A VLC Smartphone Camera based Indoor Positioning System

We present a real-time indoor visible light positioning system based on the optical camera communication, where the coordinate data in the ON–OFF keying format is transmitted via light-emitting diode-based lights and captured using a smartphone camera. The position of the camera is estimated using a novel perspective- n -point problem algorithm, which determines the position of a calibrated camera from n 3D -to-2D point correspondences. The experimental results show that the proposed system offers mean position errors of 4.81 and 6.58 cm for the heights of 50 and 80 cm, respectively

A new species of the genus Catillopecten (Bivalvia: Pectinoidea: Propeamussiidae): morphology, mitochondrial genome, and phylogenetic relationship

Catillopecten is a small genus of deep-sea glass scallops, but its diversity is poorly known in many parts of the world ocean. We described C. margaritatus n. sp. (Pectinoidea: Propeamussiidae), and performed morphological analyses and DNA sequencing, and estimated the divergence time of scallops based on samples collected from Haima cold seep in the South China Sea. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by its large shell size, relatively small auricle length, absence of monocrystal aerials, presence of longitudinal radial ridges on the left valve, and the alternated rounded striae and distal and proximal growth lines of prisms on the right valve. Anatomically, this new species can be distinguished from C. vulcani by its anteriorly located auriculate gills, compared to the centrally located lamellar gills of the latter, and the different locations of the pericardium. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rRNA fragments supported the placement of the new species in Catillopecten. We also report the mitogenome of C. margaritatus n. sp. as the only reported mitogenome of the family Propeamussiidae, which differs from those of other scallops substantially in gene order arrangement. Divergence time estimation revealed that Propeamussiidae and Pectinidae diverged in the early Carboniferous, while Catillopecten and Parvamussium diverged during the late Cretaceous to early Eocene. Finally, we presented a key to the species of Catillopecten

Efficient frequency-domain channel equalisation methods for OFDM visible light communications

The authors present efficient frequency-domain channel estimation methods based on the intra-symbol frequency-domain averaging (ISFA), minimum mean squared error (MMSE) and weighted inter-frame averaging (WIFA) schemes for the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) visible light communications (VLC) system. OFDM-VLC with quadrature phase shift keying, 16- and 64-quadrature amplitude modulation mapping is experimentally demonstrated. Compared with the conventional least square channel estimation method, ISFA, MMSE and WIFA offer improved performance with MMSE offering the best performance in terms of the error vector magnitude but at the cost of high complexity. The authors show that the WIFA can improve the estimation accuracy of time-varying VLC optical channel

High Dose ESAs Are Associated with High iPTH Levels in Hemodialysis Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Analysis

Objective: Anemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism are the two most common complications associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are widely used in the management of anemia in hemodialysis patients. A reverse correlation has been established between hyperparathyroidism and hemoglobin levels. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the relationship of high dose ESAs and hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients with anemia. Methods: A total of 240 uremic patients maintained on regular hemodialysis were enrolled into this study. Among them, 142 patients were treated with Epiao® (epoetin-alfa) and 98 patients were treated with Recormon® (epoetin-beta). The target hemoglobin concentration was 110-130 g/L. Laboratory measurements including hemoglobin, calcium, phosphorus, albumin, intact-parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were collected. Results: Hemoglobin concentration increased as iPTH level decreased by stratification. However, no significant association between anemia and calcium or phosphorus level was found. Patients with iPTH levels within 150-300 pg/mL had the highest levels of hemoglobin, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. Patients treated with Recormon and Epiao had similar hemoglobin concentrations. However, the dose of Recormon for anemia treatment was significantly less than that the dose of Epiao (P<0.05). The level of iPTH in the Recormon group was significantly lower than in the Epiao group. In patients with hemoglobin levels between 110-130 g/L (P<0.05), iPTH level was found to be significantly lower in patients treated with lower doses of ESAs than in patients treated with higher doses of ESAs, no matter which ESA was used (Recormon or Epiao, P<0.05). Conclusions: The dose of ESAs might be positively associated with iPTH level, suggesting that a reasonable hemoglobin target can be achieved by using the lowest possible ESA dose

Poly[(acetato-κ2 O,O′)aqua­(μ4-1H-benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxyl­ato-κ5 N 3:O 5,O 5′:O 5,O 6:O 6′)praseodymium(III)]

In the title complex, [Pr(C9H4N2O4)(C2H3O2)(H2O)]n, the PrIII ion is coordinated by five O atoms and one N atom from four benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxyl­ate ligands, two O atoms from an acetate ligand and one water mol­ecule, giving a tricapped trigonal-prismatic geometry. The benzimidazole-5,6-dicarboxyl­ate and acetate ligands connect the PrIII ions, forming a layer in the ac plane; the layers are further linked by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking inter­actions between neighboring pyridine rings [the centroid–centroid distance is 3.467 (1) Å], assembling a three-dimensional supra­molecular network. The acetate methyl group is disordered over two positions with site-occupancy factors of 0.75 and 0.25

Multi-frequency test of dark matter annihilation into long-lived particles in Sirius

New long-lived particles produced at the colliders may escape from conventional particle detectors. Using satellites or ground telescopes, we can detect the photons generated from the annihilation of the star-captured dark matter into a pair of long-lived particles. When the propagation length of these long-lived particles surpasses the interplanetary distance between the Sun and Jupiter, it becomes unfeasible to detect such dark matter signals originating from the Sun or Jupiter on Earth. Our analysis of the dark matter-induced photons produced by prompt radiation, inverse Compton scattering, and synchrotron radiation mechanisms reveals that a decay length of about $10^{-3}$ pc for long-lived particles is required for maximum detectability. We investigate the parameters that allow the long-lived particle's lifetime to be consistent with Big Bang nucleosynthesis while also allowing it to escape the confines of our solar system. The Sirius system is proposed as a promising target for the indirect detection of such long-lived particles. Utilizing the prompt, inverse Compton scattering, and synchrotron radiation, upper limits on the dark matter-proton spin-independent and spin-dependent cross section are estimated with the Fermi-LAT null-signal observation and the capabilities of the upcoming Square Kilometre Array radio telescope.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figures, JCAP accepte

Methological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on acupuncture for stroke: a review of review

Objective: To assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding acupuncture intervention for stroke and the primary studies within them. Methods: Two researchers searched PubMed, Cumulative index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Ovid Medline, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and Traditional Chinese Medical Database to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses about acupuncture for stroke published from the inception to December 2016. Review characteristics and the criteria for assessing the primary studies within reviews were extracted. The methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using adapted Oxman and Guyatt Scale. The methodological quality of primary studies was also assessed. Results: Thirty-two eligible reviews were identified, 15 in English and 17 in Chinese. The English reviews were scored higher than the Chinese reviews (P=0.025), especially in criteria for avoiding bias and the scope of search. All reviews used the quality criteria to evaluate the methodological quality of primary studies, but some criteria were not comprehensive. The primary studies, in particular the Chinese reviews, had problems with randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, dropouts and withdrawals, intent-to-treat analysis and adverse events. Conclusions: Important methodological flaws were found in Chinese systematic reviews and primary studies. It was necessary to improve the methodological quality and reporting quality of both the systematic reviews published in China and primary studies on acupuncture for stroke