65 research outputs found
Measurement with Persons: A European Network
The European ‘Measuring the Impossible’ Network MINET promotes new research activities in measurement dependent on human perception and/or interpretation. This includes the perceived attributes of products and services, such as quality or desirability, and societal parameters such as security and well-being. Work has aimed at consensus about four ‘generic’ metrological issues: (1) Measurement Concepts & Terminology; (2) Measurement Techniques: (3) Measurement Uncertainty; and (4) Decision-making & Impact Assessment, and how these can be applied specificallyto the ‘Measurement of Persons’ in terms of ‘Man as a Measurement Instrument’ and ‘Measuring Man.’ Some of the main achievements of MINET include a research repository with glossary; training course; book; series of workshops;think tanks and study visits, which have brought together a unique constellation of researchers from physics, metrology,physiology, psychophysics, psychology and sociology. Metrology (quality-assured measurement) in this area is relativelyunderdeveloped, despite great potential for innovation, and extends beyond traditional physiological metrology in thatit also deals with measurement with all human senses as well as mental and behavioral processes. This is particularlyrelevant in applications where humans are an important component of critical systems, where for instance health andsafety are at stake
Isotope shift calculations for atoms with one valence electron
This work presents a method for the ab initio calculation of isotope shift in
atoms and ions with one valence electron above closed shells. As a zero
approximation we use relativistic Hartree-Fock and then calculate correlation
corrections. The main motivation for developing the method comes from the need
to analyse whether different isotope abundances in early universe can
contribute to the observed anomalies in quasar absorption spectra. The current
best explanation for these anomalies is the assumption that the fine structure
constant, alpha, was smaller at early epoch. We test the isotope shift method
by comparing the calculated and experimental isotope shift for the alkali and
alkali-like atoms Na, MgII, K, CaII and BaII. The agreement is found to be
good. We then calculate the isotope shift for some astronomically relevant
transitions in SiII and SiIV, MgII, ZnII and GeII.Comment: 11 page
CP-odd Phase Correlations and Electric Dipole Moments
We revisit the constraints imposed by electric dipole moments (EDMs) of
nucleons and heavy atoms on new CP-violating sources within supersymmetric
theories. We point out that certain two-loop renormalization group corrections
induce significant mixing between the basis-invariant CP-odd phases. In the
framework of the constrained minimal supersymmetric standard model (CMSSM), the
CP-odd invariant related to the soft trilinear A-phase at the GUT scale,
theta_A, induces non-trivial and distinct CP-odd phases for the three gaugino
masses at the weak scale. The latter give one-loop contributions to EDMs
enhanced by tan beta, and can provide the dominant contribution to the electron
EDM induced by theta_A. We perform a detailed analysis of the EDM constraints
within the CMSSM, exhibiting the reach, in terms of sparticle spectra, which
may be obtained assuming generic phases, as well as the limits on the CP-odd
phases for some specific parameter points where detailed phenomenological
studies are available. We also illustrate how this reach will expand with
results from the next generation of experiments which are currently in
development.Comment: 31 pages, 21 eps figures; v2: additional remarks on 2-loop threshold
corrections and references added; v3: typos corrected, to appear in Phys.
Rev.
High accuracy calculation of 6s -> 7s parity nonconserving amplitude in Cs
We calculated the parity nonconserving (PNC) 6s -> 7s amplitude in Cs. In the
Dirac-Coulomb approximation our result is in a good agreement with other
calculations. Breit corrections to the PNC amplitude and to the Stark-induced
amplitude are found to be -0.4% and -1% respectively. The weak charge
of Cs is in agreement with the standard model.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX2e, uses revtex4.cls, submitted to PR
Calculation of T_ odd effects in $"" sup 205_TIF including electron correlation
A method and codes for two-step correlation calculation of heavy-atom
molecules have been developed, employing the generalized relativistic effective
core potential and relativistic coupled cluster (RCC) methods at the first
step, followed by nonvariational one-center restoration of proper
four-component spinors in the heavy cores. Electron correlation is included for
the first time in an ab initio calculation of the interaction of the permanent
P,T-odd proton electric dipole moment with the internal electromagnetic field
in a molecule. The calculation is performed for the ground state of TlF at the
experimental equilibrium, R_e=2.0844 A, and at R=2.1 A, with spin-orbit and
correlation effects included by RCC. Calculated results with single cluster
amplitudes only are in good agreement (3% and 1%) with recent
Dirac-Hartree-Fock (DHF) values of the magnetic parameter M; the larger
differences occurring between present and DHF volume parameter (X) values, as
well as between the two DHF calculations, are explained. Inclusion of electron
correlation by GRECP/RCC with single and double excitations has a major effect
on the P,T-odd parameters, decreasing M by 17% and X by 22%.Comment: 5 pages, REVTeX4 style Accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.Letter
Many-body-QED perturbation theory: Connection to the Bethe-Salpeter equation
The connection between many-body theory (MBPT)--in perturbative and
non-perturbative form--and quantum-electrodynamics (QED) is reviewed for
systems of two fermions in an external field. The treatment is mainly based
upon the recently developed covariant-evolution-operator method for QED
calculations [Lindgren et al. Phys. Rep. 389, 161 (2004)], which has a
structure quite akin to that of many-body perturbation theory. At the same time
this procedure is closely connected to the S-matrix and the Green's-function
formalisms and can therefore serve as a bridge between various approaches. It
is demonstrated that the MBPT-QED scheme, when carried to all orders, leads to
a Schroedinger-like equation, equivalent to the Bethe-Salpeter (BS) equation. A
Bloch equation in commutator form that can be used for an "extended" or
quasi-degenerate model space is derived. It has the same relation to the BS
equation as has the standard Bloch equation to the ordinary Schroedinger
equation and can be used to generate a perturbation expansion compatible with
the BS equation also for a quasi-degenerate model space.Comment: Submitted to Canadian J of Physic
Atomic Parity Nonconservation: Electroweak Parameters and Nuclear Structure
There have been suggestions to measure atomic parity nonconservation (PNC)
along an isotopic chain, by taking ratios of observables in order to cancel
complicated atomic structure effects. Precise atomic PNC measurements could
make a significant contribution to tests of the Standard Model at the level of
one loop radiative corrections. However, the results also depend upon certain
features of nuclear structure, such as the spatial distribution of neutrons in
the nucleus. To examine the sensitivity to nuclear structure, we consider the
case of Pb isotopes using various recent relativistic and non-relativistic
nuclear model calculations. Contributions from nucleon internal weak structure
are included, but found to be fairly negligible. The spread among present
models in predicted sizes of nuclear structure effects may preclude using Pb
isotope ratios to test the Standard Model at better than a one percent level,
unless there are adequate independent tests of the nuclear models by various
alternative strong and electroweak nuclear probes. On the other hand,
sufficiently accurate atomic PNC experiments would provide a unique method to
measure neutron distributions in heavy nuclei.Comment: 44 pages, INT Preprint DOE/ER/40561-050-INT92-00-1
Probing exotic phenomena at the interface of nuclear and particle physics with the electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms: A unique window to hadronic and semi-leptonic CP violation
The current status of electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms which
involves the synergy between atomic experiments and three different theoretical
areas -- particle, nuclear and atomic is reviewed. Various models of particle
physics that predict CP violation, which is necessary for the existence of such
electric dipole moments, are presented. These include the standard model of
particle physics and various extensions of it. Effective hadron level combined
charge conjugation (C) and parity (P) symmetry violating interactions are
derived taking into consideration different ways in which a nucleon interacts
with other nucleons as well as with electrons. Nuclear structure calculations
of the CP-odd nuclear Schiff moment are discussed using the shell model and
other theoretical approaches. Results of the calculations of atomic electric
dipole moments due to the interaction of the nuclear Schiff moment with the
electrons and the P and time-reversal (T) symmetry violating
tensor-pseudotensor electron-nucleus are elucidated using different
relativistic many-body theories. The principles of the measurement of the
electric dipole moments of diamagnetic atoms are outlined. Upper limits for the
nuclear Schiff moment and tensor-pseudotensor coupling constant are obtained
combining the results of atomic experiments and relativistic many-body
theories. The coefficients for the different sources of CP violation have been
estimated at the elementary particle level for all the diamagnetic atoms of
current experimental interest and their implications for physics beyond the
standard model is discussed. Possible improvements of the current results of
the measurements as well as quantum chromodynamics, nuclear and atomic
calculations are suggested.Comment: 46 pages, 19 tables and 16 figures. A review article accepted for
EPJ
Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.
Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability
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