Development of a high-speed digital pulse signal acquisition and processing system based on MTCA for liquid scintillator neutron detector on EAST

In this experimental study, involving deuterium–deuterium fusion neutron emission spectroscopy measurement on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak(EAST), a liquid scintillator detector(BC501 A) was employed. This decision was based on the detector's superior sensitivity, optimal time-response, and its exceptional n–γ discrimination capability. This detector emits fast pulse signals that are as narrow as 100 ns, with high count rates that can peak at several Mcps. However, conventional nuclear circuits faced challenges in performing pulse height analysis, n–γ pulse shape discrimination, and in recording the entire pulse waveform under such high count rate conditions. To address these challenges, a high-speed digital pulse signal acquisition and processing system was designed. The system was developed around a micro-telecommunications computing architecture. Within this structure, a signal acquisition and processing(SAQP) module communicated through PCI Express links, achieving a bandwidth of up to 1.6 GB/s. To accurately capture the detailed shape of the pulses, four channels of analog-to-digital converters were used, each with a 500-MSPS sampling rate and a 14-bit resolution, ensuring an accuracy that surpassed 11 bits. An n–γ discrimination algorithm, based on the two-gate integral method, was also developed. Implemented within field programmable gate arrays, this algorithm provided a real-time n–γ discrimination spectrum for pulse height analysis. The system underwent rigorous testing in a laboratory setting and during an EAST experiment. The results confirmed that the innovative SAQP system can satisfy the demanding requirements of high-parameter experiments, manage count rates of up to 2 Mcps, execute real-time n–γ discrimination algorithms, and record entire pulse waveforms without any data loss.

Use of a rat model to characterize 35 arterial pulse wave parameters in a comparative study of isoflurane and Zoletil/ xylazine anesthesia and the effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract

Background : Information obtained from arterial pulse waveforms (APW) can be usefulfor characterizing the cardiovascular system. To achieve this, it is necessary to know thedetailed characteristics of APWs in different states of an organism, which would allowAPW parameters (APW- Ps) to be assigned to particular (patho)physiological conditions.Therefore, our work aimed to characterize 35 APW- Ps in rats under the influence ofisoflurane (ISO) and Zoletil/xylazine (ZO/XY) anesthesia and to study the effect of rootextract from Acanthopanax senticosus (ASRE) in these anesthetic conditions.Methods : The right jugular vein of anesthetized rats was cannulated for the administrationof ASRE and the left carotid artery for the detection of APWs from which 35APW- Ps were evaluated.Results : We obtained data on 35 APW- Ps, which significantly depended on the anesthesia,and thus, they characterized the cardiovascular system under these two conditions.ASRE transiently modulated all 35 APW- Ps, including a transient decrease insystolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate or increases in pulse BP, d P /d t max , and systolic and diastolic areas. Whereas the transient effects of ASRE weresimilar, the extract had prolonged disturbing effects on the cardiovascular system inrats under ZO/XY but not under ISO anesthesia. This negative effect can result fromthe disturbance caused by ZO/XY anesthesia on the cardiovascular system.Conclusions : We characterized 35 APW- Ps of rats under ISO and ZO/XY anesthesiaand found that ASRE contains compounds that can modulate the properties of thecardiovascular system, which significantly depended on the status of the cardiovascularsystem. This should be considered when using ASRE as a nutritional supplementby individuals with cardiovascular problems.

Semi-definite programming based pulse waveform design and its further analysis

In order to provide a judicious pulse waveform design required for ultra-wideband(UWB)communication to enable the UWB spectral mask compatible and coexistent with other existing wireless communication systems,a semi-definite programming(SDP)based pulse waveform design method for UWB radios is introduced and a further analysis is given in this paper.By using Sedumi and Yalmip toolboxes of Matlab,the procedure of solving the SDP problem is simplified.Simulation results show that this SDP based pulse waveform design method can be used to design pulses that fulfill the Federal Communications Commission(FCC)spectral mask strictly and optimize the power efficiency at the same time.This paper also analyzes the influences of the power efficiency duing to the changes of sampling interval and the number of combined pulses,and then the optimal sampling interval that maximizes the transmission power can be found.

Investigation on 10/350 Crowbar Pulse Current Circuit

Structure of main air discharging switch and a crowbar TVS （triggered vacuum switch） are designed and their triggering characteristics are investigated. The experimental results showed that for TVS the operating voltage range is from 1.3 kV to 120 kV, its maximum delay time is 400 ns and its jitter is 4-10 ns. Based on these results the crowbar 10/350μs （i.e., with a front time of 10μs and a duration of 350 μs） pulse current circuit and its controlling circuit are designed. With a 10μF stored capacitor C and a 6 μF waveform forming induction, a pulse current is generated with a maximum of 100 kA, front time of 10 ns and duration of 350μs. This pulse waveform can be used for testing SPD （surge protective devices）.

Effects of controlled pulse current waveform on key-holing condition in plasma arc welding

To overcome the shortcomings of conventional plasma arc welding （ PAW）, the ＇ controlled pulse key-holing＇ strategy is proposed and the keyhole PAW experiment system is developed. ＇The efflux plasma voltage signal is detected in realtime to characterize the keyhole size and dimension. The welding current waveform for controlled pulse key-holing strategy is implemented, and two slow-decreasing slopes are added at the dropping point from peak current to base current to further reduce both heat input and arc force so that the controllability of keyhole dynamics is improved. Two kinds of PAW tests are conducted, anti the different parameters of the controlled pulse current and the relevant efflux plasma voltage are measured in real-time to investigate ihe effects of welding current waveform parameters on the key-holing condition.

Source Range Estimation Based on Pulse Waveform Matching in a Slope Environment

An approach of source range estimation in an ocean environment with sloping bottom is presented. The approach is based on pulse waveform correlation matching between the received and simulated signals. An acoustic prop- agation experiment is carried out in a slope environment. The pulse signal is received by the vertical line array, and the depth structure can be obtained. For the experimental data, the depth structures of pulse waveforms are different, which depends on the source range. For a source with unknown range, the depth structure of pulse waveform can be first obtained from the experimental data. Next, the depth structures of pulse waveforms in dif- ferent ranges are numerically calculated. After the process of correlating the experimental and simulated signals, the range corresponding to the maximum value of the correlation coefficient is the estimated source range. For the explosive sources in the experiment with two depths, the mean relative errors of range estimation are both less than 7%.

Optimization of multi-color laser waveform for high-order harmonic generation

With the development of laser technologies,multi-color light-field synthesis with complete amplitude and phase control would make it possible to generate arbitrary optical waveforms.A practical optimization algorithm is needed to generate such a waveform in order to control strong-field processes.We review some recent theoretical works of the optimization of amplitudes and phases of multi-color lasers to modify the single-atom high-order harmonic generation based on genetic algorithm.By choosing different fitness criteria,we demonstrate that：（i） harmonic yields can be enhanced by 10 to 100 times,（ii） harmonic cutoff energy can be substantially extended,（iii） specific harmonic orders can be selectively enhanced,and（iv） single attosecond pulses can be efficiently generated.The possibility of optimizing macroscopic conditions for the improved phase matching and low divergence of high harmonics is also discussed.The waveform control and optimization are expected to be new drivers for the next wave of breakthrough in the strong-field physics in the coming years.

Corrosion and wear resistance of coatings produced on AZ31 Mg alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation in silicate-based K2TiF6 containing solution:Effect of waveform

In this research,plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings were prepared on AZ31 Mg alloy in a silicate-based solution containing K_(2)TiF_(6) using bipolar and soft sparking waveforms with 10,20,and 30%cathodic duty cycles.The coatings displayed a net-like surface morphology consisted of irregular micro-pores,micro-cracks,fused oxide particles,and a sintered structure.Due to the incorporation of TiO_(2) colloidal particles and the cathodic pulse repair effect,most of the micro-pores were sealed.Long-term corrosion performance of the coatings was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy during immersion in 3.5 wt.%NaCl solution up to 14 days.The coating grown by the soft sparking waveform with a 20%cathodic duty cycle having the lowest porosity(6.2%)and a sharp layer concentrated in F element at the substrate/coating interface shows the highest corrosion resistance.The friction coefficient of this coating has remained stable during the sliding even under 5 N normal load,showing relatively higher wear resistance than other coatings.The coating produced using the equivalent unipolar waveform,as the reference specimen,showed the highest friction coefficient and the lowest wear resistance despite its highest micro-hardness.

Pulse Waveform Analysis as A Bridge between Pulse Examination in Chinese Medicine and Cardiology

Pulse examination was probably the earliest attempt to distinguish between health and illnesses. Starting at the pre-Hippocratic era, Chinese medicine practitioners developed techniques for pulse examination and defined pulse images based on their perceptions of pulse waveforms at the radial artery. Pulse images were described using basic variables （frequency, rhythm, wideness, length, deepness, and qualities） developed under philosophical trends such as Taoism and Confucianism. Recent advances in biomedical instrumentation applied to cardiology opened possibilities to research on pulse examination based on ancient Chinese medical theories： the pulse wave analysis. Although strongly influenced by philosophy, some characteristics used to describe a pulse image are interpretable as parameters obtained by pulse waveform analysis such as pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. Those clinical parameters reflect concepts unique to Chinese medicine - such as yin- yang - while are based on wave reflection and resonance theories of fluids mechanics. Major limitations for integration of Chinese and Western pulse examination are related to quantitative description of pulse images and pattern differentiation based on pulse examination. Recent evidence suggests that wave reflection and resonance phenomena may bridge Chinese medicine and cardiologyto provide a more evidence-based medical practice.

Effect of pulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass in terms of radial artery sphygmogram

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a quantitative method for using radial artery pulse waveforms to assess the effect of pulsatile flow during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).METHODS: A total of 34 adults with heart disease who underwent open-heart surgery between April2010 and January 2011 were randomized into a pulsatile perfusion group(n=17) and a non-pulsatile perfusion group(n=17). Radial arterial pulse waveforms of pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion patients were observed and compared before and during CPB.RESULTS: No pulse waveform could be detected at patients' radial artery in both groups when the aorta was cross-clamped. Pulse waveforms could be detected at pulsatile perfusion patients' radial artery, but could not be detected at non-pulsatile perfusion patients' radial artery during CPB. Additionally, patients' pulse waveforms during pulsatile perfusion were lower than those before the operation.CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that radial artery sphygmogram can be used as a valid indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of pulsatile perfusion during CPB.