Alignment of the ALICE Inner Tracking System with cosmic-ray tracks

37 pages, 15 figures, revised version, accepted by JINSTALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) experiment devoted to investigating the strongly interacting matter created in nucleus-nucleus collisions at the LHC energies. The ALICE ITS, Inner Tracking System, consists of six cylindrical layers of silicon detectors with three different technologies; in the outward direction: two layers of pixel detectors, two layers each of drift, and strip detectors. The number of parameters to be determined in the spatial alignment of the 2198 sensor modules of the ITS is about 13,000. The target alignment precision is well below 10 micron in some cases (pixels). The sources of alignment information include survey measurements, and the reconstructed tracks from cosmic rays and from proton-proton collisions. The main track-based alignment method uses the Millepede global approach. An iterative local method was developed and used as well. We present the results obtained for the ITS alignment using about 10^5 charged tracks from cosmic rays that have been collected during summer 2008, with the ALICE solenoidal magnet switched off.Peer reviewe

First proton-proton collisions at the LHC as observed with the ALICE detector: measurement of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density at root s=900 GeV

-On 23rd November 2009, during the early commissioning of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), two counter-rotating proton bunches were circulated for the first time concurrently in the machine, at the LHC injection energy of 450 GeV per beam. Although the proton intensity was very low, with only one pilot bunch per beam, and no systematic attempt was made to optimize the collision optics, all LHC experiments reported a number of collision candidates. In the ALICE experiment, the collision region was centred very well in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and 284 events were recorded in coincidence with the two passing proton bunches. The events were immediately reconstructed and analyzed both online and offline. We have used these events to measure the pseudorapidity density of charged primary particles in the central region. In the range vertical bar eta vertical bar S collider. They also illustrate the excellent functioning and rapid progress of the LHC accelerator, and of both the hardware and software of the ALICE experiment, in this early start-up phase

First proton-proton collisions at the LHC as observed with the ALICE detector: measurement of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density at root s=900 GeV

On 23rd November 2009, during the early commissioning of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), two counter-rotating proton bunches were circulated for the first time concurrently in the machine, at the LHC injection energy of 450 GeV per beam. Although the proton intensity was very low, with only one pilot bunch per beam, and no systematic attempt was made to optimize the collision optics, all LHC experiments reported a number of collision candidates. In the ALICE experiment, the collision region was centred very well in both the longitudinal and transverse directions and 284 events were recorded in coincidence with the two passing proton bunches. The events were immediately reconstructed and analyzed both online and offline. We have used these events to measure the pseudorapidity density of charged primary particles in the central region. In the range vertical bar eta vertical bar S collider. They also illustrate the excellent functioning and rapid progress of the LHC accelerator, and of both the hardware and software of the ALICE experiment, in this early start-up phase

Quality of life after functional endoscopic sinus surgery

The purpose of this study is the extent to which endoscopic nose surgery and paranasal surgeries affect the quality of life of patients undergoing this surgical technique for treatment of benign conditionsThe study involved 84 patients, 49 of whom were men (58.3%) and 35 women (41.7%). The most common condition was nasal polyposis at 70.2%, sinusitis of various forms at 15.5% and 14.3% related to other conditions. The study used the translated questionnaire of the Glasgow Benefit Inventory, which is specialized in Otolaryngology and a specific validated post-intervention questionnaire.The results showed a clear improvement in the quality of life of patients after endoscopic paranasal surgery. In particular, 98% of men and 88.6% of women seem to have benefited from the intervention.The type of surgery did not show to affect the results, while age seemed to affect the extent of improvementΣκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η ανίχνευση του βαθμού στον οποίον επιδρά η ενδοσκοπική χειρουργική ρινός και παραρρινίων στην ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών που υποβάλλονται στη συγκεκριμένη χειρουργική τεχνική για θεραπεία από καλοήθεις παθήσειςΣτη μελέτη έλαβαν μέρος 84 ασθενείς ,49 εκ των οποίων ήταν άντρες (58,3%) και 35 γυναίκες (41,7%) . Η πιο συχνή πάθηση αφορούσε ρινική πολυποδίαση σε ποσοστό 70,2% ,παραρρινοκολπίτιδα διαφόρων μορφών σε ποσοστό 15,5% και το 14,3% αφορούσε άλλες παθήσεις. Στη μελέτη χρησιμοποιήθηκε το μεταφρασμένο ερωτηματολόγιο του Glasgow Benefit Inventory , το οποίο είναι εξειδικευμένο για την Ωτορινολαρυγγολογία και ειδικό μεθ-επεμβατικό ερωτηματολόγιο.Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν σαφή βελτίωση στην ποιότητα ζωής των ασθενών μετά από ενδοσκοπική χειρουργική παραρρινίων . Συγκεκριμένα φαίνεται να επωφελήθηκε από την επέμβαση το 98% των ανδρών και το 88,6% των γυναικών.Το είδος της επέμβασης δεν έδειξε να επηρρεάζει τα αποτελέσματα, ενώ η ηλικία φάνηκε να επηρρεάζει την έκταση της βελτίωση

Counter-piracy escort operations in the Gulf of Aden

Increased pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden (GOA) has gotten the attention of the international community, and many countries are engaged in counter-piracy operations to protect vulnerable shipping and provide humanitarian aid. In February 2009, the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) was established in order to introduce safer and more organized passage for all merchant vessels transiting the GOA. This thesis uses simulation to identify the key factors involved in escorting vulnerable shipping through the Gulf of Aden (GOA). Specifically, a scenario in which a group of merchant ships travels under escort of a warship is modeled using an agent-based simulation environment. Using state-of-the-art experimental designs, over 300,000 counter-piracy escort missions are simulated and analyzed. The results indicate that convoys are most successful when they contain fewer than 14 merchant ships, travel at speeds greater than 18 knots, position the warship in front or on the flank of the convoy, and identify pirates at a range of no less than 4 kilometers. It is found that three or more pirate vessels are especially difficult to counter, as are pirates travelling at speeds greater than 39 knots.http://archive.org/details/counterpiracyesc109455633Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Natural disasters state and social structures in South Asia (Thailand and Indonesia)

In this research we will see, through the events of the 2004 catastrophic tsunami, that natural disasters are the combination of natural hazards and vulnerability conditions in an area. Vulnerability will be examined in relation to two Southeast Asian countries, Thailand and Indonesia, sharing a common history in the wider geographical area.The natural disasters of this kind cause criticism and scientific inquiry, because in a 'risk' society, abandoning the notion of 'natural disaster' is not as self-evident as one might think. Any scientific and "neutral" measurement of disaster does not have the self-evident value it had decades ago. The tsunami is a form of "globalization of risk" that generates new possibilities, new identities and new consciousness.The first part analyzes both natural disasters (species and their historical significance) and how organized societies manage such crises.Then, in the second part, the state and social structures of these two countries are examined as key factors affecting and determining the vulnerability of the region.In the third part, the reference is to the religious and cultural "capital" of the regions which is also a key parameter in the way crisis management is conducted.From this point we will be led to the fourth part, which deals with the interpretations and reactions of natural disasters by peoples to this particular cultural tradition, as well as the presence of the Orthodox Church in such incidents and developments.Σε αυτή την εργασία θα δούμε, μέσα από τα γεγονότα του καταστροφικού τσουνάμι του 2004, πως οι φυσικές καταστροφές είναι ο συνδυασμός φυσικών κινδύνων και συνθηκών ευπάθειας μίας περιοχής. Οι συνθήκες ευπάθειας θα εξετασθούν αναφορικά με δύο χώρες της ΝΑ Ασίας, την Ταϋλάνδη και την Ινδονησία, που μοιράζονται μία κοινή ιστορία στην ευρύτερη γεωγραφικά περιοχή.Οι φυσικές καταστροφές τέτοιου είδους προκαλούν την κριτική και επιστημονική αναζήτηση, διότι σε μία κοινωνία «ρίσκου», η εγκατάλειψη της έννοιας της «θεομηνίας» δεν είναι και τόσο αυτονόητη όσο θα νόμιζε κανείς. Η όποια επιστημονική και «ουδέτερη» επιμέτρηση της καταστροφής δεν έχει την αυτονόητη αξία που είχε πριν από κάποιες δεκαετίες. Το τσουνάμι είναι μία μορφή «παγκοσμιοποίησης του ρίσκου», που γεννά νέες δυνατότητες, νέες ταυτότητες και νέες συνειδήσεις. Στο πρώτο μέρος γίνεται ανάλυση τόσο των φυσικών καταστροφών (είδη και ιστορική τους σημασία) όσο και του τρόπου της διαχείρισης τέτοιων κρίσεων από τις οργανωμένες κοινωνίες. Ακολούθως, στο δεύτερο μέρος, εξετάζονται οι κρατικές και κοινωνικές δομές των δύο αυτών χωρών ως βασικοί παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν και καθορίζουν τις συνθήκες ευπάθειας σε αυτή την περιοχή. Στο τρίτο μέρος, η αναφορά είναι στο θρησκευτικό και πολιτισμικό «κεφάλαιο» των περιοχών που είναι επίσης μία βασική παράμετρος στον τρόπο της διαχείρισης των κρίσεων. Από αυτό το σημείο θα οδηγηθούμε στο τέταρτο μέρος, στο οποίο τίτλος είναι οι ερμηνείες και αντιδράσεις των φυσικών καταστροφών από τους λαούς με τη συγκεκριμένη πολιτισμική παράδοση, καθώς και η παρουσία της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας σε τέτοιου είδους συμβάντα και εξελίξεις

Systematic review of the association between Alzheimer's disease and chronic glaucoma.

A potential association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and chronic glaucoma has been suggested but results of epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and critical appraisal of this literature. We searched systematically in PubMed from December 1964 to September 2013 and identified 239 articles potentially relevant for abstract and full-text review. Statistical heterogeneity (variability) across studies was evaluated using the Cochran Q test and the I (2) statistic, and the Newcastle-Ottawa score was used to assess study quality. Ten studies were finally selected. Compared to non-demented participants, patients with AD had a statistically significant decreased risk of glaucoma but the results were very heterogeneous, and thus summary estimates were not reported (I (2), 89%; P heterogeneity, <0.001). The study results ranged from large positive relative risks identified in small and poorly-conducted studies to weak inverse associations or null estimates observed in some cohort and record-linkage studies, but the summary estimates were essentially driven by a large retrospective cohort using medical claims that may be afflicted by underdiagnosis bias. There was also evidence for substantial publication bias (Egger's P≤0.01). The association of AD and glaucoma is heterogeneous and most studies are small and inadequately designed. Large prospective studies with long follow-ups are warranted to clarify this association

Building an analog polarity altenator for electromagnets used in nuclear structure experiments

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