Beam optical calculations for SPIRAL2

Ions of high charge states as required for both stable and radioactive beams in order to optimaly profit from the accelerating voltage provided can be produced by means of charge state breeders. However, the energy increase obtained is accompanied by an intensity decrease due to the low efficiency of the charge breeding process itself. With respect to the production of radioactive beams an enhancement of the breeding efficiency would be most desirable to avoid a high power primary beam as yet inevitable to counteract the loss in intensity. For this purpose the beam optics of an ion recirculation capable to separate the desired charge state and to reinject the remaining charge spectrum has been designed. The ions, potentially extracted from both sides of the charge breeder, are focused by means of electrostatic quadrupole doublets and bent by two 180° dipole magnets resulting in a racetrack-like shape. After one revolution the optics realises horizontally and vertically a point-to-point image independent from the charge state of the ions. The second order geometric aberrations as well as most of the chromatic aberrations vanish. The non-zero energy dependeant aberrations are compensated by the charge dependent aberrations leading to an effectively achromatic system up to the second order. The beam optivcal calculations have been carried out with the arbitrary order beam physics code COSY INFINITY and been validated with the beam enveloppe code TRANSPORT

Evaluating interest rate rules in an estimated DSGE model

The empirical DSGE (dynamic stochastic general equilibrium) literature pays surprisingly little attention to the behavior of the monetary authority. Alternative policy rule specifications abound, but their relative merit is rarely discussed. We contribute to filling this gap by comparing the fit of a large set of interest rate rules (fifty-five in total), which we estimate within a simple New Keynesian model. We find that specifications in which monetary policy responds to inflation and to deviations of output from its efficient level—the one that would prevail in the absence of distortions—have the worst fit within the set we consider. Policies that respond to measures of the output gap based on statistical filters perform better, but the best-fitting rules are those that also track the evolution of the model-consistent efficient real interest rate.Stochastic analysis ; Monetary policy ; Keynesian economics ; Interest rates ; Gross domestic product

Les enjeux européens dans la présidentielle française:Comptes-rendus

L’Europe d’aujourd’hui est confrontée à de très nombreuses crises. L’événement majeur que représente l’élection du/de la Président.e de la République française est donc déterminant non seulement pour la France mais plus largement pour l’ensemble de l’Europe. Les enjeux européens devaient par conséquent être présents durant cette campagne électorale. Afin d’aider les citoyen.ne.s à comprendre ces enjeux, un.e député.e européen.ne et un.e universitaire membre du Centre d’études européennes ont confronté leurs points de vue sur des problématiques européennes intéressant les citoyen.ne.s français.es appelé.e.s aux urnes en avril 2017

Investigation of TTF injector alignment with the simulation Code V

The exact alignment of accelerator components is of crucial importance for the production of low emittance beams. Once a beam-line section is set up, a supplementary correction of misalignments implies the knowledge of its magnitude which is difficult to determine using conventional adjusting instruments. An excellent alternative to measure existing misalignments of accelerator components is to vary machine parameters and compare the behaviour of the beam with results obtained from a simulation. It is obvious that time consuming particle tracking programmes are notappropriate to reach this aim. Regarding computing time, the on-line simulation code V is advantageous compared to other beam dynamics programmes. The theoretical basis of V-Code, the “Ensemble Model”, consists of selfconsistent equations for the ensemble parameters that arederived from the Vlasov equation. The requirement to simulate misalignments such as offsets and tilts led to the development of the ALIGNMENT UTILITY which utilizes the solver of V-Code. The new utility enabled us to investigate the beam-line alignment of the TESLA Test Facility injector.This contribution presents the theoretical background and an illustrating example of the optimization process

Beam-based alignment of TTF RF-gun using V-Code

The beam dynamics simulation code V [1,2], based on the Ensemble Model [3], is being developed for on-line simulations. One practical application of the V-Code is the beam-based alignment (BBA) of accelerator (TESLA Test Facility) elements. Before we started with BBA thefirst beam position monitor (BPM1), located after the RFgun cavity, showed non-zero readings. Moreover the readings depended on RF-power, RF-phase and primary and secondary solenoid currents. This effect could be explained by misalignments of the gun and the solenoids. Such beam offsets must be compensated by means of steering coils but such a procedure can be one of the sources of increased emittances. Based on the V-Code solver a dedicated utility was developed for alignment studies. The laser beam mismatch at the cathode, as well as the primary and secondary solenoid displacements were considered as probable reasons for the misalignment of the beam. A new method for the correction of these misalignments combines a sequence of measurements, simulations and the elimination of the largest imperfections. This semi-automatic method applied to the TTF RF-gun yields a centering of the beam within the accuracy of the BPM1

Enthroning Responsible Democratic Culture in Nigeria through Christian Values

This paper looks at the devastating democratic activities in Nigeria.  Governments in Nigeria have tended to be pre-occupied with power and its  material perquisites. Corrupt politicians with questionable pedigree occupy the political sit of Nigeria. Corruption is the ocean which separates Nigeria from  prosperity, and good living conditions such as good roads, social amenities, viable industries and employment opportunities. Nigerians require deep  re-orientation. Christian values play vital role in any democratic government. Therefore, the potentials of enthroning responsible democratic culture in  Nigeria through Christian values are the discourse of this paper

Catalyst-Controlled Chemoselective Arylation of 2-Aminobenzimidazoles

What N would you like? The chemoselective and complementary Pd- and Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of 2-aminobenzimidazoles is described. Selective N-arylation of the amino group was achieved with a Pd-catalyzed method, while selective N-arylation of azole nitrogen was achieved with a Cu-catalyzed procedure (see scheme).National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (GM58160

Advances in Membrane Technology for Gold Extraction: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review investigates recent advancements in separation technologies for gold extraction, focusing on sustainable and efficient methods to address environmental concerns associated with traditional practices. The study explores innovative techniques such as hydrometallurgical methods, biocyanidation, biosorption, and membrane technology, evaluating their mechanisms and environmental implications. Significant trends in gold extraction have emerged over the past five years, as revealed by a comprehensive review of numerous studies. One such trend is the increasing adoption of non-toxic leaching agents like thiocyanate, which show comparable recovery rates to cyanide while posing lower environmental risks. Additionally, advancements in bioleaching through engineered microbial strains have demonstrated improved gold solubilization efficiencies, with reported increases of up to 25% in recovery rates. Membrane technologies, particularly composite and nanostructured membranes, have emerged as promising alternatives for selective gold ion separation, offering enhanced permeability and selectivity. The integration of these advanced technologies into hybrid systems further enhances overall recovery rates, with efficiencies of over 95% when combining biological and physical separation methods. This review concludes that the future of gold extraction lies in the combination of these innovative technologies, which improve recovery efficiencies and address critical environmental concerns. The ongoing research in this field is vital for the development of sustainable gold recovery processes that meet both economic and ecological demands. By examining the mechanisms, efficiencies, and environmental impacts of these methods, this paper highlights the future potential of separation technologies in sustainable gold recovery

Megan Patton-Lopez Interview 2019

Dr. Megan Patton-Lopez, Assistant Professor/ Community Health, Division of Health and Exercise Science, Western Oregon University, passionately discusses her vision for community health throughout the Western Oregon Community. Her priorities focus on assisting lower-income families in the surrounding areas, and directly with the students of Western Oregon University

Your evidence or mine? : Systematic evaluation of reviews of marine protected area effectiveness

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a key strategy for mitigating the impacts of fisheries, but their designation can be controversial, and there is uncertainty surrounding when and where MPAs are most effective. Evidence synthesis that collates primary research on MPA effectiveness can provide a crucial bridge between research, policy and practice. However, reviews vary in scope and rigour, meaning decision-makers face the challenge of identifying appropriate reviews. Documenting differences amongst reviews can therefore support nonspecialists in locating the most relevant and rigorous reviews and can also assist researchers in targeting evidence gaps. We addressed these priorities by systematically searching for reviews examining effectiveness of MPAs for biodiversity, critically appraising methods used and categorizing review scope. The 27 reviews assessed overlapped in scope (suggesting some redundancy) and differed substantially in reliability. Key strengths related to the effects of MPAs on fish abundance and the influence of MPA size and age on effectiveness. However, several gaps were noted, with some questions not addressed and others lacking highly reliable syntheses – importantly, the latter may create the perception that particular questions have been adequately addressed, potentially deterring new syntheses. Our findings indicate key aspects of review conduct that could be improved (e.g. documenting critical appraisal of primary research, evaluating potential publication bias) and can facilitate evidence-based policy by guiding nonspecialists to the most reliable and relevant reviews. Lastly, we suggest that future reviews with broader taxonomic coverage and considering the influence of a wider range of MPA characteristics on effectiveness would be beneficial