Usage of Calendula officinalis in the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of Calendula officinalis in relation to Essential Fatty Acids for the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis. METHOD This is a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial with 51 patients with head and neck cancer in radiotherapy treatment divided into two groups: control (27) and experimental (24). RESULTS There is statistically significant evidence (p-value = 0.0120) that the proportion of radiodermatitis grade 2 in Essential Fatty Acids group is higher than Calendula group. Through the Kaplan-Meier survival curve we observed that Essential Fatty Acids group has always remained below the Calendula group survival curve, due to the lower risk of developing radiodermatitis grade 1, which makes the usage of Calendula more effective, with statistical significance (p-value = 0.00402). CONCLUSION Calendula showed better therapeutic response than the Essential Fatty Acids in the prevention and treatment of radiodermatitis. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-237v4b

Top Quark Mass Measurement from Dilepton Events at CDF II with the Matrix-Element Method

We describe a measurement of the top quark mass using events with two charged leptons collected by the CDF II detector from $p\bar{p}$ collisions with $\sqrt s = 1.96$ TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron. The likelihood in top mass is calculated for each event by convoluting the leading order matrix element describing $q\bar{q} \to t\bar{t} \to b\ell\nu_{\ell}\bar{b}\ell'\nu_{\ell'}$ with detector resolution functions. The presence of background events in the data sample is modeled using similar calculations involving the matrix elements for major background processes. In a data sample with integrated luminosity of 340 pb$^{-1}$, we observe 33 candidate events and measure $M_{top} = 165.2 \pm 6.1(\textrm{stat.}) \pm 3.4(\textrm{syst.}) \mathrm{~GeV}/c^2.$ This measurement represents the first application of this method to events with two charged leptons and is the most precise single measurement of the top quark mass in this channel.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figure

Search for New Physics in Lepton + Photon + X Events with L=305 pb-1 of ppbar Collisions at roots=1.96 TeV

We present results of a search for anomalous production of events containing a charged lepton (either electron or muon) and a photon, both with high transverse momentum, accompanied by additional signatures, X, including missing transverse energy (MET) and additional leptons and photons. We use the same kinematic selection criteria as in a previous CDF search, but with a substantially larger data set, 305 pb-1, a ppbar collision energy of 1.96 TeV, and the upgraded CDF II detector. We find 42 Lepton+Photon+MET events versus a standard model expectation of 37.3 +- 5.4 events. The level of excess observed in Run I, 16 events with an expectation of 7.6 +- 0.7 events (corresponding to a 2.7 sigma effect), is not supported by the new data. In the signature of Multi-Lepton+Photon+X we observe 31 events versus an expectation of 23.0 +- 2.7 events. In this sample we find no events with an extra photon or MET and so find no events like the one ee+gg+MET event observed in Run I.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Accepted to PR

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

Capacity and Autonomy : An Exploration of Fukuyama’s Governance Hypothesis

Peer reviewe

Functional disability of adult individuals with spinal cord injury and its association with socio-demographic characteristics

The aim was to investigate the Functional Disability degree in adults with spinal cord injury and its association with socio-demographic characteristics. The Barthel Index was used and 75 subjects answered a questionnaire with socio-demographic variables. The Chi-Square, Cronbach's Alpha and Fisher tests were used in the analysis. The mean age was 42.23 years. Cronbach's Alpha for the Barthel Index was 0.807. The activities that were more difficult to perform were Climbing and Descending Stairs (92%) and Walking (82.7%). The mean Barthel Index score was 64 points. The tests of association demonstrated values with p>0.05. Even though this population demonstrated a low degree of dependency and no association was identified between the socio-demographic variables and Functional Disability, the study contributes to nursing care for individuals with spinal cord injury, considering the limitations the condition imposes on their self-care.El objetivo fue investigar el grado de Incapacidad Funcional de adultos con lesión medular y su asociación con las características socio-demográficas. Se utilizó el Índice de Barthel y un cuestionario con variables socio-demográficas. Participaron 75 sujetos. Se efectuaron las pruebas: Chi-cuadrado, Cronbach y Fisher. El promedio de edad fue de 43,23 años. El Alfa de Cronbach para el Índice de Barthel fue de 0,807. Las actividades en las cuales se verificó mayor dificultad de realización fueron Subir y Bajar escaleras (92%) y Deambular (82,7%). La mediana del Índice de Barthel fue de 64 puntos. Las pruebas de asociación presentaron valores de p>0,05. A pesar de que la población presenta un grado leve de dependencia y no se identificaron asociaciones entre las variables socio-demográficas y la Incapacidad Funcional, se considera que el estudio contribuye para la asistencia de enfermería, debido a algunas limitaciones que la lesión medular impone en el auto-cuidado.Objetivou-se investigar o grau de incapacidade funcional de adultos com lesão medular e a sua associação com as características sociodemográficas. Utilizaram-se o índice de Barthel e um questionário com variáveis sociodemográficas. Participaram 75 sujeitos. Efetuaram-se os teste qui-quadrado, Cronbach e Fisher. A média de idade foi de 43,23 anos. O alfa de Cronbach para o índice de Barthel foi de 0,807. As atividades nas quais se verificou maior dificuldade de realização foram subir e descer escadas (92%) e deambular (82,7%). O escore médio do índice de Barthel foi de 64 pontos. Os testes de associação apresentaram valores de p>0,05. Apesar de a população apresentar grau leve de dependência e não se identificar associação entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e a incapacidade funcional, considera-se que o estudo contribui para a assistência de enfermagem, por possibilitar reflexões na busca de se amenizar algumas limitações que a lesão medular impõe ao autocuidado

Observation of Bs to Psi(2S)phi and Measurement of Ratio of Branching Fractions B (Bs --> Psi(2S)phi) / B (Bs --> J/Psi phi)

We report the first observation of Bs to Psi(2S) phi signals using 360 pb^-1 of CDF Run II data sample, where Psi(2S) decays into mu+mu- and J/psi pi+pi- modes with phi decays to K+K-. We have measured the relative branching ratio of Br(Bs to Psi(2S)phi)/Br(Bs to J/psi phi) using J/psi, Psi(2S) to mu+mu- decay mode. We obtain Br(Bs to Psi(2S)phi)/Br(Bs to J/psi phi) = 0.52 +- 0.13 (stat.) +- 0.04 (syst.) +- 0.06 (BR).Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Search for excited and exotic muons in the mu gamma decay channel in p(p)over-bar collisions root s=1.96 TeV

We search for excited and exotic muon states mu(*) using an integrated luminosity of 371 pb(-1) of p (p) over bar collision data at root s=1.96 TeV. We search for associated production of mu mu(*) followed by the decay mu(*)-\u3emu gamma. We compare the data to model predictions as a function of the mass of the excited muon M-mu(*), the compositeness energy scale Lambda, and the gauge coupling factor f. No signal above the standard model expectation is observed. We exclude 107 \u3c M-mu(*)\u3c 853 GeV/c(2) for Lambda=M-mu(*) in the contact interaction model, and 100 \u3c M-mu(*)\u3c 410 GeV/c(2) for f/Lambda=10(-2) GeV-1 in the gauge-mediated model, both at the 95% confidence level

Measurement of the Top Quark Mass using Template Methods on Dilepton Events in Proton-Antiproton Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

We describe a measurement of the top quark mass from events produced in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV, using the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We identify top-antitop candidates where both W bosons from the top quarks decay into leptons (electron, muon, or tau plus neutrino) from a data sample of 360 inverse picobarns. The top quark mass is reconstructed in each event separately by three different methods, which draw upon simulated distributions of the neutrino pseudorapidity, top-antitop longitudinal momentum, or neutrino azimuthal angle in order to extract probability distributions for the top quark mass. For each method, representative mass distributions, or templates, are constructed from simulated samples of signal and background events, and parameterized to form continuous probability density functions. A likelihood fit incorporating these parameterized templates is then performed on the data sample masses in order to derive a final top quark mass. Combining the three template methods, taking into account correlations in their statistical and systematic uncertainties, results in a top quark mass measurement of 170.1 +/- 6.0 (stat) +/- 4.1 (syst) GeV/c^2.Comment: 52 pages, 23 figures, 5 tables. Submitted to Physical Review

Search for Excited and Exotic Muons in the mu+gamma Decay Channel in p-pbar Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for excited and exotic muon states mu*, conducted using an integrated luminosity of 371 pb^{-1} of data collected in p-pbar collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV at the Tevatron with the CDF II detector. We search for associated production of mu+mu* followed by the decay mu* -> mu+gamma, resulting in the mu+mu+gamma final state. We compare the data to model predictions as a function of the mass of the excited muon M(mu*), the compositeness energy scale Lambda, and the gauge coupling factor f. No signal above the standard model expectation is observed in the mu+gamma mass spectrum. In the contact interaction model, we exclude 107 < M(mu*) < 853 GeV/c^2 for Lambda = M(mu*); in the gauge-mediated model, we exclude 100 < M(mu) < 410 GeV/c^2 for f/Lambda = 0.01/GeV. These 95% confidence level exclusions extend previous limits and are the first hadron collider results on mu* production in the gauge-mediated model.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett., 7 pages, 4 Figure