First Lattice Calculation of the QED Corrections to Leptonic Decay Rates.

The leading-order electromagnetic and strong isospin-breaking corrections to the ratio of K_{µ2} and π_{µ2} decay rates are evaluated for the first time on the lattice, following a method recently proposed. The lattice results are obtained using the gauge ensembles produced by the European Twisted Mass Collaboration with N_{f}=2+1+1 dynamical quarks. Systematic effects are evaluated and the impact of the quenched QED approximation is estimated. Our result for the correction to the tree-level K_{µ2}/π_{µ2} decay ratio is -1.22(16)%, to be compared to the estimate of -1.12(21)% based on chiral perturbation theory and adopted by the Particle Data Group.

Seminal vesicle fluid increases the efficacy of intravaginal HSV-2 vaccination.

Once considered merely as a vehicle for spermatozoa, it is now clear that seminal plasma (SP) induces a variety of biological actions on the female reproductive tissues able to modulate the immune response against paternal antigens. To our knowledge, the influence of SP on the immune response against sexually transmitted pathogens has not been yet evaluated. We here analyzed whether the seminal vesicle fluid (SVF), which contributes almost 60% of the SP volume in mice, could modulate the immune response against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). We found that SVF does not modify the course of primary infection, but markedly improved protection conferred by vaginal vaccination with inactivated HSV-2 against a lethal challenge. This protective effect was shown to be associated to a robust memory immune response mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in both the lymph nodes draining the vagina and the vaginal mucosa, the site of viral replication. In contrast with the widespread notion that SP acts as an immunosuppressive agent, our results suggest that SVF might improve the female immune response against sexually transmitted pathogens.

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics: Flavour Lattice Averaging Group (FLAG).

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D- and B-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in the semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio [Formula: see text] and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. The latter quantities are an addition compared to the previous review. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (also new compared to the previous review), as well as those for D- and B-meson-decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. Finally, we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics.

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio [Formula: see text] of decay constants and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory and review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing. The inclusion of heavy-quark quantities significantly expands the FLAG scope with respect to the previous review. Therefore, we focus here on [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters, since these are most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. In addition we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Cardiac adrenergic innervation within the first 3 months after acute myocardial infarction.

It is widely accepted that myocardial infarction results in adrenergic denervation of the infarcted and peri-infarcted myocardium. On the contrary, the concept of re-innervation of adrenergic nerve fibres is less well established. Although there is evidence of partial re-innervation occuring several months after myocardial infarction, the extent and time scale of re-innervation are only poorly known. In this study we investigated changes in cardiac adrenergic innervation and myocardial perfusion during the early convalescence period (the first 3 months) after an acute myocardial infarction. Single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging was conducted in 15 men 1 week and 3 months after an acute myocardial infarction with I123-metaiodobentzylguanidine (MIBG) and Tc99m-sestamibi (MIBI) to determine the extent of adrenergic denervation and impaired perfusion, respectively. A MIBG and MIBI defect was determined as regional uptake

Cardiac adrenergic denervation in patients with non-Q-wave versus Q-wave myocardial infarction.

In spite of smaller infarct size and better preserved left ventricular function the long-term prognosis after a non-Q-wave infarction is not better than after a Q-wave infarction. In fact, the risk of sudden cardiac death is higher in patients with a non-Q-wave infarction than in patients with a Q-wave infarction. One possible reason for postinfarction arrhythmias is cardiac adrenergic denervation resulting from myocardial infarction. In this study we compared cardiac adrenergic innervation after non-Q-wave and Q-wave infarctions. Single-photon emission tomography using iodine-123 metaiodobentzylguanidine (MIBG) and technetium-99m sestamibi (MIBI) tracers were conducted in order to compare cardiac adrenergic denervation and myocardial perfusion in 12 patients with a non-Q-wave infarction and 15 patients with a Q-wave infarction. MIBG and MIBI defects were determined as regional uptake < or = 30% of maximal myocardial activity. The size of MIBI defects calculated as a percentage of left ventricular mass was significantly smaller in patients with a non-Q-wave infarction than in patients with a Q-wave infarction (4%+/-3% vs 9%+/-7%, P<0.05, respectively). According to the maximal serum creatine kinase activity, less myocardium was damaged in patients with a non-Q-wave infarction than in patients with a Q-wave infarction (502+/-436 IU/l vs 1878+/-1265 IU/l, P<0.001). In spite of this, the extent of MIBG defects was similar in patients with a non-Q-wave and patients with a Q-wave infarction (21%+/-18% vs 23%+/-12%, respectively). In addition, the size of MIBG defect correlated with the infarct size (maximal creatine kinase activity) (r=0.52, P<0.05) after a Q-wave infarction but not after a non-Q-wave infarction. In conclusion, despite a smaller infarct size in non-Q-wave infarct patients, the extent of cardiac adrenergic denervation was similar in patients with a non-Q-wave and patients with a Q-wave infarction. In addition, the extent of cardiac adrenergic denervation was related to the infarct size in patients with a Q-wave infarction but not in patients with a non-Q-wave infarction.

Analogue and digital electrocardiogram recordings in the assessment of heart rate variability.

We compared analogue and digital 24-h electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings in the assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) in 41 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. The patients underwent ambulatory ECG recordings simultaneously with analogue (A) (Marquette 8500) and digital (D) (Oxford Medilog FD-3) recorders. Digital ECG recordings were analysed with the Excel Medilog II system (DE) and analogue recordings were analysed with both Marquette (AM) and Excel Medilog II (AE) systems. SDNN, SDANN, rMSSD and pNN50 were calculated for the assessment of time domain measures of HRV, and powers of low (0.04-0.15 Hz) and high (0.15-0.40 Hz) spectral components of HRV for the assessment of frequency domain measures of HRV. Correlations between time domain measures of HRV derived from AM, AE and DE recording and analysis techniques were high (r = 0.803-0.999, P < 0.001). SDANN and pNN50 assessed with AM and DE were equal, whereas SDNN and rMSSD values differed slightly but significantly from each other (P < 0.01 for both). All time domain measures of HRV assessed with AE differed significantly from AM (P < 0.001) and from DE (P < 0.01). Correlations between frequency domain measures of HRV derived from AM, AE and DE were also high (r = 0.973-0.992, P < 0.001). Despite this, frequency domain measures of HRV assessed with AM, AE and DE differed significantly from each other (P < 0.001). In conclusion, when analysed with their own analysis systems, analogue and digital recordings provided almost identical time domain, but not frequency domain, measures of HRV. In addition, analysis of an ECG recording with an analysis system of different manufacturer should be avoided.

Radioactivity connected with coal burning.

The enhanced environmental radioactivity resulting from the operation of a 72 MWe brown coal-fired power plant in central Italy is considered. A source-related control procedure is suggested. The calculated values for the atmospheric dispersion of radioactive effluents and the results of some measurements on brown coals, ash, environmental samples and gamma-exposure levels performed at representative points are reported.