Location-specific Spectrum Sharing in Heterogeneous Networks

The popularity of wireless mobile communication with enormous production of smart devices and applications increases the number of users in the wireless network. This increase of mobile users in the wireless network results insatiable demand for additional bandwidth. To improve network capacity of mobile operators efficient use of spectrum is critical. To improve the system capacity of operators and to provide flexible use of spectrum, we investigate a localized spectrum sharing between operators located at the same geographical area. We provide a coordination mechanism for operators to form a common spectrum pool and to use it dynamically. The coordination between the operators is modeled using a game theoretical approach in a non-cooperative basis. We study the spectrum sharing at localized and non-localized level, where at localized level operators agree on spectrum sharing at small scale. In localized spectrum sharing operators share their spectrum at smaller areas, when compared to non-localized spectrum sharing. Through numerical simulation, we analyze the performance of localized and non-localized spectrum sharing in comparison to the default orthogonal spectrum sharing mechanism. From the simulation results, we conclude that localized spectrum sharing outperforms non-localized spectrum sharing. Thus, spectrum sharing at smaller areas provides a better performance improvement than spectrum sharing at larger geographical areas

Gene-based genome-wide association studies and meta-analyses of conotruncal heart defects.

Conotruncal heart defects (CTDs) are among the most common and severe groups of congenital heart defects. Despite evidence of an inherited genetic contribution to CTDs, little is known about the specific genes that contribute to the development of CTDs. We performed gene-based genome-wide analyses using microarray-genotyped and imputed common and rare variants data from two large studies of CTDs in the United States. We performed two case-parent trio analyses (N = 640 and 317 trios), using an extension of the family-based multi-marker association test, and two case-control analyses (N = 482 and 406 patients and comparable numbers of controls), using a sequence kernel association test. We also undertook two meta-analyses to combine the results from the analyses that used the same approach (i.e. family-based or case-control). To our knowledge, these analyses are the first reported gene-based, genome-wide association studies of CTDs. Based on our findings, we propose eight CTD candidate genes (ARF5, EIF4E, KPNA1, MAP4K3, MBNL1, NCAPG, NDFUS1 and PSMG3). Four of these genes (ARF5, KPNA1, NDUFS1 and PSMG3) have not been previously associated with normal or abnormal heart development. In addition, our analyses provide additional evidence that genes involved in chromatin-modification and in ribonucleic acid splicing are associated with congenital heart defects

Development and characterization of green composites from bio-based polyethylene and peanut shell

This is the accepted version of the following article: Garcia-Garcia, D., Carbonell-Verdu, A., Jordá-Vilaplana, A., Balart, R. and Garcia-Sanoguera, D. (2016), Development and characterization of green composites from bio-based polyethylene and peanut shell. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 43940 doi: 10.1002/app.43940, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.43940[EN] In the present work, different compatibilizers, namely polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA), polypropylene-graftmaleic anhydride (PP-g-MA), and polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene-graft-maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) were used on green composites derived from biobased polyethylene and peanut shell (PNS) flour to improve particle polymer interaction. Composites of high-density polyethylene/peanut shell powder (HDPE/PNS) with 10 wt % PNS flour were compatibilized with 3 wt % of the abovementioned compatibilizers. As per the results, PP-g-MA copolymer lead to best optimized properties as evidenced by mechanical characterization. In addition, best particle matrix interface interactions with PP-g-MA were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Subsequently HDPE/PNS composites with varying PNS flour content in the 5 30 wt % range with PP-g-MA compatibilizer were obtained by melt extrusion and compounding followed by injection molding and were characterized by mechanical, thermal, and morphological techniques. The results showed that PNS powder, leads to an increase in mechanical resistant properties (mainly, flexural modulus, and strength) while a decrease in mechanical ductile properties, that is, elongation at break and impact absorbed energy is observed with increasing PNS flour content. Furthermore, PNS flour provides an increase in thermal stability due to the natural antioxidant properties of PNS. In particular, composites containing 30 wt % PNS powder present a flexural strength 24% and a flexural modulus 72% higher than the unfilled polyethylene and the thermo-oxidative onset degradation temperature is increased from 232 8C up to 2548C thus indicating a marked thermal stabilization effect. Resultant composites can show a great deal of potential as base materials for wood plastic composites.This research was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness -MINECO, Ref: MAT2014-59242-C2-1-R. Authors also thank to "Conselleria d'Educacio, Cultura i Esport" - Generalitat Valenciana, Ref: GV/2014/008 for financial support. A. Carbonell-Verdu wants to thank Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for financial support through an FPI grant. D. Garcia-Garcia wants to thanks the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports for the financial support through an FPU grant (FPU13/06011).García García, D.; Carbonell Verdú, A.; Jorda-Vilaplana, A.; Balart Gimeno, RA.; García Sanoguera, D. (2016). Development and characterization of green composites from bio-based polyethylene and peanut shell. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 133(37):1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/APP.43940S1121333

Analysis of rare and common variants to identify inherited and maternal genes associated with conotruncal heart defects

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the leading cause of infant death due to birth defects in the United States. Conotruncal defects (CTDs) are the most severe and the largest group of CHDs. Candidate gene, genome-wide gene-based analyses with meta-analyses, and pathway level-analyses of CTDs were performed, using rare and common variants, to identify novel inherited genes underlying disease occurrence. Genome-wide analyses and a meta-analysis were also performed to identify maternal genes associated with CTDs. Enrichment of genes with meta-analysis p\u3c10-3 and p\u3c0.05 was also evaluated. Both case-parent trios and case-control analyses were conducted using data from multiple cohorts. Although no gene was significantly associated with CTDs at the genome-wide level, several genes with evidence suggestive of association and several significantly enriched gene clusters were identified. Meta-analysis of inherited effects using data from trios identified 11 genes with evidence suggestive of an association (p\u3c10-3), including the Wilms tumor gene, POU6F2 (p=9.82 x10-5), and MBNL1 (p=1.50 x10-4), which is expressed in endocardial cushions and heart valves. In addition, meta-analysis of inherited effects using case-control data identified 29 genes, including: NEXN (p=1.85x10-4), which regulates cardiac differentiation; the angiogenesis regulator, PRKD2 (p=3.12x10-4); and DACT3 (p=3.18x10-4), which regulates Wnt signaling. Enrichment analysis of genes with meta-analysis p\u3c0.05 in the trio-based analyses of inherited genes identified two significantly enriched clusters, one of which included members of the solute carrier family of proteins (Enrichment Score, ES=1.78) involved in zinc transmembrane transport. Similarly, six significantly enriched clusters were identified from case-control meta-analysis of inherited genes. The top three clusters included genes that encode cadherins and gamma protocadherins (ES= 8.83, 8.74, 1.89), which are important for cell-cell adhesion, migration and cardiac differentiation. In the maternal genetic effect meta-analysis based on two case/mother-control/father comparisons, the germ cell-specific gene, GGN, was borderline significant (p=7.10x10 -6). GGN is critical for the spermatogenesis and is also involved in the development of the oocyte and preimplantation embryo. Additionally, 33 genes with suggestive evidence of association were identified, including three known CHD-related genes (SUMO1, p=1.06x10 -4; PLXND1, p=3.38x10-4; TBX20, p=8.58x10-4), and the oocyte-specific gene, H1FOO (p=7.92x10-4). Enrichment analysis of 34 genes with p\u3c10-3 from case-control meta-analysis of maternal effects identified one significantly enriched cluster of three protease inhibitor genes (ES=2.11). Similarly, for meta-analysis genes with p\u3c0.05, two significantly enriched clusters were identified, including a cluster of three hyaluronidase genes (ES=1.30) that are expressed in the ovaries and may be required for embryonic development (i.e. HYAL2). In summary, these analyses identified, several novel inherited and maternal genes with suggestive evidence of association with CTDs. The identification of enriched gene clusters among our top associations provides important clues regarding the pathogenesis of CTDs

Effect of smoking on the association between periodontitis and incidence of coronary heart disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Multiple studies have shown an association between periodontitis and coronary heart disease due to the chronic inflammatory nature of periodontitis. Also, studies have indicated similar risk factors and patho-physiologic mechanisms for periodontitis and CHD. Among these factors, smoking has been the most discussed common risk factor and some studies suggested the periodontitis - CHD association to be largely a result of confounding due to smoking or inadequate adjustment for it. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Dental ARIC Study, an ancillary study to the ARIC Study, to evaluate the effect of smoking on the periodontitis - CHD association using three periodontitis classifications namely, BGI, AAP-CDC, and Dental-ARIC classification (Beck et al 2001). We also compared these results with edentulous ARIC participants. Using Cox proportional hazard models, we found that the individuals with the most severe form of periodontitis in each of the three classifications (BGI: HR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.15 – 2.13; AAP-CDC: HR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.13 – 1.79; and Dental-ARIC: HR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.22 – 1.83) were at a significantly higher risk of incident CHD in the unadjusted models; whereas only BGI-P3 showed statistically significant increased risk in the smoking adjusted models (HR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.04 – 1.96). However none of the categories in any of the classifications showed significant association when a list of traditional CHD risk factors was introduced into the models. On the other hand, edentulous participants showed significant results when compared to the dentate ARIC participants in the crude (HR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.34 – 1.82); smoking adjusted (HR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.18 – 1.64) age, race and sex adjusted (HR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.30 – 1.77); and ARIC traditional risk factors (except smoking) adjusted (HR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.02 – 1.57) models. Also, the risk remained significantly higher even when smoking was introduced in the age, sex and race adjusted model (HR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.17 – 1.63). Smoking did not reduce the hazard ratio by more than 8% when it was included in any of the Cox models. This is the first study to include the three most recent case definitions of periodontitis simultaneously while looking at its association with incident coronary heart disease. We found smoking to be partially confounding the periodontitis and coronary heart disease association and edentulism to be significantly associated with incident CHD even after adjusting for smoking and the ARIC traditional risk factors. The difference in the three periodontitis classifications was not found to be statistical significant when they were tested for equality of the area under their ROC curves but this should not be confused with their clinical significance

A Physiological Study of Twaca w.s.r. to Effectiveness of Madhucchishta and Jatyadi Taila in Padadari

Ayurveda considers Padadari under Kshudra roga which has been first described in Sushruth Samhita. Padadari is one of the most commonest and negligible diseases, highly prevalent in rural areas. Vruddha Vata Dosha is related to Padadari. It is characterised by minor to severe cracks on the feet, more frequently on the heels. In severe conditions, it causes Vedana, Daha, Rookshata and occasionally Raktasrava. Here, Madhuchchista and Jatyadi Taila being cost and medically more effective are used as remedy for Padadari. An open labelled clinical trial has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Malahar prepared using Madhuchchista and Jatyadi Taila in Padadari. Material and Method: Whole pharmaceutical procedure was carried out in the sequence of Madhuchchista and Jatyadi Taila preparation. Ratio of 1:5 of Madhuchchista and Jatyadi Taila for preparing Sikta Taila was selected and prepared for the preparation of Padadari Malahar. Result: Response to the treatment was recorded on a weekly basis and therapeutic effect was evaluated through symptomatic relief. Conclusion: The study yielded statistically highly significant results in symptoms such as dryness (P<0.001), roughness (P<0.001) and cracks associated with pain (P<0.001)

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Virulina® along with standard treatment as per hospital protocol for the treatment of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Background: There is a high priority for the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19 in an outpatient setting. Objective:  To test the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Virulina® in mild or moderate COVID-19 patients. Methods: We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial involving adult (18-70yrs) mild or moderate COVID-19 patients, randomized 1:1 on Virulina® (3 gm, maximum 14 days) or placebo respectively along with standard-of-care. The primary endpoint was the time taken for nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR to test negative. And the average change in the ordinal scale from the baseline scores on the eight-point WHO ordinal scale was assessed. Results: 30 outpatients were selected between 13 July 2020 to 13 August 2020.  93.33% of Virulina® treated patients were virologically cured compared to 53.33% in the placebo group (p= 0.001). The disappearance rates of major symptoms were significantly high in Virulina® plus standard treatment group compared with standard treatment alone. Conclusion: Virulina® meets the primary and secondary endpoint criteria and exhibits statistically significant efficacy for mild or moderate COVID-19 patients. It is efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated at the tested dosage of 3gm for a maximum of 14 days. Keywords: COVID-19; herbal medicine; immunomodulation; clinical trial