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Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira (CO) is an endemic species of Taiwan. This study elucidated the composition of CO hydrosol, revealing trans-cinnamaldehyde (65.03%), trans-cinnamyl acetate (7.57%), and coumarin (4.31%) as the main volatile compounds. Seven compounds were identified in the water fraction of hydrosol, including a novel compound, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)oxetan-3-ol. This marks the first investigation into high-polarity compounds in hydrosol, extending beyond the volatile components. Notably, two compounds, trans-phenyloxetan-3-ol and cis-phenyloxetan-3-ol, demonstrated significant inhibition activity against phosphodiesterase type five (PDE5), with IC50 values of 4.37 µM and 3.40 µM, respectively, indicating their potential as novel PDE5 inhibitors. Furthermore, CO hydrosol was evaluated against enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction, namely acetylcholinesterase (AChE), angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE), and arginase type 2 (ARG2). These findings underscore the potential of CO hydrosol to modulate erectile function through diverse physiological pathways, hinting at its prospects for future development in a beverage or additive with enhanced effects on erectile function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, puncturing and path pruning are combined for convolutional codes to construct a new coding scheme for unequal error protection (UEP), called the hybrid punctured and path-pruned convolutional codes. From an algebraic viewpoint, we show that the hybrid codes not only inherit all the advantages of the conventional rate-compatible punctured convolutional codes and path-compatible pruned convolutional codes but also can provide more flexible choices of protection capability for UEP. In addition, a data-multiplexing scheme originally proposed for path-pruned codes which can guarantee smooth transition between rates without additional zero-padding for frame termination is proven applicable to the hybrid codes to improve the system throughput. Index Terms--Convolutional codes, path pruning, puncturing, unequal error protection.

In this paper, a general reliability-updating formula is proposed for trellis-based soft-output decoding algorithms to optimize the tradeoff between performance and complexity. Based on the general formula, new algorithms are presented, and a concise interpretation is provided to relate new proposed algorithms and those reported previously. In addition, we devise a unified decoding structure with respect to the general formula. All trellis-based algorithms are mapped into a single decoding process under the unified structure, and different algorithms can be easily switched between one another. Owing to the modularity and flexibility, this unified structure is especially suitable for turbo decoders with programmable implementation. Index Terms--Iterative decoding, parallel concatenated convolutional codes, soft-output decoding algorithms, trellis, turbo codes.

Path pruning, a new coding concept to achieve free distance enlargement for convolutional codes, is proposed in this paper. Through path pruning, every convolutional code can be used for unequal error protection (UEP), no matter whether it is originally a UEP code. To avoid undesired path discontinuity and reduce possible path distance loss, a cascaded implementation together with a path-compatible criterion is proposed, under which path-compatible pruned convolutional (PCPC) codes are constructed. Necessary and sufficient conditions are also derived for a subclass of PCPC codes whose decoding can be done by a single decoder for the parent code. Finally, some PCPC codes with good UEP capabilities found by computer search are given. Index Terms--Convolutional codes, free distance, path pruning, single-trellis decoding, unequal error protection.