Radio propagation measurements and modeling for standardization of the site general path loss model in International Telecommunications Union recommendations for 5G wireless networks

The International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU‐R) Study Group 3 identified the need for a number of radio channel models in anticipation of the World Radiocommunications Conference in 2019 when the frequency allocation for 5G will be discussed. In response to the call for propagation path loss models, members of the study group carried out measurements in the frequency bands between 0.8 GHz up to 73 GHz in urban low rise and urban high rise as well as suburban environments. The data were subsequently merged to generate site general path loss models. The paper presents an overview of the radio channel measurements, the measured environments, the data analysis and the approach for the derivation of the path loss model adopted in Recommendation ITU‐R P.1411‐10

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Control genético de caracteres de importancia económica relacionados con la panícula de arroz mediante un triple cruzamiento prueba

A triple test cross analysis was carried out to study the genetics of some panicle related traits of agronomic importance in "Basmati" rice. Partitioning of total epistasis into i type and j + l type of epistasis revealed that j + l types of interactions were significant for number of panicle per plant and yield per plant. Additive and dominance gene effects were important for panicle length, number of secondary branches per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, number of sterile grains per panicle and panicle density. However, additive effects were the only source of variation for number of primaryv branches per plant and fertility percentage. The magnitude of additive variance was higher for all the traits and the degree of dominance was less than unity indicating partial dominance. The non-significant correlation between sums and differences did not show any evidence of directional dominance. Epistatic interactions j + l type can be manipulated to improve number of panicles per plant and yield per plant through recurrent selection. The predominance of additive gene effect suggests the occurrence of selection in late segregating populations however, early selection is proposed for number of primary branches per panicle and fertility percentage to improve rice yield.Se ha llevado a cabo un análisis mediante cruzamientos prueba para estudiar la genética de algunos caracteres de importancia agronómica relacionados con la panícula del arroz tipo "Basmati". La separación de la epistasia total en dos tipos, i (aditivo x aditivo) y j + l (aditivo x dominancia y dominancia x dominancia), reveló que las interacciones de tipo j + l eran estadísticamente significativas para el número de panículas por planta y para el rendimiento de la planta. Los efectos génicos aditivos y dominantes fueron importantes para la longitud de la panícula, el número de ramas secundarias, el número de granos llenos y estériles por panícula, así como para la densidad de panícula. Sin embargo, los efectos aditivos fueron la única fuente de variación para el número de ramas primarias por planta y para el porcentaje de fertilidad. La varianza aditiva fue mayor para todos los caracteres y el grado de dominancia fue menor que la unidad, lo que indica una dominancia parcial. La correlación no significativa entre sumas y diferencias no mostró ninguna evidencia de dominancia direccional. Estos resultados indican que las interacciones epistáticas de tipo j + l pueden ser manipuladas para la mejora de los caracteres número de panículas por planta y rendimiento por planta mediante selección recurrente. El hecho de que predominen los efectos génicos aditivos sugiere la ocurrencia de selección en poblaciones tardías en segregación. Por ello, para la mejora del rendimiento de arroz se propone una selección temprana para el número de ramas primarias por panícula y para el porcentaje de fertilidad

Measuring skewness: We do not assume much

Since skewness plays a vital role in different engineering phenomena, its accurate measurement gains significance. Several measures have been taken to quantify the extent of skewness in distributions over the years, but each measure is subject to some serious limitations. In this regard, the present study aims to propose a new skewness measuring functional based on distribution function evaluated at mean with minimal assumptions and limitations. Four well-recognized properties for an appropriate measure of skewness were verified and demonstrated for the new measure. A comparison was made between the new measure and the conventional moment-based measure using both functionals over the range of distributions available in the literature. Furthermore, the robustness of the proposed measure against unusual data points was explored using influence function. The mathematical findings were verified through meticulous simulation studies; further, they were verified by real data sets derived from diverse fields of inquiries. As observed, compared to the classical moment-based measure, the proposed one passed all the checks with distinction. Given the computational simplicity, applicability in a more general environment, and preservation of c-ordering of distribution, the proposed measure may be regarded as an attractive addition to the family of skewness measures.Scopu

Efficacy and safety of delafloxacin, ceftaroline, ceftobiprole, and tigecycline for the empiric treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: This review aimed to conduct an indirect comparison using a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the efficacy and safety of delafloxacin versus other single antibiotic regimens for the empiric treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections. Method: A systematic search with no start date restrictions was conducted. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of included RCTs. Results: Of the 577 studies initially identified, nine RCTs were included in the review. The network meta-analysis showed that ceftaroline, ceftobiprole, delafloxacin and tigecycline had similar efficacy in the indirect comparisons [Ceftaroline Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.2, 95% Crl = 0.46–3.6), ceftobiprole (OR = 1.3, 95% Crl = 0.34–3.0) and tigecycline (OR = 0.96, 95% Crl = 0.30–2.9)]. However, the ranking plot for the intention to treat (ITT) population showed that delafloxacin had a probability of 80.8% to be ranked first followed by ceftobiprole (13.1%). The analysis of the overall adverse events showed that ceftaroline (OR = 0.88, 95% Crl = 0.65–1.2), ceftobiprole (OR = 1.1, 95% Crl = 0.69–2.0), delafloxacin (OR = 0.88, 95% Crl = 0.57–1.3) and tigecycline (OR = 1.4, 95% Crl = 0.88–2.2) had similar safety profiles. Conclusion: Delafloxacin did not show any statistically significant differences when compared to ceftaroline, ceftobiprole, and tigecycline in terms of efficacy and safety. However, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probability ranked delafloxacin as the first option for the ITT population. © 2022 The AuthorsOpen access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Auctions: Research Opportunities in Marketing

Despite growing interest in traditional and Internet auctions, the marketing literature on auctions is sparse. This paper outlines selected aspects of the research opportunity. We provide a brief description of the major auction mechanisms, outline key concepts and results from the economic analysis of auctions, and summarize the key findings in empirical tests of auction theory. We then identify areas for future research on auction markets, particularly those of interest to marketers in the new contexts created by the Internet