Search for third-generation scalar leptoquarks in the tτ channel in proton-proton collisions at s√=8 TeV

A search for pair production of third-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to top quark and τ lepton pairs is presented using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of s√=8 TeV collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb−1. The search is performed using events that contain an electron or a muon, a hadronically decaying τ lepton, and two or more jets. The observations are found to be consistent with the standard model predictions. Assuming that all leptoquarks decay to a top quark and a τ lepton, the existence of pair produced, charge −1/3, third-generation leptoquarks up to a mass of 685 GeV is excluded at 95% confidence level. This result constitutes the first direct limit for leptoquarks decaying into a top quark and a τ lepton, and may also be applied directly to the pair production of bottom squarks decaying predominantly via the R-parity violating coupling λ333′

Measurement of the W boson helicity in events with a single reconstructed top quark in pp collisions at s√=8 TeV

A measurement of the W boson helicity is presented, where the W boson originates from the decay of a top quark produced in pp collisions. The event selection, optimized for reconstructing a single top quark in the final state, requires exactly one isolated lepton (muon or electron) and exactly two jets, one of which is likely to originate from the hadronization of a bottom quark. The analysis is performed using data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC in 2012. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb−1. The measured helicity fractions are FL = 0.298 ± 0.028 (stat) ± 0.032(syst), F0 = 0.720 ± 0.039 (stat) ± 0.037(syst), and FR = −0.018 ± 0.019 (stat) ± 0.011(syst). These results are used to set limits on the real part of the tWb anomalous couplings, gL and gR.SCOAP

Measurement of pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles in proton–proton collisions at s√=8 TeV by the CMS and TOTEM experiments

This is the published version.Pseudorapidity (η) distributions of charged particles produced in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV are measured in the ranges |η|<2.2 and 5.3<|η|<6.4 covered by the CMS and TOTEM detectors, respectively. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of L=45 μb−1. Measurements are presented for three event categories. The most inclusive category is sensitive to 91–96 % of the total inelastic proton–proton cross section. The other two categories are disjoint subsets of the inclusive sample that are either enhanced or depleted in single diffractive dissociation events. The data are compared to models used to describe high-energy hadronic interactions. None of the models considered provide a consistent description of the measured distributions

Comparison of stainless and mild steel welding fumes in generation of reactive oxygen species

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Welding fumes consist of a wide range of complex metal oxide particles which can be deposited in all regions of the respiratory tract. The welding aerosol is not homogeneous and is generated mostly from the electrode/wire. Over 390,000 welders were reported in the U.S. in 2008 while over 1 million full-time welders were working worldwide. Many health effects are presently under investigation from exposure to welding fumes. Welding fume pulmonary effects have been associated with bronchitis, metal fume fever, cancer and functional changes in the lung. Our investigation focused on the generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species from stainless and mild steel welding fumes generated by a gas metal arc robotic welder. An inhalation exposure chamber located at NIOSH was used to collect the welding fume particles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results show that hydroxyl radicals (^.OH) were generated from reactions with H₂O₂and after exposure to cells. Catalase reduced the generation of <b>^.</b>OH from exposed cells indicating the involvement of H₂O₂. The welding fume suspension also showed the ability to cause lipid peroxidation, effect O₂consumption, induce H₂O₂generation in cells, and cause DNA damage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Increase in oxidative damage observed in the cellular exposures correlated well with <b>^.</b>OH generation in size and type of welding fumes, indicating the influence of metal type and transition state on radical production as well as associated damage. Our results demonstrate that both types of welding fumes are able to generate ROS and ROS-related damage over a range of particle sizes; however, the stainless steel fumes consistently showed a significantly higher reactivity and radical generation capacity. The chemical composition of the steel had a significant impact on the ROS generation capacity with the stainless steel containing Cr and Ni causing more damage than the mild steel. Our results suggest that welding fumes may cause acute lung injury. Since type of fume generated, particle size, and elapsed time after generation of the welding exposure are significant factors in radical generation and particle deposition these factors should be considered when developing protective strategies.</p

Measurement of the hadronic activity in events with a Z and two jets and extraction of the cross section for the electroweak production of a Z with two jets in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FJHEP10%282013%29062.The first measurement of the electroweak production cross section of a Z boson with two jets (Zjj) in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV is presented, based on a data sample recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC with an integrated luminosity of 5 fb(−1). The cross section is measured for the ℓℓjj (ℓ = e, μ) final state in the kinematic region m(ℓℓ) > 50 GeV, m(jj) > 120 GeV, transverse momenta p(j)(T)>25 GeV and pseudorapidity |η(j)| < 4.0. The measurement, combining the muon and electron channels, yields σ = 154 ± 24 (stat.) ± 46 (exp. syst.) ± 27 (th. syst.) ± 3 (lum.) fb, in agreement with the theoretical cross section. The hadronic activity, in the rapidity interval between the jets, is also measured. These results establish an important foundation for the more general study of vector boson fusion processes, of relevance for Higgs boson searches and for measurements of electroweak gauge couplings and vector boson scattering

Measurement of neutral strange particle production in the underlying event in proton-proton collisions at s√=7 TeV

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.88.052001.Measurements are presented of the production of primary K(0)(S) and Λ particles in proton-proton collisions at s√=7  TeV in the region transverse to the leading charged-particle jet in each event. The average multiplicity and average scalar transverse momentum sum of K(0)(S) and Λ particles measured at pseudorapidities |η|<2 rise with increasing charged-particle jet p(T) in the range 1–10  GeV/c and saturate in the region 10–50  GeV/c. The rise and saturation of the strange-particle yields and transverse momentum sums in the underlying event are similar to those observed for inclusive charged particles, which confirms the impact-parameter picture of multiple parton interactions. The results are compared to recent tunes of the pythia Monte Carlo event generator. The pythia simulations underestimate the data by 15%–30% for K(0)(S) mesons and by about 50% for Λ baryons, a deficit similar to that observed for the inclusive strange-particle production in non-single-diffractive proton-proton collisions. The constant strange- to charged-particle activity ratios with respect to the leading jet p(T) and similar trends for mesons and baryons indicate that the multiparton-interaction dynamics is decoupled from parton hadronization, which occurs at a later stage

Inclusive b-hadron production cross section with muons in pp collisions at s√=7TeV

A measurement of the b-hadron production cross section in proton-proton collisions at s√=7TeVs=7TeV is presented. The dataset, corresponding to 85 nb−1, was recorded with the CMS experiment at the LHC using a low-threshold single-muon trigger. Events are selected by the presence of a muon with transverse momentum pμT>6GeVpTμ>6GeV with respect to the beam direction and pseudorapidity |η μ | < 2.1. The transverse momentum of the muon with respect to the closest jet discriminates events containing b hadrons from background. The inclusive b-hadron production cross section is presented as a function of muon transverse momentum and pseudorapidity. The measured total cross section in the kinematic acceptance is σ(pp → b + X → μ + X′) = 1.32 ± 0.01(stat) ± 0.30(syst) ± 0.15(lumi)μb

Measurement of the Λ(0)(b) lifetime in pp collisions at s√=7 TeV

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FJHEP07%282013%29163.A measurement of the Λ(0)(b) lifetime using the decay Λ(0)(b)→J/ψΛ in protonproton collisions at s√=7 TeV is presented. The data set, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 5 fb(−1), was recorded with the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using triggers that selected dimuon events in the J/ψ mass region. The Λ(0)(b) lifetime is measured to be 1.503 ± 0.052 (stat.) ± 0.031 (syst.) ps