Measurement of semileptonic branching fractions of B mesons to narrow D** states

Using the data accumulated in 2002-2004 with the D0 detector in proton-antiproton collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron collider with a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV, the branching fractions of the decays B --> D0(1)(2420)mu+ vmuX and B --> D2(*0)(2460)mu+ vmuX and their ratio have been measured: B(b --> B) x B(B --> D0(1)mu+ vmuX) x B(D0(*0) --> D*- pi+) = [0.087 +/- 0.007(stat) +/- 0.014(syst)]%; B(b --> B) x B(B --> D2(*0) mu+ vmuX) x B(D2(*0) --> D*- pi+) = [0.035 +/- 0.007(stat) +/- 0.008(syst)]% and [B(B --> D2(*0)mu+ vmuX) x B(D2(*0) --> D*- pi+)]/[B(B --> D0(1)mu+ vmuX) x B(D0(1) --> D*- pi+)] = 0.39 +/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.12 (syst), where the charge conjugated states are always implied.

Search for large extra spatial dimensions in dimuon production with the d0 detector

We present the results of a search for the effects of large extra spatial dimensions in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV in events containing a pair of energetic muons. The data correspond to 246 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Good agreement with the expected background was found, yielding no evidence for large extra dimensions. We set 95% C.L. lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale between 0.85 and 1.27 TeV within several formalisms. These are the most stringent limits achieved in the dimuon channel to date.

Search for supersymmetry via associated production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three leptons

A search for associated production of charginos and neutralinos is performed using data recorded with the D0 detector at a pp center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. This analysis considers final states with missing transverse energy and three charged leptons, of which at least two are electrons or muons. No evidence for supersymmetry is found in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 320 pb-1. Limits on the product of the production cross section and leptonic branching fraction are set. For the minimal supergravity model, a chargino lower mass limit of 117 GeV at the 95% C.L. is derived in regions of parameter space with enhanced leptonic branching fractions.

Search for neutral supersymmetric Higgs Bosons in multijet events at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We have performed a search for neutral Higgs bosons produced in association with bottom quarks in pp collisions, using 260 pb-1 of data collected with the D0 detector in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The cross sections for these processes are enhanced in many extensions of the standard model (SM), such as in its minimal supersymmetric extension at large tanbeta. The results of our analysis agree with expectations from the SM, and we use our measurements to set upper limits on the production of neutral Higgs bosons in the mass range of 90 to 150 GeV.

Production of WZ events in pp collisions at square root(s) = 1.96 TeV and limits on anomalous WWZ couplings

We present results from a search for WZ production with subsequent decay to l nu l' l' (l and l' = e or mu) using 0.30 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment between 2002 and 2004 at the Fermilab Tevatron. Three events with WZ decay characteristics are observed. With an estimated background of 0.71 +/- 0.08 events, we measure the WZ production cross section to be 4.5(-2.6)(+3.8) pb, with a 95% C.L. upper limit of 13.3 pb. The 95% C.L. limits for anomalous WWZ couplings are found to be -2.0 < delta kappaZ < 2.4 for form factor scale lambda = 1 TeV, and -0.48 < lambdaZ < 0.48 and -0.49 < delta g(1)(Z) < 0.66 for lambda = 1.5 TeV.

Search for Randall-Sundrum gravitons in dilepton and diphoton final states

We report the first direct search for the Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes of Randall-Sundrum gravitons using dielectron, dimuon, and diphoton events observed with the D0 detector operating at the Fermilab Tevatron pp(-) Collider at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. No evidence for resonant production of gravitons has been found in the data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately equal to 260 pb(-1). Lower limits on the mass of the first KK mode at the 95% C.L. have been set between 250 and 785 GeV, depending on its coupling to standard model particles.

Study of Zgamma events and limits on anomalous ZZgamma and Zgammagamma couplings in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the Zgamma production cross section and limits on anomalous ZZgamma and Zgammagamma couplings for form-factor scales of lambda = 750 and 1000 GeV. The measurement is based on 138 (152) candidates in the eegamma (mumugamma) final state using 320(290) pb(-1) of pp(-1) collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV. The 95% C.L. limits on real and imaginary parts of individual anomalous couplings are /h(10,30)Z/ < 0.23, /h(20,40)Z/ < 0.020, /h(10,30)gamma/ < 0.23, and /h(20,40)gamma/ < 0.019 for lambda = 1000 GeV.

Measurement of inclusive differential cross sections for pp collisions at (square root)s = 1.96 TeV

We present measurements of the inclusive production cross sections of the Gamma(1S) bottomonium state in pp collisions at (square root)s = 1.96 TeV. Using the Gamma(1S) --> mu(+)mu(-) decay mode for a data sample of 159 +/- 10 pb(-1) collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider, we determine the differential cross sections as a function of the Gamma(1S) transverse momentum for three ranges of the Gamma(1S) rapidity: 0 < y(Gamma) < or = 0.6, 0.6 < y(Gamma) < or = 1.2, and 1.2 < y(Gamma) < or = 1.8.

Measurement of dijet azimuthal decorrelations at central rapidities in pp collisions at sqrt s =1.96 TeV

Correlations in the azimuthal angle between the two largest transverse momentum jets have been measured using the D0 detector in p (-)p collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. The analysis is based on an inclusive dijet event sample in the central rapidity region corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 150 pb(-1). Azimuthal correlations are stronger at larger transverse momenta. These are well described in perturbative QCD at next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant, except at large azimuthal differences where contributions with low transverse momentum are significant.

Sampling for indoor fungi: what the clinician needs to know

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

A great deal of concern has arisen recently regarding the potential adverse effects of indoor fungi. Our understanding of this complex problem has been hampered by a lack of standardized protocols for performing an indoor assessment for fungi. Without such standards, it is difficult to compare results from one study with those from another or to measure the effect of indoor fungal contamination on a building and its occupants.

RECENT FINDINGS

References were identified that were relevant to indoor fungal sampling, health effects or remediation by searching Pubmed using the keywords 'indoor fungi.' Fungi cause three primary adverse effects: (a) they can damage a building, (b) they can render a building unpleasant to live in by looking and smelling bad, and (c) they might cause adverse health effects in sensitive individuals. Sampling methods used to evaluate indoor environments include air sampling for spores, measurement of allergens in house dust, and determination of microbially generated volatile organic compounds, ergosterols, glucans, and mycotoxins, as well as environmental conditions that lead to fungal contamination.

SUMMARY

Prevention of fungal contamination involves removal of moisture sources and humidity and early identification. If fungi are found on indoor surfaces, they can be removed using a dilute bleach/detergent solution that both kills the microorganisms and denatures allergens and toxins. Larger areas require professional remediation.

Health effects of indoor fungi

OBJECTIVE

To review the nontoxic harmful effects that poor indoor air quality caused by fungi can have on health.

DATA SOURCES

We searched PubMed for publications related to the various topics discussed in this review, and we relied on our knowledge of the field.

STUDY SELECTION

Where more than one publication was relevant, we attempted to identify a consensus of the reports and cited the most relevant articles. Priority was given to randomized controlled trials and expert reports when available, although much of the information herein relates to laboratory research.

RESULTS

Actively growing fungal colonies can release volatile substances that have an unpleasant smell, leading to psychological responses in the occupants such as fatigue and nausea. Symptoms that are likely caused by indoor fungi include respiratory complaints that involve the nose and lungs, eye symptoms, and mucous membrane irritation. These adverse effects can occur by a variety of mechanisms, including IgE-mediated hypersensitivity, fungal infection, irritant reaction to spores or fungal metabolites, and possibly toxic reaction to mycotoxins.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced fungal exposure can reasonably be expected to improve health. Removal of moisture from the indoors and proper maintenance of air filters can aid in prevention and elimination of fungi from the home environment. Small areas of present contamination can be cleaned with a dilute bleach solution, which kills viable colonies and removes their mycelia. If fungal contamination is not addressed early, substantial damage can occur, requiring professional remediation. Above all, the individual should not panic at the first sight of fungi growing in the home. Regular inspection and cleaning can prevent many fungus-related problems.

Measurement of the ratio of B+ and B0 meson lifetimes

The ratio of the B+ and B0 meson lifetimes was measured using data collected in 2002-2004 by the D0 experiment in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. These mesons were reconstructed in B-->mu(+)nuD(*-)X decays, which are dominated by B0 and B-->mu(+)nuD 0X decays, which are dominated by B+. The ratio of lifetimes is measured to be tau(+)/tau(0)=1.080+/-0.016(stat)+/-0.014(syst).

Measurement of the ratio of inclusive cross sections sigma(pp --> Z + b jet)/sigma(pp --> Z + jet) at square root(s) = 1.96 TeV

Using the data collected with the D0 detector at square root(s) = 1.96 TeV, for integrated luminosities of about 180 pb(-1), we have measured the ratio of inclusive cross sections for pp --> Z + b jet to pp --> Z + jet production. The inclusive Z + b-jet reaction is an important background to searches for the Higgs boson in associated ZH production at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. Our measurement is the first of its kind, and relies on the Z --> e+ e- and Z --> mu+ mu- modes. The combined measurement of the ratio yields 0.021+/-0.005 for hadronic jets with transverse momenta pT > 20 GeV/c and pseudorapidities absolute value(eta) < 2.5, consistent with next-to-leading-order predictions of the standard model.

Search for anomalous heavy-flavor quark production in association with W bosons

We search for anomalous production of heavy-flavor quark jets in association with W bosons at the Fermilab Tevatron pp Collider in final states in which the heavy-flavor quark content is enhanced by requiring at least one tagged jet in an event. Jets are tagged using one algorithm based on semileptonic decays of b/c hadrons, and another on their lifetimes. We compare e+jets (164 pb(-1)) and mu+jets (145 pb(-1)) channels collected with the D0 detector at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV to expectations from the standard model and set upper limits on anomalous production of such events.

Measurement of the WW production cross section in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the W boson pair-production cross section in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. The data, collected with the Run II D0 detector at Fermilab, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 224-252 pb(-1) depending on the final state (ee, emu, or mumu). We observe 25 candidates with a background expectation of 8.1+/-0.6(stat)+/-0.6(syst)+/-0.5(lum) events. The probability for an upward fluctuation of the background to produce the observed signal is 2.3x10(-7), equivalent to 5.2 standard deviations. The measurement yields a cross section of 13.8(+4.3)(-3.8)(stat)+1.2-0.9(syst)+/-0.9(lum) pb, in agreement with predictions from the standard model.

Recombinant FVIIa in the management of intracerebral haemorrhage in severe thrombocytopenia unresponsive to platelet-enhancing treatment

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a dramatic and potentially life-threatening presentation of children with thrombocytopenia. Management is limited to supportive care. Recent evidence suggests that ongoing bleeding following the initial ICH may result in greater neurological morbidity and mortality. Haemostatic agents, including recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa), a product licensed for use in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors, may be helpful in reducing bleeding in children with refractory thrombocytopenia. We present the case of a 16-year-old girl with severe refractory immune thrombocytopenia, who presented with a major ICH and responded to treatment that included rFVIIa and platelet transfusions. The dose of rFVIIa was empirically chosen and based on reported cases in the literature. The case highlights a number of issues regarding off-label use of rFVIIa and demonstrates the need to prospectively collect accurate information on the off-label use of this new potentially useful medication.

Measurement of the Lambda0b lifetime in the decay lambda0b--> J/psiLambda0 with the D0 detector

We present measurements of the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime in the exclusive decay channel Lambda(0)(b)--> J/psiLambda(0), with J/psi--> mu(+)mu(-) and Lambda(0)--> ppi(-), the B0 lifetime in the decay B0-->J/psiK(0)(S) with J/psi--> mu(+)mu(-) and K(0)(S)-->pi(+)pi(-), and the ratio of these lifetimes. The analysis is based on approximately 250 pb(-1) of data recorded with the D0 detector in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV. The Lambda(0)(b) lifetime is determined to be tau(Lambda(0)(b)) = 1.22(+0.22)(-0.18)(stat) +/- 0.04(syst) ps, the B0 lifetime tau(B0) = 1.40(+0.11)(-0.10)(stat) +/- 0.03(syst) ps, and the ratio tau(Lambda(0)(b))/tau(B0) = 0.87(+0.17)(-0.14)(stat) +/- 0.03(syst). In contrast with previous measurements using semileptonic decays, this is the first determination of the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime based on a fully reconstructed decay channel.

Search for Wbb and WH production in pp collisions at square root [s]=1.96 TeV

We present a search for Wbb production in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV in events containing one electron, an imbalance in transverse momentum, and two b-tagged jets. Using 174 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity accumulated by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider, and the standard-model description of such events, we set a 95% C.L. upper limit on Wbb production of 6.6 pb for b quarks with transverse momenta p(b)(T)>20 GeV and bb separation in pseudorapidity-azimuth space DeltaR(bb)>0.75. Restricting the search to optimized bb mass intervals provides upper limits on WH production of 9.0-12.2 pb for Higgs-boson masses of 105-135 GeV.

Real-life environmental tobacco exposure does not affect exhaled nitric oxide levels in asthmatic children

Serial measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) has been shown to be a good noninvasive marker of asthma control. Active smoking decreases eNO levels. The effect of real-life environmental exposure to tobacco smoke (ETS) on eNO levels is not known. Our objective was to study the impact of environmental tobacco exposure on eNO levels in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. Single breath off-line collection of eNO was performed in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children with and without ETS. Urine was collected for cotinine/nicotine analysis. Fifty-seven children were enrolled, of which 25 were asthmatic and 32 had smoke exposure. One active smoker was excluded from the data analysis. The mean eNO was 11.1 ppb (n = 31; SD = 18.5) in those passively exposed vs. 11.1 ppb (n = 25; SD = 19.9) among the unexposed (not statistically significant). The mean eNO was 6.1 (n = 32; SD = 4.4) among the non-asthmatics and 17.8 (n = 24; SD = 27.4) among the asthmatics (p = 0.02; CI: 1.9-21.6). Real-life environmental tobacco exposure does not appear to decrease eNO levels in asthmatic children. Off-line collection of exhaled nitric oxide with a Mylar collection device helps differentiate asthmatics from non-asthmatics.

Search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B0s--> mu(+) mu(-) in pp Collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV with the D0 detector

We present the results of a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B(0)(s)--> mu(+) mu(-) using a data set with integrated luminosity of 240 pb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV collected with the D0 detector in run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We find the upper limit on the branching fraction to be B(B(0)(s)--> mu(+) mu(-)) < or= 5.0 x 10(-7) at the 95% C.L. assuming no contributions from the decay B(0)(d)--> mu(+) mu(-) in the signal region. This limit is the most stringent upper bound on the branching fraction B(0)(s)--> mu(+) mu(-) to date.

Search for supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking in diphoton events at D0

We report the results of a search for supersymmetry (SUSY) with gauge-mediated breaking in the missing transverse energy distribution of inclusive diphoton events using 263 pb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider in 2002-2004. No excess is observed above the background expected from standard model processes, and lower limits on the masses of the lightest neutralino and chargino of about 108 and 195 GeV, respectively, are set at the 95% confidence level. These are the most stringent limits to date for models with gauge-mediated SUSY breaking with a short-lived neutralino as the next-to-lightest SUSY particle.

Measurement of the B0s lifetime in the exclusive decay channel B0s-->J/psiphi

Using the exclusive decay B0s-->J/psi(mu+mu-)phi(K+K-), we report the most precise single measurement of the B0s lifetime. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of approximately 220 pb(-1) collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider in 2002-2004. We reconstruct 337 signal candidates, from which we extract the B0s lifetime, tau(B0s)=1.444(+0.098)(-0.090)(stat)+/-0.020(sys) ps. We also report a measurement for the lifetime of the B0 meson using the exclusive decay B0-->J/psi(mu+mu-)K*0(892)(K+pi-). We reconstruct 1370 signal candidates, obtaining tau(B0)=1.473(+0.052)(-0.050)(stat)+/-0.023(sys) ps, and the ratio of lifetimes, tau(B0s)/tau(B0)=0.980(+0.076)(-0.071)(stat)+/-0.003(sys).

Health effects of air pollution

The general public, especially patients with upper or lower respiratory symptoms, is aware from media reports that adverse respiratory effects can occur from air pollution. It is important for the allergist to have a current knowledge of the potential health effects of air pollution and how they might affect their patients to advise them accordingly. Specifically, the allergist-clinical immunologist should be keenly aware that both gaseous and particulate outdoor pollutants might aggravate or enhance the underlying pathophysiology of both the upper and lower airways. Epidemiologic and laboratory exposure research studies investigating the health effects of outdoor air pollution each have advantages and disadvantages. Epidemiologic studies can show statistical associations between levels of individual or combined air pollutants and outcomes, such as rates of asthma, emergency visits for asthma, or hospital admissions, but cannot prove a causative role. Human exposure studies, animal models, and tissue or cellular studies provide further information on mechanisms of response but also have inherent limitations. The aim of this rostrum is to review the relevant publications that provide the appropriate context for assessing the risks of air pollution relative to other more modifiable environmental factors in patients with allergic airways disease.