Max-Min Fairness Based on Cooperative-NOMA Clustering for Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communications

In this paper, the performance of a cooperative relaying technique in a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system, briefly named cooperative NOMA (C-NOMA), is considered in short packet communications with finite blocklength (FBL) codes. We examine the performance of a decode-and-forward (DF) relaying along with selection combining (SC) and maximum ratio combining (MRC) strategies at the receiver. Our goal is user clustering based on C-NOMA to maximize fair throughput in a DL-NOMA scenario. In each cluster, the user with a stronger channel (strong user) acts as a relay for the other one (weak user), and optimal power and blocklength are allocated to achieve max-min throughput.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, This paper has been submitted for IEEE systems journa

Tumor microsatellite instability and clinicopathologic features in Iranian colorectal cancer patients at risk for Lynch syndrome

Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a mutational signature that is the hallmark of Lynch syndrome, and MSI testing is a cost-effective method to screen the disease. Since there is no enough data about MSI status and associated clinicopathologic features of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in Iran, our study is a new trial to describe them in center of Iran (Isfahan). Materials and Methods: It is a descriptive retrospective study to screen HNPCC families using Amsterdam II criteria in Central Iran within 2000-2013. For MSI testing, we used a commercially available kit evaluating mononucleotide markers (BAT25, BAT-26, MON0-27, NR-21 and NR-24). After a fluorescent multiplex polymerase chain reaction amplification of the markers, samples were sequenced to fragment analysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Overall, 31 of 45 screened HNPCC families were eventually included to MSI testing. Totally, 9/31 patients (29.0%) showed MSI in their tumor tissues. BAT-26 was the most instable marker with instability in 7/24 MSI tumors (29.2%). The mean age at diagnosis in microsatellite stable (MSS), MSI-Low (MSI-L), and MSI-High (MSI-H) probands was respectively 44.7 (standard deviation SD] = 11.83), 51.7 (SD = 16.17), and 36.0 (SD = 3.41) years. The most common tumor sites in MSS, MSI-L, and MSI-H probands were rectosigmoid (similar to 72.8%), rectum (66.7%) and right colon (50.0%), respectively. Of 186 cancer patients among 31 HNPCC families, 86 patients (46.2%) had colorectal cancer (CRC) and 100 patients (53.8%) had extracolonic cancers. The average of CRC affected members among MSS, MSI-L, and MSI-H groups of our HNPCC families was 2.2 (SD = 1.30), 3.3 (SD = 3.21), and 4.7 (SD = 2.42) patients per family, respectively. Stomach with 18.3% and 26.7% of all extracolonic cancers were most common involved organ in MSS and MSI-H families, respectively. Conclusion: Our different molecular results could be suggested to describe HNPCC families based on some new molecular mechanisms leading to MSS HNPCC phenotypes. Meanwhile, more evaluations within our population are recommended

Childhood Physical Abnormalities following Paternal Exposure to Sulfur Mustard Gas in Iran: a Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND:Mustard gas, a known chemical weapon, was used during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988. We aimed to determine if exposure to mustard gas among men was significantly associated with abnormalities and disorders among progenies.METHODS:Using a case-control design, we identified all progenies of Sardasht men (exposed group, n = 498), who were born at least nine months after the exposure, compared to age-matched controls in Rabat, a nearby city (non-exposed group, n = 689). We conducted a thorough medical history, physical examination, and appropriate paraclinical studies to detect any physical abnormality and/or disorder. Given the presence of correlated data, we applied Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) multivariable models to determine associations.RESULTS:The overall frequency of detected physical abnormalities and disorders was significantly higher in the exposed group (19% vs. 11%, Odds Ratio [OR] 1.93, 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.37-2.72, P = 0.0002). This was consistent across sexes. Congenital anomalies (OR 3.54, 95% CI, 1.58-7.93, P = 0.002) and asthma (OR, 3.12, 95% CI, 1.43-6.80, P = 0.004) were most commonly associated with exposure. No single abnormality was associated with paternal exposure to mustard gas.CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrates a generational effect of exposure to mustard gas. The lasting effects of mustard gas exposure in parents effects fertility and may impact child health and development in the long-term

Experimental Study of Influencing Factors and Kinetics in Catalytic Removal of Methylene Blue with TiO

Abstract In this research, degradation of methylene blue as a dye pollutant was investigated in the presence of TiO 2 nanopowders using photolysis and sonolysis systems separately and simultaneously. Effect of different parameters such as catalyst dosage, initial concentration of dye, UV power, pH and type of catalyst on the removal efficiency was ascertained. The results showed that basic pH is proper for the photocatalytic removal of the dye. Furthermore higher UV power and lower initial concentration of dye leads to higher removal percent. Moreover TiO 2 showed more photocatalytic activity than ZnO in the nanopowder form. The experimental kinetic data followed the pseudo-first order model in both photocatlytic and sonophotocatalytic processes but the rate constant of sonophotocatalysis is higher than it at photocatalysis process. Finally the reaction order of the rate law respect to nanocatalyst dosage in photocatalysis process is obtained 1.45. High activation energy of this process shows its high sensitivity to temperature

Molecular analysis of Iranian colorectal cancer patients at risk for Lynch syndrome: a new molecular, clinicopathological feature.

PURPOSE Microsatellite instability (MSI) and mismatch repair (MMR) gene expression present a hallmark mutational signature of Lynch syndrome as a common hereditary cancer predisposing condition. Since there is not enough data of molecular and clinicopathological aspects of the disease in Iranian populations, this article is a new description in Central Iran. METHODS It is a descriptive analytical study in which we screened 1659 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients based on early-onset disease and Amsterdam II criteria during 14 years (2000-2013). MSI testing was applied through a commercial kit evaluating five mononucleotide markers (BAT-25, BAT-26, MON0-27, NR-21, and NR-24) using a fluorescent multiplex PCR method. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was set up to detect expression of four mismatch repair (MMR) genes including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. SPSS 16 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS Overall, 31 of 45 screened at-risk families were eventually included to MSI testing of which 9/31 patients (∼29 %) showed MSI in their tumor tissues including 6 (19.4 %) MSI-H (high). BAT-26 was the most instable marker with instability in 7/31 MSI tumors (22.6 %). IHC-MMR staining was absent in 7/31 probands (22.6 %) of which in 4 cases, both MSH2/MSH6 (57.1 %) and, in 2 cases, both MLH1/PMS2 showed deficiency (28.6 %), and just in one case, MSH6 was defective (14.3 %). IHC-MMR was absent in all 6 MSI-H tumors while none of 3 MSI-L tumors were MMR-deficient. Just single MSH6-defective tumor showed MSS state. The frequency of CRC among MMR-deficient and MMR-proficient families was 67.5 and 27.9 %, respectively. The most common extracolonic cancer among both MMR-deficient and MMR-proficient groups was stomach, respectively, with 26.7 and 16.5 %. CONCLUSIONS A different molecular and clinicopathological phenotype of tumors in CRC Iranian patients at risk for Lynch syndrome could suggest some new molecular mechanisms about which more evaluations are necessary

Developing soil cation exchange capacity pedotransfer functions using regression and neural networks and the effect of soil partitioning on the accuracy and precision of estimation

Soil fertility measures such as cation exchange capacity (CEC) may be used in upgrading soil maps and improving their quality. Direct measurement of CEC is costly and laborious. Therefore, indirect estimation of CEC via pedotransfer functions may be appropriate and effective. Several delineations of two consociation map units consisting of two soil families (Shahrak series and Chaharmahal series), located in Shahrekord plain, Iran were identified. Soil samples were taken from two depths of 0-20 and 30-50 cm and were analyzed in lab for several physico-chemical properties. Clay and organic matter percentages as well as moisture content at -1500 kpa best correlated with CEC. Pedotransfer functions were successfully developed using regression and neural networks. Soil partitioning increased the accuracy and precision of functions. Compared to regression, neural network technique resulted in pedotransfer functions with higher R2 and lower RMSE

Prevalence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Pediatric and adolescent Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is defined as renal injury and/or a glomerular filtration rate below 60mL/min/1.73m2 for more than 3 months. Neurologic symptoms in CKD include fatigue, poor concentration, headache, drowsiness, memory loss, seizures, and peripheral neuropathy. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic disabling illness characterized by repetitive, ritualistic behaviors over which the patients have little or no control. Common obsessions include contamination and thoughts of harming loved ones or oneself. Washing and cleaning compulsions are common in children, as is checking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between OCD and CKD.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we evaluated 186 children aged 6-17 years old who were visited in the pediatric clinics of Amir-Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran. The control group consisted of 93 healthy children and the case group included 93 age and sex matched children with stage 1 to 3 CKD. Then, the children’s behavioral status was evaluated using the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (C-YBOCS). The C-YBOCS is helpful in identifying children with OCD. The data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS-16.Results: Compulsion was detected in 31 cases (33.3%) with CKD and 7 controls (7.5%), and obsession was found in 3 cases (3.2%) with CKD and 4 controls (4.3%). The difference in compulsion was significant (P-value=0.021) while the difference in obsession was not significant between the 2 groups (p-value=0.3). The most common symptom in CKD children with compulsion was silent repetition of words.Conclusions: Compulsion is more common in CKD versus non-CKD children. The observed correlation between compulsion and CKD makes psychological counseling mandatory in children with CKD. Keywords: Chronic Kidney Diseases; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Child

Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Modification Early Maladaptive Schemas patient With resistent Obsessive-Compulsion Disorder

Introduction: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has been comorbid with several disorder, it accompanies serious problems and deficiencies in the working lives of those afflicted with it. Aim:The purpose of this study was conducted the effectiveness of Schema therapy on modification early maladaptive schemas patient with resistent Obsessive-Compulsion disorder (OCD). Method: Populator statistical include all individual , patient with resistent OCD, on year 1392 referring were center psychiatrist-psychology Arak city.For this purpose, in a quasi- experimental study pre-test and post-test with control group, 24 subjects resistent (OCD) were selected via convenient sampling which randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Subjects were assessed for early maladaptive schemas, both before and after the treatment.The experimental group had received twenty session of schema therapy approach . To assess the schema using SCHEMA QUESTION and YOUNG PARENTING INVENTORY. The applied intervention was evaluated in three stages: pretest, post-test and one month follow-up. Data were analyzed by of Repeated measurement and Graphical Diagram. Results: The Results of present study showed severity of Schema dominant decreased The significantly in the experimental group than the control group (p=0.001). Conclusion:It appears that Schema therapy with applying Techniques Cognition, Experiential, and also unique therapeutic alliance, could be effective for reducing the severity Schema dominant of resistent Obsessive-Compulsion disorder (OCD)