516 research outputs found
Binary Models for Marginal Independence
Log-linear models are a classical tool for the analysis of contingency
tables. In particular, the subclass of graphical log-linear models provides a
general framework for modelling conditional independences. However, with the
exception of special structures, marginal independence hypotheses cannot be
accommodated by these traditional models. Focusing on binary variables, we
present a model class that provides a framework for modelling marginal
independences in contingency tables. The approach taken is graphical and draws
on analogies to multivariate Gaussian models for marginal independence. For the
graphical model representation we use bi-directed graphs, which are in the
tradition of path diagrams. We show how the models can be parameterized in a
simple fashion, and how maximum likelihood estimation can be performed using a
version of the Iterated Conditional Fitting algorithm. Finally we consider
combining these models with symmetry restrictions
Shadowing in neutrino deep inelastic scattering and the determination of the strange quark distribution
We discuss shadowing corrections to the structure function in neutrino
deep-inelastic scattering on heavy nuclear targets. In particular, we examine
the role played by shadowing in the comparison of the structure functions
measured in neutrino and muon deep inelastic scattering. The importance of
shadowing corrections in the determination of the strange quark distributions
is explained.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure
Revising Neutrino Oscillation Parameter Space With Direct Flavor-Changing Interactions
We formulate direct, neutrino flavor-changing interactions in a framework
that fits smoothly with the parameterization of two-and three-state mixing of
massive neutrino states. We show that even small direct interaction strengths
could have important consequences for the interpretation of currently running
and proposed oscillation experiments. The oscillation amplitude and the borders
of the allowed regions in two-and three-flavor mixing parameter space can be
sensitieve to the presence of direct interactions when the transition
probability is small. We use extensively the high sensitivity of the NOMAD
experiment to illustrate potentially large effects from small, direct flavor
violation. In the purely leptonic sector, we find that the clean muon neutrino
and electron neutrino beams from a muon collider could provide the sharpest
tests of direct flavor violation.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure
Search for the Lepton Number Violating Process nu_mu-bar e^- -> mu^- nu_e-bar
The NuTeV experiment at Fermilab has used a sign-selected neutrino beam to
perform a search for the lepton number violating process nu_mu-bar e^- -> mu^-
nu_e-bar, and to measure the cross-section of the Standard Model inverse muon
decay process nu_mu e^- -> mu^- nu_e. NuTeV measures the inverse muon decay
asymptotic cross-section sigma/E to be 13.8 +/- 1.2 +/- 1.4 x 10^-42 cm^2/GeV.
The experiment also observes no evidence for lepton number violation and places
one of the most restrictive limits on the LNV/IMD cross-section ratio at < 1.7%
at 90% C.L. for V-A couplings and < 0.6% for scalar couplings.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to Physics Review Letter
Constraints on a Massive Dirac Neutrino Model
We examine constraints on a simple neutrino model in which there are three
massless and three massive Dirac neutrinos and in which the left handed
neutrinos are linear combinations of doublet and singlet neutrinos. We examine
constraints from direct decays into heavy neutrinos, indirect effects on
electroweak parameters, and flavor changing processes. We combine these
constraints to examine the allowed mass range for the heavy neutrinos of each
of the three generations.Comment: latex, 29 pages, 7 figures (not included), MIT-CTP-221
Muon conversion to electron in nuclei in type-I seesaw models
We compute the muon to electron conversion in the type-I seesaw model, as a
function of the right-handed neutrino mixings and masses. The results are
compared with previous computations in the literature. We determine the
definite predictions resulting for the ratios between the muon to electron
conversion rate for a given nucleus and the rate of two other processes which
also involve a mu-e flavour transition: mu -> e gamma and mu -> eee. For a
quasi-degenerate mass spectrum of right-handed neutrino masses -which is the
most natural scenario leading to observable rates- those ratios depend only on
the seesaw mass scale, offering a quite interesting testing ground. In the case
of sterile neutrinos heavier than the electroweak scale, these ratios vanish
typically for a mass scale of order a few TeV. Furthermore, the analysis
performed here is also valid down to very light masses. It turns out that
planned mu -> e conversion experiments would be sensitive to masses as low as 2
MeV. Taking into account other experimental constraints, we show that future mu
-> e conversion experiments will be fully relevant to detect or constrain
sterile neutrino scenarios in the 2 GeV-1000 TeV mass range.Comment: 32 pages 14 figures, references added and some minor precisions;
results unchange
Effect of starch-based biomaterials on the in vitro proliferation and viability of osteoblast-like cells
The cytotoxicity of starch-based polymers was investigated using different methodologies. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) was used as a control for comparison purposes. Extracts of four different starch-based blends (corn starch and ethylene vinyl alcohol (SEVA-C), corn starch and cellulose acetate (SCA), corn starch and polycaprolactone (SPCL) and starch and poly-lactic acid (SPLA70) were prepared in culture medium and their toxicity was analysed. Osteoblast-like cells (SaOs-2) were incubated with the extracts and cell viability was assessed using the MTT test and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. In addition DNA and total protein were quantified in order to evaluate cell proliferation. Cells were also cultured in direct contact with the polymers for 3 and 7 days and observed in light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). LDH and DNA quantification revealed to be the most sensitive tests to assess respectively cell viability and cell proliferation after incubation with starch-based materials and PLLA. SCA was the starch blend with higher cytotoxicity index although similar to PLLA polymer. Cell adhesion tests confirmed the worst performance of the blend of starch with cellulose acetate but also showed that SPCL does not perform as well as it could be expected. All the other materials were shown to present a comparable behaviour in terms of cell adhesion showing slight differences in morphology that seem to disappear for longer culture times.
The results of this study suggest that not only the extract of the materials but also their three-dimensional form has to be biologically tested in order to analyse material-associated parameters that are not possible to consider within the degradation extract. In this study, the majority of the starch-based biomaterials presented very promising results in terms of cytotoxicity, comparable to the currently used biodegradable PLLA which might lead the biocompatibility evaluation of those novel biomaterials to other studies.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
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