Differential Expression of Proteins in an Atypical Presentation of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare disease defined as a defect in the lymphocyte apoptotic pathway. Currently, the diagnosis of ALPS is based on clinical aspects, defective lymphocyte apoptosis and mutations in Fas, FasL and Casp 10 genes. Despite this, ALPS has been misdiagnosed. The aim of this work was to go one step further in the knowledge of the disease, through a molecular and proteomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from two children, a 13-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, called patient 1 and patient 2, respectively, with clinical data supporting the diagnosis of ALPS. Fas, FasL and Casp10 genes from both patients were sequenced, and a sample of the total proteins from patient 1 was analyzed by label-free proteomics. Pathway analysis of deregulated proteins from PBMCs was performed on the STRING and PANTHER bioinformatics databases. A mutation resulting in an in-frame premature stop codon and protein truncation was detected in the Fas gene from patient 2. From patient 1, the proteomic analysis showed differences in the level of expression of proteins involved in, among other processes, cell cycle, regulation of cell cycle arrest and immune response. Noticeably, the most down-regulated protein is an important regulator of the cell cycle process. This could be an explanation of the disease in patient 1.     

Applicability assessment of a real-time PCR assay for the specific detection of bovine,ovine and caprine material in feedstuffs

A TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for specific detection of bovine, ovine and caprine processed animal protein (PAP) in industrial feedstuffs. The method uses species-specific primers and probes targeting short mitochondrial D-loop sequences, and a positive amplification control based on 18S rRNA gene. The applicability of the real-time PCR protocol was assessed through analysis of 126 industrial feed samples that were manufactured to reproduce rendering processes of commercial feeds destined for farmed animals. The assay successfully classified samples as positive or negative according to the ruminant composition, enabling qualitative detection of banned material in feeds at levels as low as 0.1%. Although the method provides quantitative potential, results suggest that the real quantitative capability of the assay is limited by the existing variability in terms of composition and processing treatments of the feeds, which affect the amount and quality of amplifiable DNA.     

Comparison of the Determination of Eight Cholesterol Oxides in Dry�CCured Shoulder by GC�CFID, GC�CMS, and GC Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The analysis of eight cholesterol oxidation products: 7α–hydroxycholesterol, 7β–hydroxycholesterol, α–epoxycholesterol, β–epoxycholesterol, 20α–hydroxycholesterol, cholestanetriol, 25–hydroxycholesterol, and 7–ketocholesterol in dry–cured shoulder was carried out. The extraction of lipids was performed by using the Bligh and Dyer method (1959). Interferences were removed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) in two steps with silica and aminipropylsilica SPE columns. The separation of the eight cholesterol oxidation products was done by gas chromatography, and the detection was performed by flame ionization detection (FID) and mass spectrometry (MS). The results obtained from the use of both systems of detection were compared. The results showed that gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was the most suitable technique to obtain reliable quantitative data, and significant differences (p < 0.05) between FID and MS determining 7α–hydroxycholesterol, 20α–hydroxycholesterol, and 25–hydroxycholesterol were observed. For the determination of cholesterol oxidation products, it was necessary to apply gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to increase the sensitivity and to avoid interference from other compounds.     

Integrated Inductors Modeling for Library Development and Layout Generation

In this work we propose a modification to the conventional lumped equivalent circuit model for integrated inductors. Also the widely used parametric model is modified. The proposed models expand the frequency range where the integrated inductor behavior is accurately predicted. They are useful in developing automatic tools to assist the designers in selecting and automatically laying-out integrated inductors [1]. This work is based on measurements from integrated inductors fabricated in a standard silicon process.     

A low power voltage limiter for a full passive UHF RFID sensor on a 0.35 μm CMOS process

This paper presents a low power voltage limiter design for avoiding possible damages in the analog front-end of a RFID sensor due to voltage surges whenever readers and tags are close. The proposed voltage limiter design takes advantage of the implemented bandgap reference and voltage regulator blocks in order to provide low deviation of the limiting voltage due to temperature variation and process dispersion. The measured limiting voltage is 2.9 V with a voltage deviation of only ±0.065 V for the 12 measured dies. The measured current consumption is only 150 nA when the reader and the tag are far away, not limiting the sensitivity of the tag due to an undesired consumption in the voltage limiter. The circuit is implemented on a low cost 2P4M 0.35 μm CMOS technology.     

Fabrication,characterization, and analysis of photodetectors metal-porous silicon with different geometry and thickness of the porous silicon layer

Porous silicon photodetectors obtained by electrochemical etching of p-type non-polished crystalline silicon were studied. A metal-porous silicon structure was used to obtain the rectifying behavior. The geometry of the metal layer deposited by thermal evaporation on the porous zone was modified with different masks fabricated using a photolithographic method. The samples obtained under different anodization conditions were characterized by PL. The sample that showed the best intensity in photoluminescence, centered on 675 nm, was selected and five samples obtained under these conditions were prepared to compare the difference in the photoresponse because of the geometry of the evaporated metal layer. The responsivities obtained show us an important difference between the devices and allow us to propose a specific geometrical pattern to obtain a better response in this kind of devices.     

Evidence of Oxygen Ferromagnetism in ZnO Based Materials

Discoveries of room‐temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) in semiconductors hold great promise in future spintronics technologies. Unfortunately, this ferromagnetism remains poorly understood and the debate concerning the nature, carrier‐mediated versus defect‐mediated, of this ferromagnetism in semiconducting oxides is still open. Here, by using X‐ray absorption (XAS) and X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), it is demonstrated that the oxygen ions have a ferromagnetic response in different ZnO‐based compounds showing RTFM behavior: ZnO nanoparticles capped with organic molecules and ZnO/ZnS heterostructures. These results demonstrate the intrinsic occurrence of RTFM in these systems, and point out that it is not related to the metallic cation but it relays on the conduction band of the semiconductor.     

Permittivity and Conductivity Measurements of Building Materials at 5.8 GHz and 41.5 GHz

The results of various experiments performed to characterize electromagnetic properties of typical building materials at BRAN (Broadband Radio Access Networks) and MVDS (Multipoint Video Distribution System) bands are presented and compared. Transmission and reflection coefficients were measured as functions of the angle of incidence, using a wideband sounder based on the swept frequency technique. A high precision angular positioning system was built and used in co-ordination with the measurement equipment.The dielectric constants (_r) were estimated by comparing values predicted with a multiple successive internal reflection model and measured transmission and reflection coefficients. It has been found that the variation of the dielectric constant value with the frequency does not necessarily follow the same trend for different materials. For example, the measured _r for plasterboard presents an increment withfrequency (2.02 at 5.8 GHz, 2.5 at 41.5 GHz – measured by theauthors –, 2.58 at 59.5 GHz, and 2.81 at 60.2 GHz – given byliterature –), while the values for glass follow a wanderingpattern (6.06 at 5.8 GHz, 5–10 at 10 GHz, 3.41 at 41.5 GHz, 7.51at 57.6 GHz, and 5.29 at 60.2 GHz). Moreover, the measured_r for a brick wall at 5.8 GHz (3.58) shows differenceswith values reported at 2 GHz (4.44).     

增加折叠电流保护的电路

对许多需要数安培供电电流的应用而言，三端输出可调线性稳压器有易用．低成本和完全片上过载保护等特点，如美国国家半导体公司的LM317。增加数个元器件可以使三端稳压器具备一种高速度的短路限流能力，从而提高可靠性。限流器可将最大输出电流限制在一个安全的恒定水平IMAX上，避免稳压器的损坏。当出现一个故障状况时，传输晶体管上的功耗近似于VIN&#215;IMAX。要让设计的稳压器能承受过载，就需要谨慎地选择元器件的额定值（经常是留了过大的余地），除非可以在故障发生时降低或折叠（foldback）输出电流。