241 research outputs found
A connection between inclusive semileptonic decays of bound and free heavy quarks
A relativistic constituent quark model, formulated on the light-front, is
used to derive a new parton approximation for the inclusive semileptonic decay
width of the B-meson. A simple connection between the decay rate of a free
heavy-quark and the one of a heavy-quark bound in a meson or in a baryon is
established. The main features of the new approach are the treatment of the
b-quark as an on-mass-shell particle and the inclusion of the effects arising
from the b-quark transverse motion in the B-meson. In a way conceptually
similar to the deep-inelastic scattering case, the B-meson inclusive width is
expressed as the integral of the free b-quark partial width multiplied by a
bound-state factor related to the b-quark distribution function in the B-meson.
The non-perturbative meson structure is described through various quark-model
wave functions, constructed via the Hamiltonian light-front formalism using as
input both relativized and non-relativistic potential models. A link between
spectroscopic quark models and the B-meson decay physics is obtained in this
way. Our predictions for the B -> X_c l nu_l and B -> X_u l nu_l decays are
used to extract the CKM parameters |V_cb| and |V_ub| from available inclusive
data. After averaging over the various quark models adopted and including
leading-order perturbative QCD corrections, we obtain |V_cb| = (43.0 +/-
0.7_exp +/- 1.8_th) 10^-3 and |V_ub| = (3.83 +/- 0.48_exp +/- 0.14_th) 10^-3,
implying |V_ub / V_cb| = 0.089 +/- 0.011_exp +/- 0.005_th, in nice agreement
with existing predictions.Comment: revised version with pQCD corrections included, to appear in Physical
Review
Chronic comorbidity of internal organs as a risk factor of complications and fatal outcome of community-acquired pneumonia.
With the purpose to estimate influence of comorbidity at the risk of complications and death due to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) the retrospective analysis of 1587 case histories of inpatients with CAP (mean age – 48.5±18.4, males – 815 (51.4%), women – 772 (48,6%)) was performed. Comorbidity was observed in 1114 (70.2%). More frequently complications of CAP were developed in patients with chronic diseases than without them (p=0.013). Increased risk of pleural effusion was associated with chronic diseases of digestive system (OR=1.85 (95%CI 1.30-2.26)) and diabetes mellitus (OR=2.35 (95%CI 1.40-3.96)). Risk of sepsis development is higher in patients with nervous system diseases (OR=3.62 (95%CI 1.37-9.56) and drug or alcohol addiction (OR=19.08 (95%CI 7.30-49.82). Risk of pulmonary edema rose in patients with drug or alcohol addiction (OR=24.16; 95%CI 8.07-72.34), malignancy (OR=8.97; 95%CI 1.94-41.49), diabetes mellitus (OR=4.04; 95%CI 1.48-11.01), diseases of nervous (OR=4.04; 95%CI 1.17-13.94), urinary (OR=3.39; 95%CI 1.33-8.64) and cardiovascular (OR=2.29, 95%CI 0.98-5.34) systems. Higher risk of death in patients with CAP was associated with the presence of cardiovascular diseases (OR=2.17; 95%CI 1.11-4.25), diabetes mellitus (OR=2.95; 95%CI 1.20-7.21), drug or alcohol addiction (OR=38.40; 95%CI 15.05-97.98).
Immunological aspects of cytomegalovirus infection in community-acquired pneumonia among young adults.
The problem of comorbidities and mutual influence due to progressive immunological suppression occupies an important place in the morbidity structure among young population. This fact is usually considered to be a result of existent immunodeficiency in the process of studying respiratory comorbidities with subsequent chances of immunological reactivities. The purpose of our research is to investigate the features of immunological reactivity changes among young patients with community-acquired pneumonia and cytomegaloviral persistence. Received data showed a high level of cytomegaloviral persistence prevalence which increases the levels of cellular and humor immunodeficiency in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Such influence on the immunity state is associated with the worse clinical course of CAP according to PORT-scale
Comparison among Hamiltonian light-front formalisms at q+ = 0 and q+ <> 0: space-like elastic form factors of pseudoscalar and vector mesons
The electromagnetic elastic form factors of pseudoscalar and vector mesons
are analyzed for space-like momentum transfers in terms of relativistic quark
models based on the Hamiltonian light-front formalism elaborated in different
reference frames (q+ 0 and q+ 0). As far as the one-body approximation for
the electromagnetic current operator is concerned, it is shown that the
predictions of the light-front approach at q+=0 should be preferred,
particularly in case of light hadrons, because of: i) the relevant role played
by the Z-graph at q+ 0, and ii) the appropriate elimination of spurious
effects, related to the orientation of the null hyperplane where the
light-front wave function is defined.Comment: version to appear in Phys. Rev. C. No change in the results and in
the conclusion
Extent of hypoattenuation on CT angiography source images in Basilar Artery occlusion: prognostic value in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study
<p><b>Background and Purpose:</b> The posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) quantifies the extent of early ischemic changes in the posterior circulation with a 10-point grading system. We hypothesized that pc-ASPECTS applied to CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome of patients in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS).</p>
<p><b>Methods:</b> BASICS was a prospective, observational registry of consecutive patients with acute symptomatic basilar artery occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at 1 month. We applied pc-ASPECTS to CT angiography source images of patients with CT angiography for confirmation of basilar artery occlusion. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) of pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥8 versus <8. Primary outcome measure was favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–3). Secondary outcome measures were mortality and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2).</p>
<p><b>Results:</b> Of 158 patients included, 78 patients had a CT angiography source images pc-ASPECTS ≥8. Patients with a pc-ASPECTS ≥8 more often had a favorable outcome than patients with a pc-ASPECTS <8 (crude RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.98–3.0). After adjustment for age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and thrombolysis, pc-ASPECTS ≥8 was not related to favorable outcome (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8–2.2), but it was related to reduced mortality (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–0.98) and functional independence (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.8). In post hoc analysis, pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at ≥6 versus <6 predicted a favorable outcome (adjusted RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2–7.5).</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> pc-ASPECTS on CT angiography source images independently predicted death and functional independence at 1 month in the CT angiography subgroup of patients in the BASICS registry.</p>
Non-Leptonic Decays of B Mesons and Strong Coupling Constants
Non-leptonic decays of B mesons into two mesons or meson resonances are
studied on the basis of two versions of simple pole-dominance models involving
scalar, vector, pseudoscalar and axial-vector poles. The results are compared
with those obtained from the usual factorization model and used to obtain
information on strong coupling constants between B meson and one light or one
charmed meson, respectively. These coupling constants are compared to results
from various QCD sum rule calculations.Comment: Latex file 35 pages, including 3 figure
Rare exclusive semileptonic b -> s transitions in the Standard Model
We study long-distance effects in rare exclusive semileptonic decays B -> (K,
K*) (l+ l-, nu bar{nu}) and analyze dilepton spectra and asymmetries within the
framework of the Standard Model. The form factors, describing the meson
transition amplitudes of the effective Hamiltonian are calculated within the
lattice-constrained dispersion quark model: the form factors are given by
dispersion representations through the wave functions of the initial and final
mesons, and these wave functions are chosen such that the B -> K* transition
form factors agree with the lattice results at large q**2. We calculate
branching ratios of semileptonic B -> K, K* transition modes and study the
sensitivity of observables to the long-distance contributions. The shape of the
forward-backward asymmetry and the longitudinal lepton polarization asymmetry
are found to be independent of the long-distance effects and mainly determined
by the values of the Wilson coefficients in the Standard Model.Comment: revtex, 17 pp., 5 figures with epsfig.st
Heavy- to light-meson transition form factors
Semileptonic heavy -> heavy and heavy -> light meson transitions are studied
as a phenomenological application of a heavy-quark limit of Dyson-Schwinger
equations. Employing two parameters: E, the difference between the mass of the
heavy meson and the effective-mass of the heavy quark; and Lambda, the width of
the heavy-meson Bethe-Salpeter amplitude, we calculate f_+(t) for all decays on
their entire kinematically accessible t-domain. Our study favours f_B in the
range 0.135-0.17 GeV and with E=0.44 GeV and 1/Lambda = 0.14 fm we obtain
f_+^{B pi}(0) = 0.46. As a result of neglecting 1/m_c-corrections, we estimate
that our calculated values of \rho^2 = 0.87 and f_+^{DK}(0)=0.62 are too low by
approximately 15%. However, the bulk of these corrections should cancel in our
calculated values of Br(D -> \pi l nu)/Br(D -> K l nu)=0.13 and f_+^{D
pi}(0)/f_+^{DK}(0) = 1.16.Comment: 26 pages, 3 figures, REVTE
Electromagnetic form factors in the light-front formalism and the Feynman triangle diagram: spin-0 and spin-1 two-fermion systems
The connection between the Feynman triangle diagram and the light-front
formalism for spin-0 and spin-1 two-fermion systems is analyzed. It is shown
that in the limit q+ = 0 the form factors for both spin-0 and spin-1 systems
can be uniquely determined using only the good amplitudes, which are not
affected by spurious effects related to the loss of rotational covariance
present in the light-front formalism. At the same time, the unique feature of
the suppression of the pair creation process is maintained. Therefore, a
physically meaningful one-body approximation, in which all the constituents are
on their mass-shells, can be consistently formulated in the limit q+ = 0.
Moreover, it is shown that the effects of the contact term arising from the
instantaneous propagation of the active constituent can be canceled out from
the triangle diagram by means of an appropriate choice of the off-shell
behavior of the bound state vertexes; this implies that in case of good
amplitudes the Feynman triangle diagram and the one-body light-front result
match exactly. The application of our covariant light-front approach to the
evaluation of the rho-meson elastic form factors is presented.Comment: corrected typos in the reference
Symptomatic hemorrhage after alteplase therapy not due to silent ischemia
BACKGROUND: Stroke thrombolysis-related intracerebral hemorrhage may occur remotely from the anatomical site of ischemia. One postulated mechanism for this is simultaneous multiple embolization with hemorrhage into a "silent" area of ischemia. RESULTS: A patient suffered a disabling stroke affecting the right cerebral hemisphere. He was treated with intravenous alteplase and underwent extensive early imaging with multimodal MRI. Several hours after treatment he developed a brainstem hemorrhage despite having no evidence of ischemia on DWI MRI in the brainstem. CONCLUSION: Not all occurrences of remote ICH after stroke thrombolysis are secondary to multiple emboli with silent ischemia
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