We present the current status of the rare decay searches of
B
(
s
)
0
→
μ
+
μ
−
,
B
→
μ
+
μ
−
h
,
D
+
→
π
+
μ
+
μ
−
and
B
(
s
)
0
→
h
+
h
′
−
at the Tevatron Collider. We also report about the latest ...results on CP Violation for
B
0
and
B
s
0
decay modes into pairs of charmless charged hadrons (pions and kaons).
CKM physics at CDF Squillacioti, P.
Nuclear physics. Section B, Proceedings supplement,
12/2007, Letnik:
174
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
A precise knowledge of the CKM matrix elements is one of the primary goals of the CDF experiment. The Tevatron collider at Fermilab, operating at
s
=
1.96
, collected
1
f
b
−1
of data corresponding ...to a huge
b
b
¯
sample. In this paper the recent measurements performed in the CKM sector will be presented.
The silicon-vertex-trigger (SVT) at CDF is made of two pipelined processors: the associative-memory, AM, finding low precision tracks (roads) and the track-fitter, TF, refining the track quality with ...high-precision fits. We describe a next generation track fitter, the GigaFitter, that performs more than a fit per nanosecond. This device is based on modern FPGA technology, rich of powerful DSP arrays, to reduce the track parameter reconstruction to few clock cycles and to perform many fits in parallel. The reduction to virtually zero of the time necessary for the fit is the goal to be achieved in order to maximize the computing power for high resolution tracking at very high rate. The GigaFitter will enhance the SVT capabilities during the high luminosity CDF final data taking and could be used in future experiments as well.
The silicon vertex trigger (SVT) in the CDF experiment at Fermilab performs fast and precise track finding and fitting at the second trigger level and has been a crucial element in data acquisition ...for Run II physics. However as luminosity rises, multiple interactions increase the complexity of events and thus the SVT processing time, reducing the amount of data CDF can record. The SVT upgrade aims to increase the SVT processing power to restore at high luminosity the original CDF DAQ capability. We describe the first steps in the SVT upgrade, consisting of a new associative memory with 4 times the number of patterns, and a new track fitter to take advantage of these patterns. We describe the system, its tests and its performance
2nd workshop on the implications of HERA for LHC physics. Working groups: Parton Density Functions Multi-jet final states and energy flows Heavy quarks (charm and beauty) Diffraction Cosmic Rays ...Monte Carlos and Tools
Diffraction at TOTEM Antchev, G; Aspell, P; Avati, V ...
arXiv.org,
12/2008
Paper, Journal Article
Odprti dostop
The TOTEM experiment at the LHC measures the total proton-proton cross section with the luminosity-independent method and the elastic proton-proton cross-section over a wide |t|-range. It also ...performs a comprehensive study of diffraction, spanning from cross-section measurements of individual diffractive processes to the analysis of their event topologies. Hard diffraction will be studied in collaboration with CMS taking advantage of the large common rapidity coverage for charged and neutral particle detection and the large variety of trigger possibilities even at large luminosities. TOTEM will take data under all LHC beam conditions including standard high luminosity runs to maximize its physics reach. This contribution describes the main features of the TOTEM physics programme including measurements to be made in the early LHC runs. In addition, a novel scheme to extend the diffractive proton acceptance for high luminosity runs by installing proton detectors at IP3 is described.
Abstract
An association between climatic conditions and asthma incidence has been widely assumed. However, it is unclear whether climatic variations have a fingerprint on asthma dynamics over long ...time intervals. The aim of this study is to detect a possible correlation of the Summer North Atlantic Oscillation (S-NAO) index and the self-calibrated palmer drought severity index (scPDSI) with asthma incidence over the period from 1957 to 2006 in Italy. To this aim, an analysis of non-stationary and non-linear signals was performed on the time series of the Italian databases on respiratory health (ISAYA and GEIRD) including 36,255 individuals overall, S-NAO, and scPDSI indices to search for characteristic periodicities. The ISAYA (Italian Study on Asthma in Young Adults) and GEIRD (Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases) studies collected information on respiratory health in general population samples, born between 1925 and 1989 and aged 20–84 years at the time of the interview, from 13 Italian centres. We found that annual asthma total incidence shared the same periodicity throughout the 1957–2006 time interval. Asthma incidence turned out to be correlated with the dynamics of the scPDSI, modulated by the S-NAO, sharing the same averaged 6 year-periodicity. Since climate patterns appear to influence asthma incidence, future studies aimed at elucidating the complex relationships between climate and asthma incidence are warranted.
Concerns exist that the positive association of physical activity with better lung function, which has been suggested in previous longitudinal studies in smokers, is due to reverse causation. To ...investigate this, we applied structural equation modeling (SEM), an exploratory approach, and marginal structural modeling (MSM), an approach from the causal inference framework that corrects for reverse causation and time-dependent confounding and estimates causal effects, on data from participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS, a multicentre European cohort study initiated in 1991-1993 with ECRHS I, and with two follow-ups: ECRHS II in 1999-2003, and ECRHS III in 2010-2014). 753 subjects who reported current smoking at ECRHS II, with repeated data on lung function at ECRHS I, II and III, physical activity at ECRHS II and III, and potential confounders at ECRHS I and II, were included in the analyses. SEM showed positive associations between physical activity and lung function in both directions. MSM suggested a protective causal effect of physical activity on lung function (overall difference in mean β (95% CI), comparing active versus non-active individuals: 58 mL (21-95) for forced expiratory volume in one second and 83 mL (36-130) for forced vital capacity). Our results suggest bi-directional causation and support a true protective effect of physical activity on lung function in smokers, after accounting for reverse causation and time-dependent confounding.
Abstract
Background
Several studies have shown that neighborhood greenness is associated with lower problematic behaviors in children and better perceived well being. While urbanization showed ...opposite results. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between urbanization and greenness levels with perceived health, life satisfaction and health complaints on adolescents.
Methods
The study is based on data from 2018 Health Behavior in School-aged Children in the region of Piedmont(Italy), which involved 3022 11-,13-,15-year olds, sampled in 122 schools across the region. Every school was georeferenced. Greenneess was measured by Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI-satellite images) and urbanization by population density, traffic intensity (satellite measurements) and air pollution concentration (sampling stations). Health complaints were evaluated with a set of 8 psychosomatic symptoms(reported more than once a week). Life Satisfaction (LS) was measured by using the Cantril scale (low LS < 5, high LS > =6). Self-Rated Health was measured by means of a four points scale (fair or poor, good or excellent).
Results
More than 66% of adolescents reported frequent health complaints; 11% declared low life-satisfaction and 9% of adolescents scored poor or fair self-rated health. The proportion of the three variables increased with age in both genders, and was higher among girls. Gender differences increased from 11- to 15-years of age. Preliminary results showed a positive association between greenness and life satisfaction, urbanization and health complaints.
Conclusions
In times of increasing urbanization and reduced availability of green areas, characterizing the association between urbanization, greenness and perceived health is revealed to be the challenge for Public Health. Redefine the urban spaces accordingly requires collaboration between different disciplines. Coherently with the recent studies, communities can be actively involved through qualitative approaches.
Key messages
The topic of urban nature is becoming central for healthy and sustainable urban planning, not the least for population groups like adolescents and children. The relation between urbanization, with decreasing access to green spaces, and the impact on physical as well as mental health presents an important issue and a big challenge for Public Health.
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