Measurement of the Lambda b0 lifetime in Lambda b0-->J/psi Lambda 0 in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV

We report a measurement of the Lambda b0 lifetime in the exclusive decay Lambda b0-->J/psi Lambda 0 in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV using an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1 of data collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Using fully reconstructed decays, we measure tau(Lambda b0)=1.593(-0.078)(+0.083)(stat)+/-0.033(syst) ps. This is the single most precise measurement of tau(Lambda b0) and is 3.2sigma higher than the current world average.

Measurement of sigma Lambda b0/sigma B0 x B(Lambda b0-->Lambda c+pi-)/B(B0-->D+pi-) in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV

We present the first observation of the baryon decay Lambda b0-->Lambda c+pi- followed by Lambda c+-->pK-pi+ in 106 pb-1 pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV in the CDF experiment. In order to reduce systematic error, the measured rate for Lambda b0 decay is normalized to the kinematically similar meson decay B0-->D+pi- followed by D+-->pi+K-pi+. We report the ratio of production cross sections (sigma) times the ratio of branching fractions (B) for the momentum region integrated above pT>6 GeV/c and pseudorapidity range |eta|<1.3: sigma(pp-->Lambda b0X)/sigma(pp-->B0X)xB(Lambda b0-->Lambda c+pi-)/B(B0-->D+pi-)=0.82+/-0.08(stat)+/-0.11(syst)+/-0.22[B(Lambda c+-->pK-pi+)].

Observation of exclusive electron-positron production in hadron-hadron collisions

We present the first observation of exclusive e(+)e(-) production in hadron-hadron collisions, using pp[over] collision data at (square root) s = 1.96 TeV taken by the run II Collider Detector at Fermilab, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 532 pb(-1). We require the absence of any particle signatures in the detector except for an electron and a positron candidate, each with transverse energy E(T) > 5 GeV and pseudorapidity |eta| < 2. With these criteria, 16 events are observed compared to a background expectation of 1.9+/-0.3 events. These events are consistent in cross section and properties with the QED process pp[over] --> p + e(+)e(-) + p[over] through two-photon exchange. The measured cross section is 1.6(-0.3)(+0.5)(stat) +/- 0.3(syst) pb. This agrees with the theoretical prediction of 1.71+/-0.01 pb.

Observations on juvenile myoclonic epilepsy amongst ethnic Bengalees in West Bengal—An Eastern Indian State

BACKGROUND

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is not too uncommonly encountered in Indian neurological practice. A number of reports from different parts of India have documented the clinical phenomenology and EEG characteristics of this genetically determined epileptic syndrome. However, no study has yet been reported from the Eastern part of India and none done so far in patients in a specific ethnic group. Furthermore therapy response and follow up data are not available in detail in the Indian studies.

OBJECTIVE

To study disease expression, EEG characteristics and therapy response of JME patients in ethnic Bengalees in West Bengal, an Eastern Indian State, in a clinic based study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

200 patients with JME attending the Neurology Department of the Institute have been followed up for 5 years and different parameters of disease expression as outlined above have been studied.

RESULTS

Overall clinical disease expression has been found to be similar in this clinic based study in ethnic Bengalees as compared to other reports from India and elsewhere. About 16% of patients showed a relative resistance to Valproate therapy. Hundred percent of patients in whom therapy withdrawal was attempted, relapsed within<1-2 years. Amongst female patients (132), 16 developed features of polycystic ovarian syndrome while on Valproate therapy. In over half of them, the symptoms regressed after successful switch over from Valproate to Clobazam. 12/132 female patients became pregnant during follow up and while on Valproate; teratogenic effect was evident in only one such patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Phenotypic variations in disease expression including therapy response have been noted within a single ethnic group of patients attending the clinic and might account for genetic heterogeneity noted in molecular genetic studies. JME cannot really be called a very 'benign' epileptic syndrome; recurrence after therapy withdrawal almost invariably occurs.

Adult hepatoblastoma in a female Down's

Hepatoblastoma is most common primary malignant hepatic neoplasm in children. Median age at diagnosis is one year and mostly present by three years. This is a rare case report of a seventeen years female with Down's Syndrome presented with hepatomegaly diagnosed as hepatoblastoma.

Search for V+A current in top-quark decays in pp collisions at sqrts=1.96 TeV

We report an upper limit on the fraction of V+A current, fV+A, in top-quark decays, using approximately 700 pb-1 of pp[over ] collisions at sqrts=1.96 TeV acquired by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. For the decay t-->Wb-->lnub (where l=e or micro), the invariant mass of the charged lepton and the bottom quark jet is sensitive to the polarization of the W boson. We determine fV+A=-0.06+/-0.25 given a top-quark mass of 175 GeV/c2. We set an upper limit on fV+A of 0.29 at the 95% confidence level, an improvement by a factor of 2 on the previous best direct limit.

Measurement of the ratios of branching fractions B(B0s --> Ds- pi+ pi+ pi-)/B(B0-->D- pi+ pi+ pi-) and B(B0s --> Ds- pi+)/B(B0-->D- pi+)

Using 355 pb;{-1} of data collected by the CDF II detector in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron, we study the fully reconstructed hadronic decays B_{(s)};{0}-->D_{(s)};{-}pi;{+} and B_{(s)};{0}-->D_{(s)};{-}pi;{+}pi;{+}pi;{-}. We present the first measurement of the ratio of branching fractions B(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s};{-}pi;{+}pi;{+}pi;{-})/B(B;{0}-->D;{-}pi;{+}pi;{+}pi;{-})=1.05+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.22(syst). We also update our measurement of B(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s};{-}pi;{+})/B(B;{0}-->D;{-}pi;{+}) to 1.13+/-0.08(stat)+/-0.23(syst), improving the statistical uncertainty by more than a factor of 2. We find B(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s};{-}pi;{+})=[3.8+/-0.3(stat)+/-1.3(syst)]x10;{-3} and B(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s};{-}pi;{+}pi;{+}pi;{-})=[8.4+/-0.8(stat)+/-3.2(syst)]x10;{-3}.

Quantifying and visualizing uncertainty in EEG data of neonatal seizures

This paper presents an approach to quantifying and visualizing uncertainty in EEG data of neonatal seizures. This approach exploits the inherent ability of trained quantum neural networks (QNNs) to learn arbitrary membership profiles from sample data. The ability of QNNs to quantify uncertainty in data is combined with the ability of ordered self-organizing maps (SOMs) to recognize structure in data and allow its visualization in two dimensions. The proposed approach is evaluated using EEG data of neonates monitored for seizures.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression Predicts Outcome after Primary Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer

AIMS

To establish whether the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) predicts prognosis in patients treated with primary radiotherapy for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of VEGF and VEGF-D expression in tumour tissue in pre-treatment biopsies from 27 patients who had been treated with primary radiotherapy for stage II-IV squamous head and neck carcinomas. Serial sections (4 microm) were cut from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens and stained with monoclonal antibodies using standard immunoperoxidase methods. Two independent investigators assessed the staining intensity in a randomised, blind manner. Both negative and positive controls (placenta and/or tonsil) were included in the staining procedure. All patients were followed for a minimum of 5 years, or until death. Local control and overall survival were taken as end points for the comparative analysis between patients whose tumours expressed low levels and those that expressed high levels of the two growth factors. Comparisons were made using the Log-rank test with Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival analysis.

RESULTS

In patients with tumours expressing low levels of VEGF, 5-year local control was seen in 75% compared with 18% for those with high levels; overall survival was 75 and 23%, respectively. For those with low levels of VEGF-D, 5-year local control was 64% compared with 17% for those with high levels; overall survival was 58 and 20%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the expression of endothelial growth factors in squamous head and neck cancers may predict outcome after radiotherapy.

Observation of Bs(0)-Bs(0) oscillations

We report the observation of Bs(0)-Bs(0) oscillations from a time-dependent measurement of the Bs(0)-Bs(0) oscillation frequency Deltams. Using a data sample of 1 fb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron, we find signals of 5600 fully reconstructed hadronic Bs decays, 3100 partially reconstructed hadronic Bs decays, and 61,500 partially reconstructed semileptonic Bs decays. We measure the probability as a function of proper decay time that the Bs decays with the same, or opposite, flavor as the flavor at production, and we find a signal for Bs(0)-Bs(0) oscillations. The probability that random fluctuations could produce a comparable signal is 8 x 10(-8), which exceeds 5sigma significance. We measure Deltams=17.77 +/- 0.10(stat) +/- 0.07(syst) ps(-1) and extract /V(td)/V(ts)/=0.2060+/-0.0007(Deltams)(-0.0060)(+0.008)(Deltamd+theor).

Observation of B(s)0-->K+ K- and measurements of branching fractions of charmless two-body decays of B0 and B(s)0 mesons in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV

We search for decays of the type B(s)0-->h+ h'- (where h,h' = K or pi) in 180 pb(-1) of pp collisions collected at the Tevatron by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. We report the first observation of the new mode B(s)0-->K+ K- with a yield of 236+/-32 events, corresponding to (fs/fd) x B(B(s)0-->K+ K-)/B(B0-->K+ pi-) = 0.46+/-0.08stat+/-0.07syst, where fs/fd is the ratio of production fractions of B(s)0 and B0. We find results in agreement with world averages for the B0 modes, and set the following new limits at 90% C.L.: B(B(s)0-->K- pi+) < 5.6 x 10(-6) and B(B(s)0-->pi+ pi-) < 1.7 x 10(-6).

Search for excited and exotic muons in the mugamma decay channel in p-p collisions at sqrt s =1.96 TeV

We search for excited and exotic muon states mu* using an integrated luminosity of 371 pb(-1) of p[over]p collision data at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. We search for associated production of mumu* followed by the decay mu*-->mugamma. We compare the data to model predictions as a function of the mass of the excited muon M(mu*), the compositeness energy scale Lambda, and the gauge coupling factor f. No signal above the standard model expectation is observed. We exclude 107<M(mu*)<853 GeV/c(2) for Lambda=M(mu*) in the contact interaction model, and 100<M(mu*)<410 GeV/c(2) for f/Lambda=10(-2) GeV-1 in the gauge-mediated model, both at the 95% confidence level.

Use of RAPD fingerprinting for delineating populations of hilsa shad Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822)

RAPD was used to delineate the hilsa populations sampled from the Ganga, Yamuna, Hooghly, and Narmada Rivers at six different locations. Six degenerate primers were used to generate the fragment patterns from the samples collected. All primers were highly polymorphic and generated high numbers of amplification products. Nei's genetic distances were calculated between locations. The overall average genetic distance among all the six locations was 0.295. The Fst value within the Ganga was 0.469 and within the Hooghly it was 0.546. The overall Fst value for the six populations analyzed was 0.590. The UPGMA dendrogram clustered the hilsa into two distinct clusters: Ganga and Yamuna populations and the Hooghly and Narmada populations.

Search for large extra dimensions in the production of jets and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for new physics in the jets plus missing transverse energy data sample collected from 368 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We compare the number of events observed in the data with a data-based estimate of the standard model backgrounds contributing to this signature. We observe no significant excess of events, and we interpret this null result in terms of lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale for a large extra dimensions scenario.

Cases referred for tests of thyroid function disorders at a tertiary care teaching hospital of Bihar: some experience

In the absence of valid hospital protocol for clinical departments of M.G.M. Medical College and L.S.K.Hospital, Kishanganj, as many as, 76.78% of patients was referred to biochemistry laboratory, in which disease was not present. Of 196 diseased (23.22% of total), male and female was respectively 44 and 152. There was no significant sex difference in positivity among patients referred for investigation. Hypothyroid was major diagnosis, yet hyperthyroid was noticeable.

Measurement of the tt production cross section in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the top quark pair production cross section in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV using 318 pb(-1) of data collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We select tt[over ] decays into the final states enu+jets and mu nu+ jets, in which at least one b quark from the t-quark decays is identified using a secondary vertex-finding algorithm. Assuming a top quark mass of 178 GeV/c2, we measure a cross section of 8.7 +/- 0.9(stat)(-0.9)+1.1(syst) pb. We also report the first observation of tt[over ] with significance greater than 5sigma in the subsample in which both b quarks are identified, corresponding to a cross section of 10.1(-1.4)+1.6(stat)(-1.3)+2.0(syst) pb.

Search for a neutral Higgs boson decaying to a W boson pair in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for standard model Higgs boson production with decay to WW*, identified through the leptonic final states e+ e- nu nu,+/-mu -/+nu nu and mu+ mu- nu nu. This search uses 360 pb -1 of data collected from pp collisions at square root of s =1.96 TeV by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF II). We observe no signal excess and set 95% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section times branching ratio for the Higgs boson to WW* or any new scalar particle with similar decay products. These upper limits range from 5.5 to 3.2 pb for Higgs boson masses between 120 and 200 GeV/c2.

Measurement of the Bs0-Bs0 oscillation frequency

We present the first precise measurement of the Bs0-Bs0 oscillation frequency Deltams. We use 1 fb-1 of data from pp collisions at sqrts=1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The sample contains signals of 3600 fully reconstructed hadronic Bs decays and 37,000 partially reconstructed semileptonic Bs decays. We measure the probability as a function of proper decay time that the Bs decays with the same, or opposite, flavor as the flavor at production, and we find a signal consistent with Bs0-Bs0 oscillations. The probability that random fluctuations could produce a comparable signal is 0.2%. Under the hypothesis that the signal is due to Bs0-Bs0 oscillations, we measure Deltams=17.31(-0.18)+0.33(stat)+/-0.07(syst) ps-1 and determine |Vtd/Vts|=0.208(-0.002)+0.001(expt)-0.006(+0.008)(theor).

Search for new physics in lepton+photon+X events with 305 pb(-1) of pp collisions at [square root of s] = 1.96 TeV

We present results of a search for anomalous production of events containing a charged lepton (l, either e or mu) and a photon (gamma), both with high transverse momentum, accompanied by additional signatures X, including missing transverse energy (ET) and additional leptons and photons. We use the same selection criteria as in a previous CDF search but with a substantially larger data set, 305 pb(-1), a pp collision energy of 1.96 TeV, and the CDF II detector. We find 42 lgammaET events versus an expectation of 37.3+/-5.4 events. We observe 31 llgamma+X events versus an expectation of 23.0+/-2.7 events. We find no events similar to the run I eegammagammaET event.

Measurement of the Bc+ meson lifetime using the decay mode Bc+ --> J/Psie+nue

We present a measurement of the Bc+ meson lifetime in the decay mode Bc+ --> J/Psie+nue using the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. From a sample of about of 360 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV, we reconstruct J/Psie+ pairs with invariant mass in the kinematically allowed range 4< M(J/Psie) < 6 GeV/c2. A fit to the decay-length distribution of 238 signal events yields a measured Bc+ meson lifetime of 0.463(-0.065)(+0.073)(stat) +/- 0.036(syst) ps.

Prolactin deficiency is independently associated with reduced insulin-like growth factor I status in severely growth hormone-deficient adults

BACKGROUND

In adult life, considerable overlap in IGF-I status exists between normal and severely GH-deficient (GHD) subjects defined by conventional dynamic testing of GH secretion. IGF-I is not therefore widely viewed as a reliable diagnostic marker for GHD. Recognized factors influencing serum IGF-I level in GHD include age, gender, timing of onset of GHD, and exogenous estrogen therapy, but these do not fully explain GH/IGF-I discordance in severe GHD. The primary structures of prolactin and GH are closely related. Effects of hypoprolactinemia are not well described in humans, but laboratory studies suggest a role for prolactin in hepatic IGF-I release, possibly through a signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) pathway. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a potential contribution of prolactin to IGF-I status in severely GHD adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using multiple regression analysis techniques, contributions of the following variables to age-adjusted IGF-I sd scores were evaluated in 162 (85 female) GHD adults: gender, timing of onset of GHD, presence or absence of prolactin deficiency, body mass index, number of additional pituitary deficits, and underlying pathology.

RESULTS

Childhood onset GHD (P < 0.0001) and presence of prolactin deficiency (P < 0.0001) were independently associated with reduced IGF-I status. The contributions of these parameters to IGF-I sd scores were -2.55 and -2.67, respectively. Gender (P = 0.06), body mass index (P = 0.99), number of additional pituitary deficits (P = 0.64), and underlying pathology (P = 0.06) did not significantly influence IGF-I status.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolactin deficiency is independently associated with reduced IGF-I status in hypopituitary adults. It is possible that prolactin deficiency is a surrogate for the degree of severity of GHD, implying a GHD paradigm undetected by conventional GH provocative tests; alternatively, it remains plausible that circulating prolactin contributes to IGF-I release in the absence of GH, possibly through a signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) pathway.

Arsenic burden of cooked rice: Traditional and modern methods

Arsenic contamination of rice by irrigation with contaminated groundwater and secondarily increased soil arsenic compounds the arsenic burden of populations dependent on subsistence rice-diets. The arsenic concentration of cooked rice is known to increase with the arsenic concentration of the cooking water but the effects of cooking methods have not been defined. We tested the three major rice cooking procedures followed globally. Using low-arsenic water (As < 3 microg/L), the traditional method of the Indian subcontinent (wash until clear; cook with rice: water::1:6; discard excess water) removed up to 57% of the arsenic from rice containing arsenic 203-540 microg/kg. Approximately half of the arsenic was lost in the wash water, half in the discard water. A simple inexpensive rice cooker based on this method has been designed and used for this purpose. Despite the use of low-arsenic water, the contemporary method of cooking unwashed rice at rice:water::1:1.5-2.0 until no discard water remains did not modify the arsenic content. Preliminary washing until clear did remove 28% of the rice arsenic. The results were not influenced by water source (tubewell, dug well, pond or rain); cooking vessel (aluminium, steel, glass or earthenware); or the absolute weight of rice or volume of water. The use of low-As water in the traditional preparation of arsenic contaminated rice can reduce the ingested burden of arsenic.