Search for resonant top-antitop production in the lepton plus jets decay mode using the full CDF data set

This Letter reports a search for a narrow resonant state decaying into two W bosons and two b quarks where one W boson decays leptonically and the other decays into a quark-antiquark pair. The search is particularly sensitive to top-antitop resonant production. We use the full data sample of proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9.45 fb(-1). No evidence for resonant production is found, and upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio for a narrow resonant state are extracted. Within a specific benchmark model, we exclude a Z' boson with mass, M(Z'), below 915 GeV/c(2) decaying into a top-antitop pair at the 95% credibility level assuming a Z' boson decay width of Γ(Z') = 0.012 M(Z'). This is the most sensitive search for a narrow qq-initiated tt resonance in the mass region below 750 GeV/c(2).

Measurement of the cross section for prompt isolated diphoton production using the full CDF run II data sample

This Letter reports a measurement of the cross section for producing pairs of central prompt isolated photons in proton-antiproton collisions at a total energy sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV using data corresponding to 9.5 fb(-1) integrated luminosity collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The measured differential cross section is compared to three calculations derived from the theory of strong interactions. These include a prediction based on a leading order matrix element calculation merged with a parton shower model, a next-to-leading order calculation, and a next-to-next-to-leading order calculation. The first and last calculations reproduce most aspects of the data, thus showing the importance of higher-order contributions for understanding the theory of strong interaction and improving measurements of the Higgs boson and searches for new phenomena in diphoton final states.

A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial testing the effects of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment for allergic rhinitis.

METHODS

This study was a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled study. Participants were randomized to either the active acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist groups. The active and sham acupuncture groups received acupuncture treatment three times per week for 4 weeks. In the sham group, minimal acupuncture at nonacupuncture points was used. The waitlist group did not receive any acupuncture treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 238 participants, 97, 94, and 47 individuals were assigned to the active acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and waitlist group, respectively. After the treatment, the difference in the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) was significantly reduced in the active acupuncture group compared with the sham acupuncture (difference: -1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.96, -0.09, P = 0.03) and waitlist (difference: -2.49, 95% CI: -3.68, -1.29, P < 0.0001). The active acupuncture group exhibited a significant change in the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS) compared with the waitlist (difference: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.22, -0.34, P = 0.0002), but not the sham acupuncture group (difference; 0.15, 95% CI: -0.21, 0.5, P = 0.56). Both active and sham acupuncture treatments resulted in significant improvements in TNSS and TNNSS compared to baseline.

CONCLUSION

Active acupuncture showed a significantly greater effect on symptoms of allergic rhinitis than either sham acupuncture or no active treatment. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis decreased significantly after treatment in the both acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. Acupuncture appears to be an effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis.

Enhanced broadband near-infrared luminescence of Bi-doped oxyfluoride glasses

Broadband near-infrared luminescence covering 900 to 1600 nm has been observed in Bi-doped oxyfluoride silicate glasses. The partial substitution of fluoride for oxide in Bi-doped silicate glasses leads to an increase of the intensity and lifetime of the near-infrared luminescence and blue-shift of the near-infrared emission peaks. Both Bi-doped silicate and oxyfluoride silicate glasses show visible luminescence with blue, green, orange and red emission bands when excited by ultra-violet light. Careful investigation on the luminescence properties indicates that the change of near-infrared luminescence is related to optical basicity, phonon energy of the glass matrix and crystal field around Bi active centers. These results offer a valuable way to control the luminescence properties of Bi-doped materials and may find some applications in fiber amplifier and fiber laser.

Localized control of light-matter interactions by using nanoscale asymmetric TiO2

This paper reports an asymmetry structure-mediated route for highly localized control of light-matter interactions by using tapered TiO(2). We demonstrate for the first time that the growth habit of Ag nanostructures on tapered TiO(2) can be tuned by controllable photolysis. Site-selective anchoring of Ag nanoparticles or nanowires on tapered TiO(2) can be achieved by simply changing the external light. We further show that the obtained tapered TiO(2)-Ag hetero-nanostructures present excellent light-trapping ability over a wide range of wavelengths which is considered to originate from the unique synergistic effects of graded waveguiding and plasmonic light trapping. This improved photon-management capability renders the prepared substrate a very promising candidate for optical sensing application. For this purpose, an enhanced sensitivity for trace detection is confirmed. These findings open up promising avenues for tailoring of light-matter interactions which are of special interest for studying controllable photolysis activation processes and diverse applications such as nanostructure growth, trace detection, photocatalysis and solar cells.

HLA-B*1502 Allele is Associated with a Cross-Reactivity Pattern of Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to Antiepileptic Drugs

The US Food and Drug Administration has recommended genetic screening for the human leucocyte antigen-B ( HLA-B)* 1502 allele in patients of Asian ethnicity before starting carbamazepine therapy, to avoid the fatal adverse treatment-related events associated with this drug. The association between cross-reactivity to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the HLA-B*1502 allele has been only rarely reported. Here, two cases of cross-reactivity to AEDs, where cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs) developed in female Han Chinese patients with epilepsy who tested positive for the HLA-B*1502 allele, are described. If the genetic association could be confirmed in larger studies, the HLA-B*1502 allele should be tested for in any patient experiencing cADRs, to avoid cross-reactivity to AEDs.

Unusual luminescence quenching and reviving behavior of Bi-doped germanate glasses

Here for the first time, we report an unusual annealing temperature dependent near-infrared (NIR) luminescence quenching and reviving behavior in Bi-doped MgO-Al₂O₃-GeO₂ glasses. Systematic characterizations of the samples by using differential thermal analysis (DTA), photoluminescence and absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that this phenomenon is associated with the reversible reaction of Bi⁺ and Bi⁰ initiated by the change of local glass structure. Excitingly, wavelength tunable luminescence is also observed and it can be ascribed to selective excitation of active Bi⁺ center in different sites. These results not only open a new way for controlling luminescence properties of main group elements in glass but also provide great value for improving practical active-fiber drawing process.

Trepanation and curettage treatment for acute implant periapical lesions

Six dental implants in six patients with periapical lesions were inserted and underwent trepanation and thorough curettage. During surgery, the lesion area was irrigated with copious natural saline and chlorhexidine and the bone defects were treated with tetracycline paste. The six implants were stable and asymptomatic postoperatively. The implants were loaded after 3 months. Radiologically, the radiolucency in the apical part disappeared gradually. These prostheses have functioned satisfactorily with no further complication during the follow-up period. For cases in which small lesions initially appear soon after implant placement, trepanation and curettage of the periapical lesion without resection of the apical part of the implant or bone substitute material and/or autogenous bone grafting is an effective management option. A rapid and exact diagnosis is important for treating implant periapical lesions.

Simultaneous Determination of Bufadienolides in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation, Liu-Shen-Wan, by Liquid Chromatography

The bufadienolide compounds (bufalin, cinobufagin and resibufogenin), major constituents of Chansu in Liu-Shen-Wan (LSW), were determined by reverse phase high performance liquid chromotography. The procedure involves a preliminary extraction of the bufadienolides from LSW with chloroform using ultrasonication and subsequent evaporation to dryness of the chloroform extract. The residue of the chloroform extract was dissolved in methanol and separated on a Merck LiChrosorb RP-18 column. Methanol: water (74:26) was used as mobile phase. The compounds were satisfactorily separated with good chromatographic peaks. Good coefficients of correlation (r &gt; 0·999) were obtained from the calibration of peak areas with concentrations for the 3 bufadienolides. Results of analysis showed that there were differences between the contents of bufadienolides in 11 LSW samples of different origin available to the public in Hong Kong where at present there is no legal control over the sale of traditional Chinese medicines. The variability of quantities of bufadienolides in Chansu may be a hazard to the public.