Power transfer efficiency for obstructed wireless links using Bessel beams.

The power transfer efficiency of a partially obstructed wireless link operating in the Fresnel region is studied in this work. The wireless link consists of two equal apertures, axially aligned, radiating weakly-diffractive beams (truncated Bessel beams). A metallic obstacle is considered along the propagation path of the radiated beam to analyze its impact on the power transfer efficiency with respect to a clear line of sight link.

The impact of catastrophic events on the sex ratio at birth: A systematic review.

Objective: The impact of maternal stress on birth outcomes is well established in the scientific research. The sex ratio at birth (SRB), namely the ratio of male to female live births, shows significant alteration when mothers experience acute stress conditions, as proposed by the Trivers-Willard Hypothesis. We aimed to synthetize the literature on the relationship between two exogenous and catastrophic stressful events (natural disasters and epidemics) and SRB.

Experimental characterization of bending effects for solid and hollow dielectric waveguides at V-band.

Mm-wave dielectric waveguides are a promising and low-cost technology for the transmission of ultra-high data rates. Besides the attenuation (losses) and group delay, the bending loss of the dielectric waveguides is also one of the key parameters to establish the capacity and energy efficiency of such wired links, when deployed in realistic scenarios. In this context, we report the experimental characterizations of bending effects for various solid and hollow commercially available dielectric waveguides at V-band (50-75 GHz).

Enhancement of Penetration of Millimeter Waves by Field Focusing Applied to Breast Cancer Detection.

Objective: The potentialities of improving the penetration of millimeter waves for breast cancer imaging are here explored.

Methods: A field focusing technique based on a convex optimization method is proposed, capable of increasing the field level inside a breast-emulating stratification.

Results: The theoretical results are numerically validated via the design and simulation of two circularly polarized antennas.

A Resonant System for In Vitro Studies Emulating Wireless Power Transfer Exposure at 13.56 MHz.

This paper presents the design of a resonant system for in vitro studies to emulate the exposure of a monolayer of cells to a wireless power transfer system operating at 13.56 MHz. The design procedure targets a system, which maximizes the specific absorption rate (SAR) uniformity on the plane where the layer is cultured, as well as SAR efficiency (defined as SAR over the input power), within the size constraints of a standard incubator.

Free Diced Cartilage: Tips and Tricks of a Customized Procedure in Rhinoplasty.

Free diced cartilage graft represents a relatively innovative technique with multiple applications. It is conventionally used for smoothening, augmentation, or camouflaging of the nasal dorsum in primary or revision rhinoplasties. The aim of the article was to give some tips and tricks about harvesting and preparation of free diced cartilage to maximize its exploitation and make it easily repeatable, extending the field of application not only to the nasal dorsum but also other sites, such as the tip of the nose.

Tissue-mimicking materials for breast phantoms up to 50 GHz.

Millimeter (mm)-wave imaging has been recently proposed as a new technique for breast cancer detection, based on the significant dielectric contrast between healthy and tumor tissues. Here we propose a procedure to fabricate, electromagnetically characterize and preserve realistic breast tissue-mimicking phantoms for testing mm-wave imaging prototypes. Low-cost, non-toxic and easy-to-produce mixtures made of sunflower oil, water and gelatin were prepared and their dielectric properties were for the first time measured in the (0.

Transverse circular-polarized Bessel beam generation by inward cylindrical aperture distribution.

In this paper the focusing capability of a radiating aperture implementing an inward cylindrical traveling wave tangential electric field distribution directed along a fixed polarization unit vector is investigated. In particular, it is shown that such an aperture distribution generates a non-diffractive Bessel beam whose transverse component (with respect to the normal of the radiating aperture) of the electric field takes the form of a zero-th order Bessel function. As a practical implementation of the theoretical analysis, a circular-polarized Bessel beam launcher, made by a radial parallel plate waveguide loaded with several slot pairs, arranged on a spiral pattern, is designed and optimized.

Anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention in patients with relapsing-remitting and primary-progressive multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.

The aim of this work was to assess the influence of nutritional intervention on inflammatory status and wellness in people with multiple sclerosis. To this end, in a seven-month pilot study we investigated the effects of a calorie-restricted, semi-vegetarian diet and administration of vitamin D and other dietary supplements (fish oil, lipoic acid, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, resveratrol and multivitamin complex) in 33 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 10 patients with primary-progressive multiple sclerosis. At 0/3/6 months, patients had neurological examination, filled questionnaires and underwent anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses.

Abdominal Subcutaneous Mass After Laser-Assisted Lipolysis and Immediate Multiple Treatments with a Dual-Wavelength Laser, Vacuum and Massage Device.

Unlabelled: Body contouring by means of minimally invasive procedures is a growing trend. Current approaches to body contouring often involve a combination of surgical techniques (eg, laser-assisted liposuction) and a series of noninvasive device-based treatments aimed at accelerating recovery and improving aesthetic outcomes. In this case study, we describe a 38-year-old woman who presented with an abdominal-wall mass that resembled a tumor when assessed with magnetic resonance imaging.

Acral melanoma of the hallux.

Objective: A case of misdiagnosed acral melanoma of the hallux and its diagnostic challenge are herein presented. Acral melanoma is insidious and subtle. A methodic approach to any suspicious lesions is mandatory.

Postabdominoplasty Wound Dehiscence in Bariatric Patients: Biliopancreatic Diversion Versus Gastric Bypass: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Surgical procedures with an extended follow-up and therefore recognized as safe in literature are classified into 2 categories: procedures limiting the introduction of food mechanically (restrictive interventions such as adjustable gastric banding, vertical banded gastroplasty, and sleeve gastrectomy) or functionally (mini gastric bypass or gastric bypass) and procedures limiting absorption (mainly biliopancreatic diversion [BPD]).

Materials And Methods: Seventy-nine patients who underwent postbariatric abdominoplasty to correct serious flaws resulting from weight loss surgery were included in this retrospective study. Dehiscence of the surgical wound was carefully investigated between the population previously submitted to BPD and gastric bypass.

Generation of non-diffractive Bessel beams by inward cylindrical traveling wave aperture distributions.

The focusing capabilities of an inward cylindrical traveling wave aperture distribution and the non-diffractive behaviour of its radiated field are analyzed. The wave dynamics of the infinite aperture radiated field is clearly unveiled by means of closed form expressions, based on incomplete Hankel functions, and their ray interpretation. The non-diffractive behaviour is also confirmed for finite apertures up to a defined limited range.

Electrophysiological evaluation of cystic fibrosis conductance transmembrane regulator (CFTR) expression in human monocytes.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations of CFTR gene, a protein kinase A-activated anion channel, and is associated to a persistent and excessive chronic lung inflammation, suggesting functional alterations of immune cells. Leukocytes express detectable levels of CFTR but the molecule has not been fully characterized in these cells.

Methods: Freshly isolated monocytes from healthy individuals and CF patients were assessed by protein expression, single cell electrophysiological and membrane depolarization assays.

Multiple lipomatosis after stem cell trasplant and chemotherapy: a case report.

Background: Lipomas are the most common type of soft tissue benign tumor. They can be either isolated entities or involved in a multiple lipomatosis, which may have a familial basis or be an acquired condition.

Aim: Chemotherapy and/or blood stem cell transplantation may be plausible causes of multiple lipomatosis.

L-Shaped Lipothighplasty.

Background: In addition to the already-known postoperative complications in patients formerly obese, for medial thigh lift, there are many more problematic issues. The main ones are represented as follows: by the frequent downward displacement of the scars that become, in this way, extremely visible; by the distortion of the vulva or scrotal region; by serious and disabling disorders of the lymphatic system; and by the early recurrence of ptosis in this anatomical site.

Materials And Methods: From 2004 to 2010, 16 patients with moderate to severe laxity of the medial area of the thighs were treated by an L-shaped medial thigh lift after selective liposuction.

Rainbow graft: a technique for the replacement of the lower lateral cartilages, improvement of tip projection, and correction of external nasal valve dysfunction.

Revision rhinoplasties are extremely difficult to perform even for the surgeons mastering nasal surgery. In fact, they must be skilled at adapting surgical strategies to the anatomical changes induced by primary rhinoplasty.We herein describe an original technique using an auricular cartilage graft after 6 revision rhinoplasties.

Insulin sensitivity in Familial Multiple Lipomatosis.

Background: Familial Multiple Lipomatosis (FML) is a mainly autosomal dominant rare benign condition. Excessive fat storage (obesity), as well as the inability to store fat (lipodystrophy), is associated with insulin resistance.

Aim: Our study aimed to document if also patients affected by regional excess of subcutaneous adipose tissue as in FML show this feature.

Micro- and macroscopic tissue modifications after bariatric surgery: effects of different procedures-a pilot study.

Unlabelled: The most effective treatment for morbid obesity has demonstrated to be bariatric surgery. Despite enormous benefits, skin tissue aberrations are inevitable consequences. Our study was focused on micro- and macroscopic modifications in patients who had previously undergone gastric bypass.

Rac1 selective activation improves retina ganglion cell survival and regeneration.

In adult mammals, after optic nerve injury, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) do not regenerate their axons and most of them die by apoptosis within a few days. Recently, several strategies that activate neuronal intracellular pathways were proposed to prevent such degenerative processes. The rho-related small GTPase Rac1 is part of a complex, still not fully understood, intracellular signaling network, mediating in neurons many effects, including axon growth and cell survival.

Rho GTPase-dependent plasticity of dendritic spines in the adult brain.

Brain activity is associated with structural changes in the neural connections. However, in vivo imaging of the outer cortical layers has shown that dendritic spines, on which most excitatory synapses insist, are predominantly stable in adulthood. Changes in dendritic spines are governed by small GTPases of the Rho family through modulation of the actin cytoskeleton.