0++0^{++} Resonances Observed at BES

In last 10 years, $0^{++}$ resonances have been observed and studied at BES in many processes, such as $J/\psi\to\gamma\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$, $\gamma\pi^+\pi^-$, $\gamma\pi^0\pi^0$, $\gamma K^+K^-$, $\gamma K_SK_S$, $\gamma\omega\phi$, $\omega\pi^+\pi^-$, $\omega K^+K^-$, $\phi\pi^+\pi^-$, $\phi K^+K^-$, $\psi(2S)\to J/\psi\pi^+\pi^-$, $\chi_{c0}\to\pi^+\pi^-K^+K^-$, $\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ etc.. The results on $0^{++}$ resonances observed at BES are reviewed.Comment: Plenary talk at SCADRON70, Lisbon, Feb. 200

NJL with eight quark interactions: Chiral phases at finite T

The thermodynamic potential and thermal dependence of low lying mass spectra of scalars and pseudoscalars are evaluated in a generalized Nambu -- Jona-Lasinio model, which incorporates eight-quark interactions. These are necessary to stabilize the scalar effective potential for the light and strange quark flavors, which would be otherwise unbounded from below. In addition it turns out that they are also crucial to i) lower the temperature of the chiral transition, in conformity with lattice calculations, ii) sharpen the temperature interval in which the crossover occurs, iii) or even allow for first order transitions to occur with realistic quark mass values, from certain critical values of the parameters. These are unprecedented results which cannot be obtained within the NJL approaches restricted to quartic and six-quark interactions.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, Talk presented at SCADRON 70 Workshop on Scalar Mesons and Related Topics, Lisbon, 11-16 February 200

Inducing Ito,f and phase 1 repolarization of the cardiac action potential with a Kv4.3/KChIP2.1 bicistronic transgene

The fast transient outward potassium current (I(to,f)) plays a key role in phase 1 repolarization of the human cardiac action potential (AP) and its reduction in heart failure (HF) contributes to the loss of contractility. Therefore, restoring I(to,f) might be beneficial for treating HF. The coding sequence of a P2A peptide was cloned, in frame, between Kv4.3 and KChIP2.1 genes and ribosomal skipping was confirmed by Western blotting. Typical I(to,f) properties with slowed inactivation and accelerated recovery from inactivation due to the association of KChIP2.1 with Kv4.3 was seen in transfected HEK293 cells. Both bicistronic components trafficked to the plasmamembrane and in adenovirus transduced rabbit cardiomyocytes both t-tubular and sarcolemmal construct labelling appeared. The resulting current was similar to I(to,f) seen in human ventricular cardiomyocytes and was 50% blocked at ~0.8 mmol/l 4-aminopyridine and increased ~30% by 5 μmol/l NS5806 (an I(to,f) agonist). Variation in the density of the expressed I(to,f), in rabbit cardiomyocytes recapitulated typical species-dependent variations in AP morphology. Simultaneous voltage recording and intracellular Ca(2+) imaging showed that modification of phase 1 to a non-failing human phenotype improved the rate of rise and magnitude of the Ca(2+) transient. I(to,f) expression also reduced AP triangulation but did not affect I(Ca,L) and I(Na) magnitudes. This raises the possibility for a new gene-based therapeutic approach to HF based on selective phase 1 modification

Remarks on the f_0(400-1200) scalar meson as the dynamically generated chiral partner of the pion

The quark-level linear sigma model is revisited, in particular concerning the identification of the f_0(400-1200) (or \sigma(600)) scalar meson as the chiral partner of the pion. We demonstrate the predictive power of the linear sigma model through the pi-pi and pi-N s-wave scattering lengths, as well as several electromagnetic, weak, and strong decays of pseudoscalar and vector mesons. The ease with which the data for these observables are reproduced in the linear sigma model lends credit to the necessity to include the sigma as a fundamental q\bar{q} degree of freedom, to be contrasted with approaches like chiral perturbation theory or the confining NJL model of Shakin and Wang.Comment: 15 pages, plain LaTeX, 3 EPS figure

The development of a quality of life scale for informal carers for older adults

Background: The aim of the study was to develop a multidimensional quality of life instrument suitable for use among individuals across cultures who have an informal care role for older persons. Methods: Participants were informal carers of older adults in the United Kingdom (n = 308), United States (n = 164), and China (n = 131). We carried out exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of 61 items derived from the eight-factor Adult Carers Quality of Life Questionnaire with newly added items to define both traditional and nontraditional informal care roles. Results: Findings suggest a 24-item quality of life scale with a six-factor structure to caring for older adults that assesses (a) exhaustion, (b) adoption of a traditional carer role, (c) personal growth, (d) management and performance, (e) level of support, and (f) financial matters. Conclusion: We present a new scale to assess the multidimensional aspects of quality of life among those caring for older adults

Psychosocial interventions for people with dementia: a synthesis of systematic reviews

Objectives: Over the last 10 years there has been a multitude of studies of psychosocial interventions for people with dementia. However, clinical services face a dilemma about which intervention should be introduced into clinical practice because of the inconsistency in some of the findings between different studies and the differences in the study qualities and trustworthiness of evidence. There was a need to provide a comprehensive summary of the best evidence to illustrate what works. Methods: A review of the systematic reviews of psychosocial interventions in dementia published between January 2010 and February 2016 was conducted. Results: Twenty-two reviews (8 physical, 7 cognitive, 1 physical/cognitive and 6 other psychosocial interventions) with a total of 197 unique studies met the inclusion criteria. Both medium to longer-term multi-component exercise of moderate to high intensity, and, group cognitive stimulation consistently show benefits. There is not sufficient evidence to determine whether psychological or social interventions might improve either mood or behaviour due to the heterogeneity of the studies and interventions included in the reviews. Conclusion: There is good evidence that multi-component exercise with sufficient intensity improves global physical and cognitive functions and activities of daily living skills. There is also good evidence that group based cognitive stimulation improves cognitive functions, social interaction and quality of life. This synthesis also highlights the potential importance of group activities to improve social integration for people with dementia. Future research should investigate longer-term specific outcomes, consider the severity and types of dementia, and investigate mechanisms of change

Simulating nutrient release from parental carcasses increases the growth, biomass and genetic diversity of juvenile Atlantic salmon

The net transport of nutrients by migratory fish from oceans to inland spawning areas has decreased due to population declines and migration barriers. Restoration of nutrients to increasingly oligotrophic upland streams (that were historically salmon spawning areas) have shown short‐term benefits for juvenile salmon, but the longer term consequences are little known. Here we simulated the deposition of a small number of adult Atlantic salmon Salmo salar carcasses at the end of the spawning period in five Scottish upland streams (‘high parental nutrient’ treatment), while leaving five reference streams without carcasses (‘low parental nutrient’ treatment). All streams received exactly the same number of salmon eggs (n = 3,000) drawn in equal number from the same 30 wild‐origin families, thereby controlling for initial egg density and genetic composition. We then monitored the resulting juvenile salmon and their macroinvertebrate prey, repeating the carcass addition treatment in the next spawning season. Macroinvertebrate biomass and abundance were five times higher in the high parental nutrient streams, even 1 year after the carcass addition, and led to faster growth of juvenile salmon over the next 2 years (but with no change in population density). This faster growth led to more fish exceeding the size threshold that would trigger emigration to sea at 2 rather than 3 years of age. There was also higher genetic diversity among surviving salmon in high parental nutrient streams; genotyping showed that these effects were not due to immigration but to differential survival. Synthesis and applications. This 2‐year field experiment shows that adding nutrients that simulate the presence of small numbers of adult salmon carcasses can have long‐term effects on the growth rate of juvenile salmon, likely increasing the number that will migrate to sea early and also increasing their genetic diversity. However, the feasibility of adding nutrients to spawning streams as a management tool to boost salmon populations will depend on whether the benefits at this stage are maintained over the entire life cycle

Simulating nutrient release from parental carcasses increases the growth, biomass and genetic diversity of juvenile Atlantic salmon

The net transport of nutrients by migratory fish from oceans to inland spawning areas has decreased due to population declines and migration barriers. Restoration of nutrients to increasingly oligotrophic upland streams (that were historically salmon spawning areas) have shown short‐term benefits for juvenile salmon, but the longer term consequences are little known. Here we simulated the deposition of a small number of adult Atlantic salmon Salmo salar carcasses at the end of the spawning period in five Scottish upland streams (‘high parental nutrient’ treatment), while leaving five reference streams without carcasses (‘low parental nutrient’ treatment). All streams received exactly the same number of salmon eggs (n = 3,000) drawn in equal number from the same 30 wild‐origin families, thereby controlling for initial egg density and genetic composition. We then monitored the resulting juvenile salmon and their macroinvertebrate prey, repeating the carcass addition treatment in the next spawning season. Macroinvertebrate biomass and abundance were five times higher in the high parental nutrient streams, even 1 year after the carcass addition, and led to faster growth of juvenile salmon over the next 2 years (but with no change in population density). This faster growth led to more fish exceeding the size threshold that would trigger emigration to sea at 2 rather than 3 years of age. There was also higher genetic diversity among surviving salmon in high parental nutrient streams; genotyping showed that these effects were not due to immigration but to differential survival. Synthesis and applications. This 2‐year field experiment shows that adding nutrients that simulate the presence of small numbers of adult salmon carcasses can have long‐term effects on the growth rate of juvenile salmon, likely increasing the number that will migrate to sea early and also increasing their genetic diversity. However, the feasibility of adding nutrients to spawning streams as a management tool to boost salmon populations will depend on whether the benefits at this stage are maintained over the entire life cycle

CP Violation and ΔI=1/2\Delta I=1/2 Enhancement for K→ππK \to \pi\pi, K→ππγK \to \pi\pi\gamma Weak Decays

Data indicate that $\Delta I=1/2$ transitions account for 4.5-4.7% of both CP conserving and CP violating $K \to 2\pi$ decays, as well as CP conserving radiative $K \to \pi\pi\gamma$ processes. Observed $K \to \pi\pi\gamma/\pi\pi$ branching ratios are shown to scale near $\alpha/\pi$ or $\alpha/2\pi$. The $K_L$-$K_S$ mixing angle $\phi$ and the semileptonic weak-rate asymmetry $\delta$ are reviewed, and theory is shown to be consistent with data. Also, $K \to 2\pi$ $\Delta I=1/2$ dominance is studied in the context of the chiral constituent quark model, displaying again excellent agreement with data. Finally, indirect and direct kaon CP violation are successfully described in the framework of photon-mediated loop graphs. This suggests that kaon CPV can be understood via second-order weak transitions, radiatively corrected.Comment: Plain LaTeX, 12 pages, 4 EPS figures. PACS numbers: 11.30.Er, 12.15.Lk, 13.20.Eb, 13.40.Ks. Version 2: 14 pages, improved presentation, introductory and concluding remarks as well as references added; accepted for publication in Mod. Phys. Lett. A (2004