Measurement of the W+W-gamma Cross Section and Direct Limits on Anomalous Quartic Gauge Boson Couplings at LEP

The process e+e- -> W+W-gamma is analysed using the data collected with the L3 detector at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.8pb^-1. Based on a sample of 42 selected W+W- candidates containing an isolated hard photon, the W+W-gamma cross section, defined within phase-space cuts, is measured to be: sigma_WWgamma = 290 +/- 80 +/- 16 fb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. Including the process e+e- -> nu nu gamma gamma, limits are derived on anomalous contributions to the Standard Model quartic vertices W+W- gamma gamma and W+W-Z gamma at 95% CL: -0.043 GeV^-2 < a_0/Lambda^2 < 0.043 GeV^-2 0.08 GeV^-2 < a_c/Lambda^2 < 0.13 GeV^-2 0.41 GeV^-2 < a_n/Lambda^2 < 0.37 GeV^-2

Observation of hard scattering in photoproduction events with a large rapidity gap at HERA

Events with a large rapidity gap and total transverse energy greater than 5 GeV have been observed in quasi-real photoproduction at HERA with the ZEUS detector. The distribution of these events as a function of the $\gamma p$ centre of mass energy is consistent with diffractive scattering. For total transverse energies above 12 GeV, the hadronic final states show predominantly a two-jet structure with each jet having a transverse energy greater than 4 GeV. For the two-jet events, little energy flow is found outside the jets. This observation is consistent with the hard scattering of a quasi-real photon with a colourless object in the proton.Comment: 19 pages, latex, 4 figures appended as uuencoded fil

The e+e- -> Z gamma gamma -> q q gamma gamma Reaction at LEP and Constraints on Anomalous Quartic Gauge Boson Couplings

The cross section of the process e^+ e^- -> Z \gamma\gamma -> qq \gamma \gamma is measured with 215 pb^-1 of data collected with the L3 detector during the final LEP run at centre-of-mass energies around 205 GeV and 207 GeV. No deviation from the Standard Model expectation is observed. The full data sample of 713 pb^-1, collected above the Z resonance, is used to constrain the coefficients of anomalous quartic gauge boson couplings to: -0.02 GeV^-2 < a_0/\Lambda^2 < 0.03 GeV^-2 and -0.07 GeV^-2 < a_c/\Lambda^2 < 0.05 GeV^-2, at 95% confidence level

Shop stewards’ leadership, left-wing activism and collective workplace union organisation

Providing an account of the dynamic interrelationship between shop steward leadership and membership interaction, Ralph Darlington focuses particular attention on the much-neglected crucial role that left-wing political activists can play in shaping the nature of collective workplace relations

Study of the W+W-gamma Process and Limits on Anomalous Quartic Gauge Boson Couplings at LEP

The process e+e- -> W+ W- gamma is studied using the data collected by the L3 detector at LEP. New results, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 427.4 pb-1 at centre-of-mass energies from 192 GeV to 207 GeV, are presented. The W+W- gamma cross sections are measured to be in agreement with Standard Model expectations. No hints of anomalous quartic gauge boson couplings are observed. Limits at 95% confidence level are derived using also the process e+e- --> nu nubar gamma gamma

Study of the e+e- -> Z gamma gamma -> q q~ gamma gamma Process at LEP

The process e^+e^- -> Z gamma gamma -> q q~ gamma gamma is studied in 0.5 fb-1 of data collected with the L3 detector at centre-of-mass energies between 130.1 GeV and 201.7 GeV. Cross sections are measured and found to be consistent with the Standard Model expectations. The study of the least energetic photon constrains the quartic gauge boson couplings to -0.008 GeV-2 < a_0/\Lambda^2 < 0.005 GeV-2 and -0.007 GeV-2 < a_c/\Lambda^2 < 0.011 GeV-2, at 95% confidence level

GNAS1 mutational analysis in pseudohypoparathyroidism

&lt;b&gt;OBJECTIVE:&lt;/b&gt; Mutations of the GNAS1 gene, which is located on chromosome 20q13.11 and encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory GTP-binding protein, have been identified in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHPIa) and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP). We have undertaken studies to determine the prevalence of GNAS1 mutations and to explore methods for their more rapid detection. &lt;br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;METHODS:&lt;/b&gt; Thirteen unrelated families (8 with PHPIa and PPHP patients, and 5 with PPHP patients only) were investigated for GNAS1 mutations in the 1050 base-pair (bp) region spanning exons 2-13 by single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequence analysis. &lt;br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;RESULTS:&lt;/b&gt; GNAS1 mutations were detected in 4 of the 8 families with PHPIa patients. These consisted of: two novel de novo missense mutations (Pro115Ser and Glu259Val) in two families and an identical 4 bp deletion of codons 189 and 190 resulting in a frame-shift in two unrelated families. These results expand the spectrum of GNAS1 mutations associated with this disorder and confirm the presence of a mutational hot-spot involving codons 189 and 190. SSCP analysis was found to be a specific and sensitive method that detected all 4 mutations. GNAS1 mutations were not detected in any of the PPHP only families. &lt;br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;CONCLUSIONS:&lt;/b&gt; The pseudohypoparathyroid disorders appear to represent a heterogeneous group with GNAS1 mutations forming the molecular aetiology in approximately 50% of pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia families. Such mutations can be reliably identified by single-stranded conformational polymorphism and this will help to supplement the clinical evaluation of some patients and their families, particularly as the disease may not be fully penetrant

Biochemical markers of bone turnover

Three studies to evaluate procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide, type I collagen cross-linked telopeptide and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) in the assessment of bone turnover and growth in children are presented. (1) In 50 short normal children treated with placebo or growth hormone, ΔBALP after 3 months of treatment was highly correlated with height velocity response after 1 year (r = 0.67, p &#60; 0.0001). (2) In 12 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, marked changes in collagen peptides, BALP, and lower leg length velocity were seen during the first 6 months of chemotherapy. Suppression occurred during induction and the two intensification phases, with catch-up during the intervening phase (paired t-tests, p &#60; 0.001). (3) Fourteen babies (birthweight &#60; 1,500 g) treated with high-dose dexamethasone for bronchopulmonary dysplasia were compared with 25 non-steroid-treated babies &#60; 1,500 g. Both collagen peptides decreased rapidly and dramatically (mean decreases 41-68%) after dexamethasone was started, accompanied by weight loss and lower leg shrinkage and followed by recovery during steroid weaning