Weak Mixing Angle in the Thomson Limit

We present a calculation of the weak mixing angle in the $\overline{\rm\small MS}$ renormalization scheme which is relevant for experiments performed at very low energies or momentum transfers. We include higher orders in the perturbative QCD expansion, as well as updated phenomenological and theoretical input, and obtain the result $\sin^{2}{\theta}_W(0) = 0.23868(5)(2)$ for the reference values $\alpha_s(M_Z) = 0.1182$ and $m_c(m_c) = 1.272$ GeV. The first quoted error is from the current Standard Model evaluation of the mixing angle at the $Z$ boson mass scale. The second error represents the theoretical and parametric uncertainties induced by the evolution to the Thomson limit and is discussed in detail.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures; one formula extended with corresponding very small numerical changes; one table and four references adde

The value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in the diagnosis and management of angina and myocardial infarction : a probabilistic analysis

Background and Aim. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in the United Kingdom, accounting for more than 120,000 deaths in 2001, among the highest rates in the world. This study reports an economic evaluation of single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (SPECT) for the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods. Strategies involving SPECT with and without stress electrocardiography (ECG) and coronary angiography (CA) were compared to diagnostic strategies not involving SPECT. The diagnosis decision was modelled with a decision tree model and long-term costs and consequences using a Markov model. Data to populate the models were obtained from a series of systematic reviews. Unlike earlier evaluations, a probabilistic analysis was included to assess the statistical imprecision of the results. The results are presented in terms of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Results. At prevalence levels of CAD of 10.5%, SPECT-based strategies are costeffective; ECG-CA is highly unlikely to be optimal. At a ceiling ratio of _20,000 per QALY, SPECT-CA has a 90% likelihood of being optimal. Beyond this threshold, this strategy becomes less likely to be cost-effective. At more than _75,000 per QALY, coronary angiography is most likely to be optimal. For higher levels of prevalence (around 50%) and more than a _10,000 per QALY threshold, coronary angiography is the optimal decision. Conclusions. SPECTbased strategies are likely to be cost-effective when risk of CAD is modest (10.5%). Sensitivity analyses show these strategies dominated non-SPECT-based strategies for risk of CAD up to 4%. At higher levels of prevalence, invasive strategies may become worthwhile. Finally, sensitivity analyses show stress echocardiography as a potentially costeffective option, and further research to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of echocardiography should also be performed.This article was developed from a Technology Assessment Review conducted on behalf of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and was funded by the Department of Health on a grant administered by the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment. The Health Economics Research Unit and the Health Services Research Unit are core funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department.Peer reviewedAuthor versio

Ley anticontrabando (l.1762 de 2015): estudio sobre los efectos respecto al artículo 323 del Código Penal

Artículo de reflexiónEsta investigación se ocupa del estudio sobre los efectos de la nueva ley anticontrabando, puntualmente en la ampliación del tipo penal de lavado de activos consagrado en el artículo 323 del código penal, por la cual se incluyen como delitos subyacentes al lavado de activos las conductas punibles asociadas al contrabando, generando un concepto de criminalidad extenso pero asignando procedimientos insuficientes e inadecuados para la prevención de estas conductas ya que el lavado de activos y el contrabando son dos delitos que afectan de manera directa e indirecta a la economía colombiana, gracias a que por la naturaleza de su manejo resulta difícil tanto el seguimiento de la actividad como su registro, lo que ocasiona distorsiones en el mercado y en las cifras de crecimiento real de la economía.PregradoAbogad

English Language for successful integration : Learning from the Bologna process.

The Bologna Process aims to provide tools to connect the European national educational systems. The purpose of this paper is to analyze what we have learned and what challenges remain today. Since the beginning all participating countries had to agree on a comparable three cycle degree system for undergraduates (Bachelor degrees or Grades) and graduates (Master and PhD degrees) in order to create compatibility and comparability for achieving international competitiveness and a worldwide degree of attractiveness in higher education. The Bologna Declaration, originally signed by 29 countries, has now reached 47 countries, engaged in the process of creating a European Higher Education Area (EHEA), searching to be competitive to launch the European Academia of the 21st Century. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) has turned out to be the perfect tool to design, describe, and deliver programs and award higher education qualifications. Markets and European universities are going to be able to compete overseas in the future if the new regulations let them to create profitable business in the education area. As expected, European Universities have responded promptly and actively to the call. In the case of small countries like Spain, it is an opportunity to internationalize Spanish universities; moreover, there is the opportunity for the expansion and consolidation of the Spanish language as the second most important foreign language. The 2009 Report highlights that early teaching of a foreign language is advancing in Europe. In lower secondary education, earlier teaching of English is becoming widespread; and the three Nordic countries, Germany, and the UK are the highest innovation performers. The result is a system of higher education more competitive and more attractive for Europeans and non-Europeans students and scholars. Reform is needed today if Europe wants to match the performance of the best performing higher education systems in the world. The English language seems to be the response in the search for a common European answer to solve common European problems

Economic evaluation of screening for open angle glaucoma

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the United Kingdom, given that OAG is an important cause of blindness worldwide. Methods: A Markov model was developed to estimate lifetime costs and benefits of a cohort of patients facing, alternatively, screening or current opportunistic case finding strategies. Strategies, varying in how screening would be organized (e.g., invitation for assessment by a glaucoma-trained optometrist [GO] or for simple test assessment by a technician) were developed, and allowed for the progression of OAG and treatment effects. Data inputs were obtained from systematic reviews. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Screening was more likely to be cost-effective as prevalence increased, for 40 year olds compared with 60 or 75 year olds, when the re-screening interval was greater (10 years), and for the technician strategy compared with the GO strategy. For each age cohort and at prevalence levels of ≤1 percent, the likelihood that either screening strategy would be more cost-effective than current practice was small. For those 40 years of age, “technician screening” compared with current practice has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) that society might be willing to pay when prevalence is 6 percent to 10 percent and at over 10 percent for 60 year olds. In the United Kingdom, the age specific prevalence of OAG is much lower. Screening by GO, at any age or prevalence level, was not associated with an ICER < £30,000. Conclusions: Population screening for OAG is unlikely to be cost-effective but could be for specific subgroups at higher risk.This study was developed from a health technology assessment on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of screening for open-angle glaucoma (OAG), funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme (project no. 04/08/02).Peer reviewedAuthor versio

Developing the Intervention and Outcome Components of a Proposed Randomised Controlled trial (RCT) of a National Screening Programme for Open Angle Glaucoma (OAG) : Medical Research Council funded trial platform study (G0701759): Study protocol

Postprin

Economic evaluation of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer

Objectives: To assess the cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery compared with open surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Methods: A Markov model was developed to model cost-effectiveness over 25 years. Data on the clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic and open surgery for colorectal cancer were obtained from a systematic review of the literature. Data on costs came from a systematic review of economic evaluations and from published sources. The outcomes of the model were presented as the incremental cost per life year gained and using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves (CEACs) to illustrate the likelihood that a treatment was cost-effective at various threshold values for society’s willingness to pay for an additional life year. Results: Laparoscopic surgery was on average £300 more costly and slightly less effective than open surgery and had a 30% chance of being cost-effective if society is willing to pay £30,000 for a life year. One interpretation of the available data suggests equal survival and disease-free survival. Making this assumption, laparoscopic surgery had a greater chance of being considered cost-effective. Presenting the results as incremental cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) made no difference to the results, as utility data were poor. Evidence suggests short-term benefits following laparoscopic repair. This benefit would have to be at least 0.01 of a QALY for laparoscopic surgery to be considered cost-effective. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery is likely to be associated with short-term quality of life benefits, similar long-term outcomes and an additional £300 per patient. A judgement is required as to whether the short-term benefits are worth this extra cost.Peer reviewedAuthor versio

Modelling Complex Dynamics and Distributed Generation of Knowledge with Bacterial-Based Algorithms

This study aimed to test that connected and heterogeneous societies with peer-to-peer (P2P) exchanges are more resilient than centralized and homogeneous ones. In agent-based modeling, agents with bounded rationality interact in a common environment guided by local rules, leading to Complex Adaptive Systems that are named 'artificial societies'. These simplified models of human societies grow from the bottom up in computational environments and can be used as a laboratory to test some hypotheses. We have demonstrated that in a model based on free interactions among autonomous agents, optimal results emerge by incrementing diversity and decentralization of communication structures, as much as in real societies Internet is leading to the emergence of improvements in collective intelligence. In order to achieve a real “Knowledge Society”, what we have named a “P2P Society”, it is necessary to increase decentralization and heterogeneity through information policies, distributed communication networks, open e-learning approaches and initiatives like public domain licenses, free software and open data

Biological Peer-to-Peer Networks: From Bacterial Communication to the Development of Synthetic Distributed Systems

Poster presented at the ESC-EBSCO Conference: Biology of plastids: Towards a blueprint for synthetic organelles which took place in 2014 June 21-23, in Pultusk (POLAND). The Web Site of the event: http://bioplastids.esf.org/This communication was supported by a European Science Foundation gran