237 research outputs found
Search for Doubly-Charged Higgs Boson Production at HERA
A search for the single production of doubly-charged Higgs bosons H^{\pm \pm}
in ep collisions is presented. The signal is searched for via the Higgs decays
into a high mass pair of same charge leptons, one of them being an electron.
The analysis uses up to 118 pb^{-1} of ep data collected by the H1 experiment
at HERA. No evidence for doubly-charged Higgs production is observed and mass
dependent upper limits are derived on the Yukawa couplings h_{el} of the Higgs
boson to an electron-lepton pair. Assuming that the doubly-charged Higgs only
decays into an electron and a muon via a coupling of electromagnetic strength
h_{e \mu} = \sqrt{4 \pi \alpha_{em}} = 0.3, a lower limit of 141 GeV on the
H^{\pm\pm} mass is obtained at the 95% confidence level. For a doubly-charged
Higgs decaying only into an electron and a tau and a coupling h_{e\tau} = 0.3,
masses below 112 GeV are ruled out.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
Forward pi^0 Production and Associated Transverse Energy Flow in Deep-Inelastic Scattering at HERA
Deep-inelastic positron-proton interactions at low values of Bjorken-x down
to x \approx 4.10^-5 which give rise to high transverse momentum pi^0 mesons
are studied with the H1 experiment at HERA. The inclusive cross section for
pi^0 mesons produced at small angles with respect to the proton remnant (the
forward region) is presented as a function of the transverse momentum and
energy of the pi^0 and of the four-momentum transfer Q^2 and Bjorken-x.
Measurements are also presented of the transverse energy flow in events
containing a forward pi^0 meson. Hadronic final state calculations based on QCD
models implementing different parton evolution schemes are confronted with the
data.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figures and 3 table
Measurement of the charm and beauty structure functions using the H1 vertex detector at HERA
Inclusive charm and beauty cross sections are measured in e − p and e + p neutral current collisions at HERA in the kinematic region of photon virtuality 5≤Q 2≤2000 GeV2 and Bjorken scaling variable 0.0002≤x≤0.05. The data were collected with the H1 detector in the years 2006 and 2007 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 189 pb−1. The numbers of charm and beauty events are determined using variables reconstructed by the H1 vertex detector including the impact parameter of tracks to the primary vertex and the position of the secondary vertex. The measurements are combined with previous data and compared to QCD predictions
Inelastic photoproduction of J/Psi mesons at HERA
An analysis of inelastic photoproduction of J/Psi mesons is presented using data collected at the ep collider HERA corresponding to an integrated luminosity of above 80pb-1. Differential and double differential cross sections are measured in a wide kinematic region: 6
Study of Charm Fragmentation into D^{*\pm} Mesons in Deep-Inelastic Scattering at HERA
The process of charm quark fragmentation is studied using meson
production in deep-inelastic scattering as measured by the H1 detector at HERA.
Two different regions of phase space are investigated defined by the presence
or absence of a jet containing the meson in the event. The
parameters of fragmentation functions are extracted for QCD models based on
leading order matrix elements and DGLAP or CCFM evolution of partons together
with string fragmentation and particle decays. Additionally, they are
determined for a next-to-leading order QCD calculation in the fixed flavour
number scheme using the independent fragmentation of charm quarks to
mesons.Comment: 33 pages, submitted to EPJ
Inelastic Leptoproduction of J/Psi Mesons at HERA
The leptoproduction of J/psi mesons is studied in inelastic reactions for
four momentum transfers 2<Q^2<100GeV^2. The data were taken with the H1
detector at the electron proton collider HERA and correspond to an integrated
luminosity of 77 pb-1. Single differential and double differential cross
sections are measured with increased precision compared with previous analyses.
New leading order calculations within the non-relativistic QCD factorisation
approach including colour octet and colour singlet contributions are compared
with the data and are found to give a reasonable description of most
distributions. An exception is the shape of the distribution in the J/psi
fractional energy, z, which deviates significantly from that of the data.
Comparisons with photoproduction are made and the polarisation of the produced
J/psi meson is analysed.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures and 7 table
Inelastic Photoproduction of J/Psi Mesons at HERA
An analysis of inelastic photoproduction of J/Psi mesons is presented using
data collected at the ep collider HERA corresponding to an integrated
luminosity of above 80pb-1. Differential and double differential cross sections
are measured in a wide kinematic region: 60<W_gammap<260 GeV, 1<p_t^2< 60 GeV^2
and 0.05<z<0.9, where z is the fraction of the energy of the exchanged photon
transferred to the J/Psi meson in the rest frame of the target proton. Cross
sections at z<0.3 are presented for the first time. Theoretical calculations
within the Colour Singlet Model at NLO for direct photon processes are shown to
give a good description of the data in the medium z region (0.3<z<0.9) up to
the highest p_t^2 values. A calculation using a k_t factorisation approach in
LO in the Colour Singlet Model is also able to describe these data. The data in
the full z range are also compared to LO calculations within a non-relativistic
QCD framework including color octet and colour singlet contributions for direct
and resolved photons. It seems possible to reconcile data and theory with
modest contributions from colour octet processes. The polarisation of the J/Psi
meson is measured as a function of z and p_t,psi and is reasonably described by
the theoretical predictions.Comment: 30 pages, 11 figures, 11 table
Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19
Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe
Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies
There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity
Design and methodology of the screening for CKD among older patients across Europe (SCOPE) study: A multicenter cohort observational study
Background: Decline of renal function is common in older persons and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising with ageing. CKD affects different outcomes relevant to older persons, additionally to morbidity and mortality which makes CKD a relevant health burden in this population. Still, accurate laboratory measurement of kidney function is under debate, since current creatinine-based equations have a certain degree of inaccuracy when used in the older population. The aims of the study are as follows: to assess kidney function in a cohort of 75+ older persons using existing methodologies for CKD screening; to investigate existing and innovative biomarkers of CKD in this cohort, and to align
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