bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LEIOMYOMA IN THE VESICOVAGINAL SPACE: A CASE REPORT
Authors: RUBINO S.M. , BARRECA P. , CAMMARATA G.
Published: February 2011

The histological features of the leiomyomas located in the vesicovaginal space are similar despite their different anatomic origin. Therefore it is necessary to follow other criteria in order to determine the sites from which they originate. A case of an extravesical pedunculated leiomyoma of the bladder, which had grown in the vesicovaginal space, is reported. Today’s imaging studies and surgical findings are of great value in helping to localize the structure from which the tumour has arisen.
IDIOPATHIC RECURRENT CYSTITIS: A UROGYNAECOLOGICAL DILEMMA
Authors: MANTOVANI E.
Published: February 2011

During the first episode of cystitis, the general tendency is to proceed directly with treatment, postponing diagnosis, precisely because it is the first episode, and due to the impressiveness of the symptoms of acute cystitis, and also in the implicit hope that it may be an isolated episode that does not repeat itself. The usual recommendation is rest, abstention from sexual activity, and a mineral water cure. Wide spectrum antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic drugs and painkillers are prescribed. If, despite this, and perhaps after a short period of time, the episode relapses, a diagnosis should be performed. We are consequently dealing with Recurrent Cystitis.
TENSION-FREE TECHNIQUES IN UROGYNAECOLOGICAL SURGERY
Authors: LEANZA V. , BOLOGNA M. , GASBARRO N.
Published: February 2011

The new tension-free techniques for treatment of either stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse are shown. They are divided as follows. Techniques for the anterior compartment: TVT (Tension-free Vaginal Tape), Retropubic TUS (Tension-free Urethral Suspension), TOT (Transobturator Tape), Prepubic TUS (Tension-free Urethral Suspension), TCR (Tension-Free Cystocele Repair), Retropubic TICT (Tension-free Incontinence Cystocele Treatment), Prepubic TICT (Tension-free Incontinence Cystocele Treatment); Techniques for the apical compartment: Indirect abdominal colposacropexy; Techniques for the postero- apical compartment: Posterior IVS; Techniques for the posterior compartment: Colpoperineoplasty with mesh. Both a correct diagnosis and an appropriate procedure are the right key to achieve a greater therapeutic success.
PERSISTENT URINARY RETENTION AFTER TVT: CASE REPORT AND COMMENTS
Authors: Riva D. , Saccà V. , Borsani A. , Mattucci A.
Published: February 2011

Urinary retention after mid-urethra sling suspension is a challenging problem for the surgeon: the problem of cutting or removing the sling is under debate and the recurrence of urinary incontinence represents a troublesome complication.
Proceedings of the 17th AIUG National Congress
Authors: Editors The
Published: February 2011

Proceedings of the 17th AIUG National Congress - Genova
TRANS OBTURATOR TAPE FOR FEMALE URINARY STRESS INCONTINENCE TREATMENT: A CONTRIBUTION TO ITS EMPLOYMENT IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Authors: Farnelli P. , Parodi A.
Published: February 2011

The TOT procedure is considered one of the most useful techniques for treating female SUI. The hypothesis of this study is to confirm its real efficacy in daily practice. The material of the study is a group of 55 women affected by SUI in which this technique was performed. After a preoperative standardized assessment the patients underwent an early postoperative evaluation and a six month and one year follow up looking for surgical complications and evaluating the efficacy of the procedure using QL questionnaires. The results show that there were no major intra or post operative complications. At the six month and one year follow up 95.5% of the patients were fully satisfied while the remaining 4.5% stated they had improved. The authors can confirm that TOT is a very safe and successful technique for treating SUI and can be widely employed in daily practice.
Proceedings of the 1st Congress AIUG-SICCR
Authors: Editors The
Published: February 2011

Proceedings of the 1st Congress AIUG-SICCR
Temporal and Spatial Variation of Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids Concentration in Drinking Water: A Case Study of Queensland, Australia
Authors: Knight Nicole , Watson Kalinda , Carswell Stewart , Comino Eva , Shaw Glen
Published: February 2011

A broad survey of regulated trihalomethanes (THM) and haloacetic acids (HAA) concentrations in Queensland drinking water was undertaken and the data were evaluated to assess the overall compliance of the region to Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). The results presented here indicate that drinking water total trihalomethane (tTHM) concentrations were predominantly compliant with ADWG, with regions using chlorination being the only regions that exceeded the ADWG for THM. tTHM levels were highest in chlorinated water, whereas levels in combined chlorinated/chloraminated water were much lower. Chloraminated water produced the lowest tTHM levels in the regions examined. tTHM levels generally increased during summer and decreased in winter regardless of disinfection method. Surface waters formed a higher proportion of more highly chlorinated THM species relative to more highly brominated THM species, whereas bore water had a higher proportion of more highly brominated THM species due to the frequently higher bromide concentration and lower natural organic matter (NOM) concentration of these waters. The majority of regions were continuously compliant with ADWG for HAA concentrations, with primarily the trichloroacetic acid guideline value being exceeded, in chlorinated waters only.
Observational Study to Assess the Therapeutic Value of Four Ovarian Hyperstimulation Protocols in IVF after Pituitary Suppression with GnRH Antagonists in Normally Responding Women
Authors: Ana Monzó , Vicente Montañana , Maria Rubio José , Trinidad Garcia-Gimeno , Alberto Romeu
Published: February 2011

Objective

To compare the clinical results of four different protocols of COH for IVF-ICSI in normovulatory women, using in all cases pituitary suppression with GnRH antagonists.

Materials/methods

A single center, open label, parallel-controlled, prospective, post-authorization study under the approved conditions for use where 305 normal responders women who were candidates to COH were assigned to r-FSH + hp-hMG (n = 51, Group I), hp-hMG (n = 61, Group II), fixed-dose r-FSH (n = 118, Group III), and r-FSH with potential dose adjustment (n = 75, Group IV) to subsequently undergo IVF-ICSI.

Results

During stimulation, Group IV needed significantly more days of stimulation as compared to Group II [8.09 ± 1.25 vs. 7.62 ± 1.17; P < 0.05], but was the group in which more oocytes were recovered [Group I: 9.43 ± 4.99 vs. Group II: 8.96 ± 4.82 vs. Group III: 8.78 ± 3.72 vs. Group IV: 11.62 ± 5.80; P < 0.05]. No significant differences were seen between the groups in terms of clinical and ongoing pregnancy, but among patients in whom two embryos with similar quality parameters (ASEBIR) were transferred, the group treated with hp-hMG alone achieved a significantly greater clinical pregnancy rate as compared to all other groups [Group I: 31.6%, Group II: 56.4%, Group III: 28.7%, Group IV: 32.7%; P < 0.05].

Conclusions

Although randomized clinical trials should be conducted to achieve a more reliable conclusion, these observations support the concept that stimulation with hp-hMG could be beneficial in normal responders women undergoing pituitary suppression with GnRH antagonists.
North American isoprene influence on intercontinental ozone pollution
Authors: Fiore A. M. , Levy II H. , Jaffe D. A.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Changing land-use and climate may alter emissions of biogenic isoprene, a key ozone (O3) precursor. Isoprene is also a precursor to peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN) and thus affects partitioning among oxidized nitrogen (NOy) species, shifting the balance towards PAN, which more efficiently contributes to long-range transport relative to nitric acid (HNO3) which rapidly deposits. With a suite of sensitivity simulations in the MOZART-2 global tropospheric chemistry model, we gauge the relative importance of the intercontinental influence of a 20% increase in North American (NA) isoprene and a 20% decrease in NA anthropogenic emissions (nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and NOx + NMVOC + carbon monoxide + aerosols). The surface O3 response to NA isoprene emissions (ΔO3_ISOP) in surface air over NA is about one third of the response to all NA anthropogenic emissions (ΔO3_ANTH; although with different signs). Over intercontinental distances, ΔO3_ISOP is relatively larger; in summer and fall, ΔO3_ISOP in surface air over Europe and North Africa (EU region) is more than half of ΔO3_ANTH. Future increases in NA isoprene emissions could thus offset decreases in EU surface O3 resulting from controls on NA anthropogenic emissions. Over the EU region, ΔPAN_ISOP at 700 hPa is roughly the same magnitude as ΔPAN_ANTH (oppositely signed). Outside of the continental source region, the percentage changes in PAN are at least twice as large as for surface O3, implying that long-term PAN measurements at high altitude sites may help to detect O3 precursor emission changes. We find that neither the baseline level of isoprene emissions nor the fate of isoprene nitrates contributes to the large diversity in model estimates of the anthropogenic emission influence on intercontinental surface O3 or oxidized nitrogen deposition reported in the recent TF HTAP multi-model studies (TFHTAP, 2007).
Sea surface wind perturbations over the Kashevarov Bank of the Okhotsk Sea: a satellite study
Authors: Tarkhova T. I. , Permyakov M. S. , Potalova E. Yu. , Semykin V. I.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Sea surface wind perturbations over sea surface temperature (SST) cold anomalies over the Kashevarov Bank (KB) of the Okhotsk Sea are analyzed using satellite (AMSR-E and QuikSCAT) data during the summer-autumn period of 2006–2009. It is shown, that frequency of cases of wind speed decreasing over a cold spot in August–September reaches up to 67%. In the cold spot center SST cold anomalies reached 10.5 °C and wind speed lowered down to ~7 m s−1 relative its value on the periphery. The wind difference between a periphery and a centre of the cold spot is proportional to SST difference with the correlations 0.5 for daily satellite passes data, 0.66 for 3-day mean data and 0.9 for monthly ones. For all types of data the coefficient of proportionality consists of ~0.3 m s−1 on 1 °C.
An evaluation of ocean color model estimates of marine primary productivity in coastal and pelagic regions across the globe
Authors: Saba V. S. , Friedrichs M. A. M. , Antoine D. , Armstrong R. A. , Asanuma I. , Behrenfeld M. J. , Ciotti A. M. , Dowell M. , Hoepffner N. , Hyde K. J. W. , Ishizaka J. , Kameda T. , Marra J. , Mélin F. , Morel A. , O'Reilly J. , Scardi M. , Smith W. O. , Smyth T. J. , Tang S. , Uitz J. , Waters K. , Westberry T. K.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Nearly half of the earth's photosynthetically fixed carbon derives from the oceans. To determine global and region specific rates, we rely on models that estimate marine net primary productivity (NPP) thus it is essential that these models are evaluated to determine their accuracy. Here we assessed the skill of 21 ocean color models by comparing their estimates of depth-integrated NPP to 1156 in situ 14C measurements encompassing ten marine regions including the Sargasso Sea, pelagic North Atlantic, coastal Northeast Atlantic, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Sea, subtropical North Pacific, Ross Sea, West Antarctic Peninsula, and the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone. Average model skill, as determined by root-mean square difference calculations, was lowest in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, highest in the pelagic North Atlantic and the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone, and intermediate in the other six regions. The maximum fraction of model skill that may be attributable to uncertainties in both the input variables and in situ NPP measurements was nearly 72%. On average, the simplest depth/wavelength integrated models performed no worse than the more complex depth/wavelength resolved models. Ocean color models were not highly challenged in extreme conditions of surface chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature, nor in high-nitrate low-chlorophyll waters. Water column depth was the primary influence on ocean color model performance such that average skill was significantly higher at depths greater than 250 m, suggesting that ocean color models are more challenged in Case-2 waters (coastal) than in Case-1 (pelagic) waters. Given that in situ chlorophyll-a data was used as input data, algorithm improvement is required to eliminate the poor performance of ocean color NPP models in Case-2 waters that are close to coastlines. Finally, ocean color chlorophyll-a algorithms are challenged by optically complex Case-2 waters, thus using satellite-derived chlorophyll-a to estimate NPP in coastal areas would likely further reduce the skill of ocean color models.
Quantifying uncertainty in urban flooding analysis considering hydro-climatic projection and urban development effects
Authors: Jung I.-W. , Chang H. , Moradkhani H.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. How will the combined impacts of land use change, climate change, and hydrologic modeling influence changes in urban flood frequency and what is the main uncertainty source of the results? Will such changes differ by catchment with different degrees of current and future urban development? We attempt to answer these questions in two catchments with different degrees of urbanization, the Fanno catchment with 84% urban land use and the Johnson catchment with 36% urban land use, both located in the Pacific Northwest of the US. Five uncertainty sources – general circulation model (GCM) structures, future greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios, land use change scenarios, natural variability, and hydrologic model parameters – are considered to compare the relative source of uncertainty in flood frequency projections. Two land use change scenarios, conservation and development, representing possible future land use changes are used for analysis. Results show the highest increase in flood frequency under the combination of medium high GHG emission (A1B) and development scenarios, and the lowest increase under the combination of low GHG emission (B1) and conservation scenarios. Although the combined impact is more significant to flood frequency change than individual scenarios, it does not linearly increase flood frequency. Changes in flood frequency are more sensitive to climate change than land use change in the two catchments for 2050s (2040–2069). Shorter term flood frequency change, 2 and 5 year floods, is highly affected by GCM structure, while longer term flood frequency change above 25 year floods is dominated by natural variability. Projected flood frequency changes more significantly in Johnson creek than Fanno creek. This result indicates that, under expected climate change conditions, adaptive urban planning based on the conservation scenario could be more effective in less developed Johnson catchment than in the already developed Fanno catchment.
The role of karst in engineering and environmental geosciences
Authors: Ho H. C.
Published: February 2011

Abstract. Karst is a unique landform developed by soluble rock. It usually relates to groundwater drainage system, and provides important water resources. Current researches indicate that karst is closely related to the earth system and environmental protection, and it can also create potential natural hazard such as sinkhole flooding and land subsidence in urban area. Its relationship with hydrogeology has also been an important factor for studying water pollution, and nutrient cycles on engineering geosciences and agricultural geology.
Histamine 50-Skin-Prick Test: A Tool to Diagnose Histamine Intolerance
Authors: Kofler Lukas , Ulmer Hanno , Kofler Heinz
Published: February 2011

Background. Histamine intolerance results from an imbalance between histamine intake and degradation. In healthy persons, dietary histamine can be sufficiently metabolized by amine oxidases, whereas persons with low amine oxidase activity are at risk of histamine toxicity. Diamine oxidase (DAO) is the key enzyme in degradation. Histamine elicits a wide range of effects. Histamine intolerance displays symptoms, such as rhinitis, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, palpitations, urticaria and pruritus.
Objective. Diagnosis of histamine intolerance until now is based on case history; neither a validated questionnaire nor a routine test is available.
It was the aim of this trial to evaluate the usefullness of a prick-test for the diagnosis of histamine intolerance.
Methods. Prick-testing with 1% histamine solution and wheal size-measurement to assess the relation between the wheal in prick-test, read after 20 to 50 minutes, as sign of slowed histamine degradation as well as history and symptoms of histamine intolerance.
Results. Besides a pretest with 17 patients with HIT we investigated 156 persons (81 with HIT, 75 controls): 64 out of 81 with histamine intolerance(HIT), but only 14 out of 75 persons from the control-group presented with a histamine wheal ≥3 mm after 50 minutes ().
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance. Histamine-50 skin-prickt-test offers a simple tool with relevance.
Increased Excretion of C4-Carnitine Species after a Therapeutic Acetylsalicylic Acid Dose: Evidence for an Inhibitory Effect on Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism
Authors: Mels Catharina M. C. , Jansen van Rensburg Peet , van der Westhuizen Francois H. , Pretorius Pieter J. , Erasmus Elardus
Published: February 2011

Acetylsalicylic acid and/or its metabolites are implicated to have various effects on metabolism and, especially, on mitochondrial function. These effects include both inhibitory and stimulatory effects. We investigated the effect of both combined and separate oral acetylsalicylic acid and acetaminophen administration at therapeutic doses on the urinary metabolite profile of human subjects. In this paper, we provided in vivo evidence, in human subjects, of a statistically significant increase in isobutyrylcarnitine after the administration of a therapeutic dose of acetylsalicylic acid. We, therefore, propose an inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid on the short-chain fatty acid metabolism, possibly at the level of isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase.
Operational meteorology in West Africa: observational networks, weather analysis and forecasting
Authors: Fink Andreas H. , Agustí‐Panareda Anna , Parker Douglas J. , Lafore Jean‐Philippe , Ngamini Jean‐Blaise , Afiesimama Ernest , Beljaars Anton , Bock Olivier , Christoph Michael , Didé Francis , Faccani Claudia , Fourrié Nadia , Karbou Fatima , Polcher Jan , Mumba Zilore , Nuret Mathieu , Pohle Susan , Rabier Florence , Tompkins Adrian M. , Wilson George
Published: February 2011

Real‐time surface and upper‐air observations are crucial to the analysis and forecasting of the West African monsoon (WAM). This paper will focus on the African Monsoon—Multidisciplinary Analyses (AMMA)‐driven reactivation and modernisation of the radiosonde network over West Africa, its potential long‐term impact on upper‐air operations in the region, the influence of the additional data in WAM analyses and forecasting, and the AMMA‐related development and usage of the West African Analysis/Forecasting (WASA/F) forecast method. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
MBE growth and properties of low‐density InAs/GaAs quantum dot structures
Authors: Trevisi G. , Seravalli L. , Frigeri P. , Bocchi C. , Grillo V. , Nasi L. , Suárez I. , Rivas D. , Muñoz‐Matutano G. , Martínez‐Pastor J.
Published: February 2011

We present the results of a comprehensive study carried out on morphological, structural and optical properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dot structures grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy. InAs quantum dots were deposited at low growth rate and high growth temperature and were capped with InGaAs upper confining layers. Owing to these particular design and growth parameters, quantum dot densities are in the order of 4‐5x109 cm‐2 with emission wavelengths ranging from 1.20 to 1.33 µm at 10 K, features that make these structures interesting for single‐photon operation at telecom wavelength. High resolution structural techniques show that In content and composition profiles in the structures depend on the particular epitaxial growth conditions used to reduce the density of quantum dots. Carrier recombination dynamics in quantum dots is studied by analysing the integrated photoluminescence (PL) intensity and recombination times as functions of the temperature. Arrhenius plots of the integrated PL show two activation energies implying two decay processes. The first one is associated to thermal escape of carriers from quantum dot to wetting layer states; the second one is consistent with the thermal population of quantum dot dark states, as suggested by time resolved PL measurements. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Application of circuit theory for extraction of water from oil
Authors: Midtgård Ole‐Morten
Published: February 2011

This paper discusses optimization of the performance of a pulsed dc electrostatic coalescer, a device that is used in the oil industry to increase the speed of separation of water from a water‐in‐oil emulsion. A previously found criterion for optimum performance, the charge hypothesis, is reviewed. Analysis by circuit theory shows that the performance may be improved through selecting an optimum switching frequency and duty ratio, improving the design of the pulse train generator, and making physical modifications to the coalescer apparatus. The addition of an external charging circuit is beneficial. Experiments on the modified system could contribute to a better understanding of the physics of the on period. The analyses further show that it is advantageous to have a thin layer of insulation, and that the insulation could be replaced by an external capacitor. The analytical circuit model gives important insight into the physical behavior of the system, which will be valid also for a geometry where the circuit parameters cannot be found analytically; charge separates in the on period, followed by a relaxation in the off period, and if the frequency or duty ratio is not relatively close to the optimum, the coalescer may not perform as expected. Copyright 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biomedicine in the environment: Cyclotides constitute potent natural toxins in plants and soil bacteria
Authors: Ovesen Rikke Gleerup , Brandt Kristian Koefoed , Göransson Ulf , Nielsen John , Hansen Hans Christian Bruun , Cedergreen Nina
Published: February 2011

Bioactive compounds produced by plants are easily transferred to soil and water and may cause adverse ecosystem effects. Cyclotides are gene-encoded, circular, cystine-rich mini-proteins produced in Violaceae and Rubiaceae in high amounts. Based on their biological activity and stability, cyclotides have promising pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. We report the toxicity of the cyclotides: kalata B1, kalata B2, and cycloviolacin O2 extracted from plants to green algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), duckweed (Lemna minor L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and bacteria extracted from soil measured as [3H]leucine incorporation. Quantification by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated up to 98% loss of cyclotides from aqueous solutions because of sorption to test vials. Sorption was prevented by adding bovine serum albumin (BSA) to the aqueous media. Cyclotides were toxic to all test organisms with EC50 values of 12 through 140 µM (algae), 9 through 40 µM (duckweed), 4 through 54 µM (lettuce), and 7 through 26 µM (bacteria). Cycloviolacin O2 was the most potent cyclotide in all assays examined. This report is the first to document toxic effects of cyclotides in plants and soil bacteria and to demonstrate that cyclotides are as toxic as commonly used herbicides and biocides. Hence, cyclotides may adversely affect soil and aquatic environments, which needs to be taken into account in future risk assessment of cropping systems for production of these highly bioactive compounds. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1190–1196. © 2011 SETAC
Bioaccumulation kinetics of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from estuarine sediments to the marine polychaete, Nereis virens
Authors: Klosterhaus Susan L , Dreis Erin , Baker Joel E
Published: February 2011

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant chemicals that have become ubiquitous environmental contaminants. Polybrominated diphenyl ether no-uptake rates from estuarine or marine sediments to deposit-feeding organisms have not yet been reported. In the present study, the marine polychaete worm Nereis virens was exposed to field-contaminated and spiked sediments containing the penta- and deca-BDE commercial mixtures in a 28-d experiment to characterize the relative bioavailability of PBDE congeners from estuarine sediments. A time series sampling regimen was conducted to estimate uptake rate constants. In both field-collected and laboratory-spiked sediment exposures, worms selectively accumulated congeners in the penta-BDE mixture over BDE 209 and other components of the deca-BDE mixture, supporting the prevalence of these congeners in higher trophic level species. Brominated diphenyl ether 209 was not bioavailable to N. virens from field sediment and was only minimally detected in worms exposed to spiked sediments in which bioavailability was maximized. Chemical hydrophobicity was not a good predictor of bioavailability for congeners in the penta-BDE mixture. Direct comparison of bioavailability from the spiked and field sediments for the predominant congeners in the penta-BDE mixture was confounded by the considerable difference in exposure concentration between treatments. Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for N. virens after 28 d of exposure to the field sediment were lower than the BSAFs for Nereis succinea collected from the field site, indicating that 28-d bioaccumulation tests using N. virens may underestimate the in situ concentration of PBDEs in deposit-feeding species. The bioavailability of PBDEs to N. virens indicates that these chemicals can be remobilized from estuarine sediments and transferred to aquatic food webs. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1204–1212. © 2011 SETAC
Development of the osteocranium in Corydoras aeneus (Gill, 1858) Callichthyidae, Siluriformes
Authors: Huysentruyt Frank , Geerinckx Tom , Brunain Marleen , Adriaens Dominique
Published: February 2011

Development in the osteocranium of Corydoras aeneus was studied based on 48 cleared and stained specimens and 10 series of serial sections. Development overall follows the general trends observed in siluriform development, with ossifications appearing as a response to functional demands. Early development of the skull occurs in two distinct phases. In a first phase, several new bony elements, all of dermal origin and related to feeding, appear shortly after yolk depletion (4.4 mm SL). Between 5 and 8 mm SL, developmental priorities seem to shift to size increase of the cartilaginous skull and no new bony elements appear. Finally, a second phase of osteogenesis occurs from 8 to 18 mm SL, in which all remaining dermal and perichondral bones appear. J. Morphol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
60‐GHz amplitude shift‐keying receiver LTCC system‐on‐package module
Authors: Lee Young Chul , Kim Tae Wan , Ariffin Azzemi Bin , Myoung No‐Gil
Published: February 2011

This article presents a compact system‐on‐package module integrating a 60‐GHz amplitude shift‐keying (ASK) receiver for wireless gigabit point‐to‐point applications. The ASK receiver has fully integrated into a six‐layer low‐temperature co‐fired ceramic single substrate embedding four GaAs circuits, a low‐pass filter, and bias components. The fabricated Rx system‐on‐package module is as small as 16.4 × 6.9 × 0.68 mm3 and reveals that the flatness of below −2dBm is obtained up to 1.25 GHz in the IF output signal and the conversion gain is 38 dB. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:758–761, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25824
Design of leaky‐wave antenna based on TE10 mode substrate integrated waveguide
Authors: Wang Xiao‐Ming , Jiao Yong‐Chang , Weng Zi‐Bin , Zhang Fu‐Shun
Published: February 2011

This letter presents a detailed design procedure of leaky‐wave antenna (LWA) based on TE10 mode substrate integrated waveguide (SIW).The topology makes use of one of the fundamental characteristics of SIW, namely, its property of generating leakage loss when the period length is sufficiently large. The TE10 mode SIW is selected to design LWA for the first time in this letter because of its advantages of simple feed mechanism and convenient analytic approach. The design procedure is also presented in detail for the future design. The maximum radiation direction of the proposed antenna in the H‐plane scans from 124° to 109° (total 15°), while the frequency is operated from 10 to 11 GHz. A prototype is manufactured and measured to validate the simulation. All the results show that the proposed design serves as a suitable candidate for applications in millimeter‐wave road‐vehicle system or indoor wireless system. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:715–719, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25831
Design of frequency‐agile microstrip antennas with conical‐beam radiation
Authors: Tsai Jia‐Fu , Row Jeen‐Sheen
Published: February 2011

A microstrip antenna with frequency agility is described in this article.The antenna has a circular radiating patch and operates at its TM01 mode to generate omnidirectional radiation across the azimuthal plane. To change the resonant frequency, a capacitor is introduced and connected to the antenna input port in series. With the increasing of capacitance, the resonant frequency is decreased while the resonant resistance and radiation characteristic nearly remain constant. Experimental results indicate that the design can provide a frequency tunable range of 22%; moreover, good impedance matching and stable radiation pattern are also obtained in the range. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:783–785, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25832
Hearing aid‐compatible internal LTE/WWAN bar‐type mobile phone antenna
Authors: Chen Shu‐Chuan , Wong Kin‐Lu
Published: February 2011

An internal eight‐band LTE/WWAN on‐board printed antenna meeting the hearing air compatibility (HAC) specification of ANSI C63.19‐2007 in the bar‐type mobile phone is presented.The antenna is a coupled‐fed inverted‐F antenna directly printed on the system circuit board of the mobile phone and can generate two wide operating bands (698–960/1710–2690 MHz) to respectively cover the LTE700/ GSM850/900 and GSM1800/1900/UMTS/LTE2300/2500 operation. With the antenna disposed on the bottom edge of the circuit board and surrounded by an L‐shape ground plane, the near‐field strengths of the emitted electric and magnetic fields 15 mm above the acoustic output are evaluated to be in category M3 or M4 of the HAC specification. That is, the mobile phone with the embedded LTE/WWAN antenna can be treated as a hearing aid‐compatible wireless device. Details of the HAC results are presented. Effects of the user's hand holding the mobile phone on the near‐field emission of the antenna are also analyzed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:774–781, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25837
Efficient analysis of waveguided structures using multiscalets‐finite element method based on new reduction meshing
Authors: Ali Adel Ben , Hajlaoui El Amjed , Gharsallah Ali
Published: February 2011

High order multiscalets functions applied in a finite element method (MS‐FEM) using the tetrahedric elements is presented in this article. This method is based on a vector‐edge element, which is proposed for the global analysis of microstrip structures. However, this new computational technique will be presented when the electromagnetic differential equations are incorporated into interpolations. In first approach, multiscalets with higher order multiplicity r = 3 are employed as basis functions. A new mesh‐truncated technique is introduced for the frequency‐domain solution of closed‐region scattering problems. The main idea of our refinement scheme based of the hexahedral form inspired properties is to use auxiliary elements, which are constructed in some practices. The coarse grid tetrahedron is split into four tetrahedrals that are similar to their parent plus one different tetrahedral in the center. Hence, our refinement procedure results are divided into only two classes of similar tetrahedral, implying that mesh quality will never deteriorate. This approach presents an efficiency technique to reduce the size of a regular structure meshing (≈40% is the reduction report). Then, a great gain in memory and time consumption will be obtained (square matrices size will have a total edges divided by 5.1). The entire new technique will be developed in our article. Numerical results presented in this article for a partially loaded waveguide problem will have a great importance to validate the usefulness of this new approach. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:875–880, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25848
Novel quintuple‐mode broadband microstrip BPF with stub‐loaded multiple‐mode resonator
Authors: Deng Hongwei , Zhao Yongjiu , Zhang Xueshun , Zhang Lu , Lu Xin
Published: February 2011

In this article, a novel compact broadband microstrip bandpass filter with high selectivity and wide upper‐stopband performance is proposed using quintuple‐mode stub‐loaded resonator. The proposed resonator can generate two odd‐modes and three even‐modes in the desired band. The open stub and short‐circuited stub at its central plane can not only specially control the even‐mode resonant frequencies, whereas the odd‐mode ones are fixed, but also generate two transmission zeros near the upper and lower cut‐off frequencies, leading to high rejection skirt. Two identical impedance‐stepped open stubs are mainly applied to adjust the high resonant modes (fm4, fm5) into desired passband and excite one additional transmission zero to deepen the upper‐stopband. A quintuple‐mode broadband filter with the fractional bandwidth better than 64% is simulated, fabricated, and measured. The EM simulated and measured results are presented and excellent agreement is obtained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:799–803, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25849
Simultaneous measurement of axial strain and temperature using a PM fiber Bragg grating
Authors: Tong Zhongrong , Zhao Jinting , Yang Xiufeng
Published: February 2011

A novel design for simultaneous axial strain and temperature measurement using a PM fiber Bragg grating (PMFBG) concatenated with a Sagnac fiber loop mirror is proposed and demonstrated.The PMFBG acts as a sensor head, and the Sagnac fiber loop mirror serves as a filter to convert wavelength variation to optical power change. By measuring the wavelength difference and power difference of two resonant peak of the PMFBG, simultaneous measurement of axial strain and temperature can be realized. Maximum errors of ±6.821 με and ±0.001°C are reported over 480 με and 60°C measurement ranges, respectively. This scheme has the advantage of low cost, compact configuration, and conveniently using. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:867–870, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25854
Pentaband printed antenna for laptop computer
Authors: Chang The‐Nan , Shih Kai , Su Jia‐Hung , Chen Hung‐Jen , Wu Yu‐Yuan
Published: February 2011

This article presents design and measurement of a planar multiband (GSM850/900, DCS, PCS, and UMTS bands) antenna used in a laptop computer. The antenna can be identified by crossly connecting a meandered inverted‐F configuration and a T‐shaped monopole. The inverted‐F part is mainly responsible for GSM‐band operation. To cover the DCS, PCS, and UMTS bands, a T‐shaped monopole is added. Although directly connecting them together, VSWR cannot meet the specification at the higher band. Therefore, an open‐tub is added at bottom end of the T‐shaped monopole. It is investigated that the stub serves as a capacitive match element. After tuning length of this stub, all properties of the pentaband antenna include the bandwidth, radiating pattern, and gain variation can satisfy practical applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:857–861, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25859
Influence of transmitter chirp and receiver imperfections on RF gain in short‐range ROMMF systems
Authors: Petersen Martin N. , Tartarini Giovanni , Visani Davide , Faccin Pier , Tarlazzi Luigi
Published: February 2011

Two important effects that can lead to extensive detrimental effects in short‐range radio‐over‐multimode‐fiber systems are presented. The theoretical and experimental work shows transmitter chirp and receiver imperfections determining the degree of both RF gain variations as well as optical power variations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:822–824, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25862
Experimental and simulated study of metamaterials with varied spacing along magnetic field direction
Authors: Li Minhua , Yang Helin , Tian Yan , Hou Dongyun
Published: February 2011

A type of composite metamaterials (CMMs) with unique configurations is demonstrated and the transmission properties performed in free space exhibit a pass band at about 8.5 GHz.Simulations with lateral displacement of Gaussian beam transmitted through parallelogram‐shaped medium are realized, which can demonstrate the negative refraction index. Further, transmission spectrum of wires alone, split ring resonators alone, and CMMs with varied spacing along magnetic field direction are measured in our experiments. Experimental results and simulated results are in good agreements. With the spacing increased, the pass band drifts to lower frequency which can be applied in tunable metamaterials devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:852–855, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25867
Theoretical investigation of terahertz amplifier by carbon nanotubes within transmission line metamaterials
Authors: Si Li‐Ming , Sun Hou‐Jun , Lv Xin
Published: February 2011

Terahertz (THz) power amplification in coplanar waveguide composite right left‐handed transmission line (CPW CRLH TL) metamaterials with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been investigated. The negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior of the CNTs with appropriate DC voltage bias, which can be characterized as the feature of the Gunn‐type oscillator, Esaki‐like diode, or field effect transistor (FET), is used to provide the THz loss compensation/gain. From introducing gaps in the central signal line and short‐circuited stubs connected between the CPW central signal line and the ground are used to realize the left‐handed (LH) series capacitance CL and LH shunt inductance LL, respectively. The equivalent circuits model approach and effective medium method are employed to study the propagation constant γ = α + jβ of the CNT‐based active THz metamaterials, which are validated by three‐dimensional (3D) full‐wave finite element (FEM) and circuit model co‐design. Results indicate not only the negative attenuation constant α (gain) provided by CNTs but also the negative phase constant β (backward wave propagation with anti‐parallel phase and group velocities) by artificial TL configuration at THz frequency region. This planar structure could be used to design tunable THz devices with different DC bias voltage and also easily extended to two‐dimensional (2D) and 3D active microwave, IR, or optical metamaterials at room temperature. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:815–818, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25870
Analysis of substrate integrated waveguide structures VIA a periodic transverse‐wave iterative formulation
Authors: Brahim Taoufik Ibn Elhaj , Zairi H. , Gharsallah A. , Gharbi A. , Baudrand H.
Published: February 2011

In this article, the theory and numerical algorithm of a periodic wave concept iterative method are presented for the analysis of periodic structures of metallic via‐holes. The method is based on the transverse wave formulation using the periodic boundary conditions to extract the single via‐hole's impedance. As application a substrate integrated waveguide structures are studied. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:880–884, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25873
Erratum: Design of small ACS‐FED bandnotch UWB monopole antenna using particle swarm optimization
Authors: Soltani Saber , Azarmanesh Mohammadnaghi , Lotfi Parisa
Published: February 2011

Originally published Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 1510–1513, 2010. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53: 962, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25954

(Original article DOI 10.1002/mop.25269)
The efficacy of additive tolterodine extended release for 1‐year in older men with storage symptoms and clinical benign proastatic hyperplasia
Authors: Chung Shiu‐Dong , Chang Hsiao‐Chun , Chiu Bin , Liao Chun‐Hou , Kuo Hann‐Chorng
Published: February 2011

Aim

To determine the efficacy of toterodine extended release (ER) treatment for 1 year in older men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and storage symptoms treated with alpha‐blockers and/or 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitors (5ARI).

Methods

Men aged over 70 years with BPH/bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and clinical storage symptoms were randomly treated with or without tolterodine ER in combination with alpha‐blockers and/or 5ARI for 12 months. Among them, 50 patients (group 1) received additive tolterodine extended release (ER) 4 mg q.d., another 87 patients (group 2) did not. All patients had a baseline and 12th month post‐treatment evaluation, which comprised of uroflowmetry, post‐void residual (PVR) volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life index (QoL‐I), transrectal ultrasound of the prostate and serum prostate specific antigen.

Results

One hundred thirty‐seven of 153 enrolled patients with a mean age of 74.9 years completed the study. Treatment benefit demonstrated in both groups included deceased total, voiding and storage IPSS scores, increased peak urinary flow rate and deceased QoL‐I. Inter‐group difference was only observed on the storage domain of IPSS score (P = 0.012). The mean PVR after treatment did not significantly differ between two groups. Two patients of group 1 and three of group 2 developed acute urinary retention. Among group 1, six patients discontinued tolterodine ER for intolerable dry mouth; among group 2, three patients reported dizziness.

Conclusions

This longer comparative study indicated that additive treatment with tolterodine ER in older men with BPH/BOO and significant storage symptoms is a beneficial and safe therapeutic option. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30:568–571, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Total extract of Beta Vulgaris var. Cicla seeds versus its purified phenolic components: antioxidant activities and antiproliferative effects against colon cancer cells
Authors: Gennari Lorenzo , Felletti Marcella , Blasa Manuela , Angelino Donato , Celeghini Claudio , Corallini Alfredo , Ninfali Paolino
Published: February 2011

Introduction – Beta vulgaris var. cicla (BV) leaves contain chemopreventive compounds that have been investigated for new drug discovery. These compounds belong to the family of the apigenin‐glycosides. Since the leaves are seasonal products containing high percentages of water, they are easily degradable during storage in fresh conditions. To be stored they require a drying process, consuming time and a large amount of energy. The extraction of apigenin‐glycosides may also be conveniently performed from BV seeds, which represent a stable and year‐long available biomass.

Objectives – The present report was undertaken to find a strategy of purification of bioactive flavonoids from BV seeds and test their ability to inhibit proliferation both on human colon cancer (RKO) cells and normal human fibroblasts (HF).

Materials and methods – The ethyl‐acetate extract of BV seeds was fractionated on a Sephadex LH 20 column. A fraction of this extract, labeled as P4, exploited a marked antiproliferative activity on RKO cells. The components of P4 were purified on an RP18 column chromatography and identified by HPLC‐ESI‐MS as 2,4,5‐trihydroxybenzaldehyde, 2,5‐dihydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillic acid, xylosylvitexin, glucopyranosyl‐glucopyrasyl‐rhamnetin and glucopyranosyl‐xylosyl‐rhamnetin. All of them were tested for cytostatic and cytotoxic activity on RKO and HF cells.

Results – Xylosylvitexin exhibited the strongest antiproliferative activity on RKO cells, together with an enhancement of the apoptosis, an increase of cells in the G1 phase and a reduction of cells in the S phase; on the contrary, the proliferation of HF was significantly stimulated.

Conclusion – Xylosylvitexin is the main and more efficient chemopreventive compound in BV seeds, but the natural cocktail of molecules, represented by P4 fraction, showed a better compromise between the antiproliferative activity on RKO cells and the enhancement of HF proliferation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A combination of ultrasonic‐assisted extraction with RRLC‐QQQ method for the determination of artemisinin in the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L.
Authors: Wang Xiao , Zhao Xian‐en , Yang Bin , Dong Hongjing , Liu Dahui , Huang Luqi
Published: February 2011

Introduction – Artemisinin, the primary active ingredient of the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L., is known to have considerable anti‐malaria properties. However, rapid, sensitive and selective method for the determination of artemisinin in it is not currently available.

Objective – To develop and validate an efficient method for extraction and analysis of artemisinin from the plant samples of Artemisia annua L. by rapid resolution liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (RRLC‐QQQ).

Methodology – Following ultrasound‐assisted extraction (USE), RRLC‐QQQ was utilised to separate and determine artemisinin from the plant sample of Artemisia annua L. The LC separation, QQQ‐MS detection and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were optimised, and the method validation concluding selectivity, calibration, accuracy and precision, and recovery were also evaluated.

Results – LC separation was performed with an isocratic elution of 20% of methanol–water (10 mmol/L ammonium acetate, pH 4.0) on a C18 column. The triple quadrupole MS detection was carried out under MRM mode of precursor ion [M + H]+ → fragment ions m/z 265.1 and m/z 247.2. The limits of detection and quantitation of artemisinin were 0.20 and 0.75 ng/mL, respectively. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions did not exceed 3.71%, and the deviation of the intra‐ and inter‐day mean values did not exceed ±7.50. The average recoveries for artemisinin ranged from 92.45 to 103.8% with an RSD from 2.47 to 2.79%.

Conclusion – The developed RRLC‐QQQ assay is an efficient method for separation and determination of artemisinin from the plant samples of Artemisia annua L. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.