Evidence for Factorization in Three-body B --> D(*) K- K0 Decays

Motivated by recent experimental results, we use a factorization approach to study the three-body B --> D(*) K- K0 decay modes. Two mechanisms are proposed for kaon pair production: current-produced (from vacuum) and transition (from B meson). The Bbar0 --> D(*)+ K- K0 decay is governed solely by the current-produced mechanism. As the kaon pair can be produced only by the vector current, the matrix element can be extracted from e+ e- --> K Kbar processes via isospin relations. The decay rates obtained this way are in good agreement with experiment. Both current-produced and transition processes contribute to B- --> D(*)0 K- K0 decays. By using QCD counting rules and the measured B- --> D(*)0 K- K0 decay rates, the measured decay spectra can be understood.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

InGaN nano-ring structures for high-efficiency light emitting diodes

A technique based on the Fresnel diffraction effect for the fabrication of nano-scale site-controlled ring structures in InGaN/GaN multi-quantum well structures has been demonstrated. The ring structures have an internal diameter of 500 nm and a wall width of 300 nm. A 1 cm-1 Raman shift has been measured, signifying substantial strain relaxation from the fabricated structure. The 9 nm blueshift observed in the cathodoluminescence spectra can be attributed to band filling and/or screening of the piezoelectric field. A light emitting diode based on this geometry has been demonstrated

Phenomenological constraints on minimally coupled exotic lepton triplets

By introducing a set of new triplet leptons (with nonzero hypercharge) that can Yukawa couple to their Standard Model counterparts, new sources of tree-level flavor changing currents are induced via mixing. In this work, we study some of the consequences of such new contributions on processes such as the leptonic decays of gauge bosons, $\ell \rightarrow 3\ell'$ and $\ell \rightarrow \ell' \gamma$ which violate lepton flavor, and mu-e conversion in atomic nuclei. Constraints are then placed on the parameters associated with the exotic triplets by invoking the current low-energy experimental data. Moreover, the new physics contribution to the lepton anomalous magnetic moments is calculated.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables (REVTeX4.1); v2: refs added, to appear in PR

Genome sequencing and annotation of Cellulomonas sp. HZM

We report the draft genome sequence of Cellulomonas sp. HZM, isolated from a tropical peat swamp forest. The draft genome size is 3,559,280 bp with a G + C content of 73% and contains 3 rRNA sequences (single copies of 5S, 16S and 23S rRNA)

Quantum Hall Effect and Quantum Point Contact in Bilayer-Patched Epitaxial Graphene

We study an epitaxial graphene monolayer with bilayer inclusions via magnetotransport measurements and scanning gate microscopy at low temperatures. We find that bilayer inclusions can be metallic or insulating depending on the initial and gated carrier density. The metallic bilayers act as equipotential shorts for edge currents, while closely spaced insulating bilayers guide the flow of electrons in the monolayer constriction, which was locally gated using a scanning gate probe.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Psychometric properties of the five-level EuroQoL-5 dimension and Short Form-6 dimension measures of health-related quality of life in a population of pregnant women with depression

BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests that the EuroQoL-5 dimension (EQ-5D) and Short Form-6 dimension (SF-6D) have equivalent psychometric properties in people with depression, there is some evidence that the EQ-5D may lack responsiveness in certain populations with depression. AIMS: To examine the psychometric properties of the five-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) and SF-6D measures of health-related quality of life in a representative sample of pregnant women with depression. METHOD: Data were taken from a cohort of pregnant women identified at or soon after the first antenatal care contact and followed-up at 3 months postpartum. Health-related quality of life was measured using both the EQ-5D-5L and the SF-6D at baseline and follow-up. We examined acceptability and conducted psychometric validation in the aspects of concurrent validity, convergent validity, known-group validity and responsiveness in 421 women with available data. RESULTS: The EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D have similarly high levels of acceptability. However, concurrent validation shows a lack of concordance between the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D. The EQ-5D-5L tends to be higher than the SF-6D in individuals with better health states. The SF-6D tends to be higher than EQ-5D-5L in individuals with poorer health states. Convergent and known-group validity are comparable between the two utility measures. Longitudinally, women who recovered show larger increase in SF-6D utilities than those who did not recover at follow-up. With the EQ-5D-5L, this is not the case. Additionally, the ceiling effects were more apparent in the EQ-5D-5L. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of perinatal mental health interventions may be better captured by the SF-6D than the EQ-5D-5L but this needs to be cross-validated in more studies. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: L.M.H. chaired the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence CG192 guidelines development group on antenatal and postnatal mental health in 2012-2014. L.M.H. reports grants from NIHR, MRC, Nuffield and the Stefanou Foundation, UK. K.T., M.H. and S.B. report funding by NIHR and the Stefanou Foundation, UK

Interacting classical and quantum particles

We apply Hall and Reginatto's theory of interacting classical and quantum ensembles to harmonically coupled particles, with a view to understanding its experimental implications. This hybrid theory has no free parameters and makes distinctive predictions that should allow it to be experimentally distinguished from quantum mechanics. It also bears on the questions of quantum measurement and quantum gravity.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Phenomenological Consequences of Right-handed Down Squark Mixings

The mixings of $d_R$ quarks, hidden from view in Standard Model (SM), are naturally the largest if one has an Abelian flavor symmetry. With supersymmetry (SUSY) their effects can surface via $\tilde d_R$ squark loops. Squark and gluino masses are at TeV scale, but they can still induce effects comparable to SM in $B_d$ (or $B_s$) mixings, while $D^0$ mixing could be close to recent hints from data. In general, CP phases would be different from SM, as may be indicated by recent B Factory data. Presence of non-standard soft SUSY breakings with large $\tan\beta$ could enhance $b\to d\gamma$ (or $s\gamma$) transitions.Comment: Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Myeloperoxidase As a Multifaceted Target for Cardiovascular Protection

SIGNIFICANCE: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a heme peroxidase that is primarily expressed by neutrophils. It has the capacity to generate several reactive species, essential for its inherent antimicrobial activity and innate host defense. Dysregulated MPO release however, can lead to tissue damage, as seen in several diseases. Increased MPO levels in circulation is therefore, widely associated with conditions of increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Recent Advances: Several studies have shown a strong correlation between MPO and cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereby elevated levels of circulating MPO are linked to poor prognosis with increased risk of CVD-related mortality. Accordingly, circulating MPO is considered a 'high-risk' biomarker for patients with acute coronary syndrome, atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension and stroke, thereby implicating MPO as a multifaceted target for cardiovascular protection. Consistently, recent studies that target MPO in animal models of CVD have demonstrated favorable outcomes with regard to disease progression. CRITICAL ISSUES: Although most of these studies have established a critical link between circulating MPO and worsening cardiac outcomes, the mechanisms by which MPO exerts its detrimental effects in CVD remain unclear. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Elucidating the mechanisms by which elevated MPO leads to poor prognosis and conversely, investigating the beneficial effects of therapeutic MPO inhibition on alleviating disease phenotype, will facilitate future MPO-targeted clinical trials for improving CVD-related outcomes