138 research outputs found
A High Precision Study of the QQ(bar) Potential from Wilson Loops in the Regime of String Breaking
For lattice QCD with two sea quark flavours we compute the static quark
antiquark potential V(R) in the regime where string breaking is expected. In
order to increase statistics, we make full use of the lattice information by
including all lattice vectors R to any possible lattice separation in the
infrared regime. The corresponding paths between the lattice points are
constructed by means of a generalized Bresenham algorithm as known from
computer graphics. As a results we achieve a determination of the unquenched
potential in the range .8 to 1.5 fm with hitherto unknown precision.
Furthermore, we demonstrate some error reducing methods for the evaluation of
the transition matrix element between two- and four-quark states.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
Monopole clusters, center vortices, and confinement in a Z(2) gauge-Higgs system
We propose to use the different kinds of vacua of the gauge theories coupled
to matter as a laboratory to test confinement ideas of pure Yang-Mills
theories. In particular, the very poor overlap of the Wilson loop with the
broken string states supports the 't Hooft and Mandelstam confinement criteria.
However in the Z(2) gauge-Higgs model we use as a guide we find that the
condensation of monopoles and center vortices is a necessary, but not
sufficient condition for confinement.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, version to be published on Phys.
Rev.
Zero temperature string breaking in lattice quantum chromodynamics
The separation of a heavy quark and antiquark pair leads to the formation of
a tube of flux, or "string", which should break in the presence of light
quark-antiquark pairs. This expected zero-temperature phenomenon has proven
elusive in simulations of lattice QCD. We study mixing between the string state
and the two-meson decay channel in QCD with two flavors of dynamical sea
quarks. We confirm that mixing is weak and find that it decreases at level
crossing. While our study does not show direct effects of internal quark loops,
our results, combined with unitarity, give clear confirmation of string
breaking.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures. With small clarifications and two additions to
references. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Heavy Meson Description with a Screened Potential
We perform a quark model calculation of the and spectra
from a screened funnel potential form suggested by unquenched lattice
calculations. A connection between the lattice screening parameter and an
effective gluon mass directly derived from QCD is established. Spin-spin energy
splittings, leptonic widths and radiative decays are also examined providing a
test for the description of the states.Comment: 17 pages, no figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Adjoint "quarks" on coarse anisotropic lattices: Implications for string breaking in full QCD
A detailed study is made of four dimensional SU(2) gauge theory with static
adjoint ``quarks'' in the context of string breaking. A tadpole-improved action
is used to do simulations on lattices with coarse spatial spacings ,
allowing the static potential to be probed at large separations at a
dramatically reduced computational cost. Highly anisotropic lattices are used,
with fine temporal spacings , in order to assess the behavior of the
time-dependent effective potentials. The lattice spacings are determined from
the potentials for quarks in the fundamental representation. Simulations of the
Wilson loop in the adjoint representation are done, and the energies of
magnetic and electric ``gluelumps'' (adjoint quark-gluon bound states) are
calculated, which set the energy scale for string breaking. Correlators of
gauge-fixed static quark propagators, without a connecting string of spatial
links, are analyzed. Correlation functions of gluelump pairs are also
considered; similar correlators have recently been proposed for observing
string breaking in full QCD and other models. A thorough discussion of the
relevance of Wilson loops over other operators for studies of string breaking
is presented, using the simulation results presented here to support a number
of new arguments.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figure
Matter degrees of freedom and string breaking in Abelian projected quenched SU(2) QCD
In the Abelian projection the Yang--Mills theory contains Abelian gauge
fields (diagonal degrees of freedom) and the Abelian matter fields
(off-diagonal degrees) described by a complicated action. The matter fields are
essential for the breaking of the adjoint string. We obtain numerically the
effective action of the Abelian gauge and the Abelian matter fields in quenched
SU(2) QCD and show that the Abelian matter fields provide an essential
contribution to the total action even in the infrared region. We also observe
the breaking of an Abelian analog of the adjoint string using Abelian
operators. We show that the adjoint string tension is dominated by the Abelian
and the monopole contributions similarly to the case of the fundamental
particles. We conclude that the adjoint string breaking can successfully be
described in the Abelian projection formalism.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 2 table
Design of whey protein nanostructures for incorporation and release of nutraceutical compounds in food
Whey proteins are widely used as nutritional and functional ingredients in formulated foods because they are relative inexpensive, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) ingredient and possess important biological, physical and chemical functionalities. Denaturation and aggregation behavior of these proteins is of particular relevance toward manufacture of novel nanostructures with a number of potential uses. When these processes are properly engineered and controlled, whey proteins may be formed into nanohydrogels, nanofibrils or nanotubes and be used as carrier of bioactive compounds. This review intends to discuss the latest understandings of nanoscale phenomena of whey protein denaturation and aggregation that may contribute for the design of protein nanostructures. Whey protein aggregation and gelation pathways under different processing and environmental conditions such as microwave heating, high voltage and moderate electrical fields, high pressure, temperature, pH and ionic strength were critically assessed. Moreover, several potential applications of nanohydrogels, nanofibrils and nanotubes for controlled release of nutraceutical compounds (e.g. probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants and peptides) were also included. Controlling the size of protein networks at nanoscale through application of different processing and environmental conditions can open perspectives for development of nanostructures with new or improved functionalities for incorporation and release of nutraceuticals in food matrices.Oscar L. Ramos, Ricardo N. Pereira and Clara Fuci~nos gratefully acknowledge their Post-Doctoral grants (SFRH/BPD/80766/2011, SFRH/BPD/ 81887/2011, and SFRH/BPD/87910/2012, respectively) to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). All authors thank the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and the Project “BioEnv— Biotechnology and Bioengineering for a sustainable world”, REF. NORTE07-0124-FEDER-000048, co-funded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2–O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER
Liquid Crystalline Phase Behavior of Protein Fibers in Water: Experiments versus Theory
The Term Structure of Interest Rates and its Impact on the Liability Adequacy Test for Insurance Companies in Brazil
Impaction bone grafting of the acetabulum at hip revision using a mix of bone chips and a biphasic porous ceramic bone graft substitute: Good outcome in 43 patients followed for a mean of 2 years
Background and purpose One of the greatest problems of revision hip arthroplasty is dealing with lost bone stock. Good results have been obtained with impaction grafting of allograft bone. However, there have been problems of infection, reproducibility, antigenicity, stability, availability of bone, and cost. Thus, alternatives to allograft have been sought. BoneSave is a biphasic porous ceramic specifically designed for use in impaction grafting. BoneSave is 80% tricalcium phosphate and 20% hydroxyapatite. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have yielded good results using mixtures of allograft and BoneSave, when compared with allograft alone. This study is the first reported human clinical trial of BoneSave in impaction grafting
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