Search for the lepton-flavor-violating leptonic B(0)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+) and B(0)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+)

We have searched a sample of 9.6 x 10(6) BB events for the lepton-flavor-violating leptonic B decays, B(0)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+) and B(0)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+). The tau lepton was detected through the decay modes tau-->lnunu(-) , where l=e, mu. There is no indication of a signal, and we obtain the 90% confidence level upper limits B(B(0)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+))<3.8 x 10(-5) and B(B(0)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+))<1.3 x 10(-4).

First observation and Dalitz analysis of the D0-->K(0)Setapi(0) decay

Using 9.0 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity in e(+)e(-) collisions near the Upsilon(4S) mass collected with the CLEO II.V detector we report the first observation of the decay D0-->K(0)(S)etapi(0). We measure the ratio of branching fractions, BR(D0-->K(0)(S)etapi(0))BR / (D0-->K(0)(S)pi(0))=0.46+/-0.07+/-0.06. We perform a Dalitz analysis of 155 selected D0-->K(0)(S)etapi(0) candidates and find leading contributions from a(0)(980)K(0)(S) and K(*)(892)eta intermediate states.

Wess-Zumino current and the structure of the decay tau- -->K- pi- K+ nu tau

We present the first study of the vector (Wess-Zumino) current in tau(-)-->K-pi-K+nu(tau) decay using data collected with the CLEO III detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring. We determine the quantitative contributions to the decay width from the vector and axial vector currents. Within the framework of a model by Kühn and Mirkes, we identify the quantitative contributions to the total decay rate from the intermediate states omegapi, rho(')pi, and K*K.

Observation of the Hadronic transitions chi(b1,2)(2P)-->omegaUpsilon(1S)

The CLEO Collaboration has made the first observations of hadronic transitions among bottomonium (bbmacr;) states other than the dipion transitions among Upsilon(nS) states. In our study of Upsilon(3S) decays, we find a significant signal for Upsilon(3S)-->gammaomegaUpsilon(1S) that is consistent with radiative decays Upsilon(3S)-->gammachi(b1,2)(2P), followed by chi(b1,2)(2P)-->omegaUpsilon(1S). The branching ratios we obtain are B[chi(b1)(2P)-->omegaUpsilon(1S)]=(1.63(+0.35+0.16)(-0.31-0.15))% and B[chi(b2)(2P)-->omegaUpsilon(1S)]=(1.10(+0.32+0.11)(-0.28-0.10))%, in which the first error is statistical and the second is systematic.

Observation of eta'c production in gammagamma fusion at CLEO

We report on the observation of the eta(')(c)(2(1)S0), the radial excitation of the eta(c)(1(1)S0) ground state of charmonium, in the two-photon fusion reaction gammagamma-->eta(')(c)-->K(0)(S)K+/-pi(-/+) in 13.6 fb(-1) of CLEO II/II.V data and 13.1 fb(-1) of CLEO III data. We obtain M(eta(')(c))=3642.9+/-3.1(stat)+/-1.5(syst) MeV and M(eta(c))=2981.8+/-1.3(stat)+/-1.5(syst) MeV. The corresponding values of hyperfine splittings between 1S0 and 3S1 states are DeltaM(hf)(1S)=115.1+/-2.0 MeV and DeltaM(hf)(2S)=43.1+/-3.4 MeV. Assuming that the eta(c) and eta(')(c) have equal branching fractions to K(S)Kpi, we obtain Gamma(gammagamma)(eta(')(c))=1.3+/-0.6 keV.

Branching fractions of tau leptons to three charged hadrons

From electron-positron collision data collected with the CLEO detector operating at Cornell Electron Storage Ring near sqrt[s]=10.6 GeV, improved measurements of the branching fractions for tau decays into three explicitly identified hadrons and a neutrino are presented as B(tau(-)-->pi(-)pi(+)pi(-)nu(tau))=(9.13+/-0.05+/-0.46)%, B(tau(-)-->K-pi(+)pi(-)nu(tau))=(3.84+/-0.14+/-0.38) x 10(-3), B(tau(-)-->K-K+pi(-)nu(tau))=(1.55+/-0.06+/-0.09) x 10(-3), and B(tau(-)-->K-K+K-nu(tau))<3.7 x 10(-5) at 90% C.L., where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.

First search for the flavor changing neutral current decay D0-->gammagamma

Using 13.8 fb(-1) of data collected at or just below the Upsilon(4S) with the CLEO detector, we report the result of a search for the flavor changing neutral current process D0-->gammagamma. We observe no significant signal for this decay mode and determine 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions B(D0-->gammagamma)/B(D0-->pi(0)pi(0))<0.033 and B(D0-->gammagamma)<2.9 x 10(-5).

Measurements of inclusive B-->psi production

Using the combined CLEO II and CLEO II.V data sets of 9.1 fb(-1) at the Upsilon(4S), we measure properties of psi mesons produced directly from decays of the B meson, where "B" denotes an admixture of B+, B-, B0, and B;(0), and "psi" denotes either J/psi(1S) or psi(2S). We report first measurements of psi polarization in B-->psi(direct)X: alpha(psi(1S))=-0.30(+0.07)(-0.06)+/-0.04 and alpha(psi(2S))=-0.45(+0.22)(-0.19)+/-0.04. We also report improved measurements of the momentum distributions of psi produced directly from B decays, correcting for measurement smearing. Finally, we report measurements of the inclusive branching fraction for B-->psiX and B-->chi(c1)X.

Observation of B-->K(0)(S)pi(+)pi(-) and Evidence for B-->K(*+/-)pi(-/+)

We report on a search for charmless hadronic B decays to the three-body final states K(0)(S)h(+)pi(-), K(+)h(-)pi(0), K(0)(S)h(+)pi(0) (h(+/-) denotes a charged pion or kaon), and their charge conjugates, using 13.5 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity produced near sqrt[s]=10.6 GeV, and collected with the CLEO detector. We observe the decay B-->K0pi(+)pi(-) with a branching fraction (50(+10)(-9)(stat.)+/-7(syst.))x10(-6) and the decay B-->K(*+)(892)pi(-) with a branching fraction (16(+6)(-5)(stat.)+/-2(syst.))x10(-6).

Dalitz analysis of D0-->K(0)(S)pi(+)pi(-)

In e(+)e(-) collisions using the CLEO detector, we have studied the decay of the D0 to the final state K(0)(S)pi(+)pi(-) with the initial flavor of the D0 tagged by the decay D(*+)-->D0pi(+). We use the Dalitz technique to measure the resonant substructure in this final state and clearly observe ten different contributions by fitting for their amplitudes and relative phases. We observe a K(*)(892)(+)pi(-) component which arises from doubly Cabibbo suppressed decays or D0-D0; mixing.

Measurement of B(D+-->K(*0)l(+)nu(l))

Using 13.53 fb(-1) of CLEO data, we have measured the ratios of the branching fractions R(+)(e),R(+)(mu) and the combined branching fraction ratio R(+)(l), defined by R(+)(l)=[B(D+-->K(*0)l(+)nu(l))]/[B(D+-->K-pi(+)pi(+))]. We find R(+)(e)=0.74+/-0.04+/-0.05, R(+)(mu)=0.72+/-0.10+/-0.05, and R(+)(l)=0.74+/-0.04+/-0.05, where the first and second errors are statistical and systematic, respectively. The known branching fraction B(D+-->K-pi(+)pi(+)) leads to B(D+-->K(*0)e(+)nu(e))=(6.7+/-0.4+/-0.5+/-0.4)%, B(D+-->K(*0)mu(+)nu(mu))=(6.5+/-0.9+/-0.5+/-0.4)%, and B(D+-->K(*0)l(+)nu(l))=(6.7+/-0.4+/-0.5+/-0.4)%, where the third error is due to the uncertainty in B(D+-->K-pi(+)pi(+)).

Observation of the decay Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)e(+)nu(e)

Using the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring we have observed the Omega(0)(c) (css ground state) in the decay Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)e(+)nu(e). We find a signal of 11.4+/-3.8(stat) events. The probability that we have observed a background fluctuation is 7.6x10(-5). We measure B(Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)e(+)nu(e)).sigma(e(+)e(-)-->Omega(0)(c)X)=(42.2+/-14.1(stat)+/-5.7(syst)) fb and R=[Gamma(Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)pi(+))]/[Gamma(Omega(0)(c)-->Omega(-)enu(e))]=00.41+/-0.19(stat)+/-0.04(syst). This is the first statistically significant observation of an individual decay mode of the Omega(0)(c) in e(+)e(-) annihilation and the first example of a baryon decaying via beta emission, where no quarks from the first generation participate in the reaction.

Improved measurement of /V(cb)/ using B-->D*l nu decays

We determine the weak coupling /V(cb)/ between the b and c quarks using a sample of 3 x 10(6) BB; events in the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring. We determine the yield of reconstructed B-->D*l nu; decays as a function of w, the boost of the D* in the B rest frame, and from this we obtain the differential decay rate d Gamma/dw. By extrapolating d Gamma/dw to w=1, the kinematic end point at which the D* is at rest relative to the B, we extract the product /V(cb)/F(1), where F(1) is the form factor at w=1. Combined with theoretical results for F(1) we determine /V(cb)/=0.0469+/-0.0014(stat)+/-0.0020(syst)+/-0.0018(theor).

Improved measurement of Vub with inclusive semileptonic B decays

We report a new measurement of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa parameter Vub made with a sample of 9.7 x 10(6) BB- events collected with the CLEO II detector. Using heavy quark theory, we combine the observed yield of leptons from semileptonic B decay in the end-point momentum interval 2.2-2.6 GeV/c with recent CLEO II data on B-->X(s)gamma to find Vub = (4.08+/-0.34+/-0.44+/-0.16+/-0.24)x10(-3), where the first two uncertainties are experimental and the last two are from theory.

Search for CP violation in tau--> K(pi)nu(tau) decays

We search and find no evidence for CP violation in tau decays into the K(pi)nu(tau) final state. We provide limits on the imaginary part of the coupling constant Lambda describing a relative contribution of the CP violating processes with respect to the standard model to be -0.172<Im(Lambda)<0.067 at 90% C.L.

Observation of exclusive B --> D(*)K(*-) decays

We report the first observation of the exclusive decays B-->D((*))K(*-), using 9.66 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) with the CLEO detector. We measure the following branching fractions: B(B--->D(0)K(*-)) = (6.1+/-1.6+/-1.7)x10(-4), B(B(0)-->D(+)K(*-)) = (3.7+/-1.5+/-1.0)x10(-4), B(B(0)-->D(*+)K(*-)) = (3.8+/-1.3+/-0.8)x10(-4), and B(B--->D(*0)K(*-)) = (7.7+/-2.2+/-2.6)x10(-4). The B-->D(*)K(*-) branching ratios are the averages of those corresponding to the 00 and 11 helicity states. The errors shown are statistical and systematic, respectively.

Observation of B(0) --> D0pi(0) and B(0) -->D(*0)pi(0)

We have studied the color-suppressed hadronic decays of neutral B mesons into the final states D*0pi(0). Using 9.67 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the CLEO detector, we observe the decays B( 0) --> D0pi(0) and B( 0) -->D(*0)pi(0) with the branching fractions BB( 0) -->D0pi(0)) = (2.74(+0.36)(-0.32) +/- 0.55)x10(-4) and BB( 0) -->D(*0)pi(0)) = (2.20(+0.59)(-0.52) +/- 0.79)x10(-4). The first error is statistical and the second systematic. The statistical significance of the D0pi(0) signal is 12.1sigma ( 5.9sigma for D(*0)pi(0)). Utilizing the B( 0) -->D*0)pi(0) branching fractions we determine the strong phases delta(I,D(*)) between isospin 1/2 and 3/2 amplitudes in the Dpi and D*pi final states to be cosdelta(I,D) = 0.89 +/-0.08 and cosdelta(I,D*) = 0.89 +/- 0.08, respectively.

[A clinical application and study of analysis system of sound spectrography]

OBJECTIVE

The phonetic features were studied for non-velopharyngeal dysfunction in postoperative patients with cleft plate.

METHODS

The feature of velopharyngeal competency of 32 postoperative patients with cleft palate were analyzed with KAY-7800 sound spectrograph, compared with characteristic of 30 subjects with normal phonogram.

RESULTS

There were three types of abnormal phonogram for the postoperative patients of cleft palate with velopharyngeal competence. The heavy noise was a common sight.

CONCLUSION

An analytic system of sound spectrography has certain value for evaluation of phonic function in cleft palate patients.

[Study on time limit of ACP and sperm positive-detected in mixed spot]

OBJECTIVE

The study was carried out on time limit of ACP and sperm positive-detected in mixed spot.

METHODS

600 vaginal swabs from living body after sexual intercourse were tested by routine and three-blindness methods.

RESULTS

The longest time limit of ACP which was positively detected is 255 h, average time limit is 52 h, 41.3% of those samples was ACP-detected in positive degree (++). The longest time limit of sperm positively detected is 132 h, average time limit is 29 h. The number of sperms observed in 34.3% of those samples with positive result, is from 6 to 10/HP.

CONCLUSION

This study is helpful to forensic identification of sex cases.

[Effect of sodium ferulate on leucocyte spontaneous activation and surface adhesion molecule expression in arteriosclerosis obliterans patients]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of sodium ferulate (SF) on leucocyte spontaneous activation rate (LSAR) and the surface expression of adhesion molecule (SEAM) in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

METHODS

Forty-two patients with ASO were treated by SF, LSAR and SEAM in them were determined qualitatively before and after SF treatment, as well as in 36 healthy subjects for control.

RESULTS

Therapeutic effect of SF in the treated 42 patients was short-term cured in 17 cases (40.5%), markedly effective in 21 (50%), effective in 2 (4.8%), ineffective in 2(4.8%), and the total effective rate being 95.2%. LSAR and SEAM in ASO patients before treatment was 14.84 +/- 7.54% and 47.94 +/- 13.48% respectively, which was obviously higher than 4.96 +/- 2.04% and 24.12 +/- 9.35% in healthy subjects (P < 0.01) respectively, but markedly reduced to 8.19 +/- 4.09% and 28.63 +/- 7.91% after SF treatment (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

SF could not only obviously lower both LSAR and SEAM but also exert a good therapeutic effect on patients with ASO.

[Clinical significance of plasma PGE2 levels in pre- and post-operative patients with laryngeal carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical significance of PGE2 Levels in patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

METHOD

Radioimmunoassay was used to evaluate plasma PGE2 levels in 35 patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

RESULT

The plasma PGE2 levels in patients with laryngeal carcinoma were significant higher than that of normal subjects (P < 0.05), but there was no correlation with the stage of laryngeal carcinoma (P > 0.05). The plasma PGE2 levels of postoperative patients with laryngeal carcinoma were significant lower than that of preoperative patients (P < 0.05). After operation, the plasma PGE2 levels of recurrent patients were significant higher than that in patients with no recurrence (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The determination of PGE2 levels in patient plasma may help the diagnosis and prognostic judgment of laryngeal carcinoma.

Effects of cyclosporin A on sex hormone and estrogen receptor in male rat with special reference to cyclosporin A-induced osteoporosis

The mechanisms of high turnover bone loss induced by Cyclosporin A (CsA) are not clearly understood. Deficiencies in sex hormones result in high turnover osteoporosis, and not only androgen but also estrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone mass in men. To study whether or not there are any changes in the levels of sex hormones, aromatization, and the expression of estrogen receptors in CsA-induced osteoporosis, we treated 39 rats with vehicle, low-dose CsA (5 mg/kg) and high dose CsA (15 mg/kg) for 28 days, and measured sex hormone levels by radioimmunoassay. Aromatase activities in ROS cells and 3T3-L1 cells were determined by measuring the conversion rate of 3H-androstenedione into 3H-estrone. ER and ER mRNA were measured by competitive RT-PCR in collected marrow cells and ROS cells. The levels of free testosterone in the serum in low-dose CsA-treated rats were unchanged, but the levels were significantly decreased in those treated with high-dose CsA as previously reported. The levels of total estradiol in the serum were significantly increased in the low-dose CsA-treated group (5 mg/kg) and were comparable to levels of the control group in the high-dose CsA-treated group (15 mg/kg). CsA increased the conversion of 3H-androstenedione to 3H-estrone in ROS cells, but not in 3T3-L1 cells. Meanwhile, CsA treatment did not change the rates of ER or ER mRNA expression in ROS cells or in collected bone marrow cells. In conclusion, CsA treatment decreased the level of free testosterone in the serum, but did not decrease the level of serum estradiol by enhancing aromatization. High-turnover osteoporosis induced by clinical dosage CsA treatment may not be caused by lowering the levels of circulating estrogen or by decreasing the expression of estrogen receptors.

Recognizing multiple overlapping objects in image: an optimal formulation

A statistically optimal formulation is presented for recognizing multiple, partially occluded objects. The optimality, in terms of the maximum a posteriori (MAP) principle, is with respect to all, rather than just individual modeled objects. Various constraints are incorporated into the posterior distribution. A two-stage MAP estimation approach is proposed to reduce the computational cost.

Roof-edge preserving image smoothing based on MRFs

A novel Markov random field (MRF) model is proposed for roof-edge (as well as step-edge) preserving image smoothing. Image surfaces containing roof-edges are represented by piecewise continuous polynomial functions governed by a few parameters. Piecewise smoothness constraint is imposed on these parameters rather than on the surface heights as is in traditional models for step-edges. In this way, roof edges are preserved without the necessity to deal with unstable higher order derivatives.

Type I beta-turn conformation is important for biological activity of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues

In order to define which structure of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) analogues plays a critical role for ligand-receptor interaction and selectivity, we analysed receptor-binding and cAMP-generating activity in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines stably transfected with rMC3R and hMC4R, as well as the NMR structures of chemically synthesized alpha-MSH analogues. Compared with [Ahx4]alpha-MSH, the linear MTII designated as alpha-MSH-ND revealed a preference for the MC4R, whereas its IC50 and EC50 values were comparable to those of MTII reported previously. Truncation of Ahx4 and Asp5 of alpha-MSH-ND remarkably decreased the receptor-binding and cAMP-generating activity. Meanwhile, maximum cAMP-generating activity was observed at a higher concentration (10(-5) M) of alpha-MSH-ND(6-10), and MC4R preference was changed into MC3R preference. In contrast, [Gln6]alpha-MSH-ND(6-10) lost its cAMP-generating activity almost completely, even though it bound to both receptors. Whereas the solution conformation of alpha-MSH-ND revealed a stable type I beta-turn structure, [Gln6]alpha-MSH-ND(6-10) revealed a tight gamma-turn composed of Gln6-D-Phe7-Arg8. Replacement of the His6 residue of alpha-MSH-ND by Gln, Asn, Arg or Lys decreased not only the receptor binding, but also the cAMP-generating activity in both the MC3R and the MC4R. The structure of [Gln6]alpha-MSH-ND exhibited a stable type I' beta-turn comprising Asp5, Gln6, D-Phe7 and Arg8. [Lys6]alpha-MSH-ND showed a greatly reduced binding affinity and cAMP-generating activity with the loss of MC4R selectivity. In NMR studies, [Lys6]alpha-MSH-ND also demonstrated a gamma-turn conformation around Lys6-DPhe7-Arg8. From the above results, we conclude that a type I beta-turn conformation comprising the residues Asp5-His6-(D-Phe7)-Arg8 was important for receptor binding and activation, as well as the selectivity of MSH analogues.