Search for long-lived doubly charged Higgs bosons in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present a search for long-lived doubly charged Higgs bosons (H+/-+/-), with signatures of high ionization energy loss and muonlike penetration. We use 292 pb(-1) of data collected in p (p) over bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Observing no evidence of long-lived doubly charged particle production, we exclude H-L(+/-+/-) and H-R(+/-+/-) bosons with masses below 133 GeV/c(2) and 109 GeV/c(2), respectively. In the degenerate case we exclude H+/-+/- mass below 146 GeV/c(2). All limits are quoted at the 95% confidence level

Measurement of the W+W- Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV using Dilepton Events

We present a measurement of the W+W- production cross section using 184/pb of ppbar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Using the dilepton decay channel W+W- -> l+l-vvbar, where the charged leptons can be either electrons or muons, we find 17 candidate events compared to an expected background of 5.0+2.2-0.8 events. The resulting W+W- production cross section measurement of sigma(ppbar -> W+W-) = 14.6 +5.8 -5.1 (stat) +1.8 -3.0 (syst) +-0.9 (lum) pb agrees well with the Standard Model expectation.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables. To be submitted to Physical Review Letter

Cell surface associated glycohydrolases in normal and Gaucher disease fibroblasts

Gaucher disease (GD) is the most common lysosomal disorder and is caused by an inherited autosomal recessive deficiency in \u3b2-glucocerebrosidase. This enzyme, like other glycohydrolases involved in glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolism, is present in both plasma membrane (PM) and intracellular fractions. We analyzed the activities of CBE-sensitive \u3b2-glucosidase (GBA1) and AMP-DNM-sensitive \u3b2-glucosidase (GBA2) in total cell lysates and PM of human fibroblast cell lines from control (normal) subjects and from patients with GD clinical types 1, 2, and 3. GBA1 activities in both total lysate and PM of GD fibroblasts were low, and their relative percentages were similar to those of control cells. In contrast, GBA2 activities were higher in GD cells than in control cells, and the degree of increase differed among the three GD types. The increase of GBA2 enzyme activity was correlated with increased expression of GBA2 protein as evaluated by QRT-PCR. Activities of \u3b2-galactosidase and \u3b2-hexosaminidase in PM were significantly higher for GD cells than for control cells and also showed significant differences among the three GD types, suggesting the occurrence of cross-talk among the enzymes involved in GSL metabolism. Our findings indicate that the profiles of glycohydrolase activities in PM may provide a valuable tool to refine the classification of GD into distinct clinical types

Local meta-models for optimization using evolution strategies

Abstract. We employ local meta-models to enhance the efficiency of evolution strategies in the optimization of computationally expensive problems. The method involves the combination of second order local regression meta-models with the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy. Experiments on benchmark problems demonstrate that the proposed meta-models have the potential to reliably account for the ranking of the offspring population resulting in significant computational savings. The results show that the use of local meta-models significantly increases the efficiency of already competitive evolution strategies.

On similarities between two models of global optimization: statistical models and radial basis functions

Global optimization, Optimization in the presence of noise, Statistical models, Radial basis function,

Massas de lâminas foliares nas características produtivas e qualitativas da pastagem de capim-elefante "Pennisetum purpureum, Schum" (cv. "Taiwan") e desempenho animal Mass of leaf lamina in the produtive and qualitative characteristics of Elephantgrass "Pennisetum purpureum, Schum" (cv. Taiwan) pasture and animal performance

O experimento foi conduzido no Departamento de Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, para avaliar produtiva e qualitativamente a pastagem de capim elefante e o desempenho animal sob pastejo. A área experimental foi composta de oito piquetes de 0,443ha cada de capim-elefante (Pennisetun purpureum, Schum. cv. "Tawian"), onde pastejaram 36 novilhos das raças Charolês, Nelore e suas cruzas, com três animais "testers" por piquete, em duas repetições. Foram estudadas as variáveis relacionadas à produtividade e à qualidade da pastagem e ao desempenho animal. As massas reais de lâminas foliares (MLF) de capim-elefante foram: 1.167; 1.543; 1.926 e 2.248kg MS LF/ha, o que constitui os tratamentos. A carga animal suportada pela pastagem, pode ser descrita pela equação y=2.243,14 - 0,32MLF (R2=0,4). O peso vivo final em kg apresentou resposta quadrática (PF=103,41 + 0,114x - 0,00003x², R2=0,5) com o acréscimo da MLF. O ganho de peso diário médio apresentou comportamento linear positivo (GMD = 0,25 + 0,0002MLF, R2=0,2). O aumento na massa de lâminas foliares de capim-elefante acarreta diminuição na carga animal suportada pela pastagem e aumenta o ganho de peso médio diário.<br>The experiment was conducted at the animal science department of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, to evaluate productive and qualitative characteristics of elephantgrass pasture and animal performance under grazing. The experimental area consisted of eight paddocks of 0.443 ha of elephantgrass (Pennisetun purpureum, Schum. cv. Taiwam), where 36 Charolais, Nelore and crossbred were kept, with three tester animals per paddock, with two repetitions. Variables related to pasture production and quality and animal performance were studied. Real leaf lamina masses (LLM) of elephantgrass were: 1.167; 1.543; 1.926 and 2.248kg of dry matter of leaf lamina/ha, constituting the treatments. Stocking rate (y=2.243.14 - .32LLM, R2=.4), showed a negative linear relationship. The final liveweight is kg, presented a quadratic effect (y = 103,41 + .114LLM - .00003LLm², R2=.5) with the LLM increase. The average daily weight gain showed positive linear effect (y = .25 + .0002LLM, R2=.2). The increase of the elephantgrass leaf lamina mass proportioned a decrease of stocking rate supported by the pasture and increased the average weight gain