Leptonic Decays at BABAR

We present recent results on leptonic B decays using data collected by the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. We report searches for the B -> tau nu decay, based on two statistically independent data samples.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures, Submitted for the SUSY07 proceeding

The networks of the solo self-employed and their success

An increasing proportion of the Dutch labour market is formed by the solo selfemployed (i.e. one person enterprises, mainly offering their own human capital). Knowledge on solo self-employed is still limited and this makes tailoring policy measures towards this group difficult. Their network position may play a crucial role in economic performance of solo self-employed, as resources available are by definition limited. They are likely to depend heavily on their professional networks for acquisition and mobilizing additional resources. In this paper we use a specially constructed panel of solo self-employed from the Netherlands to explore the motives, gestation and spatial extent of their networks. (Multinomial) logit models are used to relate network position to their economic performance. The results suggest that the motives for and gestation of cooperation between solo self-employed differ from other groups of entrepreneurs. In contrast to existing ideas about network benefits, information sharing and knowledge spill-overs are not an important motive for solo self-employed. Rather, they focus on executing jobs and joint acquisition. Finally, we find that in terms of success a good network position is negatively related to economic performance. In more detail, cooperation on scope is connected to success, whereas joined acquisition is related to poor performing solo self-employed. It seems that solo self-employed reach out to their colleagues when business is slow. �

Electronic setup for fluorescence emission measurements and long-time constant-temperature maintenance of Single-Walled Carbon Nano-Tubes in water solutions

In our previous research we have observed that the fluorescence emission from water solutions of Single-Walled Carbon Nano-Tubes (SWCNT), excited by a laser with a wavelength of 830nm, diminishes with the time. We have already proved that such a fading is a function of the storage time and the storage temperature. In order to study the emission of the SWCNT as a function of these two parameters we have designed and realized a special measurement compartment with a cuvette holder where the SWCNT solutions can be measured and stored at a fixed constant temperature for periods of time as long as several weeks. To maintain the measurement setup under a constant temperature we have designed special experimental setup based on two Peltier cells with electronic temperature control

New Insights into Mechanisms Controlling the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Its Role in Lung Disease

Inflammasomes are large macromolecular signaling complexes that control the proteolytic activation of two highly proinflammatory IL-1 family cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. The NLRP3 inflammasome is of special interest because it can assemble in response to a diverse array of stimuli and because the inflammation it triggers has been implicated in a wide variety of disease pathologies. To avoid aberrant activation, the NLRP3 inflammasome is modulated on multiple levels, ranging from transcriptional control to post-translational protein modifications. Emerging genetic and pharmacological evidence suggests that NLRP3 inflammasome activation may also be involved in acute lung inflammation after viral infection and during progression of several chronic pulmonary diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma. Here, we review the most recent contributions to our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms controlling activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and discuss the contribution of the NLRP3 inflammasome to the pathology of lung diseases

Relationships between Status Perception and Pro-Environmental Behaviors

This study explores the perceived social status associated with a variety of environmentally-friendly behaviors among individuals in groups who differ in their environmental orientation. Individuals in both the environmental and non-environmental group included in the study noted two major factors influencing whether or not a behavior is associated with high status or low status, which were (i) the motivation behind a behavior and (ii) observability. Furthermore, only six of nineteen behaviors showed significant differences in average status ratings between the two groups. Contrary to expectations, the environmental group provided higher status ratings for more costly, consumptive-intensive behaviors (i.e. buying a fuel efficient car, installing solar panels, and installing attic/wall insulation), while the non-environmental sample did so for more consumption-reducing behaviors (i.e. eating vegetarian food, composting, and riding the bus instead of a car). These results highlight the importance of contextual information in perceiving status related to environmentally-friendly behaviors. In addition, the results provide insights into subtle differences in how different social groups view environmental behaviors which has implications for whether and why these behaviors might be adopted by individuals in both groups.No embargoAcademic Major: Natural Resources Managemen

Experimental setup for light-to-heat NIR conversion measurements of gold nano-particles\u2019 solutions

In recent years, there is a constantly increasing interest in the application of nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and cancer therapy. In this respect, the most promising nano-objects at present are the gold nanoparticles. A very convenient and powerful property of these objects is their ability to increase their temperature under electro-magnetic irradiation with certain wavelength. In our research we have directed our efforts toward particular nano-objects specifically sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in the near-infrared region (NIR). In order to study the photothermic properties of the solutions of gold nanoparticles in the NIR we constructed a specific electronic setup consisting of a laser system with interchangeable laser diodes with different wavelength NIR light, a thermally-insulated cuvette-holder compartment with temperature measuring probes and a NIR spectrometer to control the stimulated fluorescence emission of the nanoparticles\u2019 solutions. The temperature measurement compartment with the thermal-insulated cuvette holder was designed to maintain the solutions\u2019 temperature at a fixed value right before the moment of laser irradiation. To maintain the measurement setup at a fixed temperature before the irradiation we used a thermal stabilized system based on two Peltier cells with electronic temperature control. The temperatures of the ambient air and the temperature of the cuvette walls were continuously measured in order to make corrections about the temperature dissipation during the irradiation

Rare decays at B-factories

We report the latest results from BABAR and Belle on leptonic decays of B mesons and B → K(∗)νν

Regulamentações envolvendo agentes microbianos de controle no Brasil.

A importância do controle biológico de organismos nocivos no Brasil tem crescido consideravelmente nas ultimas duas décadas. Um número grande de projetos conduzidos no pais tem resultado em reduções significativas de varias pragas, através da introdução ou manejo de agentes nativos de controle biológico. Um desenvolvimento cada vez maior do controle biológico e esperado diante das demandas internacionais, para o uso de meios mais naturais de produção da agricultura, e pela implementação das normas ISO 14.000. Pesquisa, produção, comercialização uso, importacao e registro de pesticidas em geral são regulamentados no Brasil pela Lei Federal numero 7802, de julho de 1989 e pelo Decreto Presidencial numero 98816, de janeiro de 1990. Uma regulamentação específica para o registro comercial de produtos contendo agentes microbianos de controle, considerando suas características diferentes das partículas químicas, não existe oficialmente no Brasil. Recentemente, foi elaborada uma proposta oficial para os Órgaos de Registros (NARDO et al., 1995), levando em consideração as características intrínsecas dos microrganismos, assim como requisitos para sua avaliação sobre componentes do meio ambiente e da saúde humana, baseada em regulamentações exóticas para fins de controle biológico, o Brasil tem uma serie de regras de intercambio internacional. Permissão para introdução e exploração são necessárias, entretanto não existe nenhuma menção sobre a exportação de agentes microbianos coletados no pais. Atualmente todas essas regulamentações estão sofrendo revisões e adaptações. O Laboratório de Quarentena "Costa Lima",, situado em Jaguariúna, SP, junto ao Centro Nacional De Pesquisa de Monitoramento e Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (EMBRAPA/CNPMA), e o unido credenciado no país para auxiliar o Ministério da Agricultura e do Abastecimento, quanto as solicitações para a incrementação deste método de controle. Também no âmbito regional dos países do Cone Sul, o Brasil tem participado na elaboração de regulamentações relacionadas com o controle biológico através do COSAVE (COMITÊ DE SANIDADE VEGETAL DO CONE SUL) criado em 1992, com a finalidade de elaborar e harmonizar regulamentações fitossanitárias para os países da região: Argentina, Brasil

Nonlinear viscoelasticity of freestanding and polymer-anchored vertically aligned carbon nanotube foams

Vertical arrays of carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) show unique mechanical behavior in compression, with a highly nonlinear response similar to that of open cell foams and the ability to recover large deformations. Here, we study the viscoelastic response of both freestanding VACNT arrays and sandwich structures composed of a VACNT array partially embedded between two layers of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and bucky paper. The VACNTs tested are ∼2 mm thick foams grown via an injection chemical vapor deposition method. Both freestanding and sandwich structures exhibit a time-dependent behavior under compression. A power-law function of time is used to describe the main features observed in creep and stress-relaxation tests. The power-law exponents show nonlinear viscoelastic behavior in which the rate of creep is dependent upon the stress level and the rate of stress relaxation is dependent upon the strain level. The results show a marginal effect of the thin PDMS/bucky paper layers on the viscoelastic responses. At high strain levels (ɛ = 0.8), the peak stress for the anchored CNTs reaches ∼45 MPa, whereas it is only ∼15 MPa for freestanding CNTs, suggesting a large effect of PDMS on the structural response of the sandwich structures