501 research outputs found
Decision making and experiences of young adults undergoing presymptomatic genetic testing for familial cancer: A longitudinal grounded theory study
Enabling informed choice is an essential component of care when offering young adults presymptomatic testing for a genetic condition. A systematic review on this topic revealed that many young adults grew up with little information regarding their genetic risk and that parents had applied pressure to them during the testing decision-making process. However, none of the studies retrieved were conducted in South European countries. To address this gap, we undertook a qualitative study based on grounded theory to explore the psychosocial implications of presymptomatic testing for hereditary cancer in Italian young adults aged 18-30 years. Interviews were conducted on three occasions: 1 month before counselling, and 2 weeks and 6 months after results. Data were coded and grouped under themes. A total of 42 interviews were conducted. Four themes emerged: knowledge, genetic counselling process, decision making and dealing with test results. Although participants grew up with little or no information about their genetic risk, none expressed regret at having the test at a young age. Pre-test counselling was appreciated as a source of information, rather than support for decision making. Decisions were often made autonomously and sometimes conflicted with parents' wishes. Participants reported no changes in health behaviours after testing. This evidence highlights the need for a comprehensive, longitudinal counselling process with appropriate timing and setting, which supports 'parent-to-offspring' risk communication first and decision making by young adults about presymptomatic testing and risk management afterwards. In conclusion, it is clear that counselling approaches for presymptomatic testing may require modification both for young adults and their parents. © 2017 European Society of Human Genetics
Higher-order multipole amplitudes in charmonium radiative transitions
Using 24 million decays in CLEO-c, we have searched
for higher multipole admixtures in electric-dipole-dominated radiative
transitions in charmonia. We find good agreement between our data and
theoretical predictions for magnetic quadrupole (M2) amplitudes in the
transitions and ,
in striking contrast to some previous measurements. Let and
denote the normalized M2 amplitudes in the respective aforementioned decays,
where the superscript refers to the angular momentum of the . By
performing unbinned maximum likelihood fits to full five-parameter angular
distributions, we determine the ratios and , where
the theoretical predictions are independent of the charmed quark magnetic
moment and are and .Comment: 32 pages, 7 figures, acceptance updat
Dalitz Plot Analysis of Ds to K+K-pi+
We perform a Dalitz plot analysis of the decay Ds to K+K-pi+ with the CLEO-c
data set of 586/pb of e+e- collisions accumulated at sqrt(s) = 4.17 GeV. This
corresponds to about 0.57 million D_s+D_s(*)- pairs from which we select 14400
candidates with a background of roughly 15%. In contrast to previous
measurements we find good agreement with our data only by including an
additional f_0(1370)pi+ contribution. We measure the magnitude, phase, and fit
fraction of K*(892) K+, phi(1020)pi+, K0*(1430)K+, f_0(980)pi+, f_0(1710)pi+,
and f_0(1370)pi+ contributions and limit the possible contributions of other KK
and Kpi resonances that could appear in this decay.Comment: 21 Pages,available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/,
submitted to PR
Search for D0 to p e- and D0 to pbar e+
Using data recorded by CLEO-c detector at CESR, we search for simultaneous
baryon and lepton number violating decays of the D^0 meson, specifically, D^0
--> p-bar e^+, D^0-bar --> p-bar e^+, D^0 --> p e^- and D^0-bar --> p e^-. We
set the following branching fraction upper limits: D^0 --> p-bar e^+ (D^0-bar
--> p-bar e^+) p e^- (D^0-bar --> p e^-) < 1.2 *
10^{-5}, both at 90% confidence level.Comment: 10 pages, available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/,
submitted to PRD. Comments: changed abstract, added reference for section 1,
vertical axis in Fig.5 changed (starts from 1.5 rather than 2.0), fixed typo
Cortisol coregulation in fish
Cortisol coregulation, which is the up- or down-regulation of partners’ physiological stress responses, has been described for individuals with strong attachment bonds, e.g. parents and their children, and romantic relationship partners. Research into moderating effects on cortisol coregulation suggests stronger covariation among distressed partners. Whether cortisol coregulation is unique to humans or can also be found in other species that share universal features of the vertebrate stress response remains unexplored. Using a repeated measures approach and non-invasive waterborne hormone analysis, we test the hypothesis that dyads of three-spined stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) coregulate their cortisol levels in shared environments. Dyadic cortisol levels were unrelated when cohabiting (home tank), but significantly covaried when sharing a more stressful (as indicated by higher cortisol levels) environment (open field). Time-lag analysis further revealed that open field cortisol levels were predicted by partner’s cortisol levels prior to the shared experience. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence for coregulatory processes on cortisol responses in a non-human animal that lacks strong bonds and social attachment relationships, suggesting a shared evolutionary origin of cortisol coregulation in vertebrates. From an adaptive perspective, cortisol coregulation may serve to reduce risk in challenging, potentially threatening situations
Charmonium decays to gamma pi0, gamma eta, and gamma eta'
Using data acquired with the CLEO-c detector at the CESR e+e- collider, we
measure branching fractions for J/psi, psi(2S), and psi(3770) decays to gamma
pi0, gamma eta, and gamma eta'. Defining R_n = B[ psi(nS)-->gamma eta ]/B[
psi(nS)-->gamma eta' ], we obtain R_1 = (21.1 +- 0.9)% and, unexpectedly, an
order of magnitude smaller limit, R_2 < 1.8% at 90% C.L. We also use
J/psi-->gamma eta' events to determine branching fractions of improved
precision for the five most copious eta' decay modes.Comment: 14 pages, available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/,
published in Physical Review
Precision Measurement of the Mass of the h_c(1P1) State of Charmonium
A precision measurement of the mass of the h_c(1P1) state of charmonium has
been made using a sample of 24.5 million psi(2S) events produced in e+e-
annihilation at CESR. The reaction used was psi(2S) -> pi0 h_c, pi0 -> gamma
gamma, h_c -> gamma eta_c, and the reaction products were detected in the
CLEO-c detector.
Data have been analyzed both for the inclusive reaction and for the exclusive
reactions in which eta_c decays are reconstructed in fifteen hadronic decay
channels. Consistent results are obtained in the two analyses. The averaged
results of the present measurements are M(h_c)=3525.28+-0.19 (stat)+-0.12(syst)
MeV, and B(psi(2S) -> pi0 h_c)xB(h_c -> gamma eta_c)= (4.19+-0.32+-0.45)x10^-4.
Using the 3PJ centroid mass, Delta M_hf(1P)= - M(h_c) =
+0.02+-0.19+-0.13 MeV.Comment: 9 pages, available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/,
submitted to PR
Precision Measurement of B(D+ -> mu+ nu) and the Pseudoscalar Decay Constant fD+
We measure the branching ratio of the purely leptonic decay of the D+ meson
with unprecedented precision as B(D+ -> mu+ nu) = (3.82 +/- 0.32 +/-
0.09)x10^(-4), using 818/pb of data taken on the psi(3770) resonance with the
CLEO-c detector at the CESR collider. We use this determination to derive a
value for the pseudoscalar decay constant fD+, combining with measurements of
the D+ lifetime and assuming |Vcd| = |Vus|. We find fD+ = (205.8 +/- 8.5 +/-
2.5) MeV. The decay rate asymmetry [B(D+ -> mu+ nu)-B(D- -> mu- nu)]/[B(D+ ->
mu+ nu)+B(D- -> mu- nu)] = 0.08 +/- 0.08, consistent with no CP violation. We
also set 90% confidence level upper limits on B(D+ -> tau+ nu) < 1.2x10^(-3)
and B(D+ -> e+ nu) < 8.8x10^(-6).Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures and 6 tables, v2 replaced some figure vertical
axis scales, v3 corrections from PRD revie
Measurement of the Absolute Branching Fraction of D_s^+ --> tau^+ nu_tau Decay
Using a sample of tagged D_s decays collected near the D^*_s D_s peak
production energy in e+e- collisions with the CLEO-c detector, we study the
leptonic decay D^+_s to tau^+ nu_tau via the decay channel tau^+ to e^+ nu_e
bar{nu}_tau. We measure B(D^+_s to tau^+ nu_tau) = (6.17 +- 0.71 +- 0.34) %,
where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. Combining this
result with our measurements of D^+_s to mu^+ nu_mu and D^+_s to tau^+ nu_tau
(via tau^+ to pi^+ bar{nu}_tau), we determine f_{D_s} = (274 +- 10 +- 5) MeV.Comment: 9 pages, postscript also available through
http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007/, revise
J/psi and psi(2S) Radiative Transitions to eta_c
Using 24.5 million psi(2S) decays collected with the CLEO-c detector at CESR
we present the most precise measurements of magnetic dipole transitions in the
charmonium system. We measure B(psi(2S)->gamma eta_c) =
(4.32+/-0.16+/-0.60)x10^-3, B(J/psi->gamma eta_c)/B(psi(2S)->gamma eta_c) =
4.59+/-0.23+/-0.64, and B(J/psi->gamma eta_c) = (1.98+/-0.09+/-0.30)%. We
observe a distortion in the eta_c line shape due to the photon-energy
dependence of the magnetic dipole transition rate. We find that measurements of
the eta_c mass are sensitive to the line shape, suggesting an explanation for
the discrepancy between measurements of the eta_c mass in radiative transitions
and other production mechanisms.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
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