A measurement of W+jet and Z+jet cross sections in the tau decay channel, and their ratio in the ATLAS experiment

The amount of collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and collected by the ATLAS detector in Spring 2011 was sufficient enough so that a variety of important measurements could be carried out. Among them are the measurements of the W+jet and the Z+jet cross sections in the tau decay channel of the W and Z boson, and the W+jet to Z+jet cross sections ratio measurement, the so called RJET measurement. The goal of these measurements is, by comparing the theoretical predictions and the measured quantities, to investigate, whether signs of physics beyond the Standard Model can be observed in the W(→ τν)+jet or the Z(→ τ τ )+jet signatures. The RJET measurement is an extra measurement which tested the possibility of canceling some systematic uncertainties which entered both W(→ τν)+jet and Z(→ τ τ )+jet cross section measurements, and thus provide a measurement with an enhanced sensitivity. This thesis provides the W(→ τν)+jet and the Z(→ τ τ )+jet observations and cross section measurements and their RJET ratio is estimated. The W(→ τν)+jet cross section is estimated to be σW+jet = 1.08 ± 0.06(stat.) ± 0.21(syst.) ± 0.03(lumi.) nb, and the Z(→ τ τ )+jet cross section is estimated to be σZ+jet = 0.130 ± 0.015(stat.) ± 0.023(syst.) ± 0.004 (lumi.) nb. The RJET ratio is estimated to be RJET = 8.3 ± 1.0(stat.) ± 1.5(syst.). The measured cross sections as well as the RJET ratio correspond within the uncertainty with the theoretical predictions. Future improvements of the analysis are discussed in the summary of the thesis

Real time algorithms in the ATLAS tau trigger system at 7 TeV center of mass energy

The ATLAS tau trigger system runs very challenging real time algorithms on commodity computers. Whilst in the second level trigger (L2) fast and specialized algorithms are used, in the third level trigger (Event Filter -EF-) sophisticated and detailed reconstruction algorithms run. The performance of both types of algorithms can be decoupled because they both start from the information provided by first level (L1) hardware-based system. For both cases, data from the whole detector can be used, and in fact there are dedicated separate algorithms processing the calorimeter data and the data from the tracking detectors. In this contribution we focus on the online performance of the L2 and EF algorithms during 2011 data taking period at the LHC, with special emphasis on the fast calorimeter selection. We present the overall performance and robustness of the operation of such algorithms during its use at the LHC. Finally, we outline the plans for future operations in light of the experience accumulated during this year's running

Beyond the HIV Care Continuum and Viral Suppression: Broadening the Scope of Quality Metrics for Total HIV Patient Care.

Assessing quality care for people with HIV (PWH) should not be limited to reporting on HIV Care Continuum benchmarks, particularly viral suppression rates. At Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States (KPMAS), an integrated health system providing HIV care in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, we created a comprehensive measure of HIV quality care, including both preventative measures and clinical outcomes. We included PWH ≥18 years old with ≥6 months KPMAS membership between 2015 and 2018. Process quality metrics (QMs) include: pneumococcal vaccination and influenza vaccination; primary care physician (PCP) and/or HIV/infectious disease (HIV/ID) visits with additional HIV/ID visit; antiretroviral treatment medication fills; and syphilis and gonorrhea/chlamydia screenings. Outcome QMs include HIV RNA <200/mL and other measurements within normal range [blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin, blood sugar, alanine transaminase, low-density lipoproteins, estimated glomerular filtration rate]; no hospitalization/emergency department visit; no new depression diagnosis; remaining or becoming a nonsmoker. Logistic models estimated odds of achieving QMs associated with sex, age, race/ethnicity, insurance type, and HIV risk. A total of 4996 observations were analyzed. 45.6% met all process QMs, while 19.6% met all outcome QMs. Least frequently met process QM was PCP or HIV/ID visit (74.5%); least met outcome QM was BMI (60.2%). Significantly lower odds of achieving all QMs among women {odds ratio (OR) = 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49-0.81]} and those with Medicaid and Medicare [vs. commercial; OR = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.30-0.76) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.31-0.71)]. Broadening the scope of HIV patient care QMs beyond viral suppression helps identify opportunities for improvement. Successful process metrics do not necessarily coincide with greater outcome metrics

Maraviroc for previously treated patients with R5 HIV-1 infection

Background CC chemokine receptor 5 antagonists are a new class of antiretroviral agents.Methods We conducted two double- blind, placebo- controlled, phase 3 studies - Maraviroc versus Optimized Therapy in Viremic Antiretroviral Treatment- Experienced Patients ( MOTIVATE) 1 and MOTIVATE 2 - with patients who had R5 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 ( HIV- 1) only. They had been treated with or had resistance to three antiretroviral- drug classes and had HIV- 1 RNA levels of more than 5000 copies per milliliter. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three antiretroviral regimens consisting of maraviroc once daily, maraviroc twice daily, or placebo, each of which included optimized background therapy ( OBT) based on treatment history and drug- resistance testing. Safety and efficacy were assessed after 48 weeks.Results A total of 1049 patients received the randomly assigned study drug; the mean baseline HIV- 1 RNA level was 72,400 copies per milliliter, and the median CD4 cell count was 169 per cubic millimeter. At 48 weeks, in both studies, the mean change in HIV- 1 RNA from baseline was greater with maraviroc than with placebo: - 1.66 and - 1.82 log(10) copies per milliliter with the once- daily and twice- daily regimens, respectively, versus - 0.80 with placebo in MOTIVATE 1, and - 1.72 and - 1.87 log(10) copies per milliliter, respectively, versus - 0.76 with placebo in MOTIVATE 2. More patients receiving maraviroc once or twice daily had HIV- 1 RNA levels of less than 50 copies per milliliter ( 42% and 47%, respectively, vs. 16% in the placebo group in MOTIVATE 1; 45% in both maraviroc groups vs. 18% in MOTIVATE 2; P< 0.001 for both comparisons in each study). The change from baseline in CD4 counts was also greater with maraviroc once or twice daily than with placebo ( increases of 113 and 122 per cubic millimeter, respectively, vs. 54 in MOTIVATE 1; increases of 122 and 128 per cubic millimeter, respectively, vs. 69 in MOTIVATE 2; P< 0.001 for both comparisons in each study). Frequencies of adverse events were similar among the groups.Conclusions Maraviroc, as compared with placebo, resulted in significantly greater suppression of HIV- 1 and greater increases in CD4 cell counts at 48 weeks in previously treated patients with R5 HIV- 1 who were receiving OBT. (ClinicalTrials. gov numbers, NCT00098306 and NCT00098722.)