Search for Darkonium in e+e- Collisions

Collider searches for dark sectors, new particles interacting only feebly with ordinary matter, have largely focused on identifying signatures of new mediators, leaving much of dark sector structures unexplored. In particular, the existence of dark matter bound states (darkonia) remains to be investigated. This possibility could arise in a simple model in which a dark photon (A0 ) is light enough to generate an attractive force between dark fermions. We report herein a search for a JPC ¼ 1−− darkonium state, the ϒD, produced in the reaction eþe− → γϒD, ϒD → A0 A0 A0 , where the dark photons subsequently decay into pairs of leptons or pions, using 514 fb−1 of data collected with the BABAR detector. No significant signal is observed, and we set bounds on the γ − A0 kinetic mixing as a function of the dark sector coupling constant for 0.001 < mA0 < 3.16 GeV and 0.05 < mϒD < 9.5 GeV.publishedVersio

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

La stigmatisation de la maladie physique: Le cas du cancer

The literature shows ample evidence of stigmatization of mental illness and infectious diseases. Although cancer does not fall under any of the above categories, it has been stigmatized because of the deleterious consequences of its course and treatment. In fact, in the 21st century, cancer remains a dreaded disease associated with social representations of death, impairment, disfigurement, suffering, and pain. The objectives of this paper are twofold: first, to review theoretical elements that can help understand the stigma associated with physical illness, by defining the concept of stigma, presenting the different theoretical models of stigmatization of physical illness, and describing the psychosocial functions of stigma for both the stigmatized and stigmatizing individuals. Second, to focus on the specificity of cancer-related stigma, with particular reference to the cultural aspects of coping strategies used by oncological patients to address illness and the related stigma, through practices based on popular medicine. As part of the conclusion, it is suggested that cancer-related stigma has undergone several changes during history, from being a fatal disease to being a chronic disease. However, its initially silent course, alarming epidemic behaviour (still uncontrollable despite scientific advances), and treatment characteristics favour negative social representations of cancer (as conviction, sentence of death, suffering, deterioration, pain, affliction, and guilt), which act as iatrogenic factors in the health–disease process, interfering especially in the decision making regarding effective treatments and leading patients to prefer alternative methods based on popular medicine, even if those methods imply risks for their health and quality of life. © Springer-Verlag France 2012

Study of the process e+e- →π+π-π0 using initial state radiation with BABAR

The process e+e−→π+π−π0γ is studied at a center-of-mass energy near the Υ(4S) resonance using a data sample of 469  fb−1 collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. We have performed a precise measurement of the e+e−→π+π−π0 cross section in the center-of-mass energy range from 0.62 to 3.5 GeV. In the energy regions of the ω and ϕ resonances, the cross section is measured with a systematic uncertainty of 1.3%. The leading-order hadronic contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly calculated using the measured e+e−→π+π−π0 cross section from threshold to 2.0 GeV is (45.86±0.14±0.58)×10−10. From the fit to the measured 3π mass spectrum we have determined the resonance parameters Γ(ω→e+e−)B(ω→π+π−π0)=(0.5698±0.0031±0.0082)  keV, Γ(ϕ→e+e−)B(ϕ→π+π−π0)=(0.1841±0.0021±0.0080)  keV, and B(ρ→3π)=(0.88±0.23±0.30)×10−4. The significance of the ρ→3π signal is greater than 6σ. For the J/ψ resonance we have measured the product Γ(J/ψ→e+e−)B(J/ψ→3π)=(0.1248±0.0019±0.0026)  keV

Study of the process e+e−→π+π−π0e^+e^-\to \pi^+\pi^-\pi^0 using initial state radiation with BABAR

International audienceThe process e+e-→π+π-π0γ is studied at a center-of-mass energy near the ϒ(4S) resonance using a data sample of 469  fb-1 collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II collider. We have performed a precise measurement of the e+e-→π+π-π0 cross section in the center-of-mass energy range from 0.62 to 3.5 GeV. In the energy regions of the ω and ϕ resonances, the cross section is measured with a systematic uncertainty of 1.3%. The leading-order hadronic contribution to the muon magnetic anomaly calculated using the measured e+e-→π+π-π0 cross section from threshold to 2.0 GeV is (45.86±0.14±0.58)×10-10. From the fit to the measured 3π mass spectrum we have determined the resonance parameters Γ(ω→e+e-)B(ω→π+π-π0)=(0.5698±0.0031±0.0082)  keV, Γ(ϕ→e+e-)B(ϕ→π+π-π0)=(0.1841±0.0021±0.0080)  keV, and B(ρ→3π)=(0.88±0.23±0.30)×10-4. The significance of the ρ→3π signal is greater than 6σ. For the J/ψ resonance we have measured the product Γ(J/ψ→e+e-)B(J/ψ→3π)=(0.1248±0.0019±0.0026)  keV

Search for a Dark Leptophilic Scalar in Collisions

Many scenarios of physics beyond the standard model predict the existence of new gauge singlets, which might be substantially lighter than the weak scale. The experimental constraints on additional scalars with masses in the MeV to GeV range could be significantly weakened if they interact predominantly with leptons rather than quarks. At an e+e- collider, such a leptophilic scalar (\u3c6L) would be produced predominantly through radiation from a \u3c4 lepton. We report herein a search for e+e-\u2192\u3c4+\u3c4-\u3c6L, \u3c6L\u2192\u2113+\u2113- (\u2113=e, \u3bc) using data collected by the BABAR experiment at SLAC. No significant signal is observed, and we set limits on the \u3c6L coupling to leptons in the range 0.04&lt;7.0 GeV. These bounds significantly improve upon the current constraints, excluding almost entirely the parameter space favored by the observed discrepancy in the muon anomalous magnetic moment below 4 GeV at 90% confidence level