Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Using Random Matrix Theory

In this paper, using tools from asymptotic random matrix theory, a new cooperative scheme for frequency band sensing is introduced for both AWGN and fading channels. Unlike previous works in the field, the new scheme does not require the knowledge of the noise statistics or its variance and is related to the behavior of the largest and smallest eigenvalue of random matrices. Remarkably, simulations show that the asymptotic claims hold even for a small number of observations (which makes it convenient for time-varying topologies), outperforming classical energy detection techniques.Comment: Submitted to International Symposium on Wireless Pervasive Computing 200

Evaluation Of Metformin Usage In Treatment Of Patients With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus In Penang General Hospital.

Metfomin sering digunakan dan berkesan untuk mengawal kandungan glukos dalam darah pesakit diabetes jenis-2, apabila ia digunakan sendirian atau dalam kombinasi dengan sulfonilurea atau insulin. Metformin is common and effective in controlling blood glucose among type- 2 diabetics when given alone or in combination with sulfonylurea or insulin

Compliance with standards and immerging issues of household sewage disposal systems in Gampaha Municipality Area in Western Sri Lanka

Urban centers are highly significant with limited space together with the rising urban population. Most of the houses and buildings are attached with some kind of a sewage disposal facility as central sewage disposal systems are limited. Urbanization is expected to create many problems in terms of black water disposal due to limitation of land. A study was done in Gampaha municipality area, an urban center, where there is no central sewage treatment facility. The objectives of the study were to analyze the current situation of the black water disposal system in the study area and to identify the shortcomings of the black water disposal system comparing with the standards. The study was conducted within the urban center in five GN divisions. Random samples of 44 households were selected to represent all the five GN divisions. Selected households were interviewed to collect basic data needed and physical measurements were also taken where necessary. The data categories collected are household information, toilet type and size, desludging interval and distance to nearest well. The code of practice for the design and construction of septic tanks reports that 80% of urban communities use septic tanks for sewage disposal, but this study reveals that only 18% of the population uses septic tanks. Over 82% uses typical soakage pits that are constructed with loosely constructed brick walls and bare bottom open to soil for their sewage disposal. Over 68% of the households have their toilet pits within 15m to the nearest well, which is below the recommended distance. Only 30% of the households comply with over 15m to the nearest well that is recommended for septic tanks. The recommended distance for the soakage pits to the nearest well is 30m and only 9% of the households meet this standard. The black water disposal pits are over sized in general, so that the desludging interval is more than 10 years. Recently constructed houses, due to limitation of space, have reduced the size of the pits reducing the size of desludging interval. The construction and placement of septic tanks or soakage pits in the area have not complied with the standards

A determination of air pollution in Colombo and Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry on Heterodermia speciosa

Sri Lanka is facing severe environmental problems such as air and water pollution due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Because there have not been many studies on heavy metal pollution in Sri Lanka, the present study attempts to contribute to the literature a determination of metal pollution using indicators found in lichen specimens. Our study utilised energy dispersive X-ray fl uorescence spectrometry to determine element concentrations resulting from air pollution in the lichen species Heterodermia speciosa Wulfen. Th ese samples, collected from Colombo and Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, were analysed using the energy dispersive X-ray fl uorescence (EDXRF) method in order to determine the concentrations of 13 diff erent elements. A radioisotope excited X-ray fl uorescence analysis was applied to the elemental analysis of lichens using the method of multiple standard addition. Our qualitative analysis of spectral peaks showed that the samples contained potassium, calcium, titanium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, bromine, rubidium, strontium, yttrium, and gallium. Samples from the environment around Colombo, which is a highly congested urban area with much industrial development, were found to be more polluted when compared with Kurunegala, a city that is less congested and without industries. Concentrations of K, Ca, Ti, and Fe were always higher than other elemental concentrations in the lichens we analysed, a fact attributed to the proximity to the sea or exposed earth crustal sources. From the elements reported from the 2 cities, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Pb were reported at concentrations higher than background levels. Levels of Pb and Zn in samples from Colombo were higher than those from Kurunegala, refl ecting the increased vehicular traffi c. Th is study reveals that the common lichen species Heterodermia speciosa can be used as an indicator lichen to analyse the pollution level and other elements in the atmospher

Emerging product-process archetypes in oncology: informing the sustainable provision of next-generation medicines

The emergence of more targeted molecular therapies has contributed to accelerated growth within the oncology market. Projected to become the leading therapeutic area by 2017, forecast spends are expected to be in the range of $74-84 billion. Coupled with its many specificities around pricing, insurance implications, and ethics, we argue that the oncology segment may best inform future pharmaceutical value network design characteristics - in supporting the sustainable manufacture and supply of next-generation medicines. Through exploration of future state scenarios and opportunities areas, driven by the adoption of emerging process and digital technologies, a base framework is extended to enable a systematic assessment of a series of candidates representative of the wider oncology market. These include niche, low volume drugs on-patent with high QALYs (quality-adjusted life years), through to higher volume generics with a history of supply shortages. A series of emerging product-process ‘archetypes’ in oncology are proposed – classified as ‘New Niche’, ‘Old Niche’ and ‘Established Generics’ – with associated models for reconfiguration, based on the clustering of potential supply benefits. A key application of this systems approach is the potential of informing economies of drug ‘repurposing’, through its extension from commercial to drug discovery, development and clinical trial contexts, and in matching emerging process capabilities to future adaptive supply requirements – for the sustainable provision of next-generation medicines

LPWM expert: An expert system for water management during land preparation in a paddy estate in Malaysia.

Seberang Perak paddy estate, Malaysia, which practices intensive mechanized farming still uses the traditional approach in decision-making. Water management during land preparation, the critical process to be completed within scheduled duration, needs better and quick management decisions for many alternative scenarios. A method proposed to encapsulate specific knowledge available with domain experts and generated through modeling to an expert system (Land Preparation Water Management (LPWM) Expert) is outlined. The LPWM expert consists a database, a model base, a knowledge base and a user interface. Knowledge was gathered through discussions and interviews with domain experts. Collected quantitative data were used in modeling canal flows and water balance to extract knowledge for different possible scenarios. Knowledge base represent extracted knowledge as rules. All the rules in IF-THEN structure and syntax are verified with the help of wxCLIPS debugging capability. The results generated by the LPWM expert are validated with the domain experts. The expert system proposes decisions for many combinations of scenarios considering all the possible variations in rain, irrigation water supply, secondary blocks, sub-estates, cropping seasons and cropping intensity. The LPWM expert is user friendly and efficient where the outputs are supported with graphics

Water use efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under different irrigation methods and potassium fertilizer rates

AbstractThis study was conducted to determine the effect of different irrigation methods and potassium fertilizers on potato yield in the Abu–Graib–Baghdad, Iraq Region, during season 2011–2012. Potato was grown under furrow and drip irrigation methods and three potassium fertilizers rates applied with 0.0, 300 and 600kg K2SO4ha−1. The obtained results indicated that, actual potato evapotranspiration ranged from 357.3 to 511.4mm in the growth season for all treatments. Furrow and drip irrigation methods had no significant effect on tuber yield under the experiential conditions. Potassium fertilizer influenced the tuber yield (P<0.05), and the highest tuber yield was registered for 600kg K2SO4ha−1, reaching 35.23Tha−1and 36.65Tha−1for furrow and drip irrigation, respectively. Water use efficiency increased from 5.129 to 7.379kgm−3 for furrow-irrigated treatments, and from 6.907 to 10.257kgm−3 for drip-irrigated treatments using the above mentioned rate of K-fertilizer

The Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Cognitive Dysfunction In Patients With Diabetes Mellitus In Iraq

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that is distinguished by many complications. It is mainly a self-managed disease that needs intact cognition to maintain better quality of life. Cognitive dysfunction is a neurodegenerative changes that might be associated with diabetes mellitus. It is considered as the first stage of dementia and Alzheimer disease which is together with diabetes are global growing prevalence health concerns. This study investigates the unclear relationship between diabetes mellitus and cognitive dysfunction. It deals with occurrence of cognitive dysfunction among diabetes. It also compares the occurrenceof cognitive impairment in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In addition, it investigates the influence of diabetes as a chronic disease, its complication and treatment on cognitive performance. A comparative cross-sectional methodology was adopted to achieve the study objectives. Two tools were used to evaluate cognitive dysfunction, the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). After calculating sample size, 380 patients with diabetes, and 100 control subjects who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. As a sub-study, the association between brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker status and cognitive performance was assessed for certain number of participants (n=10 per arm). The major findings of this study are that according to MMSE, the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was 16.3% of patients with diabetes and 7% of controls

Active particles with chirality: Application to pedestrian flows

We analyse pattern formation in systems of active particles with right/left asymmetry of the interaction forces in the context of pedestrian dynamics. To describe the inter-particle interactions we use the standard social force model and supplement it with the new type of force, reflecting the chirality of pedestrians. We perform numerical simulations of two pedestrian flows moving in opposite directions in a long corridor. We observe phase transition from disordered motion to multi-lane motion and quantify it in terms of the order parameter. Also we observe a phase transition from the multi-lane to two-lane motion, which occurs with varying number density of pedestrians and strength of the chirality force. We perform a qualitative analysis to predict the critical density of this transition and its dependence on the chirality. The results of our analysis agree fairly well with the simulation data. Our findings may find applications in urbanistic and transport problems