Search for the Decays B-S(0) -> tau(+) tau(-) and B-0 -> tau(+) tau(-)

A search for the rare decays B0s→τ+τ− and B0→τ+τ− is performed using proton–proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1 collected in 2011 and 2012. The τ leptons are reconstructed through the decay τ−→π−π+π−ντ. Assuming no contribution from B0→τ+τ− decays, an upper limit is set on the branching fraction B(B0s→τ+τ−)<6.8×10−3 at the 95% confidence level. If instead no contribution from B0s→τ+τ− decays is assumed, the limit is B(B0→τ+τ−)<2.1×10−3 at the 95% confidence level. These results correspond to the first direct limit on B(B0s→τ+τ−) and the world’s best limit on B(B0→τ+τ−)

Degeneracies at a beta-Beam and a Super-Beam Facility

The presence of degeneracies can considerably worsen the measure of the neutrino oscillation parameters $\theta_{13}$ and $\delta$. We study the physics reach of a specific ``CERN'' setup, using a standard $\beta$-Beam and Super-Beam facility. These facilities have a similar sensitivity in both parameters. Their combination does not provide any dramatic improvement as expected due to their almost identical L/E ratio. We analyse if adding the correspondent disappearance channels can help in reducing the effect of degeneracies in the $(\theta_{13},\delta)$ measure.Comment: 5 pages, 7 eps figure

Hemoglobin is present as a canonical \u3b12\u3b22 tetramer in dopaminergic neurons

Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrier in blood erythrocytes. Oxygen coordination is mediated by \u3b12\u3b22 tetrameric structure via binding of the ligand to the heme iron atom. This structure is essential for hemoglobin function in the blood. In the last few years, expression of hemoglobin has been found in atypical sites, including the brain. Transcripts for \u3b1 and \u3b2 chains of hemoglobin as well as hemoglobin immunoreactivity have been shown in mesencephalic A9 dopaminergic neurons, whose selective degeneration leads to Parkinson's disease. To gain further insights into the roles of hemoglobin in the brain, we examined its quaternary structure in dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that (i) in mouse dopaminergic cell line stably over-expressing \u3b1 and \u3b2 chains, hemoglobin exists as an \u3b12\u3b22 tetramer; (ii) similarly to the over-expressed protein, endogenous hemoglobin forms a tetramer of 64kDa; (iii) hemoglobin also forms high molecular weight insoluble aggregates; and (iv) endogenous hemoglobin retains its tetrameric structure in mouse mesencephalon in vivo. In conclusion, these results suggest that neuronal hemoglobin may be endowed with some of the biochemical activities and biological function associated to its role in erythroid cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins. \ua9 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Involvement of uncoupled antenna chlorophylls in photoinhibition in thylakoids

AbstractEvidence is presented, by means of both fluorescence and action spectroscopy, that a small, spectroscopically heterogeneous population of both Chl a and Chl b molecules is present in isolated spinach thylakoids and is active in photoinhibition. The broadness of the action spectrum suggests that degraded or incompletely assembled pigment–protein complexes may be involved

Classification of facial periâ implant soft tissue dehiscence/deficiencies at single implant sites in the esthetic zone

BackgroundThe incidence of a periâ implant soft tissue dehiscence/deficiency (PSTD) is not a rare finding. Despite multiple previous attempts aimed at correcting the PSTDs, a classification of these conditions has not yet been proposed. This lack in the literature may also lead to discrepancies in the reported treatment outcomes and thus misinform the clinician or the readers. The aim of the present article was therefore to present a classification of periâ implant PSTD at a single implant site.MethodsFour classes of PSTDs were discussed based on the position of the gingival margin of the implantâ supported crown in relation to the homologous natural tooth. In addition, the buccoâ lingual position of the implant head was also taken into consideration. Each class was further subdivided based on the height of the anatomical papillae.ResultsSubsequently, for each respective category a surgical approach (including bilaminar techniques, the combined prostheticâ surgical approach or soft tissue augmentation with a submerged healing) was also suggested.ConclusionThis paper provides a new classification system for describing PSTDs at single implant sites, with the appropriate recommended treatment protocol.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151905/1/jper10351_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151905/2/jper10351.pd

Physics reach of β\beta-beams and ν\nu-factories: the problem of degeneracies

We discuss the physics reach of $\beta$-Beams and $\nu$-Factories from a theoretical perspective, having as a guideline the problem of degeneracies. The presence of degenerate solutions in the measure of the neutrino oscillation parameters $\theta_{13}$ and $\delta$ is, in fact, the main problem that have to be addressed in planning future neutrino oscillation experiments. If degeneracies are not (at least partially) solved, it will be almost impossible to perform, at any future facility, precise measurements of $\theta_{13}$ and/or $\delta$. After a pedagogical introduction on why degenerate solutions arise and how we can get rid of them, we analyze the physics reach of current $\beta$-beam and $\nu$-factory configurations. The physics reach of the "standard" \BB is severely affected by degeneracies while a better result can be obtained by higher-$\gamma$ setups. At the \NF the combination of Golden and Silver channels can solve the eightfold degeneracy down to $\sin^2\theta_{13} \le 10^{-3}$Comment: 5 pages, 6 epsfig; NUFACT'05, 21-26 June 2005, Frascat

Comparison between BNP values measured in capillary blood samples with a POCT method and those measured in plasma venous samples with an automated platform

Letter to the Editor. Our data suggest that it is possible to measure BNP in fresh finger-stick samples of capillary whole blood with an acceptable reproducibility, and within 10 – 20 min to obtain results close correlated to those measured by the automated platform in plasma blood samples collected from a vein. The measurement of BNP in fresh finger-stick samples of capillary whole blood with this POCT method is in particular indicated for the management of HF patients at home and for the BNP assay in neonates and children

Fracture mechanics of laser sintered cracked polyamide for a new method to induce cracks by additive manufacturing

This paper presents an experimental investigation on specimens manufactured by Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), with the purposes of giving designers advice when designing 3D printed parts, and laying the basis for a step forward in the field of fracture mechanics of 3D complex parts. The aim is to investigate the effect of building direction in Polyamide (PA) 3D printed samples and to assess whether a crack can be initiated directly from the sintering process for fracture mechanics study purposes. Six different configurations of Mode I Compact Tension (CT) specimens were manufactured and tested; the experiments were monitored by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and fractured surfaces were analyzed using microscopy. Results showed that samples with better mechanical performance are those in which all the layers contain a portion of the crack. On the other hand, those with layers parallel to the crack plan offer a preferential pathway for the crack to propagate. DIC and fractography investigations showed that, under certain conditions, small-radius geometries, or too-close surfaces may glue depending on printer resolution. Experiments also showed that SLS is capable of printing specimens with internal cracks that can be used to study fracture mechanics of complex parts or parts with internal cracks

Signals for strange quark contributions to the neutrino (antineutrino) scattering in quasi-elastic region

Strange quark contributions to the neutrino (antineutrino) scattering are investigated on the elastic neutrino-nucleon scattering and the neutrino-nucleus scattering for 12C target in the quasi-elastic region on the incident energy of 500 MeV, within the framework of a relativistic single particle model. For the neutrino-nucleus scattering, the effects of final state interaction for the knocked-out nucleon are included by a relativistic optical potential. In the cross sections we found some cancellations of the strange quark contributions between the knocked-out protons and neutrons. Consequently, the asymmetries between the incident neutrino and antineutrino which is the ratio of neutral current to charged current, and the difference between the asymmetries are shown to be able to yield more feasible quantities for the strangeness effects. In order to explicitly display importance of the cancellations, results of the exclusive reaction 16O(\nu, \nu' p) are additionally presented for detecting the strangeness effects.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.