BER evaluation of post-meter PLC services in CENELEC-C band

Low voltage, in-home power-line communications (PLC) networks allow direct communication between smart meters (SM) and in-home devices (IHD). In order to minimize security issues, in many deployment scenarios transmission takes place only towards the IHD to display consumption data, with no backwards channel. As a result, channel estimation is difficult and it is necessary to use robust transmission techniques to mitigate the effect of the impulsive noise within the PLC channel. Performance of such system must be evaluated by taking into account realistic interference and channel models for a broad range of configurations. In this work we focus on performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) of a narrowband PLC (NB-PLC) operating in the CENELEC-C band (125–140 kHz) taking into account realistic noise models. Our system is based on binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation

Light meson spectroscopy from Dalitz plot analyses of ηc decays to η0 K+K− , η0 π + π − , and ηπ + π − produced in two-photon interactions

We study the processes γγ→ηc→η′K+K−, η′π+π−, and ηπ+π− using a data sample of 519  fb−1 recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e− collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the Υ(nS) (n=2, 3, 4) resonances. This is the first observation of the decay ηc→η′K+K− and we measure the branching fraction Γ(ηc→η′K+K−)/(Γ(ηc→η′π+π−)=0.644±0.039stat±0.032sys. Significant interference is observed between γγ→ηc→ηπ+π− and the nonresonant two-photon process γγ→ηπ+π−. A Dalitz plot analysis is performed of ηc decays to η′K+K−, η′π+π−, and ηπ+π−. Combined with our previous analysis of ηc→K¯Kπ, we measure the K∗0(1430) parameters and the ratio between its η′K and πK couplings. The decay ηc→η′π+π− is dominated by the f0(2100) resonance, also observed in J/ψ radiative decays. A new a0(1700)→ηπ resonance is observed in the ηc→ηπ+π− channel. We also compare ηc decays to η and η′ final states in association with scalar mesons as they relate to the identification of the scalar glueball.publishedVersio

Search for rare or forbidden decays of the D0 meson

We present a search for nine lepton-number-violating and three lepton-flavor-violating neutral charm decays of the type D0→h'−h−ℓ'+ℓ+ and D0→h'−h+ℓ'±ℓ∓, where h and h′ represent a K or π meson and ℓ and ℓ′ an electron or muon. The analysis is based on 468 fb−1 of e+e− annihilation data collected at or close to the Υ(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. No significant signal is observed for any of the twelve modes, and we establish 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions in the range (1.0–30.6)×10−7. The limits are between 1 and 3 orders of magnitude more stringent than previous measurements.publishedVersio

Measurements of the absolute branching fractions of B± →k±Xc c

A study of the two-body decays B±→Xc¯cK±, where Xc¯c refers to one charmonium state, is reported by the BABAR Collaboration using a data sample of 424 fb−1. The absolute determination of branching fractions for these decays are significantly improved compared to previous BABAR measurements. Evidence is found for the decay B+→X(3872)K+ at the 3σ level. The absolute branching fraction B[B+→X(3872)K+]=[2.1±0.6(stat)±0.3(syst)]×10−4 is measured for the first time. It follows that B[X(3872)→J/ψπ+π−]=(4.1±1.3)%, supporting the hypothesis of a molecular component for this resonance.publishedVersio

How do cardiologists select patients for dual antiplatelet therapy continuation beyond 1 year after a myocardial infarction? Insights from the EYESHOT Post-MI Study

Background: Current guidelines suggest to consider dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) continuation for longer than 12 months in selected patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Hypothesis: We sought to assess the criteria used by cardiologists in daily practice to select patients with a history of MI eligible for DAPT continuation beyond 1 year. Methods: We analyzed data from the EYESHOT Post-MI, a prospective, observational, nationwide study aimed to evaluate the management of patients presenting to cardiologists 1 to 3 years from the last MI event. Results: Out of the 1633 post-MI patients enrolled in the study between March and December 2017, 557 (34.1%) were on DAPT at the time of enrolment, and 450 (27.6%) were prescribed DAPT after cardiologist assessment. At multivariate analyses, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with multiple stents and the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) resulted as independent predictors of DAPT continuation, while atrial fibrillation was the only independent predictor of DAPT interruption for patients both at the second and the third year from MI at enrolment and the time of discharge/end of the visit. Conclusions: Risk scores recommended by current guidelines for guiding decisions on DAPT duration are underused and misused in clinical practice. A PCI with multiple stents and a history of PAD resulted as the clinical variables more frequently associated with DAPT continuation beyond 1 year from the index MI

Renal artery side branches patency protection during endovascular exclusion of giant renal artery aneurysm with covered stent: Well done is better than well said

Rationale: Endovascular treatment of renal artery aneurysms has offered a viable alternative with a high success rate and low procedure-related morbidity and mortality. Patient concerns: A 60-year-old man, having a right renal artery aneurysm involving the main vessel with two arteries (supplying the inferior and superior lobes of the kidney) originating from the aneurysm sac as well. Interventions: A 6 × 28 mm covered stent was inflated in vitro and a side hole was made with a femoral needle in the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) layer, through which a wire was placed in an outside/inside direction in to be inserted in the inferior pole branch. The other wire was inserted inside the main lumen of the stent (to be inserted in the main artery) and the latter, carefully re-crimped on the balloon. This way, the authors guaranteed continuous access to both arteries during aneurysm exclusion and if needed, a second stent could be advanced at the level of the bifurcation to preserve side branch patency. Conclusion: Perforating the PTFE of the stent before its introduction into the vessel and keeping a wire into the side branch could be a good strategy to protect any vessel arising from aneurysmal sac that needs to be excluded

Bailout chimney technique for graft detachment in a mycotic infrarenal aneurysm

Mycotic aortic aneurysm is a not-so-rare condition and its modalities of treatment are still debated. Graft detachment represents a catastrophic complication after open repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The dehiscence of a graft may have several causes, such as infection, fatigue of materials, and progression of the disease. In recent years, the use of the chimney technique has increased the applicability of endovascular aortic repair for challenging neck anatomies in the abdominal aorta. We report a case involving the use of the bailout chimney technique for graft detachment in a previously treated mycotic infrarenal aortic aneurysm. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved