Sparsity Enhanced Decision Feedback Equalization

For single-carrier systems with frequency domain equalization, decision feedback equalization (DFE) performs better than linear equalization and has much lower computational complexity than sequence maximum likelihood detection. The main challenge in DFE is the feedback symbol selection rule. In this paper, we give a theoretical framework for a simple, sparsity based thresholding algorithm. We feed back multiple symbols in each iteration, so the algorithm converges fast and has a low computational cost. We show how the initial solution can be obtained via convex relaxation instead of linear equalization, and illustrate the impact that the choice of the initial solution has on the bit error rate performance of our algorithm. The algorithm is applicable in several existing wireless communication systems (SC-FDMA, MC-CDMA, MIMO-OFDM). Numerical results illustrate significant performance improvement in terms of bit error rate compared to the MMSE solution

Investigating the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Phragmites in River Canard using Remotely Sensed Imagery

Phragmites australis is a common reed that invades wetlands and marshes in North America. Recent expansion of this invasive species into the Great Lakes wetlands has caused concern amongst scientists, as the invasion of this species has been shown to have detrimental consequences within ecosystems, reducing species diversity, changing the structure and function of wetlands, and threatening important food sources and habitat for wildlife (Meyerson et al., 2000). Remote sensing technology has allowed resource managers and scientists to analyse wetland change or monitor vegetation within wetlands seasonally or yearly due to the repeated coverage. The Essex Region Conservation Authority reported that Phragmites expansion has greatly increased since the mid 1990s, replacing cattail and purple loosestrife which have been dominant in Essex County. Due to the limited study conducted on Phragmites expansion within River Canard, located in Amherstburg, Ontario, this study examined the temporal and spatial extent of Phragmites from 1989 to 2009. Remote sensing imagery and aerial photographs were used to delineate and map Phragmites expansion, and provide effective maps showing the gradual increase and in-land spread of Phragmites within the study years. While only a portion of the River Canard which drains into the Detroit River was studied, this research helps to provide a starting point and guide for future Phragmites modelling within Essex County using aerial photographs and remote sensing images

Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Osteogenic-Differentiated Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Cells Rescue Osteogenic Ability of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Cells Impaired by Hypoxia

In orthopedics, musculoskeletal disorders, i.e., non-union of bone fractures or osteoporosis, can have common histories and symptoms related to pathological hypoxic conditions induced by aging, trauma or metabolic disorders. Here, we observed that hypoxic conditions (2% O2) suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (hBMSC) in vitro and simultaneously increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We assumed that cellular origin and cargo of extracellular vesicles (EVs) affect the osteogenic differentiation capacity of hBMSCs cultured under different oxygen pressures. Proteomic analysis revealed that EVs isolated from osteogenic differentiated hBMSC cultured under hypoxia (hypo-osteo EVs) or under normoxia (norm-osteo EVs) contained distinct protein profiles. Extracellular matrix (ECM) components, antioxidants and pro-osteogenic proteins were decreased in hypo-osteo EVs. The proteomic analysis in our previous study revealed that under normoxic culture conditions, pro-osteogenic proteins and ECM components have higher concentrations in norm-osteo EVs than in EVs derived from naïve hBMSCs (norm-naïve EVs). When selected for further analysis, five anti-hypoxic proteins were significantly upregulated (response to hypoxia) in norm-osteo EVs. Three of them are characterized as antioxidant proteins. We performed qRT-PCR to verify the corresponding gene expression levels in the norm-osteo EVs’ and norm-naïve EVs’ parent cells cultured under normoxia. Moreover, we observed that norm-osteo EVs rescued the osteogenic ability of naïve hBMSCs cultured under hypoxia and reduced hypoxia-induced elevation of ROS production in osteogenic differentiated hBMSCs, presumably by inducing expression of anti-hypoxic/ antioxidant and pro-osteogenic genes

Volumetric and thermodynamic properties of binary mixtures of p-cymene with alpha-pinene, limonene and citral at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 323.15 K

An experimental analysis of density, refractive index, speed of sound and the viscosity at atmospheric pressure and temperatures T = (288.15 to 323.15) K has been carried out for the three binary systems, i.e. (p-cymene + alpha-pinene), (p-cymene + limonene) and (p-cymene + citral). Excess molar volumes, viscosity deviations, deviations in isentropic compressibility and excess Gibbs free energy of activation of viscous flow were calculated from experimental data. The results were fitted employing Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. Also, partial molar volumes, excess partial molar volumes and partial molar volumes at infinite dilutions were calculated to elucidate the non-ideal behavior of investigated mixtures. Furthermore, Prigogine-Flory-Patterson (PFP) model was successfully applied for the correlation of excess molar volumes of examined binary mixtures. The results of excess molar volume correlations show very good agreement with experimental measurement

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as a food ingredient – Nutritional composition, bioactivity, safety, and health claims: A review

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a perennial herb from the Cichorium genus, Asteraceae family, and is worldwide cultivated. So far, chicory has been used mainly in animal feed, but also in several cases in the food industry: as salad, for teas and tea blends, for coffee supplementation, and as a source for the inulin production. Nowadays there is an increasing interest in chicory utilization for food production and supplementation. Some compounds present in chicory, such as polyphenols, inulin, oligofructose and sesquiterpene lactones may be considered as potential carriers of food functionality. This review describes nutritional, mineral and bioactive composition of the chicory plant and summarized the main biological activities associated with the presence of bioactive compounds in the different plant parts. Finally, the review explores possibilities of uses of chicory and its implementation in food products, with intention to design new functional foods.This work was funded by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (451-03-68/2020-14/200222)

2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate/Gelatin/Alginate Scaffolds Reinforced with Nano TiO₂ as a Promising Curcumin Release Platform

The idea of this study was to create a new scaffolding system based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, gelatin, and alginate that contains titanium(IV) oxide nanoparticles as a platform for the controlled release of the bioactive agent curcumin. The innovative strategy to develop hybrid scaffolds was the modified porogenation method. The effect of the scaffold composition on the chemical, morphology, porosity, mechanical, hydrophilicity, swelling, degradation, biocompatibility, loading, and release features of hybrid scaffolds was evaluated. A porous structure with interconnected pores in the range of 52.33–65.76%, favorable swelling capacity, fully hydrophilic surfaces, degradability to 45% for 6 months, curcumin loading efficiency above 96%, and favorable controlled release profiles were obtained. By applying four kinetic models of release, valuable parameters were obtained for the curcumin/PHEMA/gelatin/alginate/TiO2 release platform. Cytotoxicity test results depend on the composition of the scaffolds and showed satisfactory cell growth with visible cell accumulation on the hybrid surfaces. The constructed hybrid scaffolds have suitable high-performance properties, suggesting potential for further in vivo and clinical studies