Performance Evaluation of Sleep Mode on Power Saving in WiMAX IEEE 802.16m and LTE DRX

Power saving represents a vital role in mobile communications networks such as IEEE 802.16m and LTE. Modern user equipment (UE_s) require high data rates and low power consumption. It is found that arranging sleep mode mechanisms ensures UE battery longer lifetime. In this paper, different sleep mode mechanisms are investigated for both IEEE 802.16m and LTE networks. The analyses are based on Markov and Semi-Markov chains. It is focused on the determination of UE transition state. Web traffic model parameters were considered in MATLAB simulation and a comparison assessment was conducted between WiMAX IEEE 802.16m and LTE DRX. It was found that LTE DRX sleep mode provides more power saving than WiMAX IEEE 802.16m sleep mode. The study is now implemented for 5G networks with encouraging results.     

Diclofenac-bismuth complex: synthesis, physicochemical, and biological evaluation

Diclofenac-bismuth complexation was attempted by mixing diclofenac sodium (Na) and bismuth-subcitrate aqueous solutions at diclofenac:bismuth molar ratio of 3:1. A solid precipitate was obtained and isolated. The precipitate was characterized for stoichiometric ratio of diclofenac-bismuth complexation using capillary electrophoresis, which showed 1:1 complexation. In addition, nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared analysis were performed for the isolated solid complex and indicated that bismuth was in coordinate bond formation with the carboxylate group of diclofenac. In comparison with diclofenac Na powder, the complex was evaluated as an aqueous suspension for in vitro drug dissolution. The complex exhibited a faster dissolution rate than and similar dissolution extent as diclofenac Na. In comparison with an aqueous solution of diclofenac Na and an aqueous suspension of physical mixture of diclofenac acid (suspended) and bismuth-subcitrate (dissolved), the aqueous complex suspension was evaluated for ulcerogenic effect in rats upon oral administration. The complex led to more gastric ulceration than diclofenac Na, which was not in accordance with the antiulcer properties of bismuth. This antiulcer effect was shown as the physical mixture administration was accompanied with lower gastric ulceration than diclofenac Na administration. These gastric ulceration results were explained in terms of the difference in particle size between solid diclofenac acid formed as a result of the complex breakdown in an acidic medium (0.1 M HCl to simulate the gastric fluid) and that formed as a result of diclofenac Na neutralization. Diclofenac acid particles formed from the complex breakdown were of average size, three times smaller of those formed as a result of diclofenac Na protonation. This difference in particle size was correlated with the higher gastric ulceration associated with the complex than with diclofenac Na in terms of higher coverage of the gastric mucosa with diclofenac, and consequently, higher local ulceration.     

Mucoadhesive dosage form of lidocaine hydrochloride: I. Mucoadhesive and physicochemical characterization

The aim of this study was to characterize a buccal mucoadhesive film using lidocaine and its hydrochloride salt (LDHCL) as a model drug. Buccal films were developed using carbopol 971P as a mucoadhesive polymer, and glycerol as a plasticizer. Scanning Electron Microscope, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infra Red techniques were used to characterize the mucoadhesive films. Bioadhesive properties were evaluated using the Universal Instron Instrument with chicken pouch as a model tissue.

LDHCL and its base were present in carbopol 971P films in a molecular dispersion state without exerting any effect on the glass transition of these films. The mucoadhesive force between the chicken pouches and the film containing glycerol did not change by time during the tested period (1-20 min), while increased with increasing the amount of glycerol (10-40% w/w of polymer content). Furthermore, a linear increase in the mucoadhesive force was accompanied by the increase in the film thickness, while a linear decrease followed by plateau was obtained when loading the patch with LDHCL at concentration above 1 mg/cm².

Loading carbopol film with lidocaine base, in a concentration up to 6 mg/cm² decreased linearly the mucoadhesive properties, which could be attributed to salt formation between the acidic carboxylic moiety of carbopol and basic lidocaine.     

Performance of glass fiber reinforced polymer bars under elevated temperatures

This paper investigates the residual tensile properties of newly developed glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars after being subjected to elevated temperatures for different periods. A total of 120 GFRP specimens were tested in this study. Half of the samples were covered with concrete while the other half were bare bars. The specimens were subjected to three different controlled temperatures (100, 200 and 300 °C) for three different periods (1, 2, and 3 h). Test results showed that almost no losses were observed in the tensile modulus after all exposure periods and temperatures. Losses in the tensile strength, proportional to the level of temperature and exposure period, were recorded. The bars with concrete cover showed higher residual tensile strength compared to their counterparts without coating. The concrete cover was more effective at the lowest temperature level (100 °C) and at the shortest time period (1 h). Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) technique was also used to investigate the effect of elevated temperature on the degradation mechanism of the GFRP bars. The results showed that increasing the temperature level affected the resin matrix surrounding the glass fibers and consequently affected the bond between the fibers and the matrix.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Flavoxate Hydrochloride and its Hydrolysis Product

Liquid chromatographic method was presented for the determination of flavoxate hydrochloride (FX) and its hydrolysis product. The method was based on high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation of FX from its hydrolysis product on CN column using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-12 mM ammonium acetate (45:55, vol/vol, pH 4.0) with UV detection at 220 nm and flow rate of 1.5 mL min^?1. The proposed HPLC method for the determination of FX was utilized to investigate the kinetics of acidic hydrolytic process at different temperatures and to calculate its activation energy. In addition, the proposed HPLC method was used for pH-rate profile study of hydrolysis of FX in Britton–Robinson buffer solutions. The 3-methylflavone-8-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, as impurity of flavoxate hydrochloride, can be separated by the proposed HPLC method.     

Regularized MIMO Equalization for SC-FDMA Systems

In this paper, we propose an efficient frequency domain equalization scheme for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Single-Carrier Frequency-Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) systems. The proposed scheme avoids the complexity problem associated with the conventional MIMO Zero-Forcing (ZF) equalizer as well as the noise enhancement problem. The matrix inversion process associated with the proposed equalization scheme is performed in two steps to reduce complexity. A regularization term is added in the second step of the matrix inversion to avoid the noise enhancement. Simulation experiments on uplink MIMO SC-FDMA systems show that the proposed equalization scheme provides better performance than that of the ZF equalizer and its complexity is far less than that of the ZF equalizer.     

Highly Conductive Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly (styrenesulfonate) Films Using 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Tetracyanoborate Ionic Liquid

Highly conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films are obtained using ionic liquids as additives. Upon adding 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate (EMIM TCB) to the conducting polymer, the conductivity increases to 2084 S cm^?1; this is attributed to the phase separation of PSS leading to a structural change in the film. A comparative study with 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM BF₄) shows that EMIM TCB gives higher conductivity and transmittance and can be regarded as one of the most promising additives for the preparation of indium tin oxide (ITO)‐free organic devices using PEDOT:PSS/EMIM TCB as electrodes.     

Effects of Trisodium Phosphate and Sodium Chloride Dipping on the Microbial Quality and Shelf Life of Refrigerated Tray-packaged Chicken Breasts

Effects of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and/or sodium chloride (NaCl) dipping on microbial quality and shelf life of chicken breasts were investigated during refrigeration. Chicken breasts were dipped in aqueous solution (w/v) of 10% TSP, 10% NaCl, combination of TSP and NaCl (7.5% + 7.5%) or distilled water (control) for 10 min, followed by tray-packaging storage at 2 degrees C. During storage, chicken breasts dipped in TSP maintained almost constant pH, while pH of control or NaCl-treated samples significantly increased (P<0.05). TSP dipping resulted in initial reduction of 0.48 and 0.91 log(10) CFU/g in aerobic plate counts and Enterobacteriaceae count, respectively, when compared with control. By storage day 6, APC of control chicken breasts reached 6.91 log(10) CFU/g, while TSP-treatment either alone or in combination with NaCl significantly delayed microbial growth (P<0.05) and extended shelf life of refrigerated chicken breasts up to 12 days, at which APC were 6.87 and 6.39, respectively, versus 9.58 log(10) CFU/g for control. Significant reductions in psychrotrophic and Enterobacteriaceae count were detected at the end of storage period in chicken breasts treated with TSP alone or in combination with NaCl, whereas such treatments had no significant effects on lactobacilli or mold and yeast populations.     

Seismic Behavior of As-Built, ACI-Complying, and CFRP-Repaired Exterior RC Beam-Column Joints

In this paper, the efficiency and effectiveness of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets for upgrading the shear strength and ductility of a seismically deficient exterior beam-column joint were studied and compared with an American Concrete Institute (ACI)-based design joint specimen. One as-built joint specimen, representing the preseismic code design and construction practice for joints and one ACI-based design joint specimen, satisfying the seismic design requirements of the current code of practice were cast. The as-built specimen was used as baseline (control) specimen. These two specimens (i.e., the as-built control and the ACI-based specimens) were subjected to cyclic lateral load histories to induce damage equivalent to damage expected from a severe earthquake. The damaged control specimen was then repaired by filling its cracks with epoxy and externally bonding CFRP sheets to the joint, the beam, and part of the column regions. This specimen was identified as the repaired specimen. The repaired specimen was subjected to a similar cyclic lateral load history, and its response history was recorded. The response histories of the as-built control, the repaired, and the ACI-based design specimen were then compared. The test results demonstrated that externally bonded CFRP sheets can effectively improve both the shear strength and the deformation capacity of seismically deficient and damaged beam-column joints to a state comparable to the ACI-based design joint.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of garlic in chicken sausage

The antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of equivalent concentrations of fresh garlic (FG), garlic powder (GP) and garlic oil (GO) were investigated against lipid oxidation and microbial growth in raw chicken sausage during storage at 3°C. The antioxidant activities were compared to that of a standard synthetic antioxidant; butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The initial mean levels of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value and peroxide value (POV) were 0.140 and 6.32, respectively. However after 21 days of storage, TBA and POV ranged from 0.151 to 4.92, respectively, in FG (50 g/kg) formulated samples to 0.214 and 8.64, respectively, in GO (0.06 g/kg) formulation. Addition of either garlic or BHA (0.1 g/kg) significantly delayed lipid oxidation when compared with control. The antioxidant activities of the various materials added followed the order FG>GP>BHA>GO. On the other hand, the initial aerobic plate count (APC) in the samples was 4.41 log₁₀ CFU/g. Addition of FG (30 g/kg) or GP (9 g/kg) significantly reduced the APC and, subsequently, the shelf-life of the product was extended to 21 days. However, addition of GO or BHA resulted in no significant difference in APC when compared with control. Sensory analysis indicated that FG had a significant stronger flavor than the other sausage formulations. The results suggest that fresh garlic and garlic powder, through their combined antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, are potentially useful in preserving meat products.