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This paper explores optimization and synthesis of linear, which prints antennas arrays. The developed synthesis bases on an optimization binomial method. The objective of this paper is to adapt the binomial method to reduce the side lobe level. The application of this formalism gives terrific results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a rare cause of infective endocarditis in adults associated with a high mortality rate due to the frequent occurrence of local and systemic complications. Here we report a case of infective endocarditis (IE) in a young non-pregnant female with a history of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) who presented with a short history of fever, shortness of breath and constitutional symptoms. GBS was isolated from a single blood culture along with echocardiographic findings of a cardiac vegetation and ophthalmologic findings of a Roth spot. Based on the Modified Duke Criteria, a definitive diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made. She was treated with a prolonged course of intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone, with gentamicin being added to the regimen, following which she made a complete recovery.

In this paper, switched beam smart antenna systems are investigated to improve the performance of wireless networks. The microstrip technology of antenna arrays with Butler matrix topology as a beam-former is used to implement the switched beam smart antenna system. The optimum design of a 4x4 planar Butler matrix array, operating at 5.6 GHz for WLAN applications. System's design and optimization was based on computer simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research-level retrieval algorithm for cloud optical and microphysical properties is developed for the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard the Terra satellite. It is based on the operational MODIS algorithm. This paper documents the technical details of this algorithm and evaluates the retrievals for selected marine boundary layer cloud scenes through comparisons with the operational MODIS Data Collection 6 (C6) cloud product. The newly developed, ASTER-specific cloud masking algorithm is evaluated through comparison with an independent algorithm reported in [Zhao and Di Girolamo(2006)]. To validate and evaluate the cloud optical thickness (τ) and cloud effective radius (reff) from ASTER, the high-spatial-resolution ASTER observations are first aggregated to the same 1000 m resolution as MODIS. Subsequently, τaA and reff, aA retrieved from the aggregated ASTER radiances are compared with the collocated MODIS retrievals. For overcast pixels, the two data sets agree very well with Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients of R > 0.970. However, for partially cloudy pixels there are significant differences between reff, aA and the MODIS results which can exceed 10 µm. Moreover, it is shown that the numerous delicate cloud structures in the example marine boundary layer scenes, resolved by the high-resolution ASTER retrievals, are smoothed by the MODIS observations. The overall good agreement between the research-level ASTER results and the operational MODIS C6 products proves the feasibility of MODIS-like retrievals from ASTER reflectance measurements and provides the basis for future studies concerning the scale dependency of satellite observations and three-dimensional radiative effects.

High-resolution in situ balloon measurements of water vapour, aerosol, methane and temperature in the upper tropical tropopause layer (TTL) and lower stratosphere are used to evaluate the processes affecting the stratospheric water budget: horizontal transport (in-mixing) and hydration by cross-tropopause overshooting updrafts. The obtained in situ evidence of these phenomena are analysed using satellite observations by Aura MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder) and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) together with trajectory and transport modelling performed using CLaMS (Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere) and HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model. Balloon soundings were conducted during March 2012 in Bauru, Brazil (22.3° S) in the frame of the TRO-Pico campaign for studying the impact of convective overshooting on the stratospheric water budget. The balloon payloads included two stratospheric hygrometers: FLASH-B (Fluorescence Lyman-Alpha Stratospheric Hygrometer for Balloon) and Pico-SDLA instrument as well as COBALD (Compact Optical Backscatter Aerosol Detector) sondes, complemented by Vaisala RS92 radiosondes. Water vapour vertical profiles obtained independently by the two stratospheric hygrometers are in excellent agreement, ensuring credibility of the vertical structures observed. A signature of in-mixing is inferred from a series of vertical profiles, showing coincident enhancements in water vapour (of up to 0.5 ppmv) and aerosol at the 425 K (18.5 km) level. Trajectory analysis unambiguously links these features to intrusions from the Southern Hemisphere extratropical stratosphere, containing more water and aerosol, as demonstrated by MLS and CALIPSO global observations. The in-mixing is successfully reproduced by CLaMS simulations, showing a relatively moist filament extending to 20° S. A signature of local cross-tropopause transport of water is observed in a particular sounding, performed on a convective day and revealing water vapour enhancements of up to 0.6 ppmv as high as the 404 K (17.8 km) level. These are shown to originate from convective overshoots upwind detected by an S-band weather radar operating locally in Bauru. The accurate in situ observations uncover two independent moisture pathways into the tropical lower stratosphere, which are hardly detectable by space-borne sounders. We argue that the moistening by horizontal transport is limited by the weak meridional gradients of water, whereas the fast convective cross-tropopause transport, largely missed by global models, can have a substantial effect, at least at a regional scale.

Despite its importance as one of the key radiative properties that determines the impact of upper tropospheric clouds on the radiation balance, ice cloud optical thickness (IOT) has proven to be one of the more challenging properties to retrieve from space-based remote sensing measurements. In particular, optically thin upper tropospheric ice clouds (cirrus) have been especially challenging due to their tenuous nature, extensive spatial scales, and complex particle shapes and light-scattering characteristics. The lack of independent validation motivates the investigation presented in this paper, wherein systematic biases between MODIS Collection 5 (C5) and CALIOP Version 3 (V3) unconstrained retrievals of tenuous IOT (g) varying as a function of effective radius with mean values that are too large. The MODIS retrievals have been brought into agreement with the IR by adopting a new ice scattering model for Collection 6 (C6) consisting of a modified gamma distribution comprised of a single habit (severely roughened aggregated columns); the C6 ice cloud optical property models have a constant g ≈ 0.75 in the mid-visible spectrum, 5–15 % smaller than C5. For CALIOP, the assumed lidar ratio for unconstrained retrievals is fixed at 25 sr for the V3 data products. This value is found to be inconsistent with the constrained (predominantly nighttime) CALIOP retrievals. An experimental data set was produced using a modified lidar ratio of 32 sr for the unconstrained retrievals (an increase of 28 %), selected to provide consistency with the constrained V3 results. These modifications greatly improve the agreement with the IR and provide consistency between the MODIS and CALIOP products. Based on these results the recently released MODIS C6 optical products use the single-habit distribution given above, while the upcoming CALIOP V4 unconstrained algorithm will use higher lidar ratios for unconstrained retrievals.

In this paper we compare water vapor mixing ratio measurements from two quasi-parallel flights of the Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B hygrometers. The measurements were made on 10 February 2013 and 13 March 2012, respectively, in the tropics near Bauru, São Paulo state, Brazil during an intense convective period. Both flights were performed as part of a French scientific project, TRO-Pico, to study the impact of the deep-convection overshoot on the water budget. Only a few instruments that permit the frequent sounding of stratospheric water vapor can be flown within small-volume weather balloons. Technical difficulties preclude the accurate measurement of stratospheric water vapor with conventional in situ techniques. The instruments described here are simple and lightweight, which permits their low-cost deployment by non-specialists aboard a small weather balloon. We obtain mixing ratio retrievals which agree above the cold-point tropopause to within 1.9 and 0.5 % for the first and second flights, respectively. This level of agreement for balloon-borne measured stratospheric water mixing ratio constitutes one of the best agreement reported in the literature. Because both instruments show similar profiles within their combined uncertainties, we conclude that the Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B data sets are mutually consistent.

Alkaloids of the aerial parts of P. multisectum (Maxim) Bobrov (Zygophyllaceae) growing in Mongolia have been studied by capillary Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Column Chromatography (CC). Four compounds comprising of 2-methylquinoline (1), 9-amino-2, 3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-cyclopenta [b] quinoline (2), vasicinone (3) and harmine (4) have been determined by GC-MS, while harmine (4), peganine (5), deoxypeganine (6), deoxyvasicinone (7) and harmane (8) were isolated as pure compounds by the CC. The structures of the five alkaloids 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were elucidated by the MS and 1H and 13C NMR analysis. The alkaloids 1, 2 and 8 were identified for the first time from this species.Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 16 (42), 2015, 48-53

Scientifically based agricultural interventions to improve vegetable productivity were carried out in four districts (Chikkamagalur, Raichur, Vijayapura and Tumkur) of Karnataka State in India, under the Government of Karnataka (GoK)-sponsored Bhoo Samruddhi project (improving the farm productivity and livelihood of smallholder farmers of Karnataka). The activities included, the demonstration of improved practices under protected cultivation (polyroof and shade nethouses), use of grafted seedlings in tomatoes, IPM methods to address tomato leaf miner damage, introduction of mungbean and vegetable cowpea as rotations or intercrops. As a postharvest strategy, we have demonstrated solar drying process and, good agricultural practices to reduce pesticide use & residues in chili. Our interventions have been successful not only in the target farms, the neighbouring farmers have also started adopting them and with the support of the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, GoK, the scaling up of these interventions has commenced.

The AquaVIT-1 intercomparison of atmospheric water vapor measurement techniques was conducted at the aerosol and cloud simulation chamber AIDA (Aerosol Interaction and Dynamics in the Atmosphere) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, in October 2007. The overall objective was to intercompare state-of-the-art and prototype atmospheric hygrometers with each other and with independent humidity standards under controlled conditions. This activity was conducted as a blind intercomparison with coordination by selected referees. The effort was motivated by persistent discrepancies found in atmospheric measurements involving multiple instruments operating on research aircraft and balloon platforms, particularly in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, where water vapor reaches its lowest atmospheric values (less than 10 ppm). With the AIDA chamber volume of 84 m3, multiple instruments analyzed air with a common water vapor mixing ratio, by extracting air into instrument flow systems, by locating instruments inside the chamber, or by sampling the chamber volume optically. The intercomparison was successfully conducted over 10 days during which pressure, temperature, and mixing ratio were systematically varied (50 to 500 hPa, 185 to 243 K, and 0.3 to 152 ppm). In the absence of an accepted reference instrument, the absolute accuracy of the instruments was not established. To evaluate the intercomparison, the reference value was taken to be the ensemble mean of a core subset of the measurements. For these core instruments, the agreement between 10 and 150 ppm of water vapor is considered good with variation about the reference value of about ±10% (±1σ). In the region of most interest between 1 and 10 ppm, the core subset agreement is fair with variation about the reference value of ±20% (±1σ). The upper limit of precision was also derived for each instrument from the reported data. The implication for atmospheric measurements is that the substantially larger differences observed during in-flight intercomparisons stem from other factors associated with the moving platforms or the non-laboratory environment. The success of AquaVIT-1 provides a template for future intercomparison efforts with water vapor or other species that are focused on improving the analytical quality of atmospheric measurements on moving platforms.

The MEGAPOLI (Megacities: Emissions, urban, regional and Global Atmospheric POLlution and climate effects, and Integrated tools for assessment and mitigation) experiment took place in July 2009. The aim of this campaign was to study the aging and reactions of aerosol and gas-phase emissions in the city of Paris. Three ground-based measurement sites and several mobile platforms including instrument equipped vehicles and the ATR-42 aircraft were involved. We present here the variations in particle- and gas-phase species over the city of Paris, using a combination of high-time resolution measurements aboard the ATR-42 aircraft. Particle chemical composition was measured using a compact time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (C-ToF-AMS), giving detailed information on the non-refractory submicron aerosol species. The mass concentration of black carbon (BC), measured by a particle absorption soot photometer (PSAP), was used as a marker to identify the urban pollution plume boundaries. Aerosol mass concentrations and composition were affected by air-mass history, with air masses that spent longest time over land having highest fractions of organic aerosol and higher total mass concentrations. The Paris plume is mainly composed of organic aerosol (OA), BC, and nitrate aerosol, as well as high concentrations of anthropogenic gas-phase species such as toluene, benzene, and NOx. Using BC and CO as tracers for air-mass dilution, we observe the ratio of ΔOA / ΔBC and ΔOA / ΔCO increase with increasing photochemical age (−log(NOx / NOy)). Plotting the equivalent ratios of different organic aerosol species (LV-OOA, SV-OOA, and HOA) illustrate that the increase in OA is a result of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Within Paris the changes in the ΔOA / ΔCO are similar to those observed during other studies in London, Mexico City, and in New England, USA. Using the measured SOA volatile organic compounds (VOCs) species together with organic aerosol formation yields, we were able to predict ~50% of the measured organics. These airborne measurements during the MEGAPOLI experiment show that urban emissions contribute to the formation of OA and have an impact on aerosol composition on a regional scale.

Background: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a condition with rapid deterioration of liver function resulting in hepatic encephalopathy and/or coagulopathy in patients with previously normal liver. Complicated forms of certain infectious diseases like falciparum malaria, leptospirosis, dengue fever, ricketsial fever, typhoid fever, haemophagocytosis, herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis or amoebic liver abscess can present with altered mentation and/or bleeding manifestations in presence of jaundice and mimic ALF due to acute viral hepatitis (AVH). Methods: We describe our experience in last 2 years with 28 patients of ALF due to above mentioned conditions (ALF-ID) and compared them with 28 patients with ALF due to AVH (ALF-AVH). Results: In ALF-ID, typhoid fever was present in 1, haemophagocytosis in 1, ricketsial infection in 4 (scrub typhus = 2, endemic typhus = 2), amoebic liver abscess in 4, leptospirosis in 5, dengue fever in 5 and falciparum malaria in 8 patients. In ALF-AVH, hepatitis E and B co-infection was responsible in 1, hepatitis A and E co-infection in 1 and hepatitis E, B and C co-infection in 1, hepatitis E in 18, hepatitis A in 2 and hepatitis B in 5 patients. Differentiation of various forms of ALF-ID from ALF-AVH depends on various clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters, in addition to specific diagnostic tests. Patients with ALF-AVH had mortality rate of 50% (14/28) and ALF-ID had mortality rate of 25% (7/28). Conclusions: In developing countries, ALF-mimicking infections should be looked for in differential diagnosis of ALF. Early identification and treatment of these infections is important in reducing mortality.

As capacidades motoras são “a base para a capacidade de aprendizagem sensorial e motora”, responsáveis pela execução de uma ação, desde a mais simples à mais complexa (andar, correr, etc.) (Moraes, 2003). Estas capacidades são condicionadas por fatores genéticos, contudo, desenvolvem-se através do treino, potenciando um elevado desempenho motor (Moraes, 2003). É, por isso, importante avaliar as capacidades motoras dos jovens, adequando por esta via, as experiências motoras a cada criança/grupo de crianças e/ou jovens (Neto, Marcarenhas, Nunes, Lepre & Campos, 2004). As relações entre a prática de atividade física e obesidade configuram-se como objeto de estudo prioritário e as evidências na literatura apontam para a existência de associação entre o excesso de peso na adolescência e alterações da sua saúde na idade adulta, dado o excesso de gordura corporal, além de ser fator de risco para diversas doenças, prejudica o desempenho físico. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre o IMC e as Capacidades Motoras Condicionais em jovens praticantes de modalidades desportivas extra-curriculares.

O estudo da motivação para a prática desportiva é um aspeto determinante para a sua compreensão. Algumas pessoas apresentam um perfil motivacional que lhes permite ir mantendo esse comportamento desportivo, enquanto outras, à primeira experiência de insucesso, desistem (Steinberg & Maurer, 1999). Os responsáveis pela promoção da atividade física e desportiva acreditam que a motivação intrínseca é o aspeto chave na manutenção de boas performances e envolvimento desportivo (Fernandes et al., 2004). Todavia, a dicotomia intrínseca-extrínseca é muito simplista e redutora para a compreensão da motivação, pela qual uma perspetiva autodeterminada diz que a motivação pode ser caraterizada de formas mais compreensivas, considerando um continuum do mais autodeterminado ao menos autodeterminado (Deci & Ryan, 1985).Objetivo: Analisar os fatores reguladores da motivação autodeterminada para a prática do Trail Running.

Although Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) gene expression profile is closer to lymphatic (LEC) rather than blood vascular endothelial cells (BEC), uncertainty still surrounds the cellular origin of KS. To follow KS progression from early to late (nodular) stage, and characterize the molecular fingerprinting associated with each stage, gene arrays were used to compare gene expression profile of 9 skin samples of classic KS (4 Early, 2 Mixed, and 3 Nodular CKS samples) to 4 normal samples. Results for selected genes were validated by Real-time (RT) PCR and immunohistochemistry. Genes regulating immune and defense responses, angiogenesis, apoptosis and proliferation were differentially expressed in different KS stages compared to normal skin. Hierarchical clustering separated normal skin from KS with a clear gradient from early to nodular KS lesions. The gene expression level of endothelium markers, metalloproteinases, angiogenic factors and chemokines, gradually increased from normal through all KS stages. The expression of LEC genes highly increased from early to nodular KS. In the initiation phase we noticed a higher expression of growth factors, as compared to progressive stages. LEC and BEC markers co-exist in “KS expression signature”, although the LEC signature prevailed. Our results also show a complex environment of inflammatory cells and chemokines during KS evolution. A pathogenic hypothesis where cellular hyperproliferation is driven by local expression of chemokines and growth factors without clonal expansion of cells is suggested.

Summary: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a prevalent and aggressive neoplasm, poses a significant challenge due to poor prognosis and limited prognostic biomarkers. Leveraging highly multiplexed imaging mass cytometry, we investigated the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in OSCC biopsies, characterizing immune cell distribution and signaling activity at the tumor-invasive front. Our spatial subsetting approach standardized cellular populations by tissue zone, improving feature reproducibility and revealing TIME patterns accompanying loss-of-differentiation. Employing a machine-learning pipeline combining reliable feature selection with multivariable modeling, we achieved accurate histological grade classification (AUC = 0.88). Three model features correlated with clinical outcomes in an independent cohort: granulocyte MAPKAPK2 signaling at the tumor front, stromal CD4+ memory T cell size, and the distance of fibroblasts from the tumor border. This study establishes a robust modeling framework for distilling complex imaging data, uncovering sentinel characteristics of the OSCC TIME to facilitate prognostic biomarkers discovery for recurrence risk stratification and immunomodulatory therapy development.

Adnexal tumors like giant solitary trichoepitheliomas are uncommon to most of us to permit a ready familiarity with them. Information regarding the genesis, clinical profile, behavior, and management options for this tumor is limited. There are 18 cases reported in the world literature till date. This review attempts to provide insight to this rare tumor. Our search included indexed literature from Pubmed, Directory of Open Access Journals, Health Inter Network Access to Research Initiative and Google databases in addition to standard dermatology texts. Giant solitary trichoepithelioma is a rare trichogenic tumor with potential for local recurrence. It has predilection for the older age, but may present at any age including at birth. It has close resemblance to basal cell carcinoma and other skin adnexal tumors - clinically, cytologically, and histologically. CD10, CD 34, PHLDA1 but not p75NTR are useful adjunct markers. Surgical excision is the standard treatment. Recurrence and possible transformation into BCC cautions follow up at regular intervals.

A 64-year-old man presented with an eight-month history of increasing postprandial epigastric pain and a 15 kg weight loss. Computed tomography of the abdomen, panendoscopy and mesenteric angiography failed to explain the cause of the patient's mesenteric angina. Systemic amyloidosis involving intestinal small vasculature without larger arterial involvement was diagnosed at autopsy after the patient died of an asystolic cardiac arrest. Mesenteric angina without evidence of ischemic enteritis or pseudo-obstruction is a rare manifestation of amyloidosis.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the gold standard in managing malignant biliary obstruction. The success of ERCP has limitations, whereas surgical biliary bypass and percutaneous transhepatic approaches, as alternative modalities, come with significant costs, longer durations, and higher levels of mortality and morbidity. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided biliary drainage with two approaches, hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) and choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS), is a favored and evolving alternative modality. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS and EUS-CDS. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Scholar databases up to August 2023, based on the 2020 PRISMA guidelines. We identified randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing the efficacy and safety of EUS-HGS and EUS-CDS. Outcome measures included technical and clinical success, side effects, and mean procedure time. Nine nonrandomized studies and two randomized controlled trials involving 537 patients (225 EUS-HGS, 312 EUS-CDS) were analyzed. No difference was found in technical success (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.41-1.68; I 2  = 0%) and clinical success between the two procedures (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.51-1.81; I 2  = 9.94%). Side effects were significantly higher in EUS-HGS (OR, 2.01, 95% CI, 1.14-3.59; I 2  = 0%). No significant difference in mean procedure time was observed between the two procedures (0.13; 95% CI, -0.15-0.41; I 2  = 34.89%). There are differences in efficacy and safety between EUS-HGS and EUS-CDS. EUS-CDS has a faster procedure time, lower risk of side effects, and ease of puncture during the procedure., (© 2024 The Author(s). JGH Open published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)