RST Digital Algorithm for Controlling the LHC Magnet Current

The LHC will require a very high precision (a few ppm) in the control of the current (13 kA) inthe main superconducting magnets. To achieve this challenging performance, severaldevelopments are made at CERN in the domain of DC current transducers, analogue to digitalconversion and digital control loops. This paper will focus on the presentation of a robustdigital algorithm. Simulation and prototype (2.4 kA) results will be presented

Review of the Initial Phases of the LHC Power Converter Commissioning

The LHC requires more than 1700 power converter systems that supply between 60A and 13kA of precisely regulated current to the superconducting magnets. For the first time at CERN these converters have been installed underground in close proximity to many other accelerator systems. In addition to the power converters themselves, many utilities such as air and water cooling, electrical power, communication networks and magnet safety systems needed to be installed and commissioned as a single system. Due to the complexity of installing and commissioning such a large infrastructure, with inevitable interaction between the different systems, a three phase test strategy was developed. The first phase comprised the manufacture, integration and reception tests of all converter sub-systems necessary for powering. The second phase covered the commissioning of all the power converters installed in their final environment with the utilities. The third phase will add the superconducting magnets and will not be covered by this paper. The planning and execution that have led to the successful completion of these initial phases are described. Results and conclusions of the testing are presented

LHC Inner Triplet Powering Strategy

In order to achieve a luminosity in excess of 10**34 cm**-2s**-1 at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), special high gradient quadrupoles are required for the final focusing triplets. These low-b triplets, located in the four experimental insertions (ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, LHC-B), consist of four wide-aperture superconducting magnets: two outer quadrupoles, Q1 and Q3, with a maximum current of 7 kA and a central one divided into two identical magnets, Q2a and Q2b, with a maximum current of 11.5 kA. To optimise the powering of these mixed quadrupoles, it was decided to use two nested high-current power converters : [8kA, 8V] and [6kA, 8V]. This paper presents the consequence of the interaction between the two galvanically coupled circuits. A control strategy, using two independent, standard, LHC digital controllers, to decouple the two systems is proposed and described. The converter protection during the discharge of the magnet energy due to quenches or interlocks of the magnets are discussed. Simulation and experimexperimental prototypes were used to validate these results

Imaging ellipsometry of graphene

Imaging ellipsometry studies of graphene on SiO2/Si and crystalline GaAs are presented. We demonstrate that imaging ellipsometry is a powerful tool to detect and characterize graphene on any flat substrate. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to explore the dispersion of the optical constants of graphene in the visible range with high lateral resolution. In this way the influence of the substrate on graphene's optical properties can be investigatedComment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Miniature reciprocating heat pumps and engines

The present invention discloses a miniature thermodynamic device that can be constructed using standard micro-fabrication techniques. The device can be used to provide cooling, generate power, compress gases, pump fluids and reduce pressure below ambient (operate as a vacuum pump). Embodiments of the invention relating to the production of a cooling effect and the generation of electrical power, change the thermodynamic state of the system by extracting energy from a pressurized fluid. Energy extraction is attained using an expansion process, which is as nearly isentropic as possible for the appropriately chosen fluid. An isentropic expansion occurs when a compressed gas does work to expand, and in the disclosed embodiments, the gas does work by overcoming either an electrostatic or a magnetic force

A Framework for assessing Alternative Agro-Ecosystems: finding Multi-Functional Solutions for Sustainable urban landscapes.

Creating sustainable urban landscapes in light of growing population pressures requires interdisciplinary multi-functional solutions. Alternative agro-ecosystems described as food forests, permaculture gardens, and/or edible landscapes among others could offer potential ways to address the social, economic and ecological goals of various stakeholders simultaneously. The present research used a unique rubric, the Permaculture and Agro-ecosystems Sustainability Scorecard (PASS) that combines existing agricultural and landscape sustainability indicators in order to assess alternative agro-ecosystems. The rubric evaluates provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural ecosystem services such as pollinator presence, biodiversity, pesticides and fertilizer use, carbon sequestration and human interactions. The PASS was used to score twelve sites in South Florida that meet specific criteria in the small farm, residential and public space categories. The results showed that the majority of the sites scored highest in the supporting services provided, followed by regulating and cultural services and lowest in the economic services category

SysZNF: the C2H2 zinc finger gene database

C2H2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZNF) genes are one of the largest and most complex gene super-families in metazoan genomes, with hundreds of members in the human and mouse genome. The ongoing investigation of this huge gene family requires computational support to catalog genotype phenotype comparisons of C2H2-ZNF genes between related species and finally to extend the worldwide knowledge on the evolution of C2H2-ZNF genes in general. Here, we systematically collected all the C2H2-ZNF genes in the human and mouse genome and constructed a database named SysZNF to deposit available datasets related to these genes. In the database, each C2H2-ZNF gene entry consists of physical location, gene model (including different transcript forms), Affymetrix gene expression probes, protein domain structures, homologs (and synteny between human and mouse), PubMed references as well as links to relevant public databases. The clustered organization of the C2H2-ZNF genes is highlighted. The database can be searched using text strings or sequence information. The data are also available for batch download from the web site. Moreover, the graphical gene model/protein view system, sequence retrieval system and some other tools embedded in SysZNF facilitate the research on the C2H2 type ZNF genes under an integrative view. The database can be accessed from the URL http://epgd.biosino.org/SysZNF

Skeletopy of the intumescentia lumbalis and conus medullaris applied to epidural anaesthesia in Leopardus geoffroyi

Background: Leopardus geoffroyi is a Neotropical wild felid with wide distribution in the south of the South American continent. The objective was to investigate the skeletopy of the intumescentia lumbalis (IL) and conus medullaris (CM) from 11 specimens of L. geoffroyi collected dead on highways. Materials and methods: The cadavers were fixed in formaldehyde solution and dissected to allow the dorsal exposure of IL and CM. The cranial and caudal limits were marked with radiopaque pins and radiographic projections were used to determine the skeletopy. The lengths of IL and CM were measured with a pachymeter. Results: In most specimens, the IL was located at the level of L4 and L5 vertebrae, although in 4 (1 male and 3 females) individuals its cranial limit was L3 and in 3 specimens (2 male and 1 female) the caudal limit was L6. The length of IL was 35.6 ± 6.7 mm. The CM had its base predominantly at the level of the L5 vertebra, although in some specimens the base was in L4 and in others in L6. The apex of the CM can be found since the lumbosacral junction until the level of the Cd2 vertebra. The CM measured 74.4 ± 14.3 mm. Conclusions: Based on the skeletopy, it can be suggested that epidural anaesthesia procedures in L. geoffroyi are safer with the introduction of the catheter through the sacrocaudal interarcual space, as recommended by some anaesthetists for the domestic cat