Análisis y diseño de monopolos acoplados para dispositivos móviles multibanda

A novel low profile planar antenna is proposed. The antenna presented is a coupled monopole antenna, comprising at least a driven element coupled with one or more parasitic elements. The design proposed is suitable to be used into a handheld device. The dimensions of the antenna are 33x15x1 mm 3 . In order to facilitate the integration of other components, such cameras or speakers, a ground plane area at the right side of the antenna is provided. The study carried out reveals the relevance of the arms location over the performance of the antenna. The theoretic base is reinforced by a network model and a parametrical study. The coupling between elements controls the behaviour of the antenna. In this sense, a weak coupling between the driven element and at least one parasitic element enhances the bandwidth, whereas a multiband behaviour is achieved by a strong coupling. Finally, the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) influence has also been analyzedPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Diseño de una antena multibanda con ranuras en el plano de masa: una técnica para facilitar la integración de la línea de alimentación

The integration of transmission lines is a difficult task due to the presence of slots. In order to facilitate the integration of the feeding transmission line which connects the antenna with the RF-module, this research proposes a ground plane modification using central slots. Numerical simulation using MoM is used to understand the effect of the slots on the ground plane and several prototypes have been built to validate the present technique. Through this technique is possible to obtain a multiband antenna while keeping the same antenna geometry, small volume and simplifying the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Bioenergetic and Autophagic Characterization of Skin Fibroblasts from C9orf72 Patients.

The objective of this study is to describe the alterations occurring during the neurodegenerative process in skin fibroblast cultures from C9orf72 patients. We characterized the oxidative stress, autophagy flux, small ubiquitin-related protein SUMO2/3 levels as well as the mitochondrial function in skin fibroblast cultures from C9orf72 patients. All metabolic and bioenergetic findings were further correlated with gene expression data obtained from RNA sequencing analysis. Fibroblasts from C9orf72 patients showed a 30% reduced expression of C9orf72, ~3-fold increased levels of oxidative stress and impaired mitochondrial function obtained by measuring the enzymatic activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, specifically of complex III activity. Furthermore, the results also reveal that C9orf72 patients showed an accumulation of p62 protein levels, suggesting the alteration of the autophagy process, and significantly higher protein levels of SUMO2/3 (p = 0.03). Our results provide new data reinforcing that C9orf72 cells suffer from elevated oxidative damage to biomolecules and organelles and from increased protein loads, leading to insufficient autophagy and an increase in SUMOylation processes

Análisis y diseño de monopolos acoplados para dispositivos móviles multibanda

A novel low profile planar antenna is proposed. The antenna presented is a coupled monopole antenna, comprising at least a driven element coupled with one or more parasitic elements. The design proposed is suitable to be used into a handheld device. The dimensions of the antenna are 33x15x1 mm 3 . In order to facilitate the integration of other components, such cameras or speakers, a ground plane area at the right side of the antenna is provided. The study carried out reveals the relevance of the arms location over the performance of the antenna. The theoretic base is reinforced by a network model and a parametrical study. The coupling between elements controls the behaviour of the antenna. In this sense, a weak coupling between the driven element and at least one parasitic element enhances the bandwidth, whereas a multiband behaviour is achieved by a strong coupling. Finally, the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) influence has also been analyzedPeer Reviewe

Análisis y diseño de monopolos acoplados para dispositivos móviles multibanda

A novel low profile planar antenna is proposed. The antenna presented is a coupled monopole antenna, comprising at least a driven element coupled with one or more parasitic elements. The design proposed is suitable to be used into a handheld device. The dimensions of the antenna are 33x15x1 mm 3 . In order to facilitate the integration of other components, such cameras or speakers, a ground plane area at the right side of the antenna is provided. The study carried out reveals the relevance of the arms location over the performance of the antenna. The theoretic base is reinforced by a network model and a parametrical study. The coupling between elements controls the behaviour of the antenna. In this sense, a weak coupling between the driven element and at least one parasitic element enhances the bandwidth, whereas a multiband behaviour is achieved by a strong coupling. Finally, the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) influence has also been analyzedPeer Reviewe

Diseño de una antena multibanda con ranuras en el plano de masa: una técnica para facilitar la integración de la línea de alimentación

The integration of transmission lines is a difficult task due to the presence of slots. In order to facilitate the integration of the feeding transmission line which connects the antenna with the RF-module, this research proposes a ground plane modification using central slots. Numerical simulation using MoM is used to understand the effect of the slots on the ground plane and several prototypes have been built to validate the present technique. Through this technique is possible to obtain a multiband antenna while keeping the same antenna geometry, small volume and simplifying the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design.Peer Reviewe

Diseño de una antena multibanda con ranuras en el plano de masa: una técnica para facilitar la integración de la línea de alimentación

The integration of transmission lines is a difficult task due to the presence of slots. In order to facilitate the integration of the feeding transmission line which connects the antenna with the RF-module, this research proposes a ground plane modification using central slots. Numerical simulation using MoM is used to understand the effect of the slots on the ground plane and several prototypes have been built to validate the present technique. Through this technique is possible to obtain a multiband antenna while keeping the same antenna geometry, small volume and simplifying the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design.Peer Reviewe

Prospective observational cohort study on grading the severity of postoperative complications in global surgery research

Background The Clavien–Dindo classification is perhaps the most widely used approach for reporting postoperative complications in clinical trials. This system classifies complication severity by the treatment provided. However, it is unclear whether the Clavien–Dindo system can be used internationally in studies across differing healthcare systems in high- (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods This was a secondary analysis of the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), a prospective observational cohort study of elective surgery in adults. Data collection occurred over a 7-day period. Severity of complications was graded using Clavien–Dindo and the simpler ISOS grading (mild, moderate or severe, based on guided investigator judgement). Severity grading was compared using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data are presented as frequencies and ICC values (with 95 per cent c.i.). The analysis was stratified by income status of the country, comparing HICs with LMICs. Results A total of 44 814 patients were recruited from 474 hospitals in 27 countries (19 HICs and 8 LMICs). Some 7508 patients (16·8 per cent) experienced at least one postoperative complication, equivalent to 11 664 complications in total. Using the ISOS classification, 5504 of 11 664 complications (47·2 per cent) were graded as mild, 4244 (36·4 per cent) as moderate and 1916 (16·4 per cent) as severe. Using Clavien–Dindo, 6781 of 11 664 complications (58·1 per cent) were graded as I or II, 1740 (14·9 per cent) as III, 2408 (20·6 per cent) as IV and 735 (6·3 per cent) as V. Agreement between classification systems was poor overall (ICC 0·41, 95 per cent c.i. 0·20 to 0·55), and in LMICs (ICC 0·23, 0·05 to 0·38) and HICs (ICC 0·46, 0·25 to 0·59). Conclusion Caution is recommended when using a treatment approach to grade complications in global surgery studies, as this may introduce bias unintentionally

The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis

© 2017 British Journal of Anaesthesia Background: The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool. Methods: Prospective analysis of data from the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), an international observational study of elective in-patient surgery, accompanied by a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The exposure was surgical safety checklist use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was postoperative complications. In the ISOS cohort, a multivariable multi-level generalized linear model was used to test associations. To further contextualise these findings, we included the results from the ISOS cohort in a meta-analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: We included 44 814 patients from 497 hospitals in 27 countries in the ISOS analysis. There were 40 245 (89.8%) patients exposed to the checklist, whilst 7508 (16.8%) sustained ≥1 postoperative complications and 207 (0.5%) died before hospital discharge. Checklist exposure was associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.49 (0.32–0.77); P\u3c0.01], but no difference in complication rates [OR 1.02 (0.88–1.19); P=0.75]. In a systematic review, we screened 3732 records and identified 11 eligible studies of 453 292 patients including the ISOS cohort. Checklist exposure was associated with both reduced postoperative mortality [OR 0.75 (0.62–0.92); P\u3c0.01; I2=87%] and reduced complication rates [OR 0.73 (0.61–0.88); P\u3c0.01; I2=89%). Conclusions: Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine

Critical care admission following elective surgery was not associated with survival benefit: prospective analysis of data from 27 countries

This was an investigator initiated study funded by Nestle Health Sciences through an unrestricted research grant, and by a National Institute for Health Research (UK) Professorship held by RP. The study was sponsored by Queen Mary University of London