A Multistage Method for SCMA Codebook Design Based on MDS Codes

Sparse Code Multiple Access (SCMA) has been recently proposed for the future generation of wireless communication standards. SCMA system design involves specifying several parameters. In order to simplify the procedure, most works consider a multistage design approach. Two main stages are usually emphasized in these methods: sparse signatures design (equivalently, resource allocation) and codebook design. In this paper, we present a novel SCMA codebook design method. The proposed method considers SCMA codebooks structured with an underlying vector space obtained from classical block codes. In particular, when using maximum distance separable (MDS) codes, our proposed design provides maximum signal-space diversity with a relatively small alphabet. The use of small alphabets also helps to maintain desired properties in the codebooks, such as low peak-to-average power ratio and low-complexity detection.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Wireless Communication Letter

Cross-Validation of Ratings of Perceived Exertion Derived from Heart Rate Target Ranges Recommended for Pregnant Women

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(3): 1340-1351, 2020. Currently, there are no established evidence-based rating of perceived exertion (RPE) targets for physical activity (PA) in pregnant women. Yet, a set of target heart rate (HR) ranges have been recommended. Using the Borg Scale, we aimed to determine and validate the RPE target ranges for different PA intensities derived from the recommended HR ranges in the 2019 Canadian Guideline for PA throughout pregnancy. We assessed 13 pregnant women (age: 31.2 ± 3.5 years; gestational age: 20.5 ± 5.0 weeks) using the following three phases: 1) the incremental submaximal walking test to develop the linear regression equation; 2) establishment of the RPE targets for light- and moderate-intensity PA; 3) moderate-intensity exercise session aiming to cross-validate RPE targets in women whose HR ranges were within (Step 1; six participants; 36 RPE values) or outside (Step 2; seven participants; 42 RPE values) the guideline. Study Phase 1 showed a strong linear relationship between RPE x HR (RPE = -7.370 + 0.155*HR; R2 = 0.863). RPE targets for pregnant women aged ≤ 29 years are 8-12 (light-intensity) and 12-15 (moderate-intensity), respectively. For women aged ≥ 30 years, RPE targets are 8-11 (light-intensity) and 11-14 (moderate-intensity), respectively. The cross-validation suggested no differences between predicted (13.4 ± 0.7) vs. observed RPE (13.3 ± 1.4; p = 0.703) and a strong % agreement (Step 1 = 80.6%; Step 2 = 73.8%) between observed RPE and its predicted range. Thus, we have determined pregnancy-specific, evidence-based RPE targets. These RPE targets will help exercise professionals, other health care providers, and pregnant women to easily monitor exercise intensity during pregnancy to meet recommended Canadian PA Guideline

Evaluation of Afterschool Activity Programs’ (ASAP) Effect on Children’s Physical Activity, Physical Health, and Fundamental Movement Skills

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021.Background: Physical literacy-focused afterschool activity programs (ASAPs) can be an effective strategy to improve children’s health-related parameters. We sought to compare physical activity, body composition, aerobic capacity, and fundamental movement skills between physical literacy-focused ASAP and a standard recreational ASAP. Method: A pre–post (6 months) comparison study was conducted in 5- to 12-year-old children in a physical literacy-focused ASAP (physical literacy group, n = 14) and children attending a standard recreational ASAP (comparison group, n = 15). Physical activity guideline adherence was assessed using accelerometry, body composition was analyzed using bioelectrical impedance, aerobic capacity was estimated using the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test, and fundamental movement skills were evaluated using the Test of Gross Motor Development–2. Results: There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. After 6 months, the physical literacy group exhibited a significant improvement in their total raw score for the Test of Gross Motor Development–2 (p =.016), which was likely due to improvements in object control skills (p =.024). The comparison group significantly increased body mass index (p =.001) and body fat (p =.009) over time. No significant between-group differences were found; however, there was a trend for improved aerobic capacity in the physical literacy group (d = 0.58). Conclusions: Engagement in the physical literacy-focused ASAP contributed to an attenuated increase in adiposity and an improvement in object control skills.Peer reviewe

Collective transport of droplets through porous media

The flow of deformable particles, such as droplets, dragged by a fluid, through a network of narrow pores inside rocks or other porous media is key in a range of applications, from enhanced oil recovery and water filtration to lab on a chip sorting of cells. The collective dynamics and its impact on the flow are poorly understood. Here, using droplets as a prototype, we show that collective transport can occur for conditions under which a single particle would get trapped at a pore channel. When a series of droplets gets trapped, the fluids flow is affected significantly, leading to an increase of the pressure difference across the pore channels, which in turn squeezes the particles through the channels. We analyze the conditions for a single droplet to flow through one pore and derive the corresponding Bond number. We also obtain a rule for the collective flow of droplets in porous media

Anomaly Detection in Industrial Machinery using IoT Devices and Machine Learning: a Systematic Mapping

Anomaly detection is critical in the smart industry for preventing equipment failure, reducing downtime, and improving safety. Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled the collection of large volumes of data from industrial machinery, providing a rich source of information for Anomaly Detection. However, the volume and complexity of data generated by the Internet of Things ecosystems make it difficult for humans to detect anomalies manually. Machine learning (ML) algorithms can automate anomaly detection in industrial machinery by analyzing generated data. Besides, each technique has specific strengths and weaknesses based on the data nature and its corresponding systems. However, the current systematic mapping studies on Anomaly Detection primarily focus on addressing network and cybersecurity-related problems, with limited attention given to the industrial sector. Additionally, these studies do not cover the challenges involved in using ML for Anomaly Detection in industrial machinery within the context of the IoT ecosystems. This paper presents a systematic mapping study on Anomaly Detection for industrial machinery using IoT devices and ML algorithms to address this gap. The study comprehensively evaluates 84 relevant studies spanning from 2016 to 2023, providing an extensive review of Anomaly Detection research. Our findings identify the most commonly used algorithms, preprocessing techniques, and sensor types. Additionally, this review identifies application areas and points to future challenges and research opportunities

PrbP modulates biofilm formation in Liberibacter crescens

In Liberibacter asiaticus, PrbP is a transcriptional regulatory protein involved in survival and persistence during host infection. Tolfenamic acid was previously found to inhibit interactions between PrbP and the promotor region of rplK, resulting in reduced survival of L. asiaticus in the citrus host. In this study, we performed transcriptome analyses to elucidate the PrbP regulon in L. crescens, as it is phylogenetically the closest related species to L. asiaticus that can be grown in laboratory conditions. Chemical inhibition of PrbP with tolfenamic acid revealed that PrbP is involved in the regulation of diverse cellular processes, including stress response, cell motility, cell cycle and biofilm formation. In vitro DNA binding and bacterial two-hybrid assays also suggested that PrbP is a global regulator of multiple transcription factors (RpoH, VisN, PleD, MucR, MocR and CtrA) at both transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional levels. Sub-lethal concentrations of tolfenamic acid significantly reduced the attachment of L. crescens during biofilm formation and decreased long-term persistence in biofilm structures. Overall, our findings show the importance of PrbP in regulating diverse biological processes through direct and indirect interactions with other transcriptional regulators in L. crescens.Fil: Pan, Lei. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Gardner, Christopher L.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Beliakoff, Reagan. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Da Silva, Danilo. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Zuo, Ran. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Pagliai, Fernando A.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Padgett Pagliai, Kaylie A.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Merli, Marcelo Luciano. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bahadiroglu, Erol. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Gonzalez, Claudio F.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Lorca, Graciela L.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados Unido

Comportamentos associados à manutenção dos resultados após cirurgia bariátrica

A Cirurgia Bariátrica (CB) é um método de tratamento da obesidade que vem recebendo destaque principalmente devido aos resultados positivos no tratamento das comorbidades associados ao excesso de peso. No entanto, esse tipo de intervenção necessita de uma fase de adaptação e mudanças de estilo de vida principalmente devido a complicações pós-cirúrgicas relacionadas à deficiência de algumas vitaminas e minerais. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi associar o perfil antropométrico, composição corporal e tempo desde a realização da CB com a adesão a comportamentos alimentares saudáveis de pacientes submetidos a esse procedimento. Estudo do tipo transversal realizado com 98 pacientes submetidos ao bypass gástrico em Y de Roux. Foram avaliados peso, estatura, circunferência da cintura (CC) e quadril, massa de gordura, massa muscular esquelética e o comportamento alimentar por meio do questionário Bariatric Surgery Self-management Questionnaire Seven, que possui 7 domínios referentes ao comportamento alimentar (CA), à ingestão de fluidos (IF), à atividade física (AF), à gestão da síndrome de dumping (GSD), à admissão de suplementos (AS), ao consumo de frutas, vegetais e grãos integrais (CFVGI) e à ingestão de proteínas (IP). Foi verificada associação entre adesão total dos comportamentos alimentares, CFVGI, IP com o estado nutricional e CC após a CB. Observamos também menor peso, IMC e CC e menor % e quantidade de gordura em pacientes que apresentaram boa adesão nesses domínios. Nos domínios, CA, IF e AF os pacientes com menor tempo após a realização da CB apresentaram melhor adesão a esses comportamentos. Os sujeitos mais jovens apresentaram maior adesão à AF comparados aos mais velhos. Em conclusão, a adesão aos comportamentos alimentares após a CB se associou com o estado nutricional e CC, bem como com o tempo após a realização à CB. Sugere-se a realização de estudos que proponham modelos de intervenção para o melhor controle e manutenção dos comportamentos alimentares dos pacientes submetidos a esse procedimento.Bariatric Surgery (BS) is a method for obesity treatment which has been receiving attention mainly due to the positive results in the treatment of comorbidities associated with overweight. However, this type of intervention requires a period of adaptation and change of lifestyle mainly due to post surgery complications related to vitamins and minerals deficits. In this way, the objective of this study was to associate the anthropometric profile, body composition and time since the surgery with the adherence to healthy behavior eating on patients who underwent this procedure. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 98 patients who underwent gastric bypass Roux-Y. We evaluated weight, height, waist (WC) and hip circumferences, body fat (BF), skeletal muscle mass and feeding behavior by the Bariatric Surgery Self-management Questionnaire Seven, which has 7 domains related to feeding behavior (FB), the fluid intake (FI), physical activity (PA), management of Dumping Syndrome (MDS), admission of supplements (AS), consume of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (CFVWG) and protein intake (PI).  We verify association between total adherence of eating behaviors, CFVWG, and PI with nutritional status and WC after BS. We also observed lower weight, BMI and WC, % and quantity of BF in patients who presented good adherence in these domains. In the domains FB, FI, and PA the patients who had operated in less time present better adherence. The younger subjects showed higher PA adhesion compared to the older ones. In conclusion, feeding behaviors adherence after BS was associated with nutritional status and WC, as well as time since BS. It is suggested to carry out studies that propose intervention models for the better control and maintenance of feeding behaviors in patients who underwent BS