A complete O(alpha_S^2) calculation of the signal-background interference for the Higgs diphoton decay channel

We present the full {\cal O}(\as^2) computation of the interference effects between the Higgs diphoton signal and the continuum background at the LHC. While the main contribution to the interference originates on the $gg$ partonic subprocess, we find that the corrections from the $qg$ and $q\bar{q}$ channels amount up to 35% of it. We discuss the effect of these new subprocesses in the shift of the diphoton invariant mass peak recently reported by S. Martin in Ref.\cite{Martin:2012xc}.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Exploring newly qualified doctors' workplace stressors:an interview study from Australia

Purpose Postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) doctors suffer from high levels of psychological distress, yet the contributory factors are poorly understood. This study used an existing model of workplace stress to explore the elements most pertinent to PGY1 doctors. In turn, the data were used to amend and refine the conceptual model to better reflect the unique experiences of PGY1 doctors. Method Focus groups were undertaken with PGY1 doctors working at four different health services in Victoria, Australia. Transcripts were coded using Michie's model of workplace stress as the initial coding template. Remaining text was coded inductively and the supplementary codes were used to modify and amplify Michie's framework. Results There were 37 participants in total. Key themes included stressors intrinsic to the job, such as work overload and long hours, as well as those related to the context of work such as lack of role clarity and relationships with colleagues. The main modification to Michie's framework was the addition of the theme of uncertainty. This concept related to most of the pre-existing themes in complex ways, culminating in an overall sense of anxiety. Conclusions Michie's model of workplace stress can be effectively used to explore the stressors experienced by PGY1 doctors. Pervasive uncertainty may help to explain the high levels of psychological morbidity in this group. While some uncertainty will always remain, the medical education community must seek ways to improve role clarity and promote mutual respect.</p

Exploring newly qualified doctors' workplace stressors:an interview study from Australia

Purpose Postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) doctors suffer from high levels of psychological distress, yet the contributory factors are poorly understood. This study used an existing model of workplace stress to explore the elements most pertinent to PGY1 doctors. In turn, the data were used to amend and refine the conceptual model to better reflect the unique experiences of PGY1 doctors. Method Focus groups were undertaken with PGY1 doctors working at four different health services in Victoria, Australia. Transcripts were coded using Michie's model of workplace stress as the initial coding template. Remaining text was coded inductively and the supplementary codes were used to modify and amplify Michie's framework. Results There were 37 participants in total. Key themes included stressors intrinsic to the job, such as work overload and long hours, as well as those related to the context of work such as lack of role clarity and relationships with colleagues. The main modification to Michie's framework was the addition of the theme of uncertainty. This concept related to most of the pre-existing themes in complex ways, culminating in an overall sense of anxiety. Conclusions Michie's model of workplace stress can be effectively used to explore the stressors experienced by PGY1 doctors. Pervasive uncertainty may help to explain the high levels of psychological morbidity in this group. While some uncertainty will always remain, the medical education community must seek ways to improve role clarity and promote mutual respect.</p

Augmented intracellular glutathione inhibits fas-triggered apoptosis of activated human neutrophils

Q1Q1Agonist signals delivered through cell surface Fas induce apoptosis. However, the apoptotic program can be modulated by signals from the environment, and in particular, by signals delivered through adhesion molecules. Because neutrophil functional activity in inflammation is contingent on cell survival, and because circulating neutrophils normally die rapidly through a constitutively expressed apoptotic program, we evaluated Fas-mediated apoptosis in resting and inflammatory human neutrophils. We show that normal neutrophils respond to Fas engagement with accelerated rates of apoptosis, but cross-linking of β2 integrins or priming with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prevents this increase. Adhesion molecule cross-linking results in increased intracellular glutathione (GSH). Augmentation of intracellular GSH with exogenous GSH or N-acetylcysteine is sufficient to reduce the Fas-triggered increase in apoptotic rates. Prevention of the activation induced GSH increase by buthionine sulfoximine, a cell permeable inhibitor of GSH biosynthesis, restored Fas responsiveness in activated neutrophils, an effect that could be blocked with exogenous GSH. Taken together, these data show that Fas-induced signaling for neutrophil apoptosis is blocked in a redox sensitive manner by costimulatory signals delivered through β2 integrins or activation by LPS, and provide a biologic explanation for sustained neutrophil survival in the inflammatory environment.Revista Nacional - Indexad

Development of an integrated flexible transport systems platform for rural areas using argumentation theory

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mixed-Mode Oscillations in a Stochastic, Piecewise-Linear System

We analyze a piecewise-linear FitzHugh-Nagumo model. The system exhibits a canard near which both small amplitude and large amplitude periodic orbits exist. The addition of small noise induces mixed-mode oscillations (MMOs) in the vicinity of the canard point. We determine the effect of each model parameter on the stochastically driven MMOs. In particular we show that any parameter variation (such as a modification of the piecewise-linear function in the model) that leaves the ratio of noise amplitude to time-scale separation unchanged typically has little effect on the width of the interval of the primary bifurcation parameter over which MMOs occur. In that sense, the MMOs are robust. Furthermore we show that the piecewise-linear model exhibits MMOs more readily than the classical FitzHugh-Nagumo model for which a cubic polynomial is the only nonlinearity. By studying a piecewise-linear model we are able to explain results using analytical expressions and compare these with numerical investigations.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure

Coral Disease and Health Workshop: Coral Histopathology II

The health and continued existence of coral reef ecosystems are threatened by an increasing array of environmental and anthropogenic impacts. Coral disease is one of the prominent causes of increased mortality among reefs globally, particularly in the Caribbean. Although over 40 different coral diseases and syndromes have been reported worldwide, only a few etiological agents have been confirmed; most pathogens remain unknown and the dynamics of disease transmission, pathogenicity and mortality are not understood. Causal relationships have been documented for only a few of the coral diseases, while new syndromes continue to emerge. Extensive field observations by coral biologists have provided substantial documentation of a plethora of new pathologies, but our understanding, however, has been limited to descriptions of gross lesions with names reflecting these observations (e.g., black band, white band, dark spot). To determine etiology, we must equip coral diseases scientists with basic biomedical knowledge and specialized training in areas such as histology, cell biology and pathology. Only through combining descriptive science with mechanistic science and employing the synthesis epizootiology provides will we be able to gain insight into causation and become equipped to handle the pending crisis. One of the critical challenges faced by coral disease researchers is to establish a framework to systematically study coral pathologies drawing from the field of diagnostic medicine and pathology and using generally accepted nomenclature. This process began in April 2004, with a workshop titled Coral Disease and Health Workshop: Developing Diagnostic Criteria co-convened by the Coral Disease and Health Consortium (CDHC), a working group organized under the auspices of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, and the International Registry for Coral Pathology (IRCP). The workshop was hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin and was focused on gross morphology and disease signs observed in the field. A resounding recommendation from the histopathologists participating in the workshop was the urgent need to develop diagnostic criteria that are suitable to move from gross observations to morphological diagnoses based on evaluation of microscopic anatomy. (PDF contains 92 pages