1,546 research outputs found
Sector logic implementation for the ATLAS endcap level-1 muon trigger
We present development of the Sector Logic for the ATLAS endcap Level-1 (LVL1) muon trigger. The muon tracks from the interaction point (IP) are bent by the magnetic fields induced by the ATLAS toroidal magnets. The Sector Logic reconstructs three dimensional muon tracks with six levels of transverse momentum (pT) by combining two sets (R-Z and Ο-Z) of information from the Thin Gap Chamber (TGC) detectors. Then, it selects two highest pT tracks in each trigger sector. The Sector Logic module is designed in pipelined structure to achieve no-dead-time operation and shorter latency. Look-Up-Tables (LUTs) are used so that any pT threshold level can be set. To achieve these, we adopted SRAM embedded type FPGA devices. The design and its performance are given in this presentation
Effects of acacia mangium on morphological and physicochemical properties of soil
This study was
conducted in an industrial Acacia mangium plantation in Sarawak, Malaysia, to investigate the effects of
planting and harvesting A. mangium on soil morphological and physicochemical properties. In A. mangium
sites, the disruptive effect of planting practices extended to morphological properties in subsoil layers. The A
horizon redeveloped during early stages after planting which could be ascribed to plentiful supply of organic
matter through rapid decomposition of vegetation residues produced upon land preparation. However,
soil C- and N-related properties appeared to decrease with stand age, while the levels of exchangeable
bases and available P remained low even after 10 years. In post-harvest sites, distinct soil horizons were not
observed due to severe disturbance. The levels of total C, N and exchangeable bases at depth of 0β5 cm for
sites assessed 3 years after harvesting were higher than those of sites assessed 1 year after harvesting. This
might be ascribed to relatively gradual release of organic matter and nutrients from harvest residues into
soil due to low level of decomposition as well as low nutrient uptake of poor vegetation regrowth
X-ray Diagnostics of Thermal Conditions of the Hot Plasmas in the Centaurus Cluster
X-ray data of the Centaurus cluster, obtained with {\it XMM-Newton} for 45
ksec, were analyzed. Deprojected EPIC spectra from concentric thin shell
regions were reproduced equally well by a single-phase plasma emission model,
or by a two-phase model developed by {\it ASCA}, both incorporating cool
(1.7--2.0 keV) and hot ( keV) plasma temperatures. However, EPIC
spectra with higher statistics, accumulated over 3-dimentional thick shell
regions, were reproduced better by the two-phase model than by the singe-phase
one. Therefore, hot and cool plasma phases are inferred to co-exist in the
cluster core region within kpc. The iron and silicon abundances of
the plasma were reconfirmed to increase significantly towards the center, while
that of oxygen was consistent with being radially constant. The implied
non-solar abundance ratios explains away the previously reported excess X-ray
absorption from the central region. Although an additional cool (
keV) emission was detected within kpc of the center, the RGS data
gave tight upper limits on any emission with a tempeartures below
keV. These results are compiled into a magnetosphere model, which interprets
the cool phase as confined within closed magnetic loops anchored to the cD
galaxy. When combined with so-called Rosner-Tucker-Vaiana mechanism which
applies to solar coronae, this model can potentially explain basic properties
of the cool phase, including its temperature and thermal stability.Comment: 53 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Journa
Phosphorylated Smad2 in Advanced Stage Gastric Carcinoma
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Transforming growth factor Ξ² (TGFΞ²) receptor signaling is closely associated with the invasion ability of gastric cancer cells. Although Smad signal is a critical integrator of TGFΞ² receptor signaling transduction systems, not much is known about the role of Smad2 expression in gastric carcinoma. The aim of the current study is to clarify the role of phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) in gastric adenocarcinomas at advanced stages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Immunohistochemical staining with anti-p-Smad2 was performed on paraffin-embedded specimens from 135 patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinomas. We also evaluated the relationship between the expression levels of p-Smad2 and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with gastric adenocarcinomas.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The p-Smad2 expression level was high in 63 (47%) of 135 gastric carcinomas. The p-Smad2 expression level was significantly higher in diffuse type carcinoma (p = 0.007), tumours with peritoneal metastasis (p = 0.017), and tumours with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.047). The prognosis for p-Smad2-high patients was significantly (p = 0.035, log-rank) poorer than that of p-Smad2-low patients, while a multivariate analysis revealed that p-Smad2 expression was not an independence prognostic factor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The expression of p-Smad2 is associated with malignant phenotype and poor prognosis in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.</p
Energy Loss and Flow of Heavy Quarks in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
The PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) has
measured electrons from heavy flavor (charm and bottom) decays for 0.3 < p_T <
9 GeV/c at midrapidity (|y| < 0.35) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200
GeV. The nuclear modification factor R_AA relative to p+p collisions shows a
strong suppression in central Au+Au collisions, indicating substantial energy
loss of heavy quarks in the medium produced at RHIC. A large azimuthal
anisotropy, v_2, with respect to the reaction plane is observed for 0.5 < p_T <
5 GeV/c indicating non-zero heavy flavor elliptic flow. Both R_AA and v_2 show
a p_T dependence different from those of neutral pions. A comparison to
transport models which simultaneously describe R_AA(p_T) and v_2(p_T) suggests
that the viscosity to entropy density ratio is close to the conjectured quantum
lower bound, i.e., near a perfect fluid.Comment: v2 replaced Fig. 3 to fix an error in using a wrong theory curve; v3
minor changes in review process, including last 2 sentences of abstract. 422
authors, 58 institutions, 6 pages text, 3 figures, REVTeX4. Submitted to
Physical Review Letters. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in
figures available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Measurement of high-p_T Single Electrons from Heavy-Flavor Decays in p+p Collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV
The momentum distribution of electrons from decays of heavy flavor (charm and
beauty) for midrapidity |y| < 0.35 in p+p collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV has
been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider
(RHIC) over the transverse momentum range 0.3 < p_T < 9 GeV/c. Two independent
methods have been used to determine the heavy flavor yields, and the results
are in good agreement with each other. A fixed-order-plus-next-to-leading-log
pQCD calculation agrees with the data within the theoretical and experimental
uncertainties, with the data/theory ratio of 1.72 +/- 0.02^stat +/- 0.19^sys
for 0.3 < p_T < 9 GeV/c. The total charm production cross section at this
energy has also been deduced to be sigma_(c c^bar) = 567 +/- 57^stat +/-
224^sys micro barns.Comment: 375 authors from 57 institutions, 6 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to
Physical Review Letters. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in
figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly
available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Defending the genome from the enemy within:mechanisms of retrotransposon suppression in the mouse germline
The viability of any species requires that the genome is kept stable as it is transmitted from generation to generation by the germ cells. One of the challenges to transgenerational genome stability is the potential mutagenic activity of transposable genetic elements, particularly retrotransposons. There are many different types of retrotransposon in mammalian genomes, and these target different points in germline development to amplify and integrate into new genomic locations. Germ cells, and their pluripotent developmental precursors, have evolved a variety of genome defence mechanisms that suppress retrotransposon activity and maintain genome stability across the generations. Here, we review recent advances in understanding how retrotransposon activity is suppressed in the mammalian germline, how genes involved in germline genome defence mechanisms are regulated, and the consequences of mutating these genome defence genes for the developing germline
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