Pion structure in the instanton liquid model

The covariant quark model of the pion based on the effective nonlocal quark-hadron Lagrangian involving nonlocality induced by instanton fluctuations of the QCD vacuum is reviewed. Explicit gauge invariant formalism allows us to construct the conserved vector and axial currents and to demonstrate their consistency with the Ward-Takahashi identities and low-energy theorems. The spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry results in the dynamic quark mass and the vertex of the quark-pion interaction, both momentum-dependent. The parameters of the instanton vacuum, the average size of the instantons, and the effective quark mass are expressed in terms of the vacuum expectation values of the lowest dimension quark-gluon operators and low-energy pion observables. The transition pion form factor for the processes gamma*gamma --> pi (0) and gamma*gamma* --> pi (0) is analyzed in detail. The kinematic dependence of the transition form factor at high momentum transfers allows one to determine the relationship between the light-cone amplitude of the quark distribution in the pion and the quark-pion vertex function. Its dynamic dependence implies that the transition form factor gamma*gamma --> pi (0) at high momentum transfers is acutely sensitive to the size of the nonlocality of nonperturbative fluctuations in the QCD vacuum. In the leading twist, the distribution amplitude and the distribution function of the valence quarks in the pion are calculated at a low normalization point of the order of the inverse average instanton size rho (-1)(c). The QCD results are evolved to higher momentum transfers and are in reasonable agreement with available experimental data on the pion structure.

Measurement of the differential cross section for the production of an isolated photon with associated jet in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Mass and width of a composite Higgs boson

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

C programs for solving the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation in a fully anisotropic trap

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Measurement of differential Z/gamma* plus jet plus X cross sections in p(p)over-bar collisions at root S=1.96 TeV

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Measurements of differential cross sections of Z/gamma* plus jets plus X events in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Light composite Higgs boson from the normalized Bethe-Salpeter equation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Errância e normalização social: um estudo sobre andarilhos de estrada

O nomadismo contemporâneo associado à migração, pobreza, desemprego e desfiliação social é uma característica marcante de nosso tempo e se expressa com maior radicalidade no fenômeno da errância, compreendida por uma perambulação a pé do indivíduo pelas rodovias, sem rumo certo e destino definido. O presente artigo tem por objetivo analisar a relação entre a errância e a normalização social, tendo como foco de análise o caso dos andarilhos de estrada.

Uranium levels in the diet of São Paulo City residents

Natural levels of uranium in the diet of São Paulo City residents were studied, and radionuclide concentrations were measured by the fission track method on samples of typical adult food items. This information was used to evaluate the daily intake of uranium in individuals living in São Paulo City which is, according to our findings, around 0.97 mu g U/day. Using the ICRP Uranium-model, we estimated the uranium accumulation and committed doses in some tissues and organs, as function of time. We compared the output of the ICRP uranium biokinetic model, tailored for the conditions prevailing in São Paulo, with experimental data from other localities. Such comparison was possible by means of a simple method we developed, which allows normalization among experimental results from different regions where distinct values of chronic daily intake are observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High volume peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure

Background. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is still widely used for acute renal failure (ARF) in developing countries despite concerns about its inadequacy. Continuous PD has been evaluated in ARF by analyzing the resolution of metabolic abnormality and normalization of plasma pH, bicarbonate, and potassium.Methodology: A prospective study was performed on 30 ARF patients who were assigned to high-dose continuous PD (Kt/V = 0.65 per session) via a flexible catheter (Tenckhoff) and automated PD with a cycler. Fluid removal, pH and metabolic control, protein Loss, and patient outcome were evaluated.Results: Patients received 236 continuous PD sessions; 76% were admitted to ICUs. APACHE II score was 32.2 +/- 8.65. BUN concentrations stabilized after 3 sessions, creatinine after 4, and bicarbonate and pH after 2. Fluid removal was 2.1 +/- 0.62 L/day. Creatinine and urea clearances were 15.8 +/- 4.16 and 17.3 +/- 5.01 mL/minute respectively. Normalized creatinine clearance and urea Kt/V values were 110.6 +/- 22.5 L/week/1.73 m(2) body surface area and 3.8 +/- 0.6 respectively. Solute reduction index was 41% +/- 6.5% per session. Serum albumin values remained stable in spite of considerable protein tosses (median 21.7 g/day, interquartile range 9.1 - 29.8 g/day). Regarding ARF outcome, 23% of patients presented renal function recovery, 13% remained on dialysis after 30 days of follow-up, and 57% died.Conclusion: High-dose continuous PD by flexible catheter and cycler was an effective treatment for ARF. It provided high solute removal, allowing appropriate metabolic and pH control, and adequate dialysis dose and fluid removal. Continuous PD can therefore be considered an alternative to other forms of renal replacement therapy in ARF.

Myxedema ascites with elevated serum CA 125 concentration

We report a case of myxedema ascites and markedly elevated serum CA 125 concentration. The cause of ascites and elevated tumor markers in hypothyroidism remains unknown. Diagnosis was characterized by no evidence of malignancy seen by transvaginal ultrasonography or abdominal computed tomography and ascites resolution with serum CA 125 normalization after adequate hormonal treatment. Our data suggest that hypothyroidism should be considered in patients with ascites and elevated serum CA 125.

MODEL FOR ASYMPTOTIC D-STATE PARAMETERS OF LIGHT-NUCLEI - APPLICATION TO HE-4

A simple method for calculating the asymptotic D-state observables for light nuclei is suggested. The method exploits the dominant clusters of the light nuclei. The method is applied to calculate the He-4 asymptotic D to S normalization ratio rho(alpha) and the closely related D-state parameter D2alpha. The study predicts a correlation between D2alpha and B(alpha), and between rho(alpha) and B(alpha), where B(alpha) is the binding energy of He-4. The present study yields rho(alpha) congruent-to -0.14 and D2alpha congruent-to -0.12 fm2 consistent with the correct experimental eta(d) and the binding energies of the deuteron, triton, and the alpha particle, where eta(d) is the deuteron D-state to S-state normalization ratio.

Stability analysis of the attitude of artificial satellites subject to gravity gradient torque

Using a canonical formulation, the stability of the rotational motion of artificial satellites is analyzed considering perturbations due to the gravity gradient torque. Here Andoyer's variables are used to describe the rotational motion. One of the approaches that allow the analysis of the stability of Hamiltonian systems needs the reduction of the Hamiltonian to a normal form. Firstly equilibrium points are found. Using generalized coordinates, the Hamiltonian is expanded in the neighborhood of the linearly stable equilibrium points. In a next step a canonical linear transformation is used to diagonalize the matrix associated to the linear part of the system. The quadratic part of the Hamiltonian is normalized. Based in a Lie-Hori algorithm a semi-analytic process for normalization is applied and the Hamiltonian is normalized up to the fourth order. Once the Hamiltonian is normalized up to order four, the analysis of stability of the equilibrium point is performed using the theorem of Kovalev and Savichenko. This semi-analytical approach was applied considering some data sets of hypothetical satellites. For the considered satellites it was observed few cases of stable motion. This work contributes for space missions where the maintenance of spacecraft attitude stability is required.

Design and ergonomics of package inserts of drugs in Brazil: a reality in construction

This research deals with the design of leaflets of medicines, evidencing the problems resulting from the lack of Brazilian normalization to promote the use of the graphical representation of instructional texts warnings. It approaches studies related to the effectiveness and efficiency of information systems, highlighting the semiotics and the cultural and informational ergonomics. The analysis of the context uses as method, an analytical study on selected warnings of thirty leaflets of medicines, followed by interviews lead with the public managers involved with the regulation of the pharmaceutical companies, and two experiments with users performed in city of Recife, in State of Pernambuco: one aiming at to identify how they interact with the leaflets of medicines, and the second one testing their understanding concerning standardized illustrations in the United States and the South Africa. The results show the need for improvements in presentation and graphic representation of leaflets of medicines, powering them to the role of communication, to ensure the consumption of medicine safely by its users. The conclusion congregates parameters and recommendations for the graphic representation of warnings in leaflets of medicines in Brazil.

Características clínicas e implicações prognósticas do acometimento renal no mieloma múltiplo.

The renal involvement in patients with multiple myeloma has been described as a sign of poor prognosis. The influence of renal insufficiency in the clinical patterns and in the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma was studied retrospectively in 45 patients. Patients with renal insufficiency, at first visit, more often presented weight loss, proteinuria, hypercalcemia. The means of uricemia, ESR, were higher and the hematocritic mean was lower in patients with renal insufficiency. There was no difference in edema, arterial hypertension, fractures and bone pain. The reversibility of renal insufficiency occurred in 47% of the cases, which happened more often in the first months of the follow up. The creatinine mean was lower in patients with reversible renal insufficiency. The median survival was: patients with renal insufficiency: 11 months; patients with normal renal function: 50 months. Among patients with renal insufficiency those with recuperation of renal function showed a higher median survival (24 months) than those with irreversible renal insufficiency (1 month). The renal involvement then is frequent and often reversible. Patients with impaired renal function showed a worse prognosis; normalization of the renal function was associated with a better outcome.