Vector meson form factors and their quark-mass dependence

The electromagnetic form factors of vector mesons are calculated in an explicitly Poincar\'e covariant formulation, based on the Dyson--Schwinger equations of QCD, that respects electromagnetic current conservation, and unambiguously incorporates effects from vector meson poles in the quark-photon vertex. This method incorporates a 2-parameter effective interaction, where the parameters are constrained by the experimental values of chiral condensate and $f_{\pi}$. This approach has successfully described a large amount of light-quark meson experimental data, e.g. ground state pseudoscalar masses and their electromagnetic form factors; ground state vector meson masses and strong and electroweak decays. Here we apply it to predict the electromagnetic properties of vector mesons. The results for the static properties of the $\rho$-meson are: charge radius $= 0.54 {\rm fm}^2$, magnetic moment $\mu = 2.01$, and quadrupole moment ${\cal Q} = -0.41$. We investigate the quark mass dependence of these static properties and find that our results at the charm quark mass are in agreement with recent lattice simulations. The charge radius decreases with increasing quark mass, but the magnetic moment is almost independent of the quark mass.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure

Construction Aggregates and Silica Sand in the Economy of Illinois

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Fundamentals of royalty rate determination in the crushed stone industry with a special reference to northeast Illinois

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Disposal of material to be excavated from the Illinois SSC

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Quark-gluon vertex in arbitrary kinematics

We compute the quark-gluon vertex in quenched lattice QCD, in the Landau gauge using an off-shell mean-field O(a)-improved fermion action. The complete vertex is computed in two specific kinematical limits, while the Dirac-vector part is computed for arbitrary kinematics. We find a nontrivial and rich tensor structure, including a substantial infrared enhancement of the interaction strength regardless of kinematics.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, talk by JIS at QCD Down Under, Adelaide, 10-19 March 200

Detection of Glaucoma by Segmenting Retinal Images and evaluating the DDLS stage

Automatic analysis of retina image is important screening tool for early detection of eye diseases. This paper proposes an image processing technique for the detection of stage of glaucoma. The methodology is used to segment optic disc and cup. The method starts with preprocessing of digital fundus image to extract region of interest surrounding optic disc. Hough transform is used to define approximate initial boundary of the optic disc which is then deformed to find out exact optic disc boundary by active contour model. This technique gives effective results to determine rim to disc ratio for detection of glaucoma and thus to detect its DDLS i.e. stage of glaucoma

Continuous Monitoring of Tissue Regrowth Using Optical Biosensors

Biomedical Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials, and Medical Devices Poster SessionThe engineered regeneration of bone is a significant challenge being undertaken to treat conditions such as traumatic casualties, bone cancer, osteoporosis, etc. Advances in regrowth of hard tissue may potentially lead to significantly improved lives for millions of people. Recent work has focused on the use of bioactive glasses as potential materials in the fabrication of scaffolds for hard tissue regeneration. Bone regrowth requires maintenance of optimal levels of oxygen, glucose, phosphate, calcium, and pH. Current work at Missouri University of Science and Technology's Center for Bone and Tissue Repair and Restoration focuses on developing optical biosensors to monitor: conversion of bioactive glass to hydroxyapatite, ease of nutrient transport through the scaffold, diffusion of bioconversion byproducts from the wound site, and general health of the growing cells. Feedback from these sensors aids in material design, allowing researchers to understand how desired levels of analyte molecules are maintained in the complex process of tissue ingrowth. Our work currently focuses on development of pH and oxygen fluorescent biosensor elements. A CCD camera and processing software is used to colorimetrically quantify levels of these two at the microscale. Image processing is done in either the RGB (red, green, blue - native to the camera) or the HSI (hue, saturation, intensity) color space, giving detailed information about analyte concentration throughout the scaffolds and allowing for real time, in situ monitoring of cellular ingrowth. For pH detection, a sensitive ionophore is immobilized in a flexible polymer membrane and cast to form a 2 - dimensional film. Fluorimetric analysis of this film allows us to generate a color-coded picture of the pH gradient that exists in the degrading bioactive glass scaffold. Specifically, the pH sensitive membrane employs a ratiometric fluorophore, 9-(Diethylamino)-5-[(2octyldecyl)imino]benzo[a]phenoxazine (ETH5350), entrapped in a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix, with bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate to promote membrane plasticity and a lipophilic salt, tetrakis (4-chlorophenly) borate, for aiding proton selectivity. The fluorophore is uniquely suited for colorimetric analysis with off-the-shelf CCD camera equipment as excitation occurs in the blue region and emission, dependent on pH, has peaks in the green and red regions. The ratio of the red and green intensities therefore may be used to quantify pH, making the technique relatively insensitive to variations in excitation strength. Current work on oxygen quantification employs the Pt(II) meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphine complex immobilized in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) membrane. Porphyrin fluorescence quenches with increases in surrounding oxygen levels, and this difference leads to an image of oxygen gradients which develop in the matrix. The near - term goal is to develop a sensor platform to monitor bioactive conversion process in simulated physiological saline solution environment. Future work will focus on the implantation of sensor membranes at the site of bone injury to study its in vivo operation. Levels of pH and oxygen at the wound sites will be monitored and correlated with optical images of tissue regrowth

THE ACCELERATED STABILITY STUDY OF CONSTALAX CHURNA- AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION

Constalax churna, greenish brown powder with characteristic odor and bitter salty taste was evaluated for its stability, as per ICH guidelines Q1A (R2) at accelerated conditions (Temperature: 40 °C ± 2, Relative Humidity : 75% ± 5). The real time stability is estimated at temperature: 25 °C ± 2 &relative humidity 60% ± 5.The study sample was observed for changes in different parameters like physico-chemical, organoleptic and microbial load for 6 month under accelerated conditions and for real time stability study observed for one year. Real time stability was comparatively estimated to evaluate actual degradation rate of Constalax Churna with respect to accelerated conditions. Up to six months of storage at accelerated condition, no change was observed in organoleptic parameters like colour, odour and taste of Constalax Churna. Changes in of different physico-chemical parameters were taken into account to evaluate intercept and slope. Extrapolated shelf life of Constalax Churna was calculated with 10% degradation rate from physico-chemical parameters at accelerated condition 40 °C ± 2 and 75% ± 5 RH. The present evaluation supports that the Constalax Churna was appropriate at accelerated condition up to 6 month storage. From this accelerated stability study it could be extrapolated that shelf life of Constalax Churna is 25.42 months (2.11years) for climatic zone I & II countries. Real time stability data of Constalax Churna showed very good stability up to 2 years

HAEMODYNAMIC RESPONSES TO TRACHEAL EXTUBATION OR LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY REMOVAL IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SHORT SURGICAL PROCEDURES: A COMPARATIVE AND CLINICAL STUDY

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the hemodynamic responses after endotracheal tube (ET) extubation and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) removal in American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I and ASA II patients undergoing short surgical procedures. Methods: This was a randomized, comparative, observational, and clinical study conducted in a tertiary care medical college. The duration of study was 1 year. Hundred patients of ASA Grade I and II with age between 18 and 60 years, including both males and females posted for short surgeries under general anesthesia were selected for the study. Patients were divided into two groups (Depending on whether endotracheal intubation was done or LMA was used) of 50 patients each. Hemodynamic parameters (systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], mean arterial pressure [MAP], and heart rate [HR]) were recorded and compared before induction, during surgery and postoperatively at 1, 2, 5, and 10 min between both the groups. Results: There was no significant difference between these two groups regarding the demographic aspect of the patients such as age and gender. Furthermore, the parameters such as ASA grade and duration of surgery were comparable. The baseline hemodynamic parameters between the two groups were also similar and no significant difference was observed. The changes in hemodynamics (mean HR, SBP, DBP, and MAP) were more in Group E as compared to Group L and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Similarly respiratory events were more profound in Group E as compared to Group L and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: LMA is a better choice for short surgical procedures as it provides more hemodynamic stability during removal as compared to ET extubation. LMA is also associated with less complications as compared to ET