Signal-to-Noise Ratio Analysis for the Voltage-Mode Read-Out of Quartz Tuning Forks in QEPAS Applications

Quartz tuning forks (QTFs) are employed as sensitive elements for gas sensing applications implementing quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. Therefore, proper design of the QTF read-out electronics is required to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and in turn, the minimum detection limit of the gas concentration. In this work, we present a theoretical study of the SNR trend in a voltage-mode read-out of QTFs, mainly focusing on the effects of (i) the noise contributions of both the QTF-equivalent resistor and the input bias resistor R_L of the preamplifier, (ii) the operating frequency, and (iii) the bandwidth (BW) of the lock-in amplifier low-pass filter. A MATLAB model for the main noise contributions was retrieved and then validated by means of SPICE simulations. When the bandwidth of the lock-in filter is sufficiently narrow (BW = 0.5 Hz), the SNR values do not strongly depend on both the operating frequency and R_L values. On the other hand, when a wider low-pass filter bandwidth is employed (BW = 5 Hz), a sharp SNR peak close to the QTF parallel-resonant frequency is found for large values of R_L (R_L > 2 MΩ), whereas for small values of R_L (R_L < 2 MΩ), the SNR exhibits a peak around the QTF series-resonant frequency.

Analytical Study of Front-End Circuits Coupled to Silicon Photomultipliers for Timing Performance Estimation under the Influence of Parasitic Components

Full exploitation of the intrinsic fast timing capabilities of analog silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) requires suitable front-end electronics. Even a parasitic inductance of a few nH, associated to the interconnections between the SiPM and the preamplifier, can significantly degrade the steepness of the detector response, thus compromising the timing accuracy. In this work, we propose a simple analytic expression for the single-photon response of a SiPM coupled to the front-end electronics, as a function of the main parameters of the detector and the preamplifier, taking into account the parasitic inductance. The model is useful to evaluate the influence of each parameter of the system on the slope of its response and to guide the designer in the definition of the architecture and the specifications for the front-end electronics. The results provided by the model have been successfully compared with experimental measurements from a front-end circuit with variable configuration based on a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), coupled to a 3 × 3 mm² SiPM stimulated by a fast-pulsed laser source.

Histaminergic receptors modulate the coronary vascular response in isolated guinea pig hearts. Role of nitric oxide

OBJECTIVE

The effects of histamine and of histamine receptor agonists and antagonists on the coronary outflow and on the generation of nitric oxide (NO) were evaluated on isolated guinea pig hearts.

METHODS

Isolated guinea pig hearts were perfused for 50 min in a Langendorff apparatus with histamine (10(-7)- 10(-8) M), in the absence or in the presence of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 10(-4) M), a NO synthase inhibitor and of triprolidine (3.10(-8) M) and cimetidine (10(-7) M), H(1) receptor and H(2) receptor antagonists, and with trifluoromethyl-phenylhistamine (TFMPH, 10(-7) M) and dimaprit (10(-7) M), H(1) and H(2) receptor agonists. The effects of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (10(-7) M), a H(3) receptor agonist and of FUB 181 (10(-7) M), a H(3) receptor antagonist, were studied in the presence of bradykinin (10(-7) M).

RESULTS

Histamine increases the coronary outflow and the generation of NO in a concentration-dependent fashion. The effects were completely abolished by blocking NO-synthase (NOS) with L-NMMA (10 (-4 ) M). The effects were also abolished by cimetidine (10 (-7 ) M), H (2 ) receptor antagonist, and only scarcely affected by triprolidine (3.10 (-8 ) M), H (1 ) receptor antagonist. The effects were reproduced by dimaprit (10 (-7 ) M), H (2 ) receptor agonist, and only scarcely by TFMPH (10 (-7 ) M), a selective H (1 ) receptor agonist. Bradykinin (10 (-7 ) M) produces a sustained coronary dilation paralleled by a marked increase in the generation of NO; the effects were significantly reduced by L-NMMA. The stimulation of H (3 ) receptors by (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (10 (-7 ) M) significantly reduced both effects, which reverted to normal with FUB 181 (10 (-7 ) M), an H (3 ) receptor antagonist.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that, in isolated guinea pig hearts, histamine produces coronary dilation through an H (2 )/H (3 )-dependent mechanism involving the generation of nitric oxide.

Heme oxygenase-1 and the ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat heart

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a signaling gas produced intracellularly by heme oxygenase (HO) enzymes using heme as a substrate. During heme breakdown, HO-1 and HO-2 release CO, biliverdin, and Fe(2+). In this study, we investigated the effects of manipulation of the HO-1 system in an in vivo model of focal ischemia-reperfusion (FIR) in the rat heart. Male Wistar albino rats, under general anesthesia and artificial ventilation, underwent thoracotomy, the pericardium was opened, and a silk suture was placed around the left descending coronary artery; ischemia was induced by tightening the suture and was monitored for 30 min. Subsequently, the ligature was released to allow reperfusion lasting for 60 min. The first group of rats was sham operated and injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with saline. The second group underwent FIR. The third group was treated ip 18 hr before FIR with hemin (4 mg/kg). The fourth group was pretreated ip 24 hr before FIR and 6 hr before hemin with zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP-IX, 50 microg/kg). Specimens of the left ventricle were taken for determination of HO expression and activity, infarct size, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) production, and tissue calcium content. FIR led to a significant increase in the generation of MDA and notably raised tissue calcium levels. Induction of HO-1 by hemin significantly decreased infarct size, incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias, MDA generation, and calcium overload induced by FIR. These effects were prevented by the HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP-IX. The present experiments show that the concerted actions of CO, iron, and biliverdin/bilirubin modulate the FIR-induced myocardial injury.