A Software Radio Challenge Accelerating Education and Innovation in Wireless Communications

This Innovative Practice Full Paper presents our methodology and tools for introducing competition in the electrical engineering curriculum to accelerate education and innovation in wireless communications. Software radio or software-defined radio (SDR) enables wireless technology, systems and standards education where the student acts as the radio developer or engineer. This is still a huge endeavor because of the complexity of current wireless systems and the diverse student backgrounds. We suggest creating a competition among student teams to potentiate creativity while leveraging the SDR development methodology and open-source tools to facilitate cooperation. The proposed student challenge follows the European UEFA Champions League format, which includes a qualification phase followed by the elimination round or playoffs. The students are tasked to build an SDR transmitter and receiver following the guidelines of the long-term evolution standard. The metric is system performance. After completing this course, the students will be able to (1) analyze alternative radio design options and argue about their benefits and drawbacks and (2) contribute to the evolution of wireless standards. We discuss our experiences and lessons learned with particular focus on the suitability of the proposed teaching and evaluation methodology and conclude that competition in the electrical engineering classroom can spur innovation.Comment: Frontiers in Education 2018 (FIE 2018

Acute liver failure as the first manifestation of very late relapsing of Hodgkin's disease

Hodgkin's disease is, in general, a lymph node-based disease. It usually starts in an area within the lymphatic system and spreads, in an orderly manner, along the lymphatic chain to contiguous lymph node areas. There have been sporadic case reports of acute liver failure caused by hematological malignancies. Generally, liver failure is a feature of stage IV end-stage disease, when it occurs in lymphoma. Thus, hepatic involvement usually occurs late in the course of Hodgkin's disease or with advanced-stage disease, and primary presentation in the liver with acute liver failure is extremely rare. In most cases, the diagnosis was made at autopsy. We describe a patient with Hodgkin's disease presenting with acute liver failure. This is a very unusual Hodgkin's disease form of presentation, because the acute liver failure was the presenting feature of the disease. Furthermore, the lymphoma occurred as a very late relapse, twenty years after the first diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, such a case has not been described to date

The Spatial Extent of Pain Is Associated with Pain Intensity, Catastrophizing and Some Measures of Central Sensitization in People with Frozen Shoulder

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the spatial extent of pain and its association with clinical symptoms, psychological features, and pain sensitization in people with frozen shoulder (FS). Forty-eight individuals with FS completed pain drawings (PDs) and reported their clinical symptoms including pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale) and shoulder disability (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index). Moreover, pain sensitization measurements (pressure pain thresholds, temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation, and Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI)) were assessed. Psychological features were assessed by Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire. Pain frequency maps were generated, Margolis rating scale was used for pain location, and Spearman correlation coefficients were computed. The mean (SD) pain extent was 12.5% (6.7%) and the most common painful area was the anterolateral shoulder region (100%). Women presented a more widespread pain distribution compared with men. Significant positive associations were obtained between pain extent and current pain intensity (rs = 0.421, p < 0.01), PCS (rs = 0.307, p < 0.05) and CSI (rs = 0.358, p < 0.05). The anterolateral region of the shoulder was the most common painful area in people with FS. Women with FS presented more extended areas of pain; and a more widespread distribution of pain was correlated with higher levels of pain, pain catastrophizing and pain sensitization

Processos de lexicalització en llengua de signes catalana de denominacions de l'àmbit del moviment associatiu sordsignant

Summary: This contribution aims to analyse the types of word formation processes for signs denominating Catalan Deaf organisations in Catalan Sign Language. First, a corpus has been created from video-signed texts by identifying and extracting terms of the associate-member organisations. Second, a terminological data file template has been designed using common standard criteria to feed a terminological database. Following the group’s previous work (Jarque, Bosch-Baliarda, &amp; Codorniu, 2019), 4 types of lexicalisation processes have been analysed: formal (e.g. compounding, blending), functional (e.g lexicalisation, zero derivation), borrowing (e.g loanwords, mouthings) and semantic (e.g semantic change, extension). The cognitive mechanisms involved (conceptual metaphor and metonymy) are also described. The analysis is framed within the construction-based theoretical models and points out the need to establish new complex non-linear models to explain the multiple processes involved. Keywords: Catalan Sign Language, compounding, construction, constructional approach, lexical creation, multi-word unit, word-formation process, signing deaf communit

Lack of Annexin A6 exacerbates liver dysfunction and reduces lifespan of Niemann-Pick type C protein-deficient mice

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by cholesterol accumulation caused by loss-of-function mutations in the Npc1 gene. NPC disease primarily affects the brain, causing neuronal damage and affecting motor coordination. In addition, considerable liver malfunction in NPC disease is common. Recently, we found that the depletion of annexin A6 (ANXA6), which is most abundant in the liver and involved in cholesterol transport, ameliorated cholesterol accumulation in Npc1 mutant cells. To evaluate the potential contribution of ANXA6 in the progression of NPC disease, double-knockout mice (Npc1-/-/Anxa6-/-) were generated and examined for lifespan, eurologic and hepatic functions, as well as liver histology and ultrastructure. Interestingly, lack of ANXA6 in NPC1-deficient animals did not prevent the cerebellar degeneration phenotype, but further deteriorated their compromised hepatic functions and reduced their lifespan. Moreover, livers of Npc1-/-/Anxa6-/- mice contained a significantly elevated number of foam cells congesting the sinusoidal space, a feature commonly associated with inflammation. We hypothesize that ANXA6 deficiency in Npc1-/- mice not only does not reverse neurologic and motor dysfunction, but further worsens overall liver function, exacerbating hepatic failure in NPC disease

Protective factors of ethical conflict during a pandemic-quali-ethics-COVID-19 research part 2: an international qualitative study

Aims and Objectives: To determine which factors can be considered protective ofethical conflicts in intensive care unit healthcare professionals during a pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to new ethical concerns in relation to the management of public health and the limitations on personal freedom. Continued exposure to ethical conflict can have a range of psychological consequences.Design: A qualitative design based on phenomenological approach.Methods: A total of 38 nurses and physicians who were regular staff members of Barcelona and Milan's public tertiary university hospitals and working in intensive care units during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured online indepth interviews were conducted. A thematic analysis was performed by two independent researchers following the seven steps of Colaizzi's methods. We adhere COREQ guidelines.Results: One theme 'Protective factors of ethical conflict in sanitary crisis' and four subthemes emerged from the data: (1) knowledge of the infectious disease, (2) good communication environment, (3) psychological support and (4) keeping the same work team together. Conclusions: Four elements can be considered protective factors of ethical conflict for healthcare professionals during a sanitary crisis. While some of these factors have already been described, the joint identification of this set of four factors as a single element is, in itself, novel. This should help in ensuring the right mechanisms are inplace to face future pandemics and should serve to improve institutional organisation and guarantee safe and high-quality patient care in times of heath care crisis. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Future strategies for the prevention of ethical conflict during sanitary crises, pandemics or other catastrophes need to consider a set of four factors as a single element. These factors are the knowledge of the infectious disease,a good communication environment, psychological support and keeping the same work team together into joint consideration

Annexin A6 is critical to maintain glucose homeostasis and survival during liver regeneration in mice

Background and aims: Liver regeneration requires the organized and sequential activation of events that lead to restoration of hepatic mass. During this process, other vital liver functions need to be preserved, such as maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis, balancing the degradation of hepatic glycogen stores, and gluconeogenesis (GNG). Under metabolic stress, alanine is the main hepatic gluconeogenic substrate, and its availability is the rate-limiting step in this pathway. Na+ -coupled neutral amino acid transporters (SNATs) 2 and 4 are believed to facilitate hepatic alanine uptake. In previous studies, we demonstrated that a member of the Ca2+ -dependent phospholipid binding annexins, Annexin A6 (AnxA6), regulates membrane trafficking along endo- and exocytic pathways. Yet, although AnxA6 is abundantly expressed in the liver, its function in hepatic physiology remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential contribution of AnxA6 in liver regeneration. Approach and results: Utilizing AnxA6 knockout mice (AnxA6-/- ), we challenged liver function after partial hepatectomy (PHx), inducing acute proliferative and metabolic stress. Biochemical and immunofluorescent approaches were used to dissect AnxA6-/- mice liver proliferation and energetic metabolism. Most strikingly, AnxA6-/- mice exhibited low survival after PHx. This was associated with an irreversible and progressive drop of blood glucose levels. Whereas exogenous glucose administration or restoration of hepatic AnxA6 expression rescued AnxA6-/- mice survival after PHx, the sustained hypoglycemia in partially hepatectomized AnxA6-/- mice was the consequence of an impaired alanine-dependent GNG in AnxA6-/- hepatocytes. Mechanistically, cytoplasmic SNAT4 failed to recycle to the sinusoidal plasma membrane of AnxA6-/- hepatocytes 48 hours after PHx, impairing alanine uptake and, consequently, glucose production. Conclusions: We conclude that the lack of AnxA6 compromises alanine-dependent GNG and liver regeneration in mice

Specific Plasma MicroRNA Signatures Underlying the Clinical Outcomes of Hepatitis E Virus Infection

The pathogenic mechanisms determining the diverse clinical outcomes of HEV infection (e.g., self-limiting vs chronic or symptomatic vs asymptomatic) are not yet understood. Because specific microRNA signatures during viral infection inform the cellular processes involved in virus replication and pathogenesis, we investigated plasma microRNA profiles in 44 subjects, including patients with symptomatic acute (AHE, n = 7) and chronic (CHE, n = 6) hepatitis E, blood donors with asymptomatic infection (HEV BDs, n = 9), and anti-HEV IgG+IgM- (exposed BDs, n = 10) and anti-HEV IgG-IgM- (naïve BDs, n = 12) healthy blood donors. By measuring the abundance of 179 microRNAs in AHE and naïve BDs by RT-qPCR, we identified 51 potencial HEV-regulated microRNAs (PBH < 0.05). Further analysis showed that HEV genotype 3 infection is associated with miR-122, miR-194, miR-885, and miR-30a upregulation and miR-221, miR-223, and miR-27a downregulation. AHE showed significantly higher levels of miR-122 and miR-194, and lower levels of miR-221, miR-27a, and miR-335 compared to HEV BDs. This specific microRNA signature in AHE could promote virus replication and reduce antiviral immune responses, contributing to the development of clinical symptoms. We found that mir-194, miR-335, and miR-221 can discriminate between asymptomatic HEV infections and those developing acute symptoms, whereas miR-335 correctly classify AHE and CHE. Conclusions: Our data suggest that diverse outcomes of HEV infection result from different HEV-induced microRNA dysregulations. The specific microRNA signatures described offer novel information that may serve to develop biomarkers of HEV infection outcomes and improve our understanding of HEV pathogenesis, which may facilitate the identification of antiviral targets

The effect of a live music therapy intervention on critically ill paediatric patients in the intensive care unit: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study

Background: Music therapy as a nonpharmacological means of managing patient pain, anxiety, and discomfort is a recognised technique, although it is not widely used in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effect of a live music therapy intervention on vital signs and levels of discomfort and pain for paediatric patients in the PICU. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pretesteposttest study. The music therapy intervention was carried out by two music therapists who were specifically trained, each possessing a master's degree in the field of hospital music therapy. Ten minutes before the start of the music therapy session, the investigators recorded the vital signs of the patients and assessed their levels of discomfort and pain. The procedure was repeated at the start of the intervention; at 2, 5, and 10 min during the intervention; and at 10 min following the conclusion of the intervention. Results: Two hundred fifty-nine patients were included; 55.2% were male, with a median age of 1 year (0 e21). A total of 96 (37.1%) patients suffered a chronic illness. The main reason for PICU admission was respiratory illness, at 50.2% (n ¼ 130). Significantly lower values were observed for heart rate (p ¼ 0.002), breathing rate (p < 0.001), and degree of discomfort (p < 0.001) during the music therapy session. Conclusions: Live music therapy results in reduced heart rates, breathing rates, and paediatric patient discomfort levels. Although music therapy is not widely used in the PICU, our results suggest that using interventions such as that used in this study could help reduce patient discomfor

AMPK activation promotes lipid droplet dispersion on detyrosinated microtubules to increase mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation

Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular organelles that provide fatty acids (FAs) to cellular processes including synthesis of membranes and production of metabolic energy. While known to move bidirectionally along microtubules (MTs), the role of LD motion and whether it facilitates interaction with other organelles are unclear. Here we show that during nutrient starvation, LDs and mitochondria relocate on detyrosinated MT from the cell centre to adopt a dispersed distribution. In the cell periphery, LD-mitochondria interactions increase and LDs efficiently supply FAs for mitochondrial beta-oxidation. This cellular adaptation requires the activation of the energy sensor AMPK, which in response to starvation simultaneously increases LD motion, reorganizes the network of detyrosinated MTs and activates mitochondria. In conclusion, we describe the existence of a specialized cellular network connecting the cellular energetic status and MT dynamics to coordinate the functioning of LDs and mitochondria during nutrient scarcity