228 research outputs found
Bayesian compressive sensing framework for spectrum reconstruction in Rayleigh fading channels
Compressive sensing (CS) is a novel digital signal processing technique that has found great interest in
many applications including communication theory and wireless communications. In wireless communications, CS
is particularly suitable for its application in the area of spectrum sensing for cognitive radios, where the complete
spectrum under observation, with many spectral holes, can be modeled as a sparse wide-band signal in the frequency
domain. Considering the initial works performed to exploit the benefits of Bayesian CS in spectrum sensing, the fading
characteristic of wireless communications has not been considered yet to a great extent, although it is an inherent feature
for all sorts of wireless communications and it must be considered for the design of any practically viable wireless system.
In this paper, we extend the Bayesian CS framework for the recovery of a sparse signal, whose nonzero coefficients follow
a Rayleigh distribution. It is then demonstrated via simulations that mean square error significantly improves when
appropriate prior distribution is used for the faded signal coefficients and thus, in turns, the spectrum reconstruction
improves. Different parameters of the system model, e.g., sparsity level and number of measurements, are then varied
to show the consistency of the results for different cases
Biomimetische Herstellung organisch- anorganischer Komposit Materialien
This work deals with mimicking structural features found in nacre to fabricate composite materials as a tough ceramic material and to explore the mechanical properties. It is part of the work package D9 ÎBiomimetic Ceramicsö of the Collaborative Research Centre 599 ÎSustainable bioresorbable and permanent implants of metallic and ceramic materialsö of the DFG. Structural pattern found in nacre at micro level, so called Îbrick and mortarö assembly is formed in the presence of a mixture of proteins rich in acidic amino acids with aragonite. To mimic this hierarchical pattern, an appropriate inorganic material and an adhesive polymeric partner are the prerequisite.
Specific polymers are required that can be used as crystallization controlling agents in order to synthesize inorganic platelets. For this purpose different phosphonic acid functional polymers and copolymers were synthesized. Properties of the basic polymer chains were altered by copolymerization with different monomers to get desired properties. The reactivity parameters of the copolymerizing units were also established. Furthermore a mussel adhesive protein mimic was also synthesized with dopamine functionality. These polymers were tested at Leibniz University Hannover for the controlled crystallization of hydroxyapatite, with a close resemblance to natural bone material and zirconium hydrogenphosphate hydrate, a biocompatible material which layered morphology. Nanoparticles or platelets, respectively, of these inorganic materials were obtained.
Layered composites of zirconium hydrogenphosphate hydrate (ZrP) platelets and chitosan were prepared by layer-by-layer assembly. The growth and structural features of the composite films were studied along with their mechanical properties with reference to the number of dipping cycles, concentration and pH. Another composite was fabricated mimicking mussel proteins as organic component. A composite was prepared by LbL assembly using alumina platelets and hydroxyethyl starch modified with dopamine. Resulting composites have shown morphological similarities as found in nacre micro structure. For composites structure-property-relationships were identified. The thickness of the composites was measured with profilometer while structural details were elucidated with SEM. The mechanical properties of the fabricated composites were investigated with nanoindentation in cooperation with Max-Planck Institute for Metals Research Stuttgart.Die vorliegende Arbeit beschĂ€ftigt sich mit der Nachbildung der strukturellen Charakteristika von Perlmutt, um auf diese Art harte Keramiken herzustellen und deren mechanische Eigenschaften zu untersuchen. Sie wurde im Rahmen des Projektes D9 âBiomimetische Keramikenâ des Sonderforschungsbereiches 599 âZukunftsfĂ€hige bioresorbierbare und permanente Implantate aus metallischen und keramischen Werkstoffenâ der DFG durchgefĂŒhrt. In der Natur entsteht die Struktur von Perlmutt, die mit einem GefĂŒge aus Ziegeln und Mörtel verglichen werden kann, aus Aragonit in Gegenwart eines Proteingemisches. Die Voraussetzung zur Nachahmung dieser hierarchischen Strukturen sind somit ein anorganisches Material mit entsprechender Geometrie und ein als Matrix dienendes haftfĂ€higes Polymer.
Zur Synthese der anorganischen PlĂ€ttchen werden spezielle Polymere benötigt, die die Kristallisation kontrollieren. Daher wurden zunĂ€chst verschiedene Polymere mit dazu geeigneten PhosphonsĂ€uregruppen synthetisiert. Die Eigenschaften der Polymerkette können hierbei durch die Copolymerisation mit unterschiedlichen Comonomeren verĂ€ndert werden. Weiterhin wurde ein Copolymer mit der adhĂ€rierenden Dopamin-Einheit aus Muschel-Proteinen synthetisiert. Die hergestellten Polymere wurden an der Leibniz UniversitĂ€t Hannover zur kontrollierten Kristallisation von Hydroxylapatit, das dem natĂŒrlichen Knochen Ă€hnelt, und Zirkonium (hydrogenphosphat)hydrat, einem biokompatiblem Material mit schichtartiger Morphologie, eingesetzt. In AbhĂ€ngigkeit des eingesetzten kristallisationskontrollierenden Polymers wurden aus den anorganischen Materialien Nanopartikel oder PlĂ€ttchen erhalten. AnschlieĂend wurden aus den Zirkonium (hydrogenphosphat)hydrat-PlĂ€ttchen und Chitosan schichtweise aufgebaute Komposite mit Hilfe des Layer-by-Layer Verfahrens hergestellt. Das Wachstum und die Struktur sowie die mechanischen Eigenschaften wurden in AbhĂ€ngigkeit von der Anzahl der Dip-Zyklen, Konzentration und pH-Wert untersucht. Des Weiteren wurde ein Komposit mit dem nachgeahmten Muschel-Protein als organische Komponente erzeugt, indem mit Dopamin modifzierte HydroxyethylstĂ€rke und Aluminiumoxid-PlĂ€ttchen im Layer-by-Layer-Verfahren zusammengefĂŒgt wurden. Dieses zeigt morphologische Ăhnlichkeiten zu der Mikrostruktur von Perlmutt. Die Schichtdicken der Komposite wurden mit einem Profilometer bestimmt und die strukturellen Details konnten an Hand von REM-Aufnahmen aufgeklĂ€rt werden. In Kooperation mit dem Max Planck Institut fĂŒr Metallforschung in Stuttgart wurden die mechanischen Eigenschaften der Komposite mit Hilfe von Nanoindentation charakterisiert. FĂŒr die Komposite wurden AbhĂ€ngigkeiten zwischen der Struktur und den Eigenschaften festgestellt
On finite groups having a certain number of cyclic subgroups
Let be a finite group. In this paper, we study the structure of finite groups having cyclic subgroups for
A CASE-CONTROL PERSPECTIVE STUDY ON EXPLORING DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IN ASYMPTOMATIC TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS WITH PRESERVED SYSTOLIC FUNCTION, BIHAR, INDIA.
Background:
Asymptomatic individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) often exhibit diastolic dysfunction, a precursor to symptomatic heart failure (HF), despite preserved systolic function. The study aims to investigate the incidence and severity of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in this population and its association with diabetes duration, glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk factors.Â
 Methods:
A case-control prospective study was carried out enrolling 82 participants: 55 with T2DM and 27 non-diabetic individuals. Echocardiographic evaluations were performed to assess diastolic function parameters. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24.
 Results:
The study revealed a high incidence of diastolic dysfunction, with 54.9% of participants affected, ranging from mild to severe impairment. Individuals with T2DM exhibited a significantly higher incidence of diastolic dysfunction compared to non-diabetic participants (p < 0.05). Diabetes status independently contributed to impaired diastolic function, with a positive correlation observed between diabetes duration and severity of dysfunction (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis hinted at a trend towards significance between poorly controlled diabetes and increased diastolic dysfunction prevalence (p = 0.08). Uncontrolled hypertension was associated with heightened diastolic dysfunction severity.
 Conclusion:
Asymptomatic individuals with T2DM and preserved systolic function demonstrate a substantial burden of diastolic dysfunction, which is independently associated with diabetes status and duration. Early detection and management of diabetes, glycemic control, and blood pressure are crucial in mitigating the risk of diastolic dysfunction and improving cardiovascular outcomes in this population.
 Recommendations:
Clinicians should emphasize early screening for diastolic dysfunction in asymptomatic individuals with T2DM, particularly focusing on glycemic control and blood pressure management. Future research should explore targeted interventions aimed at preserving diastolic function and reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population. Diastolic dysfunction (DD
CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLICATIONS OF CUMULATIVE RADIOIODINE DOSES IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER AND TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS, BIHAR, INDIA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.
Background:
The study aims to investigate the cardiovascular effects associated with cumulative doses of radioiodine therapy in people diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and comorbid Type 2 diabetes mellitus, with a focus on elucidating potential risks and outcomes for this patient population.
 Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted, enrolling 75 female participants categorized into DTC/âT2DM (Category I) and DTC/+T2DM (Category II). Data on demographic characteristics, radioiodine therapy, cardiovascular outcomes, and clinical parameters were collected from medical records. Statistical analyses were accomplished using SPSS software ver. 18.
 Results:
Patients with DTC and without T2DM (DTC/âT2DM) exhibited higher average age (60 ± 6.3 years) and BMI (28.5 kg/mÂČ) compared to patients with both DTC and T2DM (55 ± 5.2 years, 25.1 kg/mÂČ). Patients with both DTC and T2DM received higher cumulative doses of radioiodine (200 mCi ± 25) over a longer duration (14 months) compared to patients with DTC and without T2DM (180 mCi ± 20, 12 months). The prevalence of hypertension, arrhythmias, and myocardial infarctions was higher in patients with DTC and without T2DM than in patients with both DTC and T2DM. Statistical analysis revealed significant variations in hypertension incidence (p < 0.001) and myocardial infarction occurrence (p = 0.03) between the groups. Multivariate regression analysis showed an independent association of T2DM with a higher risk of hypertension (p < 0.001) and myocardial infarction (p = 0.015) among DTC patients.
 Conclusion:
The study highlights the importance of considering cardiovascular risks associated with radioiodine therapy in DTC patients, particularly those with T2DM. Personalized treatment strategies balancing cancer management and cardiovascular risk mitigation are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.
 Recommendations:
Clinicians should adopt a multidisciplinary approach integrating endocrinology, oncology, and cardiology to optimize the management of DTC patients with T2DM
Statistical Modelling of the Visual Impact of Subretinal Fluid and Associated Features
Introduction: The aim of this study was to develop a statistical model to determine the visual significance of subretinal fluid (SRF) in combination with other constructed optical coherence tomography (OCT) features in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration. Methods: The project used labelled data from 1211 OCTs of patients with neovascular macular degeneration (nAMD) attending the macular treatment centre of Manchester Royal Eye Hospital to build a statistical model to determine vision for any virtual, constructed OCT. A four-dimensional plot was created to represent the visual impact of SRF in OCTs in the context of the associated OCT characteristics of atrophy and subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM). Results: The plot illustrates that at levels of SRF below 150 ”m, the impact of SRF on vision is very low. Increasing the amount of fluid to 200 ”m and beyond increases the impact on vision, but only if there is little atrophy or SHRM. Conclusions: This study suggests that levels of SRF up to around 150 ”m thickness on OCT have minimal impact on vision. Greater levels of SRF have greater impact on vision, unless associated with significant amounts of atrophy or SHRM, when the additional effect of the SRF on vision remains low
A Vision of DevOps Requirements Change Management Standardization
DevOps (development and operations) aims to shorten the software development
process and provide continuous delivery with high software quality. To get the
potential gains of DevOps, the software development industry considering global
software development (GSD) environment to hire skilled human resources and
round-the-clock working hours. However, due to the lack of frequent
communication and coordination in GSD, the planning and managing of the
requirements change process becomes a challenging task. As in DevOps,
requirements are not only shaped by development feedback but also by the
operations team. This means requirements affect development, development
affects operations and operations affect requirements. However, DevOps in GSD
still faces many challenges in terms of requirement management. The purpose of
this research project is to develop a DevOps requirement change management and
implementation maturity model (DevOps-RCMIMM) that could assist the GSD
organizations in modifying and improving their requirement management process
in the DevOps process. The development of DevOps-RCMIMM will be based on the
existing DevOps and RCM literature, industrial empirical study, and
understanding of factors that could impact the implementation of the DevOps
requirement change management process in the domain of GSD. This vision study
presents the initial results of a systematic literature review that will
contribute to the development of maturity levels of the proposed DevOps-RCMIMM
Quantum Software Engineering: A New Genre of Computing
Quantum computing (QC) is no longer only a scientific interest but is rapidly
becoming an industrially available technology that can potentially tackle the
limitations of classical computing. Over the last few years, major technology
giants have invested in developing hardware and programming frameworks to
develop quantum-specific applications. QC hardware technologies are gaining
momentum, however, operationalizing the QC technologies trigger the need for
software-intensive methodologies, techniques, processes, tools, roles, and
responsibilities for developing industrial-centric quantum software
applications. This paper presents the vision of the quantum software
engineering (QSE) life cycle consisting of quantum requirements engineering,
quantum software design, quantum software implementation, quantum software
testing, and quantum software maintenance. This paper particularly calls for
joint contributions of software engineering research and industrial community
to present real-world solutions to support the entire quantum software
development activities. The proposed vision facilitates the researchers and
practitioners to propose new processes, reference architectures, novel tools,
and practices to leverage quantum computers and develop emerging and next
generations of quantum software
Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy in Wah Cantt, Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study
Objective: To assess the Quality Of Life (QOL) in children with epilepsy using modified QOLCE-55 questionnaire.
Material and Methods: We consecutively enrolled children aged 4 to 16 years who were under treatment for childhood epilepsy. Basic demographic and clinical details including type of epilepsy, developmental history, family history of epilepsy and any co-morbidity were recorded in a predesigned Performa. QOL was evaluated by using modified QOLCE-55 (39 items) from parents.
Results: A total of 54 children were enrolled in the study, 42 (78%) were males and 12(22%) were female children with epilepsy. Eight children got good QOLCE score, while 24 children had average and 22 children got a poor score. The good score was mostly seen in 4-8 years (40%) of age while the poor score was seen in 12-16 years (70%) age group. Age of the patients (p=<0.001), gender (p=<0.001), associated co-morbidities (p=0.003) and family history of epilepsy (p=0.011) showed a significant effect on the QOLCE score. Type of epilepsy (p= 0.825) and development of a child (p=0.109) did not affect the QOLCE score significantly.
Conclusion: The study showed that Children with co-morbidities, family history of epilepsy and female children of older age group (12-16 years) had poor QOL. Types of seizures and development of the child did not significantly alter the QOLCE score
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