Discovery potential for Higgs bosons beyond the SM

The discovery potential of the CMS detector for the MSSM neutral and charged Higgs bosons at the LHC is presented based on studies with full detector simulation and event reconstruction of the principal discovery channels.Comment: Prepared for International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics (EPS-HEP2007), Manchester, England, 19-25 Jul 200

Heavy MSSM Higgs Bosons at CMS: "LHC wedge" and Higgs-Mass Precision

The search for MSSM Higgs bosons will be an important goal at the LHC. In order to analyze the search reach of the CMS experiment for the heavy neutral MSSM Higgs bosons, we combine the latest results for the CMS experimental sensitivities based on full simulation studies with state-of-the-art theoretical predictions of MSSM Higgs-boson properties. The experimental analyses are done assuming an integrated luminosity of 30 or 60 fb^-1. The results are interpreted as 5 \si discovery contours in MSSM M_A-tan_beta benchmark scenarios. Special emphasis is put on the variation of the Higgs mixing parameter mu. While the variation of mu can shift the prospective discovery reach (and correspondingly the ``LHC wedge'' region) by about Delta tan_beta= 10, the discovery reach is rather stable with respect to the impact of other supersymmetric parameters. Within the discovery region we analyze the accuracy with which the masses of the heavy neutral Higgs bosons can be determined. An accuracy of 1-4% should be achievable, depending on M_A and tan_beta.Comment: Talk given by G.W. at EPS07 (Manchester, July 2007) and talk given by S.H. at SUSY07 (Karlsruhe, July 2007). 4 pages, 2 figure

Hybrid rescue technique after failure of a standard multibranched stent graft

A 78-year-old woman presented with type IIIC and IIID endoleaks after endovascular treatment for a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Mating between the ruptured segments of superior mesenteric artery stent graft was performed. After failed attempts at relining the right renal artery stent graft, a hybrid approach was used to connect the side branch to the target vessel: a stent graft was deployed into the side branch of the main graft and it was temporarily occluded with a balloon. After opening the sac, a stent graft was deployed into the right renal artery and the two stent grafts were connected with a running suture. Follow-up examination performed 1 month postoperatively by computed tomography imaging confirmed the effectiveness of this treatment

Autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue for the treatment of diabetic foot minor amputations: A randomized controlled single-center clinical trial (MiFrAADiF)

Background: The diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus and often develops severe effects that can lead to amputation. A non-healing "minor" amputation often precedes a major amputation resulting in a negative impact on the function and quality of life of the patients. Stem cell-based therapies have emerged as a promising option to improve healing, and the adipose tissue is an abundant and easy to access source. The injection of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue at the amputation stump of a diabetic population undergoing a lower limb minor amputation was evaluated and compared with the standard care. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial with two arms (parallel assignment) and no masking, 114 patients undergoing a lower limb minor amputation were randomized to standard of care or to micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection prepared using a minimal manipulation technique (Lipogems®) in a closed system. Clinical outcomes were determined monthly up to 6 months. Primary endpoint of the study was the evaluation of the healing rate and time after the minor amputation. Secondary endpoints included the assessment of safety, feasibility, technical success, relapse rate, skin tropism, and intensity of pain. Results: At 6 months, 80% of the micro-fragmented adipose tissue-treated feet healed and 20% failed as compared with the control group where 46% healed and 54% failed (p = 0.0064). No treatment-related adverse events nor relapses were documented, and technical success was achieved in all cases. The skin tropism was improved in the treatment group, and the pain scale did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this randomized controlled trial suggest that the local injection of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue is a safe and valid therapeutic option able to improve healing rate following minor amputations of irreversible DFU. The technique overcomes several stem cell therapy-related criticisms and its potential in wound care should be better evaluated and the therapeutic indications could be expanded. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03276312. Date of registration: September 8, 2017 (retrospectively registered)

Kit didáctico para la enseñanza de sistemas embebidos

Este artículo presenta un modelo de herramienta didáctica para el abordaje de los sistemas digitales embebidos en cursos universitarios. Se comienza estudiando el estado del arte con una visión crítica, analizando las estrategias utilizadas en el ámbito profesional y académico. Se evalúan distintas alternativas para implementación, entre ellas el impacto que los dispositivos lógicos programables han producido en la disciplina. Finalmente se presentan algunas ideas para la construcción de una herramienta didáctica útil y eficiente.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Kit didáctico para la enseñanza de sistemas embebidos

Este artículo presenta un modelo de herramienta didáctica para el abordaje de los sistemas digitales embebidos en cursos universitarios. Se comienza estudiando el estado del arte con una visión crítica, analizando las estrategias utilizadas en el ámbito profesional y académico. Se evalúan distintas alternativas para implementación, entre ellas el impacto que los dispositivos lógicos programables han producido en la disciplina. Finalmente se presentan algunas ideas para la construcción de una herramienta didáctica útil y eficiente.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Displacement power spectrum measurement of a macroscopic optomechanical system at thermal equilibrium

The mirror relative motion of a suspended Fabry-Perot cavity is studied in the frequency range 3-10 Hz. The experimental measurements presented in this paper, have been performed at the Low Frequency Facility, a high finesse optical cavity 1 cm long suspended to a mechanical seismic isolation system identical to that one used in the VIRGO experiment. The measured relative displacement power spectrum is compatible with a system at thermal equilibrium within its environmental. In the frequency region above 3 Hz, where seismic noise contamination is negligible, the measurement distribution is stationary and Gaussian, as expected for a system at thermal equilibrium. Through a simple mechanical model it is shown that: applying the fluctuation dissipation theorem the measured power spectrum is reproduced below 90 Hz and noise induced by external sources are below the measurement.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, to be submitte

Inertial control of the mirror suspensions of the VIRGO interferometer for gravitational wave detection

In order to achieve full detection sensitivity at low frequencies, the mirrors of interferometric gravitational wave detectors must be isolated from seismic noise. The VIRGO vibration isolator, called 'superattenuator', is fully effective at frequencies above 4 Hz. Nevertheless, the residual motion of the mirror at the mechanical resonant frequencies of the system are too large for the interferometer locking system and must be damped. A multidimensional feedback system, using inertial sensors and digital processing, has been designed for this purpose. An experimental procedure for determining the feedback control of the system has been defined. In this paper a full description of the system is given and experimental results are presented.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication on Review of Scientific Instrument

Protective green cover enhances soil respiration and native mycorrhizal potential compared with soil tillage in a high-density olive orchard in a long term study

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), living in symbiosis with most food crops, improve plant growth and nutrition and provide fundamental ecosystem services. Here, the possibility of increasing root density and native AMF activity through appropriate soil management practices was investigated, comparing the long-term (10 years) effects of a permanent green cover (GC) with shallow tillage (ST) in a high-density olive orchard in a Mediterranean environment. Olive root density, AMF colonization, and soil mycorrhizal inoculum potential (MIP) were determined after trench excavations at different soil depths. Soil respiration was determined by infra-red gas analysis. The activity of native AMF, as assessed by MIP bioassay, was higher in GC plots than in ST ones. Olive roots were well colonized by AMF in both management systems. Soil respiration rates of GC plots were often higher than those of ST, whereas soil moisture and temperature in the topsoil were similar in both treatments. Soil depth significantly affected root density, which peaked at 0.2 m soil depth in both soil treatments. The maintenance of a permanent plant cover appears to be a better option than shallow tillage as a soil management practice to preserve biological soil fertility in olive orchards