1,970 research outputs found
Hybrid Russe Procedure for Scaphoid Waist Fracture Nonunion With Deformity
Purpose To assess the results of a hybrid Russe procedure using a corticocancellous strut, cancellous autologous nonvascularized bone graft, and cannulated headless compression screw to reduce the deformity reliably from a collapsed scaphoid nonunion, provide osteoinductive stimulus, and stabilize the fracture for predictable union. Methods A hybrid Russe procedure was performed for scaphoid waist fracture nonunions with humpback deformity and no evidence of avascular necrosis. A volar distal radius autologous bone graft was harvested and a strut of cortical bone was fashioned and placed into the nonunion site to restore length and alignment. We packed cancellous bone graft in the remainder of the nonunion site and fixed the scaphoid was with a headless compression screw. Union was determined by radiographs or computed tomography, and intrascaphoid, scapholunate, and radiolunate angles were calculated on final radiographs. We recorded wrist range of motion, grip strength, pinch strength, pain, and complications. Results Fourteen male and 3 female patients (average age, 32 years; range, 16e78 years), with a mean follow-up of 32 months, were examined clinically and radiographically. All 17 scaphoids united with a mean time for union of 3.6 months. The mean postoperative intrascaphoid angle was significantly reduced from 65 preoperatively to 35 postoperatively. The mean radiolunate angle was significantly improved from 20 from neutral (lunate tilted dorsally) preoperatively to 0 postoperatively. The scapholunate angle also demonstrated significant improvement from 70 preoperatively to 56 postoperatively. Grip strength improved from 70% of the contralateral hand to 89% after the procedure. All patients were satisfied with the functional outcome and no donor site morbidity or hardware issues were identified. Conclusions This straightforward hybrid Russe technique predictably restored radiolunate, scapholunate, and intrascaphoid angles with a 100% union incidence. The technique provides excellent functional results in patients with a challenging clinical problem, and we recommend it for scaphoid fracture waist nonunions with dorsal intercalated segment instability deformity. (J Hand Surg Am. 2015;-(-):-e-
A meta-analysis of long-term effects of conservation agriculture on maize grain yield under rain-fed conditions
Conservation agriculture involves reduced tillage, permanent soil cover and crop rotations to enhance soil fertility and to supply food from a dwindling land resource. Recently, conservation agriculture has been promoted in Southern Africa, mainly for maize-based farming systems. However, maize yields under rain-fed conditions are often variable. There is therefore a need to identify factors that influence crop yield under conservation agriculture and rain-fed conditions. Here, we studied maize grain yield data from experiments lasting 5 years and more under rain-fed conditions. We assessed the effect of long-term tillage and residue retention on maize grain yield under contrasting soil textures, nitrogen input and climate. Yield variability was measured by stability analysis. Our results show an increase in maize yield over time with conservation agriculture practices that include rotation and high input use in low rainfall areas. But we observed no difference in system stability under those conditions. We observed a strong relationship between maize grain yield and annual rainfall. Our meta-analysis gave the following findings: (1) 92% of the data show that mulch cover in high rainfall areas leads to lower yields due to waterlogging; (2) 85% of data show that soil texture is important in the temporal development of conservation agriculture effects, improved yields are likely on well-drained soils; (3) 73% of the data show that conservation agriculture practices require high inputs especially N for improved yield; (4) 63% of data show that increased yields are obtained with rotation but calculations often do not include the variations in rainfall within and between seasons; (5) 56% of the data show that reduced tillage with no mulch cover leads to lower yields in semi-arid areas; and (6) when adequate fertiliser is available, rainfall is the most important determinant of yield in southern Africa. It is clear from our results that conservation agriculture needs to be targeted and adapted to specific biophysical conditions for improved impact
Search for Pair Production of Scalar Top Quarks Decaying to a tau Lepton and a b Quark in ppbar Collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV
We search for pair production of supersymmetric top quarks (~t_1), followed
by R-parity violating decay ~t_1 -> tau b with a branching ratio beta, using
322 pb^-1 of ppbar collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV collected by the CDF II
detector at Fermilab. Two candidate events pass our final selection criteria,
consistent with the standard model expectation. We set upper limits on the
cross section sigma(~t_1 ~tbar_1)*beta^2 as a function of the stop mass
m(~t_1). Assuming beta=1, we set a 95% confidence level limit m(~t_1)>153
GeV/c^2. The limits are also applicable to the case of a third generation
scalar leptoquark (LQ_3) decaying LQ_3 -> tau b.Comment: 7 pages, 2 eps figure
Measurement of the Dipion Mass Spectrum in X(3872) -> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- Decays
We measure the dipion mass spectrum in X(3872)--> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- decays using
360 pb-1 of pbar-p collisions at 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector.
The spectrum is fit with predictions for odd C-parity (3S1, 1P1, and 3DJ)
charmonia decaying to J/Psi Pi+ Pi-, as well as even C-parity states in which
the pions are from Rho0 decay. The latter case also encompasses exotic
interpretations, such as a D0-D*0Bar molecule. Only the 3S1 and J/Psi Rho
hypotheses are compatible with our data. Since 3S1 is untenable on other
grounds, decay via J/Psi Rho is favored, which implies C=+1 for the X(3872).
Models for different J/Psi-Rho angular momenta L are considered. Flexibility in
the models, especially the introduction of Rho-Omega interference, enable good
descriptions of our data for both L=0 and 1.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures -- Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
Search for Higgs Boson Decaying to b-bbar and Produced in Association with W Bosons in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV
We present a search for Higgs bosons decaying into b-bbar and produced in
association with W bosons in p-pbar collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. This search
uses 320 pb-1 of the dataset accumulated by the upgraded Collider Detector at
Fermilab. Events are selected that have a high-transverse momentum electron or
muon, missing transverse energy, and two jets, one of which is consistent with
a hadronization of a b quark. Both the number of events and the dijet mass
distribution are consistent with standard model background expectations, and we
set 95% confidence level upper limits on the production cross section times
branching ratio for the Higgs boson or any new particle with similar decay
kinematics. These upper limits range from 10 pb for mH=110 GeV/c2 to 3 pb for
mH=150 GeV/c2.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; updated title to published versio
Search for Second-Generation Scalar Leptoquarks in Collisions at =1.96 TeV
Results on a search for pair production of second generation scalar
leptoquark in collisions at =1.96 TeV are reported. The
data analyzed were collected by the CDF detector during the 2002-2003 Tevatron
Run II and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 198 pb. Leptoquarks
(LQ) are sought through their decay into (charged) leptons and quarks, with
final state signatures represented by two muons and jets and one muon, large
transverse missing energy and jets. We observe no evidence for production
and derive 95% C.L. upper limits on the production cross sections as well
as lower limits on their mass as a function of , where is the
branching fraction for .Comment: 9 pages (3 author list) 5 figure
Search for anomalous semileptonic decay of heavy flavor hadrons produced in association with a W boson at CDF II
We present a search for anomalous semileptonic decays of heavy flavor hadrons
produced in association with a boson, in proton-antiproton collisions at
sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. We use 162 pb-1 of data collected with the CDF II detector at
the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We select events with one W boson and at least
one jet with an identified secondary vertex. In the jets with a secondary
vertex we look for a semileptonic decay to a muon. We compare the number of
jets with both a secondary vertex and a semileptonic decay, and the kinematic
properties of these jets, with the standard model expectation of W plus heavy
flavor production and decay. No discrepancy is seen between the observation and
the expectation, and we set limits on the production cross section of a B-like
hadron with an anomalously high semileptonic branching ratio.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PRD-RC; replaced to adjust the page
forma
Measurement of the Ratios of Branching Fractions B(Bs->Ds- pi+)/B(B0->D-pi+) and B(B+->D0bar pi+)/B(B0->D-pi+)
We report an observation of the decay Bs -> Ds- pi+ in p pbar collisions at
sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV using 115 pb^(-1) of data collected by the CDF II detector
at the Fermilab Tevatron. We observe 83 +/- 11 Bs -> Ds- pi+ candidates,
representing a large increase in statistics over previous measurements and the
first observation of this decay at a p pbar collider. We present the first
measurement of the relative branching fraction B(Bs -> Ds- pi+) / B(B0 -> D-
pi+) = 1.32 +/- 0.18 (stat.) +/- 0.38 (syst.). We also measure B(B+ -> D0bar
pi+) / B(B0 -> D- pi+) = 1.97 +/- 0.10(stat.) +/- 0.21(syst.), which is
consistent with previous measurements
Observation of Bs-Bsbar Oscillations
We report the observation of Bs-Bsbar oscillations from a time-dependent
measurement of the Bs-Bsbar oscillation frequency Delta ms. Using a data sample
of 1 fb^-1 of p-pbar collisions at sqrt{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 61500
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-Bsbar
oscillations. The probability that random fluctuations could produce a
comparable signal is 8 X 10^-8, which exceeds 5 sigma significance. We measure
Delta ms = 17.77 +- 0.10 (stat) +- 0.07 (syst) ps^-1
and extract
|Vtd/Vts| = 0.2060 +- 0.0007 (exp) + 0.0081 - 0.0060 (theor).Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter
Measurement of the Ratio of Branching Fractions B(D0 -> K+ pi-)/B(D0 -> K- pi+) using the CDF II Detector
We present a measurement of R_B, the ratio of the branching fraction for the
rare decay D0 -> K+ pi- to that for the Cabibbo-favored decay D0 -> K- pi+.
Charge conjugate decays are implicitly included. A signal of 2005 +/- 104
events for the decay D0 -> K+ pi- is obtained using the CDF II detector at the
Fermilab Tevatron collider. The data set corresponds to an integrated
luminosity of 0.35 1/fb produced in p-bar/p collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV.
Assuming no mixing, we find R_B = [ 4.05 +/- 0.21 (stat) +/- 0.11 (syst) ] x
10(-3). This measurement is consistent with the world average, and comparable
in accuracy with the best measurements from other experiments.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
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