Effect of Neural Network-Based Tuning Process on Performance of DS-CDMA Receiver Using Exponentially Weighted Despreading Waveforms

The exponential chip weighting waveforms used in a coherent receiver are designed for the purpose of multiple access interference (MAI) rejection by empha-sizing the transitions of the received signal of interest. The despreading sequence weighted by exponential chip waveforms is determined by one parameter and this parameter needs to be tuned with respect to each signal to noise ratio (SNR) so as to maximize the signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of the decision variable. In this paper, we propose a neural network-based tuning process for automatically tuning the parameter of exponential chip weighting waveforms and present the effect of this process on performance of the receiver in a DS-CDMA system. The numerical results show that although the optimal value of the parameter is automatically and quickly produced by the proposed method, any destructive effect on receiver performance does not occur

The efficacy of homeopathic Arnica montana 200 CH on dental surgical treatments: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Objectives: The aim of this placebo-controlled study was to assess the efficacy of single dose homeopathic Arnica montana 200 CH in dental surgeries. Methods: The study included 79 patients undergoing wisdom teeth extractions, implant placements, cystectomies, augmentation procedures, alveoloplasties, lefort-1 osteotomies at Istanbul Medipol University’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The patients were randomly divided into two groups using a computer program. Three globulesof Arnica montana 200 CH were administered in the sublingual area in the patients group 1, and glucose globules were administered in the sublingual area in the patients into group 2. After each patient’s surgical operation, the surgeoncompleted a survey about operation time and scope. In addition,a self-assessment survey was completed by the patients the day after their operationsto evaluate their post-operational swelling and pain. Results: Arnica montana did not appear to significantly prevent post-operative swelling and pain when compared to the placebo (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the use of Arnica montana before a physically traumatic procedure is not more effective than the use of a placebo. However, the results should be evaluated in other studies, including the administration of Arnica montana after a physically traumatic procedure to clearly demonstrate its homeopathic efficiency

Lifespan entropy generated by the masseter muscles during chewing: an indicator of the life expectancy?

The life span entropy concept suggests that the organisms may have a limited capacity of life span entropy generation, when they reach to that limit they die. The masseter muscles of a subject who is consuming food along the guide lines of Institute of Medicine (USA) may generate almost 1 × 105 J/K of entropy while chewing his food during his 76 years of expected life time. The masseter muscles of an obese person, who uptakes 10% more nutrients generates the same entropy about five years earlier. The cumulative entropy generation decreases as the second law efficiency of the muscle work rises. The results of this study imply that the concept of the lifespan entropy may be correct even at the individual muscle level, and may be employed to estimate the life expectancy of a person

Physicians’ COVID-19 Phobia and Perceived Stress Levels in the Pandemic

Introduction: Healthcare workers are the riskiest group in the epidemic. This study aims to determine physicians’ coronavirus-19 phobia and perceived stress levels and examine the related factors during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: A total of 297 physicians were reached this cross-sectional analytical study. The descriptive characteristics form, the perceived stress scale (PSS), and the coronavirus-19 phobia scale (C19P-S) were used. In the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, independent groups t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis analysis, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyzes (Backward LR method) were used in nonparametric conditions. Results: The total mean score of C19P-S and PSS were determined as 44.9 ± 13.5 and 27.9 ± 8.7, respectively. The predictors of COVID-19 phobia as being married, being over 30 years old, questioning the choice of profession, thinking that the behavior of the close environment has changed positively in the pandemic, and increased stress perception were determined. The predictors of perceived stress as female gender, questioning the choice of profession, thinking that she is not affected by being declared a “hero” in the media, thinking that the behavior of the society has changed in a negative way, and an increased phobia of COVID-19 were detected. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the increased stress level of physicians increases COVID-19 phobia and this relationship is bidirectional. Because of this mutually nurturing relationship, developing remedial attitudes towards both stress and phobia may provide multifaceted benefits to both healthcare professionals and the society they serve