Nonlinear interpolation of TV image sequences

A 3-D nonlinear filter for the interpolation of skipped frames in the transmission of TV image sequences at low bit rates is presented. The results obtained show that the nonlinear approach is convenient in the presence of moderate movements of the objects in the observed scene     

Detrusor contractility in hyperreflexic bladders (from intracerebral neuropathies) versus unstable and stable unobstructed ones

Three male patient groups of 20 subjects each have been assessed urodynamically by pressure flow study, namely, patients with detrusor hyperreflexia (DH) due to intracerebral neuropathies were compared with subjects bearing a condition of idiopathic detrusor instability, as well as with a control group of males showing normal urodynamic findings. Detrusor contractility proved greater in the unstable patients, but did not differ significantly between those with DH and the controls. Such results may suggest that intracerebral neuropathies leading to DH have no influence on, whilst the factors responsible for detrusor instability are strongly related to, the degree of activation of bladder muscle mechanical capability.     

Droughts Prediction: a Methodology Based on Climate Seasonal Forecasts

This study proposes a methodology for the drought assessment based on the seasonal forecasts. These are climate predictions of atmospheric variables, such as precipitation, temperature, wind speed, for upcoming season, up to 7 months. In regions particularly vulnerable to droughts and to changes in climate, such as the Mediterranean areas, predictions of precipitation with months in advance are crucial for understanding the possible shifts, for example, in water resource availability. Over Europe, practical applications of seasonal forecasts are still rare, because of the uncertainties of their skills; however, the predictability varies depending on the season and area of application. In this study, we describe a methodology which integrates, through a statistical approach, seasonal forecast and reanalysis data to assess the climate state, i.e. drought or not, of a region for predefined periods in the next future, at monthly scale. Additionally, the skill of the forecasts and the reliability of the released climate state assessment are estimated in terms of the false rate, i.e. the probability of missing alerts or false alarms. The methodology has been first built for a case study in Zakynthos (Greece) and then validated for a case study in Sicily (Italy). The selected locations represent two areas of the Mediterranean region often suffering from drought and water shortage situations. Results showed promising findings, with satisfying matching between predictions and observations, and false rates ranging from 1 to 50%, depending on the selected forecast period.

     

Platinum compounds as radiosensitizers in strontium-89 metabolic radiotherapy

PURPOSE: Strontium-89 is currently used for the treatment of painful bone metastases. This study reports on two preliminary experiences with low-dose platinum compounds, carboplatin and cisplatin, as radiosensitizers in 89Sr therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 patients entered the carboplatin study: 15 patients (Group A) were treated with 148 MBq 89Sr followed by carboplatin (100 mg/m2 at 7 and 21 days) and 15 patients (Group B) were treated with 89Sr alone. 12 patients entered the cisplatin study: six patients (Arm 1) received 148 Mq 89Sr plus cisplatin (50 mg/m2) in two administrations (immediately before and 10 days after 89Sr injection) and six patients (Arm 2) received 89Sr plus two placebo administrations. Pain response was assessed 8 weeks after the therapy on the Wisconsin score modifications. RESULTS: No clinically significant adverse effects or myelosuppression by platinum compounds were observed. In carboplatin study a pain response was observed in 20 of 27 (74%) evaluable patients, 13/15 in group A and 7/12 in group B. The pain response in the patients treated with 89Sr and carboplatin was clearly superior to that seen in the patients treated with 89Sr alone (P = 0.025), whereas survival was only marginally better in the combined treatment group (8.1 vs 5.7 months, P = 0.19). In cisplatin study a pain response was observed in 10 of 12 (83%) evaluable patients, 5/6 in Arm 1 and 4/6 in Arm 2. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose platinum compounds seem to enhance the effects of 89Sr radioisotope therapy on pain from bone metastases without relevant hematological toxicity.     

Design of a nanopower current reference with reduced process variability

In this paper we present the design of a 0.18 μm CMOS current reference based on a variability-aware approach, in such a way to obtain a very low process sensitivity of the reference current. Its relative standard deviation is 1.4 % based on measurements performed over 23 samples from a single batch. The requirement of low process sensitivity is met together with the very low power consumption of 290 nW, at the cost of a large area occupation of 0.245 mm². Key to obtain this result are the use of the “classical” bipolar bandgap topology, which can be optimized for low-power/low-spread operation so as to outperform MOS-based bandgap circuits, and the use of devices that are intrinsically more stable towards process, such as diffusion resistors.     

Tachykinin receptors and intestinal motility

OBJECTIVE: To determine the propensity of beta-lactam antimicrobials to ameliorate or potentiate aminoglycoside-induced renal enzymuria. DESIGN: Two open, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group studies were conducted in young, healthy, male volunteer subjects. Using a common protocol, 24-hour urine collections were analyzed for the renal tubular enzymes alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), as well as for creatinine. Antimicrobial combinations studied included gentamicin plus placebo and gentamicin plus ticarcillin/clavulanate (protocol 1); and gentamicin plus placebo, gentamicin plus piperacillin, and gentamicin plus ceftazidime (protocol 2). The antimicrobial regimens were administered for 7 days. Eight subjects completed each treatment group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between treatment groups with regard to urine creatinine excretion or serum gentamicin concentrations in either protocol. Enzymuria (AAP [p = 0.039] and NAG [p = 0.337]) was decreased in the gentamicin plus ticarcillin/clavulanate treatment compared with that in the gentamicin plus placebo treatment. Increased enzymuria, as indicated by increased urine concentrations of AAP and NAG, was observed in the gentamicin plus ceftazidime treatment (p < 0.05) compared with the other two treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Based on relative enzymuria, ticarcillin/clavulanate may be renal protective. Piperacillin neither potentiated nor ameliorated aminoglycoside-induced enzymuria. Since acute elevations in AAP and NAG reflect insults to the kidney, these studies suggest that ceftazidime may enhance aminoglycoside-induced renal injury. Piperacillin had no effect on enzymuria and would appear not to enhance or protect against aminoglycoside-induced renal injury.     

A picopower temperature‐compensated,subthreshold CMOS voltage reference

A voltage reference consisting of only two nMOS transistors with different threshold voltages is presented. Measurements performed on 23 samples from a single batch show a mean reference voltage of 275.4 mV. The subthreshold conduction and the low number of transistors enable to achieve a mean power consumption of only 40 pW. The minimum supply voltage is 0.45 V, which coincides with the lowest value reported so far. The mean TC in the temperature range from 0 to 120 °C is 105.4 ppm/°C, while the mean line sensitivity is 0.46%/V in the supply voltage range 0.45–1.8 V. The occupied area is 0.018 mm². The power supply rejection rate without any filtering capacitor is ?48 dB at 20 Hz and ?29.2 dB at 10 kHz. Thanks to large area transistors and to a careful layout, the coefficient of variation of the reference voltage is only 0.62%. We introduce as a new figure of merit, the voltage temperature parameter (VTP), which gives a direct measure of the overall percentage variation of the reference voltage on the typical 2D domain of supply voltage and temperature. For the proposed circuit, the average VTP is 1.70% with a standard deviation of 0.21%. In order to investigate the effect of transistor area on process variability, a 4X replica of the proposed configuration has been fabricated and tested as well. Except for LS, the 4X replica doesn't exhibit any appreciable improvement with respect to the basic voltage reference. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.