ICI Reduction in OFDM Systems Using Phase Modified Sinc Pulse

This paper is focused on the problem of reducing the intercarrier-interference (ICI) power in the transmission over Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Systems (OFDM) using pulse shaping methods. A new pulse was proposed here and it was investigated in terms of ICI interference. It appears to be suitable for transmission in OFDM systems with carrier frequency offset. The results obtained by calculations show that the performance improvements are significant for reducing average intercarrier-interference (ICI) power and increasing the ratio of average signal power to average ICI power (SIR).     

Assertiveness training for disabled adults in wheelchairs: Self-report, role-play, and activity pattern outcomes.

34 physically disabled adults participated in an 11-wk assertiveness training (AT) program. Ss were randomly assigned to either AT or a waiting-list (WL) condition. Each was asked to complete 3 self-report measures, a role-play test, and a social and recreational activity diary. The AT Ss showed significant improvements on both self-reported assertiveness and role-play performance from pre- to posttreatment, whereas WL controls showed no changes on these measures. No significant changes in frequency of social or recreational activities were found at posttest for either AT or control Ss. A mixed pattern of results was shown at 6-mo follow-up. Posttest gains were maintained across all self-report measures of assertiveness and acceptance of disability, whereas role-play performance approached baseline levels at 6-mo follow-up. Overall results support the use of AT in enhancing perceived social efficacy and interpersonal skill of physically disabled adults in wheelchairs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural and thermodynamic analysis of metal filler incorporations in SiaOb(M)cCd polymer derived ceramics: Ta,Hf, Nb

This work systematically investigates the thermodynamic stability of Si_aO_b(M)_cC_d structures derived from polymeric precursors incorporating metal fillers: Ta, Nb, and Hf, at 1200 and 1500°C. Structural characterization of the polymer derived ceramics (PDCs) employs X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Enthalpies of formation relative to crystalline components (metal oxide, silica, silicon carbide, and graphite) are obtained from thermodynamic measurements by high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry. The enthalpies of formation (∆H°_{f, comp}) of Ta-1200, Hf-1200, Nb-1200, Ta-1500, Hf-1500, and Nb-1500 specimens are −137.82 ± 9.72, −256.31 ± 8.97, −82.80 ± 9.82, −182.80 ± 7.85, −292.54 ± 9.38, −224.98 ± 9.60 kJ/mol, respectively. Overall incorporation of Hf results in most thermodynamically stable structures at all synthesis temperatures. Si_aO_b(M)_cC_d specimens employing Nb fillers undergo the most stable structural evolution in this temperature range. The results indicate strong thermodynamic drive for carbothermal reduction of metal oxide domains. Incorporation of Ta provides the greatest stabilization of SiO₃C mixed bonding environments. Ultimately, the choice of metal filler influences composition, structural evolution, and thermodynamic stability in PDCs.     

Experimental Crossing Confirms Reproductive Isolation between Cryptic Species within Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Lake Baikal

Ancient lakes are known speciation hotspots. One of the most speciose groups in the ancient Lake Baikal are gammaroid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaroidea). There are over 350 morphological species and subspecies of amphipods in Baikal, but the extent of cryptic variation is still unclear. One of the most common species in the littoral zone of the lake, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Gerstfeldt, 1858), was recently found to comprise at least three (pseudo)cryptic species based on molecular data. Here, we further explored these species by analyzing their mitogenome-based phylogeny, genome sizes with flow cytometry, and their reproductive compatibility. We found divergent times of millions of years and different genome sizes in the three species (6.1, 6.9 and 8 pg), further confirming their genetic separation. Experimental crossing of the western and southern species, which are morphologically indistinguishable and have adjacent ranges, showed their separation with a post-zygotic reproductive barrier, as hybrid embryos stopped developing roughly at the onset of gastrulation. Thus, the previously applied barcoding approach effectively indicated the separate biological species within E. verrucosus. These results provide new data for investigating genome evolution and highlight the need for precise tracking of the sample origin in any studies in this morphospecies.     

Components of the Complement Cascade Differ in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Complement pathway proteins are reported to be increased in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may be affected by obesity and insulin resistance. To investigate this, a proteomic analysis of the complement system was undertaken, including inhibitory proteins. In this cohort study, plasma was collected from 234 women (137 with PCOS and 97 controls). SOMALogic proteomic analysis was undertaken for the following complement system proteins: C1q, C1r, C2, C3, C3a, iC3b, C3b, C3d, C3adesArg, C4, C4a, C4b, C5, C5a, C5b-6 complex, C8, properdin, factor B, factor D, factor H, factor I, mannose-binding protein C (MBL), complement decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and complement factor H-related protein 5 (CFHR5). The alternative pathway of the complement system was primarily overexpressed in PCOS, with increased C3 (p < 0.05), properdin and factor B (p < 0.01). In addition, inhibition of this pathway was also seen in PCOS, with an increase in CFHR5, factor H and factor I (p < 0.01). Downstream complement factors iC3b and C3d, associated with an enhanced B cell response, and C5a, associated with an inflammatory cytokine release, were increased (p < 0.01). Hyperandrogenemia correlated positively with properdin and iC3b, whilst insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) correlated with iC3b and factor H (p < 0.05) in PCOS. BMI correlated positively with C3d, factor B, factor D, factor I, CFHR5 and C5a (p < 0.05). This comprehensive evaluation of the complement system in PCOS revealed the upregulation of components of the complement system, which appears to be offset by the concurrent upregulation of its inhibitors, with these changes accounted for in part by BMI, hyperandrogenemia and insulin resistance.     

Improvement of actuation performance of dielectric elastomers by barium titanate and carbon black fillers

Dielectric elastomers are promising materials for actuators resembling human muscle. Among elastomers, acrylic rubbers (ACM) have shown good actuation performance but its use is limited by the high operating voltages required. The present work demonstrates that simultaneous incorporation of nanostructured carbon black and dielectric fillers offers an increase in a dielectric permittivity and a suitable modulus of the elastomers matrix, enabling an improved electro‐mechanical actuation performance at low voltages. By the use of reinforcing carbon black and barium titanate in an acrylic elastomer matrix a sixfold increase in the dielectric permittivity was realized. A fine tuning of the actuation stress and, consequently, actuation strain can be done by a judicial selection of the different filler concentrations in the soft rubber matrix. Finally, a synergistic effect of the fillers was observed in the improved actuation performance of the developed materials. This work may pave the way to design dielectric elastomers for actuator fabrication. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44116.     

Distribution of Mixing Efficiency in a Split-Cylinder Gas-Lift Bioreactor with Immobilized Yarrowia Lipolytica Cells Used for Olive Oil Mill Wastewater Treatment

The distribution of mixing in a split-cylinder gas-lift bioreactor has been investigated for suspensions of immobilized Yarrowia lipolytica cells with particles diameter varying between 3 and 4.2 mm. The results indicated important variation of mixing time on the height of riser or downcomer, as well as different behavior of suspensions flows in these two regions. Therefore, for the riser, the mixing efficiency increases from its bottom to the top, allowing the biocatalyst particles with intermediate size (3.6-mm diameter) reaching the most intense circulation of suspension. The analysis of the suspension flow in the downcomer region revealed that the intermediate positions are associated with the highest mixing mainly for the largest immobilized yeast particles (4.2-mm diameter). In both cases, the influence of aeration on turbulence extent is positive only for air superficial velocity up to 1.05–1.35 × 10^?3 m/s, the magnitude of this effect being correlated with the biocatalyst size and position on the riser or downcomer. By means of the experimental data, mathematical correlations for mixing time have been proposed for each circulation region, taking into consideration both the operational parameters and the distance from the bioreactor bottom. These equations offer a good concordance with the experiment, the average deviation being of 5.82% for the riser and 6.06% for the downcomer zone.     

Pre-Senescence Induction in Hepatoma Cells Favors Hepatitis C Virus Replication and Can Be Used in Exploring Antiviral Potential of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

Recent evidence suggests that fibrotic liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C correlates with cellular senescence in damaged liver tissue. However, it is still unclear how senescence can affect replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In this work, we report that an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6, palbociclib, not only induced in hepatoma cells a pre-senescent cellular phenotype, including G1 arrest in the cell cycle, but also accelerated viral replicon multiplication. Importantly, suppression of HCV replication by direct acting antivirals (DAAs) was barely affected by pre-senescence induction, and vice versa, the antiviral activities of host-targeting agents (HTAs), such as inhibitors of human histone deacetylases (HDACi), produced a wide range of reactions—from a dramatic reduction to a noticeable increase. It is very likely that under conditions of the G1 arrest in the cell cycle, HDACi exhibit their actual antiviral potency, since their inherent anticancer activity that complicates the interpretation of test results is minimized.     

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Periodontal Regeneration Using a Porous Collagen Scaffold

(1) Aim: To immunohistochemically evaluate the effect of a volume-stable collagen scaffold (VCMX) on periodontal regeneration. (2) Methods: In eight beagle dogs, acute two-wall intrabony defects were treated with open flap debridement either with VCMX (test) or without (control). After 12 weeks, eight defects out of four animals were processed for paraffin histology and immunohistochemistry. (3) Results: All defects (four test + four control) revealed periodontal regeneration with cementum and bone formation. VCMX remnants were integrated in bone, periodontal ligament (PDL), and cementum. No differences in immunohistochemical labeling patterns were observed between test and control sites. New bone and cementum were labeled for bone sialoprotein, while the regenerated PDL was labeled for periostin and collagen type 1. Cytokeratin-positive epithelial cell rests of Malassez were detected in 50% of the defects. The regenerated PDL demonstrated a larger blood vessel area at the test (14.48% ± 3.52%) than at control sites (8.04% ± 1.85%, p = 0.0007). The number of blood vessels was higher in the regenerated PDL (test + control) compared to the pristine one (p = 0.012). The cell proliferative index was not statistically significantly different in pristine and regenerated PDL. (4) Conclusions: The data suggest a positive effect of VCMX on angiogenesis and an equally high cell turnover in the regenerated and pristine PDL. This VCMX supported periodontal regeneration in intrabony defects.