Aliaga, R. J. (2017). Real-Time Estimation of Zero Crossings of Sampled Signals for Timing Using Cubic Spline Interpolation. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 64(8), 2414–2422.
Abstract: A scheme is proposed for hardware estimation of the location of zero crossings of sampled signals with subsample resolution for timing applications, which consists of interpolating the signal with a cubic spline near the zero crossing and then finding the root of the resulting polynomial. An iterative algorithm based on the bisection method is presented that obtains one bit of the result per step and admits an efficient digital implementation using fixed-point representation. In particular, the root estimation iteration involves only two additions, and the initial values can be obtained from finite impulse response (FIR) filters with certain symmetry properties. It is shown that this allows online real-time estimation of timestamps in free-running sampling detector systems with improved accuracy with respect to the more common linear interpolation. The method is evaluated with simulations using ideal and real timing signals, and estimates are given for the resource usage and speed of its implementation.
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Cai, Y., Herrero-Garcia, J., Schmidt, M. A., Vicente, A., & Volkas, R. R. (2017). From the Trees to the Forest: A Review of Radiative Neutrino Mass Models. Front. Physics, 5, 63–56pp.
Abstract: A plausible explanation for the lightness of neutrino masses is that neutrinos are massless at tree level, with their mass (typically Majorana) being generated radiatively at one or more loops. The new couplings, together with the suppression coming from the loop factors, imply that the new degrees of freedom cannot be too heavy (they are typically at the TeV scale). Therefore, in these models there are no large mass hierarchies and they can be tested using different searches, making their detailed phenomenological study very appealing. In particular, the new particles can be searched for at colliders and generically induce signals in lepton-flavor and lepton-number violating processes (in the case of Majorana neutrinos), which are not independent from reproducing correctly the neutrino masses and mixings. The main focus of the review is on Majorana neutrinos. We order the allowed theory space from three different perspectives: (i) using an effective operator approach to lepton number violation, (ii) by the number of loops at which the Weinberg operator is generated, (iii) within a given loop order, by the possible irreducible topologies. We also discuss in more detail some popular radiative models which involve qualitatively different features, revisiting their most important phenomenological implications. Finally, we list some promising avenues to pursue.
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Motohashi, H., & Starobinsky, A. A. (2017). Constant-roll inflation: Confrontation with recent observational data. EPL, 117(3), 39001–3pp.
Abstract: The previously proposed class of phenomenological inflationary models in which the assumption of inflaton slow-roll is replaced by the more general, constant-roll condition is compared with the most recent cosmological observational data, mainly the Planck ones. Models in this two-parametric class which remain viable appear to be close to the slow-roll ones, and their inflaton potentials are close to (but still different from) that of the natural inflation model. The permitted regions for the two model parameters are presented.
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Hueso-Gonzalez, F., Ballester, F., Perez-Calatayud, J., Siebert, F. A., & Vijande, J. (2017). Towards clinical application of RayStretch for heterogeneity corrections in LDR permanent I-125 prostate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy, 16(3), 616–623.
Abstract: PURPOSE: RayStretch is a simple algorithm proposed for heterogeneity corrections in low-dose-rate brachytherapy. It is built on top of TG-43 consensus data, and it has been validated with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. In this study, we take a real clinical prostate implant with 71 1251 seeds as reference and we apply RayStretch to analyze its performance in worst-case scenarios. METHODS AND MATERIALS: To do so, we design two cases where large calcifications are located in the prostate lobules. RayStretch resilience under various calcification density values is also explored. Comparisons against MC calculations are performed. RESULTS: Dose volume histogram related parameters like prostate D-90, rectum D-2cc, or urethra D-10 obtained with RayStretch agree within a few percent with the detailed MC results for all cases considered. CONCLUSIONS: The robustness and compatibility of RayStretch with commercial treatment planning systems indicate its applicability in clinical practice for dosimetric corrections in prostate calcifications. Its use during intraoperative ultrasound planning is foreseen.
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Camarero, D., de Azcarraga, J. A., & Izquierdo, J. M. (2017). Bosonic D=11 supergravity from a generalized Chern-Simons action. Nucl. Phys. B, 923, 633–652.
Abstract: It is shown that the action of the bosonic sector of D= 11supergravity may be obtained by means of a suitable scaling of the originally dimensionless fields of a generalized Chern-Simons action. This follows from the eleven-form CS-potential of the most general linear combination of closed, gauge invariant twelve-forms involving the sp(32)-valued two-form curvatures supplemented by a three-form field. In this construction, the role of the skewsymmetric four-index auxiliary function needed for the first order formulation of D= 11supergravity is played by the gauge field associated with the five Lorentz indices generator of the bosonic sp(32) subalgebra of osp(1|32).
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Becker, R., Buck, A., Casella, C., Dissertori, G., Fischer, J., Howard, A., et al. (2017). The SAFIR experiment: Concept, status and perspectives. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 845, 648–651.
Abstract: The SAFIR development represents a novel Positron Emission Tomography (PET) detector, conceived for preclinical fast acquisitions inside the bore of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner. The goal is hybrid and simultaneous PET/MRI dynamic studies at unprecedented temporal resolutions of a few seconds. The detector relies on matrices of scintillating LSO-based crystals coupled one-to-one with SiPM arrays and readout by fast ASIC5 with excellent timing resolution and high rate capabilities. The paper describes the detector concept and the initial results in terms of simulations and characterisation measurements.
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ATLAS Collaboration(Aaboud, M. et al), Alvarez Piqueras, D., Barranco Navarro, L., Cabrera Urban, S., Castillo Gimenez, V., Cerda Alberich, L., et al. (2017). Search for heavy resonances decaying to a Z boson and a photon in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Phys. Lett. B, 764, 11–30.
Abstract: This Letter presents a search for new resonances with mass larger than 250 GeV, decaying to a Z boson and a photon. The dataset consists of an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb(-1) of pp collisions collected at root s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The Z bosons are identified through their decays either to charged, light, lepton pairs (e(+) e(-), mu(+) mu(-)) or to hadrons. The data are found to be consistent with the expected background in the whole mass range investigated and upper limits are set on the production cross section times decay branching ratio to Z gamma of a narrow scalar boson with mass between 250 GeV and 2.75 TeV.
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LHCb Collaboration(Aaij, R. et al), Garcia Martin, L. M., Martinez-Vidal, F., Oyanguren, A., Remon Alepuz, C., Ruiz Valls, P., et al. (2017). Search for the CP-violating strong decays eta -> pi(+)pi(-) and eta ' (958) -> pi(+)pi(-). Phys. Lett. B, 764, 233–240.
Abstract: A search for the CP-violating strong decays eta -> pi(+)pi(-) and eta ' (958) -> pi(+)pi(-) has been performed using approximately 2.5 x 10(7) events of each of the decays D+ -> pi(+)pi(+)pi(-) and D-s(+) -> pi(+)pi(+)pi(-), recorded by the LHCb experiment. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb(-1) of pp collision data recorded during LHC Run 1 and 0.3fb(-1) recorded in Run 2. No evidence is seen for D-(s)(+) -> pi(+)eta((')) with eta((')) -> pi(+)pi(-), and upper limits at 90% confidence level are set on the branching fractions, B(eta -> pi(+)pi(-)) < 1.6 x 10(-5) and B(eta' -> pi(+)pi(-)) < 1.8 x 10(-5). The limit for the eta decay is comparable with the existing one, while that for the eta' is a factor of three smaller than the previous limit.
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Ortega, P. G., Entem, D. R., & Fernandez, F. (2017). LHCb pentaquarks in constituent quark models. Phys. Lett. B, 764, 207–211.
Abstract: The recently discovered P-c(4380)(+) and P-c(4450)(+) states at LHCb have masses close to the (D) over bar Sigma(C)* and (D) over bar*Sigma(C) thresholds, respectively, which suggest that they may have significant meson-baryon molecular components. We analyze these states in the framework of a constituent quark model which has been applied to a wide range of hadronic observables, being the model parameters, therefore, completely constrained. The P-c(4380)(+) and P-c(4450)(+) are studied as molecular states composed by charmed baryons and open charm mesons. Several bound states with the proper binding energy are found in the (D) over bar Sigma(C)* and (D) over bar*Sigma(C) chennels. We discuss the possible assignments of these states from their decay widths. Moreover, two more states are predicted, associated with the (D) over bar Sigma(C) and (D) over bar*Sigma*(C) thresholds. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Reig, M., Valle, J. W. F., & Vaquera-Araujo, C. A. (2017). Unifying left-right symmetry and 331 electroweak theories. Phys. Lett. B, 766, 35–40.
Abstract: We propose a realistic theory based on the SU(3) c. SU(3) L. SU(3) R. U(1) Xgauge group which requires the number of families to match the number of colors. In the simplest realization neutrino masses arise from the canonical seesaw mechanism and their smallness correlates with the observed V-A nature of the weak force. Depending on the symmetry breaking path to the Standard Model one recovers either a left-right symmetric theory or one based on the SU(3) c. SU(3) L. U(1) symmetry as the “next” step towards new physics.
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