Measurements of branching fraction ratios and CP-asymmetries in suppressed B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)K^- and B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)pi^- decays

We report the first reconstruction in hadron collisions of the suppressed decays B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)K^- and B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)pi^-, sensitive to the CKM phase gamma, using data from 7 fb^-1 of integrated luminosity collected by the CDF II detector at the Tevatron collider. We reconstruct a signal for the B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)K^- suppressed mode with a significance of 3.2 standard deviations, and measure the ratios of the suppressed to favored branching fractions R(K) = [22.0 \pm 8.6(stat)\pm 2.6(syst)]\times 10^-3, R^+(K) = [42.6\pm 13.7(stat)\pm 2.8(syst)]\times 10^-3, R^-(K)= [3.8\pm 10.3(stat)\pm 2.7(syst]\times 10^-3, as well as the direct CP-violating asymmetry A(K) = -0.82\pm 0.44(stat)\pm 0.09(syst) of this mode. Corresponding quantities for B^- -> D(-> K^+ pi^-)pi^- decay are also reported.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, accepted by Phys.Rev.D Rapid Communications for Publicatio

Search for B_s --> mu+mu- and B_d --> mu+mu- Decays with CDF II

A search has been performed for B_s --> mu+mu- and B_d --> mu+mu- decays using 7/fb of integrated luminosity collected by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The observed number of B_d candidates is consistent with background-only expectations and yields an upper limit on the branching fraction of BF(B_d-->mu+mu-) < 6.0E-9 at 95% confidence level. We observe an excess of B_s candidates. The probability that the background processes alone could produce such an excess or larger is 0.27%. The probability that the combination of background and the expected standard model rate of B_s --> mu+mu- could produce such an excess or larger is 1.9%. These data are used to determine BF(B_s-->mu+mu-) = (1.8^{+1.1}_{-0.9})E-8 and provide an upper limit of BF(B_s -->mu+mu-) < 4.0E-8 at 95% confidence level.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure; version accepted by PR

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Prolactin–Growth Factor Crosstalk Reduces Mammary Estrogen Responsiveness Despite Elevated ERα Expression

Most breast cancers that occur in women express estrogen receptor α (ERα). However, a large subset of these cancers either does not initially respond to anti-estrogen therapy or develops resistance to such treatment modalities. One postulated mechanism of this failure is signaling cross talk between hormones and local growth factors. To examine these complex interactions in vivo, we assessed the effects of estrogen on transforming growth factor α (TGFα)- and prolactin (PRL)-induced mammary tumorigenesis in transgenic mice. Both PRL and estrogen reduced the latency of TGFα-induced oncogenesis, resulting in tumors that were variably ERα-positive, but were progesterone receptor-negative. However, despite elevated ERα levels in NRL-PRL/TGFα glands, tumor latency was not reduced with increasing estrogen levels, nor increased after ovariectomy. Furthermore, PRL and TGFα in combination blocked the mitogenic effects of estrogen, dramatically reduced progesterone receptor levels, and diminished ERα down-regulation in response to circulating estrogen levels, in contrast to the other genotypes. Notably, however, ductal morphology remained responsive to estrogen, indicating that TGFα and PRL in combination can inhibit some, but not all, estrogenic signals. Both in vitro and in vivo, PRL and TGFα cooperatively enhanced Akt phosphorylation, which is associated with endocrine resistance in human disease. These findings provide insight into the interactions of PRL with growth factors during mammary oncogenesis and suggest combinatorial approaches that may result in improved therapeutic efficacy

Review of Gough: Company Charges, 2nd edition, 1995.

We present a search for new physics in events with two high p(T) leptons of the same electric charge, using data with an integrated luminosity of 6.1 fb(-1). The observed data are consistent with standard model predictions. We set 95% C.L. lower limits on the mass of doubly charged scalars decaying to like-sign dileptons, m(H)++ &gt; 190-245 GeV/c(2), assuming 100% BR to ee, mu mu or e m

Search for a Heavy Toplike Quark in p(p)over-bar Collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for pair production of a heavy toplike (t') quark decaying to Wq final states using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.6 fb(-1) collected by the CDF II detector in p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV. We perform parallel searches for t' -> Wb and t' -> Wq (where q is a generic down-type quark) in events containing a lepton and four or more jets. By performing a fit to the two-dimensional distribution of total transverse energy versus reconstructed t' quark mass, we set upper limits on the t'(t) over bar' production cross section and exclude a standard model fourth-generation t' quark decaying to Wb (Wq) with mass below 358 (340) GeV/c(2) at 95% C. L