235 research outputs found
Hard Scattering Factorization from Effective Field Theory
In this paper we show how gauge symmetries in an effective theory can be used
to simplify proofs of factorization formulae in highly energetic hadronic
processes. We use the soft-collinear effective theory, generalized to deal with
back-to-back jets of collinear particles. Our proofs do not depend on the
choice of a particular gauge, and the formalism is applicable to both exclusive
and inclusive factorization. As examples we treat the pi-gamma form factor
(gamma gamma* -> pi^0), light meson form factors (gamma* M -> M), as well as
deep inelastic scattering (e- p -> e- X), Drell-Yan (p pbar -> X l+ l-), and
deeply virtual Compton scattering (gamma* p -> gamma(*) p).Comment: 35 pages, 4 figures, typos corrected, journal versio
QCD Corrections and the Endpoint of the Lepton Spectrum in Semileptonic B Decays
Recently, Neubert has suggested that a certain class of nonperturbative
corrections dominates the shape of the electron spectrum in the endpoint region
of semileptonic decay. Perturbative QCD corrections are important in the
endpoint region. We study the effects of these corrections on Neubert's
proposal. The connection between the endpoint of the electron spectrum in
semileptonic decay and the photon spectrum in is
outlined.Comment: 18 pages, uses REVTeX, UCSD/PTH 93-38, CALT-68-1910, JHU-TIPAC-930029
(some changes to the discussion of subleading radiative corrections, and
minor typos fixed
Determining the Drift Time of Charge Carriers in P-Type Point-Contact HPGe Detectors
An algorithm to measure the drift time of charge carriers in p-type point
contact (PPC) high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors from the signals processed
with a charge-sensitive preamplifier is introduced. It is demonstrated that the
drift times can be used to estimate the distance of charge depositions from the
point contact and to characterize losses due to charge trapping. A correction
for charge trapping effects over a wide range of energies is implemented using
the measured drift times and is shown to improve the energy resolution by up to
30%.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Meth.
On Power Suppressed Operators and Gauge Invariance in SCET
The form of collinear gauge invariance for power suppressed operators in the
soft-collinear effective theory is discussed. Using a field redefinition we
show that it is possible to make any power suppressed ultrasoft-collinear
operators invariant under the original leading order gauge transformations. Our
manipulations avoid gauge fixing. The Lagrangians to O(lambda^2) are given in
terms of these new fields. We then give a simple procedure for constructing
power suppressed soft-collinear operators in SCET_II by using an intermediate
theory SCET_I.Comment: 15 pages, journal versio
Observation Versus Embolization in Patients with Blunt Splenic Injury after Trauma: A Propensity Score Analysis
Background: Non-operative management (NOM) is the standard of care in hemodynamically stable patients with blunt splenic injury after trauma. Splenic artery embolization (SAE) is reported to increase observation success rate. Studies demonstrating improved splenic salvage rates with SAE primarily compared SAE with historical controls. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SAE improves success rate compared to observation alone in contemporaneous patients with blunt splenic injury. Methods: We included adult patients with blunt splenic injury admitted to five Level 1 Trauma Centers between January 2009 and December 2012 and selected for NOM. Successful treatment was defined as splenic salvage and no splenic re-intervention. We calculated propensity scores, expressing the probability of undergoing SAE, using multivariable logistic regression and created five strata based on the quintiles of the propensity score distribution. A weighted relative risk (RR) was calculated across strata to express the chances of success with SAE. Results: Two hundred and six patients were included in the study. Treatment was successful in 180 patients: 134/146 (92 %) patients treated with observation and 48/57 (84 %) patients treated with SAE. The weighted RR for success with SAE was 1.17 (0.94-1.45); for complications, the weighted RR was 0.71 (0.41-1.22). The mean number of transfused blood products was 4.4 (SD 9.9) in the observation group versus 9.1 (SD 17.2) in the SAE group. Conclusions: After correction for confounders with propensity score stratification technique, there was no significant difference between embolization and observation alone with regard to successful treatment in patients with blunt splenic injury after trauma
Excited Heavy Mesons Beyond Leading Order in the Heavy Quark Expansion
We examine the decays of excited heavy mesons, including the leading power
corrections to the heavy quark limit. We find a new and natural explanation for
the large deviation of the width of the from the heavy quark
symmetry prediction. Our formalism leads to detailed predictions for the
properties of the excited bottom mesons, some of which recently have been
observed. Finally, we present a detailed analysis of the effect of power
corrections and finite meson widths on the angular distributions which may be
measured in heavy meson decays.Comment: Uses REVTeX, 19 pages, 6 EPS figures embedded with epsf.st
Modeling water waves beyond perturbations
In this chapter, we illustrate the advantage of variational principles for
modeling water waves from an elementary practical viewpoint. The method is
based on a `relaxed' variational principle, i.e., on a Lagrangian involving as
many variables as possible, and imposing some suitable subordinate constraints.
This approach allows the construction of approximations without necessarily
relying on a small parameter. This is illustrated via simple examples, namely
the Serre equations in shallow water, a generalization of the Klein-Gordon
equation in deep water and how to unify these equations in arbitrary depth. The
chapter ends with a discussion and caution on how this approach should be used
in practice.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, 39 references. This document is a contributed
chapter to an upcoming volume to be published by Springer in Lecture Notes in
Physics Series. Other author's papers can be downloaded at
http://www.denys-dutykh.com
Systematic review of economic evaluations and cost analyses of guideline implementation strategies
Objectives To appraise the quality of economic studies undertaken as part of evaluations of guideline implementation strategies; determine their resources use; and recommend methods to improve future studies. Methods Systematic review of economic studies undertaken alongside robust study designs of clinical guideline implementation strategies published (1966-1998). Studies assessed against the BMJ economic evaluations guidelines for each stage of the guideline process (guideline development, implementation and treatment). Results 235 studies were identified, 63 reported some information on cost. Only 3 studies provided evidence that their guideline was effective and efficient. 38 reported the treatment costs only, 12 implementation and treatment costs, 11 implementation costs alone, and two guideline development, implementation and treatment costs. No study gave reasonably complete information on costs. Conclusions Very few satisfactory economic evaluations of guideline implementation strategies have been performed. Current evaluations have numerous methodological defects and rarely consider all relevant costs and benefits. Future evaluations should focus on evaluating the implementation of evidence based guidelines. Keywords: Cost-effectiveness analysis, physician (or health care professional) behaviour, practice guidelines, quality improvement, systematic review.Peer reviewedAuthor versio
Strong Phases and Factorization for Color Suppressed Decays
We prove a factorization theorem in QCD for the color suppressed decays B0->
D0 M0 and B0-> D*0 M0 where M is a light meson. Both the color-suppressed and
W-exchange/annihilation amplitudes contribute at lowest order in LambdaQCD/Q
where Q={mb, mc, Epi}, so no power suppression of annihilation contributions is
found. A new mechanism is given for generating non-perturbative strong phases
in the factorization framework. Model independent predictions that follow from
our results include the equality of the B0 -> D0 M0 and B0 -> D*0 M0 rates, and
equality of non-perturbative strong phases between isospin amplitudes,
delta(DM) = delta(D*M). Relations between amplitudes and phases for M=pi,rho
are also derived. These results do not follow from large Nc factorization with
heavy quark symmetry.Comment: 38 pages, 6 figs, typos correcte
Astroparticle Physics with a Customized Low-Background Broad Energy Germanium Detector
The MAJORANA Collaboration is building the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR, a 60 kg
array of high purity germanium detectors housed in an ultra-low background
shield at the Sanford Underground Laboratory in Lead, SD. The MAJORANA
DEMONSTRATOR will search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of 76Ge while
demonstrating the feasibility of a tonne-scale experiment. It may also carry
out a dark matter search in the 1-10 GeV/c^2 mass range. We have found that
customized Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detectors produced by Canberra have
several desirable features for a neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment,
including low electronic noise, excellent pulse shape analysis capabilities,
and simple fabrication. We have deployed a customized BEGe, the MAJORANA
Low-Background BEGe at Kimballton (MALBEK), in a low-background cryostat and
shield at the Kimballton Underground Research Facility in Virginia. This paper
will focus on the detector characteristics and measurements that can be
performed with such a radiation detector in a low-background environment.Comment: Submitted to NIMA Proceedings, SORMA XII. 9 pages, 4 figure
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