Mass measurements of neutron-deficient Y, Zr, and Nb isotopes and their impact on rp and νp nucleosynthesis processes

© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This manuscript is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). For further details please see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Using isochronous mass spectrometry at the experimental storage ring CSRe in Lanzhou, the masses of 82Zr and 84Nb were measured for the first time with an uncertainty of ∼10 keV, and the masses of 79Y, 81Zr, and 83Nb were re-determined with a higher precision. The latter are significantly less bound than their literature values. Our new and accurate masses remove the irregularities of the mass surface in this region of the nuclear chart. Our results do not support the predicted island of pronounced low α separation energies for neutron-deficient Mo and Tc isotopes, making the formation of Zr–Nb cycle in the rp-process unlikely. The new proton separation energy of 83Nb was determined to be 490(400) keV smaller than that in the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2012. This partly removes the overproduction of the p-nucleus 84Sr relative to the neutron-deficient molybdenum isotopes in the previous νp-process simulations.Peer reviewe

Identification of Linearized RMS-Voltage Dip Patterns Based on Clustering in Renewable Plants

[EN] Generation units connected to the grid are currently required to meet low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) requirements. In most developed countries, these requirements also apply to renewable sources, mainly wind power plants and photovoltaic installations connected to the grid. This study proposes an alternative characterisation solution to classify and visualise a large number of collected events in light of current limits and requirements. The authors' approach is based on linearised root-mean-square-(RMS)-voltage trajectories, taking into account LRVT requirements, and a clustering process to identify the most likely pattern trajectories. The proposed solution gives extensive information on an event's severity by providing a simple but complete visualisation of the linearised RMS-voltage patterns. In addition, these patterns are compared to current LVRT requirements to determine similarities or discrepancies. A large number of collected events can then be automatically classified and visualised for comparative purposes. Real disturbances collected from renewable sources in Spain are used to assess the proposed solution. Extensive results and discussions are also included in this study.The authors thank the financial support from the 'Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad' (Spain) and the European Union - ENE2016-78214-C2-2-R, Fulbright/Spanish Ministry of Education Visiting Scholar - PRX14/00694. This work was also supported by the US Department of Energy under contract no. DE-AC36-08-GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy LaboratoryGarcía-Sánchez, TM.; Gómez-Lázaro, E.; Muljadi, E.; Kessler, M.; Muñoz-Benavente, I.; Molina-García, A. (2018). Identification of Linearized RMS-Voltage Dip Patterns Based on Clustering in Renewable Plants. IET Generation Transmission & Distribution. 12(6):1256-1262. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2017.0474S12561262126Craciun B. Kerekes T. Sera D.et al.: ‘Overview of recent grid codes for PV power integration’.13th Int. Conf. on Optimization of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (OPTIM) 2012 May2012 pp.959–965‘World Energy Outlook 2012’. Technical Report International Egency Agency (IEA) 2012. Available atwww.iea.orgBehrens C.E.: ‘Energy policy: 113th congress issues’.Congressional Research Service 2013Lopes, J. A. P., Hatziargyriou, N., Mutale, J., Djapic, P., & Jenkins, N. (2007). Integrating distributed generation into electric power systems: A review of drivers, challenges and opportunities. Electric Power Systems Research, 77(9), 1189-1203. doi:10.1016/j.epsr.2006.08.016Glassmire, J., Komor, P., & Lilienthal, P. (2012). Electricity demand savings from distributed solar photovoltaics. Energy Policy, 51, 323-331. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2012.08.022Carvalho, D., Wemans, J., Lima, J., & Malico, I. (2011). Photovoltaic energy mini-generation: Future perspectives for Portugal. Energy Policy, 39(9), 5465-5473. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2011.05.016Battaglini, A., Komendantova, N., Brtnik, P., & Patt, A. (2012). Perception of barriers for expansion of electricity grids in the European Union. Energy Policy, 47, 254-259. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2012.04.065‘European Commission 2010a. Energy 2020. A strategy for competitive sustainable and secure energy’. Technical Report Brussels November2011Beurskens P.V.L.W.M. Hekkenberg M.: ‘Renewable energy projections as published in the national renewable energy action plans of the european member states’. Technical Report European Environment Agency (EEA) November2011Coll-Mayor, D., Paget, M., & Lightner, E. (2007). Future intelligent power grids: Analysis of the vision in the European Union and the United States. Energy Policy, 35(4), 2453-2465. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2006.09.001Passey, R., Spooner, T., MacGill, I., Watt, M., & Syngellakis, K. (2011). The potential impacts of grid-connected distributed generation and how to address them: A review of technical and non-technical factors. Energy Policy, 39(10), 6280-6290. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2011.07.027Sangroniz N. Mora J.A. Teixeira M.D.: ‘Review of international grid codes for wind generation’ 2009‘Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics Until 2016’. Technical Report European Photovoltaic Industry Association 2012. Available atwww.epia.orgKim S. Bollen M.: ‘Towards the development of a set of grid code requirements for wind farms: transient reactive power requirements’. Technical Report Available as Elforsk Report 13 : 04. Part 3 Report of Vindforsk Project V‐369 Vindforsk III January2013Tsili, M., & Papathanassiou, S. (2009). A review of grid code technical requirements for wind farms. IET Renewable Power Generation, 3(3), 308. doi:10.1049/iet-rpg.2008.0070Hossain, J., & Mahmud, A. (Eds.). (2014). Renewable Energy Integration. Green Energy and Technology. doi:10.1007/978-981-4585-27-9Sourkounis C. Tourou P.: ‘Grid code requirements for wind power integration in Europe’.Conf. Papers in Energy 2013 pp.1–9Voltage Ride-Through Capability Verification of Wind Turbines With Fully-Rated Converters Using Reachability Analysis. (2014). IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 29(2), 392-405. doi:10.1109/tec.2013.2295168Mohseni, M., & Islam, S. M. (2012). Review of international grid codes for wind power integration: Diversity, technology and a case for global standard. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(6), 3876-3890. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2012.03.039‘Royal Decree 1565/2010 by which regulates and modifies certain aspects of the activity of production of electric energy in special regime. (In spanish)’. Technical Report November2010Sourkounis C. Tourou P.: ‘Grid code requirements for wind power integration in Europe’.Conf. Papers in Science 2013Jiménez, F., Gómez-Lázaro, E., Fuentes, J. A., Molina-García, A., & Vigueras-Rodríguez, A. (2011). Validation of a double fed induction generator wind turbine model and wind farm verification following the Spanish grid code. Wind Energy, 15(4), 645-659. doi:10.1002/we.498Montoro D.: ‘Recommendations for unified technical regulations for grid‐connected PV systems’. Technical Report SUNRISE project – European Photovoltaic Industry Association the European Construction Industry Federation the European Association of Electrical Contractors International Union of Architects 2009. Available athttp://www.pvsunrise.eu/Merino, J., Mendoza-Araya, P., & Veganzones, C. (2014). State of the Art and Future Trends in Grid Codes Applicable to Isolated Electrical Systems. Energies, 7(12), 7936-7954. doi:10.3390/en7127936deAlmeida P. Barbosa P. Duque C.et al.: ‘Grid connection considerations for the integration of PV and wind sources’.IEEE 16th Int. Conf. on Harmonics and Quality of Power (ICHQP) May2014 pp.6–9‘Network code requirements for grid connection applicable to all generators’. Technical Report European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity ENTSO‐E October2013. Available athttps://www.entsoe.eu/Kagan N. Ferrari E. Matsuo N.et al.: ‘Influence of rms variation measurement protocols on electrical system performance indices for voltage sags and swells’.Proc. Ninth Int. Conf. on Harmonics and Quality of Power 2000 2000 vol.3 pp.790–795Bollen, M. H. J. (2003). Algorithms for characterizing measured three-phase unbalanced voltage dips. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 18(3), 937-944. doi:10.1109/tpwrd.2003.813879Bollen M.H.: ‘Comparing voltage dip survey results’.Power Engineering Society Winter Meeting 2002 2002 vol.2 pp.1130–1134Moreno‐Muñoz A. de laRosa J.: ‘Voltage sag in highly automated factories’.Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting IAS'08 2008 pp.1–6Gomez-Lazaro, E., Fuentes, J. A., Molina-Garcia, A., & Canas-Carreton, M. (2009). Characterization and Visualization of Voltage Dips in Wind Power Installations. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 24(4), 2071-2078. doi:10.1109/tpwrd.2009.2027513Gunther, E. W., & Mebta, H. (1995). A survey of distribution system power quality-preliminary results. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 10(1), 322-329. doi:10.1109/61.368382Belloni F. Chiappa C. Chiumeo R.et al.: ‘Voltage dip measurements along MV lines vs primary substations measurements’.Int. Conf. on Renewable Energies and Power Quality (ICREPQ'12) March2012 pp.28–30Garcia-Sanchez, T., Gomez-Lazaro, E., Muljadi, E., Kessler, M., & Molina-Garcia, A. (2016). Statistical and Clustering Analysis for Disturbances: A Case Study of Voltage Dips in Wind Farms. IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, 31(6), 2530-2537. doi:10.1109/tpwrd.2016.2522946Barrera Nunez V. Melendez Frigola J. Herraiz Jaramillo S.: ‘A survey on voltage sag events in power systems’.IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conf. and Exposition: Latin America 2008 August2008 pp.1–3‘IEEE Standard 519‐1992: Recommended practices and requirements for harmonic control in electrical power systems’. Technical Report 1993. Available athttp://ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?punumber=2227‘1159‐2009‐IEEE Recommended practice for monitoring electric power quality’. Technical Report June2009. Available athttp://ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?punumber=515405

The molecular basis and biologic significance of the β-dystroglycan-emerin interaction

β-dystroglycan (β-DG) assembles with lamins A/C and B1 and emerin at the nuclear envelope (NE) to maintain proper nuclear architecture and function. To provide insight into the nuclear function of β-DG, we characterized the interaction between β-DG and emerin at the molecular level. Emerin is a major NE protein that regulates multiple nuclear processes and whose deficiency results in Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). Using truncated variants of β-DG and emerin, via a series of in vitro and in vivo binding experiments and a tailored computational analysis, we determined that the β-DG–emerin interaction is mediated at least in part by their respective transmembrane domains (TM). Using surface plasmon resonance assays we showed that emerin binds to β-DG with high affinity (KD in the nanomolar range). Remarkably, the analysis of cells in which DG was knocked out demonstrated that loss of β-DG resulted in a decreased emerin stability and impairment of emerin-mediated processes. β-DG and emerin are reciprocally required for their optimal targeting within the NE, as shown by immunofluorescence, western blotting and immunoprecipitation assays using emerin variants with mutations in the TM domain and B-lymphocytes of a patient with EDMD. In summary, we demonstrated that β-DG plays a role as an emerin interacting partner modulating its stability and function

Toward an internally consistent astronomical distance scale

Accurate astronomical distance determination is crucial for all fields in astrophysics, from Galactic to cosmological scales. Despite, or perhaps because of, significant efforts to determine accurate distances, using a wide range of methods, tracers, and techniques, an internally consistent astronomical distance framework has not yet been established. We review current efforts to homogenize the Local Group's distance framework, with particular emphasis on the potential of RR Lyrae stars as distance indicators, and attempt to extend this in an internally consistent manner to cosmological distances. Calibration based on Type Ia supernovae and distance determinations based on gravitational lensing represent particularly promising approaches. We provide a positive outlook to improvements to the status quo expected from future surveys, missions, and facilities. Astronomical distance determination has clearly reached maturity and near-consistency.Comment: Review article, 59 pages (4 figures); Space Science Reviews, in press (chapter 8 of a special collection resulting from the May 2016 ISSI-BJ workshop on Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space Age

Search for a W' boson decaying to a bottom quark and a top quark in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

Results are presented from a search for a W' boson using a dataset corresponding to 5.0 inverse femtobarns of integrated luminosity collected during 2011 by the CMS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV. The W' boson is modeled as a heavy W boson, but different scenarios for the couplings to fermions are considered, involving both left-handed and right-handed chiral projections of the fermions, as well as an arbitrary mixture of the two. The search is performed in the decay channel W' to t b, leading to a final state signature with a single lepton (e, mu), missing transverse energy, and jets, at least one of which is tagged as a b-jet. A W' boson that couples to fermions with the same coupling constant as the W, but to the right-handed rather than left-handed chiral projections, is excluded for masses below 1.85 TeV at the 95% confidence level. For the first time using LHC data, constraints on the W' gauge coupling for a set of left- and right-handed coupling combinations have been placed. These results represent a significant improvement over previously published limits.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters B. Replaced with version publishe

Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying into two photons in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV

A search for a Higgs boson decaying into two photons is described. The analysis is performed using a dataset recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC from pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, which corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.8 inverse femtobarns. Limits are set on the cross section of the standard model Higgs boson decaying to two photons. The expected exclusion limit at 95% confidence level is between 1.4 and 2.4 times the standard model cross section in the mass range between 110 and 150 GeV. The analysis of the data excludes, at 95% confidence level, the standard model Higgs boson decaying into two photons in the mass range 128 to 132 GeV. The largest excess of events above the expected standard model background is observed for a Higgs boson mass hypothesis of 124 GeV with a local significance of 3.1 sigma. The global significance of observing an excess with a local significance greater than 3.1 sigma anywhere in the search range 110-150 GeV is estimated to be 1.8 sigma. More data are required to ascertain the origin of this excess.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters

Measurement of the Lambda(b) cross section and the anti-Lambda(b) to Lambda(b) ratio with Lambda(b) to J/Psi Lambda decays in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The Lambda(b) differential production cross section and the cross section ratio anti-Lambda(b)/Lambda(b) are measured as functions of transverse momentum pt(Lambda(b)) and rapidity abs(y(Lambda(b))) in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. The measurements are based on Lambda(b) decays reconstructed in the exclusive final state J/Psi Lambda, with the subsequent decays J/Psi to an opposite-sign muon pair and Lambda to proton pion, using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.9 inverse femtobarns. The product of the cross section times the branching ratio for Lambda(b) to J/Psi Lambda versus pt(Lambda(b)) falls faster than that of b mesons. The measured value of the cross section times the branching ratio for pt(Lambda(b)) > 10 GeV and abs(y(Lambda(b))) < 2.0 is 1.06 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.12 nb, and the integrated cross section ratio for anti-Lambda(b)/Lambda(b) is 1.02 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.09, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters

Search for new physics in events with opposite-sign leptons, jets, and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search is presented for physics beyond the standard model (BSM) in final states with a pair of opposite-sign isolated leptons accompanied by jets and missing transverse energy. The search uses LHC data recorded at a center-of-mass energy sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 5 inverse femtobarns. Two complementary search strategies are employed. The first probes models with a specific dilepton production mechanism that leads to a characteristic kinematic edge in the dilepton mass distribution. The second strategy probes models of dilepton production with heavy, colored objects that decay to final states including invisible particles, leading to very large hadronic activity and missing transverse energy. No evidence for an event yield in excess of the standard model expectations is found. Upper limits on the BSM contributions to the signal regions are deduced from the results, which are used to exclude a region of the parameter space of the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. Additional information related to detector efficiencies and response is provided to allow testing specific models of BSM physics not considered in this paper.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Measurement of isolated photon production in pp and PbPb collisions at sqrt(sNN) = 2.76 TeV

Isolated photon production is measured in proton-proton and lead-lead collisions at nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energies of 2.76 TeV in the pseudorapidity range |eta|<1.44 and transverse energies ET between 20 and 80 GeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The measured ET spectra are found to be in good agreement with next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD predictions. The ratio of PbPb to pp isolated photon ET-differential yields, scaled by the number of incoherent nucleon-nucleon collisions, is consistent with unity for all PbPb reaction centralities.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters