From noise to signal - a new approach to LHCb muon optimization

One has to exploit the LHCb muon detector at the lowest possible gas gain and operational voltage in order to minimize the charge accumulated during 10 years of the LHCb experiment keeping the aging effects as low as possible. The detector lifetime prolongation 1.5-2 times can be achieved following the optimization of the LHCb muon system proposed in this note. An optimization of the LHCb muon system assumes: minimization of the electronics thresholds and detector gas gain, a choice of the working point near the knee of the efficiency plateau at high enough efficiency at stabilization the signal-to-noise ratio during long-term data taking runs by gas gain stabilization. An efficiency of each chamber tuned once by a time alignment remains constant at the constant gas gain. Cluster size, cross-talks, multi-hits become constant and minimal at constant and minimal gas gain. It is shown in the note how to reconstruct the noise distribution in each chamber already installed in the pit and to measure precisely offset and the Equivalent Noise Charge ($ENC$) both of which specify the minimal electronics threshold. $ENC$ enlargement problem related to threshold increasing at high particle rates is discussed. $ENC$ monitoring for each physical channel of the system during the LHCb experiment is proposed in order to detect aging of the LHCb muon system at the earliest stage and make correction

A new method based on noise counting to monitor the frontend electronics of the LHCb muon detector

A new method has been developed to check the correct behaviour of the frontend electronics of the LHCb muon detector. This method is based on the measurement of the electronic noise rate at different thresholds of the frontend discriminator. The method was used to choose the optimal discriminator thresholds. A procedure based on this method was implemented in the detector control system and allowed the detection of a small percentage of frontend channels which had deteriorated. A Monte Carlo simulation has been performed to check the validity of the method

Measurement of the absolute gas gain and gain variations study in straw-tube detectors

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PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE NEW ANTIVIRAL SUBSTANCE

Objective: To develop a set of quality control procedures for the promising antiviral pharmaceutical substance L-histidyl-1-adamantylethylamine dihydrochloride monohydrate, a derivative of rimantadine. Methods: Substances and solvents: synthesized in laboratory L-histidyl-1-adamantylethylamine dihydrochloride monohydrate (H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O), rimantadine hydrochloride (Rim•HCl), 99%, ethanol 96%, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) anhydrous, 99.8% and n-hexane anhydrous, 95%, deionized high-resistance water (18.2 MΩ•cm at 25 °C, Milli-Q system), silver nitrate. Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy–Cary 630 Fourier Transform IR Spectrometer, elemental analysis–elemental composition analyzer CHNS-O EuroEA3000, ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry–Cary-60 spectrophotometer, polarimetry–POL-1/2 polarimeter with an external Peltier module, granulometric analysis by optical microscopy (Altami BIO 2 microscope) and low-angle laser light scattering (LALLS)–Master Sizer 3600, measurement of potential for hydrogen–potentiometer PB-11, Spirotox method–the study of temperature dependences of Spirostomum ambiguum lifetime to characterize the biological activity of the studied compounds. Results: The substance H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O is an amorphous yellowish powder, slightly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol, freely soluble in N, N-dimethylformamide, and practically insoluble in n-hexane. A study of the elemental composition has confirmed the authenticity of H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O. Comparison of the spectral characteristics of H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O and Rim•HCl by IR spectroscopy and UV spectrometry confirmed the authenticity of the substance. The racemic form of the substance Rim•HCl with an insignificant amount of impurity of the levorotatory enantiomer was proved polarimetrically: α =-0.0126±0.0003 (1% aqueous solution, 20±0.5 °С). The specific optical rotation of 1% aqueous solution H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O . In 1% ethanol solution -10.32±0.12. Using the method of laser light diffraction for a substance H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O, the dimensional spectra «fraction of particles, %-d, μm» were characterized, the maximum of which in hexane is in the region of 40–50 μm. Arrhenius’s kinetics on the Spirotox model established statistically significant differences in ligand-receptor interactions, which are characterized by values of observed apparent activation energy °bsEa, kJ/mol: 132.36±1.55 for H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O and 176.15±0.48 for Rim•HCl. Conclusion: The developed set of methods for assessment of physical and chemical properties and biological activity of a new antiviral substance H-His-Rim•2HCl•H2O is the basis for establish of regulatory documentation

ASCORBIС ACID DEGRADATION IN N, N-DIMETHYLFORMAMIDE SOLUTIONS

Objective: Investigate the mechanisms of L-ascorbic acid transforтmation and formation of coloured enamines in N, N-dimethyl-formamide solutions. Methods: An automatic polarimeter Atago POL-1/2 was used for polarimetric investigation. Electronic spectra were recorded by UV-spectrometer Cary 60 (Agilent). The statistical analysis was carried out using the OriginPro 9.1 packages. Results: The Biot’s law violation was found in below 0.1% solutions of L-ascorbic acid (AA) in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). During the day, the specific rotation   of 1% AA solution varied from+37 to-1.0. Gradually, the solution acquired the red colour, and its intensity depended on the AA concentration. Spectrophotometrically, it was shown that after 15 min AA was absent in the n·10-3% solutions. The decomposition followed the first-order kinetics (k1=1.83·10-2с-1). At the same time, new absorption bands appeared at 273, 390, 533 nm. Model solutions containing dimethylamine (DMA) had a similar spectrum, and the intensity of the absorption bands increased in proportion to the concentration of DMA. Conclusion: The results show that the first step in the decomposition of ascorbic acid AA in DMF follows first-order kinetics. Numerous decomposition products are optically active compounds and reverse the sign of the optical rotation of the solution. The water resulting from the decomposition of AA is involved in the hydrolysis of the solvent. The hydrolysis product, the secondary amine DMA, interacts with the carbonyl groups of the AA decomposition products to form coloured enamines. Magnesium (II) accelerates the formation of coloured products

Thermodynamic similarity of stacked-cup multiwall carbon nanotubes and graphite

When conducting photo elicitation interviews (PEI), researchers introduce photographs into the interview context. Although PEI has been employed across a wide variety of disciplines and participants, little has been written about the use of photographs in interviews with children. In this article, the authors review the use of PEI in a research study that explored the perspectives on camp of children with cancer. In particular, they review some of the methodological and ethical challenges, including (a) who should take the photographs and (b) how the photographs should be integrated into the interview. Although some limitations exist, PEI in its various forms can challenge participants, trigger memory, lead to new perspectives, and assist with building trust and rapport

POLARIMETRIC RESEARCH OF PHARMACEUTICAL SUBSTANCES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS WITH DIFFERENT WATER ISOTOPOLOGUES RATIO

Objective: Methodology development for quality control of optically active pharmaceutical substances based on water isotopologues. Methods: Solutions of L-ascorbic acid, glucose, galactose and valine stereoisomers were prepared using deuterium depleted water (DDW-«light» water, D/H=4 ppm), natural deionized high-ohmic water (BD, D/H=140 ppm), heavy water (99.9% D2O). The optical rotation was observed using an automatic polarimeter Atago POL-1/2. The size distribution of giant heterogeneous clusters (GHC) of water was recorded by low angle laser light scattering (LALLS) method. Results: The infringement of Biot's Law was found for solutions of ascorbic acid, expressed in the absence of a constant value of the specific optical rotation  at a concentration of below 0.1%, depends on the D/H ratio. The inequality was established in absolute values of optical rotation for L-and D-isomers of valine in solutions with different ratios of hydrogen isotopologues. The mutarotation of glucose confirmed the first-order kinetics, and the activation energies were statistically distinguishable for BD and DDW. The mutarotation of the natural galactose D-isomer proceeded with a lower energy consumption compared to the L-isomer. In heavy water, the mutarotation of monosaccharides had different kinetic mechanisms. Polarimetric results correlated with the number and size of GHC, which confirmed the possibility of chiral solvent structures induction by optically active pharmaceutical substances. Conclusion: In the optically active pharmaceutical substances quality control there should be considered the contribution of induced chiral GHC of water to the optical rotation value that depends on the isotopic D/H ratio, the substance nature and the form of its existence at a given pH

Redox trends in cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes

© The Royal Society of Chemistry. A series of diverse binuclear and mononuclear cyclometalated palladium(ii) complexes of different structure was investigated by electrochemical techniques combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The studies including cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, X-ray structure analysis and quantum chemical calculations revealed a regularity of the complexes oxidation potential on the metal-metal distance in the complexes: the larger Pd-Pd distance, the higher oxidation potentials. The reduction potentials feature unusually high negative values while no correlation depending on the structure could be observed. These results are in a good agreement with the electron density distribution in the complexes. Additionally, ESR data obtained for the complexes upon oxidation is reported

Redox trends in cyclometalated palladium(II) complexes

© The Royal Society of Chemistry.A series of diverse binuclear and mononuclear cyclometalated palladium(ii) complexes of different structure was investigated by electrochemical techniques combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The studies including cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, X-ray structure analysis and quantum chemical calculations revealed a regularity of the complexes oxidation potential on the metal-metal distance in the complexes: the larger Pd-Pd distance, the higher oxidation potentials. The reduction potentials feature unusually high negative values while no correlation depending on the structure could be observed. These results are in a good agreement with the electron density distribution in the complexes. Additionally, ESR data obtained for the complexes upon oxidation is reported