Alien Registration- Baril, Marie L. (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/30490/thumbnail.jp

The Search for Higgs particles at high-energy colliders: Past, Present and Future

I briefly review the Higgs sector in the Standard Model and its minimal Supersymmetric extension, the MSSM. After summarizing the properties of the Higgs bosons and the present experimental constraints, I will discuss the prospects for discovering these particle at the upgraded Tevatron, the LHC and a high-energy $e^+e^-$ linear collider. The possibility of studying the properties of the Higgs particles will be then summarized.Comment: 28 pages, latex, 15 figures, talk at WHEPP VII, Allahabad, Indi

Grand zigzag knight's paths

We study the enumeration of different classes of grand knight's paths in the plane. In particular, we focus on the subsets of zigzag knight's paths subject to constraints. These constraints include ending at ordinate 0, bounded by a horizontal line, confined within a tube, among other considerations. We present our results using generating functions or direct closed-form expressions. We derive asymptotic results, finding approximations for quantities such as the probability that a zigzag knight's path stays in some area of the plane, or for the average of the final height of such a path. Additionally, we exhibit some bijections between grand zigzag knight's paths and some pairs of compositions.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figure

The Combinatorics of Motzkin Polyominoes

A word $w=w_1\cdots w_n$ over the set of positive integers is a Motzkin word whenever $w_1=\texttt{1}$, $1\leq w_k\leq w_{k-1}+1$, and $w_{k-1}\neq w_{k}$ for $k=2, \dots, n$. It can be associated to a $n$-column Motzkin polyomino whose $i$-th column contains $w_i$ cells, and all columns are bottom-justified. We reveal bijective connections between Motzkin paths, restricted Catalan words, primitive \L{}ukasiewicz paths, and Motzkin polyominoes. Using the aforementioned bijections together with classical one-to-one correspondence with Dyck paths avoiding $UDU$s, we provide generating functions with respect to the length, area, semiperimeter, value of the last symbol, and number of interior points of Motzkin polyominoes. We give asymptotics and closed-form expressions for the total area, total semiperimeter, sum of the last symbol values, and total number of interior points over all Motzkin polyominoes of a given length. We also present and prove an engaging trinomial relation concerning the number of cells lying at different levels and first terms of the expanded $(1+x+x^2)^n$.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure

Usefulness and engagement with a guided workbook intervention (WorkPlan) to support work related goals among cancer survivors

Background: Returning to work after cancer is associated with improved physical and psychological functioning, but managing this return can be a challenging process. A workbook based intervention (WorkPlan) was developed to support return-to-work among cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to explore how participants using the workbook engaged with the intervention and utilised the content of the intervention in their plan to return-to-work. Methods: As part of a feasibility randomised controlled trial, 23 participants from the intervention group were interviewed 4-weeks post intervention. Interviews focussed on intervention delivery and data was analysed using Framework analysis. Results: Participants revealed a sense of empowerment and changes in their outlook as they transitioned from patient to employee, citing the act of writing as a medium for creating their own return-to-work narrative. Participants found the generation of a return-to-work plan useful for identifying potential problems and solutions, which also served as a tool for aiding discussion with the employer on return-to-work. Additionally, participants reported feeling less uncertain and anxious about returning to work. Timing of the intervention in coordination with ongoing cancer treatments was crucial to perceived effectiveness; participants identified the sole or final treatment as the ideal time to receive the intervention. Conclusions: The self-guided workbook supports people diagnosed with cancer to build their communication and planning skills to successfully manage their return-to-work. Further research could examine how writing plays a role in this process

Muscle damage response in female collegiate athletes following repeated sprint activity

Exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) is a well-investigated area, however there is a paucity of data surrounding the damage response in females. The aim of this study was to examine the damage responses from a sport-specific bout of repeated sprints in female athletes. Eleven well-trained females (mean ± SD; age 22 ± 3 y, height 166.6 ± 5.7 cm, mass 62.7 ± 4.5 kg) in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle completed a repeated sprint protocol designed to induce EIMD (15 × 30 m sprints). Creatine kinase (CK), countermovement jump height (CMJ), knee extensor maximum voluntary contraction force (MVIC), muscle soreness (DOMS), 30 m sprint time and limb girth were recorded pre, post, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post exercise. CK was elevated at 24, 48 and 72 h (p < 0.05), peaking at 24 h (+418%) and returning towards baseline at 72 h. CMJ height was reduced immediately post, 24 and 48 h (p < 0.05). Sprint performance was also negatively affected immediately post, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post exercise. Muscle soreness peaked at 48 h (p<0.01) and remained significantly elevated at 72 h post exercise (p<0.01). Limb girth and MVIC did not alter over time. The current study provides new information on the EIMD response in trained females following a sport specific bout of repeated sprints. Importantly, this damage response has the potential to negatively affect performance for several days post-exercise

Enumerating runs, valleys, and peaks in Catalan words

We provide generating functions, formulas, and asymptotic expressions for the number of Catalan words based on the number of runs of ascents (descents), runs of weak ascents (descents), $\ell$-valleys, valleys, symmetric valleys, $\ell$-peaks, peaks, and symmetric peaks. We also establish some bijections with restricted Dyck paths and ordered trees that transports some statistics

Characterization of an Alkali- and Halide-Resistant Laccase Expressed in E. coli: CotA from <i>Bacillus clausii</i>

The limitations of fungal laccases at higher pH and salt concentrations have intensified the search for new extremophilic bacterial laccases. We report the cloning, expression, and characterization of the bacterial cotA from Bacillus clausii, a supposed alkalophilic ortholog of cotA from B. subtilis. Both laccases were expressed in E. coli strain BL21(DE3) and characterized fully in parallel for strict benchmarking. We report activity on ABTS, SGZ, DMP, caffeic acid, promazine, phenyl hydrazine, tannic acid, and bilirubin at variable pH. Whereas ABTS, promazine, and phenyl hydrazine activities vs. pH were similar, the activity of B. clausii cotA was shifted upwards by ~0.5-2 pH units for the simple phenolic substrates DMP, SGZ, and caffeic acid. This shift is not due to substrate affinity (K(M)) but to pH dependence of catalytic turnover: The k(cat) of B. clausii cotA was 1 s⁻¹ at pH 6 and 5 s⁻¹ at pH 8 in contrast to 6 s⁻¹ at pH 6 and 2 s⁻¹ at pH 8 for of B. subtilis cotA. Overall, k(cat)/K(M) was 10-fold higher for B. subtilis cotA at pH(opt). While both proteins were heat activated, activation increased with pH and was larger in cotA from B. clausii. NaCl inhibited activity at acidic pH, but not up to 500-700 mM NaCl in alkaline pH, a further advantage of the alkali regime in laccase applications. The B. clausii cotA had ~20 minutes half-life at 80°C, less than the ~50 minutes at 80°C for cotA from B. subtilis. While cotA from B. subtilis had optimal stability at pH~8, the cotA from B. clausii displayed higher combined salt- and alkali-resistance. This resistance is possibly caused by two substitutions (S427Q and V110E) that could repel anions to reduce anion-copper interactions at the expense of catalytic proficiency, a trade-off of potential relevance to laccase optimization

Effect of the oxygen content in solution on the static and cyclic deformation of titanium foams

It is well known that interstitials affect the mechanical properties of titanium and titanium alloys. Their effects on the fatigue properties of titanium foams have not, however, been documented in the literature. This paper presents the effect of the oxygen content on the static and dynamic compression properties of titanium foams. Increasing the oxygen content from 0.24 to 0.51 wt% O in solution significantly increases the yield strength and reduces the ductility of the foams. However, the fatigue limit is not significantly affected by the oxygen content and falls within the 92 MPa \ub1 12 MPa range for all specimens investigated in this study. During cyclic loading, deformation is initially coming from cumulative creep followed by the formation of microcracks. The coalescence of these microcracks is responsible for the rupture of the specimens. Fracture surfaces of the specimens having lower oxygen content show a more ductile aspect than the specimens having higher oxygen content.Il est bien connu que les interstices affectent les propri\ue9t\ue9s m\ue9caniques du titane et des alliages de titane. Leurs effets sur les propri\ue9t\ue9s de fatigue des mousses de titane n\u2019ont cependant pas encore \ue9t\ue9 document\ue9s dans la litt\ue9rature. Dans le pr\ue9sent article, on pr\ue9sente l\u2019effet de la teneur en oxyg\ue8ne sur les propri\ue9t\ue9s de compression statique et dynamique des mousses de titane. L\u2019augmentation de la teneur en oxyg\ue8ne de 0,24 \ue0 0,51 % en poids en solution accro\ueet de mani\ue8re significative la limite d\u2019\ue9lasticit\ue9 conventionnelle et r\ue9duit la ductilit\ue9 des mousses. Toutefois, la limite de fatigue n\u2019a pas \ue9t\ue9 affect\ue9e de mani\ue8re significative par une teneur en oxyg\ue8ne dans la gamme de 92 \ub1 12 MPa pour tous les \ue9chantillons test\ue9s dans le cadre de la pr\ue9sente \ue9tude. Pendant une charge cyclique, la d\ue9formation provient initialement d\u2019un fluage cumulatif, suivi par la formation de microfissures. La coalescence de ces microfissures est responsable de la rupture des \ue9chantillons. Les surfaces des fissures dans les \ue9chantillons ayant une teneur en oxyg\ue8ne plus faible exhibent un aspect plus ductile que celles des \ue9chantillons ayant une teneur plus \ue9lev\ue9e en oxyg\ue8ne.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye