Shapes of the Nucleon

Previously defined spin-dependent quark densities that are matrix elements of specific density operators in proton states of definite spin-polarization generally have an infinite variety of non-spherical shapes. The present application is concerned with both charge and matter densities. We show that the Gross & Agbakpe model nucleon harbors an interesting variety of non-spherical shapes.Comment: 8 pages 3 figure

Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer: Overdiagnosis in randomised controlled trials of breast cancer screening

Data from randomised controlled trials of mammographic screening can be used to determine the extent of any overdiagnosis, as soon as either a time equivalent to the lead-time has elapsed after the final screen, or the control arm has been offered screening. This paper reviews those randomised trials for which breast cancer incidence data are available. In recent trials in which the control group has not been offered screening, an excess incidence of breast cancer remains after many years of follow-up. In those trials in which the control arm has been offered screening, although there is a possible shift from invasive to in situ disease, there is no evidence of overdiagnosis as a result of incident screens

The Clustering of AGN in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present the two--point correlation function (2PCF) of narrow-line active galactic nuclei (AGN) selected within the First Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Using a sample of 13605 AGN in the redshift range 0.055 < z < 0.2, we find that the AGN auto--correlation function is consistent with the observed galaxy auto--correlation function on scales 0.2h^{-1}Mpc to >100h^{-1}Mpc. The AGN hosts trace an intermediate population of galaxies and are not detected in either the bluest (youngest) disk--dominated galaxies or many of the reddest (oldest) galaxies. We show that the AGN 2PCF is dependent on the luminosity of the narrow [OIII] emission line (L_{[OIII]}), with low L_{[OIII]} AGN having a higher clustering amplitude than high L_{[OIII]} AGN. This is consistent with lower activity AGN residing in more massive galaxies than higher activity AGN, and L_{[OIII]} providing a good indicator of the fueling rate. Using a model relating halo mass to black hole mass in cosmological simulations, we show that AGN hosted by ~ 10^{12} M_{odot} dark matter halos have a 2PCF that matches that of the observed sample. This mass scale implies a mean black hole mass for the sample of M_{BH} ~ 10^8 M_{odot}.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ

Synthesis and Characterization of Three-Coordinate Ni(III)-Imide Complexes

A new family of low-coordinate nickel imides supported by 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane was synthesized. Oxidation of nickel(II) complexes led to the formation of both aryl- and alkyl-substituted nickel(III)-imides, and examples of both types have been isolated and fully characterized. The aryl substituent that proved most useful in stabilizing the Ni(III)-imide moiety was the bulky 2,6-dimesitylphenyl. The two Ni(III)-imide compounds showed different variable-temperature magnetic properties but analogous EPR spectra at low temperatures. To account for this discrepancy, a low-spin/high-spin equilibrium was proposed to take place for the alkyl-substituted Ni(III)-imide complex. This proposal was supported by DFT calculations. DFT calculations also indicated that the unpaired electron is mostly localized on the imide nitrogen for the Ni(III) complexes. The results of reactions carried out in the presence of hydrogen donors supported the findings from DFT calculations that the adamantyl substituent was a significantly more reactive hydrogen-atom abstractor. Interestingly, the steric properties of the 2,6-dimesitylphenyl substituent are important not only in protecting the Ni═N core but also in favoring one rotamer of the resulting Ni(III)-imide, by locking the phenyl ring in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the NiPP plane

A to Z of the Muon anomalous magnetic moment in the MSSM with Pati-Salam at the GUT scale

We analyse the low energy predictions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) arising from a GUT scale Pati-Salam gauge group further constrained by an A4 × Z5 family symmetry, resulting in four soft scalar masses at the GUT scale: one left-handed soft mass m0 and three right-handed soft masses m1, m2, m3, one for each generation. We demonstrate that this model, which was initially developed to describe the neutrino sector, can explain collider and non-collider measurements such as the dark matter relic density, the Higgs boson mass and, in particular, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (g − 2)μ. Since about two decades, (g − 2)μ suffers a puzzling about 3σ excessoftheexperimentallymeasuredvalueoverthetheoreticalprediction,whichour model is able to fully resolve. As the consequence of this resolution, our model predicts specific regions of the parameter space with the specific properties including light smuons and neutralinos, which could also potentially explain di-lepton excesses observed by CMS and ATLAS

Dynamics and control of dual-hoist cranes moving distributed payloads

Crane motion induces payload oscillation that makes accurate positioning of the payload a challenging task. As the payload size increases, it may be necessary to utilize multiple cranes for better control of the payload position and orientation. However, simultaneously maneuvering multiple cranes to transport a single payload increases the complexity and danger of the operation. This thesis investigates the dynamics and control of dual-hoist bridge cranes transporting distributed payloads. Insights from this dynamic analysis were used to design input shapers that reduce payload oscillation originating from various crane motions. Also, studies were conducted to investigate the effect input shaping has on the performance of human operators using a dual-hoist bridge crane to transport distributed payloads through an obstacle course. In each study, input shaping significantly improved the task completion time. Furthermore, input-shaping control greatly decreased operator effort, as measured by the number of interface button pushes needed to complete a task. These results clearly demonstrate the benefit of input-shaping control on dual-hoist bridge cranes. In addition, a new system identification method that utilizes input shaping for determining the modal frequencies and relative amplitude contributions of individual modes was developed to aid in the dynamic analysis of dual-hoist bridge cranes, as well as other multi-mode systems. This method uses a new type of input shaper to suppress all but one mode to a low level. The shaper can also be used to bring a small-amplitude mode to light by modifying one of the vibration constraints.M.S

Observation of the Cabibbo-suppressed charmed baryon decay Λ_c^+→pφ

We report the observation of the Cabibbo-suppressed decays Λ_c^+→pK^-K^+ and Λ_c^+→pφ using data collected with the CLEO II detector at CESR. The latter mode, observed for the first time with significant statistics, is of interest as a test of color suppression in charm decays. We have determined the branching ratios for these modes relative to Λ_c^+→pK^-π^+ and compared our results with theory

The broad band spectral properties of binary X-ray pulsars

The X-ray telescopes on board BeppoSAX are an optimal set of instruments to observe bright galactic binary pulsars. These sources emit very hard and quite complex X-ray spectra that can be accurately measured with BeppoSAX between 0.1 and 200 keV. A prototype of this complexity, the source Her X-1, shows at least seven different components in its spectrum. A broad band measure is therefore of paramount importance to have a thorough insight into the physics of the emitting region. Moreover the detection of cyclotron features, when present, allows a direct and highly significant measure of the magnetic field intensity in the emission region. In this paper we briefly report the results obtained with BeppoSAX on this class of sources, with emphasis on the detection and on the measured properties of the cyclotron lines.Comment: 10 Latex pages, 4 figures, uses psfig.sty. Accepted for publication in Advances in Space Research, in Proceedings of 32nd Scientific Assembly of COSPAR - Symposium E1.1: "Broad-Band X-ray Spectroscopy of Cosmic Sources

Inclusion of the value of herd immunity in economic evaluations of vaccines. A systematic review of methods used.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this review were to identify vaccine economic evaluations that include herd immunity and describe the methodological approaches used. METHODS: We used Kim and Goldie's search strategy from a systematic review (1976-2007) of modelling approaches used in vaccine economic evaluations and additionally searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase for 2007-2015. Studies were classified according to modelling approach used. Methods for estimating herd immunity effects were described, in particular for the static models. RESULTS: We identified 625 economic evaluations of vaccines against human-transmissible diseases from 1976 to 2015. Of these, 172 (28%) included herd immunity. While 4% of studies included herd immunity in 2001, 53% of those published in 2015 did this. Pneumococcal, human papilloma and rotavirus vaccines represented the majority of studies (63%) considering herd immunity. Ninety-five of the 172 studies utilised a static model, 59 applied a dynamic model, eight a hybrid model and ten did not clearly state which method was used. Relatively crude methods and assumptions were used in the majority of the static model studies. CONCLUSION: The proportion of economic evaluations using a dynamic model has increased in recent years. However, 55% of the included studies used a static model for estimating herd immunity. Values from a static model can only be considered reliable if high quality surveillance data are incorporated into the analysis. Without this, the results are questionable and they should only be included in sensitivity analysis