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A terahertz data link is presented using dielectric rod waveguide (DRW) at 300 GHz and complex modulations for speeds up to 120 Gbps. Performance comparison with WR-3 rectangular waveguide validates the low-dispersion behaviour of DRW., Part of proceedings: ISBN 978-1-55752-466-9SyskonpostDuplicate in Scopus 2-s2.0-85136958463 and 2-s2.0-85136552160QC 20220811

Objective: Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) suffer from physical limitations, but also from psychological distress. Natriuretic peptides may be involved in the neurobiological processes that modulate psychological adaptation, as they are increased in heart disease and seem to have an anxiolytic-like function. Longitudinal data on this association are scarce. Methods: To assess the relationship between NT-proBNP and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)), we used secondary data from a multicenter trial from baseline to 24 months. Patients (N = 308, 80.8% male, mean age 60.1 years) had stable CHD and moderate levels of depression (HADS >= 8). Results: Multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and physical functioning revealed NT-proBNP as a significant predictor for anxiety at baseline, 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (all p < .05). Linear mixed model analysis with the six anxiety measures as level-1 variable and NT-proBNP as fixed factor revealed a significant time*NT-proBNP interaction (t(1535.99) = -2.669, p = .01) as well as a significant time*NT-proBNP*sex-interaction (1(1535.99) = 3.277, p = .001), when NT-proBNP was dichotomized into lowest vs. the three highest quartiles. Conclusion: Our results indicate a stable negative association of baseline NT-proBNP with anxiety over two years. In men and women, different pathways modulating this relationship appear to be in effect. Female patients with very low NT-proBNP levels, despite their cardiac disease, show persistently higher levels of anxiety compared to women with higher levels of NT-proBNP and compared to men.

A system for serving a large number of users at millimeter-wave (mmW) frequencies using a single Radio Frequency (RF) chain is presented. A single Remote Antenna Unit (RAU) supported by Radio over-Fiber transport is used to transmit multiple 60GHz band signals to various users located at different spatial locations using the beamsteering characteristics of a Leaky Wave Antenna (LWA). Error Vector Magnitude analysis has been performed for each user signal up to a maximum of seven users per RF chain with wireless transmission over 2m. A performance comparison for different user-signal frequency spacings has been provided to understand the limitations of the system and results show that the proposed system design with the LWA performs better than systems using waveguide and horn antenna transmitters. A realization to double the number of served users is also presented which shows that up to 10 users can be served using half region of the LWA, with each user transmitting 1Gb/s data rate, delivering an aggregate data rate of 10Gb/s.

Background: Depression predicts adverse prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but previous treatment trials yielded mixed results. We tested the hypothesis that stepwise psychotherapy improves depressive symptoms more than simple information. Methods: In a multicenter trial, we randomized 570 CAD patients scoring higher than 7 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression subscale to usual care plus either one information session (UC-IS) or stepwise psychotherapy (UC-PT). UC-PT patients received three individual psychotherapy sessions. Those still depressed were offered group psychotherapy (25 sessions). The primary outcome was changed in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression scores from baseline to 18 months. Preplanned subgroup analyses examined whether treatment responses differed by patients' sex and personality factors (Type D). Results: The mean (standard deviation) depression scores declined from 10.4 (2.5) to 8.7 (4.1) at 18 months in UC-PT and from 10.4 (2.5) to 8.9 (3.9) in UC-IS (both p <.001). There was no significant group difference in change of depressive symptoms (group-by-time effect, p=.90). Preplanned subgroup analyses revealed no differences in treatment effects between men versus women (p(treatment-by-sex interaction)=.799) but a significant treatment-by-Type D interaction on change in depressive symptoms (p=.026) with a trend for stronger improvement with UC-PT than UC-IS in Type D patients (n= 341, p=.057) and no such difference in improvement in patients without Type D (n= 227, p=.54). Conclusions: Stepwise psychotherapy failed to improve depressive symptoms in CAD patients more than UC-IS. The intervention might be beneficial for depressed CAD patients with Type D personality. However, this finding requires further study.

IMPORTANCE Treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) preserves surfactant and keeps the lung open but is insufficient in severe surfactant deficiency. Traditional surfactant administration is related to short periods of positive pressure ventilation and implies the risk of lung injury. CPAP with surfactant but without any positive pressure ventilation may work synergistically. This randomized trial investigated a less invasive surfactant application protocol (LISA). OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that LISA increases survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) at 36 weeks' gestational age in extremely preterm infants. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Nonintubated Surfactant Application trial was a multicenter, randomized, clinical, parallel-group study conducted between April 15, 2009, and March 25, 2012, in 13 level III neonatal intensive care units in Germany. The final follow-up date was June 21, 2012. Participants included 211 of 558 eligible (37.8%) spontaneously breathing preterm infants born between 23.0 and 26.8 weeks' gestational age with signs of respiratory distress syndrome. In an intention-to-treat design, infants were randomly assigned to receive surfactant either via a thin endotracheal catheter during CPAP-assisted spontaneous breathing (intervention group) or after conventional endotracheal intubation during mechanical ventilation (control group). Analysis was conducted from September 6, 2012, to June 20, 2013. INTERVENTION LISA via a thin catheter. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Survival without BPD at 36 weeks' gestational age. RESULTS Of 211 infants who were randomized, 104 were randomized to the control group and 107 to the LISA group. Of the infants who received LISA, 72 (67.3%) survived without BPD compared with 61 (58.7%) of those in the control group. The reduction in absolute risk was 8.6%(95% CI, -5.0% to 21.9%; P = .20). Intervention group infants were less freq

Some of the work carried out within the EU Network of Excellence ISIS on radio-over-fiber systems for the support of current and emerging wireless networks is reviewed. Direct laser modulation and externally modulated links have been investigated, and demonstrations of single-mode fiber and multimode fiber systems are presented. The wireless networks studied range from personal area networks (such as ZigBee and ultrawideband) through wireless local area networks to wireless metropolitan area networks (WiMAX) and third-generation mobile communications systems. The performance of the radio-over-fiber transmission is referenced to the specifications of the relevant standard, protocol operation is verified, and complete network demonstrations are implemented.