Search for the Higgs Boson Using Neural Networks in Events with Missing Energy and b-Quark Jets in pp̅ Collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

We report on a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a $W$ or $Z$ boson in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.96$ TeV recorded by the CDF II experiment at the Tevatron in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.1 fb$^{-1}$. We consider events which have no identified charged leptons, an imbalance in transverse momentum, and two or three jets where at least one jet is consistent with originating from the decay of a $b$ hadron. We find good agreement between data and predictions. We place 95% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section for several Higgs boson masses ranging from 110$\gevm$ to 150$\gevm$. For a mass of 115$\gevm$ the observed (expected) limit is 6.9 (5.6) times the standard model prediction.

Observation of the Ωb- baryon and measurement of the properties of the Ξb- and Ωb- baryons

We report the observation of the bottom, doubly-strange baryon Omega^-_b through the decay chain Omega^-_b -> J/psi Omega^-, where J/psi -> mu^+ mu^-, Omega^- -> Lambda K^-, and Lambda -> p pi^-, using 4.2 fb^{-1} of data from p\bar p collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV, and recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. A signal is observed whose probability of arising from a background fluctuation is 4.0 * 10^{-8}, or 5.5 Gaussian standard deviations. The Omega^-_b mass is measured to be 6054.4 +/- 6.8 (stat.) +/- 0.9 (syst.) MeV/c^2. The lifetime of the Omega^-_b baryon is measured to be 1.13^{+0.53}_{-0.40}(stat.) +/- 0.02(syst.)$ ps. In addition, for the \Xi^-_b baryon we measure a mass of 5790.9 +/- 2.6(stat.) +/- 0.8(syst.) MeV/c^2 and a lifetime of 1.56^{+0.27}_{-0.25}(stat.) +/-0.02(syst.) ps. Under the assumption that the \Xi_b^- and \Omega_b^- are produced with similar kinematic distributions to the \Lambda^0_b baryon, we find sigma(Xi_b^-) B(Xi_b^- -> J/psi Xi^-)}/ sigma(Lambda^0_b) B(Lambda^0_b -> J/psi Lambda)} = 0.167^{+0.037}_{-0.025}(stat.) +/-0.012(syst.) and sigma(Omega_b^-) B(Omega_b^- -> J/psi Omega^-)/ sigma(Lambda^0_b) B(Lambda^0_b -> J/psi Lambda)} = 0.045^{+0.017}_{-0.012}(stat.) +/- 0.004(syst.) for baryons produced with transverse momentum in the range of 6-20 GeV/c.

Study of the associated production of photons and b-quark jets in pp̅ collisions at √s=1.96 TeV

The cross section for photon production in association with at least one jet containing a $b$-quark hadron has been measured in proton antiproton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96$ TeV. The analysis uses a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 340 pb$^{-1}$ collected with the CDF II detector. Both the differential cross section as a function of photon transverse energy $E_T^{\gamma}$, $d \sigma$($p \overline{p} \to \gamma + \geq 1 b$-jet)/$d E_T^{\gamma}$ and the total cross section $\sigma$($p \overline{p} \to \gamma + \geq 1 b$-jet; $E_T^{\gamma}> 20$ GeV) are measured. Comparisons to a next-to-leading order prediction of the process are presented.

Search for the Decays B(s)0→e+μ- and B(s)0→e+e- in CDF Run II

We report results from a search for the lepton flavor violating decays $B^0_{(s)}\to e^+\mu^-$, and the flavor-changing neutral-current decays $B^0_{(s)} \to e^+ e^-$. The analysis uses data corresponding to ${\rm 2 fb^{-1}}$ of integrated luminosity of $p \bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96 {\rm TeV}$ collected with the upgraded Collider Detector (CDF II) at the Fermilab Tevatron. The observed number of $B^0_{(s)}$ candidates is consistent with background expectations. The resulting Bayesian upper limits on the branching ratios at 90% credibility level are $\mathcal{B}(B^0_s \to e^{+}\mu^{-}) e^{+}\mu^{-})e^{+}\mu^{-}) 47.8 {\rm TeV/c^2}$, and ${M_{LQ}}(B^0\to e^+ \mu^-) > 59.3 {\rm TeV/c^2}$, at 90% credibility level.

Constraining scalar leptoquarks from the K and B sectors

Upper bounds at the weak scale are obtained for all lambda(ij)lambda(im) type product couplings of the scalar leptoquark model which may affect K-0 - (K) over bar (0), B-d - (B) over bar (d), and B-s - (B) over bar (s) mixing, as well as leptonic and semileptonic K and B decays. Constraints are obtained for both real and imaginary parts of the couplings. We also discuss the role of leptoquarks in explaining the anomalously large CP-violating phase in B-s - (B) over bar (s) mixing.

Panel Cointegration of Chinese A and B Shares

This paper uses panel unit root and cointegration methods to test the stationarity of the premium on domestic investors’ A shares over foreign investors’ B shares and cointegration between the A and B share prices on the Chinese stock exchanges. We find that the A share price premium is nonstationary until 2001, when the A and B share markets were partially merged, and that the A and B share prices are cointegrated in the panel.Cointegration is more likely to be found for firms in the service sector and for firms that issued B shares recently.

High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning Nmr-Studies Of P-31 And B-11 In Fast Ion Conducting Agi-Ag2o-P2o5 And Agi-Ag2o-B2o3 Glasses

Silver iodide-based fast ion conducting glasses containing silver phosphate and silver borate have been studied. An attempt is made to identify the interaction between anions by studying the chemical shifts of31P and11B atoms in high resolution (HR) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra. Variation in the chemical shifts of31P or11B has been observed which is attributed to the change in the partial charge on the31P or11B. This is indicative of the change in the electronegativity of the anion matrix as a whole. This in turn is interpreted as due to significant interaction among anions. The significance of such interaction to the concept of structural unpinning of silver ions in fast ion conducting glasses is discussed.

Synthetic studies toward the PPAP natural products, prolifenones A and B and hyperforin: an Effenberger cyclization approach

A synthetic approach toward the geranylated PPAP natural products, prolifenones A and B. employing Effenberger cyclization as the key step, is delineated. The efficacy of this approach is further expanded through access to an advanced precursor of hyperforin. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthetic approaches to homogynolides A and B

A four step, efficient and general methodology for the conversion of a cyclic ketone into the corresponding alpha-spiro-beta-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone, the key structural feature present in tricyclic sesquiterpenes bakkanes, has been developed employing a regiospecific 5-exo dig radical cyclisation reaction as the key step. The methodology has been extended to the total synthesis of bakkanes including homogynolide-B and chiral homogynolide-A.

Total synthesis of the indole alkaloids henrycinol A and B

The total synthesis of new indole alkaloids henrycinol A and B were accomplished starting from L-tryptophan methyl ester. The key step is a stereochemically flexible Pictet-Spengler reaction governed by the presence or absence of an N-allyl group in the tryptophan precursor. The natural products henrycinol A and B were synthesized in good overall yield in eight and nine steps, respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An Expeditious Asymmetric Synthesis of the Polyketide Unit Present in HIV-Inhibitory Depsipeptides Aetheramide A and B

The enantioselective synthesis of the polyketide unit present in depsipeptides aetheramide A and B, which possess potent HIV-inhibitory activity, is accomplished from a chiral furyl carbinol.

Results of abundance surveys of juvenile Atlantic and gulf Menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus and B. patronus

The estuarine populations of juvenile Atlantic and gulf menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus and B. patronus) were sampled during two-boat, surface-trawl, abundance surveys extensively conducted in the 1970s. Juvenile Atlantic menhaden were sampled in 39 estuarine streams along the U.S. Atlantic coast from northern Florida into Massachusetts. Juvenile gulf menhaden were sampled in 29 estuarine streams along the Gulf of Mexico from southeast Texas into western Florida. A stratified, two-stage, cluster sampling design was used. Annual estimates of relative juvenile abundance for each species of menhaden were obtained from catch-effort data from the surveys. There were no significant correlations, for either species, between the relative juvenile abundance estimates and fishery-dependent estimates of year-class strength. From 1972 to 1975, the relative abundance of juvenile Atlantic menhaden in north Atlantic estuaries decreased to near zero. (PDF file contains 22 pages.)

Flavor SU(3) predictions for charmed baryon and B-meson decays

The predictions of the SU(3) flavor symmetry of the strong interactions for the weak decay of charmed baryons and B-mesons are detailed. It is hoped that comparison between these predictions and experiment will shed some light on the underlying dynamics involved in these weak decays. Although only a few decay modes of the charmed baryons and B-mesons have been studied experimentally it is hoped that the next generation of B-factories and even Z-decays at LEP will provide enough events to test these predictions.

MicroRNA-132 is a physiological regulator of hematopoietic stem cell function and B-cell development

MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Several microRNAs have been implicated in altering hematopoietic cell fate decisions. Importantly, deregulation of many microRNAs can lead to deleterious consequences in the hematopoietic system, including the onset of cancer, autoimmunity, or a failure to respond effectively to infection. As such, microRNAs fine-tune the balance between normal hematopoietic output and pathologic consequences. In this work, we explore the role of two microRNAs, miR-132 and miR-125b, in regulating hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function and B cell development. In particular, we uncover the role of miR-132 in maintaining the appropriate balance between self-renewal, differentiation, and survival in aging HSCs by buffering the expression of a critical transcription factor, FOXO3. By maintain this balance, miR-132 may play a critical role in preventing aging-associated hematopoietic conditions such as autoimmune disease and cancer. We also find that miR-132 plays a critical role in B cell development by targeting a key transcription factor, Sox4, that is responsible for the differentiation of pro-B cells into pre-B cells. We find that miR-132 regulates B cell apoptosis, and by delivering miR-132 to mice that are predisposed to developing B cell cancers, we can inhibit the formation of these cancers and improve the survival of these mice. In addition to miR-132, we uncovered the role of another critical microRNA, miR-125b, that potentiates hematopoietic stem cell function. We found that enforced expression of miR-125b causes an aggressive myeloid leukemia by downregulation of its target Lin28a. Importantly, miR-125b also plays a critical role in inhibiting the formation of pro-B cells. Thus, we have discovered two microRNAs with important roles in regulating normal hematopoiesis, and whose dregulation can lead to deleterious consequences such as cancer in the aging hematopoietic system. Both miR-132 and miR-125b may therefore be targeted for therapeutics to inhibit age-related immune diseases associated with the loss of HSC function and cancer progression.