Chaos-Enhanced Adaptive Hybrid Butterfly Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Passive Target Localization.

This paper considers the problem of finding the position of a passive target using noisy time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements, obtained from multiple transmitters and a single receiver. The maximum likelihood (ML) estimator's objective function is extremely nonlinear and non-convex, making it impossible to use traditional optimization techniques. In this regard, this paper proposes the chaos-enhanced adaptive hybrid butterfly particle swarm optimization algorithm, named CAHBPSO, as the hybridization of butterfly optimization (BOA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms, to estimate passive target position.

Social Network Analysis and Churn Prediction in Telecommunications Using Graph Theory.

Due to telecommunications market saturation, it is very important for telco operators to always have fresh insights into their customer's dynamics. In that regard, social network analytics and its application with graph theory can be very useful. In this paper we analyze a social network that is represented by a large telco network graph and perform clustering of its nodes by studying a broad set of metrics, e.

Multidimensional optimization of signal space distance parameters in WLAN positioning.

Accurate indoor localization of mobile users is one of the challenging problems of the last decade. Besides delivering high speed Internet, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) can be used as an effective indoor positioning system, being competitive both in terms of accuracy and cost. Among the localization algorithms, nearest neighbor fingerprinting algorithms based on Received Signal Strength (RSS) parameter have been extensively studied as an inexpensive solution for delivering indoor Location Based Services (LBS).

Factitious proteinuria - the most dominant feature in a young female patient with Munchausen syndrome.

Munchausen syndrome is a factitious disorder with predominantly physical signs and symptoms, resulting from the patient's high motivation for assuming a sick role, without any external incentives or boundaries. We report the case of a young female patient with factitious proteinuria in the nephrotic range and a fairly eventful medical history. After performing many expensive and unnecessary investigations and procedures,the real origin of the proteinuria was determined;it was found to be caused by the patient carefully adding calibrated egg albumin to her urine samples.

A microassay for measurement of Fc function of human immunoglobulin preparations by using tetanus toxoid as antigen.

In order to minimize possible adverse reactions, the functional integrity of proteins in products derived from human plasma has to be unaffected by methods of preparation and storage conditions. Numerous biologically relevant functions of IgG, a major component of immunoglobulin for intravenous use preparations (IVIG), rely on the integrity of Fc fragments. Manufacturers are obliged to prove that Fc-mediated functions are maintained in IVIG preparations.

In vitro glycation of human immunoglobulin G.

Background: Glucose can covalently bind to the proteins by nonenzymatic process often termed glycation. Glycation of IgG is of special interest due to its possible influence on the functionality of immunoglobulins and overall immunocompetence.

Methods: The glycation of IgG was studied using radioactive D-[U-14C]-glucose.

Evaluation of the reproducibility of the GHRH plus GHRP-6 test of growth hormone reserve in adults.

Background: The diagnosis of GH deficiency (GHD) is controversial, relying on GH secretion elicited by the provocative tests of GH reserve. However, the performance of most of the tests in use have not been evaluated rigorously. The repeatability of a test is a prerequisite before evaluating its diagnostic capability.

High output heart failure in patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly.

Purpose: We sought to determine the prevalence and characteristics of heart failure in patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly.

Subjects And Methods: We assessed 102 consecutive patients who had acromegaly (44 men; age range, 22 to 71 years) for signs and symptoms of heart failure. We included a control group of 33 nonobese healthy subjects (13 men; age range, 26 to 70 years).

Physical activity or food intake prior to testing did not affect the reproducibility of GH secretion elicited by GH releasing hormone plus GH-releasing hexapeptide in normal adult subjects.

Objective: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults is a defined syndrome of which the adverse effects on different areas of body function are reversed under replacement therapy with GH. The diagnosis of GHD is controversial in adults, relying on the GH secretion elicited by the so-called provocative tests of GH reserve. Most of the tests in use, including the widely employed insulin tolerance test, have been shown to be blunted after daily activities, such as mild exercise, heat or food intake, which makes stringent testing conditions mandatory in order to assure reproducibility.