Study of B→D∗∗πB\to D^{**} \pi decays

We investigate the production of the novel $P$-wave mesons $D^{*}_{0}$ and $D^{\prime}_{1} (D_{1})$, identified as $J^{P}=0^+$ and $1^+$, in heavy $B$ meson decays, respectively. With the heavy quark limit, we give our modelling wave functions for the scalar meson $D^{*}_{0}$. Based on the assumptions of color transparency and factorization theorem, we estimate the branching ratios of $B\to D^{*}_{0} \pi$ decays in terms of the obtained wave functions. Some remarks on $D^{(\prime)}_{1}$ productions are also presented.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, Revtex4, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Understanding the penguin amplitude in B→ϕKB \to \phi K decays

We calculate branching ratios for pure penguin decay modes, $B\to \phi K$ decays using perturbative QCD approach. Our results of branching ratios are consistent with the experimental data and larger than those obtained from the naive factorization assumption and the QCD-improved factorization approach. This is due to a dynamical penguin enhancement in perturbative QCD approach.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, version to appear in PL

Role of electromagnetic dipole operator in the electroweak penguin dominated vector meson decays of BB meson

The pure annihilation type decays $B^0_d\to\phi\gamma$ and $B_s\to\rho\gamma$ receive only color suppressed penguin contributions with a very small branching ratio in the standard model. When we include the previously neglected electromagnetic dipole operator, the branching ratios can be enhanced one order magnitude larger than previous study using QCD factorization approach. That is ${\cal BR}(\bar B^0_d\to\phi\gamma)\simeq 1 \times 10^{-11}$ and ${\cal BR}(B_s\to\rho\gamma) \sim (6-16)\times 10^{-10}$. The new effect can also give a large contribution, of order $10^{-9}$, to transverse polarization of $B\to\phi\rho$ and $B\to \omega\phi$ which is comparable to the longitudinal part. These effects can be detected in the LHCb experiment and the Super-B factories.Comment: Revised extensively. 8 pages, 4 figure

Threshold resummation for exclusive B meson decays

We argue that double logarithmic corrections $\alpha_s\ln^2 x$ need to be resumed in perturbative QCD factorization theorem for exclusive $B$ meson decays, when the end-point region with a momentum fraction $x\to 0$ is important. These double logarithms, being of the collinear origin, are absorbed into a quark jet function, which is defined by a matrix element of a quark field attached by a Wilson line. The factorization of the jet function from the decay $B\to\gamma l\bar\nu$ is proved to all orders. Threshold resummation for the jet function leads to a universal, {\it i.e.}, process-independent, Sudakov factor, whose qualitative behavior is analyzed and found to smear the end-point singularities in heavy-to-light transition form factors.Comment: 10 pages, more details are include

Perturbative QCD analysis of B→ϕK∗B \to \phi K^* decays

We study the first observed charmless $B\to VV$ modes, the $B\to\phi K^*$ decays, in perturbative QCD formalism. The obtained branching ratios $B(B\to\phi K^*)\sim 15 \times 10^{-6}$ are larger than $\sim 9\times 10^{-6}$ from QCD factorization. The comparison of the predicted magnitudes and phases of the different helicity amplitudes, and branching ratios with experimental data can test the power counting rules, the evaluation of annihilation contributions, and the mechanism of dynamical penguin enhancement in perturbative QCD, respectively.Comment: 14 pages, 2 tables, brief disscussion on hard sacle added, version to appear in PR

Futher Study of CP Violation and Branching Ratios for B0ˉ→J/ψKs\bar{B^0}\to J/\psi K_s and B0ˉ→ϕKs\bar{B^0}\to \phi K_s in the Standard Model and Beyond

In this work we study the CP violation for $\bar{B^0}\to J/\psi K_s$ and $\bar{B^0}\to \phi K_s$ up to leading and next-to-leading order QCD corrections in the standard model, two-Higgs-doublet model and the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. We also study the effect of new physics on the branching ratios of these two decay modes. We find that within the parameter space constrained by the observation of the decay $b\to s\gamma$, new physics does not affect the CP asymmetries greatly, and the prediction of new physics to the branching ratios of $\bar{B^0}\to J/\psi K_s$ and $\bar{B^0}\to \phi K_s$ is the same as that of the standard model up to a minor discrepancy as far as the Yukama couplying constants are perturbative.Comment: some figures being reduced, accepted by J. Physics

Pre-clinical characterization of GMP grade CCL21-gene modified dendritic cells for application in a phase I trial in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our previous studies have demonstrated that transduction of human dendritic cells (DC) with adenovirus encoding secondary lymphoid chemokine, CCL21, led to secretion of biologically active CCL21 without altering DC phenotype or viability. In addition, intratumoral injections of CCL21-transduced DC into established murine lung tumors resulted in complete regression and protective anti-tumor immunity. These results have provided the rationale to generate a clinical grade adenoviral vector encoding CCL-21 for <it>ex vivo </it>transduction of human DC in order to assess intratumoral administration in late stage human lung cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the current study, human monocyte-derived DC were differentiated by exposure to GM-CSF and IL-4 from cryopreserved mononuclear cells obtained from healthy volunteers. Transduction with clinical grade adenoviral vector encoding CCL21 (1167 viral particles per cell) resulted in secretion of CCL21 protein.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CCL21 protein production from transduced DC was detected in supernatants (24–72 hours, 3.5–6.7 ng/4–5 × 10⁶cells). DC transduced with the clinical grade adenoviral vector were > 88% viable (n = 16), conserved their phenotype and maintained integral biological activities including dextran uptake, production of immunostimulatory cytokines/chemokines and antigen presentation. Furthermore, supernatant from CCL21-DC induced the chemotaxis of T2 cells <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Viable and biologically active clinical grade CCL21 gene-modified DC can be generated from cryopreserved PBMC.</p

Nonfactorizable contributions to B→D(∗)MB \to D^{(*)} M decays

While the factorization assumption works well for many two-body nonleptonic $B$ meson decay modes, the recent measurement of $\bar B\to D^{(*)0}M^0$ with $M=\pi$, $\rho$ and $\omega$ shows large deviation from this assumption. We analyze the $B\to D^{(*)}M$ decays in the perturbative QCD approach based on $k_T$ factorization theorem, in which both factorizable and nonfactorizable contributions can be calculated in the same framework. Our predictions for the Bauer-Stech-Wirbel parameters, $|a_2/a_1|= 0.43\pm 0.04$ and $Arg(a_2/a_1)\sim -42^\circ$ and $|a_2/a_1|= 0.47\pm 0.05$ and $Arg(a_2/a_1)\sim -41^\circ$, are consistent with the observed $B\to D\pi$ and $B\to D^*\pi$ branching ratios, respectively. It is found that the large magnitude $|a_2|$ and the large relative phase between $a_2$ and $a_1$ come from color-suppressed nonfactorizable amplitudes. Our predictions for the ${\bar B}^0\to D^{(*)0}\rho^0$, $D^{(*)0}\omega$ branching ratios can be confronted with future experimental data.Comment: 25 pages with Latex, axodraw.sty, 6 figures and 5 tables, Version published in PRD, Added new section 5 and reference