Performance of Overlaid MIMO Cellular Networks with TAS/MRC Under Hybrid-Access Small Cells and Poisson Field Interference

This paper presents new approaches to characterize the achieved performance of hybrid control-access small cells in the context of two-tier multi-input multi-output (MIMO) cellular networks with random interference distributions. The hybrids cheme at small cells (such as femtocells) allows for sharing radio resources between the two network tiers according to the densities of small cells and their associated users, as well as the observed interference power levels in the two network tiers. The analysis considers MIMO transceivers at all nodes, for which antenna arrays can be utilized to implement transmit antenna selection (TAS) and receive maximal ratio combining (MRC) under MIMO point-to-point channels. Moreover, it targets network-level models of interference sources inside each tier and between the two tiers, which are assumed to follow Poisson field processes. To fully capture the occasions for Poisson field distribution on MIMO spatial domain. Two practical scenarios of interference sources are addressed including highly-correlated or uncorrelated transmit antenna arrays of the serving macrocell base station. The analysis presents new analytical approaches that can characterize the downlink outage probability performance in any tier. Furthermore, the outage performance in high signal-tonoise (SNR) regime is also obtained, which can be useful to deduce diversity and/or coding gains.TRUEpu

Natural Regeneration of Severely Degraded Terrestrial Arid Ecosystems Needs More Than Just Removing the Cause of the Degradation

Rangelands cover over 75% of Kuwait’s total land area. Most of these rangelands are severely degraded because of overgrazing, poor anthropic utilization, and mismanagement. Restoring natural rangelands is a way to increase forage productivity, enhance biodiversity, and achieve sustainable development. When degradation has not reached the point of irreversibility, natural restoration through resting is one of the best low-cost restoration techniques. This study evaluated the effect of natural restoration on vegetation cover and species richness in the desert rangelands of Kuwait. The studied rangeland was a completely fenced area of 1 km2. The percent of vegetation was measured using the line- intercept method. The cover of perennial species was the same in fenced and unfenced areas (0%), but annual species cover was 19.67% in fenced areas and 6% in unfenced areas. There was no significant difference in the contribution to the total cover of the dominant invasive species Stipa capensis between fenced (90%) and unfenced areas (83%). All recorded species are therophytes, which raises the disturbance index to 100%. This therophytization demonstrates an imbalance in the rangeland ecosystem and desertification due to the high anthropozoogene pressure. Under such a severely degraded ecosystem, natural restoration cannot restore vegetation. Reintroducing native species including Helianthemum lipii, Haloxylon salicornicum, Rhanterium epapposum, and Calligonum comosum, is required to restore the ecosystem, facilitate the growth of annual palatable species, and enhance the flora diversity

Palynological Study of Ora and the Upper Part of Kaista Formation in Zakho area, Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Palynological investigations of Ora Formation and the upper part of Kaista Formation (Late Devonian – Early Carboniferous) in the Northern Thrust Zone were conducted in Kiasta exposures about 2km away to the north west of Kaista village Zakho District, Northern Iraq. The upper part of Kaista Formation is mainly composed of dolomitic limestone interbedded in the lower part with black shale, fine sandstone, and sometimes with lime mudstone, but in the upper part the facies is dominantly fossiliferous limestone. Ora Formation is composed of black shale and silty shales interbedded with siltstones and thin fossiliferous limestone. Based on available organic matter, ( phytoclasts, amorphous organic matters, and palynomorphs). Kaista section divided into five different palynofacies (PF1, PF2, PF3, PF4 and PF5). The detailed palynological study in Kaista section, having both Ora and Kaista Formations, enabled their division into five palynozones (P.Z1, P.Z2, P.Z3, P.Z4 and P.Z5). The basic index for this division is the miospores studied in the sum of 15 samples. The palynological analysis has confirmed the previously determined age of the studied formations, as (Late Devonian – Early Carboniferous) for the Kaista Formation and Early (Strunian- Late Tournaisian) for Ora Formation. The palynomorphs and the organic matters indicate that the depositional environment of Ora Formation is shallow marine to near shore. However, the depositional environment of the Kaista Formation was not established owing to scarcity of diagnostic palynomorphs

Synthesis of New Heterocyclic compounds derived from Pyrazoline-5-one compound

In this work new heterocyclic pyrazolin derivatives have been synthesized from diazonium chloride salt of 4-aminobenzoic acid: firstly, Azo compounds were prepared from the reaction of an ethanolic solution of sodium acetate and calculated amount of active methylene compound namely, (ethyl acetoacetate) obtain the corresponding hydrazono derivative (1). Secondly, Cyclocondensation reaction of compound (1) with hydrazine hydrate (2) in boiling ethanol affording the corresponding pyrazoline-5-one. Then compound (2) reacted with thionyl chloride to give the corresponding acid chloride derivative(3), followed by conversion into the corresponding carboxylic acid thiosemicarbazide (4), esters (7-9), thioesters (10), (11), and amides (12-14), when treated hydrazine hydrate, thiosemicarbazide, alcohols, alkylthiol and secondary amines in dry refluxing benzene; respectively. Furthermore, 1,2,4- triazole heterocyclic ring, which might result in biologically active agents, have been prepared by refluxing thiosemicarbazide derivative (4) with sodium hydroxide solution (4%) followed acidification of the result using (10%)HCl solution. Moreover, 1, 3, 4, - thiadiazole heterocyclic ring (6) has been prepared by treatment of thiosemicarbazide derivative with concentrated sulfuric acid as cyclization agent. Finally, derivative (15) has prepared by reflux (1) with phydroxybenzaldehyde then the product reflux with 5-amino-1, 3, 4-thiadiazol-2- thiol to product (16) derivative. All structures of newly synthesized compounds have been characterized and identified via of their physical properties and spectral data analysis (IR, UV.

Lactobacillus reuteri-fortified camel milk infant formula: Effects of encapsulation, in vitro digestion, and storage conditions on probiotic cell viability and physicochemical characteristics of infant formula

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record. Lactobacillus reuteri fortified camel milk infant formula (CMIF) was produced. The effect of encapsulation in different matrices (sodium alginate and galacto-oligosaccharides) via spray drying, simulated infant gastrointestinal digestion (SIGID), and storage conditions (temperature and humidity) on the viability of L. reuteri in CMIF and the physicochemical properties of CMIF were evaluated. Compared with free cells, probiotic cell viability was significantly enhanced against SIGID conditions upon encapsulation. However, L. reuteri viability in CMIF decreased after 60 d of storage, predominantly at higher storage humidity and temperature levels. At the end of the storage period, significant changes in the color values were observed in all CMIF, with a reduction in their greenness, an increase in yellowness, and a wide variation in their whiteness. Moreover, pH values and caking behavior of all CMIF stored at higher temperature (40°C) and humidity [water activity (aw) = 0.52] levels were found to be significantly higher than the samples stored under other conditions. Over 30 d of storage at lower humidity conditions (aw = 0.11 and 0.33) and room temperature (25°C), no significant increase in CMIF lipid oxidation rates was noted. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that, compared with the other storage conditions, CMIF experienced fewer changes in functional groups when stored at aw = 0.11. Microscopic images showed typical morphological characteristics of milk powder, with round to spherical-shaped particles. Overall, camel milk fortified with encapsulated L. reuteri can be suggested as a promising alternative in infant formula industries, potentially able to maintain its physicochemical characteristics as well as viability of probiotic cells when stored at low humidity levels (aw = 0.11) and temperature (25°C), over 60 d of storage.United Arab Emirates University (Al Ain

Determination of glucosinolates in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) by combining mid‐infrared (MIR) spectroscopy with chemometrics

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Glucosinolates (GSLs), compounds with potential chemo-preventative properties, can be affected by pre- and post-harvest processes. Therefore, monitoring their content is important for the food and agricultural industries. This study evaluates the application of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for the determination of GSLs in commercial broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica). Broccoli (n = 53) from different varieties were analysed using MIR spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography to develop partial least squares models for six individual GLSs, total indolic glucosinolates and total GSLs. The coefficient of determination in cross-validation (R2cv) of 0.50–0.78 whereas residual predictive deviation (RPD) values of 1.35–2.19 for different GSLs. Cross-validation models developed using Tenderstem® broccoli yielded an of 0.41–0.91 and an RPD of 0.81–2.97. This study showed that MIR spectroscopy can be considered for the determination of some broccoli GSLs. Differences in the loadings between the models demonstrated that variations in broccoli composition can influence the cross-validation models for GSLs.PepsiCo, Inc.QUEX Institut

Should whole body cryotherapy sessions be differentiated between women and men? A preliminary study on the role of the body thermal resistance

The aim of this study was to investigate how body thermal resistance between sexes evolves over time in the recovery period after a WBC session and to show how this parameter should be considered as a key parameter in WBC protocols. Eighteen healthy participants volunteered for the study (10 males and 8 females). Temperature (core and skin) were recorded pre- and post (immediately and every 5 min until 35 min post) exposure to a single bout of WBC (30 s at −60 °C, 150 s at −110 °C). From both core and skin temperatures a bio-heat transfer model was applied which led to the analytical formulation of the body thermal resistance. An unsteady behavior presenting a similar time-evolution trend in the body insulative response is shown for both females and males, possibly due to the vasodilatation process following an intense peripheral vasoconstriction during the extreme cold. Females present a 37% higher inner thermal resistance than males when reaching an asymptotical thermal state at rest due to a higher concentration of body fat percentage. Adiposity of tissues inherent in fat mass percentage appears to be a key parameter in the body thermal resistance to be taken into account in the definition of appropriate protocols for males and females. The conclusions of this preliminary study suggest that in order to achieve the same skin effects on temperature and consequently to cool efficiency tissues in the same way, the duration of cryotherapy protocols should be shorter when considering female compared to male

Qualitative analysis of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) glucosinolates: Investigating the use of mid-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record. Data Availability: No data was used for the research described in the article.Glucosinolates are phytochemicals with important health and nutritional benefits. This study reports the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to characterise and differentiate between broccoli varieties and systems of production (organic vs. non-organic) depending on their glucosinolate content and infrared fingerprint. Broccoli samples (n = 53) from seven varieties were analysed using MIR spectroscopy and HPLC. Differences in the MIR spectra of the individual broccoli varieties were observed in the carbohydrate fingerprint region (950–1100 cm-1) and between 1340 and 1615 cm-1 assigned to specific glucosinolates. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the MIR fingerprint spectra enabled the differentiation between samples with relatively high (200–500 mg/100 g DW) and low (< 200 mg/100 g DW) glucobrassicin content. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and PCA-LDA were used to classify broccoli varieties according to the system of production (organic vs. non-organic) and variety (common vs. Tenderstem® broccoli). The classification rates indicated that > 70 % of the samples were correctly classified as organic and non-organic, while > 90 % of the samples were correctly classified as common broccoli and Tenderstem®. This study demonstrates that MIR spectroscopy could be used as a potential tool to classify and monitor broccoli samples according to their variety and system of production.PepsiCoQUEX Institut