Design and Implementation of a HardwareModule for MIMO Decoding in a 4G Wireless Receiver

Future 4th Generation (4G) wireless multiuser communication systems will have to provide advanced multimedia services to an increasing number of users, making good use of the scarce spectrum resources. Thus, 4G systemdesign should pursue both highertransmission bit rates and higher spectral efficiencies. To achieve this goal,multiple antenna systems are called to play a crucial role. In this contribution we address the implementation in FPGAs of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) decoder embedded in a prototype of a 4G mobile receiver. This MIMO decoder is part of a multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) radio system, equipped with multiple antennas at both ends of the link, that is able to handle up to 32 users and provides raw transmission bit-rates up to 125 Mbps. The task of the MIMO decoder is to appropriately combine the signals simultaneously received on all antennas to construct an improved signal, free of interference, from which to estimate the transmitted symbols. A comprehensive explanation of the complete design process is provided, including architectural decisions, floating-point to fixedpoint translation, and description of the validation procedure. We also report implementation results using FPGA devices of the Xilinx Virtex-4 family

Intrauterine infusion of platelet-rich plasma for severe Asherman syndrome: a cutting-edge approach

Asherman syndrome (AS) consists of intrauterine adhesions development as a consequence of trauma, radiation, or infection in the endometrium. Clinical symptoms include menstrual alterations, infertility, and pregnancy complications, such as recurrent pregnancy loss or abnormal placentation. In this article, we performed a narrative review of the literature, searching electronic databases (i.e., Medline, Pubmed, and Google Scholar) to summarize the available pieces of evidence about epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AS. Hysteroscopy is essential for diagnosis and treatment, although adhesions may recur. Different postoperative therapies have been proposed to prevent recurrence and restore impaired endometrial function and promote endometrial regeneration, although these effects are usually temporary. We report a case of AS with adhesion recurrence and endometrial atrophy who was successfully treated with intrauterine autologous platelet–rich plasma (PRP) infusion. This therapy allowed endometrial tissue regeneration, leading to increased vascularity and endometrium thickness, and restoration of endometrial function that led to a successful pregnancy. Though there is limited experience supporting the use of PRP to improve endometrial function, it has been safely used in other fields of medicine; besides, it is easy to obtain, not expensive, and harmless being an autologous source. Future studies are encouraged to further assess this approach to treat AS

Bmf upregulation through the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway may protect the brain from seizure-induced cell death.

Prolonged seizures (status epilepticus, SE) can cause neuronal death within brain regions such as the hippocampus. This may contribute to impairments in cognitive functioning and trigger or exacerbate epilepsy. Seizure-induced neuronal death is mediated, at least in part, by apoptosis-associated signaling pathways. Indeed, mice lacking certain members of the potently proapoptotic BH3-only subfamily of Bcl-2 proteins are protected against hippocampal damage caused by status epilepticus. The recently identified BH3-only protein Bcl-2-modifying factor (Bmf) normally interacts with the cytoskeleton, but upon certain cellular stresses, such as loss of extracellular matrix adhesion or energy crisis, Bmf relocalizes to mitochondria, where it can promote Bax activation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although Bmf has been widely reported in the hematopoietic system to exert a proapoptotic effect, no studies have been undertaken in models of neurological disorders. To examine whether Bmf is important for seizure-induced neuronal death, we studied Bmf induction after prolonged seizures induced by intra-amygdala kainic acid (KA) in mice, and examined the effect of Bmf-deficiency on seizures and damage caused by SE. Seizures triggered an early (1-8 h) transcriptional activation and accumulation of Bax in the cell death-susceptible hippocampal CA3 subfield. Bmf mRNA was biphasically upregulated beginning at 1 h after SE and returning to normal by 8 h, while again being found elevated in the hippocampus of epileptic mice. Bmf upregulation was prevented by Compound C, an inhibitor of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, indicating Bmf expression may be induced in response to bioenergetic stress. Bmf-deficient mice showed normal sensitivity to the convulsant effects of KA, but, surprisingly, displayed significantly more neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 subfields after SE. These are the first studies investigating Bmf in a model of neurologic injury, and suggest that Bmf may protect neurons against seizure-induced neuronal death in vivo

Reaparición del jaguar (Panthera onca) en el departamento de Sucre, Colombia.

Felines in Colombia generally have little information which makes it difficult to make decisions for their conservation (Clavijo & Ramírez 2007, Arias Alzate et al. 2013). The jaguar (Panthera onca) is listed according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Near Threatened (NT; Caso et al. 2008), but at the national level the populations west of the Andes are in Vulnerable state (Rodríguez-Mahecha et al. 2006).Los felinos en Colombia cuentan en general con poca información lo cual dificulta la toma de decisiones para su conservación (Clavijo & Ramírez 2007, Arias Alzate et al. 2013). El jaguar (Panthera onca) está listado según la Lista Roja de Especies Amenazadas de UICN como Casi amenazado (NT; Caso et al. 2008), pero a nivel nacional las poblaciones al oeste de los Andes se encuentran en estado Vulnerable (Rodríguez-Mahecha et al. 2006).&nbsp

Produtos de hidratação em argamassas geopoliméricas à base de argila da Tunísia para reparação de estruturas de concreto

A reparação de estruturas degradadas de concreto representa uma oportunidade para a indústria da construção mas também um desafio para a comunidade científica. O desenvolvimento de novas argamassas de reparação constitui por isso uma importante área de investigação. Os geopolímeros são ligantes inovadores alternativos ao cimento Portland pelo que as argamassas à base destes materiais, geopolíméricas, apresentam algumas potencialidades no campo da reparação das estruturas de concreto. O presente artigo apresenta resultados de uma investigação sobre o desenvolvimento de argamassas geopoliméricas à base de uma argila da Tunísia sujeita a tratamento térmico. É incluída uma análise da argila e também dos produtos de hidratação da argamassa os quais apresentam fases geopoliméricas típicas

Hawking radiation and thermodynamics of dynamical black holes in phantom dominated universe

The thermodynamic properties of dark energy-dominated universe in the presence of a black hole are investigated in the general case of a varying equation-of-state-parameter $w(a)$. We show that all the thermodynamics quantities are regular at the phantom divide crossing, and particularly the temperature and the entropy of the dark fluid are always positive definite. We also study the accretion process of a phantom fluid by black holes and the conditions required for the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics. As a results we obtain a strictly negative chemical potential and an equation-of-state parameter $w<-5/3.$Comment: 22 pages,3 figure

Caso clínico: sindrome de DRESS por hidroxicloroquina

Antecedentes: El síndrome DRESS (Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) es una reacción idiosincrática, se caracteriza por eosinofilia periférica y síntomas sistémicos: fiebre, exantema, linfadenopatía, hepatitis, linfocitos atípicos y elevación de enzimas hepáticas. La incidencia es de 1 por cada 10,000 exposiciones, mortalidad de 10 a 20%. El tratamiento se basa en la suspensión del fármaco sospechoso y en la aplicación de esteroides. Reporte de caso: Masculino de 42 años con los siguientes antecedentes de importancia. AHF: madre y padre con Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2. APP: Hipertensión Arterial, Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2, y alergia a picadura de abeja. Padecimiento Actual: Lo inicia posterior a 8 días tras la ingesta de hidroxicloroquina por probable infección por SARS-COV-2, con cefalea, edema facial y de cuello, dermatosis descamativa en tronco y extremidades superiores, acude a clínica particular con evolución tórpida enviado a tercer nivel por aumento de edema facial y cuello, que amerito intubación orotraqueal, manejo con esteroides intravenosos y antihistamínicos. Laboratorios a su ingreso: Leucocitos 20090, plaquetas 322 mil, eosinofilia (5%), elevación de enzimas hepáticas y lesión renal aguda, cumpliendo criterios J-SCAR. Se egresa por adecuada evolución con seguimiento por Alergia e Inmunología Clínica, el paciente persiste con lesiones descamativas posterior a 4 semanas y normalización de parámetros de laboratorios. Conclusión: DRESS es una reacción adversa retardada. Es importante la presunción diagnóstica y la relación causal con los fármacos por la alta tasa de mortalidad

Meta-Analysis of Studies Analyzing the Role of Human Papillomavirus in the Development of Bladder Carcinoma

Journal Article;PURPOSE We aimed to ascertain the degree of association between bladder cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies with cases and controls with publication dates up to January 2011. The PubMed electronic database was searched by using the key words "bladder cancer and virus." Twenty-one articles were selected that met the required methodological criteria. We implemented an internal quality control system to verify the selected search method. We analyzed the pooled effect of all the studies and also analyzed the techniques used as follows: 1) studies with DNA-based techniques, among which we found studies with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques and 2) studies with non-PCR-based techniques, and studies with non-DNA-based techniques. RESULTS Taking into account the 21 studies that were included in the meta-analysis, we obtained a heterogeneity chi-squared value of Q(exp)=26.45 (p=0.383). The pooled odds ratio (OR) was 2.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54 to 2.95), which points to a significant effect between HPV and bladder cancer. Twenty studies assessed the presence of DNA. The overall effect showed a significant relationship between virus presence and bladder cancer, with a pooled OR of 2.19 (95% CI, 1.40 to 3.43). Of the other six studies, four examined the virus's capsid antigen and two detected antibodies in serum by Western blot. The estimated pooled OR in this group was 2.11 (95% CI, 1.27 to 3.51), which confirmed the relationship between the presence of virus and cancer. CONCLUSIONS The pooled OR value showed a moderate relationship between viral infection and bladder tumors.Ye

EFECTO DEL ÁCIDO CÍTRICO COMO PRETRATAMIENTO SOBRE LA ACTIVIDAD DE AGUA Y COMPORTAMIENTO DE SORCIÓN EN CALLO DE ALMEJA SECO (Nodipecten subnodosus)

En presente estudio se aplicó un tratamiento de inmersión en ácido cítrico a callo de almeja, con el objetivo de reducir el tiempo de secado de la almeja mano de león. Las muestras se sometieron a inmersión en ácido cítrico 0.1 M, durante cero (control), una y tres h. Se evaluó el efecto del pre-tratamiento de inmersión en solución ácida y la temperatura de secado (50, 60 y 70 °C), sobre la aw y el fenómeno de sorción en el callo seco. Ambas variables mostraron un efecto significativo (

Measurement of the cross-section and charge asymmetry of WW bosons produced in proton-proton collisions at s=8\sqrt{s}=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This paper presents measurements of the $W^+ \rightarrow \mu^+\nu$ and $W^- \rightarrow \mu^-\nu$ cross-sections and the associated charge asymmetry as a function of the absolute pseudorapidity of the decay muon. The data were collected in proton--proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV with the ATLAS experiment at the LHC and correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 20.2~\mbox{fb^{-1}}. The precision of the cross-section measurements varies between 0.8% to 1.5% as a function of the pseudorapidity, excluding the 1.9% uncertainty on the integrated luminosity. The charge asymmetry is measured with an uncertainty between 0.002 and 0.003. The results are compared with predictions based on next-to-next-to-leading-order calculations with various parton distribution functions and have the sensitivity to discriminate between them.Comment: 38 pages in total, author list starting page 22, 5 figures, 4 tables, submitted to EPJC. All figures including auxiliary figures are available at https://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/GROUPS/PHYSICS/PAPERS/STDM-2017-13