Downlink Steered Space-Time Spreading Assisted Generalised Multicarrier DS-CDMA Using Sphere-Packing-Aided Multilevel Coding

This paper presents a novel generalised Multi-Carrier Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (MC DS-CDMA) system invoking smart antennas for improving the achievable performance in the downlink, as well as employing multi-dimensional Sphere Packing (SP) modulation for increasing the achievable diversity product. In this contribution, the MC DS-CDMA transmitter considered employs multiple Antenna Arrays (AA) and each of the AAs consists of several antenna elements. Furthermore, the proposed system employs both time- and frequency- (TF) domain spreading for extending the achievable capacity, when combined with a novel user-grouping technique for reducing the effects of Multiuser Interference (MUI). Moreover, in order to further enhance the system’s performance, we invoke a MultiLevel Coding (MLC) scheme, whose component codes are determined using the so-called equivalent capacity based constituent-code rate-calculation procedure invoking a 4-dimensional bit-to-SP-symbol mapping scheme. Our results demonstrate an approximately 3.8 dB Eb/N0 gain over an identical throughput scheme dispensing with SP modulation at a BER of 10?5

An overview of the methane emission from ruminant in Jambi Province, Indonesia.

Metan adalah salah satu gas rumah kaca (GRK) utama di samping uap air, karbondioksidJl dan nitrogen oksida. Dibandingkan dengan CO'b metan adalah suatu GRK penting dimana· konsentrasinya di atmosfir lebih dua kIl1i Upat semenjak era pre-industri. Kajian ini memberi gambaran sebuah studi kasus mengenai penilnian emisi gas dan kTedit karbon dJlri ternak ruminansia di Prouinsi Jambi Indonesia. Data merupakan dJlta sekunder meliputi luas daerah, jumlah ternak ruminansia dan kebijakan tentang Tencana ke depan Prouinsi Jambi. Jumlah emisi metan dJlri sapi, kerbau dan kambing adalah 47.83 dan 34,54 ton perhari palla tahun 2002 dan 2006 dJln total emisi C02 dJlri sapi, kerbau dan kambing 131,5 dan 94,96 ton perhari pada tahun 2002 dJln 2006. DiperkiTakan bahwa pQda tahun 2015 PrC1C7insi Jambi dapat menghasilkan dJlri ternak kim-kiTa untuk 69.118 rumah dengan asumsi keperluan listrik 900 watt per-rumah

Quantitative Analysis of Hyperautofluorescent Rings to Characterize the Natural History and Progression in Rpgr-associated Retinopathy

PURPOSE: Quantitative analysis of hyperautofluorescent rings and progression in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa associated with retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene mutations. METHODS: Prospective observational study of 46 subjects. Ring area, horizontal and vertical diameter measurements taken from outer and inner ring borders. Intraobserver repeatability, baseline measurements, progression rates, interocular symmetry, and association with age and genotype were investigated. RESULTS: Baseline ring area was 11.8 ± 13.4 mm and 11.4 ± 13.2 mm for right and left eyes, respectively, with very strong interocular correlation (r = 0.9398; P < 0.0001). Ring area constriction was 1.5 ± 2.0 mm/year and 1.3 ± 1.9 mm/year for right and left eyes, respectively, with very strong interocular correlation (r = 0.878, P < 0.0001). Baseline ring area and constriction rate correlated negatively with age (r = -0.767; P < 0.0001 and r = -0.644, P < 0.0001, respectively). Constriction rate correlated strongly with baseline area (r = 0.850, P < 0.0001). Age, but not genotype, exerted a significant effect on constriction rates (P < 0.0001), with greatest rates of progression seen in younger subjects. An exponential decline overall was found. CONCLUSION: This study provides disease-specific baseline values and progression rates together with a repeatability assessment of fundus autofluorescence metrics. Our findings can guide future treatment trials and contribute to the clinical care of patients with RPGR-associated retinitis pigmentosa

Characterizing anomalies in distributed strain measurements of cast-in-situ bored piles

This paper describes the method of identifying typical defects of bored cast-in-situ piles when instrumenting using Distributed Optical Fiber Strain Sensing (DOFSS). The DOFSS technology is based on Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analyses (BOTDA), which has the advantage of recording continuous strain profile as opposed to the conventional discrete based sensors such as Vibrating Wire strain gauges. In pile instrumentation particularly, obtaining distributed strain profile is important when analysing the load-transfer and shaft friction of a pile, as well as detecting any anomalies in the strain regime. Features such as defective pile shaft necking, discontinuity of concrete, intrusion of foreign matter and improper toe formation due to contamination of concrete at base with soil particles, among others, may cause the pile to fail. In this study, a new technique of detecting such defects is proposed using DOFSS technology which can potentially supplement the existing non-destructive test (NDT) methods. Discussion on the performance of instrumented piles by means of maintained load test are also presented

Penetration depth study of LaOs4_4Sb12_{12}: Multiband s-wave superconductivity

We measured the magnetic penetration depth $\lambda(T)$ in single crystals of LaOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$ ($T_c$=0.74 K) down to 85 mK using a tunnel diode oscillator technique. The observed low-temperature exponential dependence indicates a s-wave gap. Fitting the low temperature data to BCS s-wave expression gives the zero temperature gap value $\Delta (0)= (1.34 \pm 0.07) k_B T_c$ which is significantly smaller than the BCS value of 1.76$k_B T_c$. In addition, the normalized superfluid density $\rho(T)$ shows an unusually long suppression near $T_c$, and are best fit by a two-band s-wave model.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

RPGR-associated retinopathy: clinical features, molecular genetics, animal models and therapeutic options

Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene sequence variants account for the vast majority of X linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which is one of the most severe forms of RP. Symptoms of nyctalopia typically begin in childhood, with increasing loss of peripheral visual field during teenage years, and progressive central visual loss during the second to fourth decade of life. There is however marked intrafamilial and interfamilial phenotypic heterogeneity in affected males and carrier females. There is now a far greater understanding of the range of phenotypes associated with variants in this gene; including rod-cone dystrophy, cone-rod dystrophy, cone dystrophy, macular dystrophy and non-ocular phenotypes. There are also increasingly established genotype-phenotype associations and structure-function correlations. RPGR is involved in ciliary function, with ciliary dysfunction now recognised as the mechanism underlying a large proportion of inherited retinal disease. There has been significant progress in identifying naturally occurring animal models and developing novel models to define the underlying disease mechanisms and to test gene replacement therapy, in addition to advances in human retinal imaging, culminating in completed and planned clinical trials. These significant developments will be discussed

The level of Marzano higher-order thinking skills among polytechnic students

This study aims to identify polytechnic students' level of Marzano Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) based on two dimensions, 'Extension and Refinement of Knowledge' and 'Meaningful Use of Knowledge,' and to analyze the difference in the students' level of Marzano HOTS based on these two dimensions depending on the students' demographic factors. This study design was a survey using quantitative methods. A total of 313 students were randomly selected as the survey sample. A questionnaire in the form of closed-ended questions was used as the research instrument. Data were analyzed using frequency percentage and MANOVA test. The findings showed no significant differences in the eight HOTS in the dimension of 'Extension and Refinement of Knowledge' with the gender and socio-economic status (SES) factors. However, there were significant differences in the eight HOTS with the academic achievement factor. Meanwhile, based on the dimension of 'Meaningful Use of Knowledge,' the findings showed no significant differences in the five HOTS in this dimension with the gender and academic achievement factors. The paper includes implications of the Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) for students to improve their academic performance. In future research, the authors can further identify university students' HOTS levels in the technical area

Dietary dairy product intake and incident type 2 diabetes: a prospective study using dietary data from a 7-day food diary

The consumption of specific dairy types may be beneficial for the prevention of diabetes. Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between total and types of dairy product intake and risk of developing incident type 2 diabetes, using a food diary. Methods: A nested case-cohort within the EPIC-Norfolk Study was examined, including a random subcohort (n=4,000) and cases of incident diabetes (n=892, including 143 cases in the subcohort) followed-up for 11 years. Diet was assessed using a prospective 7-day food diary. Total dairy intake (g/day) was estimated and categorised into high-fat (≥3.9%) and low-fat (&lt;3.9% fat) dairy, and by subtype into yoghurt, cheese and milk. Combined fermented dairy product intake (yoghurt, cheese, sour cream) was estimated and categorised into high- and low-fat. Prentice-weighted Cox regression HRs were calculated. Results: Total dairy, high-fat dairy, milk, cheese and high-fat fermented dairy product intakes were not associated with the development of incident diabetes. Low-fat dairy intake was inversely associated with diabetes in age- and sex-adjusted analyses (tertile [T] 3 vs T1, HR 0.81 [95% CI 0.66, 0.98]), but further adjustment for anthropometric, dietary and diabetes risk factors attenuated this association. In addition, an inverse association was found between diabetes and low-fat fermented dairy product intake (T3 vs T1, HR 0.76 [95% CI 0.60, 0.99]; ptrend=0.049) and specifically with yoghurt intake (HR 0.72 [95% CI 0.55, 0.95]; ptrend=0.017) in multivariable adjusted analyses. Conclusions/interpretation: Greater low-fat fermented dairy product intake, largely driven by yoghurt intake, was associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes development in prospective analyses. These findings suggest that the consumption of specific dairy types may be beneficial for the prevention of diabetes, highlighting the importance of food group subtypes for public health messages

Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Structure Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in RPGR-Associated Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To quantify retinal structure and progression using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) associated with retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator gene (RPGR) mutations. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: Setting: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Subjects: Both eyes of 32 patients. SDOCT follow-up period of >1 year (3.1 ± 1.4 years). Main Outcome Measures: Ellipsoid zone (EZ) width (EZW) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) and inner retinal layer (IRL) thickness measurements. Progression rates, interocular symmetry, and association with age and genotype were investigated. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between baseline and final measurements of EZW and ONL thickness, but not for IRL thickness. Baseline and final EZWs were 2438 ± 1646 μm and 1901 ± 1423 μm for right eyes (P < .0001); 2420 ± 1758 μm and 1922 ± 1482 μm for left eyes (P < .0001). EZW constriction rates were 176.6 ± 130.1 μm/year and 173.1 ± 146.8 μm/year for right and left eyes. ONL thinning rates were 2.58 ± 2.85 μm/year and 2.52 ± 3.54 μm/year for right and left eyes. Interocular differences in EZW and ONL progression were not significant (P = .8609 and P = .6735, respectively). Strong correlations were found between EZW constriction rates of right and left eyes (rs = 0.627, P = .0002) and between EZW constriction and baseline EZW (rs = 0.714, P < .0001). There was moderate negative correlation between EZW constriction and age (rs = −0.532, P < .0001). Correlation between ONL thinning and age was not significant, as were differences between EZW and ONL progression rates with respect to genotype. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides SDOCT progression rates for RPGR-associated RP. There is overall interocular symmetry with implications for future treatment trials where 1 eye could serve as a control

Comparative study of selected indoor concentration from selective laser sintering process using virgin and recycled polyamide nylon (pa12)

Additive manufacturing (AM) stands out as one of the promising technologies that have huge potential towards manufacturing industry. The study on additive manufacturing impact on the environment and occupational exposure are attracting growing attention recently. However, most of the researcher focus on desktop and fused deposition modelling type and less attention given to the industrial type of AM. Usually, during the selective laser sintering process, recycle powder will be used again to reduce cost and waste. This article compares the PM 2.5, carbon dioxide (CO2) and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentration between virgin and recycles powder using polyamide-nylon (PA12) towards indoor concentration. Four phases of sampling involve during air sampling accordingly to the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 by DOSH Malaysia. It was found that PM 2.5 and CO2 concentration are mainly generated during the pre-printing process. The recycle powder tended to appear higher compared to virgin powder in terms of PM 2.5, and CO2. The peak value of PM 2.5 is 1452 μg/m3 and CO2 is 1218 ppm are obtained during the pre-printing process during 8 hours of sampling. TVOC concentration from recycling powder is slightly higher during the post- printing phase where confirm the influence of the powder cake and PA12 temperature from the printing process. In summary, this work proves that elective laser sintering (SLS) machine operators are exposed to a significant amount of exposure during the SLS printing process. Mitigation strategies and personal protective equipment are suggested to reduce occupational exposure