We propose a unique program of measurements of electric and magnetic dipole moments of charm, beauty and strange charged baryons at the LHC, based on the phenomenon of spin precession of channeled ...particles in bent crystals. Studies of crystal channeling and spin precession of positively- and negatively-charged particles are presented, along with feasibility studies and expected sensitivities for the proposed experiment using a layout based on the LHCb detector.
Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) specific for surface molecules involved in lymphocyte activation, represent an useful tool for the analysis of the activation pathways of different effector lymphocytes. ...We have analyzed the ability of MoAbs directed against "triggering" surface molecules, such as CD3/TCR, CD2 and CD16 to induce activation of the lytic machinery in T and NK lymphocytes, using a redirected killing assay. In addition, we have constructed bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BiMoAbs) directed against both the CD3/TCR complex (or the CD16 molecule) and a tumor associated antigen expressed on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. BiMoAbs were constructed by two different approaches: a) conjugation of two distinct MoAbs by a chemical heterobifunctional agent; b) selection of hybrid-hybridomas secreting BiMoAbs. BiMoAbs were able to focus appropriate lymphoid effector cells on tumor cells expressing the relevant antigen, and to induce tumor cell lysis. Therefore, these reagents were able to confer a new specificity for a given antigen to effector lymphocytes, independently from the original one. For these properties, BiMoAbs may represent a suitable tool for new strategies of adoptive immunotherapy, based on the use of effector cells that have been specifically armed by BiMoAbs against the tumor.
Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles provide powerful probes for physics beyond the Standard Model. We propose to search for the EDM of strange and charm baryons at LHC, ...extending the ongoing experimental program on the neutron, muon, atoms, molecules and light nuclei. The EDM of strange Lambda baryons, selected from weak decays of charm baryons produced in pp collisions at LHC, can be determined by studying the spin precession in the magnetic field of the detector tracking system. A test of CPT symmetry can be performed by measuring the magnetic dipole moment of Lambda and anti-Lambda baryons. For short-lived Lambdac+ and Xic+ baryons, to be produced in a fixed-target experiment using the 7 TeV LHC beam and channeled in a bent crystal, the spin precession is induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental layout based on the LHCb detector and the expected sensitivities in the coming years are discussed.
Background Providing a procedure report to patients after endoscopy is inconsistently practiced by clinicians. Objective To evaluate the effect of providing a procedure report to patients after an ...outpatient endoscopy. Outcome Measurements Demographic data, including age, sex, race, and endoscopic procedures. Assessments one week after the procedure included anxiety, satisfaction, recall of endoscopic findings and recommendations, and compliance. Design A prospective, randomized, single-center, investigator-blinded study. Anxiety was measured by using the Beck Anxiety Inventory; satisfaction was measured with a modified American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy survey, which was validated as part of this study, and recall and compliance was measured by a patient interview, during which responses were compared with the original endoscopy report. Setting and Patients Single university outpatient endoscopy laboratory. Between June and September 2005, 115 patients were randomized, and 83 completed this protocol. Results The two groups were equally matched, except the intervention group (received report) was older (54.4 vs 50.7 years; P = .037). Receipt of an endoscopy report reduced postprocedure anxiety ( P = .001) and improved recall of findings and recommendations ( P = .001 for both). Satisfaction was very high for all patients and was unaffected by receipt of a report. Patients older than 60 years had significantly lower satisfaction scores by approximately 6 points ( P = .004). Some subcategories of compliance were significantly better in the intervention group, but there was no effect on the number of patients who complied with all recommendations. Limitation Small number of patients. Conclusions The receipt of an endoscopy report at discharge reduces postprocedure anxiety, improves recall of findings and recommendations, and may increase compliance. This inexpensive and safe practice should be routinely adopted.
A sensitive micro in situ fluorescent focus assay (mISFA), which utilizes cell monolayers fixed on a plastic surface, was developed for the detection of NZB xenotropic type C retroviruses grown in ...mammalian cell lines. The mISFA technique is an easier, more rapid and less expensive assay than other biological tests used to detect these viruses; it gives a more precise viral titer and is slightly more sensitive. This technique allows extension of host-range investigations to include any growing cell cultures and is applicable to various virus-host cell systems.
Control pulse cleaning (CPC) is the process of experimentally removing extraneous control field features in a closed-loop quantum dynamics optimization experiment. We demonstrate CPC in ionization ...processes in the model systems K{sub 2} and NaK by applying evolution strategies during the closed loop shaping of fs pulses. The CPC technique operates by applying genetic pressure on the spectral components with appropriate cost functions, and CPC is investigated in the case of weak (K{sub 2}) and of strong cleaning (NaK). A Pareto-optimal curve is constructed for the latter case, which reveals the correlation of the two generally conflicting goals of meeting the physical objective versus cleaning the control pulse. At weak genetic pressure unnecessary pulse components could be removed with marginal influence on the ionization process, whereas at strong genetic pressure the optimal degree of ionization is affected and, interestingly, electronic transitions to particular vibrational states are exposed. Thus, employing CPC while seeking optimal controls allows for extracting information about the chosen dynamical pathways including the significant intermediate states.
