Surface-plasmon-polariton wave propagation guided by a metal slab in a sculptured nematic thin film

Surface-plasmon-polariton~(SPP) wave propagation guided by a metal slab in a periodically nonhomogeneous sculptured nematic thin film~(SNTF) was studied theoretically. The morphologically significant planes of the SNTF on both sides of the metal slab could either be aligned or twisted with respect to each other. The canonical boundary-value problem was formulated, solved for SPP-wave propagation, and examined to determine the effect of slab thickness on the multiplicity and the spatial profiles of SPP waves. Decrease in slab thickness was found to result in more intense coupling of two metal/SNTF interfaces. But when the metal slab becomes thicker, the coupling between the two interfaces reduces and SPP waves localize to one of the two interfaces. The greater the coupling between the two metal/SNTF interfaces, the smaller is the phase speed.Comment: 17 page

Increasing Signal to Noise Ratio and Minimising Artefacts in Biomedical Instrumentation Systems

The research work described in this thesis was concerned with finding a novel method of minimising motion artefacts in biomedical instrumentation systems. The proposed solution, an Analog Frontend (AFE), was designed to detect any vertical (Y-Plane) or horizontal (X-Plane) movement of the electrode using two strain gauges, which were separated by 90° and fitted onto the electrode. The detected motion was fed back to the system for the removal of any motion artefact. The research started by emphasising the importance of minimising motion artefacts from biomedical signals and explaining how important it is for a clinical misinterpretation of the results. Hence, various motion artefact minimisation techniques undertaken by other researchers in the field were reviewed. This study covered different sources of artefacts, including the 40kHz powerline interference (PLI), 50/60kHz common-mode noise, white noise, and motion artefacts. The system was fully developed and tested and was firstly simulated using MATLAB Simulink tools to prove the effectiveness of the system before starting the implementation and build phase in the lab. The AFE system successfully produced a clean output signal, achieving an average correlation coefficient of 0.995. Also, the system output had a 98% SNR similarity with the clean source signal. Further, the system was then built and tested in the lab and successfully minimised the motion artefacts, achieving an average correlation coefficient of 0.974. Additionally, the final output had a 97.8% SNR similarity with the clean source signal. A novel test rig was developed to test the system with strain gauges. The system was able to remove the detected signal from the test rig and had an average correlation coefficient of 0.957. Lastly, the final output had a 94.2% SNR similarity with the clean source signal

A novel current reference in 45nm cmos technology

In this paper a novel CMOS temperature and supply voltage independent current reference has been proposed. This design is based on the subtraction of two scaled version PTAT (proportional to absolute temperature) currents to provide a temperature independent current reference. The design was simulated with Spectre, and implemented in 45nm CMOS technology. Simulation results shows that the proposed current reference achieves temperature coefficient of 22ppm/0C against temperature variation of -400C –1200C and line sensitivity of 337ppm/V against supply variation of 0.6–1.8V, while consuming 135uW from 1.8V supply and occupying 5184um

A Microwatt low voltage bandgap reference for bio-medical applications

In this paper a microwatt low voltage bandgap reference suitable for the bio-medical application. The Present technique relies on the principle of generating CTAT and PTAT without using any (Bipolar Junction Transistor) BJT and adding them with a proper scaling factor for minimal temperature sensitive reference voltage. Beta multiplier reference circuit has been explored to generate CTAT and PTAT. Implemented in 45nm CMOS technology and simulated with Spectre. Simulation results shows that the proposed reference circuit exhibits 1.2% variation at nominal 745mV output voltage. The circuit consumes 16uW from 0.8V supply and occupying 0.004875mm2 silicon area

Rapid Colorimetric Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Clinical Isolates Using a Magnetic Nanoparticle Biosensor

A rapid, sensitive, and specific colorimetric biosensor based on the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was designed for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in clinical samples. The biosensing platform was based on the measurement of P. aeruginosa proteolytic activity using a specific protease substrate. At the N-terminus, this substrate was covalently bound to MNPs and was linked to a gold sensor surface via cystine at the C-terminus of the substrates. The golden sensor appears black to naked eyes because of the coverage of the MNPs. However, upon proteolysis, the cleaved peptide-MNP moieties will be attracted by an external magnet, revealing the golden color of the sensor surface, which can be observed by the naked eye. In vitro, the biosensor was able to detect specifically and quantitatively the presence of P. aeruginosa with a detection limit of 102 cfu/mL in less than 1 min. The colorimetric biosensor was used to test its ability to detect in situ P. aeruginosa in clinical isolates from patients. This biochip is anticipated to be useful as a rapid point-of-care device for the diagnosis of P. aeruginosa-related infections

A start-up assisted fully differential folded cascode opamp

This paper explains the hidden positive feedback in the two-stage fully differential amplifier through external feedback resistors, and possible DC latch-up during the amplifier start-up. The biasing current selection among the cascode branches have been explained intuitively, With reference to previous literature. To avoid the latch-up problem irrespective of the transistor bias currents a novel, hysteresis based start-up circuit is proposed. An 87dB, 250MHz unity gain bandwidth amplifier has been developed in 65nm CMOS Technology and post-layout simulations demonstrate no start-up failures out of 1000 Monte-Carlo (6-Sigma) simulations. The circuit draws 126uA from a 1.2V supply and occupies the 2184um2 area

A compact high gain opamp for Bio-medical applications in 45nm CMOS technology

In this paper a low opamp compensation technique suitable for the bio-medical application has been proposed and intuitive explained the existing compensation techniques. The Present technique relies on the passive damping factor control rather power hungry damping. Implemented in 45nm CMOS technology and simulated with Spectre. Simulation results shows that 100dB dc gain, well compensated 25MHz bandwidth opamp while driving a 1pF capacitive load. Draws with 12uW power consumption from 1V supply and occupying 0.004875mm2 silicon area

Phage Display in the Quest for New Selective Recognition Elements for Biosensors

Phages are bacterial viruses that have gained a significant role in biotechnology owing to their widely studied biology and many advantageous characteristics. Perhaps the best-known application of phages is phage display that refers to the expression of foreign peptides or proteins outside the phage virion as a fusion with one of the phage coat proteins. In 2018, one half of the Nobel prize in chemistry was awarded jointly to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter "for the phage display of peptides and antibodies." The outstanding technology has evolved and developed considerably since its first description in 1985, and today phage display is commonly used in a wide variety of disciplines, including drug discovery, enzyme optimization, biomolecular interaction studies, as well as biosensor development. A cornerstone of all biosensors, regardless of the sensor platform or transduction scheme used, is a sensitive and selective bioreceptor, or a recognition element, that can provide specific binding to the target analyte. Many environmentally or pharmacologically interesting target analytes might not have naturally appropriate binding partners for biosensor development, but phage display can facilitate the production of novel receptors beyond known biomolecular interactions, or against toxic or nonimmunogenic targets, making the technology a valuable tool in the quest of new recognition elements for biosensor development.This study was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades RTI2018-096410-B-C21). R.P. acknowledges UCM for a predoctoral grant and R.B. the PI17CIII/00045 grant from the AES-ISCIII program.S