Strong coupling constants of bottom and charmed mesons with scalar, pseudoscalar and axial vector kaons

The strong coupling constants, $g_{D_{s}DK_0^*}$, $g_{B_{s}BK_0^*}$, $g_{D^{\ast}_{s}D K}$, $g_{B^{\ast}_{s}BK}$, $g_{D^{\ast}_{s}D K_1}$ and $g_{B^{\ast}_{s}BK_1}$, where $K_0^*$, $K$ and $K_1$ are scalar, pseudoscalar and axial vector kaon mesons, respectively are calculated in the framework of three-point QCD sum rules. In particular, the correlation functions of the considered vertices when both $B(D)$ and $K_0^*(K)(K_1)$ mesons are off-shell are evaluated. In the case of $K_1$, which is either $K_1(1270)$ or $K_1(1400)$, the mixing between these two states are also taken into account. A comparison of the obtained result with the existing prediction on $g_{D^{\ast}_{s}D K}$ as the only coupling constant among the considered vertices, previously calculated in the literature, is also made.Comment: 20 Pages, 3 Figures and 8 Table

Patterns of COVID-19-related headache: A cross-sectional study

Background: Headache is the most common COVID-19-related neurological symptom. We investigated the characteristics of COVID-19-related headache and their relationship with clinical severity in Kirs , ehir Province, Turkey. Methods: This cross-sectional study prospectively enrolled 226 COVID-19-positive patients who developed headache during acute infection. Demographic data, headache characteristics, and infection symptoms were recorded. The clinical severity of COVID-19 was documented in each participant. Result: New-onset COVID-19-related headaches lasting 4 days were reported in 164 patients (72.5 %); these were mostly bilaterally or localized to the forehead (58.4 %), pulsating (42.5 %), moderate to severe intensity (30.1 %), with a partial response to paracetamol (23.5 %). The other 62 patients (27.4 %) reported headaches before COVID-19. Their COVID-related headaches were fiery type (p = 0.025), of very severe intensity (p = 0.008), had a holocranial distribution (p = 0.004), and were less response to paracetamol (p = 0.003); the headaches were significantly more frequent after COVID-19 than before COVID-19. Older age, high body mass index, and low education level were significantly higher in the severe group (all p < 0.001). Female sex (p = 0.019) and being a healthcare worker (p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent in mild cases. Conclusions: Bilateral, prolonged, moderate to severe headaches that were analgesic resistant are more frequent in patients with COVID-19 infection. Further study should examine whether the headache characteristics distinguish COVID-19-related headaches from other types, particularly in asymptomatic subjects

Assessment of procedure related anxiety and depression in oncologic patients before F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging

Background: The aim of this study was to study objectively the level of anxiety and depression in patients undergoing positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT).One hundred and forty four oncologic out-patients (76 male, 68 female) were included in this study. Methods: All patients were referred to Nuclear Medicine Department for Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) PET-CT imaging for the assessment of their malignant or possibly malignant diseases. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory I and II were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression levels in these patients. Results: The mean anxiety and depression scores of The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale prior to F-18 FDG PET-CT were 9.2 ( ± 3.8) and 6.6 ( ± 3.4), respectively. The mean state and trait anxiety scores of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory I and II prior to F-18 FDG PET-CT were 40.4 (± 8.5) and 46.62 ± 7.8, respectively. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory I and II anxiety scores were found to be significantly higher in female patients, smokers and in patients with higher stage disease. Conclusion: Our results suggest that F-18 FDG PET-CT imaging may at least contribute to patient's baseline anxiety which is already generated by being an oncology patient, and thus nuclear medicine physicians should handle the patients with extra care to minimize this affect. © 2015, Umut Elboga, et al

Perception of ‘English’ and Motivation in Learning English

This study aims to present high school students’ perception of “English” through the impressions and images and the effect of these perceptions on their motivation in learning English. This qualitative study is based on the data about students’ metaphors and the focus group interview to determine their effect on the students’ motivation. The research group for metaphors consists of 128 high school students from four different grades. 79 metaphors were collected and grouped under 12 categories. In addition, two different focus group interviews are held with 7 students having negative and positive perspectives to determine the effect of these perceptions on students’ motivation in learning English. According to the analysis of the data from focus group interviews, students mostly perceive “English” as a target language to learn rather than a foreign language, spoken by a definite society or belonging to a culture. The results of metaphor study also indicate that the students regarding “English” positively tend to have a higher participation and motivation in comparison to the students having negative perceptions

Betti numbers for numerical semigroup rings

We survey results related to the magnitude of the Betti numbers of numerical semigroup rings and of their tangent cones.Comment: 22 pages; v2: updated references. To appear in Multigraded Algebra and Applications (V. Ene, E. Miller Eds.