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QR decomposition (QRD) is a computationally-intensive matrix factorization method which is widely used in signal processing. Meeting the stringent processing budgets of real-time applications necessitates dedicated hardware acceleration. This thesis presents the architecture and Register-Transfer-Level (RTL) implementation of a QRD accelerator based on Givens rotations, specifically designed to ac
This thesis evaluates the ability of three hand-calculation models for estimating overpressure from hydrogen vapour cloud explosions. The models were the TNT, TNO and OHVE models. The aim was to assess their performance in realistic release environments and identify their strengths and limitations. Model predictions were validated against experimental data from three experimental setups: a refuell
We report on the synthesis and characterization of polyesters and copolyesters derived from a rigid aromatic cyclobutane diester monomer, 3,4-dimethoxytruxillic acid dimethyl ester (DMDMTr), prepared via [2 + 2] photodimerization of 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid. Using an optimized two-step melt transesterification–polycondensation method, DMDMTr was polymerized with various aliphatic diols to yield
CONTEXT: Uptake of organic farming falls short of stated sustainability targets, particularly in highly productive regions where adoption could mitigate environmental impacts of intensive farming. Several hypotheses have been advanced to explain the constraints on adoption, but these have not been assessed within an integrative, interdisciplinary framework.OBJECTIVE: The objective was to develop a
Aluminum is a promising carbon-free energy carrier, but advancing its use requires detailed understanding of its combustion behavior at the single-particle level. Measuring the transient surface temperatures of burning aluminum droplets is particularly challenging due to their small size, extreme temperatures, and fast dynamics. In this work, we demonstrate a multispectral pyrometry approach based
The pseudorapidity distribution of charged hadrons produced in Au+Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sNN = 200 GeV is measured using data collected by the sPHENIX detector. Charged hadron yields are extracted by counting cluster pairs in the inner and outer layers of the Intermediate Silicon Tracker, with corrections applied for detector acceptance, reconstruction efficiency, combinatoria
High-altitude lakes and headwater streams of the Andes provide essential benefits to society, yet they remain among the least studied and most vulnerable freshwater ecosystems. These systems supply drinking water, support agriculture and grazing, regulate floods, store carbon, and hold deep cultural and spiritual value for local communities. However, climate change, land use change, water extracti
Ozonation is one of the most promising advanced oxidation processes to be implemented as quaternary treatment for the removal of micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants. However, there are some knowledge gaps that limit its implementation. First, the removal efficiency is not known for all pollutants, and second, knowledge about degradation byproducts is limited, as well as the toxicity of
Detailed knowledge of particle-beam properties is of great importance to understand and push the performance of existing and next-generation particle accelerators. We recently proposed a phase-space tomography method to reconstruct the five-dimensional (5D) phase space, i.e., the charge density distribution in all three spatial directions and the two transverse momenta. Here, we present the first
FLASHForward is an experimental facility at DESY dedicated to beam-driven plasma-accelerator research. The X-2 experiment aims to demonstrate acceleration with simultaneous beam-quality preservation and high energy efficiency in a compact plasma stage. We report on the completed commissioning, first experimental results, ongoing research topics, as well as plans for future upgrades.
We present an updated characterization of the planetary system orbiting the nearby M2 dwarf GJ 3090 (TOI-177; d=22 pc), based on new high-precision radial velocity (RV) observations from NIRPS and HARPS. With an orbital period of 2.85 d, the transiting sub-Neptune GJ 3090 b has a mass we refine to 4.52 ± 0.47 M>, which, combined with our derived radius of 2.18 ± 0.06 R2, yields a density of 2.40-0
This paper presents the characterisation and testing of the first wafer-scale monolithic stitched sensor (MOSS) prototype developed for the ALICE ITS3 upgrade that is to be installed during the LHC Long Shutdown 3 (2026–2030). The MOSS chip design is driven by the truly cylindrical detector geometry that imposes that each layer is built out of two wafer-sized, bent silicon chips. The stitching tec
The intense stellar irradiation of ultra-hot Jupiters results in some of the most extreme atmospheric environments in the planetary regime. On their daysides, temperatures can be sufficiently high for key atmospheric constituents to thermally dissociate into simpler molecular species and atoms. This dissociation drastically changes the atmospheric opacities and, in turn, critically alters the temp
Context. The Near InfraRed Planet Searcher (NIRPS) joined HARPS on the 3.6-m ESO telescope at La Silla Observatory in April 2023, dedicating part of its Guaranteed Time Observations (GTO) program to the radial velocity follow-up of TESS planet candidates to confirm and characterize transiting planets around M dwarfs. Aims. We present the “Sub-Neptunes” subprogram of the NIRPS-GTO, aimed at investi
The production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) from secondary biomass is a promising technique for the production of liquid biofuels. However, the resulting FPBO is often viscous and chemically unstable, requiring significant upgrading while also being difficult to work with. To overcome this issue, FPBO can be hydrotreated using slurry hydrotreatment, which has a long history as a processing tec
Neophobia, or aversion to novelty, is important for adaptability and survival as it influences the ways in which animals navigate risk and interact with their environments. Across individuals, species and other taxonomic levels, neophobia is known to vary considerably, but our understanding of the wider ecological drivers of neophobia is hampered by a lack of comparative multispecies studies using
High-brightness electron bunches drive fundamental research in particle physics and photon science. Key to achieving a high brightness is to have a low transverse emittance, which ensures that the bunch can be tightly focussed. In radiofrequency accelerators a low initial emittance can be rapidly degraded due to space charge forces, which are greatly diminished once the electron bunch attains a re
There is limited research examining the perspectives on the use of genetic testing in psychiatric care among individuals of non-European ancestry. Adults with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) of Latin American ancestry (n = 1,513) completed a survey assessing their interest in receiving genetic testing for OCD, their level of comfort with disclosing this information, views on the use of genetic
Context: Organic farming aims to make agriculture more sustainable, but its sustainability benefits may be offset by lower yields compared to conventional farming. Avenues to increase organic yields have been studied extensively, but there is a lack of research using integrated approaches that consider co-variation between different organic management practices within commercial farming systems. M
