Multicriteria Optimization of Antennas in Time-Domain

An original approach to the time-domain multicriteria optimization of antennas is presented. For a given excitation pulse, the time-domain objective function takes the “time-domain impedance matching”, distortion of responses at the feeding point and in a desired radiating direction (with respect to the excitation pulse), and the radiated energy in the desired direction into account. The objective function is tested on the optimization of a bow-tie antenna using the particle swarm optimization. The proposed approach is suitable for the design of broadband antennas

Kroonisen alaraajahaavan paikallishoitotuotteen oireenmukainen valinta:mikä, milloin ja miksi?

Tiivistelmä. Krooniset haavat ovat perusterveydenhuollossa yleinen mutta paljon perehtymistä vaativa vaiva. Länsimaissa ne aiheuttavat noin kaksi prosenttia terveydenhuollon kustannuksista. Haavan paranemisen kannalta tärkeintä on haavaetiologian — eli haavan paranemista estävän ja sen synnylle altistavan syyn — selvittäminen ja siihen puuttuminen. Hoito on usein yhteistyötä erikoissairaanhoidon kanssa. Väestön ikääntymisen myötä kasvavaan haavanhoidon tarpeeseen on vastattu keskittämällä osaamista Haavakeskuksiin. Paikallishoidon merkitys haavan paranemisen kannalta ei ole suuri. Paikallishoidon toteuttamisella pyritään kuitenkin vaikuttamaan potilaan oireisiin kuten haavakipuun ja -hajuun sekä hoitoon sitoutumiseen. Paikallishoitotuotteen valintaa vaikeuttaa laaja tuotevalikoima ja tieteellisen tutkimuksen rajallisuus. Tuotteen valinta on usein kokemusperäistä ja toimipistekohtaiset haavanhoito-oppaat ja -käytännöt eroavat osittain toisistaan. Syventävien opintojen tarkoituksena oli tehdä kirjallisuuskatsaus kroonisten alaraajahaavojen paikallishoitokäytäntöjen oirekohtaisesta tehosta. Tarkoituksena oli etsiä erityisesti systemaattisia katsauksia ja kliinisiä tutkimuksia

Causal Excitation in Antenna Simulations

The critical relevance of ensuring the excitation’s causality in electromagnetic (EM) simulations is validated via theoretical arguments and simulation results. Two families of model pulses with an implicitly causal behavior, namely the windowed-power (WP) and the power-exponential (PE) ones, are elaborately discussed. After introducing their unipolar prototypes, the relevant families are supplemented with monocycle and ringing variants, and are used for building signatures with almost rectangular spectral contents. Their utility is evidenced by contrasting their performance with that of other types of excitations that are habitually employed an antenna simulations. The WP pulse is also shown to be an almost exact replica of signatures generated by physical circuitry and to be singularly expedient for improving the effectiveness of EM computational packages

Pulse shaping of the electromagnetic radiation from a narrow slot antenna

A straightforward approach to achieve the prescribed shape of the far-field electromagnetic (EM) pulse radiated from a narrow slot antenna is introduced. It is demonstrated that the specified radiated pulse shape in a given direction can be approximately attained via a simple signal-processing technique that yields the pertaining excitation pulse. Illustrative numerical examples demonstrating good accuracy in the early-time part of the radiated pulsed fields are presented.</p

Experimental Reproduction of Severe Disease in CD/CD Pigs Coinfected with PRRSV and Type 2 Porcine Circovirus

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) has been recognized worldwide and is characterized clinically by wasting, dyspnea, and occasionally by icterus in nursery and grow-finish pigs. Type 2 porcine circovirus (PCV2) is consistently demonstrated in PMWS lesions. At the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, both porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and PCV2 are detected in tissues from most cases of PMWS. Since PRRSV-PCV2 coinfection has also been associated with “atypical PRRS” hepatitis, 3 week old cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived (CD/CD) pigs were inoculated with PRRSV, PCV2, both PRRSV and PCV2, or uninfected cell culture media in order to compare the independent and combined effects of these agents. PRRSV-inoculated pigs developed respiratory distress and interstitial pneumonia typical of that previously reported for this agent. None of the pigs in the PRRSV or control groups became moribund or developed hepatitis. PCV2-inoculated pigs developed lymphoid depletion and sporadic hepatitis associated with 40% mortality. Pigs in the PRRSV/PCV2 group developed severe and persistent pyrexia and dyspnea; mortality between 10 and 20 days was \u3e90% and was associated with severe interstitial pneumonia and/or hepatitis. We conclude that 1) PCV2 alone can induce clinical disease and lesions of PMWS in CD/CD pigs, 2) PCV2 alone does not induce significant respiratory disease in CD/CD pigs, 3) PCV2/PRRSV coinfection induces more severe clinical disease and lesions of PMWS than PCV2 alone, including severe interstitial pneumonia, and 4) PCV2 coinfection is responsible for the hepatitis associated with cases of “atypical PRRS.” Simultaneous coinfection of PRRSV and PCV2 has the potential to significantly exacerbate morbidity and mortality. The timing of exposure and decay of maternal antibody to PCV2 and other pathogens may play a critical role in determining whether PCV2 infection induces PMWS or remains subclinical

Reaction Time and Mortality from the Major Causes of Death:The NHANES-III Study

Studies examining the relation of information processing speed, as measured by reaction time, with mortality are scarce. We explored these associations in a representative sample of the US population

The glycerophosphocholine acyltransferase Gpc1 contributes to phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, long-term viability, and embedded hyphal growth in Candida albicans.

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record. Data availability: Data available upon request to Jana Patton-Vogt ([email protected]).Candida albicans is a commensal fungus, opportunistic pathogen, and the most common cause of fungal infection in humans. The biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), a major eukaryotic glycerophospholipid, occurs through two primary pathways. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae and some plants, a third PC synthesis pathway, the PC deacylation/reacylation pathway (PC-DRP), has been characterized. PC-DRP begins with the acylation of the lipid turnover product, glycerophosphocholine (GPC), by the GPC acyltransferase, Gpc1, to form Lyso-PC. Lyso-PC is then acylated by lysolipid acyltransferase, Lpt1, to produce PC. Importantly, GPC, the substrate for Gpc1, is a ubiquitous metabolite available within the host. GPC is imported by C. albicans, and deletion of the major GPC transporter, Git3, leads to decreased virulence in a murine model. Here we report that GPC can be directly acylated in C. albicans by the protein product of orf19.988, a homolog of ScGpc1. Through lipidomic studies, we show loss of Gpc1 leads to a decrease in PC levels. This decrease occurs in the absence of exogenous GPC, indicating that the impact on PC levels may be greater in the human host where GPC is available. A gpc1Δ/Δ strain exhibits several sensitivities to antifungals that target lipid metabolism. Furthermore, loss of Gpc1 results in both a hyphal growth defect in embedded conditions and a decrease in long-term cell viability. These results demonstrate for the first time the importance of Gpc1 and this alternative PC biosynthesis route (PC-DRP) to the physiology of a pathogenic fungus.National Institute of Healt

Phase I Trial of a Tablet Formulation of Pilaralisib, a Pan‐Class I PI3K Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

Abstract Lessons Learned. A phase I study of the pan‐class I phosphoinositide 3‐kinase inhibitor pilaralisib (in capsule formulation) in advanced solid tumors established the maximum tolerated dose as 600 mg once daily.The current study investigated pilaralisib in tablet formulation.Pilaralisib tablets were associated with a favorable safety profile and preliminary antitumor activity.Based on pharmacokinetic data, the recommended phase II dose of pilaralisib tablets was established as 400 mg once daily. Background. A phase I trial of pilaralisib, an oral pan‐class I phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, established the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the capsule formulation in patients with advanced solid tumors as 600 mg once daily. This phase I study investigated pilaralisib in tablet formulation. Materials and Methods. Patients with advanced solid tumors received pilaralisib tablets (100–600 mg once daily). Primary endpoints were MTD and safety; secondary and exploratory endpoints included pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and efficacy. Results. Twenty‐two patients were enrolled. No dose‐limiting toxicities (DLTs) were reported. The most common treatment‐related adverse events were diarrhea (40.9%), fatigue (40.9%), decreased appetite (22.7%), and hyperglycemia (22.7%). Pilaralisib plasma exposure did not appear to increase dose‐proportionally. Steady‐state exposure was higher with pilaralisib tablet formulation at 400 mg than with pilaralisib capsule formulation at 400 or 600 mg (mean area under the curve [AUC0–24] 2,820,000 ng × h/mL vs. 2,653,000 and 1,930,000 ng × h/mL, respectively). Of 18 evaluable patients, 2 (11.1%) had a partial response (PR). Conclusion. Pilaralisib tablets were associated with a favorable safety profile and preliminary antitumor activity. MTD was not determined. The recommended phase II dose for pilaralisib tablets, based on PK data, was 400 mg once daily