Response of a CMS HGCAL silicon-pad electromagnetic calorimeter prototype to 20-300 GeV positrons

The Compact Muon Solenoid Collaboration is designing a new high-granularity endcap calorimeter, HGCAL, to be installed later this decade. As part of this development work, a prototype system was built, with an electromagnetic section consisting of 14 double-sided structures, providing 28 sampling layers. Each sampling layer has an hexagonal module, where a multipad large-area silicon sensor is glued between an electronics circuit board and a metal baseplate. The sensor pads of approximately 1 cm$^2$ are wire-bonded to the circuit board and are readout by custom integrated circuits. The prototype was extensively tested with beams at CERN's Super Proton Synchrotron in 2018. Based on the data collected with beams of positrons, with energies ranging from 20 to 300 GeV, measurements of the energy resolution and linearity, the position and angular resolutions, and the shower shapes are presented and compared to a detailed Geant4 simulation

Search for new particles in an extended Higgs sector with four b quarks in the final state at √s = 13 TeV

A search for a massive resonance X decaying to a pair of spin-0 bosons ϕ that themselves decay to pairs of bottom quarks, is presented. The analysis is restricted to the mass ranges from 25 to 100 GeV and from 1 to 3 TeV. For these mass ranges, the decay products of each ϕ boson are expected to merge into a single large-radius jet. Jet substructure and flavor identification techniques are used to identify these jets. The search is based on CERN LHC proton-proton collision data at , collected with the CMS detector in 2016–2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 . Model-specific limits, where the two new particles arise from an extended Higgs sector, are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction for as a function of the resonances' masses, where both the and branching fractions are assumed to be 100%. These limits are the first of their kind on this process, ranging between 30 and 1 fb at 95% confidence level for the considered mass ranges

Inclusive and differential cross section measurements of single top quark production in association with a Z boson in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Inclusive and differential cross sections of single top quark production in association with a Z boson are measured in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1 recorded by the CMS experiment. Events are selected based on the presence of three leptons, electrons or muons, associated with leptonic Z boson and top quark decays. The measurement yields an inclusive cross section of 87.9+7.5−7.3(stat)+7.3−6.0(syst) fb for a dilepton invariant mass greater than 30 GeV, in agreement with standard model (SM) calculations and represents the most precise determination to date. The ratio between the cross sections for the top quark and the top antiquark production in association with a Z boson is measured as 2.37+0.56−0.42(stat)+0.27−0.13(syst). Differential measurements at parton and particle levels are performed for the first time. Several kinematic observables are considered to study the modeling of the process. Results are compared to theoretical predictions with different assumptions on the source of the initial-state b quark and found to be in agreement, within the uncertainties. Additionally, the spin asymmetry, which is sensitive to the top quark polarization, is determined from the differential distribution of the polarization angle at parton level to be 0.54 ± 0.16 (stat) ± 0.06 (syst), in agreement with SM predictions

Search for flavor-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark and the Higgs boson decaying to a bottom quark-antiquark pair at √ s = 13 TeV

A preprint version of the article is available at arXiv (https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.09734).Copyright © CERN, for the benefit of the CMS Collaboration. A search for flavor-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark (t) and the Higgs boson (H) is presented. The search is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb−1 recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at s√ = 13 TeV. Events containing exactly one lepton (muon or electron) and at least three jets, among which at least two are identified as originating from the hadronization of a bottom quark, are analyzed. A set of deep neural networks is used for kinematic event reconstruction, while boosted decision trees distinguish the signal from the background events. No significant excess over the background predictions is observed, and upper limits on the signal production cross sections are extracted. These limits are interpreted in terms of top quark decay branching fractions (B) to the Higgs boson and an up (u) or a charm quark (c). Assuming one nonvanishing extra coupling at a time, the observed (expected) upper limits at 95% confidence level are B(t → Hu) < 0.079 (0.11)% and B(t → Hc) < 0.094 (0.086)%.SCOAP3

Search for flavor-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark and the Higgs boson decaying to a bottom quark-antiquark pair at root s=13 TeV

A search for flavor-changing neutral current interactions of the top quark (t) and the Higgs boson (H) is presented. The search is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb−1 recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at s√ = 13 TeV. Events containing exactly one lepton (muon or electron) and at least three jets, among which at least two are identified as originating from the hadronization of a bottom quark, are analyzed. A set of deep neural networks is used for kinematic event reconstruction, while boosted decision trees distinguish the signal from the background events. No significant excess over the background predictions is observed, and upper limits on the signal production cross sections are extracted. These limits are interpreted in terms of top quark decay branching fractions (B) to the Higgs boson and an up (u) or a charm quark (c). Assuming one nonvanishing extra coupling at a time, the observed (expected) upper limits at 95% confidence level are B(t → Hu) < 0.079 (0.11)% and B(t → Hc) < 0.094 (0.086)%

Tectonic evolution of the Gediz Graben: field evidence for an episodic, two-stage extension in western Turkey

Western Turkey is one of the most spectacular regions of widespread active continental extension in the world. The most prominent structures of this region are E-W-trending grabens (e.g. Gediz and Buyuk Menderes grabens) and intervening horsts, exposing the Menderes Massif. This paper documents the result of a recent field campaign (field geological mapping and structural analysis) along the southern margin of the modern Gediz Graben of Pliocene (similar to 5 Ma) age. This work provides field evidence that the presently low-angle ductile-brittle detachment fault is cut and displaced by the high-angle graben-bounding normal faults with total displacement exceeding 2.0 km. The evolution of the N-S extension along the Gediz Graben occurred during two episodes, each characterized by a distinct structural styles: (1) rapid exhumation of Menderes Massif in the footwall of low-angle normal fault (core-complex mode) during the Miocene; (2) late stretching of crust producing E-W grabens along high-angle normal faults (rift mode) during Pliocene-Quaternary times, separated by a short-time gap. The later phase is characterized by the deposition of now nearly horizontal sediments of Pliocene age in the hanging walls of the high-angle normal faults and present-day graben floor sediments. The evolution of extension is at variance with orogenic collapse and/or back-arc extension followed by the combined effect of tectonic escape and subduction rollback processes along the Aegean-Cyprean subduction zone. Consequently, it is misleading to describe the Miocene sediments exhumed on shoulders of the Gediz Graben as simple graben fill

Multistage exhumation of the Menderes Massif, western Anatolia (Turkey).

Structural analyses along selected transects across the Menderes Massif and incorporation of existing data have resulted in a synthetic cross section across southwestern Turkey. The tectonic interpretation has been combined wit

A geochemical approach to Neogene-Quaternary volcanic activity of western Anatolia: An example of episodic bimodal volcanism within the Selendi Basin, Turkey

New radiometric age and geochemical data are presented from the late Cenozoic volcanic activity in the Selendi Basin of western Anatolia. Stratigraphical and age data show that the volcanism occurred in four distinct stages from the early Miocene to Quaternary. The first early Miocene stage includes two volcanic units with contrasting compositions: the Egreltidag volcanic unit and the Kuzayir lamproite. These volcanic units interfinger with the sedimentary rocks of the early Miocene Hacibekir Group. The Egreltidag volcanic unit consists of high-K calc-alkaline dacitic and rhyolitic lavas and associated pyroclastic rocks, whilst the Kuzayir lamproite is composed of alkaline, ultrapotassic mafic lavas, classified as lamproites. The second volcanic stage during the middle Miocene is also represented by two contrasting volcanic units: the Yagcidag volcanic unit and the Orhanlar basalt. These interdigitate with middle Miocene lacustrine sedimentary rocks of the Inay Group. The Yagodag volcanic unit consists of high-K to shoshonitic and calc-alkaline andesitic lavas and pyroclastic rocks, whilst the Orhanlar basalt is composed of syn-sedimentary mafic lavas of shoshonitic composition. The geochemical features of the early to middle Miocene volcanic rocks indicate a lithospheric mantle source that was most probably amphibole-bearing (not phlogopite) and was metasomatized by fluid-dominated processes during subduction events. The late Miocene volcanic activity in the region consists solely of the alkali basaltic lavas of the Kabaklar basalt. Geochemically these lavas suggest that the effects of subduction zone processes were begun to wane after the late Miocene. Finally, during the Plio-Quaternary, sodic alkaline basaltic volcanic activity occurred in the region, represented by the Kula volcanics. Geochemical characteristics of the Kula volcanics indicate an asthenosphere-dominated mantle source. Melting models for the Miocene lavas show that the mantle source was depleted with time, whilst for the Plio-Quaternary, there was a transition from destructive-continental margin magmatism to intraplate volcanic activity

Stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous-Palaeogene sequences in the southern and eastern Menderes Massif (western Turkey)

The stratigraphy of the uppermost levels of the Menderes Massif is controversial and within its details lie vital constraints to the tectonic evolution of south-western Turkey. Our primary study was carried out in four reference areas along the southern and eastern Menderes Massif. These areas lie in the upper part of the Menderes metamorphic cover and have a clear stratigraphic relationship and contain datable fossils. The first one, in the Akbuk-Milas area, is located south-east of Bafa Lake where the Milas, then Kizilagac; and Kazikli formations are well exposed. There, the Milas formation grades upwards into the Kizilagac formation. The contact between the Kizilagac and the overlying Kazikli formation is not clearly seen but is interpreted as an unconformity. The Milas and Kizilagac formations are also found north of Mugla. in the region of Yatagan and Kavaklidere. In these areas, the Milas formation consists of schists and conformably overlying platform-type, enemy and rudist-bearing marbles. Rudists from the main palaeontological data from which a Santonian-Campanian age is indicated. The Kizilagac formation is characterized by reddish-greyish pelagic marbles with marly-pelitic interlayers and coarsening up debris flow deposits. Pelagic marbles within the formation contain planktonic foraminifera and nanoplankton of late Campanian to late Maastrichtian age. The Kazikli formation is of flysch type and includes carbonate blocks. Planktonic foraminifera of Middle Palaeocene age are present in carbonate lenses within the formation. In the Serinhisar-Tavas area, Mesozoic platform-type marbles (Yilanli formation) belonging to the cover series of the Menderes Massif exhibit an imbricated internal structure. Two rudist levels can be distinguished in the uppermost part of the formation: the first indicates a middle-late Cenomanian age and the upper one is Santonian to Campanian in age. These marbles are unconformably covered by the Palaeocene-Early Eocene Zeybekolentepe formation with polygenetic breccias. In the Cal-Denizli area, the Menderes massif succession consists of cherty marbles and elastic rocks with metavolcanic lenses. The Lower-Middle Eocene Salvan formation lies unconformably on this sequence and is interpreted as equivalent to the marble horizons at Serinhisar but with pelagic facies. The Salvan formation consists of shale, mafic volcanic rock, lenses of limestone and blocks of recrystallized limestone. The Salvan formation is dated here for the first time by Early-Middle Eocene foraminifera and nanoplankton from the matrix of the formation. An angular unconformity exists between the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary sequences, suggesting that a phase of deformation affected the southern and eastern part of the Menderes Massif at this time. This deformation may be caused by initial obduction of the Lycian ophiolite onto the passive margin to the north of the Menderes carbonate platform during the latest Cretaceous, Drowning of the platform led to termination of carbonate deposition and deposition of deep water flysch-like elastic sediments

Effects of mentha spicata L. Extracts on hormonal regulation of energy metabolism in rats with hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mentha spicata L. (Lamiaceae), which contains caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, alpha tocopherol, and eugenol, on hormonal regulation of energy metabolism in rats. Obesity is a risk factor for various diseases such as hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and fatty degeneration in the liver. Furthermore, it has been aimed to inquire the effect of the Mentha spicata L. whether it is effective as a liver protective factor in rats fed on high fat diet. In this study, 70 Wistar-Albino male rats aged 2±3 months were used. The animals were allocated into 7 groups (10 rats in each group): 1 control group and 6 experimental groups, including negative control; carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); high-fat diet, positive (HFD); M. spicata petroleum ether extract (PE); M. spicata ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract; and M. spicata methanol (MeOH) extract. All experimental groups were given dietary fat and M. spicata extracts, excluding the control group. The group C rats were fed the standard rat diet; group CMC high-fat diet (40% beef tallow + 1% cholesterol) + 1 mL 0.5% CMC; group HFD high-fat diet; and groups PE, EtOAc, and MeOH petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of M. spicata, respectively, via gastric gavage for 60 days. The plasma concentrations of hormones [leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, insulin, and thyroid hormones (T4, FT4, T3, and FT3)], glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, and lipid profiles (cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides) were monitored. The histopathologic examination revealed fatty degeneration in the liver tissue and perivascular accumulation of inflammatory cells in the experimental groups. The PE extract obtained from M. spicata was effective in maintaining the body weight and protecting against liver degeneration. Further studies are required to verify this. © 2019 Parlar Scientific Publications. All rights reserved