| 1. |
- Schael, S, et al.
(author)
-
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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| 2. |
- Aamodt, K., et al.
(author)
-
The ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC
- 2008
-
In: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 3:S08002
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is a general-purpose, heavy-ion detector at the CERN LHC which focuses on QCD, the strong-interaction sector of the Standard Model. It is designed to address the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma at extreme values of energy density and temperature in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Besides running with Pb ions, the physics programme includes collisions with lighter ions, lower energy running and dedicated proton-nucleus runs. ALICE will also take data with proton beams at the top LHC energy to collect reference data for the heavy-ion programme and to address several QCD topics for which ALICE is complementary to the other LHC detectors. The ALICE detector has been built by a collaboration including currently over 1000 physicists and engineers from 105 Institutes in 30 countries, Its overall dimensions are 16 x 16 x 26 m(3) with a total weight of approximately 10 000 t. The experiment consists of 18 different detector systems each with its own specific technology choice and design constraints, driven both by the physics requirements and the experimental conditions expected at LHC. The most stringent design constraint is to cope with the extreme particle multiplicity anticipated in central Pb-Pb collisions. The different subsystems were optimized to provide high-momentum resolution as well as excellent Particle Identification (PID) over a broad range in momentum, up to the highest multiplicities predicted for LHC. This will allow for comprehensive studies of hadrons, electrons, muons, and photons produced in the collision of heavy nuclei. Most detector systems are scheduled to be installed and ready for data taking by mid-2008 when the LHC is scheduled to start operation, with the exception of parts of the Photon Spectrometer (PHOS), Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) and Electro Magnetic Calorimeter (EMCal). These detectors will be completed for the high-luminosity ion run expected in 2010. This paper describes in detail the detector components as installed for the first data taking in the summer of 2008.
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| 3. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
A determination of the centre-of-mass energy at LEP2 using radiative two-fermion events
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 46:2, s. 295-305
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using e(+)e(-) -> mu(+)mu(-)(gamma) and e(+)e(-) -> q (q) over bar(gamma) events radiative to the Z pole, DELPHI has determined the centre-of-mass energy, root s, using energy and momentum constraint methods. The results are expressed as deviations from the nominal LEP centre-of-mass energy, measured using other techniques. The results are found to be compatible with the LEP Energy Working Group estimates for a combination of the 1997 to 2000 data sets.
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| 4. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
A study of b(b)over-bar production in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s=130-207 GeV
- 2009
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 60:1, s. 1-15
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Measurements are presented of R-b, the ratio of the b (b) over bar cross-section to the q (q) over bar cross-section in e(+)e(-) collisions, and the forward-backward asymmetry A(FB)(b) at twelve energy points in the range root s = 130-207 GeV. These results are found to be consistent with the Standard Model expectations. The measurements are used to set limits on new physics scenarios involving contact interactions.
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| 5. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Bose-Einstein correlations in W+W- events at LEP2
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 44:2, s. 161-174
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bose-Einstein correlations (BEC) between final state particles in the reaction e(+)e(-) -> W+ W- -> q(1)(q(2)) over barq(3)(q(4)over bar>) over bar) have been studied. Data corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 550 pb(-1), recorded by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 189 to 209 GeV, were analysed. An indication for inter-W BEC between like-sign particles has been found at the level of 2.4 standard deviations of the combined statistical and systematic uncertainties.
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| 6. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Charged particle multiplicity in three-jet events and two-gluon systems
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:44, s. 311-331
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The charged particle multiplicity in hadronic three-jet events from Z decays is investigated. The topology dependence of the event multiplicity is found to be well described by a modified leading logarithmic prediction. A parameter fit of the prediction to the data yields a measurement of the colour factor ratio C-A/C-F with the result C-A/C-F = 2.261 +/- 0.014(stat). +/- 0.036(exp). +/- 0-066(theo). in agreement with the SU(3) expectation of QCD. The quark-related contribution to the event multiplicity is subtracted from the three-jet event multiplicity resulting in a measurement of the multiplicity of two-gluon colour-singlet states over a wide energy range. The ratios r = N-gg(s)/Ng (g) over bar (s) of the gluon and quark multiplicities and r((1)) = N'(gg)(s)/N'g (g) over bar (s) of their derivatives are compared with perturbative calculations. While a good agreement between calculations and data is observed for r((1)), larger deviations are found for r indicating that non-perturbative effects are more important for r than for r((1)).
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| 7. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Correlations between polarisation states of W particles in the reaction e(-)e(+)-> W-W+ at LEP2 energies 189-209 GeV
- 2009
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 63:4, s. 611-623
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In a study of the reaction e(-)e(+)-> W-W+ with the DELPHI detector, the probabilities of the two W particles occurring in the joint polarisation states transverse-transverse (T T), longitudinal-transverse plus transverse-longitudinal (LT) and longitudinal-longitudinal (LL) have been determined using the final states WW -> lvq (q) over bar (l = e, mu). The two-particle joint polarisation probabilities, i.e. the spin density matrix elements rho T T, rho LT, rho LL, are measured as functions of the W- production angle, theta(W-), at an average reaction energy of 198.2 GeV. Averaged over all cos.W-, the following joint probabilities are obtained: (rho) over barT T = (67 +/- 8)%, (rho) over barL T = (30 +/- 8)%, (rho) over barL T = (3 +/- 7)%. These results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions of 63.0%, 28.9% and 8.1%, respectively. The related polarisation cross-sections sigma(TT), sigma(LT) and sigma(LL) are also presented.
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| 8. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Determination of A(FB)(b) at the Z pole using inclusive charge reconstruction and lifetime tagging
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 40:1, s. 1-25
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A novel high precision method measures the b-quark forward-backward asymmetry at the Z pole on a sample of 3,560,890 hadronic events collected with the DELPHI detector in 1992 to 2000. An enhanced impact parameter tag provides a high purity b sample. For event hemispheres with a reconstructed secondary vertex the charge of the corresponding quark or anti-quark is determined using a neural network which combines in an optimal way the full available charge information from the vertex charge, the jet charge and from identified leptons and hadrons. The probability of correctly identifying b-quarks and anti-quarks is measured on the data themselves comparing the rates of double hemisphere tagged like-sign and unlike-sign events. The b-quark forward-backward asymmetry is determined from the differential asymmetry, taking small corrections due to hemisphere correlations and background contributions into account. The results for different centre-of-mass energies are: A(FB)(b) ( 89.449 GeV) = 0.0637 +/- 0.0143( stat.) +/- 0.0017( syst.), A(FB)(b) ( 91.231 GeV) = 0.0958 +/- 0.0032( stat.) +/- 0.0014( syst.), A(FB)(b) ( 92.990 GeV) = 0.1041 +/- 0.0115( stat.) +/- 0.0024( syst.). Combining these results yields the b-quark pole asymmetry A(FB)(b0) = 0.0972 +/- 0.0030( stat.) +/- 0.0014( syst.).
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| 9. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Determination of heavy quark non-perturbative parametersfrom spectral moments in semileptonic B decays
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 45:1, s. 35-59
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Moments of the hadronic invariant mass and of the lepton energy spectra in semileptonic B decays have been determined with the data recorded by the DELPHI detector at LEP. From measurements of the inclusive b-hadron semileptonic decays, and imposing constraints from other measurements on b- and c-quark masses, the first three moments of the lepton energy distribution and of the hadronic mass distribution, have been used to determine parameters which enter into the extraction of vertical bar V-cb vertical bar from the measurement of the inclusive b-hadron semileptonic decay width. The values obtained in the kinetic scheme are: m(b)(1 GeV) = 4.591 +/- 0.062 +/- 0.039 +/- 0.005 GeV/c(2), m(c)(1 GeV) = 1.170 +/- 0.093 +/- 0.055 +/- 0.005 GeV/c(2), m(pi)(2) (1 GeV) = 0.399 +/- 0.048 +/- 0.034 +/- 0.087 GeV2, (p) over tilde (3)(D) = 0.053 +/- 0.017 +/- 0.011 +/- 0.026 GeV3, and include corrections at order 1/m(b)(3). Using these results, and present measurements of the inclusive semileptonic decay partial width of b-hadrons at LEP, an accurate determination of vertical bar V-cb vertical bar is obtained: vertical bar V-cb vertical bar = 0.0421 x (1 +/- 0.014 (meas center dot) +/- 0.014 (fit) +/- 0.015 (th center dot)).
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| 10. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Determination of the b quark mass at the M-Z scale with the DELPHI detector at LEP
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 46:3, s. 569-583
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- An experimental study of the normalized three-jet rate of b quark events with respect to light quarks events (light = l equivalent to u, d, s) has been performed using the CAMBRIDGE and DURHAM jet algorithms. The data used were collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP on the Z peak from 1994 to 2000. The results are found to agree with theoretical predictions treating mass corrections at next-to-leading order. Measurements of the b quark mass have also been performed for both the b pole mass: M-b and the b running mass: m(b)(M-Z). Data are found to be better described when using the running mass. The measurement yields: m(b)(M-Z) = 2.85 +/- 0.18(stat) +/- 0.13(exp) +/- 0.19(had) +/- 0.12(theo) GeV/c(2). for the CAMBRIDGE algorithm. This result is the most precise measurement of the b mass derived from a high energy process. When compared to other b mass determinations by experiments at lower energy scales, this value agrees with the prediction of quantum chromodynamics for the energy evolution of the running mass. The mass measurement is equivalent to a test of the flavour independence of the strong coupling constant with an accuracy of 7 parts per thousand.
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| 11. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Di-jet production in gamma gamma collisions at LEP2
- 2008
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:58, s. 531-541
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 12. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Evidence for an excess of soft photons in hadronic decays of Z(0)
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 47:2, s. 273-294
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Soft photons inside hadronic jets converted in front of the DELPHI main tracker (TPC) in events of qq disintegrations of the Z(0) were studied in the kinematic range 0.2 < E-y < I GeV and transverse momentum with respect to the closest jet direction P-T < 80 MeV/c. A clear excess of photons in the experimental data as compared to the Monte Carlo predictions is observed. This excess (uncorrected for the photon detection efficiency) is (1.17 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.27) x 10(-3) gamma/jet in the specified kinematic region, while the expected level of the inner hadronic bremsstrahlung (which is not included in the Monte Carlo) is (0.340 +/- 0.001 +/- 0.038) X 10(-3) gamma/jet. The ratio of the excess to the predicted bremsstrahlung rate is then (3.4 +/- 0.2 +/- 0.8), which is similar in strength to the anomalous soft photon signal observed in fixed target experiments with hadronic beams.
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| 13. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Higgs boson searches in CP-conserving and CP-violating MSSM scenarios with the DELPHI detector
- 2008
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:54, s. 1-35
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents the final interpretation of the results from DELPHI on the searches for Higgs bosons in the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM). A few representative scenarios are considered, that include CP conservation and explicit CP violation in the Higgs sector. The experimental results encompass the searches for neutral Higgs bosons at LEP1 and LEP2 in final states as expected in the MSSM, as well as LEP2 searches for charged Higgs bosons and for neutral Higgs bosons decaying into hadrons independent of the quark flavour. The data reveal no significant excess with respect to background expectations. The results are translated into excluded regions of the parameter space in the various scenarios. In the CP-conserving case, these lead to limits on the masses of the lightest scalar and pseudoscalar Higgs bosons, h and A, and on tan beta. The dependence of these limits on the top quark mass is discussed. Allowing for CP violation reduces the experimental sensitivity to Higgs bosons. It is shown that this effect depends strongly on the values of the parameters responsible for CP violation in the Higgs sector.
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| 14. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Inclusive single-particle production in two-photon collisions at LEP II with the DELPHI detector
- 2009
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 678:5, s. 444-449
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A study of the inclusive charged hadron production in two-photon collisions is described. The data were collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP II. Results on the inclusive single-particle p(T) distribution and the differential charged hadrons d sigma/dp(T) cross-section are presented and compared to the predictions of perturbative NLO QCD calculations and to published results. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 15. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement and interpretation of fermion-pair production at LEP energies above the Z resonance
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 45:3, s. 589-632
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents DELPHI measurements and interpretations of cross-sections, forward-backward asymmetries, and angular distributions, for the e(+)e(-) -> f (f) over bar process for centre-of-mass energies above the Z resonance, from root s similar to 130-207 GeV at the LEP collider. The measurements are consistent with the predictions of the Standard Model and are used to study a variety of models including the S-Matrix ansatz for e(+)e(-) -> f (f) over bar scattering and several models which include physics beyond the Standard Model: the exchange of Z' bosons, contact interactions between fermions, the exchange of gravitons in large extra dimensions and the exchange of (v) over tilde in R-parity violating supersymmetry.
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| 16. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the energy dependence of hadronic jet rates and the strong coupling alpha(s) from the four-jet rate with the DELPHI detector at LEP
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 38:4, s. 413-426
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hadronic events from the data collected with the DELPHI detector at LEP within the energy range from 89 GeV to 209 GeV are selected, their jet rates are determined and compared to predictions of four different event generators. One of them is the recently developed APACIC++ generator which performs a massive matrix element calculation matched to a parton shower followed by string fragmentation. The four-jet rate is used to measure alpha(s) in the next-to-leading-order approximation yielding alpha(s)(M-Z(2)) = 0.1175 +/- 0.0030. The running of alpha(s) determined by using four-jet events has been tested. The logarithmic energy slope is measured to be dalpha(s)(-1)/d log E-cm = 1.14 +/- 0.36. Since the analysis is based on four-jet final states it represents an alternative approach to previous DELPHI alpha(s) measurements using event shape distributions.
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| 17. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the mass and width of the W boson in e(+) e(-) collisions at root s=161-209 GeV
- 2008
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:55, s. 1-38
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A measurement of the W boson mass and width has been performed by the DELPHI collaboration using the data collected during the full LEP2 programme (1996-2000). The data sample has an integrated luminosity of 660 pb(-1) and was collected over a range of centre-of-mass energies from 161 to 209 GeV. Results are obtained by applying the method of direct reconstruction of the mass of the W from its decay products in both the W+W- -> l (nu) over bar (l) and W+W- -> q (q) over bar'(q) over barq'channels. The W mass result for the combined data set is M-W = 80.336 +/- 0.055(Stat.) +/- 0.028(Syst.) +/- 0.025(FSI) +/- 0.009(LEP) GeV/c(2) , where FSI represents the uncertainty due to final state interaction effects in the q (q) over bar'(q) over barq' channel, and LEP represents that arising from the knowledge of the collision energy of the accelerator. The combined value for the W width is Gamma(W) = 2.404 +/- 0.140(Stat.) +/- 0.077(Syst.) +/- 0.065(FSI) GeV/c(2). These results supersede all values previously published by the DELPHI collaboration.
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| 18. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Measurement of the tau lepton polarisation at LEP2
- 2008
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 659:1-2, s. 65-73
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A first measurement of the average polarisation P-tau of tau leptons produced in e(+)e(-) annihilation at energies significantly above the Z resonance is presented. The polarisation is determined from the kinematic spectra of tau hadronic decays. The measured value P-tau = -0.164 +/- 0.125 is consistent with the Standard Model prediction for the mean LEP energy of 197 GeV. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 19. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Observation of the muon inner bremsstrahlung at LEP1
- 2008
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:57, s. 499-514
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Muon bremsstrahlung photons converted in front of the DELPHI main tracker (TPC) in dimuon events at LEP1 were studied in two photon kinematic ranges: 0.2< E-gamma <= 1 GeV and transverse momentum with respect to the parent muon p(T) < 40 MeV/c, and 1< E-gamma <= 10 GeV and pT < 80 MeV/c. A good agreement of the observed photon rate with predictions from QED for the muon inner bremsstrahlung was found, contrary to the anomalous soft photon excess that has been observed recently in hadronic Z(0) decays. The obtained ratios of the observed signal to the predicted level of the muon bremsstrahlung are 1.06 +/- 0.12 +/- 0.07 in the photon energy range 0.2< E-gamma <= 1 GeV and 1.04 +/- 0.09 +/- 0.12 in the photon energy range 1< E-gamma <= 10 GeV. The bremsstrahlung dead cone is observed for the first time in the direct photon production at LEP.
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| 20. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Production of Xi(0)(c) and Xi(b) in Z decays and lifetime measurement of Xi(b)
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:44, s. 299-309
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The charmed strange baryon Xi(c)(0) was searched for in the decay channel Xi(c)(0) -> Xi(-)pi(+), and the beauty strange baryon Xi(b) in the inclusive channel Xi(b) -> Xi(-)l(-)(nu) over barX, using the 3.5 million hadronic Z events collected by the DELPHI experiment in the years 1992-1995. The Xi(-) was reconstructed through the decay AT, using a constrained fit method for cascade decays. An iterative discriminant analysis was used for the Xi(c)(0) and Xi(b) selection. The production rates were measured to be f(Xi c)(0) x BR(Xi(c)(0) -> Xi(-)pi(+) = (4.7 +/- 1.4(stat.) +/- 1.1(syst.)) x 10(-4) per hadronic Z decay, and BR(b -> Xi(b))xBR(Xi(b) -> Xi(-)l(-)X) = (3.0 +/- 1.0(stat.) +/- 0.3(syst.)) x 10(-4) for each lepton species (electron or muon). The lifetime of the Xi(b) baryon was measured to be tau(Xi b) = 1.45(-0.43)(+0.55)(stat.)+/- 0.13(syst.) ps. A combination with the previous DELPHI lifetime measurement gives tau(Xi b) = 1.48(-0.31)(+0.40)(stat.)+/- 0.12(syst.) ps.
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| 21. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Search for one large extra dimension with the DELPHI detector at LEP
- 2009
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 60:1, s. 17-23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Single photons detected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP2 in the years 1997-2000 are reanalysed to investigate the existence of a single extra dimension in a modified ADD scenario with slightly warped large extra dimensions. The data collected at centre-of-mass energies between 180 and 209 GeV for an integrated luminosity of similar to 650 pb(-1) agree with the predictions of the Standard Model and allow a limit to be set on graviton emission in one large extra dimension. The limit obtained on the fundamental mass scale M-D is 1.69 TeV/c(2) at 95% CL, with an expected limit of 1.71 TeV/c(2).
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| 22. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Search for pentaquarks in the hadronic decays of the Z boson with the DELPHI detector at LEP
- 2007
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 653:2-4, s. 151-160
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The quark model does not exclude states composed of more than three quarks, like pentaquark systems. Controversial evidence for such states has been published in the last years, in particular: for a strange pentaquark Theta(1540)(+); for a double-strange state, the Xi(1862)(--), subsequently called Phi(1860)--; and for a charmed state, the Theta(c)(3100)(0). If confirmed, a full pentaquark family might exist; such pentaquark states could be produced in e(+)e(-) annihilations near the Z energy. In this Letter a search for pentaquarks is described using the DELPHI detector at LEP, characterized by powerful particle identification sub-systems crucial in the separation of the signal from the background for these states. At 95% CL, upper limits are set on the production rates N of such particles and their charge-conjugate state per Z decay: N-Theta+ x Br(Theta(+) -> pK(S)(0)) < 5.1 x 10(-4), N Theta++ < 1.6 x 10(-3), N Phi(1860)-- x Br((P(1860)-- -> Xi(-)pi(-)) < 2.9 x 10(-4), N-Theta c(3100)0 x Br(Theta(c)(3100)(0) -> D*(+)p) < 8.8 x 10(-4).
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| 23. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Single intermediate vector boson production in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s=183-209 GeV
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 45:2, s. 273-289
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The production of single charged and neutral intermediate vector bosons in e(+)e(-) collisions has been studied in the data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies between 183 and 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 640 pb(-1). The measured cross-sections for the reactions, determined in limited kinematic regions, are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions.
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| 24. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Study of b-quark mass effects in multijet topologies with the DELPHI detector at LEP
- 2008
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:55, s. 525-538
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The effect of the heavy b-quarkmass on the two, three and four-jet rates is studied using LEP data collected by the DELPHI experiment at the Z peak in 1994 and 1995. The rates of b-quark jets and light quark jets (l = uds) in events with n = 2, 3, and 4 jets, together with the ratio of two and four-jet rates of b-quarks with respect to light-quarks, R-n(bl), have been measured with a double-tag technique using the CAMBRIDGE jet-clustering algorithm. A comparison between experimental results and theory (matrix element or Monte Carlo event generators such as PYTHIA, HERWIG andARIADNE) is done after the hadronisation phase. Using the four-jet observabl R-4(bl), a measurement of the b-quark mass using massive leading-order calculations gives: m(b)(M-Z) = 3.76 +/- 0.32 (stat) +/- 0.17 (syst) +/- 0.22 (had) +/- 0.90 (theo) GeV/c(2). This result is compatible with previous three-jet determinations at the M-Z energy scale and with low energy mass measurements evolved to the M-Z scale using QCD renormalisation group equations.
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| 25. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Study of double-tagged gamma gamma events at LEPII
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 46:3, s. 559-568
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Double-tagged interactions of photons with virtualities Q(2) between 10 GeV2 and 200 GeV2 are studied with the data collected by DELPHI at LEPII from 1998 to 2000, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 550 pb(-1). The gamma*gamma* -> mu(+)mu(-) data agree with QED predictions. The cross-section of the reaction gamma*gamma* -> hadrons is measured and compared to the LO and NLO BFKL calculations.
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| 26. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
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Study of multi-muon bundles in cosmic ray showers detected with the DELPHI detector at LEP
- 2007
-
In: Astroparticle physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0927-6505 .- 1873-2852. ; 28:3, s. 273-286
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The DELPHI detector at LEP has been used to measure multi-muon bundles originating from cosmic ray interactions with air. The cosmic events were recorded in "parasitic mode" between individual e(+)e(-) interactions and the total live time of this data taking is equivalent to 1.6 x 10(6) s. The DELPHI apparatus is located about 100 m underground and the 84 metres rock overburden imposes a cutoff of about 52 GeV/c on muon momenta. The data from the large volume Hadron Calorimeter allowed the muon multiplicity of 54,201 events to be reconstructed. The resulting muon multiplicity distribution is compared with the prediction of the Monte Carlo simulation based on CORSIKA/QGSJETOI. The model fails to describe the abundance of high multiplicity events. The impact of QGSJET internal parameters on the results is also studied.
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| 27. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Study of W-boson polarisations and triple gauge boson couplings in the reaction e(+)e(-)-> W+W- at LEP 2
- 2008
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; C:54, s. 345-364
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A determination of the single W spin density matrix (SDM) elements in the reaction e(+)e(-) -> W+W--> l nu q (q) over bar (l=e/mu) is reported at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 209GeV. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 520pb(-1) taken by DELPHI between 1998 and 2000. The single W SDM elements, rho(W +/-)(tau tau') (tau,tau'=+/- 1 or 0), are determined as a function of the W- production angle with respect to the e(-) beam direction and are obtained from measurements of the W decay products by the application of suitable projection operators, Lambda(tau tau'), which assume the V-A coupling of the W-boson to fermions. The measured SDM elements are used to obtain the fraction of longitudinally polarised Ws, with the result: sigma(L)/sigma(tot) = 24.9 +/- 4.5 (stat) +/- 2.2 (syst)% at a mean energy of 198 GeV. The SDM elements are also used to determine the triple gauge couplings Delta g(1)(Z), Delta kappa(gamma), lambda(gamma) and g(4)(Z), (kappa) over tilde (Z) and (lambda) over tilde (Z). For the CP-violating couplings the results of single parameter fits are: g(4)(Z) = -0.39(-0.20)(+0.19) (kappa) over tilde (Z) = -0.09(-0.05)(+0.08) (lambda) over tilde (Z) = -0.08 +/- 0.07. The errors are a combination of statistical and systematic errors. All results are consistent with the Standard Model.
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| 28. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Z gamma* production in e(+) e(-) interactions at root s=183-209 GeV
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 51:3, s. 503-523
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Measurements of Z gamma* production are presented using data collected by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 183 to 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 667 pb(-1). The measurements cover a wide range of the possible final state four-fermion configurations: hadronic and leptonic (e(+) e(-) q (q) over bar, mu(+) mu(-) q (q) over bar ,q (q) over barv (v) over bar), fully leptonic (l(+) l(-) l' (+) l'(-)) and fully hadronic. nal states (q (q) over barq (q) over bar, with a low mass q (q$) over bar pair). Measurements of the Z gamma* cross-section for the various. nal states have been compared with the Standard Model expectations and found to be consistent within the errors. In addition, a total cross-section measurement of the l(+) l(-) l'(+)l'(-) cross-section is reported, and found to be in agreement with the prediction of the Standard Model.
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| 29. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
A measurement of the tau hadronic branching ratios
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 46:1, s. 1-26
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The exclusive and semi-exclusive branching ratios of the tau lepton hadronic decay modes (h(-)upsilon(tau), h(-)pi(0)upsilon(tau), h(-)pi(0)pi(0)upsilon(tau), h(-) >= 2 pi(0)nu(tau), 2h(-)h(+)upsilon(tau), 2h(-)h(+)>= 2 pi(0)upsilon(tau), 3h(-)2h(+)upsilon(tau) and 3h(-)2h(+) >= 1 pi(0)upsilon(tau)) were measured with data from the DELPHI detector at LEP.
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| 30. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Flavour independent searchesfor hadronically decaying neutral Higgs bosons
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 44:2, s. 147-159
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper describes flavour independent searches for hadronically decaying neutral Higgs bosons in the data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies between 189 and 209 GeV. The collected data-set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of around 610 pb(-1). The e(+)e(-) -> hA and e(+)e(-) -> hZand processes are considered, with direct Higgs boson decays into hadrons. No evidence for Higgs boson production is found, and cross-section limits are set as a function of the Higgs boson masses. No explicit assumptions are made on the underlying physics beyond the Standard Model, allowing interpretation of the data in a large class of models.
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| 31. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Investigation of colour reconnection in WW events with the DELPHI detector at LEP-2
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 51:2, s. 249-269
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the reaction e(+)e(-) -> WW -> (q(1) (q) over bar (2))(q(3)(q) over bar (4)) the usual hadronization models treat the colour singlets q(1)(q) over bar (2) and q(3)(q) over bar (4) coming from two W bosons independently. However, since the. nal state partons may coexist in space and time, cross-talk between the two evolving hadronic systems may be possible during fragmentation through soft gluon exchange. This e. ect is known as colour reconnection. In this article the results of the investigation of colour reconnection e. ects in fully hadronic decays of W pairs in DELPHI at LEP are presented. Two complementary analyses were performed, studying the particle. ow between jets and W mass estimators, with negligible correlation between them, and the results were combined and compared to models. In the framework of the SK-I model, the value for its. parameter most compatible with the data was found to be: (SK)-S-kappa-I = 2.2(-1.3) (+2.5) corresponding to the probability of reconnection P-reco to be in the range 0.31 < P-reco < 0.68 at 68% confidence level with its best value at 0.52.
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| 32. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Masses, lifetimes and production rates of Xi(-) and Xi(+) at LEP 1
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 639:3-4, s. 179-191
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Measurements of the Xi(-) and (Xi) over bar (+) masses, mass differences, lifetimes and lifetime differences are presented. The (Xi) over bar (+) sample used is much larger than those used previously for such measurements. In addition, the S production rates in Z -> b (b) over bar and Z -> q (q) over bar events are compared and the position xi* of the maximum of the distribution in Z -> q (q) over bar events is measured.
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| 33. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Photon events with missing energy in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s=130 to 209 GeV
- 2005
-
In: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 38:4, s. 395-411
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The production of single- and multi-photon events has been studied in the reaction e(+) e(-) --> gamma(gamma) + invisible particles. The data collected with the DELPHI detector during the years 1999 and 2000 at centre-of-mass energies between 191 GeV and 209 GeV was combined with earlier data to search for phenomena beyond the Standard Model. The measured number of light neutrino families was consistent with three and the absence of an excess of events beyond that predicted by the Standard Model processes was used to set limits on new physics. Both model-independent searches and searches for new processes predicted by supersymmetric and extra-dimensional models have been made. Limits on new non-standard model interactions between neutrinos and electrons were also determined.
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| 34. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Search for a fourth generation b '-quark at LEP-II at root s=196-209GeV
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 50:3, s. 507-518
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for the pair production of fourth generation b'-quarks was performed using data taken by the DELPHI detector at LEP-II. The analysed data were collected at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 196 to 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 420 pb(-1). No evidence for a signal was found. Upper limits on BR(b'-> bZ) and BR(b'-> bZ) were obtained for b' masses ranging from 96 to 103 GeV/c(2) stop. These limits, together with the theoretical branching ratios predicted by a sequential four generations model, were used to constrain the value of R-CKM=vertical bar V-cb(') /V-tb'V-tb vertical bar there V-cb', V-tb' and V-tb are elements of the extended CKM matrix.
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| 35. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Search for excited leptons in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s=189-209 GeV
- 2006
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 46:2, s. 277-293
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A search for excited lepton production in e(+)e(-) collisions was performed using the data collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 189 GeV to 209 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 600 pb(-1). No evidence for excited lepton production was found. In searches for pair-produced excited leptons, lower mass limits were established in the range 94-103 GeV/c(2), depending on the channel and model assumptions. In searches for singly-produced excited leptons, upper limits on the parameter f/Lambda were established as a function of the mass.
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| 36. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Study of leading hadrons in gluon and quark fragmentation
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters B. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 643:3-4, s. 147-157
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The study of quark jets in e(+)e(-) reactions at LEP has demonstrated that the hadronisation process is reproduced well by the Lund string model. However. our understanding of gluon fragmentation is less complete. In this study enriched quark and gluon jet samples of different purities are selected in three-jet events from hadronic decays of the Z collected by the DELPHI experiment in the LEP runs during 1994 and 1995. The leading systems of the two kinds of jets are defined by requiring a rapidity gap and their sum of charges is studied. An excess of leading systems with total charge zero is found for gluon jets in all cases, when compared to Monte Carlo simulations with JETSET (with and without Bose-Einstein correlations included) and ARIADNE. The corresponding leading systems of quark jets do not exhibit such an excess. The influence of the gap size and of the gluon purity on the effect is studied and a concentration of the excess of neutral leading systems at low invariant masses (less than or similar to 2 GeV/c(2)) is observed, indicating that gluon jets might have an additional hitherto undetected fragmentation mode via a two-gluon system. This could be an indication of a possible production of gluonic states as predicted by QCD.
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| 37. |
- Abdallah, J., et al.
(author)
-
Study of triple-gauge-boson couplings ZZZ, ZZ gamma and Z gamma gamma at LEP
- 2007
-
In: European Physical Journal C. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044 .- 1434-6052. ; 51:3, s. 525-542
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neutral triple-gauge-boson couplings ZZZ, ZZγ and Zγγ have been studied with the DELPHI detector using data at energies between 183 and 208 GeV. Limits are derived on these couplings from an analysis of the reactions e+e-→Zγ, using data from the final states γff̄, with f=q or ν, from e+e-→ZZ, using data from the four-fermion final states qq̄qq̄, qq̄μ+μ-, qq̄e+e-, qq̄νν̄, μ+μ-νν̄ and e+e-νν̄, and from e+e-→Zγ*, in which the final state γ is off mass-shell, using data from the four-fermion final states qq̄e+e- and qq̄μ+μ-. No evidence for the presence of such couplings is observed, in agreement with the predictions of the Standard Model.
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| 38. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Search for eta(b) in two-photon collisions at LEP II with the DELPHI detector
- 2006
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693 .- 1873-2445. ; 634:4, s. 340-346
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pseudoscalar meson eta(b) has been searched for in two-photon interactions at LEP II. The data sample corresponds to a total integrated luminosity of 617 pb(-1) at centre-of-mass energies ranging from 161 to 209 GeV. Upper limits at a confidence level of 95% on the product Gamma(gamma gamma) (eta(b)) x BR(eta(b)) are 190, 470 and 660 eV/c(2) for the eta(b) decaying into 4, 6 and 8 charged particles, respectively.
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| 39. |
- Abdallah, J, et al.
(author)
-
Coherent soft particle production in Z decays into three jets
- 2005
-
In: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 605:1-2, s. 37-48
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Low-energy particle production perpendicular to the event plane in three-jet events produced in Z decays in e(+)e(-) annihilation is measured and compared to that perpendicular to the event axis in two-jet events. The topology dependence of the hadron production ratio is found to agree with a leading-order QCD prediction. This agreement and especially the need for the presence of a destructive interference term gives evidence for the coherent nature of gluon radiation. Hadron production in three-jet events is found to be directly proportional to a single topological scale function of the inter-jet angles. The slope of the dependence of the multiplicity with respect to the topological scale was measured to be 2.211 +/- 0.014(stat.) +/- 0.053(syst.) in good agreement with the expectation given by the colour-factor ratio C-A/C-F = 9/4. This result strongly supports the assumption of local parton-hadron duality, LPHD, at low hadron momentum.
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| 40. |
- Elsik, Christine G., et al.
(author)
-
The Genome Sequence of Taurine Cattle : A Window to Ruminant Biology and Evolution
- 2009
-
In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 324:5926, s. 522-528
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 41. |
- van Ree, R, et al.
(author)
-
The CREATE project: development of certified reference materials for allergenic products and validation of methods for their quantification.
- 2008
-
In: Allergy. - : Wiley. - 1398-9995 .- 0105-4538. ; 63:3, s. 310-26
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Allergen extracts have been used for diagnosis and treatment of allergy for around 100 years. During the second half of 20th century, the notion increasingly gained foothold that accurate standardization of such extracts is of great importance for improvement of their quality. As a consequence, manufacturers have implemented extensive protocols for standardization and quality control. These protocols have overall IgE-binding potencies as their focus. Unfortunately, each company is using their own in-house reference materials and their own unique units to express potencies. This does not facilitate comparison of different products. During the last decades, most major allergens of relevant allergen sources have been identified and it has been established that effective immunotherapy requires certain minimum quantities of these allergens to be present in the administered maintenance dose. Therefore, the idea developed to introduce major allergens measurements into standardization protocols. Such protocols based on mass units of major allergen, quantify the active ingredients of the treatment and will at the same time allow comparison of competitor products. In 2001, an EU funded project, the CREATE project, was started to support introduction of major allergen based standardization. The aim of the project was to evaluate the use of recombinant allergens as reference materials and of ELISA assays for major allergen measurements. This paper gives an overview of the achievements of the CREATE project.
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| 42. |
- Casolino, M., et al.
(author)
-
Cosmic ray measurements with Pamela experiment
- 2009
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PAMELA is a satellite borne experiment designed to study with great accuracy cosmic rays of galactic, solar, and trapped nature hi a wide energy range (protons: 80 MeV-700 GeV, electrons 50 MeV-400 GeV). Main objective is the study of the antimatter component: antiprotons (80 MeV-190 GeV), positrons (50 MeV-270 GeV) and search for antinuclei with a precision of the order of 10(-8)). The experiment, housed on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite, was launched on June, 15(th) 2006 in a 350 X 600 km orbit with an inclination of 70 degrees. In this work we describe the scientific objectives awl the performance of PAMELA in its first two years of operation. Data oil protons of trapped, secondary and galactic nature - as well as measurements of the December 13(th) 2006 Solar Particle Event - are also provided.
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| 43. |
- Prokopenko, Inga, et al.
(author)
-
Variants in MTNR1B influence fasting glucose levels
- 2009
-
In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 41:1, s. 77-81
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To identify previously unknown genetic loci associated with fasting glucose concentrations, we examined the leading association signals in ten genome-wide association scans involving a total of 36,610 individuals of European descent. Variants in the gene encoding melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) were consistently associated with fasting glucose across all ten studies. The strongest signal was observed at rs10830963, where each G allele (frequency 0.30 in HapMap CEU) was associated with an increase of 0.07 (95% CI = 0.06-0.08) mmol/l in fasting glucose levels (P = 3.2 x 10(-50)) and reduced beta-cell function as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-B, P = 1.1 x 10(-15)). The same allele was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio = 1.09 (1.05-1.12), per G allele P = 3.3 x 10(-7)) in a meta-analysis of 13 case-control studies totaling 18,236 cases and 64,453 controls. Our analyses also confirm previous associations of fasting glucose with variants at the G6PC2 (rs560887, P = 1.1 x 10(-57)) and GCK (rs4607517, P = 1.0 x 10(-25)) loci.
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| 44. |
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| 45. |
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
- Chang-Claude, Jenny, et al.
(author)
-
Age at menarche and menopause and breast cancer risk in the International BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort Study
- 2007
-
In: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. - 1055-9965. ; 16:4, s. 740-746
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Early menarche and late menopause are important risk factors for breast cancer, but their effects on breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers are unknown. Methods: We assessed breast cancer risk in a large series of 1,187 BRCA1 and 414 BRCA2 carriers from the International BRCA1/2 Carrier Cohort Study. Rate ratios were estimated using a weighted Cox-regression approach. Results: Breast cancer risk was not significantly related to age at menopause {hazard ratio [HR] for menopause below age 35 years, 0.60 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.25-1.44]; 35 to 40 years, 1.15 [0.65-2.04]; 45 to 54 years, 1.02 [0.65-1.60]; ≥55 years, 1.12 [0.12-5.02], as compared with premenopausal women}. However, there was some suggestion of a reduction in risk after menopause in BRCA2 carriers. There was some evidence of a protective effect of oophorectomy (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.29-1.09) and a significant trend of decreasing risk with increasing time since oophorectomy, but no apparent effect of natural menopause. There was no association between age at menarche and breast cancer risk, nor any apparent association with the estimated total duration of breast mitotic activity. Conclusions: These results are consistent with other observations suggesting a protective effect of oophorectomy, similar in relative effect to that in the general population. The absence of an effect of age at natural menopause is, however, not consistent with findings in the general population and may reflect the different natural history of the disease in carriers.
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| 48. |
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| 49. |
- de Marco, Roberto, et al.
(author)
-
Incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a cohort of young adults according to the presence of chronic cough and phlegm
- 2007
-
In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. - 1073-449X .- 1535-4970. ; 175:1, s. 32-39
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: The few prospective studies aimed at assessing the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in relation to the presence of chronic cough/phlegm have produced contrasting results. Objectives: To assess the incidence of COPD in a cohort of young adults and to test whether chronic cough/phlegm and dyspnea are independent predictors of COPD. Methods: An international cohort of 5,002 subjects without asthma (ages 20-44 yr) with normal lung function (FEV1/FVC ratio ≥ 70%) from 12 countries was followed from 1991-2002 in the frame of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. Incident cases of COPD were those who had an FEV 1/FVC ratio less than 70% at the end of the follow-up, but did not report having had a doctor diagnose asthma during the follow-up. Main Results: The incidence rate of COPD was 2.8 cases/1,000/yr (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-3.3). Chronic cough/phlegm was an independent and statistically significant predictor of COPD (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.17-2.93) after adjusting for smoking habits and other potential confounders, whereas dyspnea was not associated with the disease (IRR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.64-1.50). Subjects who reported chronic cough/phlegm both at baseline and at the follow-up had a nearly threefold-increased risk of developing COPD with respect to asymptomatic subjects (IRR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.44-5.79). Conclusions: The incidence of COPD is substantial even in young adults. The presence of chronic cough/phlegm identifies a subgroup of subjects with a high risk of developing COPD, independently of smoking habits.
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| 50. |
- Haas, Brian J., et al.
(author)
-
Genome sequence and analysis of the Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans
- 2009
-
In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 461:7262, s. 393-398
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phytophthora infestans is the most destructive pathogen of potato and a model organism for the oomycetes, a distinct lineage of fungus-like eukaryotes that are related to organisms such as brown algae and diatoms. As the agent of the Irish potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century, P. infestans has had a tremendous effect on human history, resulting in famine and population displacement(1). To this day, it affects world agriculture by causing the most destructive disease of potato, the fourth largest food crop and a critical alternative to the major cereal crops for feeding the world's population(1). Current annual worldwide potato crop losses due to late blight are conservatively estimated at $6.7 billion(2). Management of this devastating pathogen is challenged by its remarkable speed of adaptation to control strategies such as genetically resistant cultivars(3,4). Here we report the sequence of the P. infestans genome, which at similar to 240 megabases (Mb) is by far the largest and most complex genome sequenced so far in the chromalveolates. Its expansion results from a proliferation of repetitive DNA accounting for similar to 74% of the genome. Comparison with two other Phytophthora genomes showed rapid turnover and extensive expansion of specific families of secreted disease effector proteins, including many genes that are induced during infection or are predicted to have activities that alter host physiology. These fast-evolving effector genes are localized to highly dynamic and expanded regions of the P. infestans genome. This probably plays a crucial part in the rapid adaptability of the pathogen to host plants and underpins its evolutionary potential.
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