Search for new physics in events with same-sign dileptons and b-tagged jets in pp collisions at √ s = 7TeV

A search for new physics is performed using isolated same-sign dileptons with at least two b-quark jets in the final state. Results are based on a 4.98 fb -1 sample of protonproton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7TeV collected by the CMS detector. No excess above the standard model background is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the number of events from non-standard-model sources. These limits are used to set constraints on a number of new physics models. Information on acceptance and efficiencies are also provided so that the results can be used to confront additional models in an approximate way. © 2012 SISSA.

Search for new physics in events with same-sign dileptons and b jets in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV

A search for new physics is performed using events with isolated same-sign leptons and at least two bottom-quark jets in the final state. Results are based on a sample of proton-proton collisions collected at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the CMS detector and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 10.5 fb-1. No excess above the standard model background is observed. Upper limits are set on the number of events from non-standard-model sources and are used to constrain a number of new physics models. Information on acceptance and efficiencies is also provided so that the results can be used to confront an even broader class of new physics models. © 2013 CERN for the benefit of the CMS collaboration.

T and B lymphocytes in the brains of dogs with concomitant seropositivity to three pathogenic protozoans: Leishmania chagasi, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease with great variability regarding the clinical manifestations in humans and dogs. Chronically infected dogs may develop neurological disorders, however, there are few reports that characterize the lesions and make clear the pathogenesis of the canine cerebral leishmaniasis. Concomitant with Leishmania chagasi, dogs may be infected by opportunistic pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum, which may contribute to the occurrence of lesions in the central nervous system. Hence, we aimed to compare the T and B lymphocytes population in the brains of infected dogs with seropositivity to L. chagasi, T. gondii and N. caninum concurrently (n = 24), seropositivity only to L. chagasi (n = 31), and seropositivity to T. gondii and N. caninum (n = 16). Uninfected dogs were used as control (n = 10). Results: Inflammatory lesions, characterised by mononuclear cell accumulation, composed mainly of CD3+ T lymphocytes predominated in several encephalic regions of the dogs from all the three infected groups, with no difference among them (P = 0.0004), whereas CD79α+ B lymphocytes were detected in very small intensity and presented no difference among groups (P = 0.5313). Furthermore, no association among diseases was detected at the serological enquire. Conclusions: We demonstrate that the peripheral infection by L. chagasi per se can promote the influx of lymphocytes within the nervous milieu as occurs during Toxoplasma and Neospora infections, and the concomitant seropositivity against these pathogens does not exacerbate the inflammatory brain lesions. Therefore, these findings give additional support that the brain should be included in the list of organs affected by visceral leishmaniasis and that even asymptomatic infected dogs may develop brain lesions. © 2013 Sakamoto et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Search for supersymmetry in hadronic final states with missing transverse energy using the variables αT and b-quark multiplicity in pp collisions at {Mathematical expression}

An inclusive search for supersymmetric processes that produce final states with jets and missing transverse energy is performed in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 11.7 fb-1 collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. In this search, a dimensionless kinematic variable, αT, is used to discriminate between events with genuine and misreconstructed missing transverse energy. The search is based on an examination of the number of reconstructed jets per event, the scalar sum of transverse energies of these jets, and the number of these jets identified as originating from bottom quarks. No significant excess of events over the standard model expectation is found. Exclusion limits are set in the parameter space of simplified models, with a special emphasis on both compressed-spectrum scenarios and direct or gluino-induced production of third-generation squarks. For the case of gluino-mediated squark production, gluino masses up to 950-1125 GeV are excluded depending on the assumed model. For the direct pair-production of squarks, masses up to 450 GeV are excluded for a single light first- or second-generation squark, increasing to 600 GeV for bottom squarks. © 2013 CERN for the benefit of the CMS collaboration.

Search for narrow resonances and quantum black holes in inclusive and b-tagged dijet mass spectra from pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Search for Top Squarks in R-Parity-Violating Supersymmetry Using Three or More Leptons and b-Tagged Jets

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Microsatellite Organization in the Grasshopper Abracris flavolineata (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Revealed by FISH Mapping: Remarkable Spreading in the A and B Chromosomes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Biofilms of Candida albicans serotypes A and B differ in their sensitivity to photodynamic therapy

Candida albicans is classified into different serotypes according to cell wall mannan composition and cell surface hydrophobicity. Since the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) depends on the cell wall structure of microorganisms, the objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity of in vitro biofilms of C. albicans serotypes A and B to antimicrobial PDT. Reference strains of C. albicans serotype A (ATCC 36801) and serotype B (ATCC 36802) were used for the assays. A gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser (660 nm) was used as the light source and methylene blue (300 mu M) as the photosensitizer. After biofilm formation on the bottom of a 96-well microplate for 48 h, each Candida strain was submitted to assays: PDT consisting of laser and photosensitizer application (L + P+), laser application alone (L + P-), photosensitizer application alone (L-P+), and application of saline as control (L-P-). After treatment, biofilm cells were scraped off and transferred to tubes containing PBS. The content of the tubes was homogenized, diluted, and seeded onto Sabouraud agar plates to determine the number of colony-forming units (CFU/mL). The results were compared by analysis of variance and Tukey test (p < 0.05). The two strains studied were sensitive to PDT (L + P+), with a log reduction of 0.49 for serotype A and of 2.34 for serotype B. Laser application alone only reduced serotype B cells (0.53 log), and the use of the photosensitizer alone had no effect on the strains tested. It can be concluded that in vitro biofilms of C. albicans serotype B were more sensitive to PDT.

Histopathological and b-mode ultrasound characteristics in a primary canine duodenal adenocarcinoma - case report

Lower gastrointestinal tract neoplasms are rare in domestic animals, representing 3% of all biopsies and necropsies. Our objective is to describe the histopathological and B-mode ultrasound findings in a case of duodenal adenocarcinoma in a dog, since it commonly occurs in the large intestine. On ultrasound examination, there was transmural wall thickening in the duodenum with loss of layer structure, focal peritonitis and adenopathy. Histopathological examination of the intestinal mass revealed a malignant epithelial neoplasm, densely cellular and infiltrative, extending through the lamina propria, submucosa, muscle and hypodermis, characterizing a duodenal adenocarcinoma. We conclude that adenocarcinomas may be included in the differential diagnosis of transmural lesions in the duodenum in B-mode ultrasound examinations, but a laparotomy and biopsy are required for definitive diagnosis.

Cyclic codes through B[X;(a/b)Z_0, with (a/b) in Q^{+} and b=a+1, and Encoding

Let B[X; S] be a monoid ring with any fixed finite unitary commutative ring B and is the monoid S such that b = a + 1, where a is any positive integer. In this paper we constructed cyclic codes, BCH codes, alternant codes, Goppa codes, Srivastava codes through monoid ring . For a = 1, almost all the results contained in [16] stands as a very particular case of this study.

High similarity of U2 snDNA sequence between A and B chromosomes in the grasshopper Abracris flavolineata

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sorafenib after arterial chemoembolization in child-pugh A and B cirrhotic patients with intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

CIE L*a*b*: comparison of digital images obtained photographically by manual and automatic modes

The aim of this study was to analyze the color alterations performed by the CIE L*a*b* system in the digital imaging of shade guide tabs, which were obtained photographically according to the automatic and manual modes. This study also sought to examine the observers' agreement in quantifying the coordinates. Four Vita Lumin Vaccum shade guide tabs were used: A3.5, B1, B3 and C4. An EOS Canon digital camera was used to record the digital images of the shade tabs, and the images were processed using Adobe Photoshop software. A total of 80 observations (five replicates of each shade according to two observers in two modes, specifically, automatic and manual) were obtained, leading to color values of L*, a* and b*. The color difference (AE) between the modes was calculated and classified as either clinically acceptable or unacceptable. The results indicated that there was agreement between the two observers in obtaining the L*, a* and b* values related to all guides. However, the B1, B3, and C4 shade tabs had AE values classified as clinically acceptable (Delta E = 0.44, Delta E = 2.04 and Delta E = 2.69, respectively). The A3.5 shade tab had a AE value classified as clinically unacceptable (Delta E = 4.17), as it presented higher values for luminosity in the automatic mode (L* = 54.0) than in the manual mode (L* = 50.6). It was concluded that the B1, B3 and C4 shade tabs can be used at any of the modes in digital camera (manual or automatic), which was a different finding from that observed for the A3.5 shade tab.

A linkage map for the B-genome of Arachis (Fabaceae) and its synteny to the A-genome

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)