Optimal Renormalization-Group Improvement of Two Radiatively-Broken Gauge Theories

In the absence of a tree-level scalar-field mass, renormalization-group (RG) methods permit the explicit summation of leading-logarithm contributions to all orders of the perturbative series for the effective-potential functions utilized in radiative symmetry breaking. For scalar-field electrodynamics, such a summation of leading logarithm contributions leads to upper bounds on the magnitudes of both gauge and scalar-field coupling constants, and suggests the possibility of an additional phase of spontaneous symmetry breaking characterized by a scalar-field mass comparable to that of the theory's gauge boson. For radiatively-broken electroweak symmetry, the all-orders summation of leading logarithm terms involving the dominant three couplings (quartic scalar-field, t-quark Yukawa, and QCD) contributing to standard-model radiative corrections leads to an RG-improved potential characterized by a 216 GeV Higgs boson mass. Upon incorporation of electroweak gauge couplants we find that the predicted Higgs mass increases to 218 GeV. The potential is also characterized by a quartic scalar-field coupling over five times larger than that anticipated for an equivalent Higgs mass obtained via conventional spontaneous symmetry breaking, leading to a concomitant enhancement of processes (such as $W^+ W^- \to ZZ$) sensitive to this coupling. Moreover, if the QCD coupling constant is taken to be sufficiently strong, the tree potential's local minimum at $\phi = 0$ is shown to be restored for the summation of leading logarithm corrections. Thus if QCD exhibits a two-phase structure similar to that of $N = 1$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, the weaker asymptotically-free phase of QCD may be selected by the large logarithm behaviour of the RG-improved effective potential for radiatively broken electroweak symmetry.Comment: latex2e using amsmath, 36 pages, 7 eps figures embedded in latex. Section 8.3 errors asociated with electroweak coupling effects are correcte

The Kentucky Noisy Monte Carlo Algorithm for Wilson Dynamical Fermions

We develop an implementation for a recently proposed Noisy Monte Carlo approach to the simulation of lattice QCD with dynamical fermions by incorporating the full fermion determinant directly. Our algorithm uses a quenched gauge field update with a shifted gauge coupling to minimize fluctuations in the trace log of the Wilson Dirac matrix. The details of tuning the gauge coupling shift as well as results for the distribution of noisy estimators in our implementation are given. We present data for some basic observables from the noisy method, as well as acceptance rate information and discuss potential autocorrelation and sign violation effects. Both the results and the efficiency of the algorithm are compared against those of Hybrid Monte Carlo. PACS Numbers: 12.38.Gc, 11.15.Ha, 02.70.Uu Keywords: Noisy Monte Carlo, Lattice QCD, Determinant, Finite Density, QCDSPComment: 30 pages, 6 figure

Courage in decision-making:A mixed-methods study of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in women of reproductive age in the UK

COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower in women of reproductive age (WRA), including preg-nant/postpartum women despite their poorer COVID-19-related outcomes. We evaluated vac-cination experiences of 3,568 UK WRA, including 1,983 women (55.6%) experiencing a pandemic pregnancy, recruited through the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app. Two staggered online ques-tionnaires (Oct-Dec 2021: 3,453 responders; Aug-Sept 2022: 2,129 responders) assessed reproductive status, COVID-19 status, vaccination, and attitudes for/against vaccination. Descriptive analyses included vaccination type(s), timing relative to age-based eligibility and reproductive status, vaccination delay (first vaccination >28 days from eligibility), and rationale, with content analysis of free-text comments. Most responders (3,392/3,453, 98.2%) were vaccinated by Dec 2021, motivated by: altruism, vaccination supportiveness in general, low-risk, and COVID-19 concerns. Few declined vaccination (by Sept/2022: 20/2,129, 1.0%), citing: risks (pregnancy-specific and longer-term), pre-existing immunity, and personal/philosophical reasons. Few women de-layed vaccination, although pregnant/postpartum women (vs. other WRA), received vaccination later (median 3 vs. 0 days after eligibility, p<0.0001). Despite high uptake, concerns included: adverse effects; misinformation (including from healthcare providers); ever-changing govern-ment advice; and complex decision-making. In summary, most women in this large WRA cohort were promptly vaccinated, including pregnant/post-partum women. Altruism and community benefit superseded personal benefit as reasons for vaccination. Nevertheless, responders expe-rienced angst, and received vaccine-related misinformation and discouragement. These findings should inform vaccination strategies in WRA

Ensuring respect for persons in COMPASS: A cluster randomised pragmatic clinical trial

Cluster randomised clinical trials present unique challenges in meeting ethical obligations to those who are treated at a randomised site. Obtaining informed consent for research within the context of clinical care is one such challenge. In order to solve this problem it is important that an informed consent process be effective and efficient, and that it does not impede the research or the healthcare. The innovative approach to informed consent employed in the COMPASS study demonstrates the feasibility of upholding ethical standards without imposing undue burden on clinical workflows, staff members or patients who may participate in the research by virtue of their presence in a cluster randomised facility. The COMPASS study included 40 randomised sites and compared the effectiveness of a postacute stroke intervention with standard care. Each site provided either the comprehensive postacute stroke intervention or standard care according to the randomisation assignment. Working together, the study team, institutional review board and members of the community designed an ethically appropriate and operationally reasonable consent process which was carried out successfully at all randomised sites. This achievement is noteworthy because it demonstrates how to effectively conduct appropriate informed consent in cluster randomised trials, and because it provides a model that can easily be adapted for other pragmatic studies. With this innovative approach to informed consent, patients have access to the information they need about research occurring where they are seeking care, and medical researchers can conduct their studies without ethical concerns or unreasonable logistical impediments. Trial registration number NCT02588664, recruiting. This article covers the development of consent process that is currentlty being employed in the study

Model-based analyses: Promises, pitfalls, and example applications to the study of cognitive control

We discuss a recent approach to investigating cognitive control, which has the potential to deal with some of the challenges inherent in this endeavour. In a model-based approach, the researcher defines a formal, computational model that performs the task at hand and whose performance matches that of a research participant. The internal variables in such a model might then be taken as proxies for latent variables computed in the brain. We discuss the potential advantages of such an approach for the study of the neural underpinnings of cognitive control and its pitfalls, and we make explicit the assumptions underlying the interpretation of data obtained using this approach

Randomized Pragmatic Trial of Stroke Transitional Care: The COMPASS Study

Background The objectives of this study were to develop and test in real-world clinical practice the effectiveness of a comprehensive postacute stroke transitional care (TC) management program. Methods and Results The COMPASS study (Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services) was a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial where the hospital was the unit of randomization. The intervention (COMPASS-TC) was initiated at 20 hospitals, and 20 hospitals provided their usual care. Hospital staff enrolled 6024 adult stroke and transient ischemic attack patients discharged home between 2016 and 2018. COMPASS-TC was patient-centered and assessed social and functional determinates of health to inform individualized care plans. Ninety-day outcomes were evaluated by blinded telephone interviewers. The primary outcome was functional status (Stroke Impact Scale-16); secondary outcomes were mortality, disability, medication adherence, depression, cognition, self-rated health, fatigue, care satisfaction, home blood pressure monitoring, and falls. The primary analysis was intention to treat. Of intervention hospitals, 58% had uninterrupted intervention delivery. Thirty-five percent of patients at intervention hospitals attended a COMPASS clinic visit. The primary outcome was measured for 59% of patients and was not significantly influenced by the intervention. Mean Stroke Impact Scale-16 (±SD) was 80.6±21.1 in TC versus 79.9±21.4 in usual care. Home blood pressure monitoring was self-reported by 72% of intervention patients versus 64% of usual care patients (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.21-1.70]). No other secondary outcomes differed. Conclusions Although designed according to the best available evidence with input from various stakeholders and consistent with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services TC policies, the COMPASS model of TC was not consistently incorporated into real-world health care. We found no significant effect of the intervention on functional status at 90 days post-discharge. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02588664