Hadronic contribution to the muon g-2: a theoretical determination

The leading order hadronic contribution to the muon g-2, $a_{\mu}^{HAD}$, is determined entirely from theory using an approach based on Cauchy's theorem in the complex squared energy s-plane. This is possible after fitting the integration kernel in $a_{\mu}^{HAD}$ with a simpler function of $s$. The integral determining $a_{\mu}^{HAD}$ in the light-quark region is then split into a low energy and a high energy part, the latter given by perturbative QCD (PQCD). The low energy integral involving the fit function to the integration kernel is determined by derivatives of the vector correlator at the origin, plus a contour integral around a circle calculable in PQCD. These derivatives are calculated using hadronic models in the light-quark sector. A similar procedure is used in the heavy-quark sector, except that now everything is calculable in PQCD, thus becoming the first entirely theoretical calculation of this contribution. Using the dual resonance model realization of Large $N_{c}$ QCD to compute the derivatives of the correlator leads to agreement with the experimental value of $a_\mu$. Accuracy, though, is currently limited by the model dependent calculation of derivatives of the vector correlator at the origin. Future improvements should come from more accurate chiral perturbation theory and/or lattice QCD information on these derivatives, allowing for this method to be used to determine $a_{\mu}^{HAD}$ accurately entirely from theory, independently of any hadronic model.Comment: Several additional clarifying paragraphs have been added. 1/N_c corrections have been estimated. No change in result

Charm-quark mass from weighted finite energy QCD sum rules

The running charm-quark mass in the $\bar{MS}$ scheme is determined from weighted finite energy QCD sum rules (FESR) involving the vector current correlator. Only the short distance expansion of this correlator is used, together with integration kernels (weights) involving positive powers of $s$, the squared energy. The optimal kernels are found to be a simple {\it pinched} kernel, and polynomials of the Legendre type. The former kernel reduces potential duality violations near the real axis in the complex s-plane, and the latter allows to extend the analysis to energy regions beyond the end point of the data. These kernels, together with the high energy expansion of the correlator, weigh the experimental and theoretical information differently from e.g. inverse moments FESR. Current, state of the art results for the vector correlator up to four-loop order in perturbative QCD are used in the FESR, together with the latest experimental data. The integration in the complex s-plane is performed using three different methods, fixed order perturbation theory (FOPT), contour improved perturbation theory (CIPT), and a fixed renormalization scale $\mu$ (FMUPT). The final result is $\bar{m}_c (3\, {GeV}) = 1008\,\pm\, 26\, {MeV}$, in a wide region of stability against changes in the integration radius $s_0$ in the complex s-plane.Comment: A short discussion on convergence issues has been added at the end of the pape

Bottom-quark mass from finite energy QCD sum rules

Finite energy QCD sum rules involving both inverse and positive moment integration kernels are employed to determine the bottom quark mass. The result obtained in the $\bar{\text {MS}}$ scheme at a reference scale of $10\, {GeV}$ is $\bar{m}_b(10\,\text{GeV})= 3623(9)\,\text{MeV}$. This value translates into a scale invariant mass $\bar{m}_b(\bar{m}_b) = 4171 (9)\, {MeV}$. This result has the lowest total uncertainty of any method, and is less sensitive to a number of systematic uncertainties that affect other QCD sum rule determinations.Comment: An appendix has been added with explicit expressions for the polynomials used in Table

B meson decay constants f(Bc), f(Bs) and f(B) from QCD sum rules

Finite energy QCD sum rules with Legendre polynomial integration kernels are used to determine the heavy meson decay constant f(Bc), and revisit f(B) and f(Bs). Results exhibit excellent stability in a wide range of values of the integration radius in the complex squared energy plane, and of the order of the Legendre polynomial. Results are f(Bc) = 528 +/- 19 MeV, f(B) = 186 +/- 14 MeV, and f(Bs) = 222 +/- 12 MeV

Passive SOBP generation from a static proton pencil beam using 3D-printed range modulators for FLASH experiments

The University Proton Therapy facility in Dresden (UPTD), Germany, is equipped with an experimental room with a beamline providing a static pencil beam. High proton beam currents can be achieved at this beamline which makes it suitable for FLASH experiments. However, the established experimental setup uses only the entrance channel of the proton Bragg curve. In this work, a set of 3D-printed range modulators designed to generate spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) for radiobiological experiments at ultra-high dose rate at this beamline is described. A new method to optimize range modulators specifically for the case of a static pencil beam based on the central depth dose profile is introduced. Modulators for two different irradiation setups were produced and characterized experimentally by measurements of lateral and depth dose distributions using different detectors. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess profiles of the dose averaged linear energy transfer (LETD) in water. These newly produced range modulators will allow future proton FLASH experiments in the SOBP at UPTD with two different experimental setups

High Rates of Detection of Clade 2.3.4.4 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Viruses in Wild Birds in the Pacific Northwest During the Winter of 2014–15

SUMMARY. In 2014, clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses spread across the Republic of Korea and ultimately were reported in China, Japan, Russia, and Europe. Mortality associated with a reassortant HPAI H5N2 virus was detected in poultry farms in western Canada at the end of November. The same strain (with identical genetic structure) was then detected in free-living wild birds that had died prior to December 8, 2014, of unrelated causes in Whatcom County, Washington, U. S. A., in an area contiguous with the index Canadian location. A gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) that had hunted and fed on an American wigeon (Anas americana) on December 6, 2014, in the same area, and died 2 days later, tested positive for the Eurasian-origin HPAI H5N8. Subsequently, an active surveillance program using hunter-harvested waterfowl in Washington and Oregon detected 10 HPAI H5 viruses, of three different subtypes (four H5N2, three H5N8, and three H5N1) with four segments in common (HA, PB2, NP, and MA). In addition, a mortality-based passive surveillance program detected 18 HPAI (14 H5N2 and four H5N8) cases from Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, and Wisconsin. Comparatively, mortality-based passive surveillance appears to have detected these HPAI infections at a higher rate than active surveillance during the period following initial introduction into the United States. RESUMEN. Altas tasas de detección del virus de influenza aviar altamente patógeno H5 clado 2.3.4.4 en aves silvestres en la parte noroeste del Pacífico durante el invierno 2014-15. En 2014, los virus de influenza aviar altamente patógenos H5N8 clado 2.3.4.4 se diseminaron a través de la República de Corea y posteriormente, se reportaron en China, Japón, Rusia y Europa. Se detectó mortalidad asociada con un virus reacomodado altamente patógeno de influenza aviar H5N2 en granjas avícolas en el oeste de Canadá a finales de noviembre. Se detectó entonces la misma cepa (con estructura genética idéntica) en aves silvestres de vida libre que habían muerto antes del 8 de diciembre del 2014 por causas no relacionadas en el Condado de Whatcom, Washington, en los Estados Unidos, en una zona contigua con la ubicación del caso índice en Canadá. Un halcón gerifalte (Falco rusticolus) que había cazado y se había alimentado de un silbón americano (Anas americana) el 6 de diciembre del 2014, en la misma zona, y que murió dos días después, resultó positivo a la presencia del virus de alta patogenicidad de origen euroasiático H5N8. Posteriormente, un programa de vigilancia activa basado en el muestreo de aves acuáticas cazadas y recolectadas en Washington y Oregón detectó diez virus de influenza aviar altamente patógena H5 de tres subtipos diferentes (cuatro del subtipo H5N2, tres del subtipo H5N8 y tres subtipo H5N1) con cuatro segmentos en común (HA, PB2, NP, y MA ). Además, mediante un programa de vigilancia pasiva basado en el muestreo de aves muertas se detectaron 18 virus de influenza aviar de alta patogenicidad (catorce subtipo H5N2 y cuatro H5N8) en Idaho, Kansas, Oregón, Minnesota, Montana, Washington y Wisconsin. Comparativamente, la vigilancia pasiva basada en la mortalidad parece haber detectado estas infecciones del virus de influenza de alta patogenicidad en un porcentaje mayor en comparación con la vigilancia activa durante este período después de la introducción inicial en los Estados Unidos