University of Cagliari

About: University of Cagliari is a education organization based out in Cagliari, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Dopamine. The organization has 11029 authors who have published 29046 publications receiving 771023 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Cagliari & Universita degli Studi di Cagliari.

Measurement of b hadron production fractions in 7 TeV pp collisions

Abstract: Measurements of $b$ hadron production ratios in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV with an integrated luminosity of 3 pb$^{-1}$ are presented. We study the ratios of strange $B$ meson to light $B$ meson production $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ and $Lambda_b^0$ baryon to light $B$ meson production $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)$ as a function of the charmed hadron-muon pair transverse momentum $p_T$ and the $b$ hadron pseudorapidity $eta$, for $p_T$ between 0 and 14 GeV and $eta$ between 2 and 5. We find that $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ is consistent with being independent of $p_{rm T}$ and $eta$, and we determine $f_s/(f_u+f_d)$ = 0.134$pm$ 0.004 $^{+0.011}_{-0.010}$, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The corresponding ratio $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)$ is found to be dependent upon the transverse momentum of the charmed hadron-muon pair, $f_{Lambda_b}/(f_u+f_d)=(0.404pm 0.017 (stat) pm 0.027 (syst) pm 0.105 (Br))times[1 -(0.031 pm 0.004 (stat) pm 0.003 (syst))times p_T(GeV)]$, where Br reflects an absolute scale uncertainty due to the poorly known branching fraction Br(Lambda_c^+ to pK^-pi^+)$. We extract the ratio of strange $B$ meson to light neutral $B$ meson production $f_s/f_d$ by averaging the result reported here with two previous measurements derived from the relative abundances of $bar{B}_s to D_S^+ pi ^-$ to $bar{B}^0 to D^+K^-$ and $bar{B}^0 to D^+pi^-$. We obtain $f_s/f_d=0.267^{+0.021}_{-0.020}$.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis. A retrospective multicenter study.

Abstract: Rationale Phase I/II studies of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) were initiated, based on results of experimental transplantation in animal models of multiple sclerosis and clinical observations in patients treated concomitantly for malignant disease. Patients Eighty-five patients with progressive MS were treated with autologous HSCT in 20 centers and reported to the autoimmune disease working party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). 52 (61 %) were female, median age was 39 [20-58] years. The median interval from diagnosis to transplant was 7 [1-26] years. Patients suffered from severe disease with a median EDSS score of 6.5 [4.5-8.5]. Active disease prior to transplant was documented in 79 of 82 evaluable cases. Results The stem cell source was bone marrow in 6 and peripheral blood in 79, and stem cells were mobilized into peripheral blood using either cyclophosphamide combined with growth factors or growth factors alone. Three patients experienced transient neurological complications during the mobilization phase. The high dose regimen included combination chemotherapy, with or without anti-lymphocyte antibodies or, with or without, total body irradiation. The stem cell transplants were purged of lymphocytes in 52 patients. Median follow-up was 16 [3-59] months. There were 7 deaths, 5 due to toxicity and infectious complications, 2 with neurological deterioration. The risk of death of any cause at 3 years was 10 (±7)% (95 % confidence interval). Neurological deterioration during transplant was observed in 22 patients; this was transient in most but was associated with MS progression in 6 patients. Neurological improvement by ≥ 1 point in the EDSS score was seen in 18 (21 %) patients. Confirmed progression-free survival was 74 (±12)% at 3 years being 66 (±23)% in patients with primary progressive MS but higher in patients with secondary progressive or relapsing-remitting MS, 78 (±13)%; p = 0.59. The probability of confirmed disease progression was 20 (±11)%. MRI data were available in 78 patients before transplant showing disease activity (gadolinium enhancing, new or enlarging lesions) in 33 %. Posttransplant MRI showed activity at any time in 5/61 (8 %) evaluable cases. Conclusion Autologous HSCT suggest positive early results in the management of progressive MS and is feasible. These multicentre data suggest an association with significant mortality risks especially in some patient groups and are being utilised in the planning of future trials to reduce transplant related mortality.

Search for the decay B-s(0) -> (D)over-bar(0) f(0)(980)

Abstract: A search for $B_s^0 \to \overline{D}^{0} f_{0}(980)$ decays is performed using $3.0\, {\rm fb}^{-1}$ of $pp$ collision data recorded by the LHCb experiment during 2011 and 2012. The $f_{0}(980)$ meson is reconstructed through its decay to the $\pi^{+}\pi^{-}$ final state in the mass window $900\, {\rm MeV}/c^{2} < m(\pi^{+}\pi^{-}) < 1080\, {\rm MeV}/c^{2}$. No significant signal is observed. The first upper limits on the branching fraction of $\mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \to \overline{D}^{0} f_{0}(980)) < 3.1\,(3.4) \times 10^{-6}$ are set at $90\,\%$ ($95\,\%$) confidence level.

Self-Interaction Errors in Density-Functional Calculations of Electronic Transport

Abstract: All density-functional calculations of single-molecule transport to date have used continuous exchange-correlation approximations. The lack of derivative discontinuity in such calculations leads to the erroneous prediction of metallic transport for insulating molecules. A simple and computationally undemanding atomic self-interaction correction (SIC) opens conduction gaps in $I\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}V$ characteristics that otherwise are predicted metallic, as in the case of the prototype $\mathrm{Au}/\mathrm{\text{ditholated-benzene}}/\mathrm{Au}$ junction.