The Klein-Gordon equation with the Kratzer potential in d dimensions

We apply the Asymptotic Iteration Method to obtain the bound-state energy spectrum for the d-dimensional Klein-Gordon equation with scalar S(r) and vector potentials V(r). When S(r) and V(r) are both Coulombic, we obtain all the exact solutions; when the potentials are both of Kratzer type, we obtain all the exact solutions for S(r)=V(r); if S(r) > V(r) we obtain exact solutions under certain constraints on the potential parameters: in this case, a possible general solution is found in terms of a monic polynomial, whose coefficients form a set of elementary symmetric polynomials.Comment: 13 page

The effect of continuous ultrasound on chronic low back pain: protocol of a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic non-specific low-back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and expensive musculoskeletal disorders in industrialized countries. Similar to other countries in the world, LBP is a common health and socioeconomic problem in Iran. One of the most widely used modalities in the field of physiotherapy for treating LBP is therapeutic ultrasound. Despite its common use, there is still inconclusive evidence to support its effectiveness in this group of patients. This randomised trial will evaluate the effectiveness of continuous ultrasound in addition to exercise therapy in patients with chronic LBP.</p> <p>Methods and design</p> <p>A total of 46 patients, between the ages 18 and 65 years old who have had LBP for more than three months will be recruited from university hospitals. Participants will be randomized to receive continuous ultrasound plus exercise therapy or placebo ultrasound plus exercise therapy. These groups will be treated for 10 sessions during a period of 4 weeks. Primary outcome measures will be functional disability and pain intensity. Lumbar flexion and extension range of motion, as well as changes in electromyography muscle fatigue indices, will be measured as secondary outcomes. All outcome measures will be measured at baseline, after completion of the treatment sessions, and after one month.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The results of this trial will help to provide some evidence regarding the use of continuous ultrasound in chronic LBP patients. This should lead to a more evidence-based approach to clinical decision making regarding the use of ultrasound for LBP.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): <a href="http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2251">NTR2251</a></p

The Generation R Study: design and cohort update 2010

The Generation R Study is a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes of normal and abnormal growth, development and health during fetal life, childhood and adulthood. The study focuses on four primary areas of research: (1) growth and physical development; (2) behavioural and cognitive development; (3) diseases in childhood; and (4) health and healthcare for pregnant women and children. In total, 9,778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. General follow-up rates until the age of 4 years exceed 75%. Data collection in mothers, fathers and preschool children included questionnaires, detailed physical and ultrasound examinations, behavioural observations, and biological samples. A genome wide association screen is available in the participating children. Regular detailed hands on assessment are performed from the age of 5 years onwards. Eventually, results forthcoming from the Generation R Study have to contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children

Search for the Bs0 → μ+μ−γ decay

A search for the fully reconstructed B0 s → µ +µ −γ decay is performed at the LHCb experiment using proton-proton collisions at √ s = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb−1 . No signifcant signal is found and upper limits on the branching fraction in intervals of the dimuon mass are set B(B 0 s → µ +µ −γ) &lt; 4.2 × 10−8 , m(µ +µ −) ∈ [2mµ, 1.70] GeV/c2 , B(B 0 s → µ +µ −γ) &lt; 7.7 × 10−8 , m(µ +µ −) ∈ [1.70, 2.88] GeV/c2 , B(B 0 s → µ +µ −γ) &lt; 4.2 × 10−8 , m(µ +µ −) ∈ [3.92, mB0 s ] GeV/c2 , at 95% confdence level. Additionally, upper limits are set on the branching fraction in the [2mµ, 1.70] GeV/c2 dimuon mass region excluding the contribution from the intermediate ϕ(1020) meson, and in the region combining all dimuon-mass intervals

Observation of the Bc+ → J/ψπ+π0 decay

The first observation of the Bc+→J/ψπ+π0 decay is reported with high significance using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. The ratio of its branching fraction relative to the Bc+→J/ψπ+ channel is measured to beBBc+→J/ψπ+π0BBc+→J/ψπ+=2.80±0.15±0.11±0.16, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic and the third related to imprecise knowledge of the branching fractions for B+ → J/ψK*+ and Bc+→J/ψπ+ decays, which are used to determine the π0 detection efficiency. The π+π0 mass spectrum is found to be consistent with the dominance of an intermediate ρ+ contribution in accordance with a model based on QCD factorisation

Study of Bc+ → χcπ+ decays

A study of Bc+→χcπ+ decays is reported using proton-proton collision data, collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The decay Bc+→χc2π+ is observed for the first time, with a significance exceeding seven standard deviations. The relative branching fraction with respect to the Bc+→J/ψπ+ decay is measured to beBBc+→χc2π+BBc+→J/ψπ+=0.37±0.06±0.02±0.01, where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is due to the knowledge of the χc2→ J/ψγ branching fraction. No significant Bc+→χc1π+ signal is observed and an upper limit for the relative branching fraction for the Bc+→χc1π+ and Bc+→χc2π+ decays of BBc+→χc1π+BBc+→χc2π+=&lt;0.49 is set at the 90% confidence level

First observation of the Λb0 → D+D−Λ decay

The Λ 0 b → D+D−Λ decay is observed for the first time using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.3 fb−1 . Using the B0 → D+D−K0 S decay as a reference channel, the product of the relative production cross-section and decay branching fractions is measured to be R = σΛ0 b σB0 × B(Λ0 b → D+D−Λ) B(B0 → D+D−K0 S ) = 0.179 ± 0.022 ± 0.014 , where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The known branching fraction of the reference channel, B(B0 → D+D−K0 S ), and the cross-section ratio, σΛ0 b /σB0 , previously measured by LHCb are used to derive the branching fraction of the Λ 0 b → D+D−Λ decay B(Λ0 b → D+D−Λ) = (1.24 ± 0.15 ± 0.10 ± 0.28 ± 0.11) × 10−4 , where the third and fourth contributions are due to uncertainties of B(B0 → D+D−K0 S ) and σΛ0 b /σB0 , respectively. Inspection of the D+Λ and D+D− invariant-mass distributions suggests a rich presence of intermediate resonances in the decay. The Λ 0 b → D∗+D−Λ decay is also observed for the first time as a partially reconstructed component in the D+D−Λ invariant mass spectrum