A Bayesian analysis of pentaquark signals from CLAS data

We examine the results of two measurements by the CLAS collaboration, one of which claimed evidence for a $\Theta^{+}$ pentaquark, whilst the other found no such evidence. The unique feature of these two experiments was that they were performed with the same experimental setup. Using a Bayesian analysis we find that the results of the two experiments are in fact compatible with each other, but that the first measurement did not contain sufficient information to determine unambiguously the existence of a $\Theta^{+}$. Further, we suggest a means by which the existence of a new candidate particle can be tested in a rigorous manner.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Measurement of the Deuteron Structure Function F2 in the Resonance Region and Evaluation of Its Moments

Inclusive electron scattering off the deuteron has been measured to extract the deuteron structure function F2 with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The measurement covers the entire resonance region from the quasi-elastic peak up to the invariant mass of the final-state hadronic system W~2.7 GeV with four-momentum transfers Q2 from 0.4 to 6 (GeV/c)^2. These data are complementary to previous measurements of the proton structure function F2 and cover a similar two-dimensional region of Q2 and Bjorken variable x. Determination of the deuteron F2 over a large x interval including the quasi-elastic peak as a function of Q2, together with the other world data, permit a direct evaluation of the structure function moments for the first time. By fitting the Q2 evolution of these moments with an OPE-based twist expansion we have obtained a separation of the leading twist and higher twist terms. The observed Q2 behaviour of the higher twist contribution suggests a partial cancellation of different higher twists entering into the expansion with opposite signs. This cancellation, found also in the proton moments, is a manifestation of the "duality" phenomenon in the F2 structure function

Measurement of the Polarized Structure Function σLT′\sigma_{LT^\prime} for p(e⃗,e′π+)np(\vec{e},e'\pi^+)n in the Δ(1232)\Delta(1232) Resonance Region

The polarized longitudinal-transverse structure function $\sigma_{LT^\prime}$ has been measured using the $p(\vec e,e'\pi^+)n$ reaction in the $\Delta(1232)$ resonance region at $Q^2=0.40$ and 0.65 GeV$^2$. No previous $\sigma_{LT^\prime}$ data exist for this reaction channel. The kinematically complete experiment was performed at Jefferson Lab with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) using longitudinally polarized electrons at an energy of 1.515 GeV. A partial wave analysis of the data shows generally better agreement with recent phenomenological models of pion electroproduction compared to the previously measured $\pi^0 p$ channel. A fit to both $\pi^0 p$ and $\pi^+ n$ channels using a unitary isobar model suggests the unitarized Born terms provide a consistent description of the non-resonant background. The $t$-channel pion pole term is important in the $\pi^0 p$ channel through a rescattering correction, which could be model-dependent.Comment: 6 pages, LaTex, 5 eps figures: Submitted to PRC/Brief Reports v2: Updated referenc

Convergent functional genomic studies of omega-3 fatty acids in stress reactivity, bipolar disorder and alcoholism

Omega-3 fatty acids have been proposed as an adjuvant treatment option in psychiatric disorders. Given their other health benefits and their relative lack of toxicity, teratogenicity and side effects, they may be particularly useful in children and in females of child-bearing age, especially during pregnancy and postpartum. A comprehensive mechanistic understanding of their effects is needed. Here we report translational studies demonstrating the phenotypic normalization and gene expression effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in a stress-reactive knockout mouse model of bipolar disorder and co-morbid alcoholism, using a bioinformatic convergent functional genomics approach integrating animal model and human data to prioritize disease-relevant genes. Additionally, to validate at a behavioral level the novel observed effects on decreasing alcohol consumption, we also tested the effects of DHA in an independent animal model, alcohol-preferring (P) rats, a well-established animal model of alcoholism. Our studies uncover sex differences, brain region-specific effects and blood biomarkers that may underpin the effects of DHA. Of note, DHA modulates some of the same genes targeted by current psychotropic medications, as well as increases myelin-related gene expression. Myelin-related gene expression decrease is a common, if nonspecific, denominator of neuropsychiatric disorders. In conclusion, our work supports the potential utility of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically DHA, for a spectrum of psychiatric disorders such as stress disorders, bipolar disorder, alcoholism and beyond

Search for the Θ+\Theta^+ pentaquark in the reactions γp→Kˉ0K+n\gamma p \to \bar K^0K^+n and γp→Kˉ0K0p\gamma p \to \bar K^0K^0p

The exclusive reactions $\gamma p \to \bar K^0 K^+ n$ and $\gamma p \to \bar K^0 K^0 p$ have been studied in the photon energy range 1.6--3.8 GeV, searching for evidence of the exotic baryon $\Theta^+(1540)$ in the decays $\Theta^+\to nK^+$ and $\Theta^+\to p K^0$. Data were collected with the CLAS detector at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The integrated luminosity was about 70 pb$^{-1}$. The reactions have been isolated by detecting the $K^+$ and proton directly, the neutral kaon via its decay to $K_S \to \pi^+ \pi^-$ and the neutron or neutral kaon via the missing mass technique. The mass and width of known hyperons such as $\Sigma^+$, $\Sigma^-$ and $\Lambda(1116)$ were used as a check of the mass determination accuracy and experimental resolution. Approximately 100,000 $\Lambda^*(1520)$'s and 150,000 $\phi$'s were observed in the $\bar K^0 K^+ n$ and $\bar K^0 K^0 p$ final state respectively. No evidence for the $\Theta^+$ pentaquark was found in the $nK^+$ or $pK_S$ invariant mass spectra. Upper limits were set on the production cross section of the reaction $\gamma p \to \Theta^+ \bar K^0$ as functions of center-of-mass angle, $nK^+$ and $pK_S$ masses. Combining the results of the two reactions, the 95% C.L. upper limit on the total cross section for a resonance peaked at 1540 MeV was found to be 0.7 nb. Within most of the available theoretical models, this corresponds to an upper limit on the $\Theta^+$ width, $\Gamma_{\Theta^{+}}$, ranging between 0.01 and 7 MeV.Comment: 1 tex file (16 pages) + 23 figures (25 eps files

Stabilization of time-delay systems with a controlled time-varying delay and applications

We study the stability of a linear system with a pointwise, time-varying delay. We assume that the delay varies around a nominal value in a deterministic way and investigate the influence of this variation on stability. More precisely we are interested in characterizing situations where the time-varying delay system is stable, whereas the system with constant delay is unstable. Our approach consists of relating the stability properties of a system with a fast varying point-wise delay with these of a time-invariant system with a distributed delay. Then we can use frequency domain methods to analyze the problem and to derive stability criteria. The results are first illustrated with two theoretical examples. Then, we study a model of a variable speed rotating cutting tool. Based on the developed theory, we thereby provide both a theoretical explanation and a quantitative analysis tool for the beneficial effect of a variation of the machine speed on enhancing stability properties, which was reported in the literature.status: publishe