Challenges in QCD matter physics - The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts worldwide are devoted to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. At LHC and top RHIC energies, QCD matter is studied at very high temperatures and nearly vanishing net-baryon densities. There is evidence that a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) was created at experiments at RHIC and LHC. The transition from the QGP back to the hadron gas is found to be a smooth cross over. For larger net-baryon densities and lower temperatures, it is expected that the QCD phase diagram exhibits a rich structure, such as a first-order phase transition between hadronic and partonic matter which terminates in a critical point, or exotic phases like quarkyonic matter. The discovery of these landmarks would be a breakthrough in our understanding of the strong interaction and is therefore in the focus of various high-energy heavy-ion research programs. The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR will play a unique role in the exploration of the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities, because it is designed to run at unprecedented interaction rates. High-rate operation is the key prerequisite for high-precision measurements of multi-differential observables and of rare diagnostic probes which are sensitive to the dense phase of the nuclear fireball. The goal of the CBM experiment at SIS100 (sqrt(s_NN) = 2.7 - 4.9 GeV) is to discover fundamental properties of QCD matter: the phase structure at large baryon-chemical potentials (mu_B > 500 MeV), effects of chiral symmetry, and the equation-of-state at high density as it is expected to occur in the core of neutron stars. In this article, we review the motivation for and the physics programme of CBM, including activities before the start of data taking in 2022, in the context of the worldwide efforts to explore high-density QCD matter.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Published in European Physical Journal

Differential Influence of Clonal Integration on Morphological and Growth Responses to Light in Two Invasive Herbs

Background and aims: In contrast to seeds, high sensitivity of vegetative fragments to unfavourable environments may limit the expansion of clonal invasive plants. However, clonal integration promotes the establishment of propagules in less suitable habitats and may facilitate the expansion of clonal invaders into intact native communities. Here, we examine the influence of clonal integration on the morphology and growth of ramets in two invasive plants, Alternanthera philoxeroides and Phyla canescens, under varying light conditions. Methods: In a greenhouse experiment, branches, connected ramets and severed ramets of the same mother plant were exposed under full sun and 85 % shade and their morphological and growth responses were assessed. Key results: The influence of clonal integration on the light reaction norm (connection6light interaction) of daughter ramets was species-specific. For A. philoxeroides, clonal integration evened out the light response (total biomass, leaf mass per area, and stem number, diameter and length) displayed in severed ramets, but these connection6light interactions were largely absent for P. canescens. Nevertheless, for both species, clonal integration overwhelmed light effect in promoting the growth of juvenile ramets during early development. Also, vertical growth, as an apparent shade acclimation response, was more prevalent in severed ramets than in connected ramets. Finally, unrooted branches displayed smaller organ size and slower growth than connected ramets, but the pattern of light reaction was similar, suggesting mothe

The design of readout front-end electronics for pixel detector based on inverters

Minimalizacja zajmowanej powierzchni krzemu przy jednoczesnym zachowaniu funkcjonalności układu oraz minimalizacja poziomu rozpraszanej mocy i szumów własnych to wymagania stawiane nowoczesnym systemom odczytowym elektroniki front-end. Prezentujemy elektronikę front-end dedykowaną do odczytu detektorów pikselowych zaimplementowaną w dwóch technologiach submikronowych (180 nm i 130 nm CMJS). Zaprojektowany układ charakteryzuje się niskim poziomem rozpraszanej mocy P = 13 žW, niskimi szumami własnymi ENC = 59e rms oraz zajmuje niewielką powierzchnię krzemu A = 850 žm2.Minimization of the silicon occupied area and maintenance both fonctionality and analog parameters of readout front-end electronics at desirable level at same lime are very challenging in the modern pixel applications. We present the design of readout front-end electronics dedicated for pixel detectors based on an inverter amplifier implemented in two submicron technologies (130 nm and 180 nm CMOS). it is characterized by very low power dissipation level P = žW, low noise performance ENC = 59e rms and small occupied chip area A = 850žm2

Using Cattle Grazing to Restore a Rough Fescue Prairie Invaded by Kentucky Bluegrass

Rough fescue prairies were once common across the northern prairies but have now been almost entirely lost to a combination of agricultural expansion, energy development, fire suppression, and invasion by exotic species. Despite these pressures, remnant grasslands remain important in conserving biodiversity and as habitats for threatened species. In this project, we test the hypothesis that the density of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), an invasive, exotic species, introduced across the Great Plains, is inversely relatedwith the density of plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii), the dominant native grass of northern fescue communities, and examine whether cattle grazing could help restore invaded prairies. We tested the relationship between the two species using 33 transects (0-44 m), located within patches of rough fescue prairie at the Batoche National Historic Site of Canada in Saskatchewan. Along each transect, we recorded the density of Kentucky bluegrass and plains rough fescue and used cattle exclosures to test the hypothesis that grazing reduces the abundance of the invader and increases the abundance of plains rough fescue. Although higher densities of Kentucky bluegrasswere negatively correlated with the density of plains rough fescue, grazing by cattle did not significantly reduce the density of Kentucky bluegrass, 6 yr after the initiation of grazing. However, cattle grazing also did not reduce the density of plains rough fescue, suggesting that it may provide a valuable tool to actively manage and restore invaded prairies. Our results also suggest that long-term monitoring and additional measurements of community diversity and productivity may be necessary to demonstrate the success of this restoration method. © 2017 The Society for Range Management. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information

The biology of Canadian weeds. 134. <i>Bromus inermis</i> Leyss

Smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a native of central Eurasia, was introduced to Canada as a forage and hay crop around 1888. Early reports of plants escaped from cultivation appear in 1903, however, based on the number of collections prior to 1920, smooth brome spread more rapidly in western Canada. Smooth brome is common along roadsides, forest margins, clearings, shorelines and disturbed areas, but its most detrimental impact is on the diversity of prairies and native grasslands. In Riding Mountain National Park, MB, plant diversity of fescue prairies recently invaded by smooth brome decreased by 70%. Vegetative proliferation through underground rhizomes is key to the invasiveness of smooth brome, but long-range dispersal of seeds is facilitated by animals, wind and the transport of hay. Smooth brome is effectively controlled using selective applications of glyphosate and well-timed clipping. However, restoration of infested areas depends on the composition of native seed banks. Smooth brome remains valuable as a forage and cover crop in every province and territory in Canada. Key words: Bromus inermis, weed biology, prairie, Canada distribution, alien, smooth brome, biological invasion </jats:p

Design of 7-bit low-power , low area A/D converter in submicron process for multichannel systems

W artykule został przedstawiony projekt przetwornika analogowo-cyfrowego w technologii CMOS 180nm. Wybraną architekturą jest przetwornik kompensacyjny z równoważeniem ładunku. Duży nacisk został położony na zmniejszenie zajmowanej powierzchni jak i minimalizację poboru mocy, co czyni prezentowany układ odpowiednim do zastosowań wielokanałowych. Autorzy prezentują wyniki symulacji Monte-Carlo nieliniowości charakterystyki przejściowej. Zaprezentowany przetwornik osiąga szybkość konwersji 3 MS/s przy rozdzielczości 7 bitów i poborze mocy 77 μW oraz zajmuje tylko 90 x 95 μm2.The design of analog-to-digital converter implemented in CMOS 180 nm technology has been presented in this paper. The successive approximation architecture with charge redistribution has been chosen. Much emphasis was placed on limiting the area occupancy of the whole chip so as its power consumption, which makes the described circuit suitable for multichannel applications. The presented converter achieves 3 MS/s sampling rate with 7-bit resolution at 77 μW and occupies only 90 x 95 μm2

Computer Aided Distributed Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Environment

In this paper we present the results of a two-year study aimed at developing a full-fledged computer environment supporting post-stroke rehabilitation. The system was designed by a team of computer scientists, psychologists and physiotherapists. It adopts a holistic approach to rehabilitation. In order to extend the rehabilitation process, the applied methods include a remote rehabilitation stage which can be carried out of at the patient’s home. The paper presents a distributed system architecture as well as results achieved by patients prior to and following a three-month therapy based on the presented system