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All over the world, sustainability has been given immense attention, thus novel state-of-the-art materials and building systems are emerging as alternatives. With those different alternatives, comparison and the selection of a better-performing material or a building system using diverse perspectives becomes important. Literature shows its complexity in adopting social and cultural dimensions in decision-making that adversely impacted on most desirable material selections in tropical underdeveloped countries as well as indigenous communities. This study proposed an eco-design-based material selection approach that considers the individual and holistic perspective of diverse eco-design indicators such as economic, ecological, social, and cultural. Several sub-themes are identified under each theme and are verified through expert surveys. The identified sub-themes are verified and compared Pairwise through expert surveys and using the Analytical Hierarchy Process leads to proposing weights for each theme and sub-theme and developing an eco-design-based material selection framework. Accordingly, saving energy (10.7%), reducing the overexploitation of natural resources (9.1%), reducing energy emissions (7.9%), and reducing construction (7.3%), as well as operational cost (7.6%), are the parameters that create a greater impact on the selection of sustainable material with the aid of eco-design. Overall, the ecological theme creates the highest impact of around 46% and the cultural theme contributes to a lower percentage of around 5% while the economic and social themes impact considerably 30% and 19% respectively. Furthermore, the developed framework is tested in a case study by comparing an emerging walling material, Cement Stabilized Earth Blocks with conventional materials such as Burnt Clay Bricks and Cement Sand Blocks. Technique for Order Preference by Similarities to Ideal Solution was carried out to compare and rank the respective walling materials under different scenarios. Accordingly, Cement Stabilized Earth Blocks is concluded to be the best alternative when analyzed in the eco-design concept. The proposed framework could be highly beneficial for industry practitioners in tropical underdeveloped countries and indigenous communities in choosing community-preferred, affordable, and environmentally-friendly construction materials.

Productivity growth is associated with competitiveness, profitability and sustainability in the construction sector, whereas studies underline that poor supervisory characteristics and training resources are the leading causes of construction productivity loss. This study employs a case study to evaluate the capabilities of construction supervisors to apply planning and management approaches for enhancing the effectiveness of construction operations. A new training programme for construction supervisors was designed using meticulous sequential methods, and 59 construction supervisors were trained and assessed under seven elements of competencies and the relevant learning domains. An assessment guide with varying degrees of descriptions and criteria was accomplished through literature reviews and professional interviews. The study has produced a new generalised guideline that shows the cross-section of what levels of skill/ability can be taken into account in supervisory attributes as a result. Using pertinent statistical evaluations and expert assessments, the reliability of the results, as well as the generalisation of the study’s applications and outcomes, were guaranteed. The study has opened a valve that allows new values of highly practicable supervision features to flow into the site management structures, filling the industry’s knowledge vacuum in the methodical execution of apprenticeships. Though the study’s conclusions/findings are particularly applicable to a developing country's construction environment analogous to the Sri Lankan context, they will have a significant impact on current/future industrial practices in a variety of other countries and rising industries.

BackgroundObesity and diabetes are known risk factors for severe dengue. Therefore, we sought to investigate the association of obesity with increased risk of hospitalization, as there is limited information.Methods and findingsChildren aged 10 to 18 years (n = 4782), were recruited from 9 districts in Sri Lanka using a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling method. Details of previous admissions to hospital due to dengue and anthropometric measurements were recorded and seropositivity rates for dengue were assessed. The body mass index (BMI) centile in children aged 10 to 18, was derived by plotting the values on the WHO BMI-for-age growth charts, to acquire the percentile ranking.ResultsAlthough the dengue seropositivity rates were similar in children of the different BMI centiles, 12/66 (18.2%) seropositive children with a BMI centile >97th, had been hospitalized for dengue, compared to 103/1086 (9.48%) of children with a BMI centile of 97th (OR 2.33, 95% CI, 1.47 to 3.67, p = 0.0003) was significantly associated with hospitalization when compared to children in other BMI categories.ConclusionsObesity appears to be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization in dengue, which should be further investigated in longitudinal prospective studies. With the increase in obesity in many countries, it would be important to create awareness regarding obesity and risk of severe disease and hospitalization in dengue.

Considering tag sensitivity and in-phase and quadrature-phase imbalance (IQI), this paper investigates the reliability and security of a cognitive radio (CR)-aided ambient backscatter communication (AmBC) non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system. Herein, the source communicates with its NOMA users in the presence of an eavesdropper, and to bolster security, artificial noise (AN) injection is introduced. The effects of non-ideal successive interference cancellation (SIC) and AN removal on system performance are also examined. Subsequently, outage probabilities (OPs) and interception probabilities (IPs) of the tag and NOMA signals are derived, with asymptotic results for further insights. Finally, simulation results are provided to validate the theoretical analysis. It is observed that both reliability and security remain stable even as interference or maximum transmission power increases up to a certain threshold. Furthermore, the reliability under NOMA mechanism outperforms that of orthogonal multiple access. Notably, IQI can consistently enhance the confidentiality of NOMA but selectively strengthen backscatter transmission, albeit at the expense of reliability. This paper comprehensively underscores the potential for real-world implementation by incorporating sensitivity constraints, IQI, AN, and imperfect SIC into the system model.

Abstract Background The pandemic has put at risk the social and emotional development of children on account of the paucity of arenas for social interaction. This study from Kerala, India was conducted to assess the resilience factors, behavioural concerns, psychological distress symptoms among the children aged 3 to 5 years. We also tried to look into the lost opportunities that could have aided the social and emotional development of children like peer interaction, child care hours. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted among the children aged 3 to 5 years. A total of 535 children attending the immunisation clinics were enrolled by consecutive sampling. Devereux Early Childhood Assessment P2 (DECA P2) questionnaire was used to assess the levels of resilient factors and behavioural concerns in the study population. Results We observed a high proportion of children in the area of need category of protective factors under DECA P2. The proportion of children falling under area of concern was 64.5%, 49%, 68.4% for attachment/relationship, self-regulation, and initiative respectively. 24.9% study subjects have a behavioural concern score that puts them in the area of need category. The logistic regression model we created identified ‘Male Gender,’ ‘Mothers could spend only less time for child care’ and ‘electronic devices used as pacifier’ as significant predictors for belonging to Area of need Behavioural Concerns T score category. Conclusion A large proportion of children aged between 3 to 5 years with reported behavioural concerns and lack of protective factors for socioemotional development. This can be attributed partly to the ongoing pandemic and its associated restrictions. The increased child care hours invested by parents or grandparents could have sized down the full impact that the pandemic would have had on the socio emotional development of the child. Increased time spent using electronic devices coupled with dwindled opportunities for interaction with peers have been notable challenges.

Near-field (NF) integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has the potential to revolutionize future wireless networks. It enables simultaneous communication and sensing operations on the same radio frequency (RF) resources using a shared hardware platform, maximizing resource utilization. NF-ISAC systems can improve communication and sensing performance compared to traditional far-field (FF) ISAC systems by exploiting the unique propagation characteristics of NF spherical waves with an additional distance dimension. Despite its potential, NF-ISAC research is still in its early stages, and a comprehensive survey of the technology is lacking. This paper systematically explores NF-ISAC technology, providing an in-depth analysis of both NF and FF systems, their applicability in various scenarios, and different channel models. It highlights the advantages and philosophies of ISAC, examining both narrow-band and wide-band NF-ISAC systems. Case studies and simulations offer deeper insights into NF-ISAC design philosophies. Additionally, the paper reviews the existing NF-ISAC literature, methodologies, potentials, and conclusions, and discusses future research areas, challenges, and applications.

Wound healing is a complicated, organised process that includes numerous phases that connect diverse cellular events and activate several intracellular molecular pathways in injured cells and tissues. Delay in wound healing owing to high levels of oxidative stress is a major difficulty in various metabolic illnesses, including diabetes mellitus. Several therapeutic wound dressing materials and methods, such as hyperbaric oxygen treatment and negative pressure wound therapy, have been developed to speed up wound healing and restore cellular homeostasis. A significant advance has been made in locating transcriptional regulators involved in wound healing. The redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is the major regulator of antioxidant defence regulation, inducing the expression of cytoprotective genes and increasing the generation of antioxidants that scavenge free radicals. Activators of Nrf2 have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and improve wound healing in a variety of pathophysiological situations, including diabetes and its consequences such as diabetic foot ulcers, chronic kidney disease, and diabetic nephropathy. Several therapeutic chemicals have been discovered to alleviate oxidative stress and consequently increase cell proliferation. Angiogenesis results in tissue healing through activating the transcription factor Nrf2. This review focuses on the role of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant gene expression in diabetic wound healing.

This study primarily identifies the knowledge gaps that must be filled to apply conceptualised methods for rising and benchmarking productivity levels of various construction operational tasks. Accordingly, this study intended to evaluate labour productivity in relation to labour performance using potential apprenticeship instruments and systems. Comprehensive literature analysis and expert consultations were carried out to create a new mechanism with the collection of potential models, methods and systems connected to labour training, performance evaluation and productivity measurements. A total of 23 construction projects in Sri Lanka employed the created approach methodically. The results demonstrate the precise patterns of substantial shifts in labour productivity and performance index values, which have sparked new conceptual mechanisms for construction project planning methods. The outcomes demonstrate that the suggested approach can be used in a way that is reliable, generalisable, productive and sustainable. The study provides project managers, planners and engineers with a new road map and helpful techniques to raise the standard for measuring labour productivity levels across a variety of jobs. The overall study outcomes strengthen the chain relationship among the training elements, labour skills, performance and productivity. Though the study findings were limited to the construction industry and Sri Lankan context, the study outcomes are expected to make a significant impact on the current practices of various industry sectors in many developing countries for achieving higher productivity levels in work operations. This paper discusses some more implications and future scopes of the study elaborately.

Various industry sectors of many developing countries have been facing various challenges associated with low performance of labour due to poor work-based training practices. This study aims to assess the performance of labour in construction by applying systematic work-based training components. A comprehensive study methodology was adopted through literature reviews and experts’ interviews/discussions, with problem-focused and action-oriented communication approaches to develop effective tools, systems and practices related to labour training elements and performance assessments within a framework. Through a new construction supervisory training programme, the developed practices were applied to 200-300 labourers working on 23 construction projects in Sri Lanka. The results show the detailed patterns of the significant changes in labour performance with the quantified values. Overall quantitative values indicate a nearly 60% increase in the performance of labour within six months of the training period compared to the starting point. A considerable level of performance improvement was reported in the soft skills (90%) and material handling abilities (70%) of labourers. A moderate level of performance improvement was identified in other competency elements related to the application of basic science/technology-related practices (55%), simple engineering/technology-related practices (44%), construction methods and technology (56%), green practices (36%) and fundamental management aspects (34%). The overall performance values of labourers employed in road/bridge projects were found that noticeably lower compared to the labourers who worked on other types of projects. The results further describe the well-improved theoretical knowledge and operational skills of the trained labourers, which has uplifted their job standards from working under close supervision to working under general supervision with some autonomy. Moreover, the study findings contribute to controlling the excessive inclination of local firms toward foreign labour by unlocking the potential barriers to expanding the local labour supply with lifelong learning and career benefits/opportunities for labourers. The findings will have a significant impact on how other developing nations and industries must manage their labour to obtain higher work efficiency in the foreseeable future.

Objective: This study aims at understanding the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of breastfeeding among mothers and the factors associated with good knowledge about breastfeeding. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study among 251 mothers of infants admitted in the pediatric wards of SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram was conducted during November-December 2019. The mothers of infants born between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation and without major birth defects were included in the study. The data were entered into an MS Excel sheet and analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences version 26.0. Significance of association was tested using Chi-square test and multivariate analysis was done using binary logistic regression test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.25 (SD 4) years. On multivariable analysis, higher education and older age were found to be significantly associated with good knowledge. Independent sample T-Test results show that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean age of mothers with good knowledge (26.4(±4), 25.14(±3.7)), p-0.015 and statistically significant association was found between the mean attitude scores (34.07(5.58)) with current breastfeeding practices (p=0.002). Chi-square test shows that exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with the mother’s age (p=0.006); 64.2% of women practicing exclusive breastfeeding were less than 25 years of age. This study also demonstrated a significant association between the initiation of breastfeeding within an hour and exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.003). Conclusion: This study shows that mothers with higher age and higher educational qualifications were significantly associated with good knowledge about breastfeeding. Even though mothers have good knowledge, nearly half the mothers only exclusively breastfeed their infants for six months. Improving the educational qualification of women and increasing awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding among young women will promote breastfeeding practices.

Internet-of-Things (IoT) is rapidly growing in wireless technology, aiming to connect vast numbers of devices to gather and distribute vital information. Despite individual devices having low energy consumption, the cumulative demand results in significant energy usage. Consequently, the concept of ultra-low-power tags gains appeal. Such tags communicate by reflecting rather than generating the radio frequency (RF) signals by themselves. Thus, these backscatter tags can be low-cost and battery-free. The RF signals can be ambient sources such as wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi), cellular, or television (TV) signals, or the system can generate them externally. Backscatter channel characteristics are different from conventional point-to-point or cooperative relay channels. These systems are also affected by a strong interference link between the RF source and the tag besides the direct and backscattering links, making signal detection challenging. This paper provides an overview of the fundamentals, challenges, and ongoing research in signal detection for AmBC networks. It delves into various detection methods, discussing their advantages and drawbacks. The paper’s emphasis on signal detection sets it apart and positions it as a valuable resource for IoT and wireless communication professionals and researchers.

This paper investigates the optimization of the primary base station (BS) to effectively support a symbiotic radio (SR) network between a primary network consisting of a single user and the secondary network comprising multiple tags of a backscatter network. The tags use non-orthogonal multiple access for communication, and we consider passive tags and reconfigurable tags. To decode data successfully, the primary user adopts a successive interference cancellation technique. However, in practical networks, imperfect channel state information is inevitable and can significantly degrade network performance. Surprisingly, this issue has not been previously investigated. Thus, considering these factors, we aim to optimize the beamforming vectors at the BS, supporting both the primary and backscatter networks, while simultaneously maximizing the weighted sum rate or minimizing transmit power. These optimization problems are non-convex, and we develop a combination of alternative optimization, fractional programming, and semi-definite relaxation techniques for solutions. We conduct evaluations of the proposed algorithms considering both fixed and reconfigurable tags with variable reflection coefficients. Furthermore, extensive numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the validity and performance gains achieved by the proposed schemes. The results of our study highlight the improved benefits that SR systems can offer through the utilization of our optimization schemes.

Big data is generated from various sources, such as the Internet of things, social media, databases, wearables, smart cars, and so on, and is characterized by five V’s: volume, value, variety, velocity, and veracity. Transmitting big data to secondary users (SUs) over a cognitive cloud radio access network (CRAN) offers multiple benefits and critical challenges. To address these limitations, we have designed two deadline-aware, non-preemptive algorithms that maximize the sum of weighted data transferred by the network over admission, time scheduling, spectrum, and remote radio head (RRH) allocation decisions. Each data request can have a different size, target bit error rate (BER), minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirement, and deadline, incorporating the simultaneous provision of various types of big data and ordinary data jointly. Furthermore, our formulation considers all five V’s of big data. The first algorithm we propose is an offline batch scheduling (OFB) algorithm, which assumes that all data requests are available at the time of optimization. While this sub-optimal algorithm has a lower complexity and can be implemented in larger networks than the global optimum algorithm, it is not practical for real-time applications since it requires collecting all data requests beforehand for joint scheduling. Thus, our second one is a sub-optimal online real-time scheduling (ONR) algorithm that performs admission and resource allocation on-the-fly using predictions of upcoming data requests and future availability of spectrum channels. After deriving these two algorithms, we conduct a thorough performance analysis and derive bounds on their objective values compared to the global optimum. We then demonstrate their effectiveness in achieving higher weighted sums of transferred data and prioritizing SUs with big data requests over existing alternatives through extensive numerical comparisons.

This paper develops an efficient channel estimation algorithm based on second-order statistics of time division duplex (TDD) multiuser massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The algorithm uses the received signal correlation to determine the most significant lags (MSLs) of the received signal. We first employ these MSLs to propose a novel set containing the channel’s four most significant taps (MSTs). Then, by using them, we propose an efficient semi-blind iterative algorithm called enhanced modified-subspace pursuit (EM-SP). It uses the set mentioned above and two theoretical results (Lemma 1 and Theorem 1) to estimate an arbitrary number of MSTs efficiently. Simulation results show that the normalized mean square error (NMSE) of the proposed EM-SP algorithm is much smaller than that of the subspace pursuit (SP) and orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithms at the cost of 0.3 % and 2 % more computational complexity for the channels with three and six nonzero paths, respectively. Moreover, the NMSE of it is very close to that of the optimal genie-aided least square algorithm.

Purpose – Past studies highlight a wide range of labour-related problems resulting in productivity loss in the construction industry of many developing countries. This study aims to quantify the impacts of labour-related factors on the productivity of construction operations in Sri Lankan building projects based on the viewpoint of engineers and construction managers for upgrading management/organisational policies and practices. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to identify the critical factors. Further, a series of industry consultative discussions were conducted through problem-based communication approaches to analyse the actions required. Findings – A total of 21 factors were determined as critical, where skills shortage, labourers’ thinking abilities, work experience, knowledge in construction works and discipline were leading in the list. The statistical tests and the experts’ discussion outcomes ensured the validity and reliability of the study findings. Research limitations/implications – The study outcomes will contribute to finding out better ways for directing labour in the industry practices and revising organisational policies towards achieving higher productivity levels in construction operations. Though the study findings are limited to the Sri Lankan context, some findings may be tested in other developing countries in similar scenarios. Originality/value – The study findings show why the identified factors are critical, how those influence construction practices and what actions need to be considered for addressing the industry’s productivity-related challenges. These can play a key role in upgrading the construction management practices and organisational policies to the near-future stages.

Massive connectivity of billions of communicating devices for fifth-generation (5G) and beyond networks requires the deployment of self-sustaining, maintenance-free, and low-cost communication paradigms. Could passive Internet of Things (IoT) solve these challenges? Passive IoT can be realized with the backscatter communication (BackCom) paradigm, which uses ultra-low power, inexpensive passive tags to support massive connectivity. However, a comprehensive link budget analysis for BackCom networks has not yet been available. It is something that is necessary for practitioners and researchers to evaluate the potential of BackCom. This survey is organized as follows. First, we describe the BackCom configurations, passive IoT design targets, backscatter channel statistics, and the different components and operations of the backscatter tag. Second, we develop the forward link budget and the overall link budget. All the relevant parameters are described in detail. Third, we give numerical and simulation results to get insights on the achievable performance of BackCom networks. Since additive path losses and excess fading can limit the performance of BackCom networks, we examine potential solutions to overcome the resulting limitations, enabling massive IoT networks. We also discuss integrating BackCom with existing wireless technologies. We further highlight some applications and address open issues, challenges, and future research directions.

Ambient backscatter communication (AmBC) addresses connectivity, cost, and congestion bottlenecks for the Internet of Things (IoT) deployment. AmBC, by avoiding a dedicated power infrastructure and carrier emitter, allows tags to communicate by simply reflecting the ambient radio frequency (RF) signals to the reader. Thus, the tag can operate in the low-maintenance, battery-free mode and with energy harvesting. However, a fundamental bottleneck is the limited communication range. A novel solution is that the tag can use a tunnel diode amplifier to enhance its backscattered signal power and thus extend the communication range. This paper studies the tunnel diode amplifier solution and investigates the resulting capacity performance. Specifically, we first develop the system’s mathematical model, elaborate on the tunnel diode’s amplification mechanism, and derive its reflection gain. Subsequently, we derive the closed-form channel capacity and propose a reader-tag distance adjustment scheme to improve the system’s performance. Finally, simulation results corroborate our theoretical results. They show that the tunnel diode amplifier can significantly increase the system capacity by an order of magnitude when the tag receives less than -30 dBm of incident RF signal power. They also demonstrate a significant increase in the communication range.

Abstract Background Enzyme assays have widespread applications in drug discovery from plants to natural products. The appropriate use of blanks in enzyme assays is important for assay baseline-correction, and the correction of false signals associated with background matrix interferences. However, the blank-correction procedures reported in published literature are highly inconsistent. We investigated the influence of using different types of blanks on the final calculated activity/inhibition results for three enzymes of significance in diabetes and obesity; α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase. This is the first study to examine how different blank-correcting methods affect enzyme assay results. Although assays targeting the above enzymes are common in the literature, there is a scarcity of detailed published protocols. Therefore, we have provided comprehensive, step-by-step protocols for α-glucosidase-, α-amylase- and lipase-inhibition assays that can be performed in 96-well format in a simple, fast, and resource-efficient manner with clear instructions for blank-correction and calculation of results. Results In the three assays analysed here, using only a buffer blank underestimated the enzyme inhibitory potential of the test sample. In the absorbance-based α-glucosidase assay, enzyme inhibition was underestimated when a sample blank was omitted for the coloured plant extracts. Similarly, in the fluorescence-based α-amylase and lipase assays, enzyme inhibition was underestimated when a substrate blank was omitted. For all three assays, method six [Raw Data - (Substrate + Sample Blank)] enabled the correction of interferences due to the buffer, sample, and substrate without double-blanking, and eliminated the need to add substrate to each sample blank. Conclusion The choice of blanks and blank-correction methods contribute to the variability of assay results and the likelihood of underestimating the enzyme inhibitory potential of a test sample. This highlights the importance of standardising the use of blanks and the reporting of blank-correction procedures in published studies in order to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of results, and avoid overlooked opportunities in drug discovery research due to inadvertent underestimation of enzyme inhibitory potential of test samples resulting from unsuitable blank-correction. Based on our assessments, we recommend method six [RD − (Su + SaB)] as a suitable method for blank-correction of raw data in enzyme assays.

Generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM), an enabler of beyond-5G wireless networks, can be critically impaired due to radio frequency (RF) phase noise. However, joint channel estimation and phase noise compensation for GFDM systems have not been addressed before. Hence, we tackle this problem. To this end, we propose an iterative algorithm for joint channel and phase noise estimation and two algorithms for joint data detection and phase noise compensation. These algorithms use linear and non-linear least-squares (NLS) methods and employ block-type and comb-type pilots. The complexity of these algorithms is also analyzed. Moreover, to reduce their complexity, interpolation techniques are deployed to decrease the number of unknowns. We also analyze the signal-to-interference-plus noise ratio (SINR) and sum-rate of GFDM contaminated with phase noise. Furthermore, the accuracy of the channel and phase noise estimates is established via Cramér-Rao lower bounds (CRLBs). The simulation results illustrate that the mean-squared error (MSE) performance of the proposed joint channel and phase noise estimator reaches the CRLB. Moreover, the proposed joint data symbol detection and phase noise compensation algorithms nearly eliminate the impacts of phase noise in GFDM systems.

Background and Objectives: The morbidity and mortality spectrum of the south Indian state of Kerala is dominated by chronic non-communicable diseases, yet febrile illnesses because of neglected tropical diseases and emerging viral infections are often reported. As fever deaths are mostly avoidable, understanding the determinants of mortality is essential for implementing preventive measures. Methods: A case-control study was done during an ongoing dengue outbreak in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala during 2017–18. Cases included all fever deaths from the line list of Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP). Data were obtained from hospital case records and by interviewing patients or care givers. The theoretical model for determinants of mortality was constructed at three levels namely sociodemographic factors, access to health care and health seeking behavior, and clinical determinants. Results: This study confirmed association of mortality with age above 40 years (P = 0.010, OR = 3.48), being heavy built (P = 0.029, OR = 13.25), clinical symptoms of breathlessness (P < 0.001, OR = 24.89), restlessness (P < 0.001, OR = 97.26), clinical signs of drowsiness (P = 0.024, OR = 7.97), hypotension (P < 0.001, OR = 42.22), complications such as ARDS (P = 0.047, OR = 171.56), and myocarditis (P = 0.012, OR = 16.59). A low occupation status of semiskilled work or less (P = 0.012, OR = 0.30), choosing a nearby hospital for treatment (P = 0.018, OR = 0.48) and shortening the time gap between onset of symptom and final diagnosis (P = 0.044, OR = 0.72) was found to be protective. Conclusion: Along with biological and clinical factors, distal determinants like social factors, health seeking behavior, and health system factors are associated with fever mortality.

Wireless transceivers for mass-market applications must be cost effective. We may achieve this goal by deploying non-ideal low-cost radio frequency (RF) analog components. However, their imperfections may result in RF impairments, including phase noise (PN), carrier frequency offset (CFO), and in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) imbalance. These impairments introduce in-band and out-of-band interference terms and degrade the performance of wireless systems. In this survey, we present RF-impairment signal models and discuss their impacts. Moreover, we review RF-impairment estimation and compensation in single-carrier (SC) and multicarrier systems, especially orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Furthermore, we discuss the effects of the RF impairments in already-established wireless technologies, e.g., multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), massive MIMO, full-duplex, and millimeter-wave communications and review existing estimation and compensation algorithms. Finally, future research directions investigate the RF impairments in emerging technologies, including cell-free massive MIMO communications, non-orthogonal multicarrier systems, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), ambient backscatter communications, and intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted communications. Furthermore, we discuss artificial intelligence (AI) approaches for developing estimation and compensation algorithms for RF impairments.

Introduction : Patient satisfaction is considered to be a vital component in the evaluation of the quality of care.Objectives: To describe the maternal satisfaction on care received by the neonates and mothers during their stay in the secondary and tertiary care hospitals in a district of Sri Lanka.Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted among 235 postpartum mothers of neonates who were treated for sepsis in the neonatal intensive care units. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess maternal satisfaction regarding the care received by the mothers (20 items) and neonates (20 items). The mothers were also requested to make suggestions for improvement. The questionnaire was administered on the day of discharge from the hospital. Overall satisfaction scores for maternal care and neonatal care were calculated separately and was considered satisfactory if it was more than 75% of the total score.Results: The overall mean satisfaction score for maternal care was 84.2 (range 49-100) and for neonatal care, it was 94.0 (range 52-98). Majority of the mothers were satisfied with the maternal care (n=208; 88.5%) and neonatal care (n=220; 93.6%). The majority were satisfied regarding the breastfeeding counselling (n=224; 93.3%), information on the treatment their neonates received (n=227; 94.6%) and investigations of the neonates (n=196; 81.7%). A higher percentage also recommended the obstetric unit to others as a favourable place (n=224; 93.3%) and preferred to return to the same unit for neonatal care for any future episode of illness (n=227; 94.6%).Conclusions: The overall maternal satisfaction regarding the neonatal and maternity care was high. There was a gap between the needs and provision of healthcare.

Introduction: Adherence to infection control practices are crucial for neonatal care. Objectives: To describe the adherence to clean birth and postnatal care practices by healthcare workers in selected procedures in major hospitals in a district of Sri Lanka Methods: This was a qualitative observational study. The study sample comprised healthcare workers (doctors, nurses and midwives) attached to the labour room (LR), postnatal ward (PNW), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and operating theatre (OT). A total of 70 healthcare workers from the LR, 90 from the PNW, 50 from the NICU and 60 from the OT were assessed in relation to each procedure they carried out. Four checklists were used to record the observations on infection control standards. The performance of each healthcare worker for each specific procedure was observed only once. Results: Hand washing practices among the healthcare workers in LR, NICU, PNW and OT varied, with better practices seen in NICU and PNW. Recapping of the needles was done by 18.6%, 18.0% and 31.2% in LR, NICU and PNW, respectively. Disposal of sharps to the bin was done by almost all healthcare workers in the LR, NICU and PNW, respectively. All the healthcare workers used 70% alcohol to disinfect the skin, of whom the majority used povidone iodine when drawing blood samples for blood culture in the NICU. Changing or washing gloves before cutting the umbilical cord was observed in the majority of healthcare workers in LR and the minority in OT. Conclusions: Adherence to infection control standards by healthcare workers in observed procedures was not up to the standard.

We investigate the problem of sum-rate maximization of a secondary link of full-duplex generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) radios operating over a spectrum hole, which is surrounded by two active primary adjacent channels. Thus, the secondary transmissions must be below an adjacent channel interference (ACI) threshold. In-band distortions and several interference terms are also caused by phase noise, in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) imbalance, carrier frequency offset (CFO) and the nonlinear power amplifier (PA). Analog domain and digital domain self-interference (SI) cancellation is also considered. We study the two cases of two independent oscillators for local transmitter and receiver and one common shared oscillator. We derive the powers of residual SI, desired signal, interference signal and noise, signal-to-interference-plus noise ratio (SINR) and the power spectral density (PSD) of the transmit signal. By using successive convex approximations, we solve the sum-rate maximization problem. Finally, we show that in full-duplex radios under certain RF impairments, GFDM may double the sum rate compared to that of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

Wireless powered communication networks (WPCNs) are commonly analyzed by using the linear energy harvesting (EH) model. However, since practical EH circuits are non-linear, the use of the linear EH model gives rise to distortions and mismatches. To overcome these issues, we propose a more realistic, nonlinear EH model. The model is based upon the error function and has three parameters. Their values are determined to best fit with measured data. We also develop the asymptotic version of this model. For comparative evaluations, we consider the linear and rational EH models. With these four EH models, we investigate the performance of a WPCN. It contains a multiple-antenna power station (PS), a signal-antenna wireless device (WD), and a multiple-antenna information receiving station (IRS). The WD harvests the energy broadcast by the PS in the PS-WD link, and then it uses the energy in the WD-IRS link to transfer information. We analyze the average throughput of delay-limited and delay-tolerant transmission modes as well as the average bit error rate (BER) of binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and binary differential phase-shift keying (BDPSK) over the four EH modes. As well, we derive the asymptotic expressions for the large PS antenna case and the effects of transmit power control. Furthermore, for the case of multiple WDs, we optimize energy beamforming and time allocation to maximize the minimum rate of the WDs. Finally, the performances of four EH models are validated by Monte-Carlo simulations.

Due to the dramatic increase in wireless data traffic and the associated increase in energy consumption, designing energy-efficient wireless networks with improved spectral efficiency is a pressing concern. The focus of this article is the design of a green, highly energy-efficient cellular heterogeneous network (HetNet) by taking advantage of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) structure and deployment of small cells. We consider the downlink of a two-tier HetNet, in which multiple-antenna small cells are coordinated to serve users. Even though the deployment of MIMO together with small cells improves the communication system's performance in terms of data rate and reliability, circuit energy consumption in such a network is a critical issue. To address this, an energy-efficient antenna selection and radio resource block assignment algorithm is proposed for the small cells, and a single radio-frequency (RF) chain structure is considered for the massive MIMO macro base station. Then, while coordinating transmissions between cells subject to user-centric clustering, an energy-efficient beamforming design and power allocation optimization problem with respect to the quality of service requirement of users, transmit power budget of base stations, and fronthaul capacity is formulated; the problem is solved using the Dinkelbach method. Simulation results demonstrate the performance potential of our proposed algorithm in terms of energy efficiency and spectral efficiency.

Massive and ubiquitous deployment of devices in networks of fifth generation (5G) and beyond wireless has necessitated the development of ultra-low-power wireless communication paradigms. Recently, wireless-powered networks with backscatter communications (WPN-BCs) has been emerged as a most prominent technology for enabling large-scale self-sustainable wireless networks with the capabilities of RF energy harvesting (EH) and of extreme low power consumption. Therefore, we provide a comprehensive literature review on the fundamentals, challenges and the on-going research efforts in the domain of WPN-BCs. Our emphasis is on large-scale networks. In particular, we discuss signal processing aspects, network design issues and efficient communication techniques. Moreover, we review emerging technologies for WPN-BCs to bring about the best use of resources. Some applications of this innovative technology are also highlighted. Finally, we address some open research problems and future research directions.

In this paper, we analyze the performance of a wireless-powered communication network that consists of a multiple-antenna hybrid access point (AP) and a single-antenna user. The AP transmits radio frequency (RF) power in the downlink (DL) using maximal ratio transmission (MRT) type energy beamforming. The user harvests it and transmits data to the AP in the uplink (UL), which is received with maximal ratio combining (MRC). Previous analyses have assumed the availability of perfect channel estimation. In contrast, we eliminate this unrealistic assumption and consider the effect of imperfect channel estimates. We first derive the distributions of the received AP signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We then analyze the average throughput performance of delay-limited and delay-tolerant modes by evaluating the outage probability (OP) and ergodic capacity (EC). We also derive the exact bit error rates (BERs) and symbol error rates (SERs) of several digital modulations. Asymptotic performance expressions in the high SNR regime and the large antenna regime are also developed. Finally, analytical and asymptotic results are validated by Monte-Carlo simulations. The impacts of the transmit power, the energy harvesting (EH) time, the number of antennas and the efficiency of EH are investigated.

The present study intends to formulate, characterize and appraise the phospholipid-based nanovesicular system for enhanced delivery of Hesperetin (HT). The quality by design (QbD) approach was employed to prepare Hesperetin naturosomes (HTN) using the solvent evaporation technique and assessed for physicochemical and pharmacological attributes. The FTIR, DSC, and PXRD studies confirmed the successful formation of a vesicular drug-phospholipid complex, while photomicroscopy, SEM, and TEM analysis revealed the morphology of HTN. The functional attributes substantially enhanced the HT's aqueous solubility, drug release, and membrane permeation. The aqueous solubility of HTN was ~10-fold more than that of pure HT. Likewise, the in-vitro dissolution data of HTN showed better competence in releasing the HT (>93%) than the pure HT (~64%) or the physical mixture (~74%). Furthermore, HTN significantly altered HT permeation (>53%) when compared to pure HT (23%) or the physical mixture (28%). The current study showed that naturosomes are a promising way to improve the solubility in water, bioavailability, and therapeutic effectiveness of drugs.

Background: Quarantine is considered the most effective way to reduce the transmission of an infectious disease. The outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in 2020 led to many people being quarantined at various locations. The literature shows that people who undergo quarantine face psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety and stress. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues among quarantined people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Adults aged 18 years and above who underwent quarantine in the area of the Pangappara Medical Health Centre were included. A semi-structured questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 were administered to those who had given their informed consent. Quantitative variables were summarized using mean, standard deviation, and categorical variables with proportions. Significance of association was tested using the chi-square tests. Results: There were 143 participants included in the study. It was found that 23.8% had depressive symptoms, 14% had anxiety symptoms and 16.8% had significant stress. People from the age group of 26-40 years (p = 0.017), people from the higher educated group (p = 0.010) and non-resident Keralites (Keralites who were residing elsewhere and returned to Kerala during the pandemic) (p = 0.041) had the highest prevalence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: People who undergo quarantine face many psychological issues. The health care system should provide adequate psychosocial support to quarantined people suffering from psychological problems. Health care workers should undergo appropriate training to provide these supports.

Background: After the 2007 epidemic, a major outbreak of chikungunya was reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India during 2019–2020. Study design: A cross sectional survey was conducted during the period to elucidate the clinical profile of patients and the genotype of CHIKV involved in the infections in one of the worst affected villages. Patients (n = 148) meeting WHO case definition were recruited both prospectively and retrospectively. All the samples were subjected to either RT-PCR or IgM ELISA based on the duration of symptoms. The CHIKV envelope gene sequences amplified among the positives were analyzed. Data on socio-demographic details, mosquito control practices, clinical features, details of hospitalization and treatment were collected. Results: Among the CHIKV suspected cases, 38 were recruited prospectively and 110 retrospectively. Among the former group 92% tested positive for CHIKV infection by either PCR or ELISA. Fever (51.4%) and joint pain (20.0%) were the presenting symptoms. More than 45% of the subjects had involvement of the knee joints. CHIKV Envelope gene sequence analysis indicated that all the cases belonged to the genetic lineage similar to 2006 outbreak CHIKV in Kerala. In addition, two novel non-synonymous mutations, K211E and I317V was recorded. Conclusions: The clinical presentation of Chikungunya has shown some changes compared to previous epidemic. Fever was reported to be the initial symptom of the clinical profile. Implication of the two additional mutations found in the envelope gene of the virus needs further exploration towards recent increasing trend of CHIKV infection in the state.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms of Bauhiniastatin-1 (BSTN1) to alleviate adiposity in diet-induced obese rodent model and in 3T3-L1 cells.Methods: BSTN1 was purified and confirmed through HPLC. In-vitro experiments such as MTT assay, Oil Red-O (ORO) stain, cellular lipid content, glycerol release and RT-PCR analysis were performed in 3T3-L1 cells in the presence and absence of BSTN1. In animal experiments, rats were divided into Group-I: normal pellet diet-fed, Group-II: HFD-fed, Groups-III, IV and V: HFD-fed BSTN1 (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg.b.wt./day/rat)-treated and Group-VI: HFD-fed Orlistat-treated. The rats were fed either normal diet or high fat diet (HFD) for 18 weeks and water ad-libitum. BSTN1 was orally administered from 13th week onwards to the selected HFD-fed groups. Body composition parameters, biochemical assays, histopathology examination and western blot analysis were performed to identify the predicted targets related to obesity. Molecular docking studies threw light on the binding interactions of BSTN1 against PPAR-γ, FAS and AMPK.Results: BSTN1 at 20 μM significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. A conspicuous down-regulation in the mRNA expression levels of PPAR-γ, FAS and SREBP1 was observed but AMPK expression remained unchanged in BSTN1 treated 3T3-L1 cells. A substantial decrease in body weight gain, fat percent, total body fat, serum and liver lipid profile (except high-density lipoprotein), glucose, insulin and insulin resistance in BSTN1 treated rats was noticed in a dose dependent manner. In BSTN1 (5 mg/kg.b.wt.)-treated groups significantly (p < 0.01) elevated plasma adiponectin level but reduced leptin level as well as fall in serum AST and ALT were noticed. Further, the disturbed structural integrity and architecture of adipose and hepatic tissues due to high fat diet feeding were considerably recovered with BSTN1 treatment. Down-regulation in the protein expression level of PPAR-γ and activation of AMPK through phosphorylation was observed in BSTN1 treated rats than the untreated. Molecular docking studies revealed strong binding interactions of BSTN1 against PPAR-γ and AMPK and thus supported the experimental results.Conclusion: Taken together, the results suggest that BSTN1 could be a promising pharmacological molecule in the treatment of obesity and dyslipidemia.

Glutamate and dopamine hypotheses are leading theories of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that dopaminergic and glutamatergic dysfunction is an underlying mechanism in schizophrenia. Since currently available antipsychotic drugs have significant untoward side effects, identification of new neuroprotective compounds from the medicinal plants may prove beneficial in neurodegenerative disorders. In our previous investigation we have isolated, characterized and reported a novel bioactive compound viz. 3-(3, 4-dimethoxy phenyl)-1-(4-methoxy phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one from the Celastrus paniculatus (CP) is used for the current clinical intervention of schizophrenia disease. The present study is mainly aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of the above bioactive compound against ketamine-induced schizophrenia with particular reference to glutamate metabolism using in vivo and in silico methods. The decrease in glutamine content and the activity levels of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase, and glutaminase in different regions of the rat brain suggests lowered oxidative deamination and lowered mobilization of glutamate towards glutamine formation during ketamine-induced schizophrenia. Pre-treatment with the plant compound reversed the alterations in glutamate metabolism and restored the normal glutamatergic neurotransmission akin to the reference drug, clozapine. In addition, the compound has shown strong interaction and exhibited the highest binding energies against selected NMDA receptors with the lowest inhibition constant than the reference drug. Recoveries of these parameters during anti-schizophrenic treatment suggest that administration of plant compound might offer neuroprotection by interrupting the pathological cascade of glutamatergic neurotransmission that occurs during schizophrenia.

Introduction: The postpartum period is generally a time of happiness and bonding between mother and the newborn, but complicated pregnancies can alter this. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication of childbirth. Objectives: To determine the effect of neonatal sepsis on PPD of mothers Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in secondary and tertiary care hospitals in the district of Gampaha. The study population comprised postpartum mothers of neonates who were diagnosed with sepsis (n=236) and those who were not (n=240). Neonatal sepsis was defined by the presence of one of the clinical signs according to the IMCI strategy or culture positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The validated Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and an interviewer-administrated questionnaire were used. Multiple logistic regression was applied and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: The study revealed that among the mothers of sepsis neonates, 185 (78.4%) were depressed. There were 51 (21.2%) mothers also depressed among the mother of non-sepsis babies. The association between PPD and neonatal sepsis was statistically significant (aOR=13.44; 95% CI=8.68, 20.83). The socio-demographic factors, obstetric and neonatal factors were not independently associated with PPD. Conclusions: Postpartum depression among mothers of sepic neonates was higher than in mothers of apparently healthy neonates. It is essential to arrange a screening programme and counselling sessions while in the hospital for all the mothers.

Abstract Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus has reached epidemic proportions as a result of over-nutrition and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Current therapies, although effective, are not without limitations. These limitations, the alarming increase in the prevalence of diabetes, and the soaring cost of managing diabetes and its complications underscores an urgent need for safer, more efficient and affordable alternative treatments. Over 1200 plant species are reported in ethnomedicine for treating diabetes and these represents an important and promising source for the identification of novel antidiabetic compounds. Evaluating medicinal plants for desirable bioactivity goes hand-in-hand with methods in analytical biochemistry for separating and identifying lead compounds. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of current methods used in antidiabetic plant research to form a useful resource for researchers beginning in the field. The review summarises the current understanding of blood glucose regulation and the general mechanisms of action of current antidiabetic medications, and combines knowledge on common experimental approaches for screening plant extracts for antidiabetic activity and currently available analytical methods and technologies for the separation and identification of bioactive natural products. Common in vivo animal models, in vitro models, in silico methods and biochemical assays used for testing the antidiabetic effects of plants are discussed with a particular emphasis on in vitro methods such as cell-based bioassays for screening insulin secretagogues and insulinomimetics. Enzyme inhibition assays and molecular docking are also highlighted. The role of metabolomics, metabolite profiling, and dereplication of data for the high-throughput discovery of novel antidiabetic agents is reviewed. Finally, this review also summarises sample preparation techniques such as liquid–liquid extraction, solid phase extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction, and the critical function of nuclear magnetic resonance and high resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry for the dereplication, putative identification and structure elucidation of natural compounds from evidence-based medicinal plants.

In this paper, we analyze the end-to-end (e2e) performance of a millimeter-wave (mmWave) multi-hop relay network. The relays in it are decode-and-forward (DF) type. As appropriate for mmWave bands, we incorporate path loss and blockages considering the links to be either line of sight (LOS) or non line of sight (NLOS). The links also experience Nakagami-m fading with different m-parameters for the LOS and NLOS states. We consider two scenarios, namely sparse and dense deployments. In the sparse case, the nodes (relays and the destination) are limited by additive noise only. We derive closed-form expressions for the distribution of equivalent e2e signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), coverage probability, ergodic capacity, and symbol error rate (SER) for the three classes of digital modulation schemes, namely, binary phase shift keying (BPSK), differential BPSK (DBPSK), and square-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). In the dense case, the nodes are limited by interference only. Here, we consider two situations: 1) interference powers are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) and 2) they are independent but not identically distributed (i.n.i.d.). For the latter situation, closed-form analysis is exceedingly difficult. Therefore, we use the Welch-Satterthwaite Approximation for the sum of Gamma variables to derive the distribution of the total interference. For both situations, we derive the distribution of signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), coverage probability, ergodic capacity, and SERs for the DBPSK and BPSK. We study how these measures are affected by the number of hops. The accuracy of the analytical results is verified via Monte-Carlo simulation. We show that multi-hop relaying provides significant coverage improvements in blockage-prone mmWave networks.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) can cause a multitude of diseases in cattle, with detrimental effects on the farm economy and the welfare of both adult and young cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of M. bovis in adult cows and calves in the south-west region of Western Australia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 29 dairy farms with 699 apparently healthy adult lactating cows and 495 young calves during 2019–2020. Nasal swabs and blood samples collected from the animals and bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were assessed for M. bovis-specific proteins and antibodies by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Mycoplasma immunogenic lipase A- Enzyme-Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (MilA ELISA). A seroprevalence of 42.5% (95% CI: 38.9–46.2) and 61% (95% CI: 56.6–65.2) was found in adult lactating cows and calves, respectively. The herd-level seroprevalence of M. bovis ranged from 4% (95% CI: 07–19.5) to 92% (95% CI: 75.0–97.8) in adult lactating cows and 25% (95% CI: 10.2–49.5) to 87% (95% CI: 67.9–95.5) for calves in these farms. None of the BTM and nasal swab samples were positive for M. bovis, indicating an absence of any current active infections on the farms. The female calves and pure Holstein–Friesian animals are twice as likely to be seropositive for M. bovis compared to male calves (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7–3.5) and Holstein–Friesian crossbred calves (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7–3.5). The high seroprevalence in both adult and young cattle in the southwest dairy farms of Western Australia warrants more effective farm biosecurity measures and further evaluation of the current prevention and management measures practiced on the farms.

No abstract available

Abstract Background Further research gaps exist in relation to the promotion of breastfeeding. Robust scientific evidence obtained by a meta-analysis would provide objectively summarized data while enabling the assessment of consistency of findings. This review includes the first documented meta-analysis done on the effectiveness of targeting fathers for promoting breastfeeding (BF). Assessments have been done for a primary outcome and for six more secondary outcomes. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, CENTRAL databases and unpublished researches were searched. Selections of randomized-controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were done in three rounds. Heterogeneity and potential publication bias were assessed. Eight studies were included in meta-analysis and others in narrative synthesis of the outcomes. Pooling was done with the Mental- Haenszel method using risk ratio (RR). Summary-of-Findings table was composed by Review-Manager (version 5.3) and GRADEproGDT applications. Subsequent sensitivity analysis was done. Results Selected eight interventional studies included 1852 families. Exclusive BF at six months was significantly higher (RR = 2.04, CI = 1.58–2.65) in the intervention groups. The RR at 4 months was 1.52 (CI = 1.14 to 2.03). Risk of full-formula-feeding (RR = 0.69, CI = 0.52–0.93) and the occurrence of lactation-related problems were lower in the intervention groups (RR = 0.24, CI = 0.10–0.57). More likelihood of rendering support in BF-related issues was seen in intervention groups (RR = 1.43, CI = 1.22–1.68). Increase of maternal knowledge and favorable attitudes on BF were higher in the intervention groups (P ≤; 0.001). The quality of evidence according to GRADE was “low” (for one outcome), “moderate” (for four outcomes), and “high” (for two outcomes). Conclusions Targeting fathers in promotion of BF has provided favorable results for all seven outcomes with satisfactory quality of evidence. This review was registered in the PROSPERO-registry (ID: 2017-CRD42017076163) prior to its commencement.

Abstract In cellular networks, each mobile station adjusts its power level under control of its base station, i.e., through uplink transmit power control, which is essential to reach desired signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) at the base station and to limit inter-cell interference. The optimal levels of transmit power in a network depend on path loss, shadowing, and multipath fading, as well as the network configuration. However, since path loss is distance dependent and the cell association distances are correlated due to the cell association policies, the performance analysis of the uplink transmit power control is very complicated. Consequently, the impact of a specific power control algorithm on network performance is hard to quantify. In this paper, we analyze three uplink transmit power control schemes. We assume the standard power-law path loss and composite Rayleigh-lognormal fading. Using stochastic geometry tools, we derive the cumulative distribution function and the probability density function of the uplink transmit power and the resulting network coverage probability. It is shown that the coverage is highly dependent on the severity of shadowing, the power control scheme, and its parameters, but invariant of the density of deployment of base stations when the shadowing is mild and power control is fractional. At low SINRs, compensation of both path loss and shadowing improves the coverage. However, at high SINRs, compensating for path loss only improves coverage. Increase in the severity of shadowing significantly reduces the coverage.

The Internet of Vehicles, previously referred to as Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), will be a collection of mobile ad hoc networks for vehicular communications to improve driving safety and traffic efficiency. Major categories include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications. Collectively these (and future categories) can be termed V2X communications. These two categories entail a variety of communication channels, network topologies, vehicle densities and communication scenarios, and in response to this, IEEE has released the IEEE 802.11p and IEEE 1609 protocols for VANETs. With the global commercial application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile communication systems, LTE based vehicular (LTE-V) networks have been shown to offer advantages in V2I communications, coverage, high mobility and complicated communication scenarios. Therefore, in the 5th generation’s (5G) mobile communication networks, the 3GPP is discussing V2V communications as a device-to-device (D2D) communication application. As is well known, in high mobility scenarios, the wireless channel is rapidly time- varying, Doppler shifts and spreads can be much larger than in cellular, network topology can change quickly, and switching among base stations and vehicles is more frequent. All this presents formidable challenges to realizing reliable communications with low latency in 5G LTE-V systems.

In this paper, we investigate the coverage probability improvement of a millimeter wave network due to the deployment of spatially random decode-and-forward (DF) relays. The source and receiver are located at a fixed distance and all the relay nodes are distributed as a 2-D homogeneous Poisson point process (PPP). We first derive the spatial distribution of the set of decoding relays whose received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are above the minimum SNR threshold. This set is a 2-D inhomogeneous PPP. From this set, we select a relay that has minimum path loss to the receiver and derive the achievable coverage due to this selection. The analysis is developed using tools from stochastic geometry and is verified using Monte-Carlo simulation. The coverage probabilities of the direct link without relaying, a randomly chosen relay link, and the selected relay link are compared to show the significant performance gain when relay selection is used. We also analyze the effects of beam misalignment and different power allocations at the source and relay on coverage probability. In addition, rate coverage and spectral efficiency are compared for direct and selected relay links to show impressive performance gains with relaying.

During the past few years, there has been exponential growth in the field of ethnopharmacology in the treatment of different human ailments, including neurological disorders. In our previous study, we isolated, characterized, and reported a novel bioactive compound with therapeutic efficacy in vivo, which was used in the current study. This study was designed to investigate the pharmacological effect and therapeutic mechanism of the natural plant compound 3-(3,4-dimethoxy phenyl)-1-(4-methoxy phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one against ketamine-induced toxicity in PC 12 cell lines. Cell death was induced in PC 12 cell lines by incubating with ketamine, and the protection offered by the compound at different concentrations was studied during pretreatment. The therapeutic efficacy was screened through MTT assay, LDH assay, DCF-DA assay, clonogenic assay, RT-PCR, and densitometric analysis. The bioactive compound caused a significant elevation in cell viability up to approximately 80%, down-regulation of cell damage, reduction in free radical damage caused by intracellular reactive oxygen species, and up-regulation of cell survival ability, which was dysregulated during ketamine induction. In addition, RT-PCR analysis of DOPA-related genes suggests that the compound exerted significant inhibition in the expression of these genes, which were overexpressed during ketamine induction. The current findings provide new insight into the neuroprotective mediation of bioactive factors as a prospective therapy for neurological disorders.