Search

This paper describes a low-power approach to capacitive sensing that achieves a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The circuit is composed of a capacitive feedback charge amplifier and a charge adaptation circuit. Without the adaptation circuit, the charge amplifier only consumes 1 [micro]W to achieve the audio band SNR of 69.34 dB. An adaptation scheme using Fowler--Nordheim tunneling and channel hot-electron injection mechanisms to stabilize the dc output voltage is demonstrated. This scheme provides a very low frequency pole at 0.2 Hz. The measured noise spectrums show that this slow-time scale adaptation does not degrade the circuit performance. The dc path can also be provided by a large feedback resistance without causing extra power consumption. A charge amplifier with a MOS-bipolar pseudo-resistor feedback scheme is interfaced with a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for ultrasound applications. Index Terms--Capacitive circuit, capacitive sensing circuit, channel hot-electron injection, charge amplifier, floating-gate circuit, Fowler--Nordheim tunneling, MEMS microphone interface circuit.

The present study aimed to develop and validate an indigenous scale to measure risk factors associated with extremism and violence tendencies among young people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The scale was constructed through successive three phases; where in phase I, 55 items were generated whilst reviewing relevant books, journals, and blog posts published on print and social media. In phase II items were tested for their face validity and comprehension and understanding by potential participants and 50 items were finalized for main study. Phase III of the study was carried out on the sample of 240 students from educational institutions in KPK. A Principal Component Analysis was performed using varimax rotation. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was found and Bartlett's test of sphericity was also significant indicating appropriate values to carry out subsequent factor analysis. Resultantly, final scale comprised of 26 items with four domains identified, including uncertainty in life, lack of social support, violent aggression, and religious intolerance. Additionally newly developed Extremism and Violence Risk Identification Scale was validated with constructs of self-esteem and depression to establish discriminant and convergent validity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background: Few studies have addressed the effects of biological therapies on laboratory outcomes and changes in FEV1 in patients with severe asthma (SA) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We aimed to study the effect of three biological therapies on laboratory outcomes and FEV1 in Saudi Arabian patients with SA and CRS., Methods: From March to September 2022, a retrospective observational cohort study was undertaken at the severe asthma clinics of the Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Region (AFHSR) and King Khalid University Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, to delineate the effects of 3 biological therapies (benralizumab, dupilumab, and omalizumab) in adults with SA and concomitant CRS in terms of FEV1 and laboratory parameters (serum IgE and eosinophilic counts)., Results: Eighty patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 46.68. There were 45 (56%) females and 35 (44%) males. There were significant improvements in FEV1 and laboratory parameters (serum IgE and eosinophilic counts) after 6 &12 months of biological therapies compared to pre-biological therapies (p<0.001, each). The response was different among different biological therapies. The improvements in FEV1, serum IgE, and eosinophilic counts were manifest with benralizumab and dupilumab but not with omalizumab., Conclusions: Results from the first study from two large Saudi Arabian tertiary centers for patients with severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis agree with and support those of worldwide real-life ones. One-year follow-up of patients with SA and CRS showed the effectiveness of benralizumab and dupilumab, but not omalizumab, regarding FEV1, serum IgE, and eosinophilic counts. Further prospective multicenter studies are warranted.