Characterization of CMOS Spiral Inductors

In this work "full-wave" simulations of integrated inductors are presented and compared with measurements of fabricated CMOS chips. The good agreement between measurements and simulations demonstrates the accuracy of the tool, which is, hence, a cheaper alternative to experimental characterization. Furthermore, the proposed approach may give precious hints for performance improvements, by making internal device fields and currents available for the VLSI designer and providing compact, most effective, equivalent models

Evidence for Gene Duplication and Allelic Codominance (not Hierarchical Dominance) at the Mating-Type Locus of the Ciliate, Euplotes crassus.

The high-multiple mating system of Euplotes crassus is known to be controlled by multiple alleles segregating at a single locus and manifesting relationships of hierarchical dominance, so that heterozygous cells would produce a single mating-type substance (pheromone). In strain L-2D, now known to be homozygous at the mating-type locus, we previously identified two pheromones (Ec-α and Ec-1) characterized by significant variations in their amino acid sequences and structure of their macronuclear coding genes. In this study, pheromones and macronuclear coding genes have been analyzed in strain POR-73 characterized by a heterozygous genotype and strong mating compatibility with L-2D strain. It was found that POR-73 cells contain three distinct pheromone coding genes and, accordingly, secrete three distinct pheromones. One pheromone revealed structural identity in amino acid sequence and macronuclear coding gene to the Ec-α pheromone of L-2D cells. The other two pheromones were shown to be new and were designated Ec-2 and Ec-3 to denote their structural homology with the Ec-1 pheromone of L-2D cells. We interpreted these results as evidence of a phenomenon of gene duplication at the E. crassus mating-type locus, and lack of hierarchical dominance in the expression of the macronuclear pheromone genes in cells with heterozygous genotypes

Evolution of mating systems in Euplotes

Ciliates control their sexual phenomenon of conjugation (or mating) through a genetic mechanism of mating types, which may either be only two within a species (recalling the duality of sexes in animals), or multiple (recalling self/non-self compatibility systems in plants and fungi). The nearly one hundred species of the most ubiquitously distributed ciliate, Euplotes, all evolved multiple mating types. Based on analyses of Mendelian genetics, these mating types have for long been assumed to be determined by multi-allelic series of genes inherited at a single genetic locus (i.e., the mating-type or mat locus) and responsible for the synthesis of mating type-pecific signaling proteins. The chemical characterization of these signaling proteins (known as pheromones) from an array of Euplotes species has now permitted us to evolve in the study of Euplotes mating types from an approach of Mendelian genetics to an approach of molecular genetics. In this new experimental context, we have cloned and characterized structurally the pheromone (mating-type) gene families of Euplotes species that take different positions in the phylogenetic tree of the genus Euplotes. It appeared that, in accord with the prediction of the Mendelian genetics, early branching species (e.g., E. polaris, E. raikovi and E. nobilii) inherit their mating types at a single multi-allelic locus. However, in disagreement with the prediction of the Mendelian genetics, late branching species (e.g., E. crassus and E. focardii) inherit their mating types at two distinct loci that are likely the result of an event of gene duplication in the germinal (micronuclear) genome. One locus appears to be structurally and functionally homologous with the multi-allelic locus of the early branching species, while the second locus appears to be structurally homologous but functionally divergent

Characterization and Biological Activities of In Vitro Digested Olive Pomace Polyphenols Evaluated on Ex Vivo Human Immune Blood Cells

Olive pomace (OP) represents one of the main by-products of olive oil production, which still contains high quantities of health-promoting bioactive compounds. In the present study, three batches of sun-dried OP were characterized for their profile in phenolic compounds (by HPLC-DAD) and in vitro antioxidant properties (ABTS, FRAP and DPPH assays) before (methanolic extracts) and after (aqueous extracts) their simulated in vitro digestion and dialysis. Phenolic profiles, and, accordingly, the antioxidant activities, showed significant differences among the three OP batches, and most compounds showed good bioaccessibility after simulated digestion. Based on these preliminary screenings, the best OP aqueous extract (OP-W) was further characterized for its peptide composition and subdivided into seven fractions (OP-F). The most promising OP-F (characterized for its metabolome) and OP-W samples were then assessed for their potential anti-inflammatory properties in ex vivo human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) triggered or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of 16 pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured in PBMC culture media by multiplex ELISA assay, whereas the gene expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and TNF-alpha were measured by real time RT-qPCR. Interestingly, OP-W and PO-F samples had a similar effect in reducing the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-alpha, but only OP-W was able to reduce the release of these inflammatory mediators, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory activity of OP-W is different from that of OP-F

A retrospective database analysis of burden of IPD and pneumonia in children <15y in Veneto region

Abstract Background IPD and pneumonia are associated with high mortality and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU). This analysis assessed incidence, HCRU and costs of IPD and pneumonia following PCV13 introduction in 2010 in Veneto. Methods IPD, unspecified invasive disease episodes, outpatient pneumococcal and unspecified pneumonia episodes were identified in Pedianet, a pediatric primary care database from 2010-2017. HCRU includes primary care and specialist visits, antibiotic prescriptions, diagnostics, ER visits and hospitalizations. Incidence rates (IRs) were numbers of episodes/1,000 person-years. Standardized regional incidence rates (SRIRs) were calculated by standardizing IRs with regional population data by age and year. Regional expenditures (€/1,000 person-years) were calculated by multiplying SRIRs with average costs per episode. Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses assessed trends in annual IRs in the early and late PCV13 (2010-2013, 2014-2017) periods. Results During 2010-2017, IPD and unspecified invasive disease incidence decreased from 0.40 to 0.31/1,000 person-years. While incidence was numerically lower in 2017 than in 2010, ITS analysis did not detect a significant trend in the early (coef=1.97; p = 0.63) or late PCV13 (coef=0.50; p = 0.90) periods. Average cost per episode was €4206 and average regional expenditure was €171/1,000 person-year. SRIR for outpatient pneumonia decreased from 13.35 to 5.48/1,000 person-year during 2010 to 2017. Pneumonia episodes were associated with 0.29 ER visits and 0.15 short stay and 0.06 long stay hospitalization. Average cost per episode was €345, majority of which was associated with ER visits (€50.8) and hospitalizations (€243.9). Regional expenditures decreased from €12852.31 to €5351.98/1,000 person-year. Conclusions IPD and unspecified invasive disease burden did not change significantly following PCV13 introduction, while disease burden declined for outpatient pneumococcal and unspecified pneumonia. Key messages IPD and unspecified invasive disease burden did not change significantly following PCV13 introduction. Disease burden declined for outpatient pneumococcal and unspecified pneumonia following PCV13

Low-Noise Ku-Band Receiver Frontend with Switchable SIW Filters for Cubesat Applications

This paper proposes a low-noise receiver frontend for nanosatellite and Cubesat platforms. The frontend is composed by a Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) and two Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) filters, providing a frequency reconfigurability to the system. The two filters operate in the 13 and in the 14 GHz uplink bands, and are selected by means of a pair of solid-state SPDT switches. As a results, 15.5 dB gain with 2.4 dB noise figure for the 13 GHz configuration and 17.8 dB gain with 2.3 dB noise figure for the 14 GHz configuration are obtained. This work is important since demonstrates a low-cost solution for satellite radio apparatuses based on commercial components on a standard PCB

Changes in membrane lipid composition in marine species of Euplotes adapted to different thermal environments

Cell integrity and activities are largely influenced by membrane fluidity, which is temperature-dependent. Below the so-called transition temperature, phospholipids mobility is drastically reduced. Therefore, life adaptation to extreme environments is supposed to involve significant variations in membrane lipids. We determined the phospholipid composition in three ecologically separated species of Euplotes: one (E. raikovi) from temperate areas, one (E. focardii) endemic to Antarctic, and one (E. polaris) colonizer of both Arctic and Antarctic. Lipids were extracted from cell cultures and analyzed by RPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS in positive mode. E. polaris and E. raikovi contained several species of phosphocholines (PC), lyso-PC (L-PC), phosphatidylethanol-amines (PE), lyso-PE, sphingomyelins (SM), phosphatydilinositol (PI) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). E. focardii contained all the classes but PE and SM. Very interestingly, E. focardii contained the lowest number of lipid species and showed a greater unsaturation index, while total PE of E. polaris were highly unsaturated compared to PE the other two species