An Energy-Efficient Mobile Sink-Based Unequal Clustering Mechanism for WSNs.

Network lifetime and energy efficiency are crucial performance metrics used to evaluate wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Decreasing and balancing the energy consumption of nodes can be employed to increase network lifetime. In cluster-based WSNs, one objective of applying clustering is to decrease the energy consumption of the network. In fact, the clustering technique will be considered effective if the energy consumed by sensor nodes decreases after applying clustering, however, this aim will not be achieved if the cluster size is not properly chosen. Therefore, in this paper, the energy consumption of nodes, before clustering, is considered to determine the optimal cluster size. A two-stage Genetic Algorithm (GA) is employed to determine the optimal interval of cluster size and derive the exact value from the interval. Furthermore, the energy hole is an inherent problem which leads to a remarkable decrease in the network's lifespan. This problem stems from the asynchronous energy depletion of nodes located in different layers of the network. For this reason, we propose Circular Motion of Mobile-Sink with Varied Velocity Algorithm (CM2SV2) to balance the energy consumption ratio of cluster heads (CH). According to the results, these strategies could largely increase the network's lifetime by decreasing the energy consumption of sensors and balancing the energy consumption among CHs.

Endothelial follicle-stimulating hormone receptor expression in invasive breast cancer and vascular remodeling at tumor periphery.

BACKGROUND: Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) is expressed on the endothelial surface of blood vessels associated with solid tumor periphery, where angiogenesis is known to occur. The correlation between FSHR expression and formation of new peritumoral vessels has not been previously investigated. METHODS: We used immunohistochemical techniques involving specific antibodies to detect FSHR and the endothelial markers (CD34, VEGFR2, and D2-40) in tissue samples from 83 patients with lymph node-negative, invasive breast cancer representing four main clinical treatment groups: HR+/HER2-, HR+/HER2+, HR-/HER2+ and triple-negative. RESULTS: The FSHR+ vessels were exclusively located at breast cancer periphery, in a layer that extended 2 mm into and 5 mm outside of the tumor. The percentage of blood vessels expressing FSHR reached a maximum of 100% at the demarcation line between the tumor and the normal tissue. Common among FSHR+ vessels, regardless of breast cancer type, were the high densities of arterioles and venules (6.4 ± 1.4 and 13.9 ± 2.1 vessels/mm(2), respectively). These values were 3-fold higher that those noticed for CD34+ arterioles and venules associated with normal breast tissue located at a distance greater than 10 mm outside the tumors. The average density of FSHR+ and CD34+ blood vessels as well as of D2-40+ lymphatic vessels did not differ significantly among breast cancer subgroups. FSHR+ vessels did not express VEGFR2. The endothelial FSHR expression correlated significantly with the peritumoral CD34+ vessels' density (p < 0.001) and tumor size (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Endothelial FSHR expression in breast cancer is associated with vascular remodeling at tumor periphery.

Blood pressure control with a single-pill combination of indapamide sustained-release and amlodipine in patients with hypertension: the EFFICIENT study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite antihypertensive treatment, most hypertensive patients still have high blood pressure (BP), notably high systolic blood pressure (SBP). The EFFICIENT study examines the efficacy and acceptability of a single-pill combination of sustained-release (SR) indapamide, a thiazide-like diuretic, and amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker (CCB), in the management of hypertension. METHODS: Patients who were previously uncontrolled on CCB monotherapy (BP≥140/90 mm Hg) or were previously untreated with grade 2 or 3 essential hypertension (BP≥160/100 mm Hg) received a single-pill combination tablet containing indapamide SR 1.5 mg and amlodipine 5 mg daily for 45 days, in this multicenter prospective phase 4 study. The primary outcome was mean change in BP from baseline; percentage of patients achieving BP control (BP<140/90 mm Hg) was a secondary endpoint. SBP reduction (ΔSBP) versus diastolic BP reduction (ΔDBP) was evaluated (ΔSBP/ΔDBP) from baseline to day 45. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. RESULTS: Mean baseline BP of 196 patients (mean age 52.3 years) was 160.2/97.9 mm Hg. After 45 days, mean SBP decreased by 28.5 mm Hg (95% CI, 26.4 to 30.6), while diastolic BP decreased by 15.6 mm Hg (95% CI, 14.5 to 16.7). BP control (<140/90 mm Hg) was achieved in 85% patients. ΔSBP/ΔDBP was 1.82 in the overall population. Few patients (n = 3 [2%]) reported side effects, and most (n = 194 [99%]) adhered to treatment. CONCLUSION: In patients who were previously uncontrolled on CCB monotherapy or untreated with grade 2 or 3 hypertension, single-pill combination indapamide SR/amlodipine reduced BP effectively--especially SBP--over 45 days, and was safe and well tolerated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Registry-India CTRI/2010/091/000114.