Higher loop corrections to a Schwinger--Dyson equation

We consider the effects of higherloop corrections to a Schwinger--Dyson equations for propagators. This is made possible by the efficiency of the methods we developed in preceding works, still using the supersymmetric Wess--Zumino model as a laboratory. We obtain the dominant contributions of the three and four loop primitive divergences at high order in perturbation theory, without the need for their full evaluations. Our main conclusion is that the asymptotic behavior of the perturbative series of the renormalization function remains unchanged, and we conjecture that this will remain the case for all finite order corrections.Comment: 12 pages, 2 imbedded TiKZ pictures. A few clarifications matching the published versio

New vertex reconstruction algorithms for CMS

The reconstruction of interaction vertices can be decomposed into a pattern recognition problem (``vertex finding'') and a statistical problem (``vertex fitting''). We briefly review classical methods. We introduce novel approaches and motivate them in the framework of high-luminosity experiments like at the LHC. We then show comparisons with the classical methods in relevant physics channelsComment: Talk from the 2003 Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP03), La Jolla, Ca, USA, March 2003, 5 pages, LaTeX, 3 eps figures. PSN TULT01

Pathways to Empowerment in Substance Abuse Prevention: Citizen Participation, Sense of Community, and Police Responsiveness in an Urban U.S. Setting

Community-based substance abuse prevention initiatives often rely on the empowerment of community residents. Few studies, however, have examined predictors of empowerment in substance abuse prevention contexts. This study tested a path model that included two environment-related variables (i.e., residents’ awareness of community substance abuse problems and perceived incivilities in their community), two variables representing residents’ perceptions of their community (i.e., sense of community and perceived police responsiveness to drug crime) and citizen participation as predictors of the intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment. The model was found to provide a good fit to the data from a random sample of urban residents (n=283) who participated in an evaluation of a National Institute of Justice community policing initiative in the Southwestern United States. Findings suggest that empowerment-based interventions aimed at preventing substance abuse and its related harmful consequences should incorporate activities that specifically address sense of community and police responsiveness to drug crime. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed

Pathways to Empowerment in Substance Abuse Prevention: Citizen Participation, Sense of Community, and Police Responsiveness in an Urban U.S. Setting

Community-based substance abuse prevention initiatives often rely on the empowerment of community residents. Few studies, however, have examined predictors of empowerment in substance abuse prevention contexts. This study tested a path model that included two environment-related variables (i.e., residents’ awareness of community substance abuse problems and perceived incivilities in their community), two variables representing residents’ perceptions of their community (i.e., sense of community and perceived police responsiveness to drug crime) and citizen participation as predictors of the intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment. The model was found to provide a good fit to the data from a random sample of urban residents (n=283) who participated in an evaluation of a National Institute of Justice community policing initiative in the Southwestern United States. Findings suggest that empowerment-based interventions aimed at preventing substance abuse and its related harmful consequences should incorporate activities that specifically address sense of community and police responsiveness to drug crime. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed

Algebraic Aspects of Abelian Sandpile Models

The abelian sandpile models feature a finite abelian group G generated by the operators corresponding to particle addition at various sites. We study the canonical decomposition of G as a product of cyclic groups G = Z_{d_1} X Z_{d_2} X Z_{d_3}...X Z_{d_g}, where g is the least number of generators of G, and d_i is a multiple of d_{i+1}. The structure of G is determined in terms of toppling matrix. We construct scalar functions, linear in height variables of the pile, that are invariant toppling at any site. These invariants provide convenient coordinates to label the recurrent configurations of the sandpile. For an L X L square lattice, we show that g = L. In this case, we observe that the system has nontrivial symmetries coming from the action of the cyclotomic Galois group of the (2L+2)th roots of unity which operates on the set of eigenvalues of the toppling matrix. These eigenvalues are algebraic integers, whose product is the order |G|. With the help of this Galois group, we obtain an explicit factorizaration of |G|. We also use it to define other simpler, though under-complete, sets of toppling invariants.Comment: 39 pages, TIFR/TH/94-3

Exact solutions for a mean-field Abelian sandpile

We introduce a model for a sandpile, with N sites, critical height N and each site connected to every other site. It is thus a mean-field model in the spin-glass sense. We find an exact solution for the steady state probability distribution of avalanche sizes, and discuss its asymptotics for large N.Comment: 10 pages, LaTe

Comparison of thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) with standard plasmatic coagulation testing in paediatric surgery

Background Thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) might be useful to detect intraoperative coagulation disorders early in major paediatric surgery. This observational trial compares this technique to standard coagulation tests. Methods Intraoperative blood sampling was obtained in children undergoing elective major surgery. At each time point, standard coagulation tests [activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and fibrinogen level] and ROTEM® analyses (InTEM, ExTEM, and FibTEM) were performed simultaneously by trained hospital laboratory staff. Results A total of 288 blood samples from 50 subjects were analysed. While there was a poor correlation between PT and aPTT to ExTEM clotting time (CT) and InTEM CT, respectively, a good correlation was detected between PT and aPTT to clot formation time, and a very good correlation between fibrinogen level and FibTEM assay (r=0.882, P<0.001). Notably, 64% of PT and 94% of aPTT measurements were outside the reference range, while impaired CT was observed in 13% and 6.3%, respectively. Standard coagulation test results were available after a median of 53 min [inter-quartile range (IQR): 45-63 min], whereas 10 min values of ROTEM® results were available online after 23 min (IQR: 21-24 min). Conclusions PT and aPTT cannot be interchangeably used with ROTEM® CT. Based on the results of ROTEM®, recommended thresholds for PT and aPTT might overestimate the need for coagulation therapy. A good correlation was found between the fibrinogen level and the FibTEM assay. In addition, ROTEM® offered faster turnaround time

Spatial Particle Condensation for an Exclusion Process on a Ring

We study the stationary state of a simple exclusion process on a ring which was recently introduced by Arndt {\it et al} [J. Phys. A {\bf 31} (1998) L45;cond-mat/9809123]. This model exhibits spatial condensation of particles. It has been argued that the model has a phase transition from a ``mixed phase'' to a ``disordered phase''. However, in this paper exact calculations are presented which, we believe, show that in the framework of a grand canonical ensemble there is no such phase transition. An analysis of the fluctuations in the particle density strongly suggests that the same result also holds for the canonical ensemble.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

Continuity of the four-point function of massive ϕ44\phi_4^4-theory above threshold

In this paper we prove that the four-point function of massive \vp_4^4-theory is continuous as a function of its independent external momenta when posing the renormalization condition for the (physical) mass on-shell. The proof is based on integral representations derived inductively from the perturbative flow equations of the renormalization group. It closes a longstanding loophole in rigorous renormalization theory in so far as it shows the feasibility of a physical definition of the renormalized coupling.Comment: 23 pages; to appear in Rev. Math. Physics few corrections, two explanatory paragraphs adde