1/Nc Expansion in QCD: Double-Line Counting Rules and the Undeservingly Discarded U(1) Ghost

The 1/Nc expansion is one of the very few methods we have for generating a systematic expansion of QCD at the energy scale relevant to hadron structure. The present formulation of this theory relies on the double-line notation for calculating the leading order of a diagram in the 1/Nc expansion, where the local SU(Nc) gauge symmetry is substituted by a U(Nc) symmetry and the associated U(1) ghost field is ignored. In the current work we demonstrate the insufficiency of this formulation for describing certain non-planar diagrams. We derive a more complete set of Feynman rules that include the U(1) ghost field and provide a useful tool for calculating both color factors and 1/Nc orders of all color-singlet diagrams

Chiral Nonanalytic Behaviour: The Edinburgh Plot

The Edinburgh Plot is a scale independent way of presenting lattice QCD calculations over a wide range of quark masses. In this sense it is appealing as an indicator of how the approach to physical quark masses is progressing. The difficulty remains that even the most state of the art calculations are still at quark masses that are too heavy to apply dimensionally-regulated chiral perturbation theory. We present a method allowing predictions of the behaviour of the Edinburgh plot, in both the continuum, and on the lattice.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Lattice2002(Spectrum

Changes in the intestinal microbiota after a short period of dietary over-indulgence, representative of a holiday or festival season

The effects on the intestinal microbiota of a short period of marginal over-eating, characteristic of holiday or festival periods, were investigated in a pilot study. Fourteen healthy male subjects consumed a diet rich in animal protein and fat for seven days. During this period, the subjects significantly increased their dietary energy, protein, carbohydrate and fat intakes by 56, 59, 53 and 58%, respectively (all P < 0.05). The mean weight gain of 0.27 kg was less than the expected 1 kg, but this was consistent with a degree of under-reporting on the baseline diet. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis confirmed the relative stability of each individual’s faecal microbiota but showed considerable variations between them. The diet was associated with a significant increase in numbers of total faecal bacteria and the bacteroides group, as detected by the universal bacterial probe (DAPI) and Bacteroides probe (Bac 303), respectively. Overall, there was a decrease in numbers of the Lactobacillus/Enterococcus group (Lab 158 probe; 2.8 ± 3.0% to 1.8 ± 1.8%) and the Bifidobacterium group (Bif 164 probe; 3.0 ± 3.7% to 1.7 ± 1.2%), although there was considerable inter-individual variation. Analysis of the relative proportions of each bacterial group as a percentage of the subject’s total bacteria showed a trend for a change in the intestinal microbiota that might be considered potentially unhealthy

Baryon Mass Extrapolation

Consideration of the analytical properties of pion-induced baryon self-energies leads to new functional forms for the extrapolation of light baryon masses. These functional forms reproduce the leading non-analytic behavior of chiral perturbation theory, the correct heavy-quark limit and have the advantage of containing information on the extended structure of hadrons. The forms involve only three unknown parameters which may be optimized by fitting to present lattice data. Recent dynamical fermion results from CP-PACS and UK-QCD are extrapolated using these new functional forms. We also use these functions to probe the limit of the chiral perturbative regime and shed light on the applicability of chiral perturbation theory to the extrapolation of present lattice QCD results.Comment: LATTICE99 (QCD Spectrum and Quark Masses

Particle Sizing in Strongly Turbid Suspensions with the One-Beam Cross-Correlation Dynamic Light-Scattering Technique

The utility of the one-beam cross-correlation dynamic light-scattering system for sizing small particles in suspension was previously limited by its small-intensity signal-to-baseline ratio for strongly turbid suspensions. We describe three improvements in the optical system and sample cell that raise the ratio to a value comparable with that of other cross-correlation dynamic light-scattering systems. These improvements are (i) using a square cross-sectional sample cell to minimize the attenuation of the incident beam and singly scattered light, (ii) placing a 200-mu m-wide slit between the sample cell and the detector fibers to mask off the region of weak single scattering and strong multiple scattering from the detectors\u27 field of view, and (iii) aligning the center of the detectors\u27 field of view with the region of strongest single scattering. We analyze a number of suspensions of polystyrene latex spheres with a diameter between 65 and 562 Ma in water using this improved one-beam instrument and find that the measured radius is determined in a 2-min data collection time to better than +/-10% for volume fractions of the suspended polystyrene latex spheres up to a few percent. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 are activated during implantation and placentation in sheep

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The progression of implantation and placentation in ruminants is complex and is regulated by interplay between sex steroids and local signaling molecules, many of which have immune function. Chemokines and their receptors are pivotal factors in implantation and vascularization of the placenta. Based on known critical roles for chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) during early pregnancy in other species, we hypothesized that CXCR4 and its ligand CXCL12 would increase in the endometrium and conceptus in response to implantation in ewes. The objectives of the current study were to determine if CXCL12 and CXCR4 were upregulated in: endometrium from pregnant compared to non-pregnant ewes and in, conceptuses, cotyledons, caruncles and intercaruncular tissue.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tissues were collected from sheep on Days 12, 13, 14, and 15 of either the estrous cycle or pregnancy and from pregnant ewes on Days 35 and 50. Blood samples from jugular and uterine vein were also collected on all days. Conceptuses were collected from mature ewes on Days 13, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 30 of gestation. Real time PCR was used to determine relative mRNA concentrations for CXCL12 and CXCR4 and Western blot analysis was employed to confirm protein concentration.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Differences described are P < 0.05. In the endometrium, CXCR4 mRNA and protein was greater on Day 15 of pregnancy compared to the estrous cycle. CXCL12 and CXCR4 mRNA in conceptuses was greater on Days 21 and 30 compared to earlier days. CXCL12 mRNA was greater in cotyledons on Day 35 compared to Day 50. On Day 35 of gestation, CXCR4 was greater compared to Day 50 in caruncle and intercaruncular tissue. White blood cells obtained from jugular and uterine vein collection had the greatest mRNA concentration of CXCL12 on Day 35 of pregnancy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A comprehensive analysis of CXCL12 and CXCR4 expression in fetal and maternal tissues during early pregnancy is reported with noteworthy differences occurring during implantation and placentation in sheep. We interpreted these data to mean that the CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway is activated during implantation and placentation in sheep and is likely playing a role in the communication between trophoblast cells and the maternal endometrium.</p

Growth of free-standing wurtzite AlGaN by MBE using a highly efficient RF plasma source

Ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs) are now being developed for various potential applications including water purification, surface decontamination, optical sensing, and solid-state lighting. The basis for this development is the successful production of AlxGa1_xN UV LEDs grown by either metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Initial studies used mainly sapphire as the substrate, but this result in a high density of defects in the epitaxial films and now bulk GaN or AlN substrates are being used to reduce this to acceptable values. However, the lattice parameters of GaN and AlN are significantly different, so any AlGaN alloy grown on either substrate will still be strained. If, however, AlGaN substrates were available, this problem could be avoided and an overall lattice match achieved. At present, the existing bulk GaN and AlN substrates are produced by MOVPE and physical vapor transport, but thick freestanding films of AlGaN are difficult to produce by either method. The authors have used plasmaassisted MBE to grow free-standing AlxGa1_xN up to 100 lm in thickness using both an HD25source from Oxford Applied Research and a novel high efficiency source from Riber to provide active nitrogen. Films were grown on 2- and 3-in. diameter sapphire and GaAs (111)B substrates with growth rates ranging from 0.2 to 3 lm/h and with AlN contents of 0% and _20%. Secondary ion mass spectrometer studies show uniform incorporation of Al, Ga, and N throughout the films, and strong room temperature photoluminescence is observed in all cases. For films grown on GaAs, the authors obtained free-standing AlGaN substrates for subsequent growth by MOVPE or MBE by removing the GaAs using a standard chemical etchant. The use of high growth rates makes this a potentially viable commercial process since AlxGa1_xN free-standing films can be grown in a single day and potentially this method could be extended to a multiwafer system with a suitable plasma source