Intra-channel nonlinearity in differentially phase-modulated transmission

The mechanisms responsible for nonlinear impairments in single-channel phase modulated system employing differential detection are investigated. The role of dispersion precompensation is discussed. It is shown that precompensation may be designed as to minimize the in-phase components of the fluctuations thus reducing nonlinear impairments. In differential-phase-shift-keying the effect of precompensation is stronger than in differential-quadrature-phase-shift-keying. The results of an analytic theory are compared with split-step based computer simulations using realistic system parameters

Early aneurysmal degeneration of femoral vein conduit used for aortoiliac reconstruction in a child

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy who underwent an aortobi-iliac bypass with a femoral vein graft. The patient presented with early aneurysmal degeneration of the entire venous graft only 11 months later. He was treated successfully with redo abdominal aortic surgery and a bifurcated Dacron graft

Algoritmi di allocazione delle risorse radio efficienti dal punto di vista energetico per sistemi cellulari multiportante

In questa tesi viene proposto lo sviluppo di un algoritmo di allocazione delle risorse radio efficienti dal punto di vista energetico per sistemi cellulari multiportante. Sarà introdotta la teoria dei giochi, una disciplina matematica che studia le decisioni individuali effettuate tra diversi soggetti, i quali interagiscono perseguendo obiettivi comuni, diversi o conflittuali e in cui le decisioni di un soggetto possono influire sui risultati di un altro soggetto, in particolare sarà analizzato un gioco di tipo non cooperativo e ad informazione imperfetta. Nel corso della tesi, saranno trattati i seguenti argomenti: nel Capitolo 1 verranno descritte le tecniche di trasmissione multiportante, in particolare facendo riferimento a sistemi ad accesso multiplo che utilizzano l’OFDMA; nel Capitolo 2 verrà presentata la teoria dei giochi e la sua applicazione nelle reti wireless; nel Capitolo 3 sarà descritto e analizzato il problema dell’allocazione delle potenze in questo tipo di reti, derivando l’algoritmo utilizzato nel caso di canali non selettivi e presentando i risultati delle simulazioni; nel Capitolo 4 sarà invece trattato l’algoritmo utilizzato nel caso di canali selettivi in frequenza. Saranno infine tracciate delle conclusioni riguardanti l'efficienza dell'algoritmo sviluppato e saranno presentati alcuni problemi aperti in questo tipo di studio

Boning up on autophagy: the role of autophagy in skeletal biology.

From an evolutionary perspective, the major function of bone is to provide stable sites for muscle attachment and affording protection of vital organs, especially the heart and lungs (ribs) and spinal cord (vertebrae and intervertebral discs). However, bone has a considerable number of other functions: serving as a store for mineral ions, providing a site for blood cell synthesis and participating in a complex system-wide endocrine system. Not surprisingly, bone and cartilage cell homeostasis is tightly controlled, as is the maintenance of tissue structure and mass. While a great deal of new information is accruing concerning skeletal cell homeostasis, one relatively new observation is that the cells of bone (osteoclasts osteoblasts and osteocytes) and cartilage (chondrocytes) exhibit autophagy. The focus of this review is to examine the significance of this process in terms of the functional demands of the skeleton in health and during growth and to provide evidence that dysregulation of the autophagic response is involved in the pathogenesis of diseases of bone (Paget disease of bone) and cartilage (osteoarthritis and the mucopolysaccharidoses). Delineation of molecular changes in the autophagic process is uncovering new approaches for the treatment of diseases that affect the axial and appendicular skeleton

Rassegna stampa Settembre Musica 1985

8° edizione 28 agosto - 22 settembr

Settembre Musica 1990 Rassegna stampa New York

21-25 ottobr

Quality Control of the Foot Revascularization Using Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging

Objectives Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a clinical diagnosis, confirmed by objective tests, usually ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe pressure (TP) and TcPO2. Furthermore, the anatomical lesions in patients affected by CLI were visualized by ultrasound, angiography, CTA, or MRA. Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) is a diagnostic modality for assessing foot perfusion. We aimed to study the usefulness of ICG-FI in the quality control of revascularization. Materials and methods One hundred and four CLI limbs in 101 patients were studied with ICG-FI using SPY Elite before and after open or endovascular revascularization. ABI and TP were also measured. After ICG-FI, assessment of circulation was done using time-intensity curve derived from the two regions of interest the one being in the plantar side of the foot and the other in the dorsal side of the foot. Three parameters were derived from the curves: maximum intensity (the absolute value of the maximum intensity); intensity rate (the value from the time-intensity curve describing the increase in maximum intensity/s) and SPY10 (the intensity achieved during the first 10 s after the foot starts to gain intensity). Results Sixty-two limbs presented category 3 of Rutherford classification, 12 limbs category 4, and 30 limbs category 5. Ninety-five technically successful procedures were achieved, 63 (66.3%) endovascular and 32 (33.7%) surgical revascularizations. In 9 (9.5%) patients, an in-line flow from the aorta to the foot was not achieved due to a failure to recanalize the occlusion (n = 7) or due to distal embolization (n = 2). ABI was not reliable in 58 patients (57.4%) mostly due to pseudohypertension and TPs in 49 (48.5%) patients mostly due to previous minor amputations. ICG-FI was successful in all patients. The mean intensity values before and after the procedure in patients who underwent successful revascularization were 81 +/- 47 units and 120 +/- 5 units of intensity (p <001) and intensity rates 4.2 +/- 4 and 8.0 +/- 6.2 units/s (p =.001), respectively. In the PTA patients in whom the revascularization was unsuccessful, no changes were seen in the hemodynamic parameters. In 6 (8.8%) patients who underwent technically successful revascularization, the SPY values were worse after the revascularization than at the baseline. Conclusions ICG-FI with SPY Elite provides reliable information on the increase in perfusion after revascularization, in addition to implicating possible failure if there is no improvement in the ICG-FI variables. Unlike ABI and TP, it can be performed in all patients. It gives valuable information to complement traditional assessment methods.Peer reviewe

The Prognostic Significance of Different Definitions for Angiosome-Targeted Lower Limb Revascularization

Background: The definition of angiosome-targeted revascularization is confusing, especially when a tissue lesion affects several angiosomes. Two different definitions of direct revascularization exist in the literature. The study aim was (1) to compare the 2 definitions of direct revascularization in patients with foot lesions involving more than one angiosome and (2) to evaluate which definition better predicts clinical outcome. Methods: This study cohort comprises 658 patients with Rutherford 5-6 foot lesions who underwent infrapopliteal endovascular or surgical revascularization between January 2010 and July 2013. We compared the 2 angiosome-targeted definitions using multivariate analysis; the impact of each angiosome-targeted definition was adjusted for a propensity score obtained by means of nonparsimonious logistic regression. Results: Direct revascularization according to definition A was performed in 367 cases (55.8%) versus 198 cases (30.1%) with definition B. The propensity-score-adjusted analysis showed that definition A of direct revascularization was associated with significantly better wound healing (P <0.044, hazard ratio [HR] 1.291) and lower amputation rates (P <0.047, HR 0.706), whereas definition B was associated only with significantly better wound healing (P <0.029, HR 1.321). The prognostic ability of direct revascularization according to definition A was confirmed in a Cox proportional hazard analysis. Conclusions: Definition A of direct revascularization was associated with a significantly higher wound healing and leg salvage rate than indirect revascularization in both series. Therefore, it seems that, if the wound spreads over several angiosomes in the forefoot or heel, any angiosome involved in the wound can be targeted.Peer reviewe

A Survey of Women’s Social Representations of Aging and Rejuvenation

The goal of this work was to analyze the social representations that women of three different age groups had about aging, rejuvenating, and methods of rejuvenation. The research was performed in São Paulo between 2004 and 2005. The participants of this research were three groups of women of different ages: 19 to 24 years, 25 to 35 years, and over 60 years. The data were collected by the focus group technique. Data was analyzed using the lexical analysis software ALCESTE 4.5. The main results show a social representation of aging centered on losses and gains. The subjects appraised the possibility of using rejuvenating methods only when it was extremely necessary, because of the health risks that most of them involve. The three groups agreed about natural methods of rejuvenating instead of resorting to invasive methods.El propósito de este trabajo fue analizar las representaciones sociales de tres grupos de mujeres de diferentes edades acerca del envejecimiento, el rejuvenecimiento y los métodos de rejuvenecimiento. La investigación se llevó a cabo en São Paulo entre 2004 y 2005. Las participantes de la investigación eran tres grupos de mujeres de diferentes edades: 19 a 24 años, 25 a 35 años, y mayores de 60 años. Los datos se recogieron con la técnica del grupo focal Se analizaron empleando el software de análisis lexical ALCESTE 4.5. Los resultados principales revelan una representación social del envejecimiento centrada en pérdidas y ganancias. Las participantes consideraban la posibilidad de usar métodos de rejuvenecimiento sólo cuando era de máxima necesidad, debido a los riesgos de salud que la mayoría de ellos implican. Los tres grupos estaban de acuerdo en el uso de los métodos naturales de rejuvenecimiento en vez de recurrir a métodos invasivos

Competing Risk Analysis of the Impact of Pedal Arch Status and Angiosome-Targeted Revascularization in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Introduction In the context of chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), the prognostic impact of angiosome-targeted revascularization and of the status of the pedal arch are debated. Materials and method This series includes 580 patients who underwent endovascular (n=407) and surgical revascularization (n=173) of the infrapopliteal arteries for CLTI associated with foot ulcer or gangrene. The risk of major amputation after infrapopliteal revascularization was assessed by a competing risk approach. A subanalysis was made separately for patients who underwent endovascular or open surgical revascualrization. Results At 2 years, survival was 65.1% and leg salvage was 76.1%. Multivariable competing risk analysis showed that C-reactive protein≥ 10 mg/dL, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, increased number of affected angiosomes and the incomplete or total absence of pedal arch compared to complete pedal arch were independent predictors of major amputation after infrapopliteal revascularization. Multivariable analysis showed increasing risk estimates of major amputation in patients with incomplete (SHR 2.131, 95%CI 1.282-3.543) and no visualized pedal arch (SHR 3.022, 95%CI 1.553-5.883) compared to complete pedal arch. Pedal arch was important even if angiosome-targeted revascularization was achieved: Angiosome-directed revascularization in presence of complete pedal arch had a lower risk of major amputation (adjusted SHR 0.463, 95%CI 0.240-0.894) compared to angiosome-directed revascularization without complete pedal arch. In the subanalysis, among patients who underwent endovascular revascularization, complete pedal arch (SHR 0.509, 95%CI 0.286-0.905) and angiosome-targeted revascularization (SHR 0.613, 95%CI 0.394-0.956) were associated with a lower risk of major amputation. Conclusions Competing risk analysis showed that a patent pedal arch had significant impact on leg salvage and that the subset of patients undergoing endovascular procedure may most benefit of an angiosome-targeted revascularization.Peer reviewe