MicroTCA implementation of synchronous Ethernet-Based DAQ systems for large scale experiments

Large LAr TPCs are among the most powerful detectors to address open problems in particle and astro-particle physics, such as CP violation in leptonic sector, neutrino properties and their astrophysical implications, proton decay search etc. The scale of such detector implies severe constraints on their readout and DAQ system. In this article we describe a data acquisition scheme for this new generation of large detectors. The main challenge is to propose a scalable and easy to use solution able to manage a large number of channels at the lowest cost. It is interesting to note that these constraints are very similar to those existing in Network Telecommunication Industry. We propose to study how emerging technologies like ATCA and $\mu$TCA could be used in neutrino experiments. We describe the design of an Advanced Mezzanine Board (AMC) including 32 ADC channels. This board receives 32 analogical channels at the front panel and sends the formatted data through the $\mu$TCA backplane using a Gigabit Ethernet link. The gigabit switch of the MCH is used to centralize and to send the data to the event building computer. The core of this card is a FPGA (ARIA-GX from ALTERA) including the whole system except the memories. A hardware accelerator has been implemented using a NIOS II $\mu$P and a Gigabit MAC IP. Obviously, in order to be able to reconstruct the tracks from the events a time synchronisation system is mandatory. We decided to implement the IEEE1588 standard also called Precision Timing Protocol, another emerging and promising technology in Telecommunication Industry. In this article we describe a Gigabit PTP implementation using the recovered clock of the gigabit link. By doing so the drift is directly cancelled and the PTP will be used only to evaluate and to correct the offset.Comment: Talk presented at the 2009 Real Time Conference, Beijing, May '09, submitted to the proceeding

Changing Human Behavior to Prevent Disease: The Importance of Targeting Automatic Processes

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.122691

On two weak CC Delta production models

We perform a detail analysis of two models of neutrino CC Delta production on free nucleons. First model is a standard one based on nucleon-Delta transition current with several form-factors. Second model is a starting point for a construction of Marteau model with sophisticated analytical computations of nuclear effects. We conclude that both models lead to similar results.Comment: 9 pages, includes 9 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys.

A coalescence model for freely decaying two-dimensional turbulence

We propose a ballistic coalescence model (punctuated-Hamiltonian approach) mimicking the fusion of vortices in freely decaying two-dimensional turbulence. A temporal scaling behaviour is reached where the vortex density evolves like $t^{-\xi}$. A mean-field analytical argument yielding the approximation $\xi=4/5$ is shown to slightly overestimate the decay exponent $\xi$ whereas Molecular Dynamics simulations give $\xi =0.71\pm 0.01$, in agreement with recent laboratory experiments and simulations of Navier-Stokes equation.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, to appear in Europhysics Letter

Patients in a permanent vegetative state or minimally conscious state in the Maine-et-Loire county of France: A cross-sectional, descriptive study

PurposesTo determine how many patients in a permanent vegetative state or a minimally conscious state are living in healthcare institutions in the Maine-et-Loire county of western France. To evaluate patient management, physical complications, problems encountered by nursing staff and the patient care teams’ wishes. Patients and methods We performed a cross-sectional, descriptive study in physical medicine and rehabilitation departments, nursing homes, geriatric units and local hospitals. All patients and their medical records were examined by the same investigator. A questionnaire for carers was used to evaluate nursing tasks and a second questionnaire for head nurses served to assess staff needs and the patient care teams’ wishes. Results Thirteen patients were identified. Four were in a permanent vegetative state and nine were in a minimally conscious state. Ten patients were cared for in geriatric units, one in a physical medicine and rehabilitation department and two in local hospitals. All patients displayed limited joint angle ranges. All the patient care teams reported practical difficulties and ethical issues. Discussion Our survey highlighted the variety of care scenarios for patients in a permanent vegetative state or a minimally conscious state. It revealed practical difficulties and, above all, ethical questions. The present work could serve as a basis for implementation of a recently issued French government circular on defining specific wards for these patients

Beyond choice architecture: advancing the science of changing behaviour at scale.

Addressing the global threats to population and planetary health requires changing many behaviours at scale. This demands consideration not only of the effect size of an intervention but also its reach - the proportion of the population exposed to the intervention.We propose that a relatively under-researched and generally poorly specified set of interventions involving changes to physical micro-environments - often referred to as Choice Architecture - has the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting this urgent challenge.Realising the potential of Choice Architecture interventions requires integration of basic - i.e. laboratory-based - and applied - i.e. field-based - research, generating interventions that can be delivered at scale alongside advancing theory. We illustrate this with examples to highlight the complementarity of laboratory and field studies informed by and in turn updating the results of evidence synthesis. The examples comprise two sets of interventions - changing the relative availability of products and changing their size - to reduce consumption of meat, energy from food and alcohol across populations

Beyond choice architecture:advancing the science of changing behaviour at scale

Abstract Addressing the global threats to population and planetary health requires changing many behaviours at scale. This demands consideration not only of the effect size of an intervention but also its reach – the proportion of the population exposed to the intervention. We propose that a relatively under-researched and generally poorly specified set of interventions involving changes to physical micro-environments – often referred to as Choice Architecture - has the potential to make a significant contribution to meeting this urgent challenge. Realising the potential of Choice Architecture interventions requires integration of basic – i.e. laboratory-based – and applied – i.e. field-based – research, generating interventions that can be delivered at scale alongside advancing theory. We illustrate this with examples to highlight the complementarity of laboratory and field studies informed by and in turn updating the results of evidence synthesis. The examples comprise two sets of interventions – changing the relative availability of products and changing their size - to reduce consumption of meat, energy from food and alcohol across populations