85 research outputs found
Coherent Phonon Dynamics in Short-Period InAs/GaSb Superlattices
We have performed ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy studies on a series of
InAs/GaSb-based short-period superlattice (SL) samples with periods ranging
from 46 \AA to 71 \AA. We observe two types of oscillations in the differential
reflectivity with fast ( 1- 2 ps) and slow ( 24 ps) periods. The
period of the fast oscillations changes with the SL period and can be explained
as coherent acoustic phonons generated from carriers photoexcited within the
SL. This mode provides an accurate method for determining the SL period and
assessing interface quality. The period of the slow mode depends on the
wavelength of the probe pulse and can be understood as a propagating coherent
phonon wavepacket modulating the reflectivity of the probe pulse as it travels
from the surface into the sample.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Insights into technical challenges in the field of microplastic pollution through the lens of early career researchers (ECRs) and a proposed pathway forward
Early career researchers (ECR) face a series of challenges related to the inherent difficulties of starting their careers. Microplastic (MP) research is a topical field attracting high numbers of ECRs with diverse backgrounds and expertise from a wealth of disciplines including environmental science, biology, chemistry and ecotoxicology. In this perspective the challenges that could hinder scientific, professional, or personal development are explored, as identified by an international network of ECRs, all employed in MP research, that was formed following a bilateral workshop for scientists based in the UK and China. Discussions amongst the network were grouped into four overarching themes of technical challenges: in the field, in the laboratory, in the post data collection phase, and miscellaneous. The three key areas of representativeness, access to appropriate resources, training, and clean labs, and the use of databases and comparability, as well as the overarching constraint of available time were identified as the source of the majority of challenges. A set of recommendations for pathways forward are proposed based on the principles of research openness, access to information and training, and widening collaborations. ECRs have great capacity to promote research excellence in the field of MPs and elsewhere, when provided with appropriate opportunities and suitable support
Measurement of the p-pbar -> Wgamma + X cross section at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV and WWgamma anomalous coupling limits
The WWgamma triple gauge boson coupling parameters are studied using p-pbar
-> l nu gamma + X (l = e,mu) events at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV. The data were
collected with the DO detector from an integrated luminosity of 162 pb^{-1}
delivered by the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The cross section times branching
fraction for p-pbar -> W(gamma) + X -> l nu gamma + X with E_T^{gamma} > 8 GeV
and Delta R_{l gamma} > 0.7 is 14.8 +/- 1.6 (stat) +/- 1.0 (syst) +/- 1.0 (lum)
pb. The one-dimensional 95% confidence level limits on anomalous couplings are
-0.88 < Delta kappa_{gamma} < 0.96 and -0.20 < lambda_{gamma} < 0.20.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. D Rapid Communication
Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.96 TeV using Kinematic Characteristics of Lepton + Jets Events
We present a measurement of the top quark pair ttbar production cross section
in ppbar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 230 pb**{-1}
of data collected by the DO detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We
select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon), large missing
transverse energy, and at least four jets, and extract the ttbar content of the
sample based on the kinematic characteristics of the events. For a top quark
mass of 175 GeV, we measure sigma(ttbar) = 6.7 {+1.4-1.3} (stat) {+1.6- 1.1}
(syst) +/-0.4 (lumi) pb, in good agreement with the standard model prediction.Comment: submitted to Phys.Rev.Let
Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV using Lepton + Jets Events with Lifetime b-tagging
We present a measurement of the top quark pair () production cross
section () in collisions at TeV
using 230 pb of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab
Tevatron Collider. We select events with one charged lepton (electron or muon),
missing transverse energy, and jets in the final state. We employ
lifetime-based b-jet identification techniques to further enhance the
purity of the selected sample. For a top quark mass of 175 GeV, we
measure pb, in
agreement with the standard model expectation.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables Submitted to Phys.Rev.Let
WHO next generation partograph: revolutionary steps towards individualised labour care.
In 1972, two landmark papers in this journal described the partograph,1,2 a chart designed to provide finite referral criteria for midwives working in peripheral clinics who needed to refer women in labour to Harare Hospital, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). This innovation coincided with influential reports from the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin of the 'active management of labour' (early amniotomy, proactive use of oxytocin and one-to-one nursing care) with the objective of achieving birth within a limited time frame.3 The partograph was globally adopted, and has been used as part of the assessment of labour progress for nearly half a century. It was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the early 1990s as a routine tool for displaying the progress of labour. Despite its global acceptance, utilization and correct completion rates as low as 31% and 3% respectively, have been reported
Associations of autozygosity with a broad range of human phenotypes
In many species, the offspring of related parents suffer reduced reproductive success, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. In humans, the importance of this effect has remained unclear, partly because reproduction between close relatives is both rare and frequently associated with confounding social factors. Here, using genomic inbreeding coefficients (F-ROH) for >1.4 million individuals, we show that F-ROH is significantly associated (p <0.0005) with apparently deleterious changes in 32 out of 100 traits analysed. These changes are associated with runs of homozygosity (ROH), but not with common variant homozygosity, suggesting that genetic variants associated with inbreeding depression are predominantly rare. The effect on fertility is striking: F-ROH equivalent to the offspring of first cousins is associated with a 55% decrease [95% CI 44-66%] in the odds of having children. Finally, the effects of F-ROH are confirmed within full-sibling pairs, where the variation in F-ROH is independent of all environmental confounding.Peer reviewe
Search for single top quark production in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV
We present a search for electroweak production of single top quarks in the
s-channel and t-channel using neural networks for signal-background separation.
We have analyzed 230 pb of data collected with the D0 detector at the
Fermilab Tevatron Collider at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV and find no
evidence for a single top quark signal. The resulting 95% confidence level
upper limits on the single top quark production cross sections are 6.4 pb in
the s-channel and 5.0 pb in the t-channel.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Measurement of the WW production cross section in p anti-p collisions at s**(1/2) = 1.96 TeV
We present a measurement of the W boson pair-production cross section in p
anti-p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. The data,
collected with the Run II DO detector, correspond to an integrated luminosity
of 224-252 pb^-1 depending on the final state (ee, emu or mumu). We observe 25
candidates with a background expectation of
8.1+/-0.6(stat)+/-0.6(syst)+/-0.5(lum) events. The probability for an upward
fluctuation of the background to produce the observed signal is 2.3x10^-7,
equivalent to 5.2 standard deviations.The measurement yields a cross section of
13.8+4.3/-3.8(stat)+1.2/-0.9(syst)+/-0.9(lum) pb, in agreement with predictions
from the standard model.Comment: submitted to PR
Measurement of the Lambda^0_b lifetime in the decay Lambda^0_b -> J/psi Lambda^0 with the D0 Detector
We present measurements of the Lambda^0_b lifetime in the exclusive decay
channel Lambda^0_{b}->J/psi Lambda^0, with J/psi to mu+ mu- and Lambda^0 to p
pi-, the B^0 lifetime in the decay B^0 -> J/psi K^0_S with J/psi to mu+ mu- and
K^0_S to pi+ pi-, and the ratio of these lifetimes. The analysis is based on
approximately 250 pb^{-1} of data recorded with the D0 detector in pp(bar)
collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV. The Lambda^0_b lifetime is determined to be
tau(Lambda^0_b) = 1.22 +0.22/-0.18 (stat) +/- 0.04 (syst) ps, the B^0 lifetime
tau(B^0) = 1.40 +0.11/-0.10 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst) ps, and the ratio
tau(Lambda^0_b)/tau(B^0) = 0.87 +0.17/-0.14 (stat) +/- 0.03 (syst). In contrast
with previous measurements using semileptonic decays, this is the first
determination of the Lambda^0_b lifetime based on a fully reconstructed decay
channel.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to Physical Review Letters, v2: Added
FNAL Pub-numbe
- …