Two-loop amplitudes and master integrals for the production of a Higgs boson via a massive quark and a scalar-quark loop

We compute all two-loop master integrals which are required for the evaluation of next-to-leading order QCD corrections in Higgs boson production via gluon fusion. Many two-loop amplitudes for 2 -> 1 processes in the Standard Model and beyond can be expressed in terms of these integrals using automated reduction techniques. These integrals also form a subset of the master integrals for more complicated 2 -> 2 amplitudes with massive propagators in the loops. As a first application, we evaluate the two-loop amplitude for Higgs boson production in gluon fusion via a massive quark. Our result is the first independent check of the calculation of Spira, Djouadi, Graudenz and Zerwas. We also present for the first time the two-loop amplitude for gg -> h via a massive squark

Indoor battery-less temperature and humidity sensor for Bluetooth Low Energy

In June 2010, the Bluetooth SIG adopted the first version of Bluetooth that includes the low energy specifications (4.0). Ble has been designed to allow devices running on a small energy budget to communicate with host stations such as mobile phones or personal computers. Bluetooth low energy is primarily meant to be used in applications that require small batteries. In this work we investigated the suitability of that new wireless protocol for a battery-free application. We chose a simple and yet useful application scenario, where temperature and humidity are measured in an office environment and the results are wirelessly sent to a host. The use of the new sensor SHT21 from Sensirion allows temperature and humidity to be precisely measured with a small energy budget. For sensors to be moved and placed conveniently, a wireless system based on the EM9301 Ble radio of EM Microelectronic is implemented. The EM6819 is used as microcontroller to control the system. Energy autonomy is provided by a flexible and small solar cell from G24i. Temperature and humidity data can be displayed or transferred to the right place by using the appropriate PC or mobile phone fitted with the wireless link. As far as we know, this is the first work of this type using a battery-less sensor and Ble for communication

The two-loop QCD amplitude gg -> h,H in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

We present the two-loop QCD amplitude for the interaction of two gluons and a CP-even Higgs boson in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model. We apply a novel numerical method for the evaluation of Feynman diagrams with infrared, ultraviolet and threshold singularities. We discuss subtleties in the ultraviolet renormalization of the amplitude with conventional dimensional regularization, dimensional reduction, and the four dimensional helicity scheme. Finally, we show numerical results for scenarios of supersymmetry breaking with a rather challenging phenomenology in which the Higgs signal in the MSSM is suppressed in comparison to the Standard Model.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Genetic structuring and migration patterns of Atlantic bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Large pelagic fishes are generally thought to have little population genetic structuring based on their cosmopolitan distribution, large population sizes and high dispersal capacities. However, gene flow can be influenced by ecological (e.g. homing behaviour) and physical (e.g. present-day ocean currents, past changes in sea temperature and levels) factors. In this regard, Atlantic bigeye tuna shows an interesting genetic structuring pattern with two highly divergent mitochondrial clades (Clades I and II), which are assumed to have been originated during the last Pleistocene glacial maxima. We assess genetic structure patterns of Atlantic bigeye tuna at the nuclear level, and compare them with mitochondrial evidence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We examined allele size variation of nine microsatellite loci in 380 individuals from the Gulf of Guinea, Canary, Azores, Canada, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. To investigate temporal stability of genetic structure, three Atlantic Ocean sites were re-sampled a second year. Hierarchical AMOVA tests, <it>R</it>_{<it>ST </it>}pairwise comparisons, isolation by distance (Mantel) tests, Bayesian clustering analyses, and coalescence-based migration rate inferences supported unrestricted gene flow within the Atlantic Ocean at the nuclear level, and therefore interbreeding between individuals belonging to both mitochondrial clades. Moreover, departures from HWE in several loci were inferred for the samples of Guinea, and attributed to a Wahlund effect supporting the role of this region as a spawning and nursery area. Our microsatellite data supported a single worldwide panmictic unit for bigeye tunas. Despite the strong Agulhas Current, immigration rates seem to be higher from the Atlantic Ocean into the Indo-Pacific Ocean, but the actual number of individuals moving per generation is relatively low compared to the large population sizes inhabiting each ocean basin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lack of congruence between mt and nuclear evidences, which is also found in other species, most likely reflects past events of isolation and secondary contact. Given the inferred relatively low number of immigrants per generation around the Cape of Good Hope, the proportions of the mitochondrial clades in the different oceans may keep stable, and it seems plausible that the presence of individuals belonging to the mt Clade I in the Atlantic Ocean may be due to extensive migrations that predated the last glaciation.</p

Internet-based interventions for perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms: an ethnographic qualitative study exploring the views and opinions of midwives in Switzerland

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety are common during pregnancy and postpartum, but are frequently underdiagnosed and untreated. In the last decades, internet-based interventions have emerged as a treatment alternative showing similar effectiveness to face-to-face psychotherapy. We aimed to explore midwives' perceptions of the acceptability of internet-based interventions for the treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms. METHODS: In this ethnographic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 midwives. We followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist (COREQ). Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. The identified framework categories were rated individually by two independent raters. Krippendorff's alpha coefficient was used to ensure the reliability of the rating. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged: midwives' experience with patients' mental health issues; the role of healthcare workers in women's utilisation of internet-based interventions in the perinatal period; the overall perception of internet-based interventions; and recommendation of internet-based interventions to perinatal women. Twenty-five of the 30 participants viewed internet-based interventions as an acceptable type of intervention, which they would recommend to a subgroup of patients (e.g. women who are well-educated or younger). All except for two midwives identified themselves and medical doctors as key figures regarding patients' utilisation of internet-based interventions, although a third of the interviewees highlighted that they needed sufficient information about such interventions. Finally, several participants suggested features which could be relevant to develop more acceptable and feasible internet-based interventions in the future. DISCUSSION: Participants' overall perception of internet-based interventions for perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms was positive. This study underlines the importance of considering midwives' views about internet-based interventions for perinatal mental health care. Our findings have implications for the practice not only of midwives but also of other maternity care professionals. Future studies examining the views of other health professionals are warranted

Evaluating multi-loop Feynman diagrams with infrared and threshold singularities numerically

We present a method to evaluate numerically Feynman diagrams directly from their Feynman parameters representation. We first disentangle overlapping singularities using sector decomposition. Threshold singularities are treated with an appropriate contour deformation. We have validated our technique comparing with recent analytic results for the gg->h two-loop amplitudes with heavy quarks and scalar quarks.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; references added, version to appear in JHE

Stratospheric influence on ECMWF sub‐seasonal forecast skill for energy‐industry‐relevant surface weather in European countries

Meteorologists in the energy industry increasingly draw upon the potential for enhanced sub‐seasonal predictability of European surface weather following anomalous states of the winter stratospheric polar vortex (SPV). How the link between the SPV and the large‐scale tropospheric flow translates into forecast skill for surface weather in individual countries – a spatial scale that is particularly relevant for the energy industry – remains an open question. Here we quantify the effect of anomalously strong and weak SPV states at forecast initial time on the probabilistic extended‐range reforecast skill of the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) in predicting country‐ and month‐ahead‐averaged anomalies of 2 m temperature, 10 m wind speed, and precipitation. After anomalous SPV states, specific surface weather anomalies emerge, which resemble the opposing phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation. We find that forecast skill is, to first order, only enhanced for countries that are entirely affected by these anomalies. However, the model has a flow‐dependent bias for 2 m temperature (T2M): it predicts the warm conditions in Western, Central and Southern Europe following strong SPV states well, but is overconfident with respect to the warm anomaly in Scandinavia. Vice versa, it predicts the cold anomaly in Scandinavia following weak SPV states well, but struggles to capture the strongly varying extent of the cold air masses into Central and Southern Europe. This tends to reduce skill (in some cases significantly) for Scandinavian countries following strong SPV states, and most pronounced, for many Central, Southern European, and Balkan countries following weak SPV states. As most of the weak SPV states are associated with sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs), our study thus advices particular caution when interpreting sub‐seasonal regional T2M forecasts following SSWs. In contrast, it suggests that the model benefits from enhanced predictability for a considerable part of Europe following strong SPV states

Anreize für stationäre Institutionen für Menschen mit Behinderung durch kantonale Leistungspauschalen : eine explorative Analyse

Die Behindertenpolitik der Schweiz will die Nicht-Diskriminierung, Gleichstellung, Teilhabe und Selbstbestimmung von Menschen mit Behinderung fördern. Dies stellt eine dauerhafte Querschnittsaufgabe von Bund, Kantonen, Gemeinden und Privaten dar. Stationäre Institutionen für Menschen mit Behinderung bilden dabei einen relevanten Wirtschaftszweig. Seit der «Neugestaltung des Finanzausgleichs und der Aufgabenteilung zwischen Bund und Kantonen NFA» von 2008 sind primär die Kantone für die Planung, Steuerung und Finanzierung der Angebote des stationären Behindertenwesens zuständig. Diese haben ihre Finanzierungssysteme mehrheitlich von Defizitdeckung auf Leistungspauschalen umgestellt. Dabei hat sich das von der Ostschweizer und Zürcher Konferenz der kantonalen Sozialdirektorinnen und Sozialdirektoren (SODK Ost+ZH) entwickelte Modell «Individueller Betreuungsbedarf (IBB)» zunehmend verbreitet. Mit den leistungsorientierten Finanzierungssystemen wird eine Marktentwicklung angestrebt. Die theoretische Basis hierfür liefert New Public Management, das seit den 1990er-Jahren die Schweizer Verwaltungen im Gewährleistungsstaat als Reformmodell prägt. Durch stärkeren Wettbewerb sollen sich Leistungsqualität, Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis und die Selbstbestimmungsmöglichkeiten der Menschen mit Behinderung verbessern. Die Institutionen sind gefordert, ihre Betriebe nach betriebswirtschaftlichen Kriterien zu führen. Diese Ökonomisierung des Sozialwesens stösst aber auch auf Kritik. Die Befürchtungen sind, dass die Qualität der Kostensenkung und das Gemeinwohl dem Profit zum Opfer fällt. Die empirische Basis in Zusammenhang mit den effektiven Auswirkungen von kantonalen Leistungspauschalen im stationären Behindertenwesen ist dünn. Um erhärtete Aussagen zu Ursachen-Wirkungs-Beziehungen machen zu können, müssen zunächst umfangreichere theoretische Grundlagen geschaffen werden. Hier hakt diese Forschungsarbeit ein und untersucht mit einer explorativen Analyse die folgende Fragestellung: Welche Anreize setzen kantonale Leistungspauschalen für stationäre Institutionen für Menschen mit Behinderung