320 research outputs found
Ionization Electron Signal Processing in Single Phase LArTPCs II. Data/Simulation Comparison and Performance in MicroBooNE
The single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) provides a
large amount of detailed information in the form of fine-grained drifted
ionization charge from particle traces. To fully utilize this information, the
deposited charge must be accurately extracted from the raw digitized waveforms
via a robust signal processing chain. Enabled by the ultra-low noise levels
associated with cryogenic electronics in the MicroBooNE detector, the precise
extraction of ionization charge from the induction wire planes in a
single-phase LArTPC is qualitatively demonstrated on MicroBooNE data with event
display images, and quantitatively demonstrated via waveform-level and
track-level metrics. Improved performance of induction plane calorimetry is
demonstrated through the agreement of extracted ionization charge measurements
across different wire planes for various event topologies. In addition to the
comprehensive waveform-level comparison of data and simulation, a calibration
of the cryogenic electronics response is presented and solutions to various
MicroBooNE-specific TPC issues are discussed. This work presents an important
improvement in LArTPC signal processing, the foundation of reconstruction and
therefore physics analyses in MicroBooNE.Comment: 54 pages, 36 figures; the first part of this work can be found at
arXiv:1802.0870
A single base mutation in the androgen receptor gene causes androgen insensitivity in the testicular feminized rat.
The complete form of androgen insensitivity is an inherited X-linked syndrome in which genetic males fail to undergo masculinization in utero due to defective functioning of the androgen receptor (AR). The molecular basis of androgen insensitivity was investigated in the testicular feminized (Tfm) rat with this syndrome. AR mRNA size and amount, as well as nuclear AR protein revealed by immunocytochemistry, suggested normal expression of the AR gene in the Tfm rat. Sequence analysis of the AR coding region from Tfm and wild-type littermate male rats revealed a single transition mutation, guanine to adenine, within exon E, changing arginine 734 to glutamine within the steroid-binding domain of the AR. This arginine is highly conserved among the family of nuclear receptors and may be part of a phosphorylation recognition site. A recreated mutant AR (Arg734----Gln) expressed in COS cells had only 10-15% of the androgen-binding capacity of wild-type AR; the reduced androgen-binding capacity was similar to that of AR in tissue extracts of the Tfm rat. Stimulation of transcriptional activity by the recreated mutant AR was reduced relative to wild-type AR in cotransfection assays in CV1 cells using as reporter plasmid the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. Thus, arginine 734 appears essential for normal AR function both in androgen binding and transcriptional activation. Absence of these functions results in androgen insensitivity and lack of male sexual development
Ionization Electron Signal Processing in Single Phase LArTPCs I. Algorithm Description and Quantitative Evaluation with MicroBooNE Simulation
We describe the concept and procedure of drifted-charge extraction developed
in the MicroBooNE experiment, a single-phase liquid argon time projection
chamber (LArTPC). This technique converts the raw digitized TPC waveform to the
number of ionization electrons passing through a wire plane at a given time. A
robust recovery of the number of ionization electrons from both induction and
collection anode wire planes will augment the 3D reconstruction, and is
particularly important for tomographic reconstruction algorithms. A number of
building blocks of the overall procedure are described. The performance of the
signal processing is quantitatively evaluated by comparing extracted charge
with the true charge through a detailed TPC detector simulation taking into
account position-dependent induced current inside a single wire region and
across multiple wires. Some areas for further improvement of the performance of
the charge extraction procedure are also discussed.Comment: 60 pages, 36 figures. The second part of this work can be found at
arXiv:1804.0258
Design and construction of the MicroBooNE Cosmic Ray Tagger system
The MicroBooNE detector utilizes a liquid argon time projection chamber
(LArTPC) with an 85 t active mass to study neutrino interactions along the
Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab. With a deployment location near ground
level, the detector records many cosmic muon tracks in each beam-related
detector trigger that can be misidentified as signals of interest. To reduce
these cosmogenic backgrounds, we have designed and constructed a TPC-external
Cosmic Ray Tagger (CRT). This sub-system was developed by the Laboratory for
High Energy Physics (LHEP), Albert Einstein center for fundamental physics,
University of Bern. The system utilizes plastic scintillation modules to
provide precise time and position information for TPC-traversing particles.
Successful matching of TPC tracks and CRT data will allow us to reduce
cosmogenic background and better characterize the light collection system and
LArTPC data using cosmic muons. In this paper we describe the design and
installation of the MicroBooNE CRT system and provide an overview of a series
of tests done to verify the proper operation of the system and its components
during installation, commissioning, and physics data-taking
A Deep Neural Network for Pixel-Level Electromagnetic Particle Identification in the MicroBooNE Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber
We have developed a convolutional neural network (CNN) that can make a
pixel-level prediction of objects in image data recorded by a liquid argon time
projection chamber (LArTPC) for the first time. We describe the network design,
training techniques, and software tools developed to train this network. The
goal of this work is to develop a complete deep neural network based data
reconstruction chain for the MicroBooNE detector. We show the first
demonstration of a network's validity on real LArTPC data using MicroBooNE
collection plane images. The demonstration is performed for stopping muon and a
charged current neutral pion data samples
Scanning tunneling microscopy of the electronic structure of chemical vapor deposited diamond films
This article discusses scanning tunneling microscopy of the electronic structure of chemical vapor deposited diamond films
New System for the Acceleration of the Airflow in Wind Turbines
Background: This patent is based on the wind industry technology called Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbines (DAWTs). This technology consists of a horizontal axis wind turbine, which is housed inside a duct with diverging section in the direction of the free air stream. In this paper, a review of preceding patents related to this technology is carried out.
Objective: This paper presents an innovative patent to improve the performance of horizontal axis wind turbines. In particular, this system is aimed at improving the performance of those turbines that otherwise might not be installed due to the low wind resource existing at certain locations.
Methods: The most innovative elements of this patent are: (1) the semi-spherical grooves, which are mechanized on the surface of the two diffusers in order to guarantee a more energetic boundary layer; (2) the coaxial diffuser, which is located downwind following the first diffuser in order to increase the suction effect on the air mass close to the inlet; (3) the coaxial rings located around the first diffuser outlet, which are used to deflect the external airflow toward the turbine wake; and (4), the selforientating system to orientate the system by the prevailing wind direction.
Results: An application of the patent for increasing the power generated by a horizontal axis wind turbine with three blades is presented. The patent is designed and its performance is evaluated by using a Computational Fluid Dynamics code. The numerical results show that this system rises the airflow going through the rotor of the turbine.
Conclusion: The patented device is an original contribution aimed at enabling a more profitable installation of wind turbines in places where the wind resource is insufficient because of the wind shear caused both by the proximity of the earth and the obstacles on the earth surface.This work was supported by the OASIS Research Project that was cofinanced by CDTI (Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry) and developed with the Spanish companies: Iridium, OHL Concesiones, Abertis, Sice, Indra, Dragados, OHL, Geocisa, GMV, Asfaltos Augusta, Hidrofersa, Eipsa, PyG, CPS, AEC and Torre de Comares Arquitectos S.L and 16 research centres. The authors also acknowledge the partial funding with FEDER funds under the Research Project FC-15-GRUPIN14-004. Finally, we also thank Swanson Analysis Inc. for the use of ANSYS University Research programs as well as the Workbench simulation environment
Factors influencing nurses' compliance with Standard Precautions in order to avoid occupational exposure to microorganisms: A focus group study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nurses may acquire an infection during the provision of nursing care because of occupational exposure to microorganisms. Relevant literature reports that, compliance with Standard Precautions (a set of guidelines that can protect health care professionals from being exposed to microorganisms) is low among nurses. Additionally, high rates of exposure to microorganisms among nurses via several modes (needlesticks, hand contamination with blood, exposure to air-transmitted microorganisms) occur. The aim of the study was to study the factors that influence nurses' compliance with Standard Precaution in order to avoid occupational exposure to pathogens, by employing a qualitative research design.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>A focus group approach was used to explore the issue under study. Four focus groups (N = 30) were organised to elicit nurses' perception of the factors that influence their compliance with Standard Precautions. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as the theoretical framework and the data were analysed according to predetermined criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Following content analysis, factors that influence nurses' compliance emerged. Most factors could be applied to one of the main domains of the HBM: benefits, barriers, severity, susceptibility, cues to action, and self-efficacy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Changing current behavior requires knowledge of the factors that may influence nurses' compliance with Standard Precautions. This knowledge will facilitate in the implementation of programs and preventive actions that contribute in avoiding of occupational exposure.</p
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