A Precision Measurement of the Lambda_c Baryon Mass

The $\Lambda_c^+$ baryon mass is measured using $\Lambda_c^+\to\Lambda K^0_S K^+$ and $\Lambda_c^+\to\Sigma^0 K^0_S K^+$ decays reconstructed in 232 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy $e^+e^-$ storage ring. The $\Lambda_c^+$ mass is measured to be $2286.46\pm0.14\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$. The dominant systematic uncertainties arise from the amount of material in the tracking volume and from the magnetic field strength.Comment: 14 pages, 8 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Efficacy of platelets in bone healing: A systematic review on animal studies

In presence of large bone defects, delayed bone union, non-union, fractures, and implant surgery, bone reconstruction may be necessary. Different strategies have been employed to enhance bone healing among which the use of autologous platelet concentrates. Due to the high content of platelets and platelet-derived bioactive molecules (e.g., growth factors, antimicrobial peptides), they are promising candidates to increase bone healing. However, a high heterogeneity of both preclinical and clinical studies resulted in contrasting results. Aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of platelet concentrates in animal models of bone regeneration, considering the possible factors which might affect the outcome. An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases. Animal studies with a minimum follow up of 2 weeks and a sample size of five subjects per group, using platelet concentrates for bone regeneration, were included. Articles underwent risk of bias assessment and further quality evaluation was done. Sixty studies performed on six animal species (rat, rabbit, dog, sheep, goat, and mini-pig) were included. The present part of the review considers only studies performed on rats and rabbits (35 articles). The majority of the studies were considered at medium risk of bias. Animal species, healthy models, platelet, growth factors and leukocytes concentration, and type of bone defect seemed to influence the efficacy of platelet concentrates in bone healing. However, final conclusions were not be drawn, since only few included studies evaluated leukocyte, growth factor content, or presence of other bioactive molecules in platelet concentrates. Further studies with a standardized protocol including characterization of the final products will provide useful information for clinical application of platelet concentrates in bone surgery

Efficacy of platelet concentrates in bone healing: A systematic review on animal studies – Part B: Large-size animal models

In the presence of large bone defects, delayed bone union, or nonunion and fractures, bone reconstruction may be necessary. Different strategies have been employed to enhance bone healing among which the use of autologous platelet concentrates (APCs). Due to the high content of platelets and platelet-derived bioactive molecules (e.g., growth factors, antimicrobial peptides), they are promising candidates to enhance bone healing. However, both preclinical and clinical studies produced contrasting results, mainly due to a high heterogeneity in study design, objectives, techniques adopted, and outcomes assessed. The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of APCs in animal models of bone regeneration, considering the possible factors that might affect the outcome. An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE and Scopus databases. Comparative animal studies with a minimum follow up of 2 weeks, at least five subjects per group and using APCs for regeneration of bone defects were included. Articles underwent risk of bias assessment and quality evaluation. Fifty studies performed on six animal species (rat, rabbit, dog, sheep, goat, mini-pig) were included. The present part of the review considers studies performed on small ruminants, dogs, and mini-pigs (14 articles). The majority of the studies were considered at low risk of bias. In general, APCs’ adjunct positively affected bone regeneration. Animal species, platelet and growth factors concentration, type of bone defect and of platelet concentrate used seemed to influence their efficacy in bone healing. However, sound conclusions were not drawn since too few studies for each large-size animal model were included. In addition, characterization of APCs’ content was performed only in a few studies. Further studies with a standardized protocol including characterization of the final products will provide useful information for translating the results to clinical application of APCs in bone surgery

Study of the X(3872) and Y(4260) in B-0 -> J/psi pi(+)pi K--(0) and B--> J/psi pi(+)pi K--(-) decays

We present results of a search for the X(3872) in B-0-> X(3872)K-S(0), X(3872) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-), improved measurements of B- -> X(3872)K-, and a study of the J/psi pi(+)pi(-) mass region above the X(3872). We use 232 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) asymmetric-energy storage rings. The results include the 90% confidence interval 1.34x10(-6) < B(B-0 -> X(3872)K-0, X -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)) < 10.3 x 10(-6) and the branching fraction B(B- -> X(3872)K-, X -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)) = (10.1 +/- 2.5 +/- 1.0) x 10(-6). We observe a (2.7 +/- 1.3 +/- 0.2)MeV/c(2) mass difference of the X(3872) produced in the two decay modes. Furthermore, we search for the Y(4260) in B decays and set the 95% C.L. upper limit B(B--> Y(4260)K-, Y(4260) -> J/psi pi(+)pi(-)) < 2.9 x 10(-5)

Measurements of branching fractions and time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B -> eta ' K decays

We present measurements of the B ->eta(')K branching fractions; for B+->eta(')K(+) we measure also the time-integrated charge asymmetry A(ch), and for B-0->eta(')K(S)(0) the time-dependent CP-violation parameters S and C. The data sample corresponds to 232x10(6) B (B) over bar pairs produced by e(+)e(-) annihilation at the Upsilon(4S). The results are B(B ->eta(')K(+))=(68.9 +/- 2.0 +/- 3.2)x10(-6), B(B-0->eta(')K(0))=(67.4 +/- 3.3 +/- 3.2)x10(-6), A(ch)=0.033 +/- 0.028 +/- 0.005, S=0.30 +/- 0.14 +/- 0.02, and C=-0.21 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.02, where the first error quoted is statistical and the second is systematic

Measurement of branching fractions and charge asymmetries for exclusive B decays to charmonium

We report measurements of branching fractions and charge asymmetries of exclusive decays of neutral and charged B mesons into two-body final states containing a charmonium state and a light strange meson. The charmonium mesons considered are J/ψ, ψ(2S) and χc1, and the light meson is either K or K*. We use a sample of about 124×10^6 BB̅ pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II storage ring at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

Measurement of the B+/B0 production ratio from the Υ(4S) meson using B+→J/ψK+ and B0→J/ψKS0 decays

We report a measurement of the production ratio of charged and neutral B mesons from Υ(4S) decays based on the ratio of efficiency-corrected yields for the charmonium modes J/ψK+ and J/ψKs0 with 81.9 fb-1 of data collected with the BABAR detector on the Υ(4S) resonance at 10.580 GeV. We find a value of 1.006±0.036(stat)±0.031(syst) for the ratio R+/0=Γ(Υ(4S)→B+B-)/Γ(Υ(4S)→B0B0)

Исследование системы MMPP(n)│M(n)│∞ методом моментов

We present a determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |Vub| based on the analysis of semileptonic B decays from a sample of 88×106 Υ(4S) decays collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e+e- storage ring. Charmless semileptonic B decays are selected using measurements of the electron energy and the invariant mass squared of the electron-neutrino pair. We obtain |Vub|=(3.95±0.26-0.42+0.58±0.25)×10-3, where the errors represent experimental uncertainties, heavy quark parameter uncertainties, and theoretical uncertainties, respectively