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Polar codes are making significant progress in error-correcting coding due to their ability to reach the limit of the Shannon capacity of communication channels, indicating great advancements in the field. Decoding errors are common in real communication channels with noise. The main objective of this study is to develop a recurrent neural network decoder for robust polar code construction with the Bald Hawk Optimization (RNN-based Decoder with BHO) model that can estimate the error in information bits. This research presents a practical and significant innovation by combining recurrent neural networks (RNNs) for noise estimation in polar coding with a Bald Hawk optimization approach. Moreover, this synthesis of RNN-based noise estimation with Bald Hawk optimization makes the polar coding system more flexible and adaptive, allowing for more accurate noise estimation during decoding. In terms of frame errors, the Bit Error Rate (BER), Binary Phase Shifting Key-BER (BPSK-BER), and Frame Error Rate (FER) achieve the lowest error values of 0.0000087, 0.01519, and 0.000182, respectively. Similarly, in a 4 dB SNR context, the BER, BPSK-BER, and FER achieve values of 0.0000073, 0.02065, and 0.000108, respectively. The results shows that the proposed RNN-based decoder with BHO model outperforms the existing decoders.

Background: Diabetes mellitus and cancer are commonly coexisting illnesses, and the global incidence and prevalence of both are rising. Cancer patients with diabetes face unique challenges. This review highlights the relationship between diabetes and cancer and various aspects of the management of diabetes in cancer patients. Methods: A literature search using keywords in PubMed was performed. Studies that were published in English prior to July 2021 were assessed and an overview of epidemiology, cancer risk, outcomes, treatment-related hyperglycemia and management of diabetes in cancer patients is provided. Results: Overall, 8–18% of cancer patients have diabetes as a comorbid medical condition. Diabetes is a risk factor for certain solid malignancies, such as pancreatic, liver, colon, breast, and endometrial cancer. Several novel targeted compounds and immunotherapies can cause hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, most patients undergoing cancer therapy can be managed with an appropriate glucose lowering agent without the need for discontinuation of cancer treatment. Evidence suggests that cancer patients with diabetes have higher cancer-related mortality; therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is important in the management of patients with diabetes and cancer for a better outcome. Conclusions: Future studies are required to better understand the underlying mechanism between the risk of cancer and diabetes. Furthermore, high-quality prospective studies evaluating management of diabetes in cancer patients using innovative tools are needed. A patient-centered approach is important in cancer patients with diabetes to avoid adverse outcomes.

The dyes extracted from pomegranate and berry fruits were successfully used in the fabrication of natural dye sensitized solar cells (NDSSC). The morphology, porosity, surface roughness, thickness, absorption and emission characteristics of the pomegranate dye sensitized photo-anode were studied using various analytical techniques including FESEM, EDS, TEM, AFM, FTIR, Raman, Fluorescence and Absorption Spectroscopy. Pomegranate dye extract has been shown to contain anthocyanin which is an excellent light harvesting pigment needed for the generation of charge carriers for the production of electricity. The solar cell’s photovoltic performance in terms of efficiency, voltage, and current was tested with a standard illumination of air-mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5 G) having an irradiance of 100 mW/cm 2 . After optimization of the photo-anode and counter electrode, a photoelectric conversion efficiency ( η ) of 2%, an open-circuit voltage ( Voc ) of 0.39 mV, and a short-circuit current density ( Isc ) of 12.2 mA/cm 2 were obtained. Impedance determination showed a relatively low charge-transfer resistance (17.44 Ω) and a long lifetime, signifying a reduction in recombination losses. The relatively enhanced efficiency is attributable in part to the use of a highly concentrated pomegranate dye, graphite counter electrode and TiCl 4 treatment of the photo-anode.

Tma12, isolated from the fern Tectaria macrodonta, is a next-generation insecticidal protein. Transgenic cotton expressing Tma12 exhibits resistance against whitefly and viral diseases. Beside its insecticidal property, the structure and function of Tma12 are unknown. This limits understanding of the insecticidal mechanism of the protein and targeted improvement in its efficacy. Here we report the amino acid sequence analysis and the crystal structure of Tma12, suggesting that it is possibly a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) of the AA10 family. Amino acid sequence of Tma12 shows 45% identity with a cellulolytic LPMO of Streptomyces coelicolor. The crystal structure of Tma12, obtained at 2.2 Å resolution, possesses all the major structural characteristics of AA10 LPMOs. A H₂O₂-based enzymatic assay also supports this finding. It is the first report of the occurrence of LPMO-like protein in a plant. The two facts that Tma12 possesses insecticidal activity and shows structural similarity with LPMOs collectively advocate exploration of microbial LPMOs for insecticidal potential.

The activity of cardiac and skeletal muscles depends upon the ATP-coupled actin–myosin interactions to execute the power stroke and muscle contraction. The goal of this review article is to provide insight into the function of myosin II, the molecular motor of the heart and skeletal muscles, with a special focus on the role of myosin II light chain (MLC) components. Specifically, we focus on the involvement of myosin regulatory (RLC) and essential (ELC) light chains in striated muscle development, isoform appearance and their function in normal and diseased muscle. We review the consequences of isoform switching and knockout of specific MLC isoforms on cardiac and skeletal muscle function in various animal models. Finally, we discuss how dysregulation of specific RLC/ELC isoforms can lead to cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases and summarize the effects of most studied mutations leading to cardiac or skeletal myopathies.

The eye blink rate, a major human physiological response, directly affects ocular diseases, such as keratitis and dry eye syndrome. It has been shown that the eye blink rate in normal eyes has a certain frequency for individuals, from 6–30 times/min. It was suggested in a previous study that the eye blink rate can be decreased during the viewing of high-intensity and realistic content. Therefore, in this paper, we examine the change of the eye blink rate during the HMD (head-mounted display) viewing of VR (virtual reality) contents; accordingly, we propose an algorithm to measure the eye blink rate as well as compare and analyze this rate in three different environments (natural, monitor, and HMD). We confirmed that IPD (interpupillary distance) and phoria affected the eye blink rate in each environment. In this experiment, 21 subjects (28.38 ± 6.87 years) were selected, and a paired t-test was performed for changes in the eye blink rate over 1 min for each environment. The IPD and phoria effects on the eye blink rate were confirmed using the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. In this experiment, the eye blink rate was decreased in the monitor and HMD environments compared with the natural environment, while that in the HMD environment was decreased compared with the monitor environment. The results of the correlation analysis of far IPD and the eye blink rate show no statistical significance or correlation. The correlation analysis of near IPD and the eye blink rate showed a strong positive correlation of the eye blink rate in the monitor environment. The correlation analysis of distance phoria and the eye blink rate showed a strong negative correlation of the eye blink rate in the HMD environment. The correlation analysis of near-field phoria and the eye blink rate showed a strong negative correlation of the eye blink rate in the HMD environment. It is expected that the results of this study will be used as a VR-viewing recommendation.

•This retrospective cohort study evaluated 33 consecutive hospitalized adult patients with an active cancer and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS).•Patients with active cancer and DKA/HSS were relatively older and most had an advanced cancer. In about one-third cancer patients, DKA or HHS was the presenting manifestation of new onset diabetes.•Overall, 30 % patients died. Administration of a systemic cancer treatment within 30 days of admission was associated with an odd ratio of hospital mortality of 3.0 (0.62–14.8).•It is important to recognize DKA and HHS early in symptomatic cancer patients undergoing treatment to promptly initiate appropriate care and avoid inferior outcomes. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS) are life-threatening complications of diabetes mellitus. However, limited data about DKA and HHS are available in patients with cancer. The current study aimed to determine characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer who were admitted with DKA/HHS in a mid-size Canadian city. Consecutive adult patients with an active cancer who were admitted with DKA or HHS from January 2008 to December 2020 in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada were retrospectively evaluated. A univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the correlation of various clinical variables with hospital mortality. During the study period 6,555 patients with diabetes and cancer were admitted in one of the three tertiary care hospitals. Among them 33 (0.5 %) eligible patients with DKA or HHS with a median age of 60 years (range 36–94 years) were identified. In 36 % of patients, DKA or HHS was the presenting manifestation of newly diagnosed diabetes. Of all patients, 66 % developed DKA and 73 % had an advanced cancer. Overall, 52 % patients received a systemic cancer therapy prior to the admission, and 41 % received steroids. Ten (42 %) of 24 patients with an advanced cancer died, compared to none of the nine patients with an early-stage cancer (p = 0.032). No clinical factors significantly correlated with hospital mortality. Although DKA or HHS is uncommon in patients with diabetes and cancer, it is the manifestation of undiagnosed diabetes in about one-third of patients with cancer. It has been associated with high hospital mortality in patients with advanced cancer. [Display omitted]

IntroductionClinically measured Quadriceps angle (Q-angle) has low reliability. Measurement of angle between femoral shaft and patellar tendon (FSPT angle) on routine knee MRI was described in this study to represent the lateral vector forces of quadriceps mechanism. The cross-sectional study was designed to compare this angle between subjects with objective patellofemoral instability (PFI) versus those without PFI, to assess its reliability, and to assess its validity in terms of its ability to differentiate between PFI and non-PFI subjects using the “Receiver Operating Characteristic” (ROC) curve.Materials and methodsMRI scans of 20 subjects with PFI and 20 without PFI were obtained. FSPT angle was measured in each MRI by three different raters. In addition, the clinical Q-angle was also measured in the control group.ResultsThe FSPT angle was significantly higher in PFI group as compared with the non-PFI group (p < 0.001). It had substantial inter-rater reliability of 0.82 (95% CI = 0.67–0.92) in the non-PFI group and 0.89 (95% CI = 0.78–0.95) in the PFI group. Test-retest reliability was more than 0.90. The AUC for the ROC curve was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.74–0.97). The clinical Q-angle measured in non-PFI subjects had inter-rater reliability of only 0.48 (95% CI = 0.21–0.72), and showed a fair correlation of 0.58 with the MRI angle.ConclusionMeasurement of FSPT angle was described on MRI with substantial intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. The angle was significantly higher in PFI versus non-PFI subjects and also showed a good ability to differentiate between these two groups in the ROC curve.

Evolution of submicron particles in terms of particle number concentration and mobility-equivalent diameter was measured during Diwali festival–specific intensive pyrotechnic displays in Varanasi over central Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). A scanning mobility particle sizer coupled with an optical particle sizer was used to fit in an overlapping size range, and particle number concentration was analyzed to have an insight into the new particle formation and subsequent evolution of particles from nucleation to accumulation mode. Further, variation in black carbon (BC) concentration and aerosol ionic composition was measured simultaneously. Frequent fluctuation in particle number concentration in and around Diwali festival was evidenced, primarily influenced by local emission sources and meteorology, with three distinct peaks in number concentrations ( dN / d log D p , 3.1–4.5 × 10 4 cm 3 ) coinciding well with peak firework emission period (18:00–23:00 h). Submicron particle size distribution revealed a single peak covering a size range of 80–130 nm, and for all instances, number concentration maximum coincided with geometric mean minimum, indicating the emission primarily in the ultrafine range (< 0.1 μm). Interestingly, during peak firework emissions, besides rise in accumulation mode, an event of new particle formation was identified with increase in nucleation and small Aitken mode, before being dispersed to background aerosols. On an integral scale, a clear distinction was noted between a normal and an episodic event, with a definite shift in the formation of ultrafine particles compared with the accumulation mode. The BC diurnal profile was typical, with a prominent nocturnal peak (12.0 ± 3.9 μg m -3 ) corresponding to a decrease in the boundary layer height. A slight variation in maximum BC concentration (16.8 μg m -3 ) was noted in the night of the event coinciding well with firework emissions. An increase in some specific ionic species was also noted in combination with an increase in the overall cation to anion ratio, which was explained in terms of heterogeneous transformation of NOx and catalytic conversion of SO 2 . Graphical abstract Time-resolved evolution of particle size distribution during normal and episodic events.

Background Orthopedic metallic screws even post healing causes ‘pinching effect’ and load inflammation to the bone. In this work, the design and development of a novel metallic core and polymeric shell orthopedic screw is discussed along with optimization of manufacturing process. Methods A comparative 2D finite element study for pull-out test was conducted on HA, HB, HC, and HD standards of screws for approximately identical diameters to determine the type of threading for the proposed design of the novel orthopedic screw. The polymeric shell of the orthopedic screws was manufactured by injection molding process. The material used for manufacturing the polymeric shell was poly-l-lactic acid. Injection pressure, injection velocity, packing pressure and packing time of the injection molding process were optimized for the following output responses: maximum axial pull-out strength, and maximal bending strength of the screw. Results The r-squared and the adjusted r-squared value of the developed regression model for pull-out was found to be 96% and 92%, respectively. For the bending force, the developed regression model had a r-squared and adjusted r-squared value of 87% and 75%, respectively. The regression models were maximised to obtain the desired input parameters. The optimised parameters were validated experimentally at two local maxima for both pull-out and bending force. Significance The developed screw is novel in design and a patent has been filed under US patent office with number US 2022/0000529 A1. The screws can be used by medical practitioners to avoid or minimise revision surgery and inflammation.