MIMO systems using a space division multiplexing (SDM) technique in which each transmit antenna sends an independent signal substream have been studied as one of the successful applications to increase data rates in wireless communications. The throughput of a MIMO channel can be maximized by using an eigenbeam-SDM (E-SDM) technique, and this paper investigates the practical performance of 2×2 ...

HYPOTHESIS Corticosteroid use has a significant effect on morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Burn-trauma ICU in a level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS All patients who received corticosteroids while in the ICU from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2003 (n = 100), matched by age and Injury Severity Score with a control group (n = 100). ...

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) is associated with a significant learning curve. We hypothesize that differences in surgeon and assistant training backgrounds may significantly impact outcomes during the learning curve. METHODS Retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing LRYGBP at an academic medical center between January 1998 and August 2003. Operat...

INTRODUCTION This study examines the outcomes of patients who underwent elective sigmoid resection for diverticular disease during the transition period from open to laparoscopic surgery. METHODS The medical records of patients who underwent elective sigmoid resection from July 1, 1993 to June 30, 2005 at a community-based teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected includ...

INTRODUCTION Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) improve appropriate antibiotic use. Data are limited on the clinical benefit of ASPs in children's hospitals. This study's objective was to determine the impact of an ASP on length of stay (LOS) and readmission rate among patients admitted to children's hospitals. METHODS Data from a prospective-audit-with-feedback ASP were used to examine th...

To investigate whether Ang II type-1 (AT1) receptor blockade could protect kidney mitochondria in streptozotocin-induced type-I diabetes, 8-week-old, male Sprague-Dawley rats received: a single streptozotocin injection (65 mg/kg, i.p.) (STZ group); streptozotocin and drinking water containing losartan (30 mg/kg/d) (STZ+Los group), or amlodipine (3 mg/kg/d) (STZ+Amlo group); or saline (i.p.) and...

IEEE 802.16e WIMAX (Worldwide interoperable Microwave Access) is the upcoming wireless system which can offer high speed voice, video and data service up to the customer end..It offers both LOS&N-LOS wireless communication. By using WIMAX Technology we can overcome the limitation of short coverage area, lack of security and low data rate. The aim of this paper is the performance evaluation of a...

The average total hospitalization costs for adult cancer patients with neutropenic complications were quantified and the average length of hospital stay (LOS), all-cause mortality during hospitalization and reimbursement rates were determined. This observational retrospective cohort study identified adult patients with cancer who were hospitalized from January 2005 through June 2008 using a lar...

BACKGROUND Documentation of resuscitation status in hospitalized patients has relevance in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest. Its association with mortality, Length Of hospital Stay (LOS) and the patients' primary diagnosis has not been established in general medical inpatients in hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. AIM To investigate the association of resuscitation orders with in...

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the impact of adding emergency medicine residents to a medium-size urban hospital by comparing emergency department (ED) admission rate, total census, length of stay (LOS), and proportion of patients who left without being seen (LWBS). METHODS Using the student t-test, the study compared commonly used ED metrics for a mid-sized urban hospital (annual census 43,000) for the ...