Oscillations in the B-s(0)- <(B-s(0))over bar> system were studied in events selected from about 4.3 million hadronic Z(0) decays registered by DELPHI between 1992 and 2000. This paper presents ...updates of two published analyses (11, 12). The first analysis, which utilizes leptons emitted with large momentum transverse to a jet, was improved by means of a better algorithm for the vertex reconstuction and a new algorithm for flavour-tagging at production time. The second analysis, which utilizes D-s-lepton events, was improved by optimizing the treatment of proper time resolution. No signal of B-s(0) oscillations was observed and limits on the mass difference between the physical B-s(0) states were obtained to be: Deltam(s)>8.0 ps-1 at the 95% C.L. with a sensitivity of Deltam(s)= 9.1 ps(-1) in the high p(t) lepton analysis and Deltam(s)>4.9 ps(-1) at the 95% C.L. with a sensitivity of Deltam(s)=8.6 ps(-1) in the D-s-lepton analysis. Previously published results on these analyses are superseded. The combination of these results with those obtained in other independent analyses previously performed in DELPHI (D-s-hadron, exclusive B-s(0), inclusive vertex) gives: Deltam(s)>8.5 ps(-1) at the 95% C.L. with a sensitivity of Deltam(s)=12.0 ps(-1).
Quinine is a common treatment for nocturnal leg cramps but has potential side effects. An uncontrolled study suggested that calf-stretching exercises could prevent nocturnal leg cramps (night cramps) ...but these findings have never been confirmed.
To assess the effect of calf-stretching exercises and cessation of quinine treatment for patients with night cramps taking quinine.
Randomised controlled trial.
Twenty-eight general practices in southern England.
One hundred and ninety-one patients prescribed quinine for night cramps were randomised to one of four groups defined by two "advice" factors: undertake exercises and stop quinine. After 6 weeks they were advised that they could take quinine and undertake the exercises freely. Documentation of cramp at 12 weeks was achieved in 181 (95%) patients. Main outcome measures were: symptom burden score, and frequency of night cramps and quinine usage.
At 12 weeks there was no significant difference in number of cramps in the previous 4 weeks (exercise = 1.95, 95% confidence interval CI = -3.01 to 6.90; quinine cessation = 3.45, 95% CI = -1.52 to 8.41) nor symptom burden or severity of cramps. However, after 12 weeks 26.5% (95% CI = 13.3% to 39.7%) more patients who had been advised to stop quinine treatment reported taking no quinine tablets in the previous week (odds ratio OR = 3.32, 95% CI = 1.37 to 8.06), whereas advice to do stretching exercises had no effect (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.27 to 1.98).
Calf-stretching exercises are not effective in reducing the frequency or severity of night cramps. Advising those on long-term repeat prescriptions to try stopping quinine temporarily will result in no major problems for patients, and allow a significant number to stop medication.
Searches for HZ production with the Higgs boson decaying into an invisible final state were performed using the data collected by the DELPHI experiment at centre-of-mass energies between 188 GeV and ...209 GeV. Both hadronic and leptonic final states of the Z boson were analysed. In addition to the search for a heavy Higgs boson, a dedicated search for a light Higgs boson down to 40 GeV/c2 was performed. No signal was found. Assuming the Standard Model HZ production cross-section, the mass limit for invisibly decaying Higgs bosons is 112.1 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level. An interpretation in the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) and in a Majoron model is also given.
These final results on e(+) e(-) W+ W- production cross-section measurements at LEP2 use data collected by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. Measurements of total ...cross-sections, W angular differential distributions and decay branching fractions, and the value of the CKM element |V-cs| are compared to the expectations of the Standard Model. These results supersede all values previously published by DELPHI.
The pseudoscalar meson eta(b) has been searched for in two-photon interactions at LEP II. The data sample corresponds to a total integrated luminosity of 617 pb(-1) at centre-of-mass energies ranging ...from 161 to 209 GeV. Upper limits at a confidence level of 95% on the product Gamma(gamma gamma) (eta(b)) x BR(eta(b)) are 190, 470 and 660 eV/c(2) for the eta(b) decaying into 4, 6 and 8 charged particles, respectively.
Searches for pair-production of supersymmetric particles under the assumption of non-conservation of R-parity with a dominant LL (E) over bar or (U) over bar(D) over bar(D) over bar term have been ...performed using the data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP in e(+)e(-) collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 192 up to 208 GeV. No excess of data above Standard Model expectations was observed. The results were used to constrain the MSSM parameter space and to derive limits on the masses of supersymmetric particles.
Measurements of on-shell ZZ production are described, using data from the DELPHI experiment at LEP in e(+)e(-) collisions at centre-of-mass energies between 183 and 209 GeV, corresponding to an ...integrated luminosity of about 665 pb(-1). Results obtained in each of the final states q (q) over barq (q) over bar, nu(ν) over barq (q) over bar, mu(+)mu(-) q (q) over bar, e(+)e(-) r(+)r(-) q (q) over bar, l(+)l(-)l(+)l(-), and nu(ν) over barl(+)l(-) (with l = e, mu) are presented. The measured production cross-sections are consistent with the Standard Model expectations. These results update and supersede those already published at 183 and 189 GeV.
Neutral B meson oscillations in the B-s(0) - <(B-s(0))over bar>, and B-d(0) - <(B-d(0))over bar> systems were studied using a sample of about 4.0 million hadronic Z decays recorded by the DELPHI ...detector between 1992 and 2000. Events with a high transverse momentum lepton were removed and a sample of 770 k events with an inclusively reconstructed vertex was selected. The mass difference between the two physical states in the B-d(0) - <(B-d(0))over bar>system was measured to be: Deltam(d) = (0.531 +/- 0.025(stat.) +/- 0.007(syst.))ps(-1). The following limit on the width difference of these states was also obtained: DeltaGamma(Bd)/Gamma(Bd) < 0.18 at 95% CL. As no evidence for B-s(0) -<(B-s(0))over bar> oscillations was found, a limit on the mass difference of the two physical states was given:, Deltam(s) > 5.0 ps(-1) at 95% CL. The corresponding sensitivity of this analysis is equal to 6.6 ps(-1).
Measurements of Zγ* production are presented using data collected by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 183 to 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 667 ...pb-1. The measurements cover a wide range of the possible final state four-fermion configurations: hadronic and leptonic (e+e-qq̄, μ+μ-qq̄, qq̄νν̄), fully leptonic (l+l-l’+l’-) and fully hadronic final states (qq̄qq̄, with a low mass qq̄ pair). Measurements of the Zγ* cross-section for the various final states have been compared with the Standard Model expectations and found to be consistent within the errors. In addition, a total cross-section measurement of the l+l-l’+l’- cross-section is reported, and found to be in agreement with the prediction of the Standard Model.
This paper describes flavour independent searches for hadronically decaying neutral Higgs bosons in the data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 209 ...GeV. The collected data-set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of around 610 pb-1. The and processes are considered, with direct Higgs boson decays into hadrons. No evidence for Higgs boson production is found, and cross-section limits are set as a function of the Higgs boson masses. No explicit assumptions are made on the underlying physics beyond the Standard Model, allowing interpretation of the data in a large class of models.