Development of a Macro-Pixel sensor for the Phase-2 Upgrade of the CMS experiment

No description available (migrated from EKP Invenio record 49080

Lights, Camera, Climate Action: Investigating Emotional Responses to Climate Change Trailers (Documentary, Television, & Narrative Film)

This research examined the emotional responses elicited by different genres of environmental visual media (VM) trailers. Six undergraduate Environmental Science and Management student participants self-selected to watch trailers from three different genres of VM: a documentary film, a television series, and a narrative film. The goal of this research was to understand the extent people become aware of various environmental VM topics, how VM elicits emotional responses, the effectiveness of VM in promoting action, and to gain a better understanding of how producers and directors can potentially modify VM to have a greater impact on changing participants\u27 attitudes toward climate change. A questionnaire and focus group were conducted simultaneously to gather data on participants\u27 emotional responses to the trailers, as well as their overall attitudes toward climate change. The results showed that, in general, climate change emerged as a popular VM topic, the VM trailers elicited a strong negative emotional response, with some participants considering them an effective means to demonstrate the science of climate change. However, these participants felt that the trailers needed more local, action-oriented, and solution-based content to motivate them to make effective changes. Overall, this study provides insight into the potential impact of environmental VM on changing attitudes toward climate change among college students. The findings suggest a comprehensive seven-part plan specifically designed for filmmakers and scientists. The results of this study could have practical implications for filmmakers, scientists, educators, and policymakers who seek to promote climate change awareness through VM platforms

Investigation of the local environment of SnO2 in an applied magnetic field

This paper presents the results of time-differential perturbed gamma–gamma angular correlation measurements of SnO2 thin films carried out in an applied magnetic field. The measurements were performed upon the implantation of Fe at 80 keV and 111In (111Cd) at 160 keV. The samples were further characterized by energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The hyperfine parameters were studied at room temperature with and without an applied magnetic field. The results indicate the presence of two distinct local environments for the probe nuclei. Both occupy a paramagnetic state and correspond to a substitutional Sn site in the rutile phase of SnO2 with different numbers of electrons added to SnO2:Cd0. In addition, the crystal homogeneity of the site 1 increases upon applying the magnetic field

Land Use and Habitat Conditions Across the Southwestern Wyoming Sagebrush Steppe: Development Impacts, Management Effectiveness and the Distribution of Invasive Plants

For the past several years, USGS has taken a multi-faceted approach to investigating the condition and trends in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. This recent effort builds upon decades of work in semi-arid ecosystems providing a specific, applied focus on the cumulative impacts of expanding human activities across these landscapes. Here, we discuss several on-going projects contributing to these efforts: (1) mapping and monitoring the distribution and condition of shrub steppe communities with local detail at a regional scale, (2) assessing the relationships between specific, land-use features (for example, roads, transmission lines, industrial pads) and invasive plants, including their potential (environmentally defined) distribution across the region, and (3) monitoring the effects of habitat treatments on the ecosystem, including wildlife use and invasive plant abundance. This research is focused on the northern sagebrush steppe, primarily in Wyoming, but also extending into Montana, Colorado, Utah and Idaho. The study area includes a range of sagebrush types (including, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Artemisia nova) and other semi-arid shrubland types (for example, Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex gardneri), impacted by extensive interface between steppe ecosystems and industrial energy activities resulting in a revealing multiple-variable analysis. We use a combination of remote sensing (AWiFS (1 Any reference to platforms, data sources, equipment, software, patented or trade-marked methods is for information purposes only. It does not represent endorsement of the U.S.D.I., U.S.G.S. or the authors), Landsat and Quickbird platforms), Geographic Information System (GIS) design and data management, and field-based, replicated sampling to generate multiple scales of data representing the distribution of shrub communities for the habitat inventory. Invasive plant sampling focused on the interaction between human infrastructure and weedy plant distributions in southwestern Wyoming, while also capturing spatial variability associated with growing conditions and management across the region. In a separate but linked study, we also sampled native and invasive composition of recent and historic habitat treatments. Here, we summarize findings of this ongoing work, highlighting patterns and relationships between vegetation (native and invasive), land cover, landform, and land-use patterns in the sagebrush steppe

Formation of lower bainite in a high carbon steel – an in-situ synchrotron XRD study

The microstructural evolution of and simultaneous dimensional changes in high-carbonSAE 52100 bearing steel were monitored continuously during austempering for 120 min atselected temperatures in the range of 210 C-270 C, and also during its subsequenttempering to 340 C for an additional 120 min, via high-energy X-ray diffraction in real timeand in-situ dilatometry. The austenite-to-bainitic ferrite transformation induces lattice defectsand internal lattice stresses that increase with austempering time and at lower austemperingtemperatures. These changes are evidenced by the increase in the full-width halfmaximumof the relevant reflections in X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameter of bainiticferrite takes its highest value during the early stages of austempering, and then graduallydecreases as the transformation progresses. This observation points to an initial state ofcarbon supersaturation in the ferritic lattice that is likely reducing due to carbon segregationclose to dislocations, fine carbide precipitation within the bainitic ferrite, and carbon partitioninginto the surrounding austenite. The carbon partitioning into austenite is evidencedin particular at the higher austempering temperatures of 240 C and 270 C, at which there isa noticeable increase in the lattice parameter of the remaining austenite at longer times. Thedimensions of the bearing steel specimens are governed by the volume change due to theformation of bainitic ferrite during austempering and by the relaxation of its lattice distortionduring tempering at 340 C in the absence of further phase transformation

Confirming the unusual temperature dependence of the electric-field gradient in Zn

The electric-field gradient (EFG) at nuclei in solids is a sensitive probe of the charge distribution. Experimental data, which previously only existed in insulators, have been available for metals with the development of nuclear measuring techniques since about 1970. An early, systematic investigation of the temperature dependence of the EFG in metals, originally based on results for Cd, but then also extended to various other systems, has suggested a proportionality to T 3/2 . However, later measurements in the structurally and electronically similar material Zn, which demonstrated much more complex behavior, were largely ignored at the time. The present experimental effort has confirmed the reliability of this unexpected behavior, which was previously unexplained

AAPM medical physics practice guideline 10.a.: Scope of practice for clinical medical physics.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) is a nonprofit professional society whose primary purposes are to advance the science, education, and professional practice of medical physics. The AAPM has more than 8000 members and is the principal organization of medical physicists in the United States. The AAPM will periodically define new practice guidelines for medical physics practice to help advance the science of medical physics and to improve the quality of service to patients throughout the United States. Existing medical physics practice guidelines will be reviewed for the purpose of revision or renewal, as appropriate, on their fifth anniversary or sooner. Each medical physics practice guideline (MPPG) represents a policy statement by the AAPM, has undergone a thorough consensus process in which it has been subjected to extensive review, and requires the approval of the Professional Council. The medical physics practice guidelines recognize that the safe and effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiation requires specific training, skills, and techniques as described in each document. As the review of the previous version of AAPM Professional Policy (PP)-17 (Scope of Practice) progressed, the writing group focused on one of the main goals: to have this document accepted by regulatory and accrediting bodies. After much discussion, it was decided that this goal would be better served through a MPPG. To further advance this goal, the text was updated to reflect the rationale and processes by which the activities in the scope of practice were identified and categorized. Lastly, the AAPM Professional Council believes that this document has benefitted from public comment which is part of the MPPG process but not the AAPM Professional Policy approval process. The following terms are used in the AAPM's MPPGs: Must and Must Not: Used to indicate that adherence to the recommendation is considered necessary to conform to this practice guideline. Should and Should Not: Used to indicate a prudent practice to which exceptions may occasionally be made in appropriate circumstances

Neuron–astrocyte interactions in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body

The calyx of Held (CoH) synapse serves as a model system to analyze basic mechanisms of synaptic transmission. Astrocyte processes are part of the synaptic structure and contact both pre- and postsynaptic membranes. In the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), midline stimulation evoked a current response that was not mediated by glutamate receptors or glutamate uptake, despite the fact that astrocytes express functional receptors and transporters. However, astrocytes showed spontaneous Ca2+ responses and neuronal slow inward currents (nSICs) were recorded in the postsynaptic principal neurons (PPNs) of the MNTB. These currents were correlated with astrocytic Ca2+ activity because dialysis of astrocytes with BAPTA abolished nSICs. Moreover, the frequency of these currents was increased when Ca2+ responses in astrocytes were elicited. NMDA antagonists selectively blocked nSICs while D-serine degradation significantly reduced NMDA-mediated currents. In contrast to previous studies in the hippocampus, these NMDA-mediated currents were rarely synchronized