Contributions of order O(mquark2){\cal O}(m_{\rm quark}^2) to Kℓ3K_{\ell 3} form factors and unitarity of the CKM matrix

The form factors for the $K_{\ell 3}$ semileptonic decay are computed to order $O(p^4)$ in generalized chiral perturbation theory. The main difference with the standard $O(p^4)$ expressions consists in contributions quadratic in quark masses, which are described by a single divergence-free low-energy constant, $A_3$. A new simultaneous analysis is presented for the CKM matrix element $V_{us}$, the ratio $F_K/F_{\pi}$, $K_{\ell 3}$ decay rates and the scalar form factor slope $\lambda_0$. This framework easily accommodates the precise value for $V_{ud}$ deduced from superallowed nuclear $\beta$-decays

Thin-disk laser pump schemes for large number of passes and moderate pump source quality

Novel thin-disk laser pump layouts are proposed yielding an increased number of passes for a given pump module size and pump source quality. These novel layouts result from a general scheme which bases on merging two simpler pump optics arrangements. Some peculiar examples can be realized by adapting standard commercially available pump optics simply by intro ducing an additional mirror-pair. More pump passes yield better efficiency, opening the way for usage of active materials with low absorption. In a standard multi-pass pump design, scaling of the number of beam passes brings ab out an increase of the overall size of the optical arrangement or an increase of the pump source quality requirements. Such increases are minimized in our scheme, making them eligible for industrial applicationsComment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Baryon chiral perturbation theory with virtual photons and leptons

We construct the general pion-nucleon SU(2) Lagrangian including both virtual photons and leptons for relativistic baryon chiral perturbation theory up to fourth order. We include the light leptons as explicit dynamical degrees of freedom by introducing new building blocks which represent these leptons.Comment: 11 page

Weak Interaction Studies with 6He

The 6He nucleus is an ideal candidate to study the weak interaction. To this end we have built a high-intensity source of 6He delivering ~10^10 atoms/s to experiments. Taking full advantage of that available intensity we have performed a high-precision measurement of the 6He half-life that directly probes the axial part of the nuclear Hamiltonian. Currently, we are preparing a measurement of the beta-neutrino angular correlation in 6He beta decay that will allow to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model in the form of tensor currents.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, proceedings for the Eleventh Conference on the Intersections of Particle and Nuclear Physics (CIPANP 2012

Formation of o-Tyrosine and Dityrosine in Proteins during Radiolytic and Metal-catalyzed Oxidation

To evaluate their usefulness as chemical indicators of cumulative oxidative damage to proteins, we studied the kinetics and extent of formation of ortho-tyrosine (0-Tyr), dityrosine (DT), and dityrosine-like fluorescence (Ex = 3 17 nm, E,,, = 407 nm) in the model proteins RNase and lysozyme exposed to radiolytic and metalcatalyzed (H20z/Cu2+) oxidation (MCO). Although there were protein-dependent differences, o-Tyr, DT, and fluorescence increased coordinately during oxidation of the proteins in both oxidation systems. The contribution of DT to total dityrosine-like fluorescence in oxidized proteins varied from 2-10070, depending on the protein, type of oxidation, and extent of oxidative damage. In proteins exposed to MCO, DT typically accounted for \u3e50% of the fluorescence at DT wavelengths. These studies indicate that o-Tyr and DT should be useful chemical markers of cumulative exposure of proteins to MCO in vitro and in vivo

Contribution of higher meson resonances to the electromagnetic π\pi-meson mass difference

Modifications of the DGMLY relation for calculation of electromagnetic $\pi$-meson mass difference based on the Chiral Symmetry Restoration phenomenon at high energies as well as the Operator Product Expansion of quark densities for vector ($\rho$) and axial-vector ($a_1$) meson fields difference are proposed. In the calculations higher meson resonances in vector and axial-vector channels are taken into account. It is shown that the inclusion of the first $\rho$ and $a_1$ radial excitations improves the results for electromagnetic $\pi$-meson mass difference as compared with the previous ones. Estimations on the electromagnetic $\rho$ and $a_1$-meson decay constants and the constant $L_{10}$ of effective chiral Lagrangian are obtained from the generalized Weinberg sum rules.Comment: Latex2e, 10 pages, submitted to Yad. Phy

Partons and Jets at the LHC

I review some issues related to short distance QCD and its relation to the experimental program of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) now under construction in Geneva.Comment: Talk at the conference QCD2002 at IIT Kanpur, India, November 2002. Ten pages with 12 figure

Strategies to promote translational research within the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Head and Neck Cancer Group: a report from the Translational Research Subcommittee

Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. These tumors are commonly diagnosed at advanced stages and mortality rates remain high. Even cured patients suffer the consequences of aggressive treatment that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In the past, in clinical trials, HNSCC was considered as a single disease entity. Advances in molecular biology with the development of genomic and proteomic approaches have demonstrated distinct prognostic HNSCC patient subsets beyond those defined by traditional clinical-pathological factors such as tumor subsite and stage [Cho W (ed). An Omics Perspective on Cancer Research. New York/Berlin: Springer 2010]. Validation of these biomarkers in large prospective clinical trials is required before their clinical implementation. To promote this research, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Head and Neck Cancer Program will develop the following strategies—(i) biobanking: prospective tissue collection from uniformly treated patients in the setting of clinical trials; (ii) a group of physicians, physician—scientists, and EORTC Headquarters staff devoted to patient-oriented head and neck cancer research; (iii) a collaboration between the basic scientists of the Translational Research Division interested in head and neck cancer research and the physicians of the Head and Neck Cancer Group; and (iv) funding through the EORTC Grant Program and the Network Core Institutions Consortium. In the present report, we summarize our strategic plans to promote head and neck cancer research within the EORTC framewor

Review of chiral perturbation theory

A review of chiral perturbation theory and that of recent developments on the comparison of its predictions with experiment is presented. Some interesting topics with scope for further elaboration are touched upon.Comment: 7 pages in revtex, Invited talk at the workshop, QCD2002, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, November 18-22, 2002, to appear in the proceeding