Resonance Production

Recent results on rho(770)^0, K(892)^*0, f_0(980), phi(1020), Delta(1232)^++, and Lambda(1520) production in A+A and p+p collisions at SPS and RHIC energies are presented. These resonances are measured via their hadronic decay channels and used as a sensitive tool to examine the collision dynamics in the hadronic medium through their decay and regeneration. The modification of resonance mass, width, and shape due to phase space and dynamical effects are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, proceedings of the Quark Matter 2004, in Oakland, California, to be published in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physic

Isospin breaking corrections to low-energy pi-K scattering

We evaluate the matrix elements for the processes pi^0 K^0 -> pi^0 K^0 and pi^- K^+ -> pi^0 K^0 in the presence of isospin breaking terms at leading and next-to-leading order. As a direct application the releveant combination of the S-wave scattering lengths involved in the pion-kaon atom lifetime is determined. We discuss the sensitivity of the results with respect to the input parameters.Comment: 33 pages, plain latex, 2 figure

Genetic and environmental influences on fruit and vegetable consumption and depression in older adults

Background: Prior work suggests that higher fruit and vegetable consumption may protect against depression in older adults. Better understanding of the influence of genetic and environmental factors on fruit and vegetable intakes may lead to the design of more effective dietary strategies to increase intakes. In turn this may reduce the occurrence of depression in older adults. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to estimate the genetic and environmental influences on the consumption of fruit and vegetables in older adults. The secondary aim is an exploratory analysis into possible shared genetic influences on fruit and vegetable intakes and depression. Methods: Analysis of observational data from 374 twins (67.1% female; 208 monozygotic (MZ); 166 dizygotic (DZ)) aged ≥ 65 years drawn from the Older Australian Twins Study. Dietary data were obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire and depressive symptoms were measured using the 15-item short form Geriatric Depression Scale. The contribution of genetic and environmental influences on fruit and vegetable intake were estimated by comparing MZ and DZ twin intakes using structural equation modelling. A tri-variate twin model was used to estimate the genetic and environmental correlation between total fruit and vegetable intakes and depression. Results: In this study, vegetable intake was moderately influenced by genetics (0.39 95%CI 0.22, 0.54). Heritability was highest for brassica vegetables (0.40 95%CI 0.24, 0.54). Overall fruit intake was not significantly heritable. No significant genetic correlations were detected between fruit and vegetable intake and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Vegetable consumption, particularly bitter tasting brassica vegetables, was significantly influenced by genetics, although environmental influences were also apparent. Consumption of fruit was only influenced by the environment, with no genetic influence detected, suggesting strategies targeting the food environment may be particularly effective for encouraging fruit consumption

π\pi-KK scattering lengths at finite temperature in the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model

The transition amplitude for $\pi K$ scattering is evaluated within the SU(3) Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model. Ordering terms according to the expansion in $1/N_c$ leads to a box-like diagram, $t$ channel diagrams that admit scalar isoscalar $(\sigma,\sigma')$ exchanges, and a $u$ channel exchange of a scalar isodoublet $\sigma_K$ that has quantum numbers corresponding to the $K_0^*(1430)$. Both the Pauli-Villars and O(3) regularization procedures are used to evaluate the T=0 values of the $l=0$ scattering lengths $a_0^{3/2}$ and $a_0^{1/2}$. The finite temperature dependence is studied. We find that the variation in the $t$ channel in the calculation of $a_0^{3/2}$ leads to a change in $a_0^{3/2}$ of a factor of about two over the temperature range of T=150 MeV

Associations between fruit and vegetable intakes and incident depression in middle-aged and older adults from 10 diverse international longitudinal cohorts

Background: Emerging observational evidence supports a role for higher fruit and vegetable intake in protecting against the development of depression. However, there is a scarcity of research in older adults or in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Participants were 7801 community-based adults (mean age 68.6 ± 8.0 years, 55.8 % female) without depression, from 10 diverse cohorts, including four cohorts from LMICs. Fruit and vegetable intake was self-reported via comprehensive food frequency questionnaire, short food questionnaire or diet history. Depressive symptoms were assessed using validated measures, and depression defined applying validated cut-offs. The associations between baseline fruit and vegetable intakes and incident depression over a follow-up period of three to nine years were examined using Cox regression. Analyses were performed by cohort with results meta-analysed. Results: There were 1630 cases of incident depression (21 % of participants) over 40,258 person-years of follow-up. Higher intake of fruit was associated with a lower risk of incident depression (HR 0.87, 95%CI [0.77, 0.99], I2 = 4 %). No association was found between vegetable intake and incident depression (HR 0.93, 95%CI [0.84, 1.04], I2 = 0 %). Limitations: Diverse measures used across the different cohorts and the modest sample size of our study compared with prior studies may have prevented an association being detected for vegetable intake. Conclusions: Our study supports a role for fruit, but not vegetable intake in protecting against depression. Research investigating different types of fruits and vegetables using standardised measures in larger cohorts of older adults from low- and middle-income countries is warranted

Neighborhood environments and transition to cognitive states: Sydney Memory and Ageing Study

\ua9 2025 The Author(s). Alzheimer\u27s & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer\u27s Association.INTRODUCTION: Features of the neighborhood environment and ambient air pollution have been associated with onset and progression of neurocognitive disorders, but data from longitudinal population-based studies are limited. METHODS: One thousand thirty-six participants (78.3 \ub1 4.8 years) of the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study were followed for up to 13.7 years with biennial cognitive assessments. Neighborhood environmental features were assessed around the participants’ homes. Associations between environmental features and transitions to cognitive states were estimated. RESULTS: Population density, street connectivity, access to commercial services, public transport, water bodies, and tree canopy were associated with a lower likelihood of worsening cognitive state. The opposite was observed for annual average concentrations of PM2.5. Access to parkland, blue spaces, and public transport were associated with a higher likelihood of reversal from mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition. DISCUSSION: Healthy neighborhood environments may delay cognitive decline and the onset of dementia in older individuals. Highlights: This is the first published study on neighborhood built and natural environmental correlates of transition to dementia. This study was conducted in socially advantaged areas with relatively low ambient air pollution. Walkable neighborhoods are associated with a lower likelihood of worsening cognitive state. Neighborhood tree canopy is consistently predictive of better cognitive outcomes. Access to public transport, and blue and green spaces is associated with higher probability of improved cognitive state