Sharif Digital Repository

Flow mediated dilation (FMD) is a non-invasive method for endothelial function assessment providing an index extracted from ultrasonic B-mode images. Although utilized in the research community, the difficulty of its application and high cost of ultrasonic devices prevent it from being widely used in clinical settings. In this study we show that substituting the ultrasonic device with more easily handled and low cost photoplethysmography and electrocardiography is possible. We introduce new indices based on the photoplethysmogram (PPG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) and show that they are correlated with the ultrasound-based FMD Index. To this end, a conventional ultrasound FMD test was carried... 

A new technique for improving the performance of low-voltage folding ADC's by extending the input range is presented. It is shown that by using both PMOS and NMOS differential pairs in the folding blocks, the overall input voltage range of the ADC can be increased to rail-to-rail. A novel self-adjustment method is also introduced to compensate for the different input-output characteristics of PMOS and NMOS differential pairs. A low voltage 8-bit 80 MSample/s folding/interpolating ADC is then designed and fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS process. Operating with a supply voltage as low as 1.2 V, measurements show an INL below ±0.55 LSB, SNDR of 43.5 dB at 80 MHz Sampling Frequency and power... 

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of coronary artery disease leading to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, coronary angiography is considered to be the most accurate technique to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). However, this technique is an invasive and expensive procedure with risks of serious complications. Since the symptoms of CAD are not noticed until advanced stages of the disease, early and effective diagnosis of CAD is considered a pertinent measure. In this paper, a non-invasive optical signal, the finger photoplethysmogram (PPG) obtained before and after reactive hyperemia is investigated to discriminate between subjects with different CAD conditions. To this end,... 

Using simultaneous photoplethysmogram (PPG) and pulse transducer signals from the same finger, a high correlation (Mean: 98.6, STD: 1) is obtained between the AC part of the PPG and estimated volume changes (after normalization). These results point to the fact that in the resting fingertip, PPG signal variations are only due to volume changes and that blood density does not change thus has no contribution  

An 8-bit High-speed folding/interpolating ADC is presented. Designed in 0.18μm CMOS technology, the ADC dissipates only 50mW from a single 1.5V supply. A novel technique based on using both N and P folding cells is used to widen the input range and a self-calibration technique based on using Trimmable MOSFETs is employed to improve the static and dynamic performance  

In this paper, a new method for automatic cancellation of mismatch-induced errors in folding ADC is introduced. Using "Trimmable MOSFET's" for input transistors, this method results in considerable reduction of the size of speed-determining transistors while keeping integral non-linearity (INL) arbitrarily low. Using this technique, an 8-bit folding ADC is re-designed and its performance is compared to the original work.©2005 IEEE  

Direct discharge of high-strength industrial effluent often upsets municipal wastewater treatment plant processes. This pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of a UASB system in pre-treating effluent from a medium-size traditional slaughterhouse. Experiments were conducted in a continuous flow 500-1 pilot plant initially inoculated with 200 1 municipal anaerobic digested sludge. With an influent COD concentration of 3000-5000 mg/l, the system was started with a loading of 1.8 kg COD/m3.d (F/M of 0.24 kg COD/kg VSS.d) at 25°C. The granules formed after 4 months of operation were dark brownish with a diameter of 1-4 mm and a settling velocity of 20 m/hr. Once granules were... 

This paper investigates the performance of a MOS track-and-hold circuit as the front end of a wide input range and high-speed single-sided ADC. In order to reduce charge injection and clock feedthrough errors, a new technique for employing a dummy transistor in the bootstrapped switch of the track and hold circuit is introduced. Performance of the proposed circuit for the two cases of constant and non-linear hold capacitor is studied. It is also shown that how and when dummy switch and bulk switching method can improve the accuracy of theT/H. © IEICE 2007  

In the present study, titanium nano-particles have been synthesized using chemical vapor condensation (CVC) process. Reaction of sodium and titanium tetrachloride vapors in the tube furnace resulted in the production of titanium nano-particles that were encapsulated in sodium chloride. Dried Argon gas was employed as a carrying agent. Titanium nano-particles were contained in an ethanol bath. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) were employed for analysis and characterization of nano-particles. The size of primary particles was smaller than 100 nm and secondary particles were submicron agglomerations