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Background:Diet has been previously described as an impact factor on the course of rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has been previously reported that dietary sugar intake may contribute to subclinical inflammation and disease activity in SLE. However, there is very little investigation on the possible association between nutritional parameters and their influence on spondyloarthritis (SpA).Objectives:To investigate the possible impact of nutritional parameters on the disease activity in patients with SpA.Methods:Patients with radiographic axial SpA and starting a biological therapy were recruited between 2015 and 2019 in an extension of the prospective German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort (GESPIC). Dietary habits were collected at baseline using the country-specific validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for the use in the German Health examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011. The FFQ includes questions about the frequency and amount of 53 food items, consumed during the past 4 weeks, and enabled to compute individual mean consumptions of foods in grams per day. Total energy intake (in Kcal per day) and nutritional parameters: carbohydrates, free sugars, total fats, saturated fats, mono and poly-unsaturated fats, proteins and dietary fiber, were calculated for each patient using a nutrition organization software and the database of Federal Food Code (Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel), version 3.02. Disease activity measures (BASDAI, CRP and ASDAS), as well as height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at baseline before starting the biological treatment.Results:A total of 104 patients from 129 patients with axial SpA enrolled in the cohort were included in this nutritional analysis. The mean age (mean±SD) was 37.0±11.0 years old with symptoms duration of 11.3±9.9 years, 68.3% were males, and 86.5% were HLA-B27 positive. Patients presented BMI of 25.1±4.3 kg/m2, BASDAI 5.6±1.4, CRP 14.0±18.2 mg/l, and ASDAS 3.5±1.0.In the univariable and multivariable regression analysis, a higher energy intake and carbohydrates were associated with higher disease activity, measured by ASDAS, BASDAI and CRP. This association was attributable to the full intake of carbohydrates and specifically to the total of free sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) and the decrease of dietary fiber as shown in the multivariable analyses (Figure 1). This effect was independent of age, sex, smoker status and BMI.Conclusion:A higher intake of carbohydrates and a higher consumption of free sugars are associated with higher disease activity in patients with AS.Figure 1.Multivariable linear regression analysis of the association between CRP and nutritional parameters in patients with radiographic axial SpA (n=104), adjusted for age, sex, body mass index and smoker status. Model 1 included variable of total energy intake, model 2 included variable of total intake of carbohydrates (CH) and model 3 included variable of free-sugar (monosaccharides and disaccharides).B, linear regression coefficient; CH, carbohydrates; CI, confidence interval; MS-FA, monosaturated fatty acids; PuS-FA, polyunsaturated fatty acids, S-FA, saturated fatty acids.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

A general solution strategy for detecting faulty elements in phased arrays of arbitrary geometries is suggested. The proposed deterministic approach assumes as input data the amplitude and phase of near-field distributions and allows to determine the positions of the faulty elements. In particular, the method is founded on the well known Multiple Signal Classification (MUSIC) method, i.e., a spectral estimation technique. The proposed algorithm is also compared with a recently published method by the same authors, against experimental and numerical data. The results fully confirm the usefulness of the proposed technique, highlighting the advantages and the disadvantages of both methods.

This paper describes the results of a research project which is aimed at designing and realizing innovative multifunctional radar architecture based on Tile elements. In this paper we focus on the description of the design strategy of the antenna front end and on the digital beamforming architecture able to meet the performance requirements. In particular a suitable digital beamforming technique exploiting overlapped subarrays is introduced and obtained results are presented.

Resume Propos. – La frequence de l’insuffisance renale chez les patients âges pose la question d’un eventuel ajustement posologique pour les heparines de bas poids moleculaire utilisees a dose curative en pratique geriatrique. Le but de cette etude prospective etait donc de determiner si la tinzaparine, administree en une injection sous-cutanee de 175 UI anti-Xa·kg/j pendant dix jours, presentait un risque d’accumulation chez des patients de plus de 70 ans. Methodes. – L’accumulation etait evaluee par le suivi des activites anti-Xa et anti-IIa mesurees avant la premiere injection puis a j2, j5, j7 et j10. Les caracteristiques des trente patients traites par tinzaparine a dose curative et inclus (six hommes, 24 femmes) sont les suivantes en moyenne ± ecarts-types : âge = 87 ± 5,9 ans (extremes : 71 a 96) ; poids : 62,7 ± 14,6 kg (extremes :38 a 90) ; clairance de la creatinine : 40,6 ± 15,3 mL/min (extremes :20 a 72). Resultats. – La dose de tinzaparine est restee fixe pour tous les patients pendant les dix jours de traitement. Les activites anti-Xa et anti-IIa a j2 etaient respectivement de 0,66 ± 0,20 UI/mL (extremes : 0,26 a 1,04) et de 0,33 ± 0,10 UI/mL (extremes : 0,18 a 0,55). Il n’y a eu aucune accumulation, jugee sur les activites anti-Xa et anti-IIa, sur la periode de dix jours de traitement. Il n’existe aucune correlation entre les activites anti-Xa et anti-IIa, et l’âge, le poids ou la clairance de la creatinine. Un hematome au site d’injection a ete le seul effet indesirable note. Conclusion. – La tinzaparine semble donc pouvoir etre administree a la dose curative preconisee de 175 UI·kg –1 ·j –1 pendant dix jours, chez des patients âges ayant une alteration notable de la fonction renale, sans majoration du risque d’accumulation ni du risque hemorragique chez des patients dont la clairance de la creatinine est superieure a 20 mL/min.

SummarySince low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are partly eliminated by renal excretion, their pharmacodynamic profile may be modified in very elderly patients with age-related renal impairment. The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether tinzaparin (Innohep®) 175 anti-Xa IU/kg administered subcutaneously once daily over 10 days does accumulate in hospital patients greater than 70 years of age. Plasma anti-Xa and anti-IIa amidolytic levels and APTT were determined prior to the first injection (day 0), and then, at peak level i.e. 5 h after the second injection (day 2) and subsequently on days 5, 7 and 10.Thirty consecutive inpatients (6 men, 24 women) requiring LMWHs at a curative dose for acute thromboembolic disease were included. Patients’ characteristics (mean ± SD) were: age 87.0 ± 5.9 years (range 71–96), body weight 62.7 ± 14.6 kg (range 38-90) and creatinine clearance 40.6 ± 15.3 mL/min (range 20–72). The mean actual dose of tinzaparin delivered was 174.8 anti-Xa IU/kg. Since no patient had an anti-Xa activity above 1.5 IU/mL, the dose of tinzaparin remained fixed over 10 days.Anti-Xa and anti-IIa peak levels measured on day 2 were 0.66 ± 0.20 IU/mL (range 0.26–1.04) and 0.33 ± 0.10 IU/mL (range 0.18–0.55), respectively. Ex vivo anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratios were close to 2.1. APTT ratios (patient/control) were strongly correlated with anti-IIa activity (p Tinzaparin may thus be administered safely at a treatment dose (175 anti-Xa IU/kg) in older patients with age-related renal impairment. Neither dose adjustment, nor serial anti-Xa activity monitoring seems to be required in patients with creatinine clearance above 20 mL/min during the first ten day treatment.

The aim of this communication is to show the usefulness of an alternative representation of the field radiated by an arbitrary source enclosed in a convex domain, the reduced radiated field, for studying the fundamental limitations to the corresponding radiated fields. In particular, simple formula can be derived for the beamwidth between the first nulls in the radiation pattern and for the values of the radiated field in the different directions of interest, for several geometries of practical interests. The above formula also allow to study the steering capability of the sources, thus emphasizing that the radiated beam broadens as it is scanned off broadside and to know the amount of its degradation. Then, starting from the reduced radiated field, a new and effective power pattern synthesis strategy is proposed and discussed. Numerical examples, confirming the usefulness and convenience of the proposed methods and tools are also reported. (6 pages)

In a recent article in Gut , Hughes et al 1 identified distinct patterns of immune dysfunction in IBS patients compared with healthy subjects. In particular, they showed that peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) supernatants from healthy subjects inhibited colonic afferents in a μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-mediated manner. These findings correlated with β-endorphin from T lymphocytes providing an important MOR-mediated antinociceptive influence in the healthy gut.2 Intriguingly, these inhibitory effects were lost with PBMC supernatants from constipation-predominant IBS patients suggesting a loss of MOR-mediated inhibition, coupled with increased excitatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), contributes to abdominal pain.1 We evaluated if this alteration was MOR specific or whether it extended to other members of the opioid receptor family. As clinical studies have shown varying outcomes on visceral pain perception with κ-opioid receptor (KOR) agonists,3–5 we postulated KOR expression and function are altered during visceral hypersensitivity. Therefore, we determined if the peripherally restricted selective KOR agonist, asimadoline, was able to modify colonic nociceptor function in health and during inflammatory and postinflammatory chronic visceral mechanical hypersensitivity (CVH).6 We performed in vitro afferent recordings from mouse splanchnic high-threshold nociceptors, which respond to focal compression and noxious stretch/distension.1 ,6 …

The most important parameter of any anechoic-shielded chamber used for radiated HIRF testing is field uniformity that can be achieved in the test zone when the System Under Test (SUT) is not present. One of the major difficulties is that it is almost impossible to avoid the presence of large metal structures, such as turntable and hoist, in test volume when large and heavy SUTs are tested. There are so many parameters that affect the degree of field uniformity that in most cases it is impossible to take all of them into account; however it is important to point out that anechoic material does not impact field uniformity to great extent. It becomes important to find out the right trade off among the most important test range parameters, which include (but are limited to): type and size of test antenna, its height above the chamber floor, its distance from the test volume, electric field polarization, size of the test volume and frequency range. The outcome of the simulation or experimental trial is binary (presence or absence of field uniformity) and therefore cannot be easily associated with a numerical scale. Logistic regressions, which is the right method to take into account that type of result, is the optimization tool proposed in this document to design the HIRF test range.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This relapsing condition is often associated with debilitating abdominal pain, which in some cases can persist throughout quiescent stages of the disease. The regulatory mechanisms involved in central sensitization and peripheral neuroplasticity in the context of IBD-related visceral pain remains elusive. A growing body of evidence suggests a role for the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in visceral hypersensitivity. TRPV1 is expressed in sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and is directly involved in nociception. Previous studies have demonstrated that TRPV1-deficient mice experience reduced thermal hyperalgesia during inflammation, thus suggesting a role for TRPV1 in inflammatory pain. The objective of the present study was therefore to investigate the role of TRPV1 in visceral pain in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) murine model of colitis. Methods: Mice were given DSS in drinking water for 7 days, after which spontaneous visceral pain was assessed using the non-invasive, animal behavior recognition system LABORAS. Control and DSS-treated mice were then sacrificed and colon-innervating DRGs collected for quantitative PCR, immunostaining, and neuronal dissociation. In Vitro studies were performed with human neuroblastoma NG108 cells. Results: DSS-treated mice showed reduced mobility and frequency of grooming and climbing, which likely reflect spontaneous visceral pain. Remarkably, while controls cells showed very few processes, dissociated DRG neurons isolated from DSS-treated mice displayed extensive neurite outgrowth after 24 h in culture. Immunocytochemistry later revealed TRPV1 expression along the entire length of these axons. These results are supported by In Vitro data demonstrating that exposure to a mixture of proinflammatory cytokines (bradykinin, histamine, and serotonin) induces neurite outgrowth and TRPV1 membrane trafficking in TRPV1-transfected neuronal NG108 cells. Finally, PCR analysis demonstrated that the neuronal morphological changes observed in DSS-treated animals were associated with a significant decrease in the expression of the small Rho GTPase RhoA and Rho kinase, both of which are known to modulate neurite outgrowth. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that DSS-colitis induces changes in neuronal morphology and modulation of TRPV1 trafficking, which may play a role in visceral hypersensitivity in the context of gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders. Current experiments using pharmacological inhibitors of the RhoA/Rho kinase signaling axis and TRPV1deficient animals will provide important insights into the exact role of TRPV1 in IBD-related visceral hypersensitivity and perhaps identify new targets for the treatment of chronic pain in these patients.

The effect of L-carnitine and some of its acyl derivatives on serum TNF production and lethality in a murine experimental endotoxin shock model was investigated. In some instances, serum IL-6 production was also evaluated. In this experimental model, C57BL/6 mice received 30 mg/kg LPS (E. cell 055:B5) injected intraperitoneally, while L-carnitine and its derivatives were administered according to different schedules. Serum levels of TNF and IL-6 were evaluated 1 h following LPS injection. The treated animals were also monitored daily for differences in body temperature, feeding, and survival for 10 days after LPS injection. Although some derivatives were able to significantly affect TNF production, the marked decrease in serum TNF levels of LPS-treated mice was not paralleled by a substantial increase in survival.

Uremic patients have calcitriol deficiency, due to reduced renal synthesis. Treatment with calcitriol in these patients, however, reportedly worsens renal function (1). The aim of our study is to verify this hypothesis.

Each of the thirty compressors installed around the ring and at switchyard is an oil-injected, two-stage, Mycom screw compressor, driven by either a 350 hp or 400 hp motor. The reader is referred to TM1198 by John Satti for a detailed description of these compressors and the associated equipment. Since the power consumed by these compressors is a major operating expense for our accelerator, we were interested in measuring the power consumption and efficiency of our compressors. Two compressors were studied in detail - one having a GE 350 hp motor (F0 No. 2) and one a new GE 400 hp high efficiency motor (F0 No. 1). Data were taken for each compressor with the high stage always fully loaded. These data and values calculated from the data are tabulated.

Appareillage de mesure pour l'etude des turbines a gaz dans le cas d'essais de courtes durees

Objectives To evaluate the strength of association between maternal and pregnancy characteristics and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Methods Secondary analysis of a multinational, cohort study on all consecutive pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 from 73 centers from 22 different countries. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens. The primary outcome was a composite adverse fetal outcome, defined as the presence of either abortion (pregnancy loss before 22 weeks of gestations), stillbirth (intrauterine fetal death after 22 weeks of gestation), neonatal death (death of a live-born infant within the first 28 days of life), and perinatal death (either stillbirth or neonatal death). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate parameters independently associated with the primary outcome. Logistic regression was reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 30.6±9.5 weeks, with 8.0% of women being diagnosed in the first, 22.2% in the second and 69.8% in the third trimester of pregnancy. There were six miscarriage (2.3%), six intrauterine device (IUD) (2.3) and 5 (2.0%) neonatal deaths, with an overall rate of perinatal death of 4.2% (11/265), thus resulting into 17 cases experiencing and 226 not experiencing composite adverse fetal outcome. Neither stillbirths nor neonatal deaths had congenital anomalies found at antenatal or postnatal evaluation. Furthermore, none of the cases experiencing IUD had signs of impending demise at arterial or venous Doppler. Neonatal deaths were all considered as prematurity-related adverse events. Of the 250 live-born neonates, one (0.4%) was found positive at RT-PCR pharyngeal swabs performed after delivery. The mother was tested positive during the third trimester of pregnancy. The newborn was asymptomatic and had negative RT-PCR test after 14 days of life. At logistic regression analysis, gestational age at diagnosis (OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.8–0.9 per week increase; p Conclusions Early gestational age at infection, maternal ventilatory supports and low birthweight are the main determinants of adverse perinatal outcomes in fetuses with maternal COVID-19 infection. Conversely, the risk of vertical transmission seems negligible.

The paper deals with a new measurement method for through-the-wall detection and tracking of hidden targets (e.g. human bodies in rescue missions) in two-dimensional scenes, by using radiofrequency signals. In particular, the method is based on a multisensor system and exploits an advanced imaging technique, which takes advantages from a regularized linear inversion scheme. Several numerical tests are conducted to assess the performance and capabilities of the method; satisfying values of the difference between estimated and nominal target position are experienced for different investigation domains, number of targets and signal-to-noise ratios. Moreover, experiments in actual measurement conditions and involving a prototype of the multisensor system (based on eleven antennas operating both as transmitting and receiving elements) are also presented, which show the reliability of the method as well as the effectiveness of the implemented measurement strategies.

Uniform amplitude sparse arrays have recently gained a renewed interest and a number of synthesis techniques, mainly based on global optimization algorithms, have been presented. In this paper, after a discussion about the expected characteristics of such arrays, a simple deterministic approach for the case of pencil beams patterns is proposed and discussed. The approach, which outperforms previous synthesis techniques, takes inspiration from existing (not well-known) density taper procedures to develop a two stages synthesis where the first step is solved in a new closed analytical form, while the second one just requires local refinements or fast 1-D optimizations. As a consequence, the proposed approach avoids the need of multidimensional global optimization procedures and the inherent possibly prohibitive computational costs. Notably the first step, which also exhibits an improved flexibility with respect to other analytical techniques, already outperforms previous approaches in a number of cases of interest. Several numerical results confirm the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed tools.

The paper deals with the problem of non intrusive detection of concealed people by means of passive acoustic sensors To this aim, the authors present hereinafter a new method capable of detecting and recognizing vital signs, typical of human beings, thanks to the use of a suitable data acquisition system, based on a geophones network, and a proper digital signal processing algorithm. In particular, the passive sensors are mandated to (i) detect the reduced-amplitude vibrations on a solid structure generated by people's heartbeat, breathing and associated (voluntary and involuntary) motions and (ii) convert them in a signal whose power spectrum proves to be significant in two different frequency bands, referred to as audio and infrasonic band. With regard to the processing algorithm, it is based on adaptive filter and estimates the so-called pseudo period of the received signal to single out the desired detection of vital signs. Preliminary results, carried out in a number of numerical and experimental tests, confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach and measurement strategies.

A new method based on an improved version of the well-known multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm for life signs detection is proposed. With respect to other competitive methods already available in the literature, the proposed method assures higher dynamic range of the estimated spectrum and effective noise/clutter rejection when detecting the respiratory and the cardiac activities from the received microwave signals. The results of several tests conducted in actual measurement condition, i.e. people in furnished room behind concrete walls, prove the efficacy and reliability of the method.

The paper deals with the implementation of a suitable technological support to improve the success likelihood of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) missions. In particular, the adoption of an heterogeneous sensors network for situation awareness and security applications is suggested. The sensor network consists of two types of sensor, mandated, respectively, to through-the-wall radar (TTW) imaging and a vital sign detection (VSD) sensor. Information and measurement data collected by the network are sent to a command and control center for optimal decision making. More specifically, after a brief introduction about the considered network architecture and the TTW radar, the authors present hereinafter a new measurement method, based on Doppler effect and eigenvalue decomposition, for VSD. In particular, thanks to the application of a preliminary demodulation scheme to the received measurement signal, the method is capable of detecting and measuring the phase modulation associated human chest movement. A number of tests, both in simulated and actual measurement conditions, has highlighted satisfying performance in terms of accuracy and reliability, thus suggesting the method as an ideal candidate for the implementation of the VSD sensor.

A through-wall imaging problem for a 2-D geometry is considered. A new method for through the wall detection and tracking of hidden targets (e.g. human bodies in rescue missions) in two-dimensional scenes, by using radio frequency signals, is presented. In particular, a new approach is proposed and discussed, mainly based on a multisensor system and an advanced imaging technique, which properly exploits a regularized linear inversion scheme. Numerical and experimental tests were conducted to assess the performance and capabilities of the proposed approach

The paper deals with the problem of through-the-wall detecting, localizing and tracking moving targets by means of radio-frequency imaging. In particular, the authors present hereinafter a new method capable of locating and tracking the position of hidden targets (e.g. human bodies in rescue missions) thanks to the use of multisensor system and a proper linear inversion scheme. Preliminary results obtained in numerical tests confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach and measurement strategies.

A hybrid approach to the synthesis of the excitations and locations of non-uniformly spaced arrays, in order to achieve optimal focusing in any given direction, is proposed and discussed. The approach takes definite advantage from the convexity of the problem with respect to the excitation variables, and exploits a simulated annealing procedure as far as the location variables are concerned. The corresponding synthesized patterns outperform previously known results in standard benchmark problems.