Power saving and energy optimization techniques for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks have become increasingly popular due to their wide range of applications. Energy consumption is one of the biggest constraints of the wireless sensor node and this limitation combined with a typical deployment of large number of nodes have added many challenges to the design and management of wireless sensor networks. They are typically used for remote environment monitoring in areas where providing electrical power is difficult. Therefore, the devices need to be powered by batteries and alternative energy sources. Because battery energy is limited, the use of different techniques for energy saving is one of the hottest topics in WSNs. In this work, we present a survey of power saving and energy optimization techniques for wireless sensor networks, which enhances the ones in existence and introduces the reader to the most well known available methods that can be used to save energy. They are analyzed from several points of view: Device hardware, transmission, MAC and routing protocols.Sendra Compte, S.; Lloret, J.; García Pineda, M.; Toledo Alarcón, JF. (2011). Power saving and energy optimization techniques for Wireless Sensor Networks. Journal of Communications. 6(6):439-459. doi:10.4304/jcm.6.6.439-459S4394596

The association among cytochrome P450 3A, progesterone receptor polymorphisms, plasma 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations, and spontaneous preterm birth

Background Infants born <37 weeks’ gestation are of public health concern since complications associated with preterm birth are the leading cause of mortality in children <5 years of age and a major cause of morbidity and lifelong disability. The administration of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduces preterm birth by 33% in women with history of spontaneous preterm birth. We demonstrated previously that plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate vary widely among pregnant women and that women with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations in the lowest quartile had spontaneous preterm birth rates of 40% vs rates of 25% in those women with higher concentrations. Thus, plasma concentrations are an important factor in determining drug efficacy but the reason 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations vary so much is unclear. Predominantly, 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate is metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 enzymes. Objective We sought to: (1) determine the relation between 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations and single nucleotide polymorphisms in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5; (2) test the association between progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms and spontaneous preterm birth; and (3) test whether the association between plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate and spontaneous preterm birth varied by progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms. Study Design In this secondary analysis, we evaluated genetic polymorphism in 268 pregnant women treated with 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate, who participated in a placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the benefit of omega-3 supplementation in women with history of spontaneous preterm birth. Trough plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate were measured between 25-28 weeks of gestation after a minimum of 5 injections of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. We extracted DNA from maternal blood samples and genotyped the samples using TaqMan (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assays for the following single nucleotide polymorphisms: CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A4*1G, CYP3A4*22, and CYP3A5*3; and rs578029, rs471767, rs666553, rs503362, and rs500760 for progesterone receptor. We adjusted for prepregnancy body mass index, race, and treatment group in a multivariable analysis. Differences in the plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate by genotype were evaluated for each CYP single nucleotide polymorphism using general linear models. The association between progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms and frequency of spontaneous preterm birth was tested using logistic regression. A logistic model also tested interaction between 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate concentrations with each progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphism for the outcome of spontaneous preterm birth. Results The association between CYP single nucleotide polymorphisms *22, *1G, *1B, and *3 and trough plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate was not statistically significant (P =.68,.44,.08, and.44, respectively). In an adjusted logistic regression model, progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms rs578029, rs471767, rs666553, rs503362, and rs500760 were not associated with the frequency of spontaneous preterm birth (P =.29,.10,.76,.09, and.43, respectively). Low trough plasma concentrations of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate were statistically associated with a higher frequency of spontaneous preterm birth (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence ratio, 0.61–0.99; P =.04 for trend across quartiles), however no significant interaction with the progesterone receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms rs578029, rs471767, rs666553, rs503362, and rs500760 was observed (P =.13,.08,.10,.08, and.13, respectively). Conclusion The frequency of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth appears to be associated with trough 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations. However, the wide variation in trough 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate plasma concentrations is not attributable to polymorphisms in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genes. Progesterone receptor polymorphisms do not predict efficacy of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate. The limitations of this secondary analysis include that we had a relative small sample size (n = 268) and race was self-reported by the patients

Indicazioni ai trattamenti ormone chemioterapico nel carcinoma mammario della donna anziana

We well know from long time that breast cancer growth is influenced by hormonal situation of patients. Thus estrogenic stimolant effects are well studied. For hor monal treatment,menopausal state is very significant.Infact the origin of estrogenic production is different from pre to post menopausal state. Hormonal treatment needs the evaluation of estrogenic and progestinic receptors expression.Endocrinotherapy can be used alone or in association with chemotherapy thanks to the absence of crossresistence. Similary to pre-menopausal situations, chemotherapy in post-menopausal women is indicated in primaryadjuvant and metastatic desease regims

Brain natriuretic peptide and n-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide show a different profile in response to acute decompensated heart failure treatment

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are currently used for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic decision making in heart failure patients. The aim of the study was to compare BNP and NT-proBNP plasma concentration profiles in 42 patients with decompensated heart failure who underwent treatment in the emergency department. A significant decrease in both peptide concentrations fell beyond 24 hours of therapy. BNP concentration underwent a more responsive change from admission (-54.1%±8.6% at 72 hours and -57.4%±7.6% at discharge) than NT-proBNP concentration (-17.6%±5.4% at 72 hours and -18.6%±5.6% at discharge). Although BNP and NT-proBNP concentrations were highly correlated, no correlation in their variations was found, a finding that suggests a different kinetic behavior in response to treatment. Sequential measurements of BNP and NT-proBNP provide a reliable marker to confirm clinical improvement after 24 hours of treatment. BNP may show some advantages over NT-proBNP as a more sensitive marker of early stabilization in response to therapy. Congest Heart Fail. © 2008 Le Jacq

Subtle impairment of neurodevelopment in infants with late fetal growth restriction

Introduction: Children with late fetal growth restriction (FGR) are at high risk of being born small for gestational age (SGA). These categories of newborns are at increased risk for neurodevelopment impairment. The general movements assessment, in particular at fidgety age, has been used to predict neurological dysfunctions. This study aimed to evaluate growth recovery, presence of fidgety movements&nbsp;at 3 months, and neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of age in term late FGR infants and adequate for gestational age (AGA) controls. Methods: Prospective clinical evaluation. At 3 months auxological parameters (AP) and neurological examination were evaluated while at 24 months neurodevelopment outcome by Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS-R) was evaluated. Results: 38 late FGR and 20 AGA controls completed the study. Despite a significant catch up, at 3 months 13% of late FGR presented at least one auxological parameter &lt;3\ub0 percentile. Moreover, 23.7% of late FGR infants did not show fidgety movements&nbsp;compared to 100% AGA controls (p &lt;.001). Cranial circumference at birth resulted a positive predictive factor for FMs (p =.039). At 2 years of age, a difference statistically significant between late FGR and AGA was detected in GMDS-R. Conclusion: Independently from growth recovery, fidgety movements&nbsp;resulted less expressed in late FGR infants, and at 2 years of age the neurodevelopmental assessment revealed differences in each domain of evaluation between late FGR and AGA infants, although within normal ranges

Decrease in NTproBNP plasma levels indicated clinicla improvement of acute decompensated heart failure

Thirty-seven consecutive patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) admitted to emergency departments for acute dyspnea were investigated. Ten patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 10 patients with hypertension crisis were also included as controls. For each patient, a plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) concentration measurement was performed at admission, 4, 12, and 24 hours later, and on the day of discharge. In patients with ADHF, the observation of a progressive reduction to a complete relief of symptoms of heart failure was accompanied by a reduction of 58% of NTproBNP plasma levels on the day of discharge. Amelioration of symptoms was accompanied by improvement of physiologic parameters and New York Heart Association functional class. In the control population (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension crisis patients), no significant variation of NTproBNP levels in comparison with those at admission was found at each time point. In conclusion, a plasma profile obtained with sequential measurements indicates that a significant decrease in NTproBNP levels is associated with the clinical improvement of patients with ADHF at the time of discharge

FuoriLuogo. L'immigrazione e i media italiani. Rapporto di ricerca dell'Osservatorio Terza.com su informazione, pratiche giornalistiche e opinione pubblica

Qual è e quale dovrebbe essere il contributo dei media alla rappresentazione dei migranti? Fino a che punto l’opinione pubblica può essere influenzata dall’informazione sul tema? Che responsabilità hanno gli operatori della comunicazione nel fornire un ritratto spesso impreciso e incompleto dei fenomeni migratori? A questi interrogativi cerca di rispondere la ricerca presentata in questo volume, realizzata dal Dipartimento di Sociologia e Comunicazione della Sapienza Università di Roma nell’ambito del progetto comunitario Etnequal Social Communication. L’indagine ha preso in esame non solo l’offerta di news sull’immigrazione, ma anche le pratiche gior-nalistiche e l’effettivo bisogno di informazione del pubblico. Nella comprensione di queste dinamiche, l’analisi dei processi culturali e comunicativi ricopre un ruolo sempre più strategico: per combattere il pregiudizio, occorre lavorare sulla comunicazione.What is and what should be the contribution of the media to the representation of migrants?To which extent public opinion can be influenced by information on this topic? What kind of responsibility do have communication operators in providing a portrait (often inaccurate and incomplete) of migration processes? Answers to these questions are presented in this volume, which presents a research conducted by the Department of Sociology and Communication at the Sapienza University of Rome as part of a European research project (Etnequal Social Communication). The survey took into consideration not only the provision of news on immigration, but also the journalistic practices and the urgent needs of information of the public. The volume shows how to understand of these dynamics, the analysis of cultural and communicative processes plays an increasingly strategic role: to contrast prejudice, we need to work on communication