A Fiber Detector Radiation Hardness Test

An intense 146 MeV/c pion beam was stopped inside a scintillating fiber detector made out of 12 planes with 16 pixels each, where every pixel consists out of 8 times 8 scintillating fibers of 500 mkm diameter dense packed. The detector was irradiated for 52 hours to more than 1 Mrad at its center. Before and directly after the irradiation the detector has been exposed to a particle beam to compare the corresponding light output. This study was continued during the following three months using cosmic rays. No damage was found taking into account the measurement errors of 5-10 %. In contrast a 9 cm deep lucite degrader became irreversibly non-transparent in the irradiation region.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figure

Organic Farming Certification – the Costs of Reducing Transaction Costs

Since 1991, the European Union regulates the organic food market. By implementing the organic regulation and the corresponding inspection and certification system, organic markets were fostered, but the financial costs and bureaucratic drift of this system are controversial. Up to now, there exist only very rough estimates of the overall burden of organic producers, mostly considering only the cash costs and neglecting opportunity costs of the certified entities, which are likely to be of considerable magnitude. As a first step in approximating the amount of these costs, this paper uses the concept of Transaction Costs in order to identify and structure the relevant cost types. The quantification of this concept needs data which will soon become available

National Puzzler\u27s League

You probably noticed that some authors of anagrams use pseudonyms. Most of them are members of the National Puzzlers League (NPL), an Americna non-profit organization focused on puzzling, primarily in the realm of word play and word games. Founded in 1883, NPL is the oldest puzzlers\u27 organization in the world. it originally hosted semiannual conventions in February and September of each year, but conventions are now held annually, in July

The Mission of the Church and its Unity

Process and Progress: A Case Study in India. The mission of the church and its unity are integrally related: the Lord has given the mission to His one church, just as He has given unity to the people of God in mission. In John 17, 20-21, He says, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” This rather complicated way of describing unity and mission makes it inescapable that the two always go together and that the denial or weakening of one becomes the denial or weakening of the other

Estimating the Cost of Equity for Canadian and U.S. Firms

Financing costs are important for both firms and the economy, affecting investment decisions and, ultimately, economic growth. Despite concern among policy-makers that the cost of equity financing may be higher in Canada than in the United States, empirical evidence supporting this view is mixed. Yet Canadian firms may not undertake as many projects that could potentially enhance growth if the cost of equity financing in Canada is relatively high. The article summarizes research by Jonathan Witmer and Lorie Zorn on the influences on the cost of equity in Canada and the United States, using an updated methodology that controls for firm characteristics and aggregate-level factors. In their sample, the cost of equity was 30-50 basis points higher in Canada over 1988 to 2006 but appears to have dropped in the post-1997 period. The results have policy implications related to such factors as firm size, disclosure, and securities regulation and enforcement.

Multianode Photo Multiplier Tubes as Photo Detectors for Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detectors

The 64-channel Multianode Photo Multiplier (MaPMT) has been evaluated as a candidate for the LHCb Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) photo detectors. We present result from data taken with a 3x3 array of closely packed MaPMTs mounted onto the RICH 1 prototype vessel, exposed to charged particle beams at CERN, and read out at LHC speed. Using a LED light source, we have performed spatial light scans to study the light collection efficiency of the MaPMTs We have also measured the performance of the MaPMTs as a function of the applied high voltage. Different dynode resistor chains have been used to study the tubes at low gains. In addition, we have studied the behaviour of the MaPMT in magnetic fields.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, 8 .eps files, RICH2002 conference, Pylo

Central Bank Collateral Policy: Insights from Recent Experience

The collateral policy of central banks played a critical role during the recent financial crisis, as they worked to bolster liquidity and alleviate the funding pressures facing financial institutions. This article examines central bank collateral policy and discusses three areas in which central banks can use their collateral policy to influence financial market practices: promoting greater transparency for securitized products, improving practices related to credit risk, and reducing procyclicality in the management of market risk.

Economic Concepts of Organic Certification

Certification is a key element in marketing organic food products. Based on economic theory, this report wants to illustrate the economic reasoning for certification. The intention is to provide a description of economic concepts, which is understandable for a wider audience. We are focusing on the basic economic literature. Chapter 1 “Organic certification system” describes the current control system in the European Union. Why this is necessary, will then be explained based on a synopsis of economic literature. Of specific significance for organic certification and the CERTCOST project are the concepts of institutional economics and economics of crime. The relevant points of economic theory will be presented and discussed in chapter 2 “Theoretical framework”. Finally, the costs and benefits of organic certification will be illustrated in chapter 3 “Costs and benefits of organic certification”

The Mediating Role of Corporate Entrepreneurship in the Organizational Support–Performance Relationship: An Empirical Examination

Corporate entrepreneurship has been recognized as an important element in organizational performance. Organizational support in terms of training and trusting individuals within the firm to detect opportunities and in terms of resource availability has been proposed to positively influence a firm’s entrepreneurial activities. Despite the recognition of the organizational support–corporate entrepreneurship– performance linkage, this relationship has been approached in different ways from the theoretical and empirical perspective. Some unsolved mediation issues of past research are addressed in this study by testing three alternative hypotheses. The research design was a cross-sectional, mailed questionnaire. The findings indicate that corporate entrepreneurship (new firm formation, product/service and process innovation) can be considered a potent mediator in the organizational support–performance relationship.