We present a search for the e+e- decay of a hypothetical dark photon, also names U vector boson, in inclusive dielectron spectra measured by HADES in the p (3.5 GeV) + p, Nb reactions, as well as the Ar (1.756 GeV/u) + KCl reaction. An upper limit on the kinetic mixing parameter squared epsilon^{2} at 90% CL has been obtained for the mass range M(U) = 0.02 - 0.55 GeV/c2 and is compared with the present world data set. For masses 0.03 - 0.1 GeV/c^2, the limit has been lowered with respect to previous results, allowing now to exclude a large part of the parameter region favoured by the muon g-2 anomaly. Furthermore, an improved upper limit on the branching ratio of 2.3 * 10^{-6} has been set on the helicity-suppressed direct decay of the eta meson, eta-> e+e-, at 90% CL

NEXT-100 is an electroluminescent high-pressure xenon gas time projection chamber that will search for the neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay of ¹³⁶Xe. The detector possesses two features of great value for 0νββ searches: energy resolution better than 1% FWHM at the Q value of ¹³⁶Xe and track reconstruction for the discrimination of signal and background events. This combination results in excellent sensitivity, as discussed in this paper. Material-screening measurements and a detailed Monte Carlo detector simulation predict a background rate for NEXT-100 of at most 4 × 10⁻⁴ counts keV⁻¹ kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Accordingly, the detector will reach a sensitivity to the 0νββ-decay half-life of 2.8 × 10²⁵ years (90% CL) for an exposure of 100 kg·year, or 6.0 × 10²⁵ years after a run of 3 effective years. Open image in new window

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease that may not always be related to the presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine if anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐CCP) antibodies are associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with RA.Methods: Anti‐CCP antibodies were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in the earliest serum sample available from 937 patients with a diagnosis of RA. We studied the relationship between anti‐CCP antibodies with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular events.Results: We found positive anti‐CCP antibodies (>25 units/ml) in 672 patients (71.7%). There was no association between the anti‐CCP antibodies and cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, being overweight, or diabetes mellitus. However, patients who had positive anti‐CCP antibodies experienced more frequent ischemic heart disease (6.5% versus 2.6%; odds ratio [OR] 2.58, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.17–5.65) and had higher mortality rates (11.2% versus 6.8%; OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.01–2.91). Similar results were obtained when we considered anti‐CCP titers 20‐fold higher (>500 units/ml). Multivariable analysis showed that ischemic heart disease is independently associated with positive anti‐CCP antibodies (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.19–6.56; P = 0.009).Conclusion: Anti‐CCP antibodies in patients with RA are independently associated with the development of ischemic heart disease.