Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign charged pions in the forward region in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign charged pions, produced in protonproton collisions at a 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy, are studied using a data sample collected by the LHCb experiment. The signature for Bose-Einstein correlations is observed in the form of an enhancement of pairs of like-sign charged pions with small four-momentum difference squared. The charged-particle multiplicity dependence of the Bose-Einstein correlation parameters describing the correlation strength and the size of the emitting source is investigated, determining both the correlation radius and the chaoticity parameter. The measured correlation radius is found to increase as a function of increasing charged-particle multiplicity, while the chaoticity parameter is seen to decreas

Search for pair-produced resonances decaying to quark pairs in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A general search for the pair production of resonances, each decaying to two quarks, is reported. The search is conducted separately for heavier resonances (masses above 400 GeV), where each of the four final-state quarks generates a hadronic jet resulting in a four-jet signature, and for lighter resonances (masses between 80 and 400 GeV), where the pair of quarks from each resonance is collimated and reconstructed as a single jet resulting in a two-jet signature. In addition, a b-tagged selection is applied to target resonances with a bottom quark in the final state. The analysis uses data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1), from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The mass spectra are analyzed for the presence of new resonances, and are found to be consistent with standard model expectations. The results are interpreted in the framework of R-parity-violating supersymmetry assuming the pair production of scalar top quarks decaying via the hadronic coupling lambda ''(312) or lambda ''(323) and upper limits on the cross section as a function of the top squark mass are set. These results probe a wider range of masses than previously explored at the LHC, and extend the top squark mass limits in the (t) over tilde -> qq' scenario.Peer reviewe

Operation and performance of the ATLAS Tile Calorimeter in Run 1

The Tile Calorimeter is the hadron calorimeter covering the central region of the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Approximately 10,000 photomultipliers collect light from scintillating tiles acting as the active material sandwiched between slabs of steel absorber. This paper gives an overview of the calorimeter’s performance during the years 2008–2012 using cosmic-ray muon events and proton–proton collision data at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8TeV with a total integrated luminosity of nearly 30 fb−1. The signal reconstruction methods, calibration systems as well as the detector operation status are presented. The energy and time calibration methods performed excellently, resulting in good stability of the calorimeter response under varying conditions during the LHC Run 1. Finally, the Tile Calorimeter response to isolated muons and hadrons as well as to jets from proton–proton collisions is presented. The results demonstrate excellent performance in accord with specifications mentioned in the Technical Design Report

Observation of the decay Λb0 → pK−μ+μ− and a search for CP violation

A search for CP violation in the decay Λb 0 → pK−μ+μ− is presented. This decay is mediated by flavour-changing neutral-current transitions in the Standard Model and is potentially sensitive to new sources of CP violation. The study is based on a data sample of proton-proton collisions recorded with the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1. The Λb 0 → pK−μ+μ− decay is observed for the first time, and two observables that are sensitive to different manifestations of CP violation are measured, (Formula Presented.)where the latter is based on asymmetries in the angle between the μ+μ− and pK− decay planes. These are measured to be(Formula Presented.)and no evidence for CP violation is found.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].</p

Use of Metallomics and Metabolomics to Assess Metal Pollution in Doñana National Park (SW Spain)

Monitoring organism exposure to heavy metals has acquired increased importance in the last decades. The mouse <i>Mus spretus</i> has been used to assess the biological response to contaminants in the relevant ecological area of Doñana National Park (DNP) and surrounding areas (SW Spain), where many migrating birds land for breeding and feeding every year. A metallomics approach, based on the characterization of metal biomolecules using size exclusion chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) and a metabolomics approach based on direct infusion to a mass spectrometer (DI-ESI-QTOF-MS) followed by a partial linear square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), were used to compare the biological responses of <i>M. spretus</i> living in three areas of DNP (the reference) and surrounding areas (El Partido and El Matochal). The activities of key antioxidant enzymes, such as Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, CAT, GR, and guaiacol peroxidase, were also determined in connection with environmental contamination issues. The results show differences caused by the presence of metals in the ecosystem that affected to the levels of metals and metalloproteins, such as MT, Cu/Zn-SOD, or Mn-CA, the breakdown of membrane phospholipids, perturbations in metabolic pathways, related to energy metabolism, and oxidative stress

Heat Capacity Behavior and Structure of Alkan-1-ol/Alkylbenzoate Binary Solvents

Heat capacities for the binary mixtures of methanol with (C₁–C₄) alkylbenzoates and methylbenzoate with (C₁–C₁₁) alkan-1-ols have been measured over the whole composition range at 298.15 K under atmospheric pressure. From the experimental measurements, the derived excess molar heat capacities and partial excess molar heat capacities at infinite dilution have been calculated. A Redlich–Kister-type equation was fitted to these data, and the fitting parameters and standard deviations have been evaluated. Likewise, the IR spectra for the same systems have been recorded as a function of composition. The sets of experimental data gathered contribute to shed light onto the solvent structure and the underlying molecular interactions between the mixture constituents. The conclusions drawn have been established in terms of solute–solvent and solvent–solvent interactions and the ensuing structural effects between the solvent constituents

Microwave Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy Study of Alkan-1-ol/Alkylbenzoate Binary Solvents

The structure and dynamics of alkan-1-ol/alkylbenzoate binary mixtures have been studied by microwave dielectric relaxation spectroscopy in the 200 MHz to 20 GHz frequency range. The binary mixtures of methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol, and pentan-1-ol with methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl benzoates were studied at 298.15 K. The relaxational response of the pure alcohols, pure esters, and their binary mixtures over the full composition range is properly described by the Havriliak–Negami model. The alcohol content, alcohol length, and alkyl side-chain effects on the relaxational properties have been studied for these mixtures over the whole composition range. From the experimental readings, the effective and the corrective Kirkwood and Bruggeman correlation factors have been calculated. The data gathered have been interpreted in terms of the alkyl side-chain effect and their reliance on the mixture composition

New Experimental Data and Modeling of Glymes: Toward the Development of a Predictive Model for Polyethers

The design and optimization of industrial processes relies on the availability of robust and accurate models and equations of state (EoSs). Considering the further advancement of the use of soft-SAFT (one version of statistical associating fluid theory) EoS, toward its implementation in industrial processes, a methodology to determine the molecular model and transferable molecular parameters of glymes is discussed herein. In addition to the commonly used vapor pressure and saturated liquid densities, the description of the temperature and pressure effect is improved by including one additional density–pressure and one isothermal compressibility isotherm (both at 323 K) for the molecular parameter optimization. For the guiding of the selection and optimization of the soft-SAFT EoS molecular model and parameters, new high-pressure density data (<i>pρT</i>) and derived properties, such as isothermal compressibility and isobaric thermal expansion, of eight glymes (glycol ethers) have been determined in wide ranges of temperatures (283–363 K) and pressures (0.1–95 MPa). The selected molecular model (considering that only the hydroxyl end groups are able to establish associative interactions) and its parameters provide an excellent description of the experimental data, being able to predict the characteristic crossover point observed for the isobaric thermal expansivities. The robustness and enhanced physical meaning of the molecular model and molecular parameters allow the use of correlations with the molecular weight. The transferability of the proposed molecular parameters is further used to predict the liquid densities for PEGDME250 (a blend of di alkyl ethers similar to the Selexol solvent)