Generalized Spatial Modulation for Wireless Terabits Systems under sub-THz Channel with RF Impairments

International audienceMultiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technique with Index Modulation (IM) over sub-TeraHertz (sub-THz) bands represent a promising solution to design new wireless ultra-high data rate systems. However, the system design over sub-THz bands suffers from many technological limitations and severe RF-impairments such as low output power, limited resolution of high-speed low-power Analog-to-Digital Converters and important Phase Noise (PN) introduced by the Local Oscillator (LO). In this paper, different modulations schemes with Generalized Spatial Modulation (GSM) are compared from different perspectives while considering the sub-THz impairments. The effect of PN has been investigated for these modulation schemes in sub-THz channels using uniform linear and rectangular antenna arrays. The obtained results reveal that QPSK-GSM system is the best combination compared to GSM systems with any other M-ary modulation scheme (e.g. PSK, DPSK, QAM, PAM). Compared to DQPSK-GSM and 4PAM-GSM at 12bpcu, same number of receive and activated transmit antennas, the QPSK-GSM system offers a gain ranging from 3.4 dB up to 5 dB. The results reveals that low to medium residual PN in distributed oscillator architecture can be tolerated when using GSM-QPSK without phase noise mitigation. Thus, enforcing the GSM to be a promising candidate for ultra-high wireless data rate communication in sub-THz bands

The prevalence of cardiorenal anemia syndrome among patients with heart failure and its association with all-cause hospitalizations: a retrospective single-center study from the Middle East

Background and aimLittle is known about the burden of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and cardiorenal anemia syndrome (CRAS) in the Middle East Region. Furthermore, whether the occurrence rates of CRAS differ across heart failure (HF) phenotypes is not widely investigated. We aimed to examine the prevalence of CRS and CRAS in patients with HF, compare characteristics of patients with CRAS-HFrEF vs. CRAS-HFpEF, and investigate anemia association with 1-year all-cause hospitalizations.MethodsHF patients who visited a multidisciplinary HF clinic at a single center between 10-2015 and 06-2022 (n = 968) were retrospectively included. Differences in rates of CRAS prevalence, and patients’ characteristics of those with CRAS-HFrEF vs. CRAS-HFpEF were determined using appropriate testing methods. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to determine if anemia was associated with higher rates of hospitalization.ResultsCRS was prevalent in 34.4% of subjects, while 25.3% had CRAS. CRAS prevalence rates among patients with HFpEF vs. HFrEF were comparable (27.2% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.3). Compared to patients with HFrEF-CRAS, those with HFpEF-CRAS were more likely females (p < 0.001), had a higher burden of hypertension (p = 0.01), and lower hemoglobin (p = 0.02). In an adjusted GEE model, anemia was associated with an average increase of 1.8 admissions in CRS patients (p = 0.015).ConclusionIn patients with HF, 1 in 3 patients presented with CRS, and 1 in 4 patients had CRAS. The prevalence of CRAS was comparable among those HFpEF and HFrEF. Anemia was associated with an increased rate of 1-year all-cause hospitalization in CRS patients

OHIDAS Toolkit, the PHC, and Tanya Pakar: A Multi-level, Vertically Integrated Digital Health Promotion, Primary Prevention and Telemedicine Provision Programme

Multiple challenges abound in Malaysian healthcare delivery, including a high prevalence of non-communicable disease associated with poorly reinforced lifestyle practices, service delivery challenges in primary care, and difficulty in adapting English-language evidence-based research to Kadazan culturespecific health beliefs. University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) University Hospital (HUMS) conceptualized a three-pronged, vertically integrated digital health system to address these shortfalls intelligently. Firstly, a mobile application called OHIDAS (“health” or “wellness” in the local Kadazan language) was built to serve two major objectives namely promoting healthy lifestyle practices among the community and advocating for health screening prior to illness to maintain health and well-being in our communities and prevent illness caused through NCDs. There are four stages of OHIDAS; health promotion and primary prevention, telemedicine, capturing of patients’ bioinformatics, and full integration of clinical care with mobile application. Secondly, a proprietary telemedicine system called Tanya Pakar was developed and expedited in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirdly, HUMS collaborated with Kyushu University to develop a Malaysian Portable Health Clinic which heightens rural access to tertiary level healthcare through a synergy of telemedicine, trained human capital, and portable health devices. In conclusion, OHIDAS has the potential to become a highly effective tool for health promotion and primary preventio

Development of Autoantibodies Following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination and Their Association with Disease Flares in Adult Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases (AIIRD) and the General Population: Results of 1-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study

Development of autoantibodies following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and their association with disease flares in adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) and the general population: results of 1-year prospective follow-up study. We conducted a prospective study aimed at investigating the incidence of appearance of autoantibodies (antinuclear, antiphospholipid, and rheumatoid factor) in the sera of 463 adult patients with AIIRD compared to 55 controls from the general population prior to, and following the second and third vaccine doses, and at 1-year of follow-up. Pre- and post-vaccination disease activity indices and the association of autoantibodies with rheumatic disease flares and new onset AIIRD were examined. Autoantibody development of any type in AIIRD patients vs. the controls was 4.0% (vs. 6.7%, p = 0.423) following two vaccine doses and 7.6% (vs. 0%, p = 0.152) after three doses. There was no significant difference in sex, age, or disease-type among individuals with and without autoantibody development, regardless of the immunosuppressant use. More patients developed autoantibodies following the third than the second vaccine dose (p = 0.004). Disease flares occurred in 5.8% and 7.2% of AIIRD patients following second and third vaccine doses, respectively, with autoantibody production increasing the risk of flares following the second (p = 0.002) and third (p = 0.004) vaccine doses. BNT162b2 vaccination resulted in the development of autoantibodies in a minority of AIIRD patients and controls. Autoantibody development was associated with disease flares in patients, but no new-onset autoimmunity was observed