Performance evaluation of indoor localization techniques based on RF power measurements from active or passive devices

The performance of networks for indoor localization based on RF power measurements from active or passive devices is evaluated in terms of the accuracy, complexity, and costs. In the active device case, the terminal to be located measures the power transmitted by some devices inside its coverage area. To determine the terminal position in the area, power measurements are then compared with the data stored in an RF map of the area. A network architecture for localization based on passive devices is presented. Its operations are based on the measure of the power retransmitted from local devices interrogated by the terminal and on their identities. Performance of the two schemes is compared in terms of the probability of localization error as a function of the number (density) of active or passive devices. Analysis is carried out through simulation in a typical office-like environment whose propagation characteristics have been characterized experimentally. Considerations obtained in this work can be easily adapted to other scenarios. The procedure used for the analysis is general and can be easily extended to other situations

Lean body weight-tailored Iodinated contrast Injection in obese patient. boer versus James Formula

Purpose. To prospectively compare the performance of James and Boer formula in contrast media (CM) administration, in terms of image quality and parenchymal enhancement in obese patients undergoing CT of the abdomen. Materials and Methods. Fifty-five patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m2were prospectively included in the study. All patients underwent 64-row CT examination and were randomly divided in two groups: 26 patients in Group A and 29 patients in Group B. The amount of injected CM was computed according to the patient's lean body weight (LBW), estimated using either Boer formula (Group A) or James formula (Group B). Patient's characteristics, CM volume, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of liver, aorta and portal vein, and liver contrast enhancement index (CEI) were compared between the two groups. For subjective image analysis readers were asked to rate the enhancement of liver, kidneys, and pancreas based on a 5-point Likert scale. Results. Liver CNR, aortic CNR, and portal vein CNR showed no significant difference between Group A and Group B (all P ≥ 0.177). Group A provided significantly higher CEI compared to Group B (P = 0.007). Group A and Group B returned comparable overall subjective enhancement values (3.54 and vs 3.20, all P ≥ 0.199). Conclusions. Boer formula should be the method of choice for LBW estimation in obese patients, leading to an accurate CM amount calculation and an optimal liver contrast enhancement in CT

The role of music in promoting health and wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The higher disease burden and related costs due to an increasing aging population have placed tremendous pressure on the healthcare systems worldwide. Given that music, both listened and actively performed, promotes and maintains good health and wellbeing among the population, we sought to perform a systematic review that would assess its biopsychosocial effects on a population over 40 years of age. Methods: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed articles up to April 2021 was conducted on six electronic databases (i.e. Cochrane, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus). Our study population only included healthy adults of 40 years and older. A total of 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) matched the inclusion criteria and were therefore analyzed. Results: Despite the heterogeneity of the methodologies used in the selected studies, our findings suggest that active musical participation can lead to beneficial effects on both cognitive and psychosocial functioning, whereas the positive impact of listening to music seems to be predominantly restricted to the cognitive domain. Conclusions: Although our results are consistent with both active and passive music activities favouring health and wellbeing in individuals 40 years old and over, future prospective RCTs, employing more uniformed and sensitive measurements, should allow us to better gauge the role of music participation in healthy aging and longevity, especially in countries with a high population density of elderly people

First-in-Class Isonipecotamide-Based Thrombin and Cholinesterase Dual Inhibitors with Potential for Alzheimer Disease

Recently, the direct thrombin (thr) inhibitor dabigatran has proven to be beneficial in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aiming at discovering novel multimodal agents addressing thr and AD-related targets, a selection of previously and newly synthesized potent thr and factor Xa (fXa) inhibitors were virtually screened by the Multi-fingerprint Similarity Searching aLgorithm (MuSSeL) web server. The N-phenyl-1-(pyridin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamide derivative 1, which has already been experimentally shown to inhibit thr with a Ki value of 6 nM, has been flagged by a new, upcoming release of MuSSeL as a binder of cholinesterase (ChE) isoforms (acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase, AChE and BChE), as well as thr, fXa, and other enzymes and receptors. Interestingly, the inhibition potency of 1 was predicted by the MuSSeL platform to fall within the low-to-submicromolar range and this was confirmed by experimental Ki values, which were found equal to 0.058 and 6.95 μM for eeAChE and eqBChE, respectively. Thirty analogs of 1 were then assayed as inhibitors of thr, fXa, AChE, and BChE to increase our knowledge of their structure-activity relationships, while the molecular determinants responsible for the multiple activities towards the target enzymes were rationally investigated by molecular cross-docking screening

Betting on Yourself: A Decision Model for Human Resource Allocation Enriched With Self-Assessment of Soft Skills and Preferences

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First Synthesis of Racemic Trans Propargylamino-Donepezil, a Pleiotrope Agent Able to Both Inhibit AChE and MAO-B, with Potential Interest against Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease towards which pleiotropic approach using Multi-Target Directed Ligands is nowadays recognized as probably convenient. Among the numerous targets which are today validated against AD, acetylcholinesterase (ACh) and Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) appear as particularly convincing, especially if displayed by a sole agent such as ladostigil, currently in clinical trial in AD. Considering these results, we wanted to take benefit of the structural analogy lying in donepezil (DPZ) and rasagiline, two indane derivatives marketed as AChE and MAO-B inhibitors, respectively, and to propose the synthesis and the preliminary in vitro biological characterization of a structural compromise between these two compounds, we called propargylaminodonepezil (PADPZ). The synthesis of racemic trans PADPZ was achieved and its biological evaluation established its inhibitory activities towards both (h)AChE (IC50 = 0.4 uM) and (h)MAO-B (IC50 = 6.4 uM)

Low-cost reusable instrumentation for laparoendoscopic single-site nephrectomy : assessment in a porcine model

Purpose: To test different sets of prebent instruments and a new reusable access device for laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. Materials and Methods: Three surgeons with previous experience in LESS performed 12 nephrectomies in six pigs. In all procedures, a multichannel access device (X-CONE_) and a 5-mm extra-long telescope were used. Four sets of prebent instruments with different profiles (S-portal_) were tested: Standard (one straight scissorsand one curved grasper), Cuschieri, Carus, and Leroy set (each of them consisting of two curved instruments with different configurations). Assessment was performed based on both objective (procedure time; time to manage the pedicle; time to free kidney) and subjective parameters (entry=exit of instruments; triangulation; dissection up=down; dissection lateral; retraction; interdependence). The subjective assessment tool used was a Likert type scale (1¼easy to 5¼prohibitive). The access device was assessed by using objective (time to completeinsertion of device after skin incision) and subjective (significant air leakage, movement constraint) parameters. Results: Time to insertion of the X-CONE was <1 minute in all the cases. Surgeons reported significant insufflant leakage in 58% of cases. The procedure was completed in 10=12 (83%) cases. Mean operative time was 8.3_4.2 minutes, being lower for the Carus group (4.5 min) and higher for the standard group (13 min). Among thedifferent sets, the standard one obtained the best mean scores for all subjective parameters. Conclusions: X-CONE allows easy abdominal access, and its reusable properties represent cost savings for LESS compared with disposable devices. Prebent instruments might also represent attractive low-cost tools for LESS

Development and validation of artificial-intelligence-based radiomics model using computed tomography features for preoperative risk stratification of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Background: preoperative risk assessment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTS) is required for optimal and personalized treatment planning. Radiomics features are promising tools to predict risk assessment. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate an artificial intelligence classification algorithm, based on CT features, to define GIST's prognosis as determined by the Miettinen classification. Methods: patients with histological diagnosis of GIST and CT studies were retrospectively enrolled. Eight morphologic and 30 texture CT features were extracted from each tumor and combined to obtain three models (morphologic, texture and combined). Data were analyzed using a machine learning classification (WEKA). For each classification process, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and area under the curve were evaluated. Inter- and intra-reader agreement were also calculated. Results: 52 patients were evaluated. In the validation population, highest performances were obtained by the combined model (SE 85.7%, SP 90.9%, ACC 88.8%, and AUC 0.954) followed by the morphologic (SE 66.6%, SP 81.8%, ACC 76.4%, and AUC 0.742) and texture (SE 50%, SP 72.7%, ACC 64.7%, and AUC 0.613) models. Reproducibility was high of all manual evaluations. Conclusions: the AI-based radiomics model using a CT feature demonstrates good predictive performance for preoperative risk stratification of GISTs