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4. |
- Carvalho, E. de, et al.
(author)
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EU FP7 INFSO-ICT-317669 METIS, D3.1 Positioning of multi-node/multi-antenna technologies
- 2013
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This document describes the research activity in multi-node/multi-antenna technologies within METIS and positions it with respect to the state-of-the-art in the academic literature and in the standardization bodies. Based on the state-of-the-art and as well as on the METIS objectives,we set the research objectives and we group the different activities (or technology components) into research clusters with similar research objectives. The technologycomponents and the research objectives have been set to achieve an ambidextrous purpose. On one side we aim at providing the METIS system with those technological components that are a natural but non-trivial evolution of 4G. On the other side, we aim at seeking for disruptivetechnologies that could radically change 5G with respect to 4G. Moreover, we mapped the different technology components to METIS’ other activities and to the overall goals of theproject.
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5. |
- Fantini, R, et al.
(author)
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EU FP7 INFSO-ICT-317669 METIS, D3.2 First performance results for multi-node/multi-antenna transmission technologies
- 2014
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This deliverable describes the current results of the multi-node/multi-antenna technologies investigated within METIS and analyses the interactions within and outside Work Package 3. Furthermore, it identifies the most promising technologies based on the current state of obtained results. This document provides a brief overview of the results in its first part. The second part, namely the Appendix, further details the results, describes the simulation alignment efforts conducted in the Work Package and the interaction of the Test Cases. The results described here show that the investigations conducted in Work Package 3 are maturing resulting in valuable innovative solutions for future 5G systems.
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7. |
- Hartman, E. A. R., et al.
(author)
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Decisions on antibiotic prescribing for suspected urinary tract infections in frail older adults: a qualitative study in four European countries
- 2022
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In: Age and ageing. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0002-0729 .- 1468-2834. ; 51:6
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background a suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common reason to prescribe antibiotics in a frail older patient. Frequently, antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily. To increase appropriate antibiotic use for UTIs through antibiotic stewardship interventions, we need to thoroughly understand the factors that contribute to these prescribing decisions. Objectives (1) to obtain insight into factors contributing to antibiotic prescribing for suspected UTIs in frail older adults. (2) To develop an overarching model integrating these factors to guide the development of antibiotic stewardship interventions for UTIs in frail older adults. Methods we conducted an exploratory qualitative study with 61 semi-structured interviews in older adult care settings in Poland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. We interviewed physicians, nursing staff, patients and informal caregivers. Results participants described a chain of decisions by patients, caregivers and/or nursing staff preceding the ultimate decision to prescribe antibiotics by the physician. We identified five themes of influence: (1) the clinical situation and its complexity within the frail older patient, (2) diagnostic factors, such as asymptomatic bacteriuria, (3) knowledge (gaps) and attitude, (4) communication: interprofessional, and with patients and relatives and (5) context and organisation of care, including factors such as availability of antibiotics (over the counter), antibiotic stewardship efforts and factors concerning out-of-hours care. Conclusions decision-making on suspected UTIs in frail older adults is a complex, multifactorial process. Due to the diverse international setting and stakeholder variety, we were able to provide a comprehensive overview of factors to guide the development of antibiotic stewardship interventions.
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8. |
- Hober, Sophia, Professor, 1965-, et al.
(author)
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Systematic evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 antigens enables a highly specific and sensitive multiplex serological COVID-19 assay
- 2021
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In: Clinical & Translational Immunology. - : Wiley. - 2050-0068. ; 10:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. The COVID-19 pandemic poses an immense need for accurate, sensitive and high-throughput clinical tests, and serological assays are needed for both overarching epidemiological studies and evaluating vaccines. Here, we present the development and validation of a high-throughput multiplex bead-based serological assay. Methods. More than 100 representations of SARS-CoV-2 proteins were included for initial evaluation, including antigens produced in bacterial and mammalian hosts as well as synthetic peptides. The five best-performing antigens, three representing the spike glycoprotein and two representing the nucleocapsid protein, were further evaluated for detection of IgG antibodies in samples from 331 COVID-19 patients and convalescents, and in 2090 negative controls sampled before 2020. Results. Three antigens were finally selected, represented by a soluble trimeric form and the S1-domain of the spike glycoprotein as well as by the C-terminal domain of the nucleocapsid. The sensitivity for these three antigens individually was found to be 99.7%, 99.1% and 99.7%, and the specificity was found to be 98.1%, 98.7% and 95.7%. The best assay performance was although achieved when utilising two antigens in combination, enabling a sensitivity of up to 99.7% combined with a specificity of 100%. Requiring any two of the three antigens resulted in a sensitivity of 99.7% and a specificity of 99.4%. Conclusion. These observations demonstrate that a serological test based on a combination of several SARS-CoV-2 antigens enables a highly specific and sensitive multiplex serological COVID-19 assay.
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9. |
- Hoste, M. E., et al.
(author)
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The experiences of patients ill with COVID-19-like symptoms and the role of testing for SARS-CoV-2 in supporting them: A qualitative study in eight European countries during the first wave of the pandemic
- 2023
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In: European Journal of General Practice. - 1381-4788. ; 29:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundAccess to testing during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was limited, impacting patients with COVID-19-like symptoms. Current qualitative studies have been limited to one country or were conducted outside Europe.ObjectivesTo explore - in eight European countries - the experiences of patients consulting in primary care with COVID-19-like symptoms during the first wave of the pandemic.MethodsSixty-six semi-structured interviews, informed by a topic guide, were conducted by telephone or in person between April and July 2020. Patients with COVID-19-like symptoms were purposively recruited in primary care sites in eight countries and sampled based on age, gender, and symptom presentation. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis techniques were used to develop a framework representing data across settings. Data adequacy was attained by collecting rich data.ResultsSeven themes were identified, which described the experiences of patients consulting. Two themes are reported in this manuscript describing the role of COVID-19 testing in this experience. Patients described significant distress due to their symptoms, especially those at higher risk of complications from COVID-19, and those with severe symptoms. Patients wanted access to testing to identify the cause of their illness and minimise the burden of managing uncertainty. Some patients testing positive for COVID-19 assumed they would be immune from future infection.ConclusionPatients experiencing novel and severe symptoms, particularly those with comorbidities, experienced a significant emotional and psychological burden due to concerns about COVID-19. Testing provided reassurance over health status and helped patients identify which guidance to follow. Testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 led to some patients thinking they were immune from future infection, thus influencing subsequent behaviour.
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12. |
- Wanat, M., et al.
(author)
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Patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives on the primary care consultations for acute respiratory infections during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an eight-country qualitative study in Europe
- 2022
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In: BJGP Open. - 2398-3795. ; 6:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of healthcare-seeking behaviour and delivery of care is unclear. The pandemic accelerated the use of remote care, and understanding its benefits and drawbacks may inform its implementation during current and future healthcare emergencies. Aim: To explore patients’ and primary care professionals’ (PCPs) experiences of primary care delivery in the first wave of the pandemic. Design & setting: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews in primary care in eight European countries (England, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Sweden, and Germany). Method: A total of 146 interviews were conducted with 80 PCPs and 66 patients consulting for respiratory tract infection (RTI) symptoms, in eight European countries. Data were collected between April and July 2020, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: It was found that patients accepted telemedicine when PCPs spent time to understand and address their concerns, but a minority preferred in-person consultations. PCPs felt that remote consultations created emotional distance between themselves and patients, and they reported having to manage diverse COVID-19-related medical and social concerns. Conclusion: Remote consultations for RTI symptoms may be acceptable long term if both groups are happy to use this format, but it is important that PCPs take time to address patients’ concerns and provide safety-netting advice.
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13. |
- Wanat, M., et al.
(author)
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Supporting Primary Care Professionals to Stay in Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Views on Personal Risk and Access to Testing During the First Wave of Pandemic in Europe
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in Medicine. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-858X. ; 8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Minimising primary care professionals' (PCPs) risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial to ensure their safety as well as functioning health care system. PCPs' perspectives on the support they needed in the early stages of a public health crisis can inform future preparedness. Aim: To understand PCPs' experiences of providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with focus on personal risk from COVID-19 and testing. Design and Setting: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with PCPs in England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Greece and Sweden, between April and July 2020. Method: Interviews were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis techniques. Results: Eighty interviews were conducted, showing that PCPs tried to make sense of their risk of both contracting and severity of COVID-19 by assessing individual risk factors and perceived effectiveness of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They had limited access to PPE yet continued providing care as their "duty." Some PCPs felt that they were put in high-risk situations when patients or colleagues were not flagging symptoms of COVID-19. Not having access to testing in the initial stages of the pandemic was somewhat accepted but when available, was valued. Conclusion: Access to adequate PPE and testing, as well as training for staff and education for patients about the importance of ensuring staff safety is crucial. Given PCPs' varied response in how they appraised personal risk and their tolerance for working, PCPs may benefit from the autonomy in deciding how they want to work during health emergencies.
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14. |
- Wanat, M., et al.
(author)
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Transformation of primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: experiences of healthcare professionals in eight European countries
- 2021
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In: British Journal of General Practice. - : Royal College of General Practitioners. - 0960-1643 .- 1478-5242. ; 71:709
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background I'm Tian/care has a crucial role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as the first point of patient care and gatekeeper to secondary care. Qualitative studies exploring the experiences of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic have mainly focused on secondary care. Aim To gain an understanding of the experiences of European primary care professionals (PCPs) working during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and setting An exploratory qualitative study, using semi structured interviews in primary care in England, Belgium, the Netherlands. Ireland. Germany, Poland, Greece, and Sweden, between April and July 7020. Method Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis techniques. Results Fighty interviews were conducted with PCPs. PCPs had to make their own decisions on how to rapidly transform services in relation to COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care. Despite being overwhelmed with guidance. they often lacked access to practical training. Consequently. PCPs turned to their colleagues for moral support and information to try to quickly adjust to new ways of working, including remote care. arid to deal with uncertainty. Conclusion PCPs rapidly transformed primary care delivery despite a number of challenges. Representation of primary care at policy level and engagement with local primary care champions are needed to facilitate easy and coordinated access to practical information on how to adapt services, ongoing training, and access to appropriate mental health support services for PCPs. Preservation of autonomy and responsiveness of primary care are critical to preserve the ability for rapid transformation in any future crisis of care delivery.
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16. |
- Backéus, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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Vegetation changes on formerly overgrazed hill slopes in semi-arid central Tanzania
- 1994
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In: Journal of Vegetation Science. - 1100-9233 .- 1654-1103. ; 5, s. 327-336
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Composition of hill slope vegetation was studied in a semi-arid part of upland Tanzania where all grazing had been banned for 12 yr. The hills had been severely overgrazed previously and suffered from heavy gully and sheet erosion. Eight vegetation types are described. Floristic gradients revealed by numerical ordination techniques were found to be related mainly to degree of erosion, soil type and succession. The more or less bare soil that prevailed after grazing had ceased is now covered by grassland, woodland and immature secondary forest. The grasslands are still characterized by early successional species and they will probably remain open grassland as long as frequent burning continues. Brachystegia woodlands may have developed during earlier periods when the field layer was sparse due to grazing. The grazing had reduced the frequency of fire which in turn promoted the establishment of Brachystegia spp. Secondary forests are believed to have developed mainly where fires were not frequent, particularly at higher altitudes.
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17. |
- Bergström, Anders, et al.
(author)
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Grey wolf genomic history reveals a dual ancestry of dogs
- 2022
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 607:7918, s. 313-320
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The grey wolf (Canis lupus) was the first species to give rise to a domestic population, and they remained widespread throughout the last Ice Age when many other large mammal species went extinct. Little is known, however, about the history and possible extinction of past wolf populations or when and where the wolf progenitors of the present-day dog lineage (Canis familiaris) lived. Here we analysed 72 ancient wolf genomes spanning the last 100,000 years from Europe, Siberia and North America. We found that wolf populations were highly connected throughout the Late Pleistocene, with levels of differentiation an order of magnitude lower than they are today. This population connectivity allowed us to detect natural selection across the time series, including rapid fixation of mutations in the gene IFT88 40,000–30,000 years ago. We show that dogs are overall more closely related to ancient wolves from eastern Eurasia than to those from western Eurasia, suggesting a domestication process in the east. However, we also found that dogs in the Near East and Africa derive up to half of their ancestry from a distinct population related to modern southwest Eurasian wolves, reflecting either an independent domestication process or admixture from local wolves. None of the analysed ancient wolf genomes is a direct match for either of these dog ancestries, meaning that the exact progenitor populations remain to be located.
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18. |
- Bergström, Anders, et al.
(author)
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Origins and genetic legacy of prehistoric dogs
- 2020
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 370:6516, s. 557-563
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dogs were the first domestic animal, but little is known about their population history and to what extent it was linked to humans. We sequenced 27 ancient dog genomes and found that all dogs share a common ancestry distinct from present-day wolves, with limited gene flow from wolves since domestication but substantial dog-to-wolf gene flow. By 11,000 years ago, at least five major ancestry lineages had diversified, demonstrating a deep genetic history of dogs during the Paleolithic. Coanalysis with human genomes reveals aspects of dog population history that mirror humans, including Levant-related ancestry in Africa and early agricultural Europe. Other aspects differ, including the impacts of steppe pastoralist expansions in West and East Eurasia and a near-complete turnover of Neolithic European dog ancestry.
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20. |
- Chatterjee, Saikat, et al.
(author)
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Projection-based atom selection in orthogonal matching pursuit for compressive sensing
- 2012
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In: 2012 National Conference on Communications, NCC 2012. - : IEEE. - 9781467308168 ; , s. 6176797-
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For compressive sensing, we endeavor to improve the atom selection strategy of the existing orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm. To achieve a better estimate of the underlying support set progressively through iterations, we use a least squares solution based atom selection method. From a set of promising atoms, the choice of an atom is performed through a new method that uses orthogonal projection along-with a standard matched filter. Through experimental evaluations, the effect of projection based atom selection strategy is shown to provide a significant improvement for the support set recovery performance, in turn, the compressive sensing recovery.
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21. |
- Chatterjee, Saikat, et al.
(author)
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SEK: Sparsity exploiting k-mer-based estimation of bacterial community composition
- 2014
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In: Bioinformatics. - : Oxford University Press. - 1460-2059 .- 1367-4803 .- 1367-4811. ; 30:17, s. 2423-2431
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Motivation: Estimation of bacterial community composition from a high-throughput sequenced sample is an important task in metagenomics applications. As the sample sequence data typically harbors reads of variable lengths and different levels of biological and technical noise, accurate statistical analysis of such data is challenging. Currently popular estimation methods are typically time-consuming in a desktop computing environment.Results: Using sparsity enforcing methods from the general sparse signal processing field (such as compressed sensing), we derive a solution to the community composition estimation problem by a simultaneous assignment of all sample reads to a pre-processed reference database. A general statistical model based on kernel density estimation techniques is introduced for the assignment task, and the model solution is obtained using convex optimization tools. Further, we design a greedy algorithm solution for a fast solution. Our approach offers a reasonably fast community composition estimation method, which is shown to be more robust to input data variation than a recently introduced related method.Availability and implementation: A platform-independent Matlab implementation of the method is freely available at http://www.ee.kth.se/ctsoftware; source code that does not require access to Matlab is currently being tested and will be made available later through the above Web site.
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23. |
- Dössel, Leefke, et al.
(author)
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Anytime reliability of systematic LDPC convolutional codes
- 2012
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In: Communications (ICC), 2012 IEEE International Conference on. - : IEEE. - 9781457720529 ; , s. 2171-2175
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We propose a LDPC Convolutional Code ensemble together with an expanding-window message-passing decoder that asymptotically have anytime properties when used for streaming transmission on the binary erasure channel. We show analytically that the decoding erasure probability of these codes decays exponentially over decoding delay and determine the corresponding anytime exponents.
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25. |
- Esbjörnsson, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive impact of traumatic axonal injury (TAI) and return to work
- 2013
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In: Brain Injury. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0269-9052 .- 1362-301X. ; 27:5, s. 521-528
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Axonal injury (AI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often overlooked as an explanation Methods: The sample included 17 patients younger than 65 years old, however one died. In the acute Results: After 1 year, all patients still showed cognitive dysfunction. A recovery had been noted at 6
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26. |
- Farhadi, Hamed, 1983, et al.
(author)
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An adaptive localization technique for wireless capsule endoscopy
- 2016
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In: International Symposium on Medical Information and Communication Technology, ISMICT. - : IEEE Computer Society. - 2326-8301 .- 2326-828X. - 9781509028498
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is an emerging technique to enhance Gastroenterologists information about the patient's gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract. Localization of capsule inside human body in this case is an active area of research. This can be thought of as a sub-domain of micro and bio-robotics fields. If capsule and micro-robot localization problem in human body is solved, then it may potentially lead to less invasive treatments for G.I. diseases and other micro-robot assisted medical procedures. Several approaches have been investigated by the researchers to estimate capsule location. The proposed solutions are mainly static and thus prone to the changes in the propagation medium. We propose an adaptive algorithm based on expectation maximization technique for capsule localization. The proposed algorithm adaptively updates the estimated location based on the received radio frequency (RF) signal measurements.
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27. |
- Furnes, M W, et al.
(author)
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Feeding behavior in rats subjected to gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery.
- 2008
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In: European surgical research. Europäische chirurgische Forschung. Recherches chirurgicales européennes. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9921. ; 40:3, s. 279-88
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND/AIM: Gastric bypass (GB) is usually designed to restrict food intake and to induce malabsorption. Gastric hormones have been thought to play a role in the regulation of food intake and body weight. The aim of the present study was to analyze feeding behavior after total gastrectomy (Gx) or GB in rats. METHODS: Animals were subjected to Gx, GB, or sham operations. Eating and drinking behaviors after surgeries were assessed by a comprehensive laboratory animal monitoring system. Gastric hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay and energy density in feces by adiabatic bomb calorimeter. RESULTS: Compared with sham operation, both Gx and GB reduced the body weight as measured during 3-8 weeks postoperatively, which was associated with increased energy expenditure per 100 g body weight. Daily accumulated food intake and meal size (during nighttime) were reduced following Gx, but not GB. The water intake (during daytime) was increased after Gx and GB. The energy density in feces was unchanged. Serum concentrations of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, gastrin, and pancreastatin were greatly reduced after Gx. CONCLUSIONS: Control of food intake and meal size was independent of the food reservoir function of the stomach. Surgical depletion of gastric hormones is associated with reduced meal size, but increased water intake.
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28. |
- Gabry, Frédéric, et al.
(author)
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On the Optimization of the Secondary Transmitter's Strategy in Cognitive Radio Channels with Secrecy
- 2014
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In: IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. - 0733-8716 .- 1558-0008. ; 32:3, s. 451-463
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper investigates cooperation for secrecy in cognitive radio networks. In particular, we consider a four-node cognitive scenario where the secondary receiver is treated as a potential eavesdropper with respect to the primary transmission. The cognitive transmitter can help the primary transmission, and it should also ensure that the primary message is not leaked to the secondary user. We consider two cognitive scenarios depending on whether the secondary transmitter knows the primary message or not. In the first case, the secondary transmitter is unaware of the primary transmitter's message and acts as a helping interferer to enhance the secrecy of the primary transmission, whereas in the second case, relaying of the primary message is also within its capabilities. First, we find achievable rate regions for these two scenarios in the case of AWGN channels. We then investigate three different optimization problems: the maximization of the primary rate, the maximization of the secondary rate and the minimization of the secondary transmit power. For these optimization problems, we find closed-form expressions in important special cases. Furthermore, we analyze the cooperation between the primary and secondary transmitters from a game-theoretic perspective. We model their interaction as a Stackelberg game, for which we define and find the Stackelberg equilibrium. Finally, we use numerical examples to illustrate the rate regions, the three optimizations, and the impact of the Stackelberg game on the achievable rates and on the transmission strategies of the secondary transmitter.
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29. |
- Gabry, Frédéric, et al.
(author)
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Secure Broadcasting in Cooperative Cognitive Radio Networks
- 2012
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In: 2012 Future Network and Mobile Summit, FutureNetw 2012. - : IIMC. - 9781905824304
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper explores the trade-off between cooperation and secrecy in cognitive radio networks. We consider a scenario consisting of a primary and a secondary system. In the simplest case, each system is represented by a pair of transmitter and receiver. We assume a secrecy constraint on the transmission in the sense that the message of the primary transmitter has to be concealed from the secondary user. Both situations where the secondary transmitter is aware and unaware of the primary message are investigated and compared. Furthermore, we extend our results to the scenario where the secondary system comprises multiple users. For each case we sketch the derivation of the rates that are achievable from an information theoretic perspective. We then investigate the findings by numerical simulations. Our main result is that, in spite of the secrecy constraint, cooperation is beneficial in terms of the achievable rates. The secondary transmitter has the two contradicting tasks of helping the primary system and transmitting its own message. Our results show that both tasks can be accomplished simultaneously, improving both systems' performance. In particular, the secondary system can achieve a significant rate without decreasing the primary rate below the benchmark rate achievable without the help of the secondary transmitter. In the case of multiple secondary users, the rate region reduces, which results in a lower individual rate. However, the linear increase in sumrate counterbalances this effect.
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31. |
- Gerami, Majid, et al.
(author)
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Optimal-cost repair in multi-hop distributed storage systems with network coding
- 2016
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In: Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technologies. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 2161-5748 .- 2161-3915. ; 27:11, s. 1539-1549
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We study the transmission cost of repair in a distributed storage system, where storage nodes are connected together through an arbitrary network topology, and there is a cost in the use of the network link. Contrary to the classical model, where there exists a link between a pair of storage node, in our repair model there might not exist a link between some pairs of storage nodes or it might be expensive to use. For that, we propose surviving nodes cooperation in repair, meaning that the surviving nodes as the intermediate nodes combine their received packets with their own stored packets and then transmit coded packets towards the new node. We show that surviving node cooperation can reduce the repair-cost, the sum of the costs for transmitting repairing data between the surviving nodes and the new node. For the system that allows surviving node cooperation, we find the minimum-cost codes in repair by firstly deriving a lower bound of the repair-cost through an optimization problem and then proposing achievable codes. We show the gain of the proposed codes in reducing the repair-cost in some scenarios.
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32. |
- Girnyk, Maksym, 1984-, et al.
(author)
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Large-System Analysis of MIMO Wire-Tap Channels with Randomly Located Eavesdroppers
- 2013
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In: Proceedings of the Tenth International Symposium on Wireless Communication Systems (ISWCS 2013). - : VDE Verlag GmbH. - 9783800735297 ; , s. 380-384
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Wireless security has become a subject of growinginterest in wireless communications due to the broadcast natureof wireless channels. In the present paper, we consider a multiantennawire-tap channel with randomly distributed eavesdroppers.In the fast fading environment, the overall performance ofsuch channel is characterized by the ergodic secrecy capacity,which, in general, cannot be characterized explicitly. Nevertheless,based on the assumption that the numbers of antennasat legitimate terminals and the number of eavesdroppers growlarge without bound, we derive a deterministic approximation forthe achievable ergodic secrecy rate. The obtained large-systemapproximation matches well with the actual simulated secrecyrates, revealing some interesting behavior of the secrecy rates inthe given scenario.
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33. |
- Grosjean, Leefke, 1984-, et al.
(author)
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Systematic LDPC Convolutional Codes : Asymptotic and Finite-Length Anytime Properties
- 2014
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In: IEEE Transactions on Communications. - : IEEE. - 0090-6778 .- 1558-0857. ; 62:12, s. 4165-4183
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Here we propose an ensemble of non-terminated systematic LDPC convolutional codes with increasing memory, and show that over the binary erasure channel (BEC) these codes achieve anytime reliability asymptotically when decoded with an expanding-window message-passing decoder. The corresponding anytime exponents are determined through protograph-based extrinsic information transfer charts. Fundamental complications arising when transmitting with finite block lengths are identified and a combinatorial performance analysis, when transmitting over a static BEC with a fixed number of erasures per codeword block, is developed. Based on the performance analysis we explore the use of feedback for achieving anytime behavior with constraints on block length. To meet complexity constraints, with or without feedback, the code memory can be limited at the cost of an error floor emerging with a delay proportional to the memory constraint. Although the analysis is developed for a static BEC we show numerically that we can design efficient low-complexity finite-length codes with anytime properties even for the conventional BEC.
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34. |
- Grosjean, Leefke, et al.
(author)
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Variable-rate anytime transmission with feedback
- 2016
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In: IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference. - : IEEE. - 9781509017010
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A generalization of the ensemble of non-terminated systematic LDPC convolutional codes developed in our previous work is proposed that allows us to design codes with lower rates than the original structure. We show that over the BEC, the modified codes have improved asymptotic and finite-length behavior and we determine the operational anytime exponent. Having shown the advantages of lowering the rate of the code, we propose a feedback protocol that permits encoder and decoder to operate at a variable rate. The rate is set on-the-fly and depends on the decoding success of the decoder. We describe the construction of the variable rate code structure and demonstrate by simulations the superiority of the variable rate scheme as compared to a scheme using a fixed rate.
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35. |
- Gudmundsson, T., et al.
(author)
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Importance of hospital and clinical factors in predicting of 30-day mortality in Takotsubo syndrome : data from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry
- 2023
-
In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 44:Suppl. 2
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is an acute heart failure condition that presents with symptoms similar to acute myocardial infarction. TS is often triggered by emotional or physical stress and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality but predictors of mortality in TS patients are not well understood. There is a need to identify high-risk patients and tailor treatment accordingly.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the importance of various clinical factors in predicting 30-day mortality in TS patients using a machine-learning algorithm capable of identifying complex relationships between variables.Methods: We analyzed data from the nationwide Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry for all TS patients between 2015-2022. Gradient boosting was used to assess the relative importance of variables in predicting 30-day mortality in TS patients.Results: Of the 3,180 hospitalized TS patients, 76% were women. The average age was 68.3 ± 11.2 years. The crude all-cause mortality rate was 2.57% at 30 days. The most important variable in predicting 30-day mortality was the hospital where the patient was treated, with a relative importance of 35.5%. This was followed by the clinical presentation for angiography (21.1%), creatinine level (11.9%), Killip class (8.9%), and age at angioplasty (6.5%). Other less important factors included weight, height, and certain medical conditions such as hyperlipidemia, smoking status, and hypertension. Gender and previous stroke history had a low impact on 30-day mortality in TS patients.Conclusions: The treating hospital was the most important factor in predicting 30-day mortality in TS. Since the level of evidence for recommended treatments of TS is low, our findings highlight the importance of conducting randomized studies in this patient group to improve care.
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36. |
- Hartman, E. A. R., et al.
(author)
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Multifaceted antibiotic stewardship intervention using a participatory-action-research approach to improve antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections in frail elderly (ImpresU): study protocol for a European qualitative study followed by a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial
- 2021
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In: Bmj Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 11:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Almost 60% of antibiotics in frail elderly are prescribed for alleged urinary tract infections (UTIs). A substantial part of this comprises prescriptions in case of non-specific symptoms or asymptomatic bacteriuria, for which the latest guidelines promote restrictiveness with antibiotics. We aim to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use for UTIs through an antibiotic stewardship intervention (ASI) that encourages to prescribe according to these guidelines. To develop an effective ASI, we first need a better understanding of the complex decision-making process concerning suspected UTIs in frail elderly. Moreover, the implementation approach requires tailoring to the heterogeneous elderly care setting. Methods and analysis First, we conduct a qualitative study to explore factors contributing to antibiotic prescribing for UTIs in frail elderly, using semi-structured interviews with general practitioners, nursing staff, patients and informal caregivers. Next, we perform a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in elderly care organisations. A multifaceted ASI is implemented in the intervention group; the control group receives care as usual. The ASI is centred around a decision tool that promotes restrictive antibiotic use, supported by a toolbox with educational materials. For the implementation, we use a modified participatory-action-research approach, guided by the results of the qualitative study. The primary outcome is the number of antibiotic prescriptions for suspected UTIs. We aim to recruit 34 clusters with in total 680 frail elderly residents >= 70 years. Data collection takes place during a 5-month baseline period and a 7-month follow-up period. Finally, we perform a process evaluation. The study has been delayed for 6 months due to COVID-19 and is expected to end in July 2021. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approvals and/or waivers were obtained from the ethical committees in Poland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The results will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
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37. |
- Hedenstedt, Anna, et al.
(author)
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B cell polygenic risk scores associate with anti-dsDNA antibodies and nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus.
- 2023
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In: Lupus science & medicine. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2053-8790. ; 10:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- B cell function and autoantibodies are important in SLE pathogenesis. In this work, we aimed to investigate the impact of cumulative SLE B cell genetics on SLE subphenotype and autoantibody profile.Female patients with SLE (n=1248) and healthy controls (n=400) were genotyped using Illumina's Global Screening Array. Two polygenic risk scores (PRSs), one representing B cell genes and the other B cell activation genes, were calculated for each individual using risk loci for SLE in genes assigned to B cell-related pathways according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Gene Ontology and Reactome Databases.Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies were more prevalent among patients with a high compared with a low SLE B cell PRS (OR 1.47 (1.07 to 2.01), p=0.018), and effect sizes were augmented in patients with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) risk haplotypes HLA-DRB1*03:01 and HLA-DRB1*15:01 (DRB1*03/15 -/- (OR 0.99 (0.56 to 1.77), p=0.98; DRB1*03/15 +/- or -/+ (OR 1.64 (1.06 to 2.54), p=0.028; and DRB1*03/15 +/+ (OR 4.47 (1.21 to 16.47), p=0.024). Further, a high compared with a low B cell PRS was associated with low complement levels in DRB1*03/15 +/+ patients (OR 3.92 (1.22 to 12.64), p=0.022). The prevalence of lupus nephritis (LN) was higher in patients with a B cell activation PRS above the third quartile compared with patients below (OR 1.32 (1.00 to 1.74), p=0.048).High genetic burden related to B cell function is associated with dsDNA antibody development and LN. Assessing B cell PRSs may be important in order to determine immunological pathways influencing SLE and to predict clinical phenotype.
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38. |
- Hesselman, Susanne, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Association of maternal attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and preterm birth : a cohort study.
- 2020
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In: British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. - : Wiley. - 1470-0328 .- 1471-0528. ; 127:12, s. 1480-1487
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 3-7% of women of childbearing age. Whether ADHD is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth is unclear.DESIGN: National register-based cohort study.SETTING: Sweden.POPULATION: Nulliparous women giving birth to singleton infants 2007-2014 (n = 377 381).METHODS: Women were considered to have ADHD if they had been dispensed at least one prescription for ADHD medication, i.e. a central nervous system stimulant or non-stimulant drugs for ADHD, prior to, during or after pregnancy (2005-2014). Women with ADHD were compared with women without ADHD in regard to prevalence, severity and mode of onset of preterm birth. Logistic regression models were used, estimating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Adjustments were made for maternal age and country of birth (model 1), and in addition for body mass index (BMI), education, alcohol or substance use disorders, and pre-gestational medical and psychiatric co-morbidity (model 2).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preterm birth (<37 weeks).RESULTS: During the study period, 6327 (1.7%) women gave birth and had ADHD according to our definition. These women had a higher rate of preterm birth compared with women without ADHD (7.3 versus 5.8%, aOR model 2: 1.17; 95% CI 1.05-1.30). ADHD was particularly associated with very (<32 weeks) preterm births, and associations were seen with both spontaneous and medically indicated onsets.CONCLUSIONS: Women with ADHD (i.e. who had been dispensed ADHD medication at any time in 2005-2014) had an increased risk of preterm birth.TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Women with ADHD have a higher risk of preterm birth but most of it is due to modifiable risk factors.
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40. |
- Håkansson Eklund, Jakob, 1971-, et al.
(author)
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Same same or different? A review of reviews of person-centred and patient-centred care.
- 2019
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In: Patient Education and Counseling. - : Elsevier BV. - 0738-3991 .- 1873-5134. ; :1, s. 3-11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveTo provide a synthesis of already synthesized literature on person-centered care and patient-centered care in order to identify similarities and differences between the two concepts.MethodsA synthesis of reviews was conducted to locate synthesized literature published between January 2000 and March 2017. A total of 21 articles deemed relevant to this overview were synthesized using a thematic analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in nine themes present in person-centered as well as in patient-centered care: (1) empathy, (2), respect (3), engagement, (4), relationship, (5) communication, (6) shared decision-making, (7) holistic focus, (8), individualized focus, and (9) coordinated care. The analysis also revealed that the goal of person-centered care is a meaningful life while the goal of patient-centered care is a functional life.ConclusionsWhile there are a number of similarities between the two concepts, the goals for person-centered and patient-centered care differ. The similarities are at the surface and there are important differences when the concepts are regarded in light of their different goals.Practice implicationsClarification of the concepts may assist practitioners to develop the relevant aspects of care. Person-centered care broadens and extends the perspective of patient-centered care by considering the whole life of the patient.
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41. |
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42. |
- Kim, T., et al.
(author)
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Simultaneous polling mechanism with uplink power control for low power sensor nodes
- 2013
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In: 2013 IEEE 77th Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC Spring). - : IEEE. - 9781467363372 ; , s. 6692755-
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Collecting sensory data at access point (AP) from large number of sensor nodes with low latency is a critical issue. In Wi-Fi, prior to uplink data delivery, AP typically needs to poll large number of sensor nodes sequentially and allocate channel resources to individual node resulting in large latency. An efficient method to reduce the latency and power consumption in wireless sensor networks is to parallelize the polling operation so that multiple nodes can concurrently respond to the poll request of an AP by sending orthogonal sequences with uplink power control. In this paper, we present a conceptually simple uplink power control scheme for the parallel polling operation between AP and low power sensor nodes. We formulate the uplink power control problem as a sequence design problem and show that uplink channel state information (CSI) required to achieve a given target receive SNR can be significantly reduced by carefully designing sequences. We further develop a low complexity instantaneous (fast) power control scheme in order to reduce the number of computations required by the low power sensor node. We also analyze and compare the detection performance of the instantaneous (fast) and average (slow) power control schemes in terms of diversity gain.
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43. |
- Klaile, E, et al.
(author)
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The CEACAM1 N-terminal Ig domain mediates cis- and trans-binding and is essential for allosteric rearrangements of CEACAM1 microclusters
- 2009
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In: The Journal of cell biology. - : Rockefeller University Press. - 1540-8140 .- 0021-9525. ; 187:4, s. 553-567
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) sense the extracellular microenvironment and transmit signals to the intracellular compartment. In this investigation, we addressed the mechanism of signal generation by ectodomains of single-pass transmembrane homophilic CAMs. We analyzed the structure and homophilic interactions of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)–related CAM 1 (CEACAM1), which regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility, morphogenesis, and microbial responses. Soluble and membrane-attached CEACAM1 ectodomains were investigated by surface plasmon resonance–based biosensor analysis, molecular electron tomography, and chemical cross-linking. The CEACAM1 ectodomain, which is composed of four glycosylated immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domains, is highly flexible and participates in both antiparallel (trans) and parallel (cis) homophilic binding. Membrane-attached CEACAM1 ectodomains form microclusters in which all four Ig domains participate. Trans-binding between the N-terminal Ig domains increases formation of CEACAM1 cis-dimers and changes CEACAM1 interactions within the microclusters. These data suggest that CEACAM1 transmembrane signaling is initiated by adhesion-regulated changes of cis-interactions that are transmitted to the inner phase of the plasma membrane.
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44. |
- Kvillemo, Pia, et al.
(author)
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Effects of an automated digital brief prevention intervention targeting adolescents and young adults with risky alcohol and other substance use : study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
- 2020
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 10:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Adolescence and young adulthood is a period in life when individuals may be especially vulnerable to harmful substance use. Several critical developmental processes are occurring in the brain, and substance use poses both short-term and long-term risks with regard to mental health and social development. From a public health perspective, it is important to prevent or delay substance use to reduce individual risk and societal costs. Given the scarcity of effective interventions targeting substance use among adolescents and young adults, cost-effective and easily disseminated interventions are warranted. The current study will test the effectiveness of a fully automated digital brief intervention aimed at reducing alcohol and other substance use in adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 25 years. Methods and analysis A two-arm, double-blind, randomised controlled trial design is applied to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Baseline assessment, as well as 3-month and 6-month follow-up, will be carried out. The aim is to include 800 participants with risky substance use based on the screening tool CRAFFT (Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble). Recruitment, informed consent, randomisation, intervention and follow-up will be implemented online. The primary outcome is reduction in alcohol use, measured by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test total score. Secondary outcomes concern binge drinking, frequency of alcohol consumption, amount of alcohol consumed a typical day when alcohol is consumed, average daily drinks per typical week, other substance use, mental health, sexual risk behaviours and perceived peer pressure. Moreover, the study involves analyses of potential moderators including perfectionism, openness to parents, help-seeking and background variables. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (no. 2019-03249). The trial is expected to expand the knowledge on digital preventive interventions for substance using adolescents and young adults. Results will be disseminated in research journals, at conferences and via the media.
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45. |
- Larsson, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Throughput Analysis of ARQ Schemes in Gaussian Block Fading Channels
- 2014
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In: IEEE Transactions on Communications. - 0090-6778 .- 1558-0857. ; 62:7, s. 2569-2588
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper examines throughput performance, and its optimization, for lossless and truncated automatic repeat request (ARQ) schemes in Gaussian block fading channels. Specifically, ARQ, repetition redundancy, and in part also incremental redundancy-hybrid ARQ, are considered with various diversity schemes. We propose a parameterization-based method that allows (semi-) closed-form expressions, linking optimized throughput, optimal rate, and mean SNR, to be derived for any ARQ and repetition redundancy-HARQ method even when a non-parameterized closed-form does not exist. We derive numerous throughput and optimal throughput expressions for various ARQ schemes and diversity scenarios, potentially useful for benchmarking purposes or as design guidelines.
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46. |
- Lindberg, K., et al.
(author)
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Three-Dimensional Volumetric Segmentation of Pituitary Tumors: Assessment of Inter-rater Agreement and Comparison with Conventional Geometric Equations
- 2018
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In: Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B-Skull Base. - : Georg Thieme Verlag KG. - 2193-6331 .- 2193-634X. ; 79:5, s. 475-481
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The assessment of pituitary tumor (PT) volume is important in the treatment and follow-up of patients with PT. Previously, PT volume estimation has been performed by conventional geometric equations (CGE) such as abc/2 (simplified ellipsoid volume equation) and 4 pi r(3)/3 (sphere), both presuming a symmetric tumor shape, which occurs uncommonly in patients with PT. In contrast, three-dimensional (3D) voxel-based software segmentation takes the irregular and asymmetric shapes that PTs often possess into account and might be a more accurate method for PT volume segmentation. The purpose of this study is twofold. (1) To compare 3D segmentation with CGE for PT volume estimation. (2) To assess inter-rater reliability in 3D segmentation of PTs. Methods Nineteen high-resolution (1mm slice thickness) T1-weighted MRI examinations of patients with PT were independently analyzed and manually segmented, using the software ITK-SNAP, by two certified neuroradiologists. Concurrently, the volumes of the PTs were estimated with abc/2 and 4 pi r(3)/3 by a clinician, and the results were compared with the corresponding segmented volumes. Results There was a significant decrease in PT volume attained from the segmentations compared with the calculations made with abc/2 (p < 0.001, mean volume 18% higher than segmentation) and 4 pi r(3)/3 (p < 0.001, mean volume 28% higher than segmentation). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the two sets of segmented PTs was 0.99. Conclusion CGE (abc/2 and 4 pi r(3)/3) significantly overestimates PT volume compared with 3D volumetric segmentation. The inter-rater agreement on manual 3D volumetric software segmentation is excellent.
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47. |
- Linge, Henriette, et al.
(author)
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Stable isotope records for the last 10 000 years from Okshola cave (Fauske, northern Norway) and regional comparisons
- 2009
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In: Climate of the Past. - 1814-9324. ; 5:4, s. 667-682
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The sensitivity of terrestrial environments to past changes in heat transport is expected to be manifested in Holocene climate proxy records on millennial to seasonal timescales. Stalagmite formation in the Okshola cave near Fauske (northern Norway) began at about 10.4 ka, soon after the valley was deglaciated. Past monitoring of the cave and surface has revealed stable modern conditions with uniform drip rates, relative humidity and temperature. Stable isotope records from two stalagmites provide time-series spanning from c. 10 380 yr to AD 1997; a banded, multi-coloured stalagmite (Oks82) was formed between 10 380 yr and 5050 yr, whereas a pristine, white stalagmite (FM3) covers the period from ~7500 yr to the present. The stable oxygen isotope (δ18Oc), stable carbon isotope (δ13Cc), and growth rate records are interpreted as showing i) a negative correlation between cave/surface temperature and δ18Oc, ii) a positive correlation between wetness and δ13Cc, and iii) a positive correlation between temperature and growth rate. Following this, the data from Okshola show that the Holocene was characterised by high-variability climate in the early part, low-variability climate in the middle part, and high-variability climate and shifts between two distinct modes in the late part.
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48. |
- Marmstål Hammar, Lena, et al.
(author)
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The care of and communication with older people from the perspective of student nurses. A mixed method study.
- 2017
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In: Nurse Education Today. - : Elsevier BV. - 0260-6917 .- 1532-2793. ; 52, s. 1-6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Undergraduate nurse education needs to prepare student nurses to meet the demands and to have the necessary communication skills for caring for an increasing older population. The challenges involve how best to support and empower student nurses to learn the communication skills needed to care for older people.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate student nurses' views on the care of and communication with older people.DESIGN: A descriptive study with a mixed-method approach was conducted.METHODS: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from a questionnaire completed by third-year Swedish student nurses in 2015.RESULTS: The student nurses reported positive attitudes to the care of and communication with older people. The findings focus on the central aspects related to relationship building, techniques for communication and external prerequisites.CONCLUSIONS: Despite positive attitudes, student nurses had a limited view of communication with older people. Educators need to increase student nurses' capacity to communicate effectively with older people. Educational interventions to improve and evaluate the communication competency of nurses and student nurses are needed.
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49. |
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50. |
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