Beam division multiple access for millimeter wave massive MIMO: Hybrid zero-forcing beamforming with user selection

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems are considered a promising solution to minimize multiuser interference (MUI) based on simple precoding techniques with a massive antenna array at a base station (BS). This paper presents a novel approach of beam division multiple access (BDMA) which BS transmit signals to multiusers at the same time via different beams based on hybrid beamforming and user-beam schedule. With the selection of users whose steering vectors are orthogonal to each other, interference between users is significantly improved. While, the efficiency spectrum of proposed scheme reaches to the performance of fully digital solutions, the multiuser interference is considerably reduced

A Hybrid Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO) Algorithm for Construction Site Layout Optimization

A well-planned layout will contribute to saving time and site congestion as well as minimize travel distance, material handling effort, and operational cost. However, most of developed mathematical optimization procedures only work for small-scale problems and often falls into either local or global optima which do not guarantee the further convergence. Therefore, this study is motivated to propose a Hybrid Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO) algorithm inspired by ant lions’ predatory behavior, combining optimization techniques and heuristic methods to overcome a limitation of previous research. The validation has demonstrated that the proposed algorithm is able to provide very competitive results in terms of improved exploration, local optima avoidance, exploitation, and convergence. The hybrid ALO algorithm also finds superior optimal solutions for the majority of site layout problems employed, showing that this algorithm has merits in solving constrained problems with diverse search spaces. The optimal results obtained for the site layout optimization demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm in solving real problems with unknown search spaces as well

Optimization of Construction Projects Time-Cost-Quality-Environment Trade-off Problem Using Adaptive Selection Slime Mold Algorithm

In order to address optimization problems, artificial intelligence (AI) is employed in the construction industry, which aids in the growth and popularization of AI. This study utilizes a Hybrid algorithm called Adaptive Selection Slime Mold Algorithm (ASSMA), which combines the Tournament Selection (TS) and Slime Mould Algorithm (SMA) to address the four-factor optimization problem in projects. This combination will improve the original algorithm's performance, speed up result finding and achieve good convergence via Pareto Front. Hence, efficient resource management must be comprehended in order to optimize the time, cost, quality and environmental impact trade-off (TCQE). Case studies are used to illustrate the capabilities of the new model, and ASSMA results are compared to those of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method used by the previous researcher. To improve the suggested model's superiority and effectiveness, it is compared to the multiple-target swarm algorithm (MOPSO), multi-objective artificial bee colony (MOABC) and non-dominant sort genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). Based on the overall results, it is clear that the ASSMA model illustrates diversification and offers a robust and convincing optimal solution for readers to understand the potential of the proposed model

Isolation and identification of phenolic compounds from the leaf extract of Cassia alata L.

Cassia alata is one of the most important species of the genus Cassia which is rich in anthraquinones and polyphenols. This plant is used as a medicinal material of which the leaves are known to have laxative and antibiotic properties. In our study, the methanol leaf extract of C. alata showed a significant antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria strains Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The organic layers such as n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous layers, were prepared by partitioning the methanol extract with n-hexane and ethyl acetate successively.  We successfully isolated and identified the structures of five compounds from C. alata leaves. Their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR spectroscopic methods as well as comparison with literature data. These compounds were determined to be methyl 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoate (1), kaempferol (2), (-)epiafzelechin (3), kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (4) and kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside (5). Keywords. Cassia alata L., epiafzelechin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside

Microchamber Cultures of Bladder Cancer: A Platform for Characterizing Drug Responsiveness and Resistance in PDX and Primary Cancer Cells.

Precision cancer medicine seeks to target the underlying genetic alterations of cancer; however, it has been challenging to use genetic profiles of individual patients in identifying the most appropriate anti-cancer drugs. This spurred the development of patient avatars; for example, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) established in mice and used for drug exposure studies. However, PDXs are associated with high cost, long development time and low efficiency of engraftment. Herein we explored the use of microfluidic devices or microchambers as simple and low-cost means of maintaining bladder cancer cells over extended periods of times in order to study patterns of drug responsiveness and resistance. When placed into 75 µm tall microfluidic chambers, cancer cells grew as ellipsoids reaching millimeter-scale dimeters over the course of 30 days in culture. We cultured three PDX and three clinical patient specimens with 100% success rate. The turn-around time for a typical efficacy study using microchambers was less than 10 days. Importantly, PDX-derived ellipsoids in microchambers retained patterns of drug responsiveness and resistance observed in PDX mice and also exhibited in vivo-like heterogeneity of tumor responses. Overall, this study establishes microfluidic cultures of difficult-to-maintain primary cancer cells as a useful tool for precision cancer medicine

Determinants of poverty among ethnic minorities in the Northwest region, Vietnam

This paper investigates both community and household determinants of poverty among ethnic minorities in the Northwest region, Vietnam. Results of a fractional logit and a logit model show that some household factors such as fixed assets, education, land and off-farm employment have a reducing effect on both poverty intensity and incidence. Furthermore, some commune characteristics were found to be closely linked to poverty. Notably, the presence of means of transportation and post offices reduces both the poverty intensity and incidence. However, other commune and household factors affect only the poverty incidence or intensity, but not both. This suggests that previous studies that focused only on the determinants of poverty incidence using a logit/probit approach might not adequately evaluate or even ignored the impact of some factors on the poverty intensity. We draw both socio-economic household and commune level implications for poverty alleviation in the study area

Determinants of poverty among ethnic minorities in the Northwest region, Vietnam

This paper investigates both community and household determinants of poverty among ethnic minorities in the Northwest region, Vietnam. Results of a fractional logit and a logit model show that some household factors such as fixed assets, education, land and off-farm employment have a reducing effect on both poverty intensity and incidence. Furthermore, some commune characteristics were found to be closely linked to poverty. Notably, the presence of means of transportation and post offices reduces both the poverty intensity and incidence. However, other commune and household factors affect only the poverty incidence or intensity, but not both. This suggests that previous studies that focused only on the determinants of poverty incidence using a logit/probit approach might not adequately evaluate or even ignored the impact of some factors on the poverty intensity. We draw both socio-economic household and commune level implications for poverty alleviation in the study area

MULTI-PIXEL PHOTON COUNTER FOR OPERATING A TABLETOP COSMIC RAY DETECTOR UNDER LOOSELY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS

The multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC) has recently emerged as a great type of silicon photomultiplier to replace or compensate for conventional vacuum-based photomultiplier tubes. An MPPC provides many advantageous features, such as high electrical gain, outstanding photon detection efficiency, fast timing response, immunity to magnetic fields, low-voltage operation, compactness, portability, and cost-effectiveness. This article examines the electrical and optical characteristics of an MPPC under loosely controlled environmental conditions. We also report a measurement of the light yield captured by the MPPC when a cosmic ray passes through the plastic scintillator, demonstrating that such a setup is suitable as a simple, cost-effective tabletop cosmic ray detector for educational and research purposes