Technical note: Rapid image-based field methods improve the quantification of termite mound structures and greenhouse-gas fluxes

Termite mounds (TMs) mediate biogeochemical processes with global relevance, such as turnover of the important greenhouse gas methane (CH4). However, the complex internal and external morphology of TMs impede an accurate quantitative description. Here we present two novel field methods, photogrammetry (PG) and cross-sectional image analysis, to quantify TM external and internal mound structure of 29 TMs of three termite species. Photogrammetry was used to measure epigeal volume (VE), surface area (AE) and mound basal area (AB) by reconstructing 3-D models from digital photographs, and compared against a water-displacement method and the conventional approach of approximating TMs by simple geometric shapes. To describe TM internal structure, we introduce TM macro- and micro-porosity (θM and θμ), the volume fractions of macroscopic chambers, and microscopic pores in the wall material, respectively. Macro-porosity was estimated using image analysis of single TM cross sections, and compared against full X-ray computer tomography (CT) scans of 17 TMs. For these TMs we present complete pore fractions to assess species-specific differences in internal structure. The PG method yielded VE nearly identical to a water-displacement method, while approximation of TMs by simple geometric shapes led to errors of 4–200 %. Likewise, using PG substantially improved the accuracy of CH4 emission estimates by 10–50 %. Comprehensive CT scanning revealed that investigated TMs have species-specific ranges of θM and θμ, but similar total porosity. Image analysis of single TM cross sections produced good estimates of θM for species with thick walls and evenly distributed chambers. The new image-based methods allow rapid and accurate quantitative characterisation of TMs to answer ecological, physiological and biogeochemical questions. The PG method should be applied when measuring greenhouse-gas emissions from TMs to avoid large errors from inadequate shape approximations

ATLAS RPC Cosmic Ray Teststand at INFN Lecce

We describe the design and functionality of the cosmic ray teststand built at INFN Lecce for ATLAS RPC quality control assurance.Comment: XXIV Physics in Collisions Conference (PIC04), Boston, USA, June 2004, 3 pages, LaTex, 2 eps figures. MONP0

Single-hit resolution measurement with MEG II drift chamber prototypes

Drift chambers operated with helium-based gas mixtures represent a common solution for tracking charged particles keeping the material budget in the sensitive volume to a minimum. The drawback of this solution is the worsening of the spatial resolution due to primary ionisation fluctuations, which is a limiting factor for high granularity drift chambers like the MEG II tracker. We report on the measurements performed on three different prototypes of the MEG II drift chamber aimed at determining the achievable single-hit resolution. The prototypes were operated with helium/isobutane gas mixtures and exposed to cosmic rays, electron beams and radioactive sources. Direct measurements of the single hit resolution performed with an external tracker returned a value of 110 $\mu$m, consistent with the values obtained with indirect measurements performed with the other prototypes.Comment: 18 pages, 18 figure

Rehabilitation strategy for post-stroke recovery using an innovative elbow exoskeleton

Intensive and adaptive rehabilitation therapy is beneficial for post-stroke recovery. Three modes of rehabilitation are generally performed at different stages after stroke: external force-based control in the acute stage, assistive force-based rehabilitation in the midway of recovery and resistive force-based rehabilitation in the last stage. To achieve the above requirements, an innovative elbow exoskeleton has been developed to incorporate the three modes of rehabilitation in a single structure. The structure of the exoskeleton has been designed in such a way that the whole working region is divided into three where each region can provide a different mode of rehabilitation. Recovery rate can be varied for individuals since it depends on various parameters. To evaluate the rate of recovery, three joint parameters have been identified: range of angular movement, angular velocity and joint torque. These parameters are incorporated into the framework of planning a novel rehabilitation strategy, which is discussed in this article along with the structural description of the designed exoskeleton

Gas Distribution and Monitoring for the Drift Chamber of the MEG-II Experiment

The reconstruction of the positron trajectory in the MEG-II experiment searching for the $\mu^+ \to e^+ \gamma$ decay uses a cylindrical drift chamber operated with a helium-isobutane gas mixture. A stable performance of the detector in terms of its electron drift properties, avalanche multiplication, and with a gas mixture of controlled composition and purity has to be provided and continuously monitored. In this paper we describe the strategies adopted to meet the requirements imposed by the target sensitivity of MEG-II, including the construction and commissioning of a small chamber for an online monitoring of the gas quality.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Journal of Instrumentatio

Measurement of the radiative decay of polarized muons in the MEG experiment

We studied the radiative muon decay $\mu^+ \to e^+\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$ by using for the first time an almost fully polarized muon source. We identified a large sample (~13000) of these decays in a total sample of 1.8x10^14 positive muon decays collected in the MEG experiment in the years 2009--2010 and measured the branching ratio B($\mu^+ \to e^+\nu\bar{\nu}\gamma$) = (6.03+-0.14(stat.)+-0.53(sys.))x10^-8 for E_e > 45 MeV and E_{\gamma} > 40 MeV, consistent with the Standard Model prediction. The precise measurement of this decay mode provides a basic tool for the timing calibration, a normalization channel, and a strong quality check of the complete MEG experiment in the search for $\mu^+ \to e^+\gamma$ process.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures. Added an introduction to NLO calculation which was recently calculated. Published versio

Measurement of the radiative decay of polarized muons in the MEG experiment

We studied the radiative muon decay (Formula presented.) by using for the first time an almost fully polarized muon source. We identified a large sample ((Formula presented.) 13,000) of these decays in a total sample of (Formula presented.) positive muon decays collected in the MEG experiment in the years 2009–2010 and measured the branching ratio (Formula presented.) for (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.) , consistent with the Standard Model prediction. The precise measurement of this decay mode provides a basic tool for the timing calibration, a normalization channel, and a strong quality check of the complete MEG experiment in the search for (Formula presented.) process

Search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ+→ e +γ with the full dataset of the MEG experiment: MEG Collaboration

The final results of the search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ+→ e +γ based on the full dataset collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut in the period 2009–2013 and totalling 7.5 × 10 14 stopped muons on target are presented. No significant excess of events is observed in the dataset with respect to the expected background and a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of B(μ+→ e +γ) < 4.2 × 10 - 13 (90 % confidence level) is established, which represents the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date

Search for the lepton flavour violating decay μ+→ e +γ with the full dataset of the MEG experiment: MEG Collaboration

none84siThe final results of the search for the lepton flavour violating decay mu(+) -> e(+)gamma based on the full dataset collected by the MEG experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institut in the period 2009-2013 and totalling 7.5x10(14) stopped muons on target are presented. Nosignificant excess of events is observed in the dataset with respect to the expected background and a new upper limit on the branching ratio of this decay of B(mu(+) -> e(+) gamma) < 4.2 x 10(-13) (90 % confidence level) is established, which represents the most stringent limit on the existence of this decay to date.Baldini, A.M.; Bao, Y.; Baracchini, E.; Bemporad, C.; Berg, F.; Biasotti, M.; Boca, G.; Cascella, M.; Cattaneo, P.W.; Cavoto, G.; Cei, F.; Cerri, C.; Chiarello, G.; Chiri, C.; Corvaglia, A.; de Bari, A.; De Gerone, M.; Doke, T.; D’Onofrio, A.; Dussoni, S.; Egger, J.; Fujii, Y.; Galli, L.; Gatti, F.; Grancagnolo, F.; Grassi, M.; Graziosi, A.; Grigoriev, D.N.; Haruyama, T.; Hildebrandt, M.; Hodge, Z.; Ieki, K.; Ignatov, F.; Iwamoto, T.; Kaneko, D.; Kang, T.I.; Kettle, P.-R.; Khazin, B.I.; Khomutov, N.; Korenchenko, A.; Kravchuk, N.; Lim, G.M.A.; Maki, A.; Mihara, S.; Molzon, W.; Mori, Toshinori; Morsani, F.; Mtchedilishvili, A.; Mzavia, D.; Nakaura, S.; Nardò, R.; Nicolò, D.; Nishiguchi, H.; Nishimura, M.; Ogawa, S.; Ootani, W.; Orito, S.; Panareo, M.; Papa, A.; Pazzi, R.; Pepino, A.; Piredda, G.; Pizzigoni, G.; Popov, A.; Raffaelli, F.; Renga, F.; Ripiccini, E.; Ritt, S.; Rossella, M.; Rutar, G.; Sawada, R.; Sergiampietri, F.; Signorelli, G.; Simonetta, M.; Tassielli, G.F.; Tenchini, F.; Uchiyama, Y.; Venturini, M.; Voena, C.; Yamamoto, A.; Yoshida, K.; You, Z.; Yudin, Yu. V.; Zanello, D.Baldini, A. M.; Bao, Y.; Baracchini, E.; Bemporad, C.; Berg, F.; Biasotti, M.; Boca, Gianluigi; Cascella, M.; Cattaneo, P. W.; Cavoto, G.; Cei, F.; Cerri, C.; Chiarello, G.; Chiri, C.; Corvaglia, A.; DE BARI, Antonio; De Gerone, M.; Doke, T.; D’Onofrio, A.; Dussoni, S.; Egger, J.; Fujii, Y.; Galli, L.; Gatti, F.; Grancagnolo, F.; Grassi, M.; Graziosi, A.; Grigoriev, D. N.; Haruyama, T.; Hildebrandt, M.; Hodge, Z.; Ieki, K.; Ignatov, F.; Iwamoto, T.; Kaneko, D.; Kang, T. I.; Kettle, P. R.; Khazin, B. I.; Khomutov, N.; Korenchenko, A.; Kravchuk, N.; Lim, G. M. A.; Maki, A.; Mihara, S.; Molzon, W.; Mori, Toshinori; Morsani, F.; Mtchedilishvili, A.; Mzavia, D.; Nakaura, S.; Nardo', Roberto; Nicolò, D.; Nishiguchi, H.; Nishimura, M.; Ogawa, S.; Ootani, W.; Orito, S.; Panareo, M.; Papa, A.; Pazzi, R.; Pepino, A.; Piredda, G.; Pizzigoni, G.; Popov, A.; Raffaelli, F.; Renga, F.; Ripiccini, E.; Ritt, S.; Rossella, M.; Rutar, G.; Sawada, R.; Sergiampietri, F.; Signorelli, G.; Simonetta, M.; Tassielli, G. F.; Tenchini, F.; Uchiyama, Y.; Venturini, M.; Voena, C.; Yamamoto, A.; Yoshida, K.; You, Z.; Yudin, Y. u. V.; Zanello, D