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Introduction: This study examined the influence of Spirulina platensis , ochratoxin A (OTA), and their combination on growth, antioxidant status, liver and kidney functions, immunity, and carcass traits of broiler chickens. Methods: 160 unsexed 1-day broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups, each consisting of 4 replications of 10 chicks. The duration of this study was six weeks, during which the experimental groups were organized as follows: G1 consumed a basal diet (control), G2 consumed a basal diet treated with OTA at a level of 1 mg/kg of diet, G3 consumed a basal diet treated with Spirulina platensis at a level of 1 g/kg of diet, G4 consumed a basal diet treated with OTA at a level of 1 mg/kg of diet and Spirulina platensis at a level of 1 g/kg diet. Results and discussion: The results illustrated that OTA-contaminated feed resulted in a significant elevation in total cholesterol, triglyceride, low- and very low density lipoprotein, and malondialdehyde, along with a significant reduction in antioxidant status and immunological response. On the other hand, Spirulina supplementation significantly enhanced performance performance (body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio). Lipid profile was significantly decreased by Spirulina supplementation. Antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase) of broilers exposed to OTA was significantly increased by Spirulina supplementation. Finally, supplementing Spirulina platensis in broiler chickens fed on OTA contaminated diet attenuated the harmful effects of OTA, while improving the growth performance, antioxidant activity, lipid profile, and immune response of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a three-port circulator circuit based on operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) that features a resistorless topology, categorizing it as a type-A circulator. The behavior of the proposed structure is analyzed in the presence of OTA nonidealities, with corresponding mathematical formulations presented. The functionality of the circuit is verified through SPICE simulations using 180nm CMOS technology parameters. We also examine the circuit’s performance across various process corners, as well as under supply and temperature variations, finding that the port behavior remains consistent. Additionally, the impact of process variation is assessed through Monte Carlo simulations comprising 100 runs, revealing that the circuit exhibits minimal sensitivity, with the mean frequency at port 2 being 1.006MHz and a standard deviation of 493Hz. The linearity of the proposed circuit is evaluated, showing a total harmonic distortion (THD) variation of less than 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout this study, a high-gain, low-energy folded cascode operational transconductance amplifier (FC-OTA) was modelled utilising HSPICE software. The FC-OTA designs included implementations availing CNFETs, GNRFETs, and mixed involving a combination of CNFETs with CMOS. Comparison with traditional CMOS-based FC-OTAs revealed that CNFET-based FC-OTAs exhibited considerable enhancements, displaying significant escalation in DC amplification, output resistance, average power dissipation, and CMRR. The phase margin in CNT-based FC-OTAs indicated stability. Moreover, CNT-based devices showed substantial rise in direct current amplification over GNRFET-FC-OTAs. The study further explored the operational effectiveness of proposed FC-OTAs by varying parameters such as CNT diameter, CNT pitch, and the number of CNTs, identifying optimal values that significantly enhance the FC-OTA's performance. Comprehensive parametric and Monte Carlo analyses demonstrated OTA's resilience to changes in supply voltage, temperature, capacitance, and mismatches. In summary, the folded cascode approach was found to enhance gain and reduce average power in CNFET-based FC-OTAs in comparison to other structural configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological systems learn from past experiences by establishing relationships between two simultaneously occurring events, a phenomenon known as associative learning. This concept has promising applications in modern AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning). To leverage it effectively, a precise electrical model that can simulate associative learning observed in biological systems is essential. The paper focuses on modeling Pavlov's famous experiment related to the drooling of dogs at the sound of bell after associating the food with the bell during training. The study addresses limitations in existing circuit designs that fail to accurately replicate associative learning in dogs, particularly when the sequence of food and bell signals deviates from a specific pattern. We propose a novel design using a few CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors and memristor models that produces an output corresponding to the dogs drooling only when food and bell signals are associated, mirroring real-life training conditions. The results section first discusses simulations using the standard TiO2 (Titanium Oxide) memristor model, followed by experimental results obtained from a classical memristor emulator. Both simulation and experimental findings confirm the effectiveness of the circuit designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, interest in memelements, including memcapacitors, has increased significantly following the realisation of memristors. This paper presents the design and implementation of a memcapacitor circuit based on operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs). The proposed design is structured as a mutator circuit, where the second stage functions as a memristor, ultimately transforming the circuit into a memcapacitor emulator. The emulator features electronic tunability, which allows the charge value of the memcapacitor to be adjusted by modifying the capacitor in the mutator stage. The charge value of the memcapacitor can also be adjusted by varying the transconductance gm value of the OTA active element. Additionally, the operational frequency of the memcapacitor can be varied by altering the capacitor in the second stage. An adaptive learning circuit based on the memcapacitor emulator is demonstrated to validate the circuit performance. The time response obtained when a sine signal is applied to the memcapacitor circuit, the input voltage-charge relationship, and the charge-time response obtained when a square wave is used to demonstrate its memory characteristics are provided. All simulations were conducted using LTSpice with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 0.18 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process parameters. The results corroborate the effectiveness of the circuit, highlighting its potential for advanced electronic applications.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by the Aspergillus species which can contaminate various food products. This study analysed the transcriptome of the Aspergillus westerdijkiae fc-1 strain under NaCl concentrations of 0, 20, and 100 g/L using RNA-Seq technology to examine gene transcriptional changes linked to osmotic stress and OTA production. Significant changes were observed in metabolic-pathways associated with carbohydrates, cellular communication, and hydrolase activity under 20 g/L NaCl. The HOG1 gene, associated with osmotic pressure regulation was down-regulated by 78.06%. In contrast, OTA biosynthesis genes otaA, otaB, and otaC were up-regulated by 3.26 fold, 1.99 fold, and 2.06 fold, respectively. Conversely, the otaD gene was down-regulated by 43.50%. At 100 g/L NaCl, pathways related to ion transport, peptide metabolism, ribosomal function, and transmembrane transporter protein activities were significantly up-regulated. The HOG1 gene was up-regulated by 28.32% and OTA biosynthesis genes otaA, otaB, otaC, and otaD showed up-regulation of 27.06%, 36.80%, 19.59%, and 5.72 fold, respectively. The study highlights the role of metabolic pathways in osmotic stress regulation and the correlations between HOG1 expression and OTA biosynthesis genes, providing insights for developing strategies to prevent OTA contamination in food.

This paper presented a multiplier-less memcapacitor emulator circuit that is implemented without using a memristor mutator. The proposed circuit is a charge-controlled memcapacitor built with analog blocks. Comparatively, this circuit uses fewer active–passive elements, where all passive elements are grounded. In addition, the most advantageous feature is its tuning which can be done externally by electronic means. Also, the proposed circuit layout has been drawn with minimum metal routing, optimum floor planning, and DRC and LVS checks. The circuit behavior is justified through various simulations in the Cadence Virtuoso-Spectre tool with 180-nm CMOS parameters, and the operating frequency of the proposed circuit is up to 4KHz. In addition, theoretical and simulated results are proven through experimental verification using off-the-shelf IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like reversed nested Miller compensation, four nested Miller loops are exploited as a compensation network for a four-stage amplifier. However, isolating the feed-forward path via two differential stages allows the use of a single Miller compensation capacitor while the output node remains intact regarding capacitive loading from compensation. The exploited configuration for the compensation network provides the capability of reducing the number and size of needed capacitors due to positioning at the outputs of differential stages. This scenario is linearly modeled by a transfer function, then a circuit realization is suggested and simulated using 0.18 µm CMOS technology. According to the simulation results, the proposed amplifier can obtain 158 dB DC gain, 11.2 MHz GBW, and 84° PM while consuming 298 µW. Ample sensitivity analysis verifies the robustness of the proposed amplifier against probable mismatches and errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins, specifically aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), trichothecenes (TCNs), and patulin, are a group of secondary metabolites that can contaminate food, leading to severe health implications for humans. Their detection and analysis within forensic toxicology are crucial, particularly as they can be implicated in cases of poisoning, foodborne illnesses, or lethal chronic exposure. However, little is known about the application that mycotoxins could have in forensic investigations and especially about the possibility of extracting and quantifying these molecules on tissues or post-mortem fluids collected at autopsy. We propose a review of the scientific literature on autopsy case studies in which the presence of mycotoxins on cadavers in cases of acute and chronic exposure has been investigated and identified. This review demonstrates how the analysis of mycotoxins on cadavers could be fundamental in the study of mushroom poisonings or even in the investigation of the chronic effects of mycotoxins on the human organism, by virtue of the known carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of many of them. This paper aims to explore the multifaceted role of mycotoxins within forensic sciences, focusing on their detection methods, implications in criminal contexts, and their potential as forensic evidence, thereby underscoring the critical importance they could assume in post-mortem toxicology, public health prevention, and forensic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi species belonging to the genera Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. The proliferation of OTA-producing fungal species may occur due to inadequate practices during both the pre-harvest and post-harvest stages of feed. Consequently, poultry species may be exposed to high concentrations of this mycotoxin that can be transferred to animal tissues due to its carry-over, reaching dangerous concentrations in meat and meat products. Therefore, this review aims to propose a comprehensive overview of the effects of OTA on human health, along with data from global studies on the prevalence and concentrations of this mycotoxin in avian feeds, as well as in poultry meat, edible offal, and eggs. Moreover, the review examines significant gross and histopathological lesions in the kidneys and livers of poultry linked to OTA exposure. Finally, the key methods for OTA prevention and decontamination of feed are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin that commonly contaminates maize, posing significant health risks to both poultry and humans. In this study, a rapid and sensitive method utilizing ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) was developed for the quantification of OTA levels in maize. The method utilizes immunoaffinity column purification for improved specificity. Accuracy and precision were validated in line with European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL-MP) guidelines, meeting regulatory standards for linearity, trueness, detection and quantification limits, precision, and uncertainty, as per European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 401/2006 and its amendments. The method demonstrated an average recovery rate of 116.78% for maize, with RSDwR values (within-laboratory reproducibility) of 12.72%. Furthermore, OTA occurrence and its possible effects were investigated in several farms in South Romania, where necropsy and histopathological analyses of poultry revealed severe kidney damage, including renal tubular degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, interest in memelements, including memcapacitors, has increased significantly following the realisation of memristors. This paper presents the design and implementation of a memcapacitor circuit based on operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs). The proposed design is structured as a mutator circuit, where the second stage functions as a memristor, ultimately transforming the circuit into a memcapacitor emulator. The emulator features electronic tunability, which allows the charge value of the memcapacitor to be adjusted by modifying the capacitor in the mutator stage. The charge value of the memcapacitor can also be adjusted by varying the transconductance gm value of the OTA active element. Additionally, the operational frequency of the memcapacitor can be varied by altering the capacitor in the second stage. An adaptive learning circuit based on the memcapacitor emulator is demonstrated to validate the circuit performance. The time response obtained when a sine signal is applied to the memcapacitor circuit, the input voltage-charge relationship, and the charge-time response obtained when a square wave is used to demonstrate its memory characteristics are provided. All simulations were conducted using LTSpice with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 0.18 µm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process parameters. The results corroborate the effectiveness of the circuit, highlighting its potential for advanced electronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThis study examined the influence of Spirulina platensis, ochratoxin A (OTA), and their combination on growth, antioxidant status, liver and kidney functions, immunity, and carcass traits of broiler chickens.Methods160 unsexed 1-day broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups, each consisting of 4 replications of 10 chicks. The duration of this study was six weeks, during which the experimental groups were organized as follows: G1 consumed a basal diet (control), G2 consumed a basal diet treated with OTA at a level of 1 mg/kg of diet, G3 consumed a basal diet treated with Spirulina platensis at a level of 1 g/kg of diet, G4 consumed a basal diet treated with OTA at a level of 1 mg/kg of diet and Spirulina platensis at a level of 1 g/kg diet.Results and discussionThe results illustrated that OTA-contaminated feed resulted in a significant elevation in total cholesterol, triglyceride, low- and very low density lipoprotein, and malondialdehyde, along with a significant reduction in antioxidant status and immunological response. On the other hand, Spirulina supplementation significantly enhanced performance performance (body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio). Lipid profile was significantly decreased by Spirulina supplementation. Antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase) of broilers exposed to OTA was significantly increased by Spirulina supplementation. Finally, supplementing Spirulina platensis in broiler chickens fed on OTA contaminated diet attenuated the harmful effects of OTA, while improving the growth performance, antioxidant activity, lipid profile, and immune response of broiler chickens.

As the number of 5G NR base stations increases, the demand for performance testing of base stations also increases. However, many 5G base stations are installed in locations where direct measurements are impossible. Accordingly, base station performance testing should be switched from direct measurements to OTA. When conducting base station performance testing of OTA, interference from adjacent signals should be considered, unlike direct measurements, unless it is shielded. In Korea, the output frequencies of the 5G NR base stations of all three companies (LG U+, KT, and SKT) are located adjacent to each other. In this case, the signal performance measurement of adjacent bands is impossible. This paper proposes a method to solve the interference problem by excluding it from the measurement of other service signals by utilizing the signal characteristics of 5G NR. It confirms that the performance measurement presented in 3GPP can be replaced by OTA measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a rail-to-rail transconductance stable and enhanced ultra-low-voltage operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) is proposed for electrocardiogram (ECG) signal processing. The variation regularity of the bulk transconductance of pMOS and nMOS transistors and the cancellation mechanism of two types of transconductance variations are revealed. On this basis, a transconductance stabilization and enhancement technique is proposed. By using the "current-reused and transconductance-boosted complementary bulk-driven pseudo-differential pairs" structure, the bulk-driven pseudo-differential pair during the input common-mode range (ICMR) is stabilized and enhanced. The proposed OTA based on this technology is simulated using the TSMC 0.18 μm process in a Cadence environment. The proposed OTA consumes a power below 30 nW at a 0.4 V voltage supply with a DC gain of 54.9 dB and a gain-bandwidth product (GBW) of 14.4 kHz under a 15 pF capacitance load. The OTA has a high small signal figure-of-merit (FoM) of 7410 and excellent common-mode voltage (VCM) stability, with a transconductance variation of about 1.35%. Based on a current-scaling version of the proposed OTA, an OTA-C low-pass filter (LPF) for ECG signal processing with VCM stability is built and simulated. With a −3 dB bandwidth of 250 Hz and a power consumption of 20.23 nW, the filter achieves a FoM of 3.41 × 10−13, demonstrating good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach to design analog building blocks based on digital standard cells is presented in this work. By ensuring that every CMOS inverter from a standard-cell library operates with a well-defined quiescent current and output voltage, the suggested method makes it possible to construct analog circuits that are resistant against PVT variations. The method uses the local supply voltages connected to the source terminals of the p-channel and n-channel MOS transistors of the standard-cell inverters as control inputs. It is based on adaptive supply voltage generator (ASVG) reusable blocks, which are comparable to those used in digital applications to handle process variations. All of the standard-cell inverters used for analog functions receive the local supply voltages produced by the ASVGs, which enable setting each cell's quiescent current to a multiple of a reference current and each cell's static output voltage to an appropriate reference voltage. Both the complete custom design of the ASVG blocks and a theoretical study of the feedback loop of the ASVG are presented. An application example through the design of a fully synthesizable two-stage operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) is also provided. The TSMC 180 nm CMOS technology has been used to implement both the OTA and the ASV generators. Simulation results have demonstrated that the proposed approach allows to accurately set the quiescent current of standard-cell inverters, dramatically reducing the effect of PVT variations on the pmain performance parameters of the standard-cell-based two-stage OTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four‐stage CMOS operational amplifier is proposed in this work. The designed amplifier is frequency compensated via two differential blocks and two Miller capacitors. Unlike well‐known frequency compensation methods, the proposed compensation leaves the output node while exploiting extremely smaller capacitors compared to conventional approaches. The presented approach is modeled symbolically and realized at the circuit level via the Hspice circuit simulator and 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Good agreements between two separate simulation paths verify the validity and accuracy of the proposed approach. Ample simulation results are reported to investigate the proposed amplifier regarding parameter mismatches. According to the simulation results, the proposed four‐stage amplifier is an excellent candidate to be used in larger systems such as data converters, modulators, and sensors while it shows more than 169 dB as DC‐gain, 10 MHz as unity gain frequency with power consumption less than 500 μW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two floating memcapacitor emulator circuits, one based on a second-generation current conveyor (CCII) and the other on an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA), are proposed. The first floating memcapacitor contains a single CCII, one multiplier, and four transistors, while the second one comprises a single OTA, one multiplier, and only two transistors. External transistors are operated as electronically controllable grounded capacitors and resistors. Therefore, the inverse memcapacitances of the circuits are adjusted electronically by applying appropriate bias voltages. Both emulator circuits can be operated to have incremental or decremental characteristics. The analyses of frequency response, electronic adjustability, temperature behavior, and non-volatile behavior of the circuits, as well as Monte Carlo analysis, are performed. Furthermore, an adaptive learning circuit is utilized to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed memcapacitor. Additionally, the CCII-based emulator circuit is constructed on a printed circuit board using discrete circuit elements and tested experimentally. The non-volatility feature of the circuit was tested for both incremental and decremental memcapacitors. The simulation and experimental results agree with the expected results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Front-end circuits are crucial interfaces between digital electronics and real-world applications in Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems and portable smart devices, necessitating high-speed, energy-efficient, and compact designs. Advanced mixed-signal processing and actuation technologies are essential for leveraging the pivotal role of analog sensors in Artificial Intelligence (AI) functionalities. This study investigates emerging low-power nanoelectronics for analog circuit applications, focusing on Graphene Nano-ribbon Field-Effect Transistors (GNRFETs), particularly one-dimensional armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs). Triple cascode operational transconductance amplifiers (TCOTAs) are implemented using GNRFETs and MOSFETs at the 32-nanometer technology node using HSPICE. Three distinct GNR-based TCOTA configurations are analyzed against conventional CMOS-based TCOTA to assess performance improvements. The evaluation highlights significant enhancements in GNR-based TCOTAs, particularly in the pure GNRFET-TCOTA variant, which exhibits a notable 33.8% increase in DC gain, a 21.4% improvement in common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR), and substantial growth rates of 5.85 and 8.47 times for slew rate and 3-dB bandwidth, respectively. The pure GNR-based TCOTA shows a 9.4% delay in comparison to Si-CMOS-based TCOTA. Insights into critical design parameters such as dimer lines ( N ), number of GNRs ( n _Rib ), and ribbon spacing ( W _SP ) are provided, emphasizing their impact on circuit performance. This research underscores the potential of GNRFET to optimize operational transconductance amplifiers, enhancing analog circuit capabilities for IoT systems and portable electronics. The findings contribute to advancing nanoelectronics toward achieving higher performance and efficiency in future electronic applications.

The growing need for high-performance folded cascode CMOS OTAs in various fields, such as electronics and communications, requires them to operate with wide bandwidth, high voltage gain, compact devices, and low power consumption. Recent research indicates that implementing the water cycle algorithm (WCA) can greatly improve the performance of the folded cascode CMOS operational transconductance amplifier (OTA). This is due to the WCA's ability to perform both global search and local exploration efficiently. Notably, the OTA in question is constructed using 0.18µm TSMC technology and operates with a voltage supply of ±1.8V. The results of the simulation were collected using PSPICE software (version 17.4). These design solutions demonstrate exceptional efficiency, delivering significant amplification, high frequency, and minimal power usage. In addition, the paper demonstrates the implementation and simulation outcomes of a folded cascode CMOS operational transconductance amplifier utilizing the water cycle algorithm, MATLAB was employed for this purpose. Using WCA in the design of an OTA for folded cascode CMOS OTA results in significant improvements in performance metrics. Experiences a significant increase in voltage gain, with an increase in gain bandwidth by a factor of five compared to the algorithm-free design. In addition, power consumption is reduced by 15.5%, and the common mode rejection ratio is improved by 15.18% compared to the non-WCA folded cascode CMOS OTA design. The results highlight the effectiveness of the WCA technique as a powerful optimization strategy to improve the performance of folded cascode CMOS OTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a 0.3 V body-driven operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) that exploits a biasing approach based on the use of a replica loop with gain. An auxiliary amplifier is exploited both in the current mirror load of the first stage of the OTA and in the replica loop in order to achieve super-diode behavior, resulting in low mirror gain error, which enhances CMRR, and robust biasing. Common-mode feedforward, provided by the replica loop, further enhances CMRR. Simulations in a 180 nm CMOS technology show 65 dB gain with 2 kHz unity-gain frequency on a 200 pF load when consuming 9 nW. Very high linearity with a 0.24% THD at 90% full-scale and robustness to PVT variations are also achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of turning points (stationary points like maxima and minima) in the Parameter-versus-state map (PSM) curve of a memristor can be beneficial in several memristive uses like multi-level logic design, multi-bit memories, and chaos generation circuits. Surprisingly the memristors with these types of PSM curves exhibit multiple crossing points in the transient input v-i contours. In this paper, the memductance model has been derived for such non-linear memristors exhibiting multi-cross-over characteristics. In the presented framework, the coefficients-related condition for the multi-turning point PSM curve has been derived, a necessary condition for the multi-crossing v-i contour. The condition related to the memristor operating parameters has also been reported taking both input signal and initial states into consideration. To realise the derived memductance model corresponding to the three cross-over memristive behaviour, an OTA-based memristor emulator has been developed. Unlike some existing fractional order non-symmetric multi-crossing memristor emulators, the proposed emulator circuit realises an integer order memristor function operating at moderate frequencies. The realised emulator uses only four OTAs and three grounded passive circuit elements with no external multiplier. For the CMOS implementation of employed OTA, the simulation results are obtained to verify the three pinch-off behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A four‐stage CMOS operational amplifier is proposed in this work. The designed amplifier is frequency compensated via two differential blocks and two Miller capacitors. Unlike well‐known frequency compensation methods, the proposed compensation leaves the output node while exploiting extremely smaller capacitors compared to conventional approaches. The presented approach is modeled symbolically and realized at the circuit level via the Hspice circuit simulator and 0.18 μm CMOS technology. Good agreements between two separate simulation paths verify the validity and accuracy of the proposed approach. Ample simulation results are reported to investigate the proposed amplifier regarding parameter mismatches. According to the simulation results, the proposed four‐stage amplifier is an excellent candidate to be used in larger systems such as data converters, modulators, and sensors while it shows more than 169 dB as DC‐gain, 10 MHz as unity gain frequency with power consumption less than 500 μW.

Objectives: To update recent information on contamination levels of mycotoxins in South Korea. Materials and methods: A total of 208 samples sourced from the feeds of swine farms were collected. The contamination levels of mycotoxins, which are aflatoxin (Afla), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisin (FUM), and T-2 toxin, were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results: The detection levels of the total samples were 78.91% for DON, 75.24% for Afla, 47.02% for ZEN, 68.31% for FUM, and 5.94% for OTA and T-2, which were not detected at all. Most of the analyzed mycotoxins showed significant high occurrences in 47.02%–78.91% of the swine feed samples. 11 of the 152 alfa-positive samples exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) of Afla proposed by the Korean regulation. In the analysis of mycotoxin detection levels by growth stage, ZEN was found in the nursery stage at a remarkably high concentration level (126.46 ± 63.76 ppb), exceeding the MRL of ZEN for piglets proposed by the European Commission. This mycotoxin was also found in the samples from the gestation barn (89.04 ± 46.05 ppb) and the farrowing house (105.58 ± 94.12) at a high concentration level. Afla was found in the nursery stage at a high concentration (8.00 ± 2.22 ppb), approaching the MRL (10 ppb) of Afla proposed by the Korean regulation. Conclusion: These results indicate that many swine farms in South Korea are still exposed to mycotoxin risk, and special attention and surveillance are necessary for these mycotoxin risks in swine farms. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(1.000): 125-131]

One of the main challenges boutique hotels and resorts face is the direct outreach to tourists and customers. As a result, these independent hotels often resort to online platforms such as Agoda and Airbnb to expand their customer base. However, this approach comes at the cost of losing revenue to Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) that solely focus on room sales, hindering the establishment of a strong brand image for boutique hotels and resorts. Considering the heavy reliance on OTAs, this paper focuses on the development of GoHoliday, a cross-platform mobile app prototype that aims to bridge the gap between boutique hotels and users. This mobile application seamlessly integrates a booking engine, an AI assistant for trip planning, and an experience-sharing platform, enhancing the app's capabilities alongside other features. By implementing the GoHoliday mobile application, boutique hotels can maximize their reach and establish a distinct brand identity by directly serving their valuable guests with more personalized arrangements.

In this paper we introduce an improved standard-cell-based voltage amplifier cell with low output resistance. The proposed amplifier cell exhibits a voltage gain whose value can be accurately set by the number of paralleled inverters, and its output static voltage is well controlled through a replica bias approach. A three-stage fully synthesizable OTA architecture exploiting the improved voltage amplifier is also proposed. The OTA has been designed referring to the standard-cell library of a 180nm CMOS technology with a supply voltage of 0.3V and a nominal power consumption of only 6.63 nW, and exhibits a dc-gain of 73.5 dB with a gain-bandwidth-product of 9.63 kHz. A comparison against the state of the art of ultra-low-voltage OTAs has shown that the proposed amplifier exhibits the best value of the small signal figures of merit.

In the last years several ultra-low voltage (ULV) operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) with supply voltages below 0.5V have been proposed in the literature. To achieve high gain, multi-stage amplifiers are frequently exploited, in spite of the complexity of design and compensation approaches, whereas cascode and regulated-cascode OTA topologies have rarely been exploited to implement ULV amplifiers. On the other hand, most ULV amplifiers are designed for IoT and biomedical applications in which reducing power consumption is the most important specification, and MOS devices are operated in the subthreshold region. This paper focuses on exploiting the subthreshold operating region to design ULV single-stage OTAs that utilize an output cascoded branch to increase the equivalent output resistance and, consequently, the overall voltage gain. A detailed analytical study of the conditions for triode and saturation regions for MOS devices operating in deep subthreshold region is presented to demonstrate that, for an appropriate choice of the inversion coefficient (IC), a cascode configuration exhibits higher gain than a single transistor, for the same voltage overhead, even in ULV conditions. More specifically, the results presented in this work demonstrate that 4 MOS devices (2 NMOS and 2 PMOS) can be reliably stacked to build a complementary cascode amplifier, even with a supply voltage as low as 0.4V. We also present a novel topology of regulated-cascode amplifier suitable to be operated with a supply voltage of 0.4V and a voltage gain approaching 100dB. Simulation results referring to a 180nm CMOS technology and including PVT and mismatch variations confirm state-of-the-art performances, as well as the good robustness of the proposed regulated-cascode ULV OTA.

Mycotoxins have been linked to adverse health impacts, including liver cancer and kidney diseases. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the dietary exposure of Lebanese adults to multi-mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), ochratoxin A (OTA), ochratoxin B (OTB), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2) and to assess their associated health risks. Hence, a nationally representative sample of 449 participants aged 18-64 years old were interviewed to obtain their socio-demographic characteristics, food consumption data and exposure estimates. A food frequency questionnaire and 24 h-recall were used to collect data. The concentration of mycotoxins in all foods consumed by the participants was collected from previous national published studies. The estimated daily intake (EDI), the hazard quotient (HQ) and the margin of exposure (MOE) were calculated. The total exposure to AFB1, AFM1, OTA and DON was 1.26, 0.39, 4.10 and 411.18 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The MOE to AFB1, AFM1, OTA and DON in the Lebanese food basket was 316, 1454, 3539 and 510, respectively, indicating high health-related risks. Per food items, the MOE to AFB1 was below 10,000 in cereals (466.5), mainly in rice (827.9) and Burgul (4868.5). Similarly, the MOE to OTA in cereals was 1439, in which bread (4022), rice (7589) and bulgur (7628) were considered unsafe. Moreover, the MOE to DON in cereals (605) is alarming, especially in bread (632) and manakesh (6879). The MOE to AFM1 in dairy products was 1454, indicating health-related risks with a focus on yogurt (9788) and labneh (8153). As for the herbs/spices group and traditional dishes, the MOE to AFB1 was relatively lower than 10,000 (3690 and 1625, respectively), with a focus on thyme (2624) and kishik (3297), respectively. It is noteworthy that the MOE to DON and the MOE to OTA in traditional foods and coffee were lower than 10,000 (8047 and 8867, respectively). All hazard quotient (HQ) values were below 1, except the HQ value of milk and dairy products (1.96). The intake of some food groups varied between age categories, corresponding to differences in EDI between them. Thus, it is essential to put control measures in place to decrease the contamination and exposure to mycotoxins by Lebanese consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating advancement in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) necessitates a formidable strategy for firmware updates, where traditional methods often fall short of guaranteeing absolute integrity. Although decentralization has been explored in studies for firmware integrity verification using blockchain technology, it lacks comprehensive validation in the context of automotive over-the-air (OTA) updates. By recognizing the limitations of current practices and the partial validation of decentralized approaches, such as blockchain, in the automotive sector, our study introduces a novel mechanism for firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates. This mechanism is grounded in the widely adopted message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol, integral to the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, and leverages Merkle tree-based blockchain verification to fortify the fidelity and efficiency of firmware updates. Our proposed solution not only prioritizes the stability crucial to automotive OTA updates but also ensures that performance is not compromised. This dual focus on reliability and efficiency represents a significant stride forward in the development of secure, scalable SDV firmware update protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges boutique hotels and resorts face is the direct outreach to tourists and customers. As a result, these independent hotels often resort to online platforms such as Agoda and Airbnb to expand their customer base. However, this approach comes at the cost of losing revenue to Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) that solely focus on room sales, hindering the establishment of a strong brand image for boutique hotels and resorts. Considering the heavy reliance on OTAs, this paper focuses on the development of GoHoliday, a cross-platform mobile app prototype that aims to bridge the gap between boutique hotels and users. This mobile application seamlessly integrates a booking engine, an AI assistant for trip planning, and an experience-sharing platform, enhancing the app's capabilities alongside other features. By implementing the GoHoliday mobile application, boutique hotels can maximize their reach and establish a distinct brand identity by directly serving their valuable guests with more personalized arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mycotoxins, produced by certain types of mold, can present a significant challenge for farm animals, particularly chickens. Among these mycotoxins, Ochratoxin A, created by common molds, is considered one of the most harmful. The absorption of these mycotoxins by animals can be mitigated by incorporating specific substances into their feed that absorb the toxins. Opoka, a rock composed of tiny organic particles, emerges as a potential candidate for this purpose due to its unique structure, which contains numerous small spaces capable of trapping toxins. In a recent study, 2% of Opoka was added to chicken feed. The growth and immune response of the birds were measured, revealing that the weight loss induced by the mycotoxin could be counteracted by including Opoka in the feed. Chickens consuming the Opoka-enhanced feed exhibited increased white blood cells and higher blood glucose levels. These findings suggest that Opoka has the potential to play a protective role against mycotoxin-induced damage. Consequently, introducing Opoka to chicken feed appears to be a promising strategy for shielding chickens from the harmful effects of these molds. Mycotoxins, such as Ochratoxin A (OTA), originating from fungi like Aspergillus and Penicillium, represent serious health hazards to poultry. The use of mycotoxin-adsorbing feed additives can reduce these risks. Opoka, a porous transitional rock, shows promise as one of these additives. This study is the first to examine the effect of Opoka administered with OTA on zootechnical parameters and the immune response of chickens. A 42-day investigation examined the impact of 1% of Opoka supplementation in feed on OTA-challenged broiler chickens. Seventy-two chickens were allocated into three groups of twenty-four individuals each: a control group, an OTA-exposed (2 mg/kg feed) group, and an OTA (2 mg/kg feed) plus 1% of Opoka group. Growth and blood parameters were monitored at predetermined intervals, and comprehensive biochemical, hematological, and cytometric analyses were conducted. The study showed that OTA exposure had a negative impact on chicken weight gain. However, adding Opoka to the diet improved weight gain, indicating its potential as a protective agent. Chickens fed with Opoka also had an increased white blood cell count, which suggests an improved immune response and elevated glucose and cholesterol concentrations. These findings indicate that Opoka may be useful in mitigating health complications caused by OTA exposure in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]