A low-voltage wide-swing programmable-gain current amplifier

A CMOS low-voltage, wide-swing continuous-time current amplifier is presented. Exhibiting an open-loop architecture, the circuit is composed of transresistance and transconductance stages built upon triode-operating transistors. In addition to an extended dynamic range, the current gain can be programmed within good accuracy by a rapport involving only transistor geometries and tuning biases. Low temperature-drift on gain setting is then expected.In accordance with a 0.35 mum n-well CMOS fabrication process and a single 1.1 V-supply, a balanced current-amplifier is designed for a programmable gain-range of 6 - 34 dB and optimized with respect to dynamic range. Simulated results from PSPICE and Bsim3v3 models indicate, for a 100 muA(pp)-output current, a THD of 0.96 and 1.87% at 1 KHz and 100 KHz, respectively. Input noise is 120 pArootHz @ 10 Hz, with S/N = 63.2 dB @ 1%-THD. At maximum gain, total quiescent consumption is 334 muW. Measurements from a prototyped amplifier reveal a gain-interval of 4.8-33.1 dB and a maximum current swing of 120 muA(pp). The current-amplifier bandwidth is above 1 MHz.

Effect of mechanical cycling on the push-out bond strength of fiber posts adhesively bonded to human root dentin

This study evaluated the effect of mechanical cycling on the bond strength of fiber posts bonded to root dentin. The hypotheses examined were that bond strength is not changed after fatigue testing and bond strength does not present vast variations according to the type of fiber post. Sixty crownless, single-rooted human teeth were endodontically treated, with the space prepared at 12 mm. Thirty specimens received a quartz fiber post (Q-FRC (DT Light-Post), and the remaining 30 specimens received a glass fiber post (G-FRC) (FRC Postec Plus). All the posts were resin luted (All Bond+Duolink), and each specimen was embedded in a cylinder with epoxy resin. The specimens were divided into six groups: G1-Q-FRC+no cycling, G2- Q-FRC+20,000 cycles (load: 50N, angle of 45 degrees; frequency: 8Hz); G3- Q-FRC+2,000,000 cycles; G4- G-FRC+no cycling; G5- G-FRC+20,000 cycles; G6- GFRC+2,000,000 cycles. The specimens were cut perpendicular to their long axis, forming 2-mm thick disc-samples, which were submitted to the push-out test. ANOVA (alpha=.05) revealed that: (a) QFRC (7.1 +/- 2.2MPa) and G-FRC (6.9 +/- 2.1MPa) were statistically similar (p=0.665); (b) the no cycling groups (7.0 +/- 2.4MPa), 20,000 cycles groups (7.0 +/- 2.1MPa) and 2,000,000 cycles groups (7.0 +/- 2.0MPa) were statistically similar (p=0.996). It concluded that mechanical cycling did not affect the bond strength of two fiber posts bonded to dentin.

FIBER TYPES DISTRIBUTION IN THE DIGASTRIC MUSCLE OF TUFTED CAPUCHIN MONKEY (CEBUS-APELLA)

Fiber types distribution in the diagastric muscle of tufted capuchin monkey was studied by means of NADH-TR, myosin-ATPase, after alkaline and acid preincubations and SDH histochemical reactions. Three different types of fibers were found presenting an equal distribution. The percentage and types of fibers were as follow: 18.2 % SO (Slow Oxydative), 38.4 % FOG (Fast Oxydative Glycolytic) and 43.4 % FG (Fast Glycolytic). FG fibers revealed the largest area. The relatively high concentration of fast twitch (81.2 %) seems to indicate this muscle is involved with the acceleration and fast speed of jaw movements. Aerobic metabolism represented by SO + FOG fibers (56.6 %) suggests that this muscle possesses an additional role than that related to the lowering of the jaw.

Pressure field along the axis of a high-power klystron amplifier

The pressure field in a high-power klystron amplifier is investigated to scale the ionic vacuum pump used to maintain the ultra high-vacuum in the device in order to increase its life-time. The investigation is conducted using an 1.3 GHz, 100 A - 240 keV high-power klystron with five reentrant coaxial cavities, assembled in a cylindrical drift tube 1.2 m long. The diffusion equation is solved to the regime molecular flow to obtain the pressure profile along the axis of the klystron drift tube. The model, solved by both analytical and numerical procedures, is able to determine the pressure values in steady-state case. This work considers the specific conductance and all important gas sources, as in the degassing of the drift tube and cavities walls, cathode, and collector. For the drift tube degassing rate equals to q(deg) = 2x10(-12) (-)mbar.L.s(-1) cm(-2) (degassing rate per unit area), to cavities q(cavity) = 3x10(-13) mbar.L.s(-1)cm(-2), to the cathode q(cathode) = 6x10(-9)_mbar.L.s(-1) and to the collector q(collector) = 6x10(-9) mbar.L.s(-1), it was found that a 10 L.s(-1) ionic vacuum pump connected in the output waveguide wall is suitable. In this case, the pressure obtained in the cathode is p(cathode) = 6.3x10(-9) mbar, in the collector p(collector) = 2.7x10(-9) mbar, and in the output waveguide p = 2.1x10(-9) mbar. Although only the steady-state case is analyzed, some aspects that may be relevant in a transient situation, for instance, when the beam hits the drift tube walls, producing a gas burst, is also commented.

Complete staining of nerve fiber and myoneural junctions with acetylthiocholine and silver

We describe a combined stain for simultaneous demonstration of the preterminal axons and cholinesterase activity at myoneural junctions of mammalian muscles. This technique employs acetylthiocholine iodide as the substrate for cholinesterase activity and silver nitrate impregnation of preterminal axons. The procedure is rapid, simple and uses fresh muscles. Intramuscular nerves, preterminal axons and myoneural junctions are stained simultaneously brown or black with minimal background staining of connective tissue and muscle fibers.

Effect of post length on the fatigue resistance of bovine teeth restored with bonded fiber posts: A pilot study

This study evaluated the influence of the cementation length of glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) on the fatigue resistance of bovine teeth restored with an adhesively cemented FRC. Thirty roots of single-rooted bovine teeth were allocated to 3 groups (n = 10), according to the ratio of crown length/root length (post cementation length): group 1 = 2/3, group 2 = 1/2, and group 3 = 1/1. The roots were prepared, the fiber posts (FRC Postec Plus) were cemented, and the specimens were submitted to 2 million mechanical cycles. After fatigue testing, a score was given based on the number of fatigue cycles until fracture, and data were submitted to statistical analysis. All specimens were resistant to fatigue. Taking into account the methodology and results of this study, the evaluated fiber posts can be cemented based on the ratio of crown/root at 1/1. Further clinical studies must be conducted to verify this ratio.

Food and dietary fiber intake by children with or without constipation. Assessment according to the food guide pyramid and the American Health Foundation (AHF)

We studied the ingestion of 54 children with functional constipation (CC) and 41 without (Control), according to the Food Pyramid. A food frequency questionnaire was used, analyzing fruits with or without peel/bagasse, grains whole or refined, and beans separately. Total subjects and 2-6y CC ingested less DF (g/day) than Control (p < 0.05). The majority had high n degrees of dairy and of the meat group servings, but most groups/subgroups did not meet recommendation for fruit and vegetable. A greater proportion of fruit with peel/bagasse in Control than in CC was almost the only difference for 6-12y. There was a discrepancy between the high percentage of children with DF above AHF recommendation and the high percentage of children who did not meet Pyramid recommendations.

Influence of Environmental Conditioning on the Shear Behavior of Poly(phenylene sulfide)/Glass Fiber Composites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effect of the ocean water immersion and UV ageing on the dynamic mechanical properties of the PPS/glass fiber composites

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)