extracellular fluid expansion and edema formation. Therapy is specific for the specific glomerular disease and symptomatic for the edema (diuretics), anticoagulation therapy for prevention of venous thrombosis and embolism, antibiotics for infections, and most of all, omission of triggering factors such as specific xenobiotics.

Measurement of the B0-->phiK*0 decay amplitudes

With a sample of about 227x10(6) BB pairs recorded with the BABAR detector we perform a full angular analysis of the decay B0-->phiK(*0)(892). We make novel measurements of five parameters sensitive to CP violation. We also measure the branching fraction to be (9.2+/-0.9+/-0.5)x10(-6) and determine the fractions of longitudinal and parity-odd transverse contributions as f(L)=0.52+/-0.05+/-0.02 and f( perpendicular)=0.22+/-0.05+/-0.02. The phases of the parity-even and parity-odd transverse amplitudes relative to the longitudinal amplitude are found to be phi( parallel)=2.34(+0.23)(-0.20)+/-0.05 rad and phi( perpendicular)=2.47+/-0.25+/-0.05 rad. We also observe the decay B0-->phiK(*0)(1430).