Enhanced architecture and implementation of spectrum shaping codes.

Spectral shaping codes are modulation codes widely used in communication and data storage systems. This research enhances the algorithms employed in constructing spectral shaping codes for hardware implementation. We present a parallel scrambling calculation with a time complexity of O(1). Second, in the minimum accumulated signal power (MASP) module, the sine-cosine accumulation needs to be determined by remainder with time complexity O(n2). We offer reduced MASP computations for short bit-width data, ROM storage, and addition pipelines. It can remove the remainder operation, reducing accumulated complexity to O(1). In addition, we present a search algorithm to generate segmented lines to replace the square operations in the MASP module. By employing the search algorithm and shift operations, we can reduce the complexity of the square from O(n2) to O(1). The implementation results reveal that the original and proposed MASPs yield nearly identical spectrum nulls. The encoder-decoder of the spectral shaping codes with proposed approaches consumes just 6% of the hardware resources when carried out with a Spartan6 XC6SLX25.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Pierre Robin Sequence and Its Prognosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the efficiency of ultrasound (US) in prenatal diagnosis and prognosis of Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) of 18 cases. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 79,305 women admitted for prenatal US examinations were recruited from January 2017 to December 2020. Eighteen cases of PRS fetuses were selected form the cohort and 40 cases of isolated micrognathia were recruited randomly as control group. All the clinical and imaging results were retrospectively reviewed. General condition, US measurements, and prognosis of fetuses were compared between groups. RESULTS: Cleft palate, glossoptosis, and micrognathia were found in all 18 fetuses with PRS by prenatal US. Compared with the isolated micrognathia group, there were no significant differences in the PRS group in examination of maternal age, gestational weeks at assessment, and gender of fetuses, but significant lower measures in inferior facial angle, jaw index, and frontal nasal-mental angle (each p < 0.05). Twelve fetuses were defined to have other associated malformations. Ear malformations were the most common associated malformations with a prevalence of 44.4% (8/18). All of the18 cases were confirmed with PRS after delivery or autopsy. Two delivered infants were found bucking easily, one baby was spitting up frequently but growth showed normal. CONCLUSION: Prenatal detection of PRS with US examination is highly efficient. Even with the triad of malformations, isolated PRS had good outcomes following initial stabilization and management in the neonatal period. Prenatal detection of Pierre Robin syndrome with targeted US examination is efficient in discerning characteristics of this rare syndrome. Even with the triad of malformations, isolated PRS had good outcomes following initial stabilization and management in the neonatal period. KEY POINTS: · Prenatal diagnosis of fetal PRS is of great clinical importance.. · Micrognathia has been identified as the primary feature of PRS.. · Posterior displacement of the tongue may cause acute neonatal respiratory distress.. · Even with triad malformation, isolated PRS seemed to have good outcomes..

Joint Design of Polar Coding and Physical Network Coding for Two-User Downlink Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access.

In this paper, we propose a joint polar coding and physical network coding (PNC) for two-user downlink non-orthogonal multiple access (PN-DNOMA) channels, since the successive-interference-cancellation-aided polar decoding cannot be optimal for finite blocklength transmissions. In the proposed scheme, we first constructed the XORed message of two user messages. Then, the XORed message was superimposed with the message of the weak User 2 for broadcast. By doing so, we can utilize the PNC mapping rule and polar decoding to directly recover the message of User 1, while at User 2, we equivalently constructed a long-length polar decoder to obtain its user message. The channel polarization and decoding performance can be greatly improved for both users. Moreover, we optimized the power allocation of the two users with their channel conditions by considering the user fairness and the performance. The simulation results showed that the proposed PN-DNOMA can achieve performance gains of about 0.4-0.7 dB over the conventional schemes in two-user downlink NOMA systems.

Growth kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus and background microorganisms in camel milk.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common foodborne pathogen that is ubiquitous in nature. Consumption of contaminated foods, such as dairy products, can lead to food poisoning caused by heat-stable staphylococcal toxins that are not easily destroyed during pasteurization. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth kinetics of S. aureus and background microorganisms in camel milk stored at different temperatures between 8 and 43°C using one-step kinetic analysis to estimate the kinetic parameters from the observed growth curves. The growth of S. aureus showed apparent lag, exponential, and stationary phases, whereas no or negligible lag phase was observed for background microorganisms. Data analysis showed that the estimated minimum, optimum, and maximum growth temperatures were 5.9, 42.0, and 49.2°C for S. aureus, and 3.0, 38.6, and 49.2°C for the background microorganisms, respectively. The estimated optimum specific growth rate was higher for S. aureus (1.24 h-1) than for background microorganisms (0.995 h-1). This study found that camel milk may inhibit the growth of S. aureus, as it exhibits a lower specific growth rate than that in cow milk or cooked potato. It also has a longer lag phase than that in cow milk at comparable temperature ranges. This unique property is probably related to the presence of some antimicrobial compounds naturally occurring in camel milk. Validation of kinetic parameters and models showed that the root mean square error of prediction was only 0.5 log cfu/mL for S. aureus and background microorganisms, suggesting that the models are reasonably accurate. These models can be used for conducting risk assessments of S. aureus and predicting the general microbiological shelf life of camel milk to prevent foodborne staphylococcal poisoning.

[Ultrasonic imaging research at Ashi points in neck-type cervical spondylosis].

OBJECTIVE: To conduct the preliminary positioning and qualitative research of high-frequency ultrasonic imaging at Ashi points (including tender points and trigger points) in neck-type cervical spondylosis and explore the relevant law so as to provide the evidence for the selection of acupuncture scheme. METHODS: Thirty patients in compliance with the diagnostic criteria of neck-type cervical spondylosis were selected. The trigger points, tender points and placebo points were positioned on any of the three available oriented lines. The point-to-point high-frequency real-time dynamic ultrasonic imaging technology was used to scan and position each point and record the changes in ultrasound gradation anatomy and two-dimensional ultrasound in perimysium, two-dimensional and color Doppler ultrasonography and blood flow. The ultrasound characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: ①Regarding the changes in ultrasound gradation anatomy and two-dimensional ultrasound in perimysium, the anatomic gradation at trigger points and tender points was in the sequence as cutaneous layer, subcutaneous fat layer, shallow muscular tissue layer, deep muscular tissue layer and vertebrae. The linear high echo presented in cutaneous layer; the low echo in subcutaneous fat layer; the linear high echo in muscular fasciae; the low echo in muscular layer and the clear linear echo in its perimysium; the high echo and declined posterior echo in vertebrae. Compared with the placebo points, 93.3% of trigger points (28/30) presented enhanced or thickened perimysium echo (P<0.05), and 96.7% of tender points (29/30) presented enhanced or thickened perimysium echo (P<0.05). The differences were not significant between the trigger points and the tender points (P>0.05). ②In the two-dimensional ultrasonography, the clear linear echo presented in perimysium, the enhanced or thickened echo in perimysium of trigger points and tender points. In the color Doppler ultrasonography, the blinking unstable dotted blood flow signal or stable short rod-like blood flow signal presented in the trigger points and tender points. ③Regarding the condition of blood flow, 56.7% of trigger points (17/30) presented Ⅱ degree of color blood flow signal and 83.3% of tender points (25/30) presented Ⅱ degree of color blood flow signal; 0% of placebo points presented Ⅱ degree of color blood flow signal. Compared with the placebo points, the differences in the rate of Ⅱ degree of color blood flow signal were significant statistically at both the trigger points and the tender points (both P<0.05). The difference was not significant between the trigger points and tender points (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the high-frequency ultrasound imaging at trigger points and tender points in neck-type cervical spondylosis, the ultrasound imaging characteristics present, which are similar between the trigger points and the tender points. The high-frequency ultrasound imaging is valuable in positioning and quantitative research of Ashi points in cervical spondylosis and has a certain significance to guide treatment.

[Dynamic Changes of Ultrasonographic Images of Zusanli (ST 36) Region During Deqi of Acupuncture Needle Stimulation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the dynamic changes of ultrosonographic images of Zusanli (ST 36) area during Deqi after inserting acupuncture needles, so as to provide objective evidence for clinical Deqi. METHODS: Sixty healthy volunteers (30 men and 30 women) were recruited in the present study. The subjects were asked to take a supine position on a test-bed, sterilized disposable filiform needles were perpendicularly inserted into bilateral ST 36 till Deqi (without lifting, thrusting and twirling), when, high-resolution ultrasound scanning was conducted over the regional skeletal muscles by using a radio-frequency (5-12 MHz) coil probe (Philips IU Elite Ultrasound Diagnostic Instrument) after smearing a layer of gel at the skin of ST 36. RESULTS: Among these 120 points of the 60 volunteer subjects, a marked Deqi was obtained from 108 points (consisting of 90%) including 52 points in men and 56 in women, and 53 at the left ST 36 and 56 at the right ST 36. Ultrosonographic scanning displayed that when a strongest Deqi feeling was obtained from bilateral ST 36 in these 60 volunteers, the acupuncture needle-tip was about (25.32±5.82) mm in the vertical depth, and was (5.45±0.55) mm lateral to the tibia, involving the anterior tibial muscle near the deep fascia in 46 acupoints, and the intersection fascia of anterior tibial muscle and extensor digitorum longus in 62 acupoints. CONCLUSIONS: The anterior tibial muscle near the deep fascia and the intersection fascia of anterior tibial muscle and extensor digitorum longus around ST 36 are involved in strongest Deqi. There are no significant differences in the gender and location (left and right).