T and CPT in B-Factories

For the Bd meson system, CP, T and CPT indirect violation can be described using two physical parameters, epsilon and delta. The traditional observables based on flavour tag and used in the kaon system, are not helpful in the Bd case, and new asymmetries have to be introduced. Here such alternative observables, based on CP tag, are presented, together with the first estimation on the sensitivity that current asymmetric B-factories can achieve on their measurement.Comment: 7 pages, Talk given at the International Europhysics conference on HEP, HEP2001, July 2001, Budapest (Hungary

Electromagnetic dipole moments of charged baryons with bent crystals at the LHC

We propose a unique program of measurements of electric and magnetic dipole moments of charm, beauty and strange charged baryons at the LHC, based on the phenomenon of spin precession of channeled particles in bent crystals. Studies of crystal channeling and spin precession of positively- and negatively-charged particles are presented, along with feasibility studies and expected sensitivities for the proposed experiment using a layout based on the LHCb detector.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

Novel method for the direct measurement of the tau lepton dipole moments

A novel method for the direct measurement of the elusive magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau lepton is presented. The experimental approach relies on the production of tau+ leptons from Ds+ -> tau+ nu_tau decays, originated in fixed-target collisions at the LHC. A sample of polarized tau+ leptons is kinematically selected and subsequently channeled in a bent crystal. The magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau+ lepton are measured by determining the rotation of the spin-polarization vector induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental technique is discussed along with the expected sensitivities.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 2 pages supplemental material. Accepted by Phys.Rev.Let

Search for new physics via baryon EDM at LHC

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles provide powerful probes for physics beyond the Standard Model. We propose to search for the EDM of strange and charm baryons at LHC, extending the ongoing experimental program on the neutron, muon, atoms, molecules and light nuclei. The EDM of strange $\Lambda$ baryons, selected from weak decays of charm baryons produced in pp collisions at LHC, can be determined by studying the spin precession in the magnetic field of the detector tracking system. A test of CPT symmetry can be performed by measuring the magnetic dipole moment of $\Lambda$ and $\overline{\Lambda}$ baryons. For short-lived $\Lambda_c^+$ and $\Xi_c^+$ baryons, to be produced in a fixed-target experiment using the 7 TeV LHC beam and channeled in a bent crystal, the spin precession is induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental layout based on the LHCb detector and the expected sensitivities in the coming years are discussed.Comment: Proceeding of Lepton Photon Interactions at High Energies (2017

Association of patients' geographic origins with viral hepatitis co-infection patterns, Spain

To determine if hepatitis C virus seropositivity and active hepatitis B virus infection in HIV-positive patients vary with patients' geographic origins, we studied co-infections in HIV-seropositive adults. Active hepatitis B infection was more prevalent in persons from Africa, and hepatitis C seropositivity was more common in persons from eastern Europe.Ministerio de Sanidad. Instituto de Salud Carlos II

Validity of a self-reported diagnosis of depression among participants in a cohort study using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I).

Abstract Background: Depression assessment in population studies is usually based on depressive symptoms scales. However, the use of scales could lead to the choice of an arbitrary cut-off point depending on the sample characteristics and on the patient diagnosis. Thus, the use of a medical diagnosis of depression could be a more appropriate approach. Objective: To validate a self-reported physician diagnosis of depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) as Gold Standard and to assess the factors associated to a valid self-reported diagnosis. Methods: The SUN Project is a cohort study based on university graduates followed-up through postal questionnaires. The response to the question included in the questionnaire: Have you ever been diagnosed of depression by a physician? was compared to that obtained through the SCID-I applied by a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. The percentages of confirmed depression and non-depression were assessed for the overall sample and according to several characteristics. Logistic regression models were fitted to ascertain the association between different factors and a correct classification regarding depression status. Results: The percentage of confirmed depression was 74.2%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) =63.3-85.1. Out of 42 participants who did not report a depression diagnosis in the questionnaire, 34 were free of the disease (%confirmed non-depression=81.1%; 95% CI=69.1- 92.9). The probability of being a true positive was higher among ex- smokers and non-smokers and among those overweight or obese but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The validity of a self-reported diagnosis of depression in the SUN cohort is adequate. Thus, this question about depression diagnosis could be used in further investigations regarding this disease in this graduate cohort study

On the search for the electric dipole moment of strange and charm baryons at LHC

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) of fundamental particles provide powerful probes for physics beyond the Standard Model. We propose to search for the EDM of strange and charm baryons at LHC, extending the ongoing experimental program on the neutron, muon, atoms, molecules and light nuclei. The EDM of strange \u39b baryons, selected from weak decays of charm baryons produced in pp collisions at LHC, can be determined by studying the spin precession in the magnetic field of the detector tracking system. A test of CPT symmetry can be performed by measuring the magnetic dipole moment of \u39b and \u39b\uaf baryons. For short-lived \u39bc+ and \u39ec+ baryons, to be produced in a fixed-target experiment using the 7 TeV LHC beam and channeled in a bent crystal, the spin precession is induced by the intense electromagnetic field between crystal atomic planes. The experimental layout based on the LHCb detector and the expected sensitivities in the coming years are discussed

Norepinephrine-evoked pain in fibromyalgia. A randomized pilot study [ISRCTN70707830]

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome displays sympathetically maintained pain features such as frequent post-traumatic onset and stimuli-independent pain accompanied by allodynia and paresthesias. Heart rate variability studies showed that fibromyalgia patients have changes consistent with ongoing sympathetic hyperactivity. Norepinephrine-evoked pain test is used to assess sympathetically maintained pain syndromes. Our objective was to define if fibromyalgia patients have norepinephrine-evoked pain. METHODS: Prospective double blind controlled study. Participants: Twenty FM patients, and two age/sex matched control groups; 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 20 healthy controls. Ten micrograms of norepinephrine diluted in 0.1 ml of saline solution were injected in a forearm. The contrasting substance, 0.1 ml of saline solution alone, was injected in the opposite forearm. Maximum local pain elicited during the 5 minutes post-injection was graded on a visual analog scale (VAS). Norepinephrine-evoked pain was diagnosed when norepinephrine injection induced greater pain than placebo injection. Intensity of norepinephrine-evoked pain was calculated as the difference between norepinephrine minus placebo-induced VAS scores. RESULTS: Norepinephrine-evoked pain was seen in 80 % of FM patients (95% confidence intervals 56.3 – 94.3%), in 30 % of rheumatoid arthritis patients and in 30 % of healthy controls (95% confidence intervals 11.9 – 54.3) (p < 0.05). Intensity of norepinephrine-evoked pain was greater in FM patients (mean ± SD 2.5 ± 2.5) when compared to rheumatoid arthritis patients (0.3 ± 0.7), and healthy controls (0.3 ± 0.8) p < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: Fibromyalgia patients have norepinephrine-evoked pain. This finding supports the hypothesis that fibromyalgia may be a sympathetically maintained pain syndrome