LEP Indications for Two Light Higgs Bosons and U(1)' Model

Reanalyses of LEP data have shown preference to two light CP-even Higgs bosons. We discuss implications of such a Higgs boson spectrum for the minimal supersymmetric model extended by a Standard Model singlet chiral superfield and an additional Abelian gauge invariance (the U(1)' model). We, in particular, determine parameter regions that lead to two light CP-even Higgs bosons while satisfying existing bounds on the mass and mixings of the extra vector boson. In these parameter regions, the pseudoscalar Higgs is found to be nearly degenerate in mass with either the lightest or next-to-lightest Higgs boson. Certain parameters of the U(1)' model such as the effective mu parameter are found to be significantly bounded by the LEP two-light-Higgs signal.Comment: 20 pp, 7 figs, 2 table

Comparative analysis of image enhancement techniques for uterine fibroid ultrasound

Background: The Ultrasound image is a vital diagnostic tool in the preliminary clinical assessment of many diseases, especially in Obstetrics and Gynecology. However, poor ultrasound image quality often leads to the inaccurate diagnosis of diseases such as uterine fibroids. Many researchers have proposed various methods for improving ultrasound image quality. Objective: To explore by comparison of four image enhancement techniques, the best approach for the enhancement of uterine fibroid images towards achieving better diagnosis and proper management of the disease..Methodology: The study assessed and compared the performance of four (4) different image enhancement techniques namely; Contrast stretching, Gamma correction, Histogram equalization(HE) and Contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) on uterine fibroid ultrasound image Twenty (20) Ultrasound images from thedatabasewere downloaded and processed in MATLAB (2015a version) using image processing toolbox. Based on histogram distribution and statistical features (Mean, Standard Deviation and Entropy), the enhanced images were evaluated and compared. Results: The results show that Contrast stretching performed better based on Histogram distribution while CLAHE shows superior performance on Statistical featuresConclusion: Contrast stretching and Contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE)have demostrated good performance in enhancement of uterine fibroid ultrasound ima

Constraints on scalar-pseudoscalar and tensorial nonstandard interactions and tensorial unparticle couplings from neutrino-electron scattering

Neutrino-electron scattering is a purely leptonic fundamental interaction and therefore provides an important channel to test the Standard Model, especially at the low energy-momentum transfer regime. We derived constraints on neutrino nonstardard interaction couplings depending on model-independent approaches which are described by a four-Fermi pointlike interaction and the unparticle physics model with tensorial components. Data on (nu) over bar (e) - e and nu(e) - e scattering from the TEXONO and LSND experiments, respectively, are used. The upper limits and the allowed regions of scalar, pseudoscalar, and tensorial nonstandard interaction couplings of neutrinos are derived at 90% confidence level in both one-parameter and two-parameter analysis. New upper limits for tensorial unparticle physics coupling constants and mass parameters are also placed

Patterns of active and passive smoking, and associated factors, in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) region in Turkey

BACKGROUND: Smoking is an important health threat in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the frequency of and main factors associated with smoking in persons of 15 years and over, and the frequency of passive smoking in homes in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) Region in Turkey. METHODS: A cross sectional design was employed. The sample waschosen by the State Institute of Statistics using a stratified cluster probability sampling method. 1126 houses representing the SEAP Region were visited. Questionnaires about tobacco smoking and related factors were applied to 2166 women and 1906 men (of 15 years old and above) in their homes. Face-to-face interview methods were employed. Participants were classified as current, ex, and non-smokers. The presence of a regular daily smoker in a house was used as an indication of passive smoking. The chi-square andlogistic regressionanalysis methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking, in those of 15 years and over, was 11.8% in women and 49.7% in men. The prevalence of current smokers was higher in urban (34.5 %) than in rural (22.8 %) regions. The mean of total cigarette consumption was 6.5 packs/year in women and 17.9 packs/year in men. There was at least one current smoker in 70.1% of the houses. CONCLUSION: Smoking is a serious problem in the South-eastern Anatolian Region. Male gender, middle age, a high level of education and urban residency were most strongly associated with smoking

Safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral iron in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD: an analysis of the 1-year FIND-CKD trial.

Background: The evidence base regarding the safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete and largely based on small studies of relatively short duration. Methods: FIND-CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994318) was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, prospective study of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD, anemia and iron deficiency randomized (1:1:2) to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), targeting higher (400-600 µg/L) or lower (100-200 µg/L) ferritin, or oral iron. A post hoc analysis of adverse event rates per 100 patient-years was performed to assess the safety of FCM versus oral iron over an extended period. Results: The safety population included 616 patients. The incidence of one or more adverse events was 91.0, 100.0 and 105.0 per 100 patient-years in the high ferritin FCM, low ferritin FCM and oral iron groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events with a suspected relation to study drug was 15.9, 17.8 and 36.7 per 100 patient-years in the three groups; for serious adverse events, the incidence was 28.2, 27.9 and 24.3 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of cardiac disorders and infections was similar between groups. At least one ferritin level ≥800 µg/L occurred in 26.6% of high ferritin FCM patients, with no associated increase in adverse events. No patient with ferritin ≥800 µg/L discontinued the study drug due to adverse events. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained the stable in all groups. Conclusions: These results further support the conclusion that correction of iron deficiency anemia with IV FCM is safe in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD

Constraints on nonstandard intermediate boson exchange models from neutrino-electron scattering

Constraints on couplings of several beyond-Standard-Model-physics scenarios, mediated by massive intermediate particles including ( 1) an extra Z-prime, ( 2) a new light spin-1 boson, and ( 3) a charged Higgs boson, are placed via the neutrino-electron scattering channel to test the Standard Model at a low energy-momentum transfer regime. Data on (nu) over bar (e) - e and nu(e) - e scattering from the TEXONO and LSND, respectively, are used. Upper bounds to coupling constants of the flavor-conserving and flavor-violating new light spin-1 boson and the charged Higgs boson with respect to different mediator masses are determined. The relevant parameter spaces are extended by allowing light mediators. New lower mass limits for extra Z-prime gauge boson models are also placed