634 research outputs found
UHF-RFID smart gate: Tag action classifier by artificial neural networks
The application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to discriminate tag actions in UHF-RFID gate is presented in this paper. By exploiting Received Signal Strength Indicator values acquired in a real experimental scenario, a multi-layer perceptron neural network is trained to distinguish among tags incoming, outgoing or passing the RFID gate. A 99% accuracy can be obtained in tag classification by employing only one reader antenna and independently from tag orientation and typology
Traceable atomic force microscopy of high-quality solvent-free crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester
We report high-resolution, traceable atomic force microscopymeasurements of high-quality, solvent-free single crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). These were grown by drop-casting PCBM solutions onto the spectrosil substrates and by removing the residual solvent in a vacuum. A home-built atomic force microscope featuring a plane mirror differential optical interferometer, fiber-fed from a frequency-stabilized laser (emitting at 632.8ânm), was used to measure the crystals' height. The optical interferometer together with the stabilized laser provides traceability (via the laser wavelength) of the vertical measurements made with the atomic force microscope. We find that the crystals can conform to the surface topography, thanks to their height being significantly smaller compared to their lateral dimensions (namely, heights between about 50ânm and 140ânm, for the crystals analysed, vs. several tens of microns lateral dimensions). The vast majority of the crystals are flat, but an isolated, non-flat crystal provides insights into the growth mechanism and allows identification of âmolecular terracesâ whose height corresponds to one of the lattice constants of the single PCBM crystal (1.4ânm) as measured with X-ray diffraction
Traceable atomic force microscopy of high-quality solvent-free crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester
We report high-resolution, traceable atomic force microscopymeasurements of high-quality, solvent-free single crystals of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). These were grown by drop-casting PCBM solutions onto the spectrosil substrates and by removing the residual solvent in a vacuum. A home-built atomic force microscope featuring a plane mirror differential optical interferometer, fiber-fed from a frequency-stabilized laser (emitting at 632.8ânm), was used to measure the crystals' height. The optical interferometer together with the stabilized laser provides traceability (via the laser wavelength) of the vertical measurements made with the atomic force microscope. We find that the crystals can conform to the surface topography, thanks to their height being significantly smaller compared to their lateral dimensions (namely, heights between about 50ânm and 140ânm, for the crystals analysed, vs. several tens of microns lateral dimensions). The vast majority of the crystals are flat, but an isolated, non-flat crystal provides insights into the growth mechanism and allows identification of âmolecular terracesâ whose height corresponds to one of the lattice constants of the single PCBM crystal (1.4ânm) as measured with X-ray diffraction
Clinical Management of Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland
To report a case of acinic cell carcinoma occurred in the lacrimal gland. A 59-year-old man was admitted because of sudden blurring of vision, progressive proptosis of the left eye, and mild double vision in left and down directions of the gaze (Hess-Lancaster test). His medical history detailed controlled bilateral keratoconus and open angle glaucoma. On examination, the best corrected visual acuity decreased from 8/20 till 1/50 in one week. There was a swelling of the left upper eyelid. A hard and tender mass was palpated in the superior temporal left orbit. Ultrasound scan showed an extraconal solid mass, situated in the superior lateral corner of the orbit. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass of two centimeters in diameter, with round well-defined outline, within the lacrimal gland. We per-formed an enucleoresection of the mass, via a coronal approach and a lateral orbitotomy by a piezosurgical device. The lesion appeared nodular, brownish, measuring about 2
7 1.5 cm. Histopathological findings were consistent with acinic cell carcinoma with a microcystic, focally papillary-cystic growth of pattern. Follow-up MRI outcomes led to removal of the residual lacrimal gland for suspicion of recurrence. No tumor recurrences where detected at 7-year follow-up
Evaluation of macular pigment optical density following femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery
Background: To evaluate macular pigment optical density (MPOD) after bimanual femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) compared to standard bimanual phacoemulsiïŹcation (B-MICS). Methods: Aprospective, casematched, comparative cohort study conducted at theInstitute of Ophthalmology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy); 30 eyes under wentbimanual FLACS with low-energy Ziemer LDV Z8 (FLACS) and 30 underwent B-MICS standard technique (B-MICS). All interventions were conducted by the same expert surgeon. MPOD using the Macular Pigment Screener II (MPS II) was evaluated at baseline, 7 and 30 days after surgery. As secondary outcomes, we considered best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) obtained using optical coherence tomography. Results: In all cases, a BunnyLens AF IOL was safely implanted in the capsular bag through a1.4 mm incision. We found asigniïŹcant reductionin MPOD in both groups at 7 and 30 days; 0.16 ±0.14 and 0.10±0.12 (FLACS) and 0.18±0.13 and 0.15±0.14 (B-MICS), respectively (P<0.05). However, there was no signiïŹcant difference between the two groups at either 7 (P=0.52) or 30 days (P=0.18). BCVA improved signiïŹcantly in both groups and CMT increased in both groups (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). BCVA and CMT were similar between the groups with a signiïŹcant difference in CMT in favor of the FLACS group at 30 days (P=0.017). Conclusions: MPOD was reduced in both groups without any signiïŹcant difference between the FLACS and B-MICS cataract interventions. FLACS is associated with a signiïŹcantly higher increase of macular thickness at 30 days compared to B-MICS
A radiological visual scale to predict the potentially recruitable lung in ALI/ARDS patients
Introduction In ALI/ARDS patients the amount of potentially
recruitable lung is extremely variable and it is poorly predictable by
the changes of oxygenation, carbon dioxide or compliance during a
PEEP trial [1]. At the present time the gold standard to compute the
lung recruitability is the quantitative lung CT scan, in which each lung image, after being manually drawn, is analyzed by dedicated software.
However, this is both a laborious and time-consuming technique. The
aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a visual radiological scale
compared with lung CT scan analysis to predict the lung recruitability
in ALI/ARDS patients.
Methods A whole lung CT scan was performed at 5 and 45 cmH2O
airway pressure. For CT scan analysis each lung image was manually
outlined and analyzed by a dedicated software. The potentially
recruitable lung was defi ned as the proportion of the nonaerated
lung tissue in which aeration was restored [1]. For radiological visual
scale analysis, two radiologists performed a blinded evaluation of the
consolidation/collapsed areas in each lobe by visual inspection [2]. The
overall lung change in consolidation/collapsed was obtained by the
sum of each lobe and computed as the diff erence between the two
conditions.
Results Twenty-four ALI/ARDS patients (age 59 \ub1 15 years, BMI
26 \ub1 4 kg/m2, PaO2/FiO2 170 \ub1 60, PEEP 10 \ub1 2 cmH2O) were enrolled.
The percentage of potentially recruitable lung was 16.2 \ub1 7.1% and
14.7 \ub1 7.0%, computed by CT scan and by the visual radiological scale,
respectively. The mean diff erence between CT scan analysis and visual
radiological analysis was 3.3 \ub1 4.6% (median: 2.91, interquartile range:
0.38 to 6.56). The error of the visual method was lower than 5% in 14
patients (58.3%), between 5% and 10% in eight patients (33.3%) and
between 10% and 15% in two patients (8.3%).
Conclusions The application of a radiological visual scale is able to
predict the amount of potentially recruitable lung similarly to those
obtained by a dedicated software avoiding the need of manually
drawing each lung image.
References
1. Gattinoni L, et al.: N Engl J Med 2006, 354:1775-1786.
2. Pierce RJ, et al.: Thorax 1980, 35:773-780
Current trends on subtotal petrosectomy with cochlear implantation in recalcitrant chronic middle ear disorders AttualitĂ in tema di petrosectomia subtotale con impianto cocleare nelle patologie croniche dellorecchio medio recalcitranti
Obiettivo. Stabilire la sicurezza ed efficacia dellâintervento di petrosectomia subtotale con
posizionamento di impianto cocleare nei pazienti affetti da patologia cronica dellâorecchio
medio refrattaria a precedenti trattamenti chirurgici.
Metodi. Ă stato svolto uno studio retrospettivo multicentrico riguardante quei pazienti af-
fetti da patologie croniche dellâorecchio medio recalcitranti, sottoposti a petrosectomia
subtotale con posizionamento di impianto cocleare. Le informazioni sono state raccolte dai database di 11 centri di riferimento di III livello in
Italia. A complemento, Ăš stata svolta una revisione della piĂč recente letteratura.
Risultati. Nello studio sono stati inclusi 55 pazienti con un follow-up medio di 44 mesi. Il colesteatoma ha rappresentato la piĂč comune pato-
logia ricorrente dellâorecchio medio e il 50,9% dei pazienti aveva una cavitĂ aperta. Lâ80% dei pazienti Ăš stato sottoposto ad una chirurgia a
singolo stadio. Sette pazienti hanno mostrato complicanze post-operatorie, di cui un caso di espianto.
Conclusioni. Lâintervento di petrosectomia subtotale con posizionamento di impianto cocleare rappresenta una tecnica chirurgica di riferimento per la gestione dei pazienti affetti da otite media cronica recalcitrante. Lâintervento chirurgico a singolo stadio Ăš la strategia piĂč
frequentemente raccomandata. Il follow-up ottimale Ăš ancora ad oggi oggetto di dibattito. Sono richiesti ulteriori studi per stabilire il ruolo di questo intervento nei pazienti pediatrici.Objective. To establish the safety and effectiveness of subtotal petrosectomy with cochlear implantation in patients affected by chronic middle ear disorders to refractory to previous surgical treatments. Methods. A multicentre, retrospective study was conducted on patients affected by recalcitrant chronic middle ear disorders who underwent cochlear implantation in combination with subtotal petrosectomy. Patientsâ details were collected from databases of 11 Italian tertiary referral centres. Additionally, a review of the most updated literature was carried out. Results. 55 patients were included with a mean follow-up time of 44 months. Cholesteatoma was the most common middle ear recurrent pathology and 50.9% of patients had an open cavity. 80% of patients underwent a single stage surgery. One case of explantation for device failure was reported among the 7 patients with post-operative complications. Conclusions. Subtotal petrosectomy with cochlear implantation is a benchmark for management of patients with recalcitrant chronic middle ear disorders. A single stage procedure is the most recommended strategy. Optimal follow-up is still debated. Further studies are required to investigate the role of this surgery in paediatric patients
QT and QT dispersion intervals in long-standing and moderately active rheumatoid arthritis: results from a multicentre cross-sectional study
To define the prevalence of prolonged QT interval and QT dispersion (QTd) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and in a control population
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Mitotic Evolution of Plasmodium falciparum Shows a Stable Core Genome but Recombination in Antigen Families
Malaria parasites elude eradication attempts both within the human host and across nations. At the individual level, parasites evade the host immune responses through antigenic variation. At the global level, parasites escape drug pressure through single nucleotide variants and gene copy amplification events conferring drug resistance. Despite their importance to global health, the rates at which these genomic alterations emerge have not been determined. We studied the complete genomes of different Plasmodium falciparum clones that had been propagated asexually over one year in the presence and absence of drug pressure. A combination of whole-genome microarray analysis and next-generation deep resequencing (totaling 14 terabases) revealed a stable core genome with only 38 novel single nucleotide variants appearing in seventeen evolved clones (avg. 5.4 per clone). In clones exposed to atovaquone, we found cytochrome b mutations as well as an amplification event encompassing the P. falciparum multidrug resistance associated protein (mrp1) on chromosome 1. We observed 18 large-scale (greater than 1 kb on average) deletions of telomere-proximal regions encoding multigene families, involved in immune evasion (9.5Ă10â6 structural variants per base pair per generation). Six of these deletions were associated with chromosomal crossovers generated during mitosis. We found only minor differences in rates between genetically distinct strains and between parasites cultured in the presence or absence of drug. Using these derived mutation rates for P. falciparum (1.0â9.7Ă10â9 mutations per base pair per generation), we can now model the frequency at which drug or immune resistance alleles will emerge under a well-defined set of assumptions. Further, the detection of mitotic recombination events in var gene families illustrates how multigene families can arise and change over time in P. falciparum. These results will help improve our understanding of how P. falciparum evolves to evade control efforts within both the individual hosts and large populations
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