B(s)0→μ+μ−\mathrm{B^0_{(s)}}\to \mu^+\mu^- rare decays at LHC

The ATLAS, CMS, and LHCb collaborations have leveraged data from proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to advance our understanding of fundamental particles and their interactions. These collaborative efforts underscore the significance of integrating datasets across different runs and energy levels, yielding insights that contribute to the ongoing measurements of the $\mathrm{B^0_{(s)}}\to \mu^+\mu^-$ decay branching fractions and $\mathrm{B^0_{s}}\to \mu^+\mu^-$ effective lifetime.Comment: Presented at the 12th Workshop on the CKM Unitarity Triangle, 18-22 September 2023, Santiago de Compostel

Exclusive Substitutional Nitrogen Doping on Graphene Decoupled from an Insulating Substrate

The on-surface synthesis of atomically flat N-doped graphene on oxidized copper is presented. Besides circumventing the almost standard use of metallic substrates for growth, this method allows producing graphene with similar to 2.0 at % N in a substitutional configuration directly decoupled from the substrate. Angle-resolved photoemission shows a linear energy-momentum dispersion where the Dirac point lies at the Fermi level. Additionally, the N functional centers can be selectively tailored in sp(2) substitutional configuration by making use of a purpose-made molecular precursor: dicyanopyrazophenanthroline (C16H6N6).P.A. acknowledges the contribution of the CA COST Action no. CA15107 (MultiComp). M.C. and A.M.-A. acknowledge support of the Basque Science Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque), POLYMAT, the University of the Basque Country (Grupo de Investigacion GIU17/054 and SGIker), Gobierno Vasco (BERC program), and Gobierno de Espana (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad CTQ2016-77970R). M.C. and A.M.-A. thank technical and human support provided by SGIker of UPV/EHU and European funding (ERDF and ESF). A.M.-A. acknowledges that this project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation Programme (grant agreement no. 722951)

Novel Developments on the OpenIPMC Project

We present the recent developments in the context of the OpenIPMC project, which proposes a free and open-source Intelligent Platform Management Controller (IPMC) software and an associated controller mezzanine card for use in ATCA electronic boards. We discuss our experience in the operation of OpenIPMC on prototype boards designed for the upgrades of particle physics experiments at CERN and we show the addition of new features and support for new protocols in the firmware of the controller mezzanine card.Comment: 5 pages + title page + bibliography pages. Proceeding of the Topical Workshop on Electronics for Particle Physics 2023, 2-6 October 2023, Geremeas (CA), Ital

Graphene-based Schottky Device Detecting NH3 at ppm level in Environmental Conditions

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Measurement of W-gamma and Z-gamma production in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

Peer reviewe

Charged Particle Tracking in Real-Time Using a Full-Mesh Data Delivery Architecture and Associative Memory Techniques

We present a flexible and scalable approach to address the challenges of charged particle track reconstruction in real-time event filters (Level-1 triggers) in collider physics experiments. The method described here is based on a full-mesh architecture for data distribution and relies on the Associative Memory approach to implement a pattern recognition algorithm that quickly identifies and organizes hits associated to trajectories of particles originating from particle collisions. We describe a successful implementation of a demonstration system composed of several innovative hardware and algorithmic elements. The implementation of a full-size system relies on the assumption that an Associative Memory device with the sufficient pattern density becomes available in the future, either through a dedicated ASIC or a modern FPGA. We demonstrate excellent performance in terms of track reconstruction efficiency, purity, momentum resolution, and processing time measured with data from a simulated LHC-like tracking detector

One year of surgical mask testing at the University of Bologna labs:Lessons learned from data analysis

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the worldwide lack of surgical masks and personal protective equipment, which represent the main defense available against respiratory diseases as COVID-19. At the time, masks shortage was dramatic in Italy, the first European country seriously hit by the pandemic: aiming to address the emergency and to support the Italian industrial reconversion to the production of surgical masks, a multidisciplinary team of the University of Bologna organized a laboratory to test surgical masks according to European regulations. The group, driven by the expertise of chemical engineers, microbiologists, and occupational physicians, set-up the test lines to perform all the functional tests required. The laboratory started its activity on late March 2020, and as of the end of December of the same year 435 surgical mask prototypes were tested, with only 42 masks compliant to the European standard. From the analysis of the materials used, as well as of the production methods, it was found that a compliant surgical mask is most likely composed of three layers, a central meltblown filtration layer and two external spunbond comfort layers. An increase in the material thickness (grammage), or in the number of layers, does not improve the filtration efficiency, but leads to poor breathability, indicating that filtration depends not only on pure size exclusion, but other mechanisms are taking place (driven by electrostatic charge). The study critically reviewed the European standard procedures, identifying the weak aspects; among the others, the control of aerosol droplet size during the bacterial filtration test results to be crucial, since it can change the classification of a mask when its performance lies near to the limiting values of 95 or 98%