A 24Gb/s Software Programmable Multi-Channel Transmitter

A 24Gb/s transmitter with a digital linear equalizer is implemented in 90nm CMOS technology. It supports 4channel Analog Multi-Tone (AMT) transmission, where each channel supports 3GSym/Sec 4PAM data, as well as a variety of baseband (BB) modes ranging from 2 PAM to 256 PAM. The transmitter operates at maximum rate of 24Gb/s, dissipating 510mW of power in 0.8mm 2

Comparison of experimental and bioelectrical impedance analysis methods in calculation of dry weight in peritoneal dialysis patients

Background: To optimize dialysis prescription and fluid balance of the peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, it is important to assess their dry weight accurately. The experimental evaluation is the method which is widely used in PD centers which needs continuous and controlled reduction of the postdialysis weight down to the point where patient does not show any signs of hypotension and volume overload. This study intends to indicate that the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method can be used as an alternative method to evaluate the dry weight. Materials and Methods: The demographic data of 101 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients of Alzahra and Noor hospitals of Isfahan University (50 males and 51 females) who had been referred for periodical examinations from April 2009 to April 2010 were extracted from their files. The normal body volume was selected as the inclusion criteria and identified by an examiner group (a nephrologist, a general practitioner and a PD nurse). The patients′ dry weights were calculated based on both methods. The bioelectrical impedance analysis method was done by the Maltron Bioscan ver916 and data were analyzed by SPSS program ver18. Results: There were 49.5% males and 50.5% females with the mean age of 54.6±17 years. The mean dry weight in the experimental method was 63.4±13.3 kg in comparison to the other (61.5± 13.7 kg). There was a significant difference between the results (P value <0.001) depended on the gender t-test, but there was a 98% correlation between the results by two methods. No correlation observed between the patient′s age, body mass index, blood pressure, previous hemodialysis history, PD duration time, and underlying disease. Conclusion: The study showed that there is significant difference between the two methods. However, there was 98% direct correlation between them. It is concluded that bioelectrical impedance analysis could be a better alternative for accurate evaluation of dry weight in PD patients because it is a fast and cheap method and does not depend on examiner′s capability. Further studies based on the results of this method are recommended to consider this method as the gold standard

Utility of Cardiac Biomarkers in the Setting of Kidney Disease

Cardiovascular disease is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and responsible for approximately half of all CKD-related deaths. Unfortunately, the presence of CKD can lead to a challenging interpretation of cardiac biomarkers essential in accurate diagnosis and prompt management of heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. There is growing interest in novel cardiac biomarkers that may improve diagnostic accuracy reflecting myocardial injury, inflammation, and remodeling. Interpretation of these biomarkers in CKD can be complicated, since elevated levels may not reflect myocardial injury or wall tension but rather decreased urinary clearance with retention of solutes and/or overall CKD-associated chronic inflammation. In this review, we discuss the latest data on major and emerging cardiac biomarkers including B-type natriuretic peptide, troponin, suppression of tumorigenicity 2, growth and differentiation factor-15, galectin-3, and matrix gla protein, and their diagnostic and prognostic utility in the CKD population

A fully-integrated 5 Gbit/s CMOS clock and data recovery circuit

A fully-integrated 5 Gb/s PLL-based clock and data recovery circuit based on a linear half-rate phase detector (PD) architecture is presented. Data retiming performed by the linear PD provides practically no systematic offset for the operating frequency of interest. The circuit was designed in a 0.18 mu m CMOS process and occupies an active area of 0.2 x 0.32 mm(2). The CDR exhibits an RMS jitter of +/- 1.2 ps and a peak-to-peak jitter of 5 ps. The power dissipation is 97 mW from a 1.8 V supply

Supplementary Material for: Warfarin Use and Increased Mortality in End-Stage Renal Disease

<p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Controversy exists regarding the benefits and risks of warfarin therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this study, we assessed mortality and cardiovascular outcomes associated with warfarin treatment in patients with stages 3-5 CKD and ESRD admitted to the University of California-Irvine Medical Center. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a retrospective matched cohort study, we identified 59 adult patients with stages 3-6 CKD initiated on warfarin during the period 2011-2013, and 144 patients with stages 3-6 CKD who had indications for anticoagulation therapy but were not initiated on warfarin. All-cause mortality risk associated with warfarin treatment was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, and the risk of significant bleeding and major adverse cardiovascular events were analyzed with Poisson regression analysis. Adjustment models were used to account for age, gender, diabetes mellitus, use of antiplatelet agents, and preexisting cardiovascular disease, and stratified by pre-dialysis CKD stages 3-5 vs. ESRD. <b><i>Findings:</i></b> During 5.8 years of follow-up, unadjusted mortality risk was higher in CKD patients on warfarin therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 2.34 with 95% CI 1.25-4.39; <i>p</i> < 0.01). After multivariate adjustment and stratification by CKD stage, the mortality risk remained significant in ESRD patients receiving warfarin (HR 6.62 with 95% CI 2.56-17.16; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Furthermore, adjusted rates of significant bleeding (incident rate ratio, IRR 3.57 with 95% CI 1.51-8.45; <i>p</i> < 0.01) and myocardial infarction (IRR 4.20 with 95% CI 1.78-9.91; <i>p</i> < 0.01) were higher among warfarin users. No differences in rates of ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes were found between the 2 groups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Warfarin use was associated with several-fold higher risk of death, bleeding, and myocardial infarction in dialysis patients. If additional studies suggest similar associations, the use of warfarin in dialysis patients warrants immediate reconsideration.</p

Design of high-speed clock and data recovery circuits

This article describes the various architectures for a high-speed clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit. Following a brief introduction of clock and data recovery circuit, a phase detection circuit, one of the most critical blocks in a CDR that determines not only the performance but also the CDR architecture, is addressed. The descriptions start with the most basic XOR logic up to the phase-frequency detector circuit. Trade-offs of each of the phase detectors are outlined. Two types of dual loop CDR architecture are briefly introduced. Finally, full-rate and half rate CDR architectures are described