Improved Multiple-Scenario Radio Network Dimensioning for WCDMA

In wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) cellular systems, the coverage radius of a cell depends on its current capacity level. As a result, existing WCDMA radio network dimensioning approaches require that coverage and capacity planning be carried out jointly in an iterative manner in order to obtain the minimum site count needed while fulfilling both coverage and capacity requirements. This requires relatively long computational time, particularly when there are many scenarios or what-if cases to be considered. To overcome this problem, we propose an alternative radio network dimensioning approach where coverage planning and capacity planning can be carried out separately to reduce computational time. Besides, a portion of the values calculated in the initial iteration is preserved in a lookup graph, allowing future what-if analysis to be accomplished rapidly. Simulation results show that, unlike the existing approach, the planning and what-if analysis times of the proposed dimensioning approach are independent of the number of sce-narios considered. Lastly, we present a few case studies and show that the proposed dimensioning method can give the same prediction accuracy as the existing method.

Use of donor-specific red blood cell transfusions for patients undergoing liver transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background:Increased risks have been found for patients undergoing liver transplantation due to the blood supply shortage following the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Hence,exploring a method to alleviate this dilemma is urgent.This phase I,nonrandomized,prospective trial aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of using donor-specific red blood cell transfusion(DRBCT)as an urgent measurement to alleviate the blood supply shortage in deceased donor liver transplantation(DDLT).Methods:The outcomes of 26 patients who received DRBCT and 37 patients in the control group who only received 3rd party packed red blood cells(pRBCs)transfusion between May 2020 and January 2021 were compared.Results:Patients receiving DRBCT did not develop transfusion-related complications,and the incidence of postoperative infection was similar to that in the control group(23.1%vs.18.9%,P=0.688).Because the patients received the red blood cells from organ donors,the median volume of intraoperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion from blood bank was 4.0 U(IQR 1.1-8.0 U)in the DRBCT group,which is significantly lower than that(7.5 U,IQR 4.0-10.0 U)in the control group(P=0.018).The peak aspartate aminotransferase(AST)level was significantly lower in the DRBCT group than in the control group(P=0.008)and so were the AST levels in the first two days after the operation(P=0.006 and P=0.033).Conclusions:DRBCT is a safe and effective procedure to lower the need for blood supply and is associated with a reduction in AST levels after transplantation.DRBCT is beneficial to patients receiving life-saving transplantation without sufficient blood supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of anatomical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with microportal invasion (vp1)

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common cancers worldwide(1),with an upward trend in most countries over the last 20 years.While surgical resection remains as the first-line therapy for HCC,the relevant high postoperative recurrence rate is still the major concern,responding for poor survival in most cases(2).The comparison between anatomic resection(AR)and non-anatomic partial resection(NAR)has been discussed for several decades,making it more clear of their application based on tumor features and underlying liver disease,but yet much needs to be completed.