Was the Higgs boson discovered?

The standard model has postulated the existence of a scalar boson, named the Higgs boson. This boson plays a central role in a symmetry breaking scheme called the Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism (or the Brout-Englert-Higgs-Guralnik-Hagen-Kibble mechanism, for completeness) making the standard model realistic. However, until recently at least, the 50-year-long-sought Higgs boson had remained the only particle in the standard model not yet discovered experimentally. It is the last but very important missing ingredient of the standard model. Therefore, searching for the Higgs boson is a crucial task and an important mission of particle physics. For this purpose, many theoretical works have been done and different experiments have been organized. It may be said in particular that to search for the Higgs boson has been one of the ultimate goals of building and running the LHC, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, at CERN, which is a great combination of science and technology. Recently, in the summer of 2012, ATLAS and CMS, the two biggest and general-purpose LHC collaborations, announced the discovery of a new boson with a mass around 125 GeV. Since then, for over two years, ATLAS, CMS and other collaborations have carried out intensive investigations on the newly discovered boson to confirm that this new boson is really the Higgs boson (of the standard model). It is a triumph of science and technology and international cooperation. Here, we will review the main results of these investigations following a brief introduction to the Higgs boson within the theoretical framework of the standard model and Brout-Englert-Higgs mechanism as well as a theoretical and experimental background of its search. This paper may attract interest of not only particle physicists but also a broader audience.Comment: LateX, 23 pages, 01 table, 9 figures. To appear in Commun. Phys. Version 2: Minor changes, two references adde

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status and the Quality of Life for Gastric Cancer Patients

Cancer patients often suffer from malnutrition and low quality of life, especially gastric cancer patients. This is an important factor in the decision to treat cancer. Researchers are interested in the relationship of nutritional status between quality of life through body mass index to the main aspects of quality of life: core healthy days, physical, mental, or emotional problems; physical, functional, cognitive, and social limitations; and side effects such as fatigue; nausea, pain, anorexia, constipation, and diarrhea. The relationship between quality of life and weight loss indicates the importance of nutrition management in cancer patients. Cancer patients have special physical and mental health needs because they face risks associated with late side effects as well as recurrence of the disease. Studies have shown a scientific diet helps prevent some complications of stomach cancer patients. Researchers are also exploring some diets and exercise habits of patients after cancer treatment that could help prevent the disease from recurring and reduce complications to improve the quality of life of the patient. Education programs could help cancer patients learn how to change their lifestyle to stay healthy. Programs that include diet, exercise, and stress management would be more likely to help cancer patients adapt to these changes. Maintaining life for cancer patients should rely on the nutrients in food. The most important problem of cancer atients is the lack of nutrients; improving nutrition for patients would be an important method in treating and fighting cancer. Combining the right foods for cancer patients could improve the body\u27s resistance and have an effect on the treatment and quality of life for patients with stomach cancer. Using a cross-sectional correlation study, the researcher investigated 38 gastric cancer patients with chemotherapy at an oncology hospital. Baseline anthropometrics included changes over time, body mass index (BMI), and Health Related Quality of Life. The instrument was a researcher administered questionnaire and a medical history form was also completed. The results indicated a correlation between nutritional status parameters and quality of life. The results shown in the analysis of nutritional status showed health- related quality of life was significantly correlated with perception of healthy days: activity limitation and healthy days symptom scale with r2 value of 0.239 and Durbin- Watson value of 2

Miscanthus as primary feedstock for growing media in soilless cultivation

Dry biomass of miscanthus crop (Miscanthus spp.) is a promising feedstock for soilless substrates in the temperate regions because of its high biomass production under low-input and ecosystem services. The objectives of this PhD work were (i) to evaluate potential supply capacity of miscanthus feedstock, opportunities and challenges when developing miscanthus into a commercial substrate, and (ii) to optimize substrate performance including increasing water holding capacity, manipulating substrate pH within the optimal range for greenhouse crops and reducing nitrogen (N) immobilization, using the “stand-alone substrate” approach. The first objective is presented in chapter 2 as a literature review. Given potential large land available for energy crops and relatively small market for miscanthus in Europe, potential supply capacity of miscanthus was estimated to be large with less intense competition for the feedstock from other industrial activities. In chapter 3, miscanthus performance as growbag substrate for soilless cultivation of tomatoes under practical conditions. The treatments included miscanthus genotypes, substrate processing and substrate amendment with calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2) or elemental sulfur (S0). Results showed that all miscanthus treatments did not reduce substrate pH nor increase nitrate concentration in root-zone solution compared to those in stone wool and coir. Plants in all miscanthus substrates produced similar fruit yield to those in stone wool, but lower than those in coir. Blossom-end rot (BER) fruit mainly caused yield loss, which were lowest for coir and highest for stone wool, with miscanthus intermediate. In chapter 4, the effects of primary mechanical processing on substrate morphology, hydrological properties, pH and N immobilization were investigated. Mechanical processing altered substrate particle size and shape and consequently changed substrate water holding capacity and wettability, but hardly changed substrate pH and N immobilization. To enhance nutrient availability in miscanthus substrate, further studies should focus not only on increasing nitrate concentration, but also on increasing calcium and reducing ammonium, potassium and phosphorus concentration in substrate solution at cultivation. In chapter 5, the effects of washing and steaming pretreatments on reducing N immobilization in miscanthus substrate were assessed. Washing and steaming treatments did not reduce N immobilization in miscanthus. Steaming without pretreatment showed mild negative effect as delayed germination rate of Chinese cabbage and short lateral root length. However, washing could be a promising treatment as substrate solution showed higher calcium and lower ammonium, potassium and phosphorus concentration. In summary, the investigations showed that miscanthus is a promising primary feedstock for soilless cultivation in horticultural production. The approach to use miscanthus as “stand-alone” substrate showed clearly how substrate properties could be modified to optimize its performance

Survey of domestic and work life experience and reproductive health of women workers of selected industrial compounds in Ha Noi

The Population Council Viet Nam and local stakeholders undertook a collaborative project in Ha Noi entitled “Improving the health care response to gender-based violence.” The study’s objectives were: 1) to assess the knowledge and experience of female workers about gender-based violence; 2) to assess knowledge and practice of women workers on reproductive health focusing on abortion; and 3) to make recommendation for the Ha Noi Health Service to improve the women workers’ knowledge on gender-based violence, choice of contraceptive method, reproductive health care, and abortion. The women factory workers, who have higher levels of education than their peers in the national sample, have the strong potential to be agents-of-change in spreading the message regarding the effectiveness of modern family planning methods through examples from their real lives. However, it is essential to supply them with complete information about such methods as well as more in-depth information about specific clauses in the Law of Domestic Violence regarding protection and prevention and provide them information on where to access treatment