Natural Supersymmetry, Muon g−2g-2, and the Last Crevices for the Top Squark

We study the interplay of natural supersymmetry and a supersymmetric solution to the discrepancy observed in measurements of the muon magnetic moment. The strongest constraints on the parameter space currently come from chargino searches in the trilepton channel and slepton searches in the dilepton channel at the LHC, and vast regions are currently allowed, especially at large $\tan{\beta}$. With light top squarks in the spectrum, as required from naturalness arguments, the situation changes dramatically; stop-assisted chargino and neutralino production via $\tilde{t} \rightarrow b \tilde{\chi}_{1}^{\pm}$ and $\tilde{t} \rightarrow t \tilde{\chi}_{1}^0$ are already probing the entire parameter space compatible with the muon magnetic moment at $\tan{\beta} \sim \mathcal{O}(10)$, while upcoming stop searches will probe most of the parameter space at larger $\tan{\beta} \sim 40$. Direct Higgsino searches as well as compressed slepton and stop searches are crucial to close out corners of parameter space. We consider one such example: in the presence of light sleptons and charginos as required to obtain appreciable contributions to the muon magnetic moment, compressed stops can dominantly undergo the following decay $\tilde{t} \, \rightarrow \, b \tilde{\ell} \nu (\tilde{\nu} \ell) \, \rightarrow \, b \ell \nu \tilde{\chi}_{1}^0$, facilitated by off-shell charginos. We find that the enhanced branching to leptons leads to a $5 \sigma$ mass reach (with $3000$ fb$^{-1}$ of data at LHC14) of $m_{\tilde{t}} \, \sim \, 350$ GeV, with the mass difference between stops and the lightest neutralino being $\sim 80$ GeV. This will further close out a significant part of the parameter space compatible with naturalness and the muon magnetic moment.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures. Matches published versio

Radiation Testing of Electronics for the CMS Endcap Muon System

The electronics used in the data readout and triggering system for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator at CERN are exposed to high radiation levels. This radiation can cause permanent damage to the electronic circuitry, as well as temporary effects such as data corruption induced by Single Event Upsets. Once the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) accelerator upgrades are completed it will have five times higher instantaneous luminosity than LHC, allowing for detection of rare physics processes, new particles and interactions. Tests have been performed to determine the effects of radiation on the electronic components to be used for the Endcap Muon electronics project currently being designed for installation in the CMS experiment in 2013. During these tests the digital components on the test boards were operating with active data readout while being irradiated with 55 MeV protons. In reactor tests, components were exposed to 30 years equivalent levels of neutron radiation expected at the HL-LHC. The highest total ionizing dose (TID) for the muon system is expected at the inner-most portion of the CMS detector, with 8900 rad over ten years. Our results show that Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components selected for the new electronics will operate reliably in the CMS radiation environment

Measurement of jet multiplicity distributions in tt¯ production in pp collisions at s√=7TeV

This is the published version

Angular analysis and branching fraction measurement of the decay B0→K*0μ+μ−

The angular distributions and the differential branching fraction of the decay B0→K*(892)0μ+μ− are studied using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.2 fb−1collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV. From more than 400 signal decays, the forward–backward asymmetry of the muons, the K*(892)0 longitudinal polarization fraction, and the differential branching fraction are determined as a function of the square of the dimuon invariant mass. The measurements are in good agreement with standard model predictions

Combination of niacin extended-release and simvastatin results in a less atherogenic lipid profile than atorvastatin monotherapy

Objective: To compare the effects of combination niacin extended-release + simvastatin (NER/S) versus atorvastatin alone on apolipoproteins and lipid fractions in a post hoc analysis from SUPREME, a study which compared the lipid effects of niacin extended-release + simvastatin and atorvastatin in patients with hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Patients and methods: Patients (n = 137) with dyslipidemia (not previously receiving statin therapy or having discontinued any lipid-altering treatment 4-5 weeks prior to the study) received NER/S (1000/40 mg/day for four weeks, then 2000/40 mg/day for eight weeks) or atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 12 weeks. Median percent changes in apolipoprotein (apo) A-1, apo B, and the apo B: A-I ratio, and nuclear magnetic resonance lipoprotein subclasses from baseline to week 12 were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Fisher's exact test. Results: NER/S treatment produced significantly greater percent changes in apo A-I and apo B: A-I, and, at the final visit, apo B < 80 mg/dL was attained by 59% versus 33% of patients, compared with atorvastatin treatment (P = 0.003). NER/S treatment resulted in greater percent reductions in calculated particle numbers for low-density lipoprotein (LDL, 52% versus 43%; P = 0.022), small LDL (55% versus 45%; P = 0.011), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and total chylomicrons (63% versus 39%; P < 0.001), and greater increases in particle size for LDL (2.7% versus 1.0%; P = 0.007) and VLDL (9.3% versus 0.1%; P < 0.001), compared with atorvastatin. Conclusion: NER/S treatment significantly improved apo A-I levels and the apo B: A-I ratio, significantly lowered the number of atherogenic LDL particles and VLDL and chylomicron particles, and increased the mean size of LDL and VLDL particles, compared with atorvastatin

Patients’ narratives of surgical site infection: implications for practice

Background Exploring patients' experiences has been used widely within healthcare to improve clinical service delivery. To date there has been minimal patient input of this kind into aspects of surgical site infection (SSI), such as surveillance or prevention interventions. Aim To obtain information from patients' experiences of SSIs to improve clinical practice. Methods Narrative interviews with 17 patients with SSIs (four deep, 12 organ space and one superficial) from three hospitals in England were conducted followed by thematic content analysis. Results Patients lacked overall awareness, concern and understanding of SSIs. Seven patients did not know that they had SSIs and, judging from patients' accounts, staff may have contributed to the lack of awareness by not informing patients of SSIs or downplaying their existence. The use of primary care resources was considerable and six of the patients were absent from work for two to four months. Conclusions SSIs have a low profile among patients which, if it were raised, could increase compliance with preventive interventions. This study confirms the appropriateness of using patient self-assessment post-discharge surveillance questionnaires to identify SSI symptoms, and highlights the need to identify total costings including to primary care, patients and the economy

Essential requirements for setting up a stem cell processing laboratory

The Graft Processing subcommittee of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation wrote this guideline to assist physicians and laboratory technologists with the setting up of a cell processing laboratory (CPL) to support a hematopoietic stem cell transplant program, thereby facilitating the start-up of a transplant program in a new location and improving patient access to transplantation worldwide. This guideline describes the minimal essential features of designing such a laboratory and provides a list of equipment and supply needs and staffing recommendations. It describes the typical scope of services that a CPL is expected to perform, including product testing services, and discusses the basic principles behind the most frequent procedures. Quality management (QM) principles specific to a CPL are also discussed. References to additional guidance documents that are available worldwide to assist with QM and regulatory compliance are also provided. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved