Analysis of Dynamic Brain Imaging Data

Modern imaging techniques for probing brain function, including functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, intrinsic and extrinsic contrast optical imaging, and magnetoencephalography, generate large data sets with complex content. In this paper we develop appropriate techniques of analysis and visualization of such imaging data, in order to separate the signal from the noise, as well as to characterize the signal. The techniques developed fall into the general category of multivariate time series analysis, and in particular we extensively use the multitaper framework of spectral analysis. We develop specific protocols for the analysis of fMRI, optical imaging and MEG data, and illustrate the techniques by applications to real data sets generated by these imaging modalities. In general, the analysis protocols involve two distinct stages: `noise' characterization and suppression, and `signal' characterization and visualization. An important general conclusion of our study is the utility of a frequency-based representation, with short, moving analysis windows to account for non-stationarity in the data. Of particular note are (a) the development of a decomposition technique (`space-frequency singular value decomposition') that is shown to be a useful means of characterizing the image data, and (b) the development of an algorithm, based on multitaper methods, for the removal of approximately periodic physiological artifacts arising from cardiac and respiratory sources.Comment: 40 pages; 26 figures with subparts including 3 figures as .gif files. Originally submitted to the neuro-sys archive which was never publicly announced (was 9804003

Weak decays of doubly heavy hadrons

We explore the application and usefulness of the heavy quark symmetry to describe the weak decays of hadrons (mesons and baryons) containing two heavy quarks. Firstly, we address the internal dynamics of a heavy-heavy bound system with the help of estimates based on potential models, showing an approximate spin symmetry in the preasymptotic quark mass region including charmonium, bottonium and $B_c$ meson states. However, no asymptotic spin symmetry should hold in the infinite quark mass limit in contrast to singly heavy hadrons. Predictions on semileptonic and two-body nonleptonic decays of $B_c$ mesons are shown. Furthermore, the stemming flavor and spin symmetries from the interaction between the heavy and light components in hadrons (combining in a $\lq\lq$superflavor" symmetry) permit their classification in $meson$-type supermultiplets containing singly heavy mesons together with doubly heavy baryons, and $baryon$-type supermultiplets containing singly heavy baryons together with some exotic doubly heavy multiquark states (diquonia). Exploiting their well-defined transformation properties under the superflavor symmetry group, we get predictions on the widths for some semileptonic and two-body nonleptonic decays of baryons containing both $b$ and $c$ quarks.Comment: Latex, 26 pages, 2 figures available by FAX

Excited Charmonium Decays by Flux-Tube Breaking and the ψ′\psi^{'} Anomaly at CDF

The hadronic decay of radially and orbitally excited charmonium above charm threshold by $^3 P_{0}$ pair creation and chromoelectric flux--tube breaking is discussed in an harmonic oscillator approximation. We find independent evidence from a study of widths for a 2S admixture in the predominantly 1D state $\psi(3770)$, and explore the possibility of metastable radially excited 2 \; ^{3}P_{0,1,2} states being a source of the anomalously large production of $\psi^{'}$ at the Tevatron. At least one of them is expected to be narrow as a consequence of the existence of nodes in the radial wave function.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX, 5 tables, 3 postscript figures, with minor alterations and improved cross-referencin

The newly observed open-charm states in quark model

Comparing the measured properties of the newly observed open-charm states D(2550), D(2600), D(2750), D(2760), D_{s1}(2710), D_{sJ}(2860), and D_{sJ}(3040) with our predicted spectroscopy and strong decays in a constituent quark model, we find that: (1) the D(2\,^1S_0) assignment to D(2550) remains open for its too broad width determined by experiment; (2) the D(2600) and $D_{s1}(2710)$ can be identified as the 2\,^3S_1-1\,^3D_1 mixtures; (3) if the D(2760) and D(2750) are indeed the same resonance, they would be the D(1\,^3D_3); otherwise, they could be assigned as the D(1\,^3D_3) and $D^\prime_2(1D)$, respectively; (4) the $D_{sJ}(2860)$ could be either the $D_{s1}(2710)$'s partner or the D_s(1\,^3D_3); and (5) both the $D_{s1}(2P)$ and $D^\prime_{s1}(2P)$ interpretations for the $D_{sJ}(3040)$ seem likely. The $E1$ and $M1$ radiative decays of these sates are also studied. Further experimental efforts are needed to test the present quarkonium assignments for these new open-charm states.Comment: 26 pages,7 figures, journal versio

Using Heavy Quark Spin Symmetry in Semileptonic BcB_c Decays

The form factors parameterizing the B_c semileptonic matrix elements can be related to a few invariant functions if the decoupling of the spin of the heavy quarks in B_c and in the mesons produced in the semileptonic decays is exploited. We compute the form factors as overlap integral of the meson wave-functions obtained using a QCD relativistic potential model, and give predictions for semileptonic and non-leptonic B_c decay modes. We also discuss possible experimental tests of the heavy quark spin symmetry in B_c decays.Comment: RevTex, 22 pages, 2 figure

A prospective study of adverse drug reactions to antiepileptic drugs in children

Objectives To prospectively determine the nature and rate of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in children on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and to prospectively evaluate the effect of AEDs on behaviour. Setting A single centre prospective observational study. Participants Children (<18 years old) receiving one or more AEDs for epilepsy, at each clinically determined follow-up visit. Primary and secondary outcomes Primary outcome was adverse reactions of AEDs. Behavioural and cognitive functions were secondary outcomes. Results 180 children were recruited. Sodium valproate and carbamazepine were the most frequently used AEDs. A total of 114 ADRs were recorded in 56 of these children (31%). 135 children (75%) were on monotherapy. 27 of the 45 children (60%) on polytherapy had ADRs; while 29 (21%) of those on monotherapy had ADRs. The risk of ADRs was significantly lower in patients receiving monotherapy than polytherapy (RR: 0.61, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.79, p<0.0001). Behavioural problems and somnolence were the most common ADRs. 23 children had to discontinue their AED due to an ADR. Conclusions Behavioural problems and somnolence were the most common ADRs. Polytherapy significantly increases the likelihood of ADRs in children

Isolated Boundary Singularities of Semilinear Elliptic Equations

Given a smooth domain \Omega\subset\RR^N such that $0 \in \partial\Omega$ and given a nonnegative smooth function $\zeta$ on $\partial\Omega$, we study the behavior near 0 of positive solutions of $-\Delta u=u^q$ in $\Omega$ such that $u = \zeta$ on $\partial\Omega\setminus\{0\}$. We prove that if $\frac{N+1}{N-1} < q < \frac{N+2}{N-2}$, then u(x)\leq C \abs{x}^{-\frac{2}{q-1}} and we compute the limit of \abs{x}^{\frac{2}{q-1}} u(x) as $x \to 0$. We also investigate the case $q= \frac{N+1}{N-1}$. The proofs rely on the existence and uniqueness of solutions of related equations on spherical domains

Procoagulant Adaptation of a Blood Coagulation Prothrombinase-like Enzyme Complex in Australian Elapid Venom

The macromolecular enzyme complex prothrombinase serves an indispensable role in blood coagulation as it catalyzes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, a key regulatory enzyme in the formation of a blood clot. Interestingly, a virtually identical enzyme complex is found in the venom of some Australian elapid snakes, which is composed of a cofactor factor Va-component and a serine protease factor Xa-like subunit. This review will provide an overview of the identification and characterization of the venom prothrombinase complex and will discuss the rationale for its powerful procoagulant nature responsible for the potent hemostatic toxicity of the elapid venom