40 research outputs found
Helicity Amplitudes of the Lambda(1670) and two Lambda(1405) as dynamically generated resonances
We determine the helicity amplitudes A_1/2 and radiative decay widths in the
transition Lambda(1670) to gamma Y (Y=Lambda or Sigma^0). The Lambda(1670) is
treated as a dynamically generated resonance in meson-baryon chiral dynamics.
We obtain the radiative decay widths of the Lambda(1670) to gamma Lambda as 3
\pm 2 keV and to gamma Sigma^0 as 120 \pm 50 keV. Also, the Q^2 dependence of
the helicity amplitudes A_1/2 is calculated. We find that the K Xi component in
the Lambda(1670) structure, mainly responsible for the dynamical generation of
this resonance, is also responsible for the significant suppression of the
decay ratio Gamma_{gamma Lambda}/Gamma_{gamma Sigma^0}. A measurement of the
ratio would, thus, provide direct access to the nature of the Lambda(1670). To
compare the result for the Lambda(1670), we calculate the helicity amplitudes
A_1/2 for the two states of the Lambda(1405). Also, the analytic continuation
of Feynman parameterized integrals of more complicated loop amplitudes to the
complex plane is developed which allows for an internally consistent evaluation
of A_1/2.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure
Fermion family recurrences in the Dyson-Schwinger formalism
We study the multiple solutions of the truncated propagator Dyson-Schwinger
equation for a simple fermion theory with Yukawa coupling to a scalar field.
Upon increasing the coupling constant , other parameters being fixed, more
than one non-perturbative solution breaking chiral symmetry becomes possible
and we find these numerically. These ``recurrences'' appear as a mechanism to
generate different fermion generations as quanta of the same fundamental field
in an interacting field theory, without assuming any composite structure. The
number of recurrences or flavors is reduced to a question about the value of
the Yukawa coupling, and has no special profound significance in the Standard
Model. The resulting mass function can have one or more nodes and the
measurement that potentially detects them can be thought of as a collider-based
test of the virtual dispersion relation for the charged
lepton member of each family. This requires three independent measurements of
the charged lepton's energy, three-momentum and off-shellness. We illustrate
how this can be achieved for the (more difficult) case of the tau lepton
The nature of the Lambda(1405)
We present here some results supporting the nature of the
resonance as dynamically generated from the meson baryon interaction in coupled
channels and resulting from the superposition of two close-by poles. We find
support for this picture in the reaction,
which shows a different shape than the one obtained from the reaction. We also call the attention to the with in the region, which shows a narrow
peak in the calculations around 1420 MeV. We also report on recent calculations
of the radiative decay of the two states and on reactions to
obtain information on these decay modes. Finally, we present results for the
reaction recently measured at ANKE/COSY and compare
them with theoretical results.Comment: Talk given at the NSTAR2007 Workshop, Bonn September 200
Light-cone QCD Sum Rules for the Baryon Electromagnetic Form Factors and its magnetic moment
We present the light-cone QCD sum rules up to twist 6 for the electromagnetic
form factors of the baryon. To estimate the magnetic moment of the
baryon, the magnetic form factor is fitted by the dipole formula. The numerical
value of our estimation is , which is in
accordance with the experimental data and the existing theoretical results. We
find that it is twist 4 but not the leading twist distribution amplitudes that
dominate the results.Comment: 13 page, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Euro. Phys. J.
Nucleon resonances in the fourth resonance region
Nucleon and resonances in the fourth resonance region are studied in
a multichannel partial-wave analysis which includes nearly all available data
on pion- and photo-induced reactions off protons. In the high-mass range, above
1850\,MeV, several alternative solutions yield a good description of the data.
For these solutions, masses, widths, pole residues and photo-couplings are
given. In particular, we find evidence for nucleon resonances with
spin-parities . For one set of solutions, there are four
resonances forming naturally a spin-quartet of resonances with orbital angular
momentum L=2 and spin S=3/2 coupling to . Just below 1.9\,GeV we
find a spin doublet of resonances with and . Since a spin
partner with is missing at this mass, the two resonances form a
spin doublet which must have a symmetric orbital-angular-momentum wave function
with L=1. For another set of solutions, the four positive-parity resonances are
accompanied by mass-degenerate negative-parity partners -- as suggested by the
conjecture of chiral symmetry restoration. The possibility of a spin doublet at 1900\,MeV belonging to a 20-plet is discussed.Comment: 16 page
Measuring underreporting and under-ascertainment in infectious disease datasets: a comparison of methods
Gibbons CL, Mangen M-JJ, Plaß D, et al. Measuring underreporting and under-ascertainment in infectious disease datasets: a comparison of methods. BMC Public Health. 2014;14(1): 147.Background: Efficient and reliable surveillance and notification systems are vital for monitoring public health and disease outbreaks. However, most surveillance and notification systems are affected by a degree of underestimation (UE) and therefore uncertainty surrounds the 'true' incidence of disease affecting morbidity and mortality rates. Surveillance systems fail to capture cases at two distinct levels of the surveillance pyramid: from the community since not all cases seek healthcare (under-ascertainment), and at the healthcare-level, representing a failure to adequately report symptomatic cases that have sought medical advice (underreporting). There are several methods to estimate the extent of under-ascertainment and underreporting. Methods: Within the context of the ECDC-funded Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE)-project, an extensive literature review was conducted to identify studies that estimate ascertainment or reporting rates for salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis in European Union Member States (MS) plus European Free Trade Area (EFTA) countries Iceland, Norway and Switzerland and four other OECD countries (USA, Canada, Australia and Japan). Multiplication factors (MFs), a measure of the magnitude of underestimation, were taken directly from the literature or derived (where the proportion of underestimated, under-ascertained, or underreported cases was known) and compared for the two pathogens. Results: MFs varied between and within diseases and countries, representing a need to carefully select the most appropriate MFs and methods for calculating them. The most appropriate MFs are often disease-,country-, age-, and sex-specific. Conclusions: When routine data are used to make decisions on resource allocation or to estimate epidemiological parameters in populations, it becomes important to understand when, where and to what extent these data represent the true picture of disease, and in some instances (such as priority setting) it is necessary to adjust for underestimation. MFs can be used to adjust notification and surveillance data to provide more realistic estimates of incidence
Were SARS-CoV-2 self-tests used for their intended purpose? The experience in Belgium.
BACKGROUND: Self-testing has been promoted as a means of increasing COVID-19 test coverage. In Belgium, self-testing was recommended as a complement to the formal, provider-administered indications, such as out of courtesy before meeting others and when feared to be infected. More than a year after the introduction of self-testing their place in the test strategy was evaluated.
METHODS: We assessed trends in the number of self-tests sold, the number of positive self-tests reported, the proportion sold self-tests/total tests, and the proportion of all positive tests that were confirmed self-tests. To evaluate the reason why people use self-tests, we used the results of two online surveys among members of the general population: one among 27,397 people, held in April 2021, and one among 22,354 people, held in December 2021.
RESULTS: The use of self-tests became substantial from end 2021 onwards. In the period mid-November 2021 — end-of-June 2022, the average proportion of reported sold self-tests to all COVID-19 tests was 37% and 14% of all positive tests were positive self-tests. In both surveys, the main reported reasons for using a self-test were having symptoms (34% of users in April 2021 and 31% in December 2021) and after a risk contact (27% in both April and December). Moreover, the number of self-tests sold, and the number of positive self-tests reported closely followed the same trend as the provider-administered tests in symptomatic people and high risk-contacts, which reinforces the hypothesis that they were mainly used for these two indications.
CONCLUSIONS: From end 2021 onwards, self-testing covered a significant part of COVID-19 testing in Belgium, which increased without doubt the testing coverage. However, the available data seem to indicate that self-testing was mostly used for indications outside of official recommendations. If and how this affected the control of the epidemic remains unknown.</p
Iodine dose of administered contrast media affects the level of radiation-induced DNA damage during cardiac CT scans
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to investigate the contributing effect of contrast media (CM) iodine dose on radiation-induced DNA damage in blood lymphocytes during a cardiac CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The minipigs were exposed 12 times in total to a fixed cardiac CT scan protocol. An unenhanced and two CM injection protocols were considered, the latter with 50% saline diluted (160 mg I/mL) and standard iodixanol. Blood samples were collected before and after CT, and radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks were assessed using γ-H2AX (H2A histone family member X) immunofluorescent staining of the blood lymphocytes. Significant differences in foci numbers were investigated with an independent sample t test. In addition, a numeric dosimetry model was applied that simulates the cardiac CT scan, with the heart represented by a blood volume containing a mixture of six iodine concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg I/mL). RESULTS. Compared with the unenhanced (0 mg I/mL) protocol, the number of γ-H2AX foci per cell increased significantly (p < 0.038), by 56.1% for the reduced iodine dose (160 mg I/mL) and by 141.1% for the standard iodine dose (320 mg I/mL) protocols. These in vivo results are confirmed by the dosimetry simulation model, in which 78.8% and 133.7% increases in locally absorbed blood dose in the left ventricle were observed for the reduced and standard iodine dose protocols, respectively. CONCLUSION. Administration of CM during a cardiac CT examination significantly increases radiation-induced DNA damage in blood lymphocytes. Moreover, a lower CM iodine dose results in a reduced level of DNA damage, at constant radiation exposure
By-product of the V1162 Ori multisite campaign: the new Scuti star GSC 4778 00324. Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Astronomie|Communications in Asteroseismology 141 Communications in Asteroseismology Volume 141|
ESCAIDE 2022 Oral presentation: International outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to a chocolate factory in 2022: Belgian findings
Background
Mid-February 2022, the United Kingdom reported via EpiPulse a cluster of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium infections. Epidemiological and traceback investigations revealed a multi-country outbreak linked to chocolate products from a Belgian factory of an international brand. Microbiological investigations indicated two clusters: HC5_296366 (cluster 1) and HC5_298160 (cluster 2). We assessed the extent of the outbreak in Belgium and took measures to limit further spread.
Methods
Probable and confirmed cases were identified using ECDC case definitions. Case-interviews focused on exposure to chocolate products of the concerned brand. Raw materials and finished food products collected at the factory were analysed for Salmonella spp. using real-time PCR. Whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis of isolates of probable cases and positive food samples is still ongoing.
Results
We identified 62 probable cases (39 cluster 1, 23 cluster 2), with illness onset from mid-January until April and a peak in cases mid-February 2022. Of these 62 cases, 54 were aged 1-9 years old. Among the 44 interviewed cases, 19 have been hospitalized and 41 reported consumption of products of the factory among whom 35 reported consumption of Kinder Surprise. Seven of 229 food products tested positive for Salmonella; WGS analysis indicated matches with both clusters. In December 2021, Salmonella was found in samples during a self-check in the factory, these isolates matched with the later identified clusters. Eleven types of products were recalled worldwide and food safety authorities shut down the factory 8 April 2022.
Conclusions
Epidemiological and microbiological investigations confirmed the link between Salmonella cases and products from a Belgian chocolate factory. A strong collaboration and information sharing between different stakeholders resulted in comprehensive measures to stop the spread of this international outbreak.</p