Ultra Low-Complexity Detection of Spectrum Holes in Compressed Wideband Spectrum Sensing

Wideband spectrum sensing is a significant challenge in cognitive radios (CRs) due to requiring very high-speed analog- to-digital converters (ADCs), operating at or above the Nyquist rate. Here, we propose a very low-complexity zero-block detection scheme that can detect a large fraction of spectrum holes from the sub-Nyquist samples, even when the undersampling ratio is very small. The scheme is based on a block sparse sensing matrix, which is implemented through the design of a novel analog-to- information converter (AIC). The proposed scheme identifies some measurements as being zero and then verifies the sub-channels associated with them as being vacant. Analytical and simulation results are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in reliable detection of spectrum holes with complexity much lower than existing schemes. This work also introduces a new paradigm in compressed sensing where one is interested in reliable detection of (some of the) zero blocks rather than the recovery of the whole block sparse signal.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

An asymptomatic 11 year child with ruptured sinus of Valsalva

Ruptured sinus of Valsalva (RSOV) is a rare lesion in a paediatric age group. A right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm usually ruptures into the right ventricle, while aneurysms of non-coronary sinus do so into the right atrium. RSOV usually presents in the third decade of life with congestive heart failure and is more common among Asians with male predominance. It may present as acute cardiogenic shock and sudden death or may remain completely asymptomatic with incidental detection by a murmur. Surgery is indicated as early as possible, once the diagnosis is made as without surgery, most cases will eventually succumb to uncontrollable congestive heart failure. This article reports an 11 year old child with the diagnosis of ruptured sinus of Valsalva.peer-reviewe

Molecular level biological effects of silver and titania nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos

Nanotechnology raises issues concerning the toxic impact of nanoparticles (NPs) in organisms and the environment. Nanoparticles have been defined as materials with dimensions that are equal to or less than 100 nm. It is important to develop early warning tools of NP-induced biological effects to be able to monitor and manage for any possible impacts. In the current study, two types of NPs have been selected based on their wide use: silver-NPs (AgNPs) and titanium dioxide-NPs (TiO2NPs). Early zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed in vitro to 4-nm and 10-nm AgNPs, and to silver ions alone, and TiO2NPs have been used to measure the expression level of selected target genes. A global transcriptomic approach employing Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) was used in parallel to identify novel genes that may be involved in the fish embryo response as a result of exposure to NPs. TiO2NPs coated with different layers of anionic (PSS) and cationic (PAH) polyelectrolytes were also used to measure viability, morphology, and the expression level of selected target genes. The results indicate that pathways expressed in response to NP exposure differ among both AgNPs and TiO2NPs, either due to the size, concentration, exposure time, exposure conditions, surface chemistry and surface charge of coatings of the NPs. The responses indicate that D. rerio embryos respond to NPs with not only an oxidative stress response, but with transcripts associated with fertility and metabolic functions such as membrane transport and mitochondrial metabolism. This information may be used to inform early warning biomarker development for environmental monitoring applications in future

Affine invariant signed-rank multivariate exponentially weighted moving average control chart for process location monitoring

Multivariate statistical process control (SPC) charts for detecting possible shifts in mean vectors assume that data observation vectors follow a multivariate normal distribution. This assumption is ideal and seldom met. Nonparametric SPC charts have increasingly become viable alternatives to parametric counterparts in detecting process shifts when the underlying process output distribution is unknown, specifically when the process measurement is multivariate. This study examined a new nonparametric signed-rank multivariate exponentially weighted moving average type (SRMEWMA) control chart for monitoring location parameters. The control chart was based on adapting a multivariate spatial signed-rank test. The test was affine-invariant and the weighted version of this test was used to formulate the charting statistic by incorporating the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) scheme. The test\u27s in-control (IC) run length distribution was examined and the IC control limits were established for different multivariate distributions, both elliptically symmetrical and skewed. The average run length (ARL) performance of the scheme was computed using Monte Carlo simulation for select combinations of smoothing parameter, shift, and number of p-variate quality characteristics. The ARL performance was compared to the performance of the multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (MEWMA) and Hotelling T2. The control charts for observation vectors sampled the multivariate normal, multivariate t, and multivariate gamma distributions. The SRMEWMA control chart was applied to a real dataset example from aluminum smelter manufacturing that showed the SRMEWMA performed well. The newly investigated nonparametric multivariate SPC control chart for monitoring location parameters--the Signed-Rank Multivariate Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (SRMEWMA)--is a viable alternative control chart to the parametric MEWMA control chart and is sensitive to small shifts in the process location parameter. The signed-rank multivariate exponentially weighted moving average performance for data from elliptically symmetrical distributions is similar to that of the MEWMA parametric chart; however, SRMEWMA\u27s performance is superior to the performance of the MEWMA and Hotelling\u27s T2 control charts for data from skewed distributions

Kinetic Study of the Effect Some Novel Lipid Lowering Compounds on Creatine Kinase and 3-Hydroxy-3-Methy-Glutaryl-CoA Reductase Activities

Hyperlipidemia is one of the most important factors leading  to atherosclerosis and heart disease, therefore,  this study conducted to examine the effect of two newly synthesized compounds[3-(5-(ethylthio)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-2-(3-nitrophenyl)benzo[1-3-e] thiazin-4-one (I) and 5(4-dimethyl amino) benzylidene amino)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol(II)] on the activities of creatine kinase(CK) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl- CoA reductase (HMG-CoA redutase) in serum of hyperlipidemic patients in vitro study. Also to determine the type of inhibition of these compounds on the above enzymes which may be used as lipid lowering agents in future. The results revealed that compound I showed the best inhibition effect at 10-4 M concentration, while compound II showed the best inhibition effect at 10-5M concentration for both enzymes. The effect of compound I on CK activity was found to be noncompetitive inhibitor with Vmax values (1000 and 344.82)U/L respectively for the uninhibited and inhibited reactions and Km value (10)mmol/L while compound II was found to be competitive inhibitor with Vmax value (588.23)U/L and Km values (5.51 and 4)mmol/L respectively for the uninhibited and inhibited reactions. Compounds I and II were found to be competitive inhibitors on HMG-CoA reductase with Vmax value (0.020)U/L and Km values(0.339 and 0.125)mmol/L respectively for the uninhibited  and inhibited reactions for compound I and Vmax value (0.021) U/L and Km values(1.111 and 0.256)mmol/L respectively for the uninhibited and inhibited reactions for compound II. In conclusion the new compounds(I and II) showed different inhibitory effect on CK and HMG-CoA reductase activities that could be used in treatment of hyperlipidemia and related disease in future. Key words: lipid lowering compounds, CK and HMG-CoA reductase

Predicting Students Performance in Online Education through Deep Learning Model

This epidemic has prompted the development of Education 4.0, virtual learning, and the demand to adapt educational practices to meet the needs of younger demographics. A rising epidemic has necessitated the shutdown of campuses where education programs are now being carried out online in educational institutions all over the globe. The report includes a study on the effectiveness and perceptions of students toward digital learning during the pandemic. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Particle swarm optimization model, which forecasts the student’s learning rates, are used to tackle this issue. This study will categorize student performance into low, medium, and high grades to forecast student achievement. The Kaggle student’s performance assessment database is utilized to gather the student information logs, which are then pre-processed to eliminate noise and redundant data. The CNN derives features based on the student’s attention and arbitrary patterns sequencing by examining the pre-processed information. Then, utilizing the Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance (mRMR) approach, the retrieved characteristics are evaluated. The lowest one that treats each characteristic individually is chosen as the greatest feature by mRMR. CNN uses stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) to calculate the characteristic weights, which are then modified for improved extracting features. Finally, the CNN-WOA method forecasts the final academic achievement forecast outcome. Studies revealed that the suggested approach outperforms existing ones in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and F-score while requiring less computing time

Interactive Multimedia Learning On Health Care Among Lebanese Women: An Exploratory Study

Multimedia learning greatly enhanced the learning outcome and experience of learners exposed to it. The proposed study will explore the usefulness of multimedia learning software devised to educate Lebanese pregnant women who have a low level of formal education about pregnancy and early infant care. The study will be based on the media richness theory. It is expected that through media rich programs, communication of information is facilitated, promoting the resolving of indecisiveness and ambiguity that stems out of the lack of knowledge or information about a given a subject and the inability to convey a meaning of what is being said respectively

RCC prolapse causing Aortic regurgitation in a restrictive VSD

The incidence of aortic right coronary cusp (RCC) prolapse in outlet ventricular septal defect (VSD) is reported at 5%- 16%. Detection of RCC prolapse is critical in patients with outlet VSD because this complication may cause permanent aortic regurgitation. Aortic regurgitation occurs due to a poorly supported RCC combined with the venturi effect due to the VSD jet resulting in cusp prolapse. This is an indication for VSD closure even if VSD is small and restrictive.peer-reviewe