| 1. |
- Schael, S, et al.
(author)
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Precision electroweak measurements on the Z resonance
- 2006
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In: Physics Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-1573 .- 1873-6270. ; 427:5-6, s. 257-454
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Research review (peer-reviewed)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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| 3. |
- Geser, F, et al.
(author)
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The European Multiple System Atrophy-Study Group (EMSA-SG)
- 2005
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In: Journal of Neural Transmission. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0300-9564 .- 1435-1463. ; 112:12, s. 1677-1686
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction. The European Multiple System Atrophy-Study Group (EMSA-SG) is an academic network comprising 23 centers across Europe and Israel that has constituted itself already in January 1999. This international forum of established experts under the guidance of the University Hospital of Innsbruck as coordinating center is supported by the 5th framework program of the European Union since March 2001 (QLK6-CT-2000-00661). Objectives. Primary goals of the network include (1) a central Registry for European multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients, (2) a decentralized DNA Bank, (3) the development and validation of the novel Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS), (4) the conduction of a Natural History Study (NHS), and (5) the planning or implementation of interventional therapeutic trials. Methods. The EMSA-SG Registry is a computerized data bank localized at the coordinating centre in Innsbruck collecting diagnostic and therapeutic data of MSA patients. Blood samples of patients and controls are recruited into the DNA Bank. The UMSARS is a novel specific rating instrument that has been developed and validated by the EMSA-SG. The NHS comprises assessments of basic anthropometric data as well as a range of scales including the UMSARS, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), measures of global disability, Red Flag list, MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination), quality of live measures, i.e. EuroQoL 5D (EQ-5D) and Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36) as well as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In a subgroup of patients dysautonomic features are recorded in detail using the Queen Square Cardiovascular Autonomic Function Test Battery, the Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS) and measurements of residual urinary volume. Most of these measures are repeated at 6-monthly follow up visits for a total study period of 24 months. Surrogate markers of the disease progression are identified by the EMSA-SG using magnetic resonance and diffusion weighted imaging (MRI and DWI, respectively). Results. 412 patients have been recruited into the Registry so far. Probable MSA-P was the most common diagnosis (49% of cases). 507 patients donated DNA for research. 131 patients have been recruited into the NHS. There was a rapid deterioration of the motor disorder (in particular akinesia) by 26.1% of the UMSARS II, and - to a lesser degree - of activities of daily living by 16.8% of the UMSARS I in relation to the respective baseline scores. Motor progression was associated with low motor or global disability as well as low akinesia or cerebellar subscores at baseline. Mental function did not deteriorate during this short follow up period. Conclusion. For the first time, prospective data concerning disease progression are available. Such data about the natural history and prognosis of MSA as well as surrogate markers of disease process allow planning and implementation of multi-centre phase II/III neuroprotective intervention trials within the next years more effectively. Indeed, a trial on growth hormone in MSA has just been completed, and another on minocycline will be completed by the end of this year.
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| 4. |
- Schrag, A, et al.
(author)
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Health-related quality of life in multiple system atrophy
- 2006
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In: Movement Disorders. - : Wiley. - 0885-3185. ; 21:6, s. 809-815
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Although multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to progressive disability and decreased life expectancy, little is known about patients' own evaluation of their illness and factors associated with poor health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL). We, therefore, assessed Hr-QoL and its determinants in MSA. The following scales were applied to 115 patients in the European MSA-Study Group (EMSA-SG) Natural History Study: Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-36), EQ-513, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Mini-Mental state examination (MMSE), Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS), Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) Parkinson's disease staging scale, Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS), and Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS). Forty-six percent of patients had moderate to severe depression (BDI >= 17); Hr-QoL scores on the SF-36 and EQ-5D were significantly impaired. Pain, the only domain with similar scores in MSA and published PD patients, was reported more frequently in patients with MSA-P (predominantly parkinsonian motor subtype) than MSA-C (predominantly cerebellar motor subtype; 76% vs. 50%; P = 0.005). Hr-QoL scores correlated most strongly with UMSARS motor, COMPASS, and BDI scores but not with MMSE scores, age at onset, or disease duration. The COMPASS and UMSARS activities of daily living scores were moderate-to-strong predictors for the SF-36 physical summary score and the BDI and UMSARS motor scores for the SF-36 mental summary score. This report is the first study to show that Hr-QoL is significantly impaired in MSA. Although not all possible factors related to impaired Hr-QoL in MSA could be assessed, autonomic dysfunction, motor impairment, and depression were most closely associated with poor Hr-QoL, and therapeutic management, therefore, should concentrate upon these aspects of the disease. (c) 2006 Movement Disorder Society.
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| 6. |
- Stornaiuolo, D., et al.
(author)
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Advances in YBa2Cu3O7-delta grain boundary biepitaxial Josephson junctions: Transport properties and mesoscopic effects
- 2007
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In: IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 1558-2515 .- 1051-8223. ; 17:2, s. 225-228
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report on the latest developments in the study of transport properties of YBa2CU3O7-delta (YBCO)-based grain boundary (GB) biepitaxial Josephson junctions. We have successfully extended the fabrication process s,. originally developed for (110) oriented SrTiO3 substrates, to (110) oriented LaAlO3 substrates in view of microwave applications. We will report, also, on the observation of conductance fluctuations, we believe related to the coherent diffusion of quasi-particles across the GB. These results, together with the recent observation of macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy level quantization in these Junctions, could help cast some light on the mechanism involved in transport across grain boundaries and in revising the role and the effect of quasi particles in d-wave transport.
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| 8. |
- Tafuri, F., et al.
(author)
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Coherent quasiparticle transport in grain boundary junctions employing high-T-c superconductors
- 2006
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In: Microelectronics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0026-2692. ; 39:8, s. 1066-1069
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magneto-fluctuations of the normal resistance R-N have been reproducibly observed in YBa2Cu3O7-delta biepitaxial grain boundary junctions at low temperatures. We attribute them to mesoscopic transport in narrow channels across the grain boundary line, occurring even in the presence of large voltage drops. The Thouless energy appears to be the relevant energy scale. Possible implications on the understanding of coherent transport of quasiparticles in high critical temperature superconductors (HTS) and of the dissipation mechanisms are discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 9. |
- Tagliacozzo, A., et al.
(author)
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Mesoscopic conductance fluctuations in YBa2Cu3O7-delta grain boundary junctions at low temperature
- 2009
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In: Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - 2469-9950 .- 2469-9969. ; 79:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The magnetoconductance in YBa2Cu3O7-delta grain boundary Josephson junctions displays fluctuations at low temperatures of mesoscopic origin. The morphology of the junction suggests that transport occurs in narrow channels across the grain boundary line with a large Thouless energy. Nevertheless the measured fluctuation amplitude decreases quite slowly when increasing the voltage up to values about 20 times the Thouless energy, of the order of the nominal superconducting gap. Our findings show the coexistence of supercurrent and quasiparticle current in the junction conduction even at high nonequilibrium conditions. Model calculations confirm the reduced role of quasiparticle relaxation at temperatures up to 3 K.
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| 10. |
- Tagliacozzo, A., et al.
(author)
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Observation of mesoscopic conductance fluctuations in YBa2Cu3O7-delta grain boundary Josephson junctions
- 2007
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In: Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. - 2469-9950 .- 2469-9969. ; 75:1, s. 012507-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magnetofluctuations of the normal-state resistance R-N have been reproducibly observed in high-critical-temperature superconductor (HTS) grain boundary junctions at low temperatures. We attribute them to mesoscopic transport in narrow channels across the grain boundary line. The Thouless energy appears to be the relevant energy scale. Our findings have significant implications for quasiparticle relaxation and coherent transport in HTS grain boundaries.
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