Analysis of inverse E class power amplifier with finite DC feed in sub-nominal condition

In this work an inverse E power amplifier with finite DC feed in sub-nominal condition is discussed. In the conventional inverse E the DC feed inductor is considered very large which imposes some conditions to the circuit such as constant current drawn from voltage supply and also a large value for inductance is hard to implement on-chip so this work removes the very large condition from DC feed inductance and proposes a finite DC feed for the structure and extracts the circuit parameters and design equations with regards to this matter. Furthermore to achieve a flexible design this work uses the phase shift between input and output voltages to control efficiency, peak switch voltage and peak switch current then the value of circuit elements and the tradeoffs for every choice are discussed in details and a design guideline is presented for achieving different goals in a finite DC feed inverse E PA. Finally the circuit is simulated in the 0.18 µm CMOS technology and the results are being verified.     

Stability and robust position control of hysteretic systems

Position control of a wide class of hysteretic systems, which includes those described by a Preisach model, is considered. The main focus of this paper is stability, tracking and the trajectories of a hysteretic system controlled by a PI controller. The system output (not its derivative) is measured and controlled. It is shown that, for arbitrary reference signals, the closed‐loop system is bounded‐input–bounded‐output‐stable with a finite gain of one. Furthermore, the absolute value of the error decreases monotonically for a constant reference signal. In this case, provided that the desired output is within the limits of the system output, zero steady‐state error is guaranteed. A bound on the time required to achieve a specified error is obtained. Only a simple condition on the controller parameters is required. The results imply that stability and position control are guaranteed, even if large errors in the model exist. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploration of the normal human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteome

We obtained insight into normal lung function by proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from six normal human subjects using a "Lyse-N-Go' shotgun proteomic protocol. Intra-sample variation was calculated using three different label-free methods, (i) protein sequence coverage; (ii) peptide spectral counts and (iii) peptide single-ion current areas (PICA), which generates protein expression data by summation of the area under the curve for a given peptide single-ion current trace and then adding values for all peptides from that same parent protein. PICA gave the least intra-subject variability and was used to calculate differences in protein expression between the six subjects. We observed an average threefold inter-sample variability, which affects analysis of changes in protein expression that occur in different diseases. We detected 167 unique proteins with >100 proteins detected in each of the six individual BAL samples, 42 of which were common to all six subjects. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated enrichment of several biological processes in the lung, reflecting its expected role in gas exchange and host defense as an immune organ. The same biological processes were enriched compared to either plasma or total genome proteome, suggesting an active enrichment of plasma proteins in the lung rather than passive capillary leak.     

Shotgun MS proteomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in normal subjects

We provide a review of proteomic techniques used to characterize the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) proteome of normal healthy subjects. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is the most common technique for sampling the components of the alveolar space. The proteomic techniques used to study normal BALF include protein separation by 2DE, whereby proteins were identified by comparison to a reference gel as well as high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-MS/MS, also known as shotgun proteomics. We summarize recent progress using shotgun MS technologies to define the normal BALF proteome. Surprisingly, we find that despite advances in shotgun proteomic technologies over the course of the last 10 years, which have resulted in greater numbers of proteins being identified, the functional landscape of normal BALF proteome was similarly described by all methods examined.     

Chemiresistive Sensor Arrays for Gas/Volatile Organic Compounds Monitoring: A Review

Gas detection and monitoring are essential due to their direct impact on human health, environment, and ecosystem. Chemiresistive sensors are one of the most used classes of sensors for monitoring and measurement of gases thanks to their ease of fabrication, customizability, mechanical flexibility, and fast response time. While chemiresistive sensors can offer good sensitivity and selectivity to a particular gas in a controlled environment with known interferences, they may not be able to differentiate between various gases having similar physiochemical properties under uncontrolled conditions. To address this shortcoming of chemiresistive gas sensors, sensor arrays have been the subject of recent studies. Gas sensor arrays are a group of individual gas sensors that are arranged to simultaneously detect and differentiate multiple cross-reactive gases. In this regard, various sensor array technologies have been developed to differentiate a given set of gases using multivariate algorithms. This review provides an insight into the different algorithms that are used to extract the data from the sensor arrays, highlighting the fabrication techniques used for developing the sensor array prototypes, and different applications in which these arrays are used.     

Efficient Delivery of Nerve Growth Factors to the Central Nervous System for Neural Regeneration

The central nervous system (CNS) plays a central role in the control of sensory and motor functions, and the disruption of its barriers can result in severe and debilitating neurological disorders. Neurotrophins are promising therapeutic agents for neural regeneration in the damaged CNS. However, their penetration across the blood–brain barrier remains a formidable challenge, representing a bottleneck for brain and spinal cord therapy. Herein, a nanocapsule‐based delivery system is reported that enables intravenously injected nerve growth factor (NGF) to enter the CNS in healthy mice and nonhuman primates. Under pathological conditions, the delivery of NGF enables neural regeneration, tissue remodeling, and functional recovery in mice with spinal cord injury. This technology can be utilized to deliver other neurotrophins and growth factors to the CNS, opening a new avenue for tissue engineering and the treatment of CNS disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Nanoassembled Peptide Biosensors for Rapid Detection of Matrilysin Cancer Biomarker

Early detection of cancer is likely to be one of the most effective means of reducing the cancer mortality rate. Hence, simple and ultra‐quick methods for noninvasive detection of early‐stage tumors are highly sought‐after. In this study, a nanobiosensing platform with a rapid response time of nearly 30 s is introduced for the detection of matrilysin—the salivary gland cancer biomarker—with a limit of detection as low as 30 nm . This sensing platform is based on matrilysin‐digestible peptides that bridge gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) cores (≈30–50 nm) and carbon quantum dot (CDs) satellites (≈9 nm). A stepwise synthesis procedure is used for self‐assembly of AuNP‐peptide‐CDs, ensuring their long‐term stability. The AuNP‐peptide‐CDs produce ideal optical signals, with noticeable fluorescence quenching effects. Upon peptide cleavage by matrilysin, CDs leave the surface of AuNPs, resulting in ultra‐fast detectable violet and visible fluorescent signals.     

Pd-doped LaCoO3 regenerative catalyst for automotive emissions control

The effect of partial substitution of Co by Pd in LaCoO₃ perovskite structure (i.e., LaCo_0.95Pd_0.05O₃) and the reductive diffusion of Pd from the bulk of perovskite to its surface, thus forming Pd nanoparticles, on CO and C₃H₈ oxidation present in air (simulated exhaust gas) are reported. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses confirm the perovskite structure for the catalysts. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET surface area measurements show that partial substitution of Co by Pd decreases the crystallite size of the perovskite and therefore increases its surface area. H₂-temperature programmed reduction (TPR) experiments reveal that Pd reduces at 135 °C and facilitates the reduction of Co in the perovskite structure. By partial reduction of the Pd containing catalyst at 180 °C for 30 min, the complete oxidation temperatures of CO and C₃H₈ decrease by about 70 and 50 °C, respectively.The reduction duration of the Pd containing catalyst strongly affects the T₅₀ and T₉₀ temperatures (temperatures at which 50 and 90% conversion occurs, respectively) and has an optimum, where it decreases by increasing the reduction temperature of the catalyst.     

Statistical detection and imaging of objects hidden in turbid media using ballistic photons

We exploit recent advances in active high-resolution imaging through scattering media with ballistic photons. We derive the fundamental limits on the accuracy of the estimated parameters of a mathematical model that describes such an imaging scenario and compare the performance of ballistic and conventional imaging systems. This model is later used to derive optimal single-pixel statistical tests for detecting objects hidden in turbid media. To improve the detection rate of the aforementioned single-pixel detectors, we develop a multiscale algorithm based on the generalized likelihood ratio test framework. Moreover, considering the effect of diffraction, we derive a lower bound on the achievable spatial resolution of the proposed imaging systems. Furthermore, we present the first experimental ballistic scanner that directly takes advantage of novel adaptive sampling and reconstruction techniques.     

Measuring electrochemical noise of a single working electrode for assessing corrosion resistance of polymer coated metals

Electrochemical noise measurement (ENM) of the spontaneous perturbation of current and potential of coated samples immersed in electrolyte determines the resistance of the coating system. ENM offers several advantages: the measurement is relatively simple to make, it is completely non-interfering with the natural process occurring on the surface and the data are simple to interpret. The original standard arrangement for ENM using a pair of samples has limitations for practical applications because two separate and nominally identical working electrodes are needed and this requirement is very hard (if not impossible) to fulfil in on-site application. This paper describes an alternative approach for electrochemical noise measurement to measure the noise resistance (R_n) of protective coatings based on use of just one working electrode. In this so-called “Single Cell” (SC) arrangement the electrochemical noise current and electrochemical noise potential between the working electrode and a non-noisy reference electrode is measured separately and consecutively. This new approach has been tested for a range of coating resistances. Also, the coating's resistance has been measured using DC resistance and EIS (at low frequency) and the results were compared with the R_n obtained from the single cell (SC) set up.