Position Sensing from Charge Dispersion in Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors with a Resistive Anode

Micro-pattern gas detectors, such as the Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) and the Micromegas need narrow high density anode readout elements to achieve good spatial resolution. A high-density anode readout would require an unmanageable number of electronics channels for certain potential micro-detector applications such as the Time Projection Chamber. We describe below a new technique to achieve good spatial resolution without increasing the electronics channel count in a modified micro-detector outfitted with a high surface resistivity anode readout structure. The concept and preliminary measurements of spatial resolution from charge dispersion in a modified GEM detector with a resistive anode are described below.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Nucl. Inst. Meth; typo in eqn 4 corrected, fig 2 updated accordingl

Spatial resolution of a GEM readout TPC using the charge dispersion signal

A large volume Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is being considered for the central charged particle tracker for the detector for the proposed International Linear Collider (ILC). To meet the ILC-TPC spatial resolution challenge of ~100 microns with a manageable number of readout pads and channels of electronics, Micro Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGD) are being developed which could use pads comparable in width to the proportional-wire/cathode-pad TPC. We have built a prototype GEM readout TPC with 2 mm x 6 mm pads using the new concept of charge dispersion in MPGDs with a resistive anode. The dependence of transverse resolution on the drift distance has been measured for small angle tracks in cosmic ray tests without a magnetic field for Ar/CO2 (90:10). The GEM-TPC resolution with charge dispersion readout is significantly better than previous measurements carried out with conventional direct charge readout techniques.Comment: 5 figures, 10 page

Compressible Dynamic Stall Control using a Variable Droop Leading Edge Airfoil

(AIAA Paper 2003-0048), Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 41, No. 4, pp. 862-969, Jul. - Aug. 2004.The control of compressible dynamic stall using a variable droop leading edge airfoil is described. The leading 25% of a VR-12 airfoil is drooped as it executes sinusoidal pitch oscillations such that the leading portion of the airfoil is always at a low effective incidence to the flow. Airfoil performance data determined for freestream Mach numbers ranging from 0.2 to 0.4, at reduced frequencies from 0 to 0.1, and using unsteady pressure transducer measurements, show that droop reduces the tendency of the airfoil to enter the dynamic stall state. Even when it does, the strength of the dynamic stall vortex is significantly reduced, which is reflected in the 40 to 50% smaller negative peak pitching-moment values, with positive damping of the airfoil. Also, the airfoil drag when the droop is dynamically varied is reduced by up to 75% relative to a nondrooped airfoil, making a strong case for the use of this concept for dynamic stall control.U.S. Army Research Offic

A reality check: teaching practices in Fijian secondary schools

This interpretive study of teaching practices explored the perceptions of teachers in a changing landscape in secondary schools in Fiji. Research participants engaged in focus group interviews in which they shared their teaching stories. The study found that the key issues for teachers were student-centered learning and continuous assessment. It also found that teachers were skilled and knowledgeable in pedagogy however some of their teaching practices are ineffective. It is contended that this situation is the result of inadequate support systems for teachers and in turn is perpetuating protracted change in the education system. Suggestions for teachers to develop adaptive and innovative skills that enable them to meet the changing role of teaching include a range of initiatives related to continuous professional development

Uplifted supersymmetric Higgs region

We show that the parameter space of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model includes a region where the down-type fermion masses are generated by the loop-induced couplings to the up-type Higgs doublet. In this region the down-type Higgs doublet does not acquire a vacuum expectation value at tree level, and has sizable couplings in the superpotential to the tau leptons and bottom quarks. Besides a light standard-like Higgs boson, the Higgs spectrum includes the nearly degenerate states of a heavy spin-0 doublet which can be produced through their couplings to the $b$ quark and decay predominantly into \tau^+\tau^- or \tau\nu.Comment: 14 pages; Signs in Eqns. (3.1) and (4.2) corrected, appendix include

The Use of Aerial Radiometrics for Epidemiological Studies of Leukaemia: a Preliminary Investigation in SW England

The report presents the results and conclusions of a pilot study designed to evaluate the potential use of aerial gamma ray measurements in epidemiological investigations of leukaemia. The sources of natural radiation were reviewed and associations between U, Th and K and dose to the human population noted. The association between leukaemia and radiation exposure was also noted, in particular the clear evidence from high dose studies, the potential importance of radium and radon, and the difficulties of achieving statistical significance in case-control studies at environmental dose rates due to the need for large area surveys covering large populations. Aerial surveys were conducted in three disjoint grids selected by the Leukaemia Research Fund Clinical epidemiology unit at Leeds University. The areas covered some 2,500 km, and were surveyed in a 50 hour fieldwork period in September 1989. Over 4800 gamma spectra were recorded, representing between 200 and 400 times the number of measurements per unit area of the NRPB national maps, and an area sampling density some 106 times greater. The data were used to estimate specific activities of potassium, uranium and thorium. Environmental infinite matrix alpha and beta dose rates were calculated using equilibrium assumptions and gamma ray dose rates were estimated directly from the spectra. Mean values for gamma dose rates were compatible with NRPB estimates for the counties. The detailed gamma ray maps demonstrate that both radiation levels, and quality show local variations within each survey grid of a magnitude comparable with that observed in whole of the UK in national maps. Considerable caution is thus needed in using national data for epidemiological studies. Local variations, which can be clearly associated with underlying geological and geomorphological structures should be taken into account in such work. No significant enhancements were noted due to activities at the Devonport Dockyard, in keeping with published ground based monitoring. The main enhancement in the vicinity of Hinkley Point was due to the authorised discharge of 41Ar, which was clearly detected in the survey. Two methods for associating the radiometric results with epidemiological data were developed and applied. A case-control study was performed by matching case and control locations to individual spatially averaged radiometric results and comparing the associated radiation levels. The second method evaluated radiation stratified incidence rates by combining stratified case radiometric data with similar information estimated from a population density surface constructed for the grids. Weighted regression analysis was used to assess any associations. The results are in general limited by the low number of leukaemia cases within the study area, resulting in statistically weak or insignificant links. However positive associations between equivalent uranium and leukaemia, particularly in the grid including the rivers Tavy and Tamar, were observed in both case-control and incidence rate analyses. A negative association with equivalent Thorium observed in the incidence rate analysis was not reproduced in case-control comparisons. This approach could be extended to larger area studies to increase statistical power. In parallel investigations of the relationship between environmental and individual radiation exposure, and investigation of the potential association between radium, or radon and leukaemia following the trends observed here would be appropriate

Excited electronic states of MnO4−:Challenges for wavefunction and density functional response theories

AbstractThe lowest excited electronic states of the permanganate ion MnO4− are calculated using a hierarchy of coupled cluster response approaches, as well as time-dependent density functional theory. It is shown that while full linear response coupled cluster with singles and doubles (or higher) performs well, that permanganate represents a stern test for approximate coupled cluster response models, and that problems can be traced to very large orbital relaxation effects. TD-DFT is reasonably robust although errors around 0.6eV are still observed. In order to further investigate the strong correlations prevalent in the electronic ground state large-scale RASSCF calculations were also performed. Again very large orbital relaxation in the correlated wavefunction is observed. Although the system can qualitatively be described by a single configuration, multi-reference diagnostic values show that care must be taken in this and similar metal complexes

Harnessing the hybrid power supply systems of utility grid and photovoltaic panels at retrofit residential single family building in Medan

The paper describes improvisation mode of energy supply source by collaboration between national utility grid as represented by fossil fuels and PV as independent renewable power resource in order to aim the energy consumptions efficiently in retrofit single family house. In this case, one existing single family house model in Medan, Indonesia was observed for the possibility of future refurbishment. The eco-design version of the house model and prediction analyses regarding nearby potential renewable energy resource (solar system) had been made using Autodesk Revit MEP 2015, Climate Consultant 6.0 and Green Building Studio Analysis. Economical evaluation of using hybrid power supply is discussed as well. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Examining User Acceptance of Computer Technology: An Empirical Study of Student-Teachers in Kenya

The use of computer technology in schools has made slow progress even though the government has been generous in funding as evidenced in the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP). It is therefore important to understand how and when teachers use computer technology in order to devise implementation strategies to encourage them. This study investigated student teachers’ perceptions of computer technology in relation to their intention to use computers. The purpose is to shed light on more effective ways to promote the use of computer technology in schools. Based on an expanded variation of the Technology Acceptance Model, a survey of student teachers’ perceptions were collected at local universities in Kenya. Overall, the results indicated that: (1) student teachers perceived usefulness of computer technology had a direct significant effect on their intention to use it; (2) student teachers perceived ease of use had only an indirect significant effect on intention to use; however, (3) student teachers’ subjective norm, that is the possible influence of external expectations, did not have any direct or indirect significant effects on their intention to use computer technology