Soft-core meson-baryon interactions. II. πN\pi N and K+NK^+ N scattering

The $\pi N$ potential includes the t-channel exchanges of the scalar-mesons $\sigma$ and f_0, vector-meson $\rho$, tensor-mesons f_2 and f_2' and the Pomeron as well as the s- and u-channel exchanges of the nucleon N and the resonances $\Delta$, Roper and S_{11}. These resonances are not generated dynamically. We consider them as, at least partially, genuine three-quark states and we treat them in the same way as the nucleon. The latter two resonances were needed to find the proper behavior of the phase shifts at higher energies in the corresponding partial waves. The soft-core $\pi N$-model gives an excellent fit to the empirical $\pi N$ S- and P-wave phase shifts up to T_{lab}=600 MeV. Also the scattering lengths have been reproduced well and the soft-pion theorems for low-energy $\pi N$ scattering are satisfied. The soft-core model for the $K^+ N$ interaction is an SU_f(3)-extension of the soft-core $\pi N$-model. The $K^+ N$ potential includes the t-channel exchanges of the scalar-mesons a_0, $\sigma$ and f_0, vector-mesons $\rho$, $\omega$ and $\phi$, tensor-mesons a_2, f_2 and f_2' and the Pomeron as well as u-channel exchanges of the hyperons $\Lambda$ and $\Sigma$. The fit to the empirical $K^+ N$ S-, P- and D-wave phase shifts up to T_{lab}=600 MeV is reasonable and certainly reflects the present state of the art. Since the various $K^+ N$ phase shift analyses are not very consistent, also scattering observables are compared with the soft-core $K^+ N$-model. A good agreement for the total and differential cross sections as well as the polarizations is found.Comment: 24 pages, 20 PostScript figures, revtex4, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The event generator DECAY4 for simulation of double beta processes and decay of radioactive nuclei

The computer code DECAY4 is developed to generate initial energy, time and angular distributions of particles emitted in radioactive decays of nuclides and nuclear (atomic) deexcitations. Data for description of nuclear and atomic decay schemes are taken from the ENSDF and EADL database libraries. The examples of use of the DECAY4 code in several underground experiments are described.Comment: 8 pages, 1 fi

Discovery of naked charm particles and lifetime differences among charm species using nuclear emulsion techniques innovated in Japan

This is a historical review of the discovery of naked charm particles and lifetime differences among charm species. These discoveries in the field of cosmic-ray physics were made by the innovation of nuclear emulsion techniques in Japan. A pair of naked charm particles was discovered in 1971 in a cosmic-ray interaction, three years prior to the discovery of the hidden charm particle, J/Ψ, in western countries. Lifetime differences between charged and neutral charm particles were pointed out in 1975, which were later re-confirmed by the collaborative Experiment E531 at Fermilab. Japanese physicists led by K.Niu made essential contributions to it with improved emulsion techniques, complemented by electronic detectors. This review also discusses the discovery of artificially produced naked charm particles by us in an accelerator experiment at Fermilab in 1975 and of multiple-pair productions of charm particles in a single interaction in 1987 by the collaborative Experiment WA75 at CERN

A Panel of Serum MicroRNAs as Specific Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Compound- and Herb-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) has been a public, economic and pharmaceutical issue for many years. Enormous effort has been made for discovering and developing novel biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring both clinical and preclinical DILI at an early stage, though progress has been relatively slow. Additionally, herb-induced liver injury is an emerging cause of liver disease because herbal medicines are increasingly being used worldwide. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have shown potential to serve as novel, minimally invasive biomarkers to diagnose and monitor human cancers and other diseases at early stages.In order to identify candidate miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for DILI, miRNA expression profiles of serum and liver tissue from two parallel liver injury Sprague-Dawley rat models induced by a compound (acetaminophen, APAP) or an herb (Dioscorea bulbifera, DB) were screened in this study. The initial screens were performed on serum using a MicroRNA TaqMan low-density qPCR array and on liver tissue using a miRCURY LNA hybridization array and were followed by a TaqMan probe-based quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay to validate comparison with serum biochemical parameters and histopathological examination. Two sets of dysregulated miRNA candidates in serum and liver tissue were selected in the screening phase. After qRT-PCR validation, a panel of compound- and herb- related serum miRNAs was identified.We have demonstrated that this panel of serum miRNAs provides potential biomarkers for diagnosis of DILI with high sensitivity and specificity

Physics with charm particles produced in neutrino interactions. A historical recollection

Results obtained in neutrino unteractions on charm particles are presented