Efficient full-wave assessment of high gain transmit-array antennas

With the continuous exploration of millimeter waves, fomented by next generation of mobile and satellite communications, new low-cost beam antenna designs are still required for the massification of this technology. Transmit-arrays (TAs) are being intensely investigated as a possible cost-effective solution for a wide variety of applications. Underlying these studies is the need to have an efficient method of simulating this type of antennas. Performing full-wave simulation of TA antennas can be quite challenging, especially when high gain is required. This is mainly due to the large volume occupied by these type of antennas (comprising the feed and lens) and the fine subwavelength details of the unit cells that populate the TA. Based on the experience gained when designing TA for Ka-band [1] [2], we will present an overview on the numerical techniques used to perform the full-wave analysis of different TA antennas. In Figure 1, we depicted one of the methods that proved to be more effective on reducing the numerical complexity of the problem without compromising significantly the accuracy of the results.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

New concept for multibeam antennas based on two cascaded Ka-band transmit-array

The paper presents a new two-beam per-feed approach for Ka-band multi spot-beam satellites. It is based on a dual-stacked transmit array (TA) arrangement, fed by a 3×3 standard waveguide array. The TAs are co-designed so that the first performs a beam collimation and tilting; whereas the second splits the incoming beam into two orthogonal circular polarizations, with symmetrical output angles relative to the incident angle. Therefore, the number of feeds is half the number of output beams, and the linearly polarized feed reduces significantly the antenna complexity. As a proof-of-concept, we design an antenna for the 30 GHz up-link band. The focal length of the first TA is 50 mm, and the aperture size of both TAs is 196×148 mm. A new type of phase correction, the multifocal approach, is used to minimize aberrations for all beams, which would be otherwise impossible with such low F/D. Using fullwave simulations, we confirm that the 18 beams present low SLL (~15 dB), pure circular polarization and good crossover (~3 dB) with gains between 21 and 22 dBi.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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

Pancreatic lesions and metabolic aggravation are prevented by low doses of sitagliptin in a rat model of type 2 diabetes

Introduction: The management of type 2 diabetes is designed to reduce disease-related complications and improve long-term outcomes. Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) activity by sitagliptin has been shown to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) by prolonging the actions of incretin hormones, but the real impact of low-dose sitagliptin treatment on cardiometabolic risk factors and pancreatic lesions is almost unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low doses of sitagliptin on cardiovascular risk factors and histological pancreas parameters in Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats (ZDF (fa/fa)) an animal model of T2DM. Materials and Methods: Twenty weeks old diabetic obese (fa/fa) ZDF male rats were treated with vehicle or sitagliptin (10 mg/kg BW/day) during 6 weeks (n=8 each). The following parameters were assessed: glycaemia, HbA1c, insulin, lipidic profile; blood pressure. Specimens for pancreatic histopathology were stained with haematoxylin-eosin and periodic-acid-Shiff, examined by light microscopy. Endocrine and exocrine pancreas was evaluated semiquantitatively concerning inflammatory infiltrate, fibrosis, vacuolization and congestion, and scored from 0 (absent) to 3 (severe and extensive damage). Results: Sitagliptin in diabetic obese ZDF rats promoted a positive effect on dysglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and prevented the increase of blood pressure. Endocrine and exocrine pancreas presented a reduction/amelioration of fibrosis severity, inflammatory infiltrate, intra-islet vacuolation, and congestion vs the vehicle-treated diabetic rats. Conclusion: Simultaneous improvement of a sustainable glycaemic profile and of pancreatic histopathological lesions supports the favorable cardiovascular risk profile and may prove beneficial in decreasing long-term complications of T2DM.The authors are very grateful to the support of Fundação Merck Sharp & Dohm

Multi-target neuroprotective effects of herbal medicines for Alzheimer's disease

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, but its treatment options remain few and ineffective. To find new therapeutic strategies, natural products have gained interest due to their neuroprotective potential, being able to target different pathological hallmarks associated with this disorder. Several plant species are traditionally used due to their empirical neuroprotective effects and it is worth to explore their mechanism of action. Aim of the study: This study intended to explore the neuroprotective potential of seven traditional medicinal plants, namely Scutellaria baicalensis, Ginkgo biloba, Hypericum perforatum, Curcuma longa, Lavandula angustifolia, Trigonella foenum-graecum and Rosmarinus officinalis. The safety assessment with reference to pesticides residues was also aimed. Materials and methods: Decoctions prepared from these species were chemically characterized by HPLC-DAD and screened for their ability to scavenge four different free radicals (DPPH•, ABTS•+, O2•‒ and •NO) and to inhibit enzymes related to neurodegeneration (cholinesterases and glycogen synthase kinase-3β). Cell viability through MTT assay was also evaluated in two different brain cell lines, namely non-tumorigenic D3 human brain endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) and NSC-34 motor neurons. Furthermore, and using GC, 21 pesticides residues were screened. Results: Regarding chemical composition, chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of several flavonoids, phenolic acids, curcuminoids, phenolic diterpenoids, one alkaloid and one naphthodianthrone in the seven decoctions. All extracts were able to scavenge free radicals and were moderate glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitors; however, they displayed weak to moderate acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition. G. biloba and L. angustifolia decoctions were the less cytotoxic to hCMEC/D3 and NSC-34 cell lines. No pesticides residues were detected. Conclusions: The results extend the knowledge on the potential use of plant extracts to combat multifactorial disorders, giving new insights into therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease

Novel liposomes for Alzheimers disease treatment

This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2019, funded by national funds through the FCT IP, and project FUN2CYT: Harnessing the potential for biomedical applications of pleiotropic cytokines LIF and oncostatin M (PTDC/BTM-MAT/30568/2017, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030568) supported by POCI through FEDER and FCT IP.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mg2+-doped poly(ε-caprolactone)/siloxane biohybrids

Electrolytes based on a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/siloxane organic/inorganic host framework doped with magnesium triflate (Mg(CF3SO3)2) were synthesized by the sol-gel process. In the biohybrid matrix short PCL chains are covalently bonded via urethane linkages to the siliceous network. In this study the salt content of samples was identified using the conventional n notation, where n indicates the number of (C(=O)(CH2)5O) PCL repeat units per Mg2+ ion. Materials with compositions ranging from n=∞ to 2 were prepared. The only composition prepared that is not entirely amorphous is that with n = 1. Xerogels with n ≥ 7 are thermally stable up to up to at least 200 ºC. The most conducting ormolyte of the series is that with n = 26 (5.9x10-9 and 9.8x10-7 Scm-1 at 24 and 104 ºC, respectively).Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

OS NÍVEIS DE EXPRESSÃO DE CD52 NAS CÉLULAS DE SÉZARY PODERÃO SER ÚTEIS PARA AJUDAR A PREVER A RESPOSTA DOS DOENTES COM SÍNDROME DE SÉZARY AO TRATAMENTO COM ALEMTUZUMAB?

OS NÍVEIS DE EXPRESSÃO DE CD52 NAS CÉLULAS DE SÉZARY PODERÃO SER ÚTEIS PARA AJUDAR A PREVER A RESPOSTA DOS DOENTES COM SÍNDROME DE SÉZARY AO TRATAMENTO COM ALEMTUZUMAB? Iolanda Fernandes1, Marta Gonçalves2, Catarina Lau2, Maria dos Anjos Teixeira2, Cristina Gonçalves2, Luciana Xavier2, Jorge Coutinho2, Manuela Selores1, Rosário Alves1,3,4, Margarida Lima2,3,4 1Serviço de Dermatologia, 2Serviço de Hematologia Clínica, 3Consulta Multidisciplinar de Linfomas Cutâneos, HSA/CHP, 4UMIB/ICBAS/UP. Hospital de Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto (HSA/CHP), Porto. Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (UMIB/ICBAS/UP), Porto. Introdução O Alemtuzumab (Altz) é um anticorpo monoclonal (AcMo) humanizado específico para o CD52, expresso em diferentes níveis na maioria dos leucócitos, incluindo linfócitos T e B, células NK, monócitos e neutrófilos. Estudos recentes mostraram que o Altz é eficaz no tratamento de neoplasias de células T periféricas, incluindo a Síndrome de Sezary (SS), uma forma rara de linfoma T cutâneo. Embora alguns doentes com SS sejam refractários ao tratamento com Altz, até ao momento não há estudos que avaliem a relação entre a expressão de CD52 nas Células de Sezary (CS) e a resposta à terapêutica. Objectivos Avaliar se a resposta ao tratamento com Altz tem relação com os níveis de expressão de CD52 nas CS. Material e métodos Estudamos a expressão de CD52 nas CS em 5 doentes com SS tratados com Altz subcutâneo em baixa dose, comparando-a com a observada nos restantes leucócitos, em particular nos linfócitos T CD4 normais. As CS foram caracterizadas por citometria de fluxo usando AcMo específicos para diferentes moléculas expressas nos linfócitos T, assim como para diferentes famílias de regiões variáveis da cadeia beta do receptor da célula T, e quantificadas no sangue antes e diferentes tempos após o início do tratamento. Resultados Quatro doentes tiveram boa resposta ao tratamento com Altz, com diminuição acentuada da eritrodermia, do prurido e das CS circulantes. Nesses casos, as CS expressavam CD52 com intensidade forte, igual ou superior à observada nos linfócitos T CD4+ normais residuais. Um dos doentes não respondeu ao tratamento, nem do ponto de vista clínico nem do ponto de vista analítico. Neste caso, as CS expressavam CD52 com intensidade muito fraca, inferior à observada nos neutrófilos, mas os níveis de expressão de CD52 nos restantes leucócitos eram normais. Conclusões Os nossos resultados confirmam os estudos prévios que indicam que o Altz é eficaz no tratamento da maioria dos doentes com SS. Para além disso, indicam que embora na maioria dos casos de SS as CS expressem CD52 com intensidade forte, em alguns casos apresentam uma deficiência selectiva desta molécula. Sugerem ainda que a resposta ao tratamento com Altz está relacionada com os níveis de expressão de CD52 nas CS e que esta deve ser avaliada em todos os doentes propostos para tratamento com este AcMo. É necessário estudar mais casos para determinar se a expressão de CD52 nas CS deve ser usada como biomarcador preditivo da resposta à terapêutica com Altz. Apresentador: Iolanda Fernandes, Médica Interna de Dermatovenerologia, Serviço de Dermatologia, HSA/CHP

DODAB:MO versus novel liposomes for protein delivery: comparing toxicity and encapsulation efficiency

UID/BIA/04050/2019, funded by national funds through the FCT IP, and project FUN2CYT: Harnessing the potential for biomedical applications of pleiotropic cytokines LIF and oncostatin M (PTDC/BTM-MAT/30568/2017, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030568) supported by POCI through FEDER and FCT IPinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio