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• CT hyper-perfusion had low sensitivity but high specificity for clinical or electrographic seizures/lateralized rhythmic & periodic patterns. • Abnormal CTP demonstrated high sensitivity for clinical seizures and electrographic seizures/lateralized rhythmic and periodic patterns. • Although in small numbers, no patients with generalized rhythmic delta activity or generalized periodic discharges had CTP hyper-perfusion. CT hyper-perfusion has been reported in non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), while its occurrence and relevance after single seizures or with rhythmic and periodic patterns (RPPs) that lie along the ictal-interictal continuum (IIC), remain unclear. The goal of the study is to assess the role of CT perfusion (CTP) in diagnosing patients with clinical seizures, subclinical seizures, or RPPs that lie along the IIC, to help in the clinical assessment of these entities. We retrospectively reviewed inpatients who underwent a CTP and an EEG within 6 h of each other. CTP and EEGs were blindly reviewed independent of electronic medical records. Out of 103 patients, 15 patients (15 %) demonstrated hyper-perfusion, 40 patients (39 %) had hypo-perfusion, while 48 patients (47 %) had normal CTP. Patients with focal CTP hyperperfusion were more likely to have clinical seizures, electrographic seizures, and/or lateralized rhythmic periodic patterns (RPPs) compared to those without CTP hyperperfusion. Focal CTP hyper-perfusion had 34 % sensitivity and 96 % specificity for identifying patients with clinical seizures, and a 40 % sensitivity and 92 % specificity for identifying patients with electrographic seizures or lateralized RPP. Although the numbers were small, none of the patients with generalized periodic discharges or generalized rhythmic delta activity had CTP hyper-perfusion. Focal CTP hyper-perfusion has low sensitivity but high specificity for identifying patients with seizures and lateralized RPPs, and may be considered in the clinical assessment of patients where the clinical information are unclear or insufficient. The presence of CTP hyper-perfusion should alert the physician to the possibility of an ictal related etiology accounting for the patient's symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reported a case of MELAS syndrome presenting as the initial imaging characteristics of Fahr's syndrome with "near" sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and lateralized periodic discharges (LPD). The patient, a young boy, experienced loss of consciousness 2 days prior, which was followed by two limb and facial convulsions. He was later found in cardiac arrest during hospitalization, but regained consciousness gradually after receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tracheal intubation. The patient exhibited short stature, intellectual disability, poor sports abilities, and academic performance since childhood, but had no family history. Emergency head computed tomography (CT) revealed high density calcification in bilateral caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus, thalamus, and dentate nucleus with evidence of an acute process. The patient was transferred to the neurology department where he continued to recover consciousness, though he experienced dysarthria, left limb hemiplegia, and hemiparesthesia. Changes in head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were noted at admission, 1 month later, and 6 months later. LPD were observed in his video electroencephalogram. The CT urography indicated a narrow left ureteropelvic junction with left hydronephrosis, which was suggestive of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Ultimately, a diagnosis of near-SUDEP was suspected in this patient, indicating a rare case of MELAS syndrome with near-SUDEP and LPD. The gene tests results revealed the presence of the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation, leading to the final diagnosis of MELAS syndrome. This case expands the clinical disease spectrum of the MELAS syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2023, the first laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) operation was successfully conducted in Bangladesh. This case study reported the surgical technique and outcomes of Bangladesh's first LPD procedure. The patient was a 55-year-old male patient with the diagnosis of periampullary carcinoma. He underwent a classical LPD lasting 360 ​min with a blood loss of 170 ​ml. Postoperatively, he experienced no major complications such as pancreatic fistula or bile leakage but developed atelectasis, which was managed effectively. His postoperative pain, assessed on a scale from 0 to 5, significantly reduced from day 3 (score 3) to day 7 (score 1). Histological examination confirmed adenocarcinoma at the ampullary site, with an R0 resection margin achieved. Sixteen lymph nodes were retrieved, none of which showed involvement. His hospital stay was 10 days, and he returned to work 14 days post-discharge. This operation marks a significant milestone in advancing surgical practices in Bangladesh. The successful completion of the first LPD in Bangladesh demonstrated the procedure's feasibility, safety, and potential benefits in a similar resource-limited setting.

A low-protein diet (LPD) has become an important way to delay the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to delay the need for dialysis. A review of the literature reveals the low-protein diet's influence on the course of chronic kidney disease. An artificial low-protein food, wheat starch, for example, can not only increase the high-quality protein intake ratio, but can ensure adequate energy intake on a low-protein diet while meeting the nutritional needs of the body, effectively reducing the burden on the damaged kidneys. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference for the clinical implementation of diet and nutrition therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalisasi menghapus batas-batas wilayah dan menciptakan bisnis yang terbuka. Oleh karena itu Lembaga Perkreditan Desa (LPD) di Bali harus cermat dalam membangun daya saing. LPD sebagai lembaga keuangan mikro pedesaan dan terbatas melayani masyarakat desa pakraman. Hal ini merupakan keunikan yang dimiliki sekaligus tantangan bagi LPD dalam menyusun strategi operasi untuk menjaga eksistensinya. LPD sebagai salah satu bentuk lembaga usaha tentu mengusung semangat keberlanjutan atau umum dikenal dengan istilah going concern. Transformasi digital LPD bukan hanya tentang efisiensi operasional, tetapi juga menciptakan dasar yang kokoh untuk pertumbuhan dan keberlanjutan LPD di era digital saat ini. Keberlanjutan LPD bukan hanya tentang kelangsungan hidup lembaga itu sendiri, tetapi juga tentang memberikan kontribusi positif yang berkelanjutan terhadap perkembangan ekonomi dan kesejahteraan masyarakat desa. Pengabdian kepada LPD ini merupakan bentuk dari komitmen Program Studi Sarjana Terapan Akuntansi Perpajakan untuk mendukung konsep green sustainability serta green accounting sebagai salah satu realisasi dari center of technology Politeknik Negeri Bali yakni green tourism. Berbekal dengan berbagai kompetensi sumber daya manusia yang memadai serta semangat ngayah dari seluruh civitas akademika program studi diharapkan pengabdian masyarakat kepada LPD dapat terlaksana dengan baik dan dirasakan manfaatnya. Hasil dari kegiatan pendampingan transformasi digital LPD Desa Adat Sesandan berupa aplikasi yang terintegrasi kesemua aspek bisnis LPD Desa Adat Sesandan dan dapat menampilkan informasi secara realtime dan dapat diakses dari mana saja.

Passive solar house technology has been spread for many farmers and herdsmen to improve the indoor thermal environment in Tibetan. However, due to lackage of fuels and arid cold in winter, dry cow dung and coal are popularly fired in stove in passive solar houses, which leads to indoor air pollution and poor indoor comfort. For improving indoor thermal comfort of Tibetan, an active solar heating system which consists of 7 sets of tandem solar water heaters with 30 glass evacuated solar tubes, low temperature floor heating and circulation controller was developed and tested for a common house without insulation in Gan-nan Tibetan area. Its indoor environment was compared and evaluated by PMV-PPD and LPD method to that of the same passive solar house heated by coal stove. On sunny, cloudy and snow days, the active solar heating system provided 113.1, 46.4 and 26.3 kWh of heat to room. The indoor humidity and wind speed of the experimental building were better. The indoor temperatures were 17.2-20.7, 14.9-20.5 and 11.0-14.8°C, while the compared building were 8.9-14.8, 10.1-12.1 and 7.2-10.5°C. The maximum temperature difference between head and ankle were 1.7, 1.6 and 0.9℃, and the compared building were 4, 4 and 4.7℃. The PMV-PPD on sunny day were class I and II; on cloudy day were class I, II and III; on snow day was class III. On sunny and cloudy days, the LPD were class I, on snow day was class I, II and III. The PMV-PPD and LPD for typical days of the compared building were class III. During the 179 days, the mean indoor temperature exceeded 14 ℃ for 81 days, the solar active heating system provided 12471 kWh of heat to room. The CO2 emission reduction was 12905 kg. The system's dynamic payback period were 2.57 years.

Abstract Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) are increasingly used to protect livestock from predators, but their effects on the distribution and behaviour of wild predators are mostly unknown. A key question is whether LGDs exclude predators from grazing land, or if predators continue to use areas with LGDs but modify their behaviour in ways that reduce impacts on livestock. We studied effects of LGDs (Maremma sheepdogs) on distribution and behaviour of red foxes Vulpes vulpes in north‐eastern Victoria, Australia. We mapped the activity of LGDs across the study areas using GPS tracking and measured fox activity using remote cameras. We also measured risk‐sensitive foraging in foxes to test if they reduced feeding time at sites regularly used by LGDs. Foxes occurred throughout areas occupied by LGDs, but their probability of detection was negatively related to the probability of LGD presence. Foxes extracted fewer food items from experimental food stations in proportion to the intensity of local activity of LGDs. This indicates that, though foxes overlapped with LGDs, they responded to risk of encountering LGDs by allocating less time to foraging. While LGDs do not necessarily exclude wild predators from areas used for livestock production, they can have strong effects on predator behaviour. Reduction in time allocated to foraging in areas regularly used by LGDs could lead to suppression of hunting behaviour and therefore a reduction in attacks on livestock. The flexible response of predators to LGDs should facilitate coexistence of wild predators with livestock farming, by allowing predators to continue to use areas occupied by livestock while still preventing attacks on those livestock. Our results therefore strengthen the case for use of LGDs in the conservation of predators threatened by conflict with farming. Suppression of hunting behaviour should also mean that prey species experience reduced rates of predation on farmland with LGDs. This effect could be valuable for conservation of threatened species of prey.

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengevaluasi pengaruh partisipasi anggaran secara diagnostik dan interaktif terhadap kinerja manajerial, yang dimediasi oleh komitmen organisasi. Sebuah survei dilakukan dengan menggunakan Lembaga Perkreditan Desa (LPD) sebagai populasi, dan sampel terdiri dari 40 responden. Pemodelan persamaan struktural digunakan untuk menguji hipotesis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa partisipasi anggaran secara diagnostik dan/atau interaktif mempengaruhi komitmen organisasi, serta tidak langsung mempengaruhi kinerja manajerial. Variabel komitmen organisasi memiliki efek mediasi total pada hubungan antara partisipasi anggaran dengan kinerja manajerial. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa bentuk partisipasi anggaran mempengaruhi kinerja manajerial hanya ketika manajer berkomitmen pada organisasi. Hasil ini memperkaya literatur karena mengungkapkan bahwa partisipasi anggaran secara interaktif merupakan variabel pendahuluan dari komitmen organisasi, yang mengarah pada perilaku di tempat kerja yang dapat berkontribusi pada peningkatan kinerja manajerial.

In this article, a superposition-based covert channel and its demodulator were proposed and examined. As a covert waveform, an 8FSK modulation was selected. The impact of the channel estimation error and resulting imperfect SIC operation (successive interference cancelation) on the covert information demodulation process was considered. Especially for this imperfection, an NN-based demodulator was proposed. The superiority of this solution over the traditional 8FSK correlator-based receiver was examined for various cases, including the hard- and soft-decision detectors. It was proven that, although NN does not provide BER values equal to zero, even for the perfect SIC, it generally overcomes the traditional correlator-based 8FSK demodulator. Simulation results showed that the NN-base demodulator, in the case of additional covert channel coding, provides error-free demodulation, even for four-times greater channel gain error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiency of credit distribution is used to measure the extent to which LPD's ability to manage human resources in order to increase profit through credit management. The efficiency or not of credit distribution is calculated using indicators including the credit distribution system, credit disbursement system and the credit monitoring system that has been disbursed. Internal control is designed to provide reasonable assurance about the state of the financial statements, compliance with applicable regulations, effective and efficient operations. Based on the explanation above, the writer's curiosity arises to research further on "The Influence of Internal Control Structure on Credit Distribution Efficiency". Based on data obtained from the Trustees of the Badung Regency Village Credit Institution (PLPDK), the LPDs that are still operating in Abiansemal District are 34 LPDs where the head and LPD supervisory bodies are respondents. The data analysis method in this study uses multiple regression analysis to obtain a comprehensive picture of the effect of the variables of transparency, accountability, responsibility, independence, and fairness on financial performance using the SPSS for windows program. The results showed that internal control (control environment, control activities, risk assessment, information and communication, and monitoring) had a positive and significant effect on the efficiency of credit distribution. When the LPD's internal control is good and adequate, the efficiency of credit distribution is also fulfilled, in the sense that the risk of bad loans can be minimized.

In this work, liquid-phase deposition (LPD) of silicon dioxide (SiO2) thin films on black silicon (b-Si) is investigated. The SiO2 films are deposited for 20–140 min. The surface morphological results reveal that the thickness of SiO2 film increases from 10.2 to 35.2 nm with the increased deposition time. The films exhibit higher root mean square (RMS) of surface roughness with the prolonged deposition. Due to the refractive index grading effect by the b-Si nanowires (NWs), the b-Si before the LPD process demonstrates a weighted average reflection (WAR) of 6.4%. After the LPD process, the WAR for 20 min deposition increases to 8.5% within the 300–1100 nm wavelength range because of interfacial reflection on the front surface. With thicker SiO2 films, the WAR drops to 7.5%, 7.3%, and 6.6% for 60, 100, and 140 min of deposition time, respectively. Within the spectral region under investigation, a corresponding improvement in broadband light absorption is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The banking sector has a very vital role in the parent national goals that are intended to improve and equalize people's standard of living and support the running of economic wheels, payment transaction operators, and monetary policy transmission tools. The purpose of this study is to obtain empirical evidence on the influence of credit risk as measured by NPL, market risk measured by NIM against financial performance measured by ROA and ROE through liquidity measured by cash ratio. Quantitative methods were used in this study. The method of determining samples using saturated sampling or census so that 112 LPD can be sampled with 336 observations. The results showed that only hypothesis 5 and hypothesis 6 were accepted. Ten other hypotheses were rejected. Simultaneous leverage indicates that 62% of financial performance (ROA) is affected by credit risk, market risk and liquidity. The remaining 38% is affected by other variables not listed on the model. While 25% of financial performance (ROE) is affected by credit risk, market risk and liquidity. The remaining 75% is affected by other variables not listed on the model. Credit risk (NPL), market risk (NIM) and liquidity (Cash Ratio) have a greater direct or indirect influence on financial performance variables as measured by ROA than ROE. In other words, ROA variables are more suitable to be used to test the influence on banking sector companies, especially in this case LPD.

Due to the rapid development of modern communication technology and the substantial improvement of the processing capacity of communication equipment, it has become a challenging and meaningful research direction to realize the covert transmission of information by ensuring the low probability of detection (LPD) performance of the communication signals. The disadvantage of traditional fixed-parameter signal in LPD gradually appears. The paper proposes a time-varying chaotic multitone communication method to accomplish the LPD for the eavesdroppers. The method gets rid of the conventional LPD communication method whose performance improvement is exchanged at the expense of its reliability loss or sacrificing more resources. Based on the original chaotic multitone (CMT) communication method, the time-varying parameter is introduced to improve the randomness of the waveform and thus reduce the detection probability of eavesdroppers to the single tones in the multitone group (MTG). Meanwhile, to improve spectrum efficiency and reduce system complexity, the corresponding communication system model is designed based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. After given the corresponding detection and demodulation scheme based on the diversity and combination, the influence of time-varying parameters on the reliability for the cooperative receiver is analyzed. The LPD contribution of this method is evaluated by analyzing the detection probability of the eavesdropper. The experimental results show that the proposed method not only maintains the original reliability but also reduces the detection probability of eavesdroppers under the constant false alarm probability detection scheme.

Purpose Tumor RNA vaccines can activate dendritic cells to generate systemic anti-tumor immune response. However, due to easily degraded of RNA, direct RNA vaccine is less effective. In this study, we optimized the method for preparing PEGylated liposom-polycationic DNA complex (LPD) nanoliposomes, increased encapsulate amount of total RNA derived from CT-26 colorectal cancer cells. Tumor RNA LPD nanoliposomes vaccines improved anti-tumor immune response ability of tumor RNA and can effectively promote anti-tumor therapeutic effect of oxaliplatin. Methods Total tumor-derived RNA was extracted from colorectal cancer cells (CT-26 cells), and loaded to our optimized the LPD complex, resulting in the LPD nanoliposomes. We evaluated the characteristics (size, zeta potential, and stability), cytotoxicity, transfection ability, and tumor-growth inhibitory efficacy of LPD nanoliposomes. Results The improved LPD nanoliposomes exhibited a spherical shape, RNA loading efficiency of 9.07%, the average size of 120.37 ± 2.949 nm and zeta potential was 3.34 ± 0.056 mV. Also, the improved LPD nanoliposomes showed high stability at 4 °C, with a low toxicity and high cell transfection efficacy toward CT-26 colorectal cancer cells. Notably, the improved LPD nanoliposomes showed tumor growth inhibition by activating anti-tumor immune response in CT-26 colorectal cancer bearing mice, with mini side effects toward the normal organs of mice. Furthermore, the effect of the improved LPD nanoliposomes in combination with oxaliplatin can be better than that of oxaliplatin alone. Conclusion The improved LPD nanoliposomes may serve as an effective vaccine to induce antitumor immunity, presenting a new treatment option for colorectal cancer.

Objective: To investigate the association between lateralized periodic discharge (LPD) amplitude and seizure risk on an individual level in patients with structural brain abnormality. Methods: Retrospective case–control study of patients with structural brain abnormality undergoing continuous EEG monitoring was performed. We included 10 patients with LPDs and seizures as cases and 10 controls, patients with LPDs without seizure. Analysis was performed with a mixed-effects model with primary outcome measure of number of seizures per 8-h EEG epoch with fixed effects being variables of interest and random effect being subject ID. Results: Epochs with seizures showed a higher absolute amplitude (corrected p = 0.04) and a higher relative amplitude (corrected p = 0.04) of LPDs. Additionally, the number of seizures was higher in epochs that had LPDs with plus features (uncorrected p = 0.002) and LPDs with higher relative amplitude (uncorrected p = 0.005). Conclusion: Higher LPD amplitude is associated with increased risk of seizures on an individual patient level. A decreasing amplitude is suggestive of decreasing seizure risk, and may in fact be suggestive of decreasing ictal character of LPDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local credit institutions (LPD) are non-bank financial institutions manager by local governments and are autonomous and oriented to strengthen the economic and socio-cultural life of indigenous peoples in Bali. This study aims to analyze what factors influence the customer's decision to save in the LPD of residential and tourism areas and analyze what are the dominant factors that influence the customer's decision to save in the LPD of residential areas and tourism. The data used using primary data as the main data by distributing questionnaires in each LPD as many as 50 respondents. The data obtained were processed using SPSS and SEM-PLS analysis techniques. The results showed that factors such as the environment of the customer's residence significantly influence the interest in saving in the LPD of residential areas and security guarantees affect the interest in saving customers in the LPD of the tourism area.

Abstract Background Peritoneal leiomyomatosis disseminate (LPD) is a rare disease characterized by widespread dissemination of leiomyomas nodules throughout the peritoneal and omental surfaces. Reports of pregnancy with LPD are even rarer. Therefore, there is no clear consensus on the treatment of LPD on pregnancy, and the pathogenesis is still unclear. Case presentation We reported a case of LPD patient who developed during pregnancy. The patient underwent a cesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation while removing all visible tumors, and no LPD lesions were seen in the subsequent cesarean section at full term. NGS of LPD lesions detected 4 mutations with focal high-level amplifications of CDK4 (cyclin-dependent kinases 4), NBN ( Nibrin ), DAXX ( death domain associated protein ), and MYC (myelocytomatosis oncogene). Immunohistochemistry staining analysis among benign leiomyoma, LPD, and leiomyosarcoma verified that LPD was an unusual intermediate between benign and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors. Besides, LPD is a hormonal-dependent leiomyoma. After a detailed literature search, we summarized the detailed clinical features and follow-up information of patients with LPD during pregnancy. Conclusions This is the first reported LPD case of successful term pregnancy without recurrence, following resection of all visible lesions in a prior pregnancy. LPD is an unusual intermediate between benign and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors.

BackgroundT-cell lymphoproliferative disease (T-LPD), characterized by primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and clonal proliferation of T cells, occurs both in systemic and non-lymphatic organs. However, isolated indolent EBV-positive T-LPD involving the central nervous system has not been reported.Case PresentationA 48-year-old male who complained of headache, blurred vision, and weakness of the left lower limb for 1 month was hospitalized in our department. Neither neurological deficit nor palpable lymphadenopathy had been found. Bone marrow and laboratory tests had shown no abnormality as well. Enhanced MRI demonstrated enhanced cotton-like lesions up to 20 mm in diameter located in the right frontal, temporal, parietal and left parietal, occipital lobes with perifocal edema. Neuronavigation-assisted mini-craniotomy was performed to achieve total excision of the right temporal superficial lesion and identify the diagnosis. Pathological and EBV analysis described the lesion as indolent EBV-positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Then, a therapeutic regimen including whole-brain irradiation, chemotherapy, prednisolone, and aciclovir was given. Serial radiological imaging showed no signal of recurrence at 5 months' follow-up.ConclusionPrimary indolent T-LPD in the central nervous system is quite rare, and it needs to be distinguished from aggressive cerebral T-cell lymphoma, metastatic tumors, and other CNS lesions.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between lateralized periodic discharge (LPD) amplitude and seizure risk on an individual level in patients with structural brain abnormality.MethodsRetrospective case–control study of patients with structural brain abnormality undergoing continuous EEG monitoring was performed. We included 10 patients with LPDs and seizures as cases and 10 controls, patients with LPDs without seizure. Analysis was performed with a mixed-effects model with primary outcome measure of number of seizures per 8-h EEG epoch with fixed effects being variables of interest and random effect being subject ID.ResultsEpochs with seizures showed a higher absolute amplitude (corrected p = 0.04) and a higher relative amplitude (corrected p = 0.04) of LPDs. Additionally, the number of seizures was higher in epochs that had LPDs with plus features (uncorrected p = 0.002) and LPDs with higher relative amplitude (uncorrected p = 0.005).ConclusionHigher LPD amplitude is associated with increased risk of seizures on an individual patient level. A decreasing amplitude is suggestive of decreasing seizure risk, and may in fact be suggestive of decreasing ictal character of LPDs.

This study reported a case of MELAS syndrome presenting as the initial imaging characteristics of Fahr's syndrome with "near" sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and lateralized periodic discharges (LPD). The patient, a young boy, experienced loss of consciousness 2 days prior, which was followed by two limb and facial convulsions. He was later found in cardiac arrest during hospitalization, but regained consciousness gradually after receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tracheal intubation. The patient exhibited short stature, intellectual disability, poor sports abilities, and academic performance since childhood, but had no family history. Emergency head computed tomography (CT) revealed high density calcification in bilateral caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus, thalamus, and dentate nucleus with evidence of an acute process. The patient was transferred to the neurology department where he continued to recover consciousness, though he experienced dysarthria, left limb hemiplegia, and hemiparesthesia. Changes in head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were noted at admission, 1 month later, and 6 months later. LPD were observed in his video electroencephalogram. The CT urography indicated a narrow left ureteropelvic junction with left hydronephrosis, which was suggestive of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Ultimately, a diagnosis of near-SUDEP was suspected in this patient, indicating a rare case of MELAS syndrome with near-SUDEP and LPD. The gene tests results revealed the presence of the mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation, leading to the final diagnosis of MELAS syndrome. This case expands the clinical disease spectrum of the MELAS syndrome., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zheng, Wu, Zhang, Huang, Yang, Liu, Wang and Du.)

In this article, a superposition-based covert channel and its demodulator were proposed and examined. As a covert waveform, an 8FSK modulation was selected. The impact of the channel estimation error and resulting imperfect SIC operation (successive interference cancelation) on the covert information demodulation process was considered. Especially for this imperfection, an NN-based demodulator was proposed. The superiority of this solution over the traditional 8FSK correlator-based receiver was examined for various cases, including the hard- and soft-decision detectors. It was proven that, although NN does not provide BER values equal to zero, even for the perfect SIC, it generally overcomes the traditional correlator-based 8FSK demodulator. Simulation results showed that the NN-base demodulator, in the case of additional covert channel coding, provides error-free demodulation, even for four-times greater channel gain error.

A frequency hopping orthogonal frequency division multiple access (FH-OFDMA) can provide low probability of detection (LPD) and anti-jamming capabilities to users against adversary detectors. To obtain an extreme LPD capability that cannot be provided by the basic symbol-by-symbol (SBS)-based FH pattern, we proposed two FH patterns, namely chaotic standard map (CSM) and cat map for FH-OFDMA systems. In our previous work, through analysis of complexity to regenerate the transmitted symbol sequence, at the point of adversary detectors, we found that the CSM had a lower probability of intercept than the cat map and SBS. It is possible when a detector already knows symbol and frame structures, and the detector has been synchronized to the FH-OFDMA system. Unlike the previous work, here, we analyze whether the CSM provides greater LPD capability than the cat map and SBS by detection probability using spectrum sensing technique. We analyze the detection probability of the CSM and provide detection probabilities of the cat map and SBS compared to the CSM. Based on our analysis of the detection probability and numerical results, it is evident that the CSM provides greater LPD capability than both the cat map and SBS-based FH-OFDMA systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the acute and long-term outcomes for patients with lateralized rhythmic delta activity (LRDA) compared to patients with lateralized periodic discharges (LPDs). Methods: A single-center retrospective study examining consecutive patients older than 10 years who had LRDA, LPDs, or both on continuous electroencephalographic (cEEG) between 12/01/2015 and 12/31/2017. Outcomes included inpatient mortality, functional outcome at follow-up, inpatient electrographic seizures, and the presence of new epilepsy at follow-up. Patients were classified into 4 groups: LRDA-only (without LPDs), LPDs-only (without LRDA), LRDA/LPDs, and control (without LRDA or LPDs). Results: Twenty-nine patients (2.7%) were in the LRDA-only group, 76 (7%) patients were in the LPDs-only group, and 25 (2.3%) patients had both patterns (LRDA/LPDs group). 68 patients were identified as a control group. Only one patient (3%) in the LRDA-only group died during their hospitalization, compared to 21 patients (28%) in the LPDs-only group, 2 (8%) LRDA/LPDs group and 7 (10%) in the control group (p 0.003). Patients in the LPDs-only group had three times higher odds of adjusted mortality compared to the control group (p 0.05), while there was no difference in the mortality odds between the LRDA-only and control groups. Patients with LRDA-only had higher odds of good functional outcome at clinic follow-up (p 0.04). When compared to control, patients with both IIC patterns (LRDA/LPDs group) had 24.3 higher odds of acute electrographic seizures (p < 0.001), followed by patients in LPDs-only (OR 12.6, p < 0.001) and then LRDA-only (OR 9.4, p = 0.002). The odds of developing epilepsy following discharge were not increased in patients with either LRDA or LPDs (p = 0.9). Conclusions: Patients with LRDA had superior functional outcome compared to a higher mortality for patients with LPDs. Patients with both patterns had the highest odds of acute seizures, followed by those with only LPDs and then patients with only LRDA. There was no difference in the odds of developing new epilepsy compared to control with any IIC pattern. We hypothesize different underlying mechanisms of injury leading to the observed electrographic patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a rare case of an Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) co-existing with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in the mandible of a 54-year-old Japanese man who complained of painful swelling of the left mandibular gingiva over the past three months. The patient had a history of methotrexate (MTX) and bisphosphonates (BPs) use. Intraoral examination revealed a 35 mm large ulcerative lesion with marginal gingival swelling and bone exposure on the left side of the mandible. A biopsy was performed, confirming the diagnosis of EBVMCU with MRONJ. Due to the enlargement of the bone exposure, marginal resection of the mandible was performed under general anesthesia as a treatment for residual MRONJ. At the two-year follow-up, no evidence of recurrence was observed., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ethics Committee, University of Tsukuba Hospital issued approval R04-235. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kanno et al.)

The research aims to understand businessmen’ tax awareness and tax resistance for their business in Lembaga Perkreditan Desa (LPD). The research applies qualitative methode with transcendental phenomenology. The results of the study shows that LPD is supposed to be discharged from the tax duty. LPD has a significant role in preserving the custom and culture of Bali. Besides, some LPD businessmen are aware of their tax duty charged for running the LPD.

Many real-life machine and computer vision applications are focusing on object detection and recognition. In recent years, deep learning-based approaches gained increasing interest due to their high accuracy levels. License Plate (LP) detection and classification have been studied extensively over the last decades. However, more accurate and language-independent approaches are still required. This paper presents a new approach to detect LPs and recognize their country, language, and layout. Furthermore, a new LP dataset for both multi-national and multi-language detection, with either one-line or two-line layouts is presented. The YOLOv2 detector with ResNet feature extraction core was utilized for LP detection, and a new low complexity convolutional neural network architecture was proposed to classify LPs. Results show that the proposed approach achieves an average detection precision of 99.57%, whereas the country, language, and layout classification accuracy is 99.33%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covert communication conceals the existence of the transmission from a watchful adversary. We consider the fundamental limits for covert communications via packet insertion over packet channels whose packet timings are governed by a renewal process of rate $\lambda $. Authorized transmitter Jack sends packets to authorized receiver Steve, and covert transmitter Alice wishes to transmit packets to covert receiver Bob without being detected by watchful adversaries Willie 1 and Willie 2. Willies cannot authenticate the source of the packets or collaborate. Hence, each Willie looks for statistical anomalies in the packet stream from Jack to Steve to attempt detection of unauthorized packet insertion. First, we consider a special case where the packet timings are governed by a Poisson process and we show that Alice can covertly insert $\mathcal {O}(\sqrt {\lambda T})$ packets for Bob in a time interval of length $T$ ; conversely, if Alice inserts $\omega (\sqrt {\lambda T})$ packets, she will be detected by Willie 1 or Willie 2 with high probability. Then, we extend our results to general renewal channels and show that in a stream of $N$ packets transmitted by Jack, Alice can covertly insert $\mathcal {O}(\sqrt {N})$ packets; if she inserts $\omega (\sqrt {N})$ packets, she will be detected by Willie 1 or Willie 2, with high probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peritoneal leiomyomatosis disseminate (LPD) is a rare disease characterized by widespread dissemination of leiomyomas nodules throughout the peritoneal and omental surfaces. Reports of pregnancy with LPD are even rarer. Therefore, there is no clear consensus on the treatment of LPD on pregnancy, and the pathogenesis is still unclear. Case presentation: We reported a case of LPD patient who developed during pregnancy. The patient underwent a cesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation while removing all visible tumors, and no LPD lesions were seen in the subsequent cesarean section at full term. NGS of LPD lesions detected 4 mutations with focal high-level amplifications of CDK4 (cyclin-dependent kinases 4), NBN (Nibrin), DAXX (death domain associated protein), and MYC (myelocytomatosis oncogene). Immunohistochemistry staining analysis among benign leiomyoma, LPD, and leiomyosarcoma verified that LPD was an unusual intermediate between benign and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors. Besides, LPD is a hormonal-dependent leiomyoma. After a detailed literature search, we summarized the detailed clinical features and follow-up information of patients with LPD during pregnancy. Conclusions: This is the first reported LPD case of successful term pregnancy without recurrence, following resection of all visible lesions in a prior pregnancy. LPD is an unusual intermediate between benign and malignant uterine smooth muscle tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is a well‐established tumor virus that has been implicated in a wide range of immunodeficiency‐associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs). Although rituximab, a CD20 mAb, has proven effective against EBV‐associated LPDs, prolonged use of this drug could lead to resistance due to the selective expansion of CD20− cells. We have previously shown that cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors are able to specifically suppress the expression of viral late genes, particularly those encoding structural proteins; however, the therapeutic effect of CDK inhibitors against EBV‐associated LPDs is not clear. In this study, we examined whether CDK inhibitors confer a therapeutic effect against LPDs in vivo. Treatment with alsterpaullone, an inhibitor of the CDK2 complex, resulted in a survival benefit and suppressed tumor invasion in a mouse model of LPDs. Inhibition of CDK efficiently induced G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in EBV‐positive B cells. These results suggest that alsterpaullone suppresses cell cycle progression, resulting in the antitumor effect observed in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Dynamic fracture behaviour of AA7475-T7351 under elevated temperature and loading rates. • Dependency of different fracture parameters like CMOD, CTOA, SIF, and fracture strain. • Parametric optimisation of Johnson-Cook plasticity and failure model parameter. • Different failure mechanisms associated with the projectile shape are explained through fractography. • The experimental and numerical transient responses regarding CMOD and SIF are compared using a comprehensive error criterion. The ability to regulate a material's fracture toughness is critical for achieving ductile fracture arrest design for the transportation and defiance industry. The present study utilized the data of split Hopkinson tensile bar experiments and uniaxial quasi-static tensile experiments to evaluate the parameters of Johnson-Cook constitutive and failure models for AA7475-T7351. Estimated constitutive and fracture parameters are further optimized using programming and numerical simulation for better predictability. The dynamic three-point bend experiments were performed to assess the fracture toughness of AA7475-T7351 using a modified Hopkinson pressure bar under different temperatures and strain rates. The findings indicate that the fracture behaviour is affected by material orientations, loading rates and temperatures. The 3D-digital image correlation (DIC) technique was used to get the full field displacement data of the three-point bend (TPB) and tensile specimens. The experimental findings of the TPB specimen from DIC post-processing were further compared with the numerical outcome in terms of load point displacement (LPD), crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) and crack mouth opening displacement contour. A comprehensive error analysis is used to correlate the experimental and numerical results. The numerical and experimental findings are reasonably in agreement with one another. The determined constants for the JC Constitutive and Failure models are applicable for strain rate approximately 5000 s−1 and temperatures ranging from −200 to 250 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder is known to occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate. • FDG-PET/CT have showed FDG uptake in the nodule of methotrexate associated lymphoproliferative disorder. • In patients with lung cancer patients who were treated with methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Methotrexate (MTX)-associated lymphoproliferative disorder occurs in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with MTX; however, patients with concomitant pulmonary lesions are rare. We present a case of lung cancer combined with MTX-associated lymphoproliferative disorder for which, for which it was necessary to differentiate these from possible pulmonary metastasis. A 72-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in the left upper bronchus. He was receiving oral MTX and prednisolone for rheumatoid arthritis for 15 years. However, chest computed tomography performed 1 week before surgery revealed a 1-cm-sized pulmonary nodule in the right lung. Surgical pulmonary resection of the right lung tumor revealed substantial B-cell lymphoma-type lymphoproliferative disorder. Left upper lobectomy for the squamous cell carcinoma in the left upper bronchus was performed 5 weeks after the first surgery. Chest CT performed 2 weeks after the first surgery revealed a new 1-cm-sized nodule in the lower left lung lobe. However, after discontinuing oral MTX therapy, the new lesion in the left lower lobe disappeared. In lung cancer patients treated with MTX for rheumatoid arthritis, MTX-associated lymphoproliferative disorder should be considered as a differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Light and flexible energy storage devices have taken great attention from the industrial point of view. We report the deposition of α-Fe 2 O 3 on thin, light weight and flexible stainless steel mesh substrate. Liquid phase deposition (LPD) which is simple, inexpensive and additive/binder free method is used for deposition. Supercapacitive performance of α-Fe 2 O 3 thin films deposited on stainless steel mesh are studied in 0.5 M Na 2 SO 3 electrolyte. The highest specific capacitance obtained is 960 F g−1 at 4 mA cm−2 from charge-discharge curves. The supercapacitive performance is significantly improved when α-Fe 2 O 3 thin films are deposited on mesh substrate as compared to flat substrate. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • α-Fe 2 O 3 by liquid phase deposition on lightweight and flexible stainless steel mesh. • The maximum specific capacitance 960 Fg-1 at 4 mAcm−2 from charge-discharge curves. • The maximum specific capacitance 548 Fg-1 from the cyclic voltammetry at 5 mVs−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A frequency hopping orthogonal frequency division multiple access (FH-OFDMA) can provide low probability of detection (LPD) and anti-jamming capabilities to users against adversary detectors. To obtain an extreme LPD capability that cannot be provided by the basic symbol-by-symbol (SBS)-based FH pattern, we proposed two FH patterns, namely chaotic standard map (CSM) and cat map for FH-OFDMA systems. In our previous work, through analysis of complexity to regenerate the transmitted symbol sequence, at the point of adversary detectors, we found that the CSM had a lower probability of intercept than the cat map and SBS. It is possible when a detector already knows symbol and frame structures, and the detector has been synchronized to the FH-OFDMA system. Unlike the previous work, here, we analyze whether the CSM provides greater LPD capability than the cat map and SBS by detection probability using spectrum sensing technique. We analyze the detection probability of the CSM and provide detection probabilities of the cat map and SBS compared to the CSM. Based on our analysis of the detection probability and numerical results, it is evident that the CSM provides greater LPD capability than both the cat map and SBS-based FH-OFDMA systems.

An Insufficiency of the corpus luteum (LPI) is one of the main causes of endocrine forms of infertility and spontaneous loss of the fetus in early pregnancy. Insufficiency of the corpus luteum, and consequently, defective secretory transformation of the endometrium during the second phase of the menstrual cycle, is a direct consequence of violations of folliculogenesis. A comprehensive assessment of the reproductive system prior to initiating therapy allows to develop algorithm of examination of patients, to choose an individual, pathogenetically substantiated treatment strategy, to select the doses and to avoid the possibility of complications. The object of the study is a comprehensive comparative assessment of the reproductive system of patients with impaired function of the corpus luteum suffering from endocrine forms of infertility and optimization criteria for determining the NLF. Materials and Methods: the study involved 170 women, including the control group. During the study was assessed the state of physical, hormonal profile, as well as ultrasound picture of the state of the reproductive system. Results and Conclusion: LPI is a multifactorial condition. Considering the performance levels of progesterone and estradiol, three forms of insufficient of luteal phase were determined and depending on it, the patients received pathogenetically grounded therapy.

In optical character recognition applications, the feature extraction method(s) used to recognize document images play an important role. The features are the properties of the pattern that can be statistical, structural and/or transforms or series expansion. The structural features are difficult to compute particularly from hand-printed images. The structure of the strokes present inside the hand-printed images can be estimated using statistical means. In this paper three features have been purposed, those are based on the distribution of B/W pixels on the neighborhood of a pixel in an image. We name these features as Spiral Neighbor Density, Layer Pixel Density and Ray Density. The recognition performance of these features has been compared with two more features Neighborhood Pixels Weight and Total Distances in Four Directions already studied in our work. We have used more than 20000 Devanagari handwritten character images for conducting experiments. The experiments are conducted with two classifiers i.e. PNN and k-NN.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) is a prototype of EBV-associated T- and/or NK-cell (EBV+ T/NK-cell) lymphoproliferative disorders. Most subtypes of these are lethal. We established a unified treatment strategy composed of step 1 (immunochemotherapy: steroids, cyclosporine A, and etoposide), step 2 (multi-drug block chemotherapy), and step 3 (allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; HSCT) for CAEBV and its related diseases. Allogeneic HSCT is the only cure for CAEBV with few exceptions. Primary-EBV infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (primary-EBV HLH) is also an EBV+ T/NK-cell lymphoproliferation. The nature of EBV+ T/NK cells in CAEBV and those in primary-EBV HLH differ. In primary-EBV HLH, most patients need step 1 only and some require step 2 for the successful induction of apoptosis in EBV-infected T cells; however, some exceptional patients require HSCT. We herein present our single institutional experience of CAEBV and primary-EBV HLH, together with that of post-transplant EBV+ T/NK-cell lymphoproliferative disease. We also discuss some practical points on HCST with a review of the literature.

Background: It is unclear if location of disease matters in perforated diverticulitis. Management guidelines for perforated diverticulitis currently do not make a distinction between right perforated diverticulitis (RPD) and left perforated diverticulitis (LPD). We aim to compare disease presentation and management outcomes between RPD and LPD.Methods: This was a 10-year retrospective comparative cohort study of 99 patients with acute perforated diverticulitis between 2004 and 2013 in a single institution. Patients were divided into RPD and LPD groups based on location of disease and compared. Disease presentation was compared using modified Hinchey classification. Management outcomes assessed were failure of therapy, length of stay, mortality, surgical complications, and disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was performed using Student’s t test and χ2 test where appropriate.Results: RPD patients were younger (45.7 ± 16.1 versus 58.3 ± 14.7 years) and presented with lower modified Hinchey stage and no Hinchey IV diverticulitis when compared to LPD (14.3% Hinchey III versus 44.0% Hinchey III or IV). Conservative management of Hinchey I and II RPD and LPD was similarly successful (96.1 versus 96.5%), although RPD patients had shorter inpatient stay (4.6 ± 2.2 versus 6.3 ± 3.8 days) and less disease recurrence (3.1 versus 17.9%). Ten (20.4%) Hinchey I and II RPD patients were initially misdiagnosed with appendicitis and underwent surgery.Conclusion: LPD is a more aggressive disease presenting with greater clinical severity in older patients and is associated with frequent disease recurrence when treated conservatively. Misdiagnosis of RPD as appendicitis is common and may lead to unnecessary surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ni-Al layered double hydroxide (Ni-Al LDH) as an anode in nickel-metal hydride batteries is synthesized by liquid phase deposition (LPD) and the interlayer distance of the Ni-Al LDH is enlarged by the anionic exchanges from F − form to halide anion forms, oxo anion forms, complex anion forms, and surface-active agent anion forms, namely, ca. from 320 p.m. to a maximum of 2500 p.m. Then, we fabricate electrodes from the anion-exchanged LDH and study the relations between interlayer distance and internal resistance. The interlayer distances of the Ni-Al LDH, which are calculated from d 003, increase with the diameter of the intercalated anions. The interlayer distance of the LDH depends on the molecular shape and size of the intercalated anions. The charge transfer resistance( R ct ) decreases by half when the LDH interlayer distance increases to about 400 p.m., and the activation energy for charge transfer(Δ E a ) also decreases with increasing LDH interlayer distance. Furthermore, the electron transfer and the ion transport between the collector (i.e., Ni foam) and the active material especially contribute to the decrease of R ct and Δ E a of the electrode compared with those between the conductive assistant (i.e., carbon black powder). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]