454 research outputs found
Connection Admission Control Issues for a CDMA Return Link in the Aeronautical Broadband Communication System
No full textOne of the hot topics in the communication world is to realize a network able to offer a combination of services complying with different requirements in every place of the world, thus achieving the concept of "entertainment everywhere". In such a context a key role is played by aeronautical world that seems to be one of the last remaining islands in which broadband communications are not available. The present paper aims at studying resource management for a CDMA-based return link via satellite to provide passengers with new generation services. We focus on the connection admission control problem for QoS guarantees, analyzing in particular, the effective bandwidth concept over CDMA discussing its applicability to a multi-service packet switched network. Two admission control algorithms are then derived, based on the effective bandwidth concept for the circuit switched-like services and on a moving average window and linear predictor model for packet switched services. Finally, the performance over aeronautical broadband communication system is evaluated. © 2005 IEEE
Resource allocation policies for QoS guarantee service provision over a CDMA satellite return link in the aircraft broadband communication system
No full textIn Next Generation Networks (NGN) a variety of services with different requirements, like real time communications, broadband Internet access, email services are expected. Consequently, Packet Scheduling mechanisms and Resource Allocation techniques for Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees will play a key role. This paper proposes two resource allocation strategies for a CDMA satellite return link, based on a Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) codes with Earliest Deadline First policy (also referred to as Single Code CDMA) and Multi-Code with Generalized Processor Sharing policy (also referred to as Multi Code CDMA), respectively. Moreover a Minimum Power Allocation algorithm is implemented in order to maximize system capacity and guarantee Bit Error Rate (BER) requirements. An avionic environment has been taken as reference scenario and it is referred to as AirCom. The effectiveness of the two proposed algorithms for such a scenario is evaluated by means of software simulations using OPNET modeler. The work presented in this paper has been partially inserted in the framework of EU NATACHA project. © 2005 IEEE
3He-counter tests for a 3He-neutron monitor section: Results from a preliminary evaluation
No full textDuring the year's couple 2002-2003 several tests were performed at the SVIRCO OBSERVATORY (CNR-IFSI -UNIRomaTre collaboration) to evaluate the possible use of 3He proportional counters in standard neutr:on monitors. Preliminary results suggest the compatibility of the 3He counters with the 10BF3 ones
A phase 1 study of buparlisib and bevacizumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma progressing on vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapies
No full textAbstract not availableRana R. McKay, Guillermo De Velasco, Lillian Werner, Joaquim Bellmunt, Lauren Harshman, Christopher Sweeney, Jonathan E. Rosenberg, Michelle Hirsch, Sabina Signoretti, Eliezer M. Van Allen, Meghara Walsh, Ulka Vaishampayan, David F. McDermott, and Toni K. Choueir
Development of daylight availability maps in Italy: Methodology and validation
No full textThis paper describes a study aimed at providing outdoor illuminance data in Italy, to be used to evaluate daylight potential contribution in the energy performance of buildings. Starting from solar radiation data, a luminous efficacy model was implemented to derive outdoor illuminance for Italian territory. The results obtained were compared with ground measurements, carried out in three different Italian sites (Milan, Rome and Lampedusa island), and the accuracy of model, has been improved introducing specific metrics for Italian context. Typical Meteorological Years (TMYs) of global and diffused components of daylight illuminance, were built for 243 locations, considering different time profiles. Since the definition of the spatial and temporal trend of environmental variables or metrics requires the application of appropriate interpolation procedure, geostatistic methods (kriging), was used to develop Italian daylight maps. The daylight availability maps will be included in the Italian database of solar radiation (www.solaritaly.enea.it) providing an useful tool for lighting energy performances in buildings applications
Recurrent biliary acute pancreatitis is frequent in a real-world setting
No full textBackground: Data about recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) are limited. Aims: To evaluate the rate of RAP and associated factors. Methods: Single-centre prospective study of consecutive patients at first episode of acute pancreatitis (AP) being followed-up. Results: Of 266 consecutive AP patients, (47% biliary, 15.4% alcoholic, 14.3% idiopathic) 66 (24.8%) had RAP in a mean follow-up of 42 months; 17.9% of recurrences occurred within 30 days from discharge. Age, gender, smoking and severity of first AP were not associated with RAP risk. The rate of biliary RAP was 31.3% in patients who did not receive any treatment, 18% in those treated with ERCP only, 16% in those who received cholecystectomy only, and 0% in those treated both with surgery and ERCP. Patients with biliary AP who received cholecystectomy had a significantly longer time of recurrence-free survival and reduced recurrence risk (HR = 0.45). In patients with alcoholic AP, the rate of recurrence was lower in those who quit drinking (5.8% vs 33%; p = 0.05). The alcoholic aetiology was associated with a higher risk of having >2 RAP episodes. Conclusion: RAP occurs in about 25% of cases, and failure to treat biliary aetiology or quitting drinking is associated with increased recurrence risk
Cosmic ray intensity for about five solar cycles
No full textContinuous records of the cosmic ray nucleonic component have been achieved at
Rome (SVIRCO Group) by using data from different types and locations of neutron monitors
(first at La Sapienza University: 41.90°N, 12.52°E, altitude about 60 m a.s.l., and then at Roma
Tre University: 41.86°N, 12.47°E, about sea level). The normalized data, covering the whole
period from July 1957 to June 2014, are available to the scientific community by simple
request. Here we illustrate some useful results derived from them
Analisys of Daylight Availability in Italy Trough Different Louminous Efficacy Models
No full textThis paper presents the results of a study aimed at developing an Italian database of Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) for the global and diffuse outdoor illuminance, starting from solar irradiation measurements and luminous efficacy models. The main objective is to provide reliable climatic data to be used for the estimation of the daylight availability in buildings and predict the energy requirements for electric lighting with higher accuracy than the actual relevant standard. ENEA developed the national solar radiation atlas during the past years, implementing validated models to predict the global, direct and diffuse irradiation, starting from satellite remote sensing. For this study, the most relevant luminous efficacy models were applied to develop illuminance TMY starting from solar irradiation data. Illuminance availability curves were developed for three reference localities of the Italian territory (Milan, Rome, Palermo), highlighting how results can be used to derive the potential contribution of daylight for buildings energy applications. In order to verify the results obtained, a ground measurements compaign of the outdoor illuminance, was started to test the effectiveness of model. The first data processed, show low differences between estimated values and measured data, confirming the validity of selected model. © 2017. The Authors
Thulium laser transurethral incision of the prostate with ejaculation-sparing intent: 2-year follow-up outcomes from a high-volume centre
No full textIntroduction Several 'ultra-minimally-invasive' surgical treatments (uMISTs) have been developed, aiming to relieve benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) and spare ejaculatory function; however, such techniques do not always ensure substantial improvements in uroflowmetry parameters. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the 2 -year functional outcomes of thulium laser transurethral incision of the prostate (ThuIP) as an alternative to uMISTs. Material and methods Data of consecutive patients affected by BPO with indication to surgical intervention and a strong will to spare ejaculatory function were collected on a dedicated prospectively maintained database. A specific "trifecta" was identified as the contemporary presence of: (1) postoperative Qmax >= 15 ml/s; (2) absence of early (within 90 days) complications; and (3) preserved antegrade ejaculation. Results 120 patients underwent ThuIP and were analysed. Median catheterisation time was 2 days (IQR 2-2). Significant improvements in IPSS and IPSS-QoL scores and uroflowmetry parameters were observed at all follow-up times. At the last follow-up visit (24 months) the median Delta IPSS was -12 (-17; -9), median Delta IPSS-QoL was -3 (-4; -2), median Delta Qmax was +7.7 ml/s (+5.2; +11.0), and median Delta PVR was -50 ml (-100; 0) (all p -values <0.001). Fourteen patients reported postoperative absence of antegrade ejaculation (11.7%). Overall, trifecta was achieved in 86 patients (71.7%) at 6 months, in 79 patients (65.8%) at 12 months, and in 75 patients (62.5%) at 24 months. Conclusions ThuIP allows for a significant improvement in uroflowmetry parameters and patient-reported outcomes at 2 -year follow-up. Moreover, antegrade ejaculation is preserved in approximately 90% of cases
TRANSPERINEAL LASER ABLATION VERSUS TRANS-URETHRAL RESECTION OF PROSTATE FOR BENIGN PROSTATIC OBSTRUCTION: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
No full textINTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Transperineal interstitial laser ablation (TPLA) is among one of the latest ultra-minimally invasive technique to treat benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). No study investigated the actual rate of preservation of the ejaculatory function after TPLA, in comparison to the reference standard trans-urethral resection of prostate (TURP). We aimed to evaluate the reliability of TPLA in preserving the ejaculation compared to TURP. METHODS: In this single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study, consecutive patients with indication to surgical treatment for BPO were enrolled between January 2020 and September 2021 (NCT04781049). Randomization defined two treatment arms: Group A: patients assigned to TPLA (experimental); Group B: patients assigned to TURP (standard). Primary endpoints included comparison of visual analogue scale (VAS), change in ejaculatory function (by EJ-MSHQ), and changes in sexual function (by IIEF-5) at 1 month after surgery. Secondary endpoints included ΔIPSS and ΔQoL, and Qmax improvement at 6 months. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients (26 TPLA versus 25 TURP) were analyzed. No differences were found in the perception of pain assessed by VAS. No differences in IIEF-5 score were found between groups. Distribution of ejaculatory function assessed by the EJ-MSHQ remained unmodified after TPLA (p=0.2) while a median 31% decrease in EJ-MSHQ score (IQR -67;-14%) was observed after TURP (p=0.01). Retrograde ejaculation was reported in one patient within the TPLA group (18 patients s/p TURP). A statistically significant difference between the treatment groups was found in terms of postoperative Qmax (15.2 (IQR 13.5–18.3) versus 26.0 (IQR 22.0–48.0) ml/s, TPLA versus TURP, p<0.001). Qmax was statistically significantly improved with respect to baseline after TPLA (%ΔQmax+42 (+24; +76), p<0.001). Both treatments significantly improved IPSS and QoL with respect to baseline, with TURP impacting more significantly (%ΔIPSS -35.9 (IQR -54.5; -1.3) versus -66.7 (-82.8; -46.7) and %ΔQoL -33.3 (-50; -8) versus -60.0 (IQR -80; -33), TPLA versus TURP, all p-values <0.03). CONCLUSIONS: TPLA allowed for maintaining ejaculation in 96% of the cases, confirming to be valid option in patients seeking for pairing the relief from BPO to the high probability of preserving ejaculatory function
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