Search for Branons at LEP

We search, in the context of extra-dimension scenarios, for the possible existence of brane fluctuations, called branons. Events with a single photon or a single Z-boson and missing energy and momentum collected with the L3 detector in e^+ e^- collisions at centre-of-mass energies sqrt{s}=189-209$ GeV are analysed. No excess over the Standard Model expectations is found and a lower limit at 95% confidence level of 103 GeV is derived for the mass of branons, for a scenario with small brane tensions. Alternatively, under the assumption of a light branon, brane tensions below 180 GeV are excluded

Search for Charginos with a Small Mass Difference with the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle at \sqrt{s} = 189 GeV

A search for charginos nearly mass-degenerate with the lightest supersymmetric particle is performed using the 176 pb^-1 of data collected at 189 GeV in 1998 with the L3 detector. Mass differences between the chargino and the lightest supersymmetric particle below 4 GeV are considered. The presence of a high transverse momentum photon is required to single out the signal from the photon-photon interaction background. No evidence for charginos is found and upper limits on the cross section for chargino pair production are set. For the first time, in the case of heavy scalar leptons, chargino mass limits are obtained for any \tilde{\chi}^{+-}_1 - \tilde{\chi}^0_1 mass difference

How to move around and where to settle: environmental determinants of spatial behaviour in reintroduced lions (Panthera leo)

Session - Predation and Predators: Predator reintroduction in small enclosed reserves and associated prey responsespostprin

Measurement of the Effective Weak Mixing Angle by Jet-Charge Asymmetry in Hadronic Decays of the Z Boson

The coupling of the Z boson to quarks is studied in a sample of about 3.5 million hadronic Z decays collected by the L3 experiment at LEP from 1991 to 1995. The forward-backward quark charge asymmet ry is measured by means of a jet charge technique. From the measured asymmetries, the effective weak mixing angle is determined to be \begin{center} $\STE = 0.2327 \pm 0.0012(\mbox{\emph{stat.}} ) \pm 0.0013(\mbox{\emph{syst.}

Measurement of the Michel Parameters and the Average τ\tau-Neutrino Helicity from τ\tau Decays at LEP

Four of the Michel parameters and the average tau-neutrino helicity have been measured by analysing tau decay spectra in 147 \pb ~of data collected by the L3 detector. The decays \tte, ~\ttm, ~\ttp, ~\ttr ~and their charge conjugates were considered. The results: $\rho = 0.762 \pm 0.035$, $\eta = 0.27 \pm 0.14$, $\xi = 0.70 \pm 0.16$, $\xi\delta = 0.70 \pm0.11$ and $\xi_{h} = -1.032 \pm 0.031$ are consistent with a V$-$A structure for the weak charged current and lepton universality

QCD studies in e+e−e^{+}e^{-} annihilation from 30 GeV to 189 GeV

We present results obtained from a study of the structure of hadronic events recorded by the L3 detector at various centre-of-mass energies.The distributions of event shape variables and the energy dependence of their mean values are measured from 30 GeV to 189 GeV and compared with various QCD models. The energy dependence of the moments of event shape variables is used to test a power law ansatz for the non-perturbativecomponent. We obtain a universal value of the non-perturbative parameter$\alpha_{0}$ = 0.537 $\pm$ 0.073. From a comparison with resummed$\cal{O} \alpha_{\rm s}^{2})$ QCD calculations, we determine thestrong coupling constant at each of the selected energies. The measurements demonstrate the running of $\alpha_{\rm s}$ as expected in QCD with a value of$\alpha_{\rm s} (m_{\rm Z})$ = 0.1215 $\pm$ 0.0012 (exp) $\pm$ 0.0061 (th)

Measurement of the Average Lifetime of b-Hadrons in Z Decays

We present a measurement of the average b-hadron lifetime ${\rm \tau_b}$ at the $\mathrm{e^+e^-} \,$ collider LEP. Using hadronic Z decays collected in the period from 1991 to 1994, two independent analyses have been performed. In the first one, the b-decay position is reconstructed as a secondary vertex of hadronic b-decay particles. The second analysis is an updated measurement of ${\rm \tau_b}$ using the impact parameter of leptons with high momentum and high transverse momentum. The combined result is \begin{center} ${\rm \tau_b= [ 1549 \pm 9 \, (stat) \, \pm 15 \, (syst) ] \; fs \,}$ . \end{center} In addition, we measure the average charged b-decay multiplicity ${\rm \langle n_{\rm b}} \rangle$ and the normalized average b-energy ${\rm \langle x_E \rangle_{\rm b}}$ at LEP to be \begin{center} ${\rm \langle n_{\rm b} \rangle = 4.90 \pm 0.04 \ (stat) \pm 0.11 \, (syst)}$ , \end{center} \begin{center} ${\rm \langle x_E \rangle_{\rm b} = 0.709 \pm 0.004 \, (stat + syst).}$ \end{center

Υ\Upsilon production in Z Decays

We have searched for evidence of Upsilon production in 3.5 million hadronic Z decays collected by the L3 detector at LEP in 1991-1995. No signals are observed for the decay chain Z -> Upsilon X; Upsilon -> l+l- (l= e, mu), therefore upper limits at the 95% confidence level are set on the following Z branching fractions: BR (Z -> Upsilon(1S) X) Upsilon(2S) X) Upsilon(3S) X) < 9.4 x 10**-5

A proposed potential role for increasing atmospheric CO2 as a promoter of weight gain and obesity

Human obesity has evolved into a global epidemic. Interestingly, a similar trend has been observed in many animal species, although diet composition, food availability and physical activity have essentially remained unchanged. This suggests a common factor—potentially an environmental factor affecting all species. Coinciding with the increase in obesity, atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased more than 40%. Furthermore, in modern societies, we spend more time indoors, where CO2 often reaches even higher concentrations. Increased CO2 concentration in inhaled air decreases the pH of blood, which in turn spills over to cerebrospinal fluids. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus that regulate appetite and wakefulness have been shown to be extremely sensitive to pH, doubling their activity if pH decreases by 0.1 units. We hypothesize that an increased acidic load from atmospheric CO2 may potentially lead to increased appetite and energy intake, and decreased energy expenditure, and thereby contribute to the current obesity epidemic