Test beam results of a stereo preshower integrated in the liquid argon accordion calorimeter

This paper describes the construction of an integrated preshower within the RD3 liquid argon accordion calorimeter. It has a stereo view which enables the measurement of two transverse coordinates. The prototype was tested at CERN with electrons, photons and muons to validate its capability to work at LHC (Energy resolution, impact point resolution, angular resolution, π o γ rejection). (Elsevier

Some results of PMT studies

This note reports on the preliminary testing of presently available commercial PMTs to equip the LHCb calorimeters. Among the many characteristics which have to be tested, mainly five have been looked at in this first round of tests: linearity, pulse shape, transit time spread, cathode uniformity and magnetic immunity

Adaptation to Abundant Low Quality Food Improves the Ability to Compete for Limited Rich Food in Drosophila melanogaster.

The rate of food consumption is a major factor affecting success in scramble competition for a limited amount of easy-to-find food. Accordingly, several studies report positive genetic correlations between larval competitive ability and feeding rate in Drosophila; both become enhanced in populations evolving under larval crowding. Here, we report the experimental evolution of enhanced competitive ability in populations of D. melanogaster previously maintained for 84 generations at low density on an extremely poor larval food. In contrast to previous studies, greater competitive ability was not associated with the evolution of higher feeding rate; if anything, the correlation between the two traits across lines tended to be negative. Thus, enhanced competitive ability may be favored by nutritional stress even when competition is not intense, and competitive ability may be decoupled from the rate of food consumption

Force, stress, and decision-making within the Belgian police : the impact of stressful situations on police decision-making

Stress and fear are inevitable aspects of the police job, and may have a large impact on police officers’ decision making process. Many studies have explored how stress and fear may influence assessments of police officers, especially with regard to the use of force. This article aims to contribute to this research domain by reporting the findings from two empirical studies amongst Belgian police officers: a quantitative study of police officers’ attitudes towards and experiences with the use of force; and a qualitative study on the influence of stress and emotions on officers’ decision making and assessment abilities and accuracy of shooting. Both studies confirmed that stress and fear are often present in Belgian police practice. One of the main findings is that Belgian police officers are anxious about the consequences of their actions because they know they will be held accountable for them. The pressure that results from this accountability can make it even more difficult for police officers to react to stressful situations. Therefore, we need to look for the right balance in this difficult position, by providing tools that support police officers in making daily decisions and help them do their job as effectively as possible

Cryogels for Biotechnological Applications

Cryogels are formed in a semifrozen state when the solvent is frozen, but solutes are still soluble. The ice crystals are porogens and, upon thawing the system, pores appear where the frozen solvent was found earlier. Such gels have large pores, are elastic, and offer interesting opportunities in biotechnology. Cryogels with their large pores can meet demands that traditional chromatographic media cannot. This also opens up opportunities for the separation of cells because upon passage through the gel cells may interact with specific groups on the pore walls, thereby becoming retarded and/or captured. A range of applications have been studied: isolation of microbial cells, capturing of cancer cells, and use of cryogels as matrices for immobilized cell reactors. Furthermore, the robustness of the gels allows new applications, for example in environmental separation