Adaptive Power Level for DSRC Congestion Control

Vehicular industries and researchers have invested efforts to reduce avoidable accidents through the means of Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) wireless communication using Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) through the periodic exchange of Basic Safety Messages (BSMs). The transmission rate of BSMs is defined by IEEE 1609 to be 10 Hz. With a high vehicular density, Network Congestion can quickly arise in the 5.9 GHz spectrum, rendering the system as unreliable because safety messages are not delivered on time. Researchers have focused on altering the rate of transmission and/or power of transmission in congestion control algorithms. The rate of transmission dictates how many messages each vehicle sends per second. Further, the transmission power dictates how far each message travels; it is known that messages transmitted with higher power will reach further distances. Based on that, our algorithm performs two operations to mitigate channel congestion; a) we send a number of low powered packets based on the node’s velocity, the higher the velocity then the higher transmission power, then followed by a high powered packet to maintain awareness for distant vehicles, b) we increase the power of transmission in a cyclic fashion. By doing so, we can maintain necessary level of awareness for closer vehicles, while sacrificing some awareness for distant ones. The goal is to provide adequate awareness for all vehicles, while reducing the overall congestion of the wireless channel

Gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) for refractory gastroparesis: results from an international prospective trial

OBJECTIVE: Although gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) is considered a promising technique for the management of refractory gastroparesis, high-quality evidence is limited. We prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of G-POEM in unselected patients with refractory gastroparesis. DESIGN: In five tertiary centres, patients with symptomatic gastroparesis refractory to standard medical therapy and confirmed by impaired gastric emptying were included. The primary endpoint was clinical success, defined as at least one score decrease in Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI) with ≥25% decrease in two subscales, at 12 months. GCSI Score and subscales, adverse events (AEs) and 36-Item Short Form questionnaire of quality of life were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after G-POEM. Gastric emptying study was performed before and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Of 80 enrolled patients, 75 patients (94%) completed 12-month follow-up. Clinical success at 12 months was 56% (95% CI, 44.8 to 66.7). GCSI Score (including subscales) improved moderately after G-POEM (p\u3c0.05). In a regression model, a baseline GCSI Score \u3e2.6 (OR=3.23, p=0.04) and baseline gastric retention \u3e20% at 4 hours (OR=3.65, p=0.03) were independent predictors of clinical success at 12 months, as was early response to G-POEM at 1 month after therapy (OR 8.75, p\u3c0.001). Mild procedure-related AEs occurred in 5 (6%) patients. CONCLUSION: G-POEM is a safe procedure, but showed only modest overall effectiveness in the treatment of refractory gastroparesis. Further studies are required to identify the best candidates for G-POEM; unselective use of this procedure should be discouraged. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT02732821

Multiscale interactome analysis coupled with off-target drug predictions reveals drug repurposing candidates for human coronavirus disease

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for the identification of new antiviral drug therapies for a variety of diseases. COVID-19 is caused by infection with the human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, while other related human coronaviruses cause diseases ranging from severe respiratory infections to the common cold. We developed a computational approach to identify new antiviral drug targets and repurpose clinically-relevant drug compounds for the treatment of a range of human coronavirus diseases. Our approach is based on graph convolutional networks (GCN) and involves multiscale host-virus interactome analysis coupled to off-target drug predictions. Cell-based experimental assessment reveals several clinically-relevant drug repurposing candidates predicted by the in silico analyses to have antiviral activity against human coronavirus infection. In particular, we identify the MET inhibitor capmatinib as having potent and broad antiviral activity against several coronaviruses in a MET-independent manner, as well as novel roles for host cell proteins such as IRAK1/4 in supporting human coronavirus infection, which can inform further drug discovery studies.We gratefully acknowledge funding that supported this research support from the Ryerson University Faculty of Science (CNA), as well as funding support in the form of a CIFAR Catalyst Grant (JPJ and CNA), an NSERC Alliance Grant (CNA) and the Ryerson COVID-19 SRC Response Fund award (CNA). BW is partly supported by CIFAR AI Chairs Program. This work was also supported by a Mitacs award (BW), the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under a Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant (ER), by the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar program (JPJ), by the Ontario Early Researcher Awards program (JPJ and CNA), and by the Canada Research Chairs program (JPJ). We also thank Dr. James Rini (University of Toronto) for the kind gift of the 9.8E12 antibody used to detect the 229E Spike protein, and Dr. Scott Gray-Owen (University of Toronto) for the kind gift of the NL63 human coronavirus.Peer reviewe

Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P < 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P < 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk

Systematic review of Ethiopian medicinal plants used for their anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Plant materials are used worldwide as complementary and alternative therapeutics for the treatment of various illnesses. In Ethiopia, folk medicines are utilized across a wide range of cultures and settings. Ethiopia has numerous plant species of which around 12% are endemic, making it a rich source of medicinal plants that are potentially important for human wellbeing. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess Ethiopian medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory or wound healing activities, in an attempt to compile the information required for further investigation of their potential role in the management of lymphoedema. Methods: A systematic review protocol was developed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. The protocol for this review was registered on PROSPERO with registration number CRD42019127471. This review considers all controlled in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory and wound healing studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of Ethiopian medicinal plants. The search strategy included all articles containing descriptors such as Ethiopia, medicinal plants, herbal products, care, management, lymphoedema, lymphedema, swelling, podoconiosis, elephantiasis, wound, wound healing, inflammation, and anti-inflammatory that were published up to June 28, 2019. Outcomes were measured as the percentage of inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cell inhibition, as the percentage of carrageenan-induced oedema (anti-inflammation) inhibition, and the percentage of cell migration and proliferation (wound healing). For quality assessment of individual animal studies, the Risk of Bias tool for animal intervention studies (SYRCLE’s RoB tool) criteria was used. For quality assessment of individual in vitro studies, the OECD guidelines and the WHO Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) handbook were used. Results: A total of 46 articles on anti-inflammatory and 17 articles on wound healing properties were reviewed. For the in vivo studies, Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats were used, and the concentration of plant extracts or fractions administered to the lab animals varied considerably. Acetone extract of Vernonia amygdalina showed the fastest anti-inflammatory activity at lower concentrations in carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Conclusion: Lawsonia inermis, Azadirachta indica, Achyranthes aspera, and Cuminum cyminum are the most studied plant species in terms of anti-inflammatory activity, while Lawsonia inermis and Azadirachta indica are the most studied for wound healing. The most common in vivo techniques used for the anti-inflammatory and the wound healing assays were carrageenan-induced paw oedema, and excision and incision wound models, respectively

Péritonite chyleuse secondaire à Lercanidipine

We report a case of lercanidipin-induced chylous peritonitis (CP) occurring in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), a 22-year-old male with chronic renal failure with indeterminate nephropathy.. The patient presented a turbid drainage fluid at the start of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The chyloperitoneum resolved after stopping lercanidipin without recurrence.Lercanidipin induced-chyloperitoneum is a rare complication in PD. It is a benign form of non-infectious peritonitis that can be confused with an infectious peritonitis. The most common causes of CP are infectious, obstructive and abdominal malignancy.This paper discusses the possible causes of CP, the physiopathology and the management of lercanidipin-induced chyloperitoneum.Nous rapportons un cas de péritonite chyleuse (PC) médicamenteuse secondaire à la lercanidipine survenant chez un patient en dialyse péritonéale continue ambulatoire (DPCA). Il s’agit d’un homme de 22 ans ayant une insuffisance rénale chronique sur néphropathie indéterminée traitée par DPCA. Le patient a présenté un liquide de drainage trouble au démarrage de la dialyse péritonéale (DP). L’arrêt de la lercanidipine a permis un éclaircissement du dialysat effluent sans récidive.La PC médicamenteuse secondaire à la lercanidipine est une complication rare en DP. C’est une forme bénigne de péritonite non infectieuse qui prête souvent à confusion avec les péritonites infectieuses. Les causes les plus fréquentes des PC sont infectieuses, obstructives et les néoplasies abdominales.Dans cet article nous discutons les étiologies des PC, de la physiopathologie et de la conduite diagnostique à tenir devant une PC secondaire à la lercanidipine. Abstract We report a case of lercanidipin-induced chylous peritonitis (CP) occurring in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), a 22-year-old male with chronic renal failure with indeterminate nephropathy.. The patient presented a turbid drainage fluid at the start of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The chyloperitoneum resolved after stopping lercanidipin without recurrence.Lercanidipin induced-chyloperitoneum is a rare complication in PD. It is a benign form of non-infectious peritonitis that can be confused with an infectious peritonitis. The most common causes of CP are infectious, obstructive and abdominal malignancy.This paper discusses the possible causes of CP, the physiopathology and the management of lercanidipin-induced chyloperitoneum

A Contingent Model of Project Organization and Management

There is a presumption in project management research and practice that project management follows a “one size fits all” model. This is manifested in the introduction of many prescriptive models by project management bodies such as the Project Management Institute and the Association of Project Management, to name a few. These generic models steer away from the differences across projects and focus only on the common aspects of projects. However, in many circumstances, the generic nature of such models renders them poorly equipped to deal with the challenges of organizing and managing complex projects. In this paper we present a contingent model that has the potential to deal with environmental variability and constraints. This model is based on two contingent factors: location of work and project complexity. It develops four types of projects based on two contingent dimensions and proposes a few related hypotheses

Thinking With Urban Natures

Since the Enlightenment, cities have been considered as exemplary spaces of human achievement. Technological developments and the constant reorganisation of materials and infrastructures have contributed to a widely shared conception of nature as something outside of urban areas. Our age, framed by the Anthropocene and the sixth wave of extinction, has shattered such vision. Novel reflections across the natural sciences, the arts and the humanities have chosen to focus on relational entanglements instead of separating the city from the environment. In this short collection, we offer a series of reflections about multiple urban natures that often remain unknown or concealed. Each of us does so from a unique disciplinary perspective, ranging from anthropology to history and geography over urban ecology, urban studies and landscape architecture. We hope to point towards a multidisciplinary articulation of urban nature as in itself diverse, complex and de-centred.</jats:p

Gas flows in galaxy mergers: supersonic turbulence in bridges, accretion from the circumgalactic medium, and metallicity dilution

Abstract In major galaxy mergers, the orbits of stars are violently perturbed, and gas is torqued to the centre, diluting the gas metallicity and igniting a starburst. In this paper, we study the gas dynamics in and around merging galaxies using a series of cosmological magneto-hydrodynamical (MHD) zoom-in simulations. We find that the gas bridge connecting the merging galaxies pre-coalescence is dominated by turbulent pressure, with turbulent Mach numbers peaking at values of 1.6–3.3. This implies that bridges are dominated by supersonic turbulence, and are thus ideal candidates for studying the impact of extreme environments on star formation. We also find that gas accreted from the circumgalactic medium (CGM) during the merger significantly contributes (27–51 per cent) to the star formation rate (SFR) at the time of coalescence and drives the subsequent reignition of star formation in the merger remnant. Indeed, 19–53 per cent of the SFR at z = 0 originates from gas belonging to the CGM prior the merger. Finally, we investigate the origin of the metallicity-diluted gas at the centre of merging galaxies. We show that this gas is rapidly accreted onto the galactic centre with a time-scale much shorter than that of normal star-forming galaxies. This explains why coalescing galaxies are not well-captured by the fundamental metallicity relation.</jats:p