Optimal fault-tolerant placement of relay nodes in a mission critical wireless network

The operations of many critical infrastructures (e.g., airports) heavily depend on proper functioning of the radio communication network supporting operations. As a result, such a communication network is indeed a mission-critical communication network that needs adequate protection from external electromagnetic interferences. This is usually done through radiogoniometers. Basically, by using at least three suitably deployed radiogoniometers and a gateway gathering information from them, sources of electromagnetic emissions that are not supposed to be present in the monitored area can be localised. Typically, relay nodes are used to connect radiogoniometers to the gateway. As a result, some degree of fault-tolerance for the network of relay nodes is essential in order to offer a reliable monitoring. On the other hand, deployment of relay nodes is typically quite expensive. As a result, we have two conflicting requirements: minimise costs while guaranteeing a given fault-tolerance. In this paper address the problem of computing a deployment for relay nodes that minimises the relay node network cost while at the same time guaranteeing proper working of the network even when some of the relay nodes (up to a given maximum number) become faulty (fault-tolerance). We show that the above problem can be formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) as well as a Pseudo-Boolean Satisfiability (PB-SAT) optimisation problem and present experimental results com- paring the two approaches on realistic scenarios

Anoctamin 1 is Apically Expressed on Thyroid Follicular Cells and Contributes to ATP- and Calcium-Activated Iodide Efflux

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The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

Stensen Duct Relocation After Cheek Mucosa Tumor Resection

Cheek mucosa cancer might surround Stensen meatus requiring preservation and relocation of the duct. Sialodochoplasty is necessary to avoid subsequent stricture, cheek swelling, and obstructive sequelae that could make following oncologic follow-up difficult. We report a simple successful technique of parotid duct cannulation and relocation in a 77-year-old woman who underwent cheek mucosa tumor resection for squamous cell carcinoma and free fasciocutaneous forearm reconstruction. Ability of milk clear saliva from the duct orifice after 6 weeks from surgery was assessed clinically, and no fistula or swelling was experienced. Stensen duct cannulation and relocation are a useful adjunctive procedure in the treatment of oral mucosa cancer, preserving salivary gland function while not compromising cancer resection

Total Breast Reconstruction Using the Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap without Implant

Background: The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap was described mainly for partial breast reconstruction by Hamdi. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of the pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap for total autologous breast reconstruction without using an implant. Methods: Between January of 2009 and December of 2011, seven patients underwent total breast reconstruction with a pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. The mean age of the patients was 53 years (range, 43 to 62 years), and the mean body mass index was 27 kg/m(2) (range, 24 to 32 kg/m(2)). Results: The mean size of the harvested skin paddle was 23.7 x 8.8 cm(2) (range, 15 x 7 cm(2) to 39 x 14 cm(2)). The flaps were based on one to three perforators and successfully transferred with an average operative time of 3 hours. No seroma occurred at the donor site. Average hospital stay was 4 days (range, 3 to 6 days). At an average follow-up of 21.5 months, two patients underwent additional revisions using autologous fat grafting, with overall fat injection volumes of 240 and 280 cc, respectively. Conclusion: The pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap offers an alternative for total autologous breast reconstruction in small to medium breasted patients when abdominal tissues are not available

Predictive factors of satisfaction following breast reconstruction: do they influence patients?

Introduction: This study aims to analyze whether there is any patient- or treatment-related factor that can influence patients' body perception after mastectomy and autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent immediate implant-based or DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Predictive factors analyzed included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, body mass index, age, type of mastectomy, and follow-up length. The BREAST-Q was administered postoperatively almost 2 years from the last surgical procedure. Mean BREAST-Q scores were reported for the overall cohort and by modality for the postoperative period. A linear regression model was applied to all BREAST-Q scores with all predictor factors. Results: In total, 325 patients were enrolled in this study (133 DIEP flap and 192 implant-based reconstructions). The DIEP flap reconstruction group with a previous nipple sparing mastectomy showed the highest scores. Patients with a longer follow-up were less satisfied than the ones with a shorter follow-up, which could be considered as an assessment of the outcome. No significant difference was reported between patients who underwent radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy and those who did not. Furthermore, age and BMI had no influence on patient satisfaction. Conclusion: This study is the first that groups a large number of patients and analyzes predictive factors of long-term satisfaction of patients undergoing breast reconstruction. This can be regarded as a pilot study to raise the awareness of everyone's clinical practice to predict the attitude that patients have after surgery and to prepare them in the best possible way. Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com .Introduction: This study aims to analyze whether there is any patient- or treatment-related factor that can influence patients' body perception after mastectomy and autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent immediate implant-based or DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Predictive factors analyzed included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, body mass index, age, type of mastectomy, and follow-up length. The BREAST-Q was administered postoperatively almost 2 years from the last surgical procedure. Mean BREAST-Q scores were reported for the overall cohort and by modality for the postoperative period. A linear regression model was applied to all BREAST-Q scores with all predictor factors. Results: In total, 325 patients were enrolled in this study (133 DIEP flap and 192 implant-based reconstructions). The DIEP flap reconstruction group with a previous nipple sparing mastectomy showed the highest scores. Patients with a longer follow-up were less satisfied than the ones with a shorter follow-up, which could be considered as an assessment of the outcome. No significant difference was reported between patients who underwent radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy and those who did not. Furthermore, age and BMI had no influence on patient satisfaction. Conclusion: This study is the first that groups a large number of patients and analyzes predictive factors of long-term satisfaction of patients undergoing breast reconstruction. This can be regarded as a pilot study to raise the awareness of everyone's clinical practice to predict the attitude that patients have after surgery and to prepare them in the best possible way. Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com

Anoctamin 1 is Apically Expressed on Thyroid Follicular Cells and Contributes to {ATP}- and Calcium-Activated Iodide Efflux

Background/Aims: Iodide efflux from thyroid cells into the follicular lumen is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, however, the pathways mediating this transport have only been partially identified. A calcium-activated pathway of iodide efflux has long been recognized, but its molecular identity unknown. Anoctamin 1 (ANO1) is a calcium activated chloride channel (CaCC), and this study aims to investigate its contribution to iodide fluxes in thyroid cells. Methods: RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and live cell imaging with the fluorescent halide biosensor YFP-H148Q/I152L were used to study the expression, localization and function of ANO1 in thyroid cells. Results: ANO1 mRNA was detected in human thyroid tissue and FRTL-5 thyrocytes, and ANO1 protein was localized to the apical membrane of follicular cells. ATP induced a transient loss of iodide from FRTL-5 cells that was dependent on the mobilization of intracellular calcium, and was inhibited by CaCC/ANO1 inhibitors and si RNA against ANO1. Calcium activated iodide efflux was also observed in CHO cells over expressing the Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) and ANO1. Conclusion: ANO1 in thyrocytes functions as a calcium activated channel mediating iodide efflux, and may contribute to the rapid delivery of iodide into the follicular lumen for the synthesis of thyroid hormones following activation by calcium-mobilizing stimuli. Copyright (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Base

La valutazione dei dati e delle reti di monitoraggio ambientali

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7 , Rome / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Rac1 pharmacological inhibition rescues human endothelial dysfunction

Background-Endothelial dysfunction contributes significantly to the development of vascular diseases. However, a therapy able to reduce this derangement still needs to be identified. We evaluated the effects of pharmacological inhibition of Rac1, a small GTPase protein promoting oxidative stress, in human endothelial dysfunction. Methods and Results-We performed vascular reactivity studies to test the effects of NSC23766, a Rac1 inhibitor, on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of saphenous vein segments collected from 85 subjects who had undergone surgery for venous insufficiency and from 11 patients who had undergone peripheral vascular surgery. The endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of the varicose segments of saphenous veins collected from patients with venous insufficiency was markedly impaired and was also significantly lower than that observed in control nonvaricose vein tracts from the same veins. Rac1 activity, reactive oxygen species levels, and reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity were significantly increased in varicose veins, and NSC23766 was able to significantly improve endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of dysfunctional saphenous vein portions in a nitric oxide-dependent manner. These effects were paralleled by a significant reduction of NADPH oxidase activity and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Finally, we further corroborated this data by demonstrating that Rac1 inhibition significantly improves venous endothelial function and reduces NADPH oxidase activity in saphenous vein grafts harvested from patients with vascular diseases undergoing peripheral bypass surgery. Conclusions-Rac1 pharmacological inhibition rescues endothelial function and reduces oxidative stress in dysfunctional veins. Rac1 inhibition may represent a potential therapeutic intervention to reduce human endothelial dysfunction and subsequently vascular diseases in various clinical settings