Channel code-division multiple access and its multilevel-structured LDPC-based instantiation

In this paper, we introduce and outline the concept of channel code-division multiple access using a design example based on the recently proposed multilevel-structured (MLS) low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. We succeeded in making the memory requirements of the multiuser transceiver to become practically independent of the total number of users supported by the system, as well as ascertain that each user benefits from the same level of protection. Finally, we will demonstrate that despite their beneficial compact structure, the proposed MLS LDPC codes do not suffer from any bit-error-ratio or block-error-ratio performance degradation, when compared to an otherwise identical benchmarker scheme using significantly more complex LDPC codes having pseudorandom parity-check matrices

Empowering Responsible Online Gambling by Real-time Persuasive Information Systems

Online gambling, unlike other mediums of problem- atic and addictive behaviours, such as tobacco and alcohol, offers unprecedented opportunities for building information systems that are able to monitor and understand a user’s behaviour in real-time and adapt persuasive messages and interactions that would fit their personal profile and usage context. Online gambling industry usually provides Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) meant mainly to enable third-party applications to network with their gambling services and enhance a user’s gambling experience. In this industrial practice and experience paper, we advocate that such API’s can also be used to retrieve gamblers’ online data, such as browsing and betting history, promotions and available offers and use it to build more intel- ligent and proactive responsible gambling information systems. We report on our industrial experience in this field and make the argument that data available for persuasive marketing and usability should, under specific usage conditions, also be made available for responsible gambling information systems. This principle would provide equal opportunities for both directions. We discuss the psychological foundations of our proposed solution and the risks and challenges typically found when building such a software-assisted intervention, persuasion and emotion regulation technology. We also shed light on its potential implications from the perspectives of social corporate responsibility and data protection. We finally propose a conceptual architecture to demonstrate our vision and explain how it can be implemented. In the wider context, the paper is meant to provide insights on building behavioural awareness and regulation information systems in relation to problematic digital media usage

Is platelet inhibition due to thienopyridines increased in elderly patients, in patients with previous stroke and patients with low body weight as a possible explanation of an increased bleeding risk?

Background The TRITON-TIMI 38 study has identified three subgroups of patients with a higher risk of bleeding during treatment with the thienopyridine prasugrel: patients with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), patients ≥75 years and patients with a body weight <60 kg. However, the underlying pathobiology leading to this increased bleeding risk remains to be elucidated. The higher bleeding rate may be due to a stronger prasugrelinduced inhibition of platelet aggregation in these subgroups. The aim of the present study was to determine whether on-treatment platelet reactivity is lower in these risk subgroups as compared with other patients in a large cohort on the thienopyridine clopidogrel undergoing elective coronary stenting. Methods A total of 1069 consecutive patients were enrolled. On-clopidogrel platelet reactivity was measured in parallel by light transmittance aggregometry, the Verify- Now®P2Y12 assay and the PFA-100 collagen/ADP cartridge. Results Fourteen patients (1.5%) had a prior history of stroke or TIA, 138 patients (14.5%) were older than 75 years and 30 patients (3.2%) had a body weight <60 kg. Age ≥75 years and a history of stroke were independent predictors of a higher on-treatment platelet reactivity. In contrast, a body weight <60 kg was significantly associated with a lower on-treatment platelet reactivity. Conclusion In two high-risk subgroups for bleeding, patients ≥75 years and patients with previous stroke, onclopidogrel platelet reactivity is increased. In contrast, in patients with a low body weight, on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity is decreased, suggesting that a stronger response to a thienopyridine might only lead to more bleeds in patients with low body weight

Risk Stratification Before and During Treatment in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: From Clinical Trials to the Real-World Setting

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by a wide clinical and biological heterogeneity leading to different patient outcomes. Various prognostic tools to stratify newly diagnosed (ND)MM patients into different risk groups have been proposed. At baseline, the standard-of-care prognostic score is the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS), which stratifies patients according to widely available serum markers (i.e., albumin, β 2-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase) and high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Though this score clearly identifies a low-risk and a high-risk population, the majority of patients are categorized as at “intermediate risk”. Although new prognostic factors identified through molecular assays (e.g., gene expression profiling, next-generation sequencing) are now available and may improve risk stratification, the majority of them need specialized centers and bioinformatic expertise that may preclude their broad application in the real-world setting. In the last years, new tools to monitor response and measurable residual disease (MRD) with very high sensitivity after the start of treatment have been developed. MRD analyses both inside and outside the bone marrow have a strong prognostic impact, and the achievement of MRD negativity may counterbalance the high-risk behavior identified at baseline. All these techniques have been developed in clinical trials. However, their efficient application in real-world clinical practice and their potential role to guide treatment-decision making are still open issues. This mini review will cover currently known prognostic factors identified before and during first-line treatment, with a particular focus on their potential applications in real-world clinical practice

The small GTPase Rab29 is a common regulator of immune synapse assembly and ciliogenesis

Acknowledgements We wish to thank Jorge Galán, Gregory Pazour, Derek Toomre, Giuliano Callaini, Joel Rosenbaum, Alessandra Boletta and Francesco Blasi for generously providing reagents and for productive discussions, and Sonia Grassini for technical assistance. The work was carried out with the financial support of Telethon (GGP11021) and AIRC.Peer reviewedPostprin

Indications for cardiovascular magnetic resonance in children with congenital and acquired heart disease: an expert consensus paper of the Imaging Working Group of the AEPC and the Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Section of the EACVI

This article provides expert opinion on the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in young patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and in specific clinical situations. As peculiar challenges apply to imaging children, paediatric aspects are repeatedly discussed. The first section of the paper addresses settings and techniques, including the basic sequences used in paediatric CMR, safety, and sedation. In the second section, the indication, application, and clinical relevance of CMR in the most frequent CHD are discussed in detail. In the current era of multimodality imaging, the strengths of CMR are compared with other imaging modalities. At the end of each chapter, a brief summary with expert consensus key points is provided. The recommendations provided are strongly clinically oriented. The paper addresses not only imagers performing CMR, but also clinical cardiologists who want to know which information can be obtained by CMR and how to integrate it in clinical decision-makin

Mental and behavioral disorders due to substance abuse and perinatal outcomes: A study based on linked population data in New South Wales, Australia

Background: The effects of mental and behavioral disorders (MBD) due to substance use during peri-conception and pregnancy on perinatal outcomes are unclear. The adverse perinatal outcomes of primiparous mothers admitted to hospital with MBD due to substance use before and/or during pregnancy were investigated. Method: This study linked birth and hospital records in NSW, Australia. Subjects included primiparous mothers admitted to hospital for MBD due to use of alcohol, opioids or cannabinoids during peri-conception and pregnancy. Results: There were 304 primiparous mothers admitted to hospital for MBD due to alcohol use (MBDA), 306 for MBD due to opioids use (MBDO) and 497 for MBD due to cannabinoids (MBDC) between the 12 months peri-conception and the end of pregnancy. Primiparous mothers admitted to hospital for MBDA during pregnancy or during both peri-conception and pregnancy were significantly more likely to give birth to a baby of low birthweight (AOR = 4.03, 95%CI: 1.97-8.24 for pregnancy; AOR = 9.21, 95%CI: 3.76-22.57 both periods); preterm birth (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI: 1.52-6.97 for pregnancy; AOR = 4.06, 95%CI: 1.50-11.01 both periods) and admission to SCN or NICU (AOR = 2.42, 95%CI: 1.31-4.49 for pregnancy; AOR = 4.03, 95%CI: 1.72-9.44 both periods). Primiparous mothers admitted to hospital for MBDO, MBDC or a combined diagnosis were almost three times as likely to give birth to preterm babies compared to mothers without hospital admissions for psychiatric or substance use disorders. Babies whose mothers were admitted to hospital with MBDO before and/or during pregnancy were six times more likely to be admitted to SCN or NICU (AOR = 6.29, 95%CI: 4.62-8.57). Conclusion: Consumption of alcohol, opioids or cannabinoids during peri-conception or pregnancy significantly increased the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

An investigation into the use of CALNN capped gold nanoparticles for improving microwave heating

The use of microwaves for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications has become an accepted alternative in the clinics. For diagnostics, gold (Au) nanoparticles have been used for imaging tumour vasculature and also served as potential diagnostic markers for cancer. [1] In high-frequency therapeutic applications, two different treatments exist; hyperthermia and ablation. [2] In hyperthermia, the tumour tissue is heated to supra-physiological temperatures, making it more susceptible to traditional treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This type of treatment could be administered externally. However, there still remains a challenge to focus the heating to particular areas which need to be treated, while avoiding unwanted hotspots. To date, numerous methods have been used to focus the heat from different antennas. A novel technique which is being investigated is the use of nanoparticles to improve focusing and thus achieve better localised heating effect. A previous study by Cardinal et al. [3] showed that at RF-frequencies, remarkable improvements resulted from using Au nanoparticles. In this work, the use of CALNN peptide capped Au nanoparticles for the focusing of microwaves at 2.45 GHz is investigated. The CALNN capped Au nanoparticles were prepared as described elsewhere. [4] Au nanoparticles were added to tissue mimicking solutions (such as muscle, liver or fat) to compare their dielectric properties with the those of the control (without Au nanoparticles). The frequency range investigated was from 400 MHz to 20 GHz. During this study, various concentrations, particle sizes and shapes of Au nanoparticles were considered. The study also investigated the heating rates of the pseudo-biological tissue samples and how these varied with the addition of the nanoparticles. The outcome of this study will determine the viability of using CALNN capped Au nanoparticles to assist in the focusing of microwave radiation during microwave hyperthermia