Search

Isospin breaking in the K form factors induced by the difference between charged and neutral pion masses is studied. Starting from suitably subtracted dispersion representations, the form factors are constructed in an iterative way up to two loops in the low-energy expansion by implementing analyticity, crossing, and unitarity due to two-meson intermediate states. Analytical expressions for the phases of the two-loop form factors of the K→ π π e ν channel are given, allowing one to connect the difference of form-factor phase shifts measured experimentally (out of the isospin limit) and the difference of S- and P-wave ππ phase shifts studied theoretically (in the isospin limit). The isospin-breaking correction consists of the sum of a universal part, involving only ππ rescattering, and a process-dependent contribution, involving the form factors in the coupled channels. The dependence on the two S-wave scattering lengths $a_{0}^{0}$ and $a_{0}^{2}$ in the isospin limit is worked out in a general way, in contrast to previous analyses based on one-loop chiral perturbation theory. The latter is used only to assess the subtraction constants involved in the dispersive approach. The two-loop universal and process-dependent contributions are estimated and cancel partially to yield an isospin-breaking correction close to the one-loop case. The recent results on the phases of K→ π π e ν form factors obtained by the NA48/2 collaboration at the CERN SPS are reanalysed including this isospin-breaking correction to extract values for the scattering lengths $a_{0}^{0}$ and $a_{0}^{2}$, as well as for low-energy constants and order parameters of two-flavour χPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) accumulates on axonal varicosities and is primarily found as tetramers associated with a proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA). PRiMA is a small transmembrane protein that efficiently transforms secreted AChE to an enzyme anchored on the outer cell surface. Surprisingly, in the striatum of the PRiMA knock-out mouse, despite a normal level of AChEmRNA,we find only 2-3% of wild type AChE activity, with the residual AChE localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, demonstrating that PRiMA in vivo is necessary for intracellular processing of AChE in neurons. Moreover, deletion of the retention signal of the AChE catalytic subunit in mice, which is the domain of interaction with PRiMA, does not restore AChE activity in the striatum, establishing thatPRiMAis necessary to target and/or to stabilize nascent AChE in neurons. These unexpected findings open new avenues to modulating AChE activity and its distribution in CNS disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Theoretical as well as experimental progress has been made in the last decade in describing the properties of baryons. In this review I will mostly report on the theoretical issues. Two non-perturbative methods are privileged frameworks for studying their properties in the low-energy domain: chiral perturbation theory, the effective field theory of the Standard Model at energies below 1 GeV and lattice QCD. I will mainly concentrate here on the first one but I will also discuss the complementarity of the two methods. Chiral extrapolations for lattice simulations of some nucleon properties will be investigated. I will then concentrate on processes involving at most two nucleons, describing for example pion–nucleon and pion–deuteron scattering, pion photo- and electro-production off the nucleon and the deuteron and doubly virtual Compton scattering. Three flavor calculations will also be reviewed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Clean tests of a small admixture of right-handed quark currents directly coupled to the standard W are still lacking. We show that such non-standard couplings can be significantly constrained measuring the value of the scalar Kπ form factor at the Callan–Treiman point to a few percent. A realistic prospect of such a measurement in decay based on an accurate dispersive representation of the scalar form factor is presented. The inadequacy of the currently used linear parametrization is explained and illustrated using recent KTeV data. We briefly comment on the charged kaon mode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We calculate the nucleon and the delta mass to fourth order in a covariant formulation of the small scale expansion. We analyze lattice data from the MILC Collaboration and demonstrate that the available lattice data combined with our knowledge of the physical values for the nucleon and delta masses lead to consistent chiral extrapolation functions for both observables up to fairly large pion masses. This holds in particular for very recent data on the delta mass from the QCDSF Collaboration. The resulting pion–nucleon sigma term is . This first quantitative analysis of the quark-mass dependence of the structure of the in full QCD within chiral effective field theory suggests that (the real part of) the nucleon–delta mass-splitting in the chiral limit, , is slightly larger than at the physical point. Further analysis of simultaneous fits to nucleon and delta lattice data are needed for a precision determination of the properties of the first excited state of the nucleon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We consider radiative β -decay of the neutron in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. Nucleon-structure effects not encoded in the weak coupling constants gA and gV are determined at next-to-leading order in the chiral expansion, and enter at the α(0.5 %)-level, making a sensitive test of the Dirac structure of the weak currents possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider radiative β-decay of the neutron in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory, with an extension including explicit Δ degrees of freedom. We compute the photon energy spectrum as well as the photon polarization; both observables are dominated by the electron bremsstrahlung contribution. Nucleon-structure effects not encoded in the weak coupling constants gA and gV are determined at next-to-leading order in the chiral expansion, and enter at the O(0.5%)-level, making a sensitive test of the Dirac structure of the weak currents possible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Maitotoxin, a potent marine toxin extracted from peredinians, was found to mimic fertilization in Xenopus oocytes and to trigger the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2, the precursor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate], an increase of intracellular pCa and the cortical reaction, including the exocytosis of cortical granules and a wave-like propagation of contraction in the animal hemisphere. All these effects of maitotoxin required the presence of external calcium. Moreover, the toxin considerably increased 24 influx in amphibian oocytes arrested at first meiotic prophase, due to the permanent activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Nevertheless it is doubtful that maitotoxin acts primarily as a Ca2+ ionophore or at the level of Ca2+ channels. Indeed no stimulation of Ca2+ uptake was observed in metaphase-II-arrested oocytes, although maitotoxin readily triggered the breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 as well as the cortical reaction in such cells. On the other hand, PtdIns(4,5)P2 breakdown was not reduced in oocytes rnicroinjected with EGTA, although the calcium chelator prevented the oocytes from undergoing the cortical reaction. Taken together, these findings support the view that the toxin might act primarily by increasing PtdIns(4,5)P2 phosphodiesterase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]