A translinear-based true RMS-to-DC converter using only npn BJTs

A true rms-to-dc converter based on the explicit computation technique is proposed in this paper. Since the scheme utilizes translinear principle circuits to realize current-mode squarer, averaging and square root circuits, only npn bipolar junction transistors are required. The conversion circuit has wide-band frequency response and can be operated with single supply voltage at 2 V. PSPICE simulation and experimental results show good agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication in artificial knee joint with non-Newtonian fluids

This paper presents the transient analysis of a human artificial knee joint under elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) for point contact with non-Newtonian lubricants. The artificial knee joints use ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) against metal with time-varying speed and load during walking. This numerical simulation employed a perturbation method, Newton Raphson method and multigrid method with full approximation technique to solve simultaneously both the time-dependent Reynolds equation, with non-Newtonian fluid based on a Carreau model, and the elasticity equation.The general numerical schemes are implemented to investigate the characteristics of elastohydrodynamic lubrication in human artificial knee joints; profiles of pressure and film thickness are determined, with varying material and lubricant properties, applied loads and speeds. The results show that the elastohydrodynamic fluid film thickness between the metallic component of the artificial knee joint and the soft polyethylene bearing becomes larger as the contact area increases and the fluid film pressure decreases. At the beginning of the first walking cycle, the film thickness is lower than in subsequent cycles because of the time required to develop the fluid film; after the first cycle, the fluid film is similar for every cycle and is dependent on transient applied load and speed during human movement.     

On the realization of electronically current-tunable CMOS OTA

A CMOS operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) called as an EOTA, where its transconductance gain can be electronically and linearly tuned is proposed in this paper. The realization method is achieved by squaring the transconductance gain of the balanced CMOS OTA. The EOTA transconductance gain can be linearly tuned by an external bias current for three decades. The linear input-voltage range of about 1 Vp with less than 1% nonlinearity is obtained. The usefulness of the proposed EOTA is demonstrated through application example with a current multiplier. The performance of the proposed circuit is discussed and confirmed through PSPICE-simulation results.     

Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication of Rough Surfaces under Oscillatory Line Contact with Non-Newtonian Lubricant

This paper presents the results of a transient analysis of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of two parallel cylinders in line contact with a non-Newtonian lubricant under oscillatory motion. Effects of the transverse harmonic surface roughness are also investigated in the numerical simulation. The time-dependent Reynolds equation uses a power law model for viscosity. The simultaneous system of modified Reynolds equation and elasticity equation with initial conditions was solved using the multigrid, multilevel method with full approximation technique. The film thickness and the pressure profiles were determined for smooth and rough surfaces in the oscillatory EHL conjunctions, and the film thickness predictions were verified experimentally.

For an increase in the applied load on the cylinders or a decrease in the lubricant viscosity, there is a reduction in the minimum film thickness, as expected. The predicted film thickness for smooth surfaces is slightly higher than the film thickness obtained experimentally, owing primarily to cavitation that occurred in the experiments. The lubricant film under oscillatory motion becomes very thin near the ends of the contact when the velocity goes to zero as the motion direction changes, but a squeeze film effect keeps the fluid film thickness from decreasing to zero. This is especially true for surfaces of low elastic modulus. Harmonic surface roughness and the viscosity and power law index of the non-Newtonian lubricant all have significant effects on the film thickness and pressure profile between the cylinders under oscillatory motion.     

Effects of dried longan seed (Euphoria longana Lam.) extract on VEGF secretion and expression in colon cancer cells and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Angiogenesis is a critical event in cancer metastasis, via delivery of needed oxygen and nutrients to tumor cells. Anti-angiogenesis is one strategy for controlling cancer progression. We herein report anti-angiogenesis activity of dried longan seeds using colon adenocarcinoma cells (SW480 cells) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography was used for separate three dried longan seed fractions. We firstly evaluated vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) secretion, expression and colony formation of SW480 cells, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis and soft agar assays. Meanwhile cell proliferation, gelatinase activity and tube formation of HUVECs were determined via proliferation assay, gelatin zymography and in vitro tube formation assay, respectively. The results suggest that dried longan seed fractions could be potential angiogenic inhibitors not only interruption of VEGF secretion and expression in SW480 cells but also abrogation of cell proliferation, the activity of gelatinase and tube formation of HUVECs.     

A simple wide-band CMOS based true rms-to-dc converter

A simple integrable circuit technique for the realization of a wide bandwidth current-mode CMOS true rms-to-dc converter is proposed. The realization scheme is based on the implicit computation method that makes use of the characteristic of a CMOS squaring circuit, where the transistors are biased in their saturation regions. The conversion circuit consumes very low power due to the bias current of the circuit provided by the root-mean-square current I _RMS. The performance of the proposed circuit is studied through PSPICE simulation and experimental results.