Constraints on models for the Higgs boson with exotic spin and parity in VH → Vbb final states

We present constraints on models containing non-standard-model values for the spin J and parity P of the Higgs boson H in up to 9.7 fb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. These are the first studies of Higgs boson J(P) with fermions in the final state. In the ZH → ℓℓbb, WH → ℓνbb, and ZH → ννbb final states, we compare the standard model (SM) Higgs boson prediction, J(P) = 0(+), with two alternative hypotheses, J(P) = 0(-) and J(P) = 2(+). We use a likelihood ratio to quantify the degree to which our data are incompatible with non-SM J(P) predictions for a range of possible production rates. Assuming that the production rate in the signal models considered is equal to the SM prediction, we reject the J(P) = 0(-) and J(P) = 2(+) hypotheses at the 97.6% CL and at the 99.0% CL, respectively. The expected exclusion sensitivity for a J(P) = 0(-) (J(P) = 2(+)) state is at the 99.86% (99.94%) CL. Under the hypothesis that our data are the result of a combination of the SM-like Higgs boson and either a J(P) = 0(-) or a J(P) = 2(+) signal, we exclude a J(P) = 0(-) fraction above 0.80 and a J(P) = 2(+) fraction above 0.67 at the 95% CL. The expected exclusion covers J(P) = 0(-) (J(P) = 2(+)) fractions above 0.54 (0.47).

Precision measurement of the top quark mass in lepton + jets final States

We measure the mass of the top quark in lepton+jets final states using the full sample of pp collision data collected by the D0 experiment in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV, corresponding to 9.7 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. We use a matrix element technique that calculates the probabilities for each event to result from tt production or background. The overall jet energy scale is constrained in situ by the mass of the W boson. We measure m(t) = 174.98 ± 0.76 GeV. This constitutes the most precise single measurement of the top-quark mass.

A systematic review of risk assessment strategies for populations at high risk of engaging in violent behaviour: update 2002-8

BACKGROUND

This review systematically examines the research literature published in the period 2002-8 on structured violence risk assessment instruments designed for use in mental health services or the criminal justice system. It adopted much broader inclusion criteria than previous reviews in the same area in order to capture and summarise data on the widest possible range of available instruments.

OBJECTIVES

To address two questions: (1) what study characteristics are associated with a risk assessment instrument score being significantly associated with a violent outcome? and (2) which risk assessment instruments have the highest level of predictive validity for a violent outcome?

DATA SOURCES

Nineteen bibliographic databases were searched from January 2002 to April 2008, including PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, British Nursing Index, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Education Resources Information Centre, The Cochrane Library and Web of Knowledge.

REVIEW METHODS

Inclusion criteria for studies were (1) evaluation of a structured risk tool; (2) outcome measure of interpersonal violence; (3) participants aged 17 years or over; and (4) participants with a mental disorder and/or at least one offence and/or at least one indictable offence. A series of bivariate analyses using either a chi-squared test or Spearman's rank-order correlation were conducted to explore associations between study characteristics and outcomes. Data from a subset of studies reporting area under the curve (AUC) analysis were combined to provide estimates of mean validity.

RESULTS

For the overall set of included studies (n = 959), over three-quarters (77%) were conducted in the USA, Canada or the UK. Two-thirds of all studies were conducted with offenders who had either no formal mental health diagnosis (43%) or forensic samples with a formal diagnosis (25%). The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised was tested in the largest number of studies (n = 192). Most studies (78%) reported a statistically significant (p < 0.05) relationship between the instrument score and a violent outcome. Prospective data collection (chi-squared = 4.4, p = 0.035), number of people recruited (U = 27.8, p = 0.012) and number of participants at end point (U = 26.9, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with predictive validity. For those instruments tested in five or more studies reporting AUC values, the General Statistical Information on Recidivism instrument had the highest mean AUC (0.73).

LIMITATIONS

Agreement between pairs of reviewers in the initial pilot exercises was good but less than perfect, so discrepancies may be present given the complexity and subjectivity of some aspects of violence research. Only five of the seven calendar years (2003-7) are completely covered, with partial coverage of 2002 and 2008. There is no weighting for sample or effect sizes when results from studies are aggregated.

CONCLUSIONS

A very large number of studies examining the relationship between a structured instrument and a violent outcome were published in this relatively short 7-year period. The general quality of the literature is weak in places (e.g. over-reliance on cross-sectional designs) and a vast range of distinct instruments have been tested to varying degrees. However, there is evidence of some convergence around a small number of high-performing instruments and identification of the components of a high-quality evaluation approach, including AUC analysis. The upper limits (AUC ≥ 0.85) of instrument-based prediction have probably been achieved and are unlikely to be exceeded using instruments alone.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment and Research for Patient Benefit programmes.

Observation of s-channel production of single top quarks at the Tevatron

We report the first observation of single-top-quark production in the s channel through the combination of the CDF and D0 measurements of the cross section in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The data correspond to total integrated luminosities of up to 9.7 fb(-1) per experiment. The measured cross section is σ(s) = 1.29(-0.24)(+0.26) pb. The probability of observing a statistical fluctuation of the background to a cross section of the observed size or larger is 1.8 × 10(-10), corresponding to a significance of 6.3 standard deviations for the presence of an s-channel contribution to the production of single-top quarks.

Measurement of the W boson production charge asymmetry in pp̄→W+X→eν+X events at √s=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the W boson production charge asymmetry in pp̄→W+X→eν+X events at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV, using 9.7  fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The neutrino longitudinal momentum is determined by using a neutrino weighting method, and the asymmetry is measured as a function of the W boson rapidity. The measurement extends over wider electron pseudorapidity region than previous results and is the most precise to date, allowing for precise determination of proton parton distribution functions in global fits.

Measurement of the direct CP-violating charge asymmetry in Ds ± → ϕ π ± decays

We present a measurement of the direct CP-violating charge asymmetry in Ds+ → ϕ π(±) decays where the ϕ meson decays to K(+)K(-), using the full Run II data set with an integrated luminosity of 10.4  fb-1 of proton-antiproton collisions collected using the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The normalized difference A(CP) in the yield of D(s)(+) and D(s)(-) mesons in these decays is measured by fitting the difference between their reconstructed invariant mass distributions. This results in an asymmetry of A(CP) = [-0.38 ± 0.27]%, which is the most precise measurement of this quantity to date. The result is consistent with the standard model prediction of zero CP asymmetry in this decay.

Measurement of associated production of z bosons with charm quark jets in pp collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We present the first measurements of the ratios of cross sections σ(pp → Z+c jet)/σ(pp → Z+jet) and σ(pp → Z+c jet)/σ(pp → Z+b jet) for the associated production of a Z boson with at least one charm or bottom quark jet. Jets have transverse momentum ​pT(jet)​>20  GeV and pseudorapidity |​η(jet)​|<2.5. These cross section ratios are measured differentially as a function of jet and Z boson transverse momenta, based on 9.7  fb(-1) of pp collisions collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider at √s=1.96  TeV. The measurements show significant deviations from perturbative QCD calculations and predictions from various event generators.

Measurements of parity-violating asymmetries in electron-deuteron scattering in the nucleon resonance region

We report on parity-violating asymmetries in the nucleon resonance region measured using inclusive inelastic scattering of 5-6 GeV longitudinally polarized electrons off an unpolarized deuterium target. These results are the first parity-violating asymmetry data in the resonance region beyond the Δ(1232). They provide a verification of quark-hadron duality-the equivalence of the quark- and hadron-based pictures of the nucleon-at the (10-15)% level in this electroweak observable, which is dominated by contributions from the nucleon electroweak γZ interference structure functions. In addition, the results provide constraints on nucleon resonance models relevant for calculating background corrections to elastic parity-violating electron scattering measurements.

Measurement of direct CP violation parameters in B± → J/ψK± and B± → J/ψπ± decays with 10.4 fb-1 of Tevatron data

We present a measurement of the direct CP-violating charge asymmetry in B(±) mesons decaying to J/ψK(±) and J/ψπ(±) where J/ψ decays to μ(+) μ(-), using the full run II data set of 10.4 fb(-1) of proton-antiproton collisions collected using the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. A difference in the yield of B(-) and B(+) mesons in these decays is found by fitting to the difference between their reconstructed invariant mass distributions resulting in asymmetries of A(J/ψK) = [0.59 ± 0.37]%, which is the most precise measurement to date, and A(J/ψπ) = [-4.2 ± 4.5]%. Both measurements are consistent with standard model predictions.

Abstract 2269: Metformin prolongs survival in a K-rasLA2 lung cancer mouse model by inhibiting cancer stem cells and tumor growth

Mutations in K-Ras are characteristic of human lung cancers and occur almost exclusively in smokers. Metformin, which is widely prescribed for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, may reduce lung cancer incidence in diabetics. We previously showed that metformin prevents K-Ras-mediated lung tumorigenesis in mice exposed to tobacco-carcinogen in an AMPK-independent manner. To elucidate further mechanisms of tumor prevention and estimate the survival impact of metformin on mutant K-Ras-mediated-lung tumorigenesis, we treated mutant K-Ras transgenic mice (K-RasLA2), with oral metformin. Metformin reduced tumor multiplicity by 48.9% and increased overall survival by 34% (median survival 191 days (control) vs 257 days (metformin); HR=0.27; 95% CI 0.11-0.68; p=0.009). Metformin decreased the number of bronchioloalveolar cells (BASCs), which are recognized as the cells of origin for lung adenocarcinomas initiated by oncogenic K-ras, as well as expression of cancer stem cell markers such as OCT4 and SOX2. Markers of cellular proliferation such as cyclin D1 and Ki67 were also decreased in lung tumors from metformin-treated mice. Metformin inhibited activation of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases as well as Ras-Raf signaling. Collectively, these data confirm that metformin inhibits K-Ras-induced lung tumorigenesis and identifies tumor-initiating cells as targets of metformin whose inhibition may underlie the ability of metformin to prolong survival. Clinical chemoprevention trials using metformin are warranted for high-risk populations likely to develop K-Ras mutations such as current or former smokers.

Citation Format: Hiroshi Kitagawa, Matthew Dallos, Brendan Quinn, Ajaikumar Kunnumakkara, Irem Dogan, Christine M. Hollander, Phillip A. Dennis. Metformin prolongs survival in a K-rasLA2 lung cancer mouse model by inhibiting cancer stem cells and tumor growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2269. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2269

Effect of leaded glasses and thyroid shielding on cone beam CT radiation dose in an adult female phantom

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of leaded glasses in reducing the lens of eye dose and of lead thyroid collars in reducing the dose to the thyroid gland of an adult female from dental cone beam CT (CBCT). The effect of collimation on the radiation dose in head organs is also examined.

METHODS

Dose measurements were conducted by placing optically stimulated luminescent dosemeters in an anthropomorphic female phantom. Eye lens dose was measured by placing a dosemeter on the anterior surface of the phantom eye location. All exposures were performed on one commercially available dental CBCT machine, using selected collimation and exposure techniques. Each scan technique was performed without any lead shielding and then repeated with lead shielding in place. To calculate the percent reduction from lead shielding, the dose measured with lead shielding was divided by the dose measured without lead shielding. The percent reduction from collimation was calculated by comparing the dose measured with collimation to the dose measured without collimation.

RESULTS

The dose to the internal eye for one of the scans without leaded glasses or thyroid shield was 0.450 cGy and with glasses and thyroid shield was 0.116 cGy (a 74% reduction). The reduction to the lens of the eye was from 0.396 cGy to 0.153 cGy (a 61% reduction). Without glasses or thyroid shield, the thyroid dose was 0.158 cGy; and when both glasses and shield were used, the thyroid dose was reduced to 0.091 cGy (a 42% reduction).

CONCLUSIONS

Collimation alone reduced the dose to the brain by up to 91%, with a similar reduction in other organs. Based on these data, leaded glasses, thyroid collars and collimation minimize the dose to organs outside the field of view.

Guidelines on obtaining consent for systemic anti-cancer therapy in adults

This guideline, initially drawn up for use in the UK, is essentially based on ethical principles and should be applicable across other jurisdictions. The document specifically addresses the issues which surround obtaining consent from adults for the administration of systemic anti-cancer therapy in the haemato-oncology setting. Consenting to a treatment or procedure is a complex medical, ethical, and legal issue. The process of obtaining consent and the general steps that should be taken by the healthcare professional involved in obtaining consent from a patient are discussed, and the potential legal and ethical pitfalls which can be encountered are outlined. Of fundamental importance are the requirements that agreement must be given voluntarily, based on adequate information, and the patient must have the ability to understand and retain the information given and be in a position to use it in order to reach a decision. The consenting process should include an explanation of the expected outcomes and possible side effects of treatment even if these are unlikely to occur, and the nature of the consenting process undertaken should be clearly documented. Obtaining consent in an emergency situation is also discussed, as is the process of consenting in individuals with impaired capacity or special needs. Withdrawal of consent and refusal of treatment are also considered.

How effective is high-support community-based step-down housing for women in secure mental health care? A quasi-experimental pilot study

In the past decade UK government policy has been to develop alternative care for women detained in secure psychiatric hospital. This study evaluated the relative benefits of community-based step-down housing. Comparisons were made between female patients in community step-down housing and a control group in secure hospital who were on the waiting list for the houses. For each woman in the sample, a range of assessments was conducted on three separate occasions over a 12-month period. We noted a gradual improvement over time in women in both settings. However, by the final assessment psychological well-being and security needs were significantly better in the community group (P < 0.05). Although risks for violence and social functioning were also somewhat better in this group throughout the study, no statistically significant differences between the groups were found in these areas at any assessment time. This study has generated evidence in support of the further development of high-support step-down community housing for women in secure psychiatric care. This initiative may provide greater personal freedom and enhanced relational security for the women concerned while also facilitating improvements in their psychological well-being, with no increased risk to the women themselves or to the wider community.

Measurement of the semileptonic charge asymmetry using B(s)(0) → D(s)μX decays

We present a measurement of the time-integrated flavor-specific semileptonic charge asymmetry in the decays of B(s)(0) mesons that have undergone flavor mixing, a(sl)(s), using B(s)(0)(B(s)(0)) → D(s)(-/+) μ(±) X decays, with D(s)(-/+) → [symbol: see text]π(-/+) and [symbol: see text]→ K(+) K(-), using 10.4 fb(-1) of proton-antiproton collisions collected by the D0 detector during Run II at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. A fit to the difference between the time-integrated D(s)(-) and D(s)(+) mass distributions of the B(s)(0) and B(s)(0) candidates yields the flavor-specific asymmetry a(sl)(s) = [-1.12 ± 0.74(stat) ± 0.17(syst)]%, which is the most precise measurement and in agreement with the standard model prediction.