Heavy-heavy form factors and generalized factorization

We reanalyze B -> D pi and B -> K J/psi data to extract a set of parameters which give the relevant hadronic matrix elements in terms of factorized amplitudes. Various sources of theoretical uncertainties are studied, in particular those depending on the model adopted for the form factors. We find that the fit to the B -> D pi branching ratios substantially depends on the model describing the Isgur-Wise function and on the value of its slope. This dependence can be reduced by substituting the BR(B -> D pi) with suitable ratios of non-leptonic to differential semileptonic BRs. In this way, we obtain a model-independent determination of these parameters. Using these results, the B -> D form factors at q^2=M_pi^2 can be extracted from a fit of the BR(B -> D pi). The comparison between the form factors obtained in this way and the corresponding measurements in semileptonic decays can be used as a test of (generalized) factorization free from the uncertainties due to heavy-heavy form factor modeling. Finally, we present predictions for yet-unmeasured D pi and D K branching ratios and extract f_{D_s} and f_{D_s^*} from B -> DD_s decays. We find f_{D_s} = 270 +- 45 MeV and f_{D_s^*}=260 +- 40 MeV, in good agreement with recent measurements and lattice calculations.Comment: 20 pages, 16 ps/eps files, uses epsfig.sty; exp. numbers update

Lattice computation of structure functions

Recent lattice calculations of hadron structure functions are described.Comment: Plenary talk presented at LATTICE96, LaTeX, 7 pages, 5 figures, espcrc2.sty and epsfig.sty include

Factorization, charming penguins, and all that

We discuss few selected topics related to the calculation of hadronic amplitudes relevant for two-body non-leptonic B decays.Comment: LaTeX, 9 pages, 1 eps figure included, uses psfig.sty. Talk given by M.C. at Beauty '97, UCLA, USA, October 13-17, 199

The power spectrum of systematics in cosmic shear tomography and the bias on cosmological parameters

Cosmic shear tomography has emerged as one of the most promising tools to both investigate the nature of dark energy and discriminate between General Relativity and modified gravity theories. In order to successfully achieve these goals, systematics in shear measurements have to be taken into account; their impact on the weak lensing power spectrum has to be carefully investigated in order to estimate the bias induced on the inferred cosmological parameters. To this end, we develop here an efficient tool to compute the power spectrum of systematics by propagating, in a realistic way, shear measurement, source properties and survey setup uncertainties. Starting from analytical results for unweighted moments and general assumptions on the relation between measured and actual shear, we derive analytical expressions for the multiplicative and additive bias, showing how these terms depend not only on the shape measurement errors, but also on the properties of the source galaxies (namely, size, magnitude and spectral energy distribution). We are then able to compute the amplitude of the systematics power spectrum and its scaling with redshift, while we propose a multigaussian expansion to model in a non-parametric way its angular scale dependence. Our method allows to self-consistently propagate the systematics uncertainties to the finally observed shear power spectrum, thus allowing us to quantify the departures from the actual spectrum. We show that even a modest level of systematics can induce non-negligible deviations, thus leading to a significant bias on the recovered cosmological parameters.Comment: 19 pages, 5 tables, 4 figure

Polarized and Unpolarized Nucleon Structure Functions from Lattice QCD

We report on a high statistics quenched lattice QCD calculation of the deep-inelastic structure functions $F_1$, $F_2$, $g_1$ and $g_2$ of the proton and neutron. The theoretical basis for the calculation is the operator product expansion. We consider the moments of the leading twist operators up to spin four. Using Wilson fermions the calculation is done for three values of $\kappa$, and we perform the extrapolation to the chiral limit. The renormalization constants, which lead us from lattice to continuum operators, are calculated in perturbation theory to one loop order.Comment: 17 pages, uuencoded postscript file. Renormalization constant of now include

MN Draconis - peculiar, active dwarf nova in the period gap

Context: We present results of an extensive world-wide observing campaign of MN Draconis. Aims: MN Draconis is a poorly known active dwarf nova in the period gap and is one of the only two known cases of period gap SU UMa objects showing the negative superhumps. Photometric behaviour of MN Draconis poses a challenge for existing models of the superhump and superoutburst mechanisms. Therefore, thorough investigation of peculiar systems, such as MN Draconis, is crucial for our understanding of evolution of the close binary stars. Methods: To measure fundamental parameters of the system, we collected photometric data in October 2009, June-September 2013 and June-December 2015. Analysis of the light curves, $O-C$ diagrams and power spectra was carried out. Results: During our three observational seasons we detected four superoutburts and several normal outbursts. Based on the two consecutive superoutbursts detected in 2015, the supercycle length was derived P_sc = 74 +/- 0.5 days and it has been increasing with a rate of P_dot = 3.3 x 10^(-3) during last twelve years. Based on the positive and negative superhumps we calculated the period excess epsilon = 5.6% +/- 0.1%, the period deficit epsilon_ = 2.5% +/- 0.6%, and in result, the orbital period P_orb = 0.0994(1) days (143.126 +/- 0.144 min). We updated the basic light curve parameters of MN Draconis. Conclusions: MN Draconis is the first discovered SU UMa system in the period gap with increasing supercycle length.Comment: 14 pages, 20 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Phenomenology with Wilson fermions using smeared sources

We investigate the use of two types of non-local (``smeared'') sources for quark propagators in quenched lattice QCD at $\beta=6.0$ using Wilson fermions at $\kappa=0.154$ and $0.155$. We present results for the hadron mass spectrum, meson decay constants, quark masses, the chiral condensate and the quark distribution amplitude of the pion. The use of smeared sources leads to a considerable improvement over previous results. We find a disturbing discrepancy between the baryon spectra obtained using Wuppertal and wall sources. We find good signals in the ratio of correlators used to calculate the quark mass and the chiral condensate and show that the extrapolation to the chiral limit is smooth.Comment: (revised), 57 pages (29 pages of PostScript in landscape mode, 765924 bytes

Constraining Modified Gravity with Euclid

Future proposed satellite missions as Euclid can offer the opportunity to test general relativity on cosmic scales through mapping of the galaxy weak lensing signal. In this paper we forecast the ability of these experiments to constrain modified gravity scenarios as those predicted by scalar-tensor and $f(R)$ theories. We found that Euclid will improve constraints expected from the PLANCK satellite on these modified gravity models by two orders of magnitude. We discuss parameter degeneracies and the possible biases introduced by modified gravity

Effects of in-hospital diuretic therapy on electrolytes concentration, renal function and survival in 85 dogs with acute congestive heart failure

Critically hill patients with acute congestive heart failure (CHF) may often show haemoconcentration, dysnatremia, dyskalemia and increased azotemia, due to aggressive diuretic therapy. Haemocon-centration is associated with lower risk of mortality, while dysnatremia and dyskalemia are associated with higher mortality in human medicine. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the impact of in-hospital diuretic therapy for CHF on selected laboratory parameters and long-term mortality. Dogs with clinical and radiological evidence of CHF confirmed by echocardiography were included. Blood samples collected through out the hospitalization at presentation (T0) and discharge (T1) were: venous blood gas analysis (VBGA), serum creatinine (sCr), blood ureanitrogen (BUN), microhematocrit (Htc) and total proteins (TP). Length of hospital stay, ACVIM class and other clinical indices were recorded. Haemoconcentration was defined as a simultaneous increase in Htc and total protein. A total of 85 dogs (45 male and 40 female; mean age 11.07 \ue003 2.54 years; mean weight 8.86 \ue003 6.92 kg) were included. Thirty-six dogshad previous episodes of CHF. Mean length of in-hospital stay was 31.15 \ue003 17.35 hours. Treatment protocol included a single furosemide endovenous bolus at 2 mg/kg followed by multiple 1 mg/kg bolus/hour until respiratory rate reach 40 respiratory rate. Each dog received 8.6 \ue003 2.8 mg/kg and 11.1 \ue003 2.9 mg/kg furosemide in 24 and 48 hours respectively. Ten dogs received higher furosemide doses or torasemide bolus. Haemoconcentration was reached in the 33% of dogs. Considering the VBGA and biochemistry results, the number of dogs showing extra-range values (T0-T1) were respectively: hyponatremia (10-23), hypernatremia (13-17), hypokalemia (18-30), hyperkalemia (10-10), hypocloremia (46-61), increased BUN (26-34), increased sCr (3-8). Fourty-one dogs experienced cardiac death, 12 during hospitalization, the remaining dogs between 3 and 721 days after admission. Stepwise backward regression demonstrated haemoconcentration (HR 0.33) and disnatremia (HR 2.85) influence over outcome. Statisti-cally significant correlation (Pearson) was seen between furosemide dose and kalemia (r = 120.32, P = 0.014) and between BUN and sCr (r = 0.27, P = 0.021). No correlation was seen between furosemide dose and the variables sCr, BUN, Htc and between sCr and Htc. In conclusion, haemoconcentration and disnatremia affected the out-come in dogs with CHF. Haemoconcentration was associated withlower risk of mortality and had to be considered a target in CHF therapy. In-hospital diuretic therapy increased electrolyte disorder due to loop diuretics inhibition of the renal Na, K, Cl cotransporter in the Henle's loop and disnatremia was a risk factor for adverse outcome. Diuretics doses and haemoconcentration didn't play a direct role in inducing renal disfunction

Unimpaired Neuropsychological Performance and Enhanced Memory Recall in Patients with Sbma: A Large Sample Comparative Study.

Peculiar cognitive profile of patients with SBMA has been described by fragmented literature. Our retrospective study reports the neuropsychological evaluations of a large cohort of patients in order to contribute towards the understanding of this field. We consider 64 neuropsychological evaluations assessing mnesic, linguistic and executive functions collected from 2013 to 2015 in patients attending at Motor Neuron Disease Centre of University of Padova. The battery consisted in: Digit Span forwards and backwards, Prose Memory test, Phonemic Verbal fluency and Trail making tests. ANCOVA statistics were employed to compare tests scores results with those obtained from a sample of healthy control subjects. Multiple linear regressions were used to study the effect on cognitive performance of CAG-repeat expansion, the degree of androgen insensitivity and their interaction to cognitive performance. Statistical analyses did not reveal altered scores in any neuropsychological tests among those adopted. Interestingly, patients performed significantly better in the Prose Memory test's score. No relevant associations were found with genetic, hormonal or clinical patients' profile. Results inconsistent with previous studies have been interpreted according to the phenomenon of somatic mosaicism. We suggest a testosterone-related and the mood state-dependant perspectives as two possible interpretations of the enhanced performances in the Prose Memory test. Further studies employing more datailed tests batteries are encouraged