330 research outputs found
PlutoFâa Web Based Workbench for Ecological and Taxonomic Research, with an Online Implementation for Fungal ITS Sequences
DNA sequences accumulating in the International Nucleotide Sequence Databases (INSD) form a rich source of information for taxonomic and ecological meta-analyses. However, these databases include many erroneous entries, and the data itself is poorly annotated with metadata, making it difficult to target and extract entries of interest with any degree of precision. Here we describe the web-based workbench PlutoF, which is designed to bridge the gap between the needs of contemporary research in biology and the existing software resources and databases. Built on a relational database, PlutoF allows remote-access rapid submission, retrieval, and analysis of study, specimen, and sequence data in INSD as well as for private datasets though web-based thin clients. In contrast to INSD, PlutoF supports internationally standardized terminology to allow very specific annotation and linking of interacting specimens and species. The sequence analysis module is optimized for identification and analysis of environmental ITS sequences of fungi, but it can be modified to operate on any genetic marker and group of organisms. The workbench is available at http://plutof.ut.ee
Estimating fine-root production by tree species and understorey functional groups in two contrasting peatland forests
Background and aims Estimation of root-mediated carbon fluxes in forested peatlands is needed for understanding ecosystem functioning and supporting greenhouse gas inventories. Here, we aim to determine the optimal methodology for utilizing ingrowth cores in estimating annual fine-root production (FRP) and its vertical distribution in trees, shrubs and herbs. Methods We used 3-year data obtained with modified ingrowth core method and tested two calculation methods: 'ingrowth-dividing' and `ingrowth-subtracting'. Results The ingrowth-dividing method combined with a 2-year incubation of ingrowth cores can be used for the 'best estimate' of FRP. The FRP in the nutrient-rich fen forest (561 g m(-2)) was more than twice that in the nutrient-poor bog forest (244 g m(-2)). Most FRP occurred in the top 20-cm layer (76-82 %). Tree FRP accounted for 71 % of total FRP in the bog and 94 % in the fen forests, respectively, following the aboveground vegetation patterns; however, in fen forest the proportions of spruce and birch in FRP were higher than their proportions in stand basal area. Conclusions Our methodology may be used to study peatland FRP patterns more widely and will reduce the volume of labour-intensive work, but will benefit from verification with other methods, as is the case in all in situ FRP studies.Peer reviewe
Formation of the in Two-Photon Collisions at LEP
The two-photon width of the meson has been
measured with the L3 detector at LEP. The is studied in the decay
modes , KK, KK,
KK, , , and
using an integrated luminosity of 140 pb at GeV and
of 52 pb at GeV. The result is
(BR) keV. The dependence of the cross section is studied for
GeV. It is found to be better described by a Vector Meson
Dominance model form factor with a J-pole than with a -pole. In addition,
a signal of events is observed at the mass. Upper limits
for the two-photon widths of the , , and are also
given
Study of Z Boson Pair Production in e+e- Collisions at LEP at \sqrt{s}=189 GeV
The pair production of Z bosons is studied using the data collected by the L3
detector at LEP in 1998 in e+e- collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 189
GeV. All the visible final states are considered and the cross section of this
process is measured to be 0.74 +0.15 -0.14 (stat.) +/- 0.04 (syst.) pb. Final
states containing b quarks are enhanced by a dedicated selection and their
production cross section is found to be 0.18 +0.09 -0.07 (stat.) +/- 0.02
(syst.) pb. Both results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions.
Limits on anomalous couplings between neutral gauge bosons are derived from
these measurements
Search for Neutral Higgs Bosons of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model in e+e- Interactions at \sqrt{s} = 189 GeV
A search for the lightest neutral scalar and neutral pseudoscalar Higgs
bosons in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model is performed using 176.4
pb^-1 of integrated luminosity collected by L3 at a center-of-mass energy of
189 GeV. No signal is observed, and the data are consistent with the expected
Standard Model background. Lower limits on the masses of the lightest neutral
scalar and pseudoscalar Higgs bosons are given as a function of tan(beta).
Lower mass limits for tan(beta)>1 are set at the 95% confidence level to be m_h
> 77.1 GeV and m_A > 77.1 GeV
Search for Extra Dimensions in Boson and Fermion Pair Production in e+e- Interactions at LEP
Extra spatial dimensions are proposed by recent theories that postulate the
scale of gravity to be of the same order as the electroweak scale. A sizeable
interaction between gravitons and Standard Model particles is then predicted.
Effects of these new interactions in boson and fermion pair production are
searched for in the data sample collected at centre-of-mass energies above the
Z pole by the L3 detector at LEP. In addition, the direct production of a
graviton associated with a Z boson is investigated. No statistically
significant hints for the existence of these effects are found and lower limits
in excess of 1 TeV are derived on the scale of this new theory of gravity
Measurement of Triple-Gauge-Boson Couplings of the W Boson at LEP
We report on measurements of the triple-gauge-boson couplings of the W boson
in e+e- collisions with the L3 detector at LEP. W-pair, single-W and
single-photon events are analysed in a data sample corresponding to a total
luminosity of 76.7 pb^{-1} collected at centre-of-mass energies between 161 GeV
and 183 GeV. CP-conserving as well as both C- and P-conserving
triple-gauge-boson couplings are determined. The results, in good agreement
with the Standard-Model expectations, confirm the existence of the self
coupling among the electroweak gauge bosons and constrain its structure
Search for Heavy Neutral and Charged Leptons in ee Annihilation at = 183 and 189 GeV
A search for unstable neutral and charged heavy leptons as well as for stable
charged heavy leptons is performed at center-of-mass energies = 183
and 189 GeV with the L3 detector at LEP. No evidence for their existence is
found. We exclude neutral heavy leptons which couple to the electron, muon or
tau family, of the Dirac type for masses below 92.4, 93.3 and 83.3 GeV, and of
the Majorana type for masses below 81.8, 84.1 and 73.5 GeV, respectively. We
exclude unstable charged heavy leptons for masses below 93.9 GeV for a wide
range of the associated neutral heavy lepton mass. If the unstable charged
heavy lepton decays to a light neutrino, we exclude masses below 92.4 GeV. The
production of stable charged heavy leptons with mass less than 93.5 GeV is also
excluded
Measurement of the Spectroscopy of Orbitally Excited B Mesons at LEP
We measure the masses, decay widths and relative production rate of orbitally
excited B mesons using 1.25 million hadronic Z decays recorded by the L3
detector. B-meson candidates are inclusively reconstructed and combined with
charged pions produced at the primary event vertex. An excess of events above
the expected background in the B\pi mass spectrum in the region 5.6-5.8 GeV is
interpreted as resulting from the decay B_u,d^** -> B^(*)\pi, where B_u,d^**
denotes a mixture of l=1 B-meson states containing a u or a d quark. A fit to
the mass spectrum yields the masses and decay widths of the B_1^* and B_2^*
spin states, as well as the branching fraction for the combination of l=1
states. In addition, evidence is presented for the existence of an excited
B-meson state or mixture of states in the region 5.9-6.0 GeV
Search for Charged Higgs Bosons in e+e- Collisions at \sqrt{s} = 189 GeV
A search for pair-produced charged Higgs bosons is performed with the L3
detector at LEP using data collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV,
corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.4 pb^-1. Higgs decays into a
charm and a strange quark or into a tau lepton and its associated neutrino are
considered. The observed events are consistent with the expectations from
Standard Model background processes. A lower limit of 65.5 GeV on the charged
Higgs mass is derived at 95 % confidence level, independent of the decay
branching ratio Br(H^{+/-} -> tau nu)
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