387 research outputs found
Towards a unique formula for neutrino oscillations in vacuum
We show that all correct results obtained by applying quantum field theory to
neutrino oscillations can be understood in terms of a single oscillation
formula. In particular, the model proposed by Grimus and Stockinger is shown to
be a subcase of the model proposed by Giunti, Kim and Lee, while the new
oscillation formulas proposed by Ioannisian and Pilaftsis and by Shtanov are
disproved. We derive an oscillation formula without making any relativistic
assumption and taking into account the dispersion, so that the result is valid
for both neutrinos and mesons. This unification gives a stronger
phenomenological basis to the neutrino oscillation formula. We also prove that
the coherence length can be increased without bound by more accurate energy
measurements. Finally, we insist on the wave packet interpretation of the
quantum field treatments of oscillations.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figure; the proof that plane wave oscillations do no
exist is extended to stationary models; the influence of dispersion is
explained in more detail
Detection of genetic incompatibilities in non-model systems using simple genetic markers: hybrid breakdown in the haplodiploid spider mite Tetranychus evansi
When two related species interbreed, their hybrid offspring frequently suffer from reduced fitness. The genetics of hybrid incompatibility are described by the Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller (BDM) model, where fitness is reduced by epistatic interactions between alleles of heterospecific origin. Unfortunately, most empirical evidence for the BDM model comes from a few well-studied model organisms, restricting our genetic understanding of hybrid incompatibilities to limited taxa. These systems are predominantly diploid and incompatibility is often complete, which complicates the detection of recessive allelic interactions and excludes the possibility to study viable or intermediate stages. Here, we advocate research into non-model organisms with haploid or haplodiploid reproductive systems and incomplete hybrid incompatibility because (1) dominance is absent in haploids and (2) incomplete incompatibility allows comparing affected with unaffected individuals. We describe a novel two-locus statistic specifying the frequency of individuals for which two alleles co-occur. This approach to studying BDM incompatibilities requires genotypic characterization of hybrid individuals, but not genetic mapping or genome sequencing. To illustrate our approach, we investigated genetic causes for hybrid incompatibility between differentiated lineages of the haplodiploid spider mite Tetranychus evansi, and show that strong, but incomplete, hybrid breakdown occurs. In addition, by comparing the genotypes of viable hybrid males and inviable hybrid male eggs for eight microsatellite loci, we show that nuclear and cytonuclear BDM interactions constitute the basis of hybrid incompatibility in this species. Our approach opens up possibilities to study BDM interactions in non-model taxa, and may give further insight into the genetic mechanisms behind hybrid incompatibility
A structured overview of simultaneous component based data integration
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data integration is currently one of the main challenges in the biomedical sciences. Often different pieces of information are gathered on the same set of entities (e.g., tissues, culture samples, biomolecules) with the different pieces stemming, for example, from different measurement techniques. This implies that more and more data appear that consist of two or more data arrays that have a shared mode. An integrative analysis of such coupled data should be based on a simultaneous analysis of all data arrays. In this respect, the family of simultaneous component methods (e.g., SUM-PCA, unrestricted PCovR, MFA, STATIS, and SCA-P) is a natural choice. Yet, different simultaneous component methods may lead to quite different results.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We offer a structured overview of simultaneous component methods that frames them in a principal components setting such that both the common core of the methods and the specific elements with regard to which they differ are highlighted. An overview of principles is given that may guide the data analyst in choosing an appropriate simultaneous component method. Several theoretical and practical issues are illustrated with an empirical example on metabolomics data for <it>Escherichia coli </it>as obtained with different analytical chemical measurement methods.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Of the aspects in which the simultaneous component methods differ, pre-processing and weighting are consequential. Especially, the type of weighting of the different matrices is essential for simultaneous component analysis. These types are shown to be linked to different specifications of the idea of a fair integration of the different coupled arrays.</p
Direct CP violation in radiative b decays in and beyond the Standard Model
We consider the partial rate asymmetry in the inclusive decay modes b to s
gamma and b to d gamma, concentrating on non-standard models with new charged
Higgs interactions. We find that the charged Higgs contribution to the
asymmetry for b to s gamma is small in such models due to a universal
cancellation mechanism. The asymmetry is therefore difficult to distinguish
experimentally from the Standard Model (SM) value, which is also small. The
cancellation mechanism is found to be rendered inoperative in supersymmetry due
to the presence of chargino loops. Unlike b to s gamma, the rate asymmetry for
b to d gamma in Higgs models can be quite different from its SM value,
generally ranging from -20% to +20%. Specific model calculations are performed
for the Three-Higgs Doublet Model and the ``Top'' Two-Higgs Doublet Model to
serve as illustrations. We also offer some suggestions that may be helpful to
experimentalists in the detection of the inclusive mode b to d gamma.Comment: RevTex, 24 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, version to appear in PR
Neutrino oscillations from relativistic flavor currents
By resorting to recent results on the relativistic currents for mixed
(flavor) fields, we calculate a space-time dependent neutrino oscillation
formula in Quantum Field Theory. Our formulation provides an alternative to
existing approaches for the derivation of space dependent oscillation formulas
and it also accounts for the corrections due to the non-trivial nature of the
flavor vacuum. By exploring different limits of our formula, we recover already
known results. We study in detail the case of one-dimensional propagation with
gaussian wavepackets both in the relativistic and in the non-relativistic
regions: in the last case, numerical evaluations of our result show significant
deviations from the standard formula.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, RevTe
Scattering From a Two Dimensional Array of Flux Tubes: A Study of The Validity of Mean Field Theory
Mean Field Theory has been extensively used in the study of systems of anyons
in two spatial dimensions. In this paper we study the physical grounds for the
validity of this approximation by considering the Quantum Mechanical scattering
of a charged particle from a two dimensional array of magnetic flux tubes. The
flux tubes are arranged on a regular lattice which is infinitely long in the
``'' direction but which has a (small) finite number of columns in the
``'' direction. Their physical size is assumed to be infinitesimally small.
We develop a method for computing the scattering angle as well as the
reflection and transmission coefficients to lowest order in the Aharonov--Bohm
interaction. The results of our calculation are compared to the scattering of
the same particle from a region of constant magnetic field whose magnitude is
equal to the mean field of all the flux tubes. For an incident plane wave, the
Mean Field approximation is shown to be valid provided the flux in each tube is
much less than a single flux quantum. This is precisely the regime in which
Mean Field Theory for anyons is expected to be valid. When the flux per tube
becomes of order 1, Mean Field Theory is no longer valid.Comment: 23 pages, University of British Columbia Preprint UBCTP93-01
Immunomodulation of inflammatory leukocyte markers during intravenous immunoglobulin treatment associated with clinical efficacy in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy
© 2016 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Objective: The objective of the study was to profile leukocyte markers modulated during intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment, and to identify markers and immune pathways associated with clinical efficacy of IVIg for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) with potential for monitoring treatment efficacy. Methods: Response to IVIg treatment in newly diagnosed IVIg-naïve and established IVIg-experienced patients was assessed by changes in expression of inflammatory leukocyte markers by flow cytometry. The adjusted INCAT disability and Medical Research Council sum scores defined clinical response. Results: Intravenous immunoglobulin modulated immunopathogenic pathways associated with inflammatory disease in CIDP. Leukocyte markers of clinical efficacy included reduced CD185 + follicular helper T cells, increased regulatory markers (CD23 and CD72) on B cells, and reduction in the circulating inflammatory CD16 + myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) population and concomitant increase in CD62L and CD195 defining a less inflammatory lymphoid homing mDC phenotype. A decline in inflammatory CD16 + dendritic cells was associated with clinical improvement or stability, and correlated with magnitude of improvement in neurological assessment scores, but did not predict relapse. IVIg also induced a nonspecific improvement in regulatory and reduced inflammatory markers not associated with clinical response. Conclusions: Clinically effective IVIg modulated inflammatory and regulatory pathways associated with ongoing control or resolution of CIDP disease. Some of these markers have potential for monitoring outcome
Direct CP-asymmetry in Inclusive Rare B-decays in 2HDM
The direct CP-asymmetry in the inclusive and decays is investigated in the two-Higgs doublet extension of the
Standard Model (2HDM). The investigation is performed in the lowest
non-vanishing order of the perturbation theory using the existing restrictions
on the 2HDM parameters space. It is shown that the direct CP-asymmetry in the
decay can deviate significantly from the Standard Model
predictions. In the presence of only one source of CP-violation (the CKM matrix
weak phase) can have the sign opposite to that in
the SM. The new source of CP-violation can make
arbitrary small (unlike the SM case) and hence unmeasurable. Quantitatively,
the obtained results suffer from the uncertainty of the choice of
renormalization scale. As for the rate asymmetry, its
renormalization scale dependence in the lowest non-vanishing order does not
allow to conclude if this quantity is efficient for testing New Physics beyond
the Standard Model.Comment: 16 pages including 2 figure
Novel CP-violating Effects in B decays from Charged-Higgs in a Two-Higgs Doublet Model for the Top Quark
We explore charged-Higgs cp-violating effects in a specific type III
two-Higgs doublet model which is theoretically attractive as it accommodates
the large mass of the top quark in a natural fashion. Two new CP-violating
phases arise from the right-handed up quark sector. We consider CP violation in
both neutral and charged B decays. Some of the important findings are as
follows. 1) Large direct-CP asymmetry is found to be possible for B+- to psi/J
K+-. 2) Sizable D-anti-D mixing effect at the percent level is found to be
admissible despite the stringent constraints from the data on K-anti-K mixing,
b to s gamma and B to tau nu decays. 3) A simple but distinctive CP asymmetry
pattern emerges in decays of B_d and B_s mesons, including B_d to psi/J K_S, D+
D-, and B_s to D_s+ D_s-, psi eta/eta^prime, psi/J K_S. 4) The effect of
D-anti-D mixing on the CP asymmetry in B+- to D/anti-D K+- and on the
extraction of the angle gamma of the unitarity triangle from such decays can be
significant.Comment: 32 pages, 5 figures, section V.A revised, version to appear in PR
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