Multidimensional Index Modulation in Wireless Communications

In index modulation schemes, information bits are conveyed through indexing of transmission entities such as antennas, subcarriers, times slots, precoders, subarrays, and radio frequency (RF) mirrors. Index modulation schemes are attractive for their advantages such as good performance, high rates, and hardware simplicity. This paper focuses on index modulation schemes in which multiple transmission entities, namely, {\em antennas}, {\em time slots}, and {\em RF mirrors}, are indexed {\em simultaneously}. Recognizing that such multidimensional index modulation schemes encourage sparsity in their transmit signal vectors, we propose efficient signal detection schemes that use compressive sensing based reconstruction algorithms. Results show that, for a given rate, improved performance is achieved when the number of indexed transmission entities is increased. We also explore indexing opportunities in {\em load modulation}, which is a modulation scheme that offers power efficiency and reduced RF hardware complexity advantages in multiantenna systems. Results show that indexing space and time in load modulated multiantenna systems can achieve improved performance

Automated Top View Registration of Broadcast Football Videos

In this paper, we propose a novel method to register football broadcast video frames on the static top view model of the playing surface. The proposed method is fully automatic in contrast to the current state of the art which requires manual initialization of point correspondences between the image and the static model. Automatic registration using existing approaches has been difficult due to the lack of sufficient point correspondences. We investigate an alternate approach exploiting the edge information from the line markings on the field. We formulate the registration problem as a nearest neighbour search over a synthetically generated dictionary of edge map and homography pairs. The synthetic dictionary generation allows us to exhaustively cover a wide variety of camera angles and positions and reduce this problem to a minimal per-frame edge map matching procedure. We show that the per-frame results can be improved in videos using an optimization framework for temporal camera stabilization. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by presenting extensive results on a dataset collected from matches of football World Cup 2014

Adrenal incidentaloma does it require surgical treatment? Case report and review of literature

AbstractINTRODUCTIONAdrenal incidentalomas have a prevalence of at least 5% in the general population. Among these adrenal myelolipoma are rare nonfunctioning tumors of adrenal with an incidence of 0.1–0.2% as documented in CT and autopsy series. We report such a rare case of adrenal myelolipoma incidentally detected while evaluating a case of chronic nonspecific flank pain.PRESENTATION OF CASE38-year-old obese female patient, known hypertensive on treatment presented with nonspecific right flank pain since 1 year. Ultrasonography and Computed tomography of the abdomen showed right adrenal gland mass with fat density measuring 6.3cm×6.2cm×5cm. Patient underwent right side adrenalectomy, post operatively patient had an uneventful recovery. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed features of adrenal myelolipoma.DISCUSSIONMyelolipoma is an uncommon, benign; tumor like lesion composed of mature adipose tissue admixed with hematopoietic cells. Most myelolipomas appear as unilateral adrenal masses. Adrenal myelolipomas are usually small and asymptomatic. CT or MRI detects the areas of gross fat with in the lesion. These tumors can present as acute abdomen following tumor hemorrhage which is more likely in myelolipomas greater than 4cm in size, hence warrants adrenalectomy.CONCLUSIONadrenal myelolipoma are rare benign tumors, incidentally detected on CT. CT or MRI is diagnostic. Large myelolipoma warrants surgery due to the risk of hemorrhage

Simulation in Medical School Education: Review for Emergency Medicine

<p>Medical education is rapidly evolving. With the paradigm shift to small-group didactic sessions and focus on clinically oriented case-based scenarios, simulation training has provided educators a novel way to deliver medical education in the 21st century. The field continues to expand in scope and practice and is being incorporated into medical school clerkship education, and specifically in emergency medicine (EM). The use of medical simulation in graduate medical education is well documented. Our aim in this article is to perform a retrospective review of the current literature, studying simulation use in EM medical student clerkships. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation in teaching basic science, clinical knowledge, procedural skills, teamwork, and communication skills. As simulation becomes increasingly prevalent in medical school curricula, more studies are needed to assess whether simulation training improves patient-related outcomes.</p

The effectiveness of a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in New Delhi, India: protocol for a school-based, individually randomized controlled trial with an embedded stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled recruitment trial

Background Conduct, anxiety and depressive disorders account for over 75% of the adolescent mental health burden globally. The current protocol will test a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for school-going adolescents with common mental health problems in India. The protocol also tests the effects of a classroom-based sensitization intervention on the demand for counselling services in an embedded recruitment trial. Methods We will conduct a two-arm individually randomized controlled trial in six Government-run secondary schools in New Delhi. The targeted sample is 240 adolescents in grades 9-12 with persistent, elevated mental health symptoms and associated impact. Participants will receive either a brief problem-solving intervention delivered over 3 weeks by lay counsellors (intervention), or enhanced usual care comprised of problem-solving booklets (control). Self-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and idiographic problems will be assessed at 6 weeks (co-primary outcomes) and again at 12 weeks post-randomization. In addition, adolescent-reported impact of mental health difficulties, perceived stress, mental wellbeing and clinical remission, as well as parent-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and impact scores, will be assessed at 6 and 12 weeks post-randomization. We will also complete a parallel process evaluation, including estimations of the costs of delivering the interventions. An embedded recruitment trial will apply a stepped-wedge, cluster (class)-randomized controlled design in 70 classes across the six schools. This will evaluate the added impact of a classroom-based sensitization intervention over school-level recruitment sensitization activities on the primary outcome of referral rate into the host trial (i.e. the proportion of adolescents referred as a function of the total sampling frame in each condition of the embedded recruitment trial). Other outcomes will be the proportion of referrals eligible to participate in the host trial, proportion of self-generated referrals, and severity and pattern of symptoms among referred adolescents in each condition. Power calculations were undertaken separately for each trial. A detailed statistical analysis plan will be developed separately for each trial prior to unblinding. Discussion Both trials were initiated on 20 August 2018. A single research protocol for both trials offers a resource-efficient methodology for testing the effectiveness of linked procedures to enhance uptake and outcomes of a school-based psychological intervention for common adolescent mental health problems

The Biochemical and Cellular Basis for Nutraceutical Strategies to Attenuate Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease

Future therapeutic intervention that could effectively decelerate the rate of degeneration within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) could add years of mobility and reduce morbidity associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Neurodegenerative decline associated with PD is distinguished by extensive damage to SNc dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons and decay of the striatal tract. While genetic mutations or environmental toxins can precipitate pathology, progressive degenerative succession involves a gradual decline in DA neurotransmission/synaptic uptake, impaired oxidative glucose consumption, a rise in striatal lactate and chronic inflammation. Nutraceuticals play a fundamental role in energy metabolism and signaling transduction pathways that control neurotransmission and inflammation. However, the use of nutritional supplements to slow the progression of PD has met with considerable challenge and has thus far proven unsuccessful. This review re-examines precipitating factors and insults involved in PD and how nutraceuticals can affect each of these biological targets. Discussed are disease dynamics (Sections 1 and 2) and natural substances, vitamins and minerals that could impact disease processes (Section 3). Topics include nutritional influences on α-synuclein aggregation, ubiquitin proteasome function, mTOR signaling/lysosomal-autophagy, energy failure, faulty catecholamine trafficking, DA oxidation, synthesis of toxic DA-quinones, o-semiquinones, benzothiazolines, hyperhomocyseinemia, methylation, inflammation and irreversible oxidation of neuromelanin. In summary, it is clear that future research will be required to consider the multi-faceted nature of this disease and re-examine how and why the use of nutritional multi-vitamin-mineral and plant-based combinations could be used to slow the progression of PD, if possible

Acoustic-wave-induced analyte separation in narrow fluidic confinements in the presence of interfacial interactions

In the present work, we attempt to analyze the influences of acoustic forces, in conjunction with the intrinsic electrokinetic effects as well as the near-wall attractive and repulsive forces, on the transport and size-based separation of charged analytes in a background-pressure-driven flow through a narrow fluidic confinement. By executing a regular perturbation analysis, we establish that the speed of traverse and the extent of spreading (dispersion) of the analyte bands is effectively determined by the ratio of particle to channel heights, channel height relative to the Debye length, and all other significant acoustic and nonacoustic parameters. These factors in tandem may dictate the analyte separation characteristics (quantified by the resolution of separation), in tune with the particular harmonic of the acoustic wave, the strengths of the induced electrical double layer fields, and the van der Waals interaction mechanisms. We quantitatively pinpoint the relationship between the harmonics to be employed and particle sizes to be separated. Our study reveals that there is a critical channel height beyond which the acoustic effects may effectively mask the near-wall interactions and below which the transverse migrative influences induced by the walls may influence the separation characteristics in a rather profound manner. The results implicate an interesting high-efficiency separation regime that can be obtained with a judicious combination of the background flow, energy intensity of the acoustic effects, and induced electrical double layer interactions

Prophylactic crystalloids or prophylactic crystalloids with ephedrine: Comparison of hemodynamic effects during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia using 0.5% bupivacaine

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is usually chosen for caesarean section not only because of its faster onset and reliability but also because general anaesthesia is associated with more complications. However, hypotension is one of the most common complications of spinal anaesthesia in obstetric patients. Several measures have been devised to prevent hypotension, which include left uterine displacement, infusion of crystalloids before giving spinal anaesthesia (preloading) and administration of a prophylactic vasopressor. This study compared the hemodynamic effects of preloading crystalloids or crystalloids with ephedrine for caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia using 0.5% bupivacaine. Materials and Method: In this randomized, single blind, comparative clinical study, 80 parturients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1) presenting for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were allocated to one of the two groups; group I received crystalloid preload and group II received crystalloid with ephedrine before spinal block. After institution of spinal anaesthesia in the lateral position with 2.0 ml (10 mg) of bupivacaine, 0.5% (heavy) using 25 G Quincke type spinal needle, parturients were made to assume a supine position with left lateral tilt. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were monitored intraoperatively every 2 minutes till delivery and every 5 minutes after delivery. The amount of ephedrine used intraoperatively was also noted and compared among different groups. Results: Incidence of hypotension was 70% in the crystalloid group and 5% in the crystalloid with ephedrine group. This difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The number of patients receiving rescue bolus of ephedrine was higher in the crystalloid group (40% before delivery and 30% after delivery) compared to crystalloid with ephedrine group (5% before delivery and none after delivery); the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Sixteen patients (40%) in the crystalloid group experienced nausea compared to 6 patients (15%) in the crystalloid with ephedrine group; the difference was statistically significant with a P value of 0.012. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that prophylactic ephedrine given by infusion along with crystalloids is not only a simple and effective method for prevention of hypotension during spinal anaesthesia during elective caesarean section in ASA Grade I patients but also contributes to less incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting

Neutralization of Naja naja venom induced lethality, edema and myonecrosis by ethanolic root extract of Coix lacryma-jobi

Coix lacryma-jobi, commonly known as jobâs tear, is a tall grain-bearing tropical plant of the family Poaceae. The ethanolic root extract (ERE) of the plant was investigated for the first time for anti-venom activity against Indian cobra Naja naja venom.In-vitro studies were conducted to determine neutralization of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity of the Naja naja venom by the ERE. ERE showed significant inhibition of PLA2 activity, which was further confirmed from effective neutralization of human red blood cells (HRBC) lysis induced by the venom. In addition, venom-induced proteolysis, fibrinogenolysis, DNase activity were also neutralized by the ERE, which contained carbohydrates, glycolides, resins and tannins.Oral administration of ERE at doses levels 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg effectively inhibited Naja naja venom-induced lethality in mice. Myotoxicity induced by Naja naja venom, measured by creatine kinase activity in rats was significantly neutralized by the ERE at a dose of 200 mg/kg.Stigmasterol, as one of the component isolated from the ERE, was found to have venom phospholipase A2 inhibition potential, which was confirmed by molecular docking studies with PLA2. In summary, these studies indicate the ability of ERE of Coix lacryma-jobi to effectively neutralize the toxic effects of the venom is, in part, contributed by the inhibition of PLA2 activity among other venom-derived factors. Keywords: Naja naja, Phospholipase A2 inhibition, Myotoxicity, Stigmasterol, Molecular docking, Ethanolic root extrac

Comprehensive Model of Worker Nonwork-Activity Time Use and Timing Behavior

At the time of publication B.S. Rajagopalan and C.R. Bhat were at the University of Texas at Austin; and A.R. Pinjari was at the University of South Florida.This study contributes to the literature on activity time-use and activity timing analysis by developing a comprehensive, high resolution, out-of-home non-work activity generation model that considers daily activity time-use behavior and activity timing preferences in a unified random utility framework. The empirical analysis is undertaken using data from the 2000 Bay Area Travel Survey. Several important household and commuter demographics, commute characteristics, and activity-travel environment attributes are found to be significant determinants of workers' non-work activity time-use and timing behavior. The comprehensive model developed in this paper can serve as an activity generation module in an activity-based travel demand microsimulation framework.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin