Cosmic Ray Physics with ACORDE at LHC

The use of large underground high-energy physics experiments, for comic ray studies, have been used, in the past, at CERN, in order to measure, precisely, the inclusive cosmic ray flux in the energy range from 2x10^10 - 2x10^12 eV. ACORDE, ALICE Cosmic Rays DEtector, will act as Level 0 cosmic ray trigger and, together with other ALICE apparatus, will provide precise information on cosmic rays with primary energies around 10^15 - 10^17 eV. This paper reviews the main detector features, the present status, commissioning and integration with other apparatus. Finally, we discuss the ACORDE-ALICE cosmic ray physics program.Comment: Contribution to the 2007 Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics - Manchester, England 19-25 July 2007; 3 pages, 3 figure

Algal culture studies related to a Closed Ecological Life Support System (CELSS)

Studies with algal cultures which relate to closed ecological life support systems (CELSS) are discussed. A description of a constant cell density apparatus for continuous culture of algae is included. Excretion of algal by-products, and nitrogen utilization and excretion are discussed

Tests of Power Corrections for Event Shapes in e+e- Annihilation

A study of perturbative QCD calculations combined with power corrections to model hadronisation effects is presented. The QCD predictions are fitted to differential distributions and mean values of event shape observables measured in e+e- annihilation at centre-of-mass energies from 14 to 189 GeV. We investigate the event shape observables thrust, heavy jet mass, C-parameter, total and wide jet broadening and differential 2-jet rate and observe a good description of the data by the QCD predictions. The strong coupling constant alpha_S(M_Z) and the free parameter of the power correction calculations alpha_0(2 GeV) are measured to be alpha_S(M_Z) = 0.1171 +/- 0.0032/0.0020 and alpha_0(2 GeV) = 0.513 +/- 0.066/0.045. The predicted universality of alpha_0 is confirmed within the uncertainties of the measurements.Comment: 28 pages, LaTeX2e, 21 .eps-files included, accepted by Eur. Phys. J.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT, WORK ENGAGEMENT AND PAY SATISFACTION: A PATH MODEL ON RETENTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

In this study, psychological empowerment, work engagement, and pay satisfaction were used to estimate the best fit model for teacher retention at the Department of Education in Region XII. The study employed quantitative research design using path analysis and correlational approach which are under non-experimental research design. Using the stratified random sampling technique, the 400 secondary teachers from the divisions of South Cotabato, Koronadal, General Santos, and Sarangani were identified. The statistical tools that were used in interpreting the data were weighted mean, Pearson r correlation coefficient, and path analysis. Additionally, survey questions that had been adjusted, changed, and validated were employed. The outcome demonstrates the extremely high degree of psychological empowerment among secondary educators. Teachers also exhibit high levels of work engagement. Nonetheless, secondary teachers have a poor degree of salary satisfaction. As a result, secondary teachers have a high rate of teacher retention. Additionally, the results indicated that pay satisfaction was substantially connected with teacher retention when each independent variable was examined in relation to teacher retention. Additionally, there was a strong correlation between teacher retention and psychological empowerment. The best fit model for predicting teacher retention is model 3. According to the model, among secondary school teachers in Region XII, psychological empowerment and pay satisfaction are predictive factors of teacher retention.  Article visualizations

Toward a New Consciousness: Values to Sustain Human and Natural Communities

A Synthesis of Insights and Recommendations from the 2007 Yale F&ES Conferenc

Efficient light-induced phase transitions in halogen-bonded liquid crystals

Here, we present a new family of light-responsive, fluorinated supramolecular liquid crystals (LCs) showing efficient and reversible light-induced LC-to-isotropic phase transitions. Our materials design is based on fluorinated azobenzenes, where the fluorination serves to strengthen the noncovalent interaction with bond-accepting stilbazole molecules, and increase the lifetime of the cis-form of the azobenzene units. The halogen-bonded LCs were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, hot-stage polarized optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Simultaneous analysis of light-induced changes in birefringence, absorption, and optical scattering allowed us to estimate that <4% of the mesogenic units in the cis-form suffices to trigger the full LC-to-isotropic phase transition. We also report a light-induced and reversible crystal-to-isotropic phase transition, which has not been previously observed in supramolecular complexes. In addition to fundamental understanding of light-responsive supramolecular complexes, we foresee this study to be important in the development of bistable photonic devices and supramolecular actuators