Exploiting the Direct Link in IRS Assisted NOMA Networks with Hardware Impairments

Hardware impairments(HI)are always present in low-cost wireless devices.This paper investigates the outage behaviors of intelligent reflecting surface(IRS)assisted non-orthogonal multiple access(NOMA)networks by taking into account the impact of HI.Specifically,we derive the approximate and asymptotic expressions of the outage probability for the IRS-NOMA-HI networks.Based on the asymptotic results,the diversity orders under perfect self-interference cancellation and imperfect self-interference cancellation scenarios are obtained to evaluate the performance of the considered network.In addition,the system throughput of IRS-NOMA-HI is discussed in delay-limited mode.The obtained results are provided to verify the accuracy of the theoretical analyses and reveal that:1)The outage performance and system throughput for IRS-NOMA-HI outperforms that of the IRS-assisted orthogonal multiple access-HI(IRS-OMA-HI)networks;2)The number of IRS elements,the pass loss factors,the Rician factors,and the value of HI are pivotal to enhancing the performance of IRS-NOMAHI networks;and 3)It is recommended that effective methods of reducing HI should be used to ensure system performance,in addition to self-interference cancellation techniques.

System Outage Probability and Diversity Analysis of a SWIPT Based Two-Way DF Relay Network Under Transceiver Hardware Impairments

This paper investigates the system outage performance of a simultaneous wireless information and power transfer(SWIPT)based two-way decodeand-forward(DF)relay network,where potential hardware impairments(HIs)in all transceivers are considered.After harvesting energy and decoding messages simultaneously via a power splitting scheme,the energy-limited relay node forwards the decoded information to both terminals.Each terminal combines the signals from the direct and relaying links via selection combining.We derive the system outage probability under independent but non-identically distributed Nakagami-m fading channels.It reveals an overall system ceiling(OSC)effect,i.e.,the system falls in outage if the target rate exceeds an OSC threshold that is determined by the levels of HIs.Furthermore,we derive the diversity gain of the considered network.The result reveals that when the transmission rate is below the OSC threshold,the achieved diversity gain equals the sum of the shape parameter of the direct link and the smaller shape parameter of the terminalto-relay links;otherwise,the diversity gain is zero.This is different from the amplify-and-forward(AF)strategy,under which the relaying links have no contribution to the diversity gain.Simulation results validate the analytical results and reveal that compared with the AF strategy,the SWIPT based two-way relaying links under the DF strategy are more robust to HIs and achieve a lower system outage probability.

Secrecy Outage Probability for Two-Way Integrated Satellite Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Relay Networks with Hardware Impairments

In this paper,we investigate the secrecy outage performance for the two-way integrated satellite unmanned aerial vehicle relay networks with hardware impairments.Particularly,the closed-form expression for the secrecy outage probability is obtained.Moreover,to get more information on the secrecy outage probability in a high signalto-noise regime,the asymptotic analysis along with the secrecy diversity order and secrecy coding gain for the secrecy outage probability are also further obtained,which presents a fast method to evaluate the impact of system parameters and hardware impairments on the considered network.Finally,Monte Carlo simulation results are provided to show the efficiency of the theoretical analysis.

Tiotropium Bromide/Olodaterol Related Acute Cognitive Impairments

Background: The use of anticholinergics has been on the rise. With the increase in population longevity, more medication-related cognitive impairments (ACIs) have been reported. These impairments result in significant morbidities. We present a case that stresses on the importance of being vigilant when prescribing anticholinergic medications, especially in the elderlies. Case Report: A case of ACIs related to the use of tiotropium bromide/olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat) is being reported in a 71-year-old white man with COPD. Treatment with budesonide 180 mcg/actuation, and tiotropium bromide/olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat) inhalers was initiated. Two days after initiating treatment, the patient developed ACIs which manifested by gait imbalance, short-term memory dysfunction, inability to remember his family members, or to take his medications. Tiotropium bromide/olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat) was discontinued. After three days, a full recovery of ACIs was reported. A month later, due to worsening dyspnea, the patient self-resumed the medicine. Similar ACIs were reported within two days of resuming treatment. Tiotropium bromide/olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat) was discontinued indefinitely. Full recovery of ACIs was reported. Conclusion: ACIs should be noted as a significant side effect of tiotropium bromide/olodaterol. Clinicians should be vigilant, when prescribing anticholinergic medications to elderlies.

Tetrahydroxy Stilbene Glucoside Ameliorates Cognitive Impairments and Pathology in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice

Cognitive impairment is the main clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease(AD),and amyloid-β(AB)deposition and senile plaques are the characteristic neuropathological hallmarks in AD brains.This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of tetrahydroxy stilbene glucoside(TSG)on cognitive function in APP/PS 1 mice during long-term administration.Here,we treated APP/PS1 model mice of AD with different doses of TSG(50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg)for 5 to 17 months by gavage,and we further observed whether TSG could ameliorate the cognitive decline in APP/PS1 mice using behavioral tests,and investigated the possible mechanisms by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Our results showed that TSG treatment rescued the spatial and non-spatial learning and memory impairments of APP/PS1 mice at Morris water maze test and novel object recognition test.Furthermore,Aβ40/42 deposition in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice treated with TSG was significantly reduced compared to the wild type mice using the immunohistochemical technique.Finally,Western blotting showed that TSG primarily decreased the APP expression to avoid the Aβplaque deposition in the cortex and hippocampus of mice.These results reveal the beneficial effects of TSG in APP/PSI-AD mice,which may be associated with the reduction of Aβdeposits in the brain.

Spectral Efficiency of Superimposed Pilots in Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems with Hardware Impairments

In this paper,the spectral efficiency(SE)of an uplink hardware-constrained cell-free massive multi-input multi-output(MIMO)system with maximal ratio combining(MRC)receiver filters in the context of superimposed pilots(SPs)is investigated.Tractable closed-form SE expressions for the considered system are derived,which share us with opportunities to explore the impacts of the hardware quality coefficient,the length of coherence interval,and the power balance factor between pilot and data signals.Numerical results indicate that the achievable SE deteriorates as the hardware quality decreases and is more susceptible to the hardware impairments at the user equipments(UEs).Besides,we observe that SPs outperform regular pilots(RPs)in terms of SE and this performance gain is heavily dependent on the values of power balance factor and coherence interval.However,the superiorities of SPs over RPs have vanished when severe hardware imperfections are considered.

Fluoxetine ameliorates cognitive impairments induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion via down-regulation of HCN2 surface expression in the hippocampal CA1 area

Aim To investigate whether tluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor（ SSRI） , could amelio- rate cognitive impairments induced by chronic cerebral hypopeffusion in rats and to clarify the underlying mecha- nisms of its efficacy. Methods Rats were subjected to permanent bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries （two-vessel occlusion, 2VO）. Two weeks later, rats were treated with 30 mg · kg^-1 fluoxetine （intragastric injec- tion, i. g. ） for 6 weeks. Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze （MWM） and novel objects recog- nition （NOR） test. Long-term potentiation （LTP） was used to address the underlying synaptic mechanisms. West- ern blot was used to quantify the protein levels. Results Fluoxetine treatment significantly improved the cognitive 2VO impairments caused by 2VO, accompanied with a reversion of 2VO-induced inhibitory of LTP. Furthermore, caused an up-regulation of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nueleotide-gated channel 2 （HCN2） surface expres- sions in the hippocampal CA1 area and fluoxetine also effectively recovered the up-regulation of HCN2 surface ex- pressions. Conclusion Fluoxetine can ameliorate cognitive impairments induced by chronic cerebral hypopeffusion and a possible mechanism may via down-regulating HCN2 surface expression in the Hippocampal CA1 area.

Investigating Dimensions and Impairments Caused by Shifts in Nurses Who Work in Constant Shifts

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensions and conditions caused by shifts in nurses who worked in constant shifts in non-governmental selective hospitals in Tehran in 2014. In this cross-sectional and applied research, the shifts standard questionnaire was used. After confirming the validity and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.73), the questionnaires were distributed among 305 nurses of 6 non-governmental selective hospitals in Tehran, based on stratified random sampling. In the research, the data analysis was conducted in two levels of descriptive and inferential statistics. The response rate was 0.91. 74.4% of the participant nurses were female and 25.6% were male. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between age and physical health (P = 0.008), gender and physical health (P = 0.015), education and health (P = 0.014), gender and physical-cognitive anxiety (P = 0.006), age and social-familial status (P = 0.001), Marital status and social-familial status (P = 0.001), having a second job and social-familial status (P = 0.001), education and sleep-fatigue (P = 0.002). Planning with respect to standards of nurses’ working hours and avoiding overtime, especially nurses who have more experience, can prevent severe complications of shifts and improve health level and ultimately the quality of care.

Low Fidelity Simulation on Sensory Impairments in Older Adults: Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Self-Reported Perceptions on Learning

Globally, the population is living longer and by 2050, it is predicted to reach 2.1 billion people. Sensory and cognitive impairments are common long-term conditions among older Europeans and have considerable functional, social, emotional and economic impacts on the individual and those caring for them. Nurses have frequent encounters with patients with these impairments and are expected to prioritise people, assess their needs and accommodate practice to meet these needs. In order to develop the requisite knowledge and understanding to support people living with these impairments, student nurses require an immersive and experiential approach to learning as opposed to just information transfer. This study reports on a cross-sectional analysis of a low fidelity simulation on sensory impairments as part of a wider dementia curriculum in semester one of the undergraduate nursing programme at the University of Highlands and Islands. Findings from an online questionnaire-based survey and content analysis of free text responses revealed that students found the simulation activities critical for gaining subject knowledge, understanding and insight. This study concluded that low-fidelity simulation of sensory/cognitive impairments, within the context of a broader curriculum of supportive activities, can be effective at developing relevant knowledge, understanding and gaining insights in this subject area among undergraduate nursing students.

Performance analysis and low complexity receiver design for extra-large scale MIMO systems with residual hardware impairments

The research purpose of this paper is focused on investigating the performance of extra-large scale massive multiple-input multiple-output(XL-MIMO)systems with residual hardware impairments.The closed-form expression of the achievable rate under the match filter(MF)receiving strategy was derived and the influence of spatial non-stationarity and residual hardware impairments on the system performance was investigated.In order to maximize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio(SINR)of the systems in the presence of hardware impairments,a hardware impairments-aware minimum mean squared error(HIA-MMSE)receiver was proposed.Furthermore,the stair Neumann series approximation was used to reduce the computational complexity of the HIA-MMSE receiver,which can avoid matrix inversion.Simulation results demonstrate the tightness of the derived analytical expressions and the effectiveness of the low complexity HIA-MMSE(LC-HIA-MMSE)receiver.

A homozygous frameshift mutation in ADAD2 causes male infertility with spermatogenic impairments

Male infertility is a complex reproductive disorder that impedes a huge number of couples from having children naturally in the world(Agarwal et al.,2021).As an important pathogenic factor of male infertility,spermatogenic impairments are mainly characterized by impaired male gamete production,reduced sperm quality,or function(Tournaye et al.,2017).Spermatogenesis is a delicate and complex biological process that requires the collaboration of a large number of proteins performing different biological functions(Liu et al.,2021).

Targeting tau in Alzheimer's disease:from mechanisms to clinical therapy

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting older adults.Primary features of Alzheimer’s disease include extra cellular aggregation of amyloid-βplaques and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles,fo rmed by tau protein,in the cells.While there are amyloid-β-ta rgeting therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,these therapies are costly and exhibit potential negative side effects.Mounting evidence suggests significant involvement of tau protein in Alzheimer’s disease-related neurodegeneration.As an important microtubule-associated protein,tau plays an important role in maintaining the stability of neuronal microtubules and promoting axonal growth.In fact,clinical studies have shown that abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein occurs before accumulation of amyloid-βin the brain.Various therapeutic strategies targeting tau protein have begun to emerge,and are considered possible methods to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease.Specifically,abnormalities in post-translational modifications of the tau protein,including aberrant phosphorylation,ubiquitination,small ubiquitin-like modifier(SUMO)ylation,acetylation,and truncation,contribute to its microtubule dissociation,misfolding,and subcellular missorting.This causes mitochondrial damage,synaptic impairments,gliosis,and neuroinflammation,eventually leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits.This review summarizes the recent findings on the underlying mechanisms of tau protein in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and discusses tau-targeted treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Understanding the spectrum of non-motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis:insights from animal models

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and is generally considered to be a non-traumatic,physically debilitating neurological disorder.In addition to experiencing motor disability,patients with multiple sclerosis also experience a variety of nonmotor symptoms,including cognitive deficits,anxiety,depression,sensory impairments,and pain.However,the pathogenesis and treatment of such non-motor symptoms in multiple scle rosis are still under research.Preclinical studies for multiple sclerosis benefit from the use of disease-appropriate animal models,including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.Prior to understanding the pathophysiology and developing treatments for non-motor symptoms,it is critical to chara cterize the animal model in terms of its ability to replicate certain non-motor features of multiple sclerosis.As such,no single animal model can mimic the entire spectrum of symptoms.This review focuses on the non-motor symptoms that have been investigated in animal models of multiple sclerosis as well as possible underlying mechanisms.Further,we highlighted gaps in the literature to explain the nonmotor aspects of multiple sclerosis in expe rimental animal models,which will serve as the basis for future studies.

Mitochondrial DNA methylation and mitochondria-related epigenetics in neurodegeneration

Mitochondria are cytoplasmic organelles referred to as the powerhouse of the cell because they are primarily involved in oxidative phosphorylation and energy production.They are particularly abundant in tissues with high energy demands,including muscle,liver,and brain,and mitochondrial dysfunction,oxidative mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)damage,and impaired mitochondrial dynamics have often been associated with neurodegeneration.

Molecular biomarkers for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia:the current status and directions for the future

Dementia is a syndrome with various underlying pathologies acting independently or in concert to cause cognitive dysfunction.The development of disease-specific treatments and targeted prevention strategies requires precise clinical sub-typing via etiology and pathophysiological processes.Furthermore,recent research advances in biomarkers,especially for Alzheimer's disease(AD)diagnosis,have improved diagnostic precision for dementia.

Role of fecal microbiota transplant in management of hepatic encephalopathy: Current trends and future directions

Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)offers a potential treatment avenue for hepatic encephalopathy(HE)by leveraging beneficial bacterial displacement to restore a balanced gut microbiome.The prevalence of HE varies with liver disease severity and comorbidities.HE pathogenesis involves ammonia toxicity,gut-brain communication disruption,and inflammation.FMT aims to restore gut microbiota balance,addressing these factors.FMT's efficacy has been explored in various conditions,including HE.Studies suggest that FMT can modulate gut microbiota,reduce ammonia levels,and alleviate inflammation.FMT has shown promise in alcohol-associated,hepatitis B and C-associated,and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Benefits include improved liver function,cognitive function,and the slowing of disease progression.However,larger,controlled studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in these contexts.Studies have shown cognitive improvements through FMT,with potential benefits in cirrhotic patients.Notably,trials have demonstrated reduced serious adverse events and cognitive enhancements in FMT arms compared to the standard of care.Although evidence is promising,challenges remain:Limited patient numbers,varied dosages,administration routes,and donor profiles.Further large-scale,controlled trials are essential to establish standardized guidelines and ensure FMT's clinical applications and efficacy.While FMT holds potential for HE management,ongoing research is needed to address these challenges,optimize protocols,and expand its availability as a therapeutic option for diverse hepatic conditions.

New nomenclature of peri-operative cognitive impairments: possible impacts on further practice and research

Peri-operative neurocognitive disorders (PND) is a new term recommended by an international,multidisciplinary group named as Nomenclature Consensus Working Group including experts from multiple disciplines such as anesthesiology,neurology,geriatrics,psychiatry,neuropsychology,surgery,and psychology.It is a comprehensive term for cognitive impairments identified in the perioperative period.The recommendation of this new nomenclature has been published in several influential journals simultaneously in November 2018.[1-6] It is a tremendous change in the field of peri-operative cognitive impairments.Therefore,it is necessary to know the reasons and purposes of this new nomenclature,differences between old and new nomenclatures,and the possible impacts of new nomenclature on clinical and basic researches of peri-operative cognitive impairments in the future.

Do goodwill impairments affect audit opinions?Evidence from China

There has been a steady growth of goodwill impairments in the Chinese stock market since the adoption of the impairment approach in accounting.The influence of goodwill impairments on a firm’s financial position and profitability give reason to doubt its current and future performance.We examine whether auditors,as a crucial external monitor,identify the information risks of goodwill impairments and express their concerns about financial reporting quality in their audit opinions.Using a sample of firms listed on China’s Ashare market from 2007 to 2017,we test the association between goodwill impairments and the type of audit opinion received in the same financial period.Our findings are as follows.First,the probability of receiving a modified opinion increases with the amount of goodwill impairments.Second,the positive association between goodwill impairments and modified audit opinions is driven primarily by earnings management risks.Third,this positive association is more salient when auditors are industry experts and there is no auditor–client mismatch.Fourth,auditors are more sensitive to the amount of goodwill impairments than to their mere existence.Overall,we document that auditors perceive goodwill impairments as a signal of information risks and communicate their concerns to investors to avoid litigation.

Physical activity and amyloid beta in middle-aged and older adults:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer’s disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta(Aβ).Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk,and one potential path could be through Aβlevels modulation.We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and Aβin middle-aged and older adults.Methods:A systematic search of PubMed,Web of Science,PsycINFO,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to April 28,2022.Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and Aβdata in adults aged 45 years or older.Multi-level metaanalyses of intervention and observational studies were performed to examine the role of physical activity in modulating Aβlevels.Results:In total,37 articles were included(8 randomized controlled trials,3 non-randomized controlled trials,4 prospective longitudinal studies,and 22 cross-sectional studies).The overall effect size of physical activity interventions on changes in blood Aβwas medium(pooled standardized mean difference=-0.69,95%confidence interval(95%CI):-1.41 to 0.03;I^(2)=74.6%).However,these results were not statistically significant,and there were not enough studies to explore the effects of physical activity on cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and brain Aβ.Data from observational studies were examined based on measurements of Aβin the brain using positron emission tomography scans,CSF,and blood.Higher physical activity was positively associated with Aβonly in the CSF(Estimate r=0.12;95%CI:0.05-0.18;I^(2)=38.00%).Conclusion:Physical activity might moderately reduce blood Aβin middle-aged and older adults.However,results were only near statistical significance and might be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations observed in some of the included studies.In observational studies,higher levels of physical activity were positively associated with Aβonly in CSF.Therefore,further research is needed to understand the modulating role of physical activity in the brain,CSF,and blood Aβ,as well as its implication for cognitive health.

Glyphosate as a direct or indirect activator of pro-inflammatory signaling and cognitive impairment

Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used around the world, making it likely that most humans have significant exposure. Because of habitual exposure, there are concerns about toxicity including neurotoxicity that could result in neurological, psychiatric, or cognitive impairment. We recently found that a single injection of glyphosate inhibits long-term potentiation, a cellular model of learning and memory, in rat hippocampal slices dissected 1 day after injection, indicating that glyphosate-based herbicides can alter cognitive function. Glyphosate-based herbicides could adversely affect cognitive function either indirectly and/or directly. Indirectly, glyphosate could affect gut microbiota, and if dysbiosis results in endotoxemia(leaky gut), infiltrated bacterial by-products such as lipopolysaccharides could activate pro-inflammatory cascades. Glyphosate can also directly trigger pro-inflammatory cascades. Indeed, we observed that acute glyphosate exposure inhibits long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices. Interestingly, direct inhibition of long-term potentiation by glyphosate appears to be similar to that of lipopolysaccharides. There are several possible measures to control dysbiosis and neuroinflammation caused by glyphosate. Dietary intake of polyphenols, such as quercetin, which overcome the inhibitory effect of glyphosate on long-term potentiation, could be one effective strategy. The aim of this narrative review is to discuss possible mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity following glyphosate exposure as a means to identify potential treatments.