Book Reviews

Book reviews by Felix Morley, Aaron I. Abell, Thomas M. Scanlon, Anton-Hermann Chroust, and Richard O\u27Sullivan

Effects of multiple single-particle basis states in scattering systems

Low-lying baryon resonances have been explored using Hamiltonian Effective Field Theory (HEFT), in a formalism where resonances with a three-quark component are described by both two-particle meson-baryon states and a bare basis state. Here, we investigate the use of multiple bare states in the Hamiltonian, to extend the formalism to higher energy ranges, and represent a larger portion of the low-lying baryon spectrum. Introducing a second bare state into a toy model extension of the low-energy $\Delta(1232)$ system, we explore the influence of the second bare state on the position of poles in the infinite-volume $T$-matrix. Considering the same system in a finite-volume, we analyse the finite-volume energy spectrum in the presence of a second bare state, providing insight into the interplay between two bare basis states, representing quark-model states, and the relationship between infinite-volume poles and finite-volume eigenstates.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Star-forming galaxies in low-redshift clusters: Data and integrated galaxy properties

This paper is a continuation of an ongoing study of the evolutionary processes affecting cluster galaxies. Both CCD R band and H alpha narrow-band imaging was used to determine photometric parameters (m_(r), r_(24), H alpha flux and equivalent width) and derive star formation rates for 227 CGCG galaxies in 8 low-redshift clusters. The galaxy sample is a subset of CGCG galaxies in an objective prism survey of cluster galaxies for H alpha emission. It is found that detection of emission-line galaxies in the OPS is 85%, 70%, and 50% complete at the mean surface brightness values of 1.25 x 10^(-19), 5.19 x 10^(-20), and 1.76 x 10^(-20) W m^(-2) arcsec^(-2), respectively, measured within the R band isophote of 24 mag arcsec^(-2) for the galaxy. The CCD data, together with matched data from a recent H alpha galaxy survey of UGC galaxies within 3000 km s^(-1), will be used for a comparative study of R band and H alpha surface photometry between cluster and field spirals.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. 11 pages, including 6 figure

Low-lying odd-parity nucleon resonances as quark-model like states

Recent lattice QCD results for the low-lying odd-parity excitations of the nucleon near the $N^{*}(1535)$ and $N^{*}(1650)$ resonance positions have revealed that the lattice QCD states have magnetic moments consistent with predictions from a constituent-quark-model. Using Hamiltonian Effective Field Theory (HEFT) to describe pion-nucleon scattering in the $I(J^{P}) = \frac{1}{2}(\frac{1}{2}^{-})$ channel, we represent these two quark-model like states as two single-particle bare basis states, dressed and mixed by meson-baryon scattering channels. By constraining the free parameters of the Hamiltonian with $S_{11}$ pion-nucleon scattering data, we perform the first calculation of the finite-volume spectrum using two bare-baryon basis states. By comparing this spectrum to contemporary lattice QCD results at three lattice volumes, we analyse the eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian to gain insight into the structure and composition of these two low-lying resonances. We find that an interpretation of the two low-lying nucleon resonances as quark-model like states dressed by meson-baryon interactions is consistent with both the $S_{11}$ scattering data and lattice QCD. We introduce a novel HEFT formalism for estimating scattering-state contaminations in lattice QCD correlation functions constructed with standard three-quark operators. Not only are historical lattice QCD results described with excellent accuracy, but correlation functions with large scattering-state contaminations are identified.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure

Cholesterol nucleation time in gallbladder bile of patients with solitary or multiple cholesterol gallstones

Patients with multiple cholesterol gallbladder stones have been found to be at a higher risk for the recurrence of gallstones after successful nonsurgical treatment than those with a solitary stone. Cholesterol gallstone recurrence, like primary gallstone formation, probably involves a triple defect with supersaturation, abnormally rapid nucleation of cholesterol in bile and altered gallbladder motor function. We investigated whether the increased recurrence rate of patients with multiple stones might be caused by more rapid nucleation. Therefore the time required for cholesterol monohydrate crystals to appear in ultracentrifuged bile of patients with solitary (n = 71) or multiple (n = 42) cholesterol gallstones was determined. The cholesterol nucleation time was significantly (p 4 days) nucleation time. However, no difference in the cholesterol saturation index was found between the bile samples from patients with solitary stones and the bile samples from patients with multiple stones (1.55 ± 0.65 vs. 1.54 ± 0.59, mean ± S.D., respectively). The more rapid cholesterol nucleation in gallbladder bile may, therefore, be the major risk factor causing the higher percentage of stone recurrence in patients with multiple cholesterol stones as compared with patients with solitary cholesterol stones

Regularization in nonperturbative extensions of effective field theory

The process of renormalization in nonperturbative Hamiltonian effective field theory (HEFT) is examined in the Δ-resonance scattering channel. As an extension of effective field theory incorporating the Lüscher formalism, HEFT provides a bridge between the infinite-volume scattering data of experiment and the finite-volume spectrum of energy eigenstates in lattice QCD. HEFT also provides phenomenological insight into the basis-state composition of the finite-volume eigenstates via the state eigenvectors. The Hamiltonian matrix is made finite through the introduction of finite-range regularization. The extent to which the established features of this regularization scheme survive in HEFT is examined. In a singlechannel πN analysis, fits to experimental phase shifts withstand large variations in the regularization parameter Λ, providing an opportunity to explore the sensitivity of the finite-volume spectrum and state composition on the regulator. While the Lüscher formalism ensures the eigenvalues are insensitive to Λ variation in the single-channel case, the eigenstate composition varies with Λ; the admission of shortdistance interactions diminishes single-particle contributions to the states. In the two-channel πN, πΔ analysis, Λ is restricted to a small range by the experimental data. Here the inelasticity is particularly sensitive to variations in Λ and its associated parameter set. This sensitivity is also manifest in the finitevolume spectrum for states near the opening of the πΔ scattering channel. Future high-quality lattice QCD results will be able to discriminate Λ, describe the inelasticity, and constrain a description of the basis-state composition of the energy eigenstates. Finally, HEFT has the unique ability to describe the quark-mass dependence of the finite-volume eigenstates. The robust nature of this capability is presented and used to confront current state-of-the-art lattice QCD calculations.Curtis D. Abell, Derek B. Leinweber, Anthony W. Thomas, and Jia-Jun W

Inhibition of Ral GTPases Using a Stapled Peptide Approach

Aberrant Ras signalling drives numerous cancers and drugs to inhibit this are urgently required. This compelling clinical need, combined with recent innovations in drug discovery including the advent of biologic therapeutic agents, has propelled Ras back to the forefront of targeting efforts. Activated Ras has proved extremely difficult to target directly and the focus has moved to the main downstream Ras-signalling pathways. In particular, the Ras-Raf and Ras-PI3K pathways have provided conspicuous enzyme therapeutic targets, which were more accessible to conventional drug-discovery strategies. The Ras-RalGEF-Ral pathway is a more difficult challenge for traditional medicinal development and there have therefore been few inhibitors reported that disrupt this axis. We have used our structure of a Ral-effector complex as a basis for the design and characterization of α-helical stapled peptides that bind selectively to active, GTP-bound Ral proteins and that compete with downstream effector proteins. The peptides have been thoroughly characterized biophysically. Crucially, the lead peptide enters cells and is biologically active, inhibiting isoform-specific RalB-driven cellular processes. This therefore provides a starting point for therapeutic inhibition of the Ras-RalGEF-Ral pathway.This work was supported by a Cambridge Cancer Centre Pump Priming award to CA, DO and HRM, a BBSRC Studentship to NSC, and a National Institutes for Health grant (CA71443) and the Welch Foundation (grant number I-1414) to MAW.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology via https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M116.72024