ω−ρ\omega-\rho Mixing and the ω→ππγ\omega\to\pi\pi\gamma Decay

We reexamine the $\omega \to \pi^{0} \pi^{0} \gamma$ decay, adding the effect of $\omega-\rho$ mixing to the amplitude calculated with the aid of chiral perturbation theory and vector meson dominance. We predict the neutral decay to occur with a width of $\Gamma($\omega \to \pi^{0} \pi^{0} \gamma $) =(390\pm96) {\rm eV}$ and also analyze the effect of the $\omega-\rho$ mixing on the $\Gamma($\omega \to \pi^{0} \pi^{0} \gamma $)/ \Gamma($\omega \to \pi^{+} \pi^{-} \gamma $)$ ratio. Several remarks on the effect of $\omega-\rho$ mixing on certain radiative decays of vector mesons are presented.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, 1 ps-figure. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Experimental Study of rho -> pi0 pi0 gamma and omega -> pi0 pi0 gamma Decays

The e+e- -> pi0 pi0 gamma process was studied in the SND experiment at VEPP-2M e+e- collider in the energy region 0.60-0.97 GeV. From the analysis of the energy dependence of measured cross section the branching ratios B(omega -> pi0 pi0 gamma)= (6.6 +1.4-0.8(stat) +-0.6(syst))x10^-5 and B(rho -> pi0 pi0 gamma)=(4.1 +1.0-0.9(stat) +-0.3(syst))x10^-5 were obtained.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Experimental study of the e+e- -> pi0 gamma process in the energy region sqrt(s)=0.60-0.97 GeV

Results of the study of the e+e-->pi0 gamma process with SND detector at VEPP-2M collider in the c.m.s. energy range sqrt(s)=0.60-0.97 GeV are presented. Using 36513 selected events corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 3.4 pb^-1 the e+e-->pi0 gamma cross section was measured. The energy dependence of the cross section was analyzed in the framework of the vector meson dominance model. The data are well described by a sum of phi,omega,rho0->pi0 gamma decay contributions with measured decay probabilities: Br(omega->pi0 gamma)=(9.34+-0.15+-0.31)% and Br(rho0->pi0 gamma)=(5.15+-1.16+-0.73)*10^-4 . The rho-omega relative interference phase is phi(rho,omega}=(-10.2+-6.5+-2.5) degree

Dilepton Spectra from Decays of Light Unflavored Mesons

The invariant mass spectrum of the $e^{+}e^{-}$ and $\mu ^{+}\mu ^{-}$ pairs from decays of light unflavored mesons with masses below the $\phi (1020)$-meson mass to final states containing along with a dilepton pair one photon, one meson, and two mesons are calculated within the framework of the effective meson theory. The results can be used for simulations of the dilepton spectra in heavy-ion collisions and for experimental searches of dilepton meson decays.Comment: 73 pages, 19 figures, 3 tables, REVTeX, new references adde

Search for the radiative decay η→π0γγ\eta \to \pi^0 \gamma \gamma in the SND experiment at VEPP-2M

The $\eta \to \pi^0 \gamma \gamma$ decay was investigated by the SND detector at VEPP-2M $e^+e^-$ collider in the reaction $e^+e^-\to\phi\to \eta\gamma$. Here we present the results and some details of this study. We report an upper limit (90% c.l.) $Br(\eta \to \pi^0 \gamma \gamma)<8.4\times 10^{-4}$ as our final result. Our upper limit does not contradict the earlier measurement by GAMS spectrometer. To facilitate future studies a rather detailed review of the problem is also given.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, LaTex. To be published in Nucl. Phys.

Study of the Process e+ e- --> pi0 pi0 gamma in c.m. Energy Range 600--970 MeV at CMD-2

The cross section of the process e+ e- --> pi0 pi0 gamma has been measured in the c.m. energy range 600--970 MeV with the CMD-2 detector. The following branching ratios have been determined: B(rho --> pi0 pi0 gamma) =(5.2^{+1.5}_{-1.3} +- 0.6)x10^{-5} and B(omega --> pi0 pi0 gamma) =(6.4^{+2.4}_{-2.0} +- 0.8)x10^{-5}. Evidence for the rho --> f0(600) gamma decay has been obtained: B(rho --> f0(600) gamma) = (6.0^{+3.3}_{-2.7}\pm 0.9)x10^{-5}. From a search for the process e+ e- --> eta pi0 gamma the following upper limit has been obtained: B(omega --> eta pi0 gamma) < 3.3 10^{-5} at 90% CL.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space Age: Secondary Distance Indicators

The formal division of the distance indicators into primary and secondary leads to difficulties in description of methods which can actually be used in two ways: with, and without the support of the other methods for scaling. Thus instead of concentrating on the scaling requirement we concentrate on all methods of distance determination to extragalactic sources which are designated, at least formally, to use for individual sources. Among those, the Supernovae Ia is clearly the leader due to its enormous success in determination of the expansion rate of the Universe. However, new methods are rapidly developing, and there is also a progress in more traditional methods. We give a general overview of the methods but we mostly concentrate on the most recent developments in each field, and future expectations. © 2018, The Author(s)

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Persistent systemic inflammation and symptoms of depression among patients with COPD in the ECLIPSE cohort

BACKGROUND: Depression is highly prevalent among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The relationship of depression with systemic inflammation in COPD remains unknown. The objective of this observational study was to compare depression scores at baseline and after 36 months follow-up between COPD patients with persistent systemic inflammation (PSI) and never inflamed patients (NI) in the ECLIPSE cohort. METHODS: The ECLIPSE study included 2164 COPD patients. Parameters assessed at baseline and at 36 months follow-up included: demographics, clinical characteristics and symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression, CES-D). Patients classified as NI had zero and patients with PSI had >/=2 inflammatory biomarkers (white blood cell count, hsCRP, IL-6, and fibrinogen) in the upper quartile, at baseline and 12 months later. FINDINGS: 350 patients (29.1%) were NI and 131 patients (10.9%) had PSI. At baseline, mean CES-D score was higher in patients with PSI than in NI patients (11.7 (8.6) vs. 9.2 (8.9) points, p = 0.01). Differences were not confirmed after adjustment for possible confounders (beta (95% CI) = 0.02 (-3.87 to 15.29), adjusted p = 0.98). At 36 months follow-up, CES-D scores were comparable in PSI and NI patients (12.2 (9.3) vs. 10.5 (9.0) points, p = 0.08) as were their temporal changes (0.5 (8.3) vs. 1.3 (7.9) points, p = 0.30). CONCLUSION: The ECLIPSE study does not support a strong relationship between PSI and symptoms of depression at baseline and after 36 months follow-up in COPD. FUNDING: The study was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline