Search for displaced vertexes arising from decays of new, heavy particles in 7 TeV pp collisions in ATLAS

We present the results of a search for neutralinos decaying at a significant distance from their production point into charged hadrons and a high momentum muon, forming displaced vertexes. The analysis was performed with 33 pb^-1 of pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC in 2010 at sqrt{s}= 7 TeV. The poster will show some highlights of the analysis.Comment: Presented at the 2011 Hadron Collider Physics symposium (HCP-2011), Paris, France, November 14-18 2011, 3 pages, 9 figure

Considerations on Xi- reconstruction in LHCb

This paper describes an alternative method of charged hyperon reconstruction applicable to the LHCb experiment. It extends the seminal work of the FOCUS collaboration to the specific detector layout of LHCb and addresses the reconstruction ambiguities reported in their earlier work, leading to improvements in the reconstruction efficiency for the specific cases of Xi- and Omega- baryon decays to a charged meson and a Lambda baryon.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

A Tutorial on Bayesian Optimization of Expensive Cost Functions, with Application to Active User Modeling and Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning

We present a tutorial on Bayesian optimization, a method of finding the maximum of expensive cost functions. Bayesian optimization employs the Bayesian technique of setting a prior over the objective function and combining it with evidence to get a posterior function. This permits a utility-based selection of the next observation to make on the objective function, which must take into account both exploration (sampling from areas of high uncertainty) and exploitation (sampling areas likely to offer improvement over the current best observation). We also present two detailed extensions of Bayesian optimization, with experiments---active user modelling with preferences, and hierarchical reinforcement learning---and a discussion of the pros and cons of Bayesian optimization based on our experiences

The Prejudice Paradox (Or Discrimination Is Not Dead): Systematic Discrimination In Forced Choice Employment Decisions

This research examined discriminatory responding in a forced choice employment decision paradigm, using a justification-suppression perspective to interpret the findings. In this paradigm, participants play the role of employers and make employment choices between two excellent and similarly qualified individuals that differ only on one dimension. In the first three studies, participants chose between two individuals who were described as differing only in ethnicity (European vs. Middle Eastern), gender (Male vs. Female), religion (Christian vs. Muslim), age (Young vs. Old), height (Tall vs. Short), weight (Average Weight vs. Overweight), nationality (Canadian vs. Immigrant), or sexual orientation (Heterosexual vs. Homosexual). Patterns of systematic discrimination were observed, such that members of nonstigmatized groups were favoured over members of stigmatized groups, with the exception that female candidates were supported more than male candidates. These patterns held for both hiring and firing decisions, and regardless of job status, instructions from one’s boss to not be biased, and information regarding workplace diversity. In the fourth study, the stigmatized group categories were strategically selected based on the reported social acceptability of prejudice (acceptable targets: overweight, homosexual, Muslim, immigrant, Native; unacceptable targets: female, black, Jewish, old, disabled). Overall, participants were less likely to promote stigmatized than nonstigmatized employees, with the exceptions that Jewish and black employees were as likely to be promoted as their nonstigmatized counterparts, and female employees were promoted more frequently than male employees. Stigmatized individuals who belonged to social groups perceived as socially unacceptable targets of prejudice were selected for promotion more than stigmatized individuals who belonged to social groups perceived as socially acceptable targets of prejudice, however. This pattern held regardless of equality salience. The selection of stigmatized employees for promotion was predicted by the favourability of attitudes toward these groups, a weaker belief in the justifiability of discrimination, and negative feelings toward others elicited by the task. Using an innovative methodology, this research demonstrates that systematic discrimination is prevalent in forced choice decisions, and that manipulations used previously to attenuate discrimination were ineffective in this context. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed

Development and Shelf Life Evaluation of a Novel Fermented Seaweed Sauerkraut Utilizing Commercially Important Maine Seaweeds

Fermented vegetables can provide consumers with important health benefits, particularly due to the presence of probiotics. These fermented products have gained popularity with American consumers over the past decade. Therefore, a lacto-fermented seaweed sauerkraut, containing seaweed and cabbage, was developed to address this trend and to create a value-added seaweed product with extended refrigerated shelf life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of kelp species and seaweed incorporation level on the fermentative success, microbial safety, consumer acceptability, and refrigerated shelf life of seaweed sauerkraut for 60 days post inoculation. Six treatments with varying levels (25%, 50%, 75%) of farm-raised kelp (sugar kelp or winged kelp) were processed in triplicate. Shredded fresh kelp and cabbage were mixed with 2% kosher salt, inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (~106 CFU/g) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides (~101 CFU/g), and fermented at ambient temperature until a pH of \u3c 4.6 was achieved. The presence of pathogens (Vibrio spp., Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria spp.) was evaluated and coliforms were enumerated in the fresh sauerkraut. Titratable acidity (TA), pH, instrumental texture (shear force), color, antioxidant capacity, aerobic plate counts, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and molds were measured periodically for 60 days after inoculation by the lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Additionally, acetic acid, lactic acid, sugar (glucose, fructose, sucrose), and ethanol levels were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Multi-way analysis of variance was performed to evaluate significant (p Kelp species and incorporation levels significantly affected most variables tested in the freshly prepared sauerkraut. LAB grew fastest in the winged kelp treatments, with all products reaching a pH below 4.6 within 3 days and resulting in significantly lower pH and higher TA compared to the sugar kelp treatments. In contrast, the sugar kelp treatments did not achieve a pH o

Spectra of Field Fluctuations in Braneworld Models with Broken Bulk Lorentz Invariance

We investigate five-dimensional braneworld setups with broken Lorentz invariance continuing the developments of our previous paper (arXiv:0712.1136), where a family of static self-tuning braneworld solutions was found. We show that several known braneworld models can be embedded into this family. Then we give a qualitative analysis of spectra of field fluctuations in backgrounds with broken Lorentz invariance. We also elaborate on one particular model and study spectra of scalar and spinor fields in it. It turns out that the spectra we have found possess very peculiar and unexpected properties.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figures, minor corrections, references added, note adde

Cognitive impairment in individuals with insomnia : clinical significance and correlates

Study Objectives: The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the nature of cognitive impairment in individuals with insomnia, (2) document their clinical significance, (3) examine their correlates, and (4) explore differences among individuals with insomnia with and without cognitive complaints. Design: Participants underwent 3 consecutive nights of polysomnography. On the morning following the third night, they completed a battery of questionnaires and neuropsychological tests. Participants: The sample included 25 adults with primary insomnia (mean age: 44.4 ± 11.5 y, 56% women) and 16 controls (mean age: 42.8 ± 12.9 y, 50% women) matched for sex, age, and education. Intervention: N/A. Measurement and Results: Participants completed neuropsychological tests covering attention, memory, working memory, and executive functions, as well as questionnaires assessing the subjective perception of performance, depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleepiness, and hyperarousal. There were significant group differences for the attention and episodic memory domains. Clinically significant deficits were more frequent in the insomnia group. Within the insomnia group, individuals with cognitive complaints exhibited significantly poorer performance on a larger number of neuropsychological variables. All impaired aspects of performance were significantly associated with either subjective or objective sleep continuity, and some were also independently related to sleep microstructure (i.e., relative power for alpha frequencies) or selected psychological variables (i.e., beliefs or arousal). Conclusions: These findings suggest clinically significant alterations in attention and episodic memory in individuals with insomnia. Objective deficits were more pronounced and involved more aspects of performance in a subgroup of individuals with cognitive complaints. These deficits appear associated with sleep continuity, and may also be related to sleep microstructure and dysfunctional beliefs