Search for heavy resonances decaying into the fully hadronic di-tau final state with the ATLAS detector

The discovery of a heavy neutral particle would be a direct hint for new physics beyond the Standard Model. In this thesis searches for new heavy neutral particles decaying into two tau leptons, which further decay into hadrons, are presented. They cover neutral Higgs bosons in the context of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model (MSSM) as well as Z′ bosons, predicted by various theories with an extended gauge sector. Both analyses are based on the full 2012 proton-proton collision dataset taken by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The extended Higgs sector in the MSSM suggests additional heavy neutral Higgs bosons which decay into tau leptons in about 10% of the time. Given that the dominant final state, φ → b¯b, suffers from tremendous QCD initiated backgrounds, the decay into two tau leptons is the most promising final state to discover such new resonances. The fully hadronic final state is the dominant one with a branching fraction of about 42%. It governs the sensitivity, in particular at high transverse momentum when the QCD multijet background becomes small. Other theoretical extensions of the Standard Model, which are mainly driven by the concept of gauge unification, predict additional heavy particles arising from an extended underlying gauge group. Some of them further predict an enhanced coupling to fermions of the third generation. This motivates the search for Z′ bosons in the fully hadronic di-tau final state. One major challenge in physics analyses involving tau leptons is to have an outstanding performance of trigger and identification algorithms suitable to select real tau leptons with high efficiency, while rejecting fake taus originating from quark or gluon initiated jets. In this work a new tau trigger concept based on multivariate classifiers has been developed and became the default tau trigger algorithm in 2012 data-taking. An updated tau identification technique based on the log-likelihood approach has been provided for 2011 data-taking. Furthermore, a new framework has been developed to perform the tuning of the tau identification algorithm and exploited for the optimisation for 2012 data-taking, accordingly. The search for new heavy neutral Higgs bosons in the context of the MSSM has been performed exploiting the full 2012 dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb−1 taken at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 8 TeV. Updated event selection criteria and novel data-driven background estimation techniques have been developed and are suitable to increase the sensitivity of the analysis significantly. No deviations from the Standard Model prediction are observed, and thus 95% C.L. exclusion limits on the production cross section times branching ratio, σ(pp → φ) × BR(φ → ττ), are derived exploiting the CLs method. The exclusion ranges from 13.0 pb at 150GeV to 7.0 fb at 1 TeV for Higgs boson production in association with b-quarks and from 23.6 pb at 150GeV to 7.5 fb at 1 TeV for Higgs bosons produced via gluon-gluon fusion. The obtained exclusion limit on σ(pp → φ) × BR(φ → ττ) can be related to an exclusion of the MSSM parameter space in the MA-tan β-plane. Various benchmark scenario are considered. The ”standard candle” is the mhmax scenario, for which tan β values between 13.3 and 55 can be excluded at 95% C.L. in the considered mass range. Updated benchmark scenarios designed to incorporate the recently discovered SM-like Higgs boson were suggested and analysed as well. In the mhmod+ (mhmod−) scenario tan β values between 13.5 (13.3 ) and 55 (52 ) can be excluded. Finally, a search for heavy neutral resonances in the context of Z′ bosons was performed. As in the search for new Higgs bosons, no deviation from the Standard Model prediction is observed, and hence exclusion limits on the production cross section times branching ratio, σ(pp → Z′) × BR(Z′ → ττ), and on the Z′ boson mass are derived exploiting the Bayesian approach. Z′ bosons with MZ′ < 1.9 TeV can be excluded at 95% credibility, and thus mark the strongest exclusion limit obtained in the di-tau final state by any collider experiment so far

L’anthropologie rabbinique et les débats actuels sur la bioéthique

Cet article étudie les textes juifs de l’Antiquité en commençant avec un midrash sur le récit biblique de la création de l´homme, puis présente les discussions du traité talmudique de Nidda, afin de définir un point de départ pour une anthropologie rabbinique. Les maîtres du midrash et du Talmud y discutent des questions de pureté relatives à la menstruation et au flux du sang pendant et après la grossesse afin de construire un système de normes pour réglementer la vie sexuelle. Les mêmes textes ont été, récemment, utilisés pour se référer à l´histoire critique de la médecine et aux problèmes de la bioéthique moderne (IVG, recherche sur les cellules de souches, clonage). La discussion en Israël montre que cette approche est, pourtant, difficile à réaliser car elle présuppose la reconnaissance du système de la Halakha en entier.This article deals with Jewish texts of antiquity with the attempt to reconstruct the rabbinic teaching of embryology and anthropology. In a Midrash on the biblical account of the creation of Man and in discussions in the tractate of Nidda in the Talmud, the rabbis discuss questions of purity that are concerned with the menstruation and the flux of blood before and after pregnancy in order to deduce norms of sexual behavior. These texts have recently also been used for critical reference to the history of medicine and to problems of modern bioethics (abortion, stem cell research, cloning). The actual discussion in Israel, however, shows that in a secular society this approach is difficult to sustain because it presupposes the acknowledgment of the entire system of Halakha

The Image of Edom in Midrash Bereshit Rabbah

In Rabbinic literature, Esau (hence Edom), Jacob’s brother, is the character systematically chosen to incarnate the role of Rome, the “wicked empire,” both in the pagan (pre-Constantinian) and Christian periods. With this in mind, this article deals with the imagery of Edom in the classical Jewish Midrash Bereshit Rabbah, a compilation of Rabbinic interpretations and aggadic commentaries on the Biblical book of Genesis edited by Rabbinic sages during the late 4th or early 5th century C.E. in order to reflect upon the contemporary events of their time. It will be argued that the Rabbis who formed this text in its final stage merged older traditions and brought them into one coherent composition which may best be explained by the perspective of their time, after the Christianization of the Roman Empire.Dans la littérature rabbinique, Ésaü (Édom), le frère de Jacob, est le personnage choisi pour incarner le rôle de Rome, l’empire mauvais. Dans ce contexte, cet article traite de l’image d’Édom dans le Midrash Bereshit Rabbah, une compilation d’interprétations rabbiniques et de commentaires haggadiques sur le livre biblique de la Genèse, rédigée par les Sages (rabbins) à la fin du ive siècle ou au début du ve siècle pour réfléchir sur les événements de leur époque. L’article montrera que, tout en utilisant des traditions plus anciennes, les rabbins rédacteurs de ce texte ont réalisé une composition cohérente, qui peut être expliquée par la perspective de leur temps, c’est-à-dire la christianisation de l’empire suite à la conversion de Constantin

Intravascular tissue factor initiates coagulation via circulating microvesicles and platelets

Although tissue factor (TF), the principial initiator of physiological coagulation and pathological thrombosis, has recently been proposed to be present in human blood, the functional significance and location of the intravascular TF is unknown. In the plasma portion of blood, we found TF to be mainly associated with circulating microvesicles. By cell sorting with the specific marker CD42b, platelet-derived microvesicles were identified as a major location of the plasma TF. This was confirmed by the presence of full-length TF in microvesicles acutely shedded from the activated platelets. TF was observed to be stored in the α-granules and the open canalicular system of resting platelets and to be exposed on the cell surface after platelet activation. Functional competence of the blood-based TF was enabled when the microvesicles and platelets adhered to neutrophils, as mediated by P-selectin and neutrophil counterreceptor (PSGL-1, CD18 integrins) interactions. Moreover, neutrophil-secreted oxygen radical species supported the intravascular TF activity. The pools of platelet and microvesicle TF contributed additively and to a comparable extent to the overall blood TF activity, indicating a substantial participation of the microvesicle TF. Our results introduce a new concept of TF-mediated coagulation crucially dependent on TF associated with microvesicles and activated platelets, which principally enables the entire coagulation system to proceed on a restricted cell surface

Expression in mammalian cells of a cloned gene encoding murine DNA methyltransferase

Mammalian DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase (MTase, EC 2.1.1.37) is an essential component for establishing and maintaining cell-type specific methylation patterns in the genome. The cDNAfor the murine enzyme was previously cloned in segments. We have reconstructed the entire gene, encoding a protein of 1517 amino acids, from a set of overlapping CDNA clones. We report the assembly of two expression constructs in bacterial/mammalian shuttle vectors. Transcription in the first construct (pEMT) is driven by the cytomegalovirus enhancer/promoter and encodes a fusion protein with 15 additional aa at the N terminus, while the second construct (pJMT) is driven by the simian virus 40 early promoter/enhancer upstream from the natural ATG codon. Immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblot analysis have shown that both constructs direct the synthesis of MTase in COS-1 cells. Enzyme activity in whole-cell lysates of transfected COS-1 cells transfected with pEMT and pJMT are on average tenfold and fivefold higher than in control, respectively. The specific activities of the recombinant and endogenous mouse-cell enzyme are similar. These expression constructs will be of use in studies of DNA methylation in mammals

Detailed Kinetic Model for the Reaction of Ethene to Propene on Ni/AlMCM-41

The Ni/AlMCM-41 was prepared and applied as the catalyst for the direct conversion of ethene to propene. Based on the results of the broad experimental study, two reaction networks were compared, one consisting of dimerization, isomerization and metathesis and a modified network suggesting the cracking of long-chain olefins. To correlate the experimentally obtained data, the classical Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson model was applied for both reaction networks. The second network involving catalytic cracking offers a satisfying prediction of the observed product distributions

In-line Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy as a versatile process analytical technology for preparative protein chromatography

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a well-established spectroscopic method in the analysis of small molecules and protein secondary structure. However, FTIR is not commonly applied for in-line monitoring of protein chromatography. Here, the potential of in-line FTIR as a process analytical technology (PAT) in downstream processing was investigated in three case studies addressing the limits of currently applied spectroscopic PAT methods. A first case study exploited the secondary structural differences of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and lysozyme to selectively quantify the two proteins with partial least squares regression (PLS) giving root mean square errors of cross validation (RMSECV) of 2.42 g/l and 1.67 g/l, respectively. The corresponding Q$^{2}$ values are 0.92 and, respectively, 0.99, indicating robust models in the calibration range. Second, a process separating lysozyme and PEGylated lysozyme species was monitored giving an estimate of the PEGylation degree of currently eluting species with RMSECV of 2.35 g/l for lysozyme and 1.24 g/l for PEG with Q$^{2}$ of 0.96 and 0.94, respectively. Finally, Triton X-100 was added to a feed of lysozyme as a typical process-related impurity. It was shown that the species could be selectively quantified from the FTIR 3D field without PLS calibration. In summary, the proposed PAT tool has the potential to be used as a versatile option for monitoring protein chromatography. It may help to achieve a more complete implementation of the PAT initiative by mitigating limitations of currently used techniques

Forced periodic reactor operation with simultaneous modulation of two inputs: Nonlinear frequency response analysis and experimental demonstration

The classical design of continuously operated chemical reactors assumes that they are operated in a steady-state which is usually optimized and maintained by using appropriate control systems. Nevertheless, it has been known for quite some time that, in some cases, better performance can be achieved by applying a periodic regime exploiting forced modulations of one or more inputs to the reactor [1,2]. Finding out whether, at which conditions and to which extent periodic operation can be superior to the optimal steady-state is difficult. One approach that can be used is an approximate, analytical method called nonlinear frequency response (NFR) method [3]. The NFR method is based on the concept of higher order frequency response functions (FRFs) and applicable for weakly nonlinear systems [3]. Frequency response of a weakly nonlinear system, in addition to the basic harmonic, contains a non-periodic (DC) term and, theoretically, an infinite sequence of higher harmonics. The DC component of the output is responsible for the average performance of the periodically operated reactor, and its sign and value define whether, and to which extent, the periodic operation leads to process improvement. Using the NFR method, this DC component can be approximately estimated from a single asymmetrical second order FRF (for modulation of a single input) or from several single input and cross- asymmetrical second order FRFs (for multiple-input modulation). For the case of multiple modulated inputs, the optimal phase difference between the modulated inputs, which is an essential parameter, can be directly determined [4,5]. Promising parameters to be periodically modulated separately or simultaneously are clearly the reactant inlet concentrations, the flow-rates and the feed temperatures. We used the NFR method in order to identify forced periodic conditions under which the acetic acid anhydride hydrolysis (chosen as a test reaction) can be favorably performed in a CSTR. Based on the results of the theoretical analysis, experimental investigations were performed using a lab-scale reactor exposed to two fluctuating inlet streams (water and acetic anhydride) with adjustable flow-rates, which enables modulation of the inlet reactant concentrations or/and total flow-rates in a flexible manner. The concentration of the acetic acid formed is measured in the reactor online and used to monitor the process dynamics. Averaged values of the product outlet stream serve to validate the mean values predicted by NFR analysis and to evaluate the potential of this flexible forcing strategy

Gesamtverzeichnis der Hamburger Universitätsreden, Neue Folge

Dieser Band dokumentiert die vier Reden der Zentralen Veranstaltung der Universität anlässlich der Freischaltung des Hamburger Professorinnen- und Professorenkatalogs, ergänzt um ein Nachwort von Ole Fischer, dem Leiter des Universitätsarchivs. In ihrem Grußwort bezeichnete die Vizepräsidentin der Universität Jetta Frost die Erstellung eines elektronischen Professorinnen- und Professorenkatalogs als „nicht nur zeitgemäß, sondern überfällig“ und zur „Selbstvergegenwärtigung unserer Identität als Universität“ notwendig. Als Leiter der Arbeitsstelle für Universitätsgeschichte und Projektverantwortlicher betont Rainer Nicolaysen die Bedeutung des Katalogs als wichtige Grundlage universitäts- und wissenschaftsgeschichtlicher Forschung. Matthias Glasow dokumentiert in einem „Werkstattbericht“ über die Konzeption, Genese und Anwendung des HPK. Der Historiker Ulf Morgenstern, der schon vor mehr als zehn Jahren an der Entwicklung des Leipziger Professorenkatalogs beteiligt gewesen ist, erweitert den Horizont über das Hamburger Beispiel hinaus. Ole Fischer betont in seinem Nachwort, Professorinnen- und Professorenkataloge seien „insbesondere ein Startpunkt für eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit einzelnen Personen und den personellen Strukturen der Universität Hamburg“.This volume documents speeches of the University\u27s central event on the occasion of the release of the Hamburg catalogue of professors, supplemented by an epilogue. In her welcoming address, the Vice-President of the university Jetta Frost described the creation of an electronic catalogue of professors as "not only contemporary, but overdue" and necessary for the "self-presentation of our identity as a university". As head of the Centre for University History and responsible for the project, Rainer Nicolaysen stresses the importance of the catalogue as an important basis for research into the history of universities and science. Matthias Glasow documents the conception, genesis and application of the catalogue. The historian Ulf Morgenstern who was involved in the development of the Leipzig Professors\u27 Catalogue more than ten years ago, broadens the horizon beyond the Hamburg example. In his epilogue, Ole Fischer, Head of the Univerisy Archive, stresses that professorial catalogues are "particularly a starting point for a critical examination of individuals and the personal structures of the University of Hamburg"

Forced periodic operations of a chemical reactor for methanol synthesis – The search for the best scenario based on Nonlinear Frequency Response Method. Part II Simultaneous modulation of two inputs

The analysis of the potential to improve performance of a methanol synthesis reactor through forced periodical operations by Nonlinear Frequency Response method is presented. The methanol synthesis in an isothermal and isobaric lab-scale CSTR is considered. First, the analysis was performed for single input modulations (in Part I), which showed that significant improvements can't be achieved. Here, the study is extended to analysis of simultaneous modulations of two inputs. All possible input combinations (6 cases) are analysed and the optimal forcing parameters, maximizing the time-average methanol production, were determined. For all combinations the improvement is possible, but for some cases it is not significant. The highest improvement is predicted for simultaneous modulation of the inlet partial pressure of CO and the inlet volumetric flow rate. This case, for which it is possible to achieve up to 33.51 % of methanol production, is analysed it detail and optimized using multi-objective optimization.This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Daliborka Nikolić, Carsten Seidel, Matthias Felischak, Tamara Miličić, Achim Kienle, Andreas Seidel-Morgenstern, Menka Petkovska, Forced periodic operations of a chemical reactor for methanol synthesis – the search for the best scenario based on Nonlinear Frequency Response Method. Part II Simultaneous modulation of two inputs, Chemical Engineering Science, 2022, 248, 117133, doi: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2021.117133]The published version: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4816