Evaluation of the impact of pharmaceutical trainings and tools on the proper use of medicines in pediatrics

Introduction: After six years of medication errors' (MEs) collection and analysis in a pediatric unit of a French University Hospital, the number of MEs was no longer decreasing. We then decided to set up pharmaceutical training and tools and evaluate their impact on the occurrence of ME. Materials and methods: This monocentric prospective study was carried out in the form of audits of prescriptions, preparations, and administrations before and after intervention (A1 and A2). After the analysis of A1 results, feedback was given to the teams, some tools for the proper use of medication (PUM) were distributed, and A2 was conducted. Finally, A1 and A2 results were compared. Results: Each audit included 202 observations. A total of 120 MEs were identified during A1 and 54 for A2 (p < 0.0001). The observation rate with at least 1 ME decreased from 39.11% to 21.29% (p < 0.0001), and no observation had more than two MEs during A2 in contrast to A1 (n = 12). Human factors were responsible for the majority of MEs. The audit feedback allowed professionals to feel concerned about ME. The PUM tools received an average satisfaction rating of 9/10. The staff had never participated in this type of training, and all felt it was useful to apply PUM. Conclusion: This study showed a significant impact of pharmaceutical training and tools on the pediatric PUM. Clinical pharmaceutic actions allowed us to reach our objectives and satisfied all the staff. They must, therefore, be continued to limit human factors' impact and thus contribute to the safety of drug management in pediatrics.

Reflections on the physical, executive developmental and systems applied framework in child neuropsychological rehabilitation

This paper describes the influence of the Physical, Executive, Developmental and Systems (PEDS) framework on the delivery of community-based child neuropsychological rehabilitation and how it has been enhanced by the proliferation of neuroscientific, neuropsychological and psychosocial research and evidence-base in childhood brain injury and rehabilitation over the past decade. The paper signposts to some of the key models, theories and concepts currently shaping service delivery. Application of the PEDS framework in a clinical case is described.

Brown Rot Disease in Stored Nectarines: Modeling the Combined Effects of Preharvest and Storage Conditions

Brown rot in stored stone fruits, caused by Monilinia spp., may be due to preharvest and storage factors, but the combined effect of these factors has yet to be investigated. We set up two experiments to monitor the progression of brown rot during the storage of nectarines subjected to various preharvest and storage conditions. We assessed the effects of different agricultural practices (irrigation regimen × fruit load) and harvest dates on brown rot progress during storage in 2018 and the effect of different storage temperatures in 2019. We found that the cumulative incidence of brown rot during storage increased with individual fruit mass, which was influenced by agricultural practices, and for later harvest dates. It also increased with storage temperature. We observed that during storage no secondary infections developed in nectarines not in direct contact with fruits infected with Monilinia laxa. These findings led to the identification of candidate variables describing the brown rot risk on nectarines during storage, such as individual fruit mass, meteorological conditions before fruit harvest, prevalence of brown rot at harvest, and storage temperature. We used these variables to build a mathematical model for estimating the time-to-appearance of brown rot symptoms in stored nectarines. This model fitted the experimental data well, highlighting the need to pay greater attention to the interaction between preharvest and storage conditions. This model could be used to evaluate management strategies for reducing the impact of brown rot in nectarines during storage.

Impact of UV-C Radiation Applied during Plant Growth on Pre- and Postharvest Disease Sensitivity and Fruit Quality of Strawberry

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation is efficient in reducing the development of diseases in many species, including strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). Several studies suggest that UV-C radiation is effective not only because of its disinfecting effect but also because it may stimulate plant defenses. In this study, the effect of preharvest UV-C radiation applied during strawberry cultivation on plant growth, fruit quality, and susceptibility to major fungal diseases such as gray mold, powdery mildew, and soft rot was evaluated. UV-C treatments had an impact on flowering initiation and fruit development. Flowering occurred earlier for UV-C-treated plants than for nontreated plants. At harvest, a larger amount of fruit was produced by treated plants despite their slight decrease in leaf area. UV-C treatment did not improve strawberry shelf life but did not alter the physical integrity of strawberry fruit. Natural infection of leaves to powdery mildew and of fruit to Rhizopus spp. strongly decreased in response to UV-C treatment.

Temperature and storage time increase provitamin A carotenoid concentrations and bioaccessibility in post-harvest carrots

The aim was to enhance provitamin A carotenoid (proVA CAR) concentrations and bioaccessibility in carrots by manipulating post-harvest factors. To that end, we assessed the effects of Ultraviolet-C light, pulsed light, storage temperature, and storage duration. We also measured CAR bioaccessibility by using an in vitro model. Pulsed light, but not Ultraviolet-C, treatment increased proVA CAR concentrations in the cortex tissue (p < 0.05). Longer storage times and higher temperatures also increased concentrations (p < 0.05). The maximal increase induced by pulsed light was obtained after treatment with 20 kJ/m² and 3-days of storage at 20 °C. However, the positive effect induced by pulsed light decreased considerably over the next seven days. ProVA CAR in carrots with the highest concentrations also proved to be more bioaccessible (p < 0.05). Thus, proVA CAR concentrations in stored carrots can be increased significantly through storage times and temperatures. Pulsed light can also significantly increase proVA CAR concentrations, but only temporarily.

Role of biological control agents and physical treatments in maintaining the quality of fresh and minimally-processed fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables are an important part of human diets and provide multiple health benefits. However, due to the short shelf-life of fresh and minimally-processed fruit and vegetables, significant losses occur throughout the food distribution chain. Shelf-life extension requires preserving both the quality and safety of food products. The quality of fruit and vegetables, either fresh or fresh-cut, depends on many factors and can be determined by analytical or sensory evaluation methods. Among the various technologies used to maintain the quality and increase shelf-life of fresh and minimally-processed fruit and vegetables, biological control is a promising approach. Biological control refers to postharvest control of pathogens using microbial cultures. With respect to application of biological control for increasing the shelf-life of food, the term biopreservation is favored, although the approach is identical. The methods for screening and development of biocontrol agents differ greatly according to their intended application, but the efficacy of all current approaches following scale-up to commercial conditions is recognized as insufficient. The combination of biological and physical methods to maintain quality has the potential to overcome the limitations of current approaches. This review compares biocontrol and biopreservation approaches, alone and in combination with physical methods. The recent increase in the use of meta-omics approaches and other innovative technologies, has led to the emergence of new strategies to increase the shelf-life of fruit and vegetables, which are also discussed herein.

Fine monitoring of major phenolic compounds in lettuce and escarole leaves during storage

Two varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa and capitata) and one variety of escarole (Cichorium endivia var. latifolium) were chosen due to their different browning sensitivity during storage as minimally processed products. The changes in the compositions and contents of the primary polyphenolic compounds were investigated during the first few hours of storage and then after 1, 2, 3, and 6 days of storage at 6°C and revealed sharp variations. Browning development, activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and concentration of ascorbic acid were also examined during storage. The content of chicoric acid, which was the most abundant phenolic compound, varied substantially during the first 24 hr of storage and between the different varieties. Oak leaf lettuce, which was the most sensitive variety to browning, was characterized by a higher maintained chicoric acid level with a constant decreased chlorogenic acid level during the storage period. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Browning development is responsible for the short shelf life of minimally processed vegetables, such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Polyphenolic compounds, as substrates of enzymatic reactions, are involved in the browning susceptibility of leaves. Comparisons of the profiles and contents of these compounds in different leaves showed dramatic variations during storage. This study provides additional information to better control, optimize minimally processed produce and select more suitable leaves for the fresh-cut industry.

Understanding the physiological effects of UV-C light and exploiting its agronomic potential before and after harvest

There is an abundant literature about the biological and physiological effects of UV-B light and the signaling and metabolic pathways it triggers and influences. Much less is known about UV-C light even though it seems to have a lot of potential for being effective in less time than UV-B light. UV-C light is known since long to exert direct and indirect inhibitory and damaging effects on living cells and is therefore commonly used for disinfection purposes. More recent observations suggest that UV-C light can also be exploited to stimulate the production of health-promoting phytochemicals, to extent shelf life of fruits and vegetables and to stimulate mechanisms of adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. Clearly some of these effects may be related to the stimulating effect of UV-C light on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to the stimulation of antioxidant molecules and mechanisms, although UV-C light could also trigger and regulate signaling pathways independently from its effect on the production of ROS. Our review clearly underlines the high potential of UV-C light in agriculture and therefore advocates for more work to be done to improve its efficiency and also to increase our understanding of the way UV-C light is perceived and influences the physiology of plants.

Neonatal metabolic acidosis at birth: In search of a reliable marker

OBJECTIVE

A newborn may present acidemia on the umbilical artery blood which can result from respiratory acidosis or metabolic acidosis or be of mixed origin. Currently, in the absence of a satisfactory definition, the challenge is to determine the most accurate marker for metabolic acidosis, which can be deleterious for the neonate.

METHODS

We reviewed the methodological and physiological aspects of the perinatal literature to search for the best marker of NMA.

RESULTS

Base deficit and pH have been criticized as the standard criteria to predict outcome. The proposed threshold of pathogenicity is not based on convincing studies. The algorithms of various blood gas analyzers differ and do not take into account the specific neonatal acid-base profile.

CONCLUSION

Birth-related neonatal eucapnic pH is described as the most pertinent marker of NMA at birth. The various means of calculating this value and the level below which it seems to play a possible pathogenic role are presented.

Origin and fate of copper in a small Mediterranean vineyard catchment: new insights from combined chemical extraction and δ65Cu isotopic composition

For centuries, many Mediterranean catchments were covered with vineyards in which copper was widely applied to protect grapevines against fungus. In the Mediterranean-type flow regime, brief and intense flood events increase the stream water discharge by up to 10 times and cause soil leaching and storm runoff. Because vineyards are primarily cultivated on steep slopes, high Cu fluxes are discharged by surface water runoff into the rivers. The purpose of this work was to investigate the riverine behavior and transport of anthropogenic Cu by coupling a sequential chemical extraction (SCE) procedure, used to determine Cu partitioning between residual and non-residual fractions, with δ(65)Cu isotopic measurements in each fraction. In the Baillaury catchment, France, we sampled soils (cultivated and abandoned), river bed sediments (BS), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and river water during the flash flood event of February 2009. Copper partitioning using SCE show that most of Cu in abandoned vineyard soil was in the residual phase (>60%) whereas in cultivated soil, BS and SPM, Cu was mostly (>25%) in non-residual fractions, mainly adsorbed onto iron oxide fractions. A small fraction of Cu was associated with organic matter (5 to 10%). Calculated enrichment factors (EF) are higher than 2 and the anthropogenic contribution was estimated between 50 to 85%. Values for δ(65)Cu in bulk samples were similar to bedrock therefore; δ(65)Cu on SCE fractions of superficial soils and SPM allowed for discrimination between Cu origin and distribution. Copper in residual fractions was of natural mineral origin (δ(65)Cu close to local bedrock, +0.07‰). Copper in water soluble fraction of SPM (δ(65)Cu=+0.26‰) was similar to dissolved river Cu (δ(65)Cu=+0.31‰). Copper from fungicide treatment (δ(65)Cu=-0.35‰) was bound to organic matter (δ(65)Cu=-0.20‰) without or with slight isotopic fractioning. A preferential adsorption of (65)Cu onto iron oxides (δ(65)Cu=+0.5‰) is shown.

Lipid metabolism by the intestinal mucosa in malnourished subjects following enteral nutrition supplemented with omega3 fatty acids

Chronic malnutrition results in severe metabolic imbalance in man as the body modifies its modes of regulation of different nutrients, and in particular lipids. This study of the modifications in lipid metabolism induced by 15 days of enteral renutrition include: 12 malnourished patients (global nutritional deficit (GND) <20%) were given a cyclical enteral diet for 15 days under two conditions: ternary diet (Sondalis) or a similar diet whose lipid concentration was enriched by 5.3 g omega3 fatty acid per day. On Day 0 and Day 15, the serum lipid values were assayed and duodenal biopsies were taken to measure HMG-CoA reductase and (14)C acetate incorporation in the various classes of lipids. After 15 days of refeeding, the GND had been corrected by an average of 27% and HMG-CoA reductase activity had increased by 37% (60.2 +/- 7.46 vs 82.88 +/- 14.8 pmol/min/mg protein; p < 0.05). In 7 12 patients, the serum cholesterol values had increased (p < 0.01). No difference was observed in synthesis of FA, DG or cholesterol. Synthesis of phosphatidylcholines (PC) and phosphatidylglycerols (PG) was reduced by 12% and 23% respectively. Triglyceride synthesis (TG) increased by 20% (p < 0.05). The only difference between the two diets was in TG synthesis in organ-specific culture, which was increased only by the standard diet.

IN CONCLUSION

(i) refeeding is accompanied by an increase in intestinal HMG-CoA reductase activity, a decrease in PC and PG synthesis, and an increase in TG synthesis; (ii) a diet enriched in omega3 FA increases TG synthesis less than the standard diet.

Search for charged higgs bosons decaying into top and bottom quarks in pp[over ] collisions

We describe a search for production of a charged Higgs boson, qq[over ];{'}-->H;{+}, reconstructed in the tb[over ] final state in the mass range 180< or =M_{H;{+}}< or =300 GeV. The search was undertaken at the Fermilab Tevatron collider with a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV and uses 0.9 fb;{-1} of data collected with the D0 detector. We find no evidence for charged Higgs boson production and set upper limits on the production cross section in the types I, II, and III two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs). An excluded region in the (M_{H;{+}}, tanbeta) plane for type I 2HDM is presented.

Measurement of the lifetime of the Bc+/- meson in the semileptonic decay channel

Using approximately 1.3 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 detector between 2002 and 2006, we measure the lifetime of the Bc+/- meson in the Bc-/+-->J/psimicro+/-+X final state. A simultaneous unbinned likelihood fit to the J/psi+micro invariant mass and lifetime distributions yields a signal of 881+/-80(stat) candidates and a lifetime measurement of tau(Bc+/-)=0.448(-0.036)(+0.038)(stat)+/-0.032(syst) ps.

Measurement of the semileptonic branching ratio of B_{s};{0} to an orbitally excited D_{s};{**} state: Br(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nuX)

In a data sample of approximately 1.3 fb;{-1} collected with the D0 detector between 2002 and 2006, the orbitally excited charm state D_{s1};{+/-}(2536) has been observed with a measured mass of 2535.7+/-0.6(stat)+/-0.5(syst) MeV/c;{2} via the decay mode B_{s};{0}-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nu_{mu}X. A first measurement is made of the branching ratio product Br(b[over ]-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nu_{mu}X)xBr(D_{s1};{-}-->D;{*-}K_{S};{0}). Assuming that D_{s1};{-}(2536) production in semileptonic decay is entirely from B_{s};{0}, an extraction of the semileptonic branching ratio Br(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nu_{mu}X) is made.

Search for third generation scalar leptoquarks decaying into taub

We have searched for third generation leptoquarks (LQ3) using 1.05 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider operating at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. We set a 95% C.L. lower limit of 210 GeV on the mass of a scalar LQ3 state decaying solely to a b quark and a tau lepton.

Measurement of Bs0 mixing parameters from the flavor-tagged decay Bs0-->J/psiphi

From an analysis of the flavor-tagged decay Bs0-->J/psiphi we obtain the width difference between the Bs0 light and heavy mass eigenstates, DeltaGammas = 0.19+/-0.07(stat)(-0.01)+0.02(syst) ps(-1), and the CP-violating phase, phi s= -0.57(-0.30)+0.24(stat)(-0.02)+0.08(syst). The allowed 90% CL intervals of DeltaGammas and phi s are 0.06 < DeltaGammas < 0.30 ps(-1) and -1.20 < phi s < 0.06, respectively. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.8 fb(-1) accumulated with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider.

Search for neutral Higgs bosons in multi-b-jet events in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

Data recorded by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider are analyzed to search for neutral Higgs bosons produced in association with b quarks. This production mode can be enhanced in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The search is performed in the three b quark channel using multijet triggered events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1). No statistically significant excess of events with respect to the predicted background is observed and limits are set in the MSSM parameter space.

Measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry and extraction of sin2thetaWeff in pp-->Z/gamma* + X-->e+e- +X events produced at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry (A FB) in pp-->Z/gamma* + X-->e+e(-) + X events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 1.1 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. A FB is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the electron-positron pair, and found to be consistent with the standard model prediction. We use the A FB measurement to extract the effective weak mixing angle sin2thetaWeff = 0.2326+/-0.0018(stat)+/-0.0006(syst).

Measurement of the polarization of the upsilon(1S) and upsilon(2S) states in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a study of the polarization of the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) states using a 1.3 fb;{-1} data sample collected by the D0 experiment in 2002-2006 during run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We measure the polarization parameter alpha=(sigma_{T}-2sigma_{L})/(sigma_{T}+2sigma_{L}), where sigma_{T} and sigma_{L} are the transversely and longitudinally polarized components of the production cross section, as a function of the transverse momentum (p_{T};{Upsilon}) for the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S). Significant p_{T};{Upsilon}-dependent longitudinal polarization is observed for the Upsilon(1S). A comparison with theoretical models is presented.

Search for pair production of doubly charged Higgs bosons in the H++H- - -->mu+ mu+ mu- mu- final state

We report the results of a search for pair production of doubly charged Higgs bosons via pp over-->H++H - - X-->mu+ mu+ mu- mu- X at sqrt s=1.96 TeV. We use a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.1 fb(-1) collected from 2002 to 2006 by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. In the absence of an excess above the standard model background, lower mass limits of M(H L +/- +/-) >150 GeV/c2 and M(H R+/- +/-) >127 GeV/c2 at 95% C.L. are set, respectively, for left-handed and right-handed doubly charged Higgs bosons assuming a 100% branching ratio into muons.

Search for Higgs bosons decaying to tau pairs in pp over collisions with the D0 detector

We present a search for the production of neutral Higgs bosons varphi decaying into tau+tau - final states in pp over collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 fb(-1), were collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Limits on the production cross section times branching ratio are set. The results are interpreted in the minimal supersymmetric standard model yielding limits that are the most stringent to date at hadron colliders.

Measurement of the inclusive jet cross section in pp[over] collisions at square root [s]=1.96 TeV

We report on a measurement of the inclusive jet cross section in pp[over ] collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV using data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.70 fb;{-1}. The data cover jet transverse momenta from 50 to 600 GeV and jet rapidities in the range -2.4 to 2.4. Detailed studies of correlations between systematic uncertainties in transverse momentum and rapidity are presented, and the cross section measurements are found to be in good agreement with next-to-leading order QCD calculations.

Search for decay of a fermiophobic Higgs boson hf-->gammagamma with the D0 detector at sqrt s=1.96 TeV

We report the results of a search for a narrow resonance decaying into two photons in 1.1 fb;{-1} of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider during the period 2002-2006. We find no evidence for such a resonance and set a lower limit on the mass of a fermiophobic Higgs boson of m_{h_{f}}>100 GeV at the 95% C.L. This exclusion limit exceeds those obtained in previous searches at the Fermilab Tevatron and covers a significant region of the parameter space B(h_{f}-->gammagamma) vs m_{h_{f}} which was not accessible at the CERN Large Electron-Positron Collider.

Search for large extra dimensions via single photon plus missing energy final states at sqrt s = 1.96 TeV

We report on a search for large extra dimensions in a data sample of approximately 1 fb(-1) of pp[over] collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV. We investigate Kaluza-Klein graviton production with a photon and missing transverse energy in the final state. At the 95% C.L. we set limits on the fundamental mass scale M(D) from 884 to 778 GeV for two to eight extra dimensions.

Observation of the Bc meson in the exclusive decay Bc-->J/psipi

A fully reconstructed Bc-->J/psipi signal is observed with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over] collider using 1.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The signal consists of 54+/-12 candidates with a significance that exceeds 5 standard deviations, and confirms earlier observations of this decay. The measured mass of the Bc meson is 6300+/-14(stat)+/-5(syst) MeV/c2.

First study of the radiation-amplitude zero in Wgamma production and limits on anomalous WWgamma couplings at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present results from a study of pp-->Wgamma+X events utilizing data corresponding to 0.7 fb{-1} of integrated luminosity at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We set limits on anomalous WWgamma couplings at the 95% C.L. The one-dimensional 95% C.L. limits are 0.49<kappa{gamma}<1.51 and -0.12<lambda{gamma}<0.13. We make the first study of the charge-signed rapidity difference between the lepton and the photon and find it to be indicative of the standard model radiation-amplitude zero in the Wgamma system.

Search for scalar neutrino superpartners in e+mu final states in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We report a search for R-parity-violating production and decay of sneutrino particles in the emu final state with 1.04+/-0.06 fb-1 of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider in 2002-2006. Good agreement between the data and the standard model prediction is observed. With no evidence for new physics, we set limits on the R-parity-violating couplings lambda'311 and lambda312 as a function of the sneutrino mass.

Search for W' boson resonances decaying to a top quark and a bottom quark

We search for the production of a heavy W' gauge boson that decays to third generation quarks in 0.9 fb-1 of pp collisions at square root(s)=1.96 TeV, collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We find no significant excess in the final-state invariant mass distribution and set upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction. For a left-handed W' boson with SM couplings, we set a lower mass limit of 731 GeV. For right-handed W' bosons, we set lower mass limits of 739 GeV if the W' boson decays to both leptons and quarks and 768 GeV if the W' boson decays only to quarks. We also set limits on the coupling of the W' boson to fermions as a function of its mass.

Study of direct CP violation in B(+/-)-->J/psiK(+/-)(pi(+/-)) decays

We present a search for direct CP violation in B(+/-)-->J/psiK(+/-)(pi(+/-)) decays. The event sample is selected from 2.8 fb(-1) of pp collisions recorded by D0 experiment in run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The charge asymmetry A_(CP)(B(+)-->J/psiK(+))= + 0.0075 +/- 0.0061(stat)+/-0.0030(syst) is obtained using a sample of approximately 40, 000 B(+/-)-->J/psiK(+/-) decays. The achieved precision is of the same level as the expected deviation predicted by some extensions of the standard model. We also measured the charge asymmetry A(CP)(B(+)-->J/psipi(+))=-0.09+/-0.08(stat)+/-0.03(syst).

Simultaneous measurement of the ratio R=B(t --> Wb)/B(t --> Wq) and the top-quark pair production cross section with the D0 detector at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

We present the first simultaneous measurement of the ratio of branching fractions, R=B(t --> Wb)/B(t --> Wq), with q being a d, s, or b quark, and the top-quark pair production cross section sigma(tt[over]) in the lepton plus jets channel using 0.9 fb(-1) of pp[over] collision data at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV collected with the D0 detector. We extract R and sigma(tt[over]) by analyzing samples of events with 0, 1, and > or =2 identified b jets. We measure R=0.97(+0.09)/(-0.08)(stat+syst) and sigma(tt[over])=8.18(+0.09)(-0.84)(stat+syst) +/- 0.50(lumi) pb, in agreement with the standard model prediction.

Measurement of the tt[over] production cross section in pp[over] collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

We measure the tt[over] production cross section in pp[over] collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV in the lepton + jets channel. Two complementary methods discriminate between signal and background: b tagging and a kinematic likelihood discriminant. Based on 0.9 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, we measure sigma(tt[over])=7.62+/-0.85 pb, assuming the current world average m(t)=172.6 GeV. We compare our cross section measurement with theory predictions to determine a value for the top-quark mass of 170+/-7 GeV.

Measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry in top-quark pair production

We present the first measurement of the integrated forward-backward charge asymmetry in top-quark-top-antiquark pair (tt) production in proton-antiproton (pp) collisions in the lepton+jets final state. Using a b-jet tagging algorithm and kinematic reconstruction assuming tt + X production and decay, a sample of 0.9 fb(-1) of data, collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, is used to measure the asymmetry for different jet multiplicities. The result is also used to set upper limits on tt+X production via a Z' resonance.

Search for ZZ and Zgamma* production in pp[over ] collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV and limits on anomalous ZZZ and ZZgamma* couplings

We present a study of micro micro micro micro, eeee, and micro micro ee events using 1 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over ] Collider at square root s=1.96 TeV. Requiring the lepton pair masses to be greater than 30 GeV, we observe one event, consistent with the expected background of 0.13+/-0.03 events and with the predicted standard model ZZ and Zgamma* production of 1.71+/-0.15 events. We set an upper limit on the ZZ and Zgamma* cross section of 4.4 pb at the 95% C.L. We also derive limits on anomalous neutral trilinear ZZZ and ZZgamma* gauge couplings. The one-parameter 95% C.L. coupling limits with a form-factor scale Lambda=1.2 TeV are -0.28<f(40)(Z)<0.28, -0.31<f(50)(Z)<0.29, -0.26<f(40)(gamma)<0.26, and -0.30<f(50)(gamma)<0.28.

Search for flavor-changing-neutral-current d meson decays

We study the flavor-changing-neutral-current process c-->u micro(+) micro(-) using 1.3 fb(-1) of pp[over ] collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV recorded by the D0 detector operating at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We see clear indications of the charged-current mediated D(s)(+) and D(+)-->phipi(+) --> micro(+)micro(-)pi(+) final states with significance greater than 4 standard deviations above background for the D(+) state. We search for the continuum neutral-current decay of D(+)-->pi(+) micro(+) micro(-) in the dimuon invariant mass spectrum away from the phi resonance. We see no evidence of signal above background and set a limit of B(D(+) --> pi(+) micro(+) micro(-))<3.9 x 10(-6) at the 90% C.L. This limit places the most stringent constraint on new phenomena in the c--> u micro(+) micro(-) transition.

Measurement of the shape of the boson-transverse momentum distribution in pp --> Z/gamma* --> e+e- + X events produced at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the shape of the Z/gamma* boson transverse momentum (q(T)) distribution in pp --> Z/gamma* --> e(+)e(-) + X events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 0.98 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The data are found to be consistent with the resummation prediction at low q(T), but above the perturbative QCD calculation in the region of q(T)>30 GeV/c. Using events with q(T)<30 GeV/c, we extract the value of g(2), one of the nonperturbative parameters for the resummation calculation. Data at large boson rapidity y are compared with the prediction of resummation and with alternative models that employ a resummed form factor with modifications in the small Bjorken x region of the proton wave function.

Search for Randall-Sundrum gravitons with 1 fb(-1) of data from pp collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

We search for decays of Kaluza-Klein excitations of the graviton in the Randall-Sundrum model of extra dimensions to e+ e(-) and gamma gamma in 1 fb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We set 95% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction, which translate into lower limits on the mass of the lightest excitation between 300 and 900 GeV for values of the coupling k/MPl between 0.01 and 0.1.

Observation and properties of the orbitally excited B_(s2)(*) meson

We report the direct observation of the excited L=1 state B_(s2)(*) in fully reconstructed decays to B+K-. The mass of the B_(s2)(*) meson is measured to be 5839.6+/-1.1(stat)+/-0.7(syst) MeV/c(2), and its production rate relative to the B+ meson is measured to be [1.15+/-0.23(stat)+/-0.13(syst)]%.

Model-independent measurement of the W-boson helicity in top-quark decays at D0

We present the first model-independent measurement of the helicity of W bosons produced in top quark decays, based on a 1 fb(-1) sample of candidate tt events in the dilepton and lepton plus jets channels collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp Collider. We reconstruct the angle theta(*) between the momenta of the down-type fermion and the top quark in the W boson rest frame for each top quark decay. A fit of the resulting costheta(*) distribution finds that the fraction of longitudinal W bosons f(0)=0.425+/-0.166(stat)+/-0.102(syst) and the fraction of right-handed W bosons f(+)=0.119+/-0.090(stat)+/-0.053(syst), which is consistent at the 30% C.L. with the standard model.

Search for W' bosons decaying to an electron and a neutrino with the D0 detector

This Letter describes the search for a new heavy charged gauge boson W' decaying into an electron and a neutrino. The data were collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over] Collider at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 1 fb(-1). Lacking any significant excess in the data in comparison with known processes, an upper limit is set on sigma_(W') x B(W')-->e nu), and a W' boson with mass below 1.00 TeV can be excluded at the 95% C.L., assuming standard-model-like couplings to fermions. This result significantly improves upon previous limits and is the most stringent to date.

Study of the decay Bs(0)-->Ds(*)Ds(*)

We report a study of the decay Bs(0)-->Ds(*)Ds(*) using a data sample corresponding to 1.3 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment in 2002-2006 during run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. One Ds(*) meson was partially reconstructed in the decay Ds-->phi mu nu, and the other Ds(*) meson was identified using the decay Ds-->phi pi where no attempt was made to distinguish Ds and Ds(*) states. For the branching fraction Br(Bs(0)-->Ds(*)Ds(*)) we obtain a 90% C.L. range [0.002,0.080] and central value 0.039(-0.017)(+0.019)(stat)(-0.015)(+0.016)(syst). This was subsequently used to make the most precise estimate of the width difference DeltaGamma(s)CP in the Bs(0)-Bs(0) system: DeltaGamma(s)CP/Gamma(s)=0.079(-0.035)(+0.038)(stat)(-0.030)(+0.031)(syst).