A Markov Model for Dynamic Behavior of Toa-Based Ranging in Indoor Localization

The existence of undetected direct path ( UDP) conditions causes occurrence of unexpected large random ranging errors which pose a serious challenge to precise indoor localization using time of arrival ( ToA). Therefore, analysis of the behavior of the ranging error is essential for the design of precise ToA-based indoor localization systems. In this paper, we propose a novel analytical framework for the analysis of the dynamic spatial variations of ranging error observed by a mobile user based on an application of Markov chain. the model relegates the behavior of ranging error into four main categories associated with four states of the Markov process. the parameters of distributions of ranging error in each Markov state are extracted from empirical data collected from a measurement calibrated ray tracing ( RT) algorithm simulating a typical office environment. the analytical derivation of parameters of the Markov model employs the existing path loss models for the first detected path and total multipath received power in the same office environment. Results of simulated errors from the Markov model and actual errors from empirical data show close agreement

Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Female Members and Non-members of the Elderly Support Association.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in postmenopausal members and non-members of the elderly support association in Borujen city, Iran. METHODS This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study being applied to the participants were postmenopausal women of over 55 years. Thus, 40 postmenopausal members of the elderly support association of Borujen city and 40 non-members were randomly selected. The 36 item short-form health survey (SF-36), with the 4 psychological, social, physical-movement, and environmental domains, was completed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS The mean total score of QOL of member of the association was significantly greater than non-members. Student's t-test showed a significant relationship between QOL and membership of the association (P < 0.05). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the mean QOL of postmenopausal women, according to membership and marital status (P < 0.01), housing (P < 0.01), and underlying disease (P < 0.01), was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS According to the results, supportive measures, such as increasing the participation of the elderly in public life through proper preparations to join them and membership in peer groups such as support associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can be greatly effective in improving QOL. The results showed that the QOL of the participants was at a moderate level and membership in support associations for the elderly was effected on the QOL in postmenopausal women. Moreover, considering the importance of the elderly in the community

A comparative study about the impact of sensory stimulation performed by family members and nurses on vital signs of patients at ICU: A randomized clinical trial

Some studies have shown the effects of sensory stimulation on vital signs of patients at intensive care unit (ICU). However, little knowledge is available about family role compared to the role of nursing staff in this issue and current results are controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the impact of sensory stimulation performed by family members and nurses on vital signs of patients at ICU. In this study, 9669 patients were categorized into two intervention groups and one control group by stratified block randomization method. Dyang sensory stimulation was provided by family members and nursing staff. No intervention was performed for control group. Sensory stimulation was performed 2 hours a day for 6 consecutive days. The vital signs were assessed 5 minutes before and 30 minutes after intervention. Data analysis was performed by ANCOVA, ANOVA and repeated measures. The results showed that there was significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of vital signs before and after the intervention (p<0.001). Of this aspect, family group was the best, nursing group was the second and control group was the last group in classification. The effect of sensory stimulation on vital signs of comatose patients was greater when provided by family members

Sexual Self-concept and Its Relationship to Depression, Stress and Anxiety in Postmenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVES Women in menopause have the more mood swings than before menopause. At the same time seem to sexual self-concept and sexual aspects of self-knowledge has a great impact on their mental health. This study aimed to investigate the sexual self-concept and its relationship to depression, stress and anxiety in postmenopausal women's. METHODS In this descriptive correlation research, 300 of postmenopausal women referred to healthcare and medical treatment centers in Abadeh city were selected by convenience sampling method. The information in this study was collected by using questionnaires of multidimensional sexual self-concept and depression anxiety stress scale 21 (DASS-21). For data analysis, SPSS/17 software was used. RESULTS The results showed the mean score positive sexual self-concept was 41.03 ± 8.66 and the average score of negative sexual self in women's was 110.32 ± 43.05. As well as scores of depression, stress, and anxiety, 35.67%, 32.33% and 37.67% respectively were in severe level. Positive and negative sexual self-concept scores with scores of stress, anxiety, and depression, of post-menopausal women in the confidence of 0.01, is significantly correlated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Being stress, anxiety, and depression in severe level and also a significant correlation between increased stress, anxiety and depression with negative and weak self-concept of women's, it is necessary to devote more careful attention to mental health issues of women's and have appropriate interventions

Assessment Effect of Breast Milk on Diaper Dermatitis.

Diaper dermatitis is the most common dermatological disease of infancy, which occurs and caused by the combined effect of irritants such as diaper, urine and faces. In this study, we intend to evaluate the effect of breast milk on the healing of diaper dermatitis. This study was a clinical trial of 30 infants between 0-12 months of age that were suffering from diaper dermatitis and referred to the Health Centers in Tehran, Iran. The subjects were selected by open study. Infants were divided into two matched groups: case and control. Data-gathering tools were the questionnaire that contained two parts: the demographic characteristics of infants and the status of care and condition of the lesion. Data analysis was performed using SPSS/18 software and Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were used. The findings revealed a significant difference between the case and control groups in the number and lesion score of the rashes at the first and third day (P=0.013, P=0.005), these differences were more significant at the fifth day (P=0.004, P=0.001). Because of positive effects of breast milk on healing of diaper dermatitis, it is proposed that educational programs in health centers should be considered by health officials, and the managers would play a key role in increasing knowledge behavior changes in mothers

Novel Missense Mitochondrial ND4L Gene Mutations in Friedreich's Ataxia

AbstractObjective(s)The mitochondrial defects in Friedreich's ataxia have been reported in many researches. Mitochondrial DNA is one of the candidates for defects in mitochondrion, and complex I is the first and one of the largest catalytic complexes of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. Materials and MethodsWe searched the mitochondrial ND4L gene for mutations by TTGE and sequencing on 30 FRDA patients and 35 healthy controls.ResultsWe found 3 missense mutations [m.10506A>G (T13A), m.10530G>A (V21M), and m.10653G>A (A62T)] in four patients whose m.10530G>A and m.10653G>A were not reported previously. In two patients, heteroplasmic m.10530G>A mutation was detected. They showed a very early ataxia syndrome. Our results showed that the number of mutations in FRDA patients was higher than that in the control cases (P= 0.0287).ConclusionAlthough this disease is due to nuclear gene mutation, the presence of these mutations might be responsible for further mitochondrial defects and the increase of the gravity of the disease. Thus, it should be considered in patients with this disorder

Effects of aspirin on teratogenic characteristic of alcohol in limb morphoyenesis of mouse embryo

Abnormalities caused by alcohol are very extensive and are called fetal alcoholic syndrome (FAS). There are some hypotheses about pathological mechanisms of alcohol. Based on one of the recent hypotheses, alcohol consumption can change maternal and fetal prostaglandin levels. On the other hand aspirin is a strong prostaglandin inhibitor and there are reports showing that simultaneous administration of alcohol and aspirin decreased the limbs and kidney abnormalities in mice offsprings. Others showed that aspirin had no inhibition on alcohol adverse effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of aspirin on teratogenic characteristic of alcohol in limb morphogenesis of mouse embryo 135 male and female mice (1 male for 3 females) were randomly divided into 5 groups. After vaginal plaque observation on the 8th day of gestation, controls received nothing while other groups received physiological serum, alcohol, aspirin and a combination of alcohol and aspirin respectively by intraperitoneal injection. On the 18th day of gestation animals were killed by cervical dislocation and embryos were observed for anomalies of the upper and lower limbs. Our results showed that limbs had lower height and weight and more anomalies in alcohol and aspirin group compared to the alcohol alone group. Thus administration of aspirin with alcohol does not decrease the rate of limb abnormalities and factors other than prostaglandin might involve in limb abnormalities