Energy efficient green wireless communication systems with imperfect CSI and data outage

Modern applications involve green communication technologies motivating well optimisation in the power–limited regime. In comparison to most of existing related work that assumes perfect channel state information (CSI) is always available, which is unfortunately not true in reality, this work focuses on an optimal energy efficient solution for resource allocation in multiuser orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) networks in the presence of imperfect CSI and data outage conditions. Particularly, in view that wireless channel conditions, circuit power consumptions and users’ quality–of–service (QoS) requirements are heterogeneous in nature, we enable attractive tuning options by letting energy efficiency optimisation objective to assign weights to each allocation link. Also, we interpret effects of data outage due to imperfect CSI using a profound insight on the monotonicity of noncentral chi-squared inverse distribution function, which reveals that our design complies with expected physics and mechanics of conventional energy efficiency approach and that it can be successfully degenerated to the energy efficiency model with perfect CSI. Furthermore, we formulate a mixed combinatorial problem towards maximising the energy efficiency subject to a minimum QoS requirement, channel interference and transmitting power constraints. The problem is transformed into an equivalent quasiconcave problem with respect to power, and concave problem with respect to the subcarrier indexing coefficients using the concept of subcarrier time–sharing. We optimise through a simple and versatile methodology, which uses standard–Lagrangian optimisation technique to obtain joint dynamic subcarrier and adaptive power allocations by means of final formulas. We also examine key properties of the introduced optimal solution in terms of implementation convergence and complexity, level of optimality, and impact of imperfect CSI coefficients and circuit power on network performance. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our allocation scheme for achieving higher energy efficiency performance with the guaranteed QoS support and lower complexity than existing approaches especially when perfect CSI is not available

Cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for patients with peritoneal metastases from endometrial cancer

Background: More information is needed for selection of patients with peritoneal metastases from endometrial cancer (EC) to undergo cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Methods: This study analyzed clinical, pathologic, and treatment data for patients with peritoneal metastases from EC who underwent CRS plus HIPEC at two tertiary centers. The outcome measures were morbidity, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) during a median 5 year follow-up period. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify significant factors related to outcome. Results: A total of 33 patients met the inclusion criteria and completed the follow-up period. At laparotomy, the median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 15 (range 3–35). The CRS procedure required a mean 8.3 surgical procedures per patient, and for 22 patients (66.6%), a complete cytoreduction was achieved. The mean hospital stay was 18 days, and major morbidity developed in 21% of the patients. The operative mortality was 3%. When surgery ended, HIPEC was administered with cisplatin 75 mg/m2for 60 min at 43 °C. During a median follow-up period of 73 months, Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a 5 year OS of 30% (median 33.1 months) and a PFS of 15.5% (median 18 months). Multivariate analysis identified the completeness of cytoreduction (CC) score as the only significant factor independently influencing OS. Logistic regression for the clinicopathologic variables associated with complete cytoreduction (CC0) for patients with metachronous peritoneal spread from EC who underwent secondary CRS plus HIPEC identified the PCI as the only outcome predictor. Conclusions: For selected patients with peritoneal metastases from EC, when CRS leaves no residual disease, CRS plus HIPEC achieves outcomes approaching those for other indications such as colon and ovarian carcinoma

Transfer learning for day-ahead load forecasting: a case study on European national electricity demand time series

Short-term load forecasting (STLF) is crucial for the daily operation of power grids. However, the non-linearity, non-stationarity, and randomness characterizing electricity demand time series renders STLF a challenging task. Various forecasting approaches have been proposed for improving STLF, including neural network (NN) models which are trained using data from multiple electricity demand series that may not necessary include the target series. In the present study, we investigate the performance of this special case of STLF, called transfer learning (TL), by considering a set of 27 time series that represent the national day-ahead electricity demand of indicative European countries. We employ a popular and easy-to-implement NN model and perform a clustering analysis to identify similar patterns among the series and assist TL. In this context, two different TL approaches, with and without the clustering step, are compiled and compared against each other as well as a typical NN training setup. Our results demonstrate that TL can outperform the conventional approach, especially when clustering techniques are considered

Acute cholangitis due to afferent loop syndrome after a Whipple procedure: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Wound dehiscence: is still a problem in the 21th century: a retrospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of wound dehiscence and determine which of them can be reverted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively analyzed 3500 laparotomies. Age over 75 years, diagnosis of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, malnutrition, sepsis, obesity, anemia, diabetes, use of steroids, tobacco use and previous administration of chemotherapy or radiotherapy were identified as risk factors</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifteen of these patients developed wound dehiscence. Emergency laparotomy was performed in 9 of these patients. Patients who had more than 7 risk factors died.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is important for the surgeon to know that wound healing demands oxygen consumption, normoglycemia and absence of toxic or septic factors, which reduces collagen synthesis and oxidative killing mechanisms of neutrophils. Also the type of abdominal closure may plays an important role. The tension free closure is recommended and a continuous closure is preferable. Preoperative assessment so as to identify and remove, if possible, these risk factors is essential, in order to minimize the incidence of wound dehiscence, which has a high death rate.</p

Cambios en la calidad de aceite de semilla Moringa oleífera variedad Mbololo de Kenya, durante la fritura.

The frying performance of Moringa oleífera variety Mbololo of Kenya seed oil (produced by cold pressure, extraction with n-hexane and a mixture of chloroform-methanol) was studied especially as regards repeated frying operations. The oils were used for intermittent frying of potato slices and cod filets at a temperature of 175 ± 5°C for 5 consecutive days. Under such conditions thermal and oxidative decomposition of the oils takes place. The chemical changes occurring in the oils were evaluated. Free fatty acid content, peroxide value, specific extinction at 232 nm, polar compounds, colour and viscosity of the oils all increased, whereas the iodine values, smoke points, polyunsaturated fatty acid content, induction period and tocopherol concentration decreased. The effect of the oils on the organoleptic quality of these fried foods was also determined. The analytical and sensory data showed that the lowest deterioration occurred in cold pressure produced oil and the highest in n-hexane extracted oil.Se ha estudiado el comportamiento frente a la fritura, especialmente en el caso de frituras repetidas de aceite de semilla Moringa oleífera variedad Mbololo de Kenya (producido por presión en frío, extracción con n-hexano y una mezcla de cloroformo-metanol). Los aceites se usaron para la fritura intermitente de rodajas de patatas y filetes de bacalao a temperatura de 175 ± 5°C durante 5 días consecutivos. Bajo estas condiciones tuvo lugar la descomposición térmica y oxidativa de los aceites. Se evaluaron los cambios químicos ocurridos en los aceites. El contenido en ácidos grasos libres, índice de peróxido, extinción específica a 232 nm, compuestos polares, color y viscosidad de los aceites aumentaron, en tanto que el índice de iodo, punto de humo, contenido en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados, período de inducción y concentración en tocoferol disminuyeron. También se determinó el efecto de los aceites sobre la calidad organoléptica de estos alimentos fritos. Los datos analíticos y sensoriales mostraron que la deterioración más baja ocurrió en el aceite producido por presión en frío y la mayor en el aceite extraído con n-hexano

Molecular and physiological responses to desiccation indicate the abscisic acid pathway is conserved in the peat moss, Sphagnum

Mosses of the genus Sphagnum are the main components of peatlands, a major carbon-storing ecosystem. Changes in precipitation patterns are predicted to affect water relations in this ecosystem, but the effect of desiccation on the physiological and molecular processes in Sphagnum is still largely unexplored. Here we show that different Sphagnum species have differential physiological and molecular responses to desiccation but, surprisingly, this is not directly correlated with their position in relation to the water table. In addition, the expression of drought responsive genes is increased upon water withdrawal in all species. This increase in gene expression is accompanied by an increase in abscisic acid (ABA), supporting a role for ABA during desiccation responses in Sphagnum. Not only do ABA levels increase upon desiccation, but Sphagnum plants pre-treated with ABA display increased tolerance to desiccation, suggesting that ABA levels play a functional role in the response. In addition, many of the ABA signalling components are present in Sphagnum and we demonstrate, by complementation in Physcomitrium patens, that Sphagnum ABI3 is functionally conserved. The data presented here, therefore, support a conserved role for ABA in desiccation responses in Sphagnum

Correction: "Timed Up &amp; Go":A Screening Tool for Predicting 30-Day Morbidity in Onco-Geriatric Surgical Patients? A Multicenter Cohort Study (vol 9, e0086863, 2014)

<p>Correction: "Timed Up & Go": A Screening Tool for Predicting 30-Day Morbidity in Onco-Geriatric Surgical Patients? <i>A Multicenter Cohort Study</i></p

Forecasting: theory and practice

Forecasting has always been in the forefront of decision making and planning. The uncertainty that surrounds the future is both exciting and challenging, with individuals and organisations seeking to minimise risks and maximise utilities. The lack of a free-lunch theorem implies the need for a diverse set of forecasting methods to tackle an array of applications. This unique article provides a non-systematic review of the theory and the practice of forecasting. We offer a wide range of theoretical, state-of-the-art models, methods, principles, and approaches to prepare, produce, organise, and evaluate forecasts. We then demonstrate how such theoretical concepts are applied in a variety of real-life contexts, including operations, economics, finance, energy, environment, and social good. We do not claim that this review is an exhaustive list of methods and applications. The list was compiled based on the expertise and interests of the authors. However, we wish that our encyclopedic presentation will offer a point of reference for the rich work that has been undertaken over the last decades, with some key insights for the future of the forecasting theory and practice

SEPTIN12 Genetic Variants Confer Susceptibility to Teratozoospermia

It is estimated that 10–15% of couples are infertile and male factors account for about half of these cases. With the advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), many infertile men have been able to father offspring. However, teratozoospermia still remains a big challenge to tackle. Septins belong to a family of cytoskeletal proteins with GTPase activity and are involved in various biological processes e.g. morphogenesis, compartmentalization, apoptosis and cytokinesis. SEPTIN12, identified by c-DNA microarray analysis of infertile men, is exclusively expressed in the post meiotic male germ cells. Septin12+/+/Septin12+/− chimeric mice have multiple reproductive defects including the presence of immature sperm in the semen, and sperm with bent neck (defect of the annulus) and nuclear DNA damage. These facts make SEPTIN12 a potential sterile gene in humans. In this study, we sequenced the entire coding region of SEPTIN12 in infertile men (n = 160) and fertile controls (n = 200) and identified ten variants. Among them is the c.474 G>A variant within exon 5 that encodes part of the GTP binding domain. The variant creates a novel splice donor site that causes skipping of a portion of exon 5, resulting in a truncated protein lacking the C-terminal half of SEPTIN12. Most individuals homozygous for the c.474 A allele had teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm <14%) and their sperm showed bent tail and de-condensed nucleus with significant DNA damage. Ex vivo experiment showed truncated SEPT12 inhibits filament formation in a dose-dependent manner. This study provides the first causal link between SEPTIN12 genetic variant and male infertility with distinctive sperm pathology. Our finding also suggests vital roles of SEPT12 in sperm nuclear integrity and tail development