1,498 research outputs found
Model-independent Higgs coupling measurements at the LHC using the H \to ZZ \to 4l lineshape
We show that combining a direct measurement of the Higgs total width from the
H \to ZZ \to 4l lineshape with Higgs signal rate measurements allows Higgs
couplings to be extracted in a model-independent way from CERN Large Hadron
Collider (LHC) data. Using existing experimental studies with 30 fb-1 at one
detector of the 14 TeV LHC, we show that the couplings-squared of a 190 GeV
Higgs to WW, ZZ, and gg can be extracted with statistical precisions of about
10%, and a 95% confidence level upper limit on an unobserved component of the
Higgs decay width of about 22% of the SM Higgs width can be set. The method can
also be applied for heavier Higgs masses.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
Where Does the Density Localize? Convergent Behavior for Global Hybrids, Range Separation, and DFT+U
Approximate density functional theory (DFT) suffers from many-electron self-
interaction error, otherwise known as delocalization error, that may be
diagnosed and then corrected through elimination of the deviation from exact
piecewise linear behavior between integer electron numbers. Although paths to
correction of energetic delocalization error are well- established, the impact
of these corrections on the electron density is less well-studied. Here, we
compare the effect on density delocalization of DFT+U, global hybrid tuning,
and range- separated hybrid tuning on a diverse test set of 32 transition metal
complexes and observe the three methods to have qualitatively equivalent
effects on the ground state density. Regardless of valence orbital diffuseness
(i.e., from 2p to 5p), ligand electronegativity (i.e., from Al to O), basis set
(i.e., plane wave versus localized basis set), metal (i.e., Ti, Fe, Ni) and
spin state, or tuning method, we consistently observe substantial charge loss
at the metal and gain at ligand atoms (ca. 0.3-0.5 e or more). This charge loss
at the metal is preferentially from the minority spin, leading to increasing
magnetic moment as well. Using accurate wavefunction theory references, we
observe that a minimum error in partial charges and magnetic moments occur at
higher tuning parameters than typically employed to eliminate energetic
delocalization error. These observations motivate the need to develop
multi-faceted approximate-DFT error correction approaches that separately treat
density delocalization and energetic errors in order to recover both correct
density and magnetization properties.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figure
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Number of Pages: 4Integrative BiologyGeological Science
Teachers’ Increased Use of Informational Text: A Phenomenological Study of Five Primary Classrooms
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explain how the Common Core State Standards may have influenced teachers\u27 practices and philosophies regarding literacy instruction. Conducted in five kindergarten through second-grade classrooms within one elementary school, this research study collected semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and teacher-reported lesson plans over fourteen weeks. We observed that one of the largest instructional shifts due to the implementation of new standards was in the area of informational text use. This change came about not due to the volume of empirical research stating the benefits of such texts, but rather because of an educational policy change. These findings hold implications for K-12 schools and for teacher education programs which are, in many instances, caught between the research, policies, and practice
An Unfinished Canvas: Allocating Funding and Instructional Time for Elementary Arts Education
An Unfinished Canvas found that California's elementary schools face unique challenges inproviding all students with sequential, standards-based arts education. In particular, elementary principals identified inadequate funding and insufficient instructional time as significant barriers to the provision of arts education. For this study, we sought to further understand the impact of funding and time on elementary arts education. To do so, we examined the allocation of funding and instructional time in 10 schools across five states (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and California)
Understanding the Support Needs of Minority Women with Heart Disease
Background. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects minority women disproportionately. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease sought to determine effective ways to support non-Caucasian women with CVD. We surveyed women of color living with CVD to understand their unique CVD-related support needs.
Methods. 514 non-white women (100 Hispanic, 180 African American, 104 Asian, 107 Indigenous, 23 multiracial) with CVD from 46 states responded to a 55-question survey (online/telephone, English/Spanish) 8/28/15 through 9/11/15.
Results. Among respondents not currently attending support groups, 80% were interested in attending support groups. Of WomenHeart services, respondents were most interested in online message boards. Among new services, respondents were most interested in a support group with a medical expert facilitator. Women with tachycardia wanted a support group with others with the same condition. Those with cardiomyopathy preferred to meet most frequently. Respondents most preferred a monthly support group with flexible membership. Community venues were the most popular location for support groups. Indigenous populations had the lowest CVD knowledge and self-efficacy levels, were most likely to prefer a support group with women of their own race, and wished to meet with their groups most frequently. Multiracial women were most likely to have never been told about clinical trials and were least interested in support groups. Hispanics had the least social support.
Conclusions. Minority women with CVD indicated interest in support groups. They may benefit from referrals to tailored support group types, including online platforms facilitated by medical experts, and to cardiac rehabilitation and clinical trials
Emergence of polarization in a sigmoidal bounded-confidence model of opinion dynamics
We study a nonlinear bounded-confidence model (BCM) of continuous-time
opinion dynamics on networks with both persuadable individuals and zealots. The
model is parameterized by a scalar , which controls the steepness of a
smooth influence function. This influence function encodes the relative weights
that nodes place on the opinions of other nodes. When , this
influence function recovers Taylor's averaging model; when , the influence function converges to that of a modified
Hegselmann--Krause (HK) BCM. Unlike the classical HK model, however, our
sigmoidal bounded-confidence model (SBCM) is smooth for any finite . We
show that the set of steady states of our SBCM is qualitatively similar to that
of the Taylor model when is small and that the set of steady states
approaches a subset of the set of steady states of a modified HK model as
. For several special graph topologies, we give
analytical descriptions of important features of the space of steady states. A
notable result is a closed-form relationship between the stability of a
polarized state and the graph topology in a simple model of echo chambers in
social networks. Because the influence function of our BCM is smooth, we are
able to study it with linear stability analysis, which is difficult to employ
with the usual discontinuous influence functions in BCMs.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figure
Human Islet Response to Selected Type 1 Diabetes-Associated Bacteria: A Transcriptome-Based Study
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that results from destruction of pancreatic β-cells. T1D subjects were recently shown to harbor distinct intestinal microbiome profiles. Based on these findings, the role of gut bacteria in T1D is being intensively investigated. The mechanism connecting intestinal microbial homeostasis with the development of T1D is unknown. Specific gut bacteria such as Bacteroides dorei (BD) and Ruminococcus gnavus (RG) show markedly increased abundance prior to the development of autoimmunity. One hypothesis is that these bacteria might traverse the damaged gut barrier, and their constituents elicit a response from human islets that causes metabolic abnormalities and inflammation. We have tested this hypothesis by exposing human islets to BD and RG in vitro, after which RNA-Seq analysis was performed. The bacteria altered expression of many islet genes. The commonly upregulated genes by these bacteria were cytokines, chemokines and enzymes, suggesting a significant effect of gut bacteria on islet antimicrobial and biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, each bacteria displayed a unique set of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Ingenuity pathway analysis of DEGs revealed that top activated pathways and diseases included TREM1 signaling and inflammatory response, illustrating the ability of bacteria to induce islet inflammation. The increased levels of selected factors were confirmed using immunoblotting and ELISA methods. Our data demonstrate that islets produce a complex anti-bacterial response. The response includes both symbiotic and pathogenic aspects. Both oxidative damage and leukocyte recruitment factors were prominent, which could induce beta cell damage and subsequent autoimmunity
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