MARVELO: Wireless Virtual Network Embedding for Overlay Graphs with Loops

When deploying resource-intensive signal processing applications in wireless sensor or mesh networks, distributing processing blocks over multiple nodes becomes promising. Such distributed applications need to solve the placement problem (which block to run on which node), the routing problem (which link between blocks to map on which path between nodes), and the scheduling problem (which transmission is active when). We investigate a variant where the application graph may contain feedback loops and we exploit wireless networks? inherent multicast advantage. Thus, we propose Multicast-Aware Routing for Virtual network Embedding with Loops in Overlays (MARVELO) to find efficient solutions for scheduling and routing under a detailed interference model. We cast this as a mixed integer quadratically constrained optimisation problem and provide an efficient heuristic. Simulations show that our approach handles complex scenarios quickly.Comment: 6 page

Modified Vertical Rectus Abdominis Musculocutaneous Flap for Limb Salvage Procedures in Proximal Lower Limb Musculoskeletal Sarcomas

Introduction and aim. Management of complicated wounds after tumor extipiration of pelvic and proximal lower limb musculoskeletal sarcoma represents an essential component in the outcome of these patients. The authors present modified vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (VRAM) flap techniques to reconstruct extensive defects after debridment of these complicated wounds. Material and Methods. Over a period of 4 years (2002–2005), 5 men and 2 women were managed. Median age was 21 years (range 15–49). The patients were managed for complicated lower trunk, groin, and upper thigh wounds after resection of three pelvic chondrosarcomas as well as two pelvic and two proximal femur osteosarcomas. The modifications included a VRAM flap with lateral and tongue-like extension design of the skin paddle (5 cases) or a delayed extended VRAM flap (2 cases). Results. All flaps showed complete survival and healing with no ischemic events providing stable coverage. All patients were ambulant with good limb functions in terms of walking and gait after adequate rehabilitation, 2 needed support with crutches. Conclusion. The modified VRAM flaps offer reliable reconstructive tools for coverage of complex groin and thigh defects by providing larger well-vascularized soft tissue with acceptable donor site

Spare Opioid Use Protocol Improved the Outcomes of the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol for Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obese Patients

Background: Obesity and intraoperative (IO) opioid are risk-factors during bariatric surgery and require certain manipulations to deal with. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and spare-opioid use protocol (SOUP) might aid to bypass these risk factors Objectives: Evaluation of the outcomes of ERAS protocol with SOUP application for morbid obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Patients and methods: 60 obese patients were allocated into Group-C received conventional opioid-based anaesthesia and postoperative (PO) analgesia and Group-E received the ERAS protocol with SOUP application. All patients received balanced sevoflurane anesthesia 2% in oxygen 100% and rocuronium and 4-ports LSG. The study outcome is the efficacy of the applied protocol to provide IO and PO opioid-free analgesia during major surgeries for risky patients. Results: All surgeries were conducted without a shift to laparotomy or conventional opioid-based anesthesia. Group-E patients had significantly shorter PACU stays (P=0.035) and higher Aldrete scores at time of PACU discharge (P=0.023). Among Group-E patients, 5 required IO fentanyl shots and 3 patients received PO morphine shots. Group-E patients showed significantly lower PO nausea (P=0.032) and need for antiemetic therapy (P=0.005), earlier ambulation (P=0.020) and oral intake (P=0.034) and hospital discharge (P=0.014). Conclusion: Implementation of ERAS with SOUP protocols is a feasible, effective and safe anesthetic policy for high-risk patients undergoing major surgeries. The applied SOUP spared the need for opioid analgesia in about 90% of patients. The applied anesthetic policy improved immediate surgical outcomes, and reduced times for PACU discharge, ambulation, oral intake and PO hospital stay with cost reductions

Empirical Investigation of the Effect of the Door`s State on Received Signal Strength in Indoor Enviroments At 2.4 GHz

Due to the wide deployment of indoor wireless local area networks (WLANs), the indoor planning became a research of interest for IT as well as networking researchers. As a result of this wide deployment, many IT applications and services started relying on the ready implemented WLAN infrastructure. Therefore, there is a need for reliable propagation models which are able to predict the WLAN signal strength in indoor environments before starting the real world deployment which leads to an efficient and cost aware deployment process. In this paper we develop an empirical propagation model which focuses mainly on the effect of the door state on the propagated WLAN signal in indoor environments. The measurements were compared to other simulated results in literature. A new empirical parameter based on empirical measurements was introduced for a better estimation of the received signal strength (RSS)

Active range of motion outcomes after reconstruction of burned wrist and hand deformities.

This works aim is to evaluate the efficacy of skin grafts and flaps in reconstruction of post-burn hand and wrist deformities. A prospective study of 57 burn contractures of the wrist and dorsum of the hand was performed. Flaps were used only if there was a non-vascularized structure after contracture release, otherwise a skin graft was used. Active range of motion (ROM) was used to assess hand function. The extension deformity cohort uniformly underwent skin graft following contracture release with a mean improvement of 71 degrees (p6 months. Early release of burn contracture is advisable to avoid deep structure contracture