Addressing the Multi-Channel Inverse Problem at High Energy Colliders: A Model Independent Approach to the Search for New Physics with Trileptons

We describe a method for interpreting trilepton searches at high energy colliders in a model-independent fashion and apply it to the recent searches at the Tevatron. The key step is to recognize that the trilepton signature is comprised of four experimentally very different channels defined by the number of tau-leptons in the trilepton state. Contributions from these multiple channels to the overall experimental sensitivity (cross section times branching ratio) are model-independent and can be parametrized in terms of relevant new particle masses. Given the trileptonic branching ratios of a specific model, these experimentally obtained multichannel sensitivities can be combined to obtain a cross section measurement that can be used to confront the model with data. Our model-independent results are more widely applicable than the current Tevatron trilepton results which are stated exclusively in terms of mSUGRA parameters of supersymmetry. The technique presented here can be expanded beyond trilepton searches to the more general "inverse problem" of experimentally discriminating between competing models that seek to explain new physics discovered in multiple channels.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures Changed content cosmetic changes for submission to JHE

Vibrio ponticus, a new pathogen of cultured cobia

Most of the members of the family Vibrionaceae are natural inhabitants of marine and estuarine ecosystem and several of them are pathogens in cultured aquatic organisms. Vibriosis caused by some pathogenic Vibrio spp., can cause huge mortality in marine fish culture systems. Intermittent mortality with haemorrhagic lesions on the fin, body surface, and head, exophthalmia (Fig.1) and stopping of feeding activity were noticed in cobia (25±5 cm length; 17±4 g weight) reared in sea cages off Polem, Goa during June 2015. The clinical signs lasted for a week with a total mortality of 12%. Isolation of bacteria aseptically from liver and kidney was done

Comment on: `Pipe Network Model for Scaling of Dynamic Interfaces in Porous Media'

We argue that a proposed exponent identity [Phys. Rev. Lett 85, 1238 (2000)] for interface roughening in spontaneous imbibition is wrong. It rests on the assumption that the fluctuations are controlled by a single time scale, but liquid conservation imposes two distinct time scales.Comment: 1 page, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Smart automotive technology adherence to the law: (de)constructing road rules for autonomous system development, verification and safety

Driving is an intuitive task that requires skill, constant alertness and vigilance for unexpected events. The driving task also requires long concentration spans, focusing on the entire task for prolonged periods, and sophisticated negotiation skills with other road users including wild animals. Modern motor vehicles include an array of smart assistive and autonomous driving systems capable of subsuming some, most, or in limited cases, all of the driving task. Building these smart automotive systems requires software developers with highly technical software engineering skills, and now a lawyer’s in-depth knowledge of traffic legislation as well. This article presents an approach for deconstructing the complicated legalese of traffic law and representing its requirements and flow. Our approach (de)constructs road rules in legal terminology and specifies them in ‘structured English logic’ that is expressed as ‘Boolean logic’ for automation and ‘Lawmaps’ for visualization. We demonstrate an example using these tools leading to the construction and validation of a ‘Bayesian Network model’. We strongly believe these tools to be approachable by programmers and the general public, useful in development of Artificial Intelligence to underpin motor vehicle smart systems, and in validation to ensure these systems are considerate of the law when making decisions.fals

Nighttime chemistry at a high altitude site above Hong Kong

Nighttime reactions of nitrogen oxides influence ozone, volatile organic compounds, and aerosol and are thus important to the understanding of regional air quality. Despite large emissions and rapid recent growth of nitrogen oxide concentrations, there are few studies of nighttime chemistry in China. Here we present measurements of nighttime nitrogen oxides, NO3 and N2O5, from a coastal mountaintop site in Hong Kong adjacent to the megacities of the Pearl River Delta region. This is the first study of nighttime chemistry from a site within the residual layer in China. Key findings include the following. First, highly concentrated urban NOx outflow from the Pearl River Delta region was sampled infrequently at night, with N2O5 mixing ratios up to 8 ppbv (1 min average) or 12 ppbv (1 s average) in nighttime aged air masses. Second, the average N2O5 uptake coefficient was determined from a best fit to the available steady state lifetime data as γ(N2O5) = 0.014 ± 0.007. Although this determination is uncertain due to the difficulty of separating N2O5 losses from those of NO3, this value is in the range of previous residual layer determinations of N2O5 uptake coefficients in polluted air in North America. Third, there was a significant contribution of biogenic hydrocarbons to NO3 loss inferred from canister samples taken during daytime. Finally, daytime N2O5 mixing ratios were in accord with their predicted photochemical steady state. Heterogeneous uptake of N2O5 in fog is determined to be an important production mechanism for soluble nitrate, even during daytime. Key Points Large (up to 12 ppbv N2O5) but infrequent nocturnal NOx outflow from the Pearl River Delta Average N2O5 uptake coefficients 0.014 ± 0.007, in line with residual layer measurements in the U.S. Daytime N2O5 follows predicted steady state but rapidly produces soluble nitrate in fog.Department of Civil and Environmental Engineerin

Observations of nitryl chloride and modeling its source and effect on ozone in the planetary boundary layer of southern China

Nitryl chloride (ClNO2) plays potentially important roles in atmospheric chemistry, but its abundance and effect are not fully understood due to the small number of ambient observations of ClNO2 to date. In late autumn 2013, ClNO2 was measured with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) at a mountain top (957 m above sea level) in Hong Kong. During 12 nights with continuous CIMS data, elevated mixing ratios of ClNO2 (>400 parts per trillion by volume) or its precursor N2O5 (>1000 pptv) were observed on six nights, with the highest ever reported ClNO2 (4.7 ppbv, 1 min average) and N2O5 (7.7 ppbv, 1 min average) in one case. Backward particle dispersion calculations driven by winds simulated with a mesoscale meteorological model show that the ClNO2/N2O5-laden air at the high-elevation site was due to transport of urban/industrial pollution north of the site. The highest ClNO2/N2O5 case was observed in a later period of the night and was characterized with extensively processed air and with the presence of nonoceanic chloride. A chemical box model with detailed chlorine chemistry was used to assess the possible impact of the ClNO2 in the well-processed regional plume on next day ozone, as the air mass continued to downwind locations. The results show that the ClNO2 could enhance ozone by 5-16% at the ozone peak or 11-41% daytime ozone production in the following day. This study highlights varying importance of the ClNO2 chemistry in polluted environments and the need to consider this process in photochemical models for prediction of ground-level ozone and haze. Key Points First observation of ClNO2 in the planetary boundary layer of China Combined high-resolution meteorological and measurement-constrained chemical models in data analysis ClNO2 enhances daytime ozone peak by 5-16% in well-processed PRD air.Department of Civil and Environmental Engineerin

Monitoring of potable water quality in Makana Local Municipality, South Africa

The aim of this article is to examine the physicochemical and microbial water quality from 3 sampling sites spread across municipal drinking water supply grid in Makana Local Municipality, South Africa. Samples were analysed for the concentrations of faecal coliforms, heterotrophic plate count, the chemical oxygen demand, concentrations of ammonium, phosphate and chlorides. The chloride concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 7.60 ± 0.08 mg/L. At the same time, the ammonium concentrations were found ranging from 0 mg/L to 1.70 ± 0.23 mg/L. For the chemical oxygen demand, the measured values ranged from 55 ± 1 to 260 ± 18 mg/L. Finally, the phosphate concentrations were shown to vary between values which were lower than 0.01 mg/L up to 1.3 ± 2.0 mg/L. There were significant differences in the values of all chemical parameters between the various sampling points and the values measured on different sampling occasions (p-value < 0.01 in all cases, Kruskal-Wallis analysis and 5 % level of significance). A total of 16 drinking water samples were tested for microbial water quality and 75 % of all samples was free of faecal contamination as indicated by the faecal coliform concentration < 0 colonyforming units per 100 mL. This percentage is lower than the data of 92-100 % of samples free of faecal contamination as published by local government. The discrepancy can be effected by the hygiene habits of the household occupants or from regrowth of organisms in the drinking water distribution system in Makana. Examination of the microbial quality of water led to the discovery of the presence of Vibrio cholera and Aeromonas hydrophila