Markov Chain Monte Carlo Exploration of Minimal Supergravity with Implications for Dark Matter

We explore the full parameter space of Minimal Supergravity (mSUGRA), allowing all four continuous parameters (the scalar mass m_0, the gaugino mass m_1/2, the trilinear coupling A_0, and the ratio of Higgs vacuum expectation values tan beta) to vary freely. We apply current accelerator constraints on sparticle and Higgs masses, and on the b -> s gamma branching ratio, and discuss the impact of the constraints on g_mu-2. To study dark matter, we apply the WMAP constraint on the cold dark matter density. We develop Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques to explore the parameter regions consistent with WMAP, finding them to be considerably superior to previously used methods for exploring supersymmetric parameter spaces. Finally, we study the reach of current and future direct detection experiments in light of the WMAP constraint.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Search for the Standard Model Higgs boson produced in association with top quarks and decaying into bb¯ in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for the Standard Model Higgs boson produced in association with a top-quark pair, tt¯H, is presented. The analysis uses 20.3 fb−1 of pp collision data at √s=8TeV, collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during 2012. The search is designed for the H→bb¯ decay mode and uses events containing one or two electrons or muons. In order to improve the sensitivity of the search, events are categorised according to their jet and b-tagged jet multiplicities. A neural network is used to discriminate between signal and background events, the latter being dominated by tt¯+jets production. In the single-lepton channel, variables calculated using a matrix element method are included as inputs to the neural network to improve discrimination of the irreducible tt¯+bb¯ background. No significant excess of events above the background expectation is found and an observed (expected) limit of 3.4 (2.2) times the Standard Model cross section is obtained at 95% confidence level. The ratio of the measured tt¯H signal cross section to the Standard Model expectation is found to be μ=1.5±1.1 assuming a Higgs boson mass of 125GeV

Search for flavour-changing neutral current top-quark decays to qZ in pp collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at √ s =8 TeV

A search for flavour-changing neutral current decays of a top quark to an uptype quark (q = u, c) and the Standard Model Higgs boson, where the Higgs boson decays to bb¯, is presented. The analysis searches for top quark pair events in which one top quark decays to Wb, with the W boson decaying leptonically, and the other top quark decays to Hq. The search is based on pp collisions at √s=8 TeV recorded in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider and uses an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb−1. Data are analysed in the lepton-plus-jets final state, characterised by an isolated electron or muon and at least four jets. The search exploits the high multiplicity of b-quark jets characteristic of signal events, and employs a likelihood discriminant that uses the kinematic differences between the signal and the background, which is dominated by tt¯→WbWb decays. No significant excess of events above the background expectation is found, and observed (expected) 95% CL upper limits of 0.56% (0.42%) and 0.61% (0.64%) are derived for the t → Hc and t → Hu branching ratios respectively. The combination of this search with other ATLAS searches in the H → γγ and H → WW*, ττ decay modes significantly improves the sensitivity, yielding observed (expected) 95% CL upper limits on the t → Hc and t → Hu branching ratios of 0.46% (0.25%) and 0.45% (0.29%) respectively. The corresponding combined observed (expected) upper limits on the |λtcH| and |λtuH| couplings are 0.13 (0.10) and 0.13 (0.10) respectively. These are the most restrictive direct bounds on tqH interactions measured so far

Measurement of the t(t)over-bar production cross section in the all-jet final state in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

This article is the pre-print version of the final published paper that is available from the link below.A measurement is presented of the tt production cross section (σtt) in protonproton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7TeV, in the all-jet final state that contains at least six jets, two of which are tagged as originating from b quarks. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 3.54 fb-1, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The cross section is determined through an unbinned maximum likelihood fit of background and tt signal to the reconstructed mass spectrum of tt candidates in the data, in which events are subjected to a kinematic fit assuming a tt → W+bW-b → 6 jets hypothesis. The measurement yields σtt = 139±10 (stat.) ±26 (syst.) ±3 (lum.) pb, a result consistent with those obtained in other tt decay channels, as well as with predictions of the standard model

Homens e mulheres em vivência de violência conjugal: características socioeconômicas Hombres y mujeres que viven en violencia conyugal: aspectos socioeconómicos Men and women living in marital violence: socioeconomic aspects

Estudo quantitativo, descritivo, com o objetivo de identificar características socioeconômicas de mulheres e homens com história de violência conjugal em Salvador. Realizou-se entrevista com 50 homens e 50 mulheres. Quase todos se autodeclaram negros. Poucos concluíram o ensino médio. Os homens exercem ocupações no espaço do público e as mulheres realizam atividades predominantemente domésticas, mesmo fora de casa. Apenas 3 mulheres (6%) consideram-se independentes economicamente. Isso tem relação direta com o nível de escolaridade, por constituir-se pré-requisito para entrada no mercado de trabalho. A situação é pior para as mulheres pesquisadas, visto o pequeno número de anos de estudos e o alto grau de dependência financeira, que interfere no seu empoderamento para o enfrentamento da violência conjugal. Os profissionais de saúde, em especial da enfermagem, devem contemplar as iniquidades sociais e valorizar o contexto socioeconômico dos usuários no sentido de identificar situações que comprometam a condição de saúde da população.<br>Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo con el objetivo de identificar características socio-económicas de las mujeres y los hombres con un historial de violencia doméstica. Hemos llevado a cabo entrevistas con 50 hombres y 50 mujeres. Casi todos los sujetos se autodeclaran negros. La mayoría no terminó la escuela secundaria. Los hombres ejercen ocupaciones que son públicas y las mujeres realizan actividades domésticas. Sólo 3 mujeres (6%) se consideran independientes económicamente. El grado de dependencia económica está relacionado con el nivel de educación que se constituye como un requisito para la entrada en el mercado laboral. La situación es todavía más precaria para las mujeres con pocos años de estudios y un alto grado de dependencia financiera lo que interfiere con su empoderamiento para enfrentar la violencia conyugal. Los profesionales de la salud, deben abordar las desigualdades sociales para identificar situaciones que pongan en peligro el estado de salud de la población.<br>Quantitative and descriptive study aiming to identify socioeconomic characteristics of men and women with a history of domestic violence. We conducted interviews with 50 men and 50 women. Nearly all subjects were self-declared black. Most did not have too many years of school education. Men perform occupations that are public and women do predominantly domestic activities. Only 3 women (6%) are considered financially independent. The degree of economic dependence is directly related to the level of education that has been established as a prerequisite to enter into the labor market. The situation is even more precarious for women interviewed with fewer years of education and a high degree of financial dependence that interferes with their empowerment to address domestic violence. Health professionals, especially nurses, should address the social inequities and improve the socioeconomic context of users to identify situations that endanger the health of the population