Current/voltage mode full-wave rectifier based on a single CCCII

A novel full-wave rectifier (or inverting full-wave rectifier) based on a single second-generation current controlled conveyor (CCCII) having no external passive components and diodes, conducive to IC implementation, is proposed in this paper. The circuits are capable of precisely processing the input signals of up to 30 MHz frequency, while in the situation when the circuits are operating in a voltage mode (VM), the allowed range of possible changes in the input voltage signal is ±500 mV compared with ±1 mA in the current mode (CM). In order to more fully perceive the performance of the proposed full-wave rectifier, the influence of nonidealities and parasitic impedances effects on its work was analyzed. The simulation results using 0.35-μm parameters confirm the feasibility of the proposed solutions.     

Physical and sensory aspects of maltodextrin gel addition used as fat replacers in confectionery filling systems

Confectionery fillings are products used in confectionery and baking industry containing approximately 30–40 g fat/100 g product. Due to the high fat content, they have considerable high caloric value. Therefore, there is a trend to decrease fat content in confectionery filling formulations. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using two types of maltodextrin gels as potential fat replacers in confectionery fillings.     

Configurable LDPC Decoder Architectures for Regular and Irregular Codes

Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes are one of the best error correcting codes that enable the future generations of wireless devices to achieve higher data rates with excellent quality of service. This paper presents two novel flexible decoder architectures. The first one supports (3,6) regular codes of rate 1/2 that can be used for different block lengths. The second decoder is more general and supports both regular and irregular LDPC codes with twelve combinations of code lengths ??648,1296,1944-bits and code rates-1/2,2/3,3/4,5/6- based on the IEEE 802.11n standard. All codes correspond to a block-structured parity check matrix, in which the sub-blocks are either a shifted identity matrix or a zero matrix. Prototype architectures for both LDPC decoders have been implemented and tested on a Xilinx field programmable gate array.     

RMS Detector of Multiharmonic Signals

This paper presents a new realization of the implicit root‐mean‐square (RMS) detector, employing three second‐generation current conveyors and MOS transistors. The proposed circuit can be applied in measuring the RMS value of complex, periodic signals, represented in the form of the Fourier series. To verify the theoretical analysis, circuit Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis simulations and experiment results are included, showing agreement with the theory.     

The Less We Eat,the Longer We Live: Can Caloric Restriction Help Us Become Centenarians?

Striving for longevity is neither a recent human desire nor a novel scientific field. The first article on this topic was published in 1838, when the average human life expectancy was approximately 40 years. Although nowadays people on average live almost as twice as long, we still (and perhaps more than ever) look for new ways to extend our lifespan. During this seemingly endless journey of discovering efficient methods to prolong life, humans were enthusiastic regarding several approaches, one of which is caloric restriction (CR). Where does CR, initially considered universally beneficial for extending both lifespan and health span, stand today? Does a lifelong decrease in food consumption represent one of the secrets of centenarians’ long and healthy life? Do we still believe that if we eat less, we will live longer? This review aims to summarize the current literature on CR as a potential life-prolonging intervention in humans and discusses metabolic pathways that underlie this effect.