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Hybrid pixel detectors require a reliable and cost-effective interconnect technology adapted to the pitch and die sizes of the respective applications. During the ASIC and sensor R&D phase, and in general for small-scale applications, such interconnect technologies need to be suitable for the assembly of single-dies, typically available from Multi-Project-Wafer submissions. Within the CERN EP R&D programme and the AIDAinnova collaboration, innovative hybridisation concepts targeting vertex-detector applications at future colliders are under development. This contribution presents recent results of a newly developed in-house single-die interconnection process based on Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF). The ACF interconnect technology replaces the solder bumps with conductive particles embedded in an adhesive film. The electro-mechanical connection between the sensor and the read-out chip is achieved via thermo-compression of the ACF using a flip-chip device bonder. A specific pad topology is required to enable the connection via conductive particles and create cavities into which excess epoxy can flow. This pixel-pad topology is achieved with an in-house Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) plating process that is also under development within the project. The ENIG and ACF processes are qualified with the Timepix3 ASIC and sensors, with 55 um pixel pitch and 14 um pad diameter. The ACF technology can also be used for ASIC-PCB/FPC integration, replacing wire bonding or large-pitch solder bumping techniques. This contribution introduces the ENIG plating and ACF processes and presents recent results on Timepix3 hybrid assemblies.

The ARIADNE project is developing innovative optical readout technologies for two-phase liquid Argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs). Optical readout presents an exciting alternative to the current paradigm of charge readout. Optical readout is simple, scalable and cost effective. This paper presents first demonstration of 3D optical readout of TPC, using CF4 gas as a proof of principle. Both cosmic rays and an Americium-241 alpha source have been imaged in 100 mbar CF4. A single-photon sensitive camera was developed by combining a Timepix3 (TPX3) based camera with an image intensifier. When a pixel of TPX3 is hit, a packet containing all information about the hit is produced. This packet contains the x,y coordinates of the pixel, time of arrival (ToA) and time over threshold (ToT) information. The z position of the hit in the TPC is determined by combining drift velocity with ToA information. 3D event reconstruction is performed by combining the pixels x,y location with this calculated z position. Calorimetry is performed using time over threshold, a measure of the intensity of the hit.

The LHCb detector has undergone a major upgrade for LHC Run 3. This Upgrade I detector facilitates operation at higher luminosity and utilises full-detector information at the LHC collision rate, critically including the use of vertex information. A new vertex locator system, the VELO Upgrade, has been constructed. The core element of the new VELO are the double-sided pixelated hybrid silicon detector modules which operate in vacuum close to the LHC beam in a high radiation environment. The construction and quality assurance tests of these modules are described in this paper. The modules incorporate 200 \\mum thick, n-on-p silicon sensors bump-bonded to 130 \\nm technology ASICs. These are attached with high precision to a silicon microchannel substrate that uses evaporative CO\\(_2\\) cooling. The ASICs are controlled and read out with flexible printed circuits that are glued to the substrate and wire-bonded to the chips. The mechanical support of the module is given by a carbon fibre plate, two carbon fibre rods and an aluminium plate. The sensor attachment was achieved with an average precision of 21 \\(\\mathrm{\\mu m}\\), more than 99.5\\% of all pixels are fully functional, and a thermal figure of merit of 3 \\mathrm{Kcm^{2}W^{-1}}$ was achieved. The production of the modules was successfully completed in 2021, with the final assembly and installation completed in time for data taking in 2022.

Standing loblolly pines in southeastern North America are colonized by four sympatric species of bark beetles: Dendroctonus frontalis (Zimm.), Ips calligraphus (Germ.), I. grandicollis (Eichh.) and I. avulsus (Eichh.). The beetles compete for the limited amount of phloem tissue used as a site for reproduction. Using indices of niche breadth and niche overlap determined from the surface areas attacked, the interaction of colonizing beetle species in partitioning resources in entire trees and within each sample level was examined. The broadest niche breadth was exhibited by I. avulsus, while I. grandicollis had the narrowest. D. frontalis dominated the lower bole and overlapped primarily with I. calligraphus. The upper bole was similarly dominated by I. avulsus, which overlapped only slightly with D. frontalis, but overlapped extensively with I. calligraphus. Within tree species diversity was highest in the mid-bole sections and declined progressively toward the stump and top. Increasing species diversity showed a strong positive correlation with increasing mean niche overlap.

We propose the design of a ventilator which can be easily manufactured and integrated into the hospital environment to support COVID-19 patients. The unit is designed to support standard ventilator modes of operation, most importantly PRVC (Pressure Regulated Volume Control) and SIMV-PC (Synchronised Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation) modes. The unit is not yet an approved medical device and is in the concept and prototyping stage. It is presented here to invite fast feedback for development and deployment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HEV is a low-cost, versatile, high-quality ventilator, which has been designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ventilator is intended to be used both in and out of hospital intensive care units, and for both invasive and non-invasive ventilation. The hardware can be complemented with an external turbine for use in regions where compressed air supplies are not reliably available. The standard modes provided include PC-A/C(Pressure Assist Control),PC-A/C-PRVC(Pressure Regulated Volume Control), PC-PSV (Pressure Support Ventilation) and CPAP (Continuous Positive airway pressure). HEV is designed to support remote training and post market surveillance via a web interface and data logging to complement the standard touch screen operation, making it suitable for a wide range of geographical deployment. The HEV design places emphasis on the quality of the pressure curves and the reactivity of the trigger, delivering a global performance which will be applicable to ventilator needs beyond theCOVID-19 pandemic. This article describes the conceptual design and presents the prototype units together with their performance evaluation.

The Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) detector is designed to detect decays of b- and c- hadrons for the study of CP violation and rare decays. At the end of the LHC Run 2, many of the LHCb measurements remained statistically dominated. In order to increase the trigger yield for purely hadronic channels, the hardware trigger will be removed, and the detector will be read out at 40 MHz. This, in combination with the five-fold increase in luminosity, requires radical changes to LHCb's electronics, and, in some cases, the replacement of entire sub-detectors with state-of-the-art detector technologies. The Vertex Locator (VELO) surrounding the interaction region is used to reconstruct the collision points (primary vertices) and decay vertices of long-lived particles (secondary vertices). The upgraded VELO will be composed of 52 modules placed along the beam axis divided into two retractable halves. The modules will each be equipped with 4 silicon hybrid pixel tiles, each read out by 3 VeloPix ASICs. The total output data rate anticipated for the whole detector will be around 1.6 Tbit/s. The highest occupancy ASICs will have pixel hit rates of approximately 900 Mhit/s, with the corresponding output data rate of 15 Gbit/s. The LHCb upgrade detector will be the first detector to read out at the full LHC rate of 40 MHz. The VELO upgrade will utilize the latest detector technologies to read out at this rate while maintaining the required radiation-hard profile and minimizing the detector material.

Introduction and hypothesis The primary objective was to compare high- and low-frequency pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with the impact on urinary incontinence episode frequency over 1 week (IEF/week). The secondary objective was to compare the two groups with regard to pelvic floor muscle function, morphometry, incontinence quality of life, and patient global impression. Methods This was a randomised parallel controlled study. The setting was regional gynaecological and urological outpatient clinics. The subjects consisted of a sample of 86 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Group A underwent high-frequency PFMT and group B underwent low-frequency PFMT for 12 weeks. We recorded the IEF/week. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) was used. Pelvic floor muscle function was evaluated using a perineometer. Pelvic floor muscle morphometry was evaluated with 3D/4D ultrasound. The Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QoL) was used. Results Significant differences between group A and B after treatment ( p <0.001) were noted in favour of group A in IEF/week (group A 10.2±7.0/2.3±3.0 vs group B 9.3±4.7/6.3±4.9), in the ICIQ-UI SF (group A 9.7±3.0/3.7 ± 3.6 vs group B 9.9±3.2/9.4±3.4). Significant differences between groups A and B after treatment were noted in favour of group A for pelvic floor muscle function in terms of maximal voluntary contraction and its duration, and also for pelvic floor muscle morphometry in terms of a reduction of the hiatal area during rest, contraction, and the Valsalva manoeuvre. Conclusions High-frequency PFMT for 12 weeks significantly decreased IEF/week in comparison with low-frequency PFMT. In the high-frequency exercise group, women had significantly better pelvic floor muscle function, morphometry and quality of life than the low-frequency exercise group.