String effects in SU(2) lattice gauge theory

We discuss the effective string picture for the confining regime of lattice gauge theories at zero and finite temperature. We present results of extensive Monte Carlo simulations - performed with the Luscher and Weisz algorithm - for SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 dimensions. We also address the issue of "string universality" by comparing our results with those obtained in other lattice gauge theories.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, Lattice2003(topology

Quark bilinear step scaling functions and their continuum limit extrapolation

Some new results on nonperturbative renormalisation of quark bilinears in quenched QCD with Schroedinger Functional techniques are presented. Special emphasis is put on a study of the universality of the continuum limit for step scaling functions computed with different levels of O(a) improvement.Comment: Lattice2003(improve), 3 pages, 3 figure

Adjuvant interferon alfa-2a treatment in resected primary stage II cutaneous melanoma

Purpose: Patients with primary cutaneous melanoma with a Breslow thickness greater than or equal to 1.5 mm have only a 30% to 70% probability of survival after surgery, and no adjuvant therapy has so far improved this outcome, Since interferon alfa-2a (IFN alpha 2a) exhibits antitumor activity in metastatic melanoma, we investigated whether adjuvant IFN alpha 2a diminishes the occurrence of metastases and thus prolongs disease-free survival in melanoma patients after excision of the primary tumor