Boson Fusion and Higgs production at the LHC in six fermion final states with one charged lepton pair

Boson boson scattering and Higgs production in boson boson fusion will be actively investigated at the LHC. We have performed a parton level study of all processes of the type $q_1 q_2 \to q_3 q_4 q_5 q_6 l^+l^-$ using for the first time a full fledged six fermion Monte Carlo event generator which employs exact matrix elements at \O(\alpha_{em}^6). We have examined Higgs production in vector boson fusion followed by the decay chain $H\to ZZ\to l^+l^-jj$, including exactly all electroweak irreducible backgrounds. In the high mass region we have compared the case of a relatively light Higgs with the no-Higgs case. The integrated cross section for the latter case is more than twice that in the former for a minimum invariant mass of the $ZV$ pair of about 800 \GeV. We find, in a preliminary anlysis at parton level that, summing up the muon and the electron channels, about 30 events are expected in the light Higgs case for L=100 $fb^{-1}$.Comment: Final version published in Phys.Rev.

Simultaneous estimation of groundwater recharge and hydrodynamic parameters for groundwater flow modeling

International audienc

Multiple Discourses On Sexuality Implications For Translating Sexual Wellness Concept Into Action Strategies In A Kenyan Context

This Paper attemps to map, drawing mainly from HIV and AIDS prevention interventions, the multiple discourses on sexuality. The aim is to provide a picture of the challenges and opportunities in transforming the concept of sexual wellness currently being articulated. This is a move from the commonly held view of sexuality as a threat to health, to one promoting sexual wellness or positive view of sexuality. A postcolonial conceptual perspective is used to help grasp the multiple-realities emerging from the historical influences on Africa and for reflexivity on the ambivalences and representations of Africa and African culture including sexuality.Key words: sexuality, complexity, moral sensitivity, postcolonial, HIV and AI

Radical Scavenging Properties, Total Polyphenols and Flavonoids of Two Coloured Basidiomycetes from Four Pre-Determined Phases

Prospects to evaluate appropriate harvest phase for edible basidiomycetes providing optimal value added health promoting benefits are limited in mushroom entrepreneurship. Two colored edible basidiomycetes (golden yellow Pleurotus citrinopileatus singer and pink Pleurotus djamor R22) were selected for the determination of Total Flavonoid, Total phenols, and free radical scavenging properties at spawn mycelia and three predetermined phases. Using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, antioxidative properties of young basidiocarps were relatively higher with EC50 values lower than mature fruiting bodies (3.176±0.905mg/mL against 10.787±1.007mg/mL) for P. djamor while P. citrinopileatus reported 7.321±1.291mg/mL against 10.502±1.017mg/mL. Antioxidant capacity collaborated the phenolics determined using Folin Ciocalteu Assay, young basidiocarps of P. djamor recorded higher values 12.655±1.019 against mature 4.317±0.921 mgGAE/ g dry weight) with P. citrinopileatus reporting 8.726±0.801 against 4.512±0.310 mgGAE/ g dwt. A strong correlation between phenols and the scavenging properties in aqueous extraction (R2 =0.844, y=-0.700x +13.27 for yellow and R2 =0.983, y=-0.896x +14.29 for pink oyster) was noted. Flavonoid contents did not show a linear correlation with the period, antioxidative, or phenolics properties. Early basidiocarps and basidiospores of basidiomycetes contain bioactive molecules worth targeting for value addition in formulating food supplements or pharmaceutical products. Keywords: DPPH, growth phase, antioxidant, colored basidiomycetes, polyphenols, flavonoids, Pleurotus djamor R22, P. citrinopileatu

INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED VALUE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSUMER NATIONAL ETHNOCENTRISM AND WILLINGNESS TO BUY COMMERCIAL BANKING SERVICES IN KENYA

International marketing researchers have concentrated on establishing the influence of consumer national ethnocentrism on willingness to buy domestic products/services as opposed to foreign products/services. The purpose of this paper was to determine the mediating role of consumer perceived value on the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and the willingness to buy banking services in Kenya. A descriptive research design which was cross sectional in nature was used in the study. Data were gathered from 374 University Staff and Students in Kenya. Data analysis was done using binary logit regression. As a multi faceted construct, consumer national ethnocentrism was found to have a negative influence on the willingness to buy banking services from foreign owned banks. These related well with other previous literature. The relationship was however mediated by several factors. Consumer perceived value was found to have a partial mediation. Findings of the study implies that foreign investors in the banking industry should have pertinent localization strategies incorporated in their broad corporate strategies to guide them not only in repositioning their products in the domestic markets but also in adapting their operations so as to enhance domestic consumption

Enhanced neuronal Met signalling levels in ALS mice delay disease onset

Signalling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) coordinates basic cellular processes during development and in adulthood. Whereas aberrant RTK signalling can lead to cancer, reactivation of RTKs is often found following stress or cell damage. This has led to the common belief that RTKs can counteract degenerative processes and so strategies to exploit them for therapy have been extensively explored. An understanding of how RTK stimuli act at cellular levels is needed, however, to evaluate their mechanism of therapeutic action. In this study, we genetically explored the biological and functional significance of enhanced signalling by the Met RTK in neurons, in the context of a neurodegenerative disease. Conditional met-transgenic mice, namely Rosa26LacZ−stop−Met, have been engineered to trigger increased Met signalling in a temporal and tissue-specific regulated manner. Enhancing Met levels in neurons does not affect either motor neuron (MN) development or maintenance. In contrast, increased neuronal Met in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice prolongs life span, retards MN loss, and ameliorates motor performance, by selectively delaying disease onset. Thus, our studies highlight the properties of RTKs to counteract toxic signals in a disease characterized by dysfunction of multiple cell types by acting in MNs. Moreover, they emphasize the relevance of genetically assessing the effectiveness of agents targeting neurons during ALS evolution

Effects of maintenance lithium treatment on serum parathyroid hormone and calcium levels: a retrospective longitudinal naturalistic study

Objective: The aim of this retrospective longitudinal naturalistic study was to evaluate the effects of maintenance lithium treatment on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal naturalistic study design was used. Data were collected from the database of a tertiary psychiatric center covering the years 2010\u20132014. Included were bipolar patients who had never been exposed to lithium and had lithium started, and who had PTH, and total and ionized calcium levels available before and during lithium treatment. Paired t-tests were used to analyze changes in PTH and calcium levels. Linear regressions were per- formed, with mean lithium level and duration of lithium exposure as independent variables and change in PTH levels as dependent variable. Results: A total 31 patients were included. The mean duration of lithium treatment was 18.6\ub111.4 months. PTH levels significantly increased during lithium treatment (+13.55\ub114.20 pg/mL); the rate of hyperparathyroidism was 12.9%. Neither total nor ionized calcium increased from baseline to follow-up; none of our patients developed hypercalcemia. Linear regressions analyses did not show an effect of duration of lithium exposure or mean lithium level on PTH levels. Conclusion: Lithium-associated stimulation of parathyroid function is more common than assumed to date. Among parameters to be evaluated prior to lithium implementation, calcium and PTH should be added