Demonstration of the First Real-Time End-to-End 40-Gb/s PAM-4 for Next-Generation Access Applications using 10-Gb/s Transmitter

We demonstrate the first known experiment of a real-time end-to-end 40-Gb/s PAM-4 system for next-generation access applications using 10-Gb/s class transmitters only. Based on the measurement of a real-time 40-Gb/s PAM system, low-cost upstream and downstream link power budgets are estimated. Up to 27 dB and 25 dB power budgets for 10 km and 20 km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) upstream links using EDFA preamplifiers are achieved. For downstream links using booster EDFAs and APD receivers, power budgets of 26.5 dB and 24.5 dB are feasible for 10 km and 20 km SMFs, respectively. In addition, we show that colorless 40 Gb/s PAM-4 transmission over 20 km SMF in the C-band is achievabl

Influence of anisotropic conductivity of the white matter tissue on EEG source reconstruction a FEM simulation study

The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of the inclusion of anisotropic conductivity on EEG source reconstruction. We applied high-resolution finite element modeling and performed forward and inverse simulation with over 4000 single dipoles placed around an anisotropic volume block (with an anisotropic ratio of 1:10) in a rabbit brain. We investigated three different orientation of the dipoles with respect to the anisotropy in the white matter block. We found a weak influence of the anisotropy in the forward simulation on the electric potential. The relative difference measure (RDM) between the potentials simulated with and without taking into account anisotropy was less than 0.009. The changes in magnitude (MAG) ranged from 0.944 to 1.036. Using the potentials of the forward simulation derived with the anisotropic model and performing source reconstruction by employing the isotropic model led to dipole shifts of up to 2 mm, however the mean shift over all dipoles and orientations of 0.05 mm was smaller than the grid size of the FEM model (0.6 mm). However, we found the source strength estimation to be more influenced by the anisotropy (up to 7-times magnified dipole strength)

Exploring Graphs with Time Constraints by Unreliable Collections of Mobile Robots

A graph environment must be explored by a collection of mobile robots. Some of the robots, a priori unknown, may turn out to be unreliable. The graph is weighted and each node is assigned a deadline. The exploration is successful if each node of the graph is visited before its deadline by a reliable robot. The edge weight corresponds to the time needed by a robot to traverse the edge. Given the number of robots which may crash, is it possible to design an algorithm, which will always guarantee the exploration, independently of the choice of the subset of unreliable robots by the adversary? We find the optimal time, during which the graph may be explored. Our approach permits to find the maximal number of robots, which may turn out to be unreliable, and the graph is still guaranteed to be explored. We concentrate on line graphs and rings, for which we give positive results. We start with the case of the collections involving only reliable robots. We give algorithms finding optimal times needed for exploration when the robots are assigned to fixed initial positions as well as when such starting positions may be determined by the algorithm. We extend our consideration to the case when some number of robots may be unreliable. Our most surprising result is that solving the line exploration problem with robots at given positions, which may involve crash-faulty ones, is NP-hard. The same problem has polynomial solutions for a ring and for the case when the initial robots' positions on the line are arbitrary. The exploration problem is shown to be NP-hard for star graphs, even when the team consists of only two reliable robots

Sampling the canonical phase from phase-space functions

We discuss the possibility of sampling exponential moments of the canonical phase from the s-parametrized phase space functions. We show that the sampling kernels exist and are well-behaved for any s>-1, whereas for s=-1 the kernels diverge in the origin. In spite of that we show that the phase space moments can be sampled with any predefined accuracy from the Q-function measured in the double-homodyne scheme with perfect detectors. We discuss the effect of imperfect detection and address sampling schemes using other measurable phase-space functions. Finally, we discuss the problem of sampling the canonical phase distribution itself.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, REVTe

Total and corrected antioxidant capacity in hemodialyzed patients

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress may play a critical role in the vascular disease of end stage renal failure and hemodialysis patients. Studies, analyzing either discrete analytes and antioxidant substances, or the integrated total antioxidant activity of human plasma during hemodialysis, give contradictory results. METHODS: Recently, we have introduced a new automated method for the determination of Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of human plasma. We have serially measured TAC and corrected TAC (cTAC: after subtraction of the interactions due to endogenous uric acid, bilirubin and albumin) in 10 patients before the onset of the dialysis session, 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 3 h into the procedure and after completion of the session. RESULTS: Our results indicate that TAC decreases, reaching minimum levels at 2 h. However, corrected TAC increases with t(1/2 )of about 30 min. We then repeated the measurements in 65 patients undergoing dialysis with different filters (36 patients with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer resin filter -Eval-, 23 patients with two polysulfone filters -10 with F6 and 13 with PSN140-, and 6 patients with hemophan filters). Three specimens were collected (0, 30, 240 min). The results of this second group confirm our initial results, while no significant difference was observed using either filter. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are discussed under the point of view of possible mechanisms of modification of endogenous antioxidants, and the interaction of lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants

Waste processing facility location problem by stochastic programming: Models and solutions

The paper deals with the so-called waste processing facility location problem (FLP), which asks for establishing a set of operational waste processing units, optimal against the total expected cost. We minimize the waste management (WM) expenditure of the waste producers, which is derived from the related waste processing, transportation, and investment costs. We use a stochastic programming approach in recognition of the inherent uncertainties in this area. Two relevant models are presented and discussed in the paper. Initially, we extend the common transportation network flow model with on-and-off waste-processing capacities in selected nodes, representing the facility location. Subsequently, we model the randomly-varying production of waste by a scenario-based two-stage stochastic integer linear program. Finally, we employ selected pricing ideas from revenue management to model the behavior of the waste producers, who we assume to be environmentally friendly. The modeling ideas are illustrated on an example of limited size solved in GAMS. Computations on larger instances were realized with traditional and heuristic algorithms, implemented within MATLAB. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Influence of pharmacogenetics on response and toxicity in breast cancer patients treated with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) therapy is an effective treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Doxorubicin is a substrate for ABCB1 and SLC22A16 transporters. Cyclophosphamide is a prodrug that requires oxidation to 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide, which yields a cytotoxic alkylating agent. The initial oxidation is catalysed by cytochrome P450 enzymes including CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5. Polymorphic variants of the genes coding for these enzymes and transporters have been identified, which may influence the systemic pharmacology of the two drugs. It is not known whether this genetic variation has an impact on the efficacy or toxicity of AC therapy. METHODS: Germ line DNA samples from 230 patients with breast cancer on AC therapy were genotyped for the following SNPs: ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T, SLC22A16 A146G, T312C, T755C and T1226C, CYP2B6*2, *8, *9, *3, *4 and *5, CYP2C9*2 and *3, CYP3A5*3 and CYP2C19*2. Clinical data on survival, toxicity, demographics and pathology were collated. RESULTS: A lower incidence of dose delay, indicative of less toxicity, was seen in carriers of the SLC22A16 A146G, T312C, T755C variants. In contrast, a higher incidence of dose delay was seen in carriers of the SLC22A16 1226C, CYP2B6*2 and CYP2B6*5 alleles. The ABCB1 2677A, CYP2B6*2, CYP 2B6*8, CYP 2B6*9, CYP 2B6*4 alleles were associated with a worse outcome. CONCLUSION: Variant alleles in the ABCB1, SLC22A16 and CYP2B6 genes are associated with response to AC therapy in the treatment of breast cancer