Direct calculation of the probability of pionium ionization in the target

We performed the first direct calculation of the probability of pionium (pi+pi- atom) ionization in the target. The dependence of the probability of pionium ionization in the target as a function of the pionium lifetime is established. These calculations are of interest of the DIRAC experiment at CERN, which aims to measure the pionium lifetime with high precision.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures; submitted to "Physics of Atomic Nuclei" ("Yadernaya Fizika"

Perturbative framework for the pi(+)pi(-) atom

The perturbative framework is developed for the calculation of the pi(+)pi(-) atom characteristics on the basis of the field-theoretical Bethe-Salpeter approach. A closed expression for the first-order correction to the pi(+)pi(-) atom lifetime has been obtained.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX-fil

\pi\pi, K\pi and \pi N potential scattering and a prediction of a narrow \sigma meson resonance

Low energy scattering and bound state properties of the \pi N, \pi\pi and K\pi systems are studied as coupled channel problems using inversion potentials of phase shift data. In a first step we apply the potential model to explain recent measurements of pionic hydrogen shift and width. Secondly, predictions of the model for pionium lifetime and shift confirm a well known and widely used effective range expression. Thirdly, as extension of this confirmation, we predict an unexpected medium effect of the pionium lifetime which shortens by several orders of magnitude. The \sigma meson shows a narrow resonance structure as a function of the medium modified mass with the implication of being essentially energy independent. Similarly, we see this medium resonance effect realized for the K\pi system. To support our findings we present also results for the \rho meson and the \Delta(1232) resonance.Comment: 42 pages, 17 PS figures, REFTeX, epsfig.sty needed, submitted to Phys. Re

Energy and decay width of the pi-K atom

The energy and decay width of the pi-K atom are evaluated in the framework of the quasipotential-constraint theory approach. The main electromagnetic and isospin symmetry breaking corrections to the lowest-order formulas for the energy shift from the Coulomb binding energy and for the decay width are calculated. They are estimated to be of the order of a few per cent. We display formulas to extract the strong interaction S-wave pi-K scattering lengths from future experimental data concerning the pi-K atom.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures, uses Axodra

Patient Specific Medical Balloon Forming Machine And System

Patient specific medical balloons, assemblies, and systems for forming the same, and devices and methods for treating patients in need of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are disclosed. The assembly for forming the medical balloon comprises a form for receiving a parison where the form is configured to prepare a patient specific medical balloon matched in geometry to a blood vessel or a lesion for a patient in need of a PCI

Patient Specific Medical Balloon Forming Machine And System

Patient specific medical balloons, assemblies, and systems for forming the same, and devices and methods for treating patients in need of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are disclosed. The assembly for forming the medical balloon comprises a form for receiving a parison where the form is configured to prepare a patient specific medical balloon matched in geometry to a blood vessel or a lesion for a patient in need of a PCI

When Families, Organizational Culture, and Policy Collide: A Mixed Method Study of Alternative Response

Objective Alternative response (AR) is a family-centered, preventative approach for child protection systems. This study first examined what family and case factors predicted re-investigation and then explored which organizational factors influence caseworker and agency implementation of AR. Method Using administrative data from child protection reports, AR families (N = 9,959) and traditional response (TR) families (N = 13,974) were followed for 18 months to determine re-investigation rates using multilevel modeling where families were nested in county of residence. Four focus groups with 14 participants were conducted to discuss the quantitative findings, organizational culture, and implementation of AR. Results AR families had lower odds of re-investigation; males and younger children also had lower odds. Families with multiple children, prior investigations, receipt of Medicaid, and medium/high risk had higher odds of re-investigation. AR caseworkers provided insights regarding the intersection of family factors, organizational culture and support, and agency implementation of AR. Although participants supported AR, their ability to implement it was influenced by agency support and availability of resources to carry out the basic requirements of the policy. A clear distinction in responses emerged between those who held dual cases versus those holding only AR cases. Conclusion Although AR reduces the odds of re-investigation for low-risk families and was endorsed by caseworkers, AR policy in practice is complex and requires further evaluation, particularly from the perspective of AR caseworkers who faced implementation hurdles

Prevalence and Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Ostial Chronic Total Occlusions: Insights From a Multicenter Chronic Total Occlusion Registry

Ostial chronic total occlusions (CTOs) can be challenging to recanalize.We sought to examine the prevalence, angiographic presentation, and procedural outcomes of ostial (side-branch ostial and aorto-ostial) CTOs among 1000 CTO percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed in 971 patients between 2015 and 2017 at 14 centres in the US, Europe, and Russia.Ostial CTOs represented 16.9% of all CTO PCIs: 9.6% were aorto-ostial, and 7.3% were side-branch ostial occlusions. Compared with nonostial CTOs, ostial CTOs were longer (44 ± 33 vs 29 ± 19 mm, P < 0.001) and more likely to have proximal-cap ambiguity (55% vs 33%, P < 0.001), moderate/severe calcification (67% vs 45%, P < 0.001), a diffusely diseased distal vessel (41% vs 26%, P < 0.001), interventional collaterals (64% vs 53%, P = 0.012), and previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) (51% vs 27%, P < 0.001). The retrograde approach was used more often in ostial CTOs (54% vs 29%, P < 0.001) and was more often the final successful crossing strategy (30% vs 18%, P = 0.003). Technical (81% vs 84%, P = 0.280), and procedural (77% vs 83%, P = 0.112) success rates and the incidence of in-hospital major complication were similar (4.8% vs 2.2%, P = 0.108), yet in-hospital mortality (3.0% vs 0.5%, P = 0.010) and stroke (1.2% vs 0.0%, P = 0.030) were higher in the ostial CTO PCI group. In multivariable analysis, ostial CTO location was not independently associated with higher risk for in-hospital major complications (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, 95% confidence intervals 0.37 to 4.51, P = 0.694).Ostial CTOs can be recanalized with similar rates of success as nonostial CTOs but are more complex, more likely to require retrograde crossing and may be associated with numerically higher risk for major in-hospital complications

In-hospital Outcomes of Attempting More Than One Chronic Total Coronary Occlusion Through Percutaneous Intervention During the Same Procedure

The frequency and outcomes of patients who underwent chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of more than one CTO during the same procedure have received limited study. We compared the clinical and angiographic characteristics and procedural outcomes of patients who underwent treatment of single versus >1 CTOs during the same procedure in 20 centers from the United States, Europe, and Russia. A total of 2,955 patients were included: mean age was 65 ± 10 years and 85% were men with high prevalence of previous myocardial infarction (46%), and previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (33%). More than one CTO lesions were attempted during the same procedure in 58 patients (2.0%) and 70% of them were located in different major epicardial arteries. Compared with patients who underwent PCI of a single CTO, those who underwent PCI of >1 CTOs during the same procedure had similar J-CTO (2.4 ± 1.3 vs 2.5 ± 1.3, p = 0.579) and Prospective Global Registry for the Study of Chronic Total Occlusion Intervention (1.5 ± 1.2 vs 1.3 ± 1.0 p = 0.147) scores. The multi-CTO PCI group had similar technical success (86% vs 87%, p = 0.633), but higher risk of in-hospital major complications (10.3% vs 2.7%, p = 0.005), and consequently numerically lower procedural success (79% vs 85%, p = 0.197). The multi-CTO PCI group had higher in-hospital mortality (5.2% vs 0.5%, p = 0.005) and stroke (5.2%vs 0.2%, p 1 CTO lesions requiring revascularization, as treatment during a single procedure was associated with higher risk for periprocedural complications