| 1. |
- Schael, S, et al.
(författare)
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Precision electroweak measurements on the Z resonance
- 2006
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Ingår i: Physics Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-1573 .- 1873-6270. ; 427:5-6, s. 257-454
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report on the final electroweak measurements performed with data taken at the Z resonance by the experiments operating at the electron-positron colliders SLC and LEP. The data consist of 17 million Z decays accumulated by the ALEPH, DELPHI, L3 and OPAL experiments at LEP, and 600 thousand Z decays by the SLID experiment using a polarised beam at SLC. The measurements include cross-sections, forward-backward asymmetries and polarised asymmetries. The mass and width of the Z boson, m(Z) and Gamma(Z), and its couplings to fermions, for example the p parameter and the effective electroweak mixing angle for leptons, are precisely measured: m(Z) = 91.1875 +/- 0.0021 GeV, Gamma(Z) = 2.4952 +/- 0.0023 GeV, rho(l) = 1.0050 +/- 0.0010, sin(2)theta(eff)(lept) = 0.23153 +/- 0.00016. The number of light neutrino species is determined to be 2.9840 +/- 0.0082, in agreement with the three observed generations of fundamental fermions. The results are compared to the predictions of the Standard Model (SM). At the Z-pole, electroweak radiative corrections beyond the running of the QED and QCD coupling constants are observed with a significance of five standard deviations, and in agreement with the Standard Model. Of the many Z-pole measurements, the forward-backward asymmetry in b-quark production shows the largest difference with respect to its SM expectation, at the level of 2.8 standard deviations. Through radiative corrections evaluated in the framework of the Standard Model, the Z-pole data are also used to predict the mass of the top quark, m(t) = 173(+10)(+13) GeV, and the mass of the W boson, m(W) = 80.363 +/- 0.032 GeV. These indirect constraints are compared to the direct measurements, providing a stringent test of the SM. Using in addition the direct measurements of m(t) and m(W), the mass of the as yet unobserved SM Higgs boson is predicted with a relative uncertainty of about 50% and found to be less than 285 GeV at 95% confidence level. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Abdesselam, A., et al.
(författare)
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The ATLAS semiconductor tracker end-cap module
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 575:3, s. 353-389
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The challenges for the tracking detector systems at the LHC are unprecedented in terms of the number of channels, the required read-out speed and the expected radiation levels. The ATLAS Semiconductor Tracker. (SCT) end-caps have a total of about 3 million electronics channels each reading out every 25 ns into its own on-chip 3.3 mu s buffer. The highest anticipated dose after 10 years operation is 1.4x10(14) cm(-2) in units of 1 MeV neutron equivalent (assuming the damage factors scale with the non-ionising energy loss). The forward tracker has 1976 double-sided modules, mostly of area similar to 70 cm(2), each having 2 x 768 strips read out by six ASICs per side. The requirement to achieve an average perpendicular radiation length of 1.5% X-0, while coping with up to 7 W dissipation per module (after irradiation), leads to stringent constraints on the thermal design. The additional requirement of 1500e(-) equivalent noise charge (ENC) rising to only 1800e(-) ENC after irradiation, provides stringent design constraints on both the high-density Cu/Polyimide flex read-out circuit and the ABCD3TA read-out ASICs. Finally, the accuracy of module assembly must not compromise the 16 mu m (r phi) resolution perpendicular to the strip directions or 580 mu m radial resolution coming from the 40 mrad front-back stereo angle. A total of 2210 modules were built to the tight tolerances and specifications required for the SCT. This was 234 more than the 1976 required and represents a yield of 93%. The component flow was at times tight, but the module production rate of 40-50 per week was maintained despite this. The distributed production was not found to be a major logistical problem and it allowed additional flexibility to take advantage of where the effort was available, including any spare capacity, for building the end-cap modules. The collaboration that produced the ATLAS SCT end-cap modules kept in close contact at all times so that the effects of shortages or stoppages at different sites could be rapidly resolved.
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| 4. |
- Elsik, Christine G., et al.
(författare)
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The Genome Sequence of Taurine Cattle : A Window to Ruminant Biology and Evolution
- 2009
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 324:5926, s. 522-528
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To understand the biology and evolution of ruminants, the cattle genome was sequenced to about sevenfold coverage. The cattle genome contains a minimum of 22,000 genes, with a core set of 14,345 orthologs shared among seven mammalian species of which 1217 are absent or undetected in noneutherian (marsupial or monotreme) genomes. Cattle-specific evolutionary breakpoint regions in chromosomes have a higher density of segmental duplications, enrichment of repetitive elements, and species-specific variations in genes associated with lactation and immune responsiveness. Genes involved in metabolism are generally highly conserved, although five metabolic genes are deleted or extensively diverged from their human orthologs. The cattle genome sequence thus provides a resource for understanding mammalian evolution and accelerating livestock genetic improvement for milk and meat production.
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| 5. |
- Pirozhkov, A. S., et al.
(författare)
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Diagnostic of laser contrast using target reflectivity
- 2009
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Ingår i: Applied Physics Letters. - : AIP Publishing. - 0003-6951 .- 1077-3118. ; 94:24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using three different laser systems, we demonstrate a convenient and simple plasma based diagnostic of the contrast of high-power short-pulse lasers. The technique is based on measuring the specular reflectivity from a solid target. The reflectivity remains high even at relativistic intensities above 10(19) W/cm(2) in the case of a high-contrast prepulse-free laser. On the contrary, the specular reflectivity drops with increasing intensities in the case of systems with insufficient contrast due to beam breakup and increased absorption caused by preplasma.
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| 6. |
- Walker, M. D., et al.
(författare)
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Plant community responses to experimental warming across the tundra biome
- 2006
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 103:5, s. 1342-1346
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent observations of changes in some tundra ecosystems appear to be responses to a warming climate. Several experimental studies have shown that tundra plants and ecosystems can respond strongly to environmental change, including warming; however, most studies were limited to a single location and were of short duration and based on a variety of experimental designs. In addition, comparisons among studies are difficult because a variety of techniques have been used to achieve experimental warming and different measurements have been used to assess responses. We used metaanalysis on plant community measurements from standardized warming experiments at 11 locations across the tundra biome involved in the International Tundra Experiment. The passive warming treatment increased plant-level air temperature by 1-3 degrees C, which is in the range of predicted and observed warming for tundra regions. Responses were rapid and detected in whole plant communities after only two growing seasons. Overall, warming increased height and cover of deciduous shrubs and graminoids, decreased cover of mosses and lichens, and decreased species diversity and evenness. These results predict that warming will cause a decline in biodiversity across a wide variety of tundra, at least in the short term. They also provide rigorous experimental evidence that recently observed increases in shrub cover in many tundra regions are in response to climate warming. These changes have important implications for processes and interactions within tundra ecosystems and between tundra and the atmosphere.
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| 7. |
- Haus, Jacob M, et al.
(författare)
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Contractile and connective tissue protein content of human skeletal muscle: : effects of 35 and 90 days of simulated microgravity and exercise countermeasures.
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6119 .- 1522-1490. ; 293:4, s. 1722-1727
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We examined the effects of 35 and 90 days of simulated microgravity with or without resistance-exercise (RE) countermeasures on the content of the general skeletal muscle protein fractions (mixed, sarcoplasmic, and myofibrillar) and specific proteins that are critical for muscle function (myosin, actin, and collagen). Subjects from two studies, using either unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS) or bed rest (BR), comprised four separate groups: 35 days ULLS (n =11), 35 days ULLS+RE (n = 10), 90 days BR (n = 9), and 90 days BR+RE (n = 8). RE consisted of four sets of seven maximal concentric and eccentric repetitions of the quadriceps femoris muscles that were performed 2 or 3 times per week. Pre- and post-simulated weightlessness muscle biopsies were analyzed from the vastus lateralis of all groups and the soleus of the 35-day ULLS and 90-day BR groups. The general protein fractions and the specific proteins myosin, actin, and collagen of the vastus lateralis were unchanged (P > 0.05) in both control and countermeasures groups over 35 and 90 days, despite large changes in quadriceps femoris muscle volume (35 days ULLS: -9%, 35 days ULLS+RE: +8%; and 90 days BR: -18%, 90 days BR+RE: -1%). The soleus demonstrated a decrease in mixed (35 days ULLS: -12%, P = 0.0001; 90 days BR: -12%, P = 0.004) and myofibrillar (35 days ULLS: -12%, P = 0.009; 90 days BR: -8%, P = 0.04) protein, along with large changes in triceps surae muscle volume (35 days ULLS: -11%; 90 days BR: -29%). Despite the loss of quadriceps femoris muscle volume or preservation with RE countermeasures during simulated microgravity, the quadriceps femoris muscles are able to maintain the concentrations of the general protein pools and the main contractile and connective tissue elements. Soleus muscle protein composition appears to be disproportionately altered during long-duration simulated weightlessness.
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| 10. |
- Carroll, M. A., et al.
(författare)
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Reactive nitrogen oxide fluxes to a mixed hardwood forest
- 2008
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Ingår i: International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Congress in May 2008.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Measurements of NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide) mixing ratios and fluxes (20 May – 1 September) and NOy mixing ratios and fluxes (9 August – 1 September) were made at a northern mixed hardwood forest located at the University of Michigan Biological Station in northern Michigan, USA (45.5 deg N, 84.7 deg W, elevation 238 m) in 2005. During the 15-week period of NOx measurements, the site received flow from two dominant flow regimes: the north-northwest (ozone 20 – 40 ppbv) and the south-southwest (ozone 40 – 100 ppbv) approximately 26% and 27% of the time, respectively. Typical ambient NOx and NOy levels ranged from 0.5 – 2.4 ppbv and 0.5 to 3 ppbv, respectively. NO and NOy fluxes were found to be strongly diurnal with mid-day maximum downward fluxes of 0.5 – 2 and 1 – 2 μmole per square meter per hour, respectively, and nighttime fluxes at or near zero. In contrast, NO2 fluxes were small and upward during the morning, small and downward during the afternoon, and at or near zero at night. NOx fluxes were found to be essentially zero throughout the day and night. If all of the NOy deposition in this study were in the form of nitric acid, it would increase the available nutrient nitrate input to the forest by 8% over measured wet nitrate deposition.
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