Calibration Capabilities Research Articles

Development and validation of a diagnostic model for differentiating tuberculous spondylitis from brucellar spondylitis using machine learning: A retrospective cohort study.

Tuberculous spondylitis (TS) and brucellar spondylitis (BS) are commonly observed in spinal infectious diseases, which are initially caused by bacteremia. BS is easily misdiagnosed as TS, especially in underdeveloped regions of northwestern China with less sensitive medical equipment. Nevertheless, a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool remains to be developed and a clinical diagnostic model to differentiate TS and BS using machine learning algorithms is of great significance. A total of 410 patients were included in this study. Independent factors to predict TS were selected by using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model, permutation feature importance, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A TS risk prediction model was developed with six different machine learning algorithms. We used several metrics to evaluate the accuracy, calibration capability, and predictability of these models. The performance of the model with the best predictability was further verified with the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the calibration curve. The clinical performance of the final model was evaluated by decision curve analysis. Six variables were incorporated in the final model, namely, pain severity, CRP, x-ray intervertebral disc height loss, x-ray endplate sclerosis, CT vertebral destruction, and MRI paravertebral abscess. The analysis of appraising six models revealed that the logistic regression model developed in the current study outperformed other methods in terms of sensitivity (0.88 ± 0.07) and accuracy (0.79 ± 0.07). The AUC of the logistic regression model predicting TS was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.81-0.90) in the training set and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.92) in the validation set. The decision curve analysis indicated that the logistic regression model displayed a higher clinical efficiency in the differential diagnosis. The logistic regression model developed in this study outperformed other methods. The logistic regression model demonstrated by a calculator exerts good discrimination and calibration capability and could be applicable in differentiating TS from BS in primary health care diagnosis.

Highly Integrated Wideband Transmit/Receive Module for X-Band SAR Applications

The roadmaps of satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems show a trend that requires a continuous improvement of the active antenna in terms of operating bandwidth, scanning angle capability, and swath width, thus leading to the demand for increased RF power and better power efficiency of the RF transmitter. Moreover, compact size and light weight are relevant objectives for making the overall SAR instrument appealing for future applications. The transmit/receive module (TRM) shown in this paper was developed while combining all these requirements in a cost-effective approach. A careful design of all relevant RF interconnects and passive devices was performed to ensure the largest output power from the last high-power amplifier of the transmitting chain, the lowest noise figure at the input of the receiving chain, and the calibration capability for appropriately tuning the TX and RX signal. The TRM was manufactured and experimentally tested to verify its performances. The measurement results show the superior performances of the proposed compact high-power large-bandwidth TRM. The achieved target objectives make the design of the proposed TRM readily applicable for the development of a compact, high-power, and highly integrated AESAs to be used for next-generation satellite constellations for Earth observation.

Contribution to Improved Measurement and Calibration Capabilities in the Field of Measuring Instruments for High-Frequencies

Contribution to Improved Measurement and Calibration Capabilities in the Field of Measuring Instruments for High-Frequencies

A Wide Range Distributed Multi-Node Receive Chain Calibration Method Based on GNSS Software Receiver

The phase calibration of distributed multi-node receiving system is required considering the phase synthesis working mode of distributed radar system for echo signals. Whereas, in respect to the traditional calibration tower and unmanned aerial vehicle scheme, there are many disadvantages. The wide range distributed multi-node receive chain calibration method based on GNSS software receiver was proposed in this paper, taking advantage of the software receiver to calculate and obtain the actual phase difference among the receiving nodes as well as the coordinate information of satellites in transmitting signal. Therefore, the phase difference resulted from different transmit path can be deleted, and the phase inconsistencies among the receiving nodes can be obtained. Besides, the fingerprint maps database regarding inconsistencies among nodes and two-dimensional angle of relative receiving node for satellites was constructed in this paper, the correspondence between the omnidirectional two-dimensional angle and the inconsistencies among different nodes was established by the actual results and two-dimensional fitting, and the phase inconsistency results among nodes can be obtained only by solving the satellite coordinate information. There are many advantages for the method proposed in this paper, such as slight influence of multipath effect, capability of all-weather all-day calibration, low costs.

Assay of sodium carbonate

Main textThe CCQM-K173 Assay of Sodium Carbonate key comparison was jointly organized by the Inorganic Analysis (IAWG) and Electrochemical Analysis and Classical Chemical Methods (EAWG) working groups of CCQM to test the abilities of the national metrology institutes (NMIs) to measure the purity or amount content of solid bases. They are important challenges for reference material producers, providers of other measurement services, such as proficiency testing schemes. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons are needed to support calibration and measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by NMIs and designated institutes (DIs).Nine NMIs participated in this key comparison CCQM-K173. National Institute of Metrology P. R. China (NIM) and Ural Research Institute for Metrology - Affiliated Branch of the D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM-UNIIM), Russian Federation, acted as the coordinating laboratories of the comparison.The measurement methods used by the participants for measuring the amount content of bases expressed as sodium carbonate were coulometry and titrimetry.In general, good overlap of results was observed, the suitability of coulometry and titrimetry for assay of high purity materials was demonstrated. The majority of results were split in two groups differing from each. This bias was however covered by the stated uncertainty estimates. Various effects have been evaluated that may cause it. However, the reason for the bias has not been identified clearly.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Key Comparison Study - Organic Solvent Calibration Solution - Gravimetric preparation and value assignment of patulin (PAT) in acetonitrile (ACN) with 0.1 % formic acid (FA)

Main textThe CCQM-K154.d comparison was coordinated by the the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) and the Chinese National Institute of Metrology (NIM) on behalf of the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière (CCQM) for National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) which provide measurement services in organic analysis under the 'Comité International des Poids et Mesures' Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) and/or have participated in the BIPM's Mycotoxin Metrology Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer (MMCBKT) project as part of its "Metrology for Safe Food and Feed in Developing Economies" Capacity Building Programme.Gravimetrically-prepared solutions having an assigned mass fraction of specified organic analytes are routinely used to calibrate measurement processes for the quantification of the same analytes in matrix samples. Appropriate assignments of the property value and associated uncertainty of calibration solutions thus underpin the traceability of routine analysis and are critical for accurate measurements. Evidence of successful participation in relevant international comparisons is needed to document calibration and measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by national metrology institutes and designated institutes. In total, twelve NMIs/DIs participated in the Track C, Model II, Key Comparison CCQM-K154.d [Gravimetric preparation and value assignment of patulin (PAT) in acetonitrile (ACN) with 0.1 % formic acid (FA)] for emerging areas of global interest and innovation. Participants were requested to gravimetrically prepare calibration solutions and value assign the mass fractions, expressed in mg/kg, of PAT in ACN with 0.1 % FA solution. Study samples, with assigned values and associated uncertainties were prepared by the comparison participants and sent to the coordinating laboratory for comparison. The Key Comparison Reference Values (KCRVs), calculated form values measured by the coordinating laboratory based on calibrations obtained from independent gravimetrically prepared calibrant solutions, agreed with participants reported values, within their stated uncertainties.PAT is a mycotoxin produced by a variety of moulds, particularly by fungi of the genus Aspergillus and Penicillium. Often found in rotting apples and apple products, PAT can also occur in various other moldy fruits, grains and foods. Major human dietary sources of PAT are apples and apple juice made from affected fruit. PAT is relatively stable when given a short-acting heat-treatment, especially in an acidic environment. It was anticipated to provide a challenge representative for the gravimetrical preparation and value assignment of PAT calibration solutions in the mass fraction range of 10 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of mycotoxins with broadly similar structural characteristics.Eight participants of the MMCBKT programme were provided with a stock solution having a known PAT mass fraction and expanded uncertainty to use to gravimetrically prepare and value assign a calibration solution. Two NMIs/DIs used reference materials for preparing their solutions while five NMIs/DIs participated using their own calibration solutions. The use of in-house solutions required an additional capacity to undertake a fit-for-purpose purity assessment. NIM was the only NMI participating using both the MMCBKT based and their own in-house assigned solutions in order to connect the two different groups.It was decided to propose separate KCRVs for each of the two ampoules provided by the participating NMIs/DIs based on the PAT mass fraction. This allowed participants to demonstrate the efficacy of their implementation of the approaches used to gravimetrically prepare calibration solutions and to assess the PAT mass fraction.The majority of the PAT mass fraction KCRVs (wKCRV) for CCQM-K154.d spanned a mass fraction range of 9.72 mg/kg to 63.40 mg/kg. The relative expanded uncertainties U(wKCRV) ranged from 2.0 % to 5.4 %.Inspection of the degree of equivalence plots for the PAT mass fraction assignments in CCQM-K154.d indicated that there was an excellent agreement of results.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

EURAMET.T-K.7 Comparison : Inter-laboratory comparison of triple point of water cells

Main textThe purpose of this comparison was to compare the results of the participating laboratories at the triple point of water temperature (TPW) and assess the uncertainty on the practical realization of triple point of water temperature by the participant laboratories and also to support the Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMC) entries of the participating laboratories for this fixed point. This comparison was initiated as a EURAMET project with project number 1357. Initially, the participants of the comparison included the Metrology Institutes of Albania (DPM), F.Y.R Macedonia (BOM), Montenegro (MBM) and Serbia (DMDM). But at the later stages of the comparison, these countries understandably chose to leave the comparison instead of repeating the measurements due to an unexpected problem. On the other hand, participants from GULFMET organization, Emirates Metrology Institute (EMI) and National Measurement and Calibration Center at Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SASO NMCC) and also Jordan National Metrology Institute (JNMI) were included in the comparison after having approvals of each participating laboratory. Then the comparison was registered as Key Comparison with the name EURAMET.T-K7-4 in BIPM KCDB. Finally, two loops was combined together and five institutes performed the comparison with the single circulating TPW Cell. This report presents the results of the TPW comparison and gives detailed information about the measurements made at TUBİTAK UME and participating laboratories.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCT, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Report of the CCRI(II) supplementary international comparison of measurement of activity per unit mass of Cs-134 and Cs-137 in wheat flour (CCRI(II)-S13)

Main textA supplementary international comparison of measurement of activity per unit mass of Cs-134 and Cs-137 in wheat flour (CCRI(II)-S13) was carried out by CCRI in 2018. The matrix of the sample was wheat harvested in 2011 after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. No spiking was applied to the sample. Twelve institutes reported their results. Averages of the reported results and the associated uncertainties were obtained using the power-moderated mean. This report describes the supplementary comparison reference value, the degrees of equivalence of the results, the procedures of this comparison, and the sample preparation and measurements by the participants. Successful participation in this comparison by a laboratory may provide evidential support for Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC) claims for Cs-134 and Cs-137 measured using the laboratory's method(s) used in the comparison or methods calibrated by those used for the comparison.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

CCQM Key Comparison track A CCQM-K168: Non-polar analytes in high carbohydrate food matrix: trans-zearalenone in maize powder

Main textDemonstrating competency and equivalence for the measurement capacity of contaminants and nutrients in primary foodstuffs is a priority of the OAWG 10-year strategy for Track A core comparisons. Such measurements have posed significant challenges for reference material producers and calibration service providers. This key comparison (KC), under the topic of "non- polar analyte in high carbohydrate food matrix: trans-Zearalenone (trans-ZEN) in maize powder", was a sector of the model system selected to align with this class within the OAWG strategy. Evidence of successful participation in formal, relevant international comparisons is needed to demonstrate the Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs).17 NMIs and DIs participated in the Track A KC CCQM-K168 "non-polar analyte in high carbohydrate food matrix: trans-ZEN in maize powder". Participants were requested to evaluate the mass fraction (μg/kg) of trans-ZEN in maize powder material. Methods like liquid-liquid extraction and SPE were applied in the pre-treatment, and HPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-FLD were used for detection by the participants. The mass fractions for trans-ZEN were in the range of (91.8 to 169) μg/kg with standard uncertainties of (1.5 to 24.7) μg/kg, and corresponding relative standard uncertainties from 1.5% to 14.6%. Two laboratories, INTI and BAM were excluded from the key comparison reference value (KCRV) evaluation. INTI result was identified as an outlier and confirmed their method had insufficient specificity. For BAM the calibration approach they used does not meet the CIPM traceability requirements. The other 15 laboratories included in the calculation of the consensus KCRV all agreed within their standard uncertainties. Hierarchical Bayes was used as estimators in calculating KCRV and standard uncertainty.Successful participation in CCQM-K168 demonstrates the measurement capabilities in determining mass fraction of organic compounds, with molecular mass of 100 g/mol to 500 g/mol, having low polarity pKow < -2, in mass fraction range from 1 μg/kg to 1000 μg/kg in a high carbohydrate food matrix.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

RESEARCH OF LONG-TERM DRIFT OF THE NATIONAL INDUCTANCE STANDARD

Inductance measurements is important for all branches of technology related to the application of electricity: energy and electronics, radio and television, transport and communication, and scientific research. Electromechanical devices and electronic components can be characterized using impedance measurements to identify the parameters of their equivalent electrical model. New inductance measurement methods are being developed in specific fields of activity. Manufacturers of standards and measuring instruments of inductance develop special handbooks outlining various methods of inductance measurement. The State Primary Standard of Ukraine for inductance and loss angle tangent reproduces and transmits a unit of inductance in the range from 1∙10-6 H to 10 H at a frequency of 1 kHz. It is keeping in the SE “Ukrmetrteststandard” and participated in several comparisons of national standards within the framework of the activities of regional metrological organizations. The calibration and measurement capabilities of inductance measurement of national laboratories of different countries were studied to analyze and compare the capabilities of the national standard with the standards of other countries. Long-term instability studies of inductance measures of 1 mH, 10 mH and 100 mH, which are part of the national standard unit of inductance, have been conducted. The research period covered from 2009 to 2022. It was established that the drift lines of the specified inductance measures can be described using linear approximations. The rationale for choosing inductance measures of 10 mH and 100 mH for their use as transmission standards in the calibration of standards, which were organized and conducted by SE “Ukrmetrteststandard” as their pilot laboratory, is given.

High-resolution x-ray spectrometer for x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy.

Two extended x-ray absorption fine structure flat crystal x-ray spectrometers (EFX's) were designed and built for high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy over a large energy range with flexible, on-shot energy dispersion calibration capabilities. The EFX uses a flat silicon [111] crystal in the reflection geometry as the energy dispersive optic covering the energy range of 6.3-11.4keV and achieving a spectral resolution of 4.5eV with a source size of 50μm at 7.2keV. A shot-to-shot configurable calibration filter pack and Bayesian inference routine were used to constrain the energy dispersion relation to within ±3eV. The EFX was primarily designed for x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and provides significant improvement to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics' OMEGA-60 XAFS experimental platform. The EFX is capable of performing extended XAFS measurements of multiple absorption edges simultaneously on metal alloys and x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy to measure the electron structure of compressed 3d transition metals.

APMP/TCRI key comparison report of measurement of air kerma for medium-energy x-rays (APMP.RI(I)-K3.2013)

Main textThe APMP/TCRI Dosimetry Working Group initiated the APMP.RI(I)-K3.2013 key comparison of measurement of air kerma for medium-energy x-rays (100 kV to 250 kV); measurements took place between 2015 and 2017. In total, 11 institutes took part in the comparison, among which 8 were APMP member laboratories, two from AFRIMETS and one from SIM. Three commercial cavity ionization chambers were used as transfer standards circulated among the participants. All the participants established 100, 135, 180 and 250 kV x-ray beam qualities equivalent to those of the BIPM. The ARPANSA and the NMIJ were linking laboratories and two participants subsequently made comparisons with the BIPM. The 7 other participants' degrees of equivalence fell within 11 parts in 103 of unity, well within the relevant expanded uncertainty (k = 2) in all cases. Excluding the BARC, the results were within 5.7 parts in 103, well within the relevant combined standard uncertainty. These results indicated that the calibration capabilities of most laboratories were in very good agreement and there were no serious discrepancies between them. The effect of implementing the recommendations of ICRU Report 90, which occurred on 1 January 2018 (after this comparison), is discussed and we deduce that the effect on the degrees of equivalence is negligible. The increase in the uncertainty in Wair has been added to all laboratories so that the degrees of equivalence and the uncertainties published here are applicable to post-ICRU 90 measurement results.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Key comparison study - organic solvent calibration solution - gravimetric preparation and value assignment of deoxynivalenol (DON) in acetonitrile (ACN)

Main textThe CCQM-K154.c comparison was coordinated by the the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) and the Chinese National Institute of Metrology (NIM) on behalf of the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) of the Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière (CCQM) for National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) which provide measurement services in organic analysis under the 'Comité International des Poids et Mesures' Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) and/or have participated in the BIPM's Mycotoxin Metrology Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer (MMCBKT) project as part of its "Metrology for Safe Food and Feed in Developing Economies" Capacity Building Programme.Gravimetrically-prepared solutions having an assigned mass fraction of specified organic analytes are routinely used to calibrate measurement processes for the quantification of the same analytes in matrix samples. Appropriate assignments of the property value and associated uncertainty of calibration solutions thus underpin the traceability of routine analysis and are critical for accurate measurements. Evidence of successful participation in relevant international comparisons is needed to document calibration and measurement capability claims (CMCs) made by national metrology institutes and designated institutes. In total, nine NMIs/DIs participated in the Track C, Model II, Key Comparison CCQM-K154.c [Gravimetric preparation and value assignment of deoxynivalenol (DON) in acetonitrile (ACN)] for emerging areas of global interest and innovation. Participants were requested to gravimetrically prepare calibration solutions and value assign the mass fractions, expressed in mg/kg, of deoxynivalenol (DON) in the acetonitrile (ACN) solution. Study samples, with assigned values and associated uncertainties were prepared by the comparison participants and sent to the coordinating laboratory for comparison. The Key Comparison Reference Values (KCRVs), calculated from values measured by the coordinating laboratory based on calibrations obtained from independent gravimetrically prepared calibrant solutions, agreed with participants reported values, within their stated uncertainties.DON belongs to the large group of trichothecene mycotoxins. It is produced by certain fungi of the genus Fusarium that predominantly infect wheat, corn, oats, barley, rice, and other grains in the field or during storage. It was anticipated to provide a challenge representative for the gravimetrical preparation and value assignment of calibration solutions in the mass fraction range of 10 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of mycotoxins with broadly similar structural characteristics.Ten participants of the MMCBKT programme were provided with a stock solution having a known DON mass fraction and expanded uncertainty to use to gravimetrically prepare and value assign a calibration solution. Three NMIs/DIs also participated using their own calibration solutions. The use of in-house solutions required an additional capacity to undertake a fit-for-purpose purity assessment. NIM was the only NMI participating using both the MMCBKT based and their own in-house assigned solutions in order to connect the two different groups.It was decided to propose separate KCRVs for each of the two ampoules provided by the participating NMIs/DIs based on the DON mass fraction. This allowed participants to demonstrate the efficacy of their implementation of the approaches used to gravimetrically prepare calibration solutions and to assess the DON mass fraction.The majority of the DON mass fraction KCRVs (w KCRV ) for CCQM-K154.c spanned a mass fraction range of 9.88 mg/kg to 123.45 mg/kg. The relative expanded uncertainties U(w KCRV ) ranged from 2.8 % to 6.8 %.Inspection of the degree of equivalence plots for the DON mass fraction assignments in CCQM-K154.c indicated that there was an excellent agreement of results.To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

Monitoring the effects of urban and forested land uses on runoff quality: Implications for improved stormwater management

Urban stormwater is a substantial source of non-point source pollution. Despite considerable monitoring efforts, little is known about stormwater quality in certain geographic regions. These spatial gaps induce uncertainty when extrapolating data and reduce model calibration capabilities, thereby limiting pollutant load reduction strategies. In this study, stormwater quality was monitored from 15 watersheds to characterize pollutant event mean concentrations (EMCs) and loads as a function of urban and forested (i.e., surrogates for pre-development) land use and land covers (LULCs) and rainfall patterns from a geographic region where these data are sparse. Residential and heavy industrial, heavy industrial, and industrial and commercial LULCs, respectively, were the primary generators of nutrients, total suspended solids (TSS), and heavy metals. Increased rainfall intensities (average and peak) significantly increased the EMCs of all particulate bound pollutants. Pollutant loads increased with rainfall depth and, in general, did not follow the same LULC trends as EMCs, suggesting loads were influenced substantially by watershed hydrologic responses. Mean annual urban loads of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, TSS, and zinc (Zn) ranged from 0.4 (low density residential [LDR]) to 1.5 (heavy industrial), 3.2 (single family residential [SFR]) to 11.5 (heavy industrial), 122.6 (SFR) to 1219.9 (heavy industrial), and 0.1 (LDR) to 0.7 (commercial) kg/ha/yr, respectively. Annual urban loads of TSS were 3.5 to 34 and − 1.5 to 6.8-fold greater than annual loads from forested and agricultural watersheds, respectively. Mean annual loads of heavy metals from urban LULCs were substantially greater than loads produced by forested and agricultural watersheds (e.g., 8.6 to 92 and 6.8 to 73-fold greater, respectively, for Zn), while loads of nutrients were generally similar between urban and agricultural watersheds. Findings herein suggest non-point source pollution will continue to threaten surface water quality as land is developed; results can help guide the development of cost-efficient stormwater management strategies.

Test of a digitizer to process the pulse signal from the 3 photomultiplier tubes of a TDCR liquid scintillation counter

The BIPM is developing a new service for international key comparisons in radionuclide metrology. The system, called ESIR, is based on a liquid scintillation counter using the Triple-to-Double Coincidence Ratio (TDCR) technique. The aim is to produce an international reference that can be reproduced over several decades of time in order to compare the calibration capabilities of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). The maintainability of the electronics performing the signal processing is a challenge. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the electronics, the strategy is to set up redundant systems including at least one digital electronics module. The analogue modules developed in the 1990s and 2000s are less and less maintained and digital electronics are increasingly available on the market. In this context, a digitizer was tested and its suitability for the TDCR measurements compared to the currently used module based on an analogue front-end. This first implementation directly linking the photomultiplier anode to the CAEN digitizer without any analogue preconditioning shows a significant loss of detection efficiency and a lower signal to noise ratio observed on distributions of single photoelectrons. Although the TDCR method can correct for these efficiency losses, the loss of symmetry between the channels is too great to provide a sufficiently robust measurement. The use of low-pass filters upstream of the ADC will be considered to make this digital measurement system more reliable.

System-level performance study and commissioning of TGC front-end electronics for Phase-2 upgrade of LHC-ATLAS

The Thin Gap Chamber (TGC) of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC are responsible to provide muons trigger segments in the endcap region at the hardware trigger stage. The front-end electronics system of the TGC will be upgraded for the HL-LHC to send binary hit-map at every bunch crossing (BC) to the back-end system. Such an operation poses lots of unique challenges: hit BC identification with high efficiency, fine-tuned clock distribution, robustness for SEU, and capability of timing calibration. Accommodating these requirements, the primary processor board (PS Board) is in charge of data processing and reception of control signals from the back-end. An independent control module (JATHub) will take responsibility for FPGA configuration and clock phase monitoring of the PS Boards with an SoC-based design. Prototyping and system-level demonstration with the prototypes have been performed. This experience validates our operation and commissioning strategy of the TGC electronics system for the HL-LHC.

Fiber-Optic Gyroscope Thermal Calibration through Two-Dimensional N-Order Polynomial for Landslide Displacement Monitoring

A fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) with lower precision but higher cost advantage is typically selected according to working conditions and engineering budget. Thermal drift is the main factor affecting FOG precision. External thermal calibration methods by algorithms can effectively weaken the influence of thermal drift. This paper presents a thermal calibration method of a two-dimensional N-order polynomial (TDNP) and compares it with artificial neural network (ANN) methods to determine a software FOG thermal calibration method for landslide displacement monitoring. The TDNP thermal calibration coefficient matrix was established, and the thermal calibration capability of the TDNP method with different orders N was evaluated on the basis of error analysis. The ANN model with 1 to 18 hidden neural layers was established on the basis of LM, BR, and SCG algorithms to choose a suitable ANN. Finally, the mean absolute errors of FOG thermal calibration through the TDNP with different orders and the LM were compared. This method was applied in the Huangtupo landslide area, China. The results highlight that the TDNP method with order 5 had better performance and satisfied the requirements of landslide displacement monitoring. The research results can compensate for the lack of adaptability of the FOG thermal calibration method in landslide displacement monitoring.

Prediction approach of larch wood density from visible-near-infrared spectroscopy based on parameter calibrating and transfer learning.

Wood density, as a key indicator to measure wood properties, is of weighty significance in enhancing wood utilization and modifying wood properties in sustainable forest management. Visible–near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy provides a feasible and efficient solution for obtaining wood density by the advantages of its efficiency and non-destructiveness. However, the spectral responses are different in wood products with different moisture content conditions, and changes in external factors may cause the regression model to fail. Although some calibration transfer methods and convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep transfer learning methods have been proposed, the generalization ability and prediction accuracy of the models still need to be improved. For the prediction problem of Vis-NIR wood density in different moisture contents, a deep transfer learning hybrid method with automatic calibration capability (Resnet1D-SVR-TrAdaBoost.R2) was proposed in this study. The disadvantage of overfitting was avoided when CNN processes small sample data, which considered the complex exterior factors in actual production to enhance feature extraction and migration between samples. Density prediction of the method was performed on a larch dataset with different moisture content conditions, and the hybrid method was found to achieve the best prediction results under the calibration samples with different target domain calibration samples and moisture contents, and the performance of models was better than that of the traditional calibration transfer and migration learning methods. In particular, the hybrid model has achieved an improvement of about 0.1 in both R 2 and root mean square error (RMSE) values compared to the support vector regression model transferred by piecewise direct standardization method (SVR+PDS), which has the best performance among traditional calibration methods. To further ascertain the generalizability of the hybrid model, the model was validated with samples collected from mixed moisture contents as the target domain. Various experiments demonstrated that the Resnet1D-SVR-TrAdaBoost.R2 model could predict larch wood density with a high generalization ability and accuracy effectively but was computation consuming. It showed the potential to be extended to predict other metrics of wood.

PTB–INRIM comparison of novel digital impedance bridges with graphene impedance quantum standards

This paper describes an onsite comparison of two different digital impedance bridges when performing measurements on a quantum Hall resistance standard with the purpose of realizing the SI unit of capacitance, the farad. In the EMPIR Joint Research Project 18SIB07 GIQS, graphene impedance quantum standards, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany, developed a Josephson impedance bridge, and the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM) and the Politecnico di Torino (POLITO), Italy, developed an electronic digital impedance bridge. The former is based on Josephson waveform generators and the latter on an electronic waveform synthesizer. The INRIM–POLITO impedance bridge was moved to PTB and the two bridges were compared by measuring both temperature-controlled standards and a graphene AC quantized Hall resistance (QHR) standard. The uncertainties for the calibration of 10 nF capacitance standards at 1233 Hz are within 1 × 10−8 for the PTB’s bridge and around 1 × 10−7 for the INRIM–POLITO’s bridge. The comparison mutually validates the two bridges within the combined uncertainty. The result confirms that digital impedance bridges allow the realization of the SI farad from the QHR with uncertainties comparable with the best calibration capabilities of the BIPM and the major National Metrology Institutes.

Development of the photo-diode subsystem for the HERD calorimeter double-readout

The measurement of cosmic-ray individual spectra provides unique information regarding the origin and propagation of astro-particles. Due to the limited acceptance of current space experiments, protons and nuclei around the “knee” region (∼ 1 PeV) can only be observed by ground based experiments. Thanks to an innovative design, the High Energy cosmic-Radiation Detection (HERD) facility will allow direct observation up to this energy region: the instrument is mainly based on a 3D segmented, isotropic and homogeneous calorimeter which properly measures the energy of particles coming from each direction and it will be made of about 7500 LYSO cubic crystals. The read-out of the scintillation light is done with two independent systems: the first one based on wave-length shifting fibers coupled to Intensified scientific CMOS cameras, the second one is made of two photo-diodes with different active areas connected to a custom front-end electronics. This photo-diode system is designed to achieve a huge dynamic range, larger than 107, while having a small power consumption, few mW per channel. Thanks to a good signal-to-noise ratio, the capability of a proper calibration, by using signals of both non-interacting and showering particles, is also guaranteed. In this paper, the current design and the performance obtained by several tests of the photo-diode read-out system are discussed.