F. Matorras

We aimed to assess the validity of a theoretical mathematical model to predict the pregnancy rate and the multiple pregnancy rate in IVF/oocyte donation programmes on the basis of the implantation rate and the number of transferred embryos.A total of 1835 embryo transfers corresponding to three different programmes in two centres with different implantation rates were analysed. Pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates observed in the aforementioned programmes were compared with those obtained following different mathematical models. Four models were tested: binomial model, ground model, maternal variability model and collaborative model. The goodness of fit was performed by means of the maximum likelihood fit method.The binomial model could not predict the pregnancy rate, and especially the multiple pregnancy rate. The multiple pregnancy rate predicted following the binomial model was much lower than observed, up to 40-fold reduced. Ground model and maternal variability model adjusted to the data with more precision, but were still not accurate. Finally, the collaborative model reproduced with very great accuracy both pregnancy rate and the multiple pregnancy rate. A collaborative parameter of 22% was found, implying that the implantation probability of each embryo is increased by 22% for every embryo previously implanted.Embryonic implantation does not follow a binomial law, showing that the implantation is not independent from the number of embryos implanted. The best fit to the data is obtained following a collaborative model by which the implantation of one embryo is facilitated by the implantation of other embryo(s). The mathematical formula of the collaborative model predicts very accurately the pregnancy rate and the multiple pregnancy rate in IVF/oocyte donation programmes, based on the implantation rate of this specific programme and the number of embryos transferred up to five embryos. We recommend using the aforementioned formula to quantify the pregnancy rate and the risk of multiple pregnancy in the counselling of the infertile couple at embryo transfer. Such a formula is freely available at www.ifca.unican.es/matorras/mathpreg/.

<i>Background:</i> The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of male age on human fertility, defined as the birth rate for a given population. <i>Methods:</i> Data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) for the year 2004 from a total of 454,753 newborn infants and sorted by male and female age groups were evaluated. In order to correct the influence of female age-related fertility, a different analysis was performed considering only women under 30 years of age. <i>Results:</i> From a demographic point of view, male fertility started to decline at 35–39 years of age. This decline is constant and follows an exponential pattern (slope –0.11 to –0.12). The trend persisted when the data were adjusted for every 1,000 men in the age group, as well as when only women under the age of 30 were considered. Male fertility showed a 21–23% annual decrease starting at the age of 39. <i>Conclusion:</i> An exponential decrease in human fertility which is independent of the woman’s age was observed with male aging. This decay is probably due to a downfall in male fecundity, closely related to a decline in sperm quality. However, social or behavioral causes for this trend cannot be excluded.

This document describes the simulation of the misalignment scenarios for the CMS tracking devices in the framework of the CMS reconstruction package ORCA. We provide rst estimates of the expected alignment uncertainties at different stages of the CMS operation, which can be used to study the impact of misalignment on the tracking performance. A few examples of this impact of misalignment on the tracking performance are presented.

We present the measured performance of a new generation of semitransparent amorphous silicon position detectors. They have a large sensitive area (30×30 mm2) and show good properties such as a high response (about 20 mA/W), an intrinsic position resolution better than 3 μm, a spatial-point reconstruction precision better than 10 μm, deflection angles smaller than 10 μrad and a transmission power in the visible and NIR higher than 70%.

This document describes results obtained from the Link alignment system data recorded during the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Magnet Test. A brief description of the system is followed by a discussion of the detected relative displacements (from micrometres to centimetres) between detector elements and rotations of detector structures (from microradians to milliradians). Observed displacements are studied as functions of the magnetic field intensity. In addition, the reconstructed positions of active element sensors are compared to their positions as measured by photogrammetry and the reconstructed motions due to the magnetic field strength are described.

We describe the construction process of large-area high-performance transparent amorphous silicon position detecting sensors. Details about the characteristics of the associated local electronic board (LEB), specially designed for these sensors, are given. In addition we report on the performance of a multipoint alignment monitoring application of 12 sensors in a 13 m long light path.

We present the measured performance of a new generation of large sensitive area (28×28 mm2) semitransparent amorphous silicon position detector sensors. More than 100 units have been characterized. They show a very high performance. To illustrate a multipoint application, we present results from the monitoring of five sensors placed in a 5.5-m-long light path.

This study assessed the influence of adding embryos with different embryo quality on pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate (MPR). The study included 1891 IVF transfers performed at two centres with different embryo transfer policies. Pregnancy rate and MPR were analysed following three models and then including embryo quality. A predictive mathematical model and two scatter plots were constructed. The model based on embryo independence was incompatible with the observed data, while both the ground and collaborative models provided excellent fits. The collaborative model, however, predicted multiple pregnancies, especially triplets, more accurately. Transfer of additional embryos, irrespective of embryo quality, always increased pregnancy rate and MPR. When implantation rate was low, there was a marked increase in pregnancy rate but only a relatively small increase in MPR. In contrast, with higher implantation rates, the increase in pregnancy rate was mainly due to the increase in MPR, with the same singleton pregnancy rate. Transfer of additional embryos, irrespective of embryo quality, follows a collaborative pattern and always results in an increase in pregnancy rate and MPR. The scatter plots accurately predicted the influence of the different combinations of number and embryo quality on pregnancy rate and MPR.

A measurement of the optical absorption, induced by photon irradiation up to a dose of 0.9 MGy, in Nufern silica core single-mode optical fibres is presented. In addition, the fibres were irradiated with neutrons, up to a total fluence of 2×1014 cm−2 and the induced optical absorption was evaluated for four different wavelengths: 630, 670, 681 and 785 nm.

This document presents an application of the new generation of amorphous silicon position detecting (ASPD) sensors to multipoint alignment. Twelve units are monitored along a 20 m long laser beam, where the light path is deflected by 90° using a pentaprism.

Magnet Cycles and Stability Periods of the CMS Experiment are studied with the Alignment Link System data recorded along the 2008–2013 years of operation. The motions of the mechanical structures due to the magnetic field forces are studied and the mechanical stability of the detector during the physics data taking periods is verified.

Semitransparent amorphous-silicon sensors are basic elements for laser 2D position reconstruction in the CMS multipoint alignment link system. Some of the sensors have to work in a very hard radiation environment. Two different sensor types have been irradiated with 60Co photons (up to 100 kGy) and fast neutrons (up to 1015cm−2), and the subsequent change in their performance has been measured.

The photo-response behaviour of Amorphous Silicon Position Detectors (ASPDs) under prolonged illumination with a 681 nm diode–laser and a 633 nm He–Ne laser is presented. Both direct and inverse Staebler–Wronski effects are observed.

A study of the time required for the CMS detector to reach structural equilibrium once the magnetic field is ramped to its operational value of 3.8 T is presented. In addition, the results from a stability monitoring at 3.8 T over an eight-month period are given.

A study of the photo-response behaviour of carbon-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon photo-detectors over 2800 h of continuous illumination with white light is presented. Both direct and inverse Staebler–Wronski effects are observed in the data.

Using data collected in the DELPHI detector at LEP-1, measurements of the inclusive τ branching ratios for decay modes containing one, three, or five charged particles have been performed, giving the following results:where h is either a charged π or K meson.The first quoted uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.

We report on the study made on commercial CMOS image sensors in order to determine their feasibility for light beam position reconstruction. Measurements of the intrinsic position resolution, sensor photoresponse and uniformity were done. The effect of eventual background illumination was evaluated. The precision on the spatial point reconstruction was determined from linearity measurements. First results on gamma-ray radiation tolerance are presented.

Optical absorption induced by photon radiation was evaluated for several commercial pure silica core, single mode, optical fibres. The study was performed for three different wavelengths: 630, 670 and 785 nm. We have identified a fibre whose induced transmission loss stays below 1 dB/m after 300 kGy gamma-ray irradiation.

Approaching LHC data taking, the CMS experiment is deploying, commissioning and operating the building tools of its grid-based computing infrastructure. The commissioning program includes testing, deployment and operation of various storage solutions to support the computing workflows of the experiment. Recently, some of the Tier-1 and Tier-2 centers supporting the collaboration have started to deploy StoRM based storage systems. These are POSIX-based disk storage systems on top of which StoRM implements the Storage Resource Manager (SRM) version 2 interface allowing for a standard-based access from the Grid. In this notes we briefly describe the experience so far achieved at the CNAF Tier-1 center and at the IFCA Tier-2 center.

The central feature of the CMS Link alignment system is a network of Amorphous Silicon Position Detectors distributed throughout the muon spectrometer that are connected by multiple laser lines. The data collected during the years from 2008 to 2015 is presented confirming an outstanding performance of the photo sensors during more than seven years of operation. Details of the photo sensor readout of the laser signals are presented. The mechanical motions of the CMS detector are monitored using these photosensors and good agreement with distance sensors is obtained.

Rasniks elements are foreseen to be used in the CMS alignment system. The large displacements and deformations expected for the different subdetectors demands large linearity response range of the alignment components. By the use of an integrating sphere coupled to the light source, we have optimized the homogenity of the beam, leading to improvement, by factor three, in the linearity range of the Rasnik system with respect to conventional configurations, preserving the measurement position resolution. The range obtained coincides with the maximum reachable with the geometry of the used components.

We report on irradiation studies done to a sample of high-precision electrolytic tiltmeters with gamma-rays, up to a maximum dose of 150 kGy, and neutrons, up to a maximum fluence of 1.5×1014 cm−2. The effect of the irradiation on their performance is discussed.

This paper gives an overview of some of the more interesting results obtained at LEP in tau physics: precision measurements in neutral and charged currents universality and structure, tau mass, topological and exclusive Branching Ratios.

Semitransparent amorphous silicon sensors are the key elements for laser light 2D position reconstruction in the CMS alignment system. Some of them have to work in very extreme radiation environment. We have irradiated with gammas, up to 10 MRad, two different sensors and measured their change in performance.

A precise alignment of Muon System is one of the requirements to fulfill the CMS expected performance to cover its physics program. A first prototype of the software and computing tools to achieve this goal has been successfully tested during the CSA06, Computing, Software and Analysis Challenge in 2006. Data was exported from Tier-0 to Tier-1 and Tier-2, where the alignment software was run. Re-reconstruction with new geometry files was also performed at remote sites. Performance and validation of the software has also been tested on cosmic data, taken during the MTCC in 2006.

An overview of the data transfer, processing and analysis operations conducted at the Spanish Tier-1 (PIC, Barcelona) and Tier-2 (CIEMAT-Madrid and IFCA-Santander federation) centres during the past CMS CSA06 Computing, Software and Analysis challenge and in preparation for CSA07 is presented.

A method for a real time remote accurate coplanarity measurement of a network of points is presented. A light surface, generated by a laser and a rotating pentaprism, is used as a reference plane to which the relative positions of a set of CCD sensors, located on the nodes of the network, are determined. Based on this method, a prototype for the alignment of the CMS detector has been built and tested. Position reconstruction algorithms and experimental test results are presented. The obtained position measurement precision was 10 μm up to distances of 6 m.

We present observations of the electrolytic clinometers behaviour inside magnetic field environments introducing phenomenological expressions to account for the measured output voltage variations as functions of field gradients and field strengths.

This document presents an overview of the induced photocurrents in the Amorphous Silicon Position Detectors used in the network of diode lasers and photo sensors of the CMS Link alignment system recorded during its eleven years of operation. After a description of the sensors characteristics, the layout of the sensors network is discussed. The sensors are distributed throughout the muon spectrometer and connected by laser lines. The data used correspond to readout information obtained during some of the physics runs from 2008 to 2018.

Different LEP experiments have measured Pτ, with good precision using inclusive methods, without decay identification, both in the case of single tau and correlation measurements. Each of these methods will reach a precision ΔPτ0.015 (Δ sin2 θw0.002) at the end of LEP I in each of the four experiments.

We report on irradiation studies done to a sample of high-precision electrolytic tiltmeters with gamma-rays, up to a maximum dose of 150 kGy, and neutrons, up to a maximum fluence of 1.5×1014 cm−2. The effect of the irradiation on their performance is discussed.

The τ lepton has played an important role in many new physics searches performed at the DELPHI experiment at LEP. In this paper the basic selection and identification techniques are outlined. Some of the most interesting searches are described: charged higgs, doubly charged higgs, sleptons or excited leptons.

A search for pair produced charged Higgs bosons was performed using the data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP II at centre-of-mass energies up to 208 GeV. The three different final states, τντν, csτν and cscs were considered. No excess of data compared to the expected Standard Model processes was observed and the existence of a charged Higgs boson with mass lower than 75.0 GeV/c2 has been excluded at 95% confidence level.

Searches for HZ production with the Higgs boson decaying into an invisible nal state were performed in the complete data collected by the DELPHI experiment. Both hadronic and leptonic nal states of the Z boson were analysed. In addition to the search for a heavy Higgs boson, a dedicated search for a light Higgs boson with a sensitivity overlapping the mass region covered by the high-statistics LEP-1 results was performed. No signal was found. Assuming the Standard Model HZ production cross section, the mass limit for invisibly decaying Higgs bosons is 112.1 GeV=c 2 . An interpretation in the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) is given.

A search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons was performed in the data collected by the DELPHI detector at the high energy runs of LEP. Charged Higgs boson decays into tau leptons or c and s quarks were considered. No excess of data compared to the expected Standard Model processes was observed and a lower mass limit for charged Higgs bosons is set. Results are also presented as upper limits for the charged Higgs boson pair production cross-section.

A search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons was performed in the high energy data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP II at centre-of-mass energies from 189 GeV to 208 GeV. The three dieren t nal states, , c s cs and c s were considered. New methods were applied in the rejection of wrong hadronic jet pairings and for the tau identication, where a discriminator based on tau polarisation and polar angles was used. No excess of data compared to the expected Standard Model processes was observed and the existence of a charged Higgs boson with mass lower than 73.8 GeV/c 2 is excluded at the 95% condence level. Results are also presented as upper limits for the charged Higgs boson pair production cross-section.

A FFNN has been used to identify six different 1-prong τ decays among the τ+τ− events collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP. The method operates with better efficiency-purity than the classical methods for the previously studied channels and allows the possibility of analysing a new one. It has been applied to 1993 and 1994 data to obtain the branching fractions of these channels. A first estimation of the systematic errors has been performed.

A FFNN has been used to identify five different 1-prong (tau) decays among the (tau) <SUP>+</SUP>(tau) <SUP>-</SUP> events collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP. The method operates with better efficiency-purity than the classical methods for the previously studied channels and allows the possibility of analyzing a new one. It has been applied to 1994 data to obtain the branching fractions of these channels. A first estimation of the systematic errors has been performed.

Tesis doctoral leida en el Departamento de Fisica Moderna de la Universidad de Cantabria. Fecha de defensa: 03-02-1993.

A FFNN has been used to classify the 1-prong (tau) decays. The net is able to separate hadronic decays from leptonic with 90% efficiency and 93% purity. Applied to the data taken by the DELPHI detector at LEP collider during 1992, the (tau) inclusive 1-prong hadronic branching ratio has been measured to be B_1h equals 0.5050 +/- 0.0032_-0.0031^+0.0046.