Integration of rain fade into OPNET

OPNET is one of the widely used modelling and simulation software packages in the telecommunications industry for planning, design, and research and development. In the wireless modeller module, it uses common propagation models to model radio propagation. It is also possible for users to include their own custom made propagation models to run as part of simulations.This dissertation covers the study done to integrate rain fade into OPNET by including in one of the propagation models, the ability to access channel information from an external file and using the data to calculate attenuation along the simulated radio path.First the operation of OPNET is summarised, and a simulation model is developed to demonstrate some functions and results available when performing studies with the software.Synthesised fine scale rain fields data, for use as the channel model data, was created. The measurement data was obtained from the Chilbolton Radar Interference Experiment, CRIE, which was made over a period of two years (1987-1989) at Chilbolton Advanced Meteorological Radar (CAMRa) station.Then, the free space propagation model available in OPNET was modified to read rain fade time series data from an external file, and to use the data to scale radio signal levels between transmitter and receiver models in simulations. Shared libraries to enable the running between OPNET and the customised propagation model were to be created, but due to limited time, these were not completed. Hence the customised model was not tested in OPNET.It is presented, as recommendations for future work to further explore the capabilities of OPNET, and to complete the creation of the shared libraries not achieved in this project, and finally to test the propagation model with rain fade by investigating the availability of route diverse radio link implemented as a Fade Mitigation Technique

Integration of rain fade into OPNET

OPNET is one of the widely used modelling and simulation software packages in the telecommunications industry for planning, design, and research and development. In the wireless modeller module, it uses common propagation models to model radio propagation. It is also possible for users to include their own custom made propagation models to run as part of simulations.This dissertation covers the study done to integrate rain fade into OPNET by including in one of the propagation models, the ability to access channel information from an external file and using the data to calculate attenuation along the simulated radio path.First the operation of OPNET is summarised, and a simulation model is developed to demonstrate some functions and results available when performing studies with the software.Synthesised fine scale rain fields data, for use as the channel model data, was created. The measurement data was obtained from the Chilbolton Radar Interference Experiment, CRIE, which was made over a period of two years (1987-1989) at Chilbolton Advanced Meteorological Radar (CAMRa) station.Then, the free space propagation model available in OPNET was modified to read rain fade time series data from an external file, and to use the data to scale radio signal levels between transmitter and receiver models in simulations. Shared libraries to enable the running between OPNET and the customised propagation model were to be created, but due to limited time, these were not completed. Hence the customised model was not tested in OPNET.It is presented, as recommendations for future work to further explore the capabilities of OPNET, and to complete the creation of the shared libraries not achieved in this project, and finally to test the propagation model with rain fade by investigating the availability of route diverse radio link implemented as a Fade Mitigation Technique

Premartensitic Transition in Ni2+xMn1-xGa Heusler Alloys

The temperature dependencies of the resistivity and magnetization of a series of Ni2+XMn1-XGa (X = 0 - 0.09) alloys were investigated. Along with the anomalies associated with ferromagnetic and martensitic transitions, well-defined anomalies were observed at the temperature of premartensitic transformation. The premartensitic phase existing in a temperature range 200 - 260 K in the stoichiometric Ni2MnGa is suppressed by the martensitic phase with increasing Ni content and vanishes in Ni2.09Mn0.91Ga composition

Effectiveness and Safety of the Switch from Remicade® to CT-P13 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients with IBD after switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 in comparison with patients who maintain Remicade®. METHODS: Patients under Remicade® who were in clinical remission with standard dosage at study entry were included. The ''switch cohort'' [SC] comprised patients who made the switch from Remicade® to CT-P13, and the ''non-switch'' cohort [NC] patients remained under Remicade®. RESULTS: A total of 476 patients were included: 199 [42%] in the SC and 277 [58%] in the NC. The median follow-up was 18 months in the SC and 23 months in the NC [p < 0.01]. Twenty-four out of 277 patients relapsed in the NC; the incidence of relapse was 5% per patient-year. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 2% at 6 months and 10% at 24 months in this group. Thirty-eight out of 199 patients relapsed in the SC; the incidence rate of relapse was 14% per patient-year. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 5% at 6 months and 28% at 24 months. In the multivariate analysis, the switch to CT-P13 was associated with a higher risk of relapse (HR = 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2-6). Thirteen percent of patients had adverse events in the NC, compared with 6% in the SC [p < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 might be associated with a higher risk of clinical relapse, although this fact was not supported in our study by an increase in objective markers of inflammation. The nocebo effect might have influenced this result. Switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 was safe

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Structural and magnetic investigations on Ni2MnAl

Ferromagnetic alloys undergoing thermoelastic martensitic transformations have recently become very attractive owing to the possibility of inducing giant deformations by rotating martensitic domains with an externally applied magnetic field. It is expected that ferromagnetic alloys with the Heusler stucture may exhibit a strong magnetoelastic coupling resulting in potentially interesting magneto-mechanical properties. In this paper we present preliminary results on structural and magnetic studies on Ni2MnAl. It is shown that in this material the magnetic properties strongly depend on the heat treatment, chiefly because of the difficulty in achieving a complete L21 order