0000000000956648

AUTHOR

J. Lopez

Search for γγ→ηb in e+e− collisions at LEP 2

A search for the pseudoscalar meson eta_b is performed in two-photon interactions at LEP~2 with an integrated luminosity of 699 pb^-1 collected at e+e- centre-of-mass energies from 181 GeV to 209 GeV. One candidate event is found in the six-charged-particle final state and none in the four-charged-particle final state, in agreement with the total expected background of about one event. Upper limits of Gamma_gammagamma(eta_b) * BR(eta_b -> 4 charged particles) 6 charged particles) < 132 eV are obtained at 95% confidence level, which correspond to 95% confidence level upper limits of 9.0% and 25% on these branching ratios.

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Search for composite and exotic fermions at LEP 2

A search for unstable heavy fermions with the DELPHI detector at LEP is reported. Sequential and non-canonical leptons, as well as excited leptons and quarks, are considered. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 48~pb$^{-1}$ at an $e^+e^-$ centre-of-mass energy of 183~GeV and about 20~pb$^{-1}$ equally shared between the centre-of-mass energies of 172~GeV and 161~GeV. The search for pair-produced new leptons establishes 95\% confidence level mass limits in the region between 70~GeV/$c^2$ and 90~GeV/$c^2$, depending on the channel. The search for singly produced excited leptons and quarks establishes upper limits on the ratio of the coupling of the excited fermio…

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Measurement of Z-pair production in e(+)e(-) collisions and constraints on anomalous neutral gauge couplings

The ZZ production cross section is measured from a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 452 pb−1, collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 192 to 209 GeV. Individual cross sections, extracted at six centre-of-mass energies, are found to be in agreement with Standard Model calculations. The results are used to set limits on anomalous neutral gauge couplings. The ZZ production cross section is measured from a data sample corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 452 pb−1 , collected by the ALEPH experiment at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 192 to 209 GeV. Individual cross sections, extracted at six centre-of-mass energies, …

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Evaluation of saltwork ponds operation through brine characterization and geochemical modelling using PHREEQC code integrating the Pitzer correction

Seawater represents a potential resource for the extraction of salts and raw materials [1]. About one-third of the global table-salt production is manufactured in solar saltworks [2], being the most representative product of seawater processing. However, other valuable compounds such as Magnesium, Lithium and trace elements belonging to the alkaline/alkaline-earth metals (e.g. Rb, Cs, Sr) and transition/post-transition metals (e.g. Co, Ga, Ge) are present. Many of these elements are included in the EU Critical Raw Materials (CRM) list, grouping natural assets classified as fundamental for the wealth of the socio-economic structure of Europe [3]. In saltworks, natural evaporation of seawater…

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Search for $\gamma\gamma$ decays of a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at LEP

A serach for gamma gamma decays of Higgs boson is performed in the data sample collected at LEP with the ALEPH detector between 1991 and 1999. This corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 672 pb-1 centre-of-mass energies ranging from 88 to 202 GeV. The search is based on topologies arising from a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair via the Higgs-strahlung process e+e- -&gt; Hffbar, with ffbar = nunubar, e+e-, mu+mu-, tau+tau- or qqbar... (CERN)

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Searches for neutral Higgs bosons in e+e− collisions at centre-of-mass energies from 192 to 202 GeV

Searches for neutral Higgs bosons are performed with the 237 pb-1 of data collected in 1999 by the ALEPH detector at LEP, for centre-of-mass energies between 191.6 and 201.6 GeV. These searches apply to Higgs bosons within the context of the Standard Model and its minimal supersymmetric extension (MSSM) as well as to invisibly decaying Higgs bosons. No evidence of a signal is seen. A lower limit on the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson of 107.7 GeV/c2 at 95% confidence level is set. In the MSSM, lower limits of 91.2 and 91.6 GeV/c2 are derived for the masses of the neutral Higgs bosons h and A, respectively. For a Higgs boson decaying invisibly and produced with the Standard Model cros…

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A flavour-independent Higgs boson search in e+e- collisions at sqrt(s) up to 209GeV

A search for the Higgsstrahlung process e+e- → HZ is carried out, covering decays of the Higgs boson into any quark pair, a gluon pair or a tau pair. The analysis is based on the 630 pb-1 of data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 189 to 209 GeV. A 95% C.L. lower mass limit of 109.1 GeV/c2 is obtained for a Higgs boson cross section equal to that expected from the Standard Model if the Higgs boson decays exclusively into hadrons and/or taus, irrespective of the relative branching fractions. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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A search for $\eta'_c$ production in photon-photon fusion at LEP

A search for the production of the $\eta'_c$ meson, the first radial excitation of the ground state of charmonium $\eta_c$(2980), in the photon-photon fusion reaction at LEP has been performed using the data collected by the DELPHI detector during 1992-1996. No evidence of $\eta'_c$ production is found in the mass region 3520--3800 MeV/c^2. An upper limit for the ratio of the two-photon widths of the $\eta'_c$ and $\eta_c$ is obtained.

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Absolute Lower Limits on the Masses of Selectrons and Sneutrinos in the MSSM

The results of searches for selectrons, charginos and neutralinos performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV are interpreted in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with R-parity conservation. Under the assumptions of gaugino and sfermion mass unification and no sfermion mixing, an absolute lower limit of 73 GeV/c2 is set on the mass of the lighter selectron at the 95% confidence level. Similarly, limits on the masses of the heavier selectron and of the sneutrino are set at 107 and 84 GeV/c2, respectively. Additional constraints are derived from the results of the searches for Higgs bosons. T…

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Overview of the JET results

Since the installation of an ITER-like wall, the JET programme has focused on the consolidation of ITER design choices and the preparation for ITER operation, with a specific emphasis given to the bulk tungsten melt experiment, which has been crucial for the final decision on the material choice for the day-one tungsten divertor in ITER. Integrated scenarios have been progressed with the re-establishment of long-pulse, high-confinement H-modes by optimizing the magnetic configuration and the use of ICRH to avoid tungsten impurity accumulation. Stationary discharges with detached divertor conditions and small edge localized modes have been demonstrated by nitrogen seeding. The differences in…

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Measurement of CP asymmetry in Bs0 → Ds ∓K± decays

Journal of high energy physics 2018(3), 59 (2018). doi:10.1007/JHEP03(2018)059

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Measurement of inclusive K*(0)(892), phi(1020) and K-2*(0)(1430) production in hadronic Z decays

The inclusive production of the neutral vector mesons K-*0(892) and phi(1020), and of the tensor meson K-2(*0)(1430), in hadronic decays of the Z has been mea sured by the DELPHI detector at LEP. The average production rates per hadronic Z decay have been determined to be 0.77 +/- 0.08 K-2(*0)(892), 0.104 +/- 0.008 phi(1020) and 0.079 +/- 0.040 K-2(*0)(1430). The ratio of the tensor-to-vector meson production yields, [K-2(*0)(1430)]/[K-*0(892)] = 0.10 +/- 0.05, is smaller than the [f(2)(1270)]/[rho(0)(770)] and [f'(2)(1525)]/[phi(1020)] ratios measured by DELPHI. The production rates and differential cross sections are compared with the predictions of JETSET 7.4 tuned to the DELPHI data and…

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Update of the search for charginos nearly mass-degenerate with the lightest neutralino

The data collected by DELPHI in 1998 at the centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV have been used to update the search for charginos nearly mass-degenerate with the lightest supersymmetric particle, which is assumed to be the lightest neutralino. Mass differences below \Delta M = 3 GeV/c^2 are considered. No excess of events with respect to the Standard Model expectation has been observed, and exclusions in the plane of \Delta M versus chargino mass are given. The new \Delta M independent lower limit on the mass of the chargino is 62.4 GeV/c^2 in the higgsino scenario (which includes the gaugino mass unification scenario), if all sfermions are heavier than the lightest chargino. In the approximat…

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus Continuum of Care in 11 European Union Countries at the End of 2016 Overall and by Key Population: Have We Made Progress?

Abstract Background High uptake of antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and related mortality; however, gaps in care exist. We aimed to construct the continuum of HIV care (CoC) in 2016 in 11 European Union (EU) countries, overall and by key population and sex. To estimate progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, we compared 2016 to 2013 estimates for the same countries, representing 73% of the population in the region. Methods A CoC with the following 4 stages was constructed: number of people living with HIV (PLHIV); proportion of PLHIV diagnosed; proportion of those diagnosed …

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Search for charged Higgs bosons in $e^+ e^-$ collisions at energies up to $\sqrt{s}$ = 189 GeV

The data collected at centre-of-mass energies of 188.6 GeV by ALEPH at LEP, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.2 pb-1, are analysed in a search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons H+/-. Three analyses are employed to select the taunutaunu, taunucs and cscs final states. No evidence for a signal is found. Upper limits are set on the production cross section as a function of the branching fraction BR(H+ to tau nu) and of the mass M(H+), assuming that the sum of the branching ratios is equal to one. In the framework of a two-Higgs-doublet model, charged Higgs bosons with masses below 65.4 GeV/c2 are excluded at 95% confidence level independently of the decay mode.

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Search for a scalar top almost degenerate with the lightest neutralino e(+)e(-) collisions at root s up to 202 GeV

Data collected at centre-of-mass energies from 189 GeV to 202 GeV by the ALEPH detector at LEP corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 411 pb(-1), are analysed in a search for the scalar top in the decay channels (t) over tilde --> c/u chi for small mass differences between the stop and the lightest neutralino. No evidence for deviations from the Standard Model expectation is found and a lower limit of 59 GeV/c(2) is set for the stop mass, independent of the stop to neutralino mass difference and of the stop lifetime. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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Search for Supersymmetric Particles in e+e- Collisions at sqrt(s) up to 202GeV and Mass Limit for the Lightest Neutralino

Searches for pair production of squarks, sleptons, charginos, and neutralinos are performed with the data collected by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies from 188.6 to 201.6 GeV. No evidence for any such signals is observed in a total integrated luminosity of about 410pb-1. The negative results of the searches are translated into exclusion domains in the space of the relevant MSSM parameters, which improve significantly on the constraints set previously. Under the assumptions of gaugino and sfermion mass unification, these results allow a 95% C.L. lower limit of 37GeV/c2 to be set on the mass of the lightest neutralino for any tan beta and sfermion mass. Additional constra…

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Search for supersymmetric particles in scenarios with a gravitino LSP and stau NLSP

Sleptons, neutralinos and charginos were searched for in the context of scenarios where the lightest supersymmetric particle is the gravitino. It was assumed that the stau is the next-to-lightest supersymmetric particle. Data collected with the DELPHI detector at a centre-of-mass energy near 189 GeV were analysed combining the methods developed in previous searches at lower energies. No evidence for the production of these supersymmetric particles was found. Hence, limits were derived at 95% confidence level.

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Immunodetection of the microvillous cytoskeleton molecules villin and ezrin in the parasitophorous vacuole wall of Cryptosporidium parvum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa).

Microvilli - actin - villin - ezrin - Cryptosporidium parvum The sporozoites and merozoites of the Apicomplexan protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) invade the apical side of enterocytes and induce the formation of a parasitophorous vacuole which stays in the brush border area and disturbs the distribution of microvilli. The vacuole is separated from the apical cytoplasm of the cell by an electron-dense layer of undetermined composition. In order to characterize the enterocyte cytoskeleton changes that occur during C. parvum invasion and development, we used both confocal immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy to examine at the C.parvum-enterocyte interface the distributio…

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Single intermediate vector boson production in e(+)e(-) collisions at root s=183 and 189 GeV

The cross sections for the production of single charged and neutral intermediate vector bosons were measured using integrated luminosities of 52 pb-1 and 154 pb-1 collected by the experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 182.6 GeV and 188.6 GeV, respectively. The cross sections for the reactions were determined in limited kinematic regions. The results found are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions for these channels. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

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Final results of the searches for neutral Higgs bosons in e+e- collisions at sqrt(s) up to 209GeV

The final results of the ALEPH search for the Standard Model Higgs boson at LEP, with data collected in the year 2000 at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV, are presented. The changes with respect to the preceding publication are described and a complete study of systematic effects is reported. The findings of this final analysis confirm the preliminary results published in November 2000 shortly after the closing down of the LEP collider: a significant excess of events is observed, consistent with the production of a $115 \Gcs$ Standard Model Higgs boson. The final results of the searches for the neutral Higgs bosons of the MSSM are also reported, in terms of limits on $\mh$, $\mA$ and $…

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A study of the Lorentz structure in tau decays

This paper describes a measurement of the Michel parameters, \eta, \rho, \xi, \xi\delta, and the average \nu_{\tau} helicity, h_{\nu_{\tau}}, in tau lepton decays together with the first measurement of the tensor coupling in the weak charged current. The tau+tau- pairs were produced at the LEP e+e- collider at CERN from 1992 through 1995 in the DELPHI detector. Assuming lepton universality in the decays of the tau the measured values of the parameters were: \eta = -0.005 +/- 0.036 +/- 0.037, \rho = 0.775 +/- 0.023 +/- 0.020, \xi = 0.929 +/- 0.070 +/- 0.030, \xi\delta = 0.779 +/- 0.070 +/- 0.028, h_{\nu_{\tau}} = -0.997 +/- 0.027 +/- 0.011. The strength of the tensor coupling was measured to…

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Search for a fermiophobic Higgs at LEP 2

Higgs bosons predicted by the fermiophobic scenario within Two Higgs Doublets Models were searched for in the data collected by the DELPHI detector at centre-of-mass energies between 189 GeV and 202 GeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 380 pb^{-1}. No signal was found and confidence limits were derived in the framework of possible extensions of the Standard Model Higgs sector.

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Overview of the JET results with the ITER-like wall

Following the completion in May 2011 of the shutdown for the installation of the beryllium wall and the tungsten divertor, the first set of JET campaigns have addressed the investigation of the retention properties and the development of operational scenarios with the new plasma-facing materials. The large reduction in the carbon content (more than a factor ten) led to a much lower Zeff (1.2-1.4) during L- and H-mode plasmas, and radiation during the burn-through phase of the plasma initiation with the consequence that breakdown failures are almost absent. Gas balance experiments have shown that the fuel retention rate with the new wall is substantially reduced with respect to the C wall. T…

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Search for γγ decays of a Higgs boson in e+e- collisions at √s up to 209 GeV

A search for events with a photon pair arising from the decay of a Higgs boson produced in association with a fermion pair, is performed in 893 pb-1 of data recorded by the ALEPH detector at LEP at centre-of-mass energies up to 209 GeV. No excess of such events is found over the expected background, An upper limit is derived on the product of the e+e- → HZ cross section and the H → γγ branching fraction as a function of the Higgs boson mass. A fermiophobic Higgs boson produced with the Standard Model cross section is excluded at 95% confidence level for all masses below 105.4 GeV/c2. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

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Measurement of the mass of the W boson using direct reconstruction at √s = 183 GeV

From data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 53.5 pb(-1) taken during the 183 GeV run in 1997, DELPHI has measured the W mass from direct reconstruction of WW --> lq (q) over bar and WW --> q (q) over bar q (q) over bar events. Combining these channels, a value of m(w) = 80.238 +/- 0.154(stat) +/- 0.035(syst) +/- 0.035(fsi) +/- 0.021 (LEP) GeV/c(2) is obtained, where fsi denotes final state interaction. Combined with the W mass obtained by DELPHI from the WW production cross-section and with the direct measurement at 172 GeV this leads to a measured value of m(w) = 80.270 +/- 0.137(stat) +/- 0.031(syst) +/- 0.030(fsi) +/- 0.021(LEP)GeV/c(2), in good agreement with the Standard Mod…

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Application of diffusion dialysis in separation of sulfuric acid and copper from electroplating wastewater

Electroplating industry creates large volumes of wastewater that contain acids and heavy metallic ions which are toxic but valuable. Diffusion dialysis (DD) can be used to separate acids from heavy metals. In this work, two single-cell DD modules equipped with Fumasep FAD membranes were used for the first time for the separation of sulfuric acid from copper. The first module consisted of a laboratory-scale DD unit operated in a batch configuration to study the effect of process parameters on the efficiency of sulfuric acid recovery. The latter one was a large-scale DD unit operated in a continuous configuration to simulate the process operation at the industrial scale. Results showed that F…

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Failure to differentiate Cryptosporidium parvum from C. meleagridis based on PCR amplification of eight DNA sequences.

ABSTRACT In order to determine the specificities of PCR-based assays used for detecting Cryptosporidium parvum DNA, eight pairs of previously described PCR primers targeting six distinct regions of the Cryptosporidium genome were evaluated for the detection of C. parvum , the agent of human cryptosporidiosis, and C. muris , C. baileyi , and C. meleagridis , three Cryptosporidium species that infect birds or mammals but are not considered to be human pathogens. The four Cryptosporidium species were divided into two groups: C. parvum and C. meleagridis , which gave the same-sized fragments with all the reactions, and C. muris and C. baileyi , which gave positive results with primer pairs targ…

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Observation of an excess in the search for the Standard Model Higgs boson at ALEPH

A search has been performed for the Standard Model Higgs boson in the data sample collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies up to 209GeV. An excess of 3sigma beyond the background expectation is found, consistent with the production of the Higgs boson with a mass near 114GeV/c2. Much of this excess is seen in the four-jet analyses, where three high purity events are selected.

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