Sum-Rate Maximization for Movable Antenna Enabled Multiuser Communications

A novel multiuser communication system with movable antennas (MAs) is proposed, where the antenna position optimization is exploited to enhance the downlink sum-rate. The joint optimization of the transmit beamforming vector and transmit MA positions is studied for a multiuser multiple-input single-input system. An efficient algorithm is proposed to tackle the formulated non-convex problem via capitalizing on fractional programming, alternating optimization, and gradient descent methods. To strike a better performance-complexity trade-off, a zero-forcing beamforming-based design is also proposed as an alternative. Numerical investigations are presented to verify the efficiency of the proposed algorithms and their superior performance compared with the benchmark relying on conventional fixed-position antennas (FPAs).Comment: 11 page

IL-10 predicts the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure combined with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

BackgroundSpontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is common in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). The prognostic value of interleukin-related serum markers for patients with ACLF is coming to the fore. However, there is an unmet need to predict the survival of such patients. We aimed to analyze the independent predictors of 28- and 90-day mortality in HBV-ACLF patients with SBP.MethodsThis was a retrospective study that included 368 patients with HBV-ACLF. In the SBP group, logistic regression analysis was used to understand the independent predictors of mortality at 28-day and 90-day. The accuracy of prediction was analyzed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Finally, decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to determine the clinical utility value.ResultsInterleukin 10 (IL-10) levels were statistically significantly different between the HBV-ACLF group with SBP and without. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum sodium, IL-10 and vasoactive drug treatment were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. International normalized ratio (INR), AST and IL-10 were independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. IL-10 combined with the Chinese Severe Hepatitis B Study Group-ACLF II score (COSH-ACLF IIs) had excellent performance in predicting 28- and 90-day mortality (AUCs: 0.848 and 0.823, respectively). DCA analysis suggests promising clinical utility.ConclusionIL-10 is an independent predictor of mortality at 28- and 90-day in HBV-ACLF patients with SBP and predictive performance is improved when combined with COSH-ACLF IIs

Movable Antenna-Empowered AirComp

A novel over-the-air computation (AirComp) framework, empowered by the incorporation of movable antennas (MAs), is proposed to significantly enhance computation accuracy. Within this framework, the joint optimization of transmit power control, antenna positioning, and receive combining is investigated. An efficient method is proposed to tackle the problem of computation mean-squared error (MSE) minimization, capitalizing on the approach of alternating optimization. Numerical results are provided to substantiate the superior MSE performance of the proposed framework, which establish its clear advantage over benchmark systems employing conventional fixed-position antennas (FPAs)

DOTS: Delay-Optimal Task Scheduling Among Voluntary Nodes in Fog Networks

Through offloading the computing tasks of the task nodes (TNs) to the fog nodes (FNs) located at the network edge, the fog network is expected to address the unacceptable processing delay and heavy link burden existed in current cloud-based networks. Unlike most existing researches based on the command-mode offloading and full capability report, this paper develops a general analytical model of the task scheduling among voluntary nodes (VNs) in fog networks, wherein the VNs voluntarily contribute their capabilities for serving their neighboring TNs. A novel delay-optimal task scheduling (DOTS) algorithm is proposed to obtain the delay-optimal offloading solution according to the reported capabilities of the VNs. Extensive simulations are carried out in a fog network, and the numerical results indicate that the proposed DOTS algorithm can effectively provide the optimal set of the helper nodes, subtask sizes, and the TN transmission power to minimize the overall task processing delay. Moreover, compared with the command-mode offloading, the voluntary-mode achieves more balanced offloading and a higher fairness level among the FNs

Moderately high temperature water source heat-pumps using a near-azeotropic refrigerant mixture

A ternary mixture of R124/R142b/R600a, named HTR01, for moderately high temperature heat pumps, was developed. Tests of material compatibility and oil miscibility showed that the mixture could be used with a R22 compressor in an HTR01 heat-pump system. A 2.92 kW moderately high temperature water source heat pump system was set up with HTR01 as the refrigerant to study the system performance with HTR01. Then, a 300 kW moderately high temperature water source heat pump system was built with HTR01 as the refrigerant to test the performance with a geothermal hot water source. The test showed that the condenser outlet water temperature could reach and hold on about 90 °C with a high coefficient of performance.Heat pumps Water source heat pump Refrigerant mixtures

Interleukin-8 predicts short-term mortality in acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with hepatitis B-related-related cirrhosis background

AbstractBackground Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a distinctive and severe syndrome, marked by an excessive systemic inflammatory response. In vivo, interleukin 8 (IL-8) is an essential pro-inflammatory cytokine. We aimed to investigate the value of serum IL-8 levels in predicting mortality in ACLF patients in the background of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.Methods In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical baseline characteristics of 276 patients with ACLF in the context of HBV-related cirrhosis. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors for short-, intermediate-, and long-term mortality. Using these independent risk factors, we developed a nomogram model, which was subsequently validated. To assess the clinical usefulness of the nomogram model, we performed decision curve analysis (DCA).Results Out of the 276 patients with ACLF, 98 (35.5%), 113 (40.9%), and 128 (46.4%) died within 28, 90, and 180 days, respectively. Serum IL-8 levels were only an independent predictor of 28-day mortality and could simply classify ACLF patients. Conversely, mean arterial pressure (MAP), HBV-DNA, and COSHACLF IIs were independent predictors of mortality across all three observation periods. We constructed a nomogram based on IL-8 that was able to visualise and predict 28-day mortality with a C-index of 0.901 (95% CI: 0.862–0.940). Our calibration curves, Predicted Probability of Death & Actual Survival Status plot, and Confusion Matrix demonstrated the nomogram model’s strong predictive power. DCA indicated the nomogram’s promising clinical utility in predicting 28-day mortality in ACLF patients.Conclusion Serum IL-8 levels predict short-term mortality in ACLF patients in the background of HBV-associated cirrhosis, and the developed Nomogram model has strong predictive power and good clinical utility

Presentation_1_IL-10 predicts the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure combined with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.ZIP

BackgroundSpontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is common in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). The prognostic value of interleukin-related serum markers for patients with ACLF is coming to the fore. However, there is an unmet need to predict the survival of such patients. We aimed to analyze the independent predictors of 28- and 90-day mortality in HBV-ACLF patients with SBP.MethodsThis was a retrospective study that included 368 patients with HBV-ACLF. In the SBP group, logistic regression analysis was used to understand the independent predictors of mortality at 28-day and 90-day. The accuracy of prediction was analyzed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Finally, decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to determine the clinical utility value.ResultsInterleukin 10 (IL-10) levels were statistically significantly different between the HBV-ACLF group with SBP and without. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum sodium, IL-10 and vasoactive drug treatment were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. International normalized ratio (INR), AST and IL-10 were independent risk factors for 90-day mortality. IL-10 combined with the Chinese Severe Hepatitis B Study Group-ACLF II score (COSH-ACLF IIs) had excellent performance in predicting 28- and 90-day mortality (AUCs: 0.848 and 0.823, respectively). DCA analysis suggests promising clinical utility.ConclusionIL-10 is an independent predictor of mortality at 28- and 90-day in HBV-ACLF patients with SBP and predictive performance is improved when combined with COSH-ACLF IIs.</p

Table_1_A practical nomogram based on serum interleukin-6 for the prognosis of liver failure.DOCX

BackgroundLiver failure (LF) is a serious liver function damage caused by various factors, mainly jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, coagulation disorders and multiple organ failure, with the clinical characteristic of high short-term mortality. LF is often accompanied by excessive activation of inflammatory factors, and an excessive systemic inflammatory response (i.e., inflammatory storm) is considered to be the trigger of LF. However, a specific prognostic model including inflammatory factors for patients with LF has not been well established.AimTo establish and validate a nomogram for predicting 28-day, 90-day, and 180-day mortality in patients with LF.MethodsA total of 423 eligible LF patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Independent predictors were identified using a multivariate logistic model and then integrated into a nomogram to predict 28-day, 90-day, and 180-day mortality. The concordance index, receiver operating characteristic curves, and calibration plots were used to evaluate the performance of the model.ResultsSex, age, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, international normalized ratio, Child–Pugh score, and serum interleukin-6 were independent risk factors for death at 28, 90, and 180 days in LF patients. The nomogram showed good calibration and discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.927. The calibration curve fit as well, indicating that the nomogram had good clinical application value.ConclusionThis nomogram model for predicting the 28-day, 90-day, and 180-day mortality of LF patients could help optimize treatment strategies and improve prognosis.</p

Experiences and perspectives of healthcare professionals implementing advance care planning for people suffering from life-limiting illness: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

Abstract Background Life-limited patients may lose decision-making abilities during disease progression. Advance care planning can be used as a discussion method for healthcare professionals to understand patients’ future care preferences. However, due to many difficulties, the participation rate of healthcare professionals in advance care planning is not high. Aim To explore the facilitators of and barriers to healthcare professionals’ provision of advance care planning to life-limited patients to better implement it for this population. Methods We followed ENTREQ and PRISMA to guide this study. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, and SinoMed to include qualitative data on the experiences and perspectives of healthcare professionals in different professional fields in providing advance care planning for life-limited patients. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results A total of 11 studies were included. Two themes were identified: unsupported conditions and facilitative actions. Healthcare professionals regarded cultural concepts, limited time, and fragmented record services as obstacles to implementation. They had low confidence and were overly concerned about negative effects. They needed to possess multiple abilities, learn to flexibly initiate topics, and facilitate effective communication based on multidisciplinary collaboration. Conclusion Healthcare professionals need an accepting cultural environment to implement advance care planning, a sound legal system, financial support, and a coordinated and shared system to support them. Healthcare systems need to develop educational training programs to increase the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals and to promote multidisciplinary collaboration to facilitate effective communication. Future research should compare the differences in the needs of healthcare professionals in different cultures when implementing advance care planning to develop systematic implementation guidelines in different cultures