The decay b -> s g at NLL in the Standard Model

I present the Standard Model calculation of the decay rate for b -> s g (g denotes a gluon) at next-to-leading logarithms (NLL). In order to get a meaningful physical result, the decay b -> s g g and certain contributions of b -> s \bar{f} f (where f are the light quark flavours u, d and s) have to be included as well. Numerically we get BR^(NLL) = (5.0 +/- 1.0) * 10^{-3} which is more than a factor 2 larger than the leading logarithmic result BR^(LL) = (2.2 +/- 0.8) * 10^{-3}. Further, I consider the impact of this contribution on the charmless hadronic branching ratio BRc, which could be used to extract the CKM-ratio |V_(ub)/V_(cb)| with more accuracy. Finally, I have a short look at BRc in scenarios where the Wilson coefficient C_8 is enhanced by new physics.Comment: 7 pages including 5 postscript figures; uses epsfi

The rare decay b--> s gluon beyond leading logarithms

We calculate the alpha_s virtual corrections to the decay width for b --> s gluon in the standard model. Also the corresponding order alpha_s bremsstrahlung corrections are systematically calculated in this paper. The combined result is free of infrared and collinear singularities, in accordance with the KLN theorem. Taking into account the existing next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) result for the Wilson coefficient C_8^(eff), a complete NLL result for the branching ratio B(b -> s gluon) is derived. Numerically, we obtain B^(NLL)=(5.0 +/- 1.0) * 10^{-3}, which is more than a factor of two larger than the leading logarithmic result B^(LL)=(2.2 +/- 0.8) * 10^{-3}.Comment: 14 pages including 5 postscript figures; uses epsfi

Electrolyte Additive Chemistry and Feature Size-Dependent Impurity Incorporation for Cu Interconnects

Abstract not Available.</jats:p

Electrolyte Additive Chemistry and Feature Size-Dependent Impurity Incorporation for Cu Interconnects

The role of electrolyte additive chemistry in the incorporation of non-metallic impurities (such as C, S, and Cl) in electrodeposited Cu and its subsequent recrystallization behavior was characterized for both blanket electrodeposited Cu films and Cu plated into Damascene features. Chemistries yielding both pure and "doped" Cu were considered. For wide features (~ &gt;1 μm), impurity levels correspond well with blanket Cu film observations, while for narrow features (~50 nm), impurity levels were elevated within the features, regardless of chemistry type. Recrystallization within Damascene features was observed to be relatively insensitive to the electrodeposited Cu purity and instead more dependent on feature size.</jats:p

Polycentric Transformation in Kenyan Water Governance: A Dynamic Analysis of Institutional and Social-Ecological Change

Beginning in 2002, Kenyan water governance transitioned from a monocentric, top-down system to one exhibiting traits of polycentricity. In this paper, we investigate the changes made to water policy following the 2002 reform, outcomes produced in a collection of community- and catchment-level user groups in the Mount Kenya region, and the conformance of these changes and outcomes with principles of polycentricity. A new framework is used to capture the complex institutional arrangements and interactions existing before and after the polycentric transformation. Unlike many previous polycentricity studies, the present research focuses primarily on the outcomes of the polycentric shift and determines if these correspond to predictions from polycentricity theory. We utilize survey data collected in 2013 from water managers, as well as archival research to interrogate congruence with principles of polycentricity. This study contributes to the broader discussion on polycentricity in two fundamental ways: (i) It documents the functioning of a water management system following a top-down imposed polycentric reform, and (ii) It empirically inspects whether these polycentric reforms have produced benefits predicted by polycentricity theorists, such as experimentation by local water users, increased collective action, and improved coordination between levels of management

Total hip replacement in patients with history of illicit injecting drug use

BACKGROUND: A history of illicit injecting drug use makes indication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with end stage hip osteoarthritis difficult, as the risk of infection with colonized strains is multiplied if the patient continues to inject or inhale illicit drugs. METHODS: A retrospective survivorship analysis of a consecutive series of 27 THA in patients with a history of illicit drug use was performed. Follow-up evaluation consisted of (1) a WOMAC score, (2) a standardized interview including queries on drug habits and eventual additional medico-surgical treatments of the affected hip, (3) a clinical examination in order to complete a Harris Hip Score, (4) radiological examination and (5) blood tests (blood sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein). Defined endpoints were death, implant revised or awaiting revision for deep infection or any other reason and lost to follow-up or follow-up after at least 2 years. RESULTS: Overall, 5- and 10-year implant survival rates with failure for any reason were 61 % (CI: 41;81) and 52.3 % (CI: 29;76) and for septic reasons 70.6 % (CI: 52;89) and 60.5 % (CI: 36;85), respectively. Even if at the time of THA all patients and respective health care professionals confirmed abstinence of illicit injecting drug use, five patients reported occasional use. Declared abstinence of less than 1 year before THA was associated with higher recurrence rates (p = 0.001) and both with higher septic failure rates (p = 0.023, p = 0.061). Positive serology for human deficiency virus did not increase implant failure rates. CONCLUSION: We use this unacceptable high failure rate as evidence when counseling patients and their health care professionals about the appropriate treatment of osteoarthritis in patients with a history of illicit drug use. Furthermore, we support the request of hair analysis for drugs documenting abstinence of at least 1 year before indicating THA

Triacylglycerol storage in lipid droplets in procyclic Trypanosoma brucei

Carbon storage is likely to enable adaptation of trypanosomes to nutritional challenges or bottlenecks during their stage development and migration in the tsetse. Lipid droplets are candidates for this function. This report shows that feeding of T. brucei with oleate results in a 4-5 fold increase in the number of lipid droplets, as quantified by confocal fluorescence microscopy and by flow cytometry of BODIPY 493/503-stained cells. The triacylglycerol (TAG) content also increased 4-5 fold, and labeled oleate is incorporated into TAG. Fatty acid carbon can thus be stored as TAG in lipid droplets under physiological growth conditions in procyclic T. brucei. beta-oxidation has been suggested as a possible catabolic pathway for lipids in T. brucei. A single candidate gene, TFE alpha 1 with coding capacity for a subunit of the trifunctional enzyme complex was identified. TFE alpha 1 is expressed in procyclic T. brucei and present in glycosomal proteomes, Unexpectedly, a TFE alpha 1 gene knock-out mutant still expressed wild-type levels of previously reported NADP-dependent 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity, and therefore, another gene encodes this enzymatic activity. Homozygous Delta tfe alpha 1/Delta tfe alpha 1 null mutant cells show a normal growth rate and an unchanged glycosomal proteome in procyclic T. brucei. The decay kinetics of accumulated lipid droplets upon oleate withdrawal can be fully accounted for by the dilution effect of cell division in wild-type and Delta tfe alpha 1/Delta tfe alpha 1 cells. The absence of net catabolism of stored TAG in procyclic T. brucei, even under strictly glucose-free conditions, does not formally exclude a flux through TAG, in which biosynthesis equals catabolism. Also, the possibility remains that TAG catabolism is completely repressed by other carbon sources in culture media or developmentally activated in post-procyclic stages in the tsetse