Inclusive Photoproduction of D* Mesons with Massive Charm Quarks

We have calculated the next-to-leading order cross sections for the inclusive production of D* mesons in gamma-p collisions at HERA in two approaches using massive or massless charm quarks. The usual massive theory for the direct cross section with charm quarks only in the final state was transformed into a massive theory with MS-bar subtraction by subtracting the mass divergent and additional finite terms calculated earlier in connection with the process gamma+gamma -> D*+X. This theory approaches the massless theory with increasing transverse momentum. The difference between the massive and the massless approach with MS-bar subtraction is studied in detail in those kinematic regions relevant for comparison with experimental data. With these results and including the resolved cross section which is dominated by the part originating from the charm in the photon, we compute the fully inclusive D* cross section and compare it with preliminary data from the ZEUS collaboration at HERA. We find on average good agreement.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, figures modified to include statistical and systematic experimental error

Little Higgs models and single top production at the LHC

We investigate the corrections of the littlest Higgs(LH) model and the SU(3) simple group model to single top production at the CERN Large Hardon Collider(LHC). We find that the new gauge bosons $W_{H}^{\pm}$ predicted by the LH model can generate significant contributions to single top production via the s-channel process. The correction terms for the tree-level $Wqq'$ couplings coming from the SU(3) simple group model can give large contributions to the cross sections of the t-channel single top production process. We expect that the effects of the LH model and the SU(3) simple group model on single top production can be detected at the LHC experiments.Comment: 17pages, 5 figures, discussions and references added, typos correcte

Rescattering effects in hadron-nucleus and heavy-ion collisions

We review the extension of the factorization formalism of perturbative QCD to {\it coherent} soft rescattering associated with hard scattering in high energy nuclear collisions. We emphasize the ability to quantify high order corrections and the predictive power of factorization approach in terms of universal nonperturbative matrix elements. Although coherent rescattering effects are power suppressed by hard scales of the scattering, they are enhanced by the nuclear size and could play an important role in understanding the novel nuclear dependence observed in high energy nuclear collisions.Comment: 8 pages, 13 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of 1st International Conference on Hard and Electromagnetic Probes of High Energy Nuclear Collisions (Hard Probe 2004), Ericeira, Portugal, Nov. 4-10, 200

Diffractive gamma-gamma production at hadron colliders

We compute the cross section for exclusive double-diffractive gamma-gamma production at the Tevatron, $p{\bar p} \to p + \gamma\gamma + {\bar p}$, and the LHC. We evaluate both the gluon-gluon and quark-antiquark t-channel exchange contributions to the process. The observation of exclusive gamma-gamma production at the Tevatron will provide a check on the model predictions, and offer an opportunity to confirm the expectations for exclusive double-diffractive Higgs production at the LHC.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

The statistical parton distributions: status and prospects

New experimental results on polarized structure functions, cross sections for $e^{\pm}p$ neutral and charge current reactions and $\nu$ ($\bar{\nu}$) charge current on isoscalar targets are compared with predictions using the statistical parton distributions, which were previously determined. New data on cross sections for Drell-Yan processes, single jet in $p\bar{p}$ collisions and inclusive $\pi^0$ production in $pp$ collisions are also compared with predictions from this theoretical approach. The good agreement which we find with all these tests against experiment, strenghtens our opinion on the relevance of the role of quantum statistics for parton distributions. We will also discuss the prospects of this physical framework.Comment: 34 pages, 23 figures, references and figures adde

ATLAS sensitivity to top quark and W boson polarization in ttˉt\bar{t} events

Stringent tests on top quark production and decay mechanisms are provided by the measurement of the top quark and W boson polarization. This paper presents a detailed study of these two measurements with the ATLAS detector, in the semileptonic (ttbar -> W W b bbar -> l nu j1 j2 b bbar) and dileptonic (ttbar -> W W b bbar -> l nu l nu b bbar) ttbar channels. It is based on leading-order Monte Carlo generators and on a fast simulation of the detector. A particular attention is paid to the systematic uncertainties, which dominate the statistical errors after one LHC year at low luminosity (10 fb^{-1}), and to the background estimate. Combining results from both channel studies, the longitudinal component of the W polarization (F\_0) can be measured with a 2% accuracy and the right-handed component (F\_R) with a 1% precision with 10 fb^{-1}. Even though the top quarks in ttbar pairs are not polarized, a large asymmetry is expected within the Standard Model in the like-spin versus unlike-spin pair production. A 4% precision on this asymmetry measurement is possible with 10 fb^{-1}, after combining results from both channel studies. These promising results are converted in a sensitivity to new physics, such as tWb anomalous couplings, top decay to charged Higgs boson, or new s-channels (heavy resonance, gravitons) in ttbar production.Comment: 41+2 pages, 20 figures, ATLAS scientific note SN-ATLAS-2005-05

Acute liver failure with renal impairment related to the abuse of senna anthraquinone glycosides

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of chronic ingestion of very large amounts of senna fruits as an herbal tea, possibly leading to severe hepatotoxicity. CASE SUMMARY: A 52-year-old woman who had ingested, for > 3 years, one liter of an herbal tea each day made from a bag containing 70 g of dry senna fruits, developed acute hepatic failure and renal impairment requiring intensive care therapy. The severity of the hepatic failure was reflected by the increase in prothrombin time (international normalized ratio > 7) and the development of encephalopathy. Liver transplantation was discussed, but the patient ultimately recovered with supportive therapy. Renal impairment was consistent with proximal tubular acidosis, also with marked polyuria refractory to vasopressin administration. Suprisingly, large amounts of cadmium were transiently recovered in the urine. DISCUSSION: Cassia acutifolia and angustifolia plants are widely used as laxatives. Their chronic abuse may be associated with serious manifestations, including fluid and electrolyte loss, with chronic diarrhea. Severe hepatotoxicity is unusual, but could be explained by the exposure of the liver to unusual amounts of toxic metabolites of anthraquinone glycosides (sennosides). An objective causality assessment suggests that hepatotoxicity was possibly related to senna laxative abuse. Regarding nephrotoxicity, there are no available human data on sennosides, while experimental models suggest that anthraquinone derivatives may also accumulate in the kidneys. The finding of high urinary concentrations of cadmium would suggest contamination of the herbal tea by metals, but this hypothesis could not be verified. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of large doses of senna laxatives may expose people to the risk of hepatotoxicity

Can the angular momentum of uu-quarks in the nucleon be accessed at HERMES?

We investigate the possibility to acquire information on the generalized parton distribution E and, through a model for E, also on the u-quark total angular momentum J_u by studying deeply virtual Compton scattering and hard exclusive rho0 electroproduction on a transversely polarized hydrogen target at HERMES. It is found that a change in J_u from zero to 0.4 corresponds to a 4\sigma (2\sigma) difference in the calculated transverse target-spin asymmetry in deeply virtual Compton scattering (rho0 electroproduction), where \sigma is the total experimental uncertainty.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure