Design of an Embedded CMOS Temperature Sensor for Passive RFID Tag Chips

This paper presents an ultra-low embedded power temperature sensor for passive RFID tags. The temperature sensor converts the temperature variation to a PTAT current, which is then transformed into a temperature-controlled frequency. A phase locked loop (PLL)-based sensor interface is employed to directly convert this temperature-controlled frequency into a corresponding digital output without an external reference clock. The fabricated sensor occupies an area of 0.021 mm² using the TSMC 0.18 1P6M mixed-signal CMOS process. Measurement results of the embedded sensor within the tag system shows a 92 nW power dissipation under 1.0 V supply voltage at room temperature, with a sensing resolution of 0.15 °C/LSB and a sensing accuracy of −0.7/0.6 °C from −30 °C to 70 °C after 1-point calibration at 30 °C.

Peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst prevents matrix metalloproteinase-9 activation and neurovascular injury after hemoglobin injection into the caudate nucleus of rats

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a major constituent of blood and a potent mediator of oxidative or nitrative stress after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Our previous study demonstrated that Hb could induce abundant peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation in vivo, which may be involved in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, however, the drug intervention is absent and also the underlying mechanism. Using an experimental stroke model by injecting Hb into the caudate nucleus of male Sprague-Dawley rats, we assessed the role of ONOO(-) decomposition catalyst, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrinato iron(III) [FeTPPS] in the activation of MMP-9 and Hb-induced neurovascular injuries. 3-Nitrotyrosine (3-NT, as an index of ONOO(-) formation) and NF-κB expression was measured by western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC)/immunofluorescence (IF). Activity of MMP was evaluated by in situ zymography. Neurovascular injury was assessed using zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) by WB and IF, fibronectin (FN) and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) IHC. Perihematomal cell death was determined by TUNEL assay. Behavioral outcome was measured by modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test. At the injured striata, profuse 3-NT was produced and mainly expressed in neutrophils and microglia/macrophages. 3-NT formation significantly colocalized with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression. In situ zymography showed that gelatinase activity was mostly co-localized with neurons and blood vessel walls and partly with neutrophils and microglia/macrophages. Enhanced 3-NT production, NF-κB induction and MMP-9 activation were obviously reduced after FeTPPS treatment. Hb-induced injury to tight junction protein (ZO-1), basal lamina of FN-immunopositive microvasculature and neural cells was evidently ameliorated by FeTPPS. In addition, apoptotic cell numbers as well as behavioral deficits were also improved. The present study shows that the administration of the ONOO(-) decomposition catalyst FeTPPS protects against Hb-induced neurovascular injuries and improves neurological function, which possibly in part by suppressing MMP-9 activation.

A CMOS pressure sensor tag chip for passive wireless applications

This paper presents a novel monolithic pressure sensor tag for passive wireless applications. The proposed pressure sensor tag is based on an ultra-high frequency RFID system. The pressure sensor element is implemented in the 0.18 µm CMOS process and the membrane gap is formed by sacrificial layer release, resulting in a sensitivity of 1.2 fF/kPa within the range from 0 to 600 kPa. A three-stage rectifier adopts a chain of auxiliary floating rectifier cells to boost the gate voltage of the switching transistors, resulting in a power conversion efficiency of 53% at the low input power of -20 dBm. The capacitive sensor interface, using phase-locked loop archietcture, employs fully-digital blocks, which results in a 7.4 bits resolution and 0.8 µW power dissipation at 0.8 V supply voltage. The proposed passive wireless pressure sensor tag costs a total 3.2 µW power dissipation.

Comparison of molar intrusion efficiency and bone density by CT in patients with different vertical facial morphology

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between molar intrusion efficiency and bone density in patients with different vertical facial morphology. Thirty-six female patients, with overerupted upper first molars, were divided into two groups according to mandiblular plane angle (FH-MP): hyperdivergent, FH-MP>30° (G1), hypodivergent, FH-MP<22° (G2). Mini-screw implants with elastic chains were used to intrude upper first molars. Spiral CT was used to measure the intrusion degree of upper first molar and bone density, and molar intrusion efficiency was calculated as amount/duration (mm month(-1) ). In addition, each tooth was divided into three portions (cervical, furcation and apical) to measure the bone density. It was found in this study that treatment duration was 3·13 and 4·71 months in G1 and G2 and that the intrusion efficiency was 1·57 and 0·81 in G1 and G2 with significant difference (P < 0·05). There were significant differences in cervical, furcation and apical bone density between two groups (P < 0·05). The bone density was significantly reduced after molar intrusion. In addition, the bone density change was greater in G1 than in G2 (P < 0·05). It was concluded that molars were more easily to be intruded in hyperdivergent than in hypodivergent patients. The difference of bone density and bone density changes during intrusion may account for the variation of molar intrusion efficiency.

Paradoxical immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with cryptococcal meningitis in China: a 5-year retrospective cohort study

We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalised cryptococcal meningitis (CM) patients at a single centre to evaluate the clinical epidemiological features of paradoxical cryptococcal-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CM-IRIS) in a setting in China. A total of 154 AIDS patients with CM were involved, and 17.5% experienced IRIS at a median of 27 days after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Overall, 3 deaths were directly attributed to IRIS. The occurrences of CM-IRIS were independently associated with the pre-ART CD4+count, pre-C-reactive protein level, and the timing of ART initiation.

Blood versus crystalloid cardioplegia for pediatric cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Blood and crystalloid cardioplegia are the main myocardial protective solutions used in pediatric cardiac surgery. However, the effectiveness of these two solutions on myocardial metabolism, reperfusion injury and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients is still under debate. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of these two cardioplegia solutions in pediatric cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Keyword searches were performed on PUBMED, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library for randomized, controlled, clinical studies which were primarily comparing blood and crystalloid cardioplegia in pediatric cardiac surgery and provided data of postoperative cardiac troponin I (cTnI), lactate, mechanical ventilation time, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and inotropic support. Databases were searched from 1966 to June 2013 and were restricted to peer-reviewed English language publications of human subjects. We summarized the combined results of the data as mean difference (MD, when outcome measurements were made on the same scale) or standard mean difference (SMD, when the studies assess the same outcome with different scales), with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Five studies were identified, with a total of 323 patients. Lactate level after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was significantly lower after blood cardioplegia compared with crystalloid cardioplegia (SMD 1.09, 95%CI 0.12 to 2.06, p=0.03); cTnI release postoperatively at 4-6 h (MD 0.92 ng/ml, 95%CI -0.13 to 1.97, p=0.09), 12 h (MD 0.2 ng/ml, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.84, p=0.53) and 24 h (MD 0.98 ng/ml, 95%CI -0.26 to 2.22, p=0.12) was not significantly different between the groups; ventilation duration (MD 5.15 hours, 95%CI -7.51 to 17.81, p=0.42) and length of ICU stay (SMD -0.3, 95%CI -0.80 to 0.21, p=0.25) were not significantly different between the groups either.

CONCLUSION

Myocardial metabolism was better in the blood cardioplegia group compared with the crystalloid cardioplegia group. However, there was no evidence of improvement in myocardial damage or clinical outcome for either cardioplegia solution.

Moyamoya syndrome with antiphospholipid antibodies: a case report and literature review

Zhen Wang and Zhenqiang Fu contributed equally to this report. Moyamoya syndrome is a term applied to typical moyamoya vasculopathy with well-recognized associated conditions. Several systematic studies on the entities of moyamoya syndrome with autoimmune disease have been reported. We report a case of moyamoya syndrome with antiphospholipid antibodies and provide a review of relevant cases from the literature, describing the clinical characteristics and treatments.

Geometrical differences in target volumes based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and four-dimensional computed tomography maximum intensity projection images of primary thoracic esophageal cancer

The objective of the study was to compare geometrical differences of target volumes based on four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) maximum intensity projection (MIP) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) images of primary thoracic esophageal cancer for radiation treatment. Twenty-one patients with thoracic esophageal cancer sequentially underwent contrast-enhanced three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT), 4DCT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT thoracic simulation scans during normal free breathing. The internal gross target volume defined as IGTVMIP was obtained by contouring on MIP images. The gross target volumes based on PET/CT images (GTVPET ) were determined with nine different standardized uptake value (SUV) thresholds and manual contouring: SUV≥2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 (SUVn); ≥20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% of the maximum (percentages of SUVmax, SUVn%). The differences in volume ratio (VR), conformity index (CI), and degree of inclusion (DI) between IGTVMIP and GTVPET were investigated. The mean centroid distance between GTVPET and IGTVMIP ranged from 4.98 mm to 6.53 mm. The VR ranged from 0.37 to 1.34, being significantly (P<0.05) closest to 1 at SUV2.5 (0.94), SUV20% (1.07), or manual contouring (1.10). The mean CI ranged from 0.34 to 0.58, being significantly closest to 1 (P<0.05) at SUV2.0 (0.55), SUV2.5 (0.56), SUV20% (0.56), SUV25% (0.53), or manual contouring (0.58). The mean DI of GTVPET in IGTVMIP ranged from 0.61 to 0.91, and the mean DI of IGTVMIP in GTVPET ranged from 0.34 to 0.86. The SUV threshold setting of SUV2.5, SUV20% or manual contouring yields the best tumor VR and CI with internal-gross target volume contoured on MIP of 4DCT dataset, but 3DPET/CT and 4DCT MIP could not replace each other for motion encompassing target volume delineation for radiation treatment.

Decreased levels of circulating sex hormones as a biomarker of lung cancer in male patients with solitary pulmonary nodules

BACKGROUND

An early differentiation of malignant from benign solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) is essential for management and prognosis of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES

Here we investigated whether measurement of circulating sex hormones could be useful for an early detection of malignancy among patients with SPNs.

METHODS

We recruited 47 patients with malignant SPNs 45 patients with benign SPNs, and 32 healthy persons. Testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone were measured. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as well as TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 were also measured.

RESULTS

We found that sex hormones were decreased significantly in patients with malignant SPNs, as compared to patients with benign SPNs and healthy controls (P<0.05). Sex hormones levels showed a trend to decline in patients with benign SPNs as compared to normal controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CEA levels were only abnormally elevated in eight patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The inflammatory cytokines were remarkably higher in both patients than in normal controls. However, there was no statistical difference in these cytokines among patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced sex hormones levels seemed to be uniquely associated with lung cancer. Therefore, measurement of sex hormones may have clinical potential in the diagnosis of malignancy in patients with SPNs.

Heteroepitaxy of tetragonal BiFeO(3) on hexagonal sapphire(0001)

Highly elongated BiFeO3 is epitaxially grown on hexagonal sapphire(0001) substrate within a rather narrow synthesis window. Both X-ray reciprocal space maps and Raman characterizations reveal that it is of true tetragonal symmetry but not the commonly observed MC type monoclinic structure. The tetragonal BiFeO3 film exhibits an island growth mode, with the island edges oriented parallel to the ⟨10-10⟩ and ⟨12-30⟩ directions of the sapphire substrate. With increasing deposition time, a transition from square island to elongated island and then to a continuous film is observed. The metastable tetragonal phase can remain on the substrate without relaxation to the thermally stable rhombohedral phase up to a critical thickness of 450 nm, providing an exciting opportunity for practicable lead-free ferroelectrics. These results facilitate a better understanding of the phase stability of BiFeO3 polymorphs and enrich the knowledge about the heteroepitaxial growth mechanism of functional oxides on symmetry-mismatched substrates.

Characterization of HelD, an interacting partner of RNA polymerase from Bacillus subtilis

Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) is an essential multisubunit protein complex required for gene expression. Here, we characterize YvgS (HelD) from Bacillus subtilis, a novel binding partner of RNAP. We show that HelD interacts with RNAP-core between the secondary channel of RNAP and the alpha subunits. Importantly, we demonstrate that HelD stimulates transcription in an ATP-dependent manner by enhancing transcriptional cycling and elongation. We demonstrate that the stimulatory effect of HelD can be amplified by a small subunit of RNAP, delta. In vivo, HelD is not essential but it is required for timely adaptations of the cell to changing environment. In summary, this study establishes HelD as a valid component of the bacterial transcription machinery.

Neonatal mortality rate and risk factors in northeast China: analysis of 5,277 neonates in 2005

BACKGROUND

Healthcare has dramatically improved for both mothers and neonates over the last three decades in China. However, the reported rates of morbidity and mortality vary among different regions of China, and the exact rates in Northeast China are unknown. This study aimed to determine neonatal morbidity and mortality rates and the associated risk factors in Northeast China.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Neonates born in 2005 at seven hospitals in five major cities of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China were recruited. Standardized questionnaires on both the mother and neonate were conducted by trained investigators. The questions included demographic data on the mother, the mother's weight, gestational age (GA), complications during pregnancy, method of delivery, neonate's gender, weight, general health situation, and complications after delivery. Results: A total of 5,277 neonates were included, with a male to female ratio of 1.07. The incidence ofpreterm delivery was 8.7%, which was associated with an increased age of the mother, a history of preeclampsia-eclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine distress. Morbidity occurred in 7.0% of neonates, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (2.4%), asphyxia (1.6%), pneumonia (1.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (0.5%), intracranial hemorrhage (0.5%), meconium as- piration syndrome (0.2%), and ingestion syndrome (0.2%). The overall mortality was 9.5%0. Preterm delivery, maternal history ofpreeclamp- sia-eclampsia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, intracranial hemorrhage, pneumonia, asphyxia, and meconium aspiration syndrome were independent risk factors for mortality with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 17.42 (7.31-38.9), 12.52 (Table 3) (3.91-16.82), 10.13 (2.52-19.86), 9.77 (2.35-19.93), 4.15 (1.78-9.52), 2.18 (1.21-5.47), and 2.76 (2.11-6.32), respectively (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In 2005, the overall morbidity and mortality was 7.0% and 9.5%0, respectively in northeast China, and preterm delivery was the highest risk factor for neonatal mortality. The prevention on preterm delivery should be a top priority for the improvement of neonatal healthcare.

Identification and characterisation of maize microRNAs involved in developing ears

In maize, kernel row number trait is determined during the period when spikelet pair meristems (SPMs) give rise to spikelet meristems (SMs). Expression levels of many genes change during this period due to regulation at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as key regulating factors of post-transcriptional gene expression. To discover miRNAs involved in maize ear development, Solexa deep sequencing was performed on a maize inbred line, Zong3. Ears at the stage when SPMs produce SMs were harvested to extract RNA. Deep sequencing revealed 85 conserved miRNAs belonging to 17 miRNA families. miRNA families differed greatly in their abundance, from over 160,000 to only five reads. In addition, 31 novel maize miRNAs were identified using stringent criteria. The results show that miRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression is present in developing maize ears at the stage when SPMs produce SMs; both conserved and novel miRNAs are involved.