The rare decays B --> K(*) anti-K(*) and R-parity violating supersymmetry

We study the branching ratios, the direct CP asymmetries in $B\to K^{(*)}\bar{K}^{(*)}$ decays and the polarization fractions of $B\to K^{*}\bar{K}^{*}$ decays by employing the QCD factorization in the minimal supersymmetric standard model with R-parity violation. We derive the new upper bounds on the relevant R-parity violating couplings from the latest experimental data of $B\to K^{(*)}\bar{K}^{(*)}$, and some of these constraints are stronger than the existing bounds. Using the constrained parameter spaces, we predict the R-parity violating effects on the other quantities in $B\to K^{(*)}\bar{K}^{(*)}$ decays which have not been measured yet. We find that the R-parity violating effects on the branching ratios and the direct $CP$ asymmetries could be large, nevertheless their effects on the longitudinal polarizations of $B\to K^{*}\bar{K}^{*}$ decays are small. Near future experiments can test these predictions and shrink the parameter spaces.Comment: 31 pages with 10 figure

Nottingham Prognostic Index Plus (NPI+): a modern clinical decision making tool in breast cancer

Current management of breast cancer (BC) relies on risk stratification based on well-defined clinicopathologic factors. Global gene expression profiling studies have demonstrated that BC comprises distinct molecular classes with clinical relevance. In this study, we hypothesized that molecular features of BC are a key driver of tumour behaviour and when coupled with a novel and bespoke application of established clinicopathologic prognostic variables, can predict both clinical outcome and relevant therapeutic options more accurately than existing methods. In the current study, a comprehensive panel of biomarkers with relevance to BC was applied to a large and well-characterised series of BC, using immunohistochemistry and different multivariate clustering techniques, to identify the key molecular classes. Subsequently, each class was further stratified using a set of well-defined prognostic clinicopathologic variables. These variables were combined in formulae to prognostically stratify different molecular classes, collectively known as the Nottingham Prognostic Index Plus (NPI+). NPI+ was then used to predict outcome in the different molecular classes with.Seven core molecular classes were identified using a selective panel of 10 biomarkers. Incorporation of clinicopathologic variables in a second stage analysis resulted in identification of distinct prognostic groups within each molecular class (NPI+). Outcome analysis showed that using the bespoke NPI formulae for each biological breast cancer class provides improved patient outcome stratification superior to the traditional NPI. This study provides proof-of-principle evidence for the use of NPI+ in supporting improved individualised clinical decision making

Elastic scattering and breakup of 17^F at 10 MeV/nucleon

Angular distributions of fluorine and oxygen produced from 170 MeV 17^F incident on 208^Pb were measured. The elastic scattering data are in good agreement with optical model calculations using a double-folding potential and parameters similar to those obtained from 16^O+208^Pb. A large yield of oxygen was observed near \theta_lab=36 deg. It is reproduced fairly well by a calculation of the (17^F,16^O) breakup, which is dominated by one-proton stripping reactions. The discrepancy between our previous coincidence measurement and theoretical predictions was resolved by including core absorption in the present calculation.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Rare Decays of \Lambda_b->\Lambda + \gamma and \Lambda_b ->\Lambda + l^{+} l^{-} in the Light-cone Sum Rules

Within the Standard Model, we investigate the weak decays of $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda + \gamma$ and $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda + l^{+} l^{-}$ with the light-cone sum rules approach. The higher twist distribution amplitudes of $\Lambda$ baryon to the leading conformal spin are included in the sum rules for transition form factors. Our results indicate that the higher twist distribution amplitudes almost have no influences on the transition form factors retaining the heavy quark spin symmetry, while such corrections can result in significant impacts on the form factors breaking the heavy quark spin symmetry. Two phenomenological models (COZ and FZOZ) for the wave function of $\Lambda$ baryon are also employed in the sum rules for a comparison, which can give rise to the form factors approximately 5 times larger than that in terms of conformal expansion. Utilizing the form factors calculated in LCSR, we then perform a careful study on the decay rate, polarization asymmetry and forward-backward asymmetry, with respect to the decays of $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda \gamma$, $\Lambda l^{+}l^{-}$.Comment: 38 pages, 15 figures, some typos are corrected and more references are adde

Analysis and simulations for a phase‐field fracture model at finite strains based on modified invariants

Phase‐field models have already been proven to predict complex fracture patterns for brittle fracture at small strains. In this paper we discuss a model for phase‐field fracture at finite deformations in more detail. Among the identification of crack location and projection of crack growth the numerical stability is one of the main challenges in solid mechanics. Here we present a phase‐field model at finite strains, which takes into account the anisotropy of damage by applying an anisotropic split of the modified invariants of the right Cauchy‐Green strain tensor. We introduce a suitable weak notion of solution that also allows for a spatial and temporal discretization of the model. In this framework we study the existence of solutions and we show that the time‐discrete solutions converge in a weak sense to a solution of the time‐continuous formulation of the model. Numerical examples in two and three space dimensions illustrate the range of validity of the analytical results

Annihilation-Type Charmless Radiative Decays of B Meson in Non-universal Z^\prime Model

We study charmless pure annihilation type radiative B decays within the QCD factorization approach. After adding the vertex corrections to the naive factorization approach, we find that the branching ratios of $\bar{B}^0_d\to\phi\gamma$, $\bar{B}^0_s\to\rho^0\gamma$ and $\bar{B}^0_s\to\omega\gamma$ within the standard model are at the order of $\mathcal{O}(10^{-12})$, $\mathcal{O}(10^{-10})$ and $\mathcal{O}(10^{-11})$, respectively. The smallness of these decays in the standard model makes them sensitive probes of flavor physics beyond the standard model. To explore their physics potential, we have estimated the contribution of $Z^\prime$ boson in the decays. Within the allowed parameter space, the branching ratios of these decay modes can be enhanced remarkably in the non-universal $Z^\prime$ model: The branching ratios can reach to $\mathcal{O}(10^{-8})$ for $\bar B_s^0 \to \rho^0(\omega)\gamma$ and $\mathcal{O}(10^{-10})$ for the $\bar B_d^0 \to \phi \gamma$, which are large enough for LHC-b and/or Super B-factories to detect those channels in near future. Moreover, we also predict large CP asymmetries in suitable parameter space. The observation of these modes could in turn help us to constrain the $Z'$ mass within the model.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

The π\pi, K+K^+, and K0K^0 electromagnetic form factors

The rainbow truncation of the quark Dyson-Schwinger equation is combined with the ladder Bethe-Salpeter equation for the meson amplitudes and the dressed quark-photon vertex in a self-consistent Poincar\'e-invariant study of the pion and kaon electromagnetic form factors in impulse approximation. We demonstrate explicitly that the current is conserved in this approach and that the obtained results are independent of the momentum partitioning in the Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes. With model gluon parameters previously fixed by the condensate, the pion mass and decay constant, and the kaon mass, the charge radii and spacelike form factors are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Revte

The Glauber model and the heavy ion reaction cross section

We reexamine the Glauber model and calculate the total reaction cross section as a function of energy in the low and intermediate energy range, where many of the corrections in the model, are effective. The most significant effect in this energy range is by the modification of the trajectory due to the Coulomb field. The modification in the trajectory due to nuclear field is also taken into account in a self consistent way. The energy ranges in which particular corrections are effective, are quantified and it is found that when the center of mass energy of the system becomes 30 times the Coulomb barrier, none of the trajectory modification to the Glauber model is really required. The reaction cross sections for light and heavy systems, right from near coulomb barrier to intermediate energies have been calculated. The exact nuclear densities and free nucleon-nucleon (NN) cross sections have been used in the calculations. The center of mass correction which is important for light systems, has also been taken into account. There is an excellent agreement between the calculations with the modified Glauber model and the experimental data. This suggests that the heavy ion reactions in this energy range can be explained by the Glauber model in terms of free NN cross sections without incorporating any medium modification.Comment: RevTeX, 21 pages including 9 Postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Proton-Antiproton Annihilation into a Lambda_c-Antilambda_c Pair

The process p-pbar -> Lambda_c-Antilambda_c is investigated within the handbag approach. It is shown that the dominant dynamical mechanism, characterized by the partonic subprocess u-ubar -> c-cbar factorizes in the sense that only the subprocess contains highly virtual partons, a gluon to lowest order of perturbative QCD, while the hadronic matrix elements embody only soft scales and can be parameterized in terms of helicity flip and non-flip generalized parton distributions. Modelling these parton distributions by overlaps of light-cone wave functions for the involved baryons we are able to predict cross sections and spin correlation parameters for the process of interest.Comment: 39 pages, 7 figures, problems with printout of figures resolved, Ref. 33 and referring sentences in section 4 change