1,711 research outputs found
A survey of drop-outs from the boy scouts of Wachusett council
Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit
Using b-tagging to enhance the SUSY reach of the CERN Large Hadron Collider
Assuming that supersymmetry is realized with parameters in the hyperbolic
branch/focus point (HB/FP) region of the minimal supergravity (mSUGRA) model,
we show that by searching for multijet + missing E_T events with tagged b jets
the reach of experiments at the LHC may be extended by as much as 20% from
current projections. The reason for this is that gluino decays to third
generation quarks are enhanced because the lightest neutralino has substantial
higgsino components. Although we were motivated to perform this analysis
because the HB/FP region is compatible with the recent determination of the
relic density of cold dark matter, our considerations may well have a wider
applicability since decays of gluinos to third generation quarks are favoured
in a wide variety of models.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figur
Yukawa Coupling Unification in Supersymmetric Models
We present an updated assessment of the viability of t-b-tau Yukawa coupling
unification in supersymmetric models. For the superpotential Higgs mass
parameter mu>0, we find unification to less than 1% is possible, but only for
GUT scale scalar mass parameter m_{16}~8-20 TeV, and small values of gaugino
mass m_{1/2}<400 GeV. Such models require that a GUT scale mass splitting
exists amongst Higgs scalars with m_{H_u}^2<m_{H_d}^2. Viable solutions lead to
a radiatively generated inverted scalar mass hierarchy, with third generation
and Higgs scalars being lighter than other sfermions. These models have very
heavy sfermions, so that unwanted flavor changing and CP violating SUSY
processes are suppressed, but may suffer from some fine-tuning requirements.
While the generated spectra satisfy b->s gamma and (g-2)_mu constraints, there
exists tension with the dark matter relic density unless m_{16}<3 TeV. These
models offer prospects for a SUSY discovery at the Fermilab Tevatron collider
via the search for chargino_1 neutralino_2 -> 3 leptons events, or via gluino
pair production. If mu<0, Yukawa coupling unification to less than 5% can occur
for m_{16} and m_{1/2}>1-2 TeV. Consistency of negative mu Yukawa unified
models with b->s gamma, (g-2)_mu, and relic density all imply very large values
of m_{1/2} typically greater than about 2.5 TeV, in which case direct detection
of sparticles may be a challenge even at the LHC.Comment: 38 pages, 15 figures. Fig.15 changed, some references were added. A
copy of the paper with better resolution figures can be found at
http://www.hep.fsu.edu/~balazs/Physics/Papers/2003
Early Childhood Education, Care, and Development: Perspectives from around the Globe
Early childhood education, care, and development (ECECD) has reached prominence due to its recognition by the global community as an important national investment and right for children. ECECD programs advocate for quality in education, protection, health, and nutrition for children and families, in most countries and nation-states. Global seekers of quality programs and practices recognize variability in how quality is defined, developed, delivered, and assessed; as well as recognizing each nations' unique focus on culturally relevant aspects of programs and practices for specific contexts. Research indicates that well-designed ECECD programs of high quality contribute to children's holistic development and sense of well-being, educational attainment, workforce productivity, international collaborations, sustainability of peace-building initiatives, and improved economies in the long run. Eleven diverse articles are presented in this themed journal as a contribution to the rich, on-going conversations about the importance of global ECECD programs and practices
Weight, height, and midupper arm circumference are associated with haemoglobin levels in adolescent girls living in rural India: A crossâsectional study
We aimed to explore the association of physical parameters with haemoglobin (Hb) levels to test the hypothesis that impaired physical development is associated with anaemia. A crossâsectional survey study recruited adolescent girls (13 to 17 years) living in rural areas of Maharashtra state of India. Data were collected on physical parameters include height, weight, and midupper arm circumference (MUAC). Hb levels were measured using Sahli's haemometer. Linear regression was conducted to test the hypothesis. Data were collected from 1,010 girls on physical parameter and Hb levels. The majority of the adolescent girls were diagnosed with anaemia (87%). The regression analysis adjusted for age gave a significant association of Hb levels with all three variables (MUAC, weight, and height). Hb increased by 0.11 g/dl with an each centimetre of increase in MUAC (95% confidence interval, CI, [0.08, 0.15], P < .001). Each kilogram of increase in the body weight showed an increase in Hb levels (0.02 g dl, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03], P = .001). With an each centimetre of increase in height, Hb increased by 0.01 g dl (95% CI [0.00, 0.02], P = .022). There was a consistent association between three measures of somatic growth and anaemia in the study population. It is likely that lifeâcourse exposures from conception onwards contribute to this, and the public health implications are that preventing anaemia is a challenge that requires a multifaceted interventional approach. Understanding the importance of the timing of these life exposures will help design interventions that can achieve optimal results
Electrophoretic Properties of Highly Charged Colloids: A Hybrid MD/LB Simulation Study
Using computer simulations, the electrophoretic motion of a positively
charged colloid (macroion) in an electrolyte solution is studied in the
framework of the primitive model. Hydrodynamic interactions are fully taken
into account by applying a hybrid simulation scheme, where the charged ions
(i.e. macroion and electrolyte), propagated via molecular dynamics (MD), are
coupled to a Lattice Boltzmann (LB) fluid. In a recent experiment it was shown
that, for multivalent salt ions, the mobility initially increases with
charge density , reaches a maximum and then decreases with further
increase of . The aim of the present work is to elucidate the behaviour
of at high values of . Even for the case of monovalent microions,
we find a decrease of with . A dynamic Stern layer is defined
that includes all the counterions that move with the macroion while subject to
an external electrical field. The number of counterions in the Stern layer,
, is a crucial parameter for the behavior of at high values of
. In this case, the mobility depends primarily on the ratio
(with the valency of the macroion). The previous contention that
the increase in the distortion of the electric double layer (EDL) with
increasing leads to the lowering of does not hold for high
. In fact, we show that the deformation of the EDL decreases with
increase of . The role of hydrodynamic interactions is inferred from
direct comparisons to Langevin simulations where the coupling to the LB fluid
is switched off. Moreover, systems with divalent counterions are considered. In
this case, at high values of the phenomenon of charge inversion is
found.Comment: accepted in J. Chem Phys., 10 pages, 9 figure
Is there an association between the coverage of immunisation boosters by the age of 5 and deprivation?: an ecological study
Objective: To determine whether there was an association between the coverage of booster immunisation of Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis and Polio (DTaP/IPV) and second Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) dose by age 5 in accordance with the English national immunisation schedule by area-level socioeconomic deprivation and whether this changed between 2007/08 and 2010/11. Design: Ecological study. Data: Routinely collected national Cover of Vaccination Evaluated Rapidly data on immunisation coverage for DTaP/IPV booster and second MMR dose by age 5 and the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Setting: Primary Care Trust (PCT) areas in England between 2007/08 and 2010/11. Outcome Measures: Population coverage (%) of DTaP/IPV booster and second MMR immunisation by age 5. Results: Over the 4 years among the 9,457,600 children there was an increase in the mean proportion of children being immunised for DTaP/IPV booster and second MMR across England, increasing from 79% (standard deviation (SD12%)) to 86% (SD8%) for DTaP/IPV and 75% (SD10%) to 84% (SD6%) for second MMR between 2007/08 and 2010/11. In 2007/08 the area with lowest DTaP/IPV booster coverage was 31% compared to 54.4% in 2010/11 and for the second MMR in 2007/08 was 39% compared to 64.8% in 2010/11. A weak negative correlation was observed between average IMD score and immunisation coverage for the DTaP/IPV booster which reduced but remained statistically significant over the study period (r = â0.298, p<0.001 in 2007/08 and r = â0.179, p = 0.028 in 2010/11). This was similar for the second MMR in 2007/08 (r = â0.225, p = 0.008) and 2008/09 (r = â0.216, p = 0.008) but there was no statistically significant correlation in 2009/10 (r = â0.108, p = 0.186) or 2010/11 (r = â0.078, p = 0.343). Conclusion: Lower immunisation coverage of DTaP/IPV booster and second MMR dose was associated with higher area-level socioeconomic deprivation, although this inequality reduced between 2007/08 and 2010/11 as proportions of children being immunised increased at PCT level, particularly for the most deprived areas. However, coverage is still below the World Health Organisation recommended 95% threshold for Europe
Risk factors for long-bone fractures in children up to 5 years of age: a nested caseâcontrol study
Aim: To investigate risk factors for first long-bone fractures in children up to 5 years old in order to provide evidence about which families could benefit from injury prevention interventions.
Methods: Population-based matched nested caseâcontrol study using The Health Improvement Network, a UK primary care research database, 1988â2004. Maternal, household and child risk factors for injury were assessed among 2456 children with long-bone fractures (cases). 23 661controls were matched to cases on general practice. Adjusted ORs and 95% CIs were estimated using conditional logistic regression.
Results: Fractures of long-bones were independently associated with younger maternal age and higher birth order, with children who were the fourth-born in the family, or later, having a threefold greater odds of fracture compared to first-born children (adjusted OR 3.12, 95% CI 2.08 to 4.68). Children over the age of 1 year had a fourfold (13â24 months, adjusted OR 4.09 95% CI 3.51 to 4.76) to fivefold (37+ months, adjusted OR 4.88 95% CI 4.21 to 5.66) increase in the odds of a long-bone fracture compared to children aged 0â12 months. Children in families with a history of maternal alcohol misuse had a raised odds of long-bone fracture (adjusted OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.82) compared to those with no documented history.
Conclusions: Risk factors for long-bone fractures in children less than 5 years old included age above 1 year, increasing birth order, younger maternal age and maternal alcohol misuse. These risk factors should be used to prioritise families and communities for injury prevention interventions
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