Traffic classification and prediction, and fast uplink grant allocation for machine type communications via support vector machines and long short-term memory

Abstract. The current random access (RA) allocation techniques suffer from congestion and high signaling overhead while serving machine type communication (MTC) applications. Therefore, 3GPP has introduced the need to use fast uplink grant (FUG) allocation. This thesis proposes a novel FUG allocation based on support vector machine (SVM) and long short-term memory (LSTM). First, MTC devices are prioritized using SVM classifier. Second, LSTM architecture is used to predict activation time of each device. Both results are used to achieve an efficient resource scheduler in terms of the average latency and total throughput. Furthermore, a set of correction techniques is introduced to overcome the classification and prediction errors. The Coupled Markov Modulated Poisson Process (CMMPP) traffic model is applied to compare the proposed FUG allocation to other existing allocation techniques. In addition, an extended traffic model based CMMPP is used to evaluate the proposed algorithm in a more dense network. Our simulation results show the proposed model outperforms the existing RA allocation schemes by achieving the highest throughput and the lowest access delay when serving the target massive and critical MTC applications

Differential potency of vitamin D3, folic acid and memantine in protecting against neurobehavioral alterations of scopolamine induced Alzheimer’s model in rats

Background: Alzheimer disease is the cause of 60% to 70% of cases of dementia in elderly people, it is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and worsens over time. AD is characterized by the presence of senile plaques enriched with insoluble aggregate of beta-amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles and cholinergic neuronal degeneration in the brain tissue, leading to neural dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and critical pathological perturbations.Methods: Thirty-six males were classified into control group, Alzheimer-induced model (scopolamine 2.5 mg/kg IP once daily for 21 days). Folic acid-treated group (4 mg/kg, IP) once daily for 21 days with scopolamine. Vitamin D3-treated group (42 IU/kg, SC) once daily for 21 days with scopolamine. Vitamin D3 and folic acid-treated group (vitamin D3; 42 IU/kg, SC and folic acid; 4 mg/kg, IP) once daily with scopolamine for 21 days. Memantine-treated group (20 mg/kg IP) once daily with scopolamine for 21 days.Results: Induction of Alzheimer’s showed significant decrease in brain tissue levels of BDNF, Ach, glutathione reductase and significant increase in amyloid peptide 1-42 level with significant memory impairment, significant increase of initial acquisition latency, firstt retention latency and second retention latency. While administration of folic acid, vitamin D3, memantine separately or in combination resulted insignificant increase of brain tissue levels of BDNF, Ach, glutathione reductase with significant reduction of amyloid peptide 1-42 level with significant memory improvement (significant decrease IAL, first RL and second RL). Also showed improvement of histopathological changes occurred in the brain.Conclusions: Data obtained in the present study revealed that treatment of experimentally induced alzheimer rats with folic acid or vitamin D3 or memantine separately or combined group (folic acid+vitamin D3) resulted in significant increase of brain tissue levels of BDNF, acetyl choline, glutathione reductase with significant reduction of amyloid peptide 1-42 level with significant decrease of IAL, first RL and second RL to reach the platform with improvement of histopathological changes occurred in the brain. But combined and memantine-treated groups resulted in more significant improvement than other treated groups

Effect of Health Education on Women's Perception Regarding Screening and Early Detection for Common Cancer Among Women at Reproductive Age at Beni - Suef City, Egypt

Background: Cancer is a major public health problem throughout the world and the leading cause of death among women. There are two major components of early detection of cancer: education to promote early diagnosis and screening. Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent common cancer among women in Egypt and is estimated to be the cause of 22 percent all cancer-related female deaths. Although it affects many fewer women, cervical cancer is the 13th most common cancer among women in Egypt. Early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment. The aim of this study: To determine the effects of health education on women perception, screening and early detection for common cancer at reproductive age at Beni - Suef City, Egypt. Study design: Quasi- experimental research design was used. The study was funded through scientific research development center and all investigation was done free for each woman under the care of the Projects Funding and Granting Unit at Beni-Suef University. Setting: the study conducted at gynecological outpatient clinic at Beni- Suef University and General Hospital. Sampling. a purposive sample of 412womenat reproductive age were selected randomly. It was conducted from June 2016 till the end of December 2016. Tools: Data was collected through structured interview and field note that the researchers were taking during participants’ and screening of the study sample at 2 days a week for six months to collecting data from the study sample. Results: the result of this research showed that the common cancer appear was breast cancer followed by ovarian cancer among study sample. Conclusion: The research has succeeded in early detection and raising the women’s awareness to prevention which will reducing the incidence of common cancer among the women at reproductive age with statistical significant relation after implementing the program and 34.7% of the study sample are positive to breast cancer this detected by Mammography and 21% of them are positive to ovarian cancer which detected by cancer antigen 125 CA 125. Recommendation: The research results recommended that, guide lines should be implementing to enhancing women's knowledge and practice to early detection and prevention of common cancer among women at reproductive age. Keywords: Early detection, prevention, cancer, Reproductive ag

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Targeting N-myristoylation for therapy of B-cell lymphomas

N-myristoyltransferases (NMTs) target many signaling proteins to membranes. Here the authors show an NMT inhibitor named PCLX-001 selectively kills lymphoma cells by shutting down their main survival signaling pathway and offers an additional treatment strategy for lymphoma patients

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background: There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low-and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods: Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results: Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion: For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication