Showing papers by "A. M. Lopez published in 2011"

Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: An advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy

Abstract: Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA.

Charged particle multiplicities in pp interactions at sqrt(s) = 0.9, 2.36, and 7 TeV

Abstract: Measurements of primary charged hadron multiplicity distributions are presented for non-single-diffractive events in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) = 0.9, 2.36, and 7 TeV, in five pseudorapidity ranges from |eta|<0.5 to |eta|<2.4. The data were collected with the minimum-bias trigger of the CMS experiment during the LHC commissioning runs in 2009 and the 7 TeV run in 2010. The multiplicity distribution at sqrt(s) = 0.9 TeV is in agreement with previous measurements. At higher energies the increase of the mean multiplicity with sqrt(s) is underestimated by most event generators. The average transverse momentum as a function of the multiplicity is also presented. The measurement of higher-order moments of the multiplicity distribution confirms the violation of Koba-Nielsen-Olesen scaling that has been observed at lower energies.

Measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive W production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Abstract: A measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry in inclusive pp to WX production at sqrt(s)= 7 TeV is presented based on data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns. This high precision measurement of the lepton charge asymmetry, performed in both the W to e nu and W to mu nu channels, provides new insights into parton distribution functions.

Dependence on pseudorapidity and on centrality of charged hadron production in PbPb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76 TeV

Abstract: A measurement is presented of the charged hadron multiplicity in hadronic PbPb collisions, as a function of pseudorapidity and centrality, at a collision energy of 2.76 TeV per nucleon pair. The data sample is collected using the CMS detector and a minimum-bias trigger, with the CMS solenoid off. The number of charged hadrons is measured both by counting the number of reconstructed particle hits and by forming hit doublets of pairs of layers in the pixel detector. The two methods give consistent results. The charged hadron multiplicity density dN(ch)/d eta, evaluated at eta=0 for head-on collisions, is found to be 1612 +/- 55, where the uncertainty is dominated by systematic effects. Comparisons of these results to previous measurements and to various models are also presented.

Search for supersymmetry in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV in events with a single lepton, jets, and missing transverse momentum

Abstract: Results are reported from a search for physics beyond the standard model in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV, focusing on the signature with a single, isolated, high-transverse-momentum lepton (electron or muon), energetic jets, and large missing transverse momentum The data sample comprises an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns, recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC The search is motivated by models of new physics, including supersymmetry The observed event yields are consistent with standard model backgrounds predicted using control samples obtained from the data The characteristics of the event sample are consistent with those expected for the production of t t-bar and W +jets events The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the parameter space for the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model

Antimicrobial Activity of Flavonoids From Piper lanceaefolium and Other Colombian Medicinal Plants Against Antibiotic Susceptible and Resistant Strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Abstract: Background: The successful treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections is increasingly problematic because of the resistance of this pathogen to multiple antimicrobial agents. This development underscores the need for new antimicrobial sources. In the current study, 21 crude methanol extracts, from 19 plants used in Colombian traditional medicine for cutaneous infections, were screened for antimicrobial activity against NG. Methods: Extracts were screened by disc susceptibility assay. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of active compounds from P. lanceaefolium were assayed using a panel of 26 NG strains comprising 12 antibiotic-resistant phenotypes. Results: In all, 71% of the crude extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against the antibiotic susceptible NG strain WHO V, whereas 10% of the extracts inhibited penicillinase-producing NG strain GC1– 182. The crude extract of Piper lanceaefolium was the only extract to show significant activity without ultraviolet (UV) light activation. Preliminary screening identified 3 compounds in this plant possessing antimicrobial activity: the flavonoids 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone (pinocembrin), 2,4,6-trihydroxychalcone (pinocembrin chalcone), and the prenylated benzoic acid derivative cyclolanceaefolic acid methyl ester. Pinocembrin and pinocembrin chalcone inhibited 100% of the NG panel at 64 g/mL and 128 g/mL, respectively, whereas cyclolanceaefolic acid methyl ester inhibited 44% of the strains at 128 g/mL. Conclusions: This is the first report of the antibacterial activity of Columbian plants against NG. The activity of the 2 flavonoids, pinocembrin, and pinocembrin chalcone, toward both susceptible and resistant NG strains makes them promising candidates for further research.

Search for Physics Beyond the Standard Model Using Multilepton Signatures in $pp$ Collisions at $s=7$ TeV

Abstract: A search for physics beyond the standard model in events with at least three leptons and any number of jets is presented. The data sample corresponds to 35 inverse picobarns of integrated luminosity in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. A number of exclusive multileptonic channels are investigated and standard model backgrounds are suppressed by requiring sufficient missing transverse energy, invariant mass inconsistent with that of the Z boson, or high jet activity. Control samples in data are used to ascertain the robustness of background evaluation techniques and to minimise the reliance on simulation. The observations are consistent with background expectations. These results constrain previously unexplored regions of supersymmetric parameter space.

Search for Pair Production of First-Generation Scalar Leptoquarks in pp Collisions at s=7TeV

Abstract: A search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks is performed in the final state containing two electrons and two jets using proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s)=7 TeV. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 33 inverse picobarns collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the predictions for the standard model background processes, and an upper limit is set on the leptoquark pair production cross section times beta^2 as a function of the leptoquark mass, where beta is the branching fraction of the leptoquark decay to an electron and a quark. A 95% confidence level lower limit is set on the mass of a first-generation scalar leptoquark at 384 GeV for beta=1, which is the most stringent direct limit to date.

Alargamiento conjunto del flexor hallucis longus y del flexor digitorum longus en el tratamiento quirúrgico del pie equino varo congénito: una técnica de tenodesis

Abstract: Introduction: The congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), often known as clubfoot, has been a severe orthopaedic disorder of the newborn infant. For the treatment of this condition the surgical technique that is called extended posteromedial release has been used. This article shows the results of a modified step of this technique using the elongation of the flexor tendons, flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum longus in a conjoint way.