DESIGN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LOW-POWER LOW-NOISE ALLDIGITAL SERIAL LINK FOR POINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICATION IN SOC

The fully-digital implementation of serial links has recently emerged as a viable alternative to their classical analogue counterpart. Indeed, reducing the analogue content in favour of expanding the digital content becomes more attractive due to the ability to achieve less power consumption, less sensitivity to the noise and better scalability across multiple technologies and platforms with inconsiderable modifications. In addition, describing the circuit in hardware description languages gives it a high flexibility to program all design parameters in a very short time compared with the analogue designs which need to be re-designed at transistor level for any parameter change. This can radically reduce cost and time-to-market by saving a significant amount of development time. However, beside these considerable advantages, the fully-digital architecture poses several design challenges

From an Apple to a Pear: Moving Fat around for Reversing Insulin Resistance.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition where the body is resistant to insulin, leading to an elevated blood glucose state. Obesity is a main factor leading to T2D. Many clinical studies, however, have described a proportion of obese individuals who express a metabolically healthy profile, whereas some lean individuals could develop metabolic disorders. To study obesity as a risk factor, body fat distribution needs to be considered rather than crude body weight. Different individuals' bodies favor storing fat in different depots; some tend to accumulate more fat in the visceral depot, while others tend to store it in the femoral depot. This tendency relies on different factors, including genetic background and lifestyle. Consuming some types of medications can cause a shift in this tendency, leading to fat redistribution. Fat distribution plays an important role in the progression of risk of insulin resistance (IR). Apple-shaped individuals with enhanced abdominal obesity have a higher risk of IR compared to BMI-matched pear-shaped individuals, who store their fat in the gluteal-femoral depots. This is related to the different adipose tissue physiology between these two depots. In this review, we will summarize the recent evidence highlighting the underlying protective mechanisms in gluteal-femoral subcutaneous adipose tissues compared to those associated with abdominal adipose tissue, and we will revise the recent evidence showing antidiabetic drugs that impact fat distribution as they manage the T2D condition.This research was funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), grant number NPRP13S-1230-190008

Healthcare workers preparedness for COVID-19 pandemic in the occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to overwhelm the capacity of a vulnerable healthcare system in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). We aimed to evaluate the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the level of preparedness among HCWs in the oPt. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated online questionnaire distributed through convenient sampling between March 30, 2020 and April 12, 2020. Outcomes were availability of PPE, healthcare workers (HCWs) preparedness in oPt for COVID-19 pandemic, and regional and hospital differences in oPt in terms of availability of PPE and HCWs preparedness. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used in this study. Results Of 138 respondents, only 38 HCWs (27.5%) always had access to facemasks and 15 (10.9%) always had access to isolation gowns. Most HCWs did not find eye protection (n = 128, 92.8%), N95 respirators (n = 132, 95.7%), and face shields (n = 127, 92%) always available. Compared to HCWs in West Bank, those in the Gaza Strip were significantly less likely to have access to alcohol sanitizers (p = 0.03) and gloves (p < 0.001). On average, governmental hospitals were significantly less likely to have all appropriate PPE than non-governmental institutions (p = 0.001). Only 16 (11.6%) surveyed felt confident in dealing with a potential COVID-19 case, 57 (41.3%) having received any COVID-19-related training, and 57 (41.3%) not having a local hospital protocol. Conclusion HCWs in oPt appear to be underprepared and severely lacking adequate PPE provision. The lack of PPE provision will exacerbate spread of COVID-19 and deepen the crisis, whilst putting HCWs at risk

Sector Retinitis Pigmentosa: Extending the Molecular Genetics Basis and Elucidating the Natural History

PURPOSE: To determine the genetic background of sector retinitis pigmentosa (RP), natural history, in order to better inform patient counselling. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Review of clinical notes, retinal imaging including color fundus photography (CFP), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT), electrophysiological assessment (ERG), and molecular genetic testing was performed in patients with sector RP from a single tertiary referral center. MAIN OUTCOME: Measures: Reporting demographic data, signs and symptoms, visual acuity, molecular genetics, ERG, FAF and OCT findings. RESULTS: Twenty-six molecularly confirmed patients from 23 different families were identified, harboring likely disease-causing variants in nine genes. The mode of inheritance was autosomal recessive (AR, n=6: USH1C, n=2; MYO7A, n=2; CDH3, n=1; EYS, n=1), X-linked (XL, n=4: PRPS1, n=1; RPGR, n=3), and autosomal dominant (AD, n=16: IMPDH1, n=3; RP1, n=3; RHO, n=10), with a mean age of disease onset of 38.5, 30.5 and 39.0 years respectively. Five of these genes have not previously been reported to cause sector RP (PRPS1, MYO7A, EYS, IMPDH1, and RP1). Inferior and nasal predilection was common across the different genotypes and patients tended to maintain good central vision. Progression on serial FAF was observed in RPGR, MYO7A, CDH23, EYS, IMPDH1, RP1 and RHO-associated sector RP. CONCLUSIONS: The genotypic spectrum of the disease is broader than previously reported. The provided longitudinal data will help to provide more accurate patient prognosis and counselling, as well as inform patients' potential participation in the increasing numbers of trials of novel therapeutics and access to future treatments