Minimizing Mobile Location Error Based on Hybrid ToA-CTA for Heterogeneous Network

In wireless localisation, time-based Location Determination Technology (LDT) with minimum error is one of the crucial techniques that can be used to improve resource management and quality of services. This study aims to improve the location accuracy of mobile user by using a hybrid timebased LDT. In this paper, minimising of the mobile estimation location error by using hybrid trilateration technology based on Time of Arrival (ToA) and Centroid Triangular Algorithm (CTA) has been discussed. It has been observed that this hybrid technique can be considered as an optimal solution for minimising the localisation error of mobile user which is located in a vicinity of the heterogeneous network environment. Based on simulations, the constructed model has resulted in a better location error distribution, and the localisation error can be minimised and satisfied the E911 requirements

Increased sympathetic nerve activity and reduced cardiac baroreflex sensitivity in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity/mortality and an incompletely understood pathophysiology. In animal studies, central and blood-borne inflammatory cytokines that can be elevated in RA evoke pathogenic increases in sympathetic activity and reductions in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). We hypothesised that muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was increased and BRS decreased in RA. MSNA, blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were recorded in age- and sex-matched RA-normotensive (n = 13), RA-hypertensive patients (RA-HTN; n = 17), normotensive (NC; n = 17) and hypertensive controls (HTN; n = 16). BRS was determined using the modified Oxford technique. Inflammation and pain were determined using serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and a visual analogue scale (VAS), respectively. MSNA was elevated similarly in RA, RA-HTN and HTN patients (32 ± 9, 35 ± 14, 37 ± 8 bursts/min) compared to NC (22 ± 9 bursts/min; P = 0.004). Sympathetic BRS was similar between groups (P = 0.927), while cardiac BRS (cBRS) was reduced in RA, RA-HTN and HTN patients (5[3-8], 4[2-7], 6[4-9] ms/mmHg) compared to NC (11[8-15] ms/mmHg; P = 0.002). HR was independently associated with hs-CRP. Increased MSNA and reduced cBRS were associated with hs-CRP although confounded in multivariable analysis. VAS was independently associated with MSNA burst frequency, cBRS and HR. We provide the first evidence for heightened sympathetic outflow and reduced cBRS in RA that can be independent of hypertension. In RA patients, reported pain was positively correlated with MSNA and negatively correlated with cBRS. Future studies should assess whether therapies to ameliorate pain and inflammation in RA restores autonomic balance and reduces cardiovascular events. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.</p

Parasympathetic nervous system dysfunction, as identified by pupil light reflex, and its possible connection to hearing impairment

Context Although the pupil light reflex has been widely used as a clinical diagnostic tool for autonomic nervous system dysfunction, there is no systematic review available to summarize the evidence that the pupil light reflex is a sensitive method to detect parasympathetic dysfunction. Meanwhile, the relationship between parasympathetic functioning and hearing impairment is relatively unknown. Objectives To 1) review the evidence for the pupil light reflex being a sensitive method to evaluate parasympathetic dysfunction, 2) review the evidence relating hearing impairment and parasympathetic activity and 3) seek evidence of possible connections between hearing impairment and the pupil light reflex. Methods Literature searches were performed in five electronic databases. All selected articles were categorized into three sections: pupil light reflex and parasympathetic dysfunction, hearing impairment and parasympathetic activity, pupil light reflex and hearing impairment. Results Thirty-eight articles were included in this review. Among them, 36 articles addressed the pupil light reflex and parasympathetic dysfunction. We summarized the information in these data according to different types of parasympathetic-related diseases. Most of the studies showed a difference on at least one pupil light reflex parameter between patients and healthy controls. Two articles discussed the relationship between hearing impairment and parasympathetic activity. Both studies reported a reduced parasympathetic activity in the hearing impaired groups. The searches identified no results for pupil light reflex and hearing impairment. Discussion and Conclusions As the first systematic review of the evidence, our findings suggest that the pupil light reflex is a sensitive tool to assess the presence of parasympathetic dysfunction. Maximum constriction velocity and relative constriction amplitude appear to be the most sensitive parameters. There are only two studies investigating the relationship between parasympathetic activity and hearing impairment, hence further research is needed. The pupil light reflex could be a candidate measurement tool to achieve this goal

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Factors associated with parasympathetic activation following exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) with poor parasympathetic function being implicated as an underlying factor. Factors related to parasympathetic function, commonly assessed by heart rate recovery (HRR) following maximal exercise, are currently not known in RA. We aimed to explore the association between HRR with CVD risk factors, inflammatory markers, and wellbeing in patients with RA. Methods Ninety-six RA patients (54.4 ± 12.6 years, 68 % women) completed a treadmill exercise test, during which heart rate (HR) was monitored. HRR1 and HRR2 were defined as the absolute change from HR peak to HRR 1 min post HR peak and 2 min post HR peak, respectively. Cardiorespiratory fitness, CVD risk factors, and serological markers of inflammation were measured in all patients. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was used as an assessment of global risk for CVD events, and wellbeing was assessed by questionnaires. Results Mean HRR1 and HRR2 were 29.1 ± 13.2 bpm and 46.4 ± 15.3 bpm, respectively. CVD risk factors as well as most inflammatory markers and measures of wellbeing were inversely correlated with HRR1 and HRR2. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that 27.9 % of the variance in HRR1 and 37.9 % of the variance in HRR2 was explained collectively by CVD risk factors, measures of inflammation, and wellbeing (p = 0.009, p = 0.001 respectively), however no individual measure was independently associated with HRR1 or HRR2. Conclusion Parasympathetic activation was associated with overall CVD risk, arthritis-related burden and wellbeing in patients with RA

Tinjauan Kebijakan Tentang Sekolah Elit (Sekolah Islam Unggulan)

Other term elite schools from (leading Islamic schools, model schools, Integrated Islamic schools or favorite schools) are part of the national education system is a complete unit of all educational units and activities related to one another. Elite schools enter from the system. The emergence of Islamic elite schools is at least motivated to be a number of factors that support factors, ideology, social, historical, and psychological. The role of Islamic elite schools in the perspective of national education is expected to be able to respond to the problems of Islamic education that have been discussed next to education which only functions as spiritual. Overview of elite school policies explicitly and can be seen in Law No. 2 of 1989 Chapter XVII, Article 54 Paragraph 4, UUSPN Article 50 paragraph (3), PP Number 19 of 2005 article 61 paragraph 1, PP Number 17 of 2010 Article 35 paragraph 1, 2, Article 45 paragraph 1.2 and DKI Jakarta Regional Regulation No. 1 of 200

Pembentukan Karakter melalui Hidden Curriculum (Studi Kasus pada Madrasah Aliyah Pembangunan UIN Jakarta)

Banyak dari kalangan pendidikan yang tidak paham akan istilah hidden curriculum. Ditambah lagi keprihatinan akan permasalahan yang menyangkut peserta didik seperti perilaku menyimpang yang sering diistilahkan dengan kenakalan remaja. Berbagai upaya telah dilakukan oleh pemerintah dan lembaga pendidikan untuk mencegah kenakalan remaja salah satunya dengan pendidikan karakter. Melalui pendidikan karakter sebagai usaha mengubah paradigma peserta didik dalam menanggulangi kenakalan remaja. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk dapat menganalisis dan membuktikan lebih dalam peran hidden curriculum dalam pembentukan karakter peserta didik di Madrasah. Metodologi dalam penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif analisis. Hasil analisa temuan peneliti menunjukkan bahwa aspek dalam hidden curriculum dapat tertuang melalui kegiatan peribadahan (solat duha, Tadarrus Al-qur'an, solat berjamaah, shalat jum'at), tabungan amal saleh, reading habbit, ekstrakulikuler pada bidang seni, kegiatan ekstrakulikuler pada bidang olahraga, Fasilitas sekolah dan kegiatan rutin yang dapat membentuk karakter. Madrasah mendesain program hidden curriculum untuk pembentukan karakter peserta didik. Praktik hidden curriculum di Madrasah berhasil membentuk 7 karakter peserta didik yaitu kejujuran, tanggung jawab, toleransi, disiplin diri, religius, mandiri dan peduli sesama