Atmospheric Monitoring for the Pierre Auger Observatory

The monitoring of atmospheric transparency plays a key role in the reconstruction of ultra high energy cosmic rays with the air fluorescence technique. A review of the instruments (LIDARs, Central Laser Facility, Aerosol Phase Function Monitor) for the detection and characterization of cloud and aerosol parameters in the Pierre Auger Observatory is given

Hall Effect Parameters of Aluminium and Tungsten Co-Doped VO2 Thin Films

The Hall Effect parameters of Al and W co-doped VO2 thin films were studied in order to explain the effect of co-doping on the electrical properties of thermochromic VO2 films. The carrier concentrations and conductivity of the films were found to increase with increase in temperature while carrier mobility decreased reaching a minimum around the transition temperature then slightly rose and became stable at high temperatures. Tungsten doped films displayed higher carrier concentrations and conductivity on both sides of the metal insulator transition and lower mobility compared to undoped and Al and W co-doped VO2 thin films.Keywords: Vanadium dioxide; Hall effect; Career concentration; career mobilit

EMPLOYING THE CRITICAL JUNCTURE HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAINTHE 2011 EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION

Our research question involves applying the critical juncture hypothesis formulated by Daron Acemoglu andhis co-authors in the series of the articles and books to the context of the 2011 Arab Spring events. Critical juncturehypothesis states that politics and political institutions determine what economic institutions a country has, because theformer represents the distribution of political power. Whoever controls political institutions then can set up economicinstitutions, determining the rules governing economic activities and who will benefit from them. Generated resourcesare then used in defending these sets of institutions. Though for Acemoglu and his co-authors politics always precedeseconomics, it is the interplay of political and economic institutions that explain contemporary development of states.The case of 2011 Egyptian Revolution is presented, as the well-documented illustraion of the hypothesis at work

EMPLOYING THE CRITICAL JUNCTURE HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAINTHE 2011 EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION

Our research question involves applying the critical juncture hypothesis formulated by Daron Acemoglu andhis co-authors in the series of the articles and books to the context of the 2011 Arab Spring events. Critical juncturehypothesis states that politics and political institutions determine what economic institutions a country has, because theformer represents the distribution of political power. Whoever controls political institutions then can set up economicinstitutions, determining the rules governing economic activities and who will benefit from them. Generated resourcesare then used in defending these sets of institutions. Though for Acemoglu and his co-authors politics always precedeseconomics, it is the interplay of political and economic institutions that explain contemporary development of states.The case of 2011 Egyptian Revolution is presented, as the well-documented illustraion of the hypothesis at work

Evaluating the impact of an intervention to increase uptake of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls (15-19 years) in Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania: the Adolescents 360 quasi-experimental study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tanzania have some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates and lowest rates of modern contraceptive use among adolescents. The transdisciplinary Adolescents 360 (A360) initiative being rolled out across these three countries uses human-centred design to create context-specific multicomponent interventions with the aim of increasing voluntary modern contraceptive use among girls aged 15-19 years. METHODS: The primary objective of the outcome evaluation is to assess the impact of A360 on the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) among sexually active girls aged 15-19 years. A360 targets different subpopulations of adolescent girls in the three countries. In Northern Nigeria and Ethiopia, the study population is married girls aged 15-19 years. In Southern Nigeria, the study population is unmarried girls aged 15-19 years. In Tanzania, both married and unmarried girls aged 15-19 years will be included in the study. In all settings, we will use a prepopulation and postpopulation-based cross-sectional survey design. In Nigeria, the study design will also include a comparison group. A one-stage sampling design will be used in Nigeria and Ethiopia. A two-stage sampling design will be used in Tanzania. Questionnaires will be administered face-to-face by female interviewers aged between 18 and 26 years. Study outcomes will be assessed before the start of A360 implementation in late 2017 and approximately 24 months after implementation in late 2019. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Findings of this study will be widely disseminated through workshops, conference presentations, reports, briefings, factsheets and academic publications

First Observation of the Hadronic Transition Υ(4S)→ηhb(1P)and New Measurement of the hb(1P) and ηb(1S) Parameters

Using a sample of 771.6×106 ΥΥ(4S) decays collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e+e− collider, we observe, for the first time, the transition Υ(4S)→ηhb(1P) with the branching fraction B[Υ(4S)→ηhb(1P)]=(2.18±0.11±0.18)×10−3 and we measure the hb(1P) mass Mhb(1P)=(9899.3±0.4±1.0)  MeV/c2, corresponding to the hyperfine (HF) splitting ΔMHF(1P)=(0.6±0.4±1.0)  MeV/c2. Using the transition hb(1P)→γηb(1S), we measure the ηb(1S) mass Mηb(1S)=(9400.7±1.7±1.6)  MeV/c2, corresponding to ΔMHF(1S)=(59.6±1.7±1.6)  MeV/c2, the ηb(1S) width Γηb(1S)=(8+6−5±5)  MeV/c2and the branching fraction B[hb(1P)→γηb(1S)]=(56±8±4)%

The new scintillating fiber detector of E835 at Fermilab

Abstract The scintillating fiber tracker for the measurement of the polar coordinate θ for experiment E835 at Fermilab has been upgraded, by adding two extra layers (240 fibers each), at R ≈9 cm from the beam axis. Photons from the fibers are detected by Visible Light Photon Counters (VLPCs). The high granularity, flexibility and fast response of the scintillating fibers, combined with the high quantum efficiency of the VLPCs, allow high rate capability, high efficiency, good tracking and time resolution. Signals from the outer two layers are used to provide θ information to the first-level trigger

Switchable dual-band bandpass filter based on stepped impedance resonator with U-shaped defected microstrip structure for wireless applications

This paper presents a new technique in designing the switchable dual-band bandpass filter at 2.4 GHz and 3.5 GHz for WLAN and WiMAX applications. Wideband bandpass filter designed based on stepped impedance resonator at frequency of 3 GHz. To eliminate the interference from existing system that operates in the same frequency band, a defected microstrip structure applied and implemented to produce the notch response. In order to generate the switchable characteristic, the PIN diode was introduced at the dual-band filter. It exhibits that the measured results for switchable attributes when the diode is at OFF state, the wide passband is produced with the fractional bandwidth of 62.1 % centered at 2.9 GHz. Meanwhile, for the diode in ON state, the dual-passband has produced which centered at 2.5 GHz and 3.45 GHz. The experimental results showed good agreement with the simulation results. This structure is very useful for wireless communication systems and its applications