Dielectric and plasmonic vivaldi antennas for on-chip wireless communication

In this paper, different technologies enabling wireless on-chip communication are investigated. In particular, plasmonic Vivaldi antennas coupled to silicon waveguides and all-dielectric Vivaldi antennas are proposed. The design criteria and the performances of the two antenna configurations are also discussed

\u201cClinical signs and mri findings of bilateral porencephaly and caudal vermian hypoplasia in a young dog\u201d

The present report describes a 4 months-old mixbreed female dog referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Bologna University for the suspicion of atypical seizure activity. The dog was adopted 40 days before from a kennel. After ten days, the owner noticed the occurrence of sudden-onset \u201cattacks\u201d, described as follows: sudden tilting of the head to the right, falling towards her right side, pathologic nystagmus and opisthotonus. After approximately 30 seconds, the dog recovered completely to a normal status. Episodes occurred two to three times per day. The owner reported also episodes of tail chasing and right circling lasting 10 to 15 minutes, which tended to stop once the patient was diverted. Physical evaluation showed an abnormal right deviation of the nasal structures. The neurological examination showed a normal mental status and behaviour, a mild right head tilt, vestibular ataxia, decreased postural reactions more pronounced on the left limbs, menace response absent on the left side and reduced contralaterally, and right ventral strabismus. Neuroanatomical localization of the lesion involved the central vestibular structures and the forebrain. Major differential diagnoses included as first anomalous disorders. CBC and serum biochemistry were within the normal range. The dog underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. The dog was imaged in sternal recumbency with a 0.22-T permanent magnet using a human knee coil. Sagittal, transverse, and dorsal plane images of the brain were acquired. Image sequences included T2- and T1-weighted images, and FLAIR. An area of low signal intensity was observed on T1-weighted images in the caudal cerebellar vermian region. The same region was characterized by a high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. These characteristics were consistent with the presence of a fluid-filled cavity in the region of the cerebellum, assumed to be due to cerebrospinal fluid accumulation. A second lesion with the same characteristics, connecting the lateral ventricle with the subarachnoid space, was observed in the left parietal lobe. A third, smaller, porencephalic area was noted in the right cerebral hemisphere. The final diagnosis, based on the clinical signs and MRI findings was congenital bilateral porencephaly and caudal vermian hypoplasia. The vestibular episodes were considered as possible partial-complex epileptic seizures and anticonvulsant therapy with Phenobarbital was instituted. The rate of recurrence of the seizures did not improve at starting dose. After an adjustments in the dosage based on serum Phenobarbital level, the episodes improved in frequency and entity. The non-progressive, atypical, clinical signs in our puppy fits very well with the multiple abnormalities documented on MRI, affecting both the cranial and the caudal fossa. Caudal fossa lesions are consistent with those reported in the Dandy-Walker Syndrome (DWS). DWS is a well known human congenital brain disorder which refers to a malformation complex characterized constantly by cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and enlargement of the fourth ventricle frequently associated to different abnormalities of other areas of the central nervous system and/or the heart, face, limbs, fingers and toes. In veterinary literature, these kinds of malformation have been sporadically reported in animals, including calves, foals, lambs, cats and dogs. The malformation is often incomplete in respect to human medicine, with varying degrees of vermian hypoplasia and differences in the severity of clinical signs. Forebrain MRI abnormalities in our puppy can be defined as asymmetric bilateral porencephaly. Porencephaly refers to the occurrence of single or multiple cystic cavities in the cerebrum, usually communicating with the lateral ventricles or subarachnoid space. To the authors\u2019 knowledge, this is the first description of CNS malformation consistent with Dandy-Walker syndrome associated to..

Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic features of four cases of canine congenital thoracic vertebral anomalies.

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography features of four cases of canine congenital vertebral anomalies (CVAs) are discussed. Two subjects reported here represent unusual presentations for such anomalies that commonly affect screw-tail or toy breeds. Moreover, the combination of CVAs and a congenital peritoneo-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia has never before been imaged

ELECTROMAGNETIC PROPAGATION FOR ON-CHIP WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Optical Wireless Networks on-Chip are promising solutions to overcome problems of miniaturization and energy consumption in a multicore on-chip environment. In this paper, the optical wireless channel is modeled through a ray tracing approach, and the relationship between the optical antennas gain and the communication range in the on-chip propagation environment is investigated

Analisi delle caratteristiche in risonanza magnetica di 12 casi di patologie intracraniche non neoplastiche con diagnosi istologica nel cane e confronto con la letteratura

Sebbene la risonanza magnetica (RM) permetta di ottenere immagini delle strutture cerebrali con un buon dettaglio anatomico e rappresenti il gold standard per l\u2019identificazione di patologie del sistema nervoso centrale (SNC), non esistono caratteristiche specifiche di imaging che permettano di giungere ad una diagnosi definitiva in assenza di un esame istologico. Con lo scopo di analizzare le varie espressioni patologiche in campo neuro-radiologico veterinario sono stati presi in considerazione 12 cani con patologie intracraniche non neoplastiche diagnosticate istologicamente, con l\u2019obiettivo di descriverne le caratteristiche di RM e di confrontarle con quanto riportato nella letteratura di referenza internazionale pubblicata nel periodo 1995-2012

A candidate gene association study for nine economically important traits in Italian Holstein cattle

We genotyped 58 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 25 candidate genes in about 800 Italian Holstein sires. Fifty-six (minor allele frequency >0.02) were used to evaluate their association with single traits: milk yield (MY), milk fat yield (FY), milk protein yield (PY), milk fat percentage (FP), milk protein percentage (PP), milk somatic cell count (MSCC); and complex indexes: longevity, fertility and productivity-functionality type (PFT), using deregressed proofs, after adjustment for familial relatedness. Thirty-two SNPs were significantly associated (proportion of false positives <0.05) with different traits: 16 with MSCC, 15 with PY, 14 with MY, 12 with PFT, eight with longevity, eight with FY, eight with PP, five with FP and two with fertility. In particular, a SNP in the promoter region of the PRLR gene was associated with eight of nine traits. DGAT1 polymorphisms were highly associated with FP and FY. Casein gene markers were associated with several traits, confirming the role of the casein gene cluster in affecting milk yield, milk quality and health traits. Other SNPs in genes located on chromosome 6 were associated with PY, PP, PFT, MY (PPARGC1A) and MSCC (KIT). This latter association may suggest a biological link between the degree of piebaldism in Holstein and immunological functions affecting somatic cell count and mastitis resistance. Other significant SNPs were in the ACACA, CRH, CXCR1, FASN, GH1, LEP, LGB (also known as PAEP), MFGE8, SRC, TG, THRSP and TPH1 genes. These results provide information that can complement QTL mapping and genome-wide association studies in Holstei