On the large-Q^2 behavior of the pion transition form factor

We study the transition of non-perturbative to perturbative QCD in situations with possible violations of scaling limits. To this end we consider the singly- and doubly-virtual pion transition form factor $\pi^0\to\gamma\gamma$ at all momentum scales of symmetric and asymmetric photon momenta within the Dyson-Schwinger/Bethe-Salpeter approach. For the doubly virtual form factor we find good agreement with perturbative asymptotic scaling laws. For the singly-virtual form factor our results agree with the Belle data. At very large off-shell photon momenta we identify a mechanism that introduces quantitative modifications to Efremov-Radyushkin-Brodsky-Lepage scaling.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, v3:contents revised, version published in PL

SEIZING OPPORTUNITY: COURAGE AS CATALYST

Part 2 of this issue’s “Seizing Opportunity” special-invitation collection, “Courage as Catalyst,” first appeared in “Coaching Corner” (June 2012), a column in The Mann Report-Residential real estate magazine published in New York City. The article is reprinted by permission

SEIZING OPPORTUNITY: SUCCEEDING TO FAIL: A PATH TO TRANSFORMATION

Part 4 of this issue’s “Seizing Opportunity” special-invitation collection, “Succeeding to Fail: A Path to Transformation,” first appeared in “Coaching Corner” (November 2011), a column in The Mann Report-Residential real estate magazine published in New York City. The article is reprinted by permission

SEIZING OPPORTUNITY: “OPPORTUNITY AS TRANSFORMATION”

Part 3 of this issue’s “Seizing Opportunity” special-invitation collection, “Opportunity as Transformation,” first appeared in “Coaching Corner” (November 2011), a column in The Mann Report-Residential real estate magazine published in New York City. The article is reprinted by permission

Pasting of G-Irradiated Proteins from Vigna Subterranea in Native Starch Models and the Surface Functional Properties of the Proteins

This research was carried out to evaluate the surface functional properties of gamma irradiated Bambara groundnut protein isolates and to study the pasting characteristics of the modified protein in native starch models using the Brabender Viscoamylograph. Irradiation was done at five levels: 2.50, 5.00, 7.50, and 10.00 kGy; while the pasting of the Proteins (P) was run in Starch (S) models of three combinations; 30P:70S, 50P:50S, 70P:30S. The results showed significant (p<0.05) effects of increasing irradiation doses on protein related surface functional properties, while pasting characteristics of the irradiated protein in the experimental range showed no significant dose-dependent (p<0.05) changes. There was characteristic starch paste behaviour on the other hand with increasing starch:protein ratios. Conclusively, correlation studies suggested that the pasting properties depended solely on the starch concentration within the admixture models indicating the insignificant contribution of modified Bambara groundnut proteins to the pasting properties in the models. Enhanced surface functional properties of the gamma irradiated proteins make them potential foaming and emulsifying agents in food applications. The starch-protein admixture models may also serve as a potential protein based thickening agents for foods that require various degrees of viscosity modifying effects. Key words: Bambara groundnut protein, modified protein, gamma irradiated protein

Fantasy at the Service of Mathematics

This article aims to introduce the reader to a book published in 2016 under the title “Amazing Tales from the Magic Wood and Famous Problems of Mathematics” by Elli Shor and Clara Ziskin. The book offers an original method of presenting mathematical facts and history through a fantasy narrative. The book’s two authors, Clara Ziskin and Alla Shmukler (Elli Shor), together with consultant psychologist Esther Williams, share here several excerpts taken from the first part of the book as well as related illustrations and mathematical riddles, so that the reader can form an informed impression of the book, its structure, and its nature

Does a monetary incentive improve the response to a postal questionnaire in a randomised controlled trial? : the MINT incentive study

Background: Sending a monetary incentive with postal questionnaires has been found to improve the proportion of responders, in research in non-healthcare settings. However, there is little research on use of incentives to improve follow-up rates in clinical trials, and existing studies are inconclusive. We conducted a randomised trial among participants in the Managing Injuries of the Neck Trial (MINT) to investigate the effects on the proportion of questionnaires returned and overall non-response of sending a £5 gift voucher with a follow-up questionnaire. Methods: Participants in MINT were randomised to receive either: (a) a £5 gift voucher (incentive group) or (b) no gift voucher (no incentive group), with their 4 month or 8 month follow-up questionnaire. We recorded, for each group, the number of questionnaires returned, the number returned without any chasing from the study office, the overall number of non-responders (after all chasing efforts by the study office), and the costs of following up each group. Results: 2144 participants were randomised, 1070 to the incentive group and 1074 to the no incentive group. The proportion of questionnaires returned (RR 1.10 (95% CI 1.05, 1.16)) and the proportion returned without chasing (RR 1.14 (95% CI 1.05, 1.24) were higher in the incentive group, and the overall non-response rate was lower (RR 0.68 (95% CI 0.53, 0.87)). Adjustment for injury severity and hospital of recruitment to MINT made no difference to these results, and there were no differences in results between the 4-month and 8-month follow up questionnaires. Analysis of costs suggested a cost of £67.29 per additional questionnaire returned. Conclusion: Monetary incentives may be an effective way to increase the proportion of postal questionnaires returned and minimise loss to follow-up in clinical trials