Nucleation efficiency of nuclear recoils in bubble chambers

Bubble chambers using liquid xenon (and liquid argon) have been operated (resp. planned) by the Scintillating Bubble Chamber (SBC) collaboration for GeV-scale dark matter searches and CEνNS from reactors. This will require a robust calibration program of the nucleation efficiency of low-energy nuclear recoils in these target media. Such a program has been carried out by the PICO collaboration, which aims to directly detect dark matter using C3F8 bubble chambers. Neutron calibration data from mono-energetic neutron beam and Am-Be source has been collected and analyzed, leading to a global fit of a generic nucleation efficiency model for carbon and fluorine recoils, at thermodynamic thresholds of 2.45 and 3.29 keV. Fitting the many-dimensional model to the data (34 free parameters) is a non-trivial computational challenge, addressed with a custom Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach, which will be presented. Parametric MC studies undertaken to validate this methodology are also discussed. This fit paradigm demonstrated for the PICO calibration will be applied to existing and future scintillating bubble chamber calibration data.

Two-loop electroweak corrections to the Top-Quark Contribution to ϵK

The parameter ϵK measures CP violation in the neutral kaon system. It is a sensitive probe of new physics and plays a prominent role in the global fit of the Cabibbo-Kobabyashi-Maskawa matrix. The perturbative theory uncertainty is currently dominated by the top-quark contribution. Here, we present the calculation of the full two-loop electroweak corrections to the top-quark contribution to ϵK, including the resummation of QED-QCD logarithms. We discuss different renormalization prescriptions for the electroweak input parameters. In the traditional normalization of the weak Hamiltonian with two powers of the Fermi constant GF, the top-quark contribution is shifted by −1%.

A multidimensional model of bullying in Mexico: Family and psychological factors

The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between family dysfunctions, bullying, and some psychological disorders, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress. A total of 388 Mexican adolescents between 14 and 19 years of age participated in this study. In order to examine the effects that family factors have on bullying, as well as the consequences of this violence on the mental health of adolescents, a structural equation model was constructed. Since the original model did not fit the data adequately, it was re-specified. Consequently, this new model shows an adequate global fit with the data. Results indicate that communication problems and lack of parental support were the two most significant predictors of bullying and the experience of victimization. In addition, depression, stress, and anxiety presented, from greater to lesser magnitude, a positive relation with the latent variable of psychological disorders.

NuFIT: Three-Flavour Global Analyses of Neutrino Oscillation Experiments

In this contribution, we summarise the determination of neutrino masses and mixing arising from global analysis of data from atmospheric, solar, reactor, and accelerator neutrino experiments performed in the framework of three-neutrino mixing and obtained in the context of the NuFIT collaboration. Apart from presenting the latest status as of autumn 2021, we discuss the evolution of global-fit results over the last 10 years, and mention various pending issues (and their resolution) that occurred during that period in the global analyses.

Flavor constraints for a vector-like quark of Nelson-Barr type

The Nelson-Barr (NB) mechanism to solve the strong CP problem assumes CP conservation, arranges vanishing $$ \overline{\theta} $$ θ ¯ at tree-level and requires vector-like quarks (VLQs) to transmit the CP breaking to the SM. We analyze the flavor constraints coming from the presence of one such down type VLQ of NB type by performing a global fit on the relevant flavor observables. A comparison is made to the case of one generic VLQ. We find that the allowed parameter space for the VLQ Yukawa couplings and the mixing to the SM are confined to a region much smaller than in the generic case, making the NB case falsifiable in principle.

Characterisation of contact twinning for cerussite, $$\hbox {PbCO}_3$$, by single-crystal NMR spectroscopy

Cerussite, $$\hbox {PbCO}_3$$ PbCO 3 , like all members of the aragonite group, shows a tendency to form twins, due to high pseudo-symmetry within the crystal structure. We here demonstrate that the twin law of a cerussite contact twin may be established using only $$^{207}$$ 207 Pb-NMR spectroscopy. This is achieved by a global fit of several sets of orientation-dependent spectra acquired from the twin specimen, allowing to determine the relative orientation of the twin domains. Also, the full $$^{207}$$ 207 Pb chemical shift tensor in cerussite at room temperature is determined from these data, with the eigenvalues being $$\delta _{11} = (-2315\pm 1)$$ δ 11 = ( - 2315 ± 1 ) ppm, $$\delta _{22} = (-2492 \pm 3)$$ δ 22 = ( - 2492 ± 3 ) ppm, and $$\delta _{33} = (-3071 \pm 3)$$ δ 33 = ( - 3071 ± 3 ) ppm.

Cospeciation of coronavirus and paramyxovirus with their bat hosts in the same geographical areas

Background Bat-borne viruses are relatively host specific. We hypothesize that this host specificity is due to coevolution of the viruses with their hosts. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the coevolution of coronavirus and paramyxovirus with their bat hosts. Published nucleotide sequences of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of 60 coronavirus strains identified from 37 bat species, the RNA polymerase large (L) gene of 36 paramyxovirus strains from 29 bat species, and the cytochrome B (cytB) gene of 35 bat species were analyzed for coevolution signals. Each coevolution signal detected was tested and verified by global-fit cophylogenic analysis using software ParaFit, PACo, and eMPRess. Results Significant coevolution signals were detected in coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses and their bat hosts, and closely related bat hosts were found to carry closely related viruses. Conclusions Our results suggest that paramyxovirus and coronavirus coevolve with their hosts.

The Brief Form of the Test of Gross Motor Development-3 for Individuals with Visual Impairments

Children with visual impairments (VI) tend to struggle with their fundamental motor skills (FMS), and these difficulties often persist across the lifespan, requiring frequent assessment. The Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) shows robust psychometric properties for children with VI. The TGMD, which includes 13 skills, is time-consuming to administer and score, warranting the need to explore brief versions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of three, six-skill versions of the TGMD-3 with children with VI. Children (n = 302; Boys = 58%, Girls = 42%; Mage = 13.00, SD = 2.50 years) with VI (B1 = 27%, B2 = 20%, B3 = 38%, B4 = 15%) participated in this study. We examined three different models using confirmatory factor analyses on the relationships between the motor skills and latent traits across the models. Scores from all three brief versions had acceptable global fit. Although further research should be conducted, practitioners can adopt a brief version of the TGMD to assess children with VI.

Work Climate Scale in Emergency Services: Abridged Version

This study is based on a 40-item work climate scale in hospital emergency services (WCSHES). Teams working in these emergency services experience a heavy workload and have a limited amount of time with each patient. COVID-19 has further complicated these existing issues. Therefore, we believed it would be helpful to draft an abridged version of the 40-item WCSHES, considering both validity and reliability criteria, but giving greater weight to validity. One hundred and twenty-six workers between the ages of 20 to 64 (M = 32.45; standard deviation (SD = 9.73)) years old participated voluntarily in the study. The validity, reliability, and fit model were evaluated in an iterative process. The confirmatory factor analysis yielded appropriate global fit indices in the abridged 24-item version (Χ2(248) = 367.84; p < 0.01, RMSEA = 0.06 with an interval of 90% from 0.05 to 0.07, SRMR = 0.08, GFI = 0.9, AGFI = 0.96, CFI = 0.98, NFI = 0.95, and NNFI = 0.98), along with test criteria validity (ρXY = 0.68, p < 0.001) and excellent reliability (α = 0.94 and ω = 0.94), maintaining the same conceptualization and usefulness of the original scale. The abridged 24-item version was used to measure four work climate factors (work satisfaction, productivity/achievement of aims, interpersonal relations, and performance at work). Evidence of the usefulness of the new abridged scale is provided along with a description of our study limitations and future areas for development.

Diversidad genética de gallinas criollas en valles centrales de Oaxaca usando marcadores microsatélites

Las poblaciones de gallinas criollas en explotaciones en pequeña escala poseen una gran diversidad y son parte del reservorio genético avícola en México; además, constituyen una importante fuente de proteína para las familias del medio rural. Con el propósito de conocer la variabilidad genética de poblaciones de gallinas criollas en la región central de Oaxaca, se tomaron muestras de sangre de 109 gallinas criollas, provenientes de 17 poblaciones y de 30 gallinas Plymouth Rock como testigos. Se usaron 10 marcadores de tipo microsatélites, con los que se detectó un total de 109 alelos, con 10.9 ± 3.1 alelos por locus en promedio. La heterocigosidad observada (Ho) varió de 0.575 (San Lucas) a 0.750 (San Antonino 2) y la esperada (He) de 0.625 (Testigo) a 0.733 (Huixtepec 2). A nivel general se encontró un incremento en el número de heterocigotos evidenciado por un nivel de endogamia global (FIT) de 0.042; el índice FST de diferenciación entre poblaciones fue moderado (0.059) y la endogamia de individuos dentro de poblaciones (FIS) resultó negativa (-0.017), lo que indica un exceso de heterocigotos a ese nivel. El análisis de conglomerados agrupó a las poblaciones de Nazareno, ITVO, San Lucas y San Antonio, evidenciando que son poblaciones de gallinas criollas aisladas y diferenciadas genéticamente en algunas características. Esta información es importante para diseñar futuros programas de conservación, selección y multiplicación de esta especie a nivel de traspatio en la región central de Oaxaca, México.