Interior Point Decoding for Linear Vector Channels

In this paper, a novel decoding algorithm for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes based on convex optimization is presented. The decoding algorithm, called interior point decoding, is designed for linear vector channels. The linear vector channels include many practically important channels such as inter symbol interference channels and partial response channels. It is shown that the maximum likelihood decoding (MLD) rule for a linear vector channel can be relaxed to a convex optimization problem, which is called a relaxed MLD problem. The proposed decoding algorithm is based on a numerical optimization technique so called interior point method with barrier function. Approximate variations of the gradient descent and the Newton methods are used to solve the convex optimization problem. In a decoding process of the proposed algorithm, a search point always lies in the fundamental polytope defined based on a low-density parity-check matrix. Compared with a convectional joint message passing decoder, the proposed decoding algorithm achieves better BER performance with less complexity in the case of partial response channels in many cases.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, The paper has been submitted to IEEE Transaction on Information Theor

Parasitic infection in Hemiculter lucisculus, Liza auratus and Gasterosteus aculeatus of the Zardi River (Mazandaran)

A total of 76 specimens of three fish species including: Hemiculter lucisculus (41), Liza auratus (16) and Gasterosteus aculeutus (19) were caught using handnet from 3 station in Zardi River in the south-eastern costal of Caspian Sea at autumn and winter 2009 and spring 2010. The fishes were transported alive to the laboratory of Shahid Rajaee Site. They were killed by cutting their spinal cord and their length and weight were measured. The eye, skin, gill, digestive system, muscle and other organism's of the specimens were examined for parasite infestation. Thirteen parasites species were identified. Ichthyobodo necator was collected from skin of Hemiculter lucisculus and Liza auratus. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was collected from skin or branchia of Liza auratus and Gasterosteus aculeutus, Chilodonella sp. was collected from skin of Gasterosteus aculeutus, Trichodina sp. from skin and branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus, Liza auratus and Gasterosteus aculeutus, Tetrahymena sp. was collected from skin of Gasterosteus aculeutus , Myxobolus sp. from branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus, Dactylogyrus sp. from branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus and Gasterosteus aculeutus, Gyrodactylus sp. from skin or branchia of Gasterosteus aculeutus, Discocotyle sp. and Diplozoon sp. from branchia of Hemiculter lucisculus, Diplostomum spathaceum from eyes of Hemiculter lucisculus, Saccocoelium obseum from intestine of Liza auratus and Corynosoma stromosum from abdominal cavity of Gasterosteus aculeutus. In present study Hemiculter lucisculus was as a new host for Ichthyobodo necator, Myxobolus sp., Discocotyle sp. and Diplozoon sp. also except Saccocoelium obseum from Liza auratus and Corynosoma stromosum from Gasterosteus aculeatus, the other parasites were reported for the first time in Iran

USE OF A NEW INDIRECT METHOD IN DETERMINING THE CONTRIBUTION OF LEGS AND HANDS TO PROPULSION IN FRONT CRAWL

The aim of the present study was to determine the contributions of arms and legs action in front crawl. So far many researchers using different methods, such as oxygen consumption, filming and measurement of active drag, measured and reported the percentage of arms and legs contributions to propulsive force. A newly indirect measurement of active drag IMAD, which has recently been introduced, enabled us to estimate not only the percentage of arms and legs contributions but also the percentage of swimmers´ arms and legs coordination. Our results have been well comparable with other researchers’ results

USE OF A NEW INDIRECT METHOD IN DETERMINING THE CONTRIBUTION OF LEGS AND HANDS TO PROPULSION IN FRONT CRAWL

The aim of the present study was to determine the contributions of arms and legs action in front crawl. So far many researchers using different methods, such as oxygen consumption, filming and measurement of active drag, measured and reported the percentage of arms and legs contributions to propulsive force. A newly indirect measurement of active drag IMAD, which has recently been introduced, enabled us to estimate not only the percentage of arms and legs contributions but also the percentage of swimmers´ arms and legs coordination. Our results have been well comparable with other researchers’ results

A method to estimate failure plane angle and tension crack depth

River morphodynamics and sediment transportBank erosion and protectio

Gastrointestinal microflora of captured stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus, Pallas, 1771) from Southeast Caspian Sea, Iran

Acipenser stellatus is one of the most invaluable species of Sturgeon fishes in the world. The purpose of this study was to identify the resident microbial community from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of Acipenser stellatus. One hundred and twenty three fungi were isolated from the GIT of 7 Acipenser stellatus samples including Aspergillus spp (45.5%), Trichoderma spp (8.9%) and Cladophialophora spp (8.1%). Among different Aspergillus isolates, A. niger was the predominant species. Although, fungi were predominantly isolated from stomach (36.6%), but with respect to frequency of fungal isolates there were no significant differences between stomach and other parts of GI. In general, the bacterial isolates recovered were mostly gram negative and related to Enterobacteriaceae family such as Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Salmonella species. The most bacterial species were isolated from intestine and pre stomach region (88.2%). It is concluded that A. niger and Aeromonas species were predominant fugal and bacterial microbes isolated from understudy fish GIT, respectively

Generating GHZ state in 2m-qubit spin network

We consider a pure 2m-qubit initial state to evolve under a particular quantum me- chanical spin Hamiltonian, which can be written in terms of the adjacency matrix of the Johnson network J(2m;m). Then, by using some techniques such as spectral dis- tribution and stratification associated with the graphs, employed in [1, 2], a maximally entangled GHZ state is generated between the antipodes of the network. In fact, an explicit formula is given for the suitable coupling strengths of the hamiltonian, so that a maximally entangled state can be generated between antipodes of the network. By using some known multipartite entanglement measures, the amount of the entanglement of the final evolved state is calculated, and finally two examples of four qubit and six qubit states are considered in details.Comment: 22 page

The influence of infertility on sexual and marital satisfaction in Iranian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study

Background: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate sexual and marital satisfaction in couples with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A case-control study was conducted on 90 couples with PCOS and 90 healthy couples as a control group. Three measures were used to evaluate sexual function and marital satisfaction: the female sexual function index (FSFI), the Larson sexual satisfaction, and the ENRICH marital satisfaction measures. Results: The results of this study show that the mean scores of sexual function, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction were significantly lower in PCOS couples compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Infertility was reported as the strongest predictive factor for sexual function and marital satisfaction in couples with PCOS (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, sexual and marital satisfaction was lower in patients with PCOS and their partners. Conclusion: Since infertility is the strongest predictive factor for the sexual health of couples with PCOS and sexual health is important in family health and marital life, sexual counseling may prove beneficial for these patients

Multiple air pollutant exposure and lung cancer in Tehran, Iran

Lung cancer is the most rapidly increasing malignancy worldwide with an estimated 2.1 million cancer cases in the latest, 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) report. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of air pollution and lung cancer, in Tehran, Iran. Residential area information of the latest registered lung cancer cases that were diagnosed between 2014 and 2016 (N = 1,850) were inquired from the population-based cancer registry of Tehran. Long-term average exposure to PM10, SO2, NO, NO2, NOX, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-xylene, p-xylene, o-xylene (BTEX), and BTEX in 22 districts of Tehran were estimated using land use regression models. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to generate multi-pollutant exposure profiles. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to examine the association between air pollutants and lung cancer incidence. The districts with higher concentrations for all pollutants were mostly in downtown and around the railway station. Districts with a higher concentration for NOx (IRR = 1.05, for each 10 unit increase in air pollutant), benzene (IRR = 3.86), toluene (IRR = 1.50), ethylbenzene (IRR = 5.16), p-xylene (IRR = 9.41), o-xylene (IRR = 7.93), m-xylene (IRR = 2.63) and TBTEX (IRR = 1.21) were significantly associated with higher lung cancer incidence. Districts with a higher multiple air-pollution profile were also associated with more lung cancer incidence (IRR = 1.01). Our study shows a positive association between air pollution and lung cancer incidence. This association was stronger for, respectively, p-xylene, o-xylene, ethylbenzene, benzene, m-xylene and toluene