@article{PoghossianWeilCherstvyetal.2013, author = {Poghossian, Arshak and Weil, M. and Cherstvy, A. G. and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Electrical monitoring of polyelectrolyte multilayer formation by means of capacitive field-effect devices}, series = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}, volume = {405}, journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}, number = {20}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1432-1130 ; 1618-2642}, doi = {10.1007/s00216-013-6951-9}, pages = {6425 -- 6436}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The semiconductor field-effect platform represents a powerful tool for detecting the adsorption and binding of charged macromolecules with direct electrical readout. In this work, a capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) field-effect sensor consisting of an Al-p-Si-SiO2 structure has been applied for real-time in situ electrical monitoring of the layer-by-layer formation of polyelectrolyte (PE) multilayers (PEM). The PEMs were deposited directly onto the SiO2 surface without any precursor layer or drying procedures. Anionic poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) and cationic weak polyelectrolyte poly(allylamine hydrochloride) have been chosen as a model system. The effect of the ionic strength of the solution, polyelectrolyte concentration, number and polarity of the PE layers on the characteristics of the PEM-modified EIS sensors have been studied by means of capacitance-voltage and constant-capacitance methods. In addition, the thickness, surface morphology, roughness and wettabilityof the PE mono- and multilayers have been characterised by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy and water contact-angle methods, respectively. To explain potential oscillations on the gate surface and signal behaviour of the capacitive field-effect EIS sensor modified with a PEM, a simplified electrostatic model that takes into account the reduced electrostatic screening of PE charges by mobile ions within the PEM has been proposed and discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{WernerWagnerYoshinobuetal.2013, author = {Werner, Frederik and Wagner, Torsten and Yoshinobu, Tatsuo and Keusgen, Michael and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Frequency behaviour of light-addressable potentiometric sensors}, series = {Physica Status Solidi (A)}, volume = {210}, journal = {Physica Status Solidi (A)}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley-VCH}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1521-396X ; 0031-8965}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201200929}, pages = {884 -- 891}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS) are semiconductor-based potentiometric sensors, with the advantage to detect the concentration of a chemical species in a liquid solution above the sensor surface in a spatially resolved manner. The addressing is achieved by a modulated and focused light source illuminating the semiconductor and generating a concentration-depending photocurrent. This work introduces a LAPS set-up that is able to monitor the electrical impedance in addition to the photocurrent. The impedance spectra of a LAPS structure, with and without illumination, as well as the frequency behaviour of the LAPS measurement are investigated. The measurements are supported by electrical equivalent circuits to explain the impedance and the LAPS-frequency behaviour. The work investigates the influence of different parameters on the frequency behaviour of the LAPS. Furthermore, the phase shift of the photocurrent, the influence of the surface potential as well as the changes of the sensor impedance will be discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{ItabashiKosakaMiyamotoetal.2013, author = {Itabashi, Akinori and Kosaka, Naoki and Miyamoto, Ko-ichiro and Wagner, Torsten and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {High-speed chemical imaging system based on front-side-illuminated LAPS}, series = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, volume = {182}, journal = {Sensors and actuators B: Chemical}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1873-3077}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2013.03.016}, pages = {315 -- 321}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The chemical imaging sensor is a semiconductor-based chemical sensor that can visualize the spatial distribution of specific ions on the sensing surface. The conventional chemical imaging system based on the light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS), however, required a long time to obtain a chemical image, due to the slow mechanical scan of a single light beam. For high-speed imaging, a plurality of light beams modulated at different frequencies can be employed to measure the ion concentrations simultaneously at different locations on the sensor plate by frequency division multiplex (FDM). However, the conventional measurement geometry of back-side illumination limited the bandwidth of the modulation frequency required for FDM measurement, because of the low-pass filtering characteristics of carrier diffusion in the Si substrate. In this study, a high-speed chemical imaging system based on front-side-illuminated LAPS was developed, which achieved high-speed spatiotemporal recording of pH change at a rate of 70 frames per second.}, language = {en} } @article{FeuchtSchoenbachLanzletal.2013, author = {Feucht, Nikolaus and Sch{\"o}nbach, Etienne Michael and Lanzl, Ines and Kotliar, Konstantin and Lohmann, Chris Patrick and Maier, Mathias}, title = {Changes in the foveal microstructure after intravitreal bevacizumab application in patients with retinal vascular disease}, series = {Clinical Ophthalmology}, volume = {7}, journal = {Clinical Ophthalmology}, publisher = {Dove Medical Press}, address = {Auckland, New Zealand}, issn = {1177-5483}, pages = {173 -- 178}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{KotliarHanssenEberhardtetal.2013, author = {Kotliar, Konstantin and Hanssen, Henner and Eberhardt, Karla and Vilser, Walthard and Schmaderer, Christoph and Halle, Martin and Heemann, Uwe and Baumann, M.}, title = {Retinal pulse wave velocity in young male normotensive and mildly hypertensive subjects}, series = {Microcirculation}, journal = {Microcirculation}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Malden}, issn = {1549-8719}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{ReisertSchneiderGeissleretal.2013, author = {Reisert, Steffen and Schneider, Benno and Geissler, Hanno and Gompel, Matthias van and Wagner, Patrick and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Multi-sensor chip for the investigation of different types of metal oxides for the detection of H2O2 in the ppm range}, series = {physica status solidi (a)}, volume = {210}, journal = {physica status solidi (a)}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1862-6319}, pages = {898 -- 904}, year = {2013}, abstract = {In this work, a multi-sensor chip for the investigation of the sensing properties of different types of metal oxides towards hydrogen peroxide in the ppm range is presented. The fabrication process and physical characterization of the multi-sensor chip are described. Pure SnO2 and WO3 as well as Pd- and Pt-doped SnO2 films are characterized in terms of their sensitivity to H2O2. The sensing films have been prepared by drop-coating of water-dispensed nano-powders. A physical characterization, including scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis of the deposited metal-oxide films, was done. From the measurements in hydrogen peroxide atmosphere, it could be shown, that all of the tested metal oxide films are suitable for the detection of H2O2 in the ppm range. The highest sensitivity and reproducibility was achieved using Pt-doped SnO2. Calibration plot of a SnO2, WO3, Pt-, and Pd-doped SnO2 gas sensor for H2O2 concentrations in the ppm range.}, language = {en} } @article{HennemannKohlReisertetal.2013, author = {Hennemann, J{\"o}rg and Kohl, Claus-Dieter and Reisert, Steffen and Kirchner, Patrick and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Copper oxide nanofibres for detection of hydrogen peroxide vapour at high concentrations}, series = {physica status solidi (a)}, volume = {210}, journal = {physica status solidi (a)}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1862-6319}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201200775}, pages = {859 -- 863}, year = {2013}, abstract = {We present a sensor concept based on copper(II)oxide (CuO) nanofibres for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) vapour in the percent per volume (\% v/v) range. The fibres were produced by using the electrospinning technique. To avoid water condensation in the pores, the fibres were initially modified by an exposure to H2S to get an enclosed surface. By a thermal treatment at 350 °C the fibres were oxidised back to CuO. Thereby, the visible pores disappear which was verified by SEM analysis. The fibres show a decrease of resistance with increasing H2O2 concentration which is due to the fact that hydrogen peroxide is an oxidising gas and CuO a p-type semiconductor. The sensor shows a change of resistance within the minute range to the exposure until the maximum concentration of 6.9\% v/v H2O2. At operating temperatures below 450 °C the corresponding sensor response to a concentration of 4.1\% v/v increases. The sensor shows a good reproducibility of the signal at different measurements. CuO seems to be a suitable candidate for the detection of H2O2 vapour at high concentrations. Resistance behaviour of the sensor under exposure to H2O2 vapours between 2.3 and 6.9\% v/v at an operating temperature of 450 °C.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Schieffer2012, author = {Schieffer, Andre}, title = {Studies on diversity and coexistence in an experimental microbial community}, pages = {76 Bl. : Ill.}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Biodiversity and the coexistence of species have puzzled and fascinated biologists since decades and is a hotspot in todays' natural sciences. Preserving this biodiversity is a great challenge as habitats and environments underlying tremendous changes like climate change and the loss of natural habitats, which are mainly due to anthropogenic influences. The coexistence of numerous species even in homogeneous environments is a stunning feature of natural communities and has been summarized under the term 'paradox of plankton'. Up to now, there are several mechanisms discussed, which may contribute to local and global diversity of organisms. Several interspecific trade offs have been identified maintaining the coexistence of species like their abilities regarding competition and predator avoidance, their capability to disperse in space and time, and their ability to exploit variable resources. Further, micro-evolutionary dynamics supporting the coexistence of species have been added to our knowledge, and deriving from theoretical deterministic models, non-linear dynamics which describe the temporal fluctuation of abundances of organisms. Whereas competition and predation seem to be clue structural elements within interacting organisms, the intrinsic dynamic behavior - by means of temporal changes in abundance - plays an important role regarding coexistence within a community. The present work sheds light on different factors affecting the coexistence of species using experimental microbial model systems consisting of a bacterivorous ciliate as the predator and two bacteria strains as prey organism. Additionally, another experimental setup consisting of two up to five bacteria species competing for one limiting resource was investigated. Highly controllable chemostat systems were established to exclude extrinsic disturbances. According to theoretical analyses I was able to show - experimentally and theoretically - that phenotypic plasticity of one species within a microbial one-predator-two-prey food web enlarges the range of possible coexistence of all species under different dynamic conditions, compared to a food web without phenotypic plasticity. This was accompanied by non-linear (chaotic) population dynamics within all experimental systems showing phenotypic plasticity. The experiments on the interplay of competition, predation and invasion showed that all aspects have an influence on species coexistence. Under undisturbed controlled conditions all aspects were analyzed in detail and in combination. Populations showed oscillations which were shown by quasi-chaotic attractors in phase space diagrams. Competition experiments with two up to five bacteria species competing for one limiting resource showed that all organisms were able to coexist which was mediated by species oscillations entering a regime of chaos. Besides that fact it was found, that the productivity (biomass) as well as the total cell numbers - under the same nutrition supply - increased by an increasing number of species in the experimental systems. Up to now, the occurrence of non-linear dynamics in well controlled experimental studies has been recognized several times and this phenomenon seemed to be more common in natural systems than generally assumed.}, language = {en} } @article{NomdedeuWillenSchiefferetal.2012, author = {Nomdedeu, Mar Monsonis and Willen, Christine and Schieffer, Andre and Arndt, Hartmut}, title = {Temperature-dependent ranges of coexistence in a model of a two-prey-one-predator microbial food web}, series = {Marine Biology}, volume = {159}, journal = {Marine Biology}, number = {11}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {1432-1793}, doi = {10.1007/s00227-012-1966-x}, pages = {2423 -- 2430}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The objective of our study was to analyze the effects of temperature on the population dynamics of a three-species food web consisting of two prey bacteria (Pedobacter sp. and Acinetobacter johnsonii) and a protozoan predator (Tetrahymena pyriformis) as model organisms. We assessed the effects of temperature on the growth rates of all three species with the objective of developing a model with four differential equations based on the experimental data. The following hypotheses were tested at a theoretical level: Firstly, temperature changes can affect the dynamic behavior of a system by temperature-dependent parameters and interactions and secondly, food web response to temperature cannot be derived from the single species temperature response. The main outcome of the study is that temperature changes affect the parameter range where coexistence is possible within all three species. This has significant consequences on our ideas regarding the evaluation of effects of global warming.}, language = {en} } @article{HeinzelSchaeferMuelleretal.2010, author = {Heinzel, Alexander and Sch{\"a}fer, Ralf and M{\"u}ller, Hans-Wilhelm and Schieffer, Andre and Ingenhag, Ariane and Northoff, Georg and Franz, Matthias and Hautzel, Hubertus}, title = {Differential modulation of valence and arousal in high-alexithymic and low-alexithymic individuals}, series = {Neuroreport}, volume = {21}, journal = {Neuroreport}, number = {15}, publisher = {Lippincott Williams \& Wilkins}, address = {London}, issn = {1473-558X}, doi = {10.1097/WNR.0b013e32833f38e0}, pages = {998 -- 1002}, year = {2010}, abstract = {High-alexithymic individuals are characterized by an impaired ability to identify and communicate emotions whereas low-alexithymic individuals have a wide-ranging ability to deal with emotions. This study examined the hypothesis that valence and arousal modifications of emotional stimuli differentially modulate cortical regions in high-alexithymic and low-alexithymic individuals. To this end, 28 high-alexithymic and 25 low-alexithymic individuals were investigated with event-related fMRI using visual emotional stimuli. We found differential neural activations in the dorsal anterior cingulate, the insula and the amygdala. We suggest that these differences may account for the impaired ability of high-alexithymic individuals to appropriately handle emotional stimuli.}, language = {en} } @article{HeinzelSchaeferMuelleretal.2010, author = {Heinzel, Alexander and Sch{\"a}fer, Ralf and M{\"u}ller, Hans-Wilhelm and Schieffer, Andre and Ingenhag, Ariane and Eickhoff, Simon B. and Northoff, Georg and Franz, Matthias and Hautzel, Hubertus}, title = {Increased Activation of the Supragenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex during Visual Emotional Processing in Male Subjects with High Degrees of Alexithymia: An Event-Related fMRI Study}, series = {Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics}, volume = {79}, journal = {Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics}, number = {6}, publisher = {Karger}, address = {Basel}, issn = {0033-3190}, doi = {10.1159/000320121}, pages = {363 -- 370}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background: One of the most prominent neurobiological models of alexithymia assumes an altered function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as the crucial neural correlate of alexithymia. So far functional imaging studies have yielded inconclusive results. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis in healthy alexithymics and nonalexithymics in an event-related fMRI study. Methods: Thirty high- and 30 low-alexithymic right-handed male subjects (selected by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20) were investigated with event-related fMRI using a picture viewing paradigm. The stimuli consisted of happy, fearful and neutral facial expressions (Ekman-Friesen) as well as positive, negative and neutral pictures from the International Affective Picture System. Results: Contrasting the high-alexithymic with the low-alexithymic group we observed increased activation of the supragenual ACC for different emotional valences as well as for different emotional stimuli. Moreover, there was a positive correlation of the ACC with the individual TAS-20 scores but no correlations with the individual Beck Depression Inventory scores. Additionally, there was no difference in activity of the amygdala. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the supragenual ACC is constantly activated more strongly in alexithymic subjects and that this activation is related to the symptoms of alexithymia and not to associated symptoms such as depression. Therefore, our findings support the hypothesis of an altered function of the ACC in alexithymia.}, language = {en} } @article{KirchnerOberlaenderSusoetal.2013, author = {Kirchner, Patrick and Oberl{\"a}nder, Jan and Suso, Henri-Pierre and Rysstad, Gunnar and Keusgen, Michael and Sch{\"o}ning, Michael Josef}, title = {Towards a wireless sensor system for real-time H2O2 monitoring in aseptic food processes}, series = {Physica status solidi (a)}, volume = {210}, journal = {Physica status solidi (a)}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Weinheim}, issn = {1862-6319}, doi = {10.1002/pssa.201200920}, pages = {877 -- 883}, year = {2013}, abstract = {A wireless sensor system based on the industrial ZigBee standard for low-rate wireless networking was developed that enables real-time monitoring of gaseous H2O2 during the package sterilization in aseptic food processes. The sensor system consists of a remote unit connected to a calorimetric gas sensor, which was already established in former works, and an external base unit connected to a laptop computer. The remote unit was built up by an XBee radio frequency (RF) module for data communication and a programmable system-on-chip controller to read out the sensor signal and process the sensor data, whereas the base unit is a second XBee RF module. For the rapid H2O2 detection on various locations inside the package that has to be sterilized, a novel read-out strategy of the calorimetric gas sensor was established, wherein the sensor response is measured within the short sterilization time and correlated with the present H2O2 concentration. In an exemplary measurement application in an aseptic filling machinery, the suitability of the new, wireless sensor system was demonstrated, wherein the influence of the gas velocity on the H2O2 distribution inside a package was determined and verified with microbiological tests.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DuongNguyenStaat2012, author = {Duong, Minh Tuan and Nguyen, Nhu Hunyh and Staat, Manfred}, title = {Finite Element Implementation of a 3D Fung-type Model}, series = {ESMC-2012 - 8th European Solid Mechanics Conference, Graz, Austria, July 9-13, 2012}, booktitle = {ESMC-2012 - 8th European Solid Mechanics Conference, Graz, Austria, July 9-13, 2012}, publisher = {Verlag d. Technischen Universit{\"a}t Graz}, address = {Graz}, isbn = {978-3-85125-223-1}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FrotscherRaatschenStaat2012, author = {Frotscher, Ralf and Raatschen, Hans-J{\"u}rgen and Staat, Manfred}, title = {Effectiveness of the edge-based smoothed finite element method applied to soft biological tissues}, series = {ESMC-2012 - 8th European Solid Mechanics Conference, Graz, Austria, July 9-13, 2012}, booktitle = {ESMC-2012 - 8th European Solid Mechanics Conference, Graz, Austria, July 9-13, 2012}, editor = {Holzapfel, Gerhard A.}, publisher = {Verlag d. Technischen Universit{\"a}t Graz}, address = {Graz}, isbn = {978-3-85125-223-1}, year = {2012}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{StreunAlKaddoumParletal.2012, author = {Streun, M. and Al-Kaddoum, R. and Parl, C. and Pietrzyk, U. and Ziemons, Karl and Waasen, S. van}, title = {Simulation studies of optical photons in monolithic block scintillators}, series = {2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, booktitle = {2011 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, isbn = {978-1-4673-0120-6 (electronic ISBN)}, doi = {10.1109/NSSMIC.2011.6154621}, pages = {1380 -- 1382}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The interest in PET detectors with monolithic block scintillators is growing. In order to obtain high spatial resolutions dedicated positioning algorithms are required. But even an ideal algorithm can only deliver information which is provided by the detector. In this simulation study we investigated the light distribution on one surface of cuboid LSO scintillators of different size. Scintillators with a large aspect ratio (small footprint and large height) showed significant position information only for a minimum interaction depth of the gamma particle. The results allow a quantitative estimate for a useful aspect ratio.}, language = {en} } @article{ParlLarueStreunetal.2011, author = {Parl, C. and Larue, H. and Streun, M. and Ziemons, Karl}, title = {Double-side-readout technique for SiPM-matrices}, series = {2010 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, journal = {2010 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, issn = {1095-7863}, pages = {1486 -- 1487}, year = {2011}, abstract = {In our case the double-side-method is used to minimize the complexity of a matrix-readout. Here the number of channels is reduced to 2√N̅. It is also possible to benefit from the method in a single pixel readout system. One signal can be used to measure position and energy of the event, the other one can be applied to a fast trigger-circuit at the same time. In a next step we will investigate timing behavior and electrical crosstalk of the circuit.}, language = {en} } @article{HerzogPietrzykShahetal.2010, author = {Herzog, Hans and Pietrzyk, Uwe and Shah, N. Jon and Ziemons, Karl}, title = {The current state, challenges and perspectives of MR-PET}, series = {Neuroimage}, volume = {49}, journal = {Neuroimage}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1053-8119}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.10.036}, pages = {2072 -- 2082}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Following the success of PET/CT during the last decade and the recent increasing proliferation of SPECT/CT, another hybrid imaging instrument has been gaining more and more interest: MR-PET. First combined, simultaneous PET and MR studies carried out in small animals demonstrated the feasibility of the new approach. Concurrently, some prototypes of an MR-PET scanner for simultaneous human brain studies have been built, their performance is being tested and preliminary applications have already been shown. Through this pioneering work, it has become clear that advances in the detector design are necessary for further optimization. Recently, the different issues related to the present state and future prospects of MR-PET were presented and discussed during an international 2-day workshop at the Forschungszentrum J{\"u}lich, Germany, held after, and in conjunction with, the 2008 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference in Dresden, Germany on October 27-28, 2008. The topics ranged from small animal MR-PET imaging to human MR-BrainPET imaging, new detector developments, challenges/opportunities for ultra-high field MR-PET imaging and considerations of possible future research and clinical applications. This report presents a critical summary of the contributions made to the workshop.}, language = {en} } @article{BeerStreunHombachetal.2010, author = {Beer, S. and Streun, M. and Hombach, T. and Buehler, J. and Jahnke, S. and Khodaverdi, M. and Larue, H. and Minwuyelet, S. and Parl, C. and Roeb, G. and Schurr, U. and Ziemons, Karl}, title = {Design and initial performance of PlanTIS: a high-resolution positron emission tomograph for plants}, series = {Physics in Medicine and Biology}, volume = {55}, journal = {Physics in Medicine and Biology}, number = {3}, publisher = {IOP}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {1361-6560}, doi = {10.1088/0031-9155/55/3/006}, pages = {635 -- 646}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Positron emitters such as 11C, 13N and 18F and their labelled compounds are widely used in clinical diagnosis and animal studies, but can also be used to study metabolic and physiological functions in plants dynamically and in vivo. A very particular tracer molecule is 11CO2 since it can be applied to a leaf as a gas. We have developed a Plant Tomographic Imaging System (PlanTIS), a high-resolution PET scanner for plant studies. Detectors, front-end electronics and data acquisition architecture of the scanner are based on the ClearPET™ system. The detectors consist of LSO and LuYAP crystals in phoswich configuration which are coupled to position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes. Signals are continuously sampled by free running ADCs, and data are stored in a list mode format. The detectors are arranged in a horizontal plane to allow the plants to be measured in the natural upright position. Two groups of four detector modules stand face-to-face and rotate around the field-of-view. This special system geometry requires dedicated image reconstruction and normalization procedures. We present the initial performance of the detector system and first phantom and plant measurements.}, language = {en} } @article{StreunLarueParletal.2009, author = {Streun, M. and Larue, H. and Parl, C. and Ziemons, Karl}, title = {A compact PET detector readout using charge-to-time conversion}, series = {2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, journal = {2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York}, isbn = {1082-3654}, pages = {1868 -- 1870}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The readout of gamma detectors is considerably simplified when the event intensity is encoded as a pulse width (Pulse Width Modulation, PWM). Time-to-Digital-Converters (TDC) replace the conventional ADCs and multiple TDCs can be realized easily in one PLD chip (Programmable Logic Device). The output of a PWM stage is only one digital signal per channel which is well suited for transport so that further processing can be performed apart from the detector. This is particularly interesting for large systems with high channel density (e.g. high resolution scanners). In this work we present a circuit with a linear transfer function that requires a minimum of components by performing the PWM already in the preamp stage. This allows a very compact and also cost-efficient implementation of the front-end electronics.}, language = {en} } @article{WedrowskiBruyndonckxTavernieretal.2009, author = {Wedrowski, M. and Bruyndonckx, P. and Tavernier, S. and Zhi, L. and Dang, J. and Mendes, P. R. and Perez, J. M. and Ziemons, Karl}, title = {Robustness of neural networks algorithm for gamma detection in monolithic block detector, positron emission tomography}, series = {2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, journal = {2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (NSS/MIC)}, isbn = {1082-3654}, pages = {2625 -- 2628}, year = {2009}, abstract = {The monolithic scintillator block approach for gamma detection in the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) avoids estimating Depth of Interaction (DOI), reduces dead zones in detector and diminishes costs of detector production. Neural Networks (NN) are very efficient to determine the entrance point of a gamma incident on a scintillator block. This paper presents results on the robustness of the spatial resolution as a function of the random fraction in the data, temperature and HV fluctuations. This is important when implementing the method in a real scanner. Measurements were done with two Hamamatsu S8550 APD arrays, glued on a 20 {\~A}— 20 {\~A}— 10 mm3 monolithic LSO crystal block.}, language = {en} }