New Results from the Search for Low-Mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles with the CDMS Low Ionization Threshold Experiment.

The CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) uses cryogenic germanium detectors operated at a relatively high bias voltage to amplify the phonon signal in the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Results are presented from the second CDMSlite run with an exposure of 70 kg day, which reached an energy threshold for electron recoils as low as 56 eV. A fiducialization cut reduces backgrounds below those previously reported by CDMSlite. New parameter space for the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section is excluded for WIMP masses between 1.6 and 5.5 GeV/c^{2}.

First direct limits on lightly ionizing particles with electric charge less than e/6.

While the standard model of particle physics does not include free particles with fractional charge, experimental searches have not ruled out their existence. We report results from the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS II) experiment that give the first direct-detection limits for cosmogenically produced relativistic particles with electric charge lower than e/6. A search for tracks in the six stacked detectors of each of two of the CDMS II towers finds no candidates, thereby excluding new parameter space for particles with electric charges between e/6 and e/200.

Search for low-mass weakly interacting massive particles with SuperCDMS.

We report a first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using the background rejection capabilities of SuperCDMS. An exposure of 577 kg days was analyzed for WIMPs with mass <30 GeV/c(2), with the signal region blinded. Eleven events were observed after unblinding. We set an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.2×10(-42) cm(2) at 8 GeV/c(2). This result is in tension with WIMP interpretations of recent experiments and probes new parameter space for WIMP-nucleon scattering for WIMP masses <6 GeV/c(2).

Search for low-mass weakly interacting massive particles using voltage-assisted calorimetric ionization detection in the SuperCDMS experiment.

SuperCDMS is an experiment designed to directly detect weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), a favored candidate for dark matter ubiquitous in the Universe. In this Letter, we present WIMP-search results using a calorimetric technique we call CDMSlite, which relies on voltage-assisted Luke-Neganov amplification of the ionization energy deposited by particle interactions. The data were collected with a single 0.6 kg germanium detector running for ten live days at the Soudan Underground Laboratory. A low energy threshold of 170 eVee (electron equivalent) was obtained, which allows us to constrain new WIMP-nucleon spin-independent parameter space for WIMP masses below 6 GeV/c2.

Silicon detector dark matter results from the final exposure of CDMS II.

We report results of a search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPS) with the silicon detectors of the CDMS II experiment. This blind analysis of 140.2 kg day of data taken between July 2007 and September 2008 revealed three WIMP-candidate events with a surface-event background estimate of 0.41(-0.08)(+0.20)(stat)(-0.24)(+0.28)(syst). Other known backgrounds from neutrons and 206Pb are limited to <0.13 and <0.08 events at the 90% confidence level, respectively. The exposure of this analysis is equivalent to 23.4 kg day for a recoil energy range of 7-100 keV for a WIMP of mass 10 GeV/c2. The probability that the known backgrounds would produce three or more events in the signal region is 5.4%. A profile likelihood ratio test of the three events that includes the measured recoil energies gives a 0.19% probability for the known-background-only hypothesis when tested against the alternative WIMP+background hypothesis. The highest likelihood occurs for a WIMP mass of 8.6 GeV/c2 and WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.9×10(-41) cm2.

Coronary heart disease risk-factor profile in a lower middles class urban community in Pakistan.

We determined the risk-factor profile and prevalence of coronary heart disease in Metroville, a lower middle class urban community in Karachi, and compared them to the Pakistan health survey PNHS 1990-94, and the US health and nutrition survey 1988-94 NHANES111. Subjects < 18 years and pregnant women were excluded as were people with extreme ranges BMI [corrected] heart rate, height and waist. The prevalence of hypertension was 23% in men and women, hypercholesterolaemia was 17% in men and 22% in women (P < 0.001). Hyperglycaemia was present in 5% of men and women and obesity in 33% of men and 47% of women (P < 0.001). Compared to PNHS, the prevalences of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and WHR were higher in our population. Mean values of BMI [corrected] cholesterol, WHR were higher in the US population while mean values were lower for diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose.

Coronary heart disease risk-factor profile in a lower middles class urban community in Pakistan

We determined the risk-factor profile and prevalence of coronary heart disease in Metroville, a lower middle class urban community in Karachi, and compared them to the Pakistan health survey PNHS 1990-94, and the US health and nutrition survey 1988-94 NHANES111. Subjects < 18 years and pregnant women were excluded as were people with extreme ranges BMI [corrected] heart rate, height and waist. The prevalence of hypertension was 23% in men and women, hypercholesterolaemia was 17% in men and 22% in women [P < 0.001]. Hyperglycaemia was present in 5% of men and women and obesity in 33% of men and 47% of women [P < 0.001]. Compared to PNHS, the prevalences of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and WHR were higher in our population. Mean values of BMI [corrected] cholesterol, WHR were higher in the US population while mean values were lower for diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose

Evaluation and comparison of coronary heart disease risk factor profiles of children in a country with developing economy.

OBJECTIVE: To define the risk factors (RF) profile and prevalence rates of high risk factors in an urban Pakistani community and compare it to the RF profile and prevalence rates of Pakistan National Health Survey. METHODS: The present study included RF relevant data of 400 house hold children selected by open invitation as a part of Metroville Health Study (MHS), a risk factor modification study which was a cooperation between National Heart Lung Blood institute (NHLBI) USA and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Pakistan. The base line data of 389 girls and 417 boys age 5-17 was included. PMRC data of 5067 and NHANES III survey data of 10,252 US children was used for comparison with MHS. RF analyzed were height weight, SBP, DBP, BMI and serum cholesterol. Comparisons between MHS and PMRC and US were made by using two tailed student t test and of high RF were defined as those exceeding US standards and expressed as percentages. RESULTS: The RF factor profile of urban Metroville children was worse than the national average of PMRC children. Except for diastolic blood pressure in both boys and girls and SBP in PMRC boys, all other RF were less than US children. Prevalence rates were higher in urban Metroville community, i.e., MHS compared to the PMRC which represents national average data. CONCLUSION: RF profile of Pakistani children has been presented and effect of urbanization demonstrated by comparing the PMRC and MHS RF profile. Hypertension in Pakistani children has emerged as a single most important RF requiring urgent prevention.

Efficacy of CVD risk factor modification in a lower-middle class community in Pakistan: the Metroville Health Study.

The Metroville Health Study aimed to reduce consumption of total cooking fats by 33%, salt by 25% and replace ghee with vegetable oil in a lower middle class urban community in Pakistan. Households (n=403) were randomly assigned to Intervention and Control groups. A baseline screening collected data on CVD risk factors, knowledge and attitudes and household consumption of cooking fats and salt. Intervention households received information about CVD and regular visits by social workers who measured cooking fats and salt and counselled cooks on the goals of intervention. Two years later, 291 households were re-screened. Intervention households reduced consumption of fats and salt compared to differences were total fat, 48% (p<0.0001); ghee, 37% (p=0.005); vegetable oil, 33% (p=0.0001); and salt, 41% (p=0.011). Household visits by trained social workers were effective in achieving reductions in consumption of cooking fat and salt in a lower class urban community.