Observation of J/ψϕ Structures Consistent with Exotic States from Amplitude Analysis of B^{+}→J/ψϕK^{+} Decays

The first full amplitude analysis of B^{+}→J/ψϕK^{+} with J/ψ→μ^{+}μ^{-}, ϕ→K^{+}K^{-} decays is performed with a data sample of 3  fb^{-1} of pp collision data collected at sqrt[s]=7 and 8 TeV with the LHCb detector. The data cannot be described by a model that contains only excited kaon states decaying into ϕK^{+}, and four J/ψϕ structures are observed, each with significance over 5 standard deviations. The quantum numbers of these structures are determined with significance of at least 4 standard deviations. The lightest has mass consistent with, but width much larger than, previous measurements of the claimed X(4140) state.

First Experimental Study of Photon Polarization in Radiative B_{s}^{0} Decays

The polarization of photons produced in radiative B_{s}^{0} decays is studied for the first time. The data are recorded by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1} at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. A time-dependent analysis of the B_{s}^{0}→ϕγ decay rate is conducted to determine the parameter A^{Δ}, which is related to the ratio of right- over left-handed photon polarization amplitudes in b→sγ transitions. A value of A^{Δ}=-0.98_{-0.52}^{+0.46}_{-0.20}^{+0.23} is measured. This result is consistent with the standard model prediction within 2 standard deviations.

Measurement of CP Violation in B^{0}→D^{+}D^{-} Decays

The CP violation observables S and C in the decay channel B^{0}→D^{+}D^{-} are determined from a sample of proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, collected by the LHCb experiment and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}. The observable S describes CP violation in the interference between mixing and the decay amplitude, and C parametrizes direct CP violation in the decay. The following values are obtained from a flavor-tagged, decay-time-dependent analysis: S=-0.54_{-0.16}^{+0.17}(stat)±0.05(syst), C=0.26_{-0.17}^{+0.18}(stat)±0.02(syst). These values provide evidence for CP violation at a significance level of 4.0 standard deviations. The phase shift due to higher-order standard model corrections is constrained to a small value of Δϕ=-0.16_{-0.21}^{+0.19}  rad.

Search for Higgs-like bosons decaying into long-lived exotic particles

A search is presented for massive long-lived particles, in the 20-60 [Formula: see text] mass range with lifetimes between 5 and 100 [Formula: see text]. The dataset used corresponds to 0.62[Formula: see text] of proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb detector at [Formula: see text]. The particles are assumed to be pair-produced by the decay of a Higgs-like boson with mass between 80 and 140 [Formula: see text]. No excess above the background expectation is observed and limits are set on the production cross-section as a function of the long-lived particle mass and lifetime and of the Higgs-like boson mass.

Prevention-enhancing interactions: a Critical Interpretive Synthesis of the evidence about children who sexually abuse other children

There is a growing interest in English-speaking jurisdictions, including Australia, North America, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, about the prevention of sexual abuse perpetrated by children against other children. The aim of this review was to identify opportunities for research, policy and practice which could enhance the prevention agenda relating to the perpetration of sexual abuse by children through conducting a Critical Interpretive Synthesis. Eleven electronic databases were searched in the period from 22 April to 23 May 2013 and included: SocINDEX, Social Services Abstracts, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Family and Society Studies Worldwide, Project Muse, PsychINFO, Family and Society Plus, Jstor, Expanded Academic ASAP, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Key individual journals were also searched, including Child Abuse and Neglect and the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, as well as the grey literature. The search was guided by the research question: How could the prevention agenda relating to sexual abuse perpetrated by children be enhanced? The systematic literature search yielded 3323 titles, and 34 of these papers were included in the final synthesis. The authors identified five domains operating in the evidence base: characteristics, causes, communications, interventions and treatments. A synthesising construct emerged from the review: prevention-enhancing interactions. This construct referred to the potential for enhancing the prevention agenda which exists as the evidence domains interact with one another, and with the public health model of prevention. The authors consider this review to be a timely contribution to the current agenda pertaining to sexual abuse perpetrated by children. It provides researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the field with an evidence-informed conceptualisation of opportunities for enhancing prevention work.

Search for Structure in the B_{s}^{0}π^{±} Invariant Mass Spectrum

The B_{s}^{0}π^{±} invariant mass distribution is investigated in order to search for possible exotic meson states. The analysis is based on a data sample recorded with the LHCb detector corresponding to 3  fb^{-1} of pp collision data at sqrt[s]=7 and 8 TeV. No significant excess is found, and upper limits are set on the production rate of the claimed X(5568) state within the LHCb acceptance. Upper limits are also set as a function of the mass and width of a possible exotic meson decaying to the B_{s}^{0}π^{±} final state. The same limits also apply to a possible exotic meson decaying through the chain B_{s}^{*0}π^{±}, B_{s}^{*0}→B_{s}^{0}γ where the photon is excluded from the reconstructed decays.

Evidence for Exotic Hadron Contributions to Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpπ^{-} Decays

A full amplitude analysis of Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpπ^{-} decays is performed with a data sample acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}. A significantly better description of the data is achieved when, in addition to the previously observed nucleon excitations N→pπ^{-}, either the P_{c}(4380)^{+} and P_{c}(4450)^{+}→J/ψp states, previously observed in Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} decays, or the Z_{c}(4200)^{-}→J/ψπ^{-} state, previously reported in B^{0}→J/ψK^{+}π^{-} decays, or all three, are included in the amplitude models. The data support a model containing all three exotic states, with a significance of more than three standard deviations. Within uncertainties, the data are consistent with the P_{c}(4380)^{+} and P_{c}(4450)^{+} production rates expected from their previous observation taking account of Cabibbo suppression.

Model-Independent Evidence for J/ψp Contributions to Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} Decays

The data sample of Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8 TeV pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}, is inspected for the presence of J/ψp or J/ψK^{-} contributions with minimal assumptions about K^{-}p contributions. It is demonstrated at more than nine standard deviations that Λ_{b}^{0}→J/ψpK^{-} decays cannot be described with K^{-}p contributions alone, and that J/ψp contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for P_{c}^{+}→J/ψp charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.

Measurement of the CP Asymmetry in B_{s}^{0}-B[over ¯]_{s}^{0} Mixing

The CP asymmetry in the mixing of B_{s}^{0} and B[over ¯]_{s}^{0} mesons is measured in proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb^{-1}, recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Semileptonic B_{s}^{0} and B[over ¯]_{s}^{0} decays are studied in the inclusive mode D_{s}^{∓}μ^{±}ν[over (-)]_{μ}X with the D_{s}^{∓} mesons reconstructed in the K^{+}K^{-}π^{∓} final state. Correcting the observed charge asymmetry for detection and background effects, the CP asymmetry is found to be a_{sl}^{s}=(0.39±0.26±0.20)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the most precise measurement of a_{sl}^{s} to date. It is consistent with the prediction from the standard model and will constrain new models of particle physics.

Forshaw D, Forty R, Frank M, Frei C, Frosini M, Fu J, Furfaro E, Gallas Torreira A, Galli D, Gallorini S, Gambetta S, Gandelman M, Gandini P, Gao Y, García Pardiñas J, Garra Tico J, Garrido L, Gascon D, Gaspar C, Gauld R, Gavardi L, Gazzoni G, Gerick D, Gersabeck E, Gersabeck M, Gershon T, Ghez P, Gianì S, Gibson V, Girard OG, Giubega L, Gligorov VV, Göbel C, Golubkov D, Golutvin A, Gomes A, Gotti C, Grabalosa Gándara M, Graciani Diaz R, Granado Cardoso LA, Graugés E, Graverini E, Graziani G, Grecu A, Greening E, Gregson S, Griffith P, Grillo L, Grünberg O, Gui B, Gushchin E, Guz Y, Gys T, Hadavizadeh T, Hadjivasiliou C, Haefeli G, Haen C, Haines SC, Hall S, Hamilton B, Han X, Hansmann-Menzemer S, Harnew N, Harnew ST, Harrison J, He J, Head T, Heijne V, Heister A, Hennessy K, Henrard P, Henry L, Hernando Morata JA, van Herwijnen E, Heß M, Hicheur A, Hill D, Hoballah M, Hombach C, Hulsbergen W, Humair T, Hussain N, Hutchcroft D, Hynds D, Idzik M, Ilten P, Jacobsson R, Jaeger A, Jalocha J, Jans E, Jawahery A, Jing F, John M, Johnson D, Jones CR, Joram C, Jost B, Jurik N, Kandybei S, Kanso W, Karacson M, Karbach TM, Karodia S, Kecke M, Kelsey M, Kenyon IR, Kenzie M, Ketel T, Khanji B, Khurewathanakul C, Kirn T, Klaver S, Klimaszewski K, Kochebina O, Kolpin M, Komarov I, Koopman RF, Koppenburg P, Kozeiha M, Kravchuk L, Kreplin K, Kreps M, Krocker G, Krokovny P, Kruse F, Krzemien W, Kucewicz W, Kucharczyk M, Kudryavtsev V, K. Kuonen A, Kurek K, Kvaratskheliya T, Lacarrere D, Lafferty G, Lai A, Lambert D, Lanfranchi G, Langenbruch C, Langhans B, Latham T, Lazzeroni C, Le Gac R, van Leerdam J, Lees JP, Lefèvre R, Leflat A, Lefrançois J, Lemos Cid E, Leroy O, Lesiak T, Leverington B, Li Y, Likhomanenko T, Liles M, Lindner R, Linn C, Lionetto F, Liu B, Liu X, Loh D, Longstaff I, Lopes JH, Lucchesi D, Lucio Martinez M, Luo H, Lupato A, Luppi E, Lupton O, Lusardi N, Lusiani A, Machefert F, Maciuc F, Maev O, Maguire K, Malde S, Malinin A, Manca G, Mancinelli G, Manning P, Mapelli A, Maratas J, Marchand JF, Marconi U, Marin Benito C, Marino P, Marks J, Martellotti G, Martin M, Martinelli M, Martinez Santos D, Martinez Vidal F, Martins Tostes D, Massafferri A, Matev R, Mathad A, Mathe Z, Matteuzzi C, Mauri A, Maurin B, Mazurov A, McCann M, McCarthy J, McNab A, McNulty R, Meadows B, Meier F, Meissner M, Melnychuk D, Merk M, Michielin E, Milanes DA, Minard MN, Mitzel DS, Molina Rodriguez J, Monroy IA, Monteil S, Morandin M, Morawski P, Mordà A, Morello MJ, Moron J, Morris AB, Mountain R, Muheim F, Müller D, Müller J, Müller K, Müller V, Mussini M, Muster B, Naik P, Nakada T, Nandakumar R, Nandi A, Nasteva I, Needham M, Neri N, Neubert S, Neufeld N, Neuner M, Nguyen AD, Nguyen TD, Nguyen-Mau C, Niess V, Niet R, Nikitin N, Nikodem T, Novoselov A, O’Hanlon DP, Oblakowska-Mucha A, Obraztsov V, Ogilvy S, Okhrimenko O, Oldeman R, Onderwater CJG, Osorio Rodrigues B, Otalora Goicochea JM, Otto A, Owen P, Oyanguren A, Palano A, Palombo F, Palutan M, Panman J, Papanestis A, Pappagallo M, Pappalardo LL, Pappenheimer C, Parkes C, Passaleva G, Patel GD, Patel M, Patrignani C, Pearce A, Pellegrino A, Penso G, Pepe Altarelli M, Perazzini S, Perret P, Pescatore L, Petridis K, Petrolini A, Petruzzo M, Picatoste Olloqui E, Pietrzyk B, Pilař T, Pinci D, Pistone A, Piucci A, Playfer S, Plo Casasus M, Poikela T, Polci F, Poluektov A, Polyakov I, Polycarpo E, Popov A, Popov D, Popovici B, Potterat C, Price E, Price JD, Prisciandaro J, Pritchard A, Prouve C, Pugatch V, Puig Navarro A, Punzi G, Qian W, Quagliani R, Rachwal B, Rademacker JH, Rama M, Rangel MS, Raniuk I, Rauschmayr N, Raven G, Redi F, Reichert S, Reid MM, dos Reis AC, Ricciardi S, Richards S, Rihl M, Rinnert K, Rives Molina V, Robbe P, Rodrigues AB, Rodrigues E, Rodriguez Lopez JA, Rodriguez Perez P, Roiser S, Romanovsky V, Romero Vidal A, W. Ronayne J, Rotondo M, Rouvinet J, Ruf T, Ruiz Valls P, Saborido Silva JJ, Sagidova N, Sail P, Saitta B, Salustino Guimaraes V, Sanchez Mayordomo C, Sanmartin Sedes B, Santacesaria R, Santamarina Rios C, Santimaria M, Santovetti E, Sarti A, Satriano C, Satta A, Saunders DM, Savrina D, Schael S, Schiller M, Schindler H, Schlupp M, Schmelling M, Schmelzer T, Schmidt B, Schneider O, Schopper A, Schubiger M, Schune MH, Schwemmer R, Sciascia B, Sciubba A, Semennikov A, Sergi A, Serra N, Serrano J, Sestini L, Seyfert P, Shapkin M, Shapoval I, Shcheglov Y, Shears T, Shekhtman L, Shevchenko V, Shires A, Siddi BG, Silva Coutinho R, Silva de Oliveira L, Simi G, Sirendi M, Skidmore N, Skwarnicki T, Smith E, Smith E, Smith IT, Smith J, Smith M, Snoek H, Sokoloff MD, Soler FJP, Soomro F, Souza D, Souza De Paula B, Spaan B, Spradlin P, Sridharan S, Stagni F, Stahl M, Stahl S, Stefkova S, Steinkamp O, Stenyakin O, Stevenson S, Stoica S, Stone S, Storaci B, Stracka S, Straticiuc M, Straumann U, Sun L, Sutcliffe W, Swientek K, Swientek S, Syropoulos V, Szczekowski M, Szczypka P, Szumlak T, T’Jampens S, Tayduganov A, Tekampe T, Teklishyn M, Tellarini G, Teubert F, Thomas C, Thomas E, van Tilburg J, Tisserand V, Tobin M, Todd J, Tolk S, Tomassetti L, Tonelli D, Topp-Joergensen S, Torr N, Tournefier E, Tourneur S, Trabelsi K, Tran MT, Tresch M, Trisovic A, Tsaregorodtsev A, Tsopelas P, Tuning N, Ukleja A, Ustyuzhanin A, Uwer U, Vacca C, Vagnoni V, Valenti G, Vallier A, Vazquez Gomez R, Vazquez Regueiro P, Vázquez Sierra C, Vecchi S, van Veghel M, Velthuis JJ, Veltri M, Veneziano G, Vesterinen M, Viaud B, Vieira D, Vieites Diaz M, Vilasis-Cardona X, Vollhardt A, Volyanskyy D, Voong D, Vorobyev A, Vorobyev V, Voß C, de Vries JA, Waldi R, Wallace C, Wallace R, Walsh J, Wandernoth S, Wang J, Ward DR, Watson NK, Websdale D, Weiden A, Whitehead M, Wilkinson G, Wilkinson M, Williams M, Williams MP, Williams M, Williams T, Wilson FF, Wimberley J, Wishahi J, Wislicki W, Witek M, Wormser G, Wotton SA, Wright S, Wyllie K, Xie Y, Xu Z, Yang Z, Yu J, Yuan X, Yushchenko O, Zangoli M, Zavertyaev M, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Zhelezov A, Zhokhov A, Zhong L, Zhukov V, Zucchelli S. A precise measurement of the [Formula: see text] meson oscillation frequency

The oscillation frequency, [Formula: see text], of [Formula: see text] mesons is measured using semileptonic decays with a [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] meson in the final state. The data sample corresponds to 3.0[Formula: see text] of pp collisions, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies [Formula: see text] = 7 and 8[Formula: see text]. A combination of the two decay modes gives [Formula: see text], where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. This is the most precise single measurement of this parameter. It is consistent with the current world average and has similar precision.

First Observation of D^{0}-D[over ¯]^{0} Oscillations in D^{0}→K^{+}π^{-}π^{+}π^{-} Decays and Measurement of the Associated Coherence Parameters

Charm meson oscillations are observed in a time-dependent analysis of the ratio of D^{0}→K^{+}π^{-}π^{+}π^{-} to D^{0}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{-}π^{+} decay rates, using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb^{-1} recorded by the LHCb experiment. The measurements presented are sensitive to the phase-space averaged ratio of doubly Cabibbo-suppressed to Cabibbo-favored amplitudes r_{D}^{K3π} and the product of the coherence factor R_{D}^{K3π} and a charm mixing parameter y_{K3π}^{'}. The constraints measured are r_{D}^{K3π}=(5.67±0.12)×10^{-2}, which is the most precise determination to date, and R_{D}^{K3π}y_{K3π}^{'}=(0.3±1.8)×10^{-3}, which provides useful input for determinations of the CP-violating phase γ in B^{±}→DK^{±}, D→K^{∓}π^{±}π^{∓}π^{±} decays. The analysis also gives the most precise measurement of the D^{0}→K^{+}π^{-}π^{+}π^{-} branching fraction, and the first observation of D^{0}-D[over ¯]^{0} oscillations in this decay mode, with a significance of 8.2 standard deviations.

Search for Violations of Lorentz Invariance and CPT Symmetry in B_{(s)}^{0} Mixing

Violations of CPT symmetry and Lorentz invariance are searched for by studying interference effects in B^{0} mixing and in B_{s}^{0} mixing. Samples of B^{0}→J/ψK_{S}^{0} and B_{s}^{0}→J/ψK^{+}K^{-} decays are recorded by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}. No periodic variations of the particle-antiparticle mass differences are found, consistent with Lorentz invariance and CPT symmetry. Results are expressed in terms of the standard model extension parameter Δa_{μ} with precisions of O(10^{-15}) and O(10^{-14})  GeV for the B^{0} and B_{s}^{0} systems, respectively. With no assumption on Lorentz (non)invariance, the CPT-violating parameter z in the B_{s}^{0} system is measured for the first time and found to be Re(z)=-0.022±0.033±0.005 and Im(z)=0.004±0.011±0.002, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.

Measurement of the Difference of Time-Integrated CP Asymmetries in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} Decays

A search for CP violation in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays is performed using pp collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3  fb^{-1}, collected using the LHCb detector at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The flavor of the charm meson is inferred from the charge of the pion in D^{*+}→D^{0}π^{+} and D^{*-}→D[over ¯]^{0}π^{-} decays. The difference between the CP asymmetries in D^{0}→K^{-}K^{+} and D^{0}→π^{-}π^{+} decays, ΔA_{CP}≡A_{CP}(K^{-}K^{+})-A_{CP}(π^{-}π^{+}), is measured to be [-0.10±0.08(stat)±0.03(syst)]%. This is the most precise measurement of a time-integrated CP asymmetry in the charm sector from a single experiment.

Safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of BI 135585, a selective 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (HSD1) inhibitor in humans: liver and adipose tissue 11β-HSD1 inhibition after acute and multiple administrations over 2 weeks

AIMS

To assess the safety and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of BI 135585, a selective 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitor, after single- and repeated-dose administration.

METHODS

The single-dose study included open-label administration of 200 mg BI 135585 in healthy volunteers, while in the multiple-dose study, we carried out randomized, double-blind administration of 5-200 mg BI 135585 or placebo once daily over 14 days in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Assessments included 11β-HSD1 inhibition in the liver (urinary tetrahydrocortisol (THF)/tetrahydrocotisone (THE) ratio) and in subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) ex vivo and determination of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormone levels.

RESULTS

No major safety issues occurred with BI 135585 administration. The HPA axis was mildly activated with slightly increased, but still normal adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, increased total urinary corticoid excretion but unchanged plasma cortisol levels. After multiple doses of 5-200 mg BI 135585, exposure (area under the curve) increased dose-proportionally and half-life was 55-65 h. The urinary THF/THE ratio decreased, indicating liver 11β-HSD1 inhibition. Median 11β-HSD1 enzyme inhibition in the AT reached 90% after a single dose of BI 135585, but was low (31% or lower) after 14 days of continuous treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

BI 135585 was safe and well tolerated over 14 days and can be dosed once daily. Future studies are required to clarify the therapeutic potential of BI 135585 in view of its effects on 11β-HSD1 inhibition in AT after single and multiple doses. Enzyme inhibition in the AT was not adequately predicted by the urinary THF/THE ratio.

Uses of strength-based interventions for people with serious mental illness: A critical review

BACKGROUND

For the past 3 decades, mental health practitioners have increasingly adopted aspects and tools of strength-based approaches. Providing strength-based intervention and amplifying strengths relies heavily on effective interpersonal processes.

AIM

This article is a critical review of research regarding the use of strength-based approaches in mental health service settings. The aim is to discuss strength-based interventions within broader research on recovery, focussing on effectiveness and advances in practice where applicable.

METHOD

A systematic search for peer-reviewed intervention studies published between 2001 and December 2014 yielded 55 articles of potential relevance to the review.

RESULTS

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies was used to appraise the quality of the studies. Our review found emerging evidence that the utilisation of a strength-based approach improves outcomes including hospitalisation rates, employment/educational attainment, and intrapersonal outcomes such as self-efficacy and sense of hope.

CONCLUSION

Recent studies confirm the feasibility of implementing a high-fidelity strength-based approach in clinical settings and its relevance for practitioners in health care. More high-quality studies are needed to further examine the effectiveness of strength-based approaches.

Observation of B_{s}^{0}→D[over ¯]^{0}K_{S}^{0} and Evidence for B_{s}^{0}→D[over ¯]^{*}^{0}K_{S}^{0} Decays

The first observation of the B_{s}^{0}→D[over ¯]^{0}K_{S}^{0} decay mode and evidence for the B_{s}^{0}→D[over ¯]^{*0}K_{S}^{0} decay mode are reported. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.0  fb^{-1} collected in pp collisions by LHCb at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The branching fractions are measured to be B(B_{s}^{0}→D[over ¯]^{0}K[over ¯]^{0})=[4.3±0.5(stat)±0.3(syst)±0.3(frag)±0.6(norm)]×10^{-4},B(B_{s}^{0}→D[over ¯]^{*0}K[over ¯]^{0})=[2.8±1.0(stat)±0.3(syst)±0.2(frag)±0.4(norm)]×10^{-4},where the uncertainties are due to contributions coming from statistical precision, systematic effects, and the precision of two external inputs, the ratio f_{s}/f_{d} and the branching fraction of B^{0}→D[over ¯]^{0}K_{S}^{0}, which is used as a calibration channel.

Observation of B→D(*) π^(+)π^(-)ℓ^(-)ν Decays in e^(+)e^(-) Collisions at the Υ(4S) Resonance

We report on measurements of the decays of B¯ mesons into the semileptonic final states B¯→D^(*)π^(+)π^(-)ℓ^(-)ν¯, where D^(*) represents a D or D^(*) meson and ℓ^(-) is an electron or a muon. These measurements are based on 471×10^(6) BB ¯ pairs recorded with the BABAR detector at the SLAC asymmetric B factory PEP-II. We determine the branching fraction ratios R_{π^{+}π^{-}}^{(*)}=B(B[over ¯]→D^{(*)}π^{+}π^{-}ℓ^{-}ν[over ¯])/B(B[over ¯]→D^{(*)}ℓ^{-}ν[over ¯]) using events in which the second B meson is fully reconstructed. We find R_{π^{+}π^{-}}=0.067±0.010±0.008 and R_{π^{+}π^{-}}^{*}=0.019±0.005±0.004, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Based on these results and assuming isospin invariance, we estimate that B[over ¯]→D^{(*)}ππℓ^{-}ν[over ¯] decays, where π denotes either a π^{±} and π^{0} meson, account for up to half the difference between the measured inclusive semileptonic branching fraction to charm hadrons and the corresponding sum of previously measured exclusive branching fractions.

The role of defensive ecological interactions in the evolution of conotoxins

Venoms comprise of complex mixtures of peptides evolved for predation and defensive purposes. Remarkably, some carnivorous cone snails can inject two distinct venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, providing a unique opportunity to study separately how different ecological pressures contribute to toxin diversification. Here, we report the extraordinary defensive strategy of the Rhizoconus subgenus of cone snails. The defensive venom from this worm-hunting subgenus is unusually simple, almost exclusively composed of αD-conotoxins instead of the ubiquitous αA-conotoxins found in the more complex defensive venom of mollusc- and fish-hunting cone snails. A similarly compartmentalized venom gland as those observed in the other dietary groups facilitates the deployment of this defensive venom. Transcriptomic analysis of a Conus vexillum venom gland revealed the αD-conotoxins as the major transcripts, with lower amounts of 15 known and four new conotoxin superfamilies also detected with likely roles in prey capture. Our phylogenetic and molecular evolution analysis of the αD-conotoxins from five subgenera of cone snails suggests they evolved episodically as part of a defensive strategy in the Rhizoconus subgenus. Thus, our results demonstrate an important role for defence in the evolution of conotoxins.

Interventions to improve patient understanding of cancer clinical trial participation: a systematic review

Patient misunderstanding of cancer clinical trial participation is identified as a critical issue and researchers have developed and tested a variety of interventions to improve patient understanding. This systematic review identified nine papers published between 2000 and 2013, to evaluate the effects of interventions to improve patient understanding of cancer clinical trial participation. Types of interventions included audio-visual information, revised written information and a communication training workshop. Interventions were conducted alone or in combination with other forms of information provision. The nine papers, all with methodological limitations, reported mixed effects on a small range of outcomes regarding improved patient understanding of cancer clinical trial participation. The methodological limitations included: (1) the intervention development process was poorly described; (2) only a small element of the communication process was addressed; (3) studies lacked evidence regarding what information is essential and critical to enable informed consent; (4) studies lacked reliable and valid outcome measures to show that patients are sufficiently informed to provide consent; and (5) the intervention development process lacked a theoretical framework. Future research needs to consider these factors when developing interventions to improve communication and patient understanding during the informed consent process.

A retrospective study of medical comorbidities in psychogeriatric patients

BACKGROUND

This study contributes further research into the assessment and treatment of older psychiatric patients with medical comorbidities.

METHODS

A retrospective file audit was conducted at the acute inpatient psychogeriatric unit of St Vincent's Aged Mental Health Service, Melbourne, in order to determine the prevalence of certain medical comorbidities and the nature of medical interventions provided for psychogeriatric inpatients.

RESULTS

This study, investigating 165 admissions into an acute inpatient psychogeriatric unit, highlights that psychiatric and medical comorbidities are routine in this population: the vast majority (91.5%) of all inpatients had at least one medical comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

As the population ages, psychogeriatric wards are likely to see more of the oldest-olds, who are likely to have comorbid medical illnesses. Currently, appropriate detection, investigation, and management of these illnesses are often suboptimal and can affect quality of life, increase mortality, and complicate treatment. This paper adds to the literature about the need for integrating medical and psychiatric care to create a more comprehensive strategy for treating the older person with psychiatric illness.

Search for long-lived heavy charged particles using a ring imaging Cherenkov technique at LHCb

A search is performed for heavy long-lived charged particles using 3.0 [Formula: see text] of proton-proton collisions collected at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text] 7 and 8  TeV with the LHCb detector. The search is mainly based on the response of the ring imaging Cherenkov detectors to distinguish the heavy, slow-moving particles from muons. No evidence is found for the production of such long-lived states. The results are expressed as limits on the Drell-Yan production of pairs of long-lived particles, with both particles in the LHCb pseudorapidity acceptance, [Formula: see text]. The mass-dependent cross-section upper limits are in the range 2-4 fb (at 95 % CL) for masses between 14 and 309 [Formula: see text].