Search for a Higgs Boson Decaying into Two Photons with the L3 Detector at LEP

A search is performed for a Higgs boson, decaying into two photons, using the L3 data collected at centre of mass energies between $\sqrt s$ = 189 and 202 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 400 pb$^{-1}$. The processes $e^{+}e^{-}\to {Zh} \to {q} \bar{q} \gamma \gamma$, $e^{+}e^{-}\to {Zh} \to \nu \bar{\nu} \gamma \gamma$, $e^{+}e^{-}\to {Zh} \to {l}^{+} {l}^{-} \gamma \gamma$ are considered. The observed data are found to be consistent with the expected background from standard physics processes. Limits on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay into two photons as a function of the Higgs mass are shown and a lower mass limit on a fermiophobic Higgs is derived.Comment: 3 pages, 2 postscript figures, Presented at the DPF2000 Conference, August 9-12, 2000, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohi

Could the LHC two-photon signal correspond to the heavier scalar in two-Higgs-doublet models?

LHC has reported tantalizing hints for a Higgs boson of mass 125 GeV decaying into two photons. We focus on two-Higgs-doublet Models, and study the interesting possibility that the heavier scalar (H) has been seen, with the lightest scalar (h) having thus far escaped detection. Non-observation of h at LEP severely constrains the parameter-space of two-Higgs-doublet models. We analyze cases where the decay H --> h h is kinematically allowed, and cases where it is not, in the context of type I, type II, lepton-specific, and flipped models.Comment: 9 pages, pdf figure

Exploiting road traffic data for very short term load forecasting in smart grids

If accurate short term prediction of electricity consumption is available, the Smart Grid infrastructure can rapidly and reliably react to changing conditions. The economic importance of accurate predictions justifies research for more complex forecasting algorithms. This paper proposes road traffic data as a new input dimension that can help improve very short term load forecasting. We explore the dependencies between power demand and road traffic data and evaluate the predictive power of the added dimension compared with other common features, such as historical load and temperature profiles

Geometry of General Hypersurfaces in Spacetime: Junction Conditions

We study imbedded hypersurfaces in spacetime whose causal character is allowed to change from point to point. Inherited geometrical structures on these hypersurfaces are defined by two methods: first, the standard rigged connection induced by a rigging vector (a vector not tangent to the hypersurface anywhere); and a second, more physically adapted, where each observer in spacetime induces a new type of connection that we call the rigged metric connection. The generalisation of the Gauss and Codazzi equations are also given. With the above machinery, we attack the problem of matching two spacetimes across a general hypersurface. It is seen that the preliminary junction conditions allowing for the correct definition of Einstein's equations in the distributional sense reduce to the requirement that the first fundamental form of the hypersurface be continuous. The Bianchi identities are then proven to hold in the distributional sense. Next, we find the proper junction conditions which forbid the appearance of singular parts in the curvature. Finally, we derive the physical implications of the junction conditions: only six independent discontinuities of the Riemann tensor are allowed. These are six matter discontinuities at non-null points of the hypersurface. For null points, the existence of two arbitrary discontinuities of the Weyl tensor (together with four in the matter tensor) are also allowed.Comment: Latex, no figure

Left atrial function and remodelling in aortic stenosis.

AIMS: The present study sought to determine the relationship between left atrial (LA) volume (structural changes) and LA function as assessed by strain rate imaging in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study consisted of a total of 64 consecutive patients with severe AS (<1 cm²) and 20 healthy control subjects. The phasic LA volumes and function (tissue Doppler-derived strain) were assessed in all patients. As compared with healthy controls, all strain-derived parameters of LA function were reduced in patients with AS. Conversely, only indexed LA passive volume (increased) (7.6 ± 3.8 vs. 10.5 ± 5.1 ml/m², P= 0.02) and LA active fraction (decreased) (43 ± 6.7 vs. 31 ± 13.3%, P< 0.001) (volume-based parameters) were significantly different between AS and controls. In AS, LA volume-derived function parameters were poorly correlated with LA strain parameters. In fact, by multivariable analysis, no LA phasic strain parameters emerged as independently associated with LA phasic volume parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In AS, changes in LA function did not parallel changes in LA size. Furthermore, the increase in LA volume does not necessarily reflect the presence of intrinsic LA dysfunctio

Biobarriers for the rehabilitation of contaminated systems

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017[Excerpt] The research activity of the Chemical Engineering Lab is defined within the mission and focus of BRIDGE group and aims to provide knowledge for environmental restoration, rehabilitation and sustainability by integrated recycling. As so, it aims the definition and development of innovative processes able to treat water/soils/sediments contaminated with metals, solvents and/or pharmaceuticals through the sorption concept, associated with co-adjuvant biological/chemical/electrochemical processes as biodegradation or oxidation. At present, different microorganisms as bacteria and fungi are under study, metabolically active or not, associated and/or supported by distinct sorbents that ranges from low-cost agro-forestry wastes (fern, eucalyptus leaves, oak leaves, grapefruit, cane pruning wine grapes, pine bark, cedar bark, rice husk, waste coffee grounds, eggshells, waste cork), natural materials like cork, clays, zeolites to designed sorbent materials, with chemically enhanced sorbing surface. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Case Studies in Web-Controlled Devices and Remote Manipulation

The concept of distance learning has been more and more articulated during the past few years and is expected to shortly turn into a practical education system within current high level learning institutions. The chances are that distance learning would transparently extend colleges and institutes of education, and could plausibly overtake and turn into a preferred choice of higher education, especially for adult and working students. The concept would be unachievable without the current technology, for example, the impressive worldwide accessibility of the Internet. The main idea in e-learning is to build adequate solutions that could assure educational training over the Internet, without requiring a personal presence at the degree offering institution. For example, being able to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from an accredited institution while residing thousands of miles away from it and actually never seeing it, except maybe for the graduation ceremony. The advantages are immediate and of unique importance, to enumerate a few: Scholarship / education costs can be reduced dramatically, both from a student’s perspective and the institution’s (no need for room and board, for example); The usually tedious immigration and naturalization issues that are common with international students are eliminated; The limited campus facilities, faculty members and course schedules an institution can offer are no longer a boundary; Working adults can consider upgrading skills without changing their lifestyle

E-Learning: Case Studies in Web-Controlled Devices and Remote Manipulation

Chances are that distance learning will transparently extend colleges and institutes of education and could plausibly overtake and turn into a preferred choice of higher education, especially for adult and working students. The main idea in e-learning is to build adequate solutions that can assure educational training over the Internet, without requiring a personal presence at the degree offering institution. The advantages are immediate and of unique importance, to enumerate a few: Education costs can be reduced dramatically, both from a student's perspective and the institution's (no need for room and board, for example); The tedious immigration and naturalization issues common with international students are eliminated; The limited campus facilities, faculty members and course schedules an institution can offer are no longer a boundary; Working adults can consider upgrading skills without changing their lifestyles We are presenting through this material a sequence of projects developed at University of Bridgeport and than can serve well in distance learning education ranging from simple "hobby" style training to professional guidance material. The projects have an engineering / laboratory flavor and are being presented in an arbitrary order, topics ranging from vision and sensing to engineering design, scheduling, remote control and operation