One-dimensional classical adjoint SU(2) Coulomb Gas

The equation of state of a one-dimensional classical nonrelativistic Coulomb gas of particles in the adjoint representation of SU(2) is given. The problem is solved both with and without sources in the fundamental representation at either end of the system. The gas exhibits confining properties at low densities and temperatures and deconfinement in the limit of high densities and temperatures. However, there is no phase transition to a regime where the string tension vanishes identically; true deconfinement only happens for infinite densities and temperatures. In the low density, low temperature limit, a new type of collective behavior is observed.Comment: 6 pages, 1 postscript figur

Sivers and Boer-Mulders observables from lattice QCD

We present a first calculation of transverse momentum dependent nucleon observables in dynamical lattice QCD employing non-local operators with staple-shaped, "process-dependent" Wilson lines. The use of staple-shaped Wilson lines allows us to link lattice simulations to TMD effects determined from experiment, and in particular to access non-universal, naively time-reversal odd TMD observables. We present and discuss results for the generalized Sivers and Boer-Mulders transverse momentum shifts for the SIDIS and DY cases. The effect of staple-shaped Wilson lines on T-even observables is studied for the generalized tensor charge and a generalized transverse shift related to the worm gear function g_1T. We emphasize the dependence of these observables on the staple extent and the Collins-Soper evolution parameter. Our numerical calculations use an n_f = 2+1 mixed action scheme with domain wall valence fermions on an Asqtad sea and pion masses 369 MeV as well as 518 MeV.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures; version accepted by journal. Contains additional section explaining and summarizing the methodolog

The intrinsic strangeness and charm of the nucleon using improved staggered fermions

We calculate the intrinsic strangeness of the nucleon, - , using the MILC library of improved staggered gauge configurations using the Asqtad and HISQ actions. Additionally, we present a preliminary calculation of the intrinsic charm of the nucleon using the HISQ action with dynamical charm. The calculation is done with a method which incorporates features of both commonly-used methods, the direct evaluation of the three-point function and the application of the Feynman- Hellman theorem. We present an improvement on this method that further reduces the statistical error, and check the result from this hybrid method against the other two methods and find that they are consistent. The values for and found here, together with perturbative results for heavy quarks, show that dark matter scattering through Higgs-like exchange receives roughly equal contributions from all heavy quark flavors.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figure

Isolated familial pheochromocytoma as a variant of von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Inherited pheochromocytomas are often part of familial syndromes, especially multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), retinal cerebellar hemangioblastomatosis [von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) disease] or neurofibromatosis type 1. It is not clear whether isolated familial pheochromocytoma exists as a separate clinical entity. In a family with pheochromocytomas in three generations and with at least seven affected members, we investigated by clinical and genetic analyses the presence or absence of associated conditions. The clinical investigations included ophthalmological and radiological studies for von Hippel-Lindau disease (magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, computed tomography of the abdomen, and direct ophthalmoscopy after mydriasis) and annual calcitonin stimulation tests for C cell disease in five members who agreed to regular follow-up. Besides the pheochromocytomas (so far, these have been multiple in five of seven individuals) no definite second associated condition was found. Genetic analysis did not identify any MEN 2-specific RET protooncogene point mutations (which are present in 97% of MEN 2a families). However, despite the complete absence of other clinical manifestations of the vHL disease (besides pheochromocytomas), a previously undescribed germline missense mutation in the vHL tumor suppressor gene was found (C775G transversion with a predicted substitution of a leucine by a valine at codon 259 in the putative vHL protein). We conclude that in this family the sole occurrence of pheochromocytoma is a variant of vHL disease

Quark Contributions to Nucleon Momentum and Spin from Domain Wall fermion calculations

We report contributions to the nucleon spin and momentum from light quarks calculated using dynamical domain wall fermions with pion masses down to 300 MeV and fine lattice spacing a=0.084 fm. Albeit without disconnected diagrams, we observe that spin and orbital angular momenta of both u and d quarks are opposite, almost canceling in the case of the d quark, which agrees with previous calculations using a mixed quark action. We also present the full momentum dependence of n=2 generalized form factors showing little variation with the pion mass.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, NT-LBNL-11-020, MIT-CTP-4323. Presented at the 29th International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory (Lattice 2011), Squaw Valley, California, 10-16 Jul 201

Nucleon electromagnetic form factors from lattice QCD using a nearly physical pion mass

We present lattice QCD calculations of nucleon electromagnetic form factors using pion masses $m_\pi$ = 149, 202, and 254 MeV and an action with clover-improved Wilson quarks coupled to smeared gauge fields, as used by the Budapest-Marseille-Wuppertal collaboration. Particular attention is given to removal of the effects of excited state contamination by calculation at three source-sink separations and use of the summation and generalized pencil-of-function methods. The combination of calculation at the nearly physical mass $m_\pi$ = 149 MeV in a large spatial volume ($m_\pi L_s$ = 4.2) and removal of excited state effects yields agreement with experiment for the electric and magnetic form factors $G_E(Q^2)$ and $G_M(Q^2)$ up to $Q^2$ = 0.5 GeV$^2$.Comment: v2: published version; 30 pages, 25 figures, 6 table

Center vortices on SU(2) lattices

We show that gauge invariant definition of thin, thick and hybrid center vortices, defined by Kovacs and Tomboulis on SO(3) x Z(2) configurations, can also be defined in SU(2). We make this connection using the freedom of choosing a particular SU(2) representative of SO(3). We further show that in another representative the Tomboulis \sigma - \eta thin vortices are P (projection) vortices. The projection approximation corresponds to dropping the perimeter factor of a Wilson loop after appropriate gauge fixing. We present results for static quark potentials based on these vortex counters and compare pojection vortex counters with gauge invariant ones on the same configuration.Comment: LaTe

International Laboratory Comparison of Influenza Microneutralization Assays for A(H1N1) pdm09, A(H3N2), and A(H5N1) Influenza Viruses by CONSISE

The microneutralization assay is commonly used to detect antibodies to influenza virus, and multiple protocols are used worldwide. These protocols differ in the incubation time of the assay as well as in the order of specific steps, and even within protocols there are often further adjustments in individual laboratories. The impact these protocol variations have on influenza serology data is unclear. Thus, a laboratory comparison of the 2-day enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 3-day hemagglutination (HA) microneutralization (MN) protocols, using A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and A(H5N1) viruses, was performed by the CONSISE Laboratory Working Group. Individual laboratories performed both assay protocols, on multiple occasions, using different serum panels. Thirteen laboratories from around the world participated. Within each laboratory, serum sample titers for the different assay protocols were compared between assays to determine the sensitivity of each assay and were compared between replicates to assess the reproducibility of each protocol for each laboratory. There was good correlation of the results obtained using the two assay protocols in most laboratories, indicating that these assays may be interchangeable for detecting antibodies to the influenza A viruses included in this study. Importantly, participating laboratories have aligned their methodologies to the CONSISE consensus 2-day ELISA and 3-day HA MN assay protocols to enable better correlation of these assays in the future