A low-noise front-end for multiplexed ENG recording using CMOS technology

Multi-electrode cuffs have been proposed as a means for the parallel recording of naturally-occurring neural signals. Compared to a conventional tripole cuff providing a single channel signal, additional information about the velocity and direction of nerve signals can be extracted from the multi-electrode recordings. Moreover, interference suppression is improved and overall power consumption reduced, as the analysis shows. In this paper a new recording system is proposed, each channel of which consists of a low-noise preamplifier employing lateral bipolar transistors to provide an impedance match to the tissue and a path to ground for the switching currents of a single high-gain amplifier, which is multiplexed between the channels. The proposed system provides low-noise, low-power operation and practically identical channel gains and is suitable for integration in a larger CMOS-based system.     

Power-efficient M-ary PSSK Communications with Uncertain Phase Errors

M-ary phase-silence-shift-keying (PSSK), one of power-efficient modulation schemes, has enhanced symbol error rate (SER) performance by 6 dB compared with that of the conventional phase-shift-keying (PSK). Phase tracking problem of the PSSK with phase-locked-loop (PLL) is discussed in this paper. Capacity of the PSSK for the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel and Rayleigh fading channel is analyzed. Capacity loss of the PSSK due to the PLL is small, which tells us that the PSSK demodulator can be practically implemented.     

5G Based on Cognitive Radio

Both the cognitive radio (CR) and the fifth generation of cellular wireless standards (5G) are considered to be the future technologies: on one hand, CR offers the possibility to significantly increase the spectrum efficiency, by smart secondary users (CR users) using the free licensed users spectrum holes; on the other hand, the 5G implies the whole wireless world interconnection (WISDOM—Wireless Innovative System for Dynamic Operating Megacommunications concept), together with very high data rates Quality of Service (QoS) service applications. In this paper, they are combined together into a “CR based 5G”. With this aim, two novel ideas are advanced: the 5G terminal is a CR terminal and the CR technology is chosen for WISDOM concept. Thus, the 5G takes CR flexibility and adaptability and makes the first step through a commercial and tangible form.     

Integrity and cell-monolayer permeability of chitosan nanoparticles in simulated gastrointestinal fluids

The objective of this study was to assess the integrity and intestinal permeability of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) in simulated gastrointestinal fluids (SGIF). The cell-associated and transported chitosan was quantified and visualized after incubation of the CNPs with Caco-2 cell monolayer with/without SGIF treatment. In order to establish the role of proteins in the SGIF, CNPs were incubated with 4 proteins having different isoelectric points (pI). CNPs incubated with the fluids did not attach to the cell monolayer in contrast to the intact CNPs. Negatively-charged protein formed the complex with CNPs leading to particle size increase, but protected CNPs from disintegration. In contrary, positively-charged protein interacted with cross-linker causing disintegration of CNPs. CNPs incubated with the fluids did not attach to the cell monolayer in contrast to the intact CNPs. The results suggested that the surface charges of CNPs and proteins play a critical role in structural changes of CNPs in biological environment.