Improved estimates of rare K decay matrix-elements from Kl3 decays

The estimation of rare K decay matrix-elements from Kl3 experimental data is extended beyond LO in Chiral Perturbation Theory. Isospin-breaking effects at NLO (and partially NNLO) in the ChPT expansion, as well as QED radiative corrections are now accounted for. The analysis relies mainly on the cleanness of two specific ratios of form-factors, for which the theoretical control is excellent. As a result, the uncertainties on the K+ --> pi+ nu nubar and KL --> pi0 nu nubar matrix-elements are reduced by a factor of about 7 and 4, respectively, and similarly for the direct CP-violating contribution to KL --> pi0 l+ l-. They could be reduced even further with better experimental data for the Kl3 slopes and the K+l3 branching ratios. As a result, the non-parametric errors for B(K --> pi nu nubar) and for the direct CP-violating contributions to B(KL --> pi0 l+ l-) are now completely dominated by those on the short-distance physics.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. Numerical analysis updated to include the recent Kl3 data. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Measurement of the Rate of Muon Capture in Hydrogen Gas and Determination of the Proton's Pseudoscalar Coupling gPg_P

The rate of nuclear muon capture by the proton has been measured using a new experimental technique based on a time projection chamber operating in ultra-clean, deuterium-depleted hydrogen gas at 1 MPa pressure. The capture rate was obtained from the difference between the measured $\mu^-$ disappearance rate in hydrogen and the world average for the $\mu^+$ decay rate. The target's low gas density of 1% compared to liquid hydrogen is key to avoiding uncertainties that arise from the formation of muonic molecules. The capture rate from the hyperfine singlet ground state of the $\mu p$ atom is measured to be $\Lambda_S=725.0 \pm 17.4 s^{-1}$, from which the induced pseudoscalar coupling of the nucleon, $g_P(q^2=-0.88 m_\mu^2)=7.3 \pm 1.1$, is extracted. This result is consistent with theoretical predictions for $g_P$ that are based on the approximate chiral symmetry of QCD.Comment: submitted to Phys.Rev.Let

Caloric curve in Au + Au collisions

Realistic caloric curves are obtained for $^{197}Au + ^{197}Au$ reaction with incident energy ranging from 35 to 130 MeV/nucleon in the dynamic statistical multifragmentation model. It is shown that for excitation energy 3 to 8 MeV/nucleon, the temperature remains constant in the range 5 to 6 MeV, which is close to experiment. The mechanism of energy deposition through the tripartition of colliding system envisaged in this model together with inter-fragment nuclear interaction are found to play important role. A possible signature of liquid-gas phase transition is seen in the specific heat distribution calculated from these caloric curves, and the critical temperature is found to be $\sim$ 6 to 6.5 MeV.Comment: Revtex, 10 pages, 4 postscipt figures, To appear in Phys. Rev. C (Rapid Communications

Subthreshold dynamics of the neural membrane potential driven by stochastic synaptic input

In the cerebral cortex, neurons are subject to a continuous bombardment of synaptic inputs originating from the network's background activity. This leads to ongoing, mostly subthreshold membrane dynamics that depends on the statistics of the background activity and of the synapses made on a neuron. Subthreshold membrane polarization is, in turn, a potent modulator of neural responses. The present paper analyzes the subthreshold dynamics of the neural membrane potential driven by synaptic inputs of stationary statistics. Synaptic inputs are considered in linear interaction. The analysis identifies regimes of input statistics which give rise to stationary, fluctuating, oscillatory, and unstable dynamics. In particular, I show that (i) mere noise inputs can drive the membrane potential into sustained, quasiperiodic oscillations (noise-driven oscillations), in the absence of a stimulus-derived, intraneural, or network pacemaker; (ii) adding hyperpolarizing to depolarizing synaptic input can increase neural activity (hyperpolarization-induced activity), in the absence of hyperpolarization-activated currents

Measurement of the Positive Muon Lifetime and Determination of the Fermi Constant to Part-per-Million Precision

We report a measurement of the positive muon lifetime to a precision of 1.0 parts per million (ppm); it is the most precise particle lifetime ever measured. The experiment used a time-structured, low-energy muon beam and a segmented plastic scintillator array to record more than 2 x 10^{12} decays. Two different stopping target configurations were employed in independent data-taking periods. The combined results give tau_{mu^+}(MuLan) = 2196980.3(2.2) ps, more than 15 times as precise as any previous experiment. The muon lifetime gives the most precise value for the Fermi constant: G_F(MuLan) = 1.1663788 (7) x 10^-5 GeV^-2 (0.6 ppm). It is also used to extract the mu^-p singlet capture rate, which determines the proton's weak induced pseudoscalar coupling g_P.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Are the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Associated With Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors?: Twenty-year findings from the CARDIA study

OBJECTIVE To examine the prospective association between accordance with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and subsequent diabetes incidence and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors

Improved Measurement of the Positive Muon Lifetime and Determination of the Fermi Constant

The mean life of the positive muon has been measured to a precision of 11 ppm using a low-energy, pulsed muon beam stopped in a ferromagnetic target, which was surrounded by a scintillator detector array. The result, tau_mu = 2.197013(24) us, is in excellent agreement with the previous world average. The new world average tau_mu = 2.197019(21) us determines the Fermi constant G_F = 1.166371(6) x 10^-5 GeV^-2 (5 ppm). Additionally, the precision measurement of the positive muon lifetime is needed to determine the nucleon pseudoscalar coupling g_P.Comment: As published version (PRL, July 2007

Quantum-Statistical Correlations and Single Particle Distributions for Slowly Expanding Systems with Temperature Profile

Competition among particle evaporation, temperature gradient and flow is investigated in a phenomenological manner, based on a simultaneous analysis of quantum statistical correlations and momentum distributions for a non-relativistic, spherically symmetric, three-dimensionally expanding, finite source. The parameters of the model emission function are constrained by fits to neutron and proton momentum distributions and correlation functions in intermediate energy heavy-ion collisions. The temperature gradient is related to the momentum dependence of the radius parameters of the two-particle correlation function, as well as to the momentum-dependent temperature parameter of the single particle spectrum, while a long duration of particle evaporation is found to be responsible for the low relative momentum behavior of the two-particle correlations.Comment: 20 pages + 5 ps figures, ReVTeX, uses psfig.sty, the description is extended to include final state interactions, phenomenological evaporation and to fit intermediate energy heavy ion proton and neutron spectrum and correlation dat

Muon Physics: A Pillar of the Standard Model

Since its discovery in the 1930s, the muon has played an important role in our quest to understand the sub-atomic theory of matter. The muon was the first second-generation standard-model particle to be discovered, and its decay has provided information on the (Vector -Axial Vector) structure of the weak interaction, the strength of the weak interaction, G_F, and the conservation of lepton number (flavor) in muon decay. The muon's anomalous magnetic moment has played an important role in restricting theories of physics beyond the standard standard model, where at present there is a 3.4 standard-deviation difference between the experiment and standard-model theory. Its capture on the atomic nucleus has provided valuable information on the modification of the weak current by the strong interaction which is complementary to that obtained from nuclear beta decay.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. Invited paper for the Journal of Physical Society in Japan (JPSJ), Special Topics Issue "Frontiers of Elementary Particle Physics, The Standard Model and beyond

Health and Oral Health Care Needs and Health Care-Seeking Behavior Among Homeless Injection Drug Users in San Francisco

Few existing studies have examined health and oral health needs and treatment-seeking behavior among the homeless and injection drug users (IDUs). This paper describes the prevalence and correlates of health and oral health care needs and treatment-seeking behaviors in homeless IDUs recruited in San Francisco, California, from 2003 to 2005 (N = 340). We examined sociodemographic characteristics, drug use patterns, HIV status via oral fluid testing, physical health using the Short Form 12 Physical Component Score, self-reported needs for physical and oral health care, and the self-reported frequency of seeking medical and oral health care. The sample had a lower health status as compared to the general population and reported a frequent need for physical and oral health care. In bivariate analysis, being in methadone treatment was associated with care-seeking behavior. In addition, being enrolled in Medi-Cal, California’s state Medicaid program, was associated with greater odds of seeking physical and oral health care. Methamphetamine use was not associated with higher odds of needing oral health care as compared to people who reported using other illicit drugs. Homeless IDUs in San Francisco have a large burden of unmet health and oral health needs. Recent cuts in Medi-Cal’s adult dental coverage may result in a greater burden of oral health care which will need to be provided by emergency departments and neighborhood dental clinics