Tests of small proportional tubes with CF4-HRS gas mixtures

We have investigated the operating characteristics and drift times of small proportional tubes (active WIDTH = 3.17 mm) containing mixtures of CF4 and HRS gas (89% Ar, 10% CO2, 1% CH4). As the fraction of CF4 is varied from zero to 100%, maximum drift times decrease from about 32 to 16 ns. The operating voltage increases and the energy resolution worsens significantly with increases in the CF4 component.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27024/1/0000012.pd

Search for heavy sequential neutrinos at PEP and PETRA

The experimental signature of the production of heavy, sequential neutrinos at the PEP and PETRA e+e- colliders is discussed. The model for this discussion assumes that in analogy with quarks the neutrino mass spectrum rises sharply and that massive neutrinos decay via charged currents involving as yet unknown mixing parameters.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24930/1/0000357.pd

Searches for effects of flavor-changing neutral currents

We discuss some possible processes, mainly decays, to search for flavor-changing neutral currents. We examine the theoretical constraints from present data as well as improved sensitivities which might be achieved in future experiments. We focus on the decays K0 --> [mu]e, [Sigma]+ p[mu]e, [tau]--> [mu][mu]e and [mu] --> eee as being particularly interesting for further experimental searches.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23166/1/0000091.pd

Detecting the (Quasi-)Two-Body Decays of τ\tau Leptons in Short-Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiments

Novel detector schemes are proposed for the short-baseline neutrino experiments of next generation, aimed at exploring the large-$\Delta m^2$ domain of \omutau oscillations in the appearance mode. These schemes emphasize good spectrometry for charged particles and for electromagnetic showers and efficient reconstruction of \ypi_gg decays. The basic elements are a sequence of relatively thin emulsion targets, immersed in magnetic field and interspersed with electronic trackers, and a fine-grained electromagnetic calorimeter built of lead glass. These elements act as an integral whole in reconstructing the electromagnetic showers. This conceptual scheme shows good performance in identifying the $\tau$ (quasi-)two-body decays by their characteristic kinematics and in selecting the electronic decays of the $\tau$.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figure

Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer: should alcohol be condemned and tobacco acquitted?

British Journal of Cancer (2002) 87, 1195–1196. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6600633 www.bjcancer.co

Experimental limits on massive neutrinos from e(+)e(-) annihilations at 29 GeV

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.37.577.A search was made in 29-GeV e(+)e(-) annihilations for massive neutrinos decaying to e(±)X(∓)(ν) where X is a muon or meson. A 300-pb(-1) data sample yielded just one candidate event with a mass m(e)X>1.8 GeV. Significant limits are found for new neutrinos with masses from 1.8 to 6.7 GeV and with mixing parameters in the range 3×10(-6)<‖U‖(2)<1. .A

Male tobacco smoke load and non-lung cancer mortality associations in Massachusetts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Different methods exist to estimate smoking attributable cancer mortality rates (Peto and Ezzati methods, as examples). However, the smoking attributable estimates using these methods cannot be generalized to all population sub-groups. A simpler method has recently been developed that can be adapted and applied to different population sub-groups. This study assessed cumulative tobacco smoke damage (smoke load)/non-lung cancer mortality associations across time from 1979 to 2003 among all Massachusetts males and ages 30–74 years, using this novel methodology.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Annual lung cancer death rates were used as smoke load bio-indices, and age-adjusted lung/all other (non-lung) cancer death rates were analyzed with linear regression approach. Non-lung cancer death rates include all cancer deaths excluding lung. Smoking-attributable-fractions (SAFs) for the latest period (year 2003) were estimated as: 1-(estimated unexposed cancer death rate/observed rate).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Male lung and non-lung cancer death rates have declined steadily since 1992. Lung and non-lung cancer death rates were tightly and steeply associated across years. The slopes of the associations analyzed were 1.69 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35–2.04, r = 0.90), and 1.36 (CI 1.14–1.58, r = 0.94) without detected autocorrelation (Durbin-Watson statistic = 1.8). The lung/non-lung cancer death rate associations suggest that all-sites cancer death rate SAFs in year 2003 were 73% (Sensitivity Range [SR] 61–82%) for all ages and 74% (SR 61–82%) for ages 30–74 years.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The strong lung/non-lung cancer death rate associations suggest that tobacco smoke load may be responsible for most prematurely fatal cancers at both lung and non-lung sites. The present method estimates are greater than the earlier estimates. Therefore, tobacco control may reduce cancer death rates more than previously noted.</p

Large salp bloom export from the upper ocean and benthic community response in the abyssal northeast Pacific: Day to week resolution

A large bloom of Salpa spp. in the northeastern Pacific during the spring of 2012 resulted in a major deposition of tunics and fecal pellets on the seafloor at ∼ 4000 m depth (Sta. M) over a period of 6 months. Continuous monitoring of this food pulse was recorded using autonomous instruments: sequencing sediment traps, a time‐lapse camera on the seafloor, and a bottom‐transiting vehicle measuring sediment community oxygen consumption (SCOC). These deep‐sea measurements were complemented by sampling of salps in the epipelagic zone by California Cooperative Ocean Fisheries Investigations. The particulate organic carbon (POC) flux increased sharply beginning in early March, reaching a peak of 38 mg C m−2 d−1 in mid‐April at 3400 m depth. Salp detritus started appearing in images of the seafloor taken in March and covered a daily maximum of 98% of the seafloor from late June to early July. Concurrently, the SCOC rose with increased salp deposition, reaching a high of 31 mg C m−2 d−1 in late June. A dominant megafauna species, Peniagone sp. A, increased 7‐fold in density beginning 7 weeks after the peak in salp deposition. Estimated food supply from salp detritus was 97–327% of the SCOC demand integrated over the 6‐month period starting in March 2012. Such large episodic pulses of food sustain abyssal communities over extended periods of time