Multicarrier Rate-Splitting Multiple Access: Superiority of OFDM-RSMA over OFDMA and OFDM-NOMA

Rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA) is a multiple access technique generalizing conventional techniques, such as, space-division multiple access (SDMA), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and physical layer multi-casting, which aims to address multi-user interference (MUI) in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. In this study, we leverage the interference management capabilities of RSMA to tackle the issue of inter-carrier interference (ICI) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform. We formulate a problem to find the optimal subcarrier and power allocation for downlink transmission in a two-user system using RSMA and OFDM and propose a weighted minimum mean-square error (WMMSE)-based algorithm to obtain a solution. The sum-rate performance of the proposed OFDM-RSMA scheme is compared with that of conventional orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and OFDM-NOMA by numerical results. It is shown that the proposed OFDM-RSMA outperforms OFDM-NOMA and OFDMA under ICI in diverse propagation channel conditions owing to its flexible structure and robust interference management capabilities.Comment: Updated version of published paper in IEEE Communications Letters with correction in optimization problem (17b

The phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of tea with different parts of Sideritis condensate at different steeping conditions

Tea with different parts (flower, leaf, seed) of Sideritis condensate infused at different temperatures (60 and 100°C) and times (5, 10 and 30 minutes) were assessed for their phenolic composition and antioxidant activities. Leaf tea had the highest total phenolic content where as seed tea had the lowest.Leaves soaked at 100°C for 10 minutes had the highest total phenolic content. Total phenolic content of flower tea increased with increase in extraction temperature and time. Radical scavenging activities of leaves infused at 60°C for 5, 10 and 30 minutes were statistically in the same group but lower than those of leaves soaked at 100°C for 5, 10 and 30 min. The major phenolic compound identified from almost all aqueous infusions was the p-coumaric acid. The conditions of tea prepared from leaves of the Sideritis condensata at 100°C for 5, 10 and 30 minutes are the most appropriate conditions in regard to extraction of the highest total phenolics and the strongest antioxidant activity

Particle size effects in the thermal conductivity enhancement of copper-based nanofluids

We present an analysis of the dispersion characteristics and thermal conductivity performance of copper-based nanofluids. The copper nanoparticles were prepared using a chemical reduction methodology in the presence of a stabilizing surfactant, oleic acid or cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Nanofluids were prepared using water as the base fluid with copper nanoparticle concentrations of 0.55 and 1.0 vol.%. A dispersing agent, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), and subsequent ultrasonication was used to ensure homogenous dispersion of the copper nanopowders in water. Particle size distribution of the copper nanoparticles in the base fluid was determined by dynamic light scattering. We found that the 0.55 vol.% Cu nanofluids exhibited excellent dispersion in the presence of SDBS. In addition, a dynamic thermal conductivity setup was developed and used to measure the thermal conductivity performance of the nanofluids. The 0.55 vol.% Cu nanofluids exhibited a thermal conductivity enhancement of approximately 22%. In the case of the nanofluids prepared from the powders synthesized in the presence of CTAB, the enhancement was approximately 48% over the base fluid for the 1.0 vol.% Cu nanofluids, which is higher than the enhancement values found in the literature. These results can be directly related to the particle/agglomerate size of the copper nanoparticles in water, as determined from dynamic light scattering

Glaucoma after Penetrating Keratoplasty: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Management

Purpose. To report the incidence and risk factors for postkeratoplasty glaucoma (PKG), as well as its management. Subjects and Methods. 122 eyes, (43% with pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (PABK)) which underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK), were analyzed. Results. The rate of PKG development was 34% within 39 months of follow-up. PABK, corneal perforations, keratitis, and previous high intraocular pressure (PHIOP) were high risk factors for PKG. Glaucoma was controlled medically in 62% of PKG cases. Surgery (Ex-PRESS shunt in 63%) and diode laser cyclophotocoagulation were applied in others (38%). The rate of postoperative complications and graft survival was similar in eyes with and without PKG. Conclusion. PHIOP, preoperative diagnoses other than keratoconus, and corneal dystrophies were highly associated with PKG. Ex-PRESS shunts were effective in refractory PKG. If glaucoma is controlled, it is possible to obtain similar rates of graft survival and postoperative complications in eyes with and without PKG

Comparação da eficácia de tenoxicam administrado por via oral e intra‐articular a pacientes com osteoartrite de joelhos

ResumoJustificativa e objetivosTenoxicam é amplamente usado no tratamento da osteoartrite (OA) e o nosso objetivo foi comparar a eficácia de tenoxicam administrado por via oral (VO) e intra‐articular (IA) no tratamento da OA.MétodosEste estudo foi conduzido entre 2011 e 2012 por meio de análise retrospectiva e comparação dos resultados de 60 pacientes que foram clínica e radiologicamente diagnosticados com OA degenerativa de joelhos na Policlínica de Tratamento da Dor do Hospital Estadual de Bünyan. Os 60 pacientes incluídos no estudo foram alocados em dois grupos. O primeiro grupo (tenoxicam IA, n=30) incluiu resultados de pacientes submetidos à injeção nos joelhos por via IA de 20mg de tenoxicam uma vez por semana durante três semanas e o segundo grupo (tenoxicam VO, n=30) incluiu pacientes que receberam 20mg de tenoxicam por VO uma vez por dia durante três semanas. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente na fase basal pré‐tratamento e em uma semana, um mês e três meses pós‐tratamento, de acordo com os critérios especificados.Resultados e conclusõesDos 60 pacientes, 22 eram do sexo masculino e 38 do sexo feminino. Em ambos os grupos, melhorias significativas foram detectadas em todos os parâmetros da escala visual analógica, do índice Western Ontario and MacMaster (Womac – dor, atividade física e rigidez dos joelhos) e do índice de Lequesne nas avaliações feitas em uma semana, um mês e três meses e comparadas aos valores basais. Além disso, uma melhor adesão ao tratamento e tolerabilidade ao sistema gastrointestinal no grupo tenoxicam IA também foram observadas. A administração de tenoxicam IA pode ser considerada como um método opcional de tratamento em pacientes com OA de joelhos que não podem usar tenoxicam por VO, especialmente por causa dos efeitos colaterais sobre o sistema gastrintestinal, e naqueles com dificuldades de adaptação ao tratamento.AbstractBackground and objectivesTenoxicam is widely used in osteoarthritis treatment and we aimed to compare the effectivity of oral and intra‐articular administration of tenoxicam in osteoarthritis treatment.MethodsThis study was performed between 2011 and 2012 by retrospectively analyzing and comparing the findings of 60 patients who were clinically and radiologically diagnosed with knee degenerative osteoarthritis in Bünyan state hospital pain policlinic. 60 patients included in the study were divided into two groups. The first group (tenoxicam IA, n=30) included patient findings of those subjected to intra‐articular injection of 20mg tenoxicam to the knee once a week for three weeks and the second group (oral tenoxicam, n=30) included patients who were administered 20mg oral tenoxicam once a day for three weeks. All patients were clinically evaluated pre‐treatment and in the 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month post‐treatment according to specified criteria.Results and conclusions22 of 60 patients included in the study were male and 38 were female. In both groups significant improvements were detected in all of the observed parameters: visual analog scale, Western Ontario McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (pain, physical activity, knee stiffness) and Lequesne index scores and in the evaluations performed in 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month with respect to pre‐treatment values. Besides, a better compliance to treatment and gastrointestinal system tolerability in tenoxicam IA group was also observed. Intra‐articular tenoxicam administration could be thought as an alternative treatment method in patients with knee osteoarthritis who cannot use oral tenoxicam especially due to systemic gastrointestinal system side effects and those who have difficulties in adapting to treatment

Phenolic components, antioxidant activity, and mineral analysis of Capparis spinosa L

In addition to being consumed as food, caper (Capparis spinosa L.) fruits are also used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatism. C. spinosa L. is rich in phenolic compounds, making it increasingly popular because of its components’ potential benefits to human health. We analyzed a number of individual phenolic compounds and investigated in vitro biological activities of C. spinosa L. Sixteen phenolic constituents were identified using reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total phenolic compounds (TPCs), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were used as determinants of antioxidant capacity. C. spinosa L. exhibited strong antioxidant activity and contained high levels of antioxidant compounds. Gentisic, sinapic and benzoic acid were detected in C. spinosa L. No gallic acid, proto-catechuic acid, proto-catechuic aldehyde, chlorogenic acid, p-OH benzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, vanillin, syringaldehyde, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid or rosmarinic acid were identified. Iron and zinc were present at high levels in samples. C. spinosa L. appears to be a good source of antioxidants and minerals that might serve to protect health and combat several diseases.Key words: Antioxidant, capers, Capparis spinosa L., phenolics

Characterization and inhibition studies of an α-carbonic anhydrase from the endangered sturgeon species Acipenser gueldenstaedti.

An α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) was purified and characterized kinetically from erythrocytes of the sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedti, an endangered species. The sturgeon enzyme (AgCA) showed kinetic parameters for the CO(2) hydration reaction comparable with those of the human erythrocytes enzyme hCA II, being a highly active enzyme, whereas its esterase activity with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate was lower. Sulphonamide inhibitors (acetazolamide, sulphanilamide) strongly inhibited AgCA, whereas metal ions (Ag(+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and Co(2+)) were weak, millimolar inhibitors. Several widely used pesticides (2,4-dichlorophenol, dithiocarbamates, parathion and carbaryl) were also assayed as inhibitors of this enzyme. The dithiocarbamates were low micromolar AgCA inhibitors (IC(50) of 16-18 μM), whereas the other pesticides inhibited the enzyme with IC(50)s in the range of 102-398 μM. The wide use of dithiocarbamate pesticides may be one of the factors enhancing the vulnerability of this sturgeon species to pollutants

An Approach for Economic Analysis of Intermodal Transportation

A different intermodal transportation model based on cost analysis considering technical, economical, and operational parameters is presented. The model consists of such intermodal modes as sea-road, sea-railway, road-railway, and multimode of sea-road-railway. A case study of cargo transportation has been carried out by using the suggested model. Then, the single road transportation mode has been compared to intermodal modes in terms of transportation costs. This comparison takes into account the external costs of intermodal transportation. The research reveals that, in the short distance transportation, single transportation modes always tend to be advantageous. As the transportation distance gets longer, intermodal transportation advantages begin to be effective on the costs. In addition, the proposed method in this study leads to determining the fleet size and capacity for transportation and the appropriate transportation mode