Comparison of four tumor markers at the RNA and protein level for the detection of micrometastases and disseminated tumor cells in lymph nodes of patients with cervical carcinoma

Lymph node status is the key prognostic factor for disease recurrence and patient mortality among cervical cancer patients. Patients with positive lymph nodes (pN1) have a high risk for recurrence. However, 15% of treated patients suffer recurrent disease although their lymph nodes have no evident metastases or micrometastases (pN0). The presence of occult tumor cells or tumor cell clusters smaller than micrometastases (<0.2mm) in lymph nodes could be the reason for poor prognosis of these patients. The goal of this dissertation is the detection of occult tumor cells and clusters in lymph nodes by using different molecular tumor markers and the measurement of the reliability on each marker by comparing them to each other. A highly sensitive, and at the same time, specific detection of these tumor cells is a prerequisite for further research confirming the clinical importance of occult tumor cells in lymph nodes. In this study, immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and reverse transcription nested PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect metastatic tumor cells or clusters in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) of 48 patients with primary cervical cancer. 120 lymph nodes were evaluated. IHC was performed with a pan-reactive antibody against cytokeratins (AE1/3), an antibody against CK19 and an antibody against p16INK4a. The latter protein, which is a surrogate marker of viral oncogene activity, is invariably upregulated in cervical cancers. Moreover, the viral oncogene (HPV-mRNA) activity was directly detected by RT-PCR

Investigation on the Susceptibility to EMI of Second-Order ΔΣ Modulators

This paper analyzes the effects of radio frequency interference on second order ΔΣ modulators based on continuoustime (CT) and on discrete-time (DT) architectures. Specifically, Modulators used for the acquisition of sensor signals are targeted, which can operate with moderate clock rates due to the relatively small bandwidth of the signal to be acquired. A continuous wave interference with frequency above that of the modulator clock signal is superimposed onto the nominal input one with the purpose of evaluating the degradation of their performance, and more specifically their capability to demodulate out of band interference

A Wireless Communication System for Urban Water Supply Networks Based on Guided Acoustic Waves

The structural complexity of real-world pipeline networks makes it difficult to derive physics-based models of acoustic propagation. This work deals with the design of a communication system based on the propagation of acoustic waves in water-filled pipes. A method based on the experimental characterization of the communication channel is proposed. This approach is applied to an urban water distribution pipeline, and a black-box model representing its frequency response is obtained. The derived two-port model is used for the simulation of a complete communication system, comprising transmitter and receiver models, with the aim of using the water pipe as a wireless communication channel. It is shown that the choice of modulation parameters is critical in order to deal with issues such as the frequency selectivity of the channel and multipath wave propagation. A communication system is presented and the experimental results of the communicated data are provided

A Baseband Wireless VNA for the Characterization of Multi-Port Distributed Systems

Frequency characterization of spatially-large structures has become increasingly required, mostly in the fields of Structural Health Monitoring and Communication Systems based on non conventional media. When the ports of the system under measurement are far apart, methods based on traditional wired instruments become unattractive for field applications, due to the increased complexity, cost and signal integrity related issues. Aiming towards removing the wired connection from the ports of the system under test and the elaboration unit, the main issue to be dealt with is the time-synchronization of measurements at the ports. This contribution proposes a solution to such an issue by presenting a Wireless Vector Network Analyzer, suitable for the characterization of distributed systems. For this purpose, a wireless synchronization scheme is proposed, which is based on the disciplining of the signal sampling clock from the 1-Pulse-Per-Second reference signal. The proposed synchronization method reduces clock jitter at different ports at 1.13 μs over a 300 s observation interval. The hardware and software implementation of the system are detailed and experimental results proving its operation are provided

From Radio to In-Pipe Acoustic Communication for Smart Water Networks in Urban Environments: Design Challenges and Future Trends

The smart management of water resources is an increasingly important topic in today’s society. In this context, the paradigm of Smart Water Grids (SWGs) aims at a constant monitoring through a network of smart nodes deployed over the water distribution infrastructure. This facilitates a continuous assessment of water quality and the state of health of the pipeline infrastructure, enabling early detection of leaks and water contamination. Acoustic-wave-based technology has arisen as a viable communication technique among the nodes of the network. Such technology can be suitable for replacing traditional wireless networks in SWGs, as the acoustic channel is intrinsically embedded in the water supply network. However, the fluid-filled pipe is one of the most challenging media for data communication. Existing works proposing in-pipe acoustic communication systems are romising, but a comparison between the different implementations and their performance has not yet been reported. This paper reviews existing works dealing with acoustic-based ommunication networks in real large-scale urban water supply networks. For this purpose, an overview of the characteristics, trends and design challenges of existing works is provided in he present work as a guideline for future research

Exploring the factors that hinder the penetration of new political alternatives in the party system in Albania

This study explores the entry of new and small parties into the party system in Albania, focusing on the period from 1990 to 2017. It is a comprehensive exploration of the Albanian political landscape from 1991 to 2017, focusing on the role of electoral systems and how they influence party politics. The study underscores the necessity for strong, stable political parties in a thriving democracy and investigates how the electoral system either facilitates or hinders the representation of small and new parties. It investigates the influence of institutional factors, as well as the challenges and strategies related to political survival that these parties face. The analysis reveals how the two-round majority system typically fosters a two-party system, whereas a proportional system can lead to a more fragmented party landscape, often necessitating coalitions for effective governance. The impact of these dynamics was observed during several key periods in Albanian political history, noting the consequences of changes in the electoral system on the party system. The paper also highlights how major parties often manipulate the electoral system, through practices such as gerrymandering, to their own advantage, leading to potential distortions in representation. Furthermore, it presents the challenges for new and small parties, emphasizing the importance of financial support and media coverage for their survival and competitive performance

Determinants of Sickness Absence and Return to Work Among Employees with Common Mental Disorders:A Scoping Review

Purpose To present an overview of the existing evidence on prognostic factors of (recurrent) sickness absence (SA) and return to work (RTW) among workers with a common mental disorder (CMD). This scoping review provides information about determinants for SA and RTW, which could be used to develop better interventions aimed at the prevention of SA and promotion of RTW among workers with a CMD. Methods Relevant articles were identified in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, PSYNDEX, and SINGLE up to October 2016. In order to be included, studies should provide insight into prognostic factors of SA or RTW of workers with a CMD. We classified all factors according to the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Results Our searches identified 2447 possible relevant articles, of which 71 were included for data extraction. There is consistent evidence in >= 3 studies that previous episodes of CMD, higher symptom severity, previous absenteeism, co-morbidity, high job demands, low job control, high job strain, female gender, lower educational level, smoking behavior, and low perceived general health are predictors of SA in people with CMDs. Earlier RTW is consistently predicted by lower symptom severity, having no previous absenteeism, younger age, and positive expectations concerning sick-leave duration or RTW. Conclusions The amount of research on determinants for SA and RTW in workers with CMD has increased dramatically in recent years, although most studies are from the Netherlands and Scandinavia. There are some research gaps identified in this scoping review that need further attention in primary and secondary studies. Based on the summary of the evidence, we provide guidance for policy, practice and research