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Nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA), which is an effective technique to achieve high spectral efficiency, has been emerging as a candidate for the fifth‐generation multiple access. In addition, NOMA reflects a transition on the forms of power allocation comparing with the orthogonal multiple access (OMA). In this paper, two relay selection schemes are considered to evaluate the achieved performance of a NOMA‐based relaying network, ie, the max‐min relay selection (MMRS) and the two‐stage relay selection (TSRS) schemes. Exact expression analyses for the system outage probability using the MMRS and TSRS schemes are derived to evaluate the system performance under Nakagami‐m fading. The existence of the error floor, caused by the estimation error, is confirmed by the detailed analysis of the asymptotic result. By comparing NOMA with OMA, and comparing the MMRS scheme with the TSRS scheme, one can reveal that cooperative NOMA under Nakagami‐m fading and imperfect channel estimation can maintain superior performance gain than OMA. A downlink NOMA‐based decode and forward relaying network is studied in this paper. Imperfect channel state information along with the Nakagami‐m fading are considered. Two relay selection schemes, ie, MMRS and TSRS schemes, are applied to analyze the system outage probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtocells have been proposed to enhance the spatial coverage and system capacity of existing cellular networks. However, this technology may result in significant performance loss due to the increase in co-channel interference, particularly when coordination between access points is infeasible. This paper targets interference management in such overlaid networks. It is assumed that the femtocells employ the open-access strategy to reduce cross-tier interference, and can share resources concurrently. It is also assumed that each end user (EU) can access one channel at a time, and transfer limited feedback. To reduce the effect of co-tier interference in the absence of the desired EU channel state information (CSI) at the serving access point as well as coordination between active access points, a switched scheme based on the interference levels associated with available channels is proposed. Through the analysis, the scheme modes of operation in under-loaded and over-loaded channels are studied, from which the statistics of the resulting interference power are quantified. The impact of the proposed scheme on the received desired power is thoroughly discussed. In addition, the effect of the switching threshold on the achieved performance of the desired EU is investigated. The results clarify that the proposed scheme can improve the performance while reducing the number of examined channels and feedback load. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Progress has been made in the reduction of morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer by the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs. This study aimed to assess the awareness of Palestinian women about HPV as well as their knowledge and acceptability of the HPV vaccine and to examine the factors associated with good awareness.Methods: This was a national cross-sectional study. Adult women were recruited from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces in 11 Palestinian governorates using convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. For each correctly answered question, one point was given. The total score was calculated and categorized into poor (0-10) and good awareness (11-21).Results: The questionnaire was completed by 7223 women out of 8086 who were approached (response rate = 89.3%). A total of 7058 questionnaires were included in the final analysis; 4403 from the West Bank and Jerusalem (WBJ) and 2655 from the Gaza Strip. Women recruited from the Gaza Strip were younger, getting lower monthly incomes, and with fewer chronic diseases than women recruited from the WBJ. Only 33 women (0.5%) displayed good awareness of HPV and its vaccine with 0.7% of women from WBJ and only 0.2% of women from the Gaza Strip. Completing post-secondary education, being employed or a student, and having a higher monthly income were associated with an increase in the likelihood of having good awareness. Among women who had heard of HPV (n = 571, 8.1%), only 46 women (8.1%) reported familiarity with its vaccine. Women from the WBJ were more likely than women from the Gaza Strip to have heard about the HPV vaccine (0.9% vs. 0.2%). Most women agreed to receive the HPV vaccine themselves or for their daughters if it was given without cost or with a co-payment. No differences were found in the likelihood of agreeing to receive the HPV vaccine among women in the WBJ versus the Gaza Strip.Conclusion: The overall awareness of HPV and its vaccine was extremely low. Inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunization program could change this, especially as the HPV vaccine appeared to be acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High awareness of cervical cancer (CC) risk factors is important to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with CC. This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of Palestinian women about CC risk factors and to determine the factors associated with good knowledge.Methods: This was a national cross-sectional study. Adult women from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces of 11 governorates in Palestine were recruited using a stratified convenience sampling. A translated-into-Arabic version of the validated CC awareness measure (CeCAM) was used to assess the knowledge about the 11 CC risk factors. For each correctly identified risk factor, the participant was given one point. The total score was calculated and was categorized into three categories: poor knowledge (0-3), fair knowledge (4-7), and good knowledge (8-11).Results: A total of 7223 participants completed the Arabic CeCAM (response rate = 89.3%) and 7058 questionnaires were included in the final analysis: 2655 from the Gaza Strip and 4403 from the West Bank and Jerusalem. Participants recruited from the Gaza Strip were younger, getting lower monthly incomes, and with less chronic diseases than participants recruited from the West Bank and Jerusalem. The most frequently identified risk factor was 'having a weakened immune system' (n = 5458, 77.3%) followed by 'infection with a sexually transmitted infection' (n = 5388, 76.3%). The least identified risk factor was 'having many children' (n = 1597, 22.6%). Only 1670 women (23.7%) had good knowledge of CC risk factors. Women living in the Gaza Strip were more likely than women living in the West Bank and Jerusalem to have good knowledge (25.2% vs 22.7%). Completing a secondary or diploma degree, being employed, and having a monthly income of ≥ 1450 NIS (around $450) were all associated with lower likelihood of having good knowledge of CC risk factors. Conversely, knowing someone with cancer was associated with higher likelihood of having good knowledge.Conclusion: The overall awareness of CC risk factors was low. There is a substantial need to establish educational programs to promote Palestinian women's awareness of CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Timely presentation and diagnosis of cervical cancer (CC) are crucial to decrease its mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries like Palestine. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of Palestinian women about CC warning signs and determine the factors associated with good knowledge.Methods: This was a national cross-sectional study conducted between July 2019 and March 2020 in Palestine. Stratified convenience sampling was used to recruit adult women from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces of 11 governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the validated CC awareness measure (CeCAM) was used to assess women's knowledge of 12 CC warning signs.Results: Of 8086 approached, 7223 participants completed the CeCAM (response rate = 89.3%). A total of 7058 questionnaires were included in the analysis: 2655 from the Gaza Strip and 4403 from the West Bank and Jerusalem (WBJ). The median age [interquartile range] for all participants was 34.0 [24.0, 42.0] years. Participants recruited from the WBJ were older, getting higher monthly income, and having more chronic diseases than those recruited from the Gaza Strip. The most frequently identified warning sign was 'vaginal bleeding after menopause' (n = 5028, 71.2%) followed by 'extreme generalized fatigue' (n = 4601, 65.2%) and 'unexplained weight loss' (n = 4578, 64.9%). Only 1934 participants (27.4%) demonstrated good knowledge of CC warning signs. Participants from the Gaza Strip were slightly more likely than participants from the WBJ to have a good level of knowledge. Factors associated with having good knowledge included having a bachelor or postgraduate degree, being married, divorced, or widowed as well as knowing someone with cancer.Conclusion: The overall awareness of CC warning signs was low. Educational interventions are needed to increase Palestinian women's awareness of CC warning signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) myths and beliefs can negatively impact women's preventive behaviors, including vaccination against human papillomavirus and having regular screening tests. This study aimed to examine awareness of Palestinian women about myths related to CC causation and investigated factors associated with good awareness., Methods: A national cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit adult Palestinian women from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 Palestinian governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was used to collect data. Awareness level was determined based on the number of CC myths around CC causation recognized to be incorrect: poor (0-4), fair (5-9), and good (10-13)., Results: A total of 7058 questionnaires were included. Myths unrelated to food were more commonly recognized as incorrect compared to those related to food. The most recognized food-unrelated myth was 'having a physical trauma' (n = 3714, 52.6%), whereas the least recognized was 'using mobile phones' (n = 2238, 31.7%). The most recognized food-related myth was 'drinking from plastic bottles' (n = 2708, 38.4%), whereas the least recognized was 'eating food containing additives' (n = 1118, 15.8%). Only 575 participants (8.1%) displayed good awareness and promptly recognized at least 10 out of 13 myths around CC causation as incorrect. Factors associated with lower likelihood of displaying good awareness of myths around CC causation included living in the West Bank and Jerusalem, being married, widowed or divorced, knowing someone with cancer, and visiting hospitals or primary healthcare centers., Conclusions: A very small proportion of Palestinian women recognized 10 or more myths around CC causes as incorrect. Initiatives addressing CC myths are needed in the Palestinian community., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Nerve sheath myxoma (NSM) is a very rare benign nerve sheath tumor that mostly affects young adults, with a peak incidence in the 30s. Patients usually present with an asymptomatic swelling commonly affecting the dermis and subcutaneous tissues of the head, neck, and upper extremities. Lower extremities are a much rarer location, and when this occurs, the knee/pretibial region is the most common location. NSM has not been reported within the anterior tibialis muscle., Case Presentation: The authors present the first reported case of NSM in the anterior tibialis muscle in a 39-year-old man presented as deep swelling in the left leg., Discussion: NSM is difficult to diagnose clinically or using standard imaging techniques; MRI and ultrasonography cannot differentiate it from other anomalies. Histopathology alone is not enough to distinguish NSM from neurothekeomas, which were considered synonymous in the past. They can be distinguished by using immunohistochemical markers., Conclusion: Soft tissue tumors in lower extremity muscles are somewhat difficult to diagnose. Excision of the tumor by a specialized orthopedic surgeon and histopathological/immunohistochemical analysis were the only avenues to correctly diagnose the NSM., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)