1,197 research outputs found
Vacuum Stability, Perturbativity, and Scalar Singlet Dark Matter
We analyze the one-loop vacuum stability and perturbativity bounds on a
singlet extension of the Standard Model (SM) scalar sector containing a scalar
dark matter candidate. We show that the presence of the singlet-doublet quartic
interaction relaxes the vacuum stability lower bound on the SM Higgs mass as a
function of the cutoff and lowers the corresponding upper bound based on
perturbativity considerations. We also find that vacuum stability requirements
may place a lower bound on the singlet dark matter mass for given singlet
quartic self coupling, leading to restrictions on the parameter space
consistent with the observed relic density. We argue that discovery of a light
singlet scalar dark matter particle could provide indirect information on the
singlet quartic self-coupling.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures; v2 - fixed minor typos; v3 - added to text
discussions of other references, changed coloring of figures for easier black
and white viewin
Neutrino Mass and from a Mini-Seesaw
The recently proposed "mini-seesaw mechanism" combines naturally suppressed
Dirac and Majorana masses to achieve light Standard Model neutrinos via a
low-scale seesaw. A key feature of this approach is the presence of multiple
light (order GeV) sterile-neutrinos that mix with the Standard Model. In this
work we study the bounds on these light sterile-neutrinos from processes like
\mu ---> e + \gamma, invisible Z-decays, and neutrinoless double beta-decay. We
show that viable parameter space exists and that, interestingly, key
observables can lie just below current experimental sensitivities. In
particular, a motivated region of parameter space predicts a value of BR(\mu
---> e + \gamma) within the range to be probed by MEG.Comment: 1+26 pages, 7 figures. v2 JHEP version (typo's fixed, minor change to
presentation, results unchanged
Raising argument strength using negative evidence: A constraint on models of induction
Both intuitively, and according to similarity-based theories of induction, relevant evidence raises argument strength when it is positive and lowers it when it is negative. In three experiments, we tested the hypothesis that argument strength can actually increase when negative evidence is introduced. Two kinds of argument were compared through forced choice or sequential evaluation: single positive arguments (e.g., “Shostakovich’s music causes alpha waves in the brain; therefore, Bach’s music causes alpha waves in the brain”) and double mixed arguments (e.g., “Shostakovich’s music causes alpha waves in the brain, X’s music DOES NOT; therefore, Bach’s music causes alpha waves in the brain”). Negative evidence in the second premise lowered credence when it applied to an item X from the same subcategory (e.g., Haydn) and raised it when it applied to a different subcategory (e.g., AC/DC). The results constitute a new constraint on models of induction
Vacuum stability, neutrinos, and dark matter
Motivated by the discovery hint of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs mass around
125 GeV at the LHC, we study the vacuum stability and perturbativity bounds on
Higgs scalar of the SM extensions including neutrinos and dark matter (DM).
Guided by the SM gauge symmetry and the minimal changes in the SM Higgs
potential we consider two extensions of neutrino sector (Type-I and Type-III
seesaw mechanisms) and DM sector (a real scalar singlet (darkon) and minimal
dark matter (MDM)) respectively. The darkon contributes positively to the
function of the Higgs quartic coupling and can stabilize the
SM vacuum up to high scale. Similar to the top quark in the SM we find the
cause of instability is sensitive to the size of new Yukawa couplings between
heavy neutrinos and Higgs boson, namely, the scale of seesaw mechanism. MDM and
Type-III seesaw fermion triplet, two nontrivial representations of
group, will bring the additional positive contributions to the gauge coupling
renormalization group (RG) evolution and would also help to stabilize
the electroweak vacuum up to high scale.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures; published versio
Cognition in Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Research: Consensus-Based Core Recommendations From the Second Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable
Cognitive impairment is an important target for rehabilitation as it is common following stroke, is associated with reduced quality of life and interferes with motor and other types of recovery interventions. Cognitive function following stroke was identified as an important, but relatively neglected area during the first Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable (SRRR I), leading to a Cognition Working Group being convened as part of SRRR II. There is currently insufficient evidence to build consensus on specific approaches to cognitive rehabilitation. However, we present recommendations on the integration of cognitive assessments into stroke recovery studies generally and define priorities for ongoing and future research for stroke recovery and rehabilitation. A number of promising interventions are ready to be taken forward to trials to tackle the gap in evidence for cognitive rehabilitation. However, to accelerate progress requires that we coordinate efforts to tackle multiple gaps along the whole translational pathway
Cognition in stroke rehabilitation and recovery research: Consensus-based core recommendations from the second Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable
Cognitive impairment is an important target for rehabilitation as it is common following stroke, is associated with reduced quality of life and interferes with motor and other types of recovery interventions. Cognitive function following stroke was identified as an important, but relatively neglected area during the first Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Roundtable (SRRR I), leading to a Cognition Working Group being convened as part of SRRR II. There is currently insufficient evidence to build consensus on specific approaches to cognitive rehabilitation. However, we present recommendations on the integration of cognitive assessments into stroke recovery studies generally and define priorities for ongoing and future research for stroke recovery and rehabilitation. A number of promising interventions are ready to be taken forward to trials to tackle the gap in evidence for cognitive rehabilitation. However, to accelerate progress requires that we coordinate efforts to tackle multiple gaps along the whole translational pathway
Long-lived charged Higgs at LHC as a probe of scalar Dark Matter
We study inert charged Higgs boson production and decays at LHC
experiments in the context of constrained scalar dark matter model (CSDMM). In
the CSDMM the inert doublet and singlet scalar's mass spectrum is predicted
from the GUT scale initial conditions via RGE evolution. We compute the cross
sections of processes at the LHC and show that
for light the first one is dominated by top quark mediated 1-loop
diagram with Higgs boson in s-channel. In a significant fraction of the
parameter space are long-lived because their decays to predominantly
singlet scalar dark matter (DM) and next-to-lightest (NL) scalar, are suppressed by the small singlet-doublet mixing
angle and by the moderate mass difference
The experimentally measurable displaced vertex in decays to leptons
and/or jets and missing energy allows one to discover the signal over
the huge background. We propose benchmark points for studies of this
scenario at the LHC. If, however, are short-lived, the subsequent
decays necessarily produce additional
displaced vertices that allow to reconstruct the full decay chain.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Preventive medical care in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory: a follow-up study of the impact of clinical guidelines, computerised recall and reminder systems, and audit and feedback
Background
Interventions to improve delivery of preventive medical services have been shown to be effective in North America and the UK. However, there are few studies of the extent to which the impact of such interventions has been sustained, or of the impact of such interventions in disadvantaged populations or remote settings. This paper describes the trends in delivery of preventive medical services following a multifaceted intervention in remote community health centres in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Methods
The intervention comprised the development and dissemination of best practice guidelines supported by an electronic client register, recall and reminder systems and associated staff training, and audit and feedback. Clinical records in seven community health centres were audited at regular intervals against best practice guidelines over a period of three years, with feedback of audit findings to health centre staff and management.
Results
Levels of service delivery varied between services and between communities. There was an initial improvement in service levels for most services following the intervention, but improvements were in general not fully sustained over the three year period.
Conclusions
Improvements in service delivery are consistent with the international experience, although baseline and follow-up levels are in many cases higher than reported for comparable studies in North America and the UK. Sustainability of improvements may be achieved by institutionalisation of relevant work practices and enhanced health centre capacity
Acute Depression and Anxiety Symptoms following Concussion in an Adolescent Outpatient Population
Introduction: Research has shown that concussed youth are at increased risk of developing psychiatric symptoms as compared to non-concussed youth. Few studies, however, have detailed the presence and severity of acute depression and anxiety symptoms following a concussion in adolescents, specifically. Thus, the current study aims to describe depression and anxiety symptoms in concussed and non-concussed adolescents using validated measures of depression and anxiety.
Methods: The current study includes 284 adolescents (114 cases, 170 controls), 13-18 years of age. Cases included concussed patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and controls were recruited from a local, Philadelphia high school. All subjects completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression and Anxiety (Pediatric Short Form 8b) measures at their visits. Adjusted risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for above-normal limits of PROMIS Depression and Anxiety were calculated for all subjects.
Results: When controlling for sex and a medical history of anxiety, there is a 1.49 increased risk of an above-normal PROMIS Anxiety t-score for cases vs. controls (95% CI: 0.97-2.27, p=0.07). Although not significant, when controlling for sex and a medical history of depression, there is a 1.25 increased risk of an above-normal PROMIS Depression t-score for cases vs. controls (95% CI: 0.84-1.84, p=0.27).
Discussion: Our results demonstrate that acutely concussed adolescents have an increased risk of above-normal levels of anxiety, but not depressive, symptoms compared to controls. These findings suggest that clinicians should incorporate psychiatric screening into concussion care and treatment for their adolescent patient population
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