Four-Fermion Production in Electron-Positron Collisions

This report summarises the results of the four-fermion working group of the LEP2-MC workshop, held at CERN from 1999 to 2000. Recent developments in the calculation of four-fermion processes in electron-positron collisions at LEP-2 centre-of-mass energies are presented, concentrating on predictions for four main reactions: W-pair production, visible photons in four-fermion events, single-W production and Z-pair production. Based on a comparison of results derived within different approaches, theoretical uncertainties on these predictions are established.Comment: 150 pages, 73 figures, 45 table

Population cycles and outbreaks of small rodents : ten essential questions we still need to solve

Correction: 10.1007/s00442-021-04856-4, Oecologia (2021)Most small rodent populations in the world have fascinating population dynamics. In the northern hemisphere, voles and lemmings tend to show population cycles with regular fluctuations in numbers. In the southern hemisphere, small rodents tend to have large amplitude outbreaks with less regular intervals. In the light of vast research and debate over almost a century, we here discuss the driving forces of these different rodent population dynamics. We highlight ten questions directly related to the various characteristics of relevant populations and ecosystems that still need to be answered. This overview is not intended as a complete list of questions but rather focuses on the most important issues that are essential for understanding the generality of small rodent population dynamics.Peer reviewe

Exercise training with dietary counselling increases mitochondrial chaperone expression in middle-aged subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with increased oxidative stress and impairment of cellular defence systems. Our purpose was to investigate the interaction between glucose metabolism, antioxidative capacity and heat shock protein (HSP) defence in different skeletal muscle phenotypes among middle-aged obese subjects during a long-term exercise and dietary intervention. As a sub-study of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS), 22 persons with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) taking part in the intervention volunteered to give samples from the <it>vastus lateralis </it>muscle. Subjects were divided into two sub-groups (IGTslow and IGTfast) on the basis of their baseline myosin heavy chain profile. Glucose metabolism, oxidative stress and HSP expressions were measured before and after the 2-year intervention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exercise training, combined with dietary counselling, increased the expression of mitochondrial chaperones HSP60 and glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75) in the <it>vastus lateralis </it>muscle in the IGTslow group and that of HSP60 in the IGTfast group. In cytoplasmic chaperones HSP72 or HSP90 no changes took place. In the IGTslow group, a significant positive correlation between the increased muscle content of HSP60 and the oxygen radical absorbing capacity values and, in the IGTfast group, between the improved VO_2maxvalue and the increased protein expression of GRP75 were found. Serum uric acid concentrations decreased in both sub-groups and serum protein carbonyl concentrations decreased in the IGTfast group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The 2-year intervention up-regulated mitochondrial HSP expressions in middle-aged subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. These improvements, however, were not correlated directly with enhanced glucose tolerance.</p

The Campbells: lordship, literature and liminality

The Campbells have the potential to offer much to the theme of literature and borders, given that the kindred’s astonishing political success in the late medieval and early modern period depended heavily upon the ability to negotiate multiple frontiers: between Highlands and Lowlands; between Gaelic Scotland and Ireland, and, especially after the Reformation, with England and the matter of Britain. This paper will explore the literary dimension to Campbell expansionism, from the Book of the Dean of Lismore in the earlier sixteenth century, to poetry addressed to dukes of Argyll in the earlier eighteenth century. Particular attention will be paid to the literary proclivities of the household of the Campbells of Glenorchy on either side of what appears to be a major watershed in 1550; and to the agenda of the Campbell protégé John Carswell, first post-Reformation bishop of the Isles, and author of the first printed book in Gaelic in either Scotland or Ireland, Foirm na n-Urrnuidheadh (‘The Form of Prayers’), published at Edinburgh in 1567

Inquérito sorológico para a detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (VIH) em crianças internadas em enfermaria geral

São apresentados os resultados de um inquérito sorológico para a detecção de anticorpos contra o Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (VIH), em grupo não selecionado de crianças, internadas numa enfermaria geral de pediatria. Foram testados 441 pacientes pelo método ELISA, com uma positividade de 1,1 %, cujos resultados foram confirmados pelos testes de Western-Blot e/ou ImunoBlot. Nenhum dos cinco pacientes com teste positivo apresentou história de transfusão anterior, enquanto que 4,3% dos pacientes estudados apresentaram história transfusional. Todas as mães apresentaram também testes ELISA positivos. Em quatro casos, pelo menos um dos genitores referiu uso de drogas por via endovenosa. Em todas as crianças, o modo de transmissão foi vertical. A partir desses achados sugere-se a necessidade de a equipe de saúde tomar precauções quando da manipulação de sangue ou secreções. Recomenda-se a realização de inquéritos anônimos em enfermarias de hospitais gerais para auxiliar na determinação da real prevalência das infecções pelo VIH

Involuntary human hand movements due to FM radio waves in a moving van

Finland TRACT Involuntary movements of hands in a moving van on a public road were studied to clarify the possible role of frequency modulated radio waves on driving. The signals were measured in a direct 2 km test segment of an international road during repeated drives to both directions. Test subjects (n=4) had an ability to sense radio frequency field intensity variations of the environment. They were sitting in a minivan with arm movement detectors in their hands. A potentiometer was used to register the hand movements to a computer which simultaneously collected data on the amplitude of the RF signal of the local FM tower 30 km distance at a frequency of about 100 MHz. Involuntary hand movements of the test subjects correlated with electromagnetic field, i.e. FM radio wave intensity measured. They reacted also on the place of a geomagnetic anomaly crossing the road, which was found on the basis of these recordings and confirmed by the public geological maps of the area.In conclusion, RF irradiation seems to affect the human hand reflexes of sensitive persons in a moving van along a normal public road which may have significance in traffic safety