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Purpose: If building and nurturing a learning organization is not a random chance, the question of where organizations should start is patent. Because learning culture is one of the core components of learning organizations, it is wondered how individuals and organizations contribute to this phenomenon. Under an interactional perspective, the authors explore the cross-dynamics between learning resources, structure and support (organizational level), and self-directed learning (individual level). Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted qualitative and exploratory research in Spring 2021 in France. They used semi-structured interviews with HRMs and a Delphi panel as the main instruments. This dual approach brings a reflexive and complementary dialogue to the research question. Findings: The results show that non-learning organizations took advantage of the COVID-19 period. They created a learning biotope and fostered learning dynamics. Although this biotope acted as a learning marketplace and lacked guidance, individuals interacted with this learning biotope. They took learning initiatives and developed their self-directed learning. This understanding argues for constant interaction and co-influence between organizations and individuals to build and nurture a learning culture. Originality/value: There is little discussion on how individuals and organizations contribute to building and nurturing a learning culture from an interactional perspective. Furthermore, literature on learning organizations considers self-directedness as a whole, considering self-directed learning as a characteristic and a process sharpens thinking. On methodological concerns, the authors used a dual qualitative approach with interviews and Delphi for the first time in research on learning organizations.

Background: Several tools are used to assess postoperative weight loss after bariatric surgery, including the percentage of excess body weight loss (%EWL), percentage of total weight loss (%TWL), and percentage of excess body mass index (BMI) loss (%EBMIL). A repeated series of measurements should be considered to assess weight loss as accurately as possible. This study aimed to test weight loss metrics. Methods: Data were obtained from a prospective database of patients with obesity who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between 2016 and 2017 in a French tertiary referral bariatric center. A multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model with repeated measures was used to analyze repeated weight measurements over time. Results: A total of 435 patients underwent LRYGB (n = 266) or LSG (n = 169). At 2 years, the average %EWL, %EBMIL, and %TWL were 56.8%, 61.3%, and 26.6%, respectively. Patients who underwent LSG experienced lower weight loss (β: − 4233 in %TWL model, β: − 6437 in %EWL model, and β: − 6989 in %EBMIL model) than those who underwent LRYGB. In multivariate mixed analysis, preoperative BMI was not significantly associated with %TWL at 2 years (β, − 0.09 [− 0.22–0.03] p = 0.1). Preoperative BMI was negatively associated with both %EWL (β, − 1.61 [− 1.84–− 1.38] p < 0.0001) and %EBMIL (β, − 1.91 [− 2.16–− 1.66] p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This is the first study to assess %TWL use for postoperative weight measurement, using a multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model %TWL is the measure of choice to assess weight loss following bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psycho-Oncologie is the property of PiscoMed Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: If building and nurturing a learning organization is not a random chance, the question of where organizations should start is patent. Because learning culture is one of the core components of learning organizations, it is wondered how individuals and organizations contribute to this phenomenon. Under an interactional perspective, the authors explore the cross-dynamics between learning resources, structure and support (organizational level), and self-directed learning (individual level). Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted qualitative and exploratory research in Spring 2021 in France. They used semi-structured interviews with HRMs and a Delphi panel as the main instruments. This dual approach brings a reflexive and complementary dialogue to the research question. Findings: The results show that non-learning organizations took advantage of the Covid-19 period. They created a learning biotope and fostered learning dynamics. Although this biotope acted as a learning marketplace and lacked guidance, individuals interacted with this learning biotope. They took learning initiatives and developed their self-directed learning. This understanding argues for constant interaction and co-influence between organizations and individuals to build and nurture a learning culture. Originality/value: There is little discussion on how individuals and organizations contribute to building and nurturing a learning culture from an interactional perspective. Furthermore, literature on learning organizations considers self-directedness as a whole, considering self-directed learning as a characteristic and a process sharpens thinking. On methodological concerns, the authors used a dual qualitative approach with interviews and Delphi for the first time in research on learning organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical vibration of the Achilles tendon is widely used to analyze the role of proprioception in postural control. The response to this tendon vibration (TV) has been analyzed in the upright posture, but the feet positions have varied in past research. Moreover, investigators have addressed only temporal parameters of the center of pressure (CoP). We investigated the effect of TV on both temporal and spectral characteristics of the CoP motion. Eighteen healthy young adults, stood barefoot, with one foot on each side of a dual platform, wearing glasses with opaque lenses. We applied 20 seconds of Achilles TV (bilaterally with inertial vibrators at a frequency of 80 Hz and an amplitude of.2–.5 mm). We analyzed CoP signals pre-vibration (PRE,4-seconds), during vibration (VIB,20 seconds), and after vibration cessation (REC,20 seconds). We repeated this protocol in natural and standardized positions (15° feet angular opening). For determining CoP amplitude and velocity, we divided the 20 seconds into five phases of four seconds each and calculated spectral parameters for the whole 20-second signals. There was an adaptation process in the speed of the CoP mediolateral (p <.01) and anteroposterior (p <.01) and in the displacement of the CoP anteroposterior (p <.01), with higher values in the VIB condition. Velocity and displacement decreased progressively in the REC condition. Median and peak frequencies were higher in the VIB condition when compared to the REC condition, but only in the mediolateral direction (p =.01). The standardized foot position led to increased speed in CoP mediolateral, anteroposterior, and mediolateral displacement (p <.01). CoP spectral characteristics were not affected by foot positioning. We concluded that adaptation of CoP motion in the presence of TV and after its cessation are observable both in time and frequency domains. Feet positioning influenced CoP motion in the presence of TV and after its cessation but it did not affect its spectral characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As regards colorectal cancer (CRC) in France, social inequalities in health (SIH) exist. Underprivileged patients are characterized by reduced incidence of CRC and, conversely, by excess mortality. The explanatory mechanisms of the SIHs influencing survival are complex, multidimensional and variable according to healthcare system. Among the most deprived compared to the least deprived patients, SIHs are reflected by lower participation in screening campaigns, and CRC diagnosis is more frequently given at a later stage in an emergency context. During treatment, disadvantaged patients are more at risk of having to undergo open surgery and of enduring severe postoperative complications and belated chemotherapy (when recommended). Study of SIHs poses unusual challenges, as it is necessary not only to pinpoint social deprivation, but also to locate the different treatment facilities existing in a given territorial expanse. In the absence of individualized socioeconomic information, research in France on the social determinants of health is based on duly constituted cancer registries, in which an ecological index of social deprivation, the European Deprivation Index (EDI), provides an aggregate measure of the socioeconomic environment of a given individual in a given geographical setting at a given point in time. All in all, studies on SIHs are justified as means of identification and comprehension of the mechanisms underlying social deprivation, the objective being to more precisely orient programs and practices aimed at combating SIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this French population based study, travel time had an effect on cancer survival for ten of the eighteen tested combinations (sex/sites). Lower survival was observed in patients residing farthest from the referral center for half of the included cancer sites. The pattern of the effect of travel time was different according to tumor type, being either linear, reverse U-shape, non-significant, or better for more remote patients. Background: The impact of several non-clinical factors on cancer survival is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of travel time to the nearest referral center on survival of patients with cancer. Patients and methods: The study used data from the French Network of Cancer Registries that combines all the French population-based cancer registries. For this study, we included the 10 most common solid invasive cancer sites in France between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015, representing 160,634 cases. Net survival was measured and estimated using flexible parametric survival models. Flexible excess mortality modelling was performed to investigate the association between travel time to the nearest referral center and patient survival. To allow the most flexible effects, restricted cubic splines were used to investigate the influence of travel times to the nearest cancer center on excess hazard ratio. Results: Among the 1-year and 5-year net survival results, lower survival was observed for patients residing farthest from the referral center for half of the included cancer types. The remoteness gap in survival was estimated to be up to 10% at 5 years for skin melanoma in men and 7% for lung cancer in women. The pattern of the effect of travel time was highly different according to tumor type, being either linear, reverse U-shape, non-significant, or better for more remote patients. For some sites restricted cubic splines of the effect of travel time on excess mortality were observed with a higher excess risk ratio as travel time increased. Conclusions: For numerous cancer sites, our results reveal geographical inequalities, with remote patients experiencing a worse prognosis, aside from the notable exception of prostate cancer. Future studies should evaluate the remoteness gap in more detail with more explanatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The management of colorectal cancer with synchronous metastasis is complex and heterogenous depending on numerous factors related to patients and health care organisation. The description of real-word medical practices is challenging. While hospital series are mainly promoted by highly specialised hospitals and are not in position to accurately measure the heterogeneity of patients and practices, cancer registries are essential to describe such practices in the area covered with no regards to hospital status nor degree of specialisation. The goals of our study were to describe the colorectal cancer with synchronous metastasis population and to evaluate the impact of the different treatments on survival. Our results indicate that a combined treatment, chemotherapy and primary tumor resection, is the cornerstone of oncological management, with survival being negatively impacted by other treatment strategies. Population-based studies provide the opportunity to assess the real-world applicability of current clinical practices. The present research evaluated the survival outcomes of different therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) with synchronous metastasis (SM). The differential impact of treatment sequence, viz. whether chemotherapy (CT) or primary tumor resection (PTR) was performed first, was also evaluated. Methods: All CRC cases with SM diagnosed between 2006 and 2016 (N = 3062) were selected from two specialized digestive cancer registries from northwest France. Cox regression analysis was used to assess survival. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors related to the combination of PTR and CT. Results: The longest survival was observed in patients treated by PTR combined with CT (Group 4; N = 1159). Overall survival was 51.80% at one year (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 50.00–53.60%) and 9.40% at five years (95% CI, 8.30–10.60%). Survival did not differ with respect to the order of treatment in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.88–1.24; p = 0.55). Conclusion: Regardless of the sequence of treatment, a PTR + CT offered the best survival in patients with CRC and SM, even though few were eligible for combination therapy (38%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of siege as an institution is a French legal creation of the late eighteenth century and it is in the field of measures of exception against crisis, which refers to the most diverse historical and legal contexts. With the French normalization, the measure reaffirmed the transitional sense of the institute, because the state of siege flirts with authoritarianism by hypertrophying power in the Executive and allowing more severe measures of repression. In this article we will work with French sources to elucidate the process of creating an institute that would gain wide repercussion in other legislations. In the course of the text, we will examine the processes that led to its standardization in France, as well as its transposition from a military notion of battlefield to a fictitious notion applied in a political context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next generation of water Cherenkov neutrino telescopes in the Mediterranean Sea are under construction offshore France (KM3NeT/ORCA) and Sicily (KM3NeT/ARCA). The KM3NeT/ORCA detector features an energy detection threshold which allows to collect atmospheric neutrinos to study flavour oscillation. This paper reports the KM3NeT/ORCA sensitivity to this phenomenon. The event reconstruction, selection and classification are described. The sensitivity to determine the neutrino mass ordering was evaluated and found to be 4.4 σ if the true ordering is normal and 2.3 σ if inverted, after 3 years of data taking. The precision to measure Δ m 32 2 and θ 23 were also estimated and found to be 85. 10 - 6 eV 2 and (- 3.1 + 1.9) ∘ for normal neutrino mass ordering and, 75. 10 - 6 eV 2 and (- 7.0 + 2.0) ∘ for inverted ordering. Finally, a unitarity test of the leptonic mixing matrix by measuring the rate of tau neutrinos is described. Three years of data taking were found to be sufficient to exclude event rate variations larger than 20% at 3 σ level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To map, from the literature, health systems and services worldwide, characterizing them as to the type of social protection, service provision, organizational structure of the PHC and origin of financing. Methods: This is a Scoping Review of databases: Virtual Health Library, Embase, ProQuest, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health and Scientific Electronic Library Online. The descriptors and their combinations were used Health Systems, Health Services, Structure of Services and Primary Health Care, between 2009 and 2019, available in Spanish, French, English, Portuguese. They were analyzed considering study objectives, type of social protection, service provision, structure and organization of Primary Health Care and financing. Results: Twelve studies that followed the research proposal were included. The systems shown are related to the countries Iraq, Ecuador, Denmark, Argentina, Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, Belgium, France, Sweden, United Kingdom and Italy. Conclusion: Among the health systems and services of the analyzed countries, some are guided by the market model, others by the public offer of health care and there are those that integrate the two models. Health systems must offer services that reach the entire population, organized based on Primary Health Care. Those who adopt the social security model are the closest to this scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The decision-making on antiplatelet drug withdrawal or continuation before performing a pleural procedure is based on the balance between the risk of bleeding associated with the antiplatelet therapy and the risk of arterial thrombosis due to its interruption. Knowledge on antiplatelet therapy-associated risk of bleeding after pleural procedures is lacking.Research Question: Is the risk of bleeding associated with antiplatelet drugs increased in patients undergoing pleural procedures?Study Design and Methods: We conducted a French multicenter cohort study in 19 centers. The main outcome was the occurrence of bleeding, defined as hematoma, hemoptysis, or hemothorax, during the 24 h following a pleural procedure. Serious bleeding events were defined as bleeding requiring blood transfusion, respiratory support, endotracheal intubation, embolization, or surgery, or as death.Results: A total of 1,124 patients was included (men, 66%; median age, 62.6 ± 27.7 years), of whom 182 were receiving antiplatelet therapy and 942 were not. Fifteen patients experienced a bleeding event, including eight serious bleeding events. The 24-h incidence of bleeding was 3.23% (95% CI, 1.08%-5.91%) in the antiplatelet group and 0.96% (95% CI, 0.43%-1.60%) in the control group. The occurrence of bleeding events was significantly associated with antiplatelet therapy in univariate analysis (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.14-9.66; P = .021) and multivariate analysis (OR, 4.13; 95% CI, 1.01-17.03; P = .044) after adjusting for demographic data and the main risk factors for bleeding. Likewise, antiplatelet therapy was significantly associated with serious bleeding in univariate analysis (OR, 8.61; 95% CI, 2.09-42.3; P = .003) and multivariate analysis (OR, 7.27; 95% CI, 1.18-56.1; P = .032) after adjusting for the number of risk factors for bleeding.Interpretation: Antiplatelet therapy was associated with an increased risk of post-pleural procedure bleeding and serious bleeding. Future guidelines should take into account these results for patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Health Sciences (2447-8938) is the property of Unopar Cientifica Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a new legal trend began to distinguish between the public domain and the private domain of public persons. At the same time, there is a need to establish precise criteria that would make it possible to clearly distinguish both assets, given the important consequences for assets, and including them in one of these categories. The most important systematization of this new trend is due to Jean-Baptiste Víctor Proudhon, with his Treaty of the public domain or the distinction of the goods considered mainly in relation to the public domain (1833). In the light of the author's theses, we will reflect in particular on some chapters of his Treaty when he comments on the construction of power plants in post-revolutionary France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 5% of colorectal cancers are hereditary colorectal cancers, including adenomatous polyposis. The aim of this review was to highlight the current management of adenomatous polyposis. The two main genetic conditions responsible for adenomatous polyposis are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (caused by an autosomal dominant mutation of the APC gene) and MUTYH -associated polyposis (MAP) (caused by bi-allelic recessive mutations of the MUTYH (MutY human homolog) gene). FAP is characterized by the presence of > 1000 polyps and a young age at diagnosis (mean age of 10). In the absence of screening, the risk of colorectal cancer at age 40 is 100%. It is recommended to start screening at the age of 10–12 years. For patients with FAP and MAP, it is also recommended to screen the upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and duodenum). In FAP, prophylactic surgery aims to reduce the risk of death without impairment of patient quality of life. The best age for prophylactic surgery is not well-defined; in Europe, prophylactic surgery is usually performed at age 20 as the risk of cancer increases sharply during the third decade. There are three main surgical procedures employed: total colectomy with an ileorectal anastomosis, restorative coloproctectomy with a J pouch anastomosis and coloproctectomy with a stoma. Restorative coloproctectomy with J pouch anastomosis is the reference procedure; however, disease can vary in severity from one patient to another and this must be taken into account to decide which procedure should be performed. In conclusion, the management of adenomatous polyposis is complex but is well-defined by guidelines, particularly in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Reprodução Animal is the property of Revista Brasileira de Reproducao Animal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: We aimed to study the association of body temperature and other admission factors with outcomes of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) adult patients requiring ICU admission.Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study on patients diagnosed with HSE in 47 ICUs in France, between 2007 and 2017. Fever was defined as a body temperature higher or equal to 38.3 °C. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with poor outcome at 90 days, defined by a score of 3-6 (indicating moderate-to-severe disability or death) on the modified Rankin scale.Results: Overall, 259 patients with a score on the Glasgow coma scale of 9 (6-12) and a body temperature of 38.7 (38.1-39.2) °C at admission were studied. At 90 days, 185 (71%) patients had a poor outcome, including 44 (17%) deaths. After adjusting for age, fever (OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.18-4.16), mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.21-4.03), and MRI brain lesions > 3 lobes (OR = 3.04; 95% CI 1.35-6.81) were independently associated with poor outcome. By contrast, a direct ICU admission, as compared to initial admission to the hospital wards (i.e., indirect ICU admission), was protective (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.28-0.95). Sensitivity analyses performed after adjustment for functional status before admission and reason for ICU admission yielded similar results.Conclusions: In HSE adult patients requiring ICU admission, several admission factors are associated with an increased risk of poor functional outcome. The identification of potentially modifiable factors, namely, elevated admission body temperature and indirect ICU admission, provides an opportunity for testing further intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Encephalitis caused by anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies is the leading cause of immune-mediated encephalitis. There are limited data on intensive care unit (ICU) management of these patients.Objectives: To identify prognostic factors of good neurologic outcome in patients admitted to an ICU with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.Methods: This was an observational multicenter study of all consecutive adult patients diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis at the French National Reference Centre, admitted to an ICU between 2008 and 2014. The primary outcome was a good neurologic outcome at 6 months after ICU admission, defined by a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2.Measurements and Main Results: Seventy-seven patients were included from 52 ICUs. First-line immunotherapy consisted of steroids (n = 61/74; 82%), intravenous immunoglobulins (n = 71/74; 96%), and plasmapheresis (n = 17/74; 23%). Forty-five (61%) patients received second-line immunotherapy (cyclophosphamide, rituximab, or both). At 6 months, 57% of patients had a good neurologic outcome. Independent factors of good neurologic outcome were early (≤8 d after ICU admission) immunotherapy (odds ratio, 16.16; 95% confidence interval, 3.32-78.64; for combined first-line immunotherapy with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulins vs. late immunotherapy), and a low white blood cell count on the first cerebrospinal examination (odds ratio, 9.83 for <5 vs. >50 cells/mm3; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-90.65). Presence of nonneurologic organ failures at ICU admission and occurrence of status epilepticus during ICU stay were not associated with neurologic outcome.Conclusions: The prognosis of adult patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis requiring intensive care is good, especially when immunotherapy is initiated early, advocating for prompt diagnosis and early aggressive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Photoplethysmography with a digital sensor (ClearSight, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) connected to a dedicated monitor (EV 1000, Edwards Lifesciences) was recently proposed for use in performing hemodynamic optimization during surgery. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of photoplethysmography on the incidence of postoperative complications compared with the conventional hemodynamic algorithm, which uses mean arterial pressure.Methods/design: The hemodynamic optimization using photoplethysmography (PANEX3) trial is a monocentric, randomized, single-blind, controlled, two parallel arm, superiority trial, randomizing 160 patients with an intermediate risk of postoperative complications after colorectal surgery. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The hemodynamic optimization is conducted using a specified hemodynamic algorithm either with photoplethysmography (the photoplethysmography group) or with conventional mean arterial pressure (the control group). The anesthesiologist performed a 1:1 randomization the day before surgery using a scratch card, which is available 24/7. The randomization sequence is generated using permutated blocks. Both the patients and surgeons are blinded to the allocation group. The primary outcome is the incidence of at least one postoperative complication during the 30 days following surgery. Two independent experts, who were blinded to the group allocations, validate the complication for each patient using an a priori classification. The secondary outcomes are to study the total number of postoperative complications, the real length of hospital stays, and the postoperative mortality between each group.Discussion: The PANEX3 trial is the first randomized controlled study conducted to investigate whether perioperative hemodynamic optimization using photoplethysmography during colorectal surgery could decrease the incidence of patients having at least one postoperative complication.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02343601. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common infection in intubated critically ill patients. Microaspiration of the contaminated gastric and oropharyngeal secretions is the main mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of VAP. Tracheal cuff plays an important role in stopping the progression of contaminated secretions into the lower respiratory tract. Previous in vitro studies suggested that conical cuff shape might be helpful in improving tracheal sealing. However, clinical studies found conflicting results. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of conical tracheal cuff shape on the microaspiration of gastric contents in critically ill patients.Methods/design: This prospective cluster randomized controlled crossover open-label trial is currently being conducted in ten French intensive care units (ICUs). Patients are allocated to intubation with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) standard (barrel)-shaped or a PVC conical-shaped tracheal tube. The primary objective is to determine the impact of the conical shaped tracheal cuff on abundant microaspiration of gastric contents. Secondary outcomes include the incidence of microaspiration of oropharyngeal secretions, tracheobronchial colonization, VAP and ventilator-associated events. Abundant microaspiration is defined as the presence of pepsin at significant level (>200 ng/ml) in at least 30 % of the tracheal aspirates. Pepsin and amylase are quantitatively measured in all tracheal aspirates during the 48 h following inclusion. Quantitative tracheal aspirate culture is performed at inclusion and twice weekly. We plan to recruit 312 patients in the participating ICUs.Discussion: BEST Cuff is the first randomized controlled study evaluating the impact of PVC tracheal-cuff shape on gastric microaspirations in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Enrollment began in June 2014 and is expected to end in October 2015.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01948635 (registered 31 August 2013). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Societes Contemporaines is the property of Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We show that the observed enhancement in the diphoton decays of the recently discovered new boson at the LHC, which we assume to be a Higgs boson, can be naturally explained by a new doublet of charged vector bosons from extended electroweak models with SU(3)⊗SU(3)⊗U(1) symmetry. These models are also rather economical in explaining the measured signal strengths, within the current experimental errors, demanding fewer assumptions and less parameters tuning. Our results show a good agreement between the theoretical expected sensitivity to a 126-125 GeV Higgs boson, and the experimental significance observed in the diphoton channel at the 8 TeV LHC. Effects of an invisible decay channel for the Higgs boson are also taken into account, in order to anticipate a possible confirmation of deficits in the branching ratios into ZZ, WW, bottom quarks, and tau leptons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Segmental reversal of the small bowel (SRSB) is proposed in patients with short-bowel syndrome (SBS) as a rehabilitative therapy, but its effects on absorption have not been studied. Objective: We aimed to determine intestinal macronutrient absorption and home parenteral nutrition (HPN) dependence in SBS patients with intestinal failure. Design: We included in a retrospective study all consecutive patients who had an SRSB between 1985 and 2010 and underwent a study of macronutrient absorption. Patients were matched to SBS controls with the same digestive characteristics. Energy and macronutrient absorption were measured. The dependence on HPN was expressed by the number of infusions per week and by the calories infused daily divided by the basal energy expenditure multiplied by 1.5. Results: Seventeen patients who had an SRSB were matched to 17 control patients. Intestinal absorption was higher in the SRSB group for total calories (69.5% compared with 58.0%), fat (48.4% compared with 33.2%), and protein (62.7% compared with 53.4%) (P < 0.05). Median oral autonomy was 100% ± 38.4% in the SRSB group, whereas it was 79% ± 39.6% in the control group (P < 0.05). The number of calories infused was lower in the SRSB group (500 ± 283 compared with 684 ± 54l; P < 0.05), as was HPN dependence (33% ± 20% compared with 48% ± 38%; P < 0.05) at the time of the study. Conclusion: SRSB allows a gain in macronutrient absorption, which is associated with a lower HPN dependence. To our view, SRSB should be integrated in intestinal rehabilitative adult programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative rates of B-meson decays into J/ ψ and ψ(2 S) mesons are measured for the three decay modes in pp collisions recorded with the LHCb detector. The ratios of branching fractions ( $\mathcal{B} $) are measured to be [Equation not available: see fulltext.] where the third uncertainty is from the ratio of the ψ(2 S) and J/ ψ branching fractions to μ μ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differential cross-section for the inclusive production of ψ(2 S) mesons in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7\ \mbox{TeV}$ has been measured with the LHCb detector. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb. The ψ(2 S) mesons are reconstructed in the decay channels ψ(2 S)→ μ μ and ψ(2 S)→ J/ ψπ π, with the J/ ψ meson decaying into two muons. Results are presented both for promptly produced ψ(2 S) mesons and for those originating from b-hadron decays. In the kinematic range p( ψ(2 S))≤16 GeV/ c and 2< y( ψ(2 S))≤4.5 we measure [Equation not available: see fulltext.] where the last uncertainty on the prompt cross-section is due to the unknown ψ(2 S) polarization. Recent QCD calculations are found to be in good agreement with our measurements. Combining the present result with the LHCb J/ ψ measurements we determine the inclusive branching fraction [Equation not available: see fulltext.] where the last uncertainty is due to the $\mathcal{B}(b \rightarrow J/\psi X)$, $\mathcal{B}(J/\psi\rightarrow\mu^{+} \mu^{-})$ and $\mathcal{B}(\psi(2S) \rightarrow e^{+} e^{-})$ branching fraction uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution summarises some of the main measurements performed by the LHCb experiment on heavy flavor physics, using data samples recorded during 2010 and 2011 in proton--proton collisions at √ s = 7 TeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the case of a Portuguese diplomat, João Chagas, who, during the First Republic, and by resorting to the conditions available to him as representative of his country, surpassed the mere negotiating role attributed to diplomacy to conduct national politics, succeeding in changing the international statute of Portugal in the Great War. The article describes the internal and external situation of Portugal in political, geopolitical and geostrategic terms, the conflict between Portuguese and British interests, the activity of Portuguese diplomats in London, Berlin and Paris, and, finally, the work of João Chagas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the existing signals in three European cities were developed according usability principles and ergonomic aspects for the citizen. City maps and signals will be tested using efficiency, effectiveness and user's satisfaction criteria. Among the urban areas are the center of Paris-FR, assumed to be well signalized, the historical center of Guimarães-PT and Chorweiler, Cologne-DE, a residential neighborhood of modern urbanism characterized by the extensive use of vegetation, the landscape homogeneity, and, consequently, by the difficult navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building design process is composed of design processes for the building's various systems. The process for each system design should be based on requirements defined early in the programme and executed by a multidisciplinary team led by a design coordinator responsible for the coordination and integration of all processes. In Brazil, building firms tend to develop fragmented designs with little regard for the advantages of integrated design. This hinders the use of new solutions, such as innovative façade technologies, that could enhance building performance and increase the efficiency of construction and maintenance. The façade influences building performance and construction and maintenance costs. It is a system that requires a specific development method and extensive consideration during the design process. In this context, a conceptual model of a commercial building was proposed to develop integrated construction and renovation designs of building façades. This article describes the model, which was prepared based on the literature and on case studies involving construction projects in Brazil and France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian hare, Lepus corsicanus, was first described in Corsica more than 100 years ago, but the knowledge on the status of the species in this island remains scarce. Moreover, frequent introductions of thousands of individuals from other hare species, namely Lepus europaeus and Lepus granatensis, into Corsica are known to have occurred and an updated assessment of the prevalence of L. corsicanus in Corsica is therefore of utmost importance. Here, to estimate the relative prevalence of the hare species present in Corsica, we conducted a molecular analysis on 67 samples collected by hunters between 2002 and 2007 in 36 Corsican communes. Sequencing of portions of the nuclear gene transferrin and of the control region of the mitochondrial DNA allowed classifying most of the collected samples as belonging to L. corsicanus (70.1%). Of the sampled Corsican communes, 86.1% contained this species, while only in 11.1%, L. europaeus was present. Three of the analyzed specimens showed an inconsistent molecular assignment between markers suggesting a hybrid origin: L. corsicanus × L. europaeus, L. corsicanus × L. granatensis, and L. europaeus × L. granatensis. The first two cases of hybridization had never been described in nature, even in studies focusing on hares from Italy where L. corsicanus and L. europaeus are often sympatric. These results stress the real risk of corrosion of the native gene pool of L. corsicanus via hybridization with introduced species. We highlight the need of urgently rethinking the management plan of hare populations in Corsica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Well-known and suitable instruments for surgical audit are the POSSUM and P-POSSUM scoring systems. But these scores have not been well validated across the countries. The objective of the present study was to assess the predictive value of scores for colorectal surgery in France. Patients operated on for colorectal malignant or diverticular diseases, whether electively or on emergency basis, within a 4-month period were included in a prospective multicenter study conducted by the French Association for Surgery (Association Française de Chirurgie, AFC). The main outcome measure was postoperative in-hospital mortality. Independent factors leading to death were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis (AFC-index). The ratio of expected versus observed deaths was calculated, and the predictive value of the POSSUM and P-POSSUM scores were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A total of 1426 patients were included. The in-hospital death rate was 3.4%. Four independent preoperative factors (AFC-index) have been found: emergency surgery, loss of more than 10% of weight, neurological disease history, and age > 70 years. POSSUM had a poor predictive value; it overestimated postoperative death in all cases. P-POSSUM had a good predictive value, except for elective surgery, where it overestimated postoperative death twofold. The predictive value of the AFC-index was also good. It had the same sensitivity and specificity as the P-POSSUM. POSSUM has not been validated in France in the field of colorectal surgery. P-POSSUM was as predictive as the AFC-index which is a simpler instrument based on four clinical parameters (without any mathematical formulas). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares in-hospital morbidity and mortality rates after elective laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery, colectomy, for sigmoid diverticular disease (SDD) in France. The study concludes that a laparoscopic approach to elective treatment of SDD may be related to reduced postoperative morbidity and hospitalization.

A new watt balance project is now in progress at the Bureau National de Métrologle (BNM), Paris, France. In this paper, the general configuration and the main parts of the experimental setup currently in development are presented. The aim is to contribute to the international effort in monitoring the kilogram toward a new definition of the mass unit with a relative accuracy of 10-8 or better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water losses from water distribution means have a high environmental impact in terms of natural resource depletion (water, energy, ecosystems). This work aims to develop an optical airborne surveillance service for the detection of water leaks (WADI—Water-tightness Airborne Detection Implementation) to provide water utilities with adequate and timely information on leaks in water transportation mains outside urban areas. Firstly, a series of measurement campaigns were performed with two hyperspectral cameras and a thermal infrared camera in order to select the most appropriate wavelengths and combinations thereof for best revealing high moisture areas, which are taken as a proxy for water leakage. The Temperature-Vegetation-Index method (T-VI, also known as Triangle/Trapezoid method) was found to provide the highest contrast-to-noise ratio. This preliminary work helped select the most appropriate onboard instrumentation for two types of aerial platforms, manned (MAV) and unmanned (UAV). Afterwards, a series of measurement campaigns were performed from 2017 to 2019 in an operational environment over two water distribution networks in France and Portugal. Artificial leaks were introduced and both remote sensing platforms successfully detected them when excluding the unfavorable situations of a recent rain event or high vegetation presence. With the most recent equipment configuration, known and unknown real leaks in the overflown part of a water transportation network in Portugal have been detected. A significant number of false alarms were also observed which were due either to natural water flows (groundwater exfiltration, irrigation runoff and ponds) or to vegetation-cover variability nearby water-distribution nodes. Close interaction with the water utilities, and ancillary information like topographic factors (e.g., slope orientation), are expected to reduce the false alarm rates and improve WADI's methodology performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Studies investigating the social gradient in digestive cancer survival are scarce, and the statistical methods used do not always consider important assumptions in survival analysis for adequate assessment. Using an ecological index (European Deprivation Index), we found a negative impact of social environment in digestive cancers net survival (especially for esophagus, stomach, bile ducts among females; colon and rectum for both sexes) and provided insight into how this social gradient in cancer survival builds up, and at what time of follow-up it appears. These results can guide clinical practice/public health actions to address social inequalities in survival by targeting digestive cancers with the greatest impact and identifying key follow-up periods to implement actions. Social inequalities are an important prognostic factor in cancer survival, but little is known regarding digestive cancers specifically. We aimed to provide in-depth analysis of the contextual social disparities in net survival of patients with digestive cancer in France, using population-based data and relevant modeling. Digestive cancers (n = 54,507) diagnosed between 2006–2009, collected through the French network of cancer registries, were included (end of follow-up 30 June 2013). Social environment was assessed by the European Deprivation Index. Multidimensional penalized splines were used to model excess mortality hazard. We found that net survival was significantly worse for individuals living in a more deprived environment as compared to those living in a less deprived one for esophageal, liver, pancreatic, colon and rectal cancers, and for stomach and bile duct cancers among females. Excess mortality hazard was up to 57% higher among females living in the most deprived areas (vs. least deprived) at 1 year of follow-up for bile duct cancer, and up to 21% higher among males living in the most deprived areas (vs. least deprived) regarding colon cancer. To conclude, we provide a better understanding of how the (contextual) social gradient in survival is constructed, offering new perspectives for tackling social inequalities in digestive cancer survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have highlighted the need for high resolution rainfall measurements for better modelling of urban and peri-urban catchment responses. In this work, we used a fully-distributed model called "Multi-Hydro" to study small-scale rainfall variability and its hydrological impacts. The catchment modelled is a semi-urban area located in the southwest region of Paris, an area that has been previously partially validated. At this time, we make some changes to the model, henceforth using its drainage system globally, and we investigate the influence of small-scale rainfall variability by modelling three rainfall events with two different rainfall data inputs: the C-band radar data provided by Météo-France at a 1 km × 1 km × 5 min resolution, and the new X-band radar (recently installed at Ecole des Ponts, France) data at a resolution of 250 m × 250 m × 3.41 min, thereby presenting the gains of better resolution (with the help of Universal Multifractals). Finally, we compare the Multi-Hydro hydrological results with those obtained using an operational semi-distributed model called "Optim Sim" over the same area to revalidate Multi-Hydro modelling, and discuss the model's limitations and the impacts of data quality and resolution, observing the difficulties associated with semi-distributed models when accounting the spatial variability of weather radar data. This work concludes that it may be useful in future to improve rainfall data acquisition, aiming for better spatio-temporal resolution (now achieved by the weather dual-polarized X-band radars) and data quality when considering small-scale rainfall variability, and to merge deterministic, fully-distributed and stochastic models into a hybrid model which would be capable of taking this small-scale rainfall variability into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of two different non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the same patient is an unlikely coincidence due to the low prevalence of each malignancy. However, a significantly increased risk of developing a second lymphoma was observed in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in both population-based and clinic-based data [ 1 ]. Most cases reported describe the occurrence of concomitant lymphomas of discordant B- and T-cell phenotypes, mainly MF and chronic lymphocytic leukemia [ 2 ]. On the opposite, few cases of concomitant systemic and cutaneous B-cell lymphomas have been reported [ 3 , 4 ]. A young woman with the diagnosis of three B-cell lymphomas. At 37 years-old, primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (pcMZL) was diagnosed on a right cervical cutaneous nodule and relapsed 3 years later on the temporal region; both lesions were excised. One year later, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) diagnosis was made on an isolated cervical right lymphadenopathy. She was staged as Ann Arbor stage I and treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) regimen for 6 cycles with complete response (CR). Two years later, the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma was made on a lymph node biopsy. The patient remained with asymptomatic cervical and inguinal lymph node enlargement for 10 years until extra-nodal involvement ensued. At that time, treatment with R-FC (rituximab-fludarabine and cyclophosphamide) followed by radiotherapy achieved partial response (PR). In the following 3 years, follicular lymphoma progressed twice and was retreated with radiotherapy with PR. After 5 years of follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic without further treatment. A patient with two lymphomas of discordant phenotype. The 51 years-old Caucasian man presented at our dermatology clinic with a 10-years history of cutaneous erythematous patches and plaques on the abdomen and upper limbs. The 3 cutaneous biopsies made were consistent with the diagnosis of mycosis fungoides and workup excluded systemic involvement. As such, a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides (MF) stage IB was made. The patient had been observed on another hospital facility 3 months before, when he presented bilateral inguinal lymph node enlargement. The excisional biopsy revealed follicular lymphoma but the pathology examination review of the sample at our hospital diagnosed DLBCL, non-germinal center type, that was staged as Ann Arbor II. He started chemoimmunotherapy with R-CHOP regimen for 6 cycles, leading to CR and a mild improvement on MF (downstaging to IB). The patient is currently on topical steroids for MF and DLBC lymphoma is still on remission after 1 year of follow-up. The occurrence of concomitant systemic and cutaneous lymphomas of discordant or concordant lineages may represent a diagnostic challenge. As the treatment of each lymphoma is often different, their correct identification is critical for optimal management of both diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The former mining district of Salsigne is situated in the Orbiel valley. Until the 20th century, it was the first gold mine in Europe and the first arsenic mine in the world. Rehabilitation has been performed during the 20 years that followed closure of the mines and factories, which led to the accumulation of storage of several million tons of waste in this valley. Nevertheless, a detailed description of the air quality of this area is still missing. The goal of the present study is to evaluate atmospheric contamination in the valley and identify the potential sources of this contamination. Active monitors (particulate matter samplers) and passive bioindicators (Tillandsia usneoides) were placed in strategic sites including remote areas. Over the year 2022, we assessed the air quality using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, as well as environmental risk indicators to report the level of contamination. Results indicate that the overall air quality in the valley is good with PM 10 levels in accordance with EU standards. Elemental concentrations in the exposed plants were lower than reported in the literature. Among the different sites studied, Nartau and La Combe du Saut, corresponding to waste storage and former mining industry sites, were the most affected. Chronic exposure over 1 year was highlighted for Fe, Ni, Cu, Pb, Sb and As. Pollution Load Index and Enrichment Factors, which provided valuable information to assess the environmental condition of the valley's air, suggested that dust and resuspension of anthropogenic materials were the principle sources for most of the elements. Finally, this study also highlights that using T. usneoides could be a convenient approach for biomonitoring of metal (loid)-rich particles in the atmosphere within a former mining area, for at least one year. These results in turn allow to better understand the effects of chronic exposure on the ecosystem. [Display omitted] • In 2022, the Orbiel valley air quality was in compliance with regulations. • Dust and anthropogenic resuspensions were the principal sources of metal (loid)s. • NRT and CDS sites were identified to be the most contaminated sites. • Except Cu and Zn, all elements showed linear deposition kinetics on T. usneoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma (mccRCC) has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, without improvement in the development of biomarkers. Recently, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been validated as a prognostic and predictive tool for many solid tumors. We evaluated CTCs in blood samples obtained from patients diagnosed with mccRCC. Comparisons of CTC counts, protein expression profiling, and DNA mutants were made in relation to overall survival and progression-free survival. CTCs were isolated from 10 mL blood samples using the ISET® system (Isolation by SizE of Tumor Cells; Rarecells, France) and counted. Protein expression was evaluated in immunocytochemistry assays. DNA mutations were identified with next generation sequencing (NGS). Blood samples (10 mL) were collected from 12 patients with mccRCC before the start of first-line systemic therapy, and again 30 and 60 days after the start of treatment. All 12 patients had CTCs detected at baseline (median, 1.5 CTCs/mL; range: 0.25–7.75). Patients with CTC counts greater than the median had two or more metastatic sites and exhibited worse progression-free survival (19.7 months) compared to those with CTC counts less than the median (31.1 months). Disease progression was observed in 7/12 patients during the study. Five of these patients had baseline CTC counts greater than the median, one had higher CTC levels at the second blood collection, and one patient had CTCs present at 1 CTC/mL which positively stained for PD-L1, N-cadherin, VEGF, and SETD2. CTC DNA from six patients with worse outcomes was subjected to NGS. However, no conclusions could be made due to the low variant allele frequencies. Detection of CTCs in patients with mccRCC receiving first-line treatment is a feasible tool with prognostic potential since increased numbers of CTCs were found to be associated with metastasis and disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) has been exploited for a long time for both its brewing and medicinal uses, due in particular to its specific chemical composition. These last years, hop cultivation that was in decline has been experiencing a renewal for several reasons, such as a craze for strongly hopped aromatic beers. In this context, the present work aims at investigating the genetic and chemical diversity of fifty wild hops collected from different locations in Northern France. These wild hops were compared to ten commercial varieties and three heirloom varieties cultivated in the same sampled geographical area. Genetic analysis relying on genome fingerprinting using 11 microsatellite markers showed a high level of diversity. A total of 56 alleles were determined with an average of 10.9 alleles per locus and assessed a significant population structure (mean pairwise F ST = 0.29). Phytochemical characterization of hops was based on volatile compound analysis by HS-SPME GC-MS, quantification of the main prenylated phenolic compounds by UHPLC-UV as well as untargeted metabolomics by UHPLC-HRMS and revealed a high level of chemical diversity among the assessed wild accessions. In particular, analysis of volatile compounds revealed the presence of some minor but original compounds, such as aromadendrene, allo-aromadendrene, isoledene, β -guaiene, α -ylangene and β -pinene in some wild accessions; while analysis of phenolic compounds showed high content of β -acids in these wild accessions, up to 2.37% of colupulone. Genetic diversity of wild hops previously observed was hence supported by their chemical diversity. Sample soil analysis was also performed to get a pedological classification of these different collection sites. Results of the multivariate statistical analysis suggest that wild hops constitute a huge pool of chemical and genetic diversity of this species. [Display omitted] • 50 wild hops from the North of France were genetically and chemically characterized. • Microsatellite-based study underlined high polymorphism among wild hop accessions. • Volatile compound analysis showed minor but original metabolites in wild hops. • Wild hops differ from commercial varieties in their high β-acid content and metabolomic diversity. • Multifactorial analysis suggested a potential terroir effect to explain this chemodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to evaluate meat quality from Ile de France lamb fed diets supplemented with sunflower seeds and vitamin E. Thirty-two lamb weighing initially 15kg were housed in individual stalls and slaughtered when body weight reached 32kg. The treatments consisted of four experimental diets: D1) sugarcane + concentrate without sunflower seeds; D2) sugarcane + concentrate with sunflower seeds; D3) sugarcane + concentrate without sunflower seeds plus 1000mg vitamin E kg-1 diet dry matter (DM); and D4) sugarcane + concentrate with sunflower seeds and 1000mg vitamin E kg-1 diet DM. The parameters temperature, pH, color, cooking loss, shear force and water holding capacity were determined at maturation times of 0, 7 and 14 days on the Longissimus dorsi muscle. Qualitative characteristics of the meat were not affected by the sunflower seed combined with vitamin E diet; however, pH 24 hours was affected (P<0.05) by the sunflower seed combined with vitamin E diet. Cooking loss was not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by diet or maturation times. On the other hand, shear force and water holding capacity were significantly affected (P<0.05) by the treatments. The use of vitamin E resulted in lamb meat with higher water holding capacity. Maturation time influenced the parameters pH, color and shear force. Lamb meat that matured for 7 days displayed the lowest shear force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A binned Dalitz plot analysis of decays, with and , is performed to measure the CP-violating observables and which are sensitive to the CKM angle γ. The analysis exploits of data collected by the LHCb experiment. The study makes no model-based assumption on the variation of the strong phase of the D decay amplitude over the Dalitz plot, but uses measurements of this quantity from CLEO-c as input. The values of the parameters are found to be , , and . The first, second, and third uncertainties are the statistical, the experimental systematic, and the error associated with the precision of the strong-phase parameters measured at CLEO-c, respectively. These results correspond to , with a second solution at , and , where is the ratio between the suppressed and favoured B decay amplitudes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heavy quark production in 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy pp collisions at the LHC is not necessarily flavour symmetric. The production asymmetry, , between and mesons is studied using the decay mode in a data sample of collected with the LHCb detector. The difference between and detection efficiencies is determined using the ratios of fully reconstructed to partially reconstructed decays. The overall production asymmetry in the rapidity region 2.0 to 4.5 with transverse momentum larger than 2 GeV is measured to be . This result can constrain models of heavy flavour production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The branching fraction is measured in a data sample corresponding to of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. This channel is sensitive to the penguin contributions affecting the measurement from . The time-integrated branching fraction is measured to be . This is the most precise measurement to date. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Measurements of b-hadron masses are performed with the exclusive decay modes , , , and using an integrated luminosity of collected in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV by the LHCb experiment. The momentum scale is calibrated with decays and verified to be known to a relative precision of 2 using other two-body decays. The results are more precise than previous measurements, particularly in the case of the and masses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A measurement of the effective lifetime is presented using approximately of data collected by LHCb during 2010. This quantity can be used to put constraints on contributions from processes beyond the Standard Model in the meson system and is determined by two complementary approaches as [Copyright &y& Elsevier]