Measurements and TCAD simulation of novel ATLAS planar pixel detector structures for the HL-LHC upgrade

The LHC accelerator complex will be upgraded between 2020-2022, to the High-Luminosity-LHC, to considerably increase statistics for the various physics analyses. To operate under these challenging new conditions, and maintain excellent performance in track reconstruction and vertex location, the ATLAS pixel detector must be substantially upgraded and a full replacement is expected. Processing techniques for novel pixel designs are optimised through characterisation of test structures in a clean room and also through simulations with Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD). A method to study non-perpendicular tracks through a pixel device is discussed. Comparison of TCAD simulations with Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) measurements to investigate the doping profile of structures and validate the simulation process is also presented.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, PIXEL201

Development and validation of Triticum phytobiological method as an alternative procedure for investigating in vivo acute toxicity on mice

The goal of this study was to validate an alternative method for determining in vivo acute toxicity using vegetal material instead of laboratory animals, starting from the phytobiological method known also as the Triticum technique. We set out to demonstrate that vegetal cells have similar sensitivity to some toxic agents as animal cells, in which case a statistical correlation could be established. A series of new compounds synthesized by the Romanian National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development as potential β3 adrenergic receptors agonists were tested for their acute toxicity using classic animal exposure models, before investigating possible anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. We then determined whether similar conclusions might be reached exposing vegetal material to the same agents. We successfully demonstrated that plants are affected in a very similar way as animals when exposed to some potentially toxic agents, providing new possibilities for ending unethical animal experiments

Simulation of guard ring influence on the performance of ATLAS pixel detectors for inner layer replacement

Electric field magnitude and depletion in the bulk of silicon pixel detectors, which influence its breakdown behaviour, was studied using finite-element method to solve the drift-diffusion equation coupled to Poisson's equation in a simplified two dimensional model of the ATLAS pixel sensor. Based on this model, the number of guard rings and dead edges width were modified to investigate their influence on the detector's depletion at the edge and on its internal electrical field distribution. Final ly, the 3 level model was implemented into the simulation to study the behaviour of such detector under different level of irradiation

Direct neural-network hardware-implementation algorithm

An algorithm for compact neural network hardware implementation is presented, which exploits special properties of the Boolean functions describing the operation of artificial neurones with step activation function. The algorithm contains three steps: ANN mathematical model digitisation, conversion of the digitised model into a logic gate structure, and hardware optimisation by elimination of redundant logic gates. A set of C++ programs automates algorithm implementation, generating optimised VHDL code. This strategy bridges the gap between ANN design software and hardware design packages (Xilinx). Although the method is directly applicable only to neurones with step activation functions, it can be extended to sigmoidal functions

INFLUENCE OF THE PRODUCT FURIA ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTS AND FRUITS OF LONG PEPPER GROWN IN SOLARIUM

Furia is a product of plant origin, easily assimilated by cultivated plants. It is composed of organic nitrogen, organic carbon of plant origin, potassium oxide and fulvic acid. The experiment performed in a cold solarium had as objective the influence of this product on the main morphological characteristics of long pepper plants and fruits. The results obtained showed a positive influence of the product on the growth in height of pepper plants, the increase in fruit length and diameter and the increase in the average number of fruits per plant. The biofertilizer is accredited for use in organic horticulture

Infra-red divergences in plane wave backgrounds

We show that the emission of soft photons via nonlinear Compton scattering in a pulsed plane wave (laser field) is in general infra-red divergent. We give examples of both soft and soft-collinear divergences, and we pay particular attention to the case of crossed fields in both classical and quantum theories.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

RESEARCH CONCERNING THE EFFECT OF SUPPLMENTARY PROTECTION WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIALS IN GREENHOUSES TO RADISH CROP

To obtain early production of vegetables, with a view to marketing at profitable prices, in practice, it recourse to different methods to improve the cultivation technologies in protected spaces. One of additional possibilities is the supplementary protection of the cultures with the different materials, against low temperatures to save energy from conventional sources.From vegetable species that are suitable for this crop system, there are also radishes, that have minimum germination temperature of 3-40C, and the optimum of 12-140C, and the growing season is short, only 28-50 days.At the Banu Maracine Research Station it was studied an experimental model regarding the use of material culture frost protection, to radish crop, against the frost ensuring optimal micro-climate, without using high energy heat consumption.Radishes crop was established in the third decade of February, in the solar. The biological material was represented by Sora cultivar and were studied the next variants: V1-control experience without protection V2-protection with manure, half fermented and well cut, V3 - protection with perforated polyethylene V4-protection with Agril microporous foil type (50gr/m2) V5-protected with microsporous foil Agril type (17gr/m2).From the experimental results it is found that in terms of production efficiency and precocity, the weakest was variant V1 and the highest efficiency was found to variant V5

Effects of a lighter discus on shoulder muscle activity in elite throwers, implications for injury prevention

Background: Performance in discus throw requires high forces and torques generated from the shoulder of the throwing arm, making shoulder muscles at risk of overuse injury. Little is known on muscle activation patterns in elite discus throw. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the kinetics and shoulder muscle activation during discus throws by using two discs of different mass. It was hypothesized that the use of a lighter discus would modify the activation of the shoulder musculature compared to a standard discus. Study design: Case-control laboratory study Methods: Seven male elite discus throwers performed five throws using a standard discus (STD, 2.0 kg) and five throws using a lighter weight discus (LGT, 1.7 kg). Surface EMG was recorded for the biceps brachii (BB), deltoideus anterior (DA), deltoideus medialis (DM), clavicular head of the pectoralis major (PM), latissimus dorsi (LD), and trapezius medialis (TM). Three-dimensional high-speed video analysis was utilised to record discus speed and identify the different temporal phases of each throw from the preparation phase (P1) to the delivery phase (P5). Results: The EMG activation of LD lasted longer (p < 0.01) in P1 and was initiated later in P5 with the LGT discus compared to STD. In P5, the EMG intensity of BB decreased (p = 0.02) with LGT (%EMGmax = 50.4 ± 49.6%) compared to STD (64.8 ± 77.9%) and the activation of PM increased (p < 0.01) with LGT (86.2 ± 40.3%) compared to STD (66.2 ± 26.9%). The discus speed at release was increased (p = 0.04) by using the LGT discus (20.62 ± 0.75m.s-1) compared to STD (19.61 ± 0.57m.s-1). The throwing distance was also increased (P < 0.01) with the LGT (43.1 ± 4.3m) discus compared to STD (39.4 ± 3.4m). Conclusion: A lighter discus could be used by elite athletes in training t 50 o add variability in muscle solicitation and thus limit the overload on certain muscles of the shoulder region. These results may have implications to lower the risk of injury in discus throw. Clinical relevance: The increase in shoulder muscle activity combined with the accelerated forward swing of the throwing arm in P5 may help explain the incidence of muscle and tendon injuries clinically observed in discus throw. Using a lighter discus in training may add variability in muscle activity and motion kinetics to lower the mechanical load on the shoulder and tendons