Mediastinal tuberculosis in adult: case report

Mediastinal lymph node enlargement commonly seen in sarcoidosis, lung cancer, lymphoma and tuberculosis in children’s. Tuberculosis in adult mostly involve parenchyma of lung and very rarely involve mediastinal lymph nodes, here we report a 27-year-old male, non-diabetic, non-hypertensive, non-alcoholic and non-smoker who present with low grade fever and dry cough. Search for the cause of morbidity revealed him to be suffering from mediastinal tuberculosis. He was treated for tuberculosis with ATT

Whole-blood sorting, enrichment and in situ immunolabeling of cellular subsets using acoustic microstreaming

Analyzing undiluted whole human blood is a challenge due to its complex composition of hematopoietic cellular populations, nucleic acids, metabolites, and proteins. We present a novel multi-functional microfluidic acoustic streaming platform that enables sorting, enrichment and in situ identification of cellular subsets from whole blood. This single device platform, based on lateral cavity acoustic transducers (LCAT), enables (1) the sorting of undiluted donor whole blood into its cellular subsets (platelets, RBCs, and WBCs), (2) the enrichment and retrieval of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) spiked in donor whole blood at rare cell relevant concentrations (10 mL− 1), and (3) on-chip immunofluorescent labeling for the detection of specific target cellular populations by their known marker expression patterns. Our approach thus demonstrates a compact system that integrates upstream sample processing with downstream separation/enrichment, to carry out multi-parametric cell analysis for blood-based diagnosis and liquid biopsy blood sampling

No Quantum Speedup over Gradient Descent for Non-Smooth Convex Optimization

We study the first-order convex optimization problem, where we have black-box access to a (not necessarily smooth) function $f:\mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}$ and its (sub)gradient. Our goal is to find an $\epsilon$-approximate minimum of $f$ starting from a point that is distance at most $R$ from the true minimum. If $f$ is $G$-Lipschitz, then the classic gradient descent algorithm solves this problem with $O((GR/\epsilon)^{2})$ queries. Importantly, the number of queries is independent of the dimension $n$ and gradient descent is optimal in this regard: No deterministic or randomized algorithm can achieve better complexity that is still independent of the dimension $n$. In this paper we reprove the randomized lower bound of $\Omega((GR/\epsilon)^{2})$ using a simpler argument than previous lower bounds. We then show that although the function family used in the lower bound is hard for randomized algorithms, it can be solved using $O(GR/\epsilon)$ quantum queries. We then show an improved lower bound against quantum algorithms using a different set of instances and establish our main result that in general even quantum algorithms need $\Omega((GR/\epsilon)^2)$ queries to solve the problem. Hence there is no quantum speedup over gradient descent for black-box first-order convex optimization without further assumptions on the function family.Comment: 25 page

Fully-integrated mm-Wave Full-duplexing and MIMO Multi-beamforming Receiver Techniques for 5G and Beyond

In recent years, the research community's interest in fully integrated mm-Wave wireless communication systems has increased significantly. With the standards for 5G NR now in place, the focus has shifted to actual deployment. Mm-Wave systems provide wider bandwidths, higher capacity, and lower latency than existing systems such as 4G. Higher path loss and shadowing, however, limit the network coverage at mm-Wave frequencies. The possibility of beamforming due to compact antenna size at mm-Wave and range-extending repeaters help mitigate challenges arising from path loss and relax link budget requirements. In the first part of the thesis, fully integrated scalable MIMO multi-beamforming phased-array to enable unit-tile based densely packed (lambda=2) large scale phased-arrays is demonstrated. Large scale arrays enhance Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and/or Effective Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) and help meet link budget. In the second part, mm-Wave Full-duplex (FD) receiver (RX) to implement Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) and repeaters in a spectrum efficient way is demonstrated. Dense deployment of IAB and repeaters enhances link robustness and range of connectivity. Two Integrated Chips (ICs) are fabricated and measured for demonstration. In the first IC, a 4-element MIMO RX array with multi-beamforming and simplified single wire intermediate frequency (IF) IO is presented. The evolution of mm-wave phased array receivers to MIMO RX promises multi-beamforming and improved capacity. Digital Beamforming (DBF) provides the highest flexibility for multibeamforming. However, it suffers from # of ADCs scaling with the # of elements and absence of spatial filtering prior to the ADCs. Mm-Wave MIMO arrays must also address the challenge of increased IO routing while supporting dense ll-factors with =2 antenna spacing. In this work, a MIMO multi-beamforming RX array architecture with simultaneous spatial filtering and single wire Frequency-domain Multiplexing (FDM) for 5G and beyond is presented. The proposed system preserves full MIMO field-of-view while ensuring a single IF interface. A 28 GHz 4-element RX prototype demonstrates the proposed functionality in 65-nm CMOS. The IC occupies only 3.4mm x 3.1mm for a four-element MIMO 28 GHz array and can form four independent beams with > 400MHz 3 dB BW and FDM on to a single IF interface. Mm-wave MIMO operation is demonstrated by concurrent reception of two wireless 28 GHz beams at 400 Mb/s (100 Msps, 16QAM) data rate. In the second IC, a 26-GHz fully integrated In-band Full-duplex (IBFD) Circulator receiver, which employs passive and active Self-interference Cancellation (SIC) techniques in the mm-Wave domain is presented. Coverage of wireless networks at mm-Wave frequencies can be enhanced by deploying a large number of base stations economically using wireless backhauling. Integrated access and backhaul nodes with spectrum reuse is an efficient way of wireless backhauling. To retain the channel capacity, IAB needs to be implemented using FD schemes that suffers from a strong Transmitter (TX) to RX leakage. This SI leakage can significantly impact the receiver sensitivity and increase the baseband/ADC dynamic range requirements. Canceling SI at mm-Wave applications is challenging given the high frequency of operation, wide bandwidths, and antenna (ANT) impedance sensitivity to the surroundings. Proposed mm-Wave RX with a shared ANT interface based on a Circulator with active SI cancelers provide ~53 dB SIC over 400MHz and ~40 dB SIC over 400MHz to meet the link budget requirements. Proposed architecture achieves SIC by (i) introducing a shared ANT interface based on a hybrid-coupler and a Non-reciprocal Transmission Line (NTL) that provides wideband SIC and additionally creating a SI replica (ii) subsequent active cancellation using SI replica along with variable gain and phase shifters to accommodate SI channel variations. Proposed 26-GHz RX consumes only ~111mW power. The system is implemented in 45nm SOI CMOS and has an active area of 4.54mm². Stand-alone RX NF is ~5.8 dB, and TX to ANT Insertion Loss (IL) is ~3.1 dB. Over-the-Air (OTA) measurements with modulated TX (128 QAM 2.1 Gb/s) and RX (128 QAM 4.2 Gb/s) signals show an EVM of 3.3% when PTX = PRX

Design of 28 GHz Low-Power Phased-Array Receiver Frontend in CMOS

This work presents the design and implementation of a low power phased-array receiver frontend at 28 GHz in 65 nm CMOS. The frontend incorporates a low- power low-noise amplifier(LNA) and a passive reflection-type phase shifter (RTPS) capable of providing 360° phase shift with 5-bit phase resolution and low loss variation. Passive phase-shifters in the literature suffer from trade-offs between finite phase resolution, insertion loss and phase shift range, and hence do not provide 360° phase range with uniform, low loss across phase shift settings. The proposed systematic design and load optimization approach leads to the RTPS achieving state-of-art performance in terms of insertion loss with 360° phase shift range, loss variation across phase shift and rms phase error. The low-power LNA is based on a transformer-coupled neutralization architecture that increases gain in each LNA stage, allowing for lower power consumption. The phased-array frontend is designed for Ka-band applications and has been characterized in 65nm CMOS from 26 GHz -30 GHz. The measured RTPS achieves 360 degrees phase shift with -7.75+/-0.3 dB and rms phase error of 0.3 degrees at 28 GHz. The low power phased-array receiver frontend has overall gain of 9.5 dB, gain variation of +/-0.4 dB and measured noise figure of 4.9 dB at 28 GHz. The receiver frontend consumes 10 mW from a 0.9 V supply with phase shifter and LNA active area of 0.16 mm² and 0.32 mm² respectively in 65nm CMOS, demonstrating its suitability for integration into low-power phased array receivers for emerging high data rate 5G wireless communication applications at 28 GHz

Separating Quantum Communication and Approximate Rank

One of the best lower bound methods for the quantum communication complexity of a function H (with or without shared entanglement) is the logarithm of the approximate rank of the communication matrix of H. This measure is essentially equivalent to the approximate gamma-2 norm and generalized discrepancy, and subsumes several other lower bounds. All known lower bounds on quantum communication complexity in the general unbounded-round model can be shown via the logarithm of approximate rank, and it was an open problem to give any separation at all between quantum communication complexity and the logarithm of the approximate rank. In this work we provide the first such separation: We exhibit a total function H with quantum communication complexity almost quadratically larger than the logarithm of its approximate rank. We construct H using the communication lookup function framework of Anshu et al. (FOCS 2016) based on the cheat sheet framework of Aaronson et al. (STOC 2016). From a starting function F, this framework defines a new function H=F_G. Our main technical result is a lower bound on the quantum communication complexity of F_G in terms of the discrepancy of F, which we do via quantum information theoretic arguments. We show the upper bound on the approximate rank of F_G by relating it to the Boolean circuit size of the starting function F

Relationship between body composition, inflammation and lung function in overweight and obese asthma

Background: The obese-asthma phenotype is not well defined. The aim of this study was to examine both mechanical and inflammatory influences, by comparing lung function with body composition and airway inflammation in overweight and obese asthma. Methods: Overweight and obese (BMI 28-40 kg/m2) adults with asthma (n = 44) completed lung function assessment and underwent full-body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Venous blood samples and induced sputum were analysed for inflammatory markers. Results: In females, android and thoracic fat tissue and total body lean tissue were inversely correlated with expiratory reserve volume (ERV). Conversely in males, fat tissue was not correlated with lung function, however there was a positive association between android and thoracic lean tissue and ERV. Lower body (gynoid and leg) lean tissue was positively associated with sputum %neutrophils in females, while leptin was positively associated with android and thoracic fat tissue in males. Conclusions: This study suggests that both body composition and inflammation independently affect lung function, with distinct differences between males and females. Lean tissue exacerbates the obese-asthma phenotype in females and the mechanism responsible for this finding warrants further investigation

Overnight 1-mg DST Serum Cortisol in Various Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease-Normative Data and Underlying Mechanisms.

CONTEXT: Data on the overnight 1 mg-dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST) in renal dysfunction are limited. OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine the normative range of ONDST cortisol across chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages and reasons for its alteration. METHODS: Prospectively, 180 CKD (30 each in G2-G5/5D) patients and 30 healthy controls underwent ONDST 8 Am serum cortisol (chemiluminescent immunoassay [CLIA]). In an exploratory cohort, 45 (15 each: G3b/G4, G5/G5D, and healthy controls) individuals\u27 blood biochemistry for basal (8 Am) cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), post-ONDST 8 Am dexamethasone, ACTH, cortisol (CLIA and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry), and 4 Pm cortisol was collected. RESULTS: Post-ONDST cortisol (µg/dL) correlated inversely (r = 0.47; P \u3c .005) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (mL/min/1.73 m2), with 95th percentile being 1.2 in controls, 3.0 in G2, 3.2 in G3a, 4.3 in G3b, 4.7 in G4, 5.7 in G5, and 7.1 in G5D. In the exploratory cohort, basal 8 am cortisol and ACTH, and post-ONDST dexamethasone were similar among controls and CKD subgroups. ONDST ACTH (for evaluating the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis) was slightly higher in G5/5D vs controls (8.9 vs 6.1 pg/mL), while it was similar in G3b/G4 vs controls. Median 8 am ONDST cortisol was similar on CLIA and LC-MS/MS in controls and higher on CLIA in G3b/4 (1.7 vs 1.1 µg/dL; P = .012) and G5/5D (2.4 vs 1.7 µg/dL; P = .002) than LC-MS/MS. Post-ONDST serum cortisol drop from 8 am to 4 pm was significant in controls (0.5-\u3c0.2 µg/dL) and G3b/4 (1.7-1.2 µg/dL), but not in G5/5D (2.4-2.2 µg/dL). CONCLUSION: The normative data of ONDST serum cortisol with eGFR-based cutoffs are useful in evaluating Cushing syndrome in CKD. Prolonged cortisol half-life and immunoassay-related assay cross-reaction are likely contributors to higher ONDST cortisol