Search for same-sign top-quark pair production at root s=7 TeV and limits on flavour changing neutral currents in the top sector

An inclusive search for same-sign top-quark pair production in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV is performed using a data sample recorded with the CMS detector in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35 pb(-1). This analysis is motivated by recent studies of p (p) over bar -> t (t) over bar reporting mass-dependent forward-backward asymmetries larger than expected from the standard model. These asymmetries could be due to Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) in the top sector induced by t -channel exchange of a massive neutral vector boson (Z'). Models with such a Z' also predict enhancement of same-sign top-pair production in pp or pp collisions. Limits are set as a function of the Z' mass and its couplings to u and t quarks. These limits disfavour the FCNC interpretation of the Tevatron results

Search for a very light NMSSM Higgs boson produced in decays of the 125 GeV scalar boson and decaying into tau leptons in pp collisions at root 8=TeV

Peer reviewe

Expected poor ovarian response in predicting cumulative pregnancy rates: a powerful tool

Poor ovarian response in IVF cycles is associated with poor pregnancy rates. Expected poor responders may represent the worst prognostic group. Data were used from 222 patients starting the first of three IVF treatment cycles. The predictability of ongoing pregnancy after three cycles was analysed using Survival analysis and hazard rate ratios. If first cycle poor responders were also predicted to have a poor response, they were classified as expected poor responders. The predicted pregnancy rate in cycles 2 and 3 for women with an observed pool response in the first cycle was similar to 24% for women aged 30 years and similar to 14% for women aged 40 years. For women with an expected poor response these rates were 12% and 6%, respectively. In contrast, women aged 40 years with in unexpected poor response still had a predicted cumulative pregnancy rate of 24%. Age as a sole predictor of cumulative pregnancy does not help to identify poor prognosis cases. Cumulative pregnancy rates in subsequent cycles for patients with an observed poor response in the first cycle may be a reason to refrain from further treatment. However, if such poor response has been expected, further treatment may be avoided because of all unfavourable prognosis for pregnancy

Tumor-specific antibodies in sera from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: Detection by a membrane immunofluorescence assay on cultured cervical carcinoma cells

An indirect immunofluorescence assay is described which specifically detects antibodies against cervical carcinoma-associated membrane antigens. Cells from the ME-180 cervical carcinoma cell line were used as target cells. Sera had to be absorbed with pooled tonsillar lymphocytes prior to use, to remove nonspecific antibodies. The antibody was detected in 61 of 74 patients (82%) with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix and in 5 of 65 controls (8%). A group of 49 patients with early or preneoplastic stages of this tumor (microinvasive carcinoma, carcinome-in-situ, and dysplasia) did not differ from the control group in the incidence of the antibody (5 of 49 patients, 10%). It is concluded that the occurrence of this antibody is specific for cervical carcinoma (P<0.001). However, the assay cannot be used as a diagnostic marker for preneoplastic stages of this tumor

Anti-Mullerian Hormone Predicts Menopause: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study in Normoovulatory Women

Context: It has been hypothesized that a fixed interval exists between age at natural sterility and age at menopause. Both events show considerable individual variability, with a range of 20 yr. Correct prediction of age at menopause could open avenues of individualized prevention of age-related infertility and other menopause-related conditions, like cardiovascular disease and breast carcinoma. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the ability of ovarian reserve tests to predict age at menopause. Design and Setting: We conducted a long-term follow-up study at an academic hospital. Participants: A total of 257 normoovulatory women (age, 21-46 yr) were derived from three cohorts with highly comparable selection criteria. Interventions: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count, and FSH were assessed at time 1 (T1). At time 2 (T2), approximately 11 yr later, cycle status (strictly regular, menopausal transition, or postmenopause) and age at menopause were inventoried. Main Outcome Measures: Accuracy of the ovarian reserve tests in predicting time to menopause was assessed by Cox regression, and a nomogram was constructed for the relationship between age-specific AMH concentrations at T1 and age at menopause. Results: A total of 48 (19%) women had reached postmenopause at T2. Age, AMH, and antral follicle count at T1 were significantly related with time to menopause (P < 0.001) and showed a good percentage of correct predictions (C-statistic, 0.87, 0.86, and 0.84, respectively). After adjusting for age, only AMH added to this prediction (C-statistic, 0.90). From the constructed nomogram, it appeared that the normal distribution of age at menopause will shift considerably, depending on the individual Conclusions: AMH is highly predictive for timing of menopause. Using age and AMH, the age range in which menopause will subsequently occur can be individually calculated. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96: 2532-2539, 2011

A case of mistaken identity

What went wrong between the UK media and a report on 'multi-ethnic' Britain

Observation of long-range, near-side angular correlations in proton-proton collisions at the LHC

Results on two-particle angular correlations for charged particles emitted in pPb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV are presented. The analysis uses two million collisions collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The correlations are studied over a broad range of pseudorapidity, η, and full azimuth, φ, as a function of charged particle multiplicity and particle transverse momentum, pT. In high-multiplicity events, a long-range (2&lt;|δη|&lt;4), near-side (δφ≈0) structure emerges in the two-particle δη-δφ correlation functions. This is the first observation of such correlations in proton-nucleus collisions, resembling the ridge-like correlations seen in high-multiplicity pp collisions at s=7 TeV and in AA collisions over a broad range of center-of-mass energies. The correlation strength exhibits a pronounced maximum in the range of pT=1-1.5 GeV/c and an approximately linear increase with charged particle multiplicity for high-multiplicity events. These observations are qualitatively similar to those in pp collisions when selecting the same observed particle multiplicity, while the overall strength of the correlations is significantly larger in pPb collisions. © 2012 CERN