Spatial Coding Techniques for Molecular MIMO

This paper studies spatial diversity techniques applied to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) diffusion-based molecular communications (DBMC). Two types of spatial coding techniques, namely Alamouti-type coding and repetition MIMO coding are suggested and analyzed. In addition, we consider receiver-side equal-gain combining, which is equivalent to maximum-ratio combining in symmetrical scenarios. For numerical analysis, the channel impulse responses of a symmetrical $2 \times 2$ MIMO-DBMC system are acquired by a trained artificial neural network. It is demonstrated that spatial diversity has the potential to improve the system performance and that repetition MIMO coding outperforms Alamouti-type coding

ATXN2-CAG42 sequesters PABPC1 into insolubility and induces FBXW8 in cerebellum of old ataxic knock-in mice

Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 (SCA2) is caused by expansion of a polyglutamine encoding triplet repeat in the human ATXN2 gene beyond (CAG)31. This is thought to mediate toxic gain-of-function by protein aggregation and to affect RNA processing, resulting in degenerative processes affecting preferentially cerebellar neurons. As a faithful animal model, we generated a knock-in mouse replacing the single CAG of murine Atxn2 with CAG42, a frequent patient genotype. This expansion size was inherited stably. The mice showed phenotypes with reduced weight and later motor incoordination. Although brain Atxn2 mRNA became elevated, soluble ATXN2 protein levels diminished over time, which might explain partial loss-of-function effects. Deficits in soluble ATXN2 protein correlated with the appearance of insoluble ATXN2, a progressive feature in cerebellum possibly reflecting toxic gains-of-function. Since in vitro ATXN2 overexpression was known to reduce levels of its protein interactor PABPC1, we studied expansion effects on PABPC1. In cortex, PABPC1 transcript and soluble and insoluble protein levels were increased. In the more vulnerable cerebellum, the progressive insolubility of PABPC1 was accompanied by decreased soluble protein levels, with PABPC1 mRNA showing no compensatory increase. The sequestration of PABPC1 into insolubility by ATXN2 function gains was validated in human cell culture. To understand consequences on mRNA processing, transcriptome profiles at medium and old age in three different tissues were studied and demonstrated a selective induction of Fbxw8 in the old cerebellum. Fbxw8 is encoded next to the Atxn2 locus and was shown in vitro to decrease the level of expanded insoluble ATXN2 protein. In conclusion, our data support the concept that expanded ATXN2 undergoes progressive insolubility and affects PABPC1 by a toxic gain-of-function mechanism with tissuespecific effects, which may be partially alleviated by the induction of FBXW8

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus treated with topical mupirocin (pseudomonic acid) in a children's hospital

2% mupirocin ointment applied intra-nasally for 5 days was assessed for elimination of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in 31 staff members in a children's hospital. Three volunteers failed to complete the trial because of side effects, i.e. buccal reddening and swelling, and unpleasant taste. During treatment staphylococcal nasal carriage was not found in any case; of the 24 post-treatment nasal swabs taken 4 days after treatment 22 were still negative. Re-colonization with S. aureus of different phage types occurred in the remaining two cases

The situation of Polish higher education graduates on the labour market in the first year after graduation

The literature highlights the present-day problem of misalignment between skills possessed by graduates and employer expectations. This has been shown to considerably affect the length of time spent by graduates on job seeking and – consequently – their earnings. It is particularly interesting to compare the situation of graduates of various levels and fields of study in Poland among those surveyed by the MNiSW (Ministry of Science and Higher Education) – 2016. The study provides interesting conclusions confirming the thesis that an increase in the education level leads to increased income. Thus, those graduating with a Master’s degree find work more easily and earn higher salaries. The article analyses the MNiSW, OECD, EU, GUS databases. The work is analytical and descriptive

Channel Coding in Molecular Communication

This dissertation establishes and analyzes a complete molecular transmission system from a communication engineering perspective. Its focus is on diffusion-based molecular communication in an unbounded three-dimensional fluid medium. As a basis for the investigation of transmission algorithms, an equivalent discrete-time channel model (EDTCM) is developed and the characterization of the channel is described by an analytical derivation, a random walk based simulation, a trained artificial neural network (ANN), and a proof of concept testbed setup. The investigated transmission algorithms cover modulation schemes at the transmitter side, as well as channel equalizers and detectors at the receiver side. In addition to the evaluation of state-of-the-art techniques and the introduction of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), the novel variable concentration shift keying (VCSK) modulation adapted to the diffusion-based transmission channel, the lowcomplex adaptive threshold detector (ATD) working without explicit channel knowledge, the low-complex soft-output piecewise linear detector (PLD), and the optimal a posteriori probability (APP) detector are of particular importance and treated. To improve the error-prone information transmission, block codes, convolutional codes, line codes, spreading codes and spatial codes are investigated. The analysis is carried out under various approaches of normalization and gains or losses compared to the uncoded transmission are highlighted. In addition to state-of-the-art forward error correction (FEC) codes, novel line codes adapted to the error statistics of the diffusion-based channel are proposed. Moreover, the turbo principle is introduced into the field of molecular communication, where extrinsic information is exchanged iteratively between detector and decoder. By means of an extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart analysis, the potential of the iterative processing is shown and the communication channel capacity is computed, which represents the theoretical performance limit for the system under investigation. In addition, the construction of an irregular convolutional code (IRCC) using the EXIT chart is presented and its performance capability is demonstrated. For the evaluation of all considered transmission algorithms the bit error rate (BER) performance is chosen. The BER is determined by means of Monte Carlo simulations and for some algorithms by theoretical derivation

Bezrobocie wśród młodych ludzi wyzwaniem dla UE

After the last financial crisis, the unemployment rate in the European Union had risen dramatically. Young people, who just finished their education, have many problems with finding a job. Sometimes it is the opportunity for them to take a job, but below their qualifications. They often decide to take this job, because they have just few offers. The problem of youth unemployment should be quickly solved by the UE members. European policy dedicated young doesn’t work well. A good solution is organizing successful cooperation between universities and companies. We should remember that young people have a potential for the future, so it is necessary to help them to find a good job, where they can work for the development of the European Union members.  Ostatni kryzys gospodarczy wpłynął na wzrost stopy bezrobocia wśród młodych ludzi. Po skończeniu studiów mają  oni wiele problemów ze znalezieniem pracy. Czasami zdarza się,  że otrzymują  propozycje zatrudnienia, jednak poniżej ich kwalifikacji. Młodzi często decydują  się  na podjęcie takiego zatrudnienia, gdyż  otrzymują  niewiele ofert pracy. Problem bezrobocia wśród młodych powinien być szybko rozwiązany przez kraje UE. Wspólna polityka państw członkowskich w tym zakresie nie jest skuteczna. Dobrym rozwiązaniem jest organizowanie współpracy pomiędzy uczelniami oraz przedsiębiorstwami. Powinniśmy pamiętać, iż młodzi ludzie mają potencjał na przyszłość, więc konieczna jest udzielenie im pomocy w znalezieniu dobrej pracy, gdzie będą  działać  na rzecz rozwoju UE. &nbsp

Działania przedsiębiorcze odpowiedzią na kryzys wywołany pandemią COVID-19

W 2020 r. świat nieoczekiwanie nawiedziła pandemia COVID-19. Zmiany, które zaszły w jej trakcie, miały bardzo szeroki zasięg. W trosce o zdrowie i życie obywateli wiele państw wprowadziło szereg regulacji. Jednocześnie na reakcje poszczególnych jednostek w odpowiedzi na pandemię wpłynęły nie tylko regulacje państwowe związane ze stosowaniem przymusu, ale również indywidualne decyzje dotyczące troski o własne zdrowie. Problemy dotknęły wiele gospodarek, co w efekcie wpłynęło również negatywnie na rynek pracy. W obliczu trudnej sytuacji rządy poszczególnych krajów zdecydowały się na wsparcie przedsiębiorstw w celu utrzymania istniejących miejsc pracy, gdyż sytuacja osób świadczących pracę zależy w istotnej mierze od samych przedsiębiorców, którzy, posiadając określone zasoby, podejmują decyzje dotyczące ich wykorzystania. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie głównych symptomów kryzysu wywołanego pandemią COVID-19 i wybranych zmian, które nastąpiły w jej konsekwencji w sektorze przedsiębiorstw

Physikbasierte mechanische Absicherung zur energieeffizienzorientierten Planung und Auslegung automatisierter Montageanlagen im Automobilbau

Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit entwickelte Methode soll einen Beitrag zu einer energieeffizienzorientierten Produktionsplanung der Automobilmontage leisten. Dafür werden automatisierte Montageanlagen der Automobilproduktion und deren Entwicklungs– bzw. Planungsprozess im Hinblick einer ganzheitlichen produktlebenszyklusphasenübergreifenden Wirtschaftlichkeitsbetrachtung fokussiert. Im Kontext des digitalen Anlagenabsicherungsprozesses werden die produktionsprozessbezogenen Energieverbräuche automatisierter Montageanlagen mit Hilfe der physikbasierten Simulation komponentenbasiert modelliert und in Form einer Energiesignatur für einen Montageprozess abgebildet. Energieeffizienzsteigernde Maßnahmen werden unter Beibehaltung produktionstechnischer Rahmenbedingungen in das digitale Anlagenmodell eingepflegt, wodurch eine Reduzierung der Betriebskosten (Energiekosten) bei konstanter Ausbringung angestrebt wird. Die Kapitalwertmethode wird dabei zur Feststellung der wirtschaftlichen Sinnhaftigkeit der energieeffienzsteigernden Maßnahme verwendet, um dem erhöhten Aufwand der Entwicklungsphase den Nutzen der geringeren Betriebskosten der Nutzungsphase gegenüberzustellen. Damit stellt die vorgestellte Methode eine Erweiterung der bisherigen Vorgehensweise der mechanischen Absicherung automatisierter Montageanlagen im Vorfeld der Virtuellen Inbetriebnahme dar und soll Anlagenentwicklern als Entscheidungsunterstützung bei der Gestaltung eines energieeffizienten Anlagendesigns dienen.This work introduces a novel methodology to promote energy-efficient manufacturing in production planning of automobile assembly. Digital design and production planning processes of automated assembly systems for automobile production are considered, complemented by holistic economic analyses encompassing the entire product lifecycle. Energy demands of assembly system components are projected by the use of physics-based modeling capabilities in virtual validation procedures, yielding an energy-signature of assembly operations. Measures for increasing energy efficiency are implemented in the virtual model of the automated assembly system while retaining significant production parameters, thus aiming to reduce operating cost in terms of energy cost while maintaining constant output. Net present value (NPV) determines measures’ economic sense and balances monetary benefits gained through energy savings in the assembly system’s operating phase in comparison to higher investment costs for increased design efforts in its development phase. The novel methodology enhances the state-of-the-art procedure of mechanical design validation preceding virtual commissioning of automated assembly systems for automobile production. The methodology aims to support design decisions facilitating energy-efficient designs of automated assembly systems in early system development phases

Mechanizm powstawania kryzysu zadłużeniowego w krajach strefy euro oraz wyzwania stojące przed krajami całej Unii Europejskiej

The aim of the article is to present a subject concerning the debt of the Eurozone countries. Within the space of recent years, the debt crisis became very important problem of the contemporary Europe. It is negative impact was noticed in society. The paper presents the causes of the debt crisis, its course and possibilities to solve it. The most important is to create incentives for economic growth, and later, stable and balanced development.Celem artykułu jest przybliżenie tematyki związanej z zadłużeniem gospodarek strefy euro. Na przestrzeni ostatnich lat kryzys zadłużeniowy stał się bardzo ważnym problemem współczesnej Europy. Jego negatywne oddziaływanie dało się zauważyć w społeczeństwie. W pracy przedstawiono przyczyny kryzysu zadłużeniowego, jego przebieg, a także przedstawiono możliwe jego rozwiązania. Najważniejsze jest kreowanie bodźców do wzrostu gospodarczego, a następnie stabilnego i zrównoważonego rozwoju