Design and Performance Analysis of a Non-Standard EPICS Fast Controller

The large scientific projects present new technological challenges, such as the distributed control over a communication network. In particular, the middleware EPICS is the most extended communication standard in particle accelerators. The integration of modern control architectures in these EPICS networks is becoming common, as for example for the PXI/PXIe and xTCA hardware alternatives. In this work, a different integration procedure for PXIe real time controllers from National Instruments is proposed, using LabVIEW as the design tool. This methodology is considered and its performance is analyzed by means of a set of laboratory experiments. This control architecture is proposed for achieving the implementation requirements of the fast controllers, which need an important amount of computational power and signal processing capability, with a tight real-time demand. The present work studies the advantages and drawbacks of this methodology and presents its comprehensive evaluation by means of a laboratory test bench, designed for the application of systematic tests. These tests compare the proposed fast controller performance with a similar system implemented using an standard EPICS IOC provided by the CODAC system.Comment: This is the extended version of the Conference Record presented in the IEEE Real-Time Conference 2014, Nara, Japan. This paper has been submitted to the IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Scienc

Study of the charge correlation function in one-dimensional Hubbard heterostructures

We study inhomogeneous one-dimensional Hubbard systems using the density matrix renormalization group method. Different heterostructures are investigated whose configuration is modeled varying parameters like the on-site Coulomb potential and introducing local confining potentials. We investigate their Luttinger liquid properties through the parameter K_rho, which characterizes the decay of the density-density correlation function at large distances. Our main goal is the investigation of possible realization of engineered materials and the ability to manipulate physical properties by choosing an appropriate spatial and/or chemical modulation.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

A Study of the Electrophoretic Mobilities of Multiple Myeloma Proteins

Over a period of several years our laboratory has been carrying out electrophoretic analysis of plasma, serum and body fluids from individuals with various diseases. One disease in which we have been interested is that of multiple myeloma

Artist Residencies as Complex Contexts for Creative Growth: The Stories of Eight Artists

Contemporary artist residencies are institutions or programs that enable artists to develop their practice beyond the confines of their typical work setting. Increasingly, they are also a means to access significant material, interpersonal, and professional resources, and a medium through which to engage with local communities. In response to these developments, the present interview-based study aims to understand how artists develop within a community context by investigating the work and experiences of eight artists who have participated in community-based residencies across—and sometimes beyond—the United States. By collecting each artist’s narrative and supplementing it with documents, images, and auto-reflections of their artwork, the study investigates the complex network of characteristics that help facilitate the creative process. Furthermore, by canvassing research from fields like social psychology, business management, and arts education, it explores the relations of educational reciprocity that emerge between artists and residency communities. This study suggests that the complex physical and interpersonal dynamics of each residency environment contributed in distinctive ways to the artists’ development. It also notes that each unique residency program provided support for the use of new materials, the exploration of new practices, and the investigation of new content. The residency characteristics that were most conducive to creative growth included (1) difference from one’s typical working environment; (2) access to new (and sometimes unconventional) materials, tools, and facilities; (3) social opportunities such as shared meals and public forums to cultivate relationships with residency cohorts; and (4) ample time (usually 1–2 months) and space (access to both private and public studios) to settle into the residency environment, explore one’s artistic practice (and the practice of other resident artists), and foster relationships among cohorts, staff members, and community visitors. Ultimately, this study argues that artist residencies can contribute to the field of non-formal art education by serving as a relational framework for artists and their residency communities

Element-Specific Depth Profile of Magnetism and Stoichiometry at the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/BiFeO3 Interface

Depth-sensitive magnetic, structural and chemical characterization is important in the understanding and optimization of novel physical phenomena emerging at interfaces of transition metal oxide heterostructures. In a simultaneous approach we have used polarized neutron and resonant X-ray reflectometry to determine the magnetic profile across atomically sharp interfaces of ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 / multiferroic BiFeO3 bi-layers with sub-nanometer resolution. In particular, the X-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity measurements at the Fe and Mn resonance edges allowed us to determine the element specific depth profile of the ferromagnetic moments in both the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 and BiFeO3 layers. Our measurements indicate a magnetically diluted interface layer within the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 layer, in contrast to previous observations on inversely deposited layers. Additional resonant X-ray reflection measurements indicate a region of an altered Mn- and O-content at the interface, with a thickness matching that of the magnetic diluted layer, as origin of the reduction of the magnetic moment.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, supplemental material include

Use of nanomaterials to conserve the stone of the Roman Theatre of Cartagena

[EN] The Roman Theatre of Cartagena is an important example of the monumental architecture of Hispania. Various types of local stone were used in its construction, including a type of sandstone known as Tabaire. This paper describes the physical characteristics of Tabaire. We also identify its deterioration patterns and study its consolidation using lime nanoparticles and silicon dioxide (ethyl silicate). Initial analyses using the imaging techniques Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Tomography (CT) show that it is an extremely porous, soft stone. The effectiveness of the consolidating treatments was verified using non-destructive methods based on identifying dispersion and penetrability in the substrate (OM and SEM) and detecting colour variation (CIE-L*a*b*) or minimally destructive methods, such as the peeling test and Shore-D hardness, to determine their effect on the characteristics of the material.[ES] El Teatro de Cartagena es un importante exponente de la arquitectura monumental de la Hispania romana. Para su construcción fueron utilizados diversos pétreos locales, entre ellos una arenisca conocida como Tabaire. Este artículo tiene como objetivo la caracterización física del Tabaire, así como la identificación de sus formas de deterioro y el estudio de su consolidación mediante nanopartículas de cal y de dióxido de silicio (silicato de etilo). Los análisis iniciales mediante técnicas de imagen como la Microscopía Óptica (OM), Microscopía Electrónica de Barrido (SEM) y Tomografía de Rayos X (CT) muestran que es una roca de elevada porosidad y escasa dureza. La eficacia de los tratamientos consolidantes se comprobó mediante métodos no destructivos, basados en la identificación de la dispersión y penetrabilidad en el sustrato (OM y SEM) y en la detección de la variación del color (CIE-L*a*b*), o mínimamente destructivos, como el peeling test y la dureza Shore-D, para conocer su incidencia en las características del material.Navarro-Moreno, D.; Martínez-Arredondo, A.; García-Vera, VE.; Lanzón, M. (2023). Uso de nanomateriales para la conservación de la piedra del Teatro Romano de Cartagena. Loggia, Arquitectura & Restauración. (36):106-119. https://doi.org/10.4995/loggia.2023.193601061193

Characteristics of Mexican Leather Footwear Industry and its International Trade Activity, Correlation of Productivity, and Competitiveness

This paper focuses on analyzing the globalization effect on the Mexican leather footwear industry at a firm-level. In this work, the analysis of competitiveness is done based on the definition given by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). They defined it as ‘a measure of a country's advantage or disadvantage in selling its products in international market’. The productivity of the Mexican leather footwear industry was calculated using the Latin American-KLEMS Model that relates gross output to primary (Capital and Labor) and intermediate inputs (Energy, Other intermediate goods, and Services). Furthermore, firms were categorized considering the number of employees, the annual value of production, and the commercial diversification in order to calculate the correlation Pearson coefficient. Firstly, the results show that the correlation of production value with the number of exporting companies is bigger than the correlation of the importing companies. Secondly, that the correlation of Total Productivity Factor (TPF) to exports is strong (0.7028); and finally, that the correlation of Total Productivity Factor (TPF) to imports is also significant (0.6511)