Flow resistance law in channels with fully submerged and rigid vegetation

The estimate of flow resistance in vegetated channels is a challenging topic for programming riparian vegetation management, controlling channel conveyance and flooding propensity, for designing soil bioengineering practices. In this paper, measurements collected by Gualtieri et al. (2018), in a flume where rigid cylinders were set in two arrangements (staggered, aligned) at high submergence ratios (ratio between the water depth and the vegetation height greater than 5), were used to study the effect of rigid submerged vegetation on estimating flow resistance. The theoretical flow resistance equation, obtained by integrating the power flow velocity distribution, was first summarized. Then, this flow resistance equation was calibrated and tested by measurements of Gualtieri et al. (2018). In particular, a relationship between the Γ function of the power velocity distribution, the channel slope, the flow Froude number, and the submergence ratio was established by using the available measurements carried out for the two arrangements with different stem concentrations. The calibration of this relationship was carried out by (i) distinguishing measurements corresponding to different vegetation arrangements (staggered, aligned), (ii) joining all available data, and (iii) using only a scale factor representing the effect of vegetation arrangements. For the cases (ii) and (iii), the analysis demonstrated that the theoretical flow resistance equation allows an accurate estimate of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor, which is characterized by errors that are always less than 5% and less than or equal to 2.5% for 88% of the investigated cases

A Methodology to Characterize Power Control Systems for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields Generated by Massive MIMO Antennas

The fifth-generation (5G) New Radio (NR) cellular network has been launched recently. The assignment of new spectrum bands and the widespread use of Massive MIMO (MaMIMO) and beamforming techniques for better radio coverage are two major features of the new architecture. They imply both opportunities and challenges, one of the most daring one among the latter ones is the research for methods to assess human exposure to electromagnetic fields radiated by the base stations. The long-term time-varying behavior and spatial multiplexing feature of the MaMIMO antennas, along with the radio resource utilization and adoption of Time-Division Duplexing (TDD), requires that the assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields radiated by 5G systems is based on a statistical approach that relies on the space and time distribution of the radiated power. That, in turn, is determined through simulations based on the actual maximum transmitted power - defined as the 95 th percentile of the empirical distribution obtained from historical data of radiated power - rather than on the nominal one. To ensure that exposure limits are never exceeded, a monitoring and control system (usually referred to as Power Lock (PL)) that limits the transmitted power can be used. In this paper we propose a methodology, independent from the specific technical solution implemented by the manufacturer, to characterize such control systems and determine their capability to limit the average power transmitted over a given time interval to a value that keeps the corresponding average exposure to electromagnetic fields below a specified value. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the methodology and that it can also be used to identify when the PL interacts with the higher levels of the MaMIMO system architecture

Simulated models for testing performance of a radiofrequency ablation device for spine tumors

Effectiveness of simulation models to assess performance a radiofrequency tumor ablation device

Recovery of archaeological wall paintings using novel multispectral imaging approaches

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Methodology Based on Vector and Scalar Measurement of Traffic Channel Power Levels to Assess Maximum Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation Generated by 5G NR Systems

Maximum-Power Extrapolation (MPE) for mobile telecommunication sources follows an established paradigm based on the identification and measurement of a channel that acts as a power reference. Prior to the 5G era, the role of reference channel has been played by always-on broadcast signals since they had the great advantage of being always transmitted at the maximum power level allowed for a generic signal channel. However, the beamforming implemented by 5G sources obliges us to rethink this approach. In fact, with beamforming the 5G source can transmit data traffic streams through a beam characterized by a much higher gain than the broadcast one. This implies that the detected power for traffic beams could be much higher than the corresponding power of broadcast beams. In this paper, a novel approach for 5G MPE procedure is presented, where the direct measurement of the received power of a traffic beam is used to assess the maximum exposure generated by a 5G system. An innovative specific experimental setup is also proposed, with the use of a User Equipment (UE) with the aim of forcing the traffic beam toward the measurement positions. In this way, it is possible to directly measure the power of each Resource Element (RE) transmitted by the traffic beam. As opposed to other MPE proposals for 5G, the discussed technique does not require any correction of the measured data since it relies only on the traffic beam pointing toward the measurement position, simplifying the overall MPE procedure and thus reducing the uncertainty of the MPE estimated field strength

The Changing Landscape of Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus in Italy Between 2003 and 2022

Context In the last decade the Sanger method of DNA sequencing has been replaced by next-generation sequencing (NGS). NGS is valuable in conditions characterized by high genetic heterogeneity such as neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM).Objective To compare results of genetic analysis of patients with NDM and congenital severe insulin resistance (c.SIR) identified in Italy in 2003-2012 (Sanger) vs 2013-2022 (NGS).Methods We reviewed clinical and genetic records of 104 cases with diabetes onset before 6 months of age (NDM + c.SIR) of the Italian dataset.Results Fifty-five patients (50 NDM + 5 c.SIR) were identified during 2003-2012 and 49 (46 NDM + 3 c.SIR) in 2013-2022. Twenty-year incidence was 1:103 340 (NDM) and 1:1 240 082 (c.SIR) live births. Frequent NDM/c.SIR genetic defects (KCNJ11, INS, ABCC8, 6q24, INSR) were detected in 41 and 34 probands during 2003-2012 and 2013-2022, respectively. We identified a pathogenic variant in rare genes in a single proband (GATA4) (1/42 or 2.4%) during 2003-2012 and in 8 infants (RFX6, PDX1, GATA6, HNF1B, FOXP3, IL2RA, LRBA, BSCL2) during 2013-2022 (8/42 or 19%, P = .034 vs 2003-2012). Notably, among rare genes 5 were recessive. Swift and accurate genetic diagnosis led to appropriate treatment: patients with autoimmune NDM (FOXP3, IL2RA, LRBA) were subjected to bone marrow transplant; patients with pancreas agenesis/hypoplasia (RFX6, PDX1) were supplemented with pancreatic enzymes, and the individual with lipodystrophy caused by BSCL2 was started on metreleptin.Conclusion NGS substantially improved diagnosis and precision therapy of monogenic forms of neonatal diabetes and c.SIR in Italy

Efficacy and safety of growth hormone treatment in children with short stature: the Italian cohort of the GeNeSIS clinical study

Purpose: We examined auxological changes in growth hormone (GH)-treated children in Italy using data from the Italian cohort of the multinational observational Genetics and Neuroendocrinology of Short Stature International Study (GeNeSIS) of pediatric patients requiring GH treatment. Methods: We studied 711 children (median baseline age 9.6 years). Diagnosis associated with short stature was as determined by the investigator. Height standard deviation score (SDS) was evaluated yearly until final or near-final height (n = 78). Adverse events were assessed in all GH-treated patients. Results: The diagnosis resulting in GH treatment was GH deficiency (GHD) in 85.5 % of patients, followed by Turner syndrome (TS 6.6 %). Median starting GH dose was higher in patients with TS (0.30 mg/kg/week) than patients with GHD (0.23 mg/kg/week). Median (interquartile range) GH treatment duration was 2.6 (0.6\u20133.7) years. Mean (95 % confidence interval) final height SDS gain was 2.00 (1.27\u20132.73) for patients with organic GHD (n = 18) and 1.19 (0.97\u20131.40) for patients with idiopathic GHD (n = 41), but lower for patients with TS, 0.37 ( 120.03 to 0.77, n = 13). Final height SDS was > 122 for 94 % of organic GHD, 88 % of idiopathic GHD and 62 % of TS patients. Mean age at GH start was lower for organic GHD patients, and treatment duration was longer than for other groups, resulting in greater mean final height gain. GH-related adverse events occurred mainly in patients diagnosed with idiopathic GHD. Conclusions: Data from the Italian cohort of GeNeSIS showed auxological changes and safety of GH therapy consistent with results from international surveillance databases

A Multicenter Retrospective Survey regarding Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management in Italian Children with Type 1 Diabetes

We conducted a retrospective survey in pediatric centers belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. The following data were collected for all new-onset diabetes patients aged 0-18 years: DKA (pH < 7.30), severe DKA (pH < 7.1), DKA in preschool children, DKA treatment according to ISPAD protocol, type of rehydrating solution used, bicarbonates use, and amount of insulin infused. Records (n = 2453) of children with newly diagnosed diabetes were collected from 68/77 centers (87%), 39 of which are tertiary referral centers, the majority of whom (n = 1536, 89.4%) were diagnosed in the tertiary referral centers. DKA was observed in 38.5% and severe DKA in 10.3%. Considering preschool children, DKA was observed in 72%, and severe DKA in 16.7%. Cerebral edema following DKA treatment was observed in 5 (0.5%). DKA treatment according to ISPAD guidelines was adopted in 68% of the centers. In the first 2 hours, rehydration was started with normal saline in all centers, but with different amount. Bicarbonate was quite never been used. Insulin was infused starting from third hour at the rate of 0.05-0.1 U/kg/h in 72% of centers. Despite prevention campaign, DKA is still observed in Italian children at onset, with significant variability in DKA treatment, underlying the need to share guidelines among centers