Design And Analysis Of Modified-Proportional Fair Scheduler For LTELTE-Advanced

Nowadays, Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-Advanced) is well known as a cellular network that can support very high data rates in diverse traffic conditions. One of the key components of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Radio Resource Management (RRM), is critical in achieving the desired performance by managing key components of both PHY and MAC layers. The technique that can be done to achieve this is through packet scheduling which is the key scheme of RRM for LTE traffic processing whose function is to allocate resources for both frequency and time dimensions. Packet scheduling for LTE-Advanced has been a dynamic research area in recent years, because in evidence, the increasing demands of data services and number of users which is likely to explode the progress of the LTE system traffic. However, the existing scheduling system is increasingly congested with the increasing number of users and requires the new scheduling system to ensure a more efficient data transmission. In LTE system, Round Robin (RR) scheduler has a problem in providing a high data rate to User Equipment’s (UEs). This is because some resources will be wasted because it schedules the resources from/ to UEs while the UEs are suffering from severe deep fading and less than the required threshold. Meanwhile, for Proportional Fair (PF) scheduler, the process of maximizing scheme of data rate could be very unfair and UE that experienced a bad channel quality conditions can be starved. So, the mechanism applied in PF scheduler is to weight the current data rate achievable by a UE by the average rate received by a UE. The main contribution of this study is the design of a new scheduling scheme and its performance is compared with the PF and RR downlink schedulers for LTE by utilizing the LTE Downlink System Level Simulator. The proposed new scheduling algorithm, namely the Modified-PF scheduler, divides a single sub-frame into multiple time slots and allocates the resource block (RB) to the targeted UE in all time slots for each sub-frame based on the instantaneous Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) feedback received from UEs. Besides, the proposed scheduler is also capable to reallocate RB cyclically in turn to target UE within a time slot in order to ensure the process of distributing packet data consistently. The simulation results showed that the Modified-PF scheduler provided the best performance in terms of throughput in the range of up to 90% improvement and almost 40% increment for spectral efficiency with comparable fairness as compared to PF and RR schedulers. Although PF scheduler had the best fairness index, the Modified-PF scheduler provided a better compromise between the throughput in /spectral efficiency and fairness. This showed that the newly proposed scheme improved the LTE output performances while at the same time maintained a minimal required fairness among the UEs

Microwave Planar Sensor for Determination of the Permittivity of Dielectric Material

This paper proposed a single port rectangular microwave resonator sensor. This sensor operates at the resonance frequency of 4GHz. The sensor consists of micro-strip transmission line and applied the enhancement method. The enhancement method is able to improve the return loss of the sensor, respectively. Plus, the proposed sensor is designed and fabricated on Roger 5880 substrate. Based on the results, the percentage of error for the proposed rectangular sensor is 0.2% to 8%. The Q-factor of the sensor is 174

A HOLISTIC MODEL OF EMPLOYEE’S UNDERSTANDING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ISLAMIC ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract. As a country with a majority of Muslim population and recognizes Islam as the official religion, Malaysia is indeed has a large number of Islamic-based organizations offering shariah-compliant products and services. However, such organizations have been receiving criticism from the client and the public on the aspect of management executed by employee. They claimed that the execution of duties among the employee in the Islamic organization does not reflect the nature of the organization itself. The rapid development of such an organization requires a solid understanding among the employee in charge of the task entrusted. However, previous studies have found that the understanding of employee in carrying out their duties in the Islamic organization is quite unsatisfactory. Therefore, this study takes the initiative to study the understanding of the employee in the implementation of Islamic management in Islamic organization. The study was conducted using the qualitative method. The sample of this study consisted of 11 executives in three Islamic organizations. Among the organizations are Islamic Banking, Takaful and Islamic Property Management Company. The location of the study involved selected organizations in three states of the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia namely Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The study is expected to produce a holistic model of employee understanding in the management of an Islamic organization. The model involves several phases that aim to ensure that employee understanding covers all aspects such as goals, implementation and impact.Key words: employee understanding, Islamic management, Islamic organisation, Malaysia

Academics as decision makers: what style do they adopt?

Many studies have focused on the decision-making styles (DMS) of managers, but very few have studied the DMS among academicians. Using the Rowe Decision Style Inventory, this study investigates the DMS of the academics in a public university in Malaysia. The objectives are to identify the common styles adopted by the academics and to determine their dominant styles in relation to their gender, age, faculty, qualifications, and years of service. This study employed a quantitative-questionnaire design that was distributed to 163 academics during an in-house training program. Four types of DMS—directive, analytical, conceptual, and behavioural styles—were identified with regard to gender, age, faculty, qualifications, and years of service. The results revealed that while the majority of the respondents have more than one dominant DMS, the conceptual and analytical styles predominate. Additionally, empirical evidence of variations in the types of DMS across demographic characteristics was found. These findings provide important implications for academics in making the most effective decisions within their professio

Design And Development Of Modified-Proportional Fair Scheduler For LTE/LTE-Advanced

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is well known as a cellular network that can support very high data rates in diverse traffic conditions. One way of achieving it is through packet scheduling which is the key scheme of Radio Resource Management (RRM) for LTE traffic processing that is functioning to allocate resources for both frequency and time dimensions. The main contribution of this paper is the design of a new scheduling scheme and its performance is compared with the Proportional Fair (PF) and Round Robin (RR) downlink schedulers for LTE by utilizing LTE Downlink System Level Simulator. The proposed new scheduling algorithm, namely the Modified-PF scheduler divides a single subframe into multiple time slots and allocates the resource block (RB) to the targeted User Equipment (UE) in all time slots for each subframe based on the instantaneous Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) feedback received from UEs. Simulation results show that the Modified-PF scheduler provides the best performance in terms of throughput and spectral efficiency with comparale fairness as compared to RR and PF schedulers. Although PF scheduler has the best fairness index, the Modified-PF scheduler provides a better compromise between the throughput/spectral efficiency and fairness. This shows that the newly proposed scheme improves the LTE output performances while at the same time maintains minimal required fairness among the UEs

Number of Iteration Analysis for Complex FSS Shape Using GA for Efficient ESG

ESG stand for Energy-Saving Glass is a special shielded glass with a metallic oxide layer to abuse undesirable of infrared and ultraviolet radiation into construction assemblies like our home. Firstly, different number of the iteration is the main thing to study a performance of the frequency selective surface shape using genetic algorithm (GA) for efficient energy saving glass (ESG). Three different values for the number of iterations were taken that is 1500, 2000 1nd 5000. Before that, the response of this complex FSS shape on incident electromagnetic wave with different symmetry shape are investigating. Three of them are no symmetrical shape, ¼ symmetrical shape, and 1/8 symmetrical shape. The 1500 number simulation considered about 89.000 per second, compared with 2000 iteration and 5000 iterations had consumed 105.09 per second and 196.00 per second, respectively. For 1/8 symmetry complex FSS shape, it demonstrations the improved performance of transmission loss at 1.2 GHz with - 40 dB. A 2 dB of transmission loss is achieved at WLAN application of 2.45 GHz with 0°, 30°, and 45° incidence angle shows

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely