Signal reconstruction in the EM end-cap calorimeter and check with cosmic data in the region 0< eta <3.2

In 2007, the electromagnetic end-cap calorimeter joined the ATLAS commissioning effort. Since then, calibration and cosmic muon runs are taken regularly, allowing to set-up, debug and test in situ the signal reconstruction. These are the first data in the 1.4500 MeV) have been used to perform a systematic and quantitative comparison between data and predicted physics pulse shapes in a coherent way over the entire calorimeter coverage, 0< eta <3.2. This represents the first attempt to unify barrel and end-cap in situ data in a common analysis. Results are similar in the barrel and the end-cap, only slightly worse for the latter as expected from its more complex geometry. This is the first proof of the quality of an ATLAS-like signal reconstruction in the end-caps, despite its challenging aspect, and gives confidence that the energy reconstruction is in good control over the complete electromagnetic calorimeter coverage 0< eta <3.2

A simple device for in-situ direct shear and sinkage tests

This work introduces a simple device designed to perform in-situ direct shear and sinkage tests on granular materials as sand, clays, or regolith. It consists of a box nested within a larger box. Both have open bottoms, allowing them to be lowered into the material. Afterwards, two rotating plates on opposite sides of the outer box will rotate outwards in order to clear regolith on either side, providing room for the inner box to move relative to the plates and perform a shear test without the resistance of the surrounding soil. From this test, Coulomb parameters, including cohesion and internal friction angle, as well as, Bekker parameters can be inferred. This device has been designed for a laboratory setting, but with few modifications, could be put on the underside of a rover for use in a remote location. The goal behind this work is to ultimately create a compact, but accurate measuring tool to put onto a rover or any kind of exploratory vehicle to test for regolith properties of celestial bodies

Well Water Screening in Suffolk, VA, for Contaminants Affecting Human Health

Purpose: Despite regulations, one area that remains outside the scope of the clean water policies is well water. With the lack of oversight, the millions of home that rely on well water remain susceptible to numerous pollutants and contaminants. To ensure the safety of well water, development of screening and testing protocols is imperative. Many households in Suffolk, VA still use well water making it an apt location to conduct a preliminary study screening for potential water contaminants. Methods: Water samples from kitchen and garden sources were collected from households in Suffolk, VA. These samples assessed for TDS via Milwaukee EC59 pen, pH via Sper Scientific test tube pen, arsenic via Quick Rapid Arsenic Test Kit, E. coli and coliform, and lead via Simpletek Micro Tester Pro self-filling test ampoules. Findings: Four of the thirty kitchen-sourced samples tested positive for coliform contamination. The positive findings may represent hazards for health thus warranting further investigation. Conclusion: Many Suffolk homes rely on well water but lack of regulations can bring risk for contamination. This study indicated a potential coliform problem in Suffolk and more work must be done to evaluate for coliform contamination and its resultant health consequences

OMA 2011: orthology inference among 1000 complete genomes

OMA (Orthologous MAtrix) is a database that identifies orthologs among publicly available, complete genomes. Initiated in 2004, the project is at its 11th release. It now includes 1000 genomes, making it one of the largest resources of its kind. Here, we describe recent developments in terms of species covered; the algorithmic pipeline—in particular regarding the treatment of alternative splicing, and new features of the web (OMA Browser) and programming interface (SOAP API). In the second part, we review the various representations provided by OMA and their typical applications. The database is publicly accessible at http://omabrowser.org

Historical Constraints on Vertebrate Genome Evolution

Recent analyses indicated that genes with larger effect of knockout or mutation and with larger probability to revert to single copy after whole genome duplication are expressed earlier in development. Here, we further investigate whether tissue specificity of gene expression is constrained by the age of origin of the corresponding genes. We use 38 metazoan genomes and a comparative genomic application system to integrate inference of gene duplication with expression data from 17,503 human genes into a strictly phylogenetic framework. We show that the number of anatomical systems in which genes are expressed decreases steadily with decreased age of the genes’ first appearance in the phylogeny: the oldest genes are expressed, on average, in twice as many anatomical systems than the genes gained recently in evolution. These results are robust to different sources of expression data, to different levels of the anatomical system hierarchy, and to the use of gene families rather than duplication events. Finally, we show that the rate of increase in gene tissue specificity correlates with the relative rate of increase in the maximum number of cell types in the corresponding taxa. Although subfunctionalization and increase in cell type number throughout evolution could constitute, respectively, the proximal and ultimate causes of this correlation, the two phenomena are intermingled. Our analyses identify a striking historical constraint in gene expression: the number of cell types in existence at the time of a gene appearance (through duplication or de novo origination) tends to determine its level of tissue specificity for tens or hundreds of millions of years

Electrochemical study of gold recovery from ammoniacal thiosulfate, simulating the PCBs leaching of mobile phones

[EN] The high volume of sales and the high degree of obsolescence of mobile phones, together with the reduction of the natural reserves of the metals used in the composition of their printed circuit boards (PCBs), makes the recycling of these devices economically and environmentally attractive. Moreover, the search for the reduction of toxicity levels inherent to the gold leaching processes with alternatives to cyanide, such as thiosulfate is a priority. Thus, it is necessary to search for efficient alternatives for the recovery of gold from solutions containing thiosulfate, in the presence of copper, used in the leaching of PCBs of mobile phones. One of these alternatives could be the electrochemical recovery of the metals present in solution. Thus, this study aimed to verify some variables involved in the process of recovery of gold and copper and to determine the electrochemical yield obtained for these solutions. Initially, cyclic scanning voltammetry with a rotating disk electrode (RDE) was performed to verify the electrochemical behavior of gold and copper in solution. Then, electrowinning tests were used to determine the recovery rates of these metals and to calculate the yield obtained in the process. The results showed that this electrochemical reaction is mass transport controlled, which allowed the calculation of the diffusion coefficients of the metal in solution. In real solutions, the gold fraction recovered reached a 94%, and the copper fraction recovered was 95%, applying electrode potential values of -500 mV(Ag/AgCl) and -700 mV(Ag/AgCl), respectively. The current efficiency for the gold electrowinning achieved in the experiments was lower than 3%. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors would like to thank the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) from Brazil for financial support.Kasper, AC.; Veit, HM.; García Gabaldón, M.; Pérez-Herranz, V. (2018). Electrochemical study of gold recovery from ammoniacal thiosulfate, simulating the PCBs leaching of mobile phones. Electrochimica Acta. 259:500-509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.10.161S50050925

Measurements of fiducial and differential cross sections for Higgs boson production in the diphoton decay channel at s√=8 TeV with ATLAS

Measurements of fiducial and differential cross sections are presented for Higgs boson production in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of s√=8 TeV. The analysis is performed in the H → γγ decay channel using 20.3 fb−1 of data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The signal is extracted using a fit to the diphoton invariant mass spectrum assuming that the width of the resonance is much smaller than the experimental resolution. The signal yields are corrected for the effects of detector inefficiency and resolution. The pp → H → γγ fiducial cross section is measured to be 43.2 ±9.4(stat.) − 2.9 + 3.2 (syst.) ±1.2(lumi)fb for a Higgs boson of mass 125.4GeV decaying to two isolated photons that have transverse momentum greater than 35% and 25% of the diphoton invariant mass and each with absolute pseudorapidity less than 2.37. Four additional fiducial cross sections and two cross-section limits are presented in phase space regions that test the theoretical modelling of different Higgs boson production mechanisms, or are sensitive to physics beyond the Standard Model. Differential cross sections are also presented, as a function of variables related to the diphoton kinematics and the jet activity produced in the Higgs boson events. The observed spectra are statistically limited but broadly in line with the theoretical expectations

Single hadron response measurement and calorimeter jet energy scale uncertainty with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

The uncertainty on the calorimeter energy response to jets of particles is derived for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). First, the calorimeter response to single isolated charged hadrons is measured and compared to the Monte Carlo simulation using proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) = 900 GeV and 7 TeV collected during 2009 and 2010. Then, using the decay of K_s and Lambda particles, the calorimeter response to specific types of particles (positively and negatively charged pions, protons, and anti-protons) is measured and compared to the Monte Carlo predictions. Finally, the jet energy scale uncertainty is determined by propagating the response uncertainty for single charged and neutral particles to jets. The response uncertainty is 2-5% for central isolated hadrons and 1-3% for the final calorimeter jet energy scale.Comment: 24 pages plus author list (36 pages total), 23 figures, 1 table, submitted to European Physical Journal