3,051 research outputs found
Study of the process e+e- -> omega pi0 in the phi-meson mass region with the KLOE detector
We have studied the e+e- -> omegapi0 cross section in the sqrt(s) interval
1000-1030 MeV using the pi+pi-pi0pi0 and pi0pi0gamma final states with a sample
of ~600 pb^-1 collected with the KLOE detector at DAFNE. By fitting the
observed interference pattern around M_phi for both final states, we extract
the ratio of the decay widths Gamma(omega->pi0gamma)/Gamma(omega->pi+pi-pi0) =
0.0897 +- 0.0016 and derive the branching fractions BR(omega -> pi+pi-pi0)=
(90.24 +- 0.19)%, BR(omega -> pi0gamma) = (8.09 +- 0.14)%. The parameters
describing the e+e- -> omegapi0 reaction around M_\phi are also used to extract
the branching fraction for the OZI and G-parity violating phi -> omegapi0
decay: BR(phi->omegapi0) = (4.4 +- 0.6)x10^-5.Comment: 12 Pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physics Letter
A direct search for the CP-violating decay Ks->3p^0 with the KLOE detector at DAFNE
We have searched for the decay Ks->3p^0 with the KLOE experiment at DAFNE
using data from e^+ e^- collisions at a center of mass energy W= m(phi) for an
integrated luminosity L=450 pb^-1. The search has been performed with a pure Ks
beam obtained by tagging with Kl interactions in the calorimeter and detecting
six photons. We find an upper limit for the branching ratio of 1.2x10^-7 at 90%
C.L.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures. To be submitted to Physics Letter
Search for the K_S -> e+e- decay with the KLOE detector
We present the result of a direct search for the decay K_S -> e+e-, obtained
with a sample of e+e- -> phi -> K_S K_L events produced at DAFNE, the Frascati
phi-factory, for an integrated luminosity of 1.9 fb^-1. The search has been
performed using a pure K_S beam tagged by the simultaneous detection of a K_L
interaction in the calorimeter. Background rejection has been optimized by
using both kinematic and particle identification cuts. We find BR(K_S -> e+e-)
< 9x10^-9 at 90% CL, which improves by an order of magnitude on the previous
best limit.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Physics Letters
Precision Measurement of KS Meson Lifetime with the KLOE detector
Using a large sample of pure, slow, short lived K0 mesons collected with KLOE
detector at DaFne, we have measured the KS lifetime. From a fit to the proper
time distribution we find tau = (89.562 +- 0.029_stat +- 0.043_syst) ps. This
is the most precise measurement today in good agreement with the world average
derived from previous measurements. We observe no dependence of the lifetime on
the direction of the Ks.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure
Measurement of the slope parameter with the KLOE detector
We present a measurement of the slope parameter for the decay, with the KLOE experiment at the DANE -factory,
based on a background free sample of 17 millions mesons produced
in radiative decays. By fitting the event density in the Dalitz plot we
determine \alpha = -0.0301 \pm 0.0035\,stat\;_{-0.0035}^{+0.0022}\,syst\,.
The result is in agreement with recent measurements from hadro- and
photo-production experiments.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure
Widening the analysis of Energy Return on Investment (EROI) in agro-ecosystems: Socio-ecological transitions to industrialized farm systems (the Vallès County, Catalonia, c.1860 and 1999)
Energy balances of farm systems have overlooked the role of energy flows that remain within agro-ecosystems. Yet, such internal flows fulfil important socio-ecological functions, including maintenance of farmers themselves and agro-ecosystem structures. Farming can either give rise to complex landscapes that favour associated biodiversity, or the opposite. This variability can be understood by assessing several types of Energy Returns on Investment (EROI). Applying these measures to a farm system in Catalonia, Spain in 1860 and in 1999, reveals the expected decrease in the ratio of final energy output to total and external inputs. The transition from solar-based to a fossil fuel based agro-ecosystem was further accompanied by an increase in the ratio of final energy output to biomass reused, as well as an absolute increase of Unharvested Phytomass grown in derelict forestland. The study reveals an apparent link between reuse of biomass and the decrease of landscape heterogeneity along with its associated biodiversity
Opening the black box of energy throughputs in farm systems: A decomposition analysis between the energy returns to external inputs, internal biomass reuses and total inputs consumed (the Vallès County, Catalonia, c.1860 and 1999)
We present an energy analysis of past and present farm systems aimed to contribute to their sustainability assessment. Looking at agroecosystems as a set of energy loops between nature and society, and adopting a farm-operator standpoint at landscape level to set the system boundaries, enthalpy values of energy carriers are accounted for net Final Produce going outside as well as for Biomass Reused cycling inside, and External Inputs are accounted using embodied values. Human Labour is accounted for the fraction of the energy intake of labouring people devoted to perform farm work, considering the local or external origin of their food basket. In this approach the proportion of internal Biomass Reused becomes a hallmark of organic farm systems that tend to save External Inputs, whereas industrial farming and livestock breeding in feedlots tend to get rid of reuses replacing them with inputs coming from outside. Hence, decomposing the internal or external energy throughputs may bring to light their contrasting sociometabolic profiles. A Catalan case study in 1860 and 1990 is used as a test bench to show how revealing this decomposing analysis may be to plot the energy profiles of farm systems and their possible improvement pathways
Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 deficiency impairs atherosclerotic lesion development but promotes features of plaque instability in hypercholesterolaemic mice
Aims Oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the vessel wall, but paradoxically, global loss of Nrf2 in apoE deficient mice alleviates atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of global Nrf2 deficiency on early and advanced atherogenesis in alternative models of atherosclerosis, LDL receptor deficient mice (LDLR-/-), and LDLR-/- mice expressing apoB-100 only (LDLR-/- ApoB(100/100)) having a humanized lipoprotein profile. Methods and results LDLR-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 or 12weeks and LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) mice a regular chow diet for 6 or 12months. Nrf2 deficiency significantly reduced early and more advanced atherosclerosis assessed by lesion size and coverage in the aorta in both models. Nrf2 deficiency in LDLR-/- mice reduced total plasma cholesterol after 6weeks of HFD and triglycerides in LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) mice on a chow diet. Nrf2 deficiency aggravated aortic plaque maturation in aged LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) mice as it increased plaque calcification. Moreover, approximate to 36% of Nrf2(-/-)LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) females developed spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) or sudden death at 5 to 12months of age. Interestingly, Nrf2 deficiency increased plaque instability index, enhanced plaque inflammation and calcification, and reduced fibrous cap thickness in brachiocephalic arteries of LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) female mice at age of 12months. Conclusions Absence of Nrf2 reduced atherosclerotic lesion size in both atherosclerosis models, likely via systemic effects on lipid metabolism. However, Nrf2 deficiency in aged LDLR(-/-)ApoB(100/100) mice led to an enhanced atherosclerotic plaque instability likely via increased plaque inflammation and oxidative stress, which possibly predisposed to MI and sudden death.Peer reviewe
Upper Limit on the eta to gamma gamma gamma Branching Ratio with the KLOE Detector
We have searched for the C-violating decay eta to gamma gamma gamma in a
sample of ~ 18 million eta mesons produced in phi to eta gamma decays,
collected with the KLOE detector at the Frascati phi-factory DAFNE. No signal
is observed and we obtain the upper limit BR(eta to gamma gamma gamma) less
equal than 1.6x10^(-5) at 90 % C.L.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures Systematic study refined, some figures reordere
Measurement of the KL meson lifetime with the KLOE detector
We present a measurement of the KL lifetime using the KLOE detector. From a
sample of 4 x 10^8 KS KL pairs following the reaction e+ e- -> phi -> KS KL we
select 15 x 10^6 KL -> p0 p0 p0 decays tagged by KS -> pi+ pi- events. From a
fit of the proper time distribution we find tau_L = (50.92 +- 0.17{stat} +-
0.25{syst})$ ns. This is the most precise measurement of the KL lifetime
performed to date.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure
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