Chiral Anomaly Effects and the BaBar Measurements of the γγ∗→π0\gamma\gamma^{*}\to \pi^{0} Transition Form Factor

The recent BaBar measurements of the $\gamma\gamma^{*}\to \pi^{0}$ transition form factor show spectacular deviation from perturbative QCD prediction for large space-like $Q^{2}$ up to $34\,\rm GeV^{2}$. When plotted against $Q^{2}$, $Q^{2}F(Q^{2})$ shows steady increase with $Q^{2}$ in contrast with the flat $Q^{2}$ behavior predicted by perturbative QCD, and at $34\,\rm GeV^{2}$ is more than 50% larger than the QCD prediction. Stimulated by the BaBar measurements, we revisit our previous paper on the cancellation of anomaly effects in high energy processes $Z^{0}\to \pi^{0}\gamma$, $e^{+}e^{-}\to \pi^{0}\gamma$ and apply our results to the $\gamma^{*}\gamma\to \pi^{0}$ transition form factor measured in the $e^{+}e^{-}\to e^{+}e^{-}\pi^{0}$ process with one highly virtual photon. We find that, the transition form factor $F(Q^{2})$ behaves as $(\frac{m^{2}}{Q^{2}})\times (\ln(Q^{2}/m^{2}))^{2}$ and produces a striking agreement with the BaBar data for $Q^{2}F(Q^{2})$ with $m=132\,\rm MeV$ which also reproduces very well the CLEO data at lower $Q^{2}$.Comment: v4, LaTeX, 8 pages, one figure, minor changes(references), to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Three Distinctions of the Heideggerian Phenomenological Research Method

Using Heidegger\u27s philosophy, the author of this study attempts to demonstrate how to conduct an effective interpretive phenomenological investigation. Heideggerian phenomenologists are distinguished by their ability to see the problem of identity; their ability to recognize ontology\u27s inadequacies; and their ability to interpret the subject matter through historical critiques. Prior knowledge and data analysis processes are also discussed in the study. Validity and creditability concerns are also addressed. To recapitulate, this work proposes a five-step approach for using Heideggerian phenomenological inquiry in social science and policymaking research, where researchers are confronted with a wide range of existing and alternative worldviews

Conivaptan: a step forward in the treatment of hyponatremia?

Hyponatremia is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities linked to adverse outcomes and increased mortality in hospitalized patients. While the differential diagnosis for hyponatremia is diverse, most cases stem from arginine vasopressin (AVP) dysregulation, where hypoosmolality fails to suppress AVP synthesis and release. The physiological effects of AVP are currently known to depend on its interaction with any of 3 receptor subtypes V1A, V2, and V1B. Activation of V2 by AVP is the key in renal water regulation and maintenance of total body volume and plasma tonicity. Despite the long-recognized problem with excess AVP in euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia, traditional therapeutic options have relied on nonspecific and potentially problematic strategies. More recently, a new class of drugs, introduced as “aquaretics,” has gained great attention among clinicians because of its ability to correct hyponatremia via direct competitive inhibition of AVP at V2 receptors to induce renal electrolyte-free water excretion. In this paper, we aim to review available clinical data on the only FDA-approved aquaretic, dual V1A/V2 receptor antagonist conivaptan, discuss its clinical indications, efficacy, safety profile, and comment on its clinical limitations

The Distribution of Dengue Virus Serotype in Quang Nam Province (Vietnam) during the Outbreak in 2018

Objectives: Quang Nam province in the Centre of Vietnam has faced an outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in 2018. Although DHF is a recurrent disease in this area, no epidemiological and microbiological reports on dengue virus serotypes have been conducted mainly due to lack of facilities for such a kind of advanced surveillance. The aim of this study was to detect different dengue virus serotypes in patients’ blood samples. Design and Methods: Suspected cases living in Quang Nam province (Vietnam) and presenting clinical and hematological signs of dengue hemorrhagic fever were included in the study. The screening was performed, and the results were compared by using two methodologies: RT real-time PCR (RT-rPCR) and the Dengue NS1 rapid test. Results: From December 2018 to February 2019, looking both at RT-rPCR [+] and NS1 [+] methodologies, a total of 488 patients were screened and 336 were positive for dengue virus detection (74 children and 262 adults); 273 of these patients (81.3%) underwent viral serotype identification as follows: 12.82% (35/273) D1 serotype, 17.95% (49/273) D2, 0.37% (1/273) D3, 68.50 (187/283) D4, and 0.37% (1/273) D2+D4 serotypes. The RT-rPCR outcomes showed higher sensitivity during the first three days of infection compared to NS1 (92.3% vs. 89.7%). The NS1 increased sensitivity after the first 3 days whilst the RT-rPCR decreased. Conclusions: Advanced surveillance with dengue virus serotypes identification, if performed routinely, may help to predict and prevent further DHF epidemics based on the exposure of the different serotypes during different periods that lead to the intensification of disease severity as a consequence of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)

On Optimal Harvesting in Stochastic Environments: Optimal Policies in a Relaxed Model

This paper examines the objective of optimally harvesting a single species in a stochastic environment. This problem has previously been analyzed in Alvarez (2000) using dynamic programming techniques and, due to the natural payoff structure of the price rate function (the price decreases as the population increases), no optimal harvesting policy exists. This paper establishes a relaxed formulation of the harvesting model in such a manner that existence of an optimal relaxed harvesting policy can not only be proven but also identified. The analysis embeds the harvesting problem in an infinite-dimensional linear program over a space of occupation measures in which the initial position enters as a parameter and then analyzes an auxiliary problem having fewer constraints. In this manner upper bounds are determined for the optimal value (with the given initial position); these bounds depend on the relation of the initial population size to a specific target size. The more interesting case occurs when the initial population exceeds this target size; a new argument is required to obtain a sharp upper bound. Though the initial population size only enters as a parameter, the value is determined in a closed-form functional expression of this parameter.Comment: Key Words: Singular stochastic control, linear programming, relaxed contro