Measurement of the LCG2 and glite file catalogue's performance

When the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) begins operation at CERN in 2007 it will produce data in volumes never before seen. Physicists around the world will manage, distribute and analyse petabytes of this data using the middleware provided by the LHC Computing Grid. One of the critical factors in the smooth running of this system is the performance of the file catalogues which allow users to access their files with a logical filename without knowing their physical location. This paper presents a detailed study comparing the performance and respective merits and shortcomings of two of the main catalogues: the LCG File Catalogue and the gLite FiReMan catalogue

Observation of B+ ---> a(1)+(1260) K0 and B0 ---> a(1)-(1260) K+

We present branching fraction measurements of the decays B^{+} -> a1(1260)^{+} K^{0} and B^{0} to a1(1260)^{-} K^{+} with a1(1260)^{+} -> pi^{-} pi^{+} pi^{+}. The data sample corresponds to 383 million B B-bar pairs produced in e^{+}e^{-} annihilation through the Y(4S) resonance. We measure the products of the branching fractions: B(B^{+}-> a1(1260)^{+} K^{0})B(a1(1260)^{+} -> pi^{-} pi^{+} pi^{+}) = (17.4 +/- 2.5 +/- 2.2) 10^{-6} B(B^{0}-> a1(1260)^{-} K^{+})B(a1(1260)^{-} -> pi^{+} pi^{-} pi^{-}) = (8.2 +/- 1.5 +/- 1.2) 10^{-6}. We also measure the charge asymmetries A_{ch}(B^{+} -> a1(1260)^{+} K^{0})= 0.12 +/- 0.11 +/- 0.02 and A_{ch}(B^{0} -> a1(1260)^{-} K^{+})= -0.16 +/- 0.12 +/- 0.01. The first uncertainty quoted is statistical and the second is systematic

Search for CP violation in the decays D0 ---> K- K+ and D0 ---> pi- pi+

We measure CP-violating asymmetries of neutral charmed mesons in the modes D0 --> K- K+ and D0 --> pi- pi+ with the highest precision to date by using D0 --> K- pi+ decays to correct detector asymmetries. An analysis of 385.8 fb-1 of data collected with the BaBar detector yields values of aCP(KK) = (0.00 +/- 0.34 (stat.) +/- 0.13 (syst.))% and aCP(pipi) = (-0.24 +/- 0.52 (stat.) +/- 0.22 (syst.))%, which agree with Standard Model prediction

Giant magnetothermal conductivity and magnetostriction effect in charge ordered Nd0.8_{0.8}Na0.2_{0.2}MnO3_{3} compound

We present results on resistivity ($\rho$), magnetization ($M$), thermal conductivity ($\kappa$), magnetostriction ($\frac{\Delta L}{L(0)}$) and specific heat ($C_{p}$) of charge-orbital ordered antiferromagnetic Nd$_{0.8}$Na$_{0.2}$MnO$_{3}$ compound. Magnetic field-induced antiferromagnetic/charge-orbital ordered insulating to ferromagnetic metallic transition leads to giant magnetothermal conductivity and magnetostriction effect. The low-temperature irreversibility behavior in $\rho$, $M$, $\kappa$ and $\frac{\Delta L}{L(0)}$ due to field cycling together with striking similarity among the field and temperature dependence of these parameters manifest the presence of strong and complex spin-charge-lattice coupling in this compound. The giant magnetothermal conductivity is attributed mainly to the suppression of phonon scattering due to the destabilization of spin fluctuations and static/dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion by the application of magnetic field.Comment: 4 Pages, 4 Figure

CMS dashboard task monitoring: A user-centric monitoring view

We are now in a phase change of the CMS experiment where people are turning more intensely to physics analysis and away from construction. This brings a lot of challenging issues with respect to monitoring of the user analysis. The physicists must be able to monitor the execution status, application and grid-level messages of their tasks that may run at any site within the CMS Virtual Organisation. The CMS Dashboard Task Monitoring project provides this information towards individual analysis users by collecting and exposing a user-centric set of information regarding submitted tasks including reason of failure, distribution by site and over time, consumed time and efficiency. The development was user-driven with physicists invited to test the prototype in order to assemble further requirements and identify weaknesses with the application

Observation of the semileptonic decays B ---> D* tau- anti-nu(tau) and evidence for B ---> D tau- anti-nu(tau

We present measurements of the semileptonic decays B- --> D0 tau- nubar, B- --> D*0 tau- nubar, B0bar --> D+ tau- nubar, and B0bar --> D*+ tau- nubar, which are potentially sensitive to non--Standard Model amplitudes. The data sample comprises 232x10^6 Upsilon(4S) --> BBbar decays collected with the BaBar detector. From a combined fit to B- and B0bar channels, we obtain the branching fractions B(B --> D tau- nubar) = (0.86 +/- 0.24 +/- 0.11 +/- 0.06)% and B(B --> D* tau- nubar) = (1.62 +/- 0.31 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.05)% (normalized for the B0bar), where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and normalization-mode-related

Study of e+ e- ---> Lambda anti-Lambda, Lambda anti-Sigma0, Sigma0 anti-Sigma0 using initial state radiation with BABAR

We study the e+e- --> Lambda anti-Lambda gamma, Lambda anti-Sigma0 gamma, Sigma0 anti-Sigma0 gamma processes using 230 fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected by the BABAR detector at e+e- center-of-mass energy of 10.58 GeV. From the analysis of the baryon-antibaryon mass spectra the cross sections for e+e- --> Lambda anti-Lambda, Lambda anti-Sigma0, Sigma0 anti-Sigma0 are measured in the dibaryon mass range from threshold up to 3 GeV/c^2. The ratio of electric and magnetic form factors, |G_E/G_M|, is measured for e+e- --> Lambda anti-Lambda, and limits on the relative phase between Lambda form factors are obtained. We also measure the J/psi --> Lambda anti-Lambda, Sigma0 anti-Sigma0 and psi(2S) --> Lambda anti-Lambda branching fractions

Measurements of Partial Branching Fractions for anti-B ---> X(u) l anti-nu and Determination of |V(ub)|

We present partial branching fractions for inclusive charmless semileptonic B decays Bbar --> X_u ell nubar, and the determination of the CKM matrix element |V_{ub}|. The analysis is based on a sample of 383 million Y(4S) decays into B Bbar pairs collected with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II e+ e- storage rings. We select events using either the invariant mass M_X of the hadronic system, the invariant mass squared, q^2, of the lepton and neutrino pair, the kinematic variable P_+ or one of their combinations. We then determine partial branching fractions in limited regions of phase space: Delta B = (1.18 +- 0.09_{stat.} +- 0.07_{sys.} +- 0.01_{theo.}) x 10^{-3} (M_X 8 GeV^2/c^4). Corresponding values of |V_{ub}| are extracted using several theoretical calculations

Role of non-timber forest products in sustaining forest-based livelihoods and rural households' resilience capacity in and around protected area- a Bangladesh study

People in developing world derive a significant part of their livelihoods from various forest products, particularly non-timber forest products. This article attempts to explore the contribution of NTFPs in sustaining forest-based rural livelihood in and around a protected area of Bangladesh, and their potential role in enhancing households resilience capacity. Based on empirical investigation our study revealed that, local communities gather a substantial amount of NTFPs from national park despite the official restrictions. 27 percent households of the area received at least some cash benefit from the collection, processing and selling of NTFPs, and NTFPs contribute as HHs primary, supplementary and emergency sources of income. NTFPs also constituted an estimated 19 percent of HHs net annual income, and were the primary occupation for about 18 percent of the HHs. HHs dependency on nearby forests for various NTFPs varied vis-a-vis their socio-economic condition as well as with their location from the park. Based on our case study the article also offers some clues for improving the situation in PA.Comment: To appear in Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 201

Diverse hypolithic refuge communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys

Hyper-arid deserts present extreme challenges to life. The environmental buffering provided by quartz and other translucent rocks allows hypolithic microbial communities to develop on sub-soil surfaces of such rocks. These refuge communities have been reported, for many locations worldwide, to be predominantly cyanobacterial in nature. Here we report the discovery in Antarctica’s hyper-arid McMurdo Dry Valleys of three clearly distinguishable types of hypolithic community. Based on gross colonization morphology and identification of dominant taxa, we have classified hypolithic communities as Type I (cyanobacterial dominated), Type II (fungal dominated) and Type III (moss dominated). This discovery supports a growing awareness of the high biocomplexity in Antarctic deserts, emphasizes the possible importance of cryptic microbial communities in nutrient cycling and provides evidence for possible successional community processes within a cold arid landscape