Measurement of the Semileptonic Branching Ratio of Bs(0) to an Orbitally Excited D-s** State: Br(Bs(0) -> Ds1(-)(2536)mu(+)nu X)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Measurement of the Lifetime of the B-c(+/-) Meson in the Semileptonic Decay Channel

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

Measurement of gamma + b + X and gamma + c + X Production Cross Sections in pp > Collisions at s=1.96 TeV

First measurements of the differential cross sections d(3)sigma/(dp(T)(gamma)dy(gamma)dy(jet)) for the inclusive production of a photon in association with a heavy quark (b, c) jet are presented, covering photon transverse momenta 30 < p(T)(gamma)< 150 GeV, photon rapidities |y(gamma)|< 1.0, jet rapidities |y(jet)|< 0.8, and jet transverse momenta p(T)(jet)> 15 GeV. The results are based on an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1) in pp collisions at s=1.96 TeV recorded with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The results are compared with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD predictions.

Measurement of the B-0 Production Cross Section in pp Collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Observation of a New Xi(b) Baryon

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Study of direct CP violation in B±→J/ ψK±(π±) decays

We present a search for direct CP violation in B±→J/ ψK±(π±) decays. The event sample is selected from 2.8fb-1 of pp̄ collisions recorded by D0 experiment in run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The charge asymmetry ACP(B+→J/ψK+)=+0.0075±0. 0061(stat)±0.0030(syst) is obtained using a sample of approximately 40000 B±→J/ψK± 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 ACP(B+→J/ψπ+)=-0. 09±0.08(stat)±0.03(syst). © 2008 The American Physical Society.

Exploring the properties of the pure spinor b ghost

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

Narrow-band search of continuous gravitational-wave signals from Crab and Vela pulsars in Virgo VSR4 data

In this paper we present the results of a coherent narrow-band search for continuous gravitational-wave signals from the Crab and Vela pulsars conducted on Virgo VSR4 data. In order to take into account a possible small mismatch between the gravitational-wave frequency and two times the star rotation frequency, inferred from measurement of the electromagnetic pulse rate, a range of 0.02 Hz around two times the star rotational frequency has been searched for both the pulsars. No evidence for a signal has been found and 95% confidence level upper limits have been computed assuming both that polarization parameters are completely unknown and that they are known with some uncertainty, as derived from x-ray observations of the pulsar wind torii. For Vela the upper limits are comparable to the spin-down limit, computed assuming that all the observed spin-down is due to the emission of gravitational waves. For Crab the upper limits are about a factor of 2 below the spin-down limit, and represent a significant improvement with respect to past analysis. This is the first time the spin-down limit is significantly overcome in a narrow-band search.

Introduction [to Biology of the Acanthocephala]

Introduction to Biology of the Acanthocephala, edited by D.W.T. Crompton and Brent B. Nickol; Cambridge University Press, 1985.

Book review of Paleolimnology of EuropeanMaar Lakes by J. F.W. Negendank & B. Zolitschka (eds).

This book represents a collection of papers presented at a symposium in May, 1991 on the formation and paleolimnology of European maar lakes. Paleolimnological discussions embrace maar lake deposits of late Quaternary to early Tertiary age in Germany, France and Italy. The goal of the symposium and its outgrowth, this book, is to develop a funding initiative to study, core and analyze the deposits of these remarkable depositional systems.

Influence of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on ouabain activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in the rat hippocampus

It has been shown that ouabain (OUA) can activate the Na,K-ATPase complex and mediate intracellular signaling in the central nervous system (CNS). Inflammatory stimulus increases glutamatergic transmission, especially at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are usually coupled to the activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation modulates the expression of genes involved in development, plasticity, and inflammation. The present work investigated the effects of OUA on NF-kappa B binding activity in rat hippocampus and the influence of this OUA-Na,K-ATPase signaling cascade in NMDA-mediated NF-kappa B activation. The findings presented here are the first report indicating that intrahippocampal administration of OUA, in a concentration that did not alter Na,K-ATPase or NOS activity, induced an activation of NF-kappa B, leading to increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), inducible NOS (iNos), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (Tnf-alpha), and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) mRNA levels. This response was not linked to any significant signs of neurodegeneration as showed via Fluoro-Jade B and Nissl stain. Intrahippocampal administration of NMDA induced NF alpha B activation and increased NOS and alpha 2/3-Na,K-ATPase activities. NMDA treatment further increased OUA-induced NF-kappa B activation, which was partially blocked by MK-801, an antagonist of NMDA receptor. These results suggest that OUA-induced NF-kappa B activation is at least in part dependent on Na,K-ATPase modulatory action of NMDA receptor in hippocampus. The interaction of these signaling pathways could be associated with biological mechanisms that may underlie the basal homeostatic state linked to the inflammatory signaling cascade in the brain. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rituximab, bendamustine, and lenalidomide in patients with aggressive B cell lymphoma not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy or anthracycline-based therapy: phase I results of the SAKK 38/08 trial

This phase I trial was designed to develop a new effective and well-tolerated regimen for patients with aggressive B cell lymphoma not eligible for front-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy or aggressive second-line treatment strategies. The combination of rituximab (375 mg/m(2) on day 1), bendamustine (70 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 2), and lenalidomide was tested with a dose escalation of lenalidomide at three dose levels (10, 15, or 20 mg/day) using a 3 + 3 design. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks. The recommended dose was defined as one level below the dose level identifying ≥2/6 patients with a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) during the first cycle. Thirteen patients were eligible for analysis. Median age was 77 years. WHO performance status was 0 or 1 in 12 patients. The Charlson Comorbidity Index showed relevant comorbidities in all patients. Two DLTs occurred at the second dose level (15 mg/day) within the first cycle: one patient had prolonged grade 3 neutropenia, and one patient experienced grade 4 cardiac adverse event (myocardial infarction). Additional grade 3 and 4 toxicities were as follows: neutropenia (31 %), thrombocytopenia (23 %), cardiac toxicity (31 %), fatigue (15 %), and rash (15 %). The dose of lenalidomide of 10 mg/day was recommended for a subsequent phase II in combination with rituximab 375 mg/m(2) on day 1 and bendamustine 70 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 2.

Effect of oral D-tagatose on liver volume and hepatic glycogen accumulation in healthy male volunteers

Standard toxicity tests with high levels of D-tagatose showed a reversible enlargement of the liver in Sprague-Dawley rats without increase of liver enzymes. The present study tests the hypotheses that partial substitution of dietary sucrose by D-tagatose for 28 days increases the volume of human liver and the concentration of liver glycogen. Twelve healthy, male volunteers were studied in a double-blind crossover study with ingestion of D-tagatose (3x15 g daily) and placebo (sucrose, 3x15 g daily) for periods of 28 days each. Liver volume and glycogen concentration have been determined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy, which were accompanied by routine medical examinations. MR examinations before and after the treatments revealed no effects (P>0.05) of treatment, period, or subject for changes in liver volume or glycogen concentration. A steady increase of liver volumes, independent of the D-tagatose or placebo intake, has been observed over the study in parallel with a slight increase in body weight. The treatment with D-tagatose was not associated with clinically relevant changes of the examined clinico-chemical and hematological parameters, including liver enzymes and uric acid.

STUDIES ON THE CLASS I GLYCOPROTEINS OF THE MURINE MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (TRANSPLANTATION ANTIGEN, LYMPHOCYTE, CELL SURFACE MOLECULE)

A series of studies were undertaken to analyze and compare various aspects of murine class I glycoproteins. An initial area of investigation characterized the Qa-1 alloantigens using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the products of the Qa-1('b), Qa-1('c) and Qa-1('d) alleles indicated that these were distinct molecules as determined by their lack of comigration upon comparative two-dimensional gel analysis. The importance of asparagine-linked glycosylation in the cell surface expression of class I molecules was also examined. These studies employed tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation. Tunicamycin treatment of activated T lymphocytes diminished the surface expression of Qa-1 to undetectable levels; the levels of other class I molecules exhibited little or no decrease. These results indicated that N-linked glycosylation has a differential importance in the cell surface expression of various class I molecules. The molecular weight diversity of class I molecules was also investigated. Molecular weight determination of both the fully glycosylated and unglycosylated forms of H-2 and Qa/Tla region encoded molecules established that there is a significant variation in the sizes of these forms of various class I molecules. The most significant difference ((TURN)9,000 daltons) exists between the unglycosylated forms of H-2K('b) and Qa-2, suggesting that the structural organization of these two molecules may be very different. A comparative two-dimensional gel analysis of various class I glycoproteins isolated from resting and activated T and B lymphocytes indicated that class I molecules expressed on activated T cells exhibited an isoelectrophoretic pattern that was distinct from the isoelectrophoretic pattern of class I molecules expessed on the other cell populations. This difference was attributed to a lower sialic acid content of the molecules expressed on activated T cells. Analysis of cell homogenates determined that activated T cells contained a higher level of endogenous neuraminidase activity than was detected in the other populations, suggesting that this may be the basis of the lower sialic acid content. The relationship of the Qa-4 and Qa-2 alloantigens was also examined. It was established that upon mitogen activation, the expression of Qa-4 was greatly decreased, whereas Qa-2 expression was not decreased. However, an anti-Qa-2 monoclonal antibody blocked the binding of an anti-Qa-4 monoclonal antibody to resting cells. These studies established that Qa-4 is a determinant restricted to resting cells, which is closely associated on the surface with the Qa-2 molecule. ^