434 research outputs found
The Nucleon Sigma Term from Threshold Parameters
A new sum rule determines the nucleon sigma term by the \pi N elastic
scattering threshold parameters alone. This "threshold" value of \sigma(2\mu^2)
provides an independent check of existing values obtained from global
dispersive analyses, and also provides a realistic error assignment. Employing
a recent analysis of low energy (T_\pi < 100 MeV) \pi N data our sum rule
implies \sigma(2\mu^2) = 71\pm 9 MeV.Comment: Additional explanations and references, changes in notation, small
numerical changes. 11 pages, Revtex, uses epsf.sty, 1 postscript figure.
Version to be published in Physics Letters
The anomalous threshold, confinement, and an essential singularity in the heavy-light form factor
The analytic behavior of the heavy-light meson form factor is investigated
using several relativistic examples including unconfined, weakly confined, and
strongly confined mesons. It is observed that confinement erases the anomalous
threshold singularity and also induces an essential singularity at the normal
annihilation threshold. In the weak confinement limit, the "would be" anomalous
threshold contribution is identical to that of the real singularity on its
space-like side.Comment: Latex 2.09 with epsf.sty. 24 pages of text and 8 postscript figures.
Postscript version of complete paper will also be available soon at
http://phenom.physics.wisc.edu/pub/preprints/1997/madph-97-983 or at
ftp://phenom.physics.wisc.edu/pub/preprints/1997/madph-97-98
Forward Jets and Energy Flow in Hadronic Collisions
We observe that at the Large Hadron Collider, using forward + central
detectors, it becomes possible for the first time to carry out calorimetric
measurements of the transverse energy flow due to "minijets" accompanying
production of two jets separated by a large rapidity interval. We present
parton-shower calculations of energy flow observables in a high-energy
factorized Monte Carlo framework, designed to take into account QCD logarithmic
corrections both in the large rapidity interval and in the hard transverse
momentum. Considering events with a forward and a central jet, we examine the
energy flow in the interjet region and in the region away from the jets. We
discuss the role of these observables to analyze multiple parton collision
effects.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. Version2: added results on azimuthal
distributions and more discussion of energy flow definition using jet
clusterin
The role of proteomics in defining the human embryonic secretome
Non-invasive gamete and embryo assessment is considered an important focus in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Currently, the selection of embryos for transfer is based on morphological indices. Though successful, the field of ART would benefit from a non-invasive quantitative method of viability determination. Omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, have already begun providing evidence that viable gametes and embryos possess unique molecular profiles with potential biomarkers that can be utilized for developmental and/or viability selection. Unlike the human genome that is relatively fixed and steady throughout the human body, the human proteome, estimated at over a million proteins, is more complex, diverse and dynamic. It is the proteins themselves that contribute to the physiological homeostasis in any cell or tissue. Of particular interest in ART is the secretome, those proteins that are produced within the embryo and secreted into the surrounding environment. Defining the human embryonic secretome has the potential to expand our knowledge of embryonic cellular processes, including the complex dialogue between the developing embryo and its maternal environment, and may also assist in identifying those embryos with the highest implantation potential. Advances in proteomic technologies have allowed the non-invasive profiling of the human embryonic secretome with ongoing research focused on correlation with outcome. From a clinical perspective, embryo selection based on morphological assessment and non-invasive analysis of the human embryonic secretome may improve IVF success and lead to routine single embryo transfers
Radiative rare decays revisited
We reexamine contributions of higher -resonances to the radiative rare
decays b\rar s\gamma in the limit where both - and -quark are
considered heavy. Using the non-relativistic quark model, and the form factor
definitions consistent with the HQET covariant trace formalism, we find
significant disagreement with previous work which also used heavy quark
symmetry, and excellent agreement with experimental results. In particular, the
two largest fractions of the inclusive b\rar s\gamma branching ratio are
found to be for B\rar K^{*}(892)\gamma and
for B\rar K_{2}^{*}(1430)\gamma decays. We also compare the contribution from
the radiative decays into the eight -meson states to the inclusive
experimental b\rar s\gamma mass distribution.Comment: Latex (uses epsf macro), 20 pages of text, 1 postscript figure
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Glutathione metabolism contributes to the induction of trained immunity
The innate immune system displays heterologous memory characteristics, which are characterized by stronger responses to a secondary challenge. This phenomenon termed trained immunity relies on epigenetic and metabolic rewiring of innate immune cells. As reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been associated with the trained immunity phenotype, we hypothesized that the increased ROS levels and the main intracellular redox molecule glutathione play a role in the induction of trained immunity. Here we show that pharmacological inhibition of ROS in an in vitro model of trained immunity did not influence cell responsiveness; the modulation of glutathione levels reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human monocytes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in glutathione metabolism were found to be associated with changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine production capacity upon trained immunity. Also, plasma glutathione concentrations were positively associated with ex vivo IL-1 beta production, a biomarker of trained immunity, produced by monocytes of BCG-vaccinated individuals. In conclusion, glutathione metabolism is involved in the induction of trained immunity, and future studies are warranted to explore its functional consequences in human diseases.Proteomic
Functional monovalency amplifies the pathogenicity of anti-MuSK IgG4 in myasthenia gravis
Human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 usually displays antiinflammatory activity, and observations of IgG4 autoantibodies causing severe autoimmune disorders are therefore poorly understood. In blood, IgG4 naturally engages in a stochastic process termed "Fab-arm exchange" in which unrelated IgG4s exchange half-molecules continuously. The resulting IgG4 antibodies are composed of two different binding sites, thereby acquiring monovalent binding and inability to cross-link for each antigen recognized. Here, we demonstrate that this process amplifies autoantibody pathogenicity in a classic IgG4-mediated autoimmune disease: muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) myasthenia gravis. In mice, monovalent anti-MuSK IgG4s caused rapid and severemyasthenicmuscleweakness, whereas the same antibodies in their parental bivalent form were less potent or did not induce a phenotype. Mechanistically this could be explained by opposing effects onMuSK signaling. Isotype switching to IgG4 in an autoimmune response thereby may be a critical step in the development of disease. Our study establishes functional monovalency as a pathogenic mechanism in IgG4-mediated autoimmune disease and potentially other disorders.Neurological Motor Disorder
Democracy, Globalization and Private Investment in Ghana
The article examines the effects of democracy and globalization on private investment in Ghana for the period 1980–2012, using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test for cointegration and the error correction model (ECM). Two models are used. In Model 1, democracy is proxy by an index for institutional quality (Polity 2), while Model 2 uses an index for civil liberties as proxy for democracy. The results for Model 1 show globalization and public investment increase private investment, while exchange rate volatility and trade openness decrease private investment in both the long and short run. In addition, national income and interest rate reduce private investment in the short run. In the case of Model 2, credit to the private sector and public investment increase private investment, while exchange rate volatility and trade openness decrease private investment in both the long and short run. Finally, national income and interest rate reduce private investment in the short run. The findings and policy recommendations of the article provide vital information for policy implementation in Ghana
Measurement of Bose-Einstein Correlations in e+e- -> W+W- at root(s)=189GeV
We investigate Bose-Einstein correlations (BEC) in W-pair production at
root(s)=189GeV using the L3 detector at LEP. We observe BEC between particles
from a single W decay in good agreement with those from a light-quark Z decay
sample. We investigate their possible existence between particles coming from
different W's. No evidence for such inter-W BEC is found
Measurement of the W+W-gamma Cross Section and Direct Limits on Anomalous Quartic Gauge Boson Couplings at LEP
The process e+e- -> W+W-gamma is analysed using the data collected with the
L3 detector at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6GeV, corresponding to an
integrated luminosity of 176.8pb^-1. Based on a sample of 42 selected W+W-
candidates containing an isolated hard photon, the W+W-gamma cross section,
defined within phase-space cuts, is measured to be: sigma_WWgamma = 290 +/- 80
+/- 16 fb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. Including the
process e+e- -> nu nu gamma gamma, limits are derived on anomalous
contributions to the Standard Model quartic vertices W+W- gamma gamma and W+W-Z
gamma at 95% CL: -0.043 GeV^-2 < a_0/Lambda^2 < 0.043 GeV^-2 0.08 GeV^-2 <
a_c/Lambda^2 < 0.13 GeV^-2 0.41 GeV^-2 < a_n/Lambda^2 < 0.37 GeV^-2
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