A Wired-AND Current-Mode Logic Circuit Technique in CMOS for Low-Voltage, High-Speed and Mixed-Signal VLSIC

A wired-AND current-mode logic (WCML) circuit technique in CMOS technology for low-voltage and high-speed VLSI circuits is proposed, and a WCML cell library is developed using standard 0.8 micron CMOS process. The proposed WCML technique applies the analog circuit design methodologies to the digital circuit design. The input and output logic signals are represented by current quantities. The supply current of the logic circuit is adjustable for the required logic speed and the switching noise level. The noise is reduced on the power supply lines and in the substrate by the current-steering technique and by the smooth swing of the reduced node potentials. Precise analog circuits and fast digital circuits can be integrated on the same silicon substrate by using the low noise property of the WCML. It is shown by the simulations that at low supply voltages, the WCML is faster and generates less switching noise when compared to the static-CMOS logic. At high speeds, the power dissipation of the WCML is less than that of the static-CMOS logic

Digital maturity and its determinants in General Practice: a cross- sectional study in 20 countries

Background: The extent to which digital technologies are employed to promote the delivery of high-quality healthcare is known as Digital Maturity. Individual and systemic digital maturity are both necessary to ensure a successful, scalable and sustainable digital transformation in healthcare. However, digital maturity in primary care has been scarcely evaluated. Objectives: This study assessed the digital maturity in General Practice (GP) globally and evaluated its association with participants' demographic characteristics, practice characteristics and features of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) use. Methods: GPs across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June and September 2020. Demographic data, practice characteristics, and features of EHRs use were collected. Digital maturity was evaluated through a framework based on usage, resources and abilities (divided in this study in its collective and individual components), interoperability, general evaluation methods and impact of digital technologies. Each dimension was rated as 1 or 0. The digital maturity score was calculated as the sum of the six dimensions and ranged between 0 to 6 (maximum digital maturity). Multivariable linear regression was used to model the total score, while multivariable logistic regression was used to model the probability of meeting each dimension of the score. Results: One thousand six hundred GPs (61% female, 68% Europeans) participated. GPs had a median digital maturity of 4 (P25–P75: 3–5). Positive associations with digital maturity were found with: male gender [B = 0.18 (95% CI 0.01; 0.36)], use of EHRs for longer periods [B = 0.45 (95% CI 0.35; 0.54)] and higher frequencies of access to EHRs [B = 0.33 (95% CI 0.17; 0.48)]. Practicing in a rural setting was negatively associated with digital maturity [B = −0.25 (95%CI −0.43; −0.08)]. Usage (90%) was the most acknowledged dimension while interoperability (47%) and use of best practice general evaluation methods (28%) were the least. Shorter durations of EHRs use were negatively associated with all digital maturity dimensions (aOR from 0.09 to 0.77). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated notable factors that impact digital maturity and exposed discrepancies in digital transformation across healthcare settings. It provides guidance for policymakers to develop more efficacious interventions to hasten the digital transformation of General Practice

Healthy diet in primary care: views of general practitioners and nurses from Europe

Background: Most of the national colleges of general practitioners (GPs) do not have their own dietary/nutritional tools, and GPs and nurses do not have the time, knowledge, or skills to advise their patients about desirable dietary practices. Objective: To assess the usefulness of a simple and practical guide on healthy diet to be used by European GPs and nurses. Design: A postal survey was mailed to 171 GPs and nurses from 12 European countries to obtain information about the usefulness of a guide on healthy diet developed by EUROPREV. Results: The perception of health professionals is that the main source of information on healthy diet for the population was the media. In all, 95% of GPs and nurses reported that the guide was useful; 93, 95, and 82% reported that the concepts were concise, easy to understand, and realistic, respectively. Also, 77% reported that the type of counselling recommended was feasible and could be applied, 94% reported that the implementation measures proposed could be effective and 88% reported that the Traditional Mediterranean Diet Pyramid is useful, but some concerns about the content were mentioned. Conclusions: GPs and nurses from Europe think that a practical guide on healthy diet developed by EUROPREV could be used to advise patients in primary care, although the Traditional Mediterranean Diet Pyramid should be modified

AIDS knowledge and attitudes in a Turkish population: an epidemiological study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate and present some pertinent comments concerning Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions among the general population in a city of west Turkey. This study was deemed important and relevant due to the increasing importance of AIDS in Turkey and the other countries. METHODS: Using a multistage area sampling method, a random sample of individuals aged 11–83 years, living in 65 different quarters in the city of Eskisehir, Turkey during September, October and November 2004 were interviewed. RESULTS: In all, 1048 respondents completed the survey. In most items, respondents displayed a fairly good to excellent degree of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Individuals with higher degrees of education indicated more correct responses in all items relating to knowledge of HIV/AIDS. In general, the respondents' attitudes towards AIDS and people with AIDS were found to be tolerant and positive, with one answer choice showing that the majority of the respondents agreed with the statement that those with HIV/AIDS must be supported, treated and helped (90.7%). Moreover, the proportions of the respondents' misconceptions were found to be significantly low for all the items. However, nearly one fourth of the respondents agreed with the misconceptions 'AIDS is a punishment by God' and 'One is not infected with HIV/AIDS if engaged in sport and well nourished'. CONCLUSION: In general HIV/AIDS related knowledge was high and people showed positive attitudes. However, people continue to hold misconceptions about AIDS and these need to be addressed by health education programs targeting those at higher risk

Disruption of Lateral Efferent Pathways: Functional Changes in Auditory Evoked Responses

The functional consequences of selectively lesioning the lateral olivocochlear efferent system in guinea pigs were studied. The lateral superior olive (LSO) contains the cell bodies of lateral olivocochlear neurons. Melittin, a cytotoxic chemical, was injected into the brain stem using stereotaxic coordinates and near-field evoked potentials to target the LSO. Brain stem histology revealed discrete damage to the LSO following the injections. Functional consequences of this damage were reflected in depressed amplitude of the compound action potential of the eighth nerve (CAP) following the lesion. Threshold sensitivity and N1 latencies were relatively unchanged. Onset adaptation of the cubic distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) was evident, suggesting a reasonably intact medial efferent system. The present results provide the first report of functional changes induced by isolated manipulation of the lateral efferent pathway. They also confirm the suggestion that changes in single-unit auditory nerve activity after cutting the olivocochlear bundle are probably a consequence of disrupting the more lateral of the two olivocochlear efferent pathways.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41379/1/10162_2002_Article_3018.pd

AIDS knowledge and educational needs of technical university students in Turkey

AIDS is a main health problem of the recent century and is now considered a very important cause for mortality and morbidity among young people. The aim of this research is to determine the Turkish university students knowledge, sexual risk behavior, attitude towards AIDS and educational needs concerning AIDS. A cross-sectional exploratory design is utilized in this study. One thousand four hundred and twenty-seven university new registrants from the Middle East Technical University participated and answered a 32-item self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed sociodemographics, sexual risk behavior, self-assessed knowledge on HIV transmission and AIDS, attitudes towards AIDS infection and AIDS patient, source of information and need for AIDS course. The response rate was 84%. Two hundred and seventy-one (19%) participants had sexual intercourse. Eighty-one (30%) participants reported condom use during the last encounter. Seven hundred and twenty-four (51%) stated they knew "very much" about AIDS. Students of faculty of engineering (n = 384, 69%), economic and administrative sciences (n = 115, 55%), and architecture (n = 42, 52%) declared they knew "very much" on AIDS and had a higher frequency as the students from the faculty of arts and sciences (it = 119, 43%) and education (n = 64, 40%). Television was reported as the major source of information about AIDS (n = 871, 61%). Students in faculty of education had lower scores than others (P = 0.01). Almost all students stated that there should be a course on AIDS in their curriculum. Educational and medical institutions are the minor information sources for students at universities. Therefore, schools have to integrate new courses on AIDS and sexual health in their curricula, physicians caring for these students have to take more time for health education. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Turkish women's knowledge of osteoporosis

Background. Preventive measures including patient education can reduce hip fractures related to osteoporosis. Sometimes osteoporosis can be diagnosed with fractures or with a serious health problem, and most women are probably unaware of the risk factors which can be changed by prevention. The first step in preventing osteoporosis in women should be to make them aware of the risk factors

A wired-AND current-mode logic circuit technique in CMOS for low-voltage, high-speed and mixed-signal VLSIC

A wired-AND current-mode logic (WCML) circuit technique in CMOS technology for low-voltage and high-speed VLSI circuits is proposed, and a WCML cell library is developed using standard 0.8 micron CMOS process. The proposed WCML technique applies the analog circuit design methodologies to the digital circuit design, The input and output logic signals are represented by current quantities. The supply current of the logic circuit is adjustable for the required logic speed and the switching noise level. The noise is reduced on the power supply lines and in the substrate by the current-steering technique and by the smooth swing of the reduced node potentials. Precise analog circuits and fast digital circuits can be integrated on the same silicon substrate by using the low noise property of the WCML. It is shown by the simulations that at low supply voltages, the WCML is faster and generates less switching noise when compared to the static-CMOS logic. At high speeds, the power dissipation of the WCML is less than that of the static-CMOS logic

A GATE ARRAY CHIP FOR HIGH-FREQUENCY DSP APPLICATIONS

A gate array architecture for high speed correlation and convolution is described. A gate array chip based on this architecture is designed and an FIR filter is implemented on thm chip. Bit-level array in pipeline structure is used in the architecture. For high 1/0 data rate, true single phase clocking circuit technique in CMOS is applied. The gate array chip is designed in 1.2pm CMOS with the programming layer metal-2 only. Spice and Verilog simulations show that the throughput is over 100 MH