Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson and b jets in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

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What information and the extent of information research participants need in informed consent forms: a multi-country survey

Background: The use of lengthy, detailed, and complex informed consent forms (ICFs) is of paramount concern in biomedical research as it may not truly promote the rights and interests of research participants. The extent of information in ICFs has been the subject of debates for decades; however, no clear guidance is given. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the perspectives of research participants about the type and extent of information they need when they are invited to participate in biomedical research. Methods: This multi-center, cross-sectional, descriptive survey was conducted at 54 study sites in seven Asia-Pacific countries. A modified Likert-scale questionnaire was used to determine the importance of each element in the ICF among research participants of a biomedical study, with an anchored rating scale from 1 (not important) to 5 (very important). Results: Of the 2484 questionnaires distributed, 2113 (85.1%) were returned. The majority of respondents considered most elements required in the ICF to be \u27moderately important\u27 to \u27very important\u27 for their decision making (mean score, ranging from 3.58 to 4.47). Major foreseeable risk, direct benefit, and common adverse effects of the intervention were considered to be of most concerned elements in the ICF (mean score = 4.47, 4.47, and 4.45, respectively). Conclusions: Research participants would like to be informed of the ICF elements required by ethical guidelines and regulations; however, the importance of each element varied, e.g., risk and benefit associated with research participants were considered to be more important than the general nature or technical details of research. Using a participant-oriented approach by providing more details of the participant-interested elements while avoiding unnecessarily lengthy details of other less important elements would enhance the quality of the ICF

Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson and b jets in pp collisions at √s = 8TeV

Measurements of the associated production of a Z boson with at least one jet originating from a b quark in proton–proton collisions at √s =8TeV are presented. Differential cross sections are measured with data collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.8fb⁻¹. Z bosons are reconstructed through their decays to electrons and muons. Cross sections are measured as a function of observables characterizing the kinematics of the b jet and the Z boson. Ratios of differential cross sections for the associated production with at least one b jet to the associated production with any jet are also presented. The production of a Z boson with at least two b jets is investigated, and differential cross sections are measured for the dijet system. Results are compared to theoretical predictions, testing two different flavour schemes for the choice of initial-state partons

Probing the interaction of a therapeutic flavonoid, pinostrobin with human serum albumin: multiple spectroscopic and molecular modeling investigations.

Interaction of a pharmacologically important flavonoid, pinostrobin (PS) with the major transport protein of human blood circulation, human serum albumin (HSA) has been examined using a multitude of spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking studies. Analysis of the fluorescence quenching data showed a moderate binding affinity (1.03 × 10(5) M(-1) at 25°C) between PS and HSA with a 1∶1 stoichiometry. Thermodynamic analysis of the binding data (ΔS = +44.06 J mol(-1) K(-1) and ΔH = -15.48 kJ mol(-1)) and molecular simulation results suggested the involvement of hydrophobic and van der Waals forces, as well as hydrogen bonding in the complex formation. Both secondary and tertiary structural perturbations in HSA were observed upon PS binding, as revealed by intrinsic, synchronous, and three-dimensional fluorescence results. Far-UV circular dichroism data revealed increased thermal stability of the protein upon complexation with PS. Competitive drug displacement results suggested the binding site of PS on HSA as Sudlow's site I, located at subdomain IIA, and was well supported by the molecular modelling data

Binding and thermodynamic parameters for the interaction between PS and HSA, studied at different temperatures, pH

<p>Binding and thermodynamic parameters for the interaction between PS and HSA, studied at different temperatures, pH</p

Distance of the predicted hydrogen bonds formed between interacting residues of HSA and PS.

<p>Distance of the predicted hydrogen bonds formed between interacting residues of HSA and PS.</p

Fluorescence quench titration of HSA with increasing PS concentrations.

<p>[HSA] = 3 µM, [PS] = 0–22.5 µM with 1.5 µM intervals (1–16), λ_ex = 280 nm studied in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, 25°C. Arrow depicts the blue shift in the emission maximum of HSA with increasing PS concentrations. Inset shows the decrease in the relative fluorescence intensity of HSA at 336 nm (FI_{336 nm}) with increasing PS/HSA molar ratios.</p

Analysis of fluorescence quenching data.

<p>(A) Stern–Volmer and (B) against plots of PS–HSA system at different temperatures. Inset of (B) shows the van’t Hoff plot for PS–HSA interaction.</p

3-D fluorescence spectral projections and corresponding contour maps of HSA and various PS–HSA complexes.

<p>(A and A′) Free HSA, (B and B′) 1∶1 PS–HSA, (C and C′) 2∶1 PS–HSA and (D and D′) 3∶1 PS–HSA. The spectra were recorded in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4, 25°C using a protein concentration of 3 µM.</p

Characteristics of three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of native HSA and its complexes with PS at pH 7.4, 25°C.

<p>Characteristics of three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of native HSA and its complexes with PS at pH 7.4, 25°C.</p