Comparison and analysis between APD and PIN functionality in an optical communication system

In fiber optic communication, many factors affect the quality of the system which causes less desirable communication by clients between two optical networks. Therefore, optimizations of these systems become inevitable for telecommunication engineers. In this project, a performance comparison of the conventional PIN Photodiode with the APD photodiode in an optical communication system is presented. The effects of gain, extinction ratio, shot noise, thermal noise and responsivity are compared and studied in details. Set-up optimized optical transmission system with the best performance simulates for this project in terms of performance parameters using OptiSystem software. APD Photodetectors have been shown as the better candidate for communication system than PIN Photodetectors, due to their internal gain availability. In PIN Photodiode, thermal noise plays the dominant role in the performance of the receiver. In the APD, both the thermal and shot noise is significant. It was shown that the Maximum Q-Factor produced by each detector is heavily affected by both thermal and shot noise in the APD. The more responsivity increase then the Maximum Q-Factor increase for both APD and PIN. However, responsivity automatically increases as multiplication gain increases because multiplication process multiplies the number of electron generated

Low dose rate 60^{60}Co facility in Zagreb

The Co-60 irradiation facility at Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb allows for gamma irradiation in a large range of doses from a maximum of 30kGy/h down to 30Gy/h. Recently, a setup for the radiation tolerance study of readout electronics has been built inside the irradiation chamber. This setup allows for performing tests in conditions similar to ones that will be experienced at HL-LHC experiments. The irradiation dose rate is close to the dose rate at 3cm from the p-p interaction point, the temperature inside cold boxes is controlled by using chilled water and Peltier elements, and the relative humidity is defined by dry air flushed through the cold boxes.The setup is used for irradiation of ATLAS and CMS pixel detector prototype readout chips, called RD53A. This chip is built in 65 nm CMOS technology that demonstrates a radiation damage dependence on the irradiation dose rate. In this paper the setup itself and a few preliminary results of the radiation damage received at the low dose rate will be presented

Rebuilding research capacity in fragile states : the case of a Somali-Swedish global health initiative

This paper presents an initiative to revive the previous Somali-Swedish Research Cooperation, which started in 1981 and was cut short by the civil war in Somalia. A programme focusing on research capacity building in the health sector is currently underway through the work of an alliance of three partner groups: six new Somali universities, five Swedish universities, and Somali diaspora professionals. Somali ownership is key to the sustainability of the programme, as is close collaboration with Somali health ministries. The programme aims to develop a model for working collaboratively across regions and cultural barriers within fragile states, with the goal of creating hope and energy. It is based on the conviction that health research has a key role in rebuilding national health services and trusted institutions

Association of Plasma Ghrelin Levels with Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Saudi Subjects

BackgroundAlthough the exact mechanism of insulin resistance (IR) has not yet been established, IR is the hallmark characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between plasma ghrelin levels and IR in Saudi subjects with T2DM.MethodsPatients with T2DM (n=107, cases) and non-diabetic apparently healthy subjects (n=101, controls) from Saudi Arabia were included in this study. The biochemical profiles and plasma insulin levels of all subjects were analyzed, and IR was estimated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. Active ghrelin levels in plasma were measured using the radioimmunoassay technique.ResultsOnly 46.7% (50 of 107) of the T2DM subjects had IR, including 26% (28 of 107) with severe IR (HOMA-IR ≥5), while 5.9% (six of 101) of the controls had moderate IR (3 ≤HOMA-IR <5). HOMA-IR values were not associated with age, disease duration, or gender. Importantly, T2DM itself and the co-occurrence of IR with T2DM were significantly associated with low plasma ghrelin levels. However, ghrelin levels were inversely correlated with the HOMA-IR index, body weight, and fasting plasma insulin levels, mainly in the control subjects, which was indicative of the breakdown of metabolic homeostasis in T2DM.ConclusionThe prevalence of IR was relatively low, and IR may be inversely associated with plasma ghrelin levels among Saudi patients with T2DM

Leu72Met and Other Intronic Polymorphisms in the and Genes Are Not Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin Resistance, or Serum Ghrelin Levels in a Saudi Population

BackgroundGhrelin (GHRL), a gastric peptide encoded by the GHRL gene, is known to be involved in energy homeostasis via its G protein receptor, encoded by the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) gene. Some studies have shown associations between plasma GHRL levels and GHRL single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely the Leu72Met polymorphism (rs696217 TG), with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR), while others have not. The controversies in these associations raise the issue of ‘which SNPs in which populations.’ The aim of this study was to investigate whether SNPs in GHRL and/or GHSR genes were associated with T2DM, IR, or plasma GHRL levels among Arab Saudis.MethodsBlood was collected from 208 Saudi subjects with (n=107) and without (n=101) T2DM. DNA samples from these subjects were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction to genotype five intronic SNPs in the GHRL (rs696217 TG, rs27647 CT, rs2075356 CT, and rs4684677 AT) and GHSR (rs509030 GC) genes. In addition, plasma GHRL levels were measured by a radioimmunoassay.ResultsNone of the SNPs were associated with T2DM, IR, or plasma GHRL levels. The frequencies of the alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of the five SNPs were comparable between the T2DM patients and the non-diabetic subjects. A large number of the GHRL haplotypes indicates the molecular heterogeneity of the preproghrelin gene in this region.ConclusionNeither the Leu72Met polymorphism nor the other intronic GHRL and GHSR SNPs were associated with T2DM, IR, or GHRL levels. Further investigations should be carried out to explain the molecular basis of the association of the GHRL peptide with T2DM and IR

Plasmodium falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Gene Deletions in Malaria-Hyperendemic Region, South Sudan

Pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions threaten the use of Plasmodium falciparum malaria rapid diagnostic tests globally. In South Sudan, deletion frequencies were 15.6% for pfhrp2, 20.0% for pfhrp3, and 7.5% for double deletions. Deletions were approximately twice as prevalent in monoclonal infections than in polyclonal infections

Rebuilding research capacity in fragile states : The case of a Somali–Swedish global health initiative

This paper presents an initiative to revive the previous Somali–Swedish Research Cooperation, which started in 1981 and was cut short by the civil war in Somalia. A programme focusing on research capacity building in the health sector is currently underway through the work of an alliance of three partner groups: six new Somali universities, five Swedish universities, and Somali diaspora professionals. Somali ownership is key to the sustainability of the programme, as is close collaboration with Somali health ministries. The programme aims to develop a model for working collaboratively across regions and cultural barriers within fragile states, with the goal of creating hope and energy. It is based on the conviction that health research has a key role in rebuilding national health services and trusted institutions