2,634 research outputs found
Traceability to ensure food safety and consumer protection as typified by case studies of three meat processing plants
Ensuring food safety is a legal obligation of the manufacturer or of the entity that places the product on sale. Traceability is one of the tools that are used to ensure food safety. It allows the withdrawal of a dangerous or non-compliant product from the market and determines the source of a threat. The aim of the study was to compare the functioning and effectiveness of traceability systems in selected approved meat industry plants. The system functioning in a large meat processing plant, in which the circulation of documents was implemented in a computer system, was compared with two smaller ones, in which paper documentation was carried out, but supported by a computer system. In these plants, the traceability system was based on internal procedures. Properly developed traceability procedures and simulations support and enable response in a crisis. Computer systems streamline and facilitate the traceability process. However, the comparative analysis showed that the use of paper records allowed for efficient identification of the source of the threat. The possibility of performing product traceability was confirmed in these plants. Internal markings and codes and documentation flow, staff training, and awareness proved helpful
Blind Spots for Direct Detection with Simplified DM Models and the LHC
Using the existing simplified model framework, we build several dark matter
models which have suppressed spin-independent scattering cross section. We show
that the scattering cross section can vanish due to interference effects with
models obtained by simple combinations of simplified models. For weakly
interacting massive particle (WIMP) masses 10 GeV, collider limits are
usually much weaker than the direct detection limits coming from LUX or
XENON100. However, for our model combinations, LHC analyses are more
competitive for some parts of the parameter space. The regions with direct
detection blind spots can be strongly constrained from the complementary use of
several Large Hadron Collider (LHC) searches like mono-jet, jets + missing
transverse energy, heavy vector resonance searches, etc. We evaluate the
strongest limits for combinations of scalar + vector, "squark" + vector, and
scalar + "squark" mediator, and present the LHC 14 TeV projections.Comment: 9 Pages, Talk presented at the conference "Varying Constants and
Fundamental Cosmology - VARCOSMOFUN'16" (Szczecin, Poland), Published in
Universe (proceedings of VARCOSMOFUN'16
X-ray Emitting GHz-Peaked Spectrum Galaxies: Testing a Dynamical-Radiative Model with Broad-Band Spectra
In a dynamical-radiative model we recently developed to describe the physics
of compact, GHz-Peaked-Spectrum (GPS) sources, the relativistic jets propagate
across the inner, kpc-sized region of the host galaxy, while the electron
population of the expanding lobes evolves and emits synchrotron and
inverse-Compton (IC) radiation. Interstellar-medium gas clouds engulfed by the
expanding lobes, and photoionized by the active nucleus, are responsible for
the radio spectral turnover through free-free absorption (FFA) of the
synchrotron photons. The model provides a description of the evolution of the
spectral energy distribution (SED) of GPS sources with their expansion,
predicting significant and complex high-energy emission, from the X-ray to the
gamma-ray frequency domain. Here, we test this model with the broad-band SEDs
of a sample of eleven X-ray emitting GPS galaxies with Compact-Symmetric-Object
(CSO) morphology, and show that: (i) the shape of the radio continuum at
frequencies lower than the spectral turnover is indeed well accounted for by
the FFA mechanism; (ii) the observed X-ray spectra can be interpreted as
non-thermal radiation produced via IC scattering of the local radiation fields
off the lobe particles, providing a viable alternative to the thermal,
accretion-disk dominated scenario. We also show that the relation between the
hydrogen column densities derived from the X-ray (N_H) and radio (N_HI) data of
the sources is suggestive of a positive correlation, which, if confirmed by
future observations, would provide further support to our scenario of
high-energy emitting lobes.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figures, 6 tables; to appear in ApJ. A few clarifications
included, according to referee's suggestion
Recommended from our members
A Data-informed Public Health Policy-Makers Platform
Hearing loss is a disease exhibiting a growing trend due to the number of factors, including but not limited to the mundane exposure to the noise and ever-increasing amount of older population. In the framework of a public health policymaking process, modeling of the hearing loss disease based on data is a key factor in alleviating the issues related to the disease issuing effective public health policies. First, the paper describes the steps of the data-driven policymaking process. Afterward, a scenario along with the part of the proposed platform, responsible for supporting policymaking are presented. With the aim of demonstrating the capabilities and usability of the platform for the policy-makers, some initial results of preliminary analytics are presented in a framework of a policy-making process. Ultimately, the utility of the approach is validated throughout the results of the survey which was presented to the health system policy-makers professionals involved in the policy development process in Croatia
Constrained MSSM favoring new territories: The impact of new LHC limits and a 125 GeV Higgs boson
We present an updated and extended global analysis of the Constrained MSSM
(CMSSM) taking into account new limits on supersymmetry from ~5/fb data sets at
the LHC. In particular, in the case of the razor limit obtained by the CMS
Collaboration we simulate detector efficiency for the experimental analysis and
derive an approximate but accurate likelihood function. We discuss the impact
on the global fit of a possible Higgs boson with mass near 125 GeV, as implied
by recent data, and of a new improved limit on BR(B_s->\mu\mu). We identify
high posterior probability regions of the CMSSM parameters as the
stau-coannihilation and the A-funnel region, with the importance of the latter
now being much larger due to the combined effect of the above three LHC results
and of dark matter relic density. We also find that the focus point region is
now disfavored. Ensuing implications for superpartner masses favor even larger
values than before, and even lower ranges for dark matter spin-independent
cross section, \sigma^{SI}_p<10^{-9} pb. We also find that relatively minor
variations in applying experimental constraints can induce a large shift in the
location of the best-fit point. This puts into question the robustness of
applying the usual chisquare approach to the CMSSM. We discuss the
goodness-of-fit and find that, while it is difficult to calculate a p-value,
the g-2 constraint makes, nevertheless, the overall fit of the CMSSM poor. We
consider a scan without this constraint, and we allow \mu\ to be either
positive or negative. We find that the global fit improves enormously for both
signs of \mu, with a slight preference for \mu<0 caused by a better fit to
BR(b->s\gamma) and BR(B_s->\mu\mu).Comment: 24 pages, 17 figures. PRD-approved version; Higgs bounds case removed
as obsolete in light of the Higgs discover
Ground-State Electromagnetic Moments of Calcium Isotopes
High-resolution bunched-beam collinear laser spectroscopy was used to measure
the optical hyperfine spectra of the Ca isotopes. The ground state
magnetic moments of Ca and quadrupole moments of Ca were
measured for the first time, and the Ca ground state spin was
determined in a model-independent way. Our results provide a critical test of
modern nuclear theories based on shell-model calculations using
phenomenological as well as microscopic interactions. The results for the
neutron-rich isotopes are in excellent agreement with predictions using
interactions derived from chiral effective field theory including three-nucleon
forces, while lighter isotopes illustrate the presence of particle-hole
excitations of the Ca core in their ground state.Comment: Accepted as a Rapid Communication in Physical Review
Update on Fermion Mass Models with an Anomalous Horizontal U(1) Symmetry
We reconsider models of fermion masses and mixings based on a gauge anomalous
horizontal U(1) symmetry. In the simplest model with a single flavon field and
horizontal charges of the same sign for all Standard Model fields, only very
few charge assignements are allowed when all experimental data, including
neutrino oscillation data, is taken into account. We show that a precise
description of the observed fermion masses and mixing angles can easily be
obtained by generating sets of the order one parameters left unconstrained by
the U(1) symmetry. The corresponding Yukawa matrices show several interesting
features which may be important for flavour changing neutral currents and CP
violation effects in supersymmetric models.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure
Análise da comunicação médico-paciente em caso de diagnóstico de câncer de mama
The aim of the paper is the recognition and evaluation of demand for medical information among patients suffering from breast cancer. The research was conducted among 120 women with diagnosed breast cancer in the Oncological Surgery Clinic of the Independent Public Research Hospital Nº 1 in Lublin, the Oncological Clinic of the Independent Public Research Hospital Nº 1 in Lublin and the Rehabilitation Centre with the Rehabilitation Clinic at the Lublin Oncology Centre. The research included women from the Club of Women after Mastectomy “Amazons”, the Club “Amazons” at the Complex of Specialist Clinics in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and the Club “Amazons” in Radom. Research showed that the demand for medical information among women with diagnosed breast cancer is very high. Respondents want to know all the information concerning the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis (93%). They also expect that the doctor will give them medical information concerning further consequences of cancer and its influence on future health and life (78%). Most of the respondents expect to receive information concerning medicaments which should be taken (77%) and the essence of the conducted treatment (93%). The research analysis showed that women with
diagnosed breast cancer expect that the doctor will give them reliable and real medical information. Patients want the doctor to present them the probable course of the cancer (85%) and all the possible side effects connected with it (89%).El objetivo de este trabajo es el reconocimiento y la evaluación de la demanda de información médica en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Se realizó la investigación con 120 mujeres diagnosticadas con cáncer de mama en la Clínica de Cirugía Oncológica y la Clínica Oncológica del Hospital de Investigación Público Independiente Nº 1 en Lublin, y el Centro de Rehabilitación con la Clínica de Rehabilitación del Centro Oncológico de Lublin. La investigación incluyó mujeres del Club “Amazons” de Mujeres que han sufrido Mastectomía, el Club “Amazons” del Complejo de Clínicas Especializadas en Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski y el Club “Amazons” en Radom. La investigación mostró que la demanda de información médica de mujeres con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama es muy alta. Aquellas que respondieron quieren saber todo acerca del diagnóstico, tratamiento y pronóstico (93%). También
esperan que el médico les dé información médica respecto de posteriores consecuencias del cáncer y su influencia en su salud futura y su vida (78%). La mayoría de las que respondieron esperan recibir información sobre medicamentos que deberían tomar (77%) y lo esencial sobre el tratamiento realizado (93%). El análisis de la investigación muestra que las mujeres diagnosticadas con cáncer
de mama esperan que el médico les dé información médica confiable y verdadera, les presente el curso probable del cáncer (85%) y todos los posibles efectos secundarios conectados (89%).O objetivo deste artigo é o reconhecimento e a avaliação da demanda por informação médica entre pacientes que sofrem de câncer de mama. A investigação foi conduzida entre 120 mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de mama na Oncological Surgery Clinic of the Independent Public Research Hospital Nº 1 de Lublin, a Oncological Clinic of the Independent Public Research Hospital Nº 1 de Lublin e a Rehabilitation Centre with the Rehabilitation Clinic do Lublin Oncology Centre. A pesquisa incluiu mulheres do Club of Women after Mastectomy “Amazons”, o Club “Amazons” do Complex of Specialist Clinics em Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski e o Club “Amazons” em Radom. Pesquisa revelou que a demanda por informação médica entre mulheres com diagnóstico de câncer mamário é muito alta. As respondentes queriam saber todas as informações concernentes ao diagnóstico, tratamento e prognóstico (93%). Elas também esperavam que o médico pudesse dar-lhes informação sobre consequências tardias do câncer e a influência sobre a sua saúde e vida futuras (78%). A maioria dos respondentes tinham a expectativa de receber informação sobre medicamentos que deveriam tomar (77%) e a essência do tratamento realizado (93%). A análise da pesquisa demonstrou que as mulheres com diagnóstico de câncer de mama esperavam que o médico pudesse fornecer-lhes informação confiável e honesta. Pacientes queriam que o médico lhes apresentasse o provável curso do câncer (85%) e todos os possíveis efeitos relacionados a ele (89%)
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