Search for Z \u27 -\u3e e(+) e(-) using dielectron mass and angular distribution

We search for Z(\u27) bosons in dielectron events produced in p (p) over bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV, using 0.45 fb(-1) of data accumulated with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. To identify the Z(\u27)-\u3e e(+)e(-) signal, both the dielectron invariant mass distribution and the angular distribution of the electron pair are used. No evidence of a signal is found, and 95% confidence level lower limits are set on the Z(\u27) mass for several models. Limits are also placed on the mass and gauge coupling of a generic Z(\u27), as well as on the contact-interaction mass scales for different helicity structure scenarios

Identification and functional analysis of secreted effectors from phytoparasitic nematodes

BACKGROUND: Plant parasitic nematodes develop an intimate and long-term feeding relationship with their host plants. They induce a multi-nucleate feeding site close to the vascular bundle in the roots of their host plant and remain sessile for the rest of their life. Nematode secretions, produced in the oesophageal glands and secreted through a hollow stylet into the host plant cytoplasm, are believed to play key role in pathogenesis. To combat these persistent pathogens, the identity and functional analysis of secreted effectors can serve as a key to devise durable control measures. In this review, we will recapitulate the knowledge over the identification and functional characterization of secreted nematode effector repertoire from phytoparasitic nematodes. RESEARCH: Despite considerable efforts, the identity of genes encoding nematode secreted proteins has long been severely hampered because of their microscopic size, long generation time and obligate biotrophic nature. The methodologies such as bioinformatics, protein structure modeling, in situ hybridization microscopy, and protein-protein interaction have been used to identify and to attribute functions to the effectors. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) has been instrumental to decipher the role of the genes encoding secreted effectors necessary for parasitism and genes attributed to normal development. Recent comparative and functional genomic approaches have accelerated the identification of effectors from phytoparasitic nematodes and offers opportunities to control these pathogens. CONCLUSION: Plant parasitic nematodes pose a serious threat to global food security of various economically important crops. There is a wealth of genomic and transcriptomic information available on plant parasitic nematodes and comparative genomics has identified many effectors. Bioengineering crops with dsRNA of phytonematode genes can disrupt the life cycle of parasitic nematodes and therefore holds great promise to develop resistant crops against plant-parasitic nematodes

CNS infection and immune privilege

Classically, the CNS is described as displaying immune privilege, as it shows attenuated responses to challenge by alloantigen. However, the CNS does show local inflammation in response to infection. Although pathogen access to the brain parenchyma and retina is generally restricted by physiological and immunological barriers, certain pathogens may breach these barriers. In the CNS, such pathogens may either cause devastating inflammation or benefit from immune privilege in the CNS, where they are largely protected from the peripheral immune system. Thus, some pathogens can persist as latent infections and later be reactivated. We review the consequences of immune privilege in the context of CNS infections and ask whether immune privilege may provide protection for certain pathogens and promote their latency

Direct measurement of the W boson width in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

A direct measurement of the total decay width of the W boson Gamma(W) is presented using 350 pb(-1) of data from p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The width is determined by normalizing predicted signal and background distributions to 230 185 W candidates decaying to e nu and mu nu in the transverse-mass region 50 < M(T) < 90 GeV and then fitting the predicted shape to 6055 events in the high-M(T) region, 90 < M(T) < 200 GeV. The result is Gamma(W) = 2032 +/- 45(stat) +/- 57(syst) MeV, consistent with the standard model expectation

Search for Z ' -&gt; e(+) e(-) using dielectron mass and angular distribution

We search for Z' bosons in dielectron events produced in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.96 TeV, using 0.45 fb(-1) of data accumulated with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. To identify the Z' --&gt; e+ e- signal, both the dielectron invariant mass distribution and the angular distribution of the electron pair are used. No evidence of a signal is found, and 95% confidence level lower limits are set on the Z' mass for several models. Limits are also placed on the mass and gauge coupling of a generic Z', as well as on the contact-interaction mass scales for different helicity structure scenarios

Search for Z ' -> e(+) e(-) using dielectron mass and angular distribution

We search for Z(') bosons in dielectron events produced in p (p) over bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV, using 0.45 fb(-1) of data accumulated with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. To identify the Z(')-> e(+)e(-) signal, both the dielectron invariant mass distribution and the angular distribution of the electron pair are used. No evidence of a signal is found, and 95% confidence level lower limits are set on the Z(') mass for several models. Limits are also placed on the mass and gauge coupling of a generic Z('), as well as on the contact-interaction mass scales for different helicity structure scenarios

Ab-initio computation of superconducting properties of elemental superconductors and MgB2

We present ab-initio predictions of superconducting properties of some elemental superconductors and of MgB2, based on the Super-Conducting Density Functional theory (SC-DFT). This formalism allows a description of superconducting properties at thermal equilibrium by means of three “densities”: the ordinary electron density, the superconducting order parameter, and the diagonal of the nuclear N-body density matrix. These quantities are determined through self-consistent solutions of Bogoliubov-de Gennes Kohn-Sham like equations, involving exchange-correlation potentials which are universal functionals of the three above-mentioned quantities. By means of approximate expressions for the relevant functionals, we obtain an ab-initio description of the superconducting state, completely free of empirical parameters. The results of our present implementation of SC-DFT for selected materials are discussed in terms of superconducting energy gap, critical temperature and specific heat, and compared with experiments