RTS noise reduction of CMOS image sensors using amplifier-selection pixels

This paper describes a RTS (random telegraph signal) noise reduction technique for an active pixel CMOS image sensor (CIS) with in-pixel selectable dual source-follower amplifiers. In this CMOS image sensor, the lower-noise transistor in each pixel is selected in the readout operation using a table of determining the lower-noise transistors of all the pixels. A prototype image sensor with 65×290 pixels for demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique has been implemented using 0.18µm CMOS image sensor technology with pinned photodiode option. The measured result shows that the maximum noise using the amplifier-selection technique is reduced to 9.6e- from 17.2e- which is the maximum noise of the image array using one of two amplifiers in each pixel without selection

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Mn4N films on MgO(001) and SrTiO3(001) substrates

We grew Mn4N epitaxial thin films capped with Au layers on MgO(001) and SrTiO3(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) was confirmed in all the samples at room temperature from the magnetization versus magnetic field curves using superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. From the ω-2θ x-ray diffraction (XRD) and ϕ-2θ χ XRD patterns, the ratios of perpendicular lattice constant c to in-plane lattice constant a, c/a, were found to be about 0.99 for all the samples. These results imply that PMA is attributed to the in-plane tensile strain in the Mn4N films

Design and Implementation of A CMOS Light Pulse Receiver Cell Array for Spatial Optical Communications

A CMOS light pulse receiver (LPR) cell for spatial optical communications is designed and evaluated by device simulations and a prototype chip implementation. The LPR cell consists of a pinned photodiode and four transistors. It works under sub-threshold region of a MOS transistor and the source terminal voltage which responds to the logarithm of the photo current are read out with a source follower circuit. For finding the position of the light spot on the focal plane, an image pixel array is embedded on the same plane of the LPR cell array. A prototype chip with 640 × 240 image pixels and 640 × 240 LPR cells is implemented with 0.18 μm CMOS technology. A proposed model of the transient response of the LPR cell agrees with the result of the device simulations and measurements. Both imaging at 60 fps and optical communication at the carrier frequency of 1 MHz are successfully performed. The measured signal amplitude and the calculation results of photocurrents show that the spatial optical communication up to 100 m is feasible using a 10 × 10 LED array

Factors Predicting a Favorable Disease Course Without Anti-TNF Therapy in Crohn’s Disease Patients

Determining factors that predict a favorable disease course without anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents would help establish a more cost-effective strategy for Crohn’s disease (CD). A retrospective chart review was performed for CD patients with disease durations > 10 years who had not received anti-TNF agents as first-line therapy. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received neither anti-TNF agents nor bowel resection (G1), and those who had received an anti-TNF agent and/or bowel resection (G2). The patient backgrounds, therapies and clinical courses were compared between the groups. A total of 62 CD patients met the inclusion criteria (males: 71%; median duration of follow-up: 19 years). Six patients were included in G1; they were significantly less likely to have upper gastrointestinal lesions than G2 (p=0.007). A multivariate analysis revealed that the significant factors for avoidance of bowel resection without anti-TNF treatment were non-stricturing and non-penetrating behaviors, and absence of upper gastrointestinal lesions at the diagnosis (hazard ratios 0.41 and 0.52; p=0.004 and 0.04, respectively). In consideration of the long treatment course of CD, patients with non-stricturing and non-penetrating behaviors and no upper gastrointestinal lesions should not be treated with anti-TNF agents as first-line therapy

Comparison of Two Electrosurgical Modes for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Superficial Colorectal Neoplasms: A Prospective Randomized Study

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is reportedly one of the standard treatment strategies for large superficial colorectal neoplasms in Japan because of its high en bloc resection rate. A few technical issues regarding ESD should be considered, one of which is the selection of the Endo-cut I mode versus the Swift-coagulation mode as the electrosurgical unit mode setting during submucosal dissection. We seek to determine which of these two modes is more suitable for submucosal dissections of colorectal tumors with regard to procedure time and safety

Switching between Three Types of Mesalazine Formulation and Sulfasalazine in Patients with Active Ulcerative Colitis Who Have Already Received High-Dose Treatment with These Agents

Background and aim: Oral mesalazine and sulfasalazine (SASP) are key drugs for treating ulcerative colitis (UC). The efficacy of switching from one of the several mesalazine formulations to another is largely unknown. This study assessed the efficacy of switching among three types of mesalazine formulation and SASP for UC therapy. Methods: UC patients receiving high-dose mesalazine/SASP who switched to other formulations due to disease activity were considered eligible. Efficacy was evaluated 2, 6, and 12 months after switching. Results: A total of 106 switches in 88 UC patients were analyzed. The efficacy at 2 months after switching was observed in 23/39 (59%) cases from any mesalazine formulation to SASP, in 18/55 (33%) cases from one mesalazine to another, and in 2/12 (17%) cases from SASP to any mesalazine formulation. Nine of 43 effective cases showed inefficacy or became intolerant post-switching. Delayed efficacy more than two months after switching was observed in four cases. Steroid-free remission was achieved in 42/106 (39%) cases—within 100 days in 35 of these cases (83%). Conclusions: Switching from mesalazine to SASP was effective in more than half of cases. The efficacy of switching between mesalazine formulations was lower but may be worth attempting in clinical practice from a safety perspective

Low Patient Weight and Long Intubation Time Are Key Factors for Pain during Colonoscopy

Although the clinical usefulness of colonoscopy has been established, the procedure remains painful for many patients. This study was designed to clarify the factors predicting colonoscopy-related pain. We evaluated 283 consecutive patients who completed a first-ever, total colonoscopy without sedatives or analgesics. The severity of pain symptoms was evaluated by a numeric rating scale (NRS) in a questionnaire immediately after the colonoscopy. Patient backgrounds and endoscopic findings were analyzed to evaluate their association with pain. Out of 283 patients, 53 scored their pain 0-1 on the NRS while 48 scored it 6-10. We defined the colonoscopies of the former and latter patients as painless and painful, respectively, and compared the two. Multivariate analyses revealed that low body weight (OR 4.95, 95%CI 1.89-12.99) and longer intubation time (OR 3.63, 95%CI 1.46-9.03) were significant risk factors for painful colonoscopy. To identify factors contributing to the increased intubation time, we divided subjects into short- and long-intubation-time groups based on a median insertion time of 7 min. Older age (OR 2.28, 95%CI 1.31-3.98), previous abdominal surgery (OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.13-3.32) and findings of invasive cancer (OR 10.90, 95%CI 1.34-88.90) were significant factors for longer intubation time

Development and Performance of Kyoto's X-ray Astronomical SOI pixel (SOIPIX) sensor

We have been developing monolithic active pixel sensors, known as Kyoto's X-ray SOIPIXs, based on the CMOS SOI (silicon-on-insulator) technology for next-generation X-ray astronomy satellites. The event trigger output function implemented in each pixel offers microsecond time resolution and enables reduction of the non-X-ray background that dominates the high X-ray energy band above 5--10 keV. A fully depleted SOI with a thick depletion layer and back illumination offers wide band coverage of 0.3--40 keV. Here, we report recent progress in the X-ray SOIPIX development. In this study, we achieved an energy resolution of 300~eV (FWHM) at 6~keV and a read-out noise of 33~e- (rms) in the frame readout mode, which allows us to clearly resolve Mn-K$\alpha$ and K$\beta$. Moreover, we produced a fully depleted layer with a thickness of $500~{\rm \mu m}$. The event-driven readout mode has already been successfully demonstrated.Comment: 7pages, 12figures, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. appears as Proc. SPIE 9147, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ra