In-body path loss models for implants in heterogeneous human tissues using implantable slot dipole conformal flexible antennas

A wireless body area network (WBAN) consists of a wireless network with devices placed close to, attached on, or implanted into the human body. Wireless communication within a human body experiences loss in the form of attenuation and absorption. A path loss model is necessary to account for these losses. In this article, path loss is studied in the heterogeneous anatomical model of a 6-year male child from the Virtual Family using an implantable slot dipole conformal flexible antenna and an in-body path loss model is proposed at 2.45 GHz with application to implants in a human body. The model is based on 3D electromagnetic simulations and is compared to models in a homogeneous muscle tissue medium

Vasoreactivity, Inflammation and vascular effects of Thiazolidinediones in Insulin resistance

In the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, based on the respons to injury mechanism, the pathophysiological phenomenons endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are playing a pivitol role. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by a shift towards reduced vasodilation, a pro-inflammatory state, and pro-thrombic properties. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with most forms of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, peripheral artery disease, diabetes, and chronic renal failure. Furthermore the severity of endothelial dysfunction has been shown to have prognostic value for cardiovascular events. Evidence that atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease emerged when pathologic studies showed that T-lymphocytes and macrophages are present in the shoulder regions of atherosclerotic plaques in individuals who died from acute myocardial events. Subsequent studies implicated a multitude of pro-inflammatory targets that appear to be involved in atherogenesis, atherosclerosis and plaque rupture. In the current thesis we explored several aspects of the described model of vascular injury in the setting of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is emerging as a worldwide epidemic and currently about 200 million people are affected worldwide. An important cause for this increased incidence is the associated increase in patients with insulin resistance (approximately 400 million worldwide right now). Insulin resistance is driven by central obesity and is secondary to free fatty acid fluxes towards muscle and liver. Several risk factors such as glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, but also endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, have been found to cluster and often precede type 2 diabetes mellitus. Seeing the importance for primary prevention of early identification, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) of the US created in 2001 a readily applicable definition for daily clinical practice for this cluster of metabolic abnormalities, often referred to as the metabolic syndrome. Although a pathophysiological construct seems plausible, future research must unrevel pathophysiology and clinical use before the metabolic syndrome can be designated as a ‘syndrome’. The individual components that make up the syndrome should be treated coherently. These are the end-sites of the vascular tree. However other risk factors act like trunk of this vascular tree. Awareness of the underlying disorders is important for understanding the pathophyiology and thus coherent treatment: be aware for insulin resistance and its associated (non-) traditional risk factors like endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. The discovery of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and subsequent insight into their role in several metabolic pathways was a major breakthrough in the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the insulin resistance syndrome. The Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) as a drug subclass are PPAR-γ agonists that have been exhaustively shown to improve peripheral (predominantly skeletal muscle) insulin sensitivity in both animals and humans. In addition to their effects on insulin sensitivity, TZDs have demonstrated both direct and indirect vascular effects, including improved endothelial function, decreased vascular inflammation, lowered plasma FFA levels, improved LDL phenotype, and inhibition of VSMC proliferation. The TZDs have been demonstrated to reduce elevations in blood pressure and microalbuminuria and to improve fibrinolysis with consequent reversal of the procoagulant state. Recently in the first Prospective Pioglitazone Clinical Trial in Macrovascular Events (PROACTIVE) pioglitazone treatment reduced the relative risk for the combined endpoint death, myocardial infarction, and stroke with 16%. Other trials, like RECORD, CHICAGO, and PERISCOPE, are planned to report in 2007. Several issues concerning TZD treatment are yet to be resolved. The apparent paradox of adipocyte differentiation with weight gain concurring with the insulin-sensitising effects of TZDs is not completely understood. The TZD-induced decrease in blood pressure accompanied by an increase in the plasma volume has not been fully explained but make the TZDs contra-indicated for patients with heart failure. An important issue that needs to be resolved is the importance of raised cholesterol levels, in particular raised LDL levels, caused by rosiglitazone. Future research may provide answers to these questions, particularly with respect to the role of PPAR-γ, but also PPAR-α, in vascular pathophysiology. Although the concept of TZDs is promising, further research and additional long-term clinical trials concerning cardiovascular endpoints, are needed

Design of an implantable slot dipole conformal flexible antenna for biomedical applications

We present a flexible folded slot dipole implantable antenna operating in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band (2.4-2.4835 GHz) for biomedical applications. To make the designed antenna suitable for implantation, it is embedded in bio-compatible Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The antenna was tested by immersing it in a phantom liquid, imitating the electrical properties of the human muscle tissue. A study of the sensitivity of the antenna performance as a function of the dielectric parameters of the environment in which it is immersed was performed. Simulations and measurements in planar and bent state demonstrate that the antenna covers the complete ISM band. In addition, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurements indicate that the antenna meets the required safety regulations

Evaluation of Oil-Palm Fungal Disease Infestation with Canopy Hyperspectral Reflectance Data

Fungal disease detection in perennial crops is a major issue in estate management and production. However, nowadays such diagnostics are long and difficult when only made from visual symptom observation, and very expensive and damaging when based on root or stem tissue chemical analysis. As an alternative, we propose in this study to evaluate the potential of hyperspectral reflectance data to help detecting the disease efficiently without destruction of tissues. This study focuses on the calibration of a statistical model of discrimination between several stages of Ganoderma attack on oil palm trees, based on field hyperspectral measurements at tree scale. Field protocol and measurements are first described. Then, combinations of pre-processing, partial least square regression and linear discriminant analysis are tested on about hundred samples to prove the efficiency of canopy reflectance in providing information about the plant sanitary status. A robust algorithm is thus derived, allowing classifying oil-palm in a 4-level typology, based on disease severity from healthy to critically sick stages, with a global performance close to 94%. Moreover, this model discriminates sick from healthy trees with a confidence level of almost 98%. Applications and further improvements of this experiment are finally discussed

The future of road transport

A perfect storm of new technologies and new business models is transforming not only our vehicles, but everything about how we get around, and how we live our lives. The JRC report “The future of road transport - Implications of automated, connected, low-carbon and shared mobility” looks at some main enablers of the transformation of road transport, such as data governance, infrastructures, communication technologies and cybersecurity, and legislation. It discusses the potential impacts on the economy, employment and skills, energy use and emissions, the sustainability of raw materials, democracy, privacy and social fairness, as well as on the urban context. It shows how the massive changes on the horizon represent an opportunity to move towards a transport system that is more efficient, safer, less polluting and more accessible to larger parts of society than the current one centred on car ownership. However, new transport technologies, on their own, won't spontaneously make our lives better without upgrading our transport systems and policies to the 21st century. The improvement of governance and the development of innovative mobility solutions will be crucial to ensure that the future of transport is cleaner and more equitable than its car-centred present.JRC.C.4-Sustainable Transpor

Effects of a stepwise, structured LDL-C lowering strategy in patients post-acute coronary syndrome

Objective: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering constitutes a cornerstone of secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), yet a considerable number of patients do not achieve guideline-recommended LDL‑C targets. The 2016 European guidelines recommended titration of LDL‑C lowering medication in a set number of steps, starting with oral medication. We aimed to investigate the effects of this stepwise approach in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Methods: In a multicentre, prospective, non-randomised trial, we evaluated a three-step strategy aiming to reduce LDL‑C to ≤ 1.8 mmol/l in post-ACS patients with prior ASCVD and/or diabetes mellitus. Steps, undertaken every 4–6 weeks, included: 1) start high-intensity statin (HIST); 2) addition of ezetimibe; 3) addition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving LDL-C ≤ 1.8 mmol/l after Steps 1 and 2 (using oral medications alone). Secondary outcomes examined the prevalence of meeting the target throughout all steps (https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/21157). Results: Out of 999 patients, 84% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 81–86) achieved the LDL‑C target using only statin and/or ezetimibe. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the percentages of patients meeting the LDL‑C target after each step were 69% (95% CI: 67–72), 84% (95% CI: 81–86), and 87% (95% CI: 85–89), respectively. There were protocol deviations for 23, 38 and 23 patients at each respective step.Conclusion: Through stepwise intensification of lipid-lowering therapy, 84% of very high-risk post-ACS patients achieved an LDL‑C target of ≤ 1.8 mmol/l with oral medications alone. Addition of PCSK9i further increased this rate to 87% (95% CI: 85–89).</p