Evidence for Strange Quark Contributions to the Nucleon's Form Factors at Q2Q^2 = 0.108 (GeV/c)2^2

We report on a measurement of the parity violating asymmetry in the elastic scattering of polarized electrons off unpolarized protons with the A4 apparatus at MAMI in Mainz at a four momentum transfer value of $Q^2$ = \Qsquare (GeV/c)$^2$ and at a forward electron scattering angle of 30$^\circ < \theta_e < 40^\circ$. The measured asymmetry is $A_{LR}(\vec{e}p)$ = (\Aphys $\pm$ \Deltastat$_{stat}$ $\pm$ \Deltasyst$_{syst}$) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$. The expectation from the Standard Model assuming no strangeness contribution to the vector current is A$_0$ = (\Azero $\pm$ \DeltaAzero) $\times$ 10$^{-6}$. We have improved the statistical accuracy by a factor of 3 as compared to our previous measurements at a higher $Q^2$. We have extracted the strangeness contribution to the electromagnetic form factors from our data to be $G_E^s$ + \FakGMs $G_M^s$ = \GEsGMs $\pm$ \DeltaGEsGMs at $Q^2$ = \Qsquare (GeV/c)$^2$. As in our previous measurement at higher momentum transfer for $G_E^s$ + 0.230 $G_M^s$, we again find the value for $G_E^s$ + \FakGMs $G_M^s$ to be positive, this time at an improved significance level of 2 $\sigma$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Measurement of the parity violating asymmetry in the quasielastic electron-deuteron scattering and improved determination of the magnetic strange form factor and the isovector anapole radiative correction

A new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in the electron-deuteron quasielastic scattering for backward angles at ⟨Q[superscript 2]⟩=0.224 (GeV/c)[superscript 2], obtained in the A4 experiment at the Mainz Microtron accelerator (MAMI) facility, is presented. The measured asymmetry is A[subscript PV][superscript d]=(-20.11±0.87[subscript stat]±1.03[subscript sys])×10[superscript -6]. A combination of these data with the proton measurements of the parity-violating asymmetry in the A4 experiment yields a value for the effective isovector axial-vector form factor of G[subscript A][superscript e,(T=1)]=-0.19±0.43 and R[subscript A][superscript e(T=1),anap] =-0.41±0.35 for the anapole radiative correction. When combined with a reanalysis of measurements obtained in the G0 experiment at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, the uncertainties are further reduced to G[subscript M][superscript s]=0.17±0.11 for the magnetic strange form factors, and R[subscript A][superscript (T=1),anap]=-0.54±0.26.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaf

New Measurements of the Beam Normal Spin Asymmetries at Large Backward Angles with Hydrogen and Deuterium Targets

New measurements of the beam normal single spin asymmetry in the electron elastic and quasielastic scattering on the proton and deuteron, respectively, at large backward angles and at Q2=0.22 (GeV/c)2 and Q2=0.35 (GeV/c)2 are reported. The experimentally observed asymmetries are compared with the theoretical calculation of Pasquini and Vanderhaeghen [Phys. Rev. C 70, 045206 (2004).PRVCAN0556-281310.1103/PhysRevC.70.045206]. The agreement of the measurements with the theoretical calculations shows a dominance of the inelastic intermediate excited states of the nucleon, πN and the Δ resonance. The measurements explore a new, important parameter region of the exchanged virtual photon virtualities

Synthesis and DFT investigation of new bismuth-containing MAX phases

The M(n + 1)AX(n) phases (M = early transition metal; A = group A element and X = C and N) are materials exhibiting many important metallic and ceramic properties. In the present study powder processing experiments and density functional theory calculations are employed in parallel to examine formation of Zr(2)(Al(1−x)Bi(x))C (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). Here we show that Zr(2)(Al(1−x)Bi(x))C, and particularly with x ≈ 0.58, can be formed from powders even though the end members Zr(2)BiC and Zr(2)AlC seemingly cannot. This represents a significant extension of the MAX phase family, as this is the first report of a bismuth-based MAX phase

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected

Developments and Tests of a 700 MHz Cryomodule for the Superconducting Linac of MYRRHA

The MYRRHA projects aims at the construction of an Accelerator Driven System demonstrator. The criticality will be sustained by an external spallation neutron flux; produced thanks to a 600 MeV high intensity proton beam. This beam will be delivered by a superconducting linac which must fulfil very stringent reliability requirements. To carry out “real scale” reliability-oriented experiments a 700 MHz Cryomodule was developed. Several tests were performed to commission the experimental set-up. We review here the obtained results and the lessons learnt by operating this module, as well as the on-going developments

Commissioning of the MAX 700MHz test stand

TUPP080International audienceThe MYRRHA project aims at the construction of anAccelerator Driven System demonstrator. The criticalitywill be sustained by an external spallation neutron fluxproduced thanks to a 600 MeV high intensity protonbeam. This beam will be delivered by a superconductinglinac which must fulfil very stringent reliabilityrequirements. Under the MAX (MYRRHA AcceleratoreXperiment) program, which aims at pursuing the R&Dactivities on the ADS-type accelerator, a 700 MHzCryomodule was developed. The main goal of this teststand is to dispose of a facility to carry out “real scale”reliability oriented studies on a RF Superconductingcavity of the high-energy linac section. This module holdsa 5-cell elliptical cavity equipped with its blade coldtuning system and its coaxial power coupler. Theexperimental work undertaken at IPN Orsay, has allowedto fully qualify the module in machine configuration(high RF power, at 2K), including assessment of thetuning system and measurement of microphonicsspectrums. During this study the dynamic behavior of thefast tuning system of the cavity was also measured. Wereview here the obtained results and lessons learnt byoperating this module