Joint optimization for wireless sensor networks in critical infrastructures

Energy optimization represents one of the main goals in wireless sensor network design where a typical sensor node has usually operated by making use of the battery with limited-capacity. In this thesis, the following main problems are addressed: first, the joint optimization of the energy consumption and the delay for conventional wireless sensor networks is presented. Second, the joint optimization of the information quality and energy consumption of the wireless sensor networks based structural health monitoring is outlined. Finally, the multi-objectives optimization of the former problem under several constraints is shown. In the first main problem, the following points are presented: we introduce a joint multi-objective optimization formulation for both energy and delay for most sensor nodes in various applications. Then, we present the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker analysis to demonstrate the optimal solution for each formulation. We introduce a method of determining the knee on the Pareto front curve, which meets the network designer interest for focusing on more practical solutions. The sensor node placement optimization has a significant role in wireless sensor networks, especially in structural health monitoring. In the second main problem of this work, the existing work optimizes the node placement and routing separately (by performing routing after carrying out the node placement). However, this approach does not guarantee the optimality of the overall solution. A joint optimization of sensor placement, routing, and flow assignment is introduced and is solved using mixed-integer programming modelling. In the third main problem of this study, we revisit the placement problem in wireless sensor networks of structural health monitoring by using multi-objective optimization. Furthermore, we take into consideration more constraints that were not taken into account before. This includes the maximum capacity per link and the node-disjoint routing. Since maximum capacity constraint is essential to study the data delivery over limited-capacity wireless links, node-disjoint routing is necessary to achieve load balancing and longer wireless sensor networks lifetime. We list the results of the previous problems, and then we evaluate the corresponding results

Two different timing of intra uterine insemination in patients of unexplained infertility: a randomized clinical trial

Background: Unexplained infertility is diagnosed when the basic infertility workup is found to be normal. The objective was to compare between the results of IUI performance at 24 hours or 36 hours after hCG injection in couples with unexplained infertility.Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted on 250 patients diagnosed with unexplained infertility who were randomly allocated in two equal groups. Each patient received ovulation induction. Follicular growth scanning was performed, patients received 10.000 hCG injection when there was mature follicle equaled to or more than 18mm. Then they randomly allocated to either group 1 who underwent IUI 24 hours after hCG injection or group 2 who underwent IUI 36 hours after hCG injection.Results: The positive qualitative serum β -hCG test was higher in group 1 who received IUI  24 hours after hGC injection, 24%, while in group 2 who received IUI  36 hours after hGC injection, it was 16.8% but no statistical differences between the two studied groups  could be observed. The most important finding in this study is that the clinical pregnancy rate in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2.Conclusions: Earlier IUI procedures increased the clinical pregnancy rate in patients with unexplained infertility during ovulation induction with gonadotropins. Correct timing of insemination is essential

Utility of amnioinfusion in deliveries complicated by meconium stained liquor: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Meconium stained amniotic fluid could be seen in 12-16 % of deliveries. Meconium is toxic to the newborn lung. Its presence during labour increases the risk to develop neonatal respiratory distress by about 100 times more. Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) occurs in about 5% of deliveries with meconium-stained amniotic fluid and death occurs in about 12% of infants with MAS. Intrapartum amnioinfusion was described as a way to dilute meconium or act as a mechanical cushioning of the umbilical cord to prevent its compression .The aim of this study is to perform a randomized controlled clinical trial to test the hypothesis that amnioinfusion can reduce the incidence of caesarean deliveries and perinatal morbidity associated with meconium stained amniotic fluid.Methods: An interventional randomized study was conducted in Hai Jamaa hospital. 360 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were in labour with meconium stained liquor above 37 weeks. They were randomly allocated in two groups. Group 1: amnioinfusion group and Group 2: non amnioinfusion group.Results: Significant reduction of cesarean section rate due to fetal distress. Also significant reduction of prevalence of variable fetal heart rate decelerations, and significant reduction of incidence of MAS in patients received amnioinfusion.Conclusions: Amnioinfusion is an easy, safe and inexpensive procedure useful in patients with meconium stained liquor

Usefulness of bladder dissection in cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial

Background: There are various different methods of performing a caesarean section. With the increasing rate of repeat cesarean sections, it is necessary to recognize evidence based techniques to improve outcomes and minimize complications. Dissection of a bladder flap was an integral step in standard cesarean section. Cancelation of the bladder dissection is one the modifications that showed to be safe and cost effective. The aim of this study is to perform a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of cancelling the bladder dissection.Methods: 1674 patients were enrolled in the study from May 2013 until October 2015. The patients were assigned for non-emergent cesarean section above 32weeks. They were randomly allocated in the 2 groups.Group1:838 patients to whom uterine incision made without incision or dissection of the bladder peritoneum. Group 2: 836 patients to whom incision and dissection of a bladder peritoneum done prior to uterine incision.Results: Significant reduction of the total operating time, skin to delivery time, micro hematuria, dysuria, urinary retention, blood loss in group 1. The were insignificant difference between the groups as regards hospital days, febrile morbidity, wound infection rate, admission to neonatal intensive care unit and readmission rate.Conclusions: Non dissection of the bladder peritoneum achieved short-term advantages as regards reduction of operating time, incision-delivery duration and decreased blood loss; long-term effects still to be studied

Tension-free transobturator vaginal tape and autologous rectus fascia transobturator vaginal sling for the treatment of urinary stress incontinence: a prospective clinical study

Background: A large proportion of adult women complain of urinary incontinence, which has considerable drawbacks on their quality of life and social incorporation in the community. Conservative measures had been tried for several decades but with limited efficacy in huge proportion of patients. Vaginal sling procedures, since it was introduced in medical field had achieved good success rates with low complication rates. However, they still cause problems. Since Ulmsten introduced the tension-free vaginal tape in 1995, it has become a popular method for surgical treatment of urodynamically proven USI. In this study, we are going to compare between tension-free Trans obturator vaginal tape (TVT-O) using synthetic polypropylene macro porous monofilament mesh and autologous rectus fascia Trans obturator sling.Methods: 80 patients had stress urinary incontinence were randomly assigned to either group (1) who underwent insertion of synthetic tension free vaginal tape using (Aris- Transobturator Sling System) or group to (2) to whom autologous rectus fascia transobturator vaginal sling was applied.Results: Objective and subjective cure rates were comparable in both groups, but patients in group (1) had shorter operative time and less duration of post-operative catheterization. Patients in group (1) were statistically more satisfied than patients in group (2).Conclusions: Both techniques are effective in the treatment of female stress incontinenc

Balancing Energy Consumption and Average End-to-End Delay for Optimum Routing Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) have a power source limitation constraint, which affects the full functionality of its nodes. Existing research focuses on extending the lifetime of the network or minimizing its delay. Energy and delay are introduced into a cost function to optimize the data delivery to the sink. The optimization process becomes more complicated when the network size is increased. A practical routing algorithm is needed to match node capacity and achieve near-optimal lifetime and acceptable delay limits. Angular Directional Routing (ADR) is implemented. ADR routes data based on angles between nodes and the direct path to the destination. Simulations show that ADR outperforms other well-known routing protocols, in terms of average end-to-end delay and energy-efficiency. ADR has the potential to increase network lifetime more effectively than Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol. ADR achieves a lower delay compared to Flow Augmentation Routing (FAR)

Usefulness of bladder dissection in cesarean section: a randomized controlled trial

Background: There are various different methods of performing a caesarean section. With the increasing rate of repeat cesarean sections, it is necessary to recognize evidence based techniques to improve outcomes and minimize complications. Dissection of a bladder flap was an integral step in standard cesarean section. Cancelation of the bladder dissection is one the modifications that showed to be safe and cost effective. The aim of this study is to perform a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of cancelling the bladder dissection.Methods: 1674 patients were enrolled in the study from May 2013 until October 2015. The patients were assigned for non-emergent cesarean section above 32weeks. They were randomly allocated in the 2 groups.Group1:838 patients to whom uterine incision made without incision or dissection of the bladder peritoneum. Group 2: 836 patients to whom incision and dissection of a bladder peritoneum done prior to uterine incision.Results: Significant reduction of the total operating time, skin to delivery time, micro hematuria, dysuria, urinary retention, blood loss in group 1. The were insignificant difference between the groups as regards hospital days, febrile morbidity, wound infection rate, admission to neonatal intensive care unit and readmission rate.Conclusions: Non dissection of the bladder peritoneum achieved short-term advantages as regards reduction of operating time, incision-delivery duration and decreased blood loss; long-term effects still to be studied

Multimodal Analgesia Prolongs Duration of Postoperative Analgesia and Decreases Postoperative Pain Intensity in Short Surgical Procedures: a Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Background: We examined the effect of preoperative combination of different analgesics and the role of each individual analgesic compared to control regarding postoperative pain, Methods: patients were randomly allocated into either control; multiple treatment, perfalgan, opioid and voltaren group. The time for first request for analgesia and visual analogue score were compared by analysis of variance and tuckey Kramer test. Results:There was a main effect of treatment p>0.0001 in favor of multi-analgesia and opioid groups. Multi-analgesia group was better than opioid group p=0.016. There was a little improvement with paracetamol (perfalgan) but no effect of voltaren on duration of analgesia nevertheless;both have reduced VAS relative to control. Conclusion: Combination ofnon-opioid analgesicsDiclofenac Na (voltaren), Paracetamol (perfalgan) with low dose morphine and dexamethasone have greatly prolonged duration of analgesia and reduced pain intensity without displaying notable side effects