Direct measurement of B(D_s^+ → φX^+)

The absolute inclusive branching fraction of D_s^+→φX^+ has been measured from data collected by the BES detector at a center-of-mass energy of 4.03 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 22.3 pb^(-1). At this energy, direct pair production e^+e^-→D_s^+D_s^- has been observed. We have selected D_s candidate events by reconstructing five hadronic decay modes D_s^+→φπ^+, K^(0*)K^+, K^0K^+, f0^(π+) and K^0K^-π^+π^+ and have searched for inclusive φ’s in the recoiling D_s^-. We observed three recoiling φ’s in the 166.4 ± 31.8 D_s candidate events, which leads to the absolute branching fraction B(D_s^+→φX^+)=(17.8(-7.2 -6.3)^(+15.1+0.6)) % and B(D_s-6.3+→φπ-6.3+)=(3.6_(-1.6 -1.3)(^_3.1+0.4) %. [S0556-2821(97)02423-5

Measurement of the mass of the τ lepton

A data-driven energy scan in the immediate vicinity of the τ pair production threshold has been performed using the Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider. Approximately 5 pb^(-1) of data, distributed over 12 scan points, have been collected. A previous mass value for the τ lepton, obtained using only the eμ final state, has been published. In this paper, the final BES result on the mass measurement is presented. The analysis is based on the combined data from the ee, eμ, eh, μμ, μh, and hh final states, where h denotes a charged π or K. A maximum likelihood fit to the τ pair production cross section data yields the value m_τ=1776.96_(-0.21)-0.17^(+0.18+0.25) MeV

Measurement of the mass of the τ lepton

The mass of the τ lepton has been measured at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider using the Beijing Spectrometer. A search near threshold for e^+e^-→τ^+τ^- was performed. Candidate events were identified by requiring that one τ decay via τ→eνν¯, and the other via τ→μνν¯. The mass value, obtained from a fit to the energy dependence of the τ^+τ^- cross section, is m_τ=1776.9_(-0.5)^(+0.4)±0.2 MeV

GROWTH-STIMULATING FACTOR IN REGENERATING CANINE LIVER

Extracts from dog livers which had been regenerating for 24, 48, and 72 h after hepatectomy were infused for 6 h into the left portal vein of animals which had fresh portacaval shunts (Eck fistula) and which were killed 2 and 3 days later. The brief exposure to the 48-h and especially the 72-h regenerating liver extracts induced a delayed proliferative response predominantly in the left liver lobes, with a slight spillover effect to the right liver lobes but none to the kidney. The response reached its peak 3 days later. In the left but not the right liver lobes, both the 48-h and the 72-h regenerating liver extract reversed the atrophy ordinarily caused by Eck fistula in 3 days and partly prevented the ultrastructural hepatocyte deterioration characteristic of Eck fistula. The active liver extracts apparently contained a growth-control factor or factors which is (are) not insulin or glucagon. © 1979

Preflare magnetic and velocity fields

A characterization is given of the preflare magnetic field, using theoretical models of force free fields together with observed field structure to determine the general morphology. Direct observational evidence for sheared magnetic fields is presented. The role of this magnetic shear in the flare process is considered within the context of a MHD model that describes the buildup of magnetic energy, and the concept of a critical value of shear is explored. The related subject of electric currents in the preflare state is discussed next, with emphasis on new insights provided by direct calculations of the vertical electric current density from vector magnetograph data and on the role of these currents in producing preflare brightenings. Results from investigations concerning velocity fields in flaring active regions, describing observations and analyses of preflare ejecta, sheared velocities, and vortical motions near flaring sites are given. This is followed by a critical review of prevalent concepts concerning the association of flux emergence with flare

Needle-free Biojector injection of a dengue virus type 1 DNA vaccine with human immunostimulatory sequences and the GM-CSF gene increases immunogenicity and protection from virus challenge in Aotus monkeys

AbstractA dengue-1 DNA vaccine containing sequences encoding premembrane and envelope proteins (DIME) was previously shown to elicit virus neutralizing antibodies in rhesus and Aotus monkeys, and the primates were partially protected from viremia upon challenge. To increase the neutralizing antibody levels and subsequent protection from virus challenge, four strategies were evaluated: (a) coimmunization with a plasmid expressing Aotus GM-CSF gene; (b) coimmunization with a plasmid containing human immunostimulatory sequences (ISS); (c) coimmunization with both the GM-CSF gene and ISS; and (d) delivery of vaccine using the needle-free Biojector system. Vaccination with the mixed formulation containing DIME, GM-CSF gene, and ISS, by either needle injection or Biojector, led to neutralizing antibody titers that were stable for up to 6 months after vaccination. Furthermore, 6 of 7 monkeys (85%), and 7 of 8 monkeys (87%) receiving this formulation were completely protected from viremia when challenged 1 and 6 months after vaccination, respectively. This is a significant improvement compared to our previous study in which one of three monkeys (33%) receiving just the DIME vaccine was completely protected from viremia at 6 months after immunization

Discovery of Novel Term Associations in a Document Collection

Non peer reviewe

Just how difficult can it be counting up R&D funding for emerging technologies (and is tech mining with proxy measures going to be any better?)

Decision makers considering policy or strategy related to the development of emerging technologies expect high quality data on the support for different technological options. A natural starting point would be R&D funding statistics. This paper explores the limitations of such aggregated data in relation to the substance and quantification of funding for emerging technologies. Using biotechnology as an illustrative case, we test the utility of a novel taxonomy to demonstrate the endemic weaknesses in the availability and quality of data from public and private sources. Using the same taxonomy, we consider the extent to which tech-mining presents an alternative, or potentially complementary, way to determine support for emerging technologies using proxy measures such as patents and scientific publications

Analyzing Ideological Communities in Congressional Voting Networks

We here study the behavior of political party members aiming at identifying how ideological communities are created and evolve over time in diverse (fragmented and non-fragmented) party systems. Using public voting data of both Brazil and the US, we propose a methodology to identify and characterize ideological communities, their member polarization, and how such communities evolve over time, covering a 15-year period. Our results reveal very distinct patterns across the two case studies, in terms of both structural and dynamic properties