A multi channel chopper modulated neural recording system

Presented herein is a fully integrated low-noise CMOS multi-channel amplifier for neural recording applications. The circuit employs the chopper modulation technique to reduce the effect of flicker noise and DC offset. A reduced area design implementation is achieved by trading off the increased noise margin performance of the chopper modulator for minimal amplifier area and analog multiplexing of the recording sites. A fully differential topology is used for the signal path to improve noise immunity. The analog amplifier exhibits 56 dB of gain with a 115 kHz bandwidth and a common mode rejection ratio (CNIRR) of 80 dB. Simulation results show a total input referred noise less than 16 nV/rootHz. The system power consumption is approximately 750 muWatts. The fully integrated system was designed in ABN 1.6-um single poly n-well CMOS process

Quality improvement of rainbow trout fillets by whey protein isolate coatings containing electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) nanofibers with Urtica dioica L. extract during storage

[EN] Novel bioactive coatings were prepared to extend the quality and shelf life of fresh fish fillets of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). For this, whey protein isolate (WPI) with 96 g/100 g protein content was used as the coating-forming agent with glycerol in a ratio of 3.3 g/100 mL as plasticizer. Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers containing extract of Urtica dioica L., often called stinging nettle, at 60:40 (g:g) were produced by electrospinning. These were then incorporated into WPI at different concentrations, i.e., 50 and 70 g/100 g. Fish fillets protected by means of the functionalized coatings were stored for 15 days at 4 °C. Protected fish fillets exhibited higher antimicrobial efficiency against mesophilic, psychrophilic, and lactic acid bacteria as well as Enterobacteriaceae than equivalent coatings containing Urtica dioica L. water extract. In particular, incorporation of 70 g/100 g PCL nanofibers exhibited the lowest counts in both bacterial growth and values in total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) during storage. Additionally, the coatings successfully provided antioxidant activity that could help to increase fish fillets' quality and favor their preservation.This research was done as part of a project supported by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM/HSGYAD/14/A05/P05/70) (Republic of Turkey Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Turkey). The authors would like to thank Central Fisheries Research Institute (Trabzon, Turkey) for providing the equipment and for financial support.Alp Erbay, E.; Dagtekin, BB(.; Türe, M.; Yesilsu, AF.; Torres-Giner, S. (2017). Quality improvement of rainbow trout fillets by whey protein isolate coatings containing electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) nanofibers with Urtica dioica L. extract during storage. LWT - Food Science & Technology (Online). 78:340-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2017.01.0023403517

Management of occipitocervical junction and upper cervical trauma

Objective: The treatment modality of occipitocervical junction (OCJ) and upper cervical traumas carries great importance because of unique form of bone, complex ligamentous, and neurovascular structure. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight patients were admitted to Mersin University Department of Neurosurgery between January 2007 and January 2017 for injuries of the OCJ and upper cervical spine and evaluated retrospectively. In the group, there were 60 male, 28 female patients in the mean age of 42.9 (18–87) years. Among those, 2 occipital condyle fractures, 28 C1 fractures (26 isolated and 2 with transverse ligament injury), 9 combined C1/C2 fractures, 6 rotatory C1/C2 dislocations, and 43 C2 fractures (32 odontoid, 5 Hangman's, and 6 miscellaneous fractures) were diagnosed. In addition to clinical cases, ten cadavers were used to study the OCJ in a step-wise manner. Results: Occipital condyle fractures, isolated C1 fractures, and rotatory C1/C2 dislocations were treated conservatively. Two patients with C1 fracture including transverse ligament injury were operated in one of the methods of C1–C2 fusion which is posterior sublaminar wiring. Five patients having Type II odontoid fracture were treated surgically. One instable Hangman's fracture patient was treated as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Conclusions: Cases with isolated C1 fracture with intact transverse ligament should be conservatively treated without surgical approach. Atlas fractures with transverse ligament rupture, odontoid Type II fractures with dislocation >6 mm, and unstable Hangman's fractures required surgical treatment. Vital neurovascular, ligamentous, and accompanying bone structures should be evaluated for diagnosis and treatment modality. In addition, patient's health status, patient's treatment preference, and surgical team experience are the affecting factors for the decision of surgery