International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND: The body of knowledge regarding rhinosinusitis (RS) continues to expand, with rapid growth in number of publications yet substantial variability in the quality of those presentations. In an effort to both consolidate and critically appraise this information, rhinologic experts from around the world have produced the International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR:RS). This executive summary consolidates the findings of the ICAR:RS document. METHODS: ICAR:RS presents over 140 topics in the forms of evidence-based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs) and evidence-based reviews (EBR). The structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. RESULTS: This summary compiles the EBRRs regarding medical and surgical management of acute RS (ARS) and chronic RS with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNP and CRSsNP). CONCLUSION: This ICAR:RS Executive Summary provides a compilation of the evidence-based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

In situ observation of the magnetocaloric effect through neutron diffraction in the Tb(DCO2)3Tb(DCO_2)_3 and TbODCO3TbODCO_3 frameworks

Probing the magnetic structure of magnetocaloric materials in applied fields, can reveal detailed insight into the mechanism of magnetic refrigeration thereby linking the magnetic states that form under applied magnetic fields to changes in magnetic entropy. This study probes the long range magnetic order in $Tb(DCO_2)_3$ and $TbODCO_3$ as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field, through neutron diffraction measurements. A triangular Ising antiferromagnetic phase is formed, in small applied magnetic fields in $Tb(DCO_2)_3$, a spin flip transition occurs to a simple ferromagnetic structure in higher applied fields. $TbODCO_3$ undergoes a phase transition, in applied fields, into two magnetic phases; namely a buckled chain ferromagnetic phase along the b-axis and a canted antiferromagnetic phase, with a ferromagnetic component along c-axis. Both of the states observed in $TbODCO_3$ are consistent with Ising-like anisotropy previously reported in $TbODCO_3$ and the coexistance of these is likely the result of applying a magnetic field to a powdered sample

Causal RLGC( Ƒ ) Models for Transmission Lines from Measured S-Parameters

Frequency-dependent causal RLGC(f) models are proposed for single-ended and coupled transmission lines. Dielectric loss, dielectric dispersion, and skin-effect loss are taken into account. The dielectric substrate is described by the two-term Debye frequency dependence, and the transmission line conductors are of finite conductivity. In this paper, three frequency-dependent RLGC models are studied. One is the known frequency-dependent analytical RLGC model ( RLGC-I), the second is the RLGC(f) model (RLGC-II) proposed in this paper, and the third (RLGC-III) is same as the RLGC -II, but with causality enforced by the Hilbert transform in frequency domain. The causalities of the three RLGC models are corroborated in the time domain by examining the propagation of a well-defined pulse through three different transmission lines: a single-ended stripline, a single-ended microstrip line, and an edge-coupled differential stripline pair. A clear time-domain start point is shown on each received pulse for the RLGC-II model and the RLGC-III model, where their corresponding start points overlap. This indicates that the proposed RLGC(f) model (RLGC-II) is causal. Good agreement of simulated and measured S-parameters has also been achieved in the frequency domain for the three transmission lines by using the proposed frequency-dependent RLGC (f) model

Quantifying SMT Decoupling Capacitor Placement in dc Power-Bus Design for Multilayer PCBs

Noise on a dc power-bus that results from device switching, as well as other potential mechanisms, is a primary source of many signal integrity (SI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems. Surface mount technology (SMT) decoupling capacitors are commonly used to mitigate this power-bus noise. A critical design issue associated with this common practice in high-speed digital designs is placement of the capacitors with respect to the integrated circuits (ICs). Local decoupling, namely, placing SMT capacitors in proximity to ICs, is investigated in this study. Multilayer PCB designs that employ entire layers or area fills for power and ground in a parallel plate structure are considered. The results demonstrate that local decoupling can provide high-frequency benefits for certain PCB geometries through mutual inductive coupling between closely spaced vias. The associated magnetic flux linkage is between the power and ground layers. Numerical modeling using an integral equation formulation with circuit extraction is used to quantify the local decoupling phenomenon. Local decoupling can effectively reduce high-frequency power-bus noise, though placing capacitors adjacent to ICs may limit routing flexibility, and tradeoffs need to be made based on design requirements. Design curves are generated as a function of power-bus layer thickness and SMT capacitor/IC spacing using the modeling approach to quantify the power-bus noise reduction for decoupling capacitors located adjacent to devices. Measurement data is provided to corroborate the modeling approach

Heisenberg spins on an anisotropic triangular lattice : PdCrO2 under uniaxial stress

Experiments at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source were supported by a beam time allocation from the Science and Technology Facilities Council under Expt. No. RB1820290. Financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through SFB 1143 (Project ID 247310070) and the Max Planck Society is gratefully acknowledged. RW acknowledges funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training in Condensed Matter Physics (CDT-CMP), Grant No. EP/L015544/1.When Heisenberg spins interact antiferromagnetically on a triangular lattice and nearest-neighbor interactions dominate, the ground state is 120° antiferromagnetism. In this work, we probe the response of this state to lifting the triangular symmetry, through investigation of the triangular antiferromagnet PdCrO2 under uniaxial stress by neutron diffraction and resistivity measurements. The periodicity of the magnetic order is found to change rapidly with applied stress; the rate of change indicates that the magnetic anisotropy is roughly forty times the stress-induced bond length anisotropy. At low stress, the incommensuration period becomes extremely long, on the order of 1000 lattice spacings; no locking of the magnetism to commensurate periodicity is detected. Separately, the magnetic structure is found to undergo a first-order transition at a compressive stress of ∼0.4 GPa, at which the interlayer ordering switches from a double-to a single-q structure.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Reconstruction of Dispersive Dielectric Properties for PCB Substrates using a Genetic Algorithm

An effective method for extracting parameters of a Debye or a Lorentzian dispersive medium over a wideband frequency range using a genetic algorithm (GA) and a transmission-line model is presented. Scattering parameters (S-parameters) of the transmission-line sections, including a parallel plate, microstrip, and stripline, are measured. Wave equations for TEM/quasi-TEM mode with a complex propagation constant and a frequency-dependent wave impedance are used to evaluate the corresponding S-parameters in an analytical model. The discrepancy between the modeled and measured S-parameters is defined as the objective function in the GA. The GA is used for search of the dispersive-medium parameters by means of minimizing the objective function over the entire frequency range of interest. The reconstructed Debye or Lorentzian dispersive material parameters are corroborated by comparing the original measurements with the FDTD modeling results. The self-consistency of the proposed method is demonstrated by constructing different test structures with an identical material, i.e., material parameters of a substrate extracted from different transmission-line configurations. The port effects on the material parameter extraction are examined by using through-reflection-line calibration

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis

Background: Critical examination of the quality and validity of available allergic rhinitis (AR) literature is necessary to improve understanding and to appropriately translate this knowledge to clinical care of the AR patient. To evaluate the existing AR literature, international multidisciplinary experts with an interest in AR have produced the International Consensus statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis (ICAR:AR). Methods: Using previously described methodology, specific topics were developed relating to AR. Each topic was assigned a literature review, evidence-based review (EBR), or evidence-based review with recommendations (EBRR) format as dictated by available evidence and purpose within the ICAR:AR document. Following iterative reviews of each topic, the ICAR:AR document was synthesized and reviewed by all authors for consensus. Results: The ICAR:AR document addresses over 100 individual topics related to AR, including diagnosis, pathophysiology, epidemiology, disease burden, risk factors for the development of AR, allergy testing modalities, treatment, and other conditions/comorbidities associated with AR. Conclusion: This critical review of the AR literature has identified several strengths; providers can be confident that treatment decisions are supported by rigorous studies. However, there are also substantial gaps in the AR literature. These knowledge gaps should be viewed as opportunities for improvement, as often the things that we teach and the medicine that we practice are not based on the best quality evidence. This document aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the AR literature to identify areas for future AR research and improved understanding

Validation of Equivalent Circuits Extracted from S-Parameter Data for Eye-pattern Evaluation

S-parameter circuit model extraction is usually characterized by a trade off between accuracy and complexity. Trading one feature for another may or may not affect the goodness of the reconstructed S-parameter data, which are obtained from frequency domain simulations of the models extracted. However, the ultimate test for the validity of these equivalent circuit representations should be left to eye-diagram simulations, which provide useful insights, from an SI point of view, about the degradation of the signal, as it travels through the system. Physics based simplication procedures can be used to tune the models and achieve less complexity, whereas the comparisons of the eye-diagrams may help to quantify the goodness of an these circuits extracted. In fact, the most accurate model is not necessary the best to be used

Application of area scaling analysis to identify natural killer cell and monocyte involvement in the GranToxiLux antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay

Several different assay methodologies have been described for the evaluation of HIV or SIV-specific antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Commonly used assays measure ADCC by evaluating effector cell functions, or by detecting elimination of target cells. Signaling through Fc receptors, cellular activation, cytotoxic granule exocytosis, or accumulation of cytolytic and immune signaling factors have been used to evaluate ADCC at the level of the effector cells. Alternatively, assays that measure killing or loss of target cells provide a direct assessment of the specific killing activity of antibodies capable of ADCC. Thus, each of these two distinct types of assays provides information on only one of the critical components of an ADCC event; either the effector cells involved, or the resulting effect on the target cell. We have developed a simple modification of our previously described high-throughput ADCC GranToxiLux (GTL) assay that uses area scaling analysis (ASA) to facilitate simultaneous quantification of ADCC activity at the target cell level, and assessment of the contribution of natural killer cells and monocytes to the total observed ADCC activity when whole human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are used as a source of effector cells. The modified analysis method requires no additional reagents and can, therefore, be easily included in prospective studies. Moreover, ASA can also often be applied to pre-existing ADCC-GTL datasets. Thus, incorporation of ASA to the ADCC-GTL assay provides an ancillary assessment of the ability of natural and vaccine-induced antibodies to recruit natural killer cells as well as monocytes against HIV or SIV; or to any other field of research for which this assay is applied

An EGF-like Protein Forms a Complex with PfRh5 and Is Required for Invasion of Human Erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum

Invasion of erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum involves a complex cascade of protein-protein interactions between parasite ligands and host receptors. The reticulocyte binding-like homologue (PfRh) protein family is involved in binding to and initiating entry of the invasive merozoite into erythrocytes. An important member of this family is PfRh5. Using ion-exchange chromatography, immunoprecipitation and mass spectroscopy, we have identified a novel cysteine-rich protein we have called P. falciparum Rh5 interacting protein (PfRipr) (PFC1045c), which forms a complex with PfRh5 in merozoites. Mature PfRipr has a molecular weight of 123 kDa with 10 epidermal growth factor-like domains and 87 cysteine residues distributed along the protein. In mature schizont stages this protein is processed into two polypeptides that associate and form a complex with PfRh5. The PfRipr protein localises to the apical end of the merozoites in micronemes whilst PfRh5 is contained within rhoptries and both are released during invasion when they form a complex that is shed into the culture supernatant. Antibodies to PfRipr1 potently inhibit merozoite attachment and invasion into human red blood cells consistent with this complex playing an essential role in this process