Parity-Violating Møller Scattering at Next-to-Next-to-Leading Order: Closed Fermion Loops.

A complete, gauge-invariant computation of two-loop virtual corrections involving closed fermion loops to the polarized Møller scattering asymmetry is presented. The set of contributions involving two closed fermion loops and the set involving one closed fermion loop are numerically similar in magnitude to the one-loop bosonic corrections and yield an overall correction of 1.3% relative to the tree level asymmetry. We estimate sizes of the remaining two-loop contributions and discuss implications for the upcoming MOLLER (Measurement of a Lepton-Lepton Electroweak Reaction) experiment.

Reduced Hadronic Uncertainty in the Determination of V_{ud}.

We analyze the universal radiative correction Δ_{R}^{V} to neutron and superallowed nuclear ß decay by expressing the hadronic γW-box contribution in terms of a dispersion relation, which we identify as an integral over the first Nachtmann moment of the γW interference structure function F_{3}^{(0)}. By connecting the needed input to existing data on neutrino and antineutrino scattering, we obtain an updated value of Δ_{R}^{V}=0.02467(22), wherein the hadronic uncertainty is reduced. Assuming other standard model theoretical calculations and experimental measurements remain unchanged, we obtain an updated value of |V_{ud}|=0.97370(14), raising tension with the first row Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity constraint. We comment on ways current and future experiments can provide input to our dispersive analysis.

Development and in-vivo evaluation of ondansetron gels for transdermal delivery.

Nausea and vomiting are some of the major side effects caused by certain drug therapies, e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy and general anesthesia. Because of the nature of the symptoms, oral delivery is inappropriate, while intravenous administration may be unpractical. The aim of the present study was to develop a transdermal gel (2% Klucel®) for ondansetron, a first line 5-HT3-receptor-antagonist antiemetic. The effects of the penetration enhancer camphor and isopropyl-myristate (IPM) were first investigated in-vitro using modified Franz diffusion-cells and then tested in-vivo in a rabbit model by measuring skin and plasma concentrations. Since a disadvantage of transdermal delivery is a prolonged lag-time, the effect of skin treatment with a micro-needle roller was tested. The in-vitro permeation studies through excised porcine ear skin showed that the presence of 2.5% camphor or IPM increased steady state flux by 1.2- and 2.5-fold, respectively, compared to the control gel. Ondansetron was not detectable in either skin or plasma following in-vivo application of the base-gel, whereas the camphor gel and IPM gel delivered 20 and 81 µg/cm(2) of ondansetron, respectively. Microporation led to an increase in plasma Cmax and AUC by 10.47 ± 1.68-fold and 9.31 ± 4.91-fold, respectively, for the camphor gel, and by 2.31 ± 0.53-fold and 1.59 ± 0.38-fold, respectively for the IPM gel. In conclusion, the 2.5% IPM gel demonstrated optimal in-vivo transdermal flux. Skin pretreatment with a micro-needle roller slightly improved the delivery of the IPM gel, whereas dramatically increased the transdermal delivery of the camphor gel.