This paper presents a novel differential 0.13mum CMOS active inductor circuit, which is employed in the design of an integrated negative refractive index metamaterial phase shifter. The active inductor circuit employs a digital/analog tunable feedback resistance to allow controlling both the inductance and the quality factor. The inductance is tunable from 2.5nH to 13.6nH at 5GHz while having a fixed peak quality factor of 100. This results in a phase shift of 36.7deg/stage, at 5GHz, with less than 0.67dB insertion loss

A decision feedback equalizer, transceiver, and method are provided, the equalizer having at least one comparator, the at least one comparator comprising a first stage, comprising a main branch having two track switches with a resistive load, an offset cancellation branch, a plurality of tap branches with transistor sizes smaller than the main branch, in which previous decisions of the equalizer are mixed with the tap weights using current-mode switching, and a cross coupled latch branch; and a second stage, comprising a comparator module for making decisions based on the outputs of the first stage and a clock input, and a plurality of flip-flops for storing the output of the comparator module.

The two implementation choices for the baseband part of wireless radios are the application-specific platforms (e.g. application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) and the programmable processors (e.g. digital signal processors (DSPs)). An application-specific instruction-set processor (ASIP) is a customised processor that bridges the gap between the two platforms. In this work, a novel implementation of the signal processing part of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) baseband processor using three ASIPs is presented. The ASIPs provide novel architectures for the symbol chain, including fast Fourier transform, channel estimation subsystem and synchronisation subsystem. This design provides a close to DSPs level of flexibility, making it suitable for supporting all the modes of a large number of OFDM standards. In the meantime, the system maintains a performance level comparable to ASICs. This is demonstrated by providing post-layout results for 0.13 μm Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology.

Background: Identification of body fluid in medicine is important. DNA methylation profiling is a promising new tool for distinguishing between different types of body fluids.
Aim: In this study, 4 epigenetic markers were selected (MGMT, LINE-1, MT2A AND FGF7) which were expected to show differential DNA methylation profiles among various body fluids.
Subjects and methods: Peripheral blood (n=52), saliva (n=52), semen (n=26) and menstrual blood samples (n=26) were collected. DNA extraction, bisulfite treatment and the methylation pattern comparisons between the different body fluids at different age and sex groups were carried out using quantitative real time PCR.
Results: MGMT epigenetic marker shows a differential methylation pattern in blood compared with other body fluids, FGF7 marker displayed a differential methylation pattern in semen. Methylation profile of LINE-1 successfully differentiated saliva from the other 3 biofluids. Hypermethylation was estimated for MT2A in saliva and semen. However, MT2A showed no significant difference between menstrual blood and other body fluids rendering them indistinguishable.
Conclusion: LINE-1, FGF7 and MGMT could be useful markers for body fluid identification.
Keywords: Body fluid identification, MGMT, LINE-1, MT2A, FGF7.

This study aimed to determine the protective effects of co-administration of Quercetin (QT) or l-Carnitine (LC) against the oxidative stress induced by Atrazine (ATZ) in the reproductive system of intact male Albino rats. 36 rats were divided equally into 6 groups. Rats in the control negative "CNT" group received 1.5 ml distilled water for 21 days. All rats in the other groups received ATZ (120 mg/kg bw) through gavage. Groups 3 and 4 were co-administered with either low or high dose of QT (10 "ATZLQT" and 50 "ATZHQT" mg/kg bw, respectively). Groups 5 and 6 were co-administered with either low or high dose of LC (200 "ATZLLC" and 400 "ATZHLC" mg/kg bw, respectively). At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and all samples were collected. ATZ significantly increased serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Also, ATZ increased significantly the sperm cell abnormalities and reduced both testicular IgA and serum testosterone levels. Testicular DNA laddering % and CYP17A1 mRNA expression were significantly reduced in ATZ group. Interestingly, co-administration with low dose QT or different doses of LC succeeded to counteract the negative toxic effects of ATZ on serum oxidative stress indicators, serum testosterone levels, testicular IgA level and improved testicular CYP17A1 mRNA expression. In conclusion, QT in low dose and LC in both low and high doses exerted a significant protective action against the reproductive toxicity of ATZ, while higher dose of QT failed induce immune-stimulant effect against ATZ in adult male Albino rats.

Cryptosporidium species is an important cause of gastrointestinal infections globally. This study aimed to shed light on its role in diarrheic immunocompetent patients in Beni-Suef, Egypt and to compare three diagnostic methods. Two hundred diarrheic patients, 37±16.8 year old, were enrolled. Stool samples were examined by light microscopy, using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (MZN) for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Coproantigens were detected by sandwich ELISA. DNA molecular diagnosis was done by nested PCR. PCR yielded the highest detection rates (21.0%), compared to ELISA (12.5%) and MZN staining method (9.5%). The higher infection rates were in 20–40 year-old group, followed by 40–60 year-old. Association between epidemiologic factors was statistically not significant; positivity and gender, clinical manifestations, residence, source or water, or contact with animals. Cryptosporidiosis is an important enteric parasitic infection in Beni-Suef and PCR remains the gold standard for diagnosis.
Key words: Cryptosporidium, Beni-Suef, PCR, ELISA, modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain