Analytic Design Techniques for MPT Antenna Arrays

Solar Power Satellites (SPS) represent one of the most interesting technological opportunities to provide large scale, environmentally clean and renewable energy to the Earth [1]‐[3]. A fundamental and critical component of SPSs is the Microwave Power Transmission (MPT) system, which is responsible for the delivery of the collected solar power to the ground rectenna [2]. Towards this end, the MPT array must exhibit a narrow main beam width (), a high beam efficiency (BWBE), and a low peak sidelobe level (). Moreover, reduced realization costs and weights are also necessary [3]. To reach these contrasting goals, several design techniques have been investigated including random methods [4] and hybrid deterministic‐random approaches [2][3]. On the contrary, well‐established design tools based on stochastic optimizers [5][6] are difficult to be employed, due to their high computational costs when dealing with large arrays as those of interest in SPS [3]

Constitutive STAT3 activation in epidermal keratinocytes enhances cell clonogenicity and favors spontaneous immortalization by opposing differentiation and senescence checkpoints

STAT3, a pleiotropic transcription factor acting downstream of cytokines and growth factors, is known to enhance proliferation, migration, invasion and aerobic glycolysis in tumors upon aberrant activation. In the murine epidermis, STAT3 is necessary for experimentally induced carcinogenesis. Skin tumorigenesis is conversely enhanced by overexpression in keratinocytes of the constitutively active STAT3C mutant, which also induces robust, psoriasis-like epidermal hyperplasia. We show here that STAT3C expression at physiological levels in knock-in mice leads to mild epidermal hyperplasia and attenuated expression of terminal differentiation markers. Altered differentiation is confirmed in isolated primary epidermal keratinocytes in vitro, correlating with enhanced proliferative and clonogenic potential, attenuated senescence and, strikingly, high-frequency spontaneous immortalization. These results suggest that moderate levels of continuous STAT3 activation, which closely resemble those triggered by chronic inflammation or persistent growth factor stimulation, may establish a preneoplastic state in part by promoting the escape of epidermal progenitor cells from differentiation and senescence checkpoints

TEVAR for Iatrogenic Injury of the Distal Aortic Arch after Pacemaker Implantation

Introduction We report the endovascular treatment of aortic arch injury due to direct puncture during pacemaker implantation. Report After pacemaker implantation a 74-year-old woman showed a progressive decrease in haematocrit with elevation of cardiac troponin-I. Coronary angiography revealed the malposition of the catheters introduced through the aortic wall. The atrial lead was placed in the left circumflex coronary artery. Computed tomography scan confirmed distal aortic arch perforation. A Medtronic-Valiant stent–graft was implanted in the distal aortic arch while the two catheters were removed. A new VVI pacemaker was implanted and, 3 days later, the patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the dissected left circumflex artery. Four days later the patient was discharged. One-year computed tomography scan showed successful repair of the injured aorta. Discussion Endovascular stent grafting has emerged as a less invasive therapeutic alternative to treat traumatic or iatrogenic injuries of the distal aortic arch

Practical Suggestions for an Optimal Management of Vitamin K Antagonists: Italian Federation of Centers for the Diagnosis of Thrombotic Disorders and the Surveillance of the Antithrombotic Therapies (FCSA) Position Paper

In the era of direct oral anticoagulants, vitamin K antagonists retain a clinically relevant role in thrombotic disorders. In Italy, approximately 20% of the patients on anticoagulant therapies receives a VKA, in most cases warfarin. The optimal management of this drug is challenging and cannot disregard its intricate and unpredictable pharmacokinetic properties and patient's thrombotic and bleeding risk. Several clinical issues encountered during warfarin treatment are still unanswered and are tentatively addressed by physicians. In this regard, the Italian Federation of Centers for the diagnosis of thrombotic disorders and the Surveillance of the Antithrombotic therapies (FCSA) provides some experience-based good clinical practice's suggestions on the following topics: (1) how to start the anticoagulant treatment with warfarin and warfarin induction regimen; (2) how to manage a subtherapeutic INR value; (3) how to manage a supratherapeutic INR value in asymptomatic patients; and (4) how to manage the association of warfarin with interfering drugs

Immunity to poliovirus among children and the elderly in north-east Italy

Introduction. Italy and Europe were declared polio-free in June 2002, but increasing migration, even from undeveloped countries where polio still exists, may lead to a come-back of circulating poliovirus (PV) and infection in previously polio-free areas. It is consequently advisable to continue to monitor the immunity of the population in polio-free areas. The aim of this study was to assess the current prevalence of neutralizing antibodies in recently-immunized children and in elderly people who were never vaccinated. Methods. Sera from 511 healthy subjects resident in the Veneto Region were examined to assay their antibody titer for PV 1, 2 and 3, using the microneutralization test. Data were analyzed by chi-squared test, Student?s t-test and linear regression analysis, using EPI-Info 2000 supplied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA, USA). Results. Neutralizing antibodies in group A (231 subjects aged 1-17 years) showed significantly higher geometric mean titers (GMTs) than in group B (280 subjects aged 65-100 years) for all three PV serotypes (P : 0.001). Nobody simultaneously lacked neutralizing antibodies for all three serotypes. There were no difference between the two groups in terms of male/female GMTs for the three PV. Antibodies decreased with time since vaccination, but the difference was only significant for PV 3. GMTs were lower in the elderly, with no significant difference among the three PV. Discussion. The population examined showed a good level of protection against the three PV strains: both groups A (vaccinated) and B (naturally immunized) revealed a valid immunity to poliovirus. Conclusion. Immunization programs and immunity status population screening are still advisable until polio has been worldwide eradicated

Patients with isolated pulmonary embolism in comparison to those with deep venous thrombosis. Differences in characteristics and clinical evolution

Abstract Background Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) often have leg deep vein thrombosis (DVT); sometimes, however, a DVT is not detected (isolated PE, I-PE). We aimed at assessing the proportion of patients with I-PE, and their characteristics and clinical evolution compared to those with DVT with/without PE (DVT/PE). Methods Among 3573 patients included in the START2-Register for a venous thromboembolic event, 2880 (80.6%) had DVT/PE, the remaining I-PE (19.4%). Results Patients with I-PE were older [(≥75 years, OR 1.4 (95%CI 1.13–1.69)], and more frequently females [OR 1.4 (1.19–1.67)]. Young females (aged ≤ 50 years) with an index event occurring during hormonal contraception (HC), were more prevalent in I-PE [OR 1.96 (1.26–3.03)]. At multivariate analysis, age > 75 years, female sex, heart failure, cancer and use of HC were risk factors significantly associated with I-PE, whereas thrombophilic alterations were associated with DVT/PE. During a follow-up of 4504 years (during anticoagulation), the rate of bleeding events was 1.1% patient/years and 1.0% patient/years in I-PE and DVT/PE, respectively. Venous thromboembolic events were equally prevalent in DVT/PE or I-PE (1.94% vs 0.86%, ns), whereas arterial complications were more prevalent in the latter group (1.01% vs 0.28%, p = 0.008). Conclusion I-PE and DVT/PE have important differences. Older age, female sex, heart failure and cancer, were risk factors for I-PE; thrombophilic alterations were associated with DVT/PE. HC use was more frequent in the I-PE group. The prevalence of arterial complications was higher in patients with I-PE. Further studies, specifically designed on this issue, are warranted

Effect of 1,3-1,6 β-Glucan on Natural and Experimental Deformed Wing Virus Infection in Newly Emerged Honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica)

The Western Honeybee is a key pollinator for natural as well as agricultural ecosystems. In the last decade massive honeybee colony losses have been observed worldwide, the result of a complex syndrome triggered by multiple stress factors, with the RNA virus Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and the mite Varroa destructor playing crucial roles. The mite supports replication of DWV to high titers, which exert an immunosuppressive action and correlate with the onset of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,3-1,6 β-glucan, a natural innate immune system modulator, on honeybee response to low-titer natural and high-titer experimental DWV infection. As the effects exerted by ß-glucans can be remarkably different, depending on the target organism and the dose administered, two parallel experiments were performed, where 1,3-1,6 ß-glucan at a concentration of 0.5% and 2% respectively, was added to the diet of three cohorts of newly emerged honeybees, which were sampled from a Varroa-free apiary and harboured a low endogenous DWV viral titer. Each cohort was subjected to one of the following experimental treatments: no injection, injection of a high-copy number DWV suspension into the haemocel (experimental DWV infection) or injection of PBS into the haemocoel (physical injury). Control bees fed a ß-glucan-free diet were subjected to the same treatments. Viral load, survival rate, haemocyte populations and phenoloxidase activity of each experimental group were measured and compared. The results indicated that oral administration of 0.5% ß-glucan to naturally infected honeybees was associated with a significantly decrease of the number of infected bees and viral load they carried, and with a significant increase of the survival rate, suggesting that this natural immune modulator molecule might contribute to increase honeybee resistance to viral infection