PRETTY: Grazing altimetry measurements based on the interferometric method

The exploitation of signals stemming from global navigation systems for passive bistatic radar applications has beenproposed and implemented within numerous studies. The fact that such missions do not rely on high power amplifiersand that the need of high gain antennas with large geometrical dimensions can be avoided, makes them suitable forsmall satellite missions. Applications where a continuous high coverage is needed, as for example disaster warning,have the demand for a large number of satellites in orbit, which in turn requires small and relatively low cost satellites.The proposed PRETTY (Passive Reflectometry and Dosimetry) mission includes a demonstrator payload for passivereflectometry and scatterometry focusing on very low incidence angles whereby the direct and reflected signal will bereceived via the same antenna. The correlation of both signals will be done by a specific FPGA based hardwareimplementation. The demonstration of a passive reflectometer without the use of local code replica implicitly showsthat also signals of unknown data modulation can be exploited for such a purpose.The PRETTY mission is proposed by an Austrian consortium with RUAG GmbH as prime contractor, relying on theresults from a previous CubeSat mission (OPS-SAT) conducted by TU Graz under ESA contract [18]. Within thepresent paper we will describe the architecture of the passive reflectometer payload within this 3U CubeSat mission anddiscuss operational routines and constraints to be elaborated in the frame of the proposed activity

Система управления наклонно-направленным бурением глубоких скважин

Задача состоит в создании системы управления буровым снарядом, который способен разрабатывать наклонные и горизонтальные скважины, например, для добычи сланцевого газа.A challenge is to create a drill control system that can develop deviated and horizontal boreholes, for example, to produce shale gas

Neurochemical markers in CSF of adolescent and adult SMA patients undergoing nusinersen treatment

Background: There is limited information on neurochemical markers being used to support and monitor the affection of motoneurons in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The objective of this study was to examine neurochemical markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) under treatment with the antisense-oligonucleotide (ASO), nusinersen. Methods: We measured markers of axonal degeneration [neurofilament light chain (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH)] along with basic CSF parameters in 25 adolescent and adult SMA type 2 and 3 patients at baseline and after four intrathecal injections of nusinersen. Neurochemical markers were compared with controls. In addition, neurochemical markers in SMA patients were related to the Hammersmith Functional Rating Scale Expanded (HFMSE). Results: No significant difference in neurofilament (Nf) values was observed between SMA and control group, neither at baseline nor after four injections of nusinersen. NfL, protein and quotients of albumin (Qalb) increased slightly in SMA patients after the fourth injection. The slight increase of NfL could be related to the development of mild CSF flow change. No relations were observed between changes in Nf and HFMSE. Conclusion: We assume that Nf levels in CSF in these patients may result from slow disease progression in this stage of disease, pre-existing loss of motoneurons due to long disease duration besides affection of the LMN only. Therefore, we conclude that Nf levels in CSF do not seem useful as diagnostic and monitoring markers in adolescent and adult SMA type 2 and 3 patients

Prevalence and Mortality of Infective Endocarditis in Community-Acquired and Healthcare-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia::A Danish Nationwide Registry-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) can be community-acquired or healthcare-associated, and prior small studies have suggested that this mode of acquisition impacts the subsequent prevalence of infective endocarditis (IE) and patient outcomes. METHODS: First-time SAB was identified from 2010 to 2018 using Danish nationwide registries and categorized into community-acquired (no healthcare contact within 30 days) or healthcare-associated (SAB >48 hours of hospital admission, hospitalization within 30 days, or outpatient hemodialysis). Prevalence of IE (defined from hospital codes) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis. One-year mortality of S aureus IE (SAIE) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: We identified 5549 patients with community-acquired SAB and 7491 with healthcare-associated SAB. The prevalence of IE was 12.1% for community-acquired and 6.6% for healthcare-associated SAB. Community-acquired SAB was associated with a higher odds of IE as compared with healthcare-associated SAB (odds ratio, 2.12 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.86–2.41]). No difference in mortality was observed with 0–40 days of follow-up for community-acquired SAIE as compared with healthcare-associated SAIE (HR, 1.07 [95% CI, .83–1.37]), while with 41–365 days of follow-up, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, .53–.95]). CONCLUSIONS: Community-acquired SAB was associated with twice the odds for IE, as compared with healthcare-associated SAB. We identified no significant difference in short-term mortality between community-acquired and healthcare-associated SAIE. Beyond 40 days of survival, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality

Повышение конкурентоспособности предприятия как фактор экономического роста промышленности России на примере нефтяного комплекса

Объектом исследования является: конкурентоспособность АО "Сибирская Сервисная Компания". Предметом исследования являются: факторы и условия конкурентоспособности предприятия, влияющие на экономический рост промышленности. Цель работы – разработка мероприятий по повышению конкурентоспособности АО "Сибирская Сервисная Компания". В результате исследования: разработаны мероприятия по повышению конкурентоспособности АО "Сибирская Сервисная Компания". Практическое значение: на основе оценки эндогенных и экзогенных факторов разработаны сводные мероприятия, дана оценка эффективности от внедрения организационных и технико–технологических мероприятий по повышению конкурентоспособности предприятия.The object of study is: the competitiveness of JSC "Siberian Service Company". The subject of the study are: factors and conditions of enterprise competitiveness, affecting the economic growth of industry. The purpose of the work is the development of measures to increase the competitiveness of Siberian Service Company JSC. As a result of the study: measures were developed to increase the competitiveness of Siberian Service Company JSC. Practical value: based on the assessment of endogenous and exogenous factors, summary measures have been developed, an assessment of the effectiveness of the introduction of organizational, technical and technological measures to increase the competitiveness of the enterprise has been given

Development of ACRODAT®, a new software medical device to assess disease activity in patients with acromegaly

Despite availability of multimodal treatment options for acromegaly, achievement of long-term disease control is suboptimal in a significant number of patients. Furthermore, disease control as defined by biochemical normalization may not always show concordance with disease-related symptoms or patient's perceived quality of life. We developed and validated a tool to measure disease activity in acromegaly to support decision-making in clinical practice. An international expert panel (n = 10) convened to define the most critical indicators of disease activity. Patient scenarios were constructed based on these chosen parameters. Subsequently, a panel of 21 renowned endocrinologists at pituitary centers (Europe and Canada) categorized each scenario as stable, mild, or significant disease activity in an online validation study. From expert opinion, five parameters emerged as the best overall indicators to evaluate disease activity: insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) level, tumor status, presence of comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea), symptoms, and health-related quality of life. In the validation study, IGF-I and tumor status became the predominant parameters selected for classification of patients with moderate or severe disease activity. If IGF-I level was ≤1.2x upper limit of normal and tumor size not significantly increased, the remaining three parameters contributed to the decision in a compensatory manner. The validation study underlined IGF-I and tumor status for routine clinical decision-making, whereas patient-oriented outcome measures received less medical attention. An Acromegaly Disease Activity Tool (ACRODAT) is in development that might assist clinicians towards a more holistic approach to patient management in acromegaly

Apolipoprotein E-dependent load of white matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer’s disease: a voxel-based lesion mapping study

Introduction: White matter (WM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hyperintensities are common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but their pathophysiological relevance and relationship to genetic factors are unclear. In the present study, we investigated potential apolipoprotein E (APOE)-dependent effects on the extent and cognitive impact of WM hyperintensities in patients with AD. Methods: WM hyperintensity volume on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images of 201 patients with AD (128 carriers and 73 non-carriers of the APOE ε4 risk allele) was determined globally as well as regionally with voxel-based lesion mapping. Clinical, neuropsychological and MRI data were collected from prospective multicenter trials conducted by the German Dementia Competence Network. Results: WM hyperintensity volume was significantly greater in non-carriers of the APOE ε4 allele. Lesion distribution was similar among ε4 carriers and non-carriers. Only ε4 non-carriers showed a correlation between lesion volume and cognitive performance. Conclusion: The current findings indicate an increased prevalence of WM hyperintensities in non-carriers compared with carriers of the APOE ε4 allele among patients with AD. This is consistent with a possibly more pronounced contribution of heterogeneous vascular risk factors to WM damage and cognitive impairment in patients with AD without APOE ε4-mediated risk