Digging into Axion Physics with (Baby)IAXO

Dark matter searches have been ongoing for three decades; the lack of a positive discovery of the main candidate, the WIMP, after dedicated efforts, has put axions and axion-like particles in the spotlight. The three main techniques employed to search for them complement each other well in covering a wide range in the parameter space defined by the axion decay constant and the axion mass. The International AXion Observatory (IAXO) is an international collaboration planning to build the fourth generation axion helioscope, with an unparalleled expected sensitivity and discovery potential. The distinguishing characteristic of IAXO is that it will feature a magnet that is designed to maximise the relevant parameters in sensitivity and which will be equipped with X-ray focusing devices and detectors that have been developed for axion physics. In this paper, we review aspects that motivate IAXO and its prototype, BabyIAXO, in the axion, and ALPs landscape. As part of this Special Issue, some emphasis is given on Spanish participation in the project, of which CAPA (Centro de Astropartículas y Física de Altas Energías of the Universidad de Zaragoza) is a strong promoter.

When Baehr met Steffen: Appraising classicality through the lens of neglect

Classical sociology has long served as a locus for the discipline's self-understanding, and is a phenomenon increasingly studied in its own right. The growing literature is synthesised in Peter Baehr's renowned framework for scrutinising reception and formation processes. By theorising on the trajectories of multiple classics, Baehr has helped pave the way for sociology’s understanding of how classicality becomes established. This paper deploys this framework in order to appraise neglected work with classicality potential in early sociology, namely the bulky production of Sweden's main candidate for a classic, Gustaf F. Steffen (1864–1929), with special attention given to his magnum opus Sociology: A g eneral theory of society (1910–1911). The analysis exposes some of the conceptual ambiguity in Baehr's framework, while proposing that both the notion of a ‘classic’ and the sole focus on reception and formation need to be expanded. This article also argues that our understanding of classicality could be advanced if we were to distinguish between author, text, and theory, since each of these plays different roles in reception, formation, and neglection processes.

Exploring the Structural Competition between the Black and the Yellow Phase of CsPbI3

The realization of stable inorganic perovskites is crucial to enable low-cost solution-processed photovoltaics. However, the main candidate material, CsPbI3, suffers from a spontaneous phase transition at room temperature towards a photo-inactive orthorhombic δ-phase (yellow phase). Here we used theoretical and experimental methods to study the structural and electronic features that determine the stability of the CsPbI3 perovskite. We argued that the two physical characteristics that favor the black perovskite phase at low temperatures are the strong spatial confinement in nanocrystalline structures and the level of electron doping in the material. Within this context, we discussed practical procedures for the realization of long-lasting inorganic lead halide perovskites.

Commodus restitutor commerciorum. The role of Palmyrene Trading Community at Porolissum

The author revisits an inscription found in 1986 in the shrine of the customs station at Porolissum (Jac village, Sălaj County, Romania). His new approach offers a new meaning to the epithet restitutor commerciorum addresed to emperor Commodus in the text of the inscription: commercium has in Latin written sources and in inscriptions also the sense of the place where barbarians were trading with the Romans in the vicinity of the Roman frontiers’ forts. The new interpretation is linked with the archaeological discovery at Porolissum, near the customs building of a marketplace identified by 129 coins and 43 barbarian brooches. Author’s conclusion in an earlier published book is that the brooches attest, very probable, a slave market. Another valuable merchandise recovered in the excavation is raw amber of Baltic Sea coast origin, proving the existence of a branch of the Amber Road, entering in the Empire at Porolissum. The next question approached by the author concerns the merchants able to support the distribution of these valuable goods across the Empire. He proposed as main candidate the Palmyrene civilian community recorded in the inscriptions at Porolissum. Then he explains the topographical position of the Palmyrene cult complex at Porolissum. The temple of Bel, the open=air altar and the banqueting hall were situated in the near neighbourhood of the customs building just because of the Palmyrene community’s economic interest. He argued his hypothesis with the example of the Palmyrene temple in Rome.

Bioactive Excreted/Secreted Products of Entomopathogenic Nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Inhibit the Phenoloxidase Activity during the Infection

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are efficient insect parasites, that are known for their mutualistic relationship with entomopathogenic bacteria and their use in biocontrol. EPNs produce bioactive molecules referred to as excreted/secreted products (ESPs), which have come to the forefront in recent years because of their role in the process of host invasion and the modulation of its immune response. In the present study, we confirmed the production of ESPs in the EPN Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and investigated their role in the modulation of the phenoloxidase cascade, one of the key components of the insect immune system. ESPs were isolated from 14- and 21-day-old infective juveniles of H. bacteriophora, which were found to be more virulent than newly emerged nematodes, as was confirmed by mortality assays using Galleria mellonella larvae. The isolated ESPs were further purified and screened for the phenoloxidase-inhibiting activity. In these products, a 38 kDa fraction of peptides was identified as the main candidate source of phenoloxidase-inhibiting compounds. This fraction was further analyzed by mass spectrometry and the de novo sequencing approach. Six peptide sequences were identified in this active ESP fraction, including proteins involved in ubiquitination and the regulation of a Toll pathway, for which a role in the regulation of insect immune response has been proposed in previous studies.

GRID PARITY OF PV – AN ACCESSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE BULGARIA’S RENEWABLE TARGETS BY 2030

On the go is the development and adaptation of an individual target for Bulgaria, in order to increase the share of RES energy, according to the EU common vision for leadership in the implementation of renewables to 32% in the gross final consumption by 2030. The technological progress, the easy applicability and feasibility of the projects, as well as the geographic and climatic specifics of Bulgaria, makes photovoltaic Bulgaria's main candidate for leading technology in this process. With net specific production of 1323kWh/annual per installed kWp, price levels of PV technology of €1360kWp and Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) below €0.12kWh for 20 years time frame, households in Bulgaria are at a stage where photovoltaic projects should be developed as an alternative to the grid supply

From the history of the Russian emigration in the interwar period: The letter of P. N. Krasnov to the Yugoslav King Aleksandar (July, 1930)

This article puts under scrutiny one of the episodes of the activities of the Russian general Petr Nikolaevich Krasnov (1869-1947). His personality still evokes contradictory evaluations even nowadays. Being Monarchist, in 1922 Krasnov puts into words the aim of his life in the future in the following way: to make it happen, that in his historical homeland once again a “Sovereign Crowned Ruler” appears, able to pacify the people and to put the things into order. To reach this goal, Krasnov supposed to use the resources of the White Emigration, among other those on the territory of Yugoslavia. In summer 1930, Krasnov wrote a letter to the King of Yugoslavia Aleksandar, which he saw as the main candidate to “save” the Orthodox Russia. In the Archive of Yugoslavia the original of this document is kept. This publication represents its full text. In his epistle, Krasnov represents himself as a pronounced Russian patriot. The image of King Aleksandar for him is a reincarnation of the Russian Emperor Nicolas II who died from the hand of the Bolsheviks. Krasnov thought it was high time the Yugoslav sovereign, a Slav by origin, had paid the “debt” off, that his country had before the Russians who fought for Serbia in 1876-1878 and 1914-1917. On the basis of the materials available at the Archive of Yugoslavia, the reaction of Aleksandar to this letter by Krasnov remains unknown.

Optimization Algorithms in Local and Global Positioning

With the rise of large city and the need of large civil engineering structures and city planning, surveying industry improves continuously their instruments/software in order to get cm accuracy position anywhere. Moreover, since the boom of mobile phones in the late 90s, location has become very valuable information for security, emergency and commercial applications. Depending of the application, the location technologies vary based on the accuracy of the location and the price of the system, which delivers the location information to the user. For outdoor applications, Global Navigation Satellite System is the main candidate, whereas if the user/mobile node is indoors or in a narrow street other technologies will be preferred such as the ones based on Wi-Fi or radio-frequency signal.This chapter provides an overview of different positioning technologies used in geo-location together with their limits/advantages. This chapter studies also a number of algorithms developed to estimate the position coordinates of a static or mobile user or target.