On Optimal Power Allocation for Gaussian Broadcast Channel

We derive the optimal power allocation for Gaussian two users broadcast channel. To find the optimal power allocation between the two users, two optimization schemes are considered. In each optimization scheme, an analytical expression for the optimal power allocation between the two users is derived. The first optimization criterion finds the optimal power allocation between the two users such that they have equal rates. Then, the optimal power allocation that maximizes the sum rate capacity is studied. In addition, numerical examples are provided to verify the optimality of the derived schemes. Keywords: Gaussian Broadcast Channel, Capacity Region, Optimization

Novel roles for mucin 1 in the kidney

Purpose of review Recent studies in the kidney have revealed that the well characterized tumor antigen mucin 1 (MUC1/Muc1) also has numerous functions in the normal and injured kidney. Recent findings Mucin 1 is a transmembrane mucin with a robust glycan-dependent apical targeting signal and efficient recycling from endosomes. It was recently reported that the TRPV5 calcium channel is stabilized on the cell surface by galectin-dependent cross-linking to mucin 1, providing a novel mechanism for regulation of ion channels and normal electrolyte balance. Our recent studies in mice show that Muc 1 is induced after ischemia, stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1)α and β-catenin levels, and transactivating the HIF-1 and β-catenin protective pathways. However, prolonged induction of either pathway in the injured kidney can proceed from apparent full recovery to chronic kidney disease. A very recent report indicates that aberrant activation of mucin 1 signaling after ischemic injury in mice and humans is associated with development of chronic kidney disease and fibrosis. A frameshift mutation in MUC1 was recently identified as the genetic lesion causing medullary cystic kidney disease type 1, now appropriately renamed MUC1 Kidney Disease. Summary Studies of mucin 1 in the kidney now reveal significant functions for the extracellular mucin-like domain and signaling through the cytoplasmic tail

Effects of acute caffeine on muscle damage biomarkers and time to exhaustion after a single session of resistance exercises followed by exhaustive incremental test in long-distance runners

The present study was designed to investigate the acute effect of caffeine on muscle damage biomarkers (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase MB, and myoglobin) measured before, immediately after, and 24 h after a single session of resistance exercises followed by exhaustive incremental test. In addition, the effect of caffeine intake on time to exhaustion during exhaustive incremental test was determined. Fifteen male long-distance runners (30.67 ± 3.40 yrs.) performed two consecutive trials (7 days apart). Athletes were assigned randomly either to ingest caffeine (6 mg/kg) 1 h prior to exercise or placebo using a double-blind crossover design. Each trial consisted of 5 resistance exercises followed by exhaustive incremental test. Blood samples were collected before, immediately, and 24 h after each trial. The independent t test of data showed no significant differences in biomarkers of muscle damage at all time points between trials (p > .05). Using paired sample t test, data revealed that caffeine increased the time to exhaustion (45.78 ± 2.42 min) during exhaustive incremental test compared to the placebo (43.83 ± 2.21 min) (p = .001). In conclusion, 6 mg/kg of caffeine 1 hour prior to resistance exercises followed by exhaustive incremental test had no effect on muscle damage biomarkers in long-distance runners probably due to mechanical stress precisely affected fast twitch fibres rather than slow twitch fibres. However, the increased time to exhaustion due to caffeine consume may attributed to dampened pain sensation

The impact of an educational course for swimming on free style swimming performance and life skills for deaf students

This study investigates the impact of an educational course for swimming on free style swimming performance and life skills for deaf students. Subjects were (10) male deaf students who were at-tended to swimming courses level (1) in the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Jordan, with mean age of (M age = 20.4 SD =1.35). After completing the Life skills through swimming context scale (Bayyat et al., 2016) and practical pre-test of free style swimming skills performance, subjects executed both physical practice of the free style swimming skills performance during a pro-gram conceited of eighteen sessions, 3 sessions a week, for 6-weeks, 60 mints per session, and life skills development dialogues program which focused on certain life skills (Communications, team-work, self-confidence/self-Esteem, problem solving and decision-making/responsibility).After 6-weeks all subjects completed a post life skills questionnaire which measured the changes in their life skills level after learning the free style swimming skills performance, they also went through a post practical subjective performance evaluation post-test which measured their level of the free style swimming skills performance. Statistical analysis was processed by SPSS. The results showed significant differences between pre and post-test in life skills dimensions and significant differences between pre and post-test in free style swimming performance level for the subject of this study. In conclusions the educational course for swimming had a positive impact on free style swimming performance and on life skills for deaf students in the faculty of physical education at the University of Jordan

The Impact of Activity-Based Costing Systems on Cost Reduction During Pandemic. An Example of an Industrial Company Listed on the Amman Stock Exchange

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of an activity-based costing system on cost reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic. An example of ASE.   Theoretical framework: a 42-item work-related cost scale and a 10-item cost reduction scale were applied to a random sample of 261 workers working in ASE.   Design/methodology/approach: The results show a positive impact and correlation between an activity-based costing system and cost reductions during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Results and recommendations: The study recommends enhancing the professional qualifications of financial managers, heads of accounting departments and accountants in Jordanian industrial companies by attending various professional courses

The Impact of Quality Costs as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Management Accounting Systems and Financial Performance: the Case of Jordan

Objective: The current analysis aims to assess the mediating effect of cost quality on the relationship between management accounting systems and the financial performance of industrial enterprises listed on the Amman Stock Exchange.   Theoretical framework: Three questionnaires are used for this purpose, their validity and reliability are checked; the first part deals with the cost of quality and consists of 15 paragraphs. The second part deals with the management accounting system and consists of 30 parts distributed in three dimensions (just in time, value chain, target cost).   Design/methodology/approach: The third section is related to financial performance and consists of 10 paragraphs. It works on a random sample of 311 people.   Results: The results show a statistically significant mediating role of quality cost on the relationship between the management accounting system and its three dimensions (just-in-time manufacturing, value chain, and target cost) and the financial performance of industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange.   Originality: This study expands the use of data science techniques, big data, and artificial intelligence, as these are necessary and effective tools for improving the quality of financial performance and make a significant contribution to the fundamental objective

Information Technology and its Role in Improving the Quality of Financial Control due to Corona Pandemic: the Jordanian Income Tax as A Case Study

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of information technology aspects and its role in improving the quality of personal income tax financial control in Jordan due to the corona pandemic   Design/ methodology/ approach: The sample of the study consists of (166) tax auditors and programmers from the Jordanian Income and Sales Tax Department, and a questionnaire is prepared and delivered to the study sample to accomplish the study's objectives. Improving the quality of financial control for the Jordanian income tax, and the results also indicate that the region is not a modified variable for the function of technical equipment and software in enhancing financial control quality.   Findings: As a result of the Corona epidemic's spread on the Jordanian income tax. While the area is a modified variable to reflect the role of networks and databases in improving the quality of financial control due to the Corona pandemic's influence on Jordan's income tax, the center has the biggest impact, followed by the north and then the south.   Originality: This study extends the use of data science technology, big data, and artificial intelligence, as these are required and effective tools for enhancing the quality of financial control and contribute significantly to attaining the fundamental goals of containing, stopping, and controlling the epidemic

Referral Physicians’ Knowledge of Radiation Dose: A Cross-sectional Study

AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the knowledge of referring physicians of general practitioners, residents, and medical specialists in Jordan and the Middle East on radiation dose and its impact on vulnerable patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Institutional Review Board approved this study before data collection. A cross-sectional study employed questionnaire that was distributed to respondents (n = 293) of general practitioners, residents, specialists, and therapists. The questionnaire consisted of 29 questions. Nine questions concerned with demographics and the remaining 20 questions were divided into five sections: Radiation dose, ionizing radiation, pediatric radiation, pregnant women radiation, and radiation risks. The mean score was computed out of 20. Chi-squared test of independence was utilized to analyze each question. To compare the responses between the demographic variables groups, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used. RESULTS: Out of the 293 respondents, 128 (43.7%) were aware of radiation. The average score of the questionnaire was 9.5 out of 20 (47.5%). Within each section, the level of knowledge varied. Physicians had the highest level of knowledge in radiation risk (85.7%) followed by ionizing radiation (62.1%). The questionnaire revealed lower levels of knowledge in the areas of pediatric radiation, pregnant women radiation, and radiation dose. The percentages of respondents, (with fair to good level of knowledge), were 47.1%, 34.5%, and 24.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study were consistent with previous studies that demonstrated a poor level of general knowledge in referring physicians regarding radiation dose, ionizing radiation, pediatric radiation, pregnant women radiation, and radiation risks

Altered Composition of the Oral Microbiota in Depression Among Cigarette Smokers: A Pilot Study

Alterations in the oral microbiota composition may influence mental health. However, linkages between compositional changes in the oral microbiota and their role in mental health among cigarette smokers remain largely unknown. In this study, we used shotgun metagenomics data for the oral microbiome of 105 participants. The data showed Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria to be the most abundant phyla; Streptococcus, Haemophilus D, and Veillonella are the most abundant genera. Then, we clustered our subjects into avoidance and activation groups based on the behavioral activation for depression scale (BADS). Interestingly, the avoidance group exhibited a higher oral microbiome richness and diversity (alpha diversity). Differential abundance testing between BADS avoidance and activation groups showed the phyla Bacteroidota (effect size 0.5047, q = 0.0037), Campylobacterota (effect size 0.4012, q = 0.0276), Firmicutes A (effect size 0.3646, q = 0.0128), Firmicutes I (effect size 0.3581, q = 0.0268), and Fusobacteriota (effect size 0.6055, q = 0.0018) to be significantly increased in the avoidance group, but Verrucomicrobiota (effect size−0.6544, q = 0.0401), was found to be significantly decreased in the avoidance risk group. Network analysis of the 50 genera displaying the highest variation between both groups identified Campylobacter B, Centipeda, and Veillonella as hub nodes in the avoidance group. In contrast, Haemophilus and Streptococcus were identified as hub nodes in the activation group. Next, we investigated functional profiles of the oral microbiota based on BADS avoidance and activation groups and found Lysine degradations pathway was significantly enriched between both groups (ANCOM-BC, q = 0.0692). Altogether, we provide evidence for the presence of depression-related changes in the oral microbiota of smokers and possible functional contribution. The identified differences provide new information to enrich our understanding of oral microbiota-brain axis interplay and their potential impact on mental health