A Simple Model to Compute the Characteristic Parameters of a Slotted Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna

In this study, we developed an analytical model of slot-loaded rectangular microstrip patch antennas based on the simulation results by varying slot parameters. The dominant resonant frequency predicted by such a model is in strong agreement with the experimental results measured at several locations of slot-loaded rectangular microstrip patch antennas. The model enables a reliable and quick computation of the resonant frequency, which generally follows a harmonic behavior that nearly resembles the resonant frequency of a microstrip antenna without a slot, which can be related to a small change in the impedance caused by the slot position. Results showed a good agreement between simulations and measurements for all the slot positions. Mathematical analytic functions to describe the changes in specific characteristic parameters of the slot-loaded rectangular microstrip patch antennas are also included.

Telementoring for communication between residents and faculty physicians: Results from a survey on attitudes and perceptions in an Academic Tertiary Urology Referral Department in Italy

Introduction: Telemedicine has been adopted successfully in various urological scenarios. The aim of the present study was to explore attitudes and perceptions by urology residents toward the use of telementoring in the context of residents-faculty physicians communication for patient-related care. Methods: An online survey consisting of 19 multiple choice questions was designed including three sections: respondents’ demographics, attitudes and perceptions towards the use of telementoring. Invitations to participate in this anonymous survey were e-mailed to urology residents at University of Naples Federico II.Results: In total 60 responses were received (participation rate 86%). The frequency of telementoring use was described as occasional, frequent, very frequent, and rare by 51,3%, 41.0%, 5,1%, and 2,6% of respondents, respectively. WhatsApp messenger was used by 89.5% of respondents and photos were the most common type of media content shared (73.7%). Most of respondents declared a moderate and a strong agreement with respect to the utility of telementoring in improving the communication in relation to the interpretation of clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and functional findings. Overall, 78% of participants individuated risks of information flow distortions and misinterpretations as the major limit of telementoring. Conclusions: The use of telementoring is widespread and perceived as useful by urology residents in the context of residentsfaculty physicians communication in multiple settings of patientrelated care.

Heart age estimated using explainable advanced electrocardiography

BackgroundElectrocardiographic (ECG) Heart Age conveying cardiovascular risk has been estimated by both Bayesian and artificial intelligence approaches. We hypothesized that explainable measures from the 10-second 12-lead ECG could successfully predict Bayesian ECG Heart Age.MethodsAdvanced analysis was performed on ECGs from healthy subjects and patients with cardiovascular risk or proven heart disease. Regression models were used to predict a Bayesian 5-minute ECG Heart Age from the standard resting 10-second 12-lead ECG. The difference between 10-second ECG Heart Age and chronological age was compared.ResultsIn total, 2,771 subjects were included (n=1682 healthy volunteers, n=305 with cardiovascular risk factors, n=784 with cardiovascular disease). Overall, 10-second Heart Age showed strong agreement with the 5-minute Heart Age (R2=0.94, p<0.001, mean±SD bias 0.0±5.1 years). The difference between 10-second ECG Heart Age and chronological age was 0.0±5.7 years in healthy individuals, 7.4±7.3 years in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors (p<0.001), and 14.3±9.2 years for patients with cardiovascular disease (p<0.001).ConclusionsECG Heart Age can be accurately estimated from a 10-second 12-lead ECG in a transparent and explainable fashion based on known ECG measures, without artificial intelligence techniques. The difference between ECG Heart Age and chronological age increases markedly with cardiovascular risk and disease.

The Characterization of the Dust Content in the Ring Around Sz 91: Indications of Planetesimal Formation?

One of the most important questions in the field of planet formation is how millimeter- and centimeter-sized dust particles overcome radial drift and fragmentation barriers to form kilometer-sized planetesimals. ALMA observations of protoplanetary disks, in particular transition disks or disks with clear signs of substructures, can provide new constraints on theories of grain growth and planetesimal formation, and therefore represent one possibility for progress on this issue. We here present ALMA band 4 (2.1 mm) observations of the transition disk system Sz 91, and combine them with previously obtained band 6 (1.3 mm) and band 7 (0.9 mm) observations. Sz 91, with its well-defined millimeter ring, more extended gas disk, and evidence of smaller dust particles close to the star, constitutes a clear case of dust filtering and the accumulation of millimeter-sized particles in a gas pressure bump. We compute the spectral index (nearly constant at ∼3.34), optical depth (marginally optically thick), and maximum grain size (∼0.61 mm) in the dust ring from the multi-wavelength ALMA observations, and compare the results with recently published simulations of grain growth in disk substructures. Our observational results are in strong agreement with the predictions of models for grain growth in dust rings that include fragmentation and planetesimal formation through streaming instability.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Elderly Patients: A Feasibility and Safety Systematic Review for the Clinician

ObjectiveRadiotherapy (RT) in the head and neck (H&amp;N) site are undoubtedly the most challenging treatments for patients. Older and frail patients are not always able to tolerate it, and there are still no clear guidelines on the type of treatments to be preferred for them. The recommendations for Risk-Adapted H&amp;N Cancer Radiation Therapy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provided by the ASTRO-ESTRO consensus statement achieved a strong agreement about hypofractionated RT (HFRT). A systematic literature review was conducted in order to evaluate the feasibility and safety of HFRT for older patients affected by H&amp;N malignancies.Materials and MethodsA systematic database search was performed on PubMed and Embase according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Original studies, case series, and case reports describing the use of HFRT (with at least 2.2 Gy fractions) in patients with mean age ≥65 years were included. The analysis was based on the type of study, number of patients, mean age, tumor site, histology, performance status (PS), RT details, concomitant chemotherapy (CT), and described clinical outcomes. All the reported doses have been calculated in equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) and biologically effective dose (BED) using α/β = 10 Gy or α/β = 12 Gy.ResultsWe selected 17 papers that met the inclusion criteria and divided them in 4 categories: 6 articles analyze HFRT performed twice daily in repeated cycles, 3 once a day in repeated cycles, 4 in alternative days, and the last 4 in consecutive days.ConclusionHFRT seems to be a good treatment with an acceptable prolonged disease control. In older patients fit for radical treatments, a 55 Gy in 20 fractions regimen can be proposed as a valid alternative to the standard fractionated RT, but there are a multitude of hypofractionated regimens, ranging from single fraction, quad shot, and 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-week schedules that all may be appropriate. The correct regimen for a patient depends on many factors, and it represents the result of a more specific and complex decision.

Optical system of 3D AOTF-based microscopic imager

In this paper, we propose a novel approach of calculating optical stereoscopic systems containing acousto-optic tunable filters. Each channel is designed separately as a simple imaging system. It is formed by an entrance lens, a radiation receiver lens, and an acousto-optic filter. The optimization of the depth of field and the magnification of the optical system is carried out during the calculations. The numerical values of the overall parameters obtained satisfy the given initial requirements. The Zemax simulation of the built optical system is in strong agreement with the calculation.

Development of a Parkinson’s disease specific falls questionnaire

Background Falls are a major health burden for older adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD), but there is currently no reliable questionnaire to capture the circumstances and consequences of falls in older adults with PD. This study aimed to develop a PD-specific falls questionnaire and to evaluate its test-retest reliability in older adults with PD. Methods A novel PD-specific falls questionnaire (PDF-Q) was developed in two modes (online and paper-based version) and used to assess falls and near-falls events over the past 12-months. Questions were agreed upon by an expert group, with the domains based on previous falls-related questionnaires. The questions included the number and circumstances (activities, location and direction) of falls and near-falls, and consequences (injuries and medical treatment) of falls. The PDF-Q was distributed to 46 older adults with PD (online n = 30, paper n = 16), who completed the questionnaire twice, 4 weeks apart. Kappa (κ) statistics were used to establish test-retest reliability of the questionnaire items. Results Pooled results from both questionnaires for all participants were used to assess the overall test-retest reliability of the questionnaire. Questions assessing the number of falls (κ = 0.41) and the number of near-falls (κ = 0.51) in the previous 12-months demonstrated weak agreement, while questions on the location of falls (κ = 0.89) and near-falls (κ = 1.0) demonstrated strong to almost perfect agreement. Questions on the number of indoor (κ = 0.86) and outdoor (κ = 0.75) falls demonstrated moderate to strong agreement, though questions related to the number of indoor (κ = 0.47) and outdoor (κ = 0.56) near-falls demonstrated weak agreement. Moderate to strong agreement scores were observed for the most recent fall and near-fall in terms of the direction (indoor fall κ = 0.80; outdoor fall κ = 0.81; near-fall κ = 0.54), activity (indoor fall κ = 0.70; outdoor fall κ = 0.82; near-fall κ = 0.65) and cause (indoor fall κ = 0.75; outdoor fall κ = 0.62; near-fall κ = 0.56). Conclusions The new PDF-Q developed in this study was found to be reliable for capturing the circumstances and consequences of recent falls and near-falls in older adults with PD.

A new multi-species Protein A-ELISA assay for plague diagnosis in humans and other mammal hosts

Background: The Hemagglutination assay (HA) is widely used in plague diagnosis, however, it has a subjective interpretation and demands high amounts of antigen and other immunobiological supplies. Conventional IgG-ELISA is limited by the need of specific conjugates for multiple plague hosts. Methods: Thus, we developed an ELISA Protein A-peroxidase method to detect anti-F1 antibodies across several species, including humans. To determine the cut-off and performance rates, HA results from 288 samples (81 rabbits, 64 humans, 66 rodents and 77 dogs) were used as reference. Results: Optimal conditions were found with 250ng/well of F1 and 1:500 serum dilution. Protein A-ELISA showed high repeatability and reproducibility. The positive/negative OD ratios were higher in Protein A-ELISA and there was no significant cross-reaction with other pathogenic yersiniae. The overall sensitivity/specificity, area under the curve and Kappa rates for Protein A-ELISA were 93.9/98.9%; 0.993 and 0.938, respectively. Similar results were observed in each species separately. There was a strong agreement between Protein A and IgG assays (kappa=0.973) in independent analysis (n=487). Conclusions: Altogether, the Protein A-ELISA showed high performance when compared both to HA and IgG-ELISA, with a polyvalent single protocol that requires reduced amounts of antigen and can be employed to any plague hosts.

Levofloxacin pharmacodynamics against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a neutropenic murine thigh infection model: implications for susceptibility breakpoint revision

Background Levofloxacin displays in vitro activity against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (STM); however, current susceptibility breakpoints are supported by limited data. We employed the murine neutropenic thigh infection model to assess levofloxacin pharmacodynamics against STM. Methods Twenty-six clinical STM were studied using the neutropenic murine thigh infection model. Human simulated regimens (HSR) of levofloxacin 750 mg q24h were administered over 24 h. Efficacy was measured as the change in log10 cfu/thigh at 24 h compared with 0 h. Composite cfu data were fitted to an Emax model to determine the fAUC/MIC needed for stasis and 1 log10 reduction at 24 h. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to determine PTA. Results Levofloxacin MICs ranged from 0.5–8 mg/L. Mean bacterial burden at 0 h was 6.21 ± 0.20 log10 cfu/thigh. In the 24 h controls, bacterial growth was 1.64 ± 0.66 log10 cfu/thigh. In isolates with levofloxacin MICs ≤1, 2 and ≥4 mg/L, changes in bacterial density following levofloxacin HSR were −1.66 ± 0.89, 0.13 ± 0.97 and 1.54 ± 0.43 log10 cfu/thigh, respectively. The Emax model demonstrated strong agreement between fAUC/MIC and change in bacterial density (R2 = 0.82). The fAUC/MIC exposure needed for stasis and 1 log10 reduction was 39.9 and 54.9, respectively. PTAs for the 1 log10 reduction threshold were 95.8, 72.2, and 26.6% at MICs of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L, respectively. Conclusions These are the first data to describe fAUC/MIC thresholds predictive of cfu reductions for levofloxacin against STM. Due to poor in vivo efficacy and PTA at MICs ≥2 mg/L, reassessment of the current susceptibility breakpoint is warranted.

FACTORS INFLUENCE CUSTOMERS PURCHASE INTENTION TOWARDS HYPERMARKETS AT KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN

The study's goal was to look into the relationship between price, product quality, and interior atmosphere and customers' purchasing intentions in the Kota Bharu, Kelantan area. Kota Bharu Mall, Aeon, Billion, Tesco, Mydin, Giant, and Pantai Timur Hypermarket were among the hypermarkets studied. Furthermore, this study was carried out to establish what the most influential variables are that which affect consumers' buying intentions and, as a result, how they choose their favourite hypermarket. The independent variables in this study were price, product quality, and interior atmospheric, while the dependent variable was purchasing intention. In this research, a questionnaire survey was used to collect data from customers at seven hypermarkets in Kota Bharu. A total of 417 accurate and usable questionnaires were collected, with responses reported on a four-point Likert-type scale, with one indicating strong disagreement and four indicating strong agreement. All of the independent variables were found to be strongly related to the dependent variables in the sample. Product quality has the highest positive correlation with purchasing intention following by Interior atmospheric and price came in second and third. This demonstrates that even minor changes in all of the independent variables have an impact on purchasing intent.