Search for Second-Generation Scalar Leptoquarks in ppˉ\bm{p \bar{p}} Collisions at s\sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV

Results on a search for pair production of second generation scalar leptoquark in $p \bar{p}$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=1.96 TeV are reported. The data analyzed were collected by the CDF detector during the 2002-2003 Tevatron Run II and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 198 pb$^{-1}$. Leptoquarks (LQ) are sought through their decay into (charged) leptons and quarks, with final state signatures represented by two muons and jets and one muon, large transverse missing energy and jets. We observe no evidence for $LQ$ production and derive 95% C.L. upper limits on the $LQ$ production cross sections as well as lower limits on their mass as a function of $\beta$, where $\beta$ is the branching fraction for $LQ \to \mu q$.Comment: 9 pages (3 author list) 5 figure

Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the top quark pair production cross section in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s)=1.96 TeV using 318 pb^{-1} of data collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We select ttbar decays into the final states e nu + jets and mu nu + jets, in which at least one b quark from the t-quark decays is identified using a secondary vertex-finding algorithm. Assuming a top quark mass of 178 GeV/c^2, we measure a cross section of 8.7 +-0.9 (stat) +1.1-0.9 (syst) pb. We also report the first observation of ttbar with significance greater than 5 sigma in the subsample in which both b quarks are identified, corresponding to a cross section of 10.1 +1.6-1.4(stat)+2.0-1.3 (syst) pb.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physics Review Letters, 7 page

Measurement of the Dipion Mass Spectrum in X(3872) -> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- Decays

We measure the dipion mass spectrum in X(3872)--> J/Psi Pi+ Pi- decays using 360 pb-1 of pbar-p collisions at 1.96 TeV collected with the CDF II detector. The spectrum is fit with predictions for odd C-parity (3S1, 1P1, and 3DJ) charmonia decaying to J/Psi Pi+ Pi-, as well as even C-parity states in which the pions are from Rho0 decay. The latter case also encompasses exotic interpretations, such as a D0-D*0Bar molecule. Only the 3S1 and J/Psi Rho hypotheses are compatible with our data. Since 3S1 is untenable on other grounds, decay via J/Psi Rho is favored, which implies C=+1 for the X(3872). Models for different J/Psi-Rho angular momenta L are considered. Flexibility in the models, especially the introduction of Rho-Omega interference, enable good descriptions of our data for both L=0 and 1.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures -- Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Search for ZZ and ZW Production in ppbar Collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for ZZ and ZW vector boson pair production in ppbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.96 TeV using the leptonic decay channels ZZ --> ll nu nu, ZZ --> l l l' l' and ZW --> l l l' nu. In a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 194 pb-1 collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab, 3 candidate events are found with an expected background of 1.0 +/- 0.2 events. We set a 95% confidence level upper limit of 15.2 pb on the cross section for ZZ plus ZW production, compared to the standard model prediction of 5.0 +/- 0.4 pb.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. This version is accepted for publication by Phys. Rev. D Rapid Communication

Search for New Physics in Lepton + Photon + X Events with L=305 pb-1 of ppbar Collisions at roots=1.96 TeV

We present results of a search for anomalous production of events containing a charged lepton (either electron or muon) and a photon, both with high transverse momentum, accompanied by additional signatures, X, including missing transverse energy (MET) and additional leptons and photons. We use the same kinematic selection criteria as in a previous CDF search, but with a substantially larger data set, 305 pb-1, a ppbar collision energy of 1.96 TeV, and the upgraded CDF II detector. We find 42 Lepton+Photon+MET events versus a standard model expectation of 37.3 +- 5.4 events. The level of excess observed in Run I, 16 events with an expectation of 7.6 +- 0.7 events (corresponding to a 2.7 sigma effect), is not supported by the new data. In the signature of Multi-Lepton+Photon+X we observe 31 events versus an expectation of 23.0 +- 2.7 events. In this sample we find no events with an extra photon or MET and so find no events like the one ee+gg+MET event observed in Run I.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Accepted to PR

Measurement of the ttbar Production Cross Section in ppbar Collisions at sqrt{s}=1.96 TeV using Lepton + Jets Events with Secondary Vertex b-tagging

We present a measurement of the ttbar production cross section using events with one charged lepton and jets from ppbar collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. In these events, heavy flavor quarks from top quark decay are identified with a secondary vertex tagging algorithm. From 162 pb-1 of data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab, a total of 48 candidate events are selected, where 13.5 +- 1.8 events are expected from background contributions. We measure a ttbar production cross section of 5.6^{+1.2}_{-1.1} (stat.) ^{+0.9}_{0.6} (syst.) pb.Comment: 28 pages, 20 figures. Published in Physical Review

A responsabilização como artefato de governança nas parcerias público-privadas em educação

Quando se tem como objetivo de análise o grande grupo das parcerias público-privadas encontra-se diversos pontos de análise no que tange aos métodos e artefatos de controle implementados de maneira explícita, ou não, dentro do Estado pelas organizações da sociedade civil. A responsabilização é uma das políticas de Accountability que são utilizadas quando se busca controle e punição como ferramentas de governança, utilizada também como forma de legitimação das ideias e crenças disseminadas por estes parceiros que podem ser oriundos dos mais diversos campos da sociedade, carregados de ideologias e interesses próprios. Peroni (2021) destaca a relevância dos intelectuais orgânicos vinculados aos Think Thanks que dominam o cenário nacional e internacional quando a pauta é a formulação e a implementação de políticas públicas, pois muito mais do que simples representantes da sociedade civil, este entes são responsáveis por disseminar através de diversos canais de comunicação, bem como utilizando as próprias secretarias dos estados e municípios em que estão inseridos, a evidenciação destas práticas e formas de atuação aliadas ao interesse do capital, tornando a educação pública um grande negócio e um palco para as mais diversas atrocidades justificam a análise inicial da referida questão. O problema de pesquisa consiste em identificar a ocorrência destes fenômenos em múltiplos setores na esfera do Estado e ainda mais nos momentos atuais, onde o viés autoritário se apresenta cerceando os direitos básicos dos cidadãos, agravado pelo cenário em análise, qual seja a educação pública de nível básico. Foram utilizados como base teórica, textos do livro de PERONI (2021)

LicitaCon Cidadão como Ferramenta de Transparência na Análise de Parcerias Público-Privadas em Educação

This article is an excerpt from a broader research that proposes to constitute a database on public-private partnerships in the cities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), through different methodological strategies for collecting information. Among the strategies, the use of the LicitaCon Cidadão (LC) tool is highlighted in this article as an important alternative to identify the formats of contracts between the government and private sectors, the resources involved, the contracted institutions and their areas of action. The transformations in the role of the State, in the context of neoliberal globalization, and the ongoing proposal to modernize the public machine are analyzed as indispensable elements for the analysis of the scenario that provided legal security and the political movement in favor of a particular form of privatization of education. It is understood that the deepening of studies of this nature allows for further research, helping to elucidate the implications of private insertion in public education and in the training of children and young people, as well as in the formulation of public policies for the sector.O presente artigo é um recorte da pesquisa mais ampla que se propõe a constituir um banco de dados sobre as parcerias público-privadas nos municípios do estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), por meio de diferentes estratégias metodológicas de coleta das informações. Dentre as estratégias destaca-se neste artigo a utilização da ferramenta LicitaCon Cidadão (LC) como uma alternativa importante para identificar os formatos de contratos entre o poder público e setores privados, os recursos envolvidos, as instituições contratadas e as suas áreas de atuação. Analisam-se as transformações no papel do Estado, no contexto da globalização neoliberal, e a proposta em curso de modernização da máquina pública como elementos indispensáveis para a análise do cenário que propiciou a segurança jurídica e o movimento político em favor de uma forma particular de privatização da educação. Entende-se que o aprofundamento de estudos desta natureza permite a realização de novas pesquisas, colaborando na elucidação das implicações da inserção privada na educação pública e na formação de crianças e jovens, bem como na formulação de políticas públicas para o setor

Highly Differentiated Human Fetal RPE Cultures Are Resistant to the Accumulation and Toxicity of Lipofuscin-Like Material

PURPOSE. The accumulation of undigestible autofluorescent material (UAM), termed lipofuscin in vivo, is a hallmark of aged RPE. Lipofuscin derives, in part, from the incomplete degradation of phagocytized photoreceptor outer segments (OS). Whether this accumulated waste is toxic is unclear. We therefore investigated the effects of UAM in highly differentiated human fetal RPE (hfRPE) cultures. METHODS. Unmodified and photo-oxidized OS were fed daily to confluent cultures of ARPE-19 RPE or hfRPE. The emission spectrum, composition, and morphology of resulting UAM were measured and compared to in vivo lipofuscin. Effects of UAM on multiple RPE phenotypes were assessed. RESULTS. Compared to ARPE-19, hfRPE were markedly less susceptible to UAM buildup. Accumulated UAM in hfRPE initially resembled the morphology of lipofuscin from AMD eyes, but compacted and shifted spectrum over time to resemble lipofuscin from healthy aged human RPE. UAM accumulation mildly reduced transepithelial electrical resistance, ketogenesis, certain RPE differentiation markers, and phagocytosis efficiency, while inducing senescence and rare, focal pockets of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. However, it had no effects on mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate, certain other RPE differentiation markers, secretion of drusen components or polarity markers, nor cell death. CONCLUSIONS. hfRPE demonstrates a remarkable resistance to UAM accumulation, suggesting mechanisms for efficient OS processing that may be lost in other RPE culture models. Furthermore, while UAM alters hfRPE phenotype, the effects are modest, consistent with conflicting reports in the literature on the toxicity of lipofuscin. Our results suggest that healthy RPE may adequately adapt to and tolerate lipofuscin accumulation

Collective Excitation of Spatio-Spectrally Distinct Quantum Dots Enabled by Chirped Pulses

For a scalable photonic device producing entangled photons, it is desirable to have multiple quantum emitters in an ensemble that can be collectively excited, despite their spectral variability. For quantum dots, Rabi rotation, the most popular method for resonant excitation, cannot assure a universal, highly efficient excited state preparation, because of its sensitivity to the excitation parameters. In contrast, Adiabatic Rapid Passage (ARP), relying on chirped optical pulses, is immune to quantum dot spectral inhomogeneity. Here, we advocate the robustness of ARP for simultaneous excitation of the biexciton states of multiple quantum dots. For positive chirps, we find that there is also regime of phonon advantage that widens the tolerance range of spectral detunings. Using the same laser pulse we demonstrate the simultaneous excitation of energetically and spatially distinct quantum dots. Being able to generate spatially multiplexed entangled photon pairs is a big step towards the scalability of photonic devices