1,808 research outputs found
Gauge Invariant Summation of All QCD Virtual Gluon Exchanges
The interpretation of virtual gluons as ghosts in the non-linear gluonic
structure of QCD permits the formulation and realization of a manifestly
gauge-invariant and Lorentz covariant theory of interacting quarks/anti-quarks,
for all values of coupling. The simplest example of quark/anti-quark scattering
in a high-energy, quenched, eikonal model at large coupling is shown to be
expressible as a set of finite, local integrals which may be evaluated
numerically; and before evaluation, it is clear that the result will be
dependent only on, and is damped by increasing momentum transfer, while
displaying physically-reasonable color dependence in a manner underlying the
MIT Bag Model and an effective, asymptotic freedom. A similar but more
complicated integral will result from all possible gluonic-radiative
corrections to this simplest eikonal model. Our results are compatible with an
earlier, field-strength analysis of Reinhardt et al.Comment: 35 pages, no figure
Analytic, Non-Perturbative, Gauge-invariant QCD: Nucleon Scattering and Binding Potentials
Removal of the quenched approximation in the mechanism which produced an
analytic estimate of quark-binding potentials, along with a reasonable
conjecture of the color structure of the nucleon formed by such a binding
potential, is shown to generate an effective, nucleon scattering and binding
potential. The mass-scale factor on the order of the pion mass, previously
introduced to define transverse imprecision of quark coordinates, is again
used, while the strength of the potential is proportional to the square of a
renormalized QCD coupling constant. The potential so derived does not include
corrections due to spin, angular momentum, nucleon structure, and electroweak
interactions; rather, it is qualitative in nature, showing how Nuclear Physics
can arise from fundamental QCD.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures in REVTeX. The fifth of a series on
Non-Perturbative QCD (Eur. Phys. J. C65, 395 (2010) or arXiv:0903.2644
[hep-th], arXiv:1003.2936 [hep-th], arXiv:1103.4179 [hep-th] and
arXiv:1104.4663 [hep-th].
Vertex functions for d-wave mesons in the light-front approach
While the light-front quark model (LFQM) is employed to calculate hadronic
transition matrix elements, the vertex functions must be pre-determined. In
this work we derive the vertex functions for all d-wave states in this model.
Especially, since both of and are mesons, the Lorentz
structures of their vertex functions are the same. Thus when one needs to study
the processes where is involved, all the corresponding formulas for
states can be directly applied, only the coefficient of the vertex
function should be replaced by that for . The results would be useful
for studying the newly observed resonances which are supposed to be d-wave
mesons and furthermore the possible 2S-1D mixing in with the LFQM.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, some typos corrected and more discussions added.
Accepted by EPJ
Ionizing radiation absorption of vascular surgeons during endovascular procedures
ObjectiveEndovascular procedures have become an integral part of a vascular surgeon’s practice. The exposure of surgeons to ionizing radiation and other safety issues have not been well studied. We investigated the radiation exposure of a team of vascular surgeons in an active endovascular unit and compared yearly dosages absorbed by various body parts among different surgeons. Patients’ radiation exposure was also assessed.MethodsThe radiation absorption of a team of vascular surgeons was prospectively monitored in a 12-month period. During each endovascular procedure, the effective body, eye, and hand radiation doses of all participating surgeons were measured by mini-thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) attached at the chest level under a lead apron, at the forehead at eye level, and at the hand. The type of procedure, fluoroscopy machine, fluoroscopy time, and personal and operating theatre radiation protection devices used in each procedure were also recorded. One TLD was attached to the patient’s body near the operative site to measure the patient’s dose. The yearly effective body, eye, and hand dose were compared with the safety limits of radiation for occupational exposure recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP). The radiation absorption of various body parts per minute of fluoroscopy was compared among different surgeons.ResultsA total of 149 consecutive endovascular procedures were performed, including 30 endovascular aortic repairs (EVAR), 58 arteriograms with and without embolization (AGM), and 61 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent (PTA/S) procedures. The cumulative fluoroscopy time was 1132 minutes. The median yearly effective body, eye, and hand dose for the surgeons were 0.20 mSv (range, 0.13 to 0.27 mSv), 0.19 mSv (range, 0.10 to 0.33 mSv) and 0.99 mSv (0.29 to 1.84 mSv) respectively, which were well below the safety limits of the ICRP. The mean body, eye, and hand dose of the chief surgeon per procedure were highest for EVAR. A significant discrepancy was observed for the average hand dose per minute of fluoroscopy among different surgeons. The mean radiation absorption of patients who underwent EVAR, AGM, and PTA/S was 12.7 mSv, 13.6 mSv, and 3.4 mSv, respectively.ConclusionWith current radiation protection practice, the radiation absorbed by vascular surgeons with a high endovascular workload did not exceed the safety limits recommended by ICRP. Variations in practice, however, can result in significant discrepancy of radiation absorption between surgeons
A Semantic Model for Enhancing Network Services Management and Auditing
The road toward ubiquity, heterogeneity and virtualization of network services and resources urges for a formal and systematic approach to network management tasks. In particular, the semantic characterization and modeling of services provided to users assume an essential role in fostering autonomic service management, service negotiation and auditing.
This paper is centered on the definition of an ontology for multiservice IP networks which intends to address multiple service management goals, namely: (i) to foster client and service provider interoperability; (ii) to manage network service contracts, facilitating the dynamic negotiation between clients and ISPs; (iii) to access and query SLA/SLSs data on an individual or aggregated basis to assist service provisioning in the network; and (iv) to sustain service monitoring and auditing. In order to take full advantage of the proposed semantic model, a service model API is provided to allow service management platforms to access the ontological contents. This ontological development also takes advantage of SWRL to discover new knowledge, enriching the possibilities of systems described using this support
A new chiral ligand: 2,6-bis 4(S)-isopropyl-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl pyridine
The title compound, C29H33N5, is a new chiral bis(imidazolyl) pyridine derivative with a skeleton similar to the bis(oxazolyl) pyridine derivatives, which have been extensively used as ligands in various asymmetric catalytic reactions. The most prominent feature of the present compound is the considerable sp(2) character of N atoms of the imidazoline rings. The substituents at the Nsp(2) atoms can provide a means for tuning the electronic and conformational properties of the compound
Thin helium film on a glass substrate
We investigate by Monte Carlo simulations the structure, energetics and
superfluid properties of thin helium-four films (up to four layers) on a glass
substrate, at low temperature. The first adsorbed layer is found to be solid
and "inert", i.e., atoms are localized and do not participate to quantum
exchanges. Additional layers are liquid, with no clear layer separation above
the second one. It is found that a single helium-three impurity resides on the
outmost layer, not significantly further away from the substrate than
helium-four atoms on the same layer.Comment: Six figures, submitted for publication to the Journal of Low
Temperature Physic
From nonwetting to prewetting: the asymptotic behavior of 4He drops on alkali substrates
We investigate the spreading of 4He droplets on alkali surfaces at zero
temperature, within the frame of Finite Range Density Functional theory. The
equilibrium configurations of several 4He_N clusters and their asymptotic trend
with increasing particle number N, which can be traced to the wetting behavior
of the quantum fluid, are examined for nanoscopic droplets. We discuss the size
effects, inferring that the asymptotic properties of large droplets correspond
to those of the prewetting film
Mutational Analysis of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Genes in Human Malignant Mesothelioma
Background
The Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is critical for embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Recent studies have identified regulatory roles for this pathway in certain cancers with mutations in the HH pathway genes. The extent to which mutations of the HH pathway genes are involved in the pathogenesis of malignant mesothelioma (MMe) is unknown.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Real-time PCR analysis of HH pathway genes PTCH1, GLI1 and GLI2 were performed on 7 human MMe cell lines. Exon sequencing of 13 HH pathway genes was also performed in cell lines and human MMe tumors. In silico programs were used to predict the likelihood that an amino-acid substitution would have a functional effect. GLI1, GLI2 and PTCH1 were highly expressed in MMe cells, indicative of active HH signaling. PTCH1, SMO and SUFU mutations were found in 2 of 11 MMe cell lines examined. A non-synonymous missense SUFU mutation (p.T411M) was identified in LO68 cells. In silico characterization of the SUFU mutant suggested that the p.T411M mutation might alter protein function. However, we were unable to demonstrate any functional effect of this mutation on Gli activity. Deletion of exons of the PTCH1 gene was found in JU77 cells, resulting in loss of one of two extracellular loops implicated in HH ligand binding and the intracellular C-terminal domain. A 3-bp insertion (69_70insCTG) in SMO, predicting an additional leucine residue in the signal peptide segment of SMO protein was also identified in LO68 cells and a MMe tumour.
Conclusions/Significance
We identified the first novel mutations in PTCH1, SUFU and SMO associated with MMe. Although HH pathway mutations are relatively rare in MMe, these data suggest a possible role for dysfunctional HH pathway in the pathogenesis of a subgroup of MMe and help rationalize the exploration of HH pathway inhibitors for MMe therapy
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