Showing papers by "Université Paris-Saclay published in 2004"

Least angle regression

Abstract: The purpose of model selection algorithms such as All Subsets, Forward Selection and Backward Elimination is to choose a linear model on the basis of the same set of data to which the model will be applied. Typically we have available a large collection of possible covariates from which we hope to select a parsimonious set for the efficient prediction of a response variable. Least Angle Regression (LARS), a new model selection algorithm, is a useful and less greedy version of traditional forward selection methods. Three main properties are derived: (1) A simple modification of the LARS algorithm implements the Lasso, an attractive version of ordinary least squares that constrains the sum of the absolute regression coefficients; the LARS modification calculates all possible Lasso estimates for a given problem, using an order of magnitude less computer time than previous methods. (2) A different LARS modification efficiently implements Forward Stagewise linear regression, another promising new model selection method; this connection explains the similar numerical results previously observed for the Lasso and Stagewise, and helps us understand the properties of both methods, which are seen as constrained versions of the simpler LARS algorithm. (3) A simple approximation for the degrees of freedom of a LARS estimate is available, from which we derive a Cp estimate of prediction error; this allows a principled choice among the range of possible LARS estimates. LARS and its variants are computationally efficient: the paper describes a publicly available algorithm that requires only the same order of magnitude of computational effort as ordinary least squares applied to the full set of covariates.

Role of transposable elements in heterochromatin and epigenetic control

Abstract: Heterochromatin has been defined as deeply staining chromosomal material that remains condensed in interphase, whereas euchromatin undergoes de-condensation. Heterochromatin is found near centromeres and telomeres, but interstitial sites of heterochromatin (knobs) are common in plant genomes and were first described in maize. These regions are repetitive and late-replicating. In Drosophila, heterochromatin influences gene expression, a heterochromatin phenomenon called position effect variegation. Similarities between position effect variegation in Drosophila and gene silencing in maize mediated by "controlling elements" (that is, transposable elements) led in part to the proposal that heterochromatin is composed of transposable elements, and that such elements scattered throughout the genome might regulate development. Using microarray analysis, we show that heterochromatin in Arabidopsis is determined by transposable elements and related tandem repeats, under the control of the chromatin remodelling ATPase DDM1 (Decrease in DNA Methylation 1). Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) correspond to these sequences, suggesting a role in guiding DDM1. We also show that transposable elements can regulate genes epigenetically, but only when inserted within or very close to them. This probably accounts for the regulation by DDM1 and the DNA methyltransferase MET1 of the euchromatic, imprinted gene FWA, as its promoter is provided by transposable-element-derived tandem repeats that are associated with siRNAs.

Identified charged particle spectra and yields in Au + Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV

Abstract: The centrality dependence of transverse momentum distributions and yields for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}},{K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}},p$, and $\overline{p}$ in $\text{Au}+\text{Au}$ collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}$ at midrapidity are measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. We observe a clear particle mass dependence of the shapes of transverse momentum spectra in central collisions below $\ensuremath{\sim}2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}∕c$ in ${p}_{T}$. Both mean transverse momenta and particle yields per participant pair increase from peripheral to midcentral and saturate at the most central collisions for all particle species. We also measure particle ratios of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}∕{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$, ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}∕{K}^{+}$, $\overline{p}∕p$, $K∕\ensuremath{\pi}$, $p∕\ensuremath{\pi}$, and $\overline{p}∕\ensuremath{\pi}$ as a function of ${p}_{T}$ and collision centrality. The ratios of equal mass particle yields are independent of ${p}_{T}$ and centrality within the experimental uncertainties. In central collisions at intermediate transverse momenta $\ensuremath{\sim}1.5--4.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}∕c$, proton and antiproton yields constitute a significant fraction of the charged hadron production and show a scaling behavior different from that of pions.

Insights into the evolution of Yersinia pestis through whole-genome comparison with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Abstract: Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is a highly uniform clone that diverged recently from the enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Despite their close genetic relationship, they differ radically in their pathogenicity and transmission. Here, we report the complete genomic sequence of Y. pseudotuberculosis IP32953 and its use for detailed genome comparisons with available Y. pestis sequences. Analyses of identified differences across a panel of Yersinia isolates from around the world reveal 32 Y. pestis chromosomal genes that, together with the two Y. pestis-specific plasmids, to our knowledge, represent the only new genetic material in Y. pestis acquired since the the divergence from Y. pseudotuberculosis. In contrast, 149 other pseudogenes (doubling the previous estimate) and 317 genes absent from Y. pestis were detected, indicating that as many as 13% of Y. pseudotuberculosis genes no longer function in Y. pestis. Extensive insertion sequence-mediated genome rearrangements and reductive evolution through massive gene loss, resulting in elimination and modification of preexisting gene expression pathways, appear to be more important than acquisition of genes in the evolution of Y. pestis. These results provide a sobering example of how a highly virulent epidemic clone can suddenly emerge from a less virulent, closely related progenitor.

Planar Maps as Labeled Mobiles

Abstract: We extend Schaeffer's bijection between rooted quadrangulations and well-labeled trees to the general case of Eulerian planar maps with prescribed face valences to obtain a bijection with a new class of labeled trees, which we call mobiles. Our bijection covers all the classes of maps previously enumerated by either the two-matrix model used by physicists or by the bijection with blossom trees used by combinatorists. Our bijection reduces the enumeration of maps to that, much simpler, of mobiles and moreover keeps track of the geodesic distance within the initial maps via the mobiles' labels. Generating functions for mobiles are shown to obey systems of algebraic recursion relations.

Wolcott-Rallison Syndrome: Clinical, Genetic, and Functional Study of EIF2AK3 Mutations and Suggestion of Genetic Heterogeneity

Abstract: Wolcott-Rallison syndrome (WRS) is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by the association of permanent neonatal or early-infancy insulin-dependent diabetes, multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and growth retardation, and other variable multisystemic clinical manifestations. Based on genetic studies of two inbred families, we previously identified the gene responsible for this disorder as EIF2AK3, the pancreatic eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha) kinase. Here, we have studied 12 families with WRS, totalling 18 cases. With the exception of one case, all patients carried EIF2AK3 mutations resulting in truncated or missense versions of the protein. Exclusion of EIF2AK3 mutations in the one patient case was confirmed by both linkage and sequence data. The activities of missense versions of EIF2AK3 were characterized in vivo and in vitro and found to have a complete lack of activity in four mutant proteins and residual kinase activity in one. Remarkably, the onset of diabetes was relatively late (30 months) in the patient expressing the partially defective EIF2AK3 mutant and in the patient with no EIF2AK3 involvement (18 months) compared with other patients (<6 months). The patient with no EIF2AK3 involvement did not have any of the other variable clinical manifestations associated with WRS, which supports the idea that the genetic heterogeneity between this variant form of WRS and EIF2AK3 WRS correlates with some clinical heterogeneity.

Measurement of the B -> X(s)l(+)l(-) branching fraction with a sum over exclusive modes

Abstract: We present a preliminary measurement of time-dependent We measure the branching fraction for the flavor-changing neutral-current process B -> Xs l+ l- with a sample of 89 x 10^6 Upsilon(4S) -> BBbar events recorded with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II e+e- storage ring. The final state is reconstructed from e+e- or mu+mu- pairs and a hadronic system consisting of one K or K0s and up to two pions, with at most one pi0. We observe a signal of 40 +/- 10(stat) +/- 2(syst) events and extract the inclusive branching fraction B(B -> Xs l+ l-) = (5.6 +/- 1.5(stat) +/- 0.6(exp syst) +/- 1.1(model syst)) x 10^-6 for mll > 0.2 GeV/c^2.

Flows, coalescence and noise

Abstract: We are interested in stationary “fluid” random evolutions with independent increments. Under some mild assumptions, we show they are solutions of a stochastic differential equation (SDE). There are situations where these evolutions are not described by flows of diffeomorphisms, but by coalescing flows or by flows of probability kernels. In an intermediate phase, for which there exist a coalescing flow and a flow of kernels solution of the SDE, a classification is given: All solutions of the SDE can be obtained by filtering a coalescing motion with respect to a subnoise containing the Gaussian part of its noise. Thus, the coalescing motion cannot be described by a white noise.

Selected problems in collisionless-shock physics

Abstract: The physics of collisionless shocks is a very broad topic, which has been well studied for many decades. However, there are a number of important issues which remain unresolved. Moreover, there have been new findings, which cast doubt on well-established ideas. The purpose of this review is to address a subset of unresolved problems in collisionless shock physics from a theoretical and/or numerical modeling point of view. The topics which are addressed are: the nonstationarity of the shock front, the heating and dynamics of electrons through the shock layer, particle diffusion in turbulent electric and magnetic fields, particle acceleration, and the interaction of pickup ions with collisionless shocks.

Study of tau-pair production in photon-photon collisions at LEP and limits on the anomalous electromagnetic moments of the tau lepton

Abstract: Tau-pair production in the process e(+)e(-) --> e(+)e(-) tau(+)tau(-) was studied using data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP2 during the years 1997 - 2000. The corresponding integrated luminosity is 650 pb(-1). The values of the cross-section obtained are found to be in agreement with QED predictions. Limits on the anomalous magnetic and electric dipole moments of the tau lepton are deduced.

Study of the e+ e- → π+ π- π0 process using initial state radiation with BABAR

Abstract: The process e+e- --> pi+ pi- pi0 gamma has been studied at a center-of-mass energy near the Y(4S) resonance using a 89.3 fb-1 data sample collected with the BaBar detector at the PEP-II collider. From the measured 3pi mass spectrum we have obtained the products of branching fractions for the omega and phi mesons, B(omega --> e+e-)B(omega --> 3pi)=(6.70 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.27)10-5 and B(phi --> e+e-)B(phi --> 3pi)=(4.30 +/- 0.08 +/- 0.21)10-5, and evaluated the e+e- --> pi+ pi- pi0 cross section for the e+e- center-of-mass energy range 1.05 to 3.00 GeV. About 900 e+e- --> J/psi gamma --> pi+ pi- pi0 gamma events have been selected and the branching fraction B(J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0)=(2.18 +/- 0.19)% has been measured.

Searches for Neutral Higgs Bosons in Extended Models

Abstract: Searches for neutral Higgs bosons produced at LEP in association with Z bosons, in pairs and in the Yukawa process are presented in this paper. Higgs boson decays into b quarks, tau leptons, or other Higgs bosons are considered, giving rise to four-b, four-b+jets, six-b and four-tau final states, as well as mixed modes with b quarks and tau leptons. The whole mass domain kinematically accessible at LEP in these topologies is searched. The analysed data set covers both the LEP1 and LEP2 energy ranges and exploits most of the luminosity recorded by the DELPHI experiment. No convincing evidence for a signal is found, and results are presented in the form of mass-dependent upper bounds on coupling factors (in units of model-independent reference cross-sections) for all processes, allowing interpretation of the data in a large class of models.

Spin asymmetries for events with high p(T) hadrons in DIS and an evaluation of the gluon polarization

Abstract: We present a measurement of the longitudinal spin cross section asymmetry for deep-inelastic muon-nucleon interactions with two high transverse momentum hadrons in the final state. Two methods of event classification are used to increase the contribution of the photon-gluon fusion process to above 30%. The most effective one, based on a neural network approach, provides the asymmetries A(p)lN(-->)lhhX=0.030+/-0.057(stat)+/-0.010(syst) and A(d)lN(-->)lhhX=0.070+/-0.076(stat)+/-0.010(syst). From these values we derive an averaged gluon polarization DeltaG/G=-0.20+/-0.28(stat)+/-0.10(syst) at an average fraction of nucleon momentum carried by gluons =0.07.

Superconformal operators in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory

Abstract: We construct, in the framework of the N=4 SYM theory, a supermultiplet of twist-two conformal operators and study their renormalization properties. The components of the supermultiplet have the same anomalous dimension and enter as building blocks into multi-particle quasipartonic operators. The latter are determined by the condition that their twist equals the number of elementary constituent fields from which they are built. A unique feature of the N=4 SYM is that all quasipartonic operators with different SU(4) quantum numbers fall into a single supermultiplet. Among them there is a subsector of the operators of maximal helicity, which has been known to be integrable in the multi-color limit in QCD, independent of the presence of supersymmetry. In the N=4 SYM theory, this symmetry is extended to the whole supermultiplet of quasipartonic operators and the one-loop dilatation operator coincides with a Hamiltonian of integrable SL(2|4) Heisenberg spin chain.

Collective tree exploration

Abstract: An n-node tree has to be explored by k mobile agents (robots), starting in its root. Every edge of the tree must be traversed by at least one robot, and exploration must be completed as fast as possible. Even when the tree is known in advance, scheduling optimal collective exploration turns out to be NP-hard. We investigate the problem of distributed collective exploration of unknown trees. Not surprisingly, communication between robots influences the time of exploration. Our main communication scenario is the following: robots can communicate by writing at the currently visited node previously acquired information, and reading information available at this node. We construct an exploration algorithm whose running time for any tree is only O(k/log k) larger than optimal exploration time with full knowledge of the tree. (We say that the algorithm has overheadO(k/log k)). On the other hand we show that, in order to get overhead sublinear in the number of robots, some communication is necessary. Indeed, we prove that if robots cannot communicate at all, then every distributed exploration algorithm works in time Ω (k) larger than optimal exploration time with full knowledge, for some trees.

Combination of CDF and D0 results on the W boson mass and width

Abstract: The results based on 1992–95 data (Run 1) from the CDF and D0 experiments on the measurements of the W boson mass and width are presented, along with the combined results. We report a Tevatron collider average MW = 80.456±0.059 GeV. We also report the Tevatron collider average of the directly measured W boson width GammaW = 2.115±0.105 GeV. We describe a new joint analysis of the direct W mass and width measurements. Assuming the validity of the standard model, we combine the directly measured W boson width with the width extracted from the ratio of W and Z boson leptonic partial cross sections. This combined result for the Tevatron is GammaW = 2.135±0.050 GeV. Finally, we use the measurements of the direct total W width and the leptonic branching ratio to extract the leptonic partial width Gamma(W-->enu) = 224±13 MeV.

Search for Lepton-flavor violation in the decay τ- → ℓ-ℓ+ℓ-

Abstract: A search for the lepton-flavor-violating decay of the tau into three charged leptons has been performed using 91.5 fb(-1) of data collected at an e(+)e(-)center-of-mass energy around 10.58 GeV with the BABAR detector at the SLAC storage ring PEP-II. In all six decay modes considered, the numbers of events found in data are compatible with the background expectations. Upper limits on the branching fractions are set in the range (1-3)x10(-7) at 90% confidence level.

Structure of liquid and glassy methanol confined in cylindrical pores.

Abstract: We present a neutron scattering analysis of the density and the static structure factor of confined methanol at various temperatures. Confinement is performed in the cylindrical pores of MCM-41 silicates with pore diameters D=24 and 35 A. A change of the thermal expansivity of confined methanol at low temperature is the signature of a glass transition, which occurs at higher temperature for the smallest pore. This is evidence of a surface induced slowing down of the dynamics of the fluid. The structure factor presents a systematic evolution with the pore diameter, which has been analyzed in terms of excluded volume effects and fluid–matrix cross correlation. Conversely to the case of Van der Waals fluids, it shows that stronger fluid–matrix correlations must be invoked most probably in relation with the H-bonding character of both methanol and silicate surface.

Measurement of nonrandom event-by-event fluctuations of average transverse momentum in √s NN = 200 GeV Au + Au and p + p collisions

Abstract: Event-by-event fluctuations of the average transverse momentum of produced particles near midrapidity have been measured by the PHENIX Collaboration in square root of (sNN)=200 GeV Au+Au, and p+p collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The fluctuations are observed to be in excess of the expectation for statistically independent particle emission for all centralities. The excess fluctuations exhibit a dependence on both the centrality of the collision and on the pT range over which the average is calculated. Both the centrality and pT dependence can be well reproduced by a simulation of random particle production with the addition of contributions from hard-scattering processes.

Constraints on isocurvature models from the WMAP first-year data

Abstract: We investigate the constraints imposed by the first-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) cosmic microwave background (CMB) data extended to higher multipoles by data from ACBAR, BOOMERANG, CBI, and the VSA and by the large-scale structure data from the 2dF galaxy redshift survey on the possible amplitude of primordial isocurvature modes. A flat universe with cold dark matter (CDM) and cosmological constant {lambda} is assumed, and the baryon, CDM isocurvature (CI), and neutrino density (NID), and velocity (NIV) isocurvature modes are considered. Constraints on the allowed isocurvature contributions are established from the data for various combinations of the adiabatic mode and one, two, and three isocurvature modes, with intermode cross correlations allowed. Since baryon and CDM isocurvature are observationally virtually indistinguishable, these modes are not considered separately. We find that when just a single isocurvature mode is added, the present data allows an isocurvature fraction, in terms of the nonadiabatic contribution to the power in the CMB anisotropy, as large as 13{+-}6, 7{+-}4, and 13{+-}7 percent for adiabatic plus the CI, NID, and NIV modes, respectively. When two isocurvature modes plus the adiabatic mode and cross correlations are allowed, these percentages rise to 47{+-}16, 34{+-}12, and 44{+-}12 for the combinationsmore » CI+NID, CI+NIV, and NID+NIV, respectively. Finally, when all three isocurvature modes and cross correlations are allowed, the admissible isocurvature fraction rises to 57{+-}9 percent. In our analysis we consider only scalar modes with a single common tilt parameter for all the modes and do not consider any possible primordial anisotropies in the local neutrino velocity distribution beyond quadrupole order. The sensitivity of the results to the choice of prior probability distribution is examined.« less

Measurements of the mass and width of the eta(c) meson and of an eta(c)(2S) candidate.

Abstract: The mass m(eta(c)) and total width Gamma(eta(c))(tot) of the eta(c) meson have been measured in two-photon interactions at the SLAC e(+)e(-) asymmetric B Factory with the BABAR detector. With a sample of approximately 2500 reconstructed eta(c)-->K(0)(S)K+/-pi(-/+) decays in 88 fb(-1) of data, the results are m(eta(c))=2982.5+/-1.1(stat)+/-0.9(syst) MeV/c(2) and Gamma(eta(c))(tot)=34.3+/-2.3(stat)+/-0.9(syst) MeV/c(2). Using the same decay mode, a second resonance with 112+/-24 events is observed with a mass of 3630.8+/-3.4(stat)+/-1.0(syst) MeV/c(2) and width of 17.0+/-8.3(stat)+/-2.5(syst) MeV/c(2). This observation is consistent with expectations for the eta(c)(2S) state.

J/ψ Production from Proton-Proton Collisions at √s = 200 GeV

Abstract: J/psi production has been measured in proton-proton collisions at roots=200 GeV over a wide rapidity and transverse momentum range by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Distributions of the rapidity and transverse momentum, along with measurements of the mean transverse momentum and total production cross section are presented and compared to available theoretical calculations. The total J/psi cross section is 4.0+/-0.6(stat)+/-0.6(syst)+/-0.4(abs) mub. The mean transverse momentum is 1.80+/-0.23(stat)+/-0.16(syst) GeV/c.

Observation of the decay B -> J/psi eta K and search for X(3872) -> J/psi eta

Abstract: We report the observation of the B meson decay B±→J/ψηK± and evidence for the decay B0→J/ψηKS0, using 90×106 BB events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e+e- asymmetric-energy storage ring. We obtain branching fractions of B(B±→J/ψηK±)=[10.8±2.3(stat)±2.4(syst)]×10-5 and B(B0→J/ψηKS0)=[8.4±2.6(stat)±2.7(syst)]×10-5. We search for the new narrow mass state, the X(3872), recently reported by the Belle Collaboration, in the decay B±→X(3872)K±,X(3872)→J/ψη and determine an upper limit of B[B±→X(3872)K±→J/ψηK±]<7.7×10-6 at 90% confidence level.

Determination of the branching fraction for B → Xcℓ decays and of |Vcb| from hadronic-mass and lepton-energy moments

Abstract: We determine the inclusive B --> Xc l nu branching fraction, the CKM matrix element |Vcb|, and other heavy-quark parameters from a simultaneous fit to moments of the hadronic-mass and lepton-energy distributions in semileptonic B-meson decays, measured as a function of the lower limit on the lepton energy, using data recorded with the BABAR detector. Using Heavy Quark Expansions (HQEs) to order 1/mb^3, we extract BR_cenu=(10.61 +- 0.16(exp) +- 0.06(HQE))% and |Vcb| = (41.4 +- 0.4(exp) +- 0.4(HQE) +- 0.6(th)) 10^-3. The stated errors refer to the experimental, HQE, and additional theoretical uncertainties.

Remote repair of operating system state using Backdoors

Abstract: Backdoors is a novel system architecture that enables remote monitoring and recovery/repair of the software state of a computer system without using its processors or relying on its OS resources. We have implemented a Backdoors prototype in the FreeBSD kernel using Myrinet NICs for remote access to the target machine. In a previous paper, we have shown how Backdoors can be used for recovery of "good" OS and application state from a failed system on other healthy systems. In this paper, we describe how Backdoors can be used to detect and repair damage to the OS state of a computer system. We present two case studies of remote repair of an OS subject to resource depletion (fork bomb and memory hog) to the point where it cannot perform useful work and local repair is impossible. We show that our prototype detects OS resource exhaustion efficiently and it successfully repairs the affected system.

Double Helicity Asymmetry in Inclusive Midrapidity π0 Production for Polarized p + p Collisions at √s = 200 GeV

Abstract: We present a measurement of the double longitudinal spin asymmetry in inclusive pi(0) production in polarized proton-proton collisions at roots=200 GeV. The data were taken at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider with average beam polarizations of 0.27. The measurements are the first in a program to study the longitudinal spin structure of the proton, using strongly interacting probes, at collider energies. The asymmetry is presented for transverse momenta 1-5 GeV/c at midrapidity, where next-to-leading-order perturbative quantum chromodynamic (NLO pQCD) calculations well describe the unpolarized cross section. The observed asymmetry is small and is compared to a NLO pQCD calculation with a range of polarized gluon distributions.

Protein C Levels Are Regulated by a Quantitative Trait Locus on Chromosome 16: Results from the Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia (GAIT) Project

Abstract: Objective— Protein C (PC) is a component of the protein C anticoagulant pathway. PC deficiency is a risk factor associated with venous thromboembolism. As part of the Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia (GAIT) Project, we conducted a genome-wide linkage scan to localize genes that influence variation in PC plasma levels. Methods and Results— PC levels were measured in 398 individuals belonging to 21 Spanish families. A total of 485 DNA microsatellite markers were genotyped to provide a 7.1-cM genetic map. Variance component linkage methods were used to evaluate linkage and to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL). A region on chromosome 16 (16q23), flanked by markers D16S3106 and D16S516, showed strong evidence of linkage with PC levels (LOD=3.69). This region contains 1 positional candidate gene, the NAD(P)H:dehydrogenase quinone 1 ( NQO1 ), involved in vitamin K metabolism. The association of 1 SNP of this gene with PC levels ( P =0.005) strongly supports the implication of NQO1 gene in the variability of PC levels. Conclusions— These results illustrate the application of genomic scans to identify the genetic determinants of quantitative variation in a component of the hemostatic pathways. They provide strong evidence for a locus (QTL) on chromosome 16 that influences PC levels.

Output feedback stabilization of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems

Abstract: The problem of global output feedback stabilization for a class of nonlinear systems, whose zero dynamics are not necessarily stable, is addressed in this paper. It is shown that, using a novel observer design tool together with standard backstepping and small-gain techniques, it is possible to design a stabilizing output feedback controller, which ensures robustness with respect to dynamic uncertainties. The proposed stabilization method generalizes existing tools in several directions. Finally, the method is illustrated by means of a simple example.

Measurements of the branching fractions of charged B decays to K ±π∓π± final states

Abstract: We present results of searches for B-meson decays to K+ pi- pi+ with the BaBar detector. With a data sample of 61.6 million BBbar pairs, we measure the branching fractions and 90% confidence-level upper limits averaged over charge-conjugate states (the first error is statistical and the second is systematic): B+ --> K*0 pi+ = (15.5 +/- 1.8 +1.5 -4.0) x 10^-6, B+ --> f0 K+, f_0 --> pi+ pi- = (9.2 +/- 1.2 +2.1 -2.6) x 10^-6, B+ --> D0bar pi+, D0bar --> K+ pi- = (184.6 +/- 3.2 +/- 9.7) x 10^-6. B+ --> rho K+ K+ pi- pi+ non-resonant < 17 x 10^-6.

Limits on the decay-rate difference of neutral B mesons and on CP, T, and CPT violation in B0B̄0 oscillations

Abstract: Using events in which one of two neutral-B mesons from the decay of an {Upsilon}(4S) resonance is fully reconstructed, we set limits on the difference between the decay rates of the two neutral-B mass eigenstates and on CP, T, and CPT violation in B{sup 0}{bar B}{sup 0} mixing. The reconstructed decays, comprising both CP and flavor eigenstates, are obtained from 88 million {Upsilon}(4S) {yields} B{bar B} decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. We determine six independent parameters governing oscillations ({Delta}m, {Delta}{Lambda}/{Lambda}), CPT and CP violation (Re z, Im z), and CP and T violation (Im {lambda}{sub CP}, |q/p|), where {lambda}{sub cp} characterizes B{sup 0} and {bar B}{sup 0} decays to states of charmonium plus K{sub S}{sup 0} or K{sub L}{sup 0}. The results are sgn(Re {lambda}{sub CP}){Delta}{Lambda}/{Lambda} = .0.008 {+-} 0.037(stat.) {+-} 0.018(syst.) [-0.084, 0.068], |q/p| = 1.029 {+-} 0.013(stat.) {+-} 0.011(syst.) [1.001, 1.057], (Re {lambda}{sub CP}/|{lambda}{sub CP}|)Re z = 0.014 {+-} 0.035(stat.) {+-} 0.034(syst.) [-0.072, 0.101], Imz = 0.038 {+-} 0.029(stat.) {+-} 0.025(syst.) [-0.028, 0.104]. The values inside square brackets indicate the 90% confidence-level intervals. The values of Im {lambda}{sub CP} and {Delta}m are consistent with previous analyses and are usedmore » as cross-checks. These measurements are in agreement with Standard Model expectations.« less