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Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC) detectors offer charged particle imaging capability with remarkable spatial resolution. Precise event reconstruction procedures are critical in order to fully exploit the potential of this technology. In this paper we present a new, general approach to 3D reconstruction for the LAr TPC with a practical application to the track reconstruction. The efficiency of the method is evaluated on a sample of simulated tracks. We present also the application of the method to the analysis of stopping particle tracks collected during the ICARUS T600 detector operation with the CNGS neutrino beam.

ECAL0 is a new electromagnetic calorimeter designed for studying generalized parton distributions at the COMPASS II experiment at CERN. It will be located next to the target and will cover larger photon angles (up to 30 degrees). It is a modular high-granularity Shashlyk device with total number of individual channels of approx. 1700 and readout based on wavelength shifting fibers and micropixel avalanche photodiodes. Characterization of the calorimeter includes tests of particular sub-components, tests of complete modules and module arrays, as well as a pilot run of a fully-functional, quarter-size prototype in the COMPASS experiment. The main goals of the tests on low-intensity electron beam at the ELSA accelerator in Bonn were: to provide energy calibration using electrons, to measure angular response of the calorimeter and to perform an energy scan to cross-check previously collected data. A dedicated measurement setup was prepared for the tests, including a 3x3 array of the ECAL0 modules, a scintillating-fibre hodoscope and a remotely-controlled motorized movable platform. The measurements were performed using three electron energies: 3.2 GeV, 1.6 GeV and 0.8 GeV. They include a calibration of the whole detector array with a straight beam and multiple angular scans.

We report an updated result from the ICARUS experiment on the search for ν μ → ν e anomalies with the CNGS beam, produced at CERN with an average energy of 20 GeV and traveling 730 km to the Gran Sasso Laboratory. The present analysis is based on a total sample of 1995 events of CNGS neutrino interactions, which corresponds to an almost doubled sample with respect to the previously published result. Four clear ν e events have been visually identified over the full sample, compared with an expectation of 6.4±0.9 events from conventional sources. The result is compatible with the absence of additional anomalous contributions. At 90 % and 99 % confidence levels, the limits to possible oscillated events are 3.7 and 8.3 respectively. The corresponding limit to oscillation probability becomes consequently 3.4×10 −3 and 7.6×10 −3 , respectively. The present result confirms, with an improved sensitivity, the early result already published by the ICARUS Collaboration.

The aim of this study was to examine evaluations of multiple groups by both ethnic majority-group (Dutch) and minority-group (Turkish-Dutch) members during a turbulent political period in the Netherlands, marked by the rapid rise and subsequent decline of a new-rightist, populist movement. The analysis of cross-sectional data from three periods (2001 to 2003) showed clear changes in these evaluations. As expected, both the Dutch and the Turkish participants showed higher ingroup identification and ingroup evaluation in 2002 than in 2001 and 2003. In addition, in 2002 the Dutch participants evaluated the Islamic outgroups (Turks and Moroccans) more negatively, whereas their evaluation of other ethnic minority groups did not differ across the three years. In contrast, Turkish participants evaluated all ethnic outgroups, including the Dutch and the Moroccans, more negatively in 2002. We conclude that it is important to study ethnic relations across time, in relation to political circumstances, from the perspective of both majority- and minority-group members, and in relation to different ethnic outgroups.

We report an early result from the ICARUS experiment on the search for a ν μ → ν e signal due to the LSND anomaly. The search was performed with the ICARUS T600 detector located at the Gran Sasso Laboratory, receiving CNGS neutrinos from CERN at an average energy of about 20 GeV, after a flight path of ∼730 km. The LSND anomaly would manifest as an excess of ν e events, characterized by a fast energy oscillation averaging approximately to with probability . The present analysis is based on 1091 neutrino events, which are about 50 % of the ICARUS data collected in 2010–2011. Two clear ν e events have been found, compared with the expectation of 3.7±0.6 events from conventional sources. Within the range of our observations, this result is compatible with the absence of a LSND anomaly. At 90 % and 99 % confidence levels the limits of 3.4 and 7.3 events corresponding to oscillation probabilities and are set respectively. The result strongly limits the window of open options for the LSND anomaly to a narrow region around (Δ m 2 ,sin 2 (2 θ )) new =(0.5 eV 2 ,0.005), where there is an overall agreement (90 % CL) between the present ICARUS limit, the published limits of KARMEN and the published positive signals of LSND and MiniBooNE Collaborations.

We report on a measurement of Spin Density Matrix Elements (SDMEs) in hard exclusive$$\\rho ^0$$ρ 0 meson muoproduction at COMPASS using 160 GeV/ c polarised$$ \\mu ^{+}$$μ + and$$ \\mu ^{-}$$μ - beams impinging on a liquid hydrogen target. The measurement covers the kinematic range 5.0 GeV/$$c^2$$c 2$$< W<$$< W < 17.0 GeV/$$c^2$$c 2 , 1.0 (GeV/ c )$$^2$$2$$< Q^2<$$< Q 2 < 10.0 (GeV/ c )$$^2$$2 and 0.01 (GeV/ c )$$^2$$2$$< p_{\\textrm{T}}^2<$$< p T 2 < 0.5 (GeV/ c )$$^2$$2 . Here, W denotes the mass of the final hadronic system,$$Q^2$$Q 2 the virtuality of the exchanged photon, and$$p_{\\textrm{T}}$$p T the transverse momentum of the$$\\rho ^0$$ρ 0 meson with respect to the virtual-photon direction. The measured non-zero SDMEs for the transitions of transversely polarised virtual photons to longitudinally polarised vector mesons ($$\\gamma ^*_T \\rightarrow V^{ }_L$$γ T ∗ → V L ) indicate a violation of s -channel helicity conservation. Additionally, we observe a dominant contribution of natural-parity-exchange transitions and a very small contribution of unnatural-parity-exchange transitions, which is compatible with zero within experimental uncertainties. The results provide important input for modelling Generalised Parton Distributions (GPDs). In particular, they may allow one to evaluate in a model-dependent way the role of parton helicity-flip GPDs in exclusive$$\\rho ^0$$ρ 0 production.

Four species of exotic cordgrass (Spartina sp.) occur in the San Francisco estuary in addition to the California native Spartina foliosa. Our goal was to map the location and extent of all non-native Spartina in the estuary. Hybrids of S. alterniflora and S. foliosa are by far the most numerous exotic and are spreading rapidly. Radiating from sites of deliberate introduction, S. alterniflora and hybrids now cover ca. 190 ha, mainly in the South and Central Bay. Estimates of rate of aerial increase range from a constant value to an accelerating rate of increase. This could be due to the proliferation of hybrid clones capable of rapid expansion and having superior seed set and siring abilities. The total coverage of 195 ha by hybrids and other exotic cordgrass species is slightly less than 1% of the Bay's tidal mudflats and marshes. Spartina anglica has not spread beyond its original 1970s introduction site. Spartina densiflora has spread to cover over 5 ha at 3 sites in the Central Bay. Spartina patens has expanded from 2 plants in 1970 to 42 plants at one site in Suisun Bay. Spartina seed floats on the tide, giving it the potential to export this invasion throughout the San Francisco estuary, and to estuaries outside of the Golden Gate. We found isolated plants of S. alterniflora and S. densiflora in outer coast estuaries north of the Bay suggesting the likelihood for the San Francisco Bay populations to found others on the Pacific coast.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Introduction: People spend about 90% of their time indoors. Most health problems associated with indoor air quality are caused by fungi. It is estimated fungi account for 70% of total indoor air microbial pollution. Purpose: To analyze fungal pathogens isolated from indoor air of Branicki Palace in Bialystok, Poland Materials and methods: The research mycological material consisted of air collected from various rooms in Branicki Palace. Humidity and temperature of the tested rooms were also measured. The monitoring of airborne fungi pollution was done using a SAS SUPER 100 (pbi international) with international measure standards (EN 50081-1, EN 500 50082-1). Biological monitoring of wall surface contamination was performed using the Count-Tact applicator with Count-Tact plates. Results: A total of 1140 CFU per [m.sup.3] of air were cultured in autumn and 580 CFU in winter. From the walls, a total of 124 CFU were cultured in autumn and 397 CFU in winter. CFU values in the investigated rooms ranged from 10 to 220 (mean 47 CFU) in autumn, and from 10 to 90 (mean 29 CFU) in winter. The most commonly isolated pathogens were: Candida albicans, Aspergillus sp., nonCandida albicans, and Penicillium sp.. The number of colonies isolated from the walls of all rooms in winter was greater than in autumn. The most commonly isolated pathogens were: Aspergillus sp. and C. albicans in autumn; C. albicans and non-C. albicans in winter. Conclusions: In winter, the number of colonies isolated from walls in all rooms was significantly greater compared with autumn. Candida albicans, Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were the most commonly isolated fungal air pathogens, regardless of season. C. albicans and Aspergillus sp. were most commonly isolated from walls in autumn, while C. albicans and non-C.albicans in winter. Key words: fungi, air pollution, Branicki Palace

A bstract During May 2012, the CERN-CNGS neutrino beam has been operated for two weeks for a total of ~1.8 × 10 17 p.o.t., with the proton beam made of bunches, few ns wide and separated by 100 ns. This beam structure allows a very accurate time of flight measurement of neutrinos from CERN to LNGS on an event-by-event basis. Both the ICARUS-T600 PMT-DAQ and the CERN-LNGS timing synchronization have been substantially improved for this campaign, taking advantage of additional independent GPS receivers, both at CERN and LNGS as well as of the deployment of the “White Rabbit” protocol both at CERN and LNGS. The ICARUS-T600 detector has collected 25 beam-associated events; the corresponding time of flight has been accurately evaluated, using all different time synchronization paths. The measured neutrino time of flight is compatible with the arrival of all events with speed equivalent to the one of light: the difference between the expected value based on the speed of light and the measured value is δt = tof c −tof ν  = 0.10 ± 0.67 stat.  ± 2.39 syst.  ns. This result is in agreement with the value previously reported by the ICARUS Collaboration, δt  = 0.3 ± 4.9 stat.  ± 9.0 syst.  ns, but with improved statistical and systematic accuracy.