796 research outputs found
Facilities for the Energy Frontier of Nuclear Physics
The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at BNL has been exploring the energy
frontier of nuclear physics since 2001. Its performance, flexibility and
continued innovative upgrading can sustain its physics output for years to
come. Now, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is about to extend the frontier
energy of laboratory nuclear collisions by more than an order of magnitude. In
the coming years, its physics reach will evolve towards still higher energy,
luminosity and varying collision species, within performance bounds set by
accelerator technology and by nuclear physics itself. Complementary high-energy
facilities will include fixed-target collisions at the CERN SPS, the FAIR
complex at GSI and possible electron-ion colliders based on CEBAF at JLAB, RHIC
at BNL or the LHC at CERN.Comment: Invited talk at the International Nuclear Physics Conference,
Vancouver, Canada, 4-9 July 2010, to be published in Journal of Physics:
Conference Series. http://inpc2010.triumf.ca
Initial evidence for the criterion-related and structural validity of the long versions of the direct and meta-perspectives of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2010 Taylor & Francis.The aim of the present study was to develop and initially validate a longer version of the direct (Jowett & Ntoumanis, 2004) and meta-perspectives (Jowett, 2009a, 2009b) of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q). In Study 1, instruments (e.g. questionnaires, scales, and inventories) that have been used to assess relationship quality in the broader psychological literature were examined and items potentially relevant to the coach-athlete relationship were identified. The content validity of the identified items was then assessed using expert panels. A final questionnaire was subsequently prepared and administered to 693 participants (310 coaches and 383 athletes). Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to assess the multidimensional nature of the questionnaire based on the 3Cs (i.e. closeness, commitment, and complementarity) model of the coach-athlete relationship. The findings indicated that the direct and meta-perspective items of the long versions of the CART-Q approached an adequate data fit. Moreover, evidence for the internal consistency and criterion validity of the new instruments was also obtained. In Study 2, the newly developed measure was administered to an independent sample of 251 individuals (145 athletes and 106 coaches). Further statistical support was gained for the factorial validity and reliability of the longer version of the CART-Q
Attachment Styles Within the Coach-Athlete Dyad: Preliminary Investigation and Assessment Development
The present preliminary study aimed to develop and examine the psychometric properties of a new sport-specific self-report instrument designed to assess athletesâ and coachesâ attachment styles. The development and initial validation comprised three main phases. In Phase 1, a pool of items was generated based on pre-existing self-report attachment instruments, modified to reflect a coach and an athleteâs style of attachment. In Phase 2, the content validity of the items was assessed by a panel of experts. A final scale was developed and administered to 405 coaches and 298 athletes (N = 703 participants). In Phase 3, confirmatory factor analysis of the obtained data was conducted to determine the final items of the Coach-Athlete Attachment Scale (CAAS). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed acceptable goodness of fit indexes for a 3-first order factor model as well as a 2-first order factor model for both the athlete and the coach data, respectively. A secure attachment style positively predicted relationship satisfaction, while an insecure attachment style was a negative predictor of relationship satisfaction. The CAAS revealed initial psychometric properties of content, factorial, and predictive validity, as well as reliability
Measurements of heavy ion beam losses from collimation
The collimation efficiency for Pb ion beams in the LHC is predicted to be
lower than requirements. Nuclear fragmentation and electromagnetic dissociation
in the primary collimators create fragments with a wide range of Z/A ratios,
which are not intercepted by the secondary collimators but lost where the
dispersion has grown sufficiently large. In this article we present
measurements and simulations of loss patterns generated by a prototype LHC
collimator in the CERN SPS. Measurements were performed at two different
energies and angles of the collimator. We also compare with proton loss maps
and find a qualitative difference between Pb ions and protons, with the maximum
loss rate observed at different places in the ring. This behavior was predicted
by simulations and provides a valuable benchmark of our understanding of ion
beam losses caused by collimation.Comment: 12 pages, 20 figure
Linear Optics Design for PS2
The design considerations and key parameters for the replacement of the CERN Proton Synchrotron (PS) with a new ring (PS2), as part of the upgrade of the LHC injector complex are summarized. Classical linear optics solutions including standard FODO, doublet and triplet cells with real transition energy, are studied. Particular emphasis is given to the tuning and optimisation of Negative Momentum Compaction (NMC) cells with imaginary transition energy. The optics of the high energy transfer line is also presented
Specification of human germ cell fate with enhanced progression capability supported by hindgut organoids
Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs), the precursors of sperm and eggs, are specified during weeks 2-3 after fertilization. Few studies on ex vivo and in vitro cultured human embryos reported plausible hPGCs on embryonic day (E) 12-13 and in an E16-17 gastrulating embryo. In vitro, hPGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) can be specified from the intermediary pluripotent stage or peri-gastrulation precursors. Here, we explore the broad spectrum of hPGCLC precursors and how different precursors impact hPGCLC development. We show that resetting precursors can give rise to hPGCLCs (rhPGCLCs) in response to BMP. Strikingly, rhPGCLCs co-cultured with human hindgut organoids progress at a pace reminiscent of in vivo hPGC devel-opment, unlike those derived from peri-gastrulation precursors. Moreover, rhPGCLC specification depends on both EOMES and TBXT, not just on EOMES as for peri-gastrulation hPGCLCs. Importantly, our study pro-vides the foundation for developing efficient in vitro models of human gametogenesis.Peer reviewe
How should we measure psychological resilience in sport performers?
Psychological resilience is important in sport because athletes must constantly withstand a wide range of pressures to attain and sustain high performance. To advance psychologistsĂąâŹâą understanding of this area, there exists an urgent need to develop a sport-specific measure of resilience. The purpose of this paper is to review psychometric issues in resilience research and to discuss the implications for sport psychology. Drawing on the wider general psychology literature to inform the discussion, the narrative is divided into three main sections relating to resilience and its assessment: adversity, positive adaptation, and protective factors. The first section reviews the different ways that adversity has been measured and considers the potential problems of using items with varying degrees of controllability and risk. The second section discusses the different approaches to assessing positive adaptation and examines the issue of circularity pervasive in resilience research. The final section explores the various issues related to the assessment of protective factors drawing directly from current measures of resilience in other psychology sub-disciplines. The commentary concludes with key recommendations for sport psychology researchers seeking to develop a measure of psychological resilience in athletes
IR2 aperture measurements at 3.5 TeV
Aperture measurements in the ALICE interaction region were carried out to determine a safe configuration of
ÎČ
â
and crossing angle for the 2011 heavy ion run. Proton beams were used at the end of the proton run, after
the commissioning of the squeeze to ÎČ
â = 1 m in IR2. In this paper, the results of aperture measurements are
summarised and the final collision configuration is presented. Results of parasitic measurements of the effect
of non-linear triplet fields with large orbit bumps in the IRs are also summarised.peer-reviewe
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