Throughput-optimal Resource Allocation in LTE-Advanced with Distributed Antennas

Distributed antennas are envisaged for LTE-Advanced deployments in order to improve the coverage and increase the cell throughput. The latter in turn depends on how resources are allocated to the User Equipments (UEs) at the MAC layer. In this paper we discuss how to allocate resources to UEs so as to maximize the cell throughput, given that UEs may re-ceive from several antennas simultaneously. We first show that the problem is both NP-hard and APX-hard, i.e. no polynomial-time algorithm exists that approximates the opti-mum within a constant factor. Hence, we pro-pose and evaluate two polynomial-time heuristics whose complexity is feasible for practical purposes. Our simulative analysis shows that, in practical scenarios, the two heuristics are highly accurate

The SSDC contribution to the improvement of knowledge by means of 3D data projections of minor bodies

The latest developments of planetary exploration missions devoted to minor bodies required new solutions to correctly visualize and analyse data acquired over irregularly shaped bodies. ASI Space Science Data Center (SSDC-ASI, formerly ASDC-ASI Science Data Center) worked on this task since early 2013, when started developing the web tool MATISSE (Multi-purpose Advanced Tool for the Instruments of the Solar System Exploration) mainly focused on the Rosetta/ESA space mission data. In order to visualize very high-resolution shape models, MATISSE uses a Python module (vtpMaker), which can also be launched as a stand-alone command-line software. MATISSE and vtpMaker are part of the SSDC contribution to the new challenges imposed by the "orbital exploration" of minor bodies: 1) MATISSE allows to search for specific observations inside datasets and then analyse them in parallel, providing high-level outputs; 2) the 3D capabilities of both tools are critical in inferring information otherwise difficult to retrieve for non-spherical targets and, as in the case for the GIADA instrument onboard Rosetta, to visualize data related to the coma. New tasks and features adding valuable capabilities to the minor bodies SSDC tools are planned for the near future thanks to new collaborations

Obesity can influence children’s and adolescents’ airway hyperresponsiveness differently

BACKGROUND: Literature is still arguing about a possible relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and body mass index (BMI). This study aimed at evaluating the influence of BMI on AHR and pulmonary function in children and adolescents that performed a methacholine test for suggestive asthma symptoms. METHODS: 799 consecutive children/adolescents (535 M; mean age: 15 ± 3 yrs; median FEV(1)% predicted: 101.94% [93.46-111.95] and FEV(1)/FVC predicted: 91.07 [86.17-95.38]), were considered and divided into underweight, normal, overweight and obese. Different AHR levels were considered as moderate/severe (PD(20) ≤ 400 μg) and borderline (PD(20) > 400 μg). RESULTS: 536 children/adolescents resulted hyperreactive with a median PD(20) of 366 μg [IQR:168–1010.5]; 317 patients were affected by moderate/severe AHR, whereas 219 showed borderline hyperresponsiveness. Obese subjects aged > 13 years showed a lower (p = 0.026) median PD(20) (187μg [IQR:110–519]) compared to overweight (377 μg [IQR:204–774]) and normal-weight individuals’ values (370.5 μg [IQR:189–877]). On the contrary, median PD(20) observed in obese children aged ≤ 13 years (761 μg [IQR:731–1212]) was higher (p = 0.052) compared to normal-weight children’s PD20 (193 μg [IQR:81–542]) and to obese adolescents’ values (aged > 13 years) (p = 0.019). Obesity was a significant AHR risk factor (OR:2.853[1.037-7.855]; p = 0.042) in moderate/severe AHR adolescents. Females showed a higher AHR risk (OR:1.696[1.046-2.751] p = 0.032) compared to males. A significant relationship was found between BMI and functional parameters (FEV(1), FVC, FEV(1)/FVC) only in hyperreactive females. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity seems to influence AHR negatively in female but not in male adolescents and children. In fact, AHR is higher in obese teenagers, in particular in those with moderate/severe hyperresponsiveness, and may be mediated by obesity-associated changes in baseline lung function

COMPORTAMENTO INGESTIVO DE CAPRINOS EM UROCHLOA (SYN. BRACHIARIA) PLANTAGINEA SOB DIFERENTES INTENSIDADES DE PASTEJO

O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar o efeito da intensidade de pastejo, em pastagem de papuã Urochloa (Syn. Brachiaria) plantaginea sobre o comportamento ingestivo de cabras. Os tratamentos foram quatro alturas de manejo da pastagem 10, 20, 30 e 40 cm de altura. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Houve interação significativa entre intensidade de pastejo e avaliação para as variáveis tempo de pastejo, e de ruminação, sendo que na Av. 1 o tempo de pastejo apresentou relação linear negativa com a intensidade de pastejo, e na Av. 2 a relação foi quadrática negativa, indicando que quanto menor a intensidade de pastejo, maior é o tempo de atividade de pastejo dos animais. O tempo de ruminação foi influenciado somente pela intensidade de pastejo, apresentando relação linear positiva. Não houve efeito significativo da intensidade de pastejo e nem da avaliação para o tempo de ócio

A novel DNA/histone H4 peptide complex detects autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus sera

Background: The detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies is critical for the diagnosis and follow-up of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The presently available assays are characterized by a non-optimal specificity (solid phase assays) or sensitivity (Crithidia Luciliae immunofluorescence test (CLIFT)). To overcome the limits of CLIFT and solid phase chromatin assays, we explored the diagnostic potential of an assay based on plasmid DNA containing a highly bent fragment of 211 bp from Crithidia Luciliae minicircles, complexed with histone peptides. Methods: Electrically neutral complexes of PK201/CAT plasmid (PK) DNA and histone 4 (H4) peptides were evaluated by electromobility shift assay. Complexes of H4 peptides and PK were absorbed to the solid phase to detect specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in sera. Sera from 109 SLE patients, 100 normal healthy subjects, and 169 disease controls were tested. Results: H4(14-34) containing the consensus sequence for DNA binding interacts with PK, retarding its migration. H4(14-34)/PK complexes were used to test sera by ELISA. Anti-H4-PK antibodies were detected in 56 % of SLE sera (more frequently in patients with skin or joint involvement) versus 5.9 % in disease controls; inhibition assays show that sera react with epitopes present on DNA or on the complex, not on the peptide. Antibody titer is correlated with European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) score and anti-complement component 1q (C1q) antibodies, negatively with C3 levels. Anti-H4-PK antibodies compared with CLIFT and solid phase dsDNA assays display moderate concordance. Conclusions: The H4/PK assay is a simple and reliable test which is useful for the differential diagnosis and evaluation of disease activity in SLE patients

Life-Threatening Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism Following Severe Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

A 57-year-old man admitted with severe carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning suffered life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE) after hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in the absence of other risk factors for thromboembolism, and was successfully treated with thrombolysis. CO is a thrombophilic condition predisposing to PE and active surveillance is advisable. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.

Spectral characterization of V-type asteroids outside the Vesta family

We present new near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectra of 10 V-type candidate asteroids obtained at the 3.6 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo covering the spectral range of 0.7-2.5 μm. The observed objects were selected from diverse data sets of putative V-type asteroids in order to characterize them, and hence better understand their relationship with (4) Vesta. We derive spectral parameters from NIR spectra to infer mineralogical information of the observed asteroids. All the spectra of the asteroids here reported show two prominent absorption features at 1 and 2 μm that are typical of V-class objects. The comparison of spectral parameters such as band centres and band separation, among our observations, Howardites, Eucrites, Diogenites meteorites, and (4) Vesta from Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) data on Dawn reveals that there is a strong correlation between these objects. From our analysis, four objects are compatible with Howardites, three are more similar to a eucritic-like composition, and two are compatible with Diogenites. Asteroid 26145, which is the only member of the Vesta dynamical family observed in 2012 March, is compatible with Vesta's surface, and shows a composition close to the Eucrites

Spectroscopy of five V-type asteroids in the middle and outer main belt

The origin of basaltic asteroids found in the middle and outer main belt is an open question. These asteroids are not dynamically linked to the Vesta collisional family and can be the remnants of other large differentiated asteroids present in the early phases of the main belt but destroyed long ago. Spectroscopic investigation of some V-type asteroids in the middle-outer belt, classified as such by their SLOAN photometric colours (Ivezić et al.) and WISE albedos (Masiero et al.), has revealed that their spectra are more similar to other taxonomic classes, like -Q, R, S, or A (Jasmim et al. and Oszkiewicz et al.). Here, we report about the observation, in the near-infrared spectral range, of five V-type asteroids located beyond 2.5 au. These observations allowed us to infer their taxonomic classification. Two asteroids, (21238) Panarea (observed in a previous campaign but here included for comparison) and (105041) 2000 KO41, confirm their basaltic nature. For asteroids (10800) 1992 OM8 and (15898) Kharasterteam a taxonomic classification is more uncertain, being either Q- or S-type. Asteroid (14390) 1990 QP10 classification is difficult to ascribe to the known taxonomic classes, maybe due to the low-quality spectrum. Further observations are desirable for this asteroid

Utility of ocular motility tests in orbital floor fractures with muscle entrapment that is not detected on computed tomography

Purpose: Determine the usefulness of ocular motility testing to detect the presence of muscle entrapment. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients with symptoms of diplopia secondary to facial trauma. Inclusion criteria: age between 20 and 80 years; symptoms of diplopia following facial trauma; presence of orbital floor fracture confirmed radiologically; presence of muscle entrapment confirmed at the time of surgery; best-corrected visual acuity of 0.6 or more. Exclusion criteria: muscle entrapment visible on computed tomography; candidate for immediate surgical correction; prior history of strabismus surgery. Outcome measures: Abnormal Head Position (AHP), Hirschberg Corneal Reflexes (CR), Cover/Uncover and Alternating Cover Test, Hertel exophthalmometry, Near Point of Convergence (NPC), Kestenbaum Limbus test, Red Filter test, and Hess screen test. Results: Forty-six subjects (38 males, 8 females, mean age 27 ± 3.3 SD years). Pre-operative assessment: forty-six (100%) reported diplopia on the Red Filter test and showed some degree of abnormality on the Hess Screen test. Forty-two (91%) showed AHP. Forty-one (89%) had exophthalmometry values that differed 2 mm or more between the two eyes and insufficient NPC. Thirty-two (69.6%) showed deficits of 3 mm or more on the Kestenbaum Limbus test. Sixteen (35%) had abnormal Hirschberg corneal reflexes. Eleven (24%) demonstrated constant or intermittent strabismus. Conclusion: Ocular motility testing can differentiate non-invasively, pre-operatively, and cost-effectively the presence of muscle entrapment even when this is not visible on computed tomography