Ultra-low noise, high-frame rate readout design for a 3D-stacked CMOS image sensor

Due to the switch from CCD to CMOS technology, CMOS based image sensors have become smaller, cheaper, faster, and have recently outclassed CCDs in terms of image quality. Apart from the extensive set of applications requiring image sensors, the next technological breakthrough in imaging would be to consolidate and completely shift the conventional CMOS image sensor technology to the 3D-stacked technology. Stacking is recent and an innovative technology in the imaging field, allowing multiple silicon tiers with different functions to be stacked on top of each other. The technology allows for an extreme parallelism of the pixel readout circuitry. Furthermore, the readout is placed underneath the pixel array on a 3D-stacked image sensor, and the parallelism of the readout can remain constant at any spatial resolution of the sensors, allowing extreme low noise and a high-frame rate (design) at virtually any sensor array resolution. The objective of this work is the design of ultra-low noise readout circuits meant for 3D-stacked image sensors, structured with parallel readout circuitries. The readout circuit’s key requirements are low noise, speed, low-area (for higher parallelism), and low power. A CMOS imaging review is presented through a short historical background, followed by the description of the motivation, the research goals, and the work contributions. The fundamentals of CMOS image sensors are addressed, as a part of highlighting the typical image sensor features, the essential building blocks, types of operation, as well as their physical characteristics and their evaluation metrics. Following up on this, the document pays attention to the readout circuit’s noise theory and the column converters theory, to identify possible pitfalls to obtain sub-electron noise imagers. Lastly, the fabricated test CIS device performances are reported along with conjectures and conclusions, ending this thesis with the 3D-stacked subject issues and the future work. A part of the developed research work is located in the Appendices.Devido à mudança da tecnologia CCD para CMOS, os sensores de imagem em CMOS tornam se mais pequenos, mais baratos, mais rápidos, e mais recentemente, ultrapassaram os sensores CCD no que respeita à qualidade de imagem. Para além do vasto conjunto de aplicações que requerem sensores de imagem, o próximo salto tecnológico no ramo dos sensores de imagem é o de mudar completamente da tecnologia de sensores de imagem CMOS convencional para a tecnologia “3D-stacked”. O empilhamento de chips é relativamente recente e é uma tecnologia inovadora no campo dos sensores de imagem, permitindo vários planos de silício com diferentes funções poderem ser empilhados uns sobre os outros. Esta tecnologia permite portanto, um paralelismo extremo na leitura dos sinais vindos da matriz de píxeis. Além disso, num sensor de imagem de planos de silício empilhados, os circuitos de leitura estão posicionados debaixo da matriz de píxeis, sendo que dessa forma, o paralelismo pode manter-se constante para qualquer resolução espacial, permitindo assim atingir um extremo baixo ruído e um alto debito de imagens, virtualmente para qualquer resolução desejada. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de desenhar circuitos de leitura de coluna de muito baixo ruído, planeados para serem empregues em sensores de imagem “3D-stacked” com estruturas altamente paralelizadas. Os requisitos chave para os circuitos de leitura são de baixo ruído, rapidez e pouca área utilizada, de forma a obter-se o melhor rácio. Uma breve revisão histórica dos sensores de imagem CMOS é apresentada, seguida da motivação, dos objetivos e das contribuições feitas. Os fundamentos dos sensores de imagem CMOS são também abordados para expor as suas características, os blocos essenciais, os tipos de operação, assim como as suas características físicas e suas métricas de avaliação. No seguimento disto, especial atenção é dada à teoria subjacente ao ruído inerente dos circuitos de leitura e dos conversores de coluna, servindo para identificar os possíveis aspetos que dificultem atingir a tão desejada performance de muito baixo ruído. Por fim, os resultados experimentais do sensor desenvolvido são apresentados junto com possíveis conjeturas e respetivas conclusões, terminando o documento com o assunto de empilhamento vertical de camadas de silício, junto com o possível trabalho futuro

Complicações agudas da Diabetes Mellitus: Implicações no estado de saúde dos doentes

[resumo][abstract

Manual técnico da macieira

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Complicações microvasculares da Diabetes Mellitus: Repercussões na qualidade de vida

[resumo][abstract

Relação entre variáveis clínicas e qualidade de vida em diabéticos

[resumo][abstract

Comorbilidades macrovasculares: Implicações na qualidade de vida geral e específica na Diabetes Mellitus

[resumo][abstract

Ácido cítrico e fósforo no desenvolvimento e estado nutricional de mudas de café

In weathered soils, there is an increased retention of anions such as phosphate. Organic acids of low molecular mass have been shown an effective way to provide nutrients before it showed unavailable in the soil, such as phosphorus. The objective was to evaluate the quality and growth content of seedlings of ‘Catuaí Vermelho’ coffee (IAC-99), submitted the application of citric acid and phosphorus concentrations in the substrate. Was used the factorial scheme (4x4), being the first factor concerning the application of citric acid anidre to the substrate (0,0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0 mg dm-3), and the second concerning the doses of phosphorus (0, 450, 900 e 1800 mg P2O5 dm-3), in substrate. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replicates. The seeds were germinated in bags with standard substrate for coffee seedlings, adjusted according to the treatment with applications of phosphorus. Citric acid was applied when the seedlings had the cotyledons. The evaluation has been held at 180 days after sowing when the seedlings had four to five leaf pairs expands. Were measured the foliar levels, and fhytotechnical atributes and from these determined Dickson quality index. Doses of 1404.0 mg P2O5 dm-3 and 1.0 mg dm-3 of citric acid in the substrate positively influenced the maximum quality of the seedlings. Was not effective dose of 2.0 mg dm-3of citric acid for the development of the same quality to the point of planting, while increasing the concentration of Ca, N, P, S, Cu, Fe and Zn in the leaves.Em solos intemperizados existe um aumento da retenção de ânions como o fosfato. Ácidos orgânicos de baixa massa molecular têm sido eficazes para disponibilizar nutrientes considerados “indisponíveis no solo”, como o fósforo. Objetivou-se avaliar o desenvolvimento, a qualidade e o estado nutricional de mudas de café cultivar Catuaí Vermelho (IAC 99), submetidas à aplicação de diferentes concentrações de ácido cítrico e fósforo no substrato. Utilizou-se esquema fatorial (4x4), sendo o primeiro fator referente à aplicação de ácido cítrico anidro (0,0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0 mg dm-3) e, o segundo referente às doses de fósforo (0, 450, 900 e 1800 mg P2O5 dm-3), aplicadas no substrato. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. As sementes foram germinadas em saquinhos com substrato padrão para mudas de café, ajustado conforme os tratamentos. O ácido cítrico foi aplicado quando as mudas apresentavam as folhas cotiledonares. As avaliações foram realizadas aos 180 dias após a semeadura, quando as mudas apresentavam-se com quatro a cinco pares de folhas expandidas, sendo avaliados os teores foliares e atributos fitotécnicos e, a partir destes, determinado o índice de qualidade de Dickson. As doses de 1.404,0 mg P2O5 dm-3 e 1,0 mg dm-3 de ácido cítrico no substrato influenciam, positivamente, na qualidade máxima das mudas. Não foi efetiva a dose de 2,0 mg dm-3 de ácido cítrico para o desenvolvimento com qualidade das mesmas até o ponto de plantio, embora tenham aumentado os teores de Ca, N, P, S, Cu, Fe e Zn, nas folhas

Mamíferos Marinhos

UID/HIS/04666/2019publishersversionpublishe

Viral genetic clustering and transmission dynamics of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Portugal

Pathogen genome sequencing during epidemics enhances our ability to identify and understand suspected clusters and investigate their relationships. Here, we combine genomic and epidemiological data of the 2022 mpox outbreak to better understand early viral spread, diversification and transmission dynamics. By sequencing 52% of the confirmed cases in Portugal, we identified the mpox virus sublineages with the highest impact on case numbers and fitted them into a global context, finding evidence that several international sublineages probably emerged or spread early in Portugal. We estimated a 62% infection reporting rate and that 1.3% of the population of men who have sex with men in Portugal were infected. We infer the critical role played by sexual networks and superspreader gatherings, such as sauna attendance, in the dissemination of mpox virus. Overall, our findings highlight genomic epidemiology as a tool for the real-time monitoring and control of mpox epidemics, and can guide future vaccine policy in a highly susceptible population.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nationwide access to endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in portugal

Publisher Copyright: Copyright Ordem dos M dicos 2021.Introduction: Since the publication of endovascular treatment trials and European Stroke Guidelines, Portugal has re-organized stroke healthcare. The nine centers performing endovascular treatment are not equally distributed within the country, which may lead to differential access to endovascular treatment. Our main aim was to perform a descriptive analysis of the main treatment metrics regarding endovascular treatment in mainland Portugal and its administrative districts. Material and Methods: A retrospective national multicentric cohort study was conducted, including all ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular treatment in mainland Portugal over two years (July 2015 to June 2017). All endovascular treatment centers contributed to an anonymized database. Demographic, stroke-related and procedure-related variables were collected. Crude endovascular treatment rates were calculated per 100 000 inhabitants for mainland Portugal, and each district and endovascular treatment standardized ratios (indirect age-sex standardization) were also calculated. Patient time metrics were computed as the median time between stroke onset, first-door, and puncture. Results: A total of 1625 endovascular treatment procedures were registered. The endovascular treatment rate was 8.27/100 000 inhabitants/year. We found regional heterogeneity in endovascular treatment rates (1.58 to 16.53/100 000/year), with higher rates in districts closer to endovascular treatment centers. When analyzed by district, the median time from stroke onset to puncture ranged from 212 to 432 minutes, reflecting regional heterogeneity. Discussion: Overall endovascular treatment rates and procedural times in Portugal are comparable to other international registries. We found geographic heterogeneity, with lower endovascular treatment rates and longer onset-to-puncture time in southern and inner regions. Conclusion: The overall national rate of EVT in the first two years after the organization of EVT-capable centers is one of the highest among European countries, however, significant regional disparities were documented. Moreover, stroke-onset-to-first-door times and in-hospital procedural times in the EVT centers were comparable to those reported in the randomized controlled trials performed in high-volume tertiary hospitalspublishersversionpublishe