A Self Triggered Amplifier/Digitizer Chip for CBM

The development of front-end electronics for the planned CBM experiment at FAIR/GSI is in full progress. For charge readout of the various sub-detectors a new self-triggered amplification and digitization chip is being designed and tested. The mixed signal readout chip will have 32-64 channels each containing a low-power/low-noise preamplifier/shaper front-end, an 8-9 bit ADC and a digital post-processing based on a FIR/IIR-filter. The ADC has a pipeline architecture that uses a novel current-mode storage cell as a basic building block. The current prototype provides 26 different parametrized preamplifier/shaper/discriminator channels, 8 pipeline ADCs, a readout shift register matrix and a synthesized redundant signed binary (RSD) decoder

To liberate or to regulate: Balanced approach to bank-oriented financial system transformation in developing countries

© Emira Kozarević, Nedžad Polić, Amela Perić, 2017. A stable, transparent financial system inspires confidence among investors and supports the overall economic growth. Inflexible regulation tends to slow down economic progress, making countries less attractive to investors. Economies with bank-oriented financial systems tend to be less attractive to investors, so their long-term goal is to demonstrate flexibility through liberalization, attracting new investors and ensuring survival in highly competitive and unforgiving global conditions. Liberalization success is even more essential for developing countries and their efforts to open the borders for capital flows and attract new investments. While financial liberalization affects all sectors of the economy and directly influences growth, it does not guaranty it. The removal of financial restrictions could affect capital distribution, increase volatility, create challenges for banks, etc. To support the liberalization efforts, it is very important to understand the nature of banking business, criticality of transparent and effective regulatory framework, as well as the expectations of potential investors. The main goal of this paper is to discuss the process of financial liberalization in developing countries and motivate the policy makers to consider available lessons when creating their balanced approach to financial (de)regulation processes towards financial development and integration in the global financial landscape

Financial system development progress in Western Balkans

© Emira Kozarević, Nedžad Polić, Amela Perić, 2017. Financial system supports economic growth, while its regulatory framework provides stability for investors. Developing countries with bank-oriented financial systems are not attractive to investors, so prolonged status quo leads to economic deterioration. This is particularly the case with some of the most underdeveloped areas in Europe: Western Balkans. It is essential the developing countries in this region consider steps towards financial liberalization, which will help open the borders for capital flows and attract new investments. The main goal of this paper is to review and present the available information related to the banking system development in Western Balkans in terms of ownership structure, capital adequacy, loan and asset performance, return on investment and liquidity. These indicators should provide a clearer picture of the current financial systems in Western Balkans economies and their development progress - useful for comparison with other developing regions and financial transformation and liberalization efforts

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ML AND MAP DETECTORS FOR PAM CONSTELLATIONS IN AWGN CHANNEL

In this paper we perform a comparative performances analysis of “maximum a posteriori” (MAP) and “maximum likelihood” (ML) detectors for one-dimensional constellation in the adaptive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. More precisely, error probabilities per symbol for the aforementioned detectors are compared for the case when the pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) constellation with the equidistant and non-equiprobable constellation points is used as one-dimensional constellation. We perform analysis for different distributions of the constellation point probabilities and different values of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The analysis indicates which detector can be adequate choice for the certain distribution of constellation point probabilities and the SNR. Besides this, for the straightforward performance assessment of the MAP detector we derive a formula for the symbol error probability. Our analysis also points out that the nonuniform distribution of the constellation points probabilities does not necessarily improve the symbol error probability. With the aim to decrease the symbol error probability we propose a method for defining constellation point probabilities. The presented results show that PAM constellation designed by utilizing the method we propose significantly outperforms the conventional PAM constellation in terms to the symbol error probability

Irradiation study of a fully monolithic HV-CMOS pixel sensor design in AMS 180 nm

High-Voltage Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (HV-MAPS) based on the 180 nm HV-CMOS process have been proposed to realize thin, fast and highly integrated pixel sensors. The MuPix7 prototype, fabricated in the commercial AMS H18 process, features a fully integrated on-chip readout, i.e. hit-digitization, zero suppression and data serialization. It is the first fully monolithic HV-CMOS pixel sensor that has been tested for the use in high irradiation environments like HL-LHC. We present results from laboratory and test beam measurements of MuPix7 prototypes irradiated with neutrons (up to $5.0\cdot10^{15}{\,\rm{n}_{\rm{eq}}/cm^2}$) and protons (up to $7.8\cdot 10^{15} \,\rm{protons}/cm^2$) and compare the performance with non-irradiated sensors. Efficiencies well above 90 % at noise rates below 200 Hz per pixel are measured. A time resolution better than 22 ns is measured for all tested settings and sensors, even at the highest irradiation fluences. The data transmission at 1.25 Gbit/s and the on-chip PLL remain fully functional

Analysis of genetic diversity of soybean genotypes based on morphological and molecular markers

Soja je biljna vrsta koja se odlikuje izuzetno uskom genetičkom osnovom, nastalom kao rezultat samooplodnje, dugog procesa domestifikacije i veštačke selekcije. Ključni korak u održavanju diverziteta predstavlja evaluacija materijala pohranjenog u kolekcijama germplazme. Precizan opis germplazme je jedan od prvih uslova za njeno efikasno iskorišćavanje u oplemenjivanju. Cilj ovog rada bila je genetička i fenotipska karakterizacija i procena diverziteta 90 genotipova soje poreklom iz 15 zemalja sveta, čuvanih u kolekciji Instituta za kukuruz “Zemun Polje”. Za potrebe fenotipske karakterizacije (ocena morfoloških deskriptora u skladu sa DUS protokolom i evaluacija agronomski značajnih osobina), genotipovi su klasifikovani prema dužini vegetacije i testirani u dvogodišnjim ogledima na dve lokacije. Molekularna karakterizacija 90 genotipova soje izvršena je primenom 21 SSR markera. Analizom na osnovu 16 morfoloških deskriptora utvrđen je visok nivo diverziteta ispitivanih genotipova, i identifikovani deskriptori najveće diskriminacione moći. Struktura grupisanja dobijena analizom homogenosti (HOMALS) pokazala je visok stepen saglasnosti sa podacima o pedigreu genotipova, i slabu saglasnost sa podacima o geografskom poreklu. Klaster analizom utvrđena je visoka konzistencija grupisanja genotipova u odnosu na pedigre. Analiza homogenosti bila je efikasniji metod za sagledavanje morfološke sličnosti genotipova, obezbeđujući veći stepen razdvajanja genotipova i identifikujući osobine sa najvećim doprinosom u razlikovanju genotipova. Varijabilnost većine agronomski značajnih osobina bila je najvećim delom rezultat delovanja faktora spoljašnje sredine, dok se manji deo varijacije pripisuje efektima genotipa i interakciji genotip × spoljašnja sredina. Najmanja genetička distanca između genotipova dobijena je na osnovu agronomskih osobina. Na osnovu klaster analize i analize glavnih komponenti utvrđen je identičan model grupisanja genotipova prema sličnosti agronomskih osobina. Struktura grupisanja bila je visoko saglasna podacima o grupi zrenja, iako dužina vegetacije nije bila uključena u analizu, potvrđujući da grupa zrenja predstavlja najbolji indikator diverziteta genotipova soje na osnovu agronomskih osobina...Soybean is a plant species characterized by an extremely narrow genetic base, due to a self-pollination, a long process of domestification and artificial selection. A key phase in maintaining diversity is the evaluation of accessions available in germplasm collections. An accurate description of germplasm is one of the first requirements for its efficient use in breeding. The aim of this study was to conduct a genetic and phenotypic characterization of 90 soybean genotypes from 15 countries, maintained in Maize Research Institute "Zemun Polje" soybean collection, and assess their diversity. For the purpose of phenotypic characterization (morphological description according to DUS protocol and evaluation of agronomically important traits), genotypes were classified in groups regarding maturity, and tested in a two-year trials at two locations. Molecular characterization of 90 soybean genotypes was performed using 21 SSR markers. Analysis based on 16 morphological descriptors showed high level of diversity among genotypes, and identified the descriptors with highest discriminatory power. Grouping model derived by homogeneity analysis (HOMALS) showed higher level of congruence with pedigree data, and weak agreement with information on geographical origin of genotypes. Cluster analysis showed high consistency of grouping pattern with respect to pedigree. Homogeneity analysis proved to be a more efficient method for understanding a model of similarity among genotypes according to morphology, providing a higher-degree separation of genotypes and highlighting the traits with the greatest contribution to variety differentiation. For the majority of agronomically important traits, variability was mainly due to the environmental conditions, while the small portion of variation has been attributed to the effects of genotype, and genotype x environment interaction. The smallest genetic distance was determined on the basis of agronomic traits. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis identified identical pattern of genotype grouping based on similarity of agronomic traits. Grouping pattern highly corresponded to genotype affiliation to maturity group, although the length of the growing season was not included in analysis, confirming that the maturity group is the best indicator of agronomic diversity of soybean genotypes..

Extending the Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Screw Machines

Previous publications show that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be readily used for the flow prediction and analysis of screw compressors. Several case studies are presented in this article to show the scope and applicability of such methods. These include solid–fluid interaction in screw compressors, prediction of flow generated noise in screw machines, cavitation modelling in gear pumps, and flow in multiphase pumps for oil and gas industry. Numerical grids for all these cases were generated by the authors using an in-house grid generator, while the CFD calculations were performed with a variety of commercially available CFD codes. In order to validate the accuracy of the CFD calculations, an extended test programme was carried out using laser Doppler velocimetry to measure the mean and fluctuating velocity distribution in screw compressor flow domains. The measurement results are then compared with the CFD simulations. The results confirm the viability of the developed techniques. It is shown in this publication that the flexibility of the developed method creates further opportunities for a broader use of CFD for analysis of twin screw machines in a range of new applications

The MuPix Telescope: A Thin, high Rate Tracking Telescope

The MuPix Telescope is a particle tracking telescope, optimized for tracking low momentum particles and high rates. It is based on the novel High-Voltage Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (HV-MAPS), designed for the Mu3e tracking detector. The telescope represents a first application of the HV-MAPS technology and also serves as test bed of the Mu3e readout chain. The telescope consists of up to eight layers of the newest prototypes, the MuPix7 sensors, which send data self-triggered via fast serial links to FPGAs, where the data is time-ordered and sent to the PC. A particle hit rate of 1 MHz per layer could be processed. Online tracking is performed with a subset of the incoming data. The general concept of the telescope, chip architecture, readout concept and online reconstruction are described. The performance of the sensor and of the telescope during test beam measurements are presented.Comment: Proceedings TWEPP 2016, 8 pages, 7 figure

Characterisation of AMS H35 HV-CMOS monolithic active pixel sensor prototypes for HEP applications

Monolithic active pixel sensors produced in High Voltage CMOS (HV-CMOS) technology are being considered for High Energy Physics applications due to the ease of production and the reduced costs. Such technology is especially appealing when large areas to be covered and material budget are concerned. This is the case of the outermost pixel layers of the future ATLAS tracking detector for the HL-LHC. For experiments at hadron colliders, radiation hardness is a key requirement which is not fulfilled by standard CMOS sensor designs that collect charge by diffusion. This issue has been addressed by depleted active pixel sensors in which electronics are embedded into a large deep implantation ensuring uniform charge collection by drift. Very first small prototypes of hybrid depleted active pixel sensors have already shown a radiation hardness compatible with the ATLAS requirements. Nevertheless, to compete with the present hybrid solutions a further reduction in costs achievable by a fully monolithic design is desirable. The H35DEMO is a large electrode full reticle demonstrator chip produced in AMS 350 nm HV-CMOS technology by the collaboration of Karlsruher Institut f\"ur Technologie (KIT), Institut de F\'isica d'Altes Energies (IFAE), University of Liverpool and University of Geneva. It includes two large monolithic pixel matrices which can be operated standalone. One of these two matrices has been characterised at beam test before and after irradiation with protons and neutrons. Results demonstrated the feasibility of producing radiation hard large area fully monolithic pixel sensors in HV-CMOS technology. H35DEMO chips with a substrate resistivity of 200$\Omega$ cm irradiated with neutrons showed a radiation hardness up to a fluence of $10^{15}$n$_{eq}$cm$^{-2}$ with a hit efficiency of about 99% and a noise occupancy lower than $10^{-6}$ hits in a LHC bunch crossing of 25ns at 150V

MAGE-A3/4 and NY-ESO-1 antigens expression in metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

In the present study we analyzed immunohistochemical expression of MAGE-A 3/4 and NY-ESO-1 in 55 samples of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) and their respective lymph node metastases. To our knowledge this is the first study to assess and compare the expression of these antigens in ESCC lymph node metastases