Higgs Searches at the LHC

These proceedings summarize the sensitivity for the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the LHC to discover a Standard Model Higgs boson with relatively low integrated luminosity per experiment. A brief discussion on the expected performance from these experiments in searches for one or more of the Higgs bosons from the minimal version of the supersymmetric theories is also included.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of the XLIII Rencontres de Moriond (session devoted to QCD and High Energy Interactions), La Thuile, Italy. 4 pages, 5 figure

A Read-out Driver for Silicon Detectors in ATLAS

I present an overview of a read-out driver (ROD) for silicon detectors in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Two silicon-based ATLAS tracking systems, referred to as the Pixel Detector and the Semiconductor Tracker (SCT), are controlled and read-out using a common 9U VME board. A hybrid design of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) has allowed the silicon ROD to meet the challenges of format error-counting and event trapping without interfering in the construction and transmission of event fragments to the next level in the read-out system. Performance of the ROD during detector assembly, calibrations and cosmic-ray data-taking are also discussed

Endcap Muon Chamber Calibration and Monitoring Procedures in CMS

The cathode strip chamber (CSC) system is one of the three types of muon detectors used in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It consists of 468 chambers, with a total of $\sim$218k strips and $\sim$183k wires, placed onto two endcaps. Calibration tests which monitor the system stability, measure configuration constants that will be downloaded to electronics and calculate the calibration constants needed in the offline reconstruction - like crosstalk, gains, noise and connectivity - are performed regularly. The full chain of acquiring, analyzing and applying the calibration constants was successfully tested recently for the first time on the CSC system, using cosmic-ray data recorded during the Magnet Test and Cosmic Challenge (MTCC)

Culturally and linguistically diverse nursing student education: a grounded theory study

This study set out to examine and describe the experiences of undergraduate students from different cultural backgrounds studying nursing across three Australian states. The researcher chose to use the grounded theory method to analyse data collected from 40 undergraduate student nurses and 32 nurse teachers. Other data resources included field observations of student nurses in clinical practice and classroom settings. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and along with field notes and memos were analysed using the constant comparative method synonymous with grounded theory. This study was set in a sociopolitical climate of disharmony in which the basic social problem of sociocultural discord: being different and not fitting in (SD) was identified and developed as the core category. The basic social psychological problem existed for culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students because they were in some way different to the majority of their White western counterparts. Differences existed in, for example, religion, dress, skin colour, beliefs, behaviours, and ways of communicating. Because these students were different they experienced discord. Discord was characterised as sociocultural because differences causing discord were rooted in either a cultural or social domain or both. Those students who experienced SD lived with feelings of social and professional isolation, discrimination, and low self esteem to name a few. For the students, experiences of sociocultural discord were largely unpredictable and occurred episodically. The fear of embarrassment, discrimination, or some other form of inequitable treatment prevented students participating actively in classes or on clinical practice.Students, however, were unable to determine when they were likely to experience inequitable treatment and for many when it had been identified it was too late; they were amidst the experience. Others were hesitant to interact with their Australian counterparts for fear of rejection. This study occurred during a particularly disharmonic climate which permeated all aspects of the students’ lives and had the propensity to impact upon individual levels of SD. As such this climate existed as the background in this study. One of the background issues identified as impacting upon students in this study was stereotyping. In this study stereotyping was often based upon perceived cultural, religious, and/or gender norms. The physical environments, that is, university campuses and clinical practice settings in which the students were required to participate, were also found to impact upon student participants and were therefore also considered as background. In these institutions there was an obvious lack of cultural role models and students’ behaviours were often misinterpreted. Whilst some students’ families were considered as immensely supportive others were identified as being the cause of much sociocultural discord. The politics of race and culture also acted to permeate the students’ existence and these issues were given wide media coverage at the time of this research. In an effort to deal with, or counter, episodes of sociocultural discord student participants engaged the process of seeking concord to get in the right track (SC). Some of these strategies worked to reduce SD whilst others did not. These strategies consisted of saving face, covert deception, and using the “yes syndrome”.Other strategies included clustering, trying to form friendships, and trying to interact with members of the dominant group. Many students struggled to suppress their feeling of SD by being quiet and/or ignoring differential treatment and avoiding interaction with others. Some adopted other strategies to strengthen their communication abilities in an effort to reduce discordant episodes. Many of these strategies were learnt from other students or supportive nurse teachers. Other support was attained from student counselling services and supportive family members. These were considered the influencing conditions. Unlike many grounded theories this study was unable to identify the end of the process, that is, successful outcomes. Irrespective that students implemented strategies to decrease their discord they continued to experience other discordant events throughout their undergraduate degree program. Whilst many of the findings in this research support the existing literature, this study can be considered as one of the first attempts to study student nurses from different cultural backgrounds and their experiences of nursing education in Australian universities

Dynamic behavior of Sandwich Beam with Piezoelectric layers

Sandwich beams with composite faces sheets and foam core are widely used as lightweight components in many of the industries such as automotive, marine and aerospace applications due to its high bending stiffness and strength combined with low weight. Thus, it is important to gain knowledge of their flexural behavior under static as well as dynamic loads. Although extensive research has been devoted to the flexural behavior of composite laminates in general, the flexural behavior of sandwich structures is quite and obviously different. Several works treating the dynamic flexural behavior of sandwich beams have also confirmed the marked susceptibility of sandwich structures to damage caused by the low velocity impact of foreign objects. Impacts can damage the face sheets, the core material, and the core face interface. The type of damage usually found in the faces is similar to that observed after impacts on monolithic composites. However, the damage initiation thresholds and damage area depend on the properties of the core material and the relationship between the properties of the core and those of the face sheets.The modelling is done for sandwich beam with create volume option with dimensions known in the software

A Read-out Driver for Silicon Detectors in ATLAS

An overview of a read-out driver (ROD) for silicon detectors in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is presented. Two silicon-based ATLAS tracking systems, referred to as the Pixel Detector and the Semiconductor Tracker (SCT), are controlled and read-out using a common 9U VME board. A hybrid design of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) has allowed the Silicon ROD to meet the challenges of format error-counting and event trapping without interfering in the construction and transmission of event fragments to the next level in the read-out system. Performance of the ROD during detector assembly, calibrations and cosmic-ray data-taking are also discussed

Electroweak constraints on new physics

We briefly review the limits on new interactions implied by electroweak precision data. Special attention is payed to the bounds on the Higgs boson mass. We also comment on the required cancellation among the new contributions to precisely measured electroweak observables in any Standard Model extension, if the new particles have to evade the indirect constraints on their couplings and masses but still remain at the LHC reach.Comment: Latex 4 pages, 1 table, 2 figures. To appear in the proceedings of 10th Hellenic School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity (Corfu 2010), Corfu, Greece, Aug 29 - Sep 19, 201

Successful Strategies to Drive Change Management Initiatives within Global Organizations

AbstractIneffective change management initiatives can negatively impact organizational performance and profitability, leading to a lack of adaptation and business collapse. Business leaders are concerned with formulating and implementing strategies needed to drive successful change management initiatives for improving organizational performance. Grounded in Lewin\u27s theory of change, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that some business leaders used to successfully implement change management initiatives for improving organizational performance. The participants included four business leaders from four organizations in St. Lucia, Caribbean, with at least five years of experience in leadership who successfully implemented organizational change management initiatives. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organization strategy documents, yearly business plans, employee handbooks, journal reflections, and business websites. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with four themes emerging: strengthening communication, increasing employee engagement, reinforcing training, and strengthening organizational culture. A key recommendation is for business leaders to make a concerted effort to enhance communication regarding change initiatives. Implications for positive social change include the potential to equip business leaders with successful strategies to implement change management initiatives that could enhance organizational performance and sustainability, increasing employment opportunities, and contributing to local communities\u27 tax revenues