BB Intermeson Potentials in the Quark Model

In this paper we derive quark model results for scattering amplitudes and equivalent low energy potentials for heavy meson pairs, in which each meson contains a heavy quark. This "BB" system is an attractive theoretical laboratory for the study of the nuclear force between color singlets; the hadronic system is relatively simple, and there are lattice gauge theory (LGT) results for V_BB(r) which may be compared to phenomenological models. We find that the quark model potential (after lattice smearing) has qualitative similarities to the LGT potential in the two B*B* channels in which direct comparison is possible, although there is evidence of a difference in length scales. The quark model prediction of equal magnitude but opposite sign for I=0 and I=1 potentials also appears similar to LGT results at intermediate r. There may however be a discrepancy between the LGT and quark model I=1 BB potentials. A numerical study of the two-meson Schrodinger equations in the (bqbar)(bqbar) and (cqbar)(cqbar) sectors with the quark model potentials finds a single "molecule", in the I=0 BB* sector. Binding in other channels might occur if the quark model forces are augmented by pion exchange.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures, revtex and epsfig. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Schwinger Particle-Production Mechanism for a Finite-Length Flux Tube with Transverse Confinement

Previous results for the pair production probability in a strong electric field with a finite longitudinal separation are generalized to the case of a finite-length flux tube with transverse confinement. The threshold length of the flux tube, below which pair production cannot occur, increases as a result of transverse confinement.Comment: 12 pages (REVTeX

Collapse of Flux Tubes

The dynamics of an idealized, infinite, MIT-type flux tube is followed in time as the interior evolves from a pure gluon field to a $\overline q \ q$ plasma. We work in color U(1). $\overline q\ q$ pair formation is evaluated according to the Schwinger mechanism using the results of Brink and Pavel. The motion of the quarks toward the tube endcaps is calculated by a Boltzmann equation including collisions. The tube undergoes damped radial oscillations until the electric field settles down to zero. The electric field stabilizes the tube against pinch instabilities; when the field vanishes, the tube disintegrates into mesons. There is only one free parameter in the problem, namely the initial flux tube radius, to which the results are very sensitive. Among various quantities calculated is the mean energy of the emitted pions.Comment: 16 pages plus 12 figures. RevTex3. DOE/ER/40427-160N9

A copper isotope investigation of methane cycling in Late Archaean sediments

This research was supported by NERC award NE/L002590/1 to the IAPETUS DTP, and by NERC Standard Grant NE/J023485/2 to A.L.Z. The initiation of Cu isotope analysis at the University of St Andrews was aided significantly by a Carnegie Trust Research Incentive Grant awarded to P.S.S.The rise of oxygenic photosynthesis arguably represents the most important evolutionary step in Earth history. Recent studies, however, suggest that Earth’s pre-oxidative atmosphere was also heavily influenced by biological feedbacks. Most notably, recent geochemical records propose the existence of a hydrocarbon haze which periodically formed in response to enhanced biospheric methane fluxes. Copper isotopes provide a potential proxy for biological methane cycling; Cu is a bioessential trace metal and a key element in the aerobic oxidation of methane to carbon dioxide (methanotrophy). In addition, Cu isotopes are fractionated during biological uptake. Here, we present a high-resolution Cu isotope record measured in a suite of shales and carbonates from core GKF01, through the ~2.6–2.5 Ga Campbellrand-Malmani carbonate platform. Our data show a 0.85‰ range in Cu isotope composition and a negative excursion that predates the onset of a haze event. We interpret this excursion as representing a period of enhanced aerobic methane oxidation before the onset of the Great Oxidation Event. This places valuable time constraints on the evolution of this metabolism and firmly establishing Cu isotopes as a biomarker in Late Archaean rocks.PostprintPeer reviewe

Repulsive Core of NN S-Wave Scattering in a Quark Model with a Condensed Vacuum

We work in a chiral invariant quark model, with a condensed vacuum, characterized by only one parameter. Bound state equations for the nucleon and Delta are solved in order to obtain an updated value of their radii and masses. Nucleon-nucleon S-Wave scattering is studied in the RGM framework both for isospin T=1 and T=0. The phase shifts are calculated and an equivalent local potential, which is consistent with K-N scattering, is derived. The result is a reasonable microscopic short range repulsion in the nucleon-nucleon interaction.Comment: 23 pages in latex revtex, 4 Postscript figure

Relativistic Mean Field Approach and the Pseudo-Spin Symmetry

Based on the Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) approach the existence of the broken pseudo-spin symmetry is investigated. Both spherical RMF and constrained deformed RMF calculations are carried out employing realistic Lagrangian parameters for spherical and for deformed sample nuclei. The quasi - degenerate pseudo-spin doublets are confirmed to exist near the fermi surface for both spherical and deformed nuclei.Comment: 9 pages RevTex, 4 p.s figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. C as R.

Meson-Meson Scattering in the Quark Model: Spin Dependence and Exotic Channels

We apply a quark interchange model to spin-dependent and exotic meson-meson scattering. The model includes the complete set of standard quark model forces, including OGE spin-orbit and tensor and scalar confinement spin-orbit. Scattering amplitudes derived assuming SHO and Coulomb plus linear plus hyperfine meson wavefunctions are compared. In I=2 pi pi we find approximate agreement with the S-wave phase shift from threshold to 1.5 GeV, where we predict an extremum that is supported by the data. Near threshold we find rapid energy dependence that may reconcile theoretical estimates of small scattering lengths with experimental indications of larger ones based on extrapolation of measurements at moderate kpi^2. In PsV scattering we find that the quark-quark L*S and T forces map into L*S and T meson-meson interactions, and the P-wave L*S force is large. Finally we consider scattering in J^PC-exotic channels, and note that some of the Deck effect mechanisms suggested as possible nonresonant origins of the pi_1(1400) signal are not viable in this model.Comment: 51 pages, 10 figures, uses epsf.sty epsfig.st

Human surfactant protein D alters oxidative stress and HMGA1 expression to induce p53 apoptotic pathway in eosinophil leukemic cell line

This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright: © 2013 Mahajan et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Surfactant protein D (SP-D), an innate immune molecule, has an indispensable role in host defense and regulation of inflammation. Immune related functions regulated by SP-D include agglutination of pathogens, phagocytosis, oxidative burst, antigen presentation, T lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, induction of apoptosis and clearance of apoptotic cells. The present study unravels a novel ability of SP-D to reduce the viability of leukemic cells (eosinophilic leukemic cell line, AML14.3D10; acute myeloid leukemia cell line, THP-1; acute lymphoid leukemia cell lines, Jurkat, Raji; and human breast epithelial cell line, MCF-7), and explains the underlying mechanisms. SP-D and a recombinant fragment of human SP-D (rhSP-D) induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, and dose and timedependent apoptosis in the AML14.3D10 eosinophilic leukemia cell line. Levels of various apoptotic markers viz. activated p53, cleaved caspase-9 and PARP, along with G2/M checkpoints (p21 and Tyr15 phosphorylation of cdc2) showed significant increase in these cells. We further attempted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of rhSP-D induced apoptosis using proteomic analysis. This approach identified large scale molecular changes initiated by SPD in a human cell for the first time. Among others, the proteomics analysis highlighted a decreased expression of survival related proteins such as HMGA1, overexpression of proteins to protect the cells from oxidative burst, while a drastic decrease in mitochondrial antioxidant defense system. rhSP-D mediated enhanced oxidative burst in AML14.3D10 cells was confirmed, while antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, abrogated the rhSP-D induced apoptosis. The rhSP-D mediated reduced viability was specific to the cancer cell lines and viability of human PBMCs from healthy controls was not affected. The study suggests involvement of SP-D in host’s immunosurveillance and therapeutic potential of rhSP-D in the eosinophilic leukemia and cancers of other origins.Department of Biotechnology, Indi

Airway cellularity, lipid laden macrophages and microbiology of gastric juice and airways in children with reflux oesophagitis

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) can cause respiratory disease in children from recurrent aspiration of gastric contents. GORD can be defined in several ways and one of the most common method is presence of reflux oesophagitis. In children with GORD and respiratory disease, airway neutrophilia has been described. However, there are no prospective studies that have examined airway cellularity in children with GORD but without respiratory disease. The aims of the study were to compare (1) BAL cellularity and lipid laden macrophage index (LLMI) and, (2) microbiology of BAL and gastric juices of children with GORD (G+) to those without (G-). METHODS: In 150 children aged <14-years, gastric aspirates and bronchoscopic airway lavage (BAL) were obtained during elective flexible upper endoscopy. GORD was defined as presence of reflux oesophagitis on distal oesophageal biopsies. RESULTS: BAL neutrophil% in G- group (n = 63) was marginally but significantly higher than that in the G+ group (n = 77), (median of 7.5 and 5 respectively, p = 0.002). Lipid laden macrophage index (LLMI), BAL percentages of lymphocyte, eosinophil and macrophage were similar between groups. Viral studies were negative in all, bacterial cultures positive in 20.7% of BALs and in 5.3% of gastric aspirates. BAL cultures did not reflect gastric aspirate cultures in all but one child. CONCLUSION: In children without respiratory disease, GORD defined by presence of reflux oesophagitis, is not associated with BAL cellular profile or LLMI abnormality. Abnormal microbiology of the airways, when present, is not related to reflux oesophagitis and does not reflect that of gastric juices

Long- and medium-range components of the nuclear force in quark-model based calculations

Quark-model descriptions of the nucleon-nucleon interaction contain two main ingredients, a quark-exchange mechanism for the short-range repulsion and meson-exchanges for the medium- and long-range parts of the interaction. We point out the special role played by higher partial waves, and in particular the 1F3, as a very sensitive probe for the meson-exchange part employed in these interaction models. In particular, we show that the presently available models fail to provide a reasonable description of higher partial waves and indicate the reasons for this shortcoming.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure