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Showing papers by "Roma Tre University published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +5117 moreInstitutions (314)
TL;DR: A measurement of the Higgs boson mass is presented based on the combined data samples of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC in the H→γγ and H→ZZ→4ℓ decay channels.
Abstract: A measurement of the Higgs boson mass is presented based on the combined data samples of the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the CERN LHC in the H→γγ and H→ZZ→4l decay channels. The results are obtained from a simultaneous fit to the reconstructed invariant mass peaks in the two channels and for the two experiments. The measured masses from the individual channels and the two experiments are found to be consistent among themselves. The combined measured mass of the Higgs boson is mH=125.09±0.21 (stat)±0.11 (syst) GeV.

1,567 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Fengpeng An1, Guangpeng An, Qi An2, Vito Antonelli3  +226 moreInstitutions (55)
TL;DR: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) as mentioned in this paper is a 20 kton multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator detector with the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy as a primary physics goal.
Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), a 20 kton multi-purpose underground liquid scintillator detector, was proposed with the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy as a primary physics goal. It is also capable of observing neutrinos from terrestrial and extra-terrestrial sources, including supernova burst neutrinos, diffuse supernova neutrino background, geoneutrinos, atmospheric neutrinos, solar neutrinos, as well as exotic searches such as nucleon decays, dark matter, sterile neutrinos, etc. We present the physics motivations and the anticipated performance of the JUNO detector for various proposed measurements. By detecting reactor antineutrinos from two power plants at 53-km distance, JUNO will determine the neutrino mass hierarchy at a 3-4 sigma significance with six years of running. The measurement of antineutrino spectrum will also lead to the precise determination of three out of the six oscillation parameters to an accuracy of better than 1\%. Neutrino burst from a typical core-collapse supernova at 10 kpc would lead to ~5000 inverse-beta-decay events and ~2000 all-flavor neutrino-proton elastic scattering events in JUNO. Detection of DSNB would provide valuable information on the cosmic star-formation rate and the average core-collapsed neutrino energy spectrum. Geo-neutrinos can be detected in JUNO with a rate of ~400 events per year, significantly improving the statistics of existing geoneutrino samples. The JUNO detector is sensitive to several exotic searches, e.g. proton decay via the $p\to K^++\bar u$ decay channel. The JUNO detector will provide a unique facility to address many outstanding crucial questions in particle and astrophysics. It holds the great potential for further advancing our quest to understanding the fundamental properties of neutrinos, one of the building blocks of our Universe.

622 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a field study assessed benefits and subjective well-being reported by urban residents visiting four different typologies of green spaces, selected on the basis of urban forestry expert criteria according to a 2 × 2 factorial design.

496 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, S. Abdel Khalek4  +2815 moreInstitutions (169)
TL;DR: In this article, a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum was performed using 20.3 fb(-1) of root s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012.
Abstract: Results of a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search uses 20.3 fb(-1) of root s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012 ...

414 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results show that the DMAS beamformer outperforms DAS in both simulated and experimental trials and that the main improvement brought about by this new method is a significantly higher contrast resolution, which turns out into an increased dynamic range and better quality of B-mode images.
Abstract: Most of ultrasound medical imaging systems currently on the market implement standard Delay and Sum (DAS) beamforming to form B-mode images. However, image resolution and contrast achievable with DAS are limited by the aperture size and by the operating frequency. For this reason, different beamformers have been presented in the literature that are mainly based on adaptive algorithms, which allow achieving higher performance at the cost of an increased computational complexity. In this paper, we propose the use of an alternative nonlinear beamforming algorithm for medical ultrasound imaging, which is called Delay Multiply and Sum (DMAS) and that was originally conceived for a RADAR microwave system for breast cancer detection. We modify the DMAS beamformer and test its performance on both simulated and experimentally collected linear-scan data, by comparing the Point Spread Functions, beampatterns, synthetic phantom and in vivo carotid artery images obtained with standard DAS and with the proposed algorithm. Results show that the DMAS beamformer outperforms DAS in both simulated and experimental trials and that the main improvement brought about by this new method is a significantly higher contrast resolution (i.e., narrower main lobe and lower side lobes), which turns out into an increased dynamic range and better quality of B-mode images.

376 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, T. Abajyan2, Brad Abbott3, J. Abdallah4  +2914 moreInstitutions (169)
TL;DR: In this article, the jet energy scale and its systematic uncertainty are determined for jets measured with the ATLAS detector using proton-proton collision data with a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text]TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of [formula] see text][formula:see text].
Abstract: The jet energy scale (JES) and its systematic uncertainty are determined for jets measured with the ATLAS detector using proton-proton collision data with a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]. Jets are reconstructed from energy deposits forming topological clusters of calorimeter cells using the anti-[Formula: see text] algorithm with distance parameters [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text], and are calibrated using MC simulations. A residual JES correction is applied to account for differences between data and MC simulations. This correction and its systematic uncertainty are estimated using a combination of in situ techniques exploiting the transverse momentum balance between a jet and a reference object such as a photon or a [Formula: see text] boson, for [Formula: see text] and pseudorapidities [Formula: see text]. The effect of multiple proton-proton interactions is corrected for, and an uncertainty is evaluated using in situ techniques. The smallest JES uncertainty of less than 1 % is found in the central calorimeter region ([Formula: see text]) for jets with [Formula: see text]. For central jets at lower [Formula: see text], the uncertainty is about 3 %. A consistent JES estimate is found using measurements of the calorimeter response of single hadrons in proton-proton collisions and test-beam data, which also provide the estimate for [Formula: see text] TeV. The calibration of forward jets is derived from dijet [Formula: see text] balance measurements. The resulting uncertainty reaches its largest value of 6 % for low-[Formula: see text] jets at [Formula: see text]. Additional JES uncertainties due to specific event topologies, such as close-by jets or selections of event samples with an enhanced content of jets originating from light quarks or gluons, are also discussed. The magnitude of these uncertainties depends on the event sample used in a given physics analysis, but typically amounts to 0.5-3 %.

294 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Taking into account that the incidence and/or prevalence of health problems associated with endocrine disruption have increased worldwide, the goal of the present review is to give an overview of the many mechanisms of BPA action in order to decipher whether different mechanisms are at the root of the effect of low dose of B PA on endocrine system.
Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been associated with serious endocrine-disrupting effects in humans and wildlife. Toxicological and epidemiological studies evidenced that BPA increases body mass index and disrupts normal cardiovascular physiology by interfering with endogenous hormones in rodents, nonhuman primates, and cell culture test systems. The BPA concentration derived from these experiments were used by government regulatory agencies to determine the safe exposure levels of BPA in humans. However, accumulating literature in vivo and in vitro indicate that at concentrations lower than that reported in toxicological studies, BPA could elicit a different endocrine-disrupting capacity. To further complicate this picture, BPA effects rely on several and diverse mechanisms that converge upon endocrine and reproductive systems. If all or just few of these mechanisms concur to the endocrine-disrupting potential of low doses of BPA is at present still unclear. Thus, taking into account that the incidence and/or prevalence of health problems associated with endocrine disruption have increased worldwide, the goal of the present review is to give an overview of the many mechanisms of BPA action in order to decipher whether different mechanisms are at the root of the effect of low dose of BPA on endocrine system.

272 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +2827 moreInstitutions (148)
TL;DR: The Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson hypothesis is tested against several alternative spin scenarios, including non-SM spin-0 and spin-2 models with universal and non-universal couplings to fermions and vector bosons, and the observed distributions of variables sensitive to the non- SM tensor couplings are compatible with the SM predictions.
Abstract: Studies of the spin, parity and tensor couplings of the Higgs boson in the [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decay processes at the LHC are presented. The investigations are based on [Formula: see text] of pp collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment at [Formula: see text] TeV and [Formula: see text] TeV. The Standard Model (SM) Higgs boson hypothesis, corresponding to the quantum numbers [Formula: see text], is tested against several alternative spin scenarios, including non-SM spin-0 and spin-2 models with universal and non-universal couplings to fermions and vector bosons. All tested alternative models are excluded in favour of the SM Higgs boson hypothesis at more than 99.9 % confidence level. Using the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] decays, the tensor structure of the interaction between the spin-0 boson and the SM vector bosons is also investigated. The observed distributions of variables sensitive to the non-SM tensor couplings are compatible with the SM predictions and constraints on the non-SM couplings are derived.

268 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that regulate the RA and retinoid signaling pathways is provided and mechanisms through which deregulation of RA signaling pathways ultimately impact on cancer are examined.

265 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
20 Feb 2015-Science
TL;DR: A signature in x-ray spectra of a strong persistent outflow in the quasar PDS 456 is seen, estimating a broad solid angle spanned by the wind that enables a far greater impact on the host galaxy than narrower jet outflows.
Abstract: The evolution of galaxies is connected to the growth of supermassive black holes in their centers. During the quasar phase, a huge luminosity is released as matter falls onto the black hole, and radiation-driven winds can transfer most of this energy back to the host galaxy. Over five different epochs, we detected the signatures of a nearly spherical stream of highly ionized gas in the broadband x-ray spectra of the luminous quasar PDS 456. This persistent wind is expelled at relativistic speeds from the inner accretion disk, and its wide aperture suggests an effective coupling with the ambient gas. The outflow’s kinetic power larger than 1046 ergs per second is enough to provide the feedback required by models of black hole and host galaxy coevolution.

257 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
P. Agnes1, Thomas Alexander2, A. K. Alton3, K. Arisaka4, Henning O. Back5, B. Baldin6, K. Biery6, G. Bonfini, M. Bossa, Augusto Brigatti7, J. Brodsky5, F. Budano8, Laura Cadonati2, Frank Calaprice5, N. Canci4, A. Candela, H. Cao5, M. Cariello9, P. Cavalcante, A. E. Chavarria10, A. S. Chepurnov11, A. G. Cocco, L. Crippa7, D. D'Angelo7, M. D'Incecco, S. Davini12, M. De Deo, A. V. Derbin13, A. Devoto, F. Di Eusanio5, G. Di Pietro7, E. Edkins14, A. Empl12, A. Fan4, G. Fiorillo, K. Fomenko15, G. Forster2, D. Franco1, F. Gabriele, Cristiano Galbiati5, A. M. Goretti5, L. Grandi10, M. Gromov11, Min-Xin Guan, Y. Guardincerri6, B. R. Hackett14, K. Herner6, E. V. Hungerford12, Al. Ianni, An. Ianni5, Cécile Jollet16, K. J. Keeter17, C. L. Kendziora6, S. Kidner18, V. V. Kobychev19, G. Koh5, D. Korablev15, G. Korga12, A. Kurlej2, P. X. Li, B. Loer5, Paolo Lombardi7, C. Love20, Livia Ludhova7, S. Luitz21, Y. Q. Ma, I. N. Machulin22, I. N. Machulin23, A. Mandarano, Stefano Maria Mari8, J. Maricic14, L. Marini8, C. J. Martoff20, Anselmo Meregaglia16, E. Meroni7, Peter Daniel Meyers5, R. Milincic14, D. Montanari6, A. Monte2, M. Montuschi, M. E. Monzani21, P. J. Mosteiro5, B. J. Mount17, V. N. Muratova13, P. Musico9, A. Nelson5, S. Odrowski, M. Okounkova5, M. Orsini, Fausto Ortica24, L. Pagani9, Marco Pallavicini9, E. Pantic25, E. Pantic4, L. Papp18, S. Parmeggiano7, R. Parsells5, K. Pelczar26, Nicomede Pelliccia24, S. Perasso1, A. Pocar2, S. Pordes6, D. A. Pugachev23, H. Qian5, K. Randle2, Gioacchino Ranucci7, A. Razeto, B. Reinhold14, A. L. Renshaw4, Aldo Romani24, B. Rossi5, N. Rossi, S. D. Rountree18, D. Sablone12, P. Saggese, R. Saldanha10, W. Sands5, Samuele Sangiorgio27, E. Segreto, D. A. Semenov13, E. Shields5, M. D. Skorokhvatov22, M. D. Skorokhvatov23, O. Smirnov15, A. Sotnikov15, C. Stanford24, Y. Suvorov4, R. Tartaglia, J. Tatarowicz20, G. Testera9, A. Tonazzo1, E. V. Unzhakov13, R. B. Vogelaar18, M. Wada5, Stuart Derek Walker, Hui Wang4, Yanchu Wang, Alan Watson20, S. Westerdale5, Marcin Wójcik26, A. Wright5, X. Xiang5, Jilei Xu5, Chung-Yao Yang, J. Yoo6, Sandra Zavatarelli9, A. Zec2, C. Zhu5, G. Zuzel26 
TL;DR: The first results of a direct search for dark matter operating in the underground Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) and searching for the rare nuclear recoils possibly induced by weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) were reported in this paper.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A survey on main features of vehicular social networks, from novel emerging technologies to social aspects used for mobile applications, as well as main issues and challenges is provided.
Abstract: This paper surveys recent literature on vehicular social networks that are a particular class of vehicular ad hoc networks, characterized by social aspects and features. Starting from this pillar, we investigate perspectives on next-generation vehicles under the assumption of social networking for vehicular applications (i.e., safety and entertainment applications). This paper plays a role as a starting point about socially inspired vehicles and mainly related applications, as well as communication techniques. Vehicular communications can be considered the “first social network for automobiles” since each driver can share data with other neighbors. For instance, heavy traffic is a common occurrence in some areas on the roads (e.g., at intersections, taxi loading/unloading areas, and so on); as a consequence, roads become a popular social place for vehicles to connect to each other. Human factors are then involved in vehicular ad hoc networks, not only due to the safety-related applications but also for entertainment purposes. Social characteristics and human behavior largely impact on vehicular ad hoc networks, and this arises to the vehicular social networks, which are formed when vehicles (individuals) “socialize” and share common interests. In this paper, we provide a survey on main features of vehicular social networks, from novel emerging technologies to social aspects used for mobile applications, as well as main issues and challenges. Vehicular social networks are described as decentralized opportunistic communication networks formed among vehicles. They exploit mobility aspects, and basics of traditional social networks , in order to create novel approaches of message exchange through the detection of dynamic social structures. An overview of the main state-of-the-art on safety and entertainment applications relying on social networking solutions is also provided.

Journal ArticleDOI
Keith I. Block, Charlotte Gyllenhaal, Leroy Lowe1, Amedeo Amedei2  +180 moreInstitutions (105)
TL;DR: An international task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms, and results suggest that a broad-spectrums approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +2841 moreInstitutions (148)
TL;DR: Since no evidence of third-generation squarks is found, exclusion limits are derived by combining several analyses and are presented in both a simplified model framework, assuming simple decay chains, as well as within the context of more elaborate phenomenological supersymmetric models.
Abstract: This paper reviews and extends searches for the direct pair production of the scalar supersymmetric partners of the top and bottom quarks in proton-proton collisions collected by the ATLAS collaboration during the LHC Run 1. Most of the analyses use 20 [Formula: see text] of collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text] TeV, although in some case an additional [Formula: see text] of collision data at [Formula: see text] TeV are used. New analyses are introduced to improve the sensitivity to specific regions of the model parameter space. Since no evidence of third-generation squarks is found, exclusion limits are derived by combining several analyses and are presented in both a simplified model framework, assuming simple decay chains, as well as within the context of more elaborate phenomenological supersymmetric models.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the differentiated impact of demand-pull and technology-push policies in shaping technological patterns in the bio-fuels sector and find that technological capabilities and environmental regulation spur innovative activities in the Bio-Fuels sector.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +2882 moreInstitutions (212)
TL;DR: In this article, a search for narrow resonances decaying into WW, WZ, or ZZ boson pairs using 20.3 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of root s = TeV recorded with the AT...
Abstract: A search is performed for narrow resonances decaying into WW, WZ, or ZZ boson pairs using 20.3 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of root s = TeV recorded with the AT ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess the knowledge of youths concerning food waste as well as identify factors that influence changes in behaviour concerning food wasted and planning shopping for preventing it, finding that the more aware youths are concerning food wastage, the more likely they are to reduce leftovers.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the knowledge of youths concerning food waste as well as to identify factors that influence changes in behaviour concerning food wasted and planning shopping for preventing it. Design/methodology/approach – The data used were collected from a sample of 233 students at Roma-Tre University in Italy. Probit models were specified to identify factors affecting food waste reduction in both pre-shopping and consumption phases. Findings – Results show that the more aware youths are concerning food waste, the more likely they are to reduce leftovers. In contrast, the concern about food freshness increases waste. A greater awareness of the consequences of food wasted increases the likelihood that youths will make a shopping list. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation of the study can be found in the non-probabilistic sampling design used for the collection of data. Practical implications – This study provides information for both social marketers an...

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, S. Abdel Khalek4  +2877 moreInstitutions (190)
TL;DR: In this article, the final ATLAS Run 1 measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in the decay channel H -> ZZ* -> l(+)l(-)l(+) l'(-), where l, l' = e or mu, are presented.
Abstract: The final ATLAS Run 1 measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in the decay channel H -> ZZ* -> l(+)l(-)l(+)l'(-), where l, l' = e or mu, are presented. These measurements were performed using pp collision data corresponding to integrated luminosities of 4.5 and 20.3 fb(-1) at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, respectively, recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The H -> ZZ* -> 4l signal is observed with a significance of 8.1 standard deviations, with an expectation of 6.2 standard deviations, at m(H) = 125.36 GeV, the combined ATLAS measurement of the Higgs boson mass from the H -> gamma gamma and H -> ZZ* -> 4l channels. The production rate relative to the Standard Model expectation, the signal strength, is measured in four different production categories in the H -> ZZ* -> 4l channel. The measured signal strength, at this mass, and with all categories combined, is 1.44(-0.33)(+0.40). The signal strength for Higgs boson production in gluon fusion or in association with (tt) over bar or (bb) over bar pairs is found to be 1.7(-0.4)(+0.5), while the signal strength for vector-boson fusion combined with WH/ZH associated production is found to be 0.3(-0.9)(+1.6).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors detect extended ionised outflows in luminous quasars, where they expect the highest activity both in star formation and in black-hole accretion.
Abstract: Aims. Outflows driven by active galactic nuclei (AGN) are invoked by galaxy evolutionary models to quench star formation and to explain the origin of the relations observed locally between super-massive black holes and their host galaxies. We here aim to detect extended ionised outflows in luminous quasars, where we expect the highest activity both in star formation and in black-hole accretion. Currently, there are only a few studies based on spatially resolved observations of outflows at high redshift, z > 2.Methods. We analysed a sample of six luminous (L > 1047 erg/s) quasars at z ~ 2.4, observed in H -band using the near-IR integral field spectrometer SINFONI at the VLT. We performed a kinematic analysis of the [Oiii] emission line at λ = 5007 A.Results. We detect fast, spatially extended outflows in five out of six targets. [Oiii]λ 5007 has a complex gas kinematic, with blue-shifted velocities of a few hundreds of km s-1 and line widths up to 1500 km s-1 . Using the spectroastrometric method, we infer a size of the ionised outflows of up to ~2 kpc. The properties of the ionised outflows, mass outflow rate, momentum rate, and kinetic power, are correlated with the AGN luminosity. The increase in outflow rate with increasing AGN luminosity is consistent with the idea that a luminous AGN pushes away the surrounding gas through fast outflows that are driven by radiation pressure, which depends on the emitted luminosity.Conclusions. We derive mass outflow rates of about 6−700 M ⊙ yr-1 for our sample, which are lower than those observed in molecular outflows. The physical properties of ionised outflows show dependences on AGN luminosity that are similar to those of molecular outflows, but indicate that the mass of ionised gas is lower than that of molecular outflows. Alternatively, this discrepancy between ionised and molecular outflows could be explained with different acceleration mechanisms.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +2841 moreInstitutions (194)
TL;DR: In this article, the results of a search for events containing at least one long-lived particle that decays at a significant distance from its production point into two leptons or into five or more charged particles are presented.
Abstract: Many extensions of the Standard Model posit the existence of heavy particles with long lifetimes. This article presents the results of a search for events containing at least one long-lived particle that decays at a significant distance from its production point into two leptons or into five or more charged particles. This analysis uses a data sample of proton-proton collisions at root s = 8 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 20.3 fb(-1) collected in 2012 by the ATLAS detector operating at the Large Hadron Collider. No events are observed in any of the signal regions, and limits are set on model parameters within supersymmetric scenarios involving R-parity violation, split supersymmetry, and gauge mediation. In some of the search channels, the trigger and search strategy are based only on the decay products of individual long-lived particles, irrespective of the rest of the event. In these cases, the provided limits can easily be reinterpreted in different scenarios.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Alexander Kupco2, Peter Davison3, Samuel Webb4  +2879 moreInstitutions (213)
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for heavy Majorana neutrinos in events containing a pair of high-p(T) leptons of the same charge and high p(t) jets is presented, which is consistent with the background-only hypothesis based on the Standard Model expectation.
Abstract: A search for heavy Majorana neutrinos in events containing a pair of high-p(T) leptons of the same charge and high-p(T) jets is presented. The search uses 20.3 fb(-1) of pp collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider with a centre-of-mass energy of root s = 8TeV. The data are found to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis based on the Standard Model expectation. In the context of a Type-I seesaw mechanism, limits are set on the production cross-section times branching ratio for production of heavy Majorana neutrinos in the mass range between 100 and 500 GeV. The limits are subsequently interpreted as limits on the mixing between the heavy Majorana neutrinos and the Standard Model neutrinos. In the context of a left-right symmetric model, limits on the production cross-section times branching ratio are set with respect to the masses of heavy Majorana neutrinos and heavy gauge bosons W-R and Z'.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A hybrid modeling approach which combines Artificial Neural Networks and a simple statistical approach in order to provide a one hour forecast of urban traffic flow rates is shown.

BookDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the most advanced applications of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in a civil engineering context, with documentation of instrumentation, methods, and results are presented, with detailed attention devoted to use of GPR in the inspection of geological structures and of construction materials and structures, including reinforced concrete, steel reinforcing bars, and pre/post-tensioned stressing ducts.
Abstract: This book, based on Transport and Urban Development COST Action TU1208, presents the most advanced applications of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in a civil engineering context, with documentation of instrumentation, methods, and results. It explains clearly how GPR can be employed for the surveying of critical transport infrastructure, such as roads, pavements, bridges, and tunnels, and for the sensing and mapping of underground utilities and voids. Detailed attention is also devoted to use of GPR in the inspection of geological structures and of construction materials and structures, including reinforced concrete, steel reinforcing bars, and pre/post-tensioned stressing ducts. Advanced methods for solution of electromagnetic scattering problems and new data processing techniques are also presented. Readers will come to appreciate that GPR is a safe, advanced, nondestructive, and noninvasive imaging technique that can be effectively used for the inspection of composite structures and the performance of diagnostics relevant to the entire life cycle of civil engineering works

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: X-shooter at the Vewry Large Telescope observations of a sample of 10 luminous, X-ray obscured QSOs at z$\sim1.5$ from the XMM-COSMOS survey, expected to be caught in the transitioning phase from starburst to active galactic nucleus (AGN)-dominated systems as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: We present X-shooter at the Vewry Large Telescope observations of a sample of 10 luminous, X-ray obscured QSOs at z$\sim1.5$ from the XMM-COSMOS survey, expected to be caught in the transitioning phase from starburst to active galactic nucleus (AGN)-dominated systems. The main selection criterion is X-ray detection at bright fluxes (L$>=10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$) coupled to red optical-to-NIR-to-MIR colors. Thanks to its large wavelength coverage, X-shooter allowed us to determine accurate redshifts from the presence of multiple emission lines for five out of six targets for which we had only a photometric redshift estimate, with an 80 percent success rate, significantly larger than what is observed in similar programs of spectroscopic follow-up of red QSOs. We report the detection of broad and shifted components in the [OIII]$\lambda\lambda$5007,4959 complexes for six out of eight sources with these lines observable in regions free from strong atmospheric absorptions. The full width half-maximum (FWHM) associated with the broad components are in the range FWHM$\sim900-1600$ km s$^{-1}$, larger than the average value observed in SDSS Type 2 AGN samples at similar observed [OIII] luminosity, but comparable to those observed for QSO/ultraluminous infrared galaxies systems for which the presence of kpc scale outflows have been revealed through integral field unit spectroscopy. Although the total outflow energetics (inferred under reasonable assumptions) may be consistent with winds accelerated by stellar processes, we favour an AGN origin for the outflows given the high outflow velocities oberved (v$>1000$ km s$^{-1}$) and the presence of strong winds also in objects undetected in the far infrared.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +2908 moreInstitutions (209)
TL;DR: In this article, both resonant and nonresonant Higgs boson pair production were performed in the hh -> bb tau tau, gamma gamma WW* final states using 20.3 fb(-1) of collision data at a center-of-m...
Abstract: Searches for both resonant and nonresonant Higgs boson pair production are performed in the hh -> bb tau tau, gamma gamma WW* final states using 20.3 fb(-1) of pp collision data at a center-of-m ...

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, Ovsat Abdinov4  +2813 moreInstitutions (189)
TL;DR: In this paper, a neural network is used to discriminate between signal and background events, the latter being dominated by +jets production, and an observed (expected) limit of 3.4 (2.2) times the Standard Model cross section is obtained at 95 % confidence level.
Abstract: A search for the Standard Model Higgs boson produced in association with a top-quark pair, , is presented. The analysis uses 20.3 fb(-1) of pp collision data at , collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during 2012. The search is designed for the decay mode and uses events containing one or two electrons or muons. In order to improve the sensitivity of the search, events are categorised according to their jet and b-tagged jet multiplicities. A neural network is used to discriminate between signal and background events, the latter being dominated by +jets production. In the single-lepton channel, variables calculated using a matrix element method are included as inputs to the neural network to improve discrimination of the irreducible background. No significant excess of events above the background expectation is found and an observed (expected) limit of 3.4 (2.2) times the Standard Model cross section is obtained at 95 % confidence level. The ratio of the measured signal cross section to the Standard Model expectation is found to be assuming a Higgs boson mass of 125 Gev.

Journal ArticleDOI
Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, S. Abdel Khalek4  +2871 moreInstitutions (202)
TL;DR: In this article, the authors measured the inclusive jet cross-section in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb−1 collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2011.
Abstract: The inclusive jet cross-section is measured in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.5 fb−1 collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider in 2011. Jets are identified using the anti-k t algorithm with radius parameter values of 0.4 and 0.6. The double-differential cross-sections are presented as a function of the jet transverse momentum and the jet rapidity, covering jet transverse momenta from 100 GeV to 2 TeV. Next-to-leading-order QCD calculations corrected for non-perturbative effects and electroweak effects, as well as Monte Carlo simulations with next-to-leading-order matrix elements interfaced to parton showering, are compared to the measured cross-sections. A quantitative comparison of the measured cross-sections to the QCD calculations using several sets of parton distribution functions is performed.

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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe recent advances and developments for the measurement of fracture toughness at small scales by the use of nanoindentation-based methods including techniques based on micro-cantilever, beam bending and micro-pillar splitting.
Abstract: In this paper, we describe recent advances and developments for the measurement of fracture toughness at small scales by the use of nanoindentation-based methods including techniques based on micro-cantilever, beam bending and micro-pillar splitting. A critical comparison of the techniques is made by testing a selected group of bulk and thin film materials. For pillar splitting, cohesive zone finite element simulations are used to validate a simple relationship between the critical load at failure, the pillar radius, and the fracture toughness for a range of material properties and coating/substrate combinations. The minimum pillar diameter required for nucleation and growth of a crack during indentation is also estimated. An analysis of pillar splitting for a film on a dissimilar substrate material shows that the critical load for splitting is relatively insensitive to the substrate compliance for a large range of material properties. Experimental results from a selected group of materials show good agreement between single cantilever and pillar splitting methods, while a discrepancy of ∼25% is found between the pillar splitting technique and double-cantilever testing. It is concluded that both the micro-cantilever and pillar splitting techniques are valuable methods for micro-scale assessment of fracture toughness of brittle ceramics, provided the underlying assumptions can be validated. Although the pillar splitting method has some advantages because of the simplicity of sample preparation and testing, it is not applicable to most metals because their higher toughness prevents splitting, and in this case, micro-cantilever bend testing is preferred.

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TL;DR: In this paper, a procedure that combines the results of direct tensile and shear bond tests to provide engineering design parameters for externally bonded FRCM reinforcements is proposed, which is suitable for standard product qualification and material assurance purposes.
Abstract: Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites are now widely used for repair and retrofitting existing structures. Guidelines for product qualification are needed to characterize the strengthening systems before they are made available in the market and installed. The paper proposes a procedure that combines the results of direct tensile and shear bond tests to provide engineering design parameters for externally bonded FRCM reinforcements. Due to the possible occurrence of different failure modes, the procedure provides results on the base of the weakest mechanism that takes place. Thanks to its simplicity, the proposed method is suitable for standard product qualification and material assurance purposes. In order to investigate its feasibility, the qualification procedure is applied to different reinforcements comprising basalt, carbon, glass, and steel textiles, bonded with either cement or lime mortars to clay bricks and tuff units.

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Georges Aad1, Brad Abbott2, Jalal Abdallah3, S. Abdel Khalek4  +2875 moreInstitutions (201)
TL;DR: In this paper, a search for the b (b) over bar decay of the Standard Model Higgs boson is performed with the ATLAS experiment using the full dataset recorded at the LHC in Run 1.
Abstract: A search for the b (b) over bar decay of the Standard Model Higgs boson is performed with the ATLAS experiment using the full dataset recorded at the LHC in Run 1. The integrated luminosities used are 4.7 and 20.3 fb(-1) from pp collisions at root s = 7 and 8 TeV, respectively. The processes considered are associated (WIZ)H production, where W -> e nu/mu nu, Z -> ee/mu mu, and Z -> nu nu. The observed (expected) deviation from the backgroundonly hypothesis corresponds to a significance of 1.4 (2.6) standard deviations and the ratio of the measured signal yield to the Standard Model expectation is found to be mu = 0.52 +/- 0.32 (stat.) +/- 0.24 (syst.) for a Higgs boson mass of 125.36 GeV. The analysis procedure is validated by a measurement of the yield of (W/Z)Z production with Z -> b (b) over bar in the same final states as for the Higgs boson search, from which the ratio of the observed signal yield to the Standard Model expectation is found to be 0.74 +/- 0.09 (stat.) +/- 0.14 (syst.).