Bottom-quark associated Higgs-boson production: reconciling the four- and five-flavour scheme approach

The main arguments in the discussion of the proper treatment of the total inclusive cross section for bottom-quark associated Higgs-boson production are briefly reviewed. A simple and pragmatic formula for the combination of the so-called four- and five-flavour schemes is suggested, including the treatment of the respective theory error estimates. The numerical effects of this matching formula are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

First Results of the PixelGEM Central Tracking System for COMPASS

For its physics program with a high-intensity hadron beam of up to 2e7 particles/s, the COMPASS experiment at CERN requires tracking of charged particles scattered by very small angles with respect to the incident beam direction. While good resolution in time and space is mandatory, the challenge is imposed by the high beam intensity, requiring radiation-hard detectors which add very little material to the beam path in order to minimize secondary interactions. To this end, a set of triple-GEM detectors with a hybrid readout structure consisting of pixels in the beam region and 2-D strips in the periphery was designed and built. Successful prototype tests proved the performance of this new detector type, showing both extraordinary high rate capability and detection efficiency. The amplitude information allowed to achieve spatial resolutions about a factor of 10 smaller than the pitch and a time resolution close to the theoretical limit imposed by the layout. The PixelGEM central tracking system consisting of five detectors, slightly improved with respect to the prototype, was completely installed in the COMPASS spectrometer in spring 2008

Characterization of sub-monolayer coatings as novel calibration samples for X-ray spectroscopy

With the advent of both modern X-ray fluorescence (XRF) methods and improved analytical reliability requirements the demand for suitable reference samples has increased. Especially in nanotechnology with the very low areal mass depositions, quantification becomes considerably more difficult. However, the availability of suited reference samples is drastically lower than the demand. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques have been enhanced significantly in the last decade driven by the need for extremely precise film parameters in multilayer production. We have applied those techniques for the development of layer-like reference samples with mass depositions in the ng-range and well below. Several types of reference samples were fabricated: multi-elemental layer and extremely low (sub-monolayer) samples for various applications in XRF and total-reflection XRF (TXRF) analysis. Those samples were characterized and compared at three different synchrotron radiation beamlines at the BESSY II electron storage ring employing the reference-free XRF approach based on physically calibrated instrumentation. In addition, the homogeneity of the multi-elemental coatings was checked at the P04 beamline at DESY. The measurements demonstrate the high precision achieved in the manufacturing process as well as the versatility of application fields for the presented reference samples

Kommunikation in der digitalen Transformation : Trendstudie Schweiz 2022

Das Forschungsprojekt «Kommunikation in der digitalen Transformation» ist als Trendstudie angelegt und untersucht seit 2018 alle zwei Jahre den Zustand und den Entwicklungsbedarf der Unternehmenskommunikation in der digitalen Transformation. Leitend ist dabei ein in der Erststudie 2018 entwickeltes Framework, welches die Rolle von Corporate Communications in der digitalen Transformation auf drei Ebenen beschreibt (Niederhäuser & Rosenberger, 2018). Auf der Mikroebene fokussiert die Untersuchung auf die digitale Trans-formation der Kommunikationsabteilung, auf der Mesoebene auf die Funktion der Unternehmenskommunikation im Transformationsprozess der gesamten Organisation und auf der Makroebene auf das Schaffen von Akzeptanz für den Transformationsprozess in Markt und Gesellschaft. Die vorliegende dritte Studie 2022 basiert auf einer Online-Befragung von 133 Kommunikationsverantwortli-chen (CCOs) in der Deutschschweiz und auf 12 vertiefenden Interviews mit Ex-pert:innen. Zur Einordnung wurde ein Überblick zum aktuellen Forschungsstand erarbeitet. Die Studie zeigt auf, dass einschneidende Ereignisse wie die Pan-demie oder der Ukraine-Krieg weniger die Richtung als die Geschwindigkeit der digitalen Transformation verändert haben. Die «Agenda für die Kommunikation in der digitalen Transformation» aus der Erststudie wurde mit den Ergebnissen der beiden Folgestudien abgeglichen, angepasst und erweitert. Sie zeigt Kom-munikationsverantwortlichen auf, in welche Richtung sie die Unternehmens-kommunikation entwickeln sollten. The research project "Communication in Digital Transformation" is designed as a trend study and has been examining the state and development needs of corporate communications in digital transformation every two years since 2018. The guiding principle is a framework developed in the initial study in 2018, which describes the role of corporate communications in digital transformation at three levels (Niederhäuser & Rosenberger, 2018). At the micro level, the study focuses on the digital transformation of the communications department, at the meso level on the function of corporate communications in the transfor-mation process of the entire organization, and at the macro level on creating acceptance for the transformation process in the market and society. This third study 2022 is based on an online survey of 133 communication managers (CCOs) in German-speaking Switzerland and on 12 in-depth interviews with ex-perts. For classification purposes, an overview of the current state of research was compiled. The study shows that drastic events such as the pandemic or the Ukraine war have changed the direction of digital transformation less than the speed. The "Agenda for Communication in Digital Transformation" from the initial study was compared to, adapted to and expanded with the results of the two follow-up studies. It shows communications managers the direction in which they should develop corporate communications

Interne Kommunikation von mittelgrossen Unternehmen : Bestandsaufnahme und Entwicklungsbedarf des internen Kommunikationsmanagements in der digitalen Transformation

Die digitale Transformation stellt die interne Kommunikation vor grosse Herausforderungen und verändert diese gerade rasant. Die vorliegende Studie macht eine Bestandsaufnahme des internen Kommunikationsmanagements von mittelgrossen Unternehmen in der Schweiz und zeigt dessen Entwicklungsbedarf auf. Im Theorieteil wird die Rolle des internen Kommunikationsmanagements in der digitalen Transformation von Unternehmen beschrieben. Ein besonderer Fokus wird auf die drei Funktionen der internen Kommunikation gelegt – der Information, der Kommunikation und der Kollaboration – sowie auf den damit verbundenen Einsatz des Intranets. Zudem wurden im vierten Quartal 2019 und ersten Quartal 2020 Kommunikationsverantwortliche von zwölf Schweizer Unternehmen zum Thema befragt. Die Erkenntnisse aus Theorie und Befragung wurden zu 15 Handlungsempfehlungen in den vier Dimensionen Strategie, Organisation, Kultur und Technologie kondensiert. Dabei zeigt sich, dass der Spielraum des internen Kommunikationsmanagements gross ist, die digitale Transformation im Zusammenspiel mit der Unternehmensführung voranzutreiben.Digital transformation poses major challenges for internal communications, which is leading to rapid changes in this area. The present study evaluates the internal communications management of medium-sized companies in Switzerland and identifies where improvements need to be made. The theoretical section outlines the role of internal communications management in the digital transformation of companies. Special emphasis is placed on the three functions of internal communications – information, communication and collaboration – as well as on the related use of the intranet. In addition, communications managers from twelve Swiss companies were surveyed on the subject in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. The findings from the theoretical part and the survey were condensed into 15 recommendations for action in four areas: strategy, organisation, culture and technology. In the process, it became evident that internal communications management has considerable potential to drive digital transformation together with corporate management

Dynamics of Stone Habitats in Coastal Waters of the Southwestern Baltic Sea (Hohwacht Bay)

Cobbles and boulders on the seafloor are of high ecological value in their function as habitats for a variety of benthic species, contributing to biodiversity and productivity in marine environments. We investigate the origin, physical shape, and structure of habitat-forming cobbles and boulders and reflect on their dynamics in coastal environments of the southwestern Baltic Sea. Stone habitats are not limited to lag deposits and cannot be sufficiently described as static environments, as different dynamic processes lead to changes within the physical habitat structure and create new habitats in spatially disparate areas. Dynamic processes such as (a) ongoing exposure of cobbles and boulders from glacial till, (b) continuous overturning of cobbles, and (c) the migration of cobbles need to be considered. A distinction between allochthonous and autochthonous habitats is suggested. The genesis of sediment types indicates that stone habitats are restricted to their source (glacial till), but hydrodynamic processes induce a redistribution of individual cobbles, leading to the development of new coastal habitats. Thus, coastal stone habitats need to be regarded as dynamic and are changing on a large bandwidth of timescales. In general, wave-induced processes changing the physical structure of these habitats do not occur separately but rather act simultaneously, leading to a dynamic type of habitat

Moderators of pre-post changes in school-based mental health promotion: Psychological stress symptom decrease for adolescents with mental health problems, knowledge increase for all.

Background School-based mental health promotion aims to strengthen mental health and reduce stress. Results on the effectiveness of such programs are heterogeneous. This study realized a school-based mental health promotion program (StresSOS) for all students and aimed to identify moderators (mental health status, gender, grade level) of pre- to post-changes in stress symptoms and knowledge. Methods Participants were N = 510 adolescents (from 29 classes; 46.7% female) aged 12-18 years (M = 13.88, SD = 1.00; grade levels 7-10). They were without mental health problems (65.9%), at risk for mental health problems (21.6%), or with mental health problems (12.5%) and participated in a 90 min per week face-to-face training with 8 sessions in class at school. Demographic variables, mental health status, stress symptoms, and knowledge about stress and mental health were collected at baseline. Program acceptance, stress symptoms, and knowledge were collected post-intervention. Multilevel mixed effects models were conducted with the fixed effects time (within factor), mental health status, gender, and grade level (between factors). Random effects for students within classes were included. Results In the pre-post comparison, mental health status moderated the changes on psychological stress symptoms (p < 0.05). In adolescents with mental health problems the largest reduction in stress symptoms was observed between pre- and post-assessment. Gender and grade level were less relevant. For all adolescents knowledge gains were revealed (p < 0.001). Program acceptance was moderated by mental health status and grade level (p < 0.01). Mentally healthy adolescents and within the group of adolescents at-risk or with mental health problems, especially younger students (7th/8th grade), rated program acceptance higher. Conclusion Psychological stress symptoms decreased among adolescents with mental health problems and not among adolescents at risk for or without mental health problems. Mental health-related knowledge increased for all adolescents. The results add to knowledge on school-based mental health intervention research and practice. Its implications for different prevention strategies (universal, selective or a combination of both) are discussed

Relations between lipoprotein(a) concentrations, LPA genetic variants, and the risk of mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease: a molecular and genetic association study

Background: Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in plasma are associated with cardiovascular risk in the general population. Whether lipoprotein(a) concentrations or LPA genetic variants predict long-term mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease remains less clear. Methods: We obtained data from 3313 patients with established coronary heart disease in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study. We tested associations of tertiles of lipoprotein(a) concentration in plasma and two LPA single-nucleotide polymorphisms ([SNPs] rs10455872 and rs3798220) with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality by Cox regression analysis and with severity of disease by generalised linear modelling, with and without adjustment for age, sex, diabetes diagnosis, systolic blood pressure, BMI, smoking status, estimated glomerular filtration rate, LDL-cholesterol concentration, and use of lipid-lowering therapy. Results for plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations were validated in five independent studies involving 10 195 patients with established coronary heart disease. Results for genetic associations were replicated through large-scale collaborative analysis in the GENIUS-CHD consortium, comprising 106 353 patients with established coronary heart disease and 19 332 deaths in 22 studies or cohorts. Findings: The median follow-up was 9·9 years. Increased severity of coronary heart disease was associated with lipoprotein(a) concentrations in plasma in the highest tertile (adjusted hazard radio [HR] 1·44, 95% CI 1·14–1·83) and the presence of either LPA SNP (1·88, 1·40–2·53). No associations were found in LURIC with all-cause mortality (highest tertile of lipoprotein(a) concentration in plasma 0·95, 0·81–1·11 and either LPA SNP 1·10, 0·92–1·31) or cardiovascular mortality (0·99, 0·81–1·2 and 1·13, 0·90–1·40, respectively) or in the validation studies. Interpretation: In patients with prevalent coronary heart disease, lipoprotein(a) concentrations and genetic variants showed no associations with mortality. We conclude that these variables are not useful risk factors to measure to predict progression to death after coronary heart disease is established. Funding: Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development (AtheroRemo and RiskyCAD), INTERREG IV Oberrhein Programme, Deutsche Nierenstiftung, Else-Kroener Fresenius Foundation, Deutsche Stiftung für Herzforschung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Saarland University, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Willy Robert Pitzer Foundation, and Waldburg-Zeil Clinics Isny