Low-noise and low-power pixel sensor chip for gas pixel detectors

Topmetal-M2 is a large-area pixel sensor chip fabricated using the GSMC 130 nm CMOS process in 2021.The pixel array of Topmetal-M2 consists of pixels of 400 rows×512 columns with a pixel pitch of 45μm×45μm.The array is divided into 16 subarrays,with pixels of 400 rows×32 columns per subarray.Each pixel incorporates two charge sensors:a diode sensor and a Topmetal sensor.The in-pixel circuit primarily consists of a charge-sensitive amplifier for energy measurements,a discriminator with a peak-holding circuit,and a time-to-amplitude converter for time-of-arrival measurements.The pixel of Topmetal-M2 has a charge input range of~0-3 k e-,a voltage output range of~0-180 mV,and a charge-voltage conversion gain of~59.56μV∕e-.The average equivalent noise charge of Topmetal-M2,which includes the readout electronic system noise,is~43.45 e-.In the scanning mode,the time resolution of Topmetal-M2 is 1 LSB=1.25μs,and the precision is^()7.41μs.At an operating voltage of 1.5 V,Topmetal-M2 has a power consumption of~49 mW∕cm~2.In this article,we provide a comprehensive overview of the chip architecture,pixel working principles,and functional behavior of Topmetal-M2.Furthermore,we present the results of preliminary tests conducted on Topmetal-M2,namely,alpha-particle and soft X-ray tests.

A Review on Sources,Extractions and Analysis Methods of a Sustainable Biomaterial:Tannins

Condensed and hydrolysable tannins are non-toxic natural polyphenols that are a commercial commodity industrialized for tanning hides to obtain leather and for a growing number of other industrial applications mainly to substitute petroleum-based products.They are a definite class of sustainable materials of the forestry industry.They have been in operation for hundreds of years to manufacture leather and now for a growing number of applications in a variety of other industries,such as wood adhesives,metal coating,pharmaceutical/medical applications and several others.This review presents the main sources,either already or potentially commercial of this forestry by-materials,their industrial and laboratory extraction systems,their systems of analysis with their advantages and drawbacks,be these methods so simple to even appear primitive but nonetheless of proven effectiveness,or very modern and instrumental.It constitutes a basic but essential summary of what is necessary to know of these sustainable materials.In doing so,the review highlights some of the main challenges that remain to be addressed to deliver the quality and economics of tannin supply necessary to fulfill the industrial production requirements for some materials-based uses.

Stability Analysis and Performance Evaluation of Additive Mixed-Precision Runge-Kutta Methods

Additive Runge-Kutta methods designed for preserving highly accurate solutions in mixed-precision computation were previously proposed and analyzed.These specially designed methods use reduced precision for the implicit computations and full precision for the explicit computations.In this work,we analyze the stability properties of these methods and their sensitivity to the low-precision rounding errors,and demonstrate their performance in terms of accuracy and efficiency.We develop codes in FORTRAN and Julia to solve nonlinear systems of ODEs and PDEs using the mixed-precision additive Runge-Kutta(MP-ARK)methods.The convergence,accuracy,and runtime of these methods are explored.We show that for a given level of accuracy,suitably chosen MP-ARK methods may provide significant reductions in runtime.

High-speed performance self-powered short wave ultraviolet radiation detectors based onκ(ε)-Ga_(2)O_(3)

High-speed solar-blind short wavelength ultraviolet radiation detectors based onκ(ε)-Ga_(2)O_(3)layers with Pt contacts were demonstrated and their properties were studied in detail.Theκ(ε)-Ga_(2)O_(3)layers were deposited by the halide vapor phase epitaxy on patterned GaN templates with sapphire substrates.The spectral dependencies of the photoelectric properties of struc-tures were analyzed in the wavelength interval 200-370 nm.The maximum photo to dark current ratio,responsivity,detectiv-ity and external quantum efficiency of structures were determined as:180.86 arb.un.,3.57 A/W,1.78×10^(12) Hz^(0.5)∙cm·W^(-1) and 2193.6%,respectively,at a wavelength of 200 nm and an applied voltage of 1 V.The enhancement of the photoresponse was caused by the decrease in the Schottky barrier at the Pt/κ(ε)-Ga_(2)O_(3)interface under ultraviolet exposure.The detectors demon-strated could functionalize in self-powered mode due to built-in electric field at the Pt/κ(ε)-Ga_(2)O_(3)interface.The responsivity and external quantum efficiency of the structures at a wavelength of 254 nm and zero applied voltage were 0.9 mA/W and 0.46%,respectively.The rise and decay times in self-powered mode did not exceed 100 ms.

In-flight Energy Calibration of the GECAM Gamma-ray Detectors

The Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor(GECAM)mission is designed to monitor the Gamma-Ray Bursts(GRBs)associated with gravitational waves and other high-energy transient sources.The mission consists of two microsatellites which are planned to operate at the opposite sides of the Earth.Each GECAM satellite could detect and localize GRBs in about 8 keV-5 MeV with its 25 Gamma-Ray Detectors(GRDs).In this work,we report the in-flight energy calibration of GRDs using the characteristic gamma-ray lines in the background spectra,and show their performance evolution during the commissioning phase.Besides,a preliminary cross-calibration of energy response with Fermi GBM data is also presented,validating the energy response of GRDs.

Flexibility potential of Cs_(2)BX_(6)(B=Hf,Sn,Pt,Zr,Ti;X=I,Br,Cl)with application in photovoltaic devices and radiation detectors

As interest in double perovskites is growing,especially in applications like photovoltaic devices,understanding their mechanical properties is vital for device durability.Despite extensive exploration of structure and optical properties,research on mechanical aspects is limited.This article builds a vacancyordered double perovskite model,employing first-principles calculations to analyze mechanical,bonding,electronic,and optical properties.Results show Cs_(2)Hfl_(6),Cs_(2)SnBr_(6),Cs_(2)SnI_(6),and Cs_(2)PtBr_(6)have Young's moduli below 13 GPa,indicating flexibility.Geometric parameters explain flexibility variations with the changes of B and X site composition.Bonding characteristic exploration reveals the influence of B and X site electronegativity on mechanical strength.Cs_(2)SnBr_(6)and Cs_(2)PtBr_(6)are suitable for solar cells,while Cs_(2)HfI_(6)and Cs_(2)TiCl_(6)show potential for semi-transparent solar cells.Optical property calculations highlight the high light absorption coefficients of up to 3.5×10^(5) cm^(-1)for Cs_(2)HfI_(6)and Cs_(2)TiCl_(6).Solar cell simulation shows Cs_(2)PtBr_(6)achieves 22.4%of conversion effciency.Cs_(2)ZrCl_(6)holds promise for ionizing radiation detection with its 3.68 eV bandgap and high absorption coefficient.Vacancy-ordered double perovskites offer superior flexibility,providing valuable insights for designing stable and flexible devices.This understanding enhances the development of functional devices based on these perovskites,especially for applications requiring high stability and flexibility.

Effect of multiple coulomb scattering on the beam tests of silicon pixel detectors

In the research and development of new silicon pixel detectors,a collimated monoenergetic charged-particle test beam equipped with a high-resolution pixel-beam telescope is crucial for prototype verification and performance evaluation.When the beam energy is low,the effect of multiple Coulomb scattering on the measured resolution of the Device Under Test(DUT)must be considered to accurately evaluate the performance of the pixel chips and detectors.This study aimed to investigate the effect of multiple Coulomb scattering on the measured resolution,particularly at low beam energies.Simulations were conducted using Allpix^(2) to study the effects of multiple Coulomb scattering under different beam energies,material budgets,and telescope layouts.The simulations also provided the minimum energy at which the effect of multiple Coulomb scattering could be ignored.Compared with the results of a five-layer detector system tested with an electron beam at DESY,the simulation results were consistent with the beam test results,confirming the reliability of the simulations.

Metal-Halide Perovskite Submicrometer-Thick Films for Ultra-Stable Self-Powered Direct X-Ray Detectors

Metal-halide perovskites are revolutionizing the world of X-ray detectors,due to the development of sensitive,fast,and cost-effective devices.Self-powered operation,ensuring portability and low power consumption,has also been recently demonstrated in both bulk materials and thin films.However,the signal stability and repeatability under continuous X-ray exposure has only been tested up to a few hours,often reporting degradation of the detection performance.Here it is shown that self-powered direct X-ray detectors,fabricated starting from a FAPbBr_(3)submicrometer-thick film deposition onto a mesoporous TiO_(2)scaffold,can withstand a 26-day uninterrupted X-ray exposure with negligible signal loss,demonstrating ultra-high operational stability and excellent repeatability.No structural modification is observed after irradiation with a total ionizing dose of almost 200 Gy,revealing an unexpectedly high radiation hardness for a metal-halide perovskite thin film.In addition,trap-assisted photoconductive gain enabled the device to achieve a record bulk sensitivity of 7.28 C Gy^(−1)cm^(−3)at 0 V,an unprecedented value in the field of thin-film-based photoconductors and photodiodes for“hard”X-rays.Finally,prototypal validation under the X-ray beam produced by a medical linear accelerator for cancer treatment is also introduced.

An Evidence-Based CoCoSo Framework with Double Hierarchy Linguistic Data for Viable Selection of Hydrogen Storage Methods

Hydrogen is the new age alternative energy source to combat energy demand and climate change.Storage of hydrogen is vital for a nation’s growth.Works of literature provide different methods for storing the produced hydrogen,and the rational selection of a viable method is crucial for promoting sustainability and green practices.Typically,hydrogen storage is associated with diverse sustainable and circular economy(SCE)criteria.As a result,the authors consider the situation a multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)problem.Studies infer that previous models for hydrogen storage method(HSM)selection(i)do not consider preferences in the natural language form;(ii)weights of experts are not methodically determined;(iii)hesitation of experts during criteria weight assessment is not effectively explored;and(iv)three-stage solution of a suitable selection of HSM is unexplored.Driven by these gaps,in this paper,authors put forward a new integrated framework,which considers double hierarchy linguistic information for rating,criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation(CRITIC)for expert weight calculation,evidence-based Bayesian method for criteria weight estimation,and combined compromise solution(CoCoSo)for ranking HSMs.The applicability of the developed framework is testified by using a case example of HSM selection in India.Sensitivity and comparative analysis reveal the merits and limitations of the developed framework.

Deciphering gastric inflammation-induced tumorigenesis through multi-omics data and AI methods

Gastric cancer(GC), the fifth most common cancer globally, remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Inflammation-induced tumorigenesis is the predominant process in GC development;therefore, systematic research in this area should improve understanding of the biological mechanisms that initiate GC development and promote cancer hallmarks. Here, we summarize biological knowledge regarding gastric inflammation-induced tumorigenesis, and characterize the multi-omics data and systems biology methods for investigating GC development. Of note, we highlight pioneering studies in multi-omics data and state-of-the-art network-based algorithms used for dissecting the features of gastric inflammation-induced tumorigenesis, and we propose translational applications in early GC warning biomarkers and precise treatment strategies. This review offers integrative insights for GC research, with the goal of paving the way to novel paradigms for GC precision oncology and prevention.

Applications of Soft Computing Methods in Backbreak Assessment in Surface Mines: A Comprehensive Review

Geo-engineering problems are known for their complexity and high uncertainty levels,requiring precise defini-tions,past experiences,logical reasoning,mathematical analysis,and practical insight to address them effectively.Soft Computing(SC)methods have gained popularity in engineering disciplines such as mining and civil engineering due to computer hardware and machine learning advancements.Unlike traditional hard computing approaches,SC models use soft values and fuzzy sets to navigate uncertain environments.This study focuses on the application of SC methods to predict backbreak,a common issue in blasting operations within mining and civil projects.Backbreak,which refers to the unintended fracturing of rock beyond the desired blast perimeter,can significantly impact project timelines and costs.This study aims to explore how SC methods can be effectively employed to anticipate and mitigate the undesirable consequences of blasting operations,specifically focusing on backbreak prediction.The research explores the complexities of backbreak prediction and highlights the potential benefits of utilizing SC methods to address this challenging issue in geo-engineering projects.

Patients’Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Disposal Methods of Expired and Unused Medicines: Implication for Creation of Drug Take-Back Program

Background: Handling of medicines is a day-to-day activity by patients and many health care providers. However, multiple studies have brought to light inappropriate disposal methods for expired and unused medication (EUM). Improper disposal of expired and unused medicines is hazardous both to humans and the environment. Objective: This sought to measure patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on disposal methods of EUM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 patients at three outpatient pharmacies at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTHs). The structured questionnaire was used to collect data and STAT version 15.1 was used to analyse the data. Results: 384 respondents participated in this study and, at some point, had EUM. In this study, 356 (92.7%) of the participants reported that they had never heard of a drug take-back system. Most of the participants 285 (74.2%) and 239 (62.2%) kept and donated their unused medicine, respectively. Additionally, 244 (63.5%), 212 (55.2%), and 176 (44.8%) of the participants disposed of expired medicines in the bin or garbage, flushed them in toilets or sinks, or burned them, respectively. Occupation was significantly associated with unsafe disposal of unused medicine [P-value = 0.019]. Conclusion and Relevance: Knowledge of safe disposal methods for EUM was good amongst most participants. However, used unsafe disposal methods. The majority of the participants exhibited positive attitude concerning safe disposal methods. This study highlights the need for drug-take-back program creation in Zambia.

Synthesis methods and powder quality of titanium monocarbide

Titanium monocarbide(TiC),which is the most stable titanium-based carbide,has attracted considerable interest in the fields of energy,catalysis,and structural materials due to its excellent properties.Synthesis of high-quality TiC powders with low cost and high efficiency is crucial for industrial applications;however major challenges face its realization.Herein,the methods for synthesizing TiC powders based on a reaction system are reviewed.This analysis is focused on the underlying mechanisms by which synthesis methods affect the quality of powders.Notably,strategies for improving the synthesis of highquality powders are analyzed from the perspective of enhancing heat and mass transfer processes.Furthermore,the critical issues,challenges,and development trends of the synthesis technology and application of high-quality TiC powder are discussed.

Vibration properties of Paulownia wood for Ruan sound quality using machine learning methods

As an important material for manufacturing resonant components of musical instruments,Paulownia has an important influence on the sound quality of Ruan.In this paper,a model for evaluating the sound quality of Ruan based on the vibration characteristics of wood is developed using machine learning methods.Generally,the selection of materials for Ruan manufacturing relies primarily on manually weighing,observing,striking,and listening by the instrument technician.Deficiencies in scientific theory have hindered the quality of the finished Ruan.In this study,nine Ruans were manufactured,and a prediction model of Ruan sound quality was proposed based on the raw material information of Ruans.Out of a total of 180 data sets,145 and 45 sets were chosen for training and validation,respec-tively.In this paper,typical correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between two single indicators in two adjacent pairwise combinations of the measured objects in each stage of the production process in Ruan.The vibra-tion characteristics of the wood were tested,and a model for predicting the evaluation of Ruan’s acoustic qualities was developed by measuring the vibration characteristics of the resonating plate material.The acoustic quality of the Ruan sound board wood was evaluated and predicted using machine learning model generalized regression neural net-work.The results show that the prediction of Ruan sound quality can be achieved using Matlab simulation based on the vibration characteristics of the soundboard wood.When the model-predicted values were compared with the tradi-tional predicted results,it was found that the generalized regression neural network had good performance,achieving an accuracy of 93.8%which was highly consistent with the experimental results.It was concluded that the model can accurately predict the acoustic quality of the Ruan based on the vibration performance of the soundboards.

Impacts of Aggregation Methods and Trophospecies Number on the Structure and Function of Marine Food Webs

Aggregation of species with similar ecological properties is one of the effective methods to simplify food web researches.However,species aggregation will affect not only the complexity of modeling process but also the accuracy of models’outputs.Selection of aggregation methods and the number of trophospecies are the keys to study the simplification of food web.In this study,three aggregation methods,including taxonomic aggregation(TA),structural equivalence aggregation(SEA),and self-organizing maps(SOM),were analyzed and compared with the linear inverse model–Markov Chain Monte Carlo(LIM-MCMC)model.Impacts of aggregation methods and trophospecies number on food webs were evaluated based on the robustness and unitless of ecological net-work indices.Results showed that aggregation method of SEA performed better than the other two methods in estimating food web structure and function indices.The effects of aggregation methods were driven by the differences in species aggregation principles,which will alter food web structure and function through the redistribution of energy flow.According to the results of mean absolute percentage error(MAPE)which can be applied to evaluate the accuracy of the model,we found that MAPE in food web indices will increase with the reducing trophospecies number,and MAPE in food web function indices were smaller and more stable than those in food web structure indices.Therefore,trade-off between simplifying food webs and reflecting the status of ecosystem should be con-sidered in food web studies.These findings highlight the importance of aggregation methods and trophospecies number in the analy-sis of food web simplification.This study provided a framework to explore the extent to which food web models are affected by dif-ferent species aggregation,and will provide scientific basis for the construction of food webs.

Effect of Different Disinfection Methods on Calluses of Amorphophallus albus P.Y.Liu&J.F.Chen

This study aimed to examine the effect of different disinfection methods on the callus of Amorphophallus albus in the tissue culture and rapid propagation system.The calluses induced from buds of A.albus were disinfected with benzalkonium bromide,mercury bichloride,sodium hypochlorite,and ethanol,respectively,for different time periods.The growth of calluses was compared between different treatments and observed in detail by dissection.The results showed that the disinfection with 0.1% mercury bichloride for 5 min and 75% ethanol for 5 s had mild effect on the callus,with the lowest browning rates of 16.32% and 15.46% and the lowest vitrification rates of 3.24% and 9.72%,respectively,after 20 d.The disinfection with benzalkonium bromide and sodium hypochlorite had strong effect on the callus cells,with the lowest browning rate of 50.69% and 25.12% and the lowest vitrification rates of 28.47% and 28.43%,respectively.The cytological observation result showed that the calluses disinfected with ethanol and mercury bichloride showcased compact structures,while those disinfected with sodium hypochlorite and benzalkonium bromide exhibited loose structures.To sum up,it is recommended that 75% ethanol or 0.1% mercury bichloride can be used for disinfection in the tissue culture and rapid propagation of A.albus,while the use of benzalkonium bromide and sodium hypochlorite should be avoided as much as possible.

Numerical Simulation of Surrounding Rock Deformation and Grouting Reinforcement of Cross-Fault Tunnel under Different Excavation Methods

Tunnel construction is susceptible to accidents such as loosening, deformation, collapse, and water inrush, especiallyunder complex geological conditions like dense fault areas. These accidents can cause instability and damageto the tunnel. As a result, it is essential to conduct research on tunnel construction and grouting reinforcementtechnology in fault fracture zones to address these issues and ensure the safety of tunnel excavation projects. Thisstudy utilized the Xianglushan cross-fault tunnel to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the construction, support,and reinforcement of a tunnel crossing a fault fracture zone using the three-dimensional finite element numericalmethod. The study yielded the following research conclusions: The excavation conditions of the cross-fault tunnelarray were analyzed to determine the optimal construction method for excavation while controlling deformationand stress in the surrounding rock. The middle partition method (CD method) was found to be the most suitable.Additionally, the effects of advanced reinforcement grouting on the cross-fault fracture zone tunnel were studied,and the optimal combination of grouting reinforcement range (140°) and grouting thickness (1m) was determined.The stress and deformation data obtained fromon-site monitoring of the surrounding rock was slightly lower thanthe numerical simulation results. However, the change trend of both sets of data was found to be consistent. Theseresearch findings provide technical analysis and data support for the construction and design of cross-fault tunnels.

Selection of dialysis methods for end-stage kidney disease patients with diabetes

The increasing prevalence of diabetes has led to a growing population of endstage kidney disease(ESKD)patients with diabetes.Currently,kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for ESKD patients;however,it is limited by the lack of donors.Therefore,dialysis has become the standard treatment for ESKD patients.However,the optimal dialysis method for diabetic ESKD patients remains controversial.ESKD patients with diabetes often present with complex conditions and numerous complications.Furthermore,these patients face a high risk of infection and technical failure,are more susceptible to malnutrition,have difficulty establishing vascular access,and experience more frequent blood sugar fluctuations than the general population.Therefore,this article reviews nine critical aspects:Survival rate,glucose metabolism disorder,infectious complications,cardiovascular events,residual renal function,quality of life,economic benefits,malnutrition,and volume load.This study aims to assist clinicians in selecting individualized treatment methods by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis,thereby improving patients’quality of life and survival rates.

Numerical Analysis of Bacterial Meningitis Stochastic Delayed Epidemic Model through Computational Methods

Based on theWorld Health Organization(WHO),Meningitis is a severe infection of the meninges,the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.It is a devastating disease and remains a significant public health challenge.This study investigates a bacterial meningitis model through deterministic and stochastic versions.Four-compartment population dynamics explain the concept,particularly the susceptible population,carrier,infected,and recovered.The model predicts the nonnegative equilibrium points and reproduction number,i.e.,the Meningitis-Free Equilibrium(MFE),and Meningitis-Existing Equilibrium(MEE).For the stochastic version of the existing deterministicmodel,the twomethodologies studied are transition probabilities and non-parametric perturbations.Also,positivity,boundedness,extinction,and disease persistence are studiedrigorouslywiththe helpofwell-known theorems.Standard and nonstandard techniques such as EulerMaruyama,stochastic Euler,stochastic Runge Kutta,and stochastic nonstandard finite difference in the sense of delay have been presented for computational analysis of the stochastic model.Unfortunately,standard methods fail to restore the biological properties of the model,so the stochastic nonstandard finite difference approximation is offered as an efficient,low-cost,and independent of time step size.In addition,the convergence,local,and global stability around the equilibria of the nonstandard computational method is studied by assuming the perturbation effect is zero.The simulations and comparison of the methods are presented to support the theoretical results and for the best visualization of results.

Overview of Factors Affecting Dust Deposition on Photovoltaic Cells and Cleaning Methods

Dust deposition on the surface of photovoltaic (PV) cells poses a significant challenge to their efficiency, especially in arid regions characterized by desert and semi-desert conditions. Despite the pronounced impact of dust accumulation, these regions offer optimal solar radiation and minimal cloud cover, making them ideal candidates for widespread PV cell deployment. Various surface cleaning methods exist, each employing distinct approaches. Choosing an appropriate cleaning method requires a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in both dust deposition on module surfaces and dust adhesion to PV cell surfaces. The mechanisms governing dust deposition and adhesion are complex and multifaceted, influenced by factors such as the nature and properties of the dust particles, environmental climatic conditions, characteristics of protective coatings, and the specific location of the PV installation. These factors exhibit regional variations, necessitating the implementation of diverse cleaning approaches tailored to the unique conditions of each location. The first part of this article explores the factors influencing dust deposition on PV cell surfaces, delving into the intricate interplay of environmental variables and particle characteristics. Subsequently, the second part addresses various cleaning methods, offering an analysis of their respective advantages and disadvantages. By comprehensively examining the factors influencing dust accumulation and evaluating the effectiveness of different cleaning strategies, this article aims to contribute valuable insights to the ongoing efforts to optimize the performance and longevity of photovoltaic systems in diverse geographical contexts.