Directly comparing GW150914 with numerical solutions of Einstein’s equations for binary black hole coalescence

Abbott, B. P.,Abbott, R.,Abbott, T. D.,Abernathy, M. R.,Acernese, F.,Ackley, K.,Adams, C.,Adams, T.,Addesso, P.,Adhikari, R. X.,Adya, V. B.,Affeldt, C.,Agathos, M.,Agatsuma, K.,Aggarwal, N.,Aguiar, O. American Physical Society 2016 Physical Review D Vol.94 No.6

<P>We compare GW150914 directly to simulations of coalescing binary black holes in full general relativity, including several performed specifically to reproduce this event. Our calculations go beyond existing semianalytic models, because for all simulations-including sources with two independent, precessing spins - we perform comparisons which account for all the spin-weighted quadrupolar modes, and separately which account for all the quadrupolar and octopolar modes. Consistent with the posterior distributions reported by Abbott et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241102 (2016)] (at the 90% credible level), we find the data are compatible with a wide range of nonprecessing and precessing simulations. Follow-up simulations performed using previously estimated binary parameters most resemble the data, even when all quadrupolar and octopolar modes are included. Comparisons including only the quadrupolar modes constrain the total redshifted mass M-z epsilon [64 M-circle dot - 82 M-circle dot], mass ratio 1/q = m(2)/m(1) epsilon [0.6; 1], and effective aligned spin chi(eff) epsilon [-0.3, 0.2] where chi(eff) = (S-1/m(1)+S-2/m(2)). (L) over cap /M. Including both quadrupolar and octopolar modes, we find the mass ratio is even more tightly constrained. Even accounting for precession, simulations with extreme mass ratios and effective spins are highly inconsistent with the data, at any mass. Several nonprecessing and precessing simulations with similar mass ratio and chi(eff) are consistent with the data. Though correlated, the components' spins (both in magnitude and directions) are not significantly constrained by the data: the data is consistent with simulations with component spin magnitudes a(1,2) up to at least 0.8, with random orientations. Further detailed follow-up calculations are needed to determine if the data contain a weak imprint from transverse (precessing) spins. For nonprecessing binaries, interpolating between simulations, we reconstruct a posterior distribution consistent with previous results. The final black hole's redshifted mass is consistent with M-f,M-z in the range 64.0 M-circle dot - 73.5 M-circle dot and the final black hole's dimensionless spin parameter is consistent with a(f) = 0.62-0.73. As our approach invokes no intermediate approximations to general relativity and can strongly reject binaries whose radiation is inconsistent with the data, our analysis provides a valuable complement to Abbott et al.</P>

Determination of N* amplitudes from associated strangeness production in p+p collisions

Mü,nzer, R.,Fabbietti, L.,Epple, E.,Lu, S.,Klose, P.,Hauenstein, F.,Herrmann, N.,Grzonka, D.,Leifels, Y.,Maggiora, M.,Pleiner, D.,Ramstein, B.,Ritman, J.,Roderburg, E.,Salabura, P.,Sarantsev, A.,B North-Holland Pub. Co 2018 Physics letters. Section B Vol.785 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>We present the first determination of the energy-dependent amplitudes of N<SUP>⁎</SUP> resonances extracted from their decay in KΛ pairs in p+p → <SUP> pK + </SUP> Λ reactions. A combined Partial Wave Analysis of seven data samples with exclusively reconstructed p+p → <SUP> pK + </SUP> Λ events measured by the COSY-TOF, DISTO, FOPI and HADES Collaborations in fixed target experiments at kinetic energies between 2.14 to 3.5 GeV is used to determine the amplitude of the resonant and non-resonant contributions into the associated strangeness final state. The contribution of seven N<SUP>⁎</SUP> resonances with masses between 1650 MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP> and 1900 MeV/c<SUP>2</SUP> for an excess energy between 0 and 600 MeV has been considered. The Σ–p cusp and final state interactions for the p–Λ channel are also included as coherent contributions in the PWA. The N<SUP>⁎</SUP> contribution is found to be dominant with respect to the phase space emission of the pK Λ + final state at all energies demonstrating the important role played by both N<SUP>⁎</SUP> and interference effects in hadron–hadron collisions.</P>

Clinical efficacy and safety of abatacept in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and poor prognostic factors

Westhovens, R,Robles, M,Ximenes, A C,Nayiager, S,Wollenhaupt, J,Durez, P,Gomez-Reino, J,Grassi, W,Haraoui, B,Shergy, W,Park, S-H,Genant, H,Peterfy, C,Becker, J-C,Covucci, A,Helfrick, R,Bathon, J BMJ Group 2009 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Vol.68 No.12

<P><B>Objectives:</B></P><P>To assess the efficacy and safety of abatacept in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and poor prognostic factors.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>In this double-blind, phase IIIb study, patients with RA for 2 years or less were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive abatacept (∼10 mg/kg) plus methotrexate, or placebo plus methotrexate. Patients were methotrexate-naive and seropositive for rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (CCP) type 2 or both and had radiographic evidence of joint erosions. The co-primary endpoints were the proportion of patients achieving disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28)-defined remission (C-reactive protein) and joint damage progression (Genant-modified Sharp total score; TS) at year 1. Safety was monitored throughout.</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>At baseline, patients had a mean DAS28 of 6.3, a mean TS of 7.1 and mean disease duration of 6.5 months; 96.5% and 89.0% of patients were RF or anti-CCP2 seropositive, respectively. At year 1, a significantly greater proportion of abatacept plus methotrexate-treated patients achieved remission (41.4% vs 23.3%; p<0.001) and there was significantly less radiographic progression (mean change in TS 0.63 vs 1.06; p = 0.040) versus methotrexate alone. Over 1 year, the frequency of adverse events (84.8% vs 83.4%), serious adverse events (7.8% vs 7.9%), serious infections (2.0% vs 2.0%), autoimmune disorders (2.3% vs 2.0%) and malignancies (0.4% vs 0%) was comparable for abatacept plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone.</P><P><B>Conclusions:</B></P><P>In a methotrexate-naive population with early RA and poor prognostic factors, the combination of abatacept and methotrexate provided significantly better clinical and radiographic efficacy compared with methotrexate alone and had a comparable, favourable safety profile.</P>

<i>In vitro</i> inhibitory effects of Wen‐pi‐tang‐Hab‐Wu‐ling‐san on human cytochrome P450 isoforms

Lee, H. W.,Kim, D. W.,Phapale, P. B.,Lim, M. ‐,S.,Park, J.,Seo, J. J.,Park, K. M.,Park, Y. ‐,K.,Yoon, Y. ‐,R. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics Vol.36 No.4

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P><B>What is known and Objective: </B> Although Wen‐pi‐tang‐Hab‐Wu‐ling‐san (WHW), an oriental herbal medicine, has been prescribed for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) in Korean clinics, no studies regarding WHW–drug interactions had been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that WHW inhibits the catalytic activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms.</P><P><B>Methods: </B> The abilities of various WHW extracts to inhibit phenacetin O‐de‐ethylation (CYP1A2), tolbutamide 4‐methylhydroxylation (CYP2C9), omeprazole 4′‐hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O‐demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6‐hydroxylation (CYP2E1) and midazolam 1‐hydroxylation (CYP3A4) were assessed using human liver microsomes.</P><P><B>Results and Discussion: </B> WHW extract at concentrations up to 100 μ<SMALL>m</SMALL> showed negligible inhibition of the six CYP isoforms tested (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4), with apparent IC<SUB>50</SUB> values (concentration of the inhibitor causing 50% inhibition of the original enzyme activity) of 817.5, 601.6, 521.7, 310.2, 342.8 and 487.0 μg/mL, respectively.</P><P><B>What is new and Conclusion: </B> Our <I>in vitro</I> findings suggest that WHW extract at concentrations corresponding to a clinically recommended dosage range has no notable inhibitory effects on CYP isoforms. Therefore, we believe that WHW extract may be free of drug–herb interactions when co‐administered with other medicines. However, <I>in vivo</I> human studies are needed to confirm these results.</P>

Search for Λc+→ϕpπ0 and branching fraction measurement of Λc+→K−π+pπ0

Pal, B.,Schwartz, A. J.,Adachi, I.,Aihara, H.,Al Said, S.,Asner, D. M.,Aushev, T.,Ayad, R.,Badhrees, I.,Bakich, A. M.,Bansal, V.,Behera, P.,Berger, M.,Bhardwaj, V.,Biswal, J.,Bobrov, A.,Bozek, A.,Bra& American Physical Society 2017 Physical review. D Vol.96 No.5

<P>We have searched for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay Lambda(+)(c) -> pi p(0) in e(+) e(-) collisions using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 915 fb(-1). The data were collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e(+) e(-) asymmetric-energy collider running at or near the (4S) and (5S) resonances. No significant signal is observed, and we set an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(Lambda(+)(c) -> phi p(0)) < 15.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. The contribution of nonresonant Lambda(+)(c) -> K+ K- p pi(0) decays is found to be consistent with zero, and the corresponding upper limit on its branching fraction is set to be B(Lambda(+)(c) ->. K+ K- p pi(0))(NR) < 6.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. We also search for an intermediate hidden-strangeness pentaquark decay P-s(+) -> phi p. We see no evidence for this intermediate decay and set an upper limit on the product branching fraction of B(Lambda(+)(c) -> P-s(+) pi(0)) x B(P-s(+) -> phi p) < 8.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. Finally, we measure the branching fraction for the Cabibbo-favored decay Lambda(+)(c) -> K- pi(+) p pi(0); the result is B(Lambda(+)(c) -> K- pi(+) p pi(0)) = (4.42 +/- 0.05(stat)+/- 0.12(syst)+/- 0.16(norm))%, which is the most precise measurement to date.</P>

The Impact of Feeding Diets of High or Low Energy Concentration on Carcass Measurements and the Weight of Primal and Subprimal Lean Cuts

Schinckel, A.P.,Einstein, M.E.,Jungst, S.,Matthews, J.O.,Fields, B.,Booher, C.,Dreadin, T.,Fralick, C.,Tabor, S.,Sosnicki, A.,Wilson, E.,Boyd, R.D. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.4

Pigs from four sire lines were allocated to a series of low energy (LE, 3.15 to 3.21 Mcal ME/kg) corn-soybean meal-based diets with 16% wheat midds or high energy diets (HE, 3.41 to 3.45 Mcal ME/kg) with 4.5 to 4.95% choice white grease. All diets contained 6% DDGS. The HE and LE diets of each of the four phases were formulated to have equal lysine:Mcal ME ratios. Barrows (N = 2,178) and gilts (N = 2,274) were fed either high energy (HE) or low energy (LE) diets from 27 kg BW to target BWs of 118, 127, 131.5 and 140.6 kg. Carcass primal and subprimal cut weights were collected. The cut weights and carcass measurements were fitted to allometric functions (Y = A $CW^B$) of carcass weight. The significance of diet, sex or sire line with A and B was evaluated by linearizing the equations by log to log transformation. The effect of diet on A and B did not interact with sex or sire line. Thus, the final model was cut weight = (1+$b_D$(Diet)) A($CW^B$) where Diet = -0.5 for the LE and 0.5 for HE diets and A and B are sire line-sex specific parameters. Diet had no affect on loin, Boston butt, picnic, baby back rib, or sparerib weights (p>0.10, $b_D$ = -0.003, -0.0029, 0.0002, 0.0047, -0.0025, respectively). Diet affected ham weight (bD = -0.0046, p = 0.01), belly weight (bD = 0.0188, p = 0.001) three-muscle ham weight ($b_D$ = -0.014, p = 0.001), boneless loin weight (bD = -0.010, p = 0.001), tenderloin weight ($b_D$ = -0.023, p = 0.001), sirloin weight ($b_D$ = -0.009, p = 0.034), and fat-free lean mass ($b_D$ = -0.0145, p = 0.001). Overall, feeding the LE diets had little impact on primal cut weight except to decrease belly weight. Feeding LE diets increased the weight of lean trimmed cuts by 1 to 2 percent at the same carcass weight.

Difference image photometry with bright variable backgrounds

Kerins, E.,Darnley, M. J.,Duke, J. P.,Gould, A.,Han, C.,Newsam, A.,Park, B. G.,Street, R. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010 MONTHLY NOTICES- ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Vol.409 No.1

<P>ABSTRACT</P><P>Over the last two decades the Andromeda galaxy (M31) has been something of a test-bed for methods aimed at obtaining accurate time-domain relative photometry within highly crowded fields. Difference imaging methods, originally pioneered towards M31, have evolved into sophisticated methods, such as the optimal image subtraction (OIS) method of Alard & Lupton, that today are most widely used to survey variable stars, transients and microlensing events in our own Galaxy. We show that modern difference image analysis (DIA) algorithms such as OIS, whilst spectacularly successful towards the Milky Way bulge, may perform badly towards high surface brightness targets such as the M31 bulge. Poor results can occur in the presence of common systematics which add spurious flux contributions to images, such as internal reflections, scattered light or fringing. Using data from the Angstrom Project microlensing survey of the M31 bulge, we show that very good results are usually obtainable by first performing careful photometric alignment prior to using OIS to perform point spread function (PSF) matching. This separation of background matching and PSF matching, a common feature of earlier M31 photometry techniques, allows us to take full advantage of the powerful PSF matching flexibility offered by OIS towards high surface brightness targets. We find that difference images produced this way have noise distributions close to Gaussian, showing significant improvement upon results achieved using OIS alone. We show that with this correction light curves of variable stars and transients can be recovered to within ∼10 arcsec of the M31 nucleus. Our method is simple to implement and is quick enough to be incorporated within real-time DIA pipelines. We also demonstrate that OIS is remarkably robust even when, as in the case of the central regions of the M31 bulge, the sky density of variable sources approaches the confusion limit.</P>

Expression phenotype changes of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines during long-term subculture and its clinical significance

Lee, J.-E.,Nam, H.-Y.,Shim, S.-M.,Bae, G.-R.,Han, B.-G.,Jeon, J.-P. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010 Cell proliferation Vol.43 No.4

<P>Abstract</P><P>Objectives: </P><P>The EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) is a useful resource for population-based human genetic and pharmacogenetic studies. The principal objective here was to assess expression phenotype changes during long-term subculture of LCLs, and its clinical significance.</P><P>Materials and methods: </P><P>We searched for genes that were differentially expressed in 17 LCLs at late (p161) passage compared to early passage (p4) using microarray assay, then validated them by real-time RT-PCR analysis. In addition, we estimated correlations between expression phenotypes of 20 LCL strains at early passage and 23 quantitative clinical traits from blood donors of particular LCL strains.</P><P>Results: </P><P>Transcript sequences of 16 genes including nuclear factor-&kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B) pathway-related genes (such as <I>PTPN13</I>, <I>HERC5</I> and miR-146a) and carcinogenesis-related genes (such as <I>XAF1</I>, <I>TCL1A</I>, <I>PTPN13</I>, <I>CD38</I> and miR-146a) were differentially expressed (>2-fold change) in at least 15 of the 17 LCL strains. In particular, <I>TC2N</I>, <I>FCRL5</I>, <I>CD180</I>, <I>CD38</I> and miR-146a were downregulated in all 17 of the evaluated LCL strains. In addition, we identified clinical trait-associated expression phenotypes in LCLs.</P><P>Conclusion: </P><P>Our results showed that LCLs acquired expression phenotype changes involving expression of NF-&kgr;B pathway- and carcinogenesis-related genes during long-term subculture. These differentially expressed genes can be considered to be a gene signature of LCL immortalization or EBV-induced carcinogenesis. Clinical trait-associated expression phenotypes should prove useful in the discovery of new candidate genes for particular traits.</P>

<i>CYP2D6</i> Genotype and Adjuvant Tamoxifen: Meta-Analysis of Heterogeneous Study Populations

Province, M A,Goetz, M P,Brauch, H,Flockhart, D A,Hebert, J M,Whaley, R,Suman, V J,Schroth, W,Winter, S,Zembutsu, H,Mushiroda, T,Newman, W G,Lee, M-T M,Ambrosone, C B,Beckmann, M W,Choi, J-Y,Dieudonn& C. V. Mosby 2014 Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Vol. No.

<P>The International Tamoxifen Pharmacogenomics Consortium was established to address the controversy regarding cytochrome P450 2D6 (<I>CYP2D6</I>) status and clinical outcomes in tamoxifen therapy. We performed a meta-analysis on data from 4,973 tamoxifen-treated patients (12 globally distributed sites). Using strict eligibility requirements (postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, receiving 20 mg/day tamoxifen for 5 years, criterion 1); CYP2D6 poor metabolizer status was associated with poorer invasive disease–free survival (IDFS: hazard ratio = 1.25; 95% confidence interval = 1.06, 1.47; <I>P</I> = 0.009). However, <I>CYP2D6</I> status was not statistically significant when tamoxifen duration, menopausal status, and annual follow-up were not specified (criterion 2, <I>n</I> = 2,443; <I>P</I> = 0.25) or when no exclusions were applied (criterion 3, <I>n</I> = 4,935; <I>P</I> = 0.38). Although <I>CYP2D6</I> is a strong predictor of IDFS using strict inclusion criteria, because the results are not robust to inclusion criteria (these were not defined <I>a priori</I>), prospective studies are necessary to fully establish the value of <I>CYP2D6</I> genotyping in tamoxifen therapy.</P>

Search for B→hνν¯ decays with semileptonic tagging at Belle

Grygier, J.,Goldenzweig, P.,Heck, M.,Adachi, I.,Aihara, H.,Al Said, S.,Asner, D. M.,Aushev, T.,Ayad, R.,Aziz, T.,Babu, V.,Badhrees, I.,Bahinipati, S.,Bakich, A. M.,Bansal, V.,Barberio, E.,Behera, P.,B American Physical Society 2017 Physical Review D Vol.96 No.9

<P>We present the results of a search for the rare decays B -> h nu(nu) over bar, where h stands for K+, K-S(0), K*(+); K*(0); pi(+); pi(0), rho(+) and rho(0). The results are obtained with 772 x 10(6) B (B) over bar pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. We reconstruct one B meson in a semileptonic decay and require a single h meson but nothing else on the signal side. We observe no significant signal and set upper limits on the branching fractions. The limits set on the B-0 -> K-S(0)nu(nu) over bar, B-0 -> K*(0)nu(nu) over bar, B+ -> pi(+)nu(nu) over bar, B-0 -> pi(0)nu(nu) over bar, B+ -> rho(+)nu(nu) over bar, and B-0 -> rho(0)nu(nu) over bar channels are the world's most stringent.</P>