Q-Band Millimeter-Wave Antennas: An Enabling Technology for MultiGigabit Wireless Backhaul

[EN] The bandwidth demands in mobile communication systems are growing exponentially day by day as the number of users has increased drastically over the last five years. This mobile data explosion, together with the fixed service limitations, requires a new approach to support this increase in bandwidth demand. Solutions based on lower-frequency microwave wireless systems may be able to meet the bandwidth demand in a short term. However, with the small-cell mass deployment requiring total capacities of 1 Gb/s/km2, scalable, multigigabit backhaul systems are required. Millimeter-wave technology fits nicely into these new backhaul scenarios as it provides extended bandwidth for high-capacity links and adaptive throughput rate, which allows efficient and flexible deployment. Besides these advantages, millimeter-wave solutions become even more attractive when the cost of backhaul solutions and the cost of spectrum licenses are factored in. Compared to the cost of laying fiber to a cell base station, which is the only other scalable solution, the millimeter-wave solution becomes the most appropriate approach.The research leading to these results received funding from the European Commission's seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement 288267.Vilar Mateo, R.; Czarny, R.; Lee, ML.; Loiseaux, B.; Sypek, M.; Makowski, M.; Martel, C.... (2014). Q-Band Millimeter-Wave Antennas: An Enabling Technology for MultiGigabit Wireless Backhaul. IEEE Microwave Magazine. 15(4):121-130. https://doi.org/10.1109/MMM.2014.2308769S12113015

Shortened Tracer Uptake Time in GA-68-DOTATOC-PET of Meningiomas Does Not Impair Diagnostic Accuracy and PET Volume Definition

Ga-68-DOTATOC-PET/MRI can affect the planning target volume (PTV) definition of meningiomas before radiosurgery. A shorter tracer uptake time before image acquisition could allow the examination of more patients. The aim of this study was to investigate if shortening uptake time is possible without compromising diagnostic accuracy and PET volume. Fifteen patients (f = 12; mean age 52 years (34-80 years)) with meningiomas were prospectively examined with dynamic [68Ga]Ga-68-labeled [DOTA0-Phe1-Tyr3] octreotide (Ga-68-DOTATOC)-PET/MRI over 70 min before radiosurgery planning. Meningiomas were delineated manually in the PET dataset. PET volumes at each time point were compared to the reference standard 60 min post tracer injection (p.i.) using the Friedman test followed by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Bonferroni correction. In all patients, the earliest time point with 100% lesion detection compared to 60 min p.i. was identified. PET volumes did not change significantly from 15 min p.i. (p = 1.0) compared to 60 min p.i. The earliest time point with 100% lesion detection in all patients was 10 min p.i. In patients with meningiomas undergoing Ga-68-DOTATOC-PET, the tracer uptake time can safely be reduced to 15 min p.i. with comparable PET volume and 100% lesion detection compared to 60 min p.i

Identification and characterization of antibacterial compound(s) of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)

Infectious diseases remain a significant threat to human health, contributing to more than 17 million deaths, annually. With the worsening trends of drug resistance, there is a need for newer and more powerful antimicrobial agents. We hypothesized that animals living in polluted environments are potential source of antimicrobials. Under polluted milieus, organisms such as cockroaches encounter different types of microbes, including superbugs. Such creatures survive the onslaught of superbugs and are able to ward off disease by producing antimicrobial substances. Here, we characterized antibacterial properties in extracts of various body organs of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and showed potent antibacterial activity in crude brain extract against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and neuropathogenic E. coli K1. The size-exclusion spin columns revealed that the active compound(s) are less than 10 kDa in molecular mass. Using cytotoxicity assays, it was observed that pre-treatment of bacteria with lysates inhibited bacteria-mediated host cell cytotoxicity. Using spectra obtained with LC-MS on Agilent 1290 infinity liquid chromatograph, coupled with an Agilent 6460 triple quadruple mass spectrometer, tissues lysates were analyzed. Among hundreds of compounds, only a few homologous compounds were identified that contained isoquinoline group, chromene derivatives, thiazine groups, imidazoles, pyrrole containing analogs, sulfonamides, furanones, flavanones, and known to possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and analgesic properties. Further identification, characterization and functional studies using individual compounds can act as a breakthrough in developing novel therapeutics against various pathogens including superbugs

Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy is associated with birth weight, but not gestational age, 1962-1992: a cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to air pollutants is suggested to adversely affect fetal growth, but the evidence remains inconsistent in relation to specific outcomes and exposure windows.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using birth records from the two major maternity hospitals in Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England between 1961 and 1992, we constructed a database of all births to mothers resident within the city. Weekly black smoke exposure levels from routine data recorded at 20 air pollution monitoring stations were obtained and individual exposures were estimated via a two-stage modeling strategy, incorporating temporally and spatially varying covariates. Regression analyses, including 88,679 births, assessed potential associations between exposure to black smoke and birth weight, gestational age and birth weight standardized for gestational age and sex.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant associations were seen between black smoke and both standardized and unstandardized birth weight, but not for gestational age when adjusted for potential confounders. Not all associations were linear. For an increase in whole pregnancy black smoke exposure, from the 1^st(7.4 μg/m³) to the 25^th(17.2 μg/m³), 50^th(33.8 μg/m³), 75^th(108.3 μg/m³), and 90^th(180.8 μg/m³) percentiles, the adjusted estimated decreases in birth weight were 33 g (SE 1.05), 62 g (1.63), 98 g (2.26) and 109 g (2.44) respectively. A significant interaction was observed between socio-economic deprivation and black smoke on both standardized and unstandardized birth weight with increasing effects of black smoke in reducing birth weight seen with increasing socio-economic disadvantage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of this study progress the hypothesis that the association between black smoke and birth weight may be mediated through intrauterine growth restriction. The associations between black smoke and birth weight were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for passive smoking. These findings add to the growing evidence of the harmful effects of air pollution on birth outcomes.</p

California Serogroup Virus Infection Associated with Encephalitis and Cognitive Decline, Canada, 2015

California serogroup (CSG) viruses, such as Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare viruses, are mosquitoborne pathogens that cause febrile illness and neurologic disease. Human exposures have been described across Canada, but infections are likely underdiagnosed. We describe a case of neuroinvasive illness in a New Brunswick, Canada, patient infected with a CSG virus

Radiologic predictors for failure of non-operative management of complicated diverticulitis: a single-centre cohort study

Purpose!#!Modern non-operative management of diverticulitis consists of a complex therapeutic regimen and is successful in most cases even of complicated diverticulitis. Still, a certain proportion of patients requires urgent surgery due to failure of the conservative approach. This study aims to identify predictors for failure of conservative treatment of complicated diverticulitis with the need for subsequent urgent resection during the acute episode.!##!Methods!#!A single-centre retrospective cohort study was performed at our tertiary centre including cases of acute complicated diverticulitis (characterized by localized abscess formation and/or pericolic air) between 2007 and 2019 that were treated guideline-conform by multimodal conservative treatment. Radiologic characteristics of disease in CT scans upon admission were analysed by uni- and multivariable logistic regression to determine predictors for resection within 30 days after onset of the conservative therapy approach.!##!Results!#!A total of 669 cases of acute diverticulitis were identified, of which 141 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 13% (n = 19) of patients were operated within 30 days despite initial conservative management. Multivariable logistic regression identified length of inflamed bowel greater than 7 cm (p &amp;lt; 0.011) and abscess formations &amp;gt;1 cm (p &amp;lt; 0.001) as significant risk factors for failure of conservative treatment.!##!Conclusion!#!Patients with length of inflamed bowel &amp;gt;7 cm or abscess formation &amp;gt;1 cm have increased risk for failure of conservative treatment of acute episodes of diverticulitis with contained perforations with subsequent need for urgent surgery. Therefore, conservative treatment of those patients should be monitored with special caution