Top Quark Pair Production Cross Section and Forward-Backward Asymmetry at the Tevatron

We present recent results on top quark pair production cross section and forward-backward asymmetry at the Tevatron. Three new cross section measurements from CDF and one new measurement from DO are presented that utilize the full dataset available. A new DO top cross section combination gives a ttbar production cross section of sigma_ttbar = 7.83 + 0.46-0.45 (stat) + 0.64-0.53 (syst) +-0.48 (lumi). The new CDF cross section combination for ttbar production is found to be 7.0 +- 0.3 (stat) +- 0.4 (syst) +- 0.4 (lumi) pb giving a total uncertainty of 9%, very close to the that of the current best theoretical predictions. It is important to measure the top cross section in as many different channels as possible and investigate their compatibility. This is useful as new physics might show up differently in the different channels. Thus any significant discrepancy could be a sign of new physics. Three new measurements of the forward-backward asymmetry are also presented. The two CDF measurements unfold the observed asymmetry back to parton level in order to directly compare the values obtained with theoretical predictions. The DO measurement is not unfolded and therefore does not depend on the specific method used for unfolding.Comment: Parallel talk at ICHEP08, Philadelphia, USA, July 200

Lessons from the Long View: Observations and Insights on Developments in Private Practice from the 30 Year History of One Independent Textile Conservation Studio

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Fragmentation, underlying event and jet shapes at the Tevatron

Experimental tests of QCD processes, in particular fragmentation, underlying event and jet shape studies, are not only essential in their own right to allow an improved understanding of the theoretical models and their limitations but they are also important in searches for new physics. Recent results of such tests are presented here. All the results show good agreement between the latest theoretical models or Monte Carlo predictions

Blenheim Estate natural capital assessment technical report

The natural capital of the Blenheim Estate, including the woodlands, fields, gardens, lakes and other habitats, delivers significant benefits for the estate, the local community and visitors. Blenheim Park is well known for its outstanding cultural and historic value, attracting visitors from all over the world, but it is also highly valued by the local community as a special place to exercise, relax and connect with nature. The Park and the wider estate produce food, timber, fresh water and renewable energy, store and sequester carbon, and provide a flood protection service for communities downstream, as well as providing habitat for wildlife including pollinators and crop pest predators. There are opportunities to manage natural capital in a way that protects and enhances key services such as water quality regulation and erosion protection, and improves the connectivity of walking and cycling routes and wildlife corridors. This natural capital assessment has estimated the value of the ecosystem services provided by the Estate in 2019. The assessment covers the whole 12,000 acre (4858 ha) estate, using readily available data. A more detailed level of assessment, including public participatory mapping of cultural ecosystem services, has been conducted for the 975 ha Blenheim Park, which forms a distinct area of high cultural and biodiversity value