8,185 research outputs found
The NUHM2 after LHC Run 1
We make a frequentist analysis of the parameter space of the NUHM2, in which
the soft supersymmetry (SUSY)-breaking contributions to the masses of the two
Higgs multiplets, , vary independently from the universal soft
SUSY-breaking contributions to the masses of squarks and sleptons. Our
analysis uses the MultiNest sampling algorithm with over points
to sample the NUHM2 parameter space. It includes the ATLAS and CMS Higgs mass
measurements as well as their searches for supersymmetric jets + MET signals
using the full LHC Run~1 data, the measurements of by
LHCb and CMS together with other B-physics observables, electroweak precision
observables and the XENON100 and LUX searches for spin-independent dark matter
scattering. We find that the preferred regions of the NUHM2 parameter space
have negative SUSY-breaking scalar masses squared for squarks and sleptons,
, as well as . The tension present in the
CMSSM and NUHM1 between the supersymmetric interpretation of and
the absence to date of SUSY at the LHC is not significantly alleviated in the
NUHM2. We find that the minimum with 21 degrees of freedom
(dof) in the NUHM2, to be compared with in the
CMSSM, and in the NUHM1. We find that the
one-dimensional likelihood functions for sparticle masses and other observables
are similar to those found previously in the CMSSM and NUHM1.Comment: 20 pages latex, 13 figure
Supersymmetric Dark Matter after LHC Run 1
Different mechanisms operate in various regions of the MSSM parameter space
to bring the relic density of the lightest neutralino, neutralino_1, assumed
here to be the LSP and thus the Dark Matter (DM) particle, into the range
allowed by astrophysics and cosmology. These mechanisms include coannihilation
with some nearly-degenerate next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP)
such as the lighter stau (stau_1), stop (stop_1) or chargino (chargino_1),
resonant annihilation via direct-channel heavy Higgs bosons H/A, the light
Higgs boson h or the Z boson, and enhanced annihilation via a larger Higgsino
component of the LSP in the focus-point region. These mechanisms typically
select lower-dimensional subspaces in MSSM scenarios such as the CMSSM, NUHM1,
NUHM2 and pMSSM10. We analyze how future LHC and direct DM searches can
complement each other in the exploration of the different DM mechanisms within
these scenarios. We find that the stau_1 coannihilation regions of the CMSSM,
NUHM1, NUHM2 can largely be explored at the LHC via searches for missing E_T
events and long-lived charged particles, whereas their H/A funnel, focus-point
and chargino_1 coannihilation regions can largely be explored by the LZ and
Darwin DM direct detection experiments. We find that the dominant DM mechanism
in our pMSSM10 analysis is chargino_1 coannihilation: {parts of its parameter
space can be explored by the LHC, and a larger portion by future direct DM
searches.Comment: 21 pages, 8 figure
The pMSSM10 after LHC Run 1
We present a frequentist analysis of the parameter space of the pMSSM10, in
which the following 10 soft SUSY-breaking parameters are specified
independently at the mean scalar top mass scale Msusy = Sqrt[M_stop1 M_stop2]:
the gaugino masses M_{1,2,3}, the 1st-and 2nd-generation squark masses M_squ1 =
M_squ2, the third-generation squark mass M_squ3, a common slepton mass M_slep
and a common trilinear mixing parameter A, the Higgs mixing parameter mu, the
pseudoscalar Higgs mass M_A and tan beta. We use the MultiNest sampling
algorithm with 1.2 x 10^9 points to sample the pMSSM10 parameter space. A
dedicated study shows that the sensitivities to strongly-interacting SUSY
masses of ATLAS and CMS searches for jets, leptons + MET signals depend only
weakly on many of the other pMSSM10 parameters. With the aid of the Atom and
Scorpion codes, we also implement the LHC searches for EW-interacting
sparticles and light stops, so as to confront the pMSSM10 parameter space with
all relevant SUSY searches. In addition, our analysis includes Higgs mass and
rate measurements using the HiggsSignals code, SUSY Higgs exclusion bounds, the
measurements B-physics observables, EW precision observables, the CDM density
and searches for spin-independent DM scattering. We show that the pMSSM10 is
able to provide a SUSY interpretation of (g-2)_mu, unlike the CMSSM, NUHM1 and
NUHM2. As a result, we find (omitting Higgs rates) that the minimum chi^2/dof =
20.5/18 in the pMSSM10, corresponding to a chi^2 probability of 30.8 %, to be
compared with chi^2/dof = 32.8/24 (31.1/23) (30.3/22) in the CMSSM (NUHM1)
(NUHM2). We display 1-dimensional likelihood functions for SUSY masses, and
show that they may be significantly lighter in the pMSSM10 than in the CMSSM,
NUHM1 and NUHM2. We discuss the discovery potential of future LHC runs, e+e-
colliders and direct detection experiments.Comment: 47 pages, 29 figure
Strong extinction of a far-field laser beam by a single quantum dot
Through the utilization of index-matched GaAs immersion lens techniques we
demonstrate a record extinction (12%) of a far-field focused laser by a single
InAs/GaAs quantum dot. This contrast level enables us to report for the first
time resonant laser transmission spectroscopy on a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot
without the need for phase-sensitive lock-in detection
The Importance of Audit Firm Characteristics and the Drivers of Auditor Change in UK Listed Companies
This paper explores the importance of audit firm characteristics and the factors motivating auditor change based on questionnaire responses from 210 listed UK companies (a response rate of 70%). Twenty-nine potentially desirable auditor characteristics are identified from the extant literature and their importance elicited. Exploratory factor analysis reduces these variables to eight uncorrelated underlying dimensions: reputation/quality; acceptability to third parties; value for money; ability to provide non-audit services; small audit firm; specialist industry knowledge; non-Big Six large audit firm; and geographical proximity. Insights into the nature of 'the Big Six factor' emerge. Two thirds of companies had recently considered changing auditors; the main reasons cited being audit fee level, dissatisfaction with audit quality and changes in top management. Of those companies that considered change, 73% did not actually do so, the main reasons cited being fee reduction by the incumbent and avoidance of disruption. Thus audit fee levels are both a key precipitator of change and a key factor in retaining the status quo
Corporate governance and financial constraints on strategic turnarounds
The paper extends the Robbins and Pearce (1992) two-stage turnaround response model to include governance factors. In addition to the retrenchment and recovery, the paper proposes the addition of a realignment stage, referring specifically to the re-alignment of expectations of principal and agent groups. The realignment stage imposes a threshold that must be crossed before the retrenchment and hence recovery stage can be entered. Crossing this threshold is problematic to the extent that the interests of governance-stakeholder groups diverge in a crisis situation. The severity of the crisis impacts on the bases of strategy contingent asset valuation leading to the fragmentation of stakeholder interests. In some cases the consequence may be that management are prevented from carrying out turnarounds by governance constraints. The paper uses a case study to illustrate these dynamics, and like the Robbins and Pearce study, it focuses on the textile industry. A longitudinal approach is used to show the impact of the removal of governance constraints. The empirical evidence suggests that such financial constraints become less serious to the extent that there is a functioning market for corporate control. Building on governance research and turnaround literature, the paper also outlines the general case necessary and sufficient conditions for successful turnarounds
Design, Construction, Operation and Performance of a Hadron Blind Detector for the PHENIX Experiment
A Hadron Blind Detector (HBD) has been developed, constructed and
successfully operated within the PHENIX detector at RHIC. The HBD is a
Cherenkov detector operated with pure CF4. It has a 50 cm long radiator
directly coupled in a window- less configuration to a readout element
consisting of a triple GEM stack, with a CsI photocathode evaporated on the top
surface of the top GEM and pad readout at the bottom of the stack. This paper
gives a comprehensive account of the construction, operation and in-beam
performance of the detector.Comment: 51 pages, 39 Figures, submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Method
Older-Patient-Specific Cancer Trials: A Pooled Analysis of 2,277 Patients (A151715).
BACKGROUND: Less than 3% of older patients with cancer are enrolled in clinical trials. To reverse this underrepresentation, we compared older patients enrolled with older-patient-specific trials, defined as those designed for older patients with cancer, with those enrolled in age-unspecified trials.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We focused on individual patient data from those ≥65 years (younger patients excluded) and included all Alliance phase III adjuvant breast cancer trials from 1985-2012.
RESULTS: Among 2,277 patients, 1,014 had been enrolled to older-patient-specific and 1,263 to age-unspecified trials. The median age (range) in the older-patient-specific trials was 72 (65-89) years compared with 68 (65-84) years in the cohort of older patients in age-unspecified trials;
CONCLUSION: Older-patient-specific trials appear to address this underrepresentation of older patients with ostensibly comparable outcomes
Determination of the pion-nucleon coupling constant and scattering lengths
We critically evaluate the isovector GMO sum rule for forward pion-nucleon
scattering using the recent precision measurements of negatively charged
pion-proton and pion-deuteron scattering lengths from pionic atoms. We deduce
the charged-pion-nucleon coupling constant, with careful attention to
systematic and statistical uncertainties. This determination gives, directly
from data a pseudoscalar coupling constant of
14.11+-0.05(statistical)+-0.19(systematic) or a pseudovector one of 0.0783(11).
This value is intermediate between that of indirect methods and the direct
determination from backward neutron-proton differential scattering cross
sections. We also use the pionic atom data to deduce the coherent symmetric and
antisymmetric sums of the negatively charged pion-proton and pion-neutron
scattering lengths with high precision. The symmetric sum gives
0.0012+-0.0002(statistical)+-0.0008 (systematic) and the antisymmetric one
0.0895+-0.0003(statistical)+-0.0013(systematic), both in units of inverse
charged pion-mass. For the need of the present analysis, we improve the
theoretical description of the pion-deuteron scattering length.Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C, few modifications and
clarifications, no change in substance of the pape
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