Caspase-independent programmed cell death triggers Ca2PO4 deposition in an in vitro model of nephrocalcinosis

We provide evidence of caspase-independent cell death triggering the calcification process in GDNF-silenced HK-2 cells

Cell death in the kidney

Apoptotic cell death is usually a response to the cell’s microenvironment. In the kidney, apoptosis contributes to parenchymal cell loss in the course of acute and chronic renal injury, but does not trigger an inflammatory response. What distinguishes necrosis from apoptosis is the rupture of the plasma membrane, so necrotic cell death is accompanied by the release of unprocessed intracellular content, including cellular organelles, which are highly immunogenic proteins. The relative contribution of apoptosis and necrosis to injury varies, depending on the severity of the insult. Regulated cell death may result from immunologically silent apoptosis or from immunogenic necrosis. Recent advances have enhanced the most revolutionary concept of regulated necrosis. Several modalities of regulated necrosis have been described, such as necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and mitochondrial permeability transition-dependent regulated necrosis. We review the different modalities of apoptosis, necrosis, and regulated necrosis in kidney injury, focusing particularly on evidence implicating cell death in ectopic renal calcification. We also review the evidence for the role of cell death in kidney injury, which may pave the way for new therapeutic opportunities

Antenna Solutions for 4G Smartphones in Laser Direct Structuring Technology

Two antenna designs operating in the LTE/4G cellular frequency bands are proposed in this paper. Both designs consist of a driven strip which capacitively excites a parasitic grounded strip for a better matching response around 700 MHz. The antennas are realized using Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) technology on POCAN plastic material with a height of 5 mm above the system Printed Circuit Board. Passive matching circuits are necessary at each antenna’s feed, to match the input impedance to 50 Ohm at the desired operating bands (700-960 MHz and 1.7-2.2 GHz for the first design and 700-960 MHz and 1.7-2.7 GHz for the second). The simulation results are validated through s-parameter and total efficiency measurements. To form a basis for future studies, the effect of the hand and the head of the user are investigated upon the antenna performance

Three-dimensional printed ABS plastic peanut-lens with integrated ball grid array module for high-data-rate communications in F-band

A ball grid array (BGA) module integrated within a three-dimensional printed peanut-shaped lens is proposed for high-data-rate wireless communications in the F-band (116–140 GHz) between a video camera and a TV or a laptop. The module implements a 1?×?2 array antenna which radiates a wide beam in the horizontal plane (H-plane) and a narrower beam in the vertical plane (E-plane). The dielectric lens, fabricated in ABS-M30 plastic, is a shaped lens designed to achieve a fan-beam radiation pattern further narrowing the vertical plane and widening the horizontal plane of the BGA module. The realised gain of the full antenna system is required to exceed 5?dBi within a 120° angular interval in the horizontal plane and a 20° angular interval in the vertical plane. Measurements show a reflection coefficient below ?9?dB from 116 to 140?GHz and a maximum realised gain of 8.5?dBi at 130?GHz demonstrating feasibility of the cost-effective proposed design for a high-data-rate communications.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Transmit array as a viable 3D printing option for backhaul applications at V-band

Two designs of high gain dielectric lens for a Vband backhaul antenna, compatible with 3D printing, are compared. The available printing materials still have significant losses, which limit the performance of traditional focusing dielectric lenses, as the dome elliptical lens. Herein, we show that an all-dielectric transmit array can present several mechanical and electrical advantages, especially when high gains are required. We demonstrate that even with a compact transmit array (f/d = 067 it is still possible to comply with the usual bandwidth (57-66 GHz) and gain (>30 dBi) requirements for backhaul applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Feasibility study of 4G cellular antennas for eyewear communicating devices

A feasibility study of 4G cellular antennas operating in the LTE, GSM, DCS, PCS, and WLAN2400 standards for wirelessly connected eyewear is presented. The target bands are 700-960 MHz and 1.7-2.7 GHz. The antenna designs are capacitive coupling element types, with simple layout printed on one side of the printed circuit board (PCB) substrate. Three different antennas are examined in terms of obtainable bandwidth potential, reflection coefficient, and specific absorption rate (SAR) values considering two human-head models (SAM and Visible Human). The best antenna is -6 dB matched and has radiation efficiencies around 14% and 36% in respectively low and high frequency bands. Based on simulation data, SAR values could be above the 1-g standards

Human parietal epithelial cells (PECs) and proteinuria in lupus nephritis: a role for ClC-5, megalin, and cubilin?

Background: Parietal epithelial cells are a heterogeneous population of cells located on Bowman’s capsule. These cells are known to internalize albumin with a still undetermined mechanism, although albumin has been shown to induce phenotypic changes in parietal epithelial cells. Proximal tubular cells are the main actors in albumin handling via the macromolecular complex composed by ClC-5, megalin, and cubilin. This study investigated the role of ClC-5, megalin, and cubilin in the parietal epithelial cells of kidney biopsies from proteinuric lupus nephritis patients and control subjects and identified phenotypical changes occurring in the pathological milieu. Methods: Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses for ClC-5, megalin, cubilin, ANXA3, podocalyxin, CD24, CD44, HSA, and LTA marker were performed on 23 kidney biopsies from patients with Lupus Nephritis and 9 control biopsies (obtained from nephrectomies for renal cancer). Results: Two sub-populations of hypertrophic parietal epithelial cells ANXA3+/Podocalyxin−/CD44−, both expressing ClC-5, megalin, and cubilin and located at the tubular pole, were identified and characterized: the first one, CD24+/HSA−/LTA− had characteristics of human adult parietal epithelial multipotent progenitors, the second one, CD24−/LTA+/HSA+ committed to become phenotypically proximal tubular cells. The number of glomeruli presenting hypertrophic parietal epithelial cells positive for ClC-5, megalin, and cubilin were significantly higher in lupus nephritis patients than in controls. Conclusions: Our results may provide further insight into the role of hypertrophic parietal epithelial cells located at the tubular pole and their possible involvement in protein endocytosis in lupus nephritis patients. These data also suggest that the presence of hypertrophic parietal epithelial cells in Bowman's capsule represents a potential resource for responding to protein overload observed in other glomerulonephritis

Feasibility study of 4G cellular antennas for eyewear communicating devices

A feasibility study of 4G cellular antennas operating in the LTE, GSM, DCS, PCS, and WLAN2400 standards for wirelessly connected eyewear is presented. The target bands are 700-960 MHz and 1.7-2.7 GHz. The antenna designs are capacitive coupling element types, with simple layout printed on one side of the printed circuit board (PCB) substrate. Three different antennas are examined in terms of obtainable bandwidth potential, reflection coefficient, and specific absorption rate (SAR) values considering two human-head models (SAM and Visible Human). The best antenna is -6 dB matched and has radiation efficiencies around 14% and 36% in respectively low and high frequency bands. Based on simulation data, SAR values could be above the 1-g standards

MIMO antenna concept for 4G electronic eyewear devices

MIMO antenna concepts for electronic eyewear devices operating in 4G cellular standard are proposed in this paper. Coupling element type antennas and matching circuits are used to obtain a high bandwidth potential for the coverage of the 700-960MHz and 1.7-2.7GHz frequency bands. To obtain a dual-antenna MIMO configuration, two CE type antennas are placed on the two sides of the head, resulting in a very high isolation level thanks to the lossy nature of the human tissues (head). It is shown through simulated 3D radiation patterns that very low envelope correlation coefficients are obtained for this placement. Preliminary SAR simulations show values above the 1g standards