Stabilizing the electroweak vacuum by higher dimensional operators in a Higgs-Yukawa model

The Higgs boson discovery at the LHC with a mass of approximately 126 GeV suggests, that the electroweak vacuum of the standard model may be metastable at very high energies. However, any new physics beyond the standard model can change this picture. We want to address this important question within a lattice Higgs-Yukawa model as the limit of the standard model (SM). In this framework we will probe the effect of a higher dimensional operator for which we take a $(\phi^{\dagger}\phi)^3$-term. Such a term could easily originate as a remnant of physics beyond the SM at very large scales. As a first step we investigate the phase diagram of the model including such a $(\phi^{\dagger}\phi)^3$ operator. Exploratory results suggest the existence of regions in parameter space where first order transitions turn to second order ones, indicating the existence of a tri-critical line. We will explore the phase structure and the consequences for the stability of the SM, both analytically by investigating the constraint effective potential in lattice perturbation theory, and by studying the system non-perturbatively using lattice simulations.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures; Proceedings of the 31st International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory - LATTICE 201

Hydrothermal Ethanol Flames in Co-Flow Jets

Results on the autoignition and stabilization of ethanol hydrothermal flames in a Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) reactor operating at constant pressure are reported. The flames are observed as luminous reaction zones occurring in supercritical water; i.e., water at conditions above its critical point (approximately 22 MPa and 374 C). A co-flow injector is used to inject fuel (inner flow), comprising an aqueous solution ranging from 20%-v to 50%-v ethanol, and air (annular flow) into a reactor filled with supercritical water at approximately 24.3 MPa and 425 C. Results show hydrothermal flames are autoignited and form diffusion flames which exhibit laminar and/or turbulent features depending upon flow conditions. Two orthogonal camera views are used; one providing a backlit shadowgraphic image of the co-flow jet and the other providing color images of the flame. In addition, spectroscopic measurements of flame emissions in the UV and visible spectrum are discussed

Knowledge and awareness of HPV virus and HPV vaccine among medical students

Background: Cervical cancer remains one of the major public health problems in India. India accounts for nearly one third of global cancer deaths with cumulative risk of developing cancer cervix is 1.6% and cumulative death risk is 1%. Infection with human papilloma virus increases the risk of acquisition of cervical cancer. High risk HPV such as HPV 16 and 18 are commonly associated with invasive cervical cancer. Implementation of HPV vaccination is a primary prevention strategy.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at SSIMS and RC, Davangere, Karnataka., including the first year medical students (148 students recruited). A 32-point questionnaire was administered to assess the knowledge, attitude and awareness regarding HPV virus and vaccination. The data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed using EpiInfo software.Results: Majority of the students were aware about the virus and the infection it causes. Only 50% of the students were aware of spectrum of malignancies HPV causes. 50% of the participants opined that HPV vaccination protects against cervical cancer. Students were more sceptical about the side effects caused by the vaccine. Only 35% of the students knew the right time to vaccinate. Almost all participants strongly felt the need to spread the information regarding HPV infection across the general public.Conclusions: Knowledge about HPV virus such as its role in causing cancer, subtypes, pathogenic mechanism and HPV vaccination is crucial. Being future physicians and their responsibility towards community, medical students are expected to know the basics about HPV virus and vaccine

Controlled Release of Vancomycin and Tigecycline from an Orthopaedic Implant Coating Prevents Staphylococcus aureus Infection in an Open Fracture Animal Model.

Introduction:Treatment of open fractures routinely involves multiple surgeries and delayed definitive fracture fixation because of concern for infection. If implants were made less susceptible to infection, a one-stage procedure with intramedullary nailing would be more feasible, which would reduce morbidity and improve outcomes. Methods:In this study, a novel open fracture mouse model was developed using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and single-stage intramedullary fixation. The model was used to evaluate whether implants coated with a novel "smart" polymer coating containing vancomycin or tigecycline would be colonized by bacteria in an open fracture model infected with S. aureus. In vivo bioluminescence, ex vivo CFUs, and X-ray images were evaluated over a 42-day postoperative period. Results:We found evidence of a markedly decreased bacterial burden with the local release of vancomycin and tigecycline from the PEG-PPS polymer compared to polymer alone. Vancomycin was released in a controlled fashion and maintained local drug concentrations above the minimum inhibition concentration for S. aureus for greater than 7 days postoperatively. Bacteria were reduced 139-fold from implants containing vancomycin and undetected from the bone and soft tissue. Tigecycline coatings led to a 5991-fold reduction in bacteria isolated from bone and soft tissue and 15-fold reduction on the implants compared to polymer alone. Antibiotic coatings also prevented osteomyelitis and implant loosening as observed on X-ray. Conclusion:Vancomycin and tigecycline can be encapsulated in a polymer coating and released over time to maintain therapeutic levels during the perioperative period. Our results suggest that antibiotic coatings can be used to prevent implant infection and osteomyelitis in the setting of open fracture. This novel open fracture mouse model can be used as a powerful in vivo preclinical tool to evaluate and optimize the treatment of open fractures before further studies in humans

Free convective combustion on vertical surfaces-variable property analysis and experiments

This paper treats the problem of free convective combustion of near vertical fuel surfaces in quiescent oxidant atmosphere, both theoretically and experimentally. The theory improves on existing theories in terms of taking into account variable thermodynamic and transport properties. The locally similar solutions obtained numerically are compared with earlier predictions as well as experiments on mass burn rate, flame stand off and other features. While comparison in the case of some fuels seems bettered by the use of variable properties, the not-too good a comparision in other cases is traced to experimental inaccuracies more particularly related to the non-achievement of steady combustion. To remedy this, an experimental apparatus was carefully designed and the results of these experiments show good comparison with theoretical predictions in all cases considered

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in humans - Results in 59 consecutive patients

Background - Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction with valved conduits in infancy and childhood leads to reintervention for pulmonary regurgitation and stenosis in later life.Methods and Results - Patients with pulmonary regurgitation with or without stenosis after repair of congenital heart disease had percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI). Mortality, hemodynamic improvement, freedom from explantation, and subjective and objective changes in exercise tolerance were end points. PPVI was performed successfully in 58 patients, 32 male, with a median age of 16 years and median weight of 56 kg. The majority had a variant of tetralogy of Fallot (n = 36), or transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis (n = 8). The right ventricular (RV) pressure (64.4 +/- 17.2 to 50.4 +/- 14 mm Hg, P < 0.001), RVOT gradient (33 +/- 24.6 to 19.5 +/- 15.3, P < 0.001), and pulmonary regurgitation ( PR) (grade 2 of greater before, none greater than grade 2 after, P < 0.001) decreased significantly after PPVI. MRI showed significant reduction in PR fraction (21 +/- 13% versus 3 +/- 4%, P < 0.001) and in RV end-diastolic volume (EDV) (94 +/- 28 versus 82 +/- 24 mL (.) beat(-1) (.) m(-2), P < 0.001) and a significant increase in left ventricular EDV ( 64 +/- 12 versus 71 +/- 13 mL (.) beat(-1.) m(-2), P = 0.005) and effective RV stroke volume ( 37 +/- 7 versus 42 +/- 9 mL (.) beat(-1) (.) m(-2), P = 0.006) in 28 patients (age 19 +/- 8 years). A further 16 subjects, on metabolic exercise testing, showed significant improvement in V(O2)max (26 +/- 7 versus 29 +/- 6 mL (.) kg(-1) (.) min(-1), P < 0.001). There was no mortality.Conclusions - PPVI is feasible at low risk, with quantifiable improvement in MRI-defined ventricular parameters and pulmonary regurgitation, and results in subjective and objective improvement in exercise capacity

Efficient and realistic device modeling from atomic detail to the nanoscale

As semiconductor devices scale to new dimensions, the materials and designs become more dependent on atomic details. NEMO5 is a nanoelectronics modeling package designed for comprehending the critical multi-scale, multi-physics phenomena through efficient computational approaches and quantitatively modeling new generations of nanoelectronic devices as well as predicting novel device architectures and phenomena. This article seeks to provide updates on the current status of the tool and new functionality, including advances in quantum transport simulations and with materials such as metals, topological insulators, and piezoelectrics.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Introduction of Multipurpose Tree Species for Improving the Productivity of Grasslands in the Tropics

To improve the productivity of the Sahelian pastures, 10 different tree species were introduced and cattle, sheep and goats were allowed to graze. After a year of establishment, survival rate of different species ranged from 6% to 68%. Acacia senegal, Acacia seyal, Acacia nilotica, Combretum aculeata and Prosopis cineraria performed well and the impact of browsing by goats was severe