MIMO Self-Heterodyne OFDM Using Band Selection Technique

The 5G technology is a promising technology to cope with the increasing demand for higher data rate and quality of service. In this paper, two proposed techniques are implemented for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) self-heterodyne OFDM system to enhance data rate and minimize the bit error rate (BER). In both of the two proposed techniques, Band Selection (BS) approach is used, once with Space Time Block Coded (STBC) for the first proposed technique (BS- STBC), and once again with Frequency Space Time Block Coded (FSTBC) for the second proposed technique (BS-FSTBC). The use of the BS in the proposed techniques helps to choose the sub-band with better subchannels gains for sending the information and consequently, minimize the BER. Moreover, the use of the FSTBC instead of STBC helps to use the spectral efficiently and hence increase data rate. The simulation results show that the proposed techniques BS-STBC and BS-FSTBC, for the MIMO self-heterodyne OFDM system, provide a great enhancement in the BER performance when compared to the conventional techniques. Moreover, the simulation results show that the first proposed technique BS-FSTBC outperform the second propose technique BS-STBC in term of the BER performance.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone initiated with different ruthenium derivatives: Kinetics and mechanism studies

End‐functionalized polyesters have been synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone (CL) initiated with five different ruthenium derivatives in the presence of a series of alcohols as transfer agents. Mechanistic studies were performed for ROP of CL with RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ ( I ), TpRuCl(PPh₃)₂ ( II ), and TpRuCl(PHPh₂)(PPh₃) ( III ) as catalysts in the presence or absence of benzyl alcohol (BzOH). Obtained molecular weights are proportional to CL/BzOH ratio, but there is not a direct relationship with CL/ruthenium complex ratios. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy revealed the existence of benzyl ester end‐groups. Catalysis involves (a) dissociation of ruthenium complexes, (b) coordination of the lactone CL, (c) coordination of the BzOH with the formation of a metal alkoxide, (d) transfer from the alkoxyl ligand to the coordinated lactone, and (e) ring‐opening of CL by oxygen‐acyl bond cleavage. The proposed mechanism is supported by ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and MALDI‐TOF analysis of the polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6926–6942, 2006     

Control of amphiphilic block copolymer morphologies using solution conditions

It is well known that the morphology of block copolymer aggregates depends on polymer properties such as the molecular weight, the relative block length, and the chemical nature of the repeat unit. Recently, we have shown that if aggregates are allowed to self-assemble in solution, then in addition to the above factors, a high degree of control over the aggregate architecture can be achieved by adjusting the solution conditions. Factors such as the water content in the solvent mixture, the solvent nature and composition, the presence of additives (ions, surfactants, and homopolymer) and the polymer concentration were successfully employed to control the aggregate shape and size. In this paper, we review a series of studies performed in our group to show how solution properties can control the architecture of aggregates prepared from a given copolymer. The control mechanism is explained in terms of the effect of each property on the forces that govern the formation of any given morphology, namely the core-chain stretching, corona-chain repulsion and interfacial tension. Received 30 April 2002 and Received in final form 3 September 2002 Published online: 21 January 2003     

Spectroscopic analysis of irradiated erythrocytes

The aim of the present work is to study the effect of gamma radiation on the lipid part of the erythrocyte membrane, and to test the efficiency of lipoic acid as a radioprotector. This effect was evaluated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results showed an increase in the number of spin density by 14%, 22% and 65% after exposure to 25, 50 and 100 Gy respectively; whereas there was a decline in the obtained density after incubation with lipoic acid by a factor of approximately 32%. The FT-IR spectra of the irradiated erythrocytes samples showed a marked decrease in the intensity of all characteristic peaks, which increased as the irradiation dose increased. The second-derivative of these spectra, allow the conformationally sensitive membrane acyl chain methylene stretching modes to be separated from the protein (mostly hemoglobin) vibrations that dominate the spectra of intact cells. The 2850 cm⁻¹ band showed changes in the band shape and position after exposure to 50 and 100 Gy. Therefore it can be concluded that the band at 2850 cm⁻¹ only is useful in monitoring the radiation effect of the lipids cell membrane intact cells.     

Synthesis of Bioactive Side‐Chain Analogues of TAN‐2483B

The fungal metabolite TAN‐2483B has a 2,6‐trans‐relationship across the pyran ring of its furo[3,4‐b]pyran‐5‐one core, which has thwarted previous attempts at its synthesis. We have now developed a chiral pool approach to this core and prepared side‐chain analogues of TAN‐2483B. The synthesis relies on ring expansion of a reactive furan ring‐fused dibromocyclopropane and alkynylation of the resulting pyran. The furan ring is constructed by palladium‐catalysed carbonylative lactonisation. Various side‐chains are appended through Wittig‐type chemistry. The prepared analogues showed micromolar activity towards cancer cell lines HL‐60, 1A9 and MCF‐7 and certain human disease‐relevant kinases, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk).     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Cholestanoheterocyclic Steroids as Anticancer Agents

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Modification of steroid molecules by introducing heterocyclic ring into the core structure of steroids has been utilized as an attractive approach for...     

Functionalization of Pasteurized Milk Using Rosemary,Thyme, and Ammoides Aqueous Extracts for Better Microbial Quality and an Improved Antioxidant Activity

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), and ammoides (Ammoidespusilla L.) aqueous extracts supplementation on the quality of heat-treated (55, 65, and 75 °C) raw milk (sample lots: A, B, and C) and cold-stored pasteurized milk (lot D). The three herbs have shown rich polyphenol contents (32.65–104.23 mgGAE/g), relevant antioxidant capacity, and high caffeic and rosmarinic acids and catechin contents. A significant reduction in psychrotrophic and total viable bacteria counts (PC and TVC) was attained following milk extract supplementation in both experiments. Monitoring PC and TVC counts in sample lots (A, B, and C) has revealed a significant improvement in extracts’ effectiveness in reducing the TVC count with the increment of temperature. The highest reductions of PC and TVC counts were achieved, respectively, in samples treated with thyme and rosemary in (lots: A, B, and C) and in samples treated with ammoides and thyme in (lot D). Thyme extract showed the highest milk serum DPPH scavenging activity (74.84% at 0.1 mg/mL) and induced a significant Listeria monocytogenes growth inhibition (>1 Log cycle). The sensory evaluation of supplemented milk has shown good consumer acceptability of ammoides-supplemented milk, quite similar to the control sample.     

Pairing of propellers: dimerization of octahedral ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) complexes of eilatin via pi-pi stacking featuring heterochiral recognition

Five octahedral eilatin complexes of the type [M(L-L)(2)(eilatin)](2+) (M = Ru, Os; L-L = bipyridyl-type ligands) were synthesized, and their dimerization via pi-pi stacking was studied by crystallography and (1)H NMR techniques. The X-ray structures of these racemic complexes were solved and revealed that the eilatin complexes are organized as discrete dimers in which the eilatin residues of each complex are stacked in centrosymmetric packing. Chemical shift dependence on concentration in the (1)H NMR spectra support fast dimer-monomer equilibrium, and the structures of the dimers in acetonitrile solution are proposed to be analogous to their solid-state structures. Dimerization constants in acetonitrile were measured for the five racemic eilatin complexes that exhibit different structural parameters, as well as for the two enantiomeric forms of one of these complexes. They were found to be independent of the metal (Ru vs Os), strongly dependent on the steric effects introduced by the L-L ligands (2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, and 2,2'-biquinoline), and dependent on the optical purity of the complexes. A clear preference for heterochiral over homochiral dimer formation was demonstrated. This is the first report of chiral recognition in solution, exhibited by simple chemical systems held solely by pi-stacking interactions.     

Atomic force microscopy of model lipid membranes

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are biomimetic model systems that are now widely used to address the biophysical and biochemical properties of biological membranes. Two main methods are usually employed to form SLBs: the transfer of two successive monolayers by Langmuir–Blodgett or Langmuir–Schaefer techniques, and the fusion of preformed lipid vesicles. The transfer of lipid films on flat solid substrates offers the possibility to apply a wide range of surface analytical techniques that are very sensitive. Among them, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has opened new opportunities for determining the nanoscale organization of SLBs under physiological conditions. In this review, we first focus on the different protocols generally employed to prepare SLBs. Then, we describe AFM studies on the nanoscale lateral organization and mechanical properties of SLBs. Lastly, we survey recent developments in the AFM monitoring of bilayer alteration, remodeling, or digestion, by incubation with exogenous agents such as drugs, proteins, peptides, and nanoparticles.

A new disposable biosensor platform: carbon nanotube/poly(o-toluidine) nanocomposite for direct biosensing of urea

The development of new techniques for rapid and continuous monitoring of urea in biomedical and clinical analysis is very important. Thus, conductive polymer-supported carbon nanotube as an effective electrochemical biosensing platform for direct detection of urea in blood samples was designed. For the assay optimization, several conductive polymers were synthesized and tested as electrode modifiers; among the tested polymers, poly-o-toluidine (PoT) showed the highest electrochemical signals. However, after the enzyme immobilization, direct bioelectrochemical signals were not obtained when the PoT was used alone. Due to the lower electrocatalytic feature of PoT, integration of carbon nanotube, to form a composite with the PoT, was exploited to enable the direct electron transfer. Successfully, using the hybrid, the catalytic activity of the immobilized urease enzyme was retained. Consequently, a sensitive and specific chronoamperometric signals were achieved after the bioassay optimization. Eventually, a standard calibration curve for urea determination was obtained. A linear range was found from 0.1 to 11 mM with the limit of detection of 0.03 mM. Successfully, several blood samples were analyzed and urea level was correlated with the reference analytical method.

Open image in new window

Graphical abstract Scheme 1: Schematic representation of screen-printed electrode-modified urease biosensors. Three-layer functionalized surface (multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly(o-toluidine) nanocomposite, with glutaraldehyde (cross-linker and urease-immobilized enzyme), was designed for urea biosensors.