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Biliary atresia, a destructive inflammatory cholangiopathy, leads to liver cirrhosis and subsequent death by the age of 2 years if left untreated. Biliary atresia splenic malformation (BASM) syndrome makes up 10% of all cases of biliary atresia. Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy (KPE) may establish continuity of bile flow and slow down progression to cirrhosis if the procedure is performed early in infancy. We describe an 8.5-yearold boy with known BASM syndrome (polysplenia, intestinal malrotation, interrupted inferior vena cava, shortened pancreas, centralised liver and left atrial isomerism) who underwent a successful KPE at the age of 3 months. He presented with features suggestive of a late onset ascending cholangitis (AC) complicated by cholangitic liver abscesses. Resolution of the abscesses with prolonged antibiotic therapy avoided the need for percutaneous drainage. Once the abscesses resolved, the child underwent a successful cadaveric liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid model is presented to study the radio wave propagation through periodic building structures for site-specific outdoor-to-indoor propagation. This hybrid model is based on combining ray-tracing and rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) method, which is used to obtain the transmission properties of periodic building structures in the case of plane wave incidence. Numerical results of the hybrid model have been compared with those of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) analysis. Good agreement has been achieved with substantially increased computation efficiency which validates the recommended hybrid method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to measure and evaluate the flexibility of the legs, namely the ankle by measuring the maximum values in flexion and extension of both legs. Method: The study included twelve students with mental retardation. Measured and recorded values of ankle-bending extent of both legs and assign the average of each test. Calculated and measurement the temperature of space and time. The measurement flexion and extension of the ankle was a plastic protractor. Results: The flexion presents decrease at the right ankle relationship with the left ankle by 1.86. The extension presents decrease at the left ankle relationship with the right ankle by 11.43. Conclusions: The results found that the normal range of motion of joints has a significant role in improving efficiency and thus on quality of life of persons with mental retardation. The flexibility is a determinant of performance and therefore should be evaluated at regular intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase of complex correlation is exploited to provide estimation of the azimuth arrival angle of ultra wideband multipath signals. Regarding the cluster model for uniform linear arrays, spatial correlation between antenna elements plays an important role in the analytical stage. Performance of this estimation is validated by using frequency-domain channel measurements in an anechoic chamber. Five linear array elements are used at the receiver measuring in azimuth between 0 and 360°. Furthermore, six measurement scenario cases including line-of-sight and multipath reflection are created to represent simple indoor environments. In the computation process, the complex spatial correlation coefficients between each array and the reference array are computed at each temporal multipath bin. Associated with the phase difference method, angles-of-arrival of multipath components at each time bin can be obtained. Finally, in order to verify this proposed technique, comparisons with results obtained by the sensor CLEAN algorithm are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a statistical power delay profile (PDP) model for the evaluation and design of ultra wideband (UWB) off-body communication systems. The analysis is based on extensive real-body measurements carried out in the frequency range between 3.5 and 6.5 GHz. Due to the dependence of the radio propagation channel on the body region (i.e. front, side and back), we gradually develop separate stochastic tapped-delay-line models for each body region. Based on the newly estimated parameters, channel simulation methods are provided for each of the proposed models. Finally, several comparisons between the empirical data and the simulations results are presented, by means of key properties of the recorded PDP profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ‘Phoenix’ copper ore body is located in Cyprus Island. Its reserves were initially estimated by inverse distance square (IDS) algorithm. Ore extraction begun in 1996 and ever since the owner company keeps a detailed file of blast hole samples analyses. These data are used to for a continuous check of the validity of estimation. Even tough sampling was systematic and dense, the results of these checks revealed small discrepancies between the ore body model and reality and therefore it was decided to employ geostatistics to possibly improve the estimation quality even more. The two resulting models were compared to reality inside the exploited area and showed that no substantial improvement occurred due to the employment of geostatistics. The above is in agreement to recent theoretical results which state that, when the sampling density is greater than a critical value, geostatistics and deterministic interpolation methods give similar estimations. The ‘Phoenix’ copper ore body is located in Cyprus Island. Its reserves were initially estimated by IDS algorithm. Ore extraction begun in 1996 and ever since the owner company keeps a detailed file of blast hole samples analyses. These data are used to for a continuous check of the validity of estimation. Even tough sampling was systematic and dense, the results of these checks revealed small discrepancies between the ore body model and reality and therefore it was decided to employ geostatistics to possibly improve the estimation quality even more. The two resulting models were compared to reality inside the exploited area and showed that no substantial improvement occurred due to the employment of geostatistics. The above is in agreement to recent theoretical results which state that, when the sampling density is greater than a critical value, geostatistics and deterministic interpolation methods give similar estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents wideband characteristics of a low elevation, land mobile, single satellite, dual circularly polarized, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radio propagation channel. The work is based on S-band measurements using an artificial platform to represent the satellite, situated on a hilltop, to a mobile vehicle located in three environments: tree-lined road, suburban and urban. First and second order statistics and inter-tap cross-correlations are derived for both large and small scale fading, over the delay and combined spatial/polarization domains from the measured 2times2 MIMO matrix channel data. The work is aimed towards further development of a valid wideband land mobile satellite (LMS) MIMO channel model. Such systems may form the next generation of satellite delivered mobile broadband Internet services. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study estimates the time of arrival (TOA) of ultra wideband multipath components (MPCs) by analysing the spatial correlation of multipath signals captured by a 7×7 antenna array. In this study, both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight radio propagation paths were considered. Each power-delay profile bin from all the array positions was used to calculate the spatial correlation between itself and the adjacent receiving point bins. Consequently, some MPC time delays and clusters, associated with high correlation values, were selected and compared with the TOA computed by the Sensor-CLEAN algorithm. A close agreement of the TOA estimated by both techniques was obtained. Finally, multipath cluster distributions and clustering model parameters are presented and compared with previously published results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement of vegetation structures introduces an adverse environment for high frequency radiowave propagation. This paper examines a series of vegetation scattering measurement campaigns during various wind conditions. The measurements were divided into controlled and outdoor environments. The controlled environment measurements were conducted in an anechoic chamber at 0.9, 2, 12 and 17 GHz. The outdoor measurements were carried out at 1.8 GHz and involved in recording of a transmitted signal originating from an existing digital cellular system (DCS-1800) base station. The obtained results are discussed and presented in terms of their first- and second-order statistics. Analysis demonstrates that the received signal behaviour is highly wind dependent, especially when the environment is changing from calm to a windy condition. The signal fast-fading is found to be Rician distributed and an empirical model of the k-factor variation over wind speed is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The modal transmission-line (MTL) method is used to study the transmission and reflection characteristics of a periodic building structure under the most general condition of oblique incidence (three-dimensional incidence). The presented method extends a previous analysis for the two-dimensional incidence case. Using a coordinate transformation, the reflection and transmission coefficients for an electromagnetic plane wave obliquely incident onto a periodic building structure can be solved rigorously by combining the 2-D incidence result for TE and TM polarisation, respectively. The transmission and reflection properties of concrete block and reinforced concrete walls are also analysed. Simulation findings are compared with those obtained by other researchers and the good agreement validates the extended MTL method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent focus on islet transplantation as primary therapy for type 1 diabetes has heightened interest in the reversal of type 1 diabetes in preclinical models using minimal immunosuppression. Here, we demonstrated in a preclinical rhesus model a consistent reversal of all measured glycemic patterns of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes. The model used single-donor islet transplantation with induction of operational tolerance. The term "operational tolerance" is used to indicate durable survival of single-donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched islet allografts without maintenance immunosuppressive therapy and without rejection or loss of functional islet mass or insulin secretory reserve. In this operational tolerance model, all immunosuppression was discontinued after day 14 posttransplant, and recipients recovered with excellent health. The operational tolerance induction protocol combined peritransplant anti-CD3 immunotoxin to deplete T-cells and 15-deoxyspergualin to arrest proinflammatory cytokine production and maturation of dendritic cells. T-cell deficiency was specific but temporary, in that T-cell-dependent responses in long-term survivors recovered to normal, and there was no evidence of increased susceptibility to infection. Anti-donor mixed lymphocyte reaction responses were positive in the long-term survivors, but all showed clear evidence of systemic T-helper 2 deviation, suggesting that an immunoregulatory rather than a deletional process underlies this operational tolerance model. This study provides the first evidence that operational tolerance can protect MHC nonhuman primate islets from rejection as well as loss of functional islet mass. Such an approach has potential to optimize individual recipient recovery from diabetes as well as permitting more widespread islet transplantation with the limited supply of donor islets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MTX was administered to 51 women; 50mg/m2 MTX was administered intramuscularly in 35 patients; four of them needed a second dose of MTX while 2 women were operated due to sustained increased levels of hCG. HCG levels were measured on outpatient basis the 4th, the 7th day after MTX treatment; thereafter weekly measurements were obtained until hCG levels reach zero. It seems that MTX administration, intramuscularly or intrasac, upon experience of the clinicians, as well as "wait and see" methodology could replace safely salpingectomy due to ectopic tubal pregnancies in young women, preserving efficiently their reproductive ability. [Extracted from the article]

Demonstrated is the potential benefit in terms of MIMO capacity gain after deploying frequency selective surfaces (FSS) in indoor environments where MIMO systems are installed and operated. The idea is that the presence of strong multipath components at every receiving element in an indoor environment would make the channel more Rayleigh, which can lead to lower correlation and hence higher capacity. A hybrid ray tracing model, which incorporates the effect of the deployed FSS characteristics, is used to estimate the required channel matrix for a 2×2 MIMO system in a typical indoor environment with and without FSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is demonstrated how frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) can be deployed on conventional building materials, so as the FSS frequency response is not affected by the building material. This effectively means that the two surfaces, the FSS and the building wall surface, will affect radio propagation independently based on their own characteristics. When FSSs are attached to building walls, they can suffer significant detuning, compared to free-standing frequency response, which appears to fade away as the air gap between the two surfaces increases. Simulations and anechoic chamber measurements demonstrate that a ‘break-point’ air gap exists, beyond which the FSS response is not affected by the presence of the building wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-MIMO, space-time coded for capacity gain, is investigated, and complementary cumulative distribution function outage and capacity predictions are provided using a verified physical-statistical MIMO land mobile-satellite channel model. Capacity results obtained for a single satellite, single antenna terminal (SISO), a dual satellite, single antenna terminal (2 × 1 MISO) and a dual satellite, dual antenna terminal (2 × 2 MIMO) system are compared, showing the benefit of satellite-MIMO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EP34.37: 3D-4D ultrasound examination: are the extra dimensions a "wormhole" towards the diagnosis? To evaluate the efficacy of 4D view software to enhance the accuracy of preoperative ultrasound examination of borderline tumours. 2D real time grayscale ultrasound examination remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of the nature of ovarian masses, especially in experienced hands. [Extracted from the article]

To evaluate the safety of "wait and see" methodology, firstly published by D. Jurkovic, regarding the treatment of ectopic pregnancy cases, in the daily clinical practice in an early pregnancy unit (EPU). "Wait and see" methodology, regarding ectopic pregnancy cases treatment, could be applied safely in EPUs by experienced ultrasonographers. [Extracted from the article]

An abstract of the article "Diagnostic performance of simple rules and ADNEX model by inexperienced examiners," by E. Domali and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "An unexpected and unusual finding: contralateral inguinal lymph node metastasis as the only manifestation of ovarian cancer," by D. Haidopoulos and colleagues is presented.