57 research outputs found

    Beamforming Array Antenna Technique Based on Partial Update Adaptive Algorithms

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    The most important issues for improving the performance of modern wireless communication systems are interference cancellation, efficient use of energy, improved spectral efficiency and increased system security. Beamforming Array Antenna (BAA) is one of the efficient methods used for this purpose. Full band BAA, on the other hand, will suffer from a large number of controllable elements, a long convergence time and the complexity of the beamforming network. Since no attempt had previously been made to use Partial Update (PU) for BAA, the main novelty and contribution of this paper was to use PU instead of full band adaptive algorithms. PU algorithms will connect to a subset of the array elements rather than all of them. As a result, a common number of working antennas for the system\u27s entire cells can be reduced to achieve overall energy efficiency and high cost-effectiveness. In this paper, we propose a new architectural model that employs PU adaptive algorithms to control and minimize the number of phase shifters, thereby reducing the number of base station antennas. We will concentrate on PU LMS (Least Mean Square) algorithms such as sequential-LMS, M-max LMS, periodic-LMS, and stochastic-LMS. According to simulation results using a Uniform Linear Array (ULA) and three communications channels, the M-max-LMS, periodic LMS, and stochastic LMS algorithms perform similarly to the full band LMS algorithm in terms of square error, tracking weight coefficients, and estimation input signal, with a quick convergence time, low level of error signal at steady state and keeping null steering\u27s interference-suppression capability intact

    Efficacy of HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Nonhuman Primate Studies

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    Background. The efficacy of antiretrovirals as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent viral acquisition was demonstrated in nonhuman primate models of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the early 1990s. To complement the evidence base for efficacy of HIV PEP in humans, we systematically reviewed the published data on PEP efficacy across animal studies. Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched from inception to 31 May 2014 for randomized and nonrandomized studies reporting seroconversions among uninfected animals exposed to HIV or simian immunodeficiency virus, irrespective of route of exposure. Seroconversion risk data were pooled using random-effects models, and associations explored through meta-regression. Results. Twenty-five studies (408 primates) were included for review. The risk of serconversion was 89% lower among animals exposed to PEP compared with those that did not receive PEP (odds ratio, 0.11 [95% confidence interval, .05-.23]). Heterogeneity was low (I2 = 0.0%). In meta-regression, a significant association was found between timing of PEP and seroconversion and the use of tenofovir compared with other drugs. Conclusions. This review provides further evidence of the protective benefit of PEP in preventing HIV acquisition, and the importance of initiating PEP as early as possible following virus exposur

    The Study of Inhibitory Effects of Some Plant Extracts on Lymphocytes from Healthy Person

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    The present study aimed to select plant extract or mix. of plant extracts have inhibition effect on Cancer cells from untreated CML patients the results showed the following.Some plants extracts were used (aqueous, alcoholic, oily, alkaloid and flavonoids) from Nigella sativa seeds, Allium sativum Sativum and Allium sativum ophioscordon fruits and the inhibitory effects five different concentrations (0.1,1,10,10,1000) µg/ml was investigated on peripheral lymphocytes from healthy persons by using cytogenetic analysis BI,MI,RI,CA,SCE and CCP. The alcoholism mix. have the greatest inhibitory effects by reducing all cytogenetic parameters, this was selected to study its effect on patient’s lymphocytes

    ANN multiscale model of anti-HIV Drugs activity vs AIDS prevalence in the US at county level based on information indices of molecular graphs and social networks

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    [Abstract] This work is aimed at describing the workflow for a methodology that combines chemoinformatics and pharmacoepidemiology methods and at reporting the first predictive model developed with this methodology. The new model is able to predict complex networks of AIDS prevalence in the US counties, taking into consideration the social determinants and activity/structure of anti-HIV drugs in preclinical assays. We trained different Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) using as input information indices of social networks and molecular graphs. We used a Shannon information index based on the Gini coefficient to quantify the effect of income inequality in the social network. We obtained the data on AIDS prevalence and the Gini coefficient from the AIDSVu database of Emory University. We also used the Balaban information indices to quantify changes in the chemical structure of anti-HIV drugs. We obtained the data on anti-HIV drug activity and structure (SMILE codes) from the ChEMBL database. Last, we used Box-Jenkins moving average operators to quantify information about the deviations of drugs with respect to data subsets of reference (targets, organisms, experimental parameters, protocols). The best model found was a Linear Neural Network (LNN) with values of Accuracy, Specificity, and Sensitivity above 0.76 and AUROC > 0.80 in training and external validation series. This model generates a complex network of AIDS prevalence in the US at county level with respect to the preclinical activity of anti-HIV drugs in preclinical assays. To train/validate the model and predict the complex network we needed to analyze 43,249 data points including values of AIDS prevalence in 2,310 counties in the US vs ChEMBL results for 21,582 unique drugs, 9 viral or human protein targets, 4,856 protocols, and 10 possible experimental measures.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes; AGL2011-30563-C03-0

    Evolving uses of oral reverse transcriptase inhibitors in the HIV-1 epidemic: From treatment to prevention

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    The HIV epidemic continues unabated, with no highly effective vaccine and no cure. Each new infection has significant economic, social and human costs and prevention efforts are now as great a priority as global antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale up. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors, the first licensed class of ART, have been at the forefront of treatment and prevention of mother to child transmission over the past two decades. Now, their use in adult prevention is being

    Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

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    Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

    Lifelong learning lab

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