The MGDO software library for data analysis in Ge neutrinoless double-beta decay experiments

The GERDA and Majorana experiments will search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of germanium-76 using isotopically enriched high-purity germanium detectors. Although the experiments differ in conceptual design, they share many aspects in common, and in particular will employ similar data analysis techniques. The collaborations are jointly developing a C++ software library, MGDO, which contains a set of data objects and interfaces to encapsulate, store and manage physical quantities of interest, such as waveforms and high-purity germanium detector geometries. These data objects define a common format for persistent data, whether it is generated by Monte Carlo simulations or an experimental apparatus, to reduce code duplication and to ease the exchange of information between detector systems. MGDO also includes general-purpose analysis tools that can be used for the processing of measured or simulated digital signals. The MGDO design is based on the Object-Oriented programming paradigm and is very flexible, allowing for easy extension and customization of the components. The tools provided by the MGDO libraries are used by both GERDA and Majorana.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, proceedings for TAUP201

The background in the neutrinoless double beta decay experiment GERDA

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The signature of the signal is a monoenergetic peak at 2039 keV, the Q-value of the decay, Q_bb. To avoid bias in the signal search, the present analysis does not consider all those events, that fall in a 40 keV wide region centered around Q_bb. The main parameters needed for the neutrinoless double beta decay analysis are described. A background model was developed to describe the observed energy spectrum. The model contains several contributions, that are expected on the basis of material screening or that are established by the observation of characteristic structures in the energy spectrum. The model predicts a flat energy spectrum for the blinding window around Q_bb with a background index ranging from 17.6 to 23.8*10^{-3} counts/(keV kg yr). A part of the data not considered before has been used to test if the predictions of the background model are consistent. The observed number of events in this energy region is consistent with the background model. The background at Q-bb is dominated by close sources, mainly due to 42K, 214Bi, 228Th, 60Co and alpha emitting isotopes from the 226Ra decay chain. The individual fractions depend on the assumed locations of the contaminants. It is shown, that after removal of the known gamma peaks, the energy spectrum can be fitted in an energy range of 200 kev around Q_bb with a constant background. This gives a background index consistent with the full model and uncertainties of the same size

Status of the GERDA experiment

The study of neutrinoless double beta (0nbb) decay is the only one presently known approach to the fundamental question if the neutrino is a Majorana particle, i.e. its own anti-particle. The observation of 0nbb decay would prove that lepton number is not conserved, establish that neutrino has a Majorana component and, assuming that light neutrino is the dominating process, provide a method for the determination of its effective mass. GERDA is a new 0nbb decay experiment which is currently taking data at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy. It implements a new shielding concept by operating bare diodes made from Ge with enriched 76Ge in high purity liquid argon supplemented by a water shield. The aim of GERDA is to verify or refute the recent claim of discovery, and, in a second phase, to achieve a two orders of magnitude lower background index than past experiments, to increase the sensitive mass and to collect an exposure of 100 kg yr. The paper will discuss design, physics reach, and status of data taking of GERDA.JRC.D.4-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard

Price assymetry in the Dutch retail gasoline market

This paper analyses retail price adjustments in the Dutch gasoline market. We estimate an asymmetric error correction model on weekly price changes for the years 1996 to 2001. We construct five datasets, one for each working day. The conclusions on asymmetric pricing are shown to differ over these datasets, suggesting that the choice of the day for which prices are observed matters more than commonly believed. In our view, the insufficient robustness of outcomes might explain the mixed conclusions found in the literature. Using two approaches, we also show that the effect of asymmetry on Dutch consumer costs is negligible

The recognition of early developmental stages in haemopoiesis

Almost all tissues of multicellular organisms contain cells which have the capacity to change their proliferative activity according to the demand. Some tissues show little or no cellular turnover under normal steady state conditions, but they can switch to a regeneration process in response to perturbation (e.g., mechanical injury). In other tissues, there is continuous cell production to compensate for cell loss due to the continuous utilization of functional cells even under normal conditions. Variation in demand is met by variation in the rate of cell production. The cells which generate offspring throughout life in the continuously renewing tissues are usually designated as stem cells. Stem cells are capable of extensive proliferation which results in new stem cells as well as differentiating cells. The most extensively studied stem cell systems in vertebrates are those of the epidermis, the intestinal epithelium, the testis and the haemopoietic tissues. These systems are commonly used for investigations on the mechanisms of cellular differentiation. In comparison to differentiation processes during embryogenesis, the organization of the stem cell systems in the adult is relatively simple. In adulthood, differentiation is restricted to one or to a limited number of cell types, while, in embryogenesis, differentiation into a large variety of tissues takes plac

ВОСПАЛИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЯ КИШЕЧНИКА И ХРОНИЧЕСКИЕ АКТИВНЫЕ ГЕРПЕСВИРУСНЫЕ ИНФЕКЦИИ У ДЕТЕЙ

Еxamined 43 children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD activity, except clinical and endoscopic manifestations of the disease was evaluated in terms of total protein, g-globulin, immunoglobulin (Ig) G, A, M, fibrinogen, soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum. All children per formed a serological examination of blood by ELISA for antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1—2 (HSV1—2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes zoster virus (VZV). All patients underwent determination of specific DNA HSV1—2, herpes virus type 6 (HHV6), CMV and EBV in blood cells and/or intestinal biopsies using PCR. 25 children held definition of indicators of interferon (IFN). Set imbalance of IFN, characterized by increased levels of serum IFN-induced synthesis and decreased blood cells IFNa and IFNg. Active herpes virus infection in children with IBD occurred in 88.4% of cases. In 30.2% of cases were determined monogerpesvirusnye infection in 58.1% of cases — mikstgerpesvirusnye active infection. Laboratory indicators of activity in IBD were significantly higher in children with active herpes virus infection, indicating that the negative effects of chronic active herpesvirus infections on the course of IBD in children.Обследовано 43 ребенка с воспалительными заболеваниями кишечника (ВЗК). Активность ВЗК, кроме клинико-эндоскопических проявлений заболевания, оценивалась по показателям общего белка, g-глобулинов, иммуноглобулинов (Ig) G, A, M, фибриногена, растворимых фибрин-мономерных комплексов (РФМК), С-реактивного белка (СРБ) сыворотки крови. Всем детям проведено серологическое исследование крови методом ИФА на антитела к вирусам простого герпеса 1—2 типов (HSV1—2), Эпштейна-Барр (EBV), цитомегаловирусу (CMV), герпеса зостер (VZV). Всем пациентам проводилось определение специфических ДНК HSV1—2, вируса герпеса 6 типа (HHV6), CMV и EBV в клетках крови и/или биоптатах кишечника методом ПЦР. 25 детям проведено определение показателей системы интерферонов (IFN).  Установлен дисбаланс системы IFN, характеризующийся повышением уровня сывороточного IFN и снижением индуцированного синтеза клетками крови IFNa и IFNg. Активные герпесвирусные инфекции у детей с ВЗК встречались в 88,4% случаев. В 30,2% случаев определялись моногерпесвирусные инфекции, в 58,1% случаев — активные микстгерпесвирусные инфекции. Лабораторные показатели активности при ВЗК были значительно выше у детей с активными герпесвирусными инфекциями, что свидетельствует о негативном влиянии хронических активных герпесвирусных инфекций на течение ВЗК у детей