Search for Contact Interactions in the Dimuon Final State at ATLAS

The Standard Model has been successful in describing many fundamental aspects of particle physics. However, there are some remaining puzzles that are not explained within the context of its present framework. We discuss the possibility to discover new physics in the ATLAS Detector via a four-fermion contact interaction, much in the same way Fermi first described Weak interactions. Using a simple ratio method on dimuon events, we can set a 95% C.L. lower limit on the effective scale Lambda = 7.5 TeV (8.7 TeV) for the constructive Left-left Isoscalar Model of quark compositeness with 100 pb^-1 (200 pb^-1) of data at sqrt{s} = 10 TeV.Comment: To be published in the proceedings of DPF-2009, Detroit, MI, July 2009, eConf C09072

Inference of epidemiological parameters from household stratified data

We consider a continuous-time Markov chain model of SIR disease dynamics with two levels of mixing. For this so-called stochastic households model, we provide two methods for inferring the model parameters---governing within-household transmission, recovery, and between-household transmission---from data of the day upon which each individual became infectious and the household in which each infection occurred, as would be available from first few hundred studies. Each method is a form of Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo that allows us to calculate a joint posterior distribution for all parameters and hence the household reproduction number and the early growth rate of the epidemic. The first method performs exact Bayesian inference using a standard data-augmentation approach; the second performs approximate Bayesian inference based on a likelihood approximation derived from branching processes. These methods are compared for computational efficiency and posteriors from each are compared. The branching process is shown to be an excellent approximation and remains computationally efficient as the amount of data is increased

An analytical method to predict efficiency of aircraft gearboxes

A spur gear efficiency prediction method previously developed by the authors was extended to include power loss of planetary gearsets. A friction coefficient model was developed for MIL-L-7808 oil based on disc machine data. This combined with the recent capability of predicting losses in spur gears of nonstandard proportions allows the calculation of power loss for complete aircraft gearboxes that utilize spur gears. The method was applied to the T56/501 turboprop gearbox and compared with measured test data. Bearing losses were calculated with large scale computer programs. Breakdowns of the gearbox losses point out areas for possible improvement

HIV positive patient with GBS-like syndrome

Introduction. Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy which can occur post-infection. Criteria of diagnosis of GBS include areflexia with progressive bilateral weakness in arms and legs. GBS can lead to severe respiratory and cardiac complications. The fatality rate can be up to 5 % in patients, depending on the severity of the symptoms. HIV can cause a range of neurological disorders including, on rare occasions, GBS. GBS can occur at any stage of HIV infection, highlighting the complexity of diagnosis of GBS within HIV patients. Case presentation. A 57 year old female with lumbar back pain radiating to the legs, poor mobility and tiredness, with reports of a viral-like illness four days previously, was initially diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection and discharged. Seventeen days later the patient was readmitted to hospital with progressive lower and upper limb weakness, areflexia and sensory loss. She was diagnosed with GBS and was unexpectedly discovered to be HIV-positive. HIV avidity was low indicating a recently acquired HIV infection. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin for five days for the GBS and commenced antriretrovirals for HIV. The patient was discharge from hospital 53 days after admission with walking aids and regular physiotherapy follow-up. Conclusion. This case highlighted the need for all clinicians to be aware that patients with symptoms of GBS, regardless of clinical history should be offered an HIV test. GBS can be the first sign a patient is HIV-positive

Age-related changes to lumbosacral spinal cord motoneurons that modulate bladder and bowel functions in male C57BL/6 mice

Incontinence and sexual dysfunction are often increased in the aged human population. In rats and mice the pattern of micturition and faecal clearance also changes with ageing and is suggestive of bladder and bowel dysfunction

Communication/educational programs for students with Angelman Syndrome in inclusive classrooms: A look at best practices

This project examined the communication and overall education programs of 36 students with Angelman Syndrome (AS) whom are being educated in both inclusive and segregated classrooms. The purposes of the this study are to: (1) compile a list of best practices regarding the communication and educational instruction of children with Angelman Syndrome and more generally, children with significant disabilities, (2) to validate these practices with an expert panel, and (3) to socially validate these practices with the subjects\u27 parents. An exhaustive review of the current literature in the areas of inclusive education, Angelman Syndrome Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and instruction of children with significant disabilities was conducted. Best practices for including this population in general education classrooms were pulled from the literature. From this more general information collected from the review, a checklist of best practices was devised more specific to the communication and overall education of children with Angelman Syndrome. The checklist was validated by an expert panel of six members who had significant experience in the areas of AAC and Angelman Syndrome or children with severe disabilities. Upon the second and final review by the expert panel, an online survey was created including the 107 best practices that were validated. This survey was sent out to the parents of the subjects asking them to rate on a 5-point Likert scale, the extent to which they felt these items were important for their child irrespective of what was actually currently happening in their program. All practices were rated in the generally favorable to strongly favorable range. The authors hope from these findings to develop and publish a tool that will provide a framework that individuals working in schools can utilize to assess the degree to which their delivery of services meets these best practices that are supported by the literature and can also provide parents with guidelines of what to look for in selecting a quality inclusive program for their child. It may also serve to prompt educators to consider the changes with respect to the way in which they are providing AAC services to their students with significant needs and incorporate parent priorities

A Wrestling Program for High School Physical Education

This thesis examines the information needed by teachers to plan and teach wrestling at the high school level, including objectives of a wrestling program, class organization, methods of instruction and evaluation, facilities and equipment needed, and specific wrestling maneuvers and skills