Efficient Detectors for MIMO-OFDM Systems under Spatial Correlation Antenna Arrays

This work analyzes the performance of the implementable detectors for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique under specific and realistic operation system condi- tions, including antenna correlation and array configuration. Time-domain channel model has been used to evaluate the system performance under realistic communication channel and system scenarios, including different channel correlation, modulation order and antenna arrays configurations. A bunch of MIMO-OFDM detectors were analyzed for the purpose of achieve high performance combined with high capacity systems and manageable computational complexity. Numerical Monte-Carlo simulations (MCS) demonstrate the channel selectivity effect, while the impact of the number of antennas, adoption of linear against heuristic-based detection schemes, and the spatial correlation effect under linear and planar antenna arrays are analyzed in the MIMO-OFDM context.Comment: 26 pgs, 16 figures and 5 table

Overview of Hybrid Ventilation Control System and Full Scale Monitoring

Mix-mode or hybrid ventilation systems have been previously shown to reduce cooling and ventilation energy consumption. This paper presents a case study of a new ten story 83,700 ft² (7,780 m²) office building in downtown Tokyo with a hybrid ventilation system that uses only 1.7% of the building footprint for ventilation shafts. The control system design is presented as an example of balancing the comfort expectations of multiple tenants in a mix-mode system. On-site measurements are presented from a three week commissioning project to show: modest temperature differences within the occupied zone with a maximum difference of 1.5 °F (0.83 °C), large differences of up to 6.1 °F (3.4 °C) between the measured outdoor temperature in the control system and the actual inlet temperature for the natural ventilation system, the importance of smooth integration of various design teams, and the use of low-power fans, 1.2-0.60 hp (900-450 W), that leverage the low pressure drop through the building when natural driving forces are insufficient for pure natural ventilation. Practical lessons learned from the design and commissioning of the building are also shared.Hulic Co., Ltd

H3K9 Demethylases JMJD1A and JMJD1B Control Prospermatogonia to Spermatogonia Transition in Mouse Germline

Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation is dynamically regulated by methyltransferases and demethylases. In spermatogenesis, prospermatogonia differentiate into differentiating or undifferentiated spermatogonia after birth. However, the epigenetic regulation of prospermatogonia to spermatogonia transition is largely unknown. We found that perinatal prospermatogonia have extremely low levels of di-methylated H3K9 (H3K9me2) and that H3K9 demethylases, JMJD1A and JMJD1B, catalyze H3K9me2 demethylation in perinatal prospermatogonia. Depletion of JMJD1A and JMJD1B in the embryonic germline resulted in complete loss of male germ cells after puberty, indicating that H3K9me2 demethylation is essential for male germline maintenance. JMJD1A/JMJD1B-depleted germ cells were unable to differentiate into functional spermatogonia. JMJD1 isozymes contributed to activation of several spermatogonial stem cell maintenance genes through H3K9 demethylation during the prospermatogonia to spermatogonia transition, which we propose is key for spermatogonia development. In summary, JMJD1A/JMJD1B-mediated H3K9me2 demethylation promotes prospermatogonia to differentiate into functional spermatogonia by establishing proper gene expression profiles

Autistic Traits and Brain Activation during Face-to-Face Conversations in Typically Developed Adults

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. The severity of these characteristics is posited to lie on a continuum that extends into the general population. Brain substrates underlying ASD have been investigated through functional neuroimaging studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, fMRI has methodological constraints for studying brain mechanisms during social interactions (for example, noise, lying on a gantry during the procedure, etc.). In this study, we investigated whether variations in autism spectrum traits are associated with changes in patterns of brain activation in typically developed adults. We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a recently developed functional neuroimaging technique that uses near-infrared light, to monitor brain activation in a natural setting that is suitable for studying brain functions during social interactions. METHODOLOGY: We monitored regional cerebral blood volume changes using a 52-channel NIRS apparatus over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and superior temporal sulcus (STS), 2 areas implicated in social cognition and the pathology of ASD, in 28 typically developed participants (14 male and 14 female) during face-to-face conversations. This task was designed to resemble a realistic social situation. We examined the correlations of these changes with autistic traits assessed using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Both the PFC and STS were significantly activated during face-to-face conversations. AQ scores were negatively correlated with regional cerebral blood volume increases in the left STS during face-to-face conversations, especially in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate successful monitoring of brain function during realistic social interactions by NIRS as well as lesser brain activation in the left STS during face-to-face conversations in typically developed participants with higher levels of autistic traits

Periostin is essential for cardiac healingafter acute myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common and lethal heart disease, and the recruitment of fibroblastic cells to the infarct region is essential for the cardiac healing process. Although stiffness of the extracellular matrix in the infarct myocardium is associated with cardiac healing, the molecular mechanism of cardiac healing is not fully understood. We show that periostin, which is a matricellular protein, is important for the cardiac healing process after AMI. The expression of periostin protein was abundant in the infarct border of human and mouse hearts with AMI. We generated periostin−/− mice and found no morphologically abnormal cardiomyocyte phenotypes; however, after AMI, cardiac healing was impaired in these mice, resulting in cardiac rupture as a consequence of reduced myocardial stiffness caused by a reduced number of α smooth muscle actin–positive cells, impaired collagen fibril formation, and decreased phosphorylation of FAK. These phenotypes were rescued by gene transfer of a spliced form of periostin. Moreover, the inhibition of FAK or αv-integrin, which blocked the periostin-promoted cell migration, revealed that αv-integrin, FAK, and Akt are involved in periostin signaling. Our novel findings show the effects of periostin on recruitment of activated fibroblasts through FAK-integrin signaling and on their collagen fibril formation specific to healing after AMI

An asymptotic analysis for an integrable variant of the Lotka-Volterra prey-predator model via a determinant expansion technique

Abstract: The Hankel determinant appears in representations of solutions to several integrable systems. An asymptotic expansion of the Hankel determinant thus plays a key role in the investigation of asymptotic analysis of such integrable systems. This paper presents an asymptotic expansion formula of a certain Casorati determinant as an extension of the Hankel case. This Casorati determinant is then shown to be associated with the solution to the discrete hungry Lotka-Volterra (dhLV) system, which is an integrable variant of the famous prey-predator model in mathematical biology. Finally, the asymptotic behavior of the dhLV system is clarified using the expansion formula for the Casorati determinant

Efficacy and Safety of External-beam Radiation Therapy for Unresectable Primary or Local Recurrent Cholangiocarcinoma

Background/Aim: Treatment options for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma are limited. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of definitive external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Patients and Methods: Patients with unresectable primary cholangiocarcinoma, or local recurrent cholangiocarcinoma after primary surgery, without distant metastasis who received definitive EBRT (≥45 Gy) between January 2006 and December 2020 at our Institution were analyzed retrospectively. EBRT was basically performed using conventional fractionation (1.8-2 Gy per fraction). Prophylactic nodal irradiation was not performed. Results: A total of 21 consecutive patients were analyzed: 7 primary and 14 recurrent cases. The median age was 70 (range=38–85) years at initiation of EBRT. A median dose of 54 (range=45-60) Gy comprising 1.8 (range=1.8-3) Gy per fraction was administered to the primary/recurrent local tumor site. The median follow-up period was 21.6 months. The 2-year overall survival, cause-specific survival, progression-free survival, and local recurrence-free rates were 35.7, 35.7, 16.1, and 32.7%, respectively. Long-term local control (>2 years after EBRT) was achieved in 19.0%. Grade 3 toxicities related to EBRT were observed in 4.8% (duodenum hemorrhage). No grade 4 or higher toxicities were observed. Conclusion: Definitive EBRT for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma was feasible and achieved long-term local control in a subset of patients. As the avoidance of local recurrence may lead to the benefits of prolonging biliary patency and subsequently alleviating the need for an invasive procedure for biliary drainage, EBRT could be one sustainable therapeutic option for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma