103 research outputs found
Multi-Parton Interactions at the LHC
We review the recent progress in the theoretical description and experimental
observation of multiple parton interactions. Subjects covered include
experimental measurements of minimum bias interactions and of the underlying
event, models of soft physics implemented in Monte Carlo generators,
developments in the theoretical description of multiple parton interactions and
phenomenological studies of double parton scattering. This article stems from
contributions presented at the Helmholtz Alliance workshop on "Multi-Parton
Interactions at the LHC", DESY Hamburg, 13-15 September 2010.Comment: 68 page
Linear Collider Test of a Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay Mechanism in left-right Symmetric Theories
There are various diagrams leading to neutrinoless double beta decay in
left-right symmetric theories based on the gauge group SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R. All
can in principle be tested at a linear collider running in electron-electron
mode. We argue that the so-called lambda-diagram is the most promising one.
Taking the current limit on this diagram from double beta decay experiments, we
evaluate the relevant cross section e e to W_L W_R, where W_L is the Standard
Model W-boson and W_R the one from SU(2)_R. It is observable if the life-time
of double beta decay and the mass of the W_R are close to current limits. Beam
polarization effects and the high-energy behaviour of the cross section are
also analyzed.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures. v2: minor changes, references added, to be
published in EPJ
Sparticle Spectra and LHC Signatures for Large Volume String Compactifications
We study the supersymmetric particle spectra and LHC collider observables for
the large-volume string models with a fundamental scale of 10^{11} GeV that
arise in moduli-fixed string compactifications with branes and fluxes. The
presence of magnetic fluxes on the brane world volume, required for chirality,
perturb the soft terms away from those previously computed in the dilute-flux
limit. We use the difference in high-scale gauge couplings to estimate the
magnitude of this perturbation and study the potential effects of the magnetic
fluxes by generating many random spectra with the soft terms perturbed around
the dilute flux limit. Even with a 40% variation in the high-scale soft terms
the low-energy spectra take a clear and predictive form. The resulting spectra
are broadly similar to those arising on the SPS1a slope, but more degenerate.
In their minimal version the models predict the ratios of gaugino masses to be
M_1 : M_2 : M_3=(1.5 - 2) : 2 : 6, different to both mSUGRA and mirage
mediation. Among the scalars, the squarks tend to be lighter and the sleptons
heavier than for comparable mSUGRA models. We generate 10 fb^{-1} of sample LHC
data for the random spectra in order to study the range of collider
phenomenology that can occur. We perform a detailed mass reconstruction on one
example large-volume string model spectrum. 100 fb^{-1} of integrated
luminosity is sufficient to discriminate the model from mSUGRA and aspects of
the sparticle spectrum can be accurately reconstructed.Comment: 42 pages, 21 figures. Added references and discussion for section 3.
Slight changes in the tex
The reaction and the pair production in exclusive ultraperipheral ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions
We calculate the cross section for the
process. Two mechanisms are considered: box (two-loop) diagrams of the order of
and two-gluon exchange of the order of
. The first mechanism is calculated in the
heavy-quark non-relativistic approximation while the second case we also
include the effects of quantum motion of quarks in the bound state. The box
contribution dominates at energies close to the threshold ( 15 GeV) while
the two-gluon mechanism takes over at 15 GeV. Including the bound-state
wave function effects for the two-gluon exchange mechanism gives a cross
section 0.1 - 0.4 pb, substantially smaller than that in the non-relativistic
limit (0.4 - 1.6 pb). We also find a strong infrared sensitivity which
manifests itself in a rather strong dependence on the mass for the -channel
gluons. The elementary cross section is then used in the Equivalent Photon
Approximation (EPA) in the impact parameter space to calculate the cross
section for
reaction. Distributions in rapidity of the pair and invariant
mass of the pair are shown.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figure
Predicting negative health outcomes in older general practice patients with chronic illness: Rationale and development of the PROPERmed harmonized individual participant data database.
The prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy increases significantly with age and are associated with negative health consequences. However, most current interventions to optimize medication have failed to show significant effects on patient-relevant outcomes. This may be due to ineffectiveness of interventions themselves but may also reflect other factors: insufficient sample sizes, heterogeneity of population. To address this issue, the international PROPERmed collaboration was set up to obtain/synthesize individual participant data (IPD) from five cluster-randomized trials. The trials took place in Germany and The Netherlands and aimed to optimize medication in older general practice patients with chronic illness. PROPERmed is the first database of IPD to be drawn from multiple trials in this patient population and setting. It offers the opportunity to derive prognostic models with increased statistical power for prediction of patient-relevant outcomes resulting from the interplay of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. This may help patients from this heterogeneous group to be stratified according to risk and enable clinicians to identify patients that are likely to benefit most from resource/time-intensive interventions. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the rationale behind PROPERmed collaboration, characteristics of the included studies/participants, development of the harmonized IPD database and challenges faced during this process
Predicting negative health outcomes in older general practice patients with chronic illness: Rationale and development of the PROPERmed harmonized individual participant data database.
The prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy increases significantly with age and are associated with negative health consequences. However, most current interventions to optimize medication have failed to show significant effects on patient-relevant outcomes. This may be due to ineffectiveness of interventions themselves but may also reflect other factors: insufficient sample sizes, heterogeneity of population. To address this issue, the international PROPERmed collaboration was set up to obtain/synthesize individual participant data (IPD) from five cluster-randomized trials. The trials took place in Germany and The Netherlands and aimed to optimize medication in older general practice patients with chronic illness. PROPERmed is the first database of IPD to be drawn from multiple trials in this patient population and setting. It offers the opportunity to derive prognostic models with increased statistical power for prediction of patient-relevant outcomes resulting from the interplay of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. This may help patients from this heterogeneous group to be stratified according to risk and enable clinicians to identify patients that are likely to benefit most from resource/time-intensive interventions. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the rationale behind PROPERmed collaboration, characteristics of the included studies/participants, development of the harmonized IPD database and challenges faced during this process
Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts
Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007).
Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of âtotal Alâassumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold.
The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2âąâ, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2âą)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2âą radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 âą â and OHâą. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates.
Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants.
The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances
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