Reply to Taylor et al. Comment on "Manna et al. SARS-CoV-2 Inactivation in Aerosol by Means of Radiated Microwaves. Viruses 2023, 15, 1443".

SARS-CoV-2 is inactivated in aerosol (its primary mode of transmission) by means of radiated microwaves at frequencies that have been experimentally determined. Such frequencies are best predicted by the mathematical model suggested by Taylor, Margueritat and Saviot. The alignment between such mathematical prediction and the outcomes of our experiments serves to reinforce the efficacy of the radiated microwave technology and its promise in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in its naturally airborne state.

SARS-CoV-2 Inactivation in Aerosol by Means of Radiated Microwaves.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause disease in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause infections on the respiratory tract that can be fatal. These viruses can cause both mild illnesses such as the common cold and lethal illnesses such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Air transmission represents the principal mode by which people become infected by SARS-CoV-2. To reduce the risks of air transmission of this powerful pathogen, we devised a method of inactivation based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the area to be sanitized. We optimized the conditions in a controlled laboratory environment mimicking a natural airborne virus transmission and consistently achieved a 90% (tenfold) reduction of infectivity after a short treatment using a Radio Frequency (RF) wave emission with a power level that is safe for people according to most regulatory agencies, including those in Europe, USA, and Japan. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be inactivated through RF wave emission under conditions compatible with the presence of human beings and animals. Additional in-depth studies are warranted to extend the results to other viruses and to explore the potential implementation of this technology in different environmental conditions.

Sinuous Antenna for UWB Radar Applications.

In this paper, the recent progress on sinuous antennas is detailed, focusing the attention on the antenna geometry, dielectric structure, and miniaturization techniques. In the first part, we introduce the basic principles of the frequency-independent antenna, in particular the self-complementary and log-periodic geometries, as well as the antenna geometries, all characterized in terms of angles. The operating principles, main advantages, system design considerations, limits, and challenges of conventional sinuous antennas are illustrated. Second, we describe some technical solutions aimed to ensure the optimal trade-off between antenna size and radiation behavior. To this aim, some special modification of the antenna geometry based on the meandering as well as on the loading with dielectric structures are presented. Moreover, the cavity backing technique is explained in detail as a method to achieve unidirectional radiation. Third, we present a new class of supershaped sinuous antenna based on a suitable merge of the 2D superformula and the sinuous curve. The effect of the free parameters change on the antenna arm geometry as well as the performance improvement in terms of directivity, beam stability, beam angle, gain, and radiating efficiency are highlighted.

[Imaging and radioguided surgery of tumors NETs]. / Imaging e chirurgia radioguidata di tumori neuroendocrini.

Neuroendocrine tumors tend to grow slowly and are notoriously difficult to localize, at least in the early stages. Metastases are in most cases already present at the time of diagnosis. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy improves detection of small and occult NET tumors. Intraoperative probe counting with a hand-held gamma probe can identify tumors even when they are small and impalpable, but receptor positive. This advanced operative approach may improve the survival of these patients.