R&D for Future 100 kton Scale Liquid Argon Detectors

Large liquid argon (LAr) detectors, up to 100 kton scale, are presently being considered for proton decay searches and neutrino astrophysics as well as far detectors for the next generation of long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, aiming at neutrino mass hierarchy determination and CP violation searches in the leptonic sector. These detectors rely on the possibility of maintaining large LAr masses stably at cryogenic conditions with low thermal losses and of achieving long drifts of the ionization charge, so to minimize the number of readout channels per unit volume. Many R&D initiatives are being undertaken throughout the world, following somewhat different concepts for the final detector design, but with many common basic R&D issues.Comment: Contribution to the Workshop 'European Strategy for Future Neutrino Physics', CERN, Oct. 2009, to appear in the Proceeding

Status and New Ideas Regarding Liquid Argon Detectors

Large (up to $\sim 100$ kt) liquid argon time-projection chamber detectors are presently being considered for proton decay searches and neutrino astrophysics, as well as for far detectors for the next generation of long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments that aim to determine neutrino mass hierarchy and search for CP violation in the leptonic sector. These detectors rely on the capabilities to assemble large volumes of LAr in ultrahigh-purity conditions, possibly in an underground environment, and to achieve relatively long drifts for the ionization charge. Several proposals have been developed, each of which takes a different approach to the design of the cryogenic vessels and has different scales of modularity to reach the final mass dictated by physics. New detector concepts, with innovative designs of readout electronics and novel methods for the readout of the ionization charge and scintillation light, have been proposed.Comment: accepted for publication by Ann. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sc

Tracing out the Effects of Demographic Changes on the Income Distribution. The Case of Greater Buenos Aires 1980-2000

During the last two decades fertility decisions have varied significantly and not uniformly along the income distribution. In this paper we study the effects of these demographic changes on two dimensions of the income distribution -poverty and inequality- by applying microeconometric decompositions techniques. In particular, we simulate the equivalized household income distribution that would emerge if individuals in time t took fertility decisions as in time t’. The results suggest that these demographic factors can account for a of the actual increase in poverty and inequality between 1980 y 1992.demography, fertility, income distribution, poverty, inequality, Argentina, Greater Buenos Aires, decompositions

Simultaneous maximum-likelihood calibration of odometry and sensor parameters

For a differential-drive mobile robot equipped with an on-board range sensor, there are six parameters to calibrate: three for the odometry (radii and distance between the wheels), and three for the pose of the sensor with respect to the robot frame. This paper describes a method for calibrating all six parameters at the same time, without the need for external sensors or devices. Moreover, it is not necessary to drive the robot along particular trajectories. The available data are the measures of the angular velocities of the wheels and the range sensor readings. The maximum-likelihood calibration solution is found in a closed form

Simulating Income Distribution Changes in Bolivia: a Microeconometric Approach

This paper uses microeconometric simulations to characterize the distributional changes occurred in the Bolivian economy in the period 1993-2002, and to assess the potential distributional impact of various alternative economic scenarios for the next decade. Wage equations for urban and rural areas estimated by both OLS and quantile regression are the main inputs for the microsimulations. A sizeable increase in the dispersion in worker unobserved wage determinants is the main factor behind the significant increase in household income inequality in the 90s. The results of the microsimulations suggest a small poverty-reducing effect of several potential scenarios, including education upgrading, sectoral transformations, labor informality reduction, gender and race wage gap closing, and changes in the structure of the returns to education. Sustainable and vigorous productivity growth seems to be a necessary condition for Bolivia to meet the poverty Millennium Development Goal by 2015.distribution, Bolivia, wages, decompositions, quantile, education, MDG

Mendoza, acequias y vino. Algunas percepciones y prácticas urbanas descriptas en la obra de Burgos.

Este trabajo se enfoca sobre la ciudad imaginada, aquella plural y provisional,no definida en términos geográficos y administrativos, sino en términos fundamentalmente psicológicos y simbólicos. Consideramos a los imaginarios urbanos como fragmentos plurales y colectivos que reflejan los deseos, miedos, creencias y sentimientos en general de grupos específicos de ciudadanos, -en el caso que nos ocupa, los grupos inmigrantes, los trabajadores de la viña, los bodegueros y la clase política-. De modo que el objetivo de este artículo, no es diseñar mapas empíricos que ofrezcan una representación global y cerrada de la “ciudad real”, sino crear “croquis” -provisionales y variables- en los que se muestren distintas percepciones y prácticas urbanas que conviven en una misma localidad. Esta mirada planteada a través de abordajes periodísticos y narrativo literarios, podrían definir alguno de los aspectos que conforman la ciudad del sol y el buen vino

Mendoza, ditches and wine: Some urban perceptions and practices described in the work of Burgos

Este trabajo se enfoca sobre la ciudad imaginada, aquella plural y provisional, no definida en términos geográficos y administrativos, sino en términos fundamentalmente psicológicos y simbólicos. Consideramos a los imaginarios urbanos como fragmentos plurales y colectivos que reflejan los deseos, miedos, creencias y sentimientos en general de grupos específicos de ciudadanos, -en el caso que nos ocupa, los grupos inmigrantes, los trabajadores de la viña, los bodegueros y la clase política-. De modo que el objetivo de este artículo, no es diseñar mapas empíricos que ofrezcan una representación global y cerrada de la "ciudad real", sino crear "croquis" -provisionales y variables- en los que se muestren distintas percepciones y prácticas urbanas que conviven en una misma localidad. Esta mirada planteada a través de abordajes periodísticos y narrativo literarios, podrían definir alguno de los aspectos que conforman la ciudad del sol y el buen vino.This work focuses on the imagined city, that plural and provisional, not defined geographical and administrative terms, but primarily psychological and symbolic terms. We consider the urban imaginary as plural and collective pieces that reflect the wishes, fears, beliefs and feelings in general, specific groups of citizens-in the present case, immigrant groups, workers in the vineyard, winery owners and political class. So the purpose of this paper is not empirical design maps that provide a global representation and closed the “real city”, but to create “sketches”, provisional and variable to be displayed in different perceptions and practices urban living in the same locality. This view raised through journalistic and literary narrative approaches could make any of the aspects that make the city of sun and good wine.Fil: Marchionni, Franco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; Argentin