Quality factor analysis and optimization of digital filtering signal reconstruction for liquid ionization calorimeters

The Optimal Filtering (OF) reconstruction of the sampled signals from a particle detector such as a liquid ionization calorimeter relies on the knowledge of the normalized pulse shapes. This knowledge is always imprecise, since there are residual differences between the true ionization pulse shapes and the predicted ones, whatever the method used to model or fit the particle--induced signals. The systematic error introduced by the residuals on the signal amplitude estimate is analyzed, as well as the effect on the quality factor provided by the OF reconstruction. An analysis method to evaluate the residuals from a sample of signals is developed and tested with a simulation tool. The correction obtained is showed to preserve the original amplitude normalization, while restoring the expected $\chi^2$--like behavior of the quality factor.Comment: Accepted for publication in Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research,

Photon and di-photon production at ATLAS

The latest ATLAS measurements of the cross section for the inclusive production of isolated prompt photons in $pp$ collisions at a centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 7 TeV at the LHC are presented, as well as the measurement of the di-photon production cross section.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings of the 15th Lomonosov Conference on Elementary Particle Physics, 18-24 August 2011, Moscow (Russia

Searches for the Higgs boson at the LHC

The search strategy for the Standard Model Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider is reviewed, with a particular emphasis on its potential observation by the ATLAS and CMS detectors in the $\gamma\gamma$, $\tau^+\tau^-$, $ZZ^{*}$ and $WW^{*}$ final states. The combined Higgs discovery potential of ATLAS and CMS is discussed, as well as the expected exclusion limits on the production rate times the branching ratio as a function of the Higgs mass and the collected luminosity.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Proceedings of the 'XXIeme Rencontres de Blois', 21st - 26th June 200

Inside the black box of collective reputation

The literature on collective reputation is still in its infancy. Despite the existence of a (limited) number of valuable theoretical works studying the process of collective reputation building, there is still no comprehensive analysis of this concept. In addition, due to data limitation, there are no empirical studies testing the determinants of group reputation. This work intends to provide a comprehensive analysis of reputational equilibria within coalitions of agents. In order to do so, we design a static and dynamic (over 30 years) study on the universe of coalitions of companies, within the wine market, looking at the role exerted by the characteristics of the coalition itself (its age and size), the rules set and the actions put forward by the group of agents in order to reach and maintain a certain level of collective reputation, and the context in which they operate. Results shed new lights into this ubiquitous phenomenon.reputation, collective reputation, asymmetric information, quality standards, wine.

Individual and Collective Reputation: Lessons from the Wine Market

The concept of reputation has been used in every field of economic research, given its capacity to affect the outcome of all economic and financial transactions. The theoretical debate on reputation is very rich, but the mechanisms of reputation building have not been explored enough from the empirical viewpoint. In this paper we investigate the determinants of firm reputation taking into consideration the interactions between individual and collective reputation. This paper is one of the first attempts to provide robust evidence on the determinants of firm reputation using a large set of controls applied to a database not affected by self-selection bias. In fact, we constructed a new database containing the universe of wineries located in four regions of the North-West of Italy with an established national reputation and focus on the determinants of the “jump” from national to international reputation. Our research confirms the prediction of the theoretical literature and shows the positive effect of firm age, size, investments and producer’s intrinsic motivations, and of collective reputation on individual firm reputation. Cooperatives seem to decrease their reputation when the number of associated members rises, due to free-riding and traceability problems. In contrast with previous research, relying on well-known external consultants does not acquire any outside reputation. Finally, by comparing the regression results on the determinants of national and international reputation it emerges the relevance of the mechanisms of the evaluation process: the higher proximity to the wineries of a national observer permits a better and more technical knowledge of the quality provided, allowing small niche producers with very low productivity to emerge and be known. For the same reason, the national classification system (i.e. the DOCG system) exerts a significant effect only on the international reputation of wineries, but not on the national one where the effect of collective reputation (i.e. the reputation of single denominations like Barolo) seems to prevail.reputation, credibility, asymmetric information, quality standards, Industrial Organization, L14, L15,

Spent Oyster Mushroom Substrate in a Mix with Organic Soil for Plant Pot Cultivation

Disposal of spent mushroom substrates can pose a problem to the environment. The reuse in crop production by its recycling as an ingredient of growing mixes would provide an environmentally safe disposition. We show the use of Pleurotus Pleurotus sp. spent substrate, sp. spent substrate, obtained after cultivation on a sunfl ower seed hulls based substrate and mixed with organic soil from local nurseries. Salvia offi cinalis Salvia offi cinalis was used to study plant growth in was used to study plant growth in pot cultivation under greenhouse conditions. Treatments were: C, control (soil used in a local nursery); T1, soil : Pleurotus Pleurotus spent substrate (2:1 v/v); and T2, equivalent to T1, but spent substrate (2:1 v/v); and T2, equivalent to T1, but using washed Pleurotus Pleurotus spent substrate in order to reduce its salt content. T1 substrate spent substrate in order to reduce its salt content. T1 substrate had 3.3 times higher electrical conductivity (7 mS cm-1) than that of the control, which is high for the growth of most plants. Air porosity was greater in T1 (7.4%) and T2 (10.2%) than the control (2.8%). The content of certain nutrients also increased with regard to the control, such as phosphorus and sulphur (T1 and T2 substrates), as well as potassium (T1 substrate). After growing 29 days on T1 substrate, plants showed a marked increase in biomass (ca. 21%, p < 0.05) and some minerals compared to the control. T2 plants grew poorly, possibly because of nitrogen defi cit. T1 substrate was adequate to sustain the growth of S. offi cinalis S. offi cinalis plants in pots, by improving air porosity and mineral content.Fil: López Castro, Ramón Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Delmastro, Silvia Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; ArgentinaFil: Curvetto, Nestor Raul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Agronomía; Argentin

Energy reconstruction and calibration algorithms for the ATLAS electromagnetic calorimeter

The work of this thesis is devoted to the study, development and optimization of the algorithms of energy reconstruction and calibration for the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMC) of the ATLAS experiment, presently under installation and commissioning at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Geneva (Switzerland). A deep study of the electrical characteristics of the detector and of the signals formation and propagation is conduced: an electrical model of the detector is developed and analyzed through simulations; a hardware model (mock-up) of a group of the EMC readout cells has been built, allowing the direct collection and properties study of the signals emerging from the EMC cells. We analyze the existing multiple-sampled signal reconstruction strategy, showing the need of an improvement in order to reach the advertised performances of the detector. The optimal filtering reconstruction technique is studied and implemented, taking into account the differences between the ionization and calibration waveforms as emerging from the mock-up analysis. A new calibration procedure that does not need any informations from the ionization signals as collected from the physics events in the EMC is proposed; its feasibility is investigated and discussed