Light-front CQM calculations of baryon electromagnetic form factors

The parameter-free predictions for the $N - P_{11}(1440)$ and $N - P_{33}(1232)$ electromagnetic transition form factors, obtained within our light-front constituent quark model using eigenfunctions of a baryon mass operator which includes a large amount of configuration mixing, are reported. The effects due to small components in the baryon wave functions, such as S'- and D-wave, are also investigated.Comment: to appear in the Proceedings of the International Workshop on Hadron Dynamics with the new DAPHNE and CEBAF facilities, Frascati, Italy, 11-14 November 199

New results from an extensive aging test on bakelite Resistive Plate Chambers

We present recent results of an extensive aging test, performed at the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility on two single--gap RPC prototypes, developed for the LHCb Muon System. With a method based on a model describing the behaviour of an RPC under high particle flux conditions, we have periodically measured the electrode resistance R of the two RPC prototypes over three years: we observe a large spontaneous increase of R with time, from the initial value of about 2 MOhm to more than 250 MOhm. A corresponding degradation of the RPC rate capabilities, from more than 3 kHz/cm2 to less than 0.15 kHz/cm2 is also found.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, presented at Siena 2002, 8th Topical Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors 21-24 October 2002, Siena, Ital

A light-front description of electromagnetic form factors for J≤3/2J \leq {3/2} hadrons

A review of the hadron electromagnetic form factors obtained in a light-front constituent quark model, based on the eigenfunctions of a mass operator, is presented. The relevance of different components in the q-q interaction for the description of hadron experimental form factors is analysed.Comment: 6 pages, Latex, 3 Postscript figures included. Proceedings of "Nucleon 99", Frascati, June 1999. To appear in Nucl. Phys.

Extracellular vesicle-induced differentiation of neural stem progenitor cells

Neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs) from E13.5 mouse embryos can be maintained in culture under proliferating conditions. Upon growth-factor removal, they may differentiate toward either neuronal or glial phenotypes or both. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that are part of the cell secretome; they may contain and deliver both proteins and genetic material and thus play a role in cell–cell communication, guide axonal growth, modulate synaptic activity and regulate peripheral nerve regeneration. In this work, we were interested in determining whether NSPCs and their progeny can produce and secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) and if their content can affect cell differentiation. Our results indicate that cultured NSPCs produce and secrete EVs both under proliferating conditions and after differentiation. Treatment of proliferating NSPCs with EVs derived from differentiated NSPCs triggers cell differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by glial-and neuronal-marker expression

Gaucher Disease and Myelofibrosis: A Combined Disease or a Misdiagnosis?

Background: Gaucher disease (GD) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) share similar clinical and laboratory features, such as cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and marrow fibrosis, often resulting in a misdiagnosis. Case Report: We report here the case of a young woman with hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Based on bone marrow (BM) findings and on liver biopsy showing extramedullary hematopoiesis, an initial diagnosis of PMF was formulated. The patient refused stem cell transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling. Low-dose melphalan was given, without any improvement. Two years later, a BM evaluation showed Gaucher cells. Low glucocerebrosidase and high chitotriosidase levels were indicative for GD. Molecular analysis revealed N370S/complex I mutations. Enzyme replacement therapy with imiglucerase was commenced, resulting in clinical and hematological improvements. Due to an unexpected and persistent organomegaly, PMF combined with GD were suspected. JAK2V617F, JAK2 exon 12, MPL, calreticulin, and exon 9 mutations were negative, and BM examination showed no marrow fibrosis. PMF was excluded. Twenty years after starting treatment, the peripheral cell count and liver size were normal, whereas splenomegaly persisted. Conclusion: In order to avoid a misdiagnosis, a diagnostic algorithm for patients with hepatosplenomegaly combined with cytopenia is suggested

Radiative πρ\pi \rho and πω\pi \omega transition form factors in a light-front constituent quark model

The form factors of the $\pi \rho$ and $\pi \omega$ radiative transitions are evaluated within a light-front constituent quark model, using for the first time the eigenfunctions of a light-front mass operator reproducing the meson mass spectrum and including phenomenological Dirac and Pauli quark form factors in the one-body electromagnetic current operator. The sensitivity of the transition form factors both to the meson wave functions and to the constituent quark form factors is illustrated. It is shown that the measurement of the $\pi \rho$ and $\pi \omega$ radiative transitions could help in discriminating among various models of the meson structure.Comment: 9 pages, latex, 4 figures available as separate .uu file, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Pair term in the Electromagnetic Current within the Front-Form Dynamics: Spin-0 Case

The frame and scale dependence of the pair-term contribution to the electromagnetic form factor of a spin-zero composite system of two-fermions is studied within the Light Front. The form factor is evaluated from the plus-component of the current in the Breit frame, using for the first time a nonconstant, symmetric ansatz for the Bethe-Salpeter amplitude. The frame dependence is analyzed by allowing a nonvanishing plus component of the momentum transfer, while the dynamical scale is set by the masses of the constituents and by mass and size of the composite system. A transverse momentum distribution, associated with the Bethe-Salpeter amplitude, is introduced which allows to define strongly and weakly relativistic systems. In particular, for strongly relativistic systems, the pair term vanishes for the Drell-Yan condition, while is dominant for momentum transfer along the light-front direction. For a weakly relativistic system, fitted to the deuteron scale, the pair term is negligible up to momentum transfers of 1(GeV/c)$^2$. A comparison with results obtained within the Front-Form Hamiltonian dynamics with a fixed number of constituents is also presented.Comment: 25 pages + 7 figures; axodraw.sty included. To appear in Nucl. Phys.

Nucleon generalized polarizabilities within a relativistic Constituent Quark Model

Nucleon generalized polarizabilities are investigated within a relativistic framework, defining such quantities through a Lorentz covariant multipole expansion of the amplitude for virtual Compton scattering. The key physical ingredients in the calculation of the nucleon polarizabilities are the Lorentz invariant reduced matrix elements of the electromagnetic transition current, which can be evaluated from off-energy-shell helicity amplitudes. The evolution of the proton paramagnetic polarizability, $\beta_{para}(q)$, as a function of the virtual-photon three-momentum transfer $q,$ is explicitly evaluated within a relativistic constituent quark model by adopting transition form factors obtained in the light-front formalism. The discussion is focussed on the role played by the effects due to the relativistic approach and to the transition form factors, derived within different models.Comment: 14 pages and three figures (included), to appear in Phys. Rev. C (May 1998