Testing WWγWW\gamma vertex in radiative muon decay

Large numbers of muons will be produced at facilities developed to probe lepton flavor violating process $\mu\to e\gamma$. We show that by constructing a suitable asymmetry, radiative muon decay $\mu\to e \gamma\nu_\mu\bar{\nu}_e$ can also be used to test the $WW\gamma$ vertex at such facilities. The process has two missing neutrinos in the final state and on integrating their momenta, the partial differential decay rate shows no radiation-amplitude-zero. We establish, however, that an easily separable part of the normalized differential decay rate, odd under the exchange of photon and electron energies, does have a zero in the case of standard model (SM). This "new type of zero" has hitherto not been studied in literature. A suitably constructed asymmetry using this fact, enables a sensitive probe for the $WW\gamma$ vertex beyond the SM. With a simplistic analysis, we find that the $C$ and $P$ conserving dimension four $WW\gamma$ vertex can be probed at ${\cal O}(10^{-2})$ with satisfactory significance level.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Using time-dependent indirect CPCP asymmetries to measure TT and CPTCPT violation in B0B^0-Bˉ0{\bar B}^0 mixing

Quantum field theory, which is the basis for all of particle physics, requires that all processes respect $CPT$ invariance. It is therefore of paramount importance to test the validity of $CPT$ conservation. In this Letter, we show that the time-dependent, indirect $CP$ asymmetries involving $B$ decays to a $CP$ eigenstate contain enough information to measure $T$ and $CPT$ violation in $B^0$-${\bar B}^0$ mixing, in addition to the standard $CP$-violating weak phases. Entangled $B^0{\bar B}^0$ states are not required (so that this analysis can be carried out at LHCb, as well as at the $B$ factories), penguin pollution need not be neglected, and the measurements can be made even if the $B^0$-${\bar B}^0$ width difference vanishes.Comment: 10 pages, no figures, changes: removed almost all discussion of what can and cannot be done with the method of entangled states; explained that CPT- and T-violating parameters also contribute to CP-violating effects; reorganized the presentation of the paper; added footnotes and reference

Investigating the Correlation between Force Output, Strains, and Pressure for Active Skeletal Muscle Contractions

Experimental observations suggest that the force output of the skeletal muscle tissue can be correlated to the intra-muscular pressure generated by the muscle belly. However, pressure often proves difficult to measure through in-vivo tests. Simulations on the other hand, offer a tool to model muscle contractions and analyze the relationship between muscle force generation and deformations as well as pressure outputs, enabling us to gain insight into correlations among experimentally measurable quantities such as principal and volumetric strains, and the force output. In this work, a correlation study is performed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients on the force output of the skeletal muscle, the principal and volumetric strains experienced by the muscle and the pressure developed within the muscle belly as the muscle tissue undergoes isometric contractions due to varying activation profiles. The study reveals strong correlations between force output and the strains at all locations of the belly, irrespective of the type of activation profile used. This observation enables estimation on the contribution of various muscle groups to the total force by the experimentally measurable principal and volumetric strains in the muscle belly. It is also observed that pressure does not correlate well with force output due to stress relaxation near the boundary of muscle belly

Constraining electroweak penguin graph contributions in measurements of the CKM phase alpha using B→ππ and B→ρρ decays

The unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix has been well established by both direct and indirect measurements without any evidence of discrepancy. The CKM weak phase α is directly measured using an isospin analysis in B→ππ and B→ρρ assuming that electroweak penguin contributions are ignorable. However, electroweak penguins are sensitive to NP, hence, it is important to experimentally estimate their effects. We determine the size of both electroweak penguin and isospin amplitudes, directly from B→ππ and B→ρρ experimental data, using in addition the indirectly measured value of α. We find that electroweak penguin contribution are indeed small and agree with SM expectations within 1σ. We also find that there is a mild enhancement of the ΔI=12 transition amplitude. © 2020 authors. Published by the American Physical Society

Pharmaceutical strategies for the treatment of bacterial biofilms in chronic wounds

Biofilms are sessile communities of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that grow on biotic and abiotic surfaces. These microorganisms are embedded within an extracellular polymeric substance that provides enhanced protection from antimicrobials. Chronic wounds provide an ideal habitat for biofilm formation. Bacteria can easily attach to wound debris and can infect the wound due to an impaired host immune response. This review highlights the mechanism of biofilm formation and the role of biofilms in the pathophysiology of chronic wounds. Our major focus is on various formulation strategies and delivery systems that are employed to eradicate or disperse biofilms, thereby effectively managing acute and chronic wounds. We also discuss clinical research that has studied or is studying the treatment of biofilm-infected chronic wounds

The antiretroviral efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy and plasma nevirapine concentrations in HIV-TB co-infected Indian patients receiving rifampicin based antituberculosis treatment

Abstract Background Rifampicin reduces the plasma concentrations of nevirapine in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infected patients, who are administered these drugs concomitantly. We conducted a prospective interventional study to assess the efficacy of nevirapine-containing highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) when co-administered with rifampicin-containing antituberculosis treatment (ATT) and also measured plasma nevirapine concentrations in patients receiving such a nevirapine-containing HAART regimen. Methods 63 cases included antiretroviral treatment naïve HIV-TB co-infected patients with CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm3 started on rifampicin-containing ATT followed by nevirapine-containing HAART. In control group we included 51 HIV patients without tuberculosis and on nevirapine-containing HAART. They were assessed for clinical and immunological response at the end of 24 and 48 weeks. Plasma nevirapine concentrations were measured at days 14, 28, 42 and 180 of starting HAART. Results 97 out of 114 (85.1%) patients were alive at the end of 48 weeks. The CD4 cell count showed a mean increase of 108 vs.113 cells/mm3 (p=0.83) at 24 weeks of HAART in cases and controls respectively. Overall, 58.73% patients in cases had viral loads of less than 400 copies/ml at the end of 48 weeks. The mean (± SD) Nevirapine concentrations of cases and control at 14, 28, 42 and 180 days were 2.19 ± 1.49 vs. 3.27 ± 4.95 (p = 0.10), 2.78 ± 1.60 vs. 3.67 ± 3.59 (p = 0.08), 3.06 ± 3.32 vs. 4.04 ± 2.55 (p = 0.10) respectively and 3.04 μg/ml (in cases). Conclusions Good immunological and clinical response can be obtained in HIV-TB co-infected patients receiving rifampicin and nevirapine concomitantly despite somewhat lower nevirapine trough concentrations. This suggests that rifampicin-containing ATT may be co administered in resource limited setting with nevirapine-containing HAART regimen without substantial reduction in antiretroviral effectiveness. Larger sample sized studies and longer follow-up are required to identify populations of individuals where the reduction in nevirapine concentration may result in lower ART response or shorter response duration

Identification of publicly available data sources to inform the conduct of Health Technology Assessment in India

Background: Health technology assessment (HTA) provides a globally-accepted and structured approach to synthesising evidence for cost and clinical effectiveness alongside ethical and equity considerations to inform evidence-based priorities. India is one of the most recent countries to formally commit to institutionalising HTA as an integral component of the heath resource allocation decision-making process. The effective conduct of HTA depends on the availability of reliable data. Methods: We draw from our experience of collecting, synthesizing, and analysing health-related datasets in India and internationally, to highlight the complex requirements for undertaking HTA, and explore the availability of such data in India. We first outlined each of the core data components required for the conduct of HTA, and their availability in India, drawing attention to where data can be accessed, and different ways in which researchers can overcome the challenges of missing or low quality data. Results: We grouped data into the following categories: clinical efficacy; cost; epidemiology; quality of life; service use/consumption; and equity. We identified numerous large local data sources containing epidemiological information. There was a marked absence of other locally-collected data necessary for informing HTA, particularly data relating to cost, service use, and quality of life. Conclusions: The introduction of HTA into the health policy space in India provides an opportunity to comprehensively assess the availability and quality of health data capture across the country. While epidemiological information is routinely collected across India, other data inputs necessary for HTA are not readily available. This poses a significant bottleneck to the efficient generation and deployment of HTA into the health decision space. Overcoming these data gaps by strengthening the routine collection of comprehensive and verifiable health data will have important implications not only for embedding economic analyses into the priority setting process, but for strengthening the health system as a whole