Automating virtual calculations in supersymmetric theories

The LHC has begun collecting data and the first results have now been published. This is truly an exciting time in the field as we wait for the experimental data to exclude or verify new physics beyond the Standard Model. In order to make a precise prediction for the LHC one must go beyond the leading order of our perturbation series. In this thesis I present the extension of tools for the automation of one loop calculations for supersymmetric models. The second part of the thesis contains the application of these tools to neutralino pair production in the Minimal Supersymmetric Model

NLO Cross Sections for the LHC using GOLEM: Status and Prospects

In this talk we review the GOLEM approach to one-loop calculations and present an automated implementation of this technique. This method is based on Feynman diagrams and an advanced reduction of one-loop tensor integrals which avoids numerical instabilities. We have extended our one-loop integral library golem95 with an automated one-loop matrix element generator to compute the virtual corrections of the process $q\bar{q}\to b\bar{b}b\bar{b}$. The implementation of the virtual matrix element has been interfaced with tree-level Monte Carlo programs to provide the full result for the above process.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, contribution to the proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Radiative Corrections (RADCOR 2009), October 25-30 2009, Ascona, Switzerlan

Who is in the transition gap? Transition from CAMHS to AMHS in the Republic of Ireland

Objective: The ITRACK study explored the process and predictors of transition between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) in the Republic of Ireland. Method: Following ethical approval, clinicians in each of Ireland's four Health Service Executive (HSE) areas were contacted, informed about the study and invited to participate. Clinicians identified all cases who had reached the transition boundary (i.e. upper age limit for that CAMHS team ) between January and December 2010. Data were collected on clinical and socio-demographic details and factors that informed the decision to refer or not refer to AMHS and case notes were scrutinised to ascertain the extent of information exchanged between services during transition

Sleep Deprivation: Cytokine and Neuroendocrine Effects on Perception of Effort

Introduction: An increased perception of effort and subjective fatigue are thought to be central to decreased exercise performance observed following disrupted sleep. However, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms which underpin these phenomena. We investigated the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6), the soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R)) and neuroendocrine factors (cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline and brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)) in mediating these responses at rest and during exercise. Methods: In a randomized order ten healthy active males completed 3 experimental trials following different sleep conditions; a single night of sleep deprivation (DEP), partial sleep deprivation equivalent to 4-hrs of sleep (PART) and normal sleep (CON). The experimental sessions consisted of physiological and perceptual measurements of exercise intensity throughout 45-min moderate intensity and 15-min maximal effort cycling. Cytokine and neuroendocrine factors were assessed at rest and in response to exercise. Results: Sleep deprivation resulted in increased resting IL-6, lower blood glucose, increased perceived fatigue and perception of effort, lower free-living energy expenditure, and reduced maximal exercise performance. In contrast, sleep deprivation did not alter physiological, cytokine or neuroendocrine responses to exercise. Variations in the resting concentration of IL-6 were associated with lowered blood glucose, an increased perception of effort, and impaired exercise performance. Resting concentrations of cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and BNDF showed subtle interactions with specific aspects of mood status, and performance but were not impacted by sleep deprivation. There were minimal effects of partial sleep deprivation. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that cytokine and neuroendocrine responses to exercise are not altered by sleep deprivation but that changes in the resting concentration of IL-6 may play a role in altered perception of effort in this context

Transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Ireland: case note review

Aim: In a context of international concern about early adult mental health service provision, this study identifies characteristics and service outcomes of young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reaching the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) transition boundary in Ireland. Methods: The iTRACK study invited all 60 CAMHS teams in Ireland to participate; 8 teams retrospectively identified clinical case files for 62 eligible young people reaching the CAMHS transition boundary in all four Health Service Executive Regions. A secondary case note analysis identified characteristics, co-morbidities, referral and service outcomes for iTRACK cases with ADHD (n = 20). Results: Two-thirds of young people with ADHD were on psychotropic medication and half had mental health co-morbidities, yet none was directly transferred to public adult mental health services (AMHS) at the transition boundary. Nearly half were retained in CAMHS, for an average of over a year; most either disengaged from services (40%) and/or actively refused transfer to AMHS (35%) at or after the transition boundary. There was a perception by CAMHS clinicians that adult services did not accept ADHD cases or lacked relevant service/expertise. Conclusions: Despite high rates of medication use and comorbid mental health difficulties, there appears to be a complete absence of referral to publically available adult mental health services for ADHD youth transitioning from CAMHS in Ireland. More understanding of obstacles and optimum service configuration is essential to ensure that care is both available and accessible to young people with ADHD

Reducing training frequency from 3 or 4 sessions/week to 2 sessions/week does not attenuate improvements in maximal aerobic capacity with reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT)

In the present randomised-controlled trial we investigated the effect of REHIT training frequency (2/3/4 sessions/week for 6 weeks) on maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) in 42 inactive individuals (13 women; mean±SD age: 25±5 y, V̇O2max: 35±5 mL·kg-1·min-1). Changes in V̇O2max were not significantly different between the three groups (2 sessions/week: +10.2%; 3 sessions/week: +8.1%; 4 sessions per week: +7.3%). In conclusion, a training frequency of 2 sessions/week is sufficient for REHIT to improve V̇O2max. We demonstrate that reducing REHIT training frequency from 3 or 4 to 2 sessions/week does not attenuate improvements in the key health marker of V̇O2max. Key words: V̇O2max; sprint interval training; SIT; Wingate sprint; exercise; healt

Modern Feynman Diagrammatic One-Loop Calculations

In this talk we present techniques for calculating one-loop amplitudes for multi-leg processes using Feynman diagrammatic methods in a semi-algebraic context. Our approach combines the advantages of the different methods allowing for a fast evaluation of the amplitude while monitoring the numerical stability of the calculation. In phase space regions close to singular kinematics we use a method avoiding spurious Gram determinants in the calculation. As an application of our approach we report on the status of the calculation of the amplitude for the process $pp\to b\bar{b}b\bar{b}+X$.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures; contribution to the proceedings of the CPP2010 Workshop, 23-25 Sep. 2010, KEK, Tsukuba, Japa

Teaching Compassionate Mind Training to help midwives cope with traumatic clinical incidents

Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) is taught to cultivate compassion and teach midwives how to care for themselves. The need to build midwives' resilience is recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), who advocate that mental health coping strategies be embedded into the midwifery curriculum. In this respect, CMT can be used as a resilience-building method to help midwives respond to self-criticism and threat-based emotions with compassion. The underpinnings of CMT involve understanding that people can develop cognitive biases or unhelpful thinking patterns, co-driven by an interplay between genetics and the environment. Within this paper, the underpinning theory of CMT and how it can be used to balance psychological threat, drive, and soothing systems are outlined. To contextualise the application to midwifery practice, a traumatic incident has been discussed. Teaching CMT has the potential to improve professional quality of life, and reduce midwife absence rates and potential attrition from the profession

Independent or Simultaneous Lowering of Core and Skin Temperature Has no Impact on Self‑paced Intermittent Running Performance in Hot Conditions

Purpose To investigate the effects of lowering core (Tgi) and mean skin temperature (Tsk) concomitantly and independently on self-paced intermittent running in the heat. Methods 10 males (30.5 ± 5.8 years, 73.2 ± 14.5 kg, 176.9 ± 8.0 cm, 56.2 ± 6.6 ml/kg/min) completed four randomised 46-min self-paced intermittent protocols on a non-motorised treadmill in 34.4 ± 1.4 °C, 36.3 ± 4.6% relative humidity. 30-min prior to exercise, participants were cooled via either ice slurry ingestion (INT); a cooling garment (EXT); mixed-cooling (ice slurry and cooling garment concurrently) (MIX); or no-cooling (CON). Results At the end of pre-cooling and the start of exercise Tgi were lower during MIX (36.11 ± 1.3 °C) compared to CON (37.6 ± 0.5 °C) and EXT (36.9 ± 0.5 °C, p 0.05). Peak sprint speeds were also similar between conditions (CON: 25.6 ± 4.48 km/h, INT: 25.4 ± 3.6 km/h, EXT: 26.0 ± 4.94 km/h, MIX: 25.6 ± 3.58 km/h) (p > 0.05). Blood lactate, heart rate and RPE were similar between conditions (p > 0.05). Conclusion Lowering Tgi and Tsk prior to self-paced intermittent exercise did not improve sprint, or submaximal running performance