Search for CP violation in D+→ϕπ+ and D+s→K0Sπ+ decays

A search for CP violation in D + → ϕπ + decays is performed using data collected in 2011 by the LHCb experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb−1 at a centre of mass energy of 7 TeV. The CP -violating asymmetry is measured to be (−0.04 ± 0.14 ± 0.14)% for candidates with K − K + mass within 20 MeV/c 2 of the ϕ meson mass. A search for a CP -violating asymmetry that varies across the ϕ mass region of the D + → K − K + π + Dalitz plot is also performed, and no evidence for CP violation is found. In addition, the CP asymmetry in the D+s→K0Sπ+ decay is measured to be (0.61 ± 0.83 ± 0.14)%

The anti-bacterial iron-restriction defence mechanisms of egg white; the potential role of three lipocalin-like proteins in resistance against Salmonella

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) is the most frequently-detected Salmonella in foodborne outbreaks in the European Union. Among such outbreaks, egg and egg products were identified as the most common vehicles of infection. Possibly, the major antibacterial property of egg white is iron restriction, which results from the presence of the iron-binding protein, ovotransferrin. To circumvent iron restriction, SE synthesise catecholate siderophores (i.e. enterobactin and salmochelin) that can chelate iron from host iron-binding proteins. Here, we highlight the role of lipocalin-like proteins found in egg white that could enhance egg-white iron restriction through sequestration of certain siderophores, including enterobactin. Indeed, it is now apparent that the egg-white lipocalin, Ex-FABP, can inhibit bacterial growth via its siderophore-binding capacity in vitro. However, it remains unclear whether ex-FABP performs such a function in egg white or during bird infection. Regarding the two other lipocalins of egg white (Cal-γ and α-1-glycoprotein), there is currently no evidence to indicate that they sequester siderophores

Measurements of the branching fraction ratio B(ϕ → μ+μ−) / B(ϕ → e+e−) with charm meson decays

Measurements of the branching fraction ratio B(ϕ → μ+μ−) / B(ϕ → e+e−) with Ds+→π+ϕ and D+→ π+ϕ decays, denoted Rϕπs and Rϕπd, are presented. The analysis is performed using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb−1 of pp collision data collected with the LHCb experiment. The branching fractions are normalised with respect to the B+ → K+J/ψ(→ e+e−) and B+ → K+J/ψ(→ μ+μ−) decay modes. The combination of the results yieldsRϕπ=1.022±0.012stat±0.048syst. The result is compatible with previous measurements of the ϕ → ℓ+ℓ− branching fractions and predictions based on the Standard Model

A distribution-free soft-clustering method for preference rankings.

Typically, ranking data consist of a set of individuals, or judges, who have ordered a set of items—or objects—according to their overall preference or some pre-specified criterion. When each judge has expressed his or her preferences according to his own best judgment, such data are characterized by systematic individual differences. In the literature, several approaches have been proposed to decompose heterogeneous populations of judges into a defined number of homogeneous groups. Often, these approaches work by assuming that the ranking process is governed by some distance-based probability models. We use the flexible class of methods proposed by Ben-Israel and Iyigun, which consists in a probabilistic distance clustering approach, and define the disparity between a ranking and the center of a cluster as the Kemeny distance. This class of methods allows for probabilistic allocation of cases to classes, thus being a form of soft or fuzzy, clustering. The allocation probability is unequivocally related to the chosen distance measure.Multivariate analysis of psychological dat