457 research outputs found
Immunohistochemical detection of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in fetal and adult bovine epididymis: Release by the apocrine secretion mode?
Originally defined as a lymphokine inhibiting the random migration of macrophages, the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important mediator of the host response to infection. Beyond its function as a classical cytokine, MIF is currently portrayed as a multifunctional protein with growth-regulating properties present in organ systems beyond immune cells. In previous studies, we detected substantial amounts of MIF in the rat epididymis and epididymal spermatozoa, where it appears to play a role during post-testicular sperm maturation and the acquisition of fertilization ability. To explore its presence in other species not yet examined in this respect, we extended the range of studies to the bull. Using a polyclonal antibody raised against MIF purified from bovine eye lenses, we detected MIF in the epithelium of the adult bovine epididymis with the basal cells representing a prominently stained cell type. A distinct accumulation of MIF at the apical cell pole of the epithelial cells and in membranous vesicles localized in the lumen of the epididynnal duct was obvious. In the fetal bovine epididymis, we also detected MIF in the epithelium, whereas MIF accumulation was evident at the apical cell surface and in apical protrusions. By immuno-electron microscopy of the adult bovine epididymis, we localized MIF in apical protrusions of the epithelial cells and in luminal membrane-bound vesicles that were found in close proximity to sperm cells. Although the precise origin of the MIF-containing vesicles remains to be delineated, our morphological observations support the hypothesis that they become detached from the apical surface of the epididymal epithelial cells. Additionally, an association of MIF with the outer dense fibers of luminal spermatozoa was demonstrated. Data obtained in this study suggest MIF release by an apocrine secretion mode in the bovine epididymis. Furthermore, MIF localized in the basal cells of the epithelium and in the connective tissue could be responsible for regulating the migration of macrophages in order to avoid contact of immune cells with spermatozoa that carry a wide range of potent antigens. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
Derivative based global sensitivity measures
The method of derivative based global sensitivity measures (DGSM) has
recently become popular among practitioners. It has a strong link with the
Morris screening method and Sobol' sensitivity indices and has several
advantages over them. DGSM are very easy to implement and evaluate numerically.
The computational time required for numerical evaluation of DGSM is generally
much lower than that for estimation of Sobol' sensitivity indices. This paper
presents a survey of recent advances in DGSM concerning lower and upper bounds
on the values of Sobol' total sensitivity indices . Using these
bounds it is possible in most cases to get a good practical estimation of the
values of . Several examples are used to illustrate an
application of DGSM
Heavy Flavours at Colliders
I review some topics in the production and decays of heavy flavours that are
relevant for collider physics. In particular, I discuss the present status and
some recent progress related to masses, parton densities and fragmentation
functions of heavy quarks, as well as threshold resummation, polarized onium
production at high transverse momentum, and a factorization theorem for decays.Comment: 12 pages. Plenary talk given at UK Phenomenology Workshop on Collider
Physics, Durham, England, 19-24 Sep 1999 Comments and references adde
Measurement of the p\bar{p}\sqrt{s}$ = 1.8 TeV
We update the measurement of the top production cross section using the CDF
detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. This measurement uses decays to
the final states +jets and +jets. We search for quarks from
decays via secondary-vertex identification or the identification of
semileptonic decays of the and cascade quarks. The background to the
production is determined primarily through a Monte Carlo simulation.
However, we calibrate the simulation and evaluate its uncertainty using several
independent data samples. For a top mass of 175 , we measure
pb and pb using
the secondary vertex and the lepton tagging algorithms, respectively. Finally,
we combine these results with those from other decay channels and
obtain pb.Comment: The manuscript consists of 130 pages, 35 figures and 42 tables in
RevTex. The manuscript is submitted to Physical Review D. Fixed typo in
author lis
Search for Narrow Diphoton Resonances and for gamma-gamma+W/Z Signatures in p\bar p Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV
We present results of searches for diphoton resonances produced both
inclusively and also in association with a vector boson (W or Z) using 100
pb^{-1} of p\bar p collisions using the CDF detector. We set upper limits on
the product of cross section times branching ratio for both p\bar
p\to\gamma\gamma + X and p\bar p\to\gamma\gamma + W/Z. Comparing the inclusive
production to the expectations from heavy sgoldstinos we derive limits on the
supersymmetry-breaking scale sqrt{F} in the TeV range, depending on the
sgoldstino mass and the choice of other parameters. Also, using a NLO
prediction for the associated production of a Higgs boson with a W or Z boson,
we set an upper limit on the branching ratio for H\to\gamma\gamma. Finally, we
set a lower limit on the mass of a `bosophilic' Higgs boson (e.g. one which
couples only to \gamma, W, and Z$ bosons with standard model couplings) of 82
GeV/c^2 at 95% confidence level.Comment: 30 pages, 11 figure
Search for the Supersymmetric Partner of the Top-Quark in Collisions at
We report on a search for the supersymmetric partner of the top quark (stop)
produced in events using of
collisions at recorded with the Collider Detector at
Fermilab. In the case of a light stop squark, the decay of the top quark into
stop plus the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) could have a significant
branching ratio. The observed events are consistent with Standard Model production and decay. Hence, we set limits on the branching ratio of
the top quark decaying into stop plus LSP, excluding branching ratios above 45%
for a LSP mass up to 40 {\rm GeV/c}.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Measurement of the Helicity of W Bosons in Top Quark Decays
We use the transverse momentum spectrum of leptons in the decay chain t-->bW
with W-->l nu to measure the helicity of the W bosons in the top quark rest
frame. Our measurement uses a ttbar sample isolated in 106 +/- 4 inverse
picobarns of data collected in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV with the CDF
detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Assuming a standard V--A weak decay, we find
that the fraction of W's with zero helicity in the top rest frame is F_0 = 0.91
+/- 0.37 (stat) +/- 0.13 (syst), consistent with the standard model prediction
of F_0=0.70 for a top mass of 175 GeV/c**2.Comment: Submitted to PRL. 8 pages, 2 figure
Measurement of J/Psi and Psi(2S) Polarization in ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV
We have measured the polarization of J/Psi and Psi(2S) mesons produced in
p\bar{p} collisions at \sqrt{s} = 1.8 TeV, using data collected at CDF during
1992-95.
The polarization of promptly produced J/Psi [Psi(2S)] mesons is isolated from
those produced in B-hadron decay, and measured over the kinematic range 4[5.5]
< P_T < 20 GeV/c and |y| < 0.6. For P_T \gessim 12 GeV/c we do not observe
significant polarization in the prompt component.Comment: Revised version, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter
Limits on Gravitino Production and New Processes with Large Missing Transverse Energy in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV
Events collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) with an energetic
jet plus large missing transverse energy can be used to search for physics
beyond the Standard Model. We see no deviations from the expected background
and set upper limits on the production of new processes. We consider in
addition the production of light gravitinos within the framework of the Gauge
Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking models and set a limit at 95% confidence level
on the breaking scale sqrt(F) >= 217 GeV, which excludes gravitino masses
smaller than 1.1x10^-5 eV/c^2.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letter
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