Reweighting of the form factors in exclusive B --> X ell nu decays

A form factor reweighting technique has been elaborated to permit relatively easy comparisons between different form factor models applied to exclusive B --> X l nu decays. The software tool developped for this purpose is described. It can be used with any event generator, three of which were used in this work: ISGW2, PHSP and FLATQ2, a new powerful generator. The software tool allows an easy and reliable implementation of any form factor model. The tool has been fully validated with the ISGW2 form factor hypothesis. The results of our present studies indicate that the combined use of the FLATQ2 generator and the form factor reweighting tool should play a very important role in future exclusive |Vub| measurements, with largely reduced errors.Comment: accepted for publication by EPJ

Calogero model with Yukawa like interaction

We study an extension of one dimensional Calogero model involving strongly coupled and electrically charged particles. Besides Calogero term $\frac{g}{2x^{2}}$, there is an extra factor described by a Yukawa like coupling modeling short distance interactions. Mimicking Calogero analysis and using developments in formal series of the wave function $\Psi (x)$ factorised as $x^{\epsilon}\Phi (x)$ with $\epsilon (\epsilon -1) =g$, we develop a technique to approach the spectrum of the generalized system and show that information on full spectrum is captured by $\Phi (x)$ and $\Phi ^{\prime \prime}(x)$ at the singular point $x=0$ of the potential. Convergence of $\int dx| \Psi (x) | ^{2}$ requires $\epsilon >-{1/2}$ and is shown to be sensitive to the zero mode of $\Phi (x)$ at $x=0$. \textbf{Key words}: \textit{Hamitonian systems, quantum integrability, Calogero model, Yukawa like potential.}Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur

Oxaliplatin for the treatment of cisplatin-resistant cancer: a systematic review

Oxaliplatin is widely regarded as being active in cisplatin-resistant cancer. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to identify, describe and critique the clinical and pre-clinical evidence for the use of oxaliplatin in patients with “cisplatin-resistant” cancer. We identified 25 pre-clinical cell models of platinum resistance and 24 clinical trials reporting oxaliplatin based salvage therapy for cisplatin-resistant cancer. The pre-clinical data suggests that there is cross-resistance between cisplatin and oxaliplatin in low-level resistance models. In models with high level resistance (>10 fold) there is less cross resistance between cisplatin and oxaliplatin, which may be a reason why oxaliplatin is thought to be active in cisplatin-resistant cancer. In clinical trials where oxaliplatin has been used as part of salvage therapy for patients who have failed cisplatin or carboplatin combination chemotherapy, there was a much lower response rate in patients with platinum-refractory or resistant cancers compared to platinum-sensitive cancers. This suggests that there may be cross-resistance between cisplatin and oxaliplatin in the clinic. Oxaliplatin as a single agent had a poor response rate in cisplatin refractory and resistant cancer. Oxaliplatin performed better in combination with other agents for the treatment of platinum resistant/refractory cancer suggesting that the benefit of oxaliplatin may lie in its more favourable toxicity and ability to be combined with other drugs rather than an underlying activity in cisplatin resistance. Oxaliplatin therefore should not be considered broadly active in cisplatin-resistant cancer

Activation of PmrA inhibits LpxT-dependent phosphorylation of lipid A promoting resistance to antimicrobial peptides

During its transport to the bacterial surface, the phosphate groups of the lipid A anchor of Escherichia coli and Salmonella lipopolysaccharide are modified by membrane enzymes including ArnT, EptA and LpxT. ArnT and EptA catalyse the periplasmic addition of the positively charged substituents 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose and phosphoethanolamine respectively. These modifications are controlled by the PmrA transcriptional regulator and confer resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides, including polymyxin. LpxT, however, catalyses the phosphorylation of lipid A at the 1-position forming 1-diphosphate lipid A increasing the negative charge of the bacterial surface. Here, we report that PmrA is involved in the regulation of LpxT. Interestingly, this regulation does not occur at the level of transcription, but rather following the assembly of LpxT into the inner membrane. PmrA-dependent inhibition of LpxT is required for phosphoethanolamine decoration of lipid A, which is shown here to be critical for E. coli to resist the bactericidal activity of polymyxin. Furthermore, although Salmonella lipid A is more prevalently modified with l-4-aminoarabinose, we demonstrate that loss of Salmonella lpxT greatly increases EptA modification. The current work is an example of the complexities associated with the structural remodelling of Gram-negative lipopolysaccharides promoting bacterial survival

Topological string in harmonic space and correlation functions in S3S^3 stringy cosmology

We develop the harmonic space method for conifold and use it to study local complex deformations of $T^{\ast}S^{3}$ preserving manifestly $SL(2,C)$ isometry. We derive the perturbative manifestly $SL(2,C)$ invariant partition function $\mathcal{Z}_{top}$ of topological string B model on locally deformed conifold. Generic $n$ momentum and winding modes of 2D $c=1$ non critical theory are described by highest $$ and lowest components $\upsilon_{(0,n)}$ of $SL(2,C)$ spin $s=\frac{n}{2}$ multiplets $_{(n-k,k)})$, $0\leq k\leq n$ and are shown to be naturally captured by harmonic monomials. Isodoublets ($n=1$) describe uncoupled units of momentum and winding modes and are exactly realized as the $SL(2,C)$ harmonic variables $U_{\alpha}^{+}$ and $V_{\alpha}^{-}$. We also derive a dictionary giving the passage from Laurent (Fourier) analysis on $T^{\ast}S^{1}$ ($S^{1}$) to the harmonic method on $T^{\ast}S^{3}$ ($S^{3}$). The manifestly $SU(2,C)$ covariant correlation functions of the $S^{3}$ quantum cosmology model of Gukov-Saraikin-Vafa are also studied.Comment: 91 page

Expanding the parameters of academia

This paper draws on qualitative data gathered from two studies funded by the UK Leadership Foundation for Higher Education to examine the expansion of academic identities in higher education. It builds on Whitchurch’s earlier work, which focused primarily on professional staff, to suggest that the emergence of broadly based projects such as widening participation, learning support and community partnership is also impacting on academic identities. Thus, academic as well as professional staff are increasingly likely to work in multi-professional teams across a variety of constituencies, as well as with external partners, and the binary distinction between ‘academic’ and ‘non-academic’ roles and activities is no longer clear-cut. Moreover, there is evidence from the studies of an intentionality about deviations from mainstream academic career routes among respondents who could have gone either way. Consideration is therefore given to factors that influence individuals to work in more project-oriented areas, as well as to variables that affect ways in which these roles and identities develop. Finally, three models of academically oriented project activity are identified, and the implications of an expansion of academic identities are reviewed

Nonlinear Supersymmetry as a Hidden Symmetry

Ver abstrac

LATTICE QCD AND THE STANDARD MODEL

Most of the poorly known parameters of the Standard Model cannot be determined without reliable calculations in nonperturbative QCD. Lattice gauge theory provides a first-principles definition of the required functional integrals, and hence offers ways of performing these calculations. This paper reviews the progress in computing hadron spectra and electroweak matrix elements needed to determine $\alpha_S$, the quark masses, and the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix.Comment: 1 (title) + 21 pages, LaTeX; style-file, .aux file, and figures wrapped with uufiles; also at ftp://fnth06.fnal.gov/pub/Fermilab-Pub/95.067 presented at the Seventh Adriatic Meeting on Particle Physics, Brijuni, Croatia, 13--20 September 199

Recommendations for tilt table testing and other provocative cardiovascular autonomic tests in conditions that may cause transient loss of consciousness. Consensus statement of the European Federation of Autonomic Societies (EFAS) endorsed by the American Autonomic Society (AAS) and the European Academy of Neurology (EAN)

An expert committee was formed to reach consensus on the use of tilt table testing (TTT) in the diagnosis of disorders that may cause transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) and to outline when other provocative cardiovascular autonomic tests are needed. While TTT adds to history taking, it cannot be a substitute for it. An abnormal TTT result is most meaningful if the provoked event is recognised by patients or eyewitnesses as similar to spontaneous events. The minimum requirements to perform TTT are a tilt table, a continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure monitor, at least one ECG lead, protocols for the indications stated below and trained staff. This basic equipment lends itself to the performance of (1) additional provocation tests, such as the active standing test, carotid sinus massage and autonomic function tests; (2) additional measurements, such as video, EEG, transcranial Doppler, NIRS, end-tidal CO2 or neuro-endocrine tests; and (3) tailor-made provocation procedures in those with a specific and consistent trigger of TLOC. TTT and other provocative cardiovascular autonomic tests are indicated if the initial evaluation does not yield a definite or highly likely diagnosis, but raises a suspicion of (1) reflex syncope, (2) the three forms of orthostatic hypotension (OH), i.e. initial, classic and delayed OH, as well as delayed orthostatic blood pressure recovery, (3) postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or (4) psychogenic pseudosyncope. A therapeutic indication for TTT is to teach patients with reflex syncope and OH to recognise hypotensive symptoms and to perform physical counter manoeuvres