CMOS Readout Circuit Integrated with Ionizing Radiation Detectors

This paper describes the work performed in ITE on integration in one CMOS chip the ionizing radiation detectors with dedicated readout electronics. At the beginning, some realizations of silicon detectors of ionizing radiation are presented together with most important issues related to these devices. Next, two developed test structures for readout electronics are discussed in detail together with main features of non-typical silicon process deployed.

CMOS Readout Circuit Integrated with Ionizing Radiation Detectors

This paper describes the work performed in ITE on integration in one CMOS chip the ionizing radiation detectors with dedicated readout electronics. At the beginning, some realizations of silicon detectors of ionizing radiation are presented together with most important issues related to these devices. Next, two developed test structures for readout electronics are discussed in detail together with main features of non-typical silicon process deployed.

Multimodal Learning and Intelligent Prediction of Symptom Development in Individual Parkinson\u27s Patients

We still do not know how the brain and its computations are affected by nerve cell deaths and their compensatory learning processes, as these develop in neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Compensatory learning processes are ND symptoms usually observed at a point when the disease has already affected large parts of the brain. We can register symptoms of ND such as motor and/or mental disorders (dementias) and even provide symptomatic relief, though the structural effects of these are in most cases not yet understood. It is very important to obtain early diagnosis, which can provide several years in which we can monitor and partly compensate for the disease\u27s symptoms, with the help of various therapies. In the case of Parkinson\u27s disease (PD), in addition to classical neurological tests, measurements of eye movements are diagnostic. We have performed measurements of latency, amplitude, and duration in reflexive saccades (RS) of PD patients. We have compared the results of our measurement-based diagnoses with standard neurological ones. The purpose of our work was to classify how condition attributes predict the neurologist\u27s diagnosis. For n = 10 patients, the patient age and parameters based on RS gave a global accuracy in predictions of neurological symptoms in individual patients of about 80%. Further, by adding three attributes partly related to patient \u27well-being\u27 scores, our prediction accuracies increased to 90%. Our predictive algorithms use rough set theory, which we have compared with other classifiers such as Naive Bayes, Decision Trees/Tables, and Random Forests (implemented in KNIME/WEKA). We have demonstrated that RS are powerful biomarkers for assessment of symptom progression in PD

Wpływ chirurgicznego leczenia rozejścia linii szwu mechanicznego u chorych po zabiegu ominięcia żołądka sposobem Roux na gospodarkę węglowodanową oraz stężenia hormonów jelitowych — badanie wstępne

Introduction: Staple-line disruption (SLD) following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) results in weight regain. This study evaluated glucose homeostasis and gut hormonal changes following surgical repair of gastrogastric fistula. Material and methods: Three patients with SLD underwent an oral 75 g glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before (baseline) and one week after gastric pouch restoration. Plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagonlike peptide–1 (GLP-1) were measured in the OGTT samples. Fasting plasma levels of ghrelin and leptin were assessed. Results: Restoration of gastric pouch provided moderate amelioration of glucose metabolism and gut hormones, yet without complete normalisation of glucose homeostasis at one week after surgery. Duodenal passage exclusion resulted in early improvement of control fasting plasma glucose with decrease of glucagon from 18.5 to 15 (ng/mL, by 19%), relatively stable insulin and decline of incretin hormones (GIP and GLP-1). Post-challenge measurements confirmed amelioration of glycaemic control with decrease of plasma glucose from 182 to 158 mg/dL at 60 minutes. Surgical re-intervention resulted in exacerbation of GIP response with brisk rise in plasma level, accompanied by considerable increase of peak insulin concentration. The overall post-challenge glucagon and GLP-1 responses were decreased. Marked decrease in fasting plasma ghrelin and leptin were observed. Conclusions: Our report gives further insight into the hormonal mechanisms underlying the effects of surgically altered anatomy of different parts of the small intestine on glucose homeostasis that is highly important, since it may facilitate novel conservative therapies of diabetes without the need for surgery.Wstęp: Rozejście linii szwu mechanicznego (SLD) po operacji ominięcia żołądka sposobem Roux (RYGB) skutkuje nawrotem otyłości. W badaniu poddano ocenie zmiany gospodarki węglowodanowej oraz stężeń hormonów jelitowych po chirurgicznym leczeniu przetoki żołądkowo-żołądkowej. Materiały i metody: Trzech chorych z SLD poddano doustnemu testowi obciążenia 75 g glukozy (DTOG) przed oraz jeden tydzień po zabiegu odtworzenia proksymalnego zbiornika żołądkowego. W próbkach krwi pobranych podczas DTOG oceniano osoczowe stężenie glukozy, insuliny, glukagonu, insulinotropowego peptydu zależnego od glukozy (GIP) oraz glukagonopodobnego peptydu 1 (GLP-1). We krwi pobranej na czczo oceniano dodatkowo stężenie greliny oraz leptyny. Wyniki: Odtworzenie proksymalnego zbiornika żołądkowego prowadzi do umiarkowanej poprawy metabolizmu glukozy oraz stężeń hormonów jelitowych, jednakże bez całkowitej normalizacji homeostazy węglowodanowej w jeden tydzień od zabiegu operacyjnego. Wyłączenie pasażu dwunastniczego skutkowało wczesną poprawą kontroli stężenia glukozy na czczo, ze spadkiem stężenia glukagonu z 18,5 do 15 (ng/ml, o 19%), względnie stałym stężeniem insuliny oraz spadkiem stężeń hormonów inkretynowych (GIP i GLP-1). Pomiary dokonane po obciążeniu glukozą potwierdziły poprawę kontroli glikemii ze spadkiem osoczowego stężenia glukozy z 182 do 158 mg/dl w 60 minucie testu. Zabieg chirurgiczny skutkował nasileniem sekrecji GIP z wyraźnym wzrostem osoczowego stężenia tego hormonu po obciążeniu glukozą, z towarzyszącym znacznym wzrostem najwyższego stężenia insuliny. Całkowite stężenie glukagonu oraz GLP-1 po obciążeniu glukozą malało. Zaobserwowano znaczny spadek stężenia greliny oraz leptyny na czczo. Wnioski: Praca pozwala na dalsze poznanie mechanizmów hormonalnych leżących u podstaw wpływu chirurgicznie zmienionej anatomii różnych części jelita cienkiego na homeostazę węglowodanową. Poznanie tych mechanizmów jest bardzo istotne z punktu widzenia klinicznego, gdyż w przyszłości może przyczynić się do wprowadzenia nowych metod leczenia zachowawczego cukrzycy, bez konieczności wykonywania operacji bariatrycznych

Personalna historia otyłości ma znaczenie. Otyłość wieku młodzieńczego może wpływać na wyniki odległe operacji ominięcia żołądka u dorosłych

Introduction: The influence of adolescent obesity on weight loss following bariatric surgery in adults has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of prior adolescent obesity on long-term weight changes following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in adulthood. Material and methods: This single centre retrospective cohort study evaluated changes in body mass index (BMI) after RYGB within 9–13 years. Questionnaires were sent by post to patients (n = 147) operated on between January 1999 and December 2003 in the Department of General and Transplant Surgery of Medical University, Lodz, Poland. Long-term data was obtained from 33.33% (n = 49, mean age 46.1 ± 10.7 years). Preoperative, nadir and actual BMI and differences between these values were calculated. Data was analysed with a cut-off BMI at 18 years old of 30 and 35 units (U). Results: Patients with a BMI of more than 30 and 35 U in adulthood regained more weight after initial achievement of nadir total weight loss compared to their only adult obese counterparts. Preoperative BMI varied by weight at 18 years old (p = 0.02), while value and time to nadir postoperative BMI and actual BMI were comparable. Conclusion: Adolescent obesity may be a risk factor for long-term RYGB failure. Surgery cannot be definitively curative in this group of patients, and continued active conservative treatment is required.Wstęp: Dotychczas nie oceniano wpływu otyłości wieku młodzieńczego na utratę masy ciała po operacjach bariatrycznych. Celem badania było określenie odległych zmian masy ciała po operacji ominięcia żołądka (RYGB) wykonywanych u dorosłych, którzy byli otyli w wieku młodzieńczym. Materiały i metody: W jednoośrodkowym badaniu kohortowym poddano ocenie zmiany wskaźnika masy ciała (BMI) w okresie 9–13 lat po RYGB. Do chorych operowanych w Klinice Chirurgii Ogólnej i Transplantacyjnej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi w latach 1999–2003 (n = 147) wysłano kwestionariusze drogą pocztową. Wyniki odległe leczenia uzyskano w 33,33% przypadków (n = 49, średnia wieku 46,1 ± 10,7 roku). Wyliczono przedoperacyjne, minimalne oraz aktualne BMI oraz różnice pomiędzy nimi. Dane analizowano przy punkcie odcięcia dla BMI w 18. roku życia wynoszącym 30 i 35 jednostek. Wyniki: Przyrost masy ciała po wcześniejszym osiągnięciu jej minimalnej wartości był większy u chorych z BMI wyższym od 30 i 35 j. w wieku młodzieńczym, w porównaniu do osób otyłych jedynie w wieku dorosłym. Wykazano różnice w przedoperacyjnym BMI w zależności od masy ciała w 18 roku życia (p = 0,02), podczas gdy wartość i czas do osiągnięcia minimalnego pooperacyjnego oraz aktualnego BMI były porównywalne dla analizowanych grup. Wnioski: Otyłość wieku młodzieńczego może być czynnikiem ryzyka nawrotu otyłości po RYGB. W tej grupie chorych odległe wyniki operacji mogą być niezadowalające, dlatego konieczne jest dalsze aktywne leczenie zachowawcze tych chorych

Epidemiology of arterial hypertension in patients scheduled for elective hip replacement

Background: Assessment of blood pressure values and early diagnosis of hypertension are especially important in high-risk group, including patients in preoperative and postoperative period. The aim of the current study was the assessment of blood pressure values and prevalence of hypertension in patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery — an orthopedic procedure associated with one of the highest cardiovascular complication rate. Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients admitted for elective hip replacement surgery were screened for arterial hypertension. All patients had their medical records reviewed for prior diagnosis and had their blood pressure measured on admission by a qualified physician prior to the procedure, according to the current guidelines. Results: The mean age of the study population was 62.2 ± 13.9 years and 42.7% of the patients were male. The body mass index (BMI) in the study population was 27.0 ± 4.2 kg/m2. Fifty-eight point two percent of patients were diagnosed with arterial hypertension previously. Mean blood pressure values on admission for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 134.5 ± 20.4 and 78.6 ± 13.1 mm Hg, respectively. In 43.2% of patients, the on admission blood pressure values exceeded the threshold of ≥ 140 and/or 90 mm Hg. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed de novo in 33 (15.0%) patients. Patients with the disease were older (67.5 ± 12.3 vs. 54.4 ± 13.9 years; p < 0.0001), and had higher BMI (27.6 ± 4.3 vs. 26.2 ± 3.8 kg/m2; p = 0.05) than patients without the diagnosed disease. Diabetes mellitus was more often found in hypertensive patients (13.3% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.02), they also more often had history of myocardial infarction (p = 0.02), stable coronary artery disease (p = 0.001) and heart failure (p = 0.006) compared to patients without the diagnosis. Conclusions: The majority of patients scheduled for elective hip replacement surgery is diagnosed with arterial hypertension. The disease is also diagnosed de novo in 15% of these patients. Screening for arterial hypertension is important in this group of patients and can potentially reduce the complication rates of the hip replacement surgery.Background: Assessment of blood pressure values and early diagnosis of hypertension are especially important in high-risk group, including patients in preoperative and postoperative period. The aim of the current study was the assessment of blood pressure values and prevalence of hypertension in patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery — an orthopedic procedure associated with one of the highest cardiovascular complication rate. Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients admitted for elective hip replacement surgery were screened for arterial hypertension. All patients had their medical records reviewed for prior diagnosis and had their blood pressure measured on admission by a qualified physician prior to the procedure, according to the current guidelines. Results: The mean age of the study population was 62.2 ± 13.9 years and 42.7% of the patients were male. The body mass index (BMI) in the study population was 27.0 ± 4.2 kg/m2. Fifty-eight point two percent of patients were diagnosed with arterial hypertension previously. Mean blood pressure values on admission for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 134.5 ± 20.4 and 78.6 ± 13.1 mm Hg, respectively. In 43.2% of patients, the on admission blood pressure values exceeded the threshold of ≥ 140 and/or 90 mm Hg. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed de novo in 33 (15.0%) patients. Patients with the disease were older (67.5 ± 12.3 vs. 54.4 ± 13.9 years; p < 0.0001), and had higher BMI (27.6 ± 4.3 vs. 26.2 ± 3.8 kg/m2; p = 0.05) than patients without the diagnosed disease. Diabetes mellitus was more often found in hypertensive patients (13.3% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.02), they also more often had history of myocardial infarction (p = 0.02), stable coronary artery disease (p = 0.001) and heart failure (p = 0.006) compared to patients without the diagnosis. Conclusions: The majority of patients scheduled for elective hip replacement surgery is diagnosed with arterial hypertension. The disease is also diagnosed de novo in 15% of these patients. Screening for arterial hypertension is important in this group of patients and can potentially reduce the complication rates of the hip replacement surgery

The Araucaria Project: A study of the classical Cepheid in the eclipsing binary system OGLE LMC562.05.9009 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present a detailed study of the classical Cepheid in the double-lined, highly eccentric eclipsing binary system OGLE-LMC562.05.9009. The Cepheid is a fundamental mode pulsator with a period of 2.988 days. The orbital period of the system is 1550 days. Using spectroscopic data from three 4-8-m telescopes and photometry spanning 22 years, we were able to derive the dynamical masses and radii of both stars with exquisite accuracy. Both stars in the system are very similar in mass, radius and color, but the companion is a stable, non-pulsating star. The Cepheid is slightly more massive and bigger (M_1 = 3.70 +/- 0.03M_sun, R_1 = 28.6 +/- 0.2R_sun) than its companion (M_2 = 3.60 +/- 0.03M_sun, R_2 = 26.6 +/- 0.2R_sun). Within the observational uncertainties both stars have the same effective temperature of 6030 +/- 150K. Evolutionary tracks place both stars inside the classical Cepheid instability strip, but it is likely that future improved temperature estimates will move the stable giant companion just beyond the red edge of the instability strip. Within current observational and theoretical uncertainties, both stars fit on a 205 Myr isochrone arguing for their common age. From our model, we determine a value of the projection factor of p = 1.37 +/- 0.07 for the Cepheid in the OGLE-LMC562.05.9009 system. This is the second Cepheid for which we could measure its p-factor with high precision directly from the analysis of an eclipsing binary system, which represents an important contribution towards a better calibration of Baade-Wesselink methods of distance determination for Cepheids.Comment: Accepted to be published in Ap

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe