Minimal Flavor Violation with Axion-like Particles

We revisit the flavor-changing processes involving an axion-like particle (ALP) in the context of generic ALP effective lagrangian with a discussion of possible UV completions providing the origin of the relevant bare ALP couplings. We focus on the minimal scenario that ALP has flavor-conserving couplings at tree level, and the leading flavor-changing couplings arise from the loops involving the Yukawa couplings of the Standard Model fermions. We note that such radiatively generated flavor-changing ALP couplings can be easily suppressed in field theoretic ALP models with sensible UV completion. We discuss also the implication of our result for string theoretic ALP originating from higher-dimensional $p$-form gauge fields, for instance for ALP in large volume string compactification scenario.Comment: 41 pages, 3 figures; v3: a discussion on general extended Higgs sector added in sec. 2, version published in JHE

ITDetect: a method to detect internal tandem duplication of FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) from next-generation sequencing data with high sensitivity and clinical application

Abstract Internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) gene is associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Although recent methods for detecting FLT3-ITD from next-generation sequencing (NGS) data have replaced traditional ITD detection approaches such as conventional PCR or fragment analysis, their use in the clinical field is still limited and requires further information. Here, we introduce ITDetect, an efficient FLT3-ITD detection approach that uses NGS data. Our proposed method allows for more precise detection and provides more detailed information than existing in silico methods. Further, it enables FLT3-ITD detection from exome sequencing or targeted panel sequencing data, thereby improving its clinical application. We validated the performance of ITDetect using NGS-based and experimental ITD detection methods and successfully demonstrated that ITDetect provides the highest concordance with the experimental methods. The program and data underlying this study are available in a public repository

Effect of Chongkukjang on histamine-induced skin wheal response: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

AbstractBackgroundStudies in animals have demonstrated the antiallergenic properties of Chongkukjang (CKJ), a traditional Korean food made by fermentation of soybean with Bacillus subtilis. CKJ might therefore be used as an ingredient in a functional food designed to suppress allergies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CKJ on histamine-induced skin wheal response in healthy participants.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Sixty participants (48 women and 12 men) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One group received 35 g CKJ daily for 12 weeks, and the other received a placebo at the same dosing frequency. A skin prick test with histamine (10 mg/mL) was conducted on the ventral forearm 10 cm from the elbow, and assessed 15 minutes later. Outcomes included measurement of efficacy [skin wheal response, immunoglobulin E (IgE), histamine, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, eosinophil, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)], and safety (adverse events, laboratory test results, electrocardiogram, anthropometric values, and vital signs).ResultsFifty-five participants (28 in the CKJ group and 27 in the placebo group) completed the study. After 12 weeks of supplementation, participants in the CKJ group showed a significant reduction in histamine-induced skin wheal areas compared with placebo group (p < 0.05). At 12 weeks, the CKJ group showed a significant improvement in percentage change from baseline in histamine-induced wheal area, compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). CKJ did not influence blood levels of IgE, histamine, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, eosinophil, or ECP.ConclusionOral administration of CKJ for 12 weeks resulted in a reduction of the skin wheal response to histamine, with no apparent adverse effects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01402141

Fermentation by Lactobacillus enhances anti-inflammatory effect of Oyaksungisan on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oyaksungisan (OY) has been used as a traditional drug in east-Asian countries. However, its effect on inflammation still remains unknown. In this study, to provide insight into the biological effects of OY and OY fermented by <it>Lactobacillus</it>, we investigated their effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammation in the RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The investigation was focused on whether OY and fermented OYs could inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) E₂as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that OY inhibits a little LPS-induced NO, PGE₂, TNF-α and IL-6 productions as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Interestingly, the fermentation significantly increased its inhibitory effect on the expression of all pro-inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, the fermented OYs exhibited elevated inhibition on the translocation of NF-κB p65 through reduced IκBα degradation as well as the phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 and c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPKs than untreated control or original OY.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Finally, the fermentation by <it>Lactobacillus </it>potentiates the anti-inflammatory effect of OY by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK activity in the macrophage cells.</p

Measurement of the Forward-Backward Asymmetry in the B -> K(*) mu+ mu- Decay and First Observation of the Bs -> phi mu+ mu- Decay

We reconstruct the rare decays $B^+ \to K^+\mu^+\mu^-$, $B^0 \to K^{*}(892)^0\mu^+\mu^-$, and $B^0_s \to \phi(1020)\mu^+\mu^-$ in a data sample corresponding to $4.4 {\rm fb^{-1}}$ collected in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=1.96 {\rm TeV}$ by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Using $121 \pm 16$ $B^+ \to K^+\mu^+\mu^-$ and $101 \pm 12$ $B^0 \to K^{*0}\mu^+\mu^-$ decays we report the branching ratios. In addition, we report the measurement of the differential branching ratio and the muon forward-backward asymmetry in the $B^+$ and $B^0$ decay modes, and the $K^{*0}$ longitudinal polarization in the $B^0$ decay mode with respect to the squared dimuon mass. These are consistent with the theoretical prediction from the standard model, and most recent determinations from other experiments and of comparable accuracy. We also report the first observation of the $B^0_s \to \phi\mu^+\mu^- decay and measure its branching ratio${\mathcal{B}}(B^0_s \to \phi\mu^+\mu^-) = [1.44 \pm 0.33 \pm 0.46] \times 10^{-6}$using$27 \pm 6$signal events. This is currently the most rare$B^0_s$ decay observed.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Measurements of the properties of Lambda_c(2595), Lambda_c(2625), Sigma_c(2455), and Sigma_c(2520) baryons

We report measurements of the resonance properties of Lambda_c(2595)+ and Lambda_c(2625)+ baryons in their decays to Lambda_c+ pi+ pi- as well as Sigma_c(2455)++,0 and Sigma_c(2520)++,0 baryons in their decays to Lambda_c+ pi+/- final states. These measurements are performed using data corresponding to 5.2/fb of integrated luminosity from ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV, collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Exploiting the largest available charmed baryon sample, we measure masses and decay widths with uncertainties comparable to the world averages for Sigma_c states, and significantly smaller uncertainties than the world averages for excited Lambda_c+ states.Comment: added one reference and one table, changed order of figures, 17 pages, 15 figure

Search for a New Heavy Gauge Boson Wprime with Electron + missing ET Event Signature in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV

We present a search for a new heavy charged vector boson $W^\prime$ decaying to an electron-neutrino pair in $p\bar{p}$ collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96\unit{TeV}. The data were collected with the CDF II detector and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.3\unit{fb}^{-1}. No significant excess above the standard model expectation is observed and we set upper limits on $\sigma\cdot{\cal B}(W^\prime\to e\nu)$. Assuming standard model couplings to fermions and the neutrino from the $W^\prime$ boson decay to be light, we exclude a $W^\prime$ boson with mass less than 1.12\unit{TeV/}c^2 at the 95\unit{%} confidence level.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures Submitted to PR

Performance of CMS muon reconstruction in pp collision events at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The performance of muon reconstruction, identification, and triggering in CMS has been studied using 40 inverse picobarns of data collected in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV at the LHC in 2010. A few benchmark sets of selection criteria covering a wide range of physics analysis needs have been examined. For all considered selections, the efficiency to reconstruct and identify a muon with a transverse momentum pT larger than a few GeV is above 95% over the whole region of pseudorapidity covered by the CMS muon system, abs(eta) < 2.4, while the probability to misidentify a hadron as a muon is well below 1%. The efficiency to trigger on single muons with pT above a few GeV is higher than 90% over the full eta range, and typically substantially better. The overall momentum scale is measured to a precision of 0.2% with muons from Z decays. The transverse momentum resolution varies from 1% to 6% depending on pseudorapidity for muons with pT below 100 GeV and, using cosmic rays, it is shown to be better than 10% in the central region up to pT = 1 TeV. Observed distributions of all quantities are well reproduced by the Monte Carlo simulation.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO