The DπD\pi form factors from analyticity and unitarity

We study the shape parameters of the $D\pi$ scalar and vector form factors using as input dispersion relations and unitarity for the moments of suitable heavy-light correlators evaluated with Operator Product Expansions, including $O(\alpha_s^2)$ terms in perturbative QCD. For the scalar form factor, a low energy theorem and phase information on the unitarity cut are implemented to further constrain the shape parameters. We finally determine points on the real axis and isolate regions in the complex energy plane where zeros of the form factors are excluded.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; Seminar given at DAE-BRNS Workshop on Hadron Physics Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India, October 31-November 4, 2011, submitted to Proceeding

Dalitz plot slope parameters for K→πππK \to \pi\pi\pi decays and two particle interference

We study the possible distortion of phase-space in the decays $K \to \pi \pi \pi$, which may result from final state interference among the decay products. Such distortion may influence the values of slope parameters extracted from the Dalitz plot distribution of these decays. We comment on the consequences on the magnitude of violation of the $\mid \Delta I \mid = 1/2$ rule in these decays.Comment: 17 pages, LaTex2e, 6 figures, v2 authors' affiliation modified, to appear in Mod. Phys. Lett.

Stochastic Transition between Turbulent Branch and Thermodynamic Branch of an Inhomogeneous Plasma

Transition phenomena between thermodynamic branch and turbulent branch in submarginal turbulent plasma are analyzed with statistical theory. Time-development of turbulent fluctuation is obtained by numerical simulations of Langevin equation which contains submarginal characteristics. Probability density functions and transition rates between two states are analyzed. Transition from turbulent branch to thermodynamic branch occurs in almost entire region between subcritical bifurcation point and linear stability boundary.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Lorentz Multiplet Structure of Baryon Spectra and Relativistic Description

The pole positions of the various baryon resonances are known to reveal well-pronounced clustering, so-called Hoehler clusters. For nonstrange baryons the Hoehler clusters are shown to be identical to Lorentz multiplets of the type (j,j)*[(1/2,0)+(0,1/2)] with j being a half-integer. For the Lambda hyperons below 1800 MeV these clusters are shown to be of the type [(1,0)+ (0,1)]*[(1/2,0)+(0,1/2)] while above 1800 MeV they are parity duplicated (J,0)+(0,J) (Weinberg-Ahluwalia) states. Therefore, for Lambda hyperons the restoration of chiral symmetry takes place above 1800 MeV. Finally, it is demonstrated that the description of spin-3/2 particles in terms of a 2nd rank antisymmetric Lorentz tensor with Dirac spinor components does not contain any off-shell parameters and avoids the main difficulties of the Rarita-Schwinger description based upon a 4-vector with Dirac spinor components.Comment: 12 pages, LaTex, submitted to Mod. Phys. Lett.

Progress in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection in Ukraine: results from a birth cohort study

Background: Ukraine was the epicentre of the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe, which has the most rapidly accelerating HIV epidemic world-wide today; national HIV prevalence is currently estimated at 1.6%. Our objective was to evaluate the uptake and effectiveness of interventions for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) over an eight year period within operational settings in Ukraine, within the context of an ongoing birth cohort study.Methods: The European Collaborative Study (ECS) is an ongoing birth cohort study in which HIV-infected pregnant women identified before or during pregnancy or at delivery were enrolled and their infants prospectively followed. Three centres in Ukraine started enrolling in 2000, with a further three joining in September 2006.Results: Of the 3356 women enrolled, 21% (689) reported current or past injecting drug use (IDU). Most women were diagnosed antenatally and of those, the proportion diagnosed in the first/second trimester increased from 47% in 2000/01 (83/178) to 73% (776/1060) in 2006/07 (p < 0.001); intrapartum diagnosis was associated with IDU (Adjusted odds ratio 4.38; 95% CI 3.19-6.02). The percentage of women not receiving any antiretroviral prophylaxis declined from 18% (36/205) in 2001 to 7% in 2007 (61/843) p < 0.001). Use of sdNVP alone substantially declined after 2003, with a concomitant increase in zidovudine prophylaxis. Median antenatal zidovudine prophylaxis duration increased from 24 to 72 days between 2000 and 2007. Elective caesarean section (CS) rates were relatively stable over time and 34% overall. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rates decreased from 15.2% in 2001 (95% CI 10.2-21.4) to 7.0% in 2006 (95% CI 2.6-14.6). In adjusted analysis, MTCT risk was reduced by 43% with elective CS versus vaginal delivery and by 75% with zidovudine versus no prophylaxis.Conclusion: There have been substantial improvements in use of PMTCT interventions in Ukraine, including earlier diagnosis of HIV-infected pregnant women and increasing coverage with antiretroviral prophylaxis and the initial MTCT rate has more than halved. Future research should focus on hard-to-reach populations such as IDU and on missed opportunities for further reducing the MTCT rate