Direct interface circuit to linearise resistive sensor bridges

This paper proposes the direct connection of different configurations of resistive sensor bridges to a microcontroller without any intermediate active component. Such a direct interface circuit relies on measuring the discharging time of a RC network that includes the resistances of the sensor bridge. For quarter-, half-, and full-bridge circuits, we combine the discharging times to estimate the fractional resistance change x of the bridge arms. Experimental results for half- and full-bridge circuits emulated by resistors yield a nonlinearity error below 0.3%FSR (full-scale range) for x between 0 and 0.1 and an effective resolution of 11 bit. Measurements on two commercial magnetoresistive sensors yield higher nonlinearity errors: 1.8%FSR for an AMR (Anisotropic Magnetoresistive) sensor and 5.8%FSR for a GMR (Giant Magnetoresistive) sensor, which are mainly due to the nonlinearity of the sensors themselves. Therefore, the nonlinearity of the measurement is limited by the sensors, not by the proposed interface circuit and linearisation algorithm.     

Low-distortion 4th order programmable Butterworth filter

A highly linear 4th order low-pass filter with one decade frequency programmability and 39 dB gain programmability is presented in this paper. Low distortion is achieved through the use of the inherently linear current division principle. The paper provides the basic equations of the Butterworth filter and shows how to achieve programmability. A prototype was fabricated in a 0.35 μm–3.3 V CMOS process and experimental measurements prove the high linearity of the system. A distortion level better than −65 dB for 2 V_p-p output signal is obtained.     

Study of Noise Properties in Nanoscale Electronic Devices Using Quantum Trajectories

Noise properties in nanoscale devices are studied extending, via quantum trajectories, the classical particle Monte Carlo techniques to devices in which quantum non-local effects are important. This approach can be used to study noise in a wide range of frequencies and can also be easily coupled to a Poisson solver to study long range Coulomb effects in noise characteristics. As a numerical example, we have studied noise in a tunneling barrier showing that the results obtained within our approach exactly reproduce those of the standard Landauer-Buttiker formalism in the zero frequency limit.     

Control system modification of an electromechanical pulsatile total artificial heart

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the persistent malar displacement and distraction of the zygomatic-sphenoid fracture line that is possible after alignment of the frontozygomatic and infraorbital rim fractures of a displaced malar fracture. DESIGN: Nonblinded cadaver study. SUBJECTS: Three fresh cadaver heads and 1 representative clinical example. INTERVENTION: The cadaver heads were subjected to blunt trauma to the malar eminence. Reduction of the malar unit was performed either with attention to the frontozygomatic and infraorbital rim fractures alone or with concomitant inspection of the zygomatic-sphenoid fracture line. The representative case was repaired with a trans-conjunctival approach for inspection of the zygomatic-sphenoid fracture line. RESULTS: Persistent malar asymmetry is possible after the reduction of displaced malar fractures when only the frontozygomatic and infraorbital rim buttresses are used for reference. In each case in our study, the zygomatic-sphenoid fracture line remained distracted. Alignment of the zygomatic-sphenoid fracture restored premorbid malar position. CONCLUSION: Inspection of the zygomatic-sphenoid fracture line can contribute significantly to the precise 3-dimensional reduction of displaced malar fractures.     

Don''t kill Japanese hemodialysis patients like America kills its patients

A 24-year-old woman with a 3 year history of Blaschkitis is presented. The dermatosis consisted of erythematous vesicular papules following Blaschko's lines on her left trunk. A moderate itching was described by the patient initially. Resolution occurred spontaneously after 3 months with hypopigmentation. Histological examination demonstrated a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate in the subpapillary dermis with lymphocytic exocytosis.     

Current progress in the development of a totally implantable Gyro centrifugal artificial heart

We studied the contractile responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1) of aortic strips from female transgenic rats, TGR(mRen2)27, heterozygous for the Ren-2 mouse gene, during the phases of developing (blood pressure in rats aged 5 weeks; 156 +/- 8 mmHg), steady (blood pressure in rats aged 11 weeks: 206 +/- 27 mmHg), and reversed (blood pressure in rats aged 35 weeks: 151 +/- 17 mmHg) hypertension. These responses were compared with those of aortae from sex- and age-matched, genetically homogeneous, normotensive Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Aortic strips from both transgenic and SD rats were deprived of endothelium before isometrically recording developed tension to cumulatively added ET-1. Aortic strips from 5- and 11-week-old female transgenic TGR(mRen2)27 (hfTG) rats responded to ET-1 with higher Emax values and lower EC50 values than those of age-matched SD rats. Conversely, aortic strips from 35-week-old hfTG rats exhibited lower Emax and higher EC50 values than aortic strips from SD rats. Within the hfTG rats, aortic strips from 11-week-old rats showed increased Emax and decreased EC50 of ET-1 as compared with either 5- or 35-week-old hfTG rats. These data are in keeping with the hypothesis that ET-1 contributes to the hypertension of hfTG rats and suggest that an altered vascular responsiveness to the peptide may be implicated in the changes of their systolic blood pressure occurring with ageing in this animal model.     

Strength and fracture toughness of carbon fibre polyester composites

Fracturing of carbon fibre/polyester composites has been studied by means of mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy. Carbon fibres were surface-treated in several ways so as to vary the interlaminar shear strength of the composites, and the effect of this variation on the work of fracture was determined by means of Charpy V-notch impact tests and slow three-point bend tests on notched specimens of triangular cross-section. The effect of moisture on the fracture toughness was also studied by measuring toughness and interlaminar shear strength after exposure to steam. Improvement of the fibre/resin bond results, as expected, in an increase in the brittleness of composites and it appears that a purely mechanical bond, such as might be obtained by acid-etching the fibre surface, is less proof against deterioration in humid atmospheres than a chemical bond, such as can be obtained by the use of coupling agents. Estimates of the magnitude of various contributions to the fracture toughness show that in carbon-fibre-reinforced resins the effect of increasing the stiffness or load-bearing ability of the matrix and the work done against friction in pulling broken fibres out of the matrix contribute approximately one fifth and four fifths, respectively, of the total work of fracture.