Interference as an Issue and a Resource in Wireless Networks

This dissertation will be focused on the phenomenon of interference in wireless net- works. On one hand, interference will be viewed as a negative factor that one should mitigate in order to improve the performance of a wireless network in terms of achiev- able rate, and on the other hand as an asset to increase the performance of a network in terms of security. The problems that will be investigated are, first, the character- isation of the performance of a communication network modelled as an interference channel (IC) when interference alignment (IA) is used to mitigate the interference with imperfect knowledge of the channel state, second, the characterisation of the secrecy in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) framework where some devices may use artificial noise to generate interference to potential eavesdroppers. Different scenarios will be studied in the case where interference is unwanted; the first one is when the channel error is bounded. A lower bound on the capacity achievable in this case is provided and a new performance metric namely the saturating SNR is derived. The derived lower bound is studied with respect to some parameters of the estimation strategy when using Least-Square estimation to estimate the channel ma- trices. The second scenario deals with unbounded Gaussian estimation errors, here the statistical distribution of the achievable rate is given along with a new performance metric called outage probability that simplifies the study of the IC with IA under im- perfect CSI. The results are used to optimise the network parameters and extend the analysis further to the case of cellular networks. In the wanted interference situation, the secrecy of the worst-case communication is studied and the conditions for secrecy are provided. Furthermore the average number of secure links achievable in the network is studied according to a theoretical model that is developed for the IoT case

Interference Alignment and Cancellation in Wireless Communication Systems

The Shannon capacity of wireless networks has a fundamental importance for network information theory. This area has recently seen remarkable progress on a variety of problems including the capacity of interference networks, X networks, cellular networks, cooperative communication networks and cognitive radio networks. While each communication scenario has its own characteristics, a common reason of these recent developments is the new idea of interference alignment. The idea of interference alignment is to consolidate the interference into smaller dimensions of signal space at each receiver and use the remaining dimensions to transmit the desired signals without any interference. However, perfect alignment of interference requires certain assumptions, such as perfect channel state information at transmitter and receiver, perfect synchronization and feedback. Today’s wireless communication systems, on the other and, do not encounter such ideal conditions. In this thesis, we cover a breadth of topics of interference alignment and cancellation schemes in wireless communication systems such as multihop relay networks, multicell networks as well as cooperation and optimisation in such systems. Our main contributions in this thesis can be summarised as follows: • We derive analytical expressions for an interference alignment scheme in a multihop relay network with imperfect channel state information, and investigate the impact of interference on such systems where interference could accumulate due to the misalignment at each hop. • We also address the dimensionality problem in larger wireless communication systems such as multi-cellular systems. We propose precoding schemes based on maximising signal power over interference and noise. We show that these precoding vectors would dramatically improve the rates for multi-user cellular networks in both uplink and downlink, without requiring an excessive number of dimensions. Furthermore, we investigate how to improve the receivers which can mitigate interference more efficiently. • We also propose partial cooperation in an interference alignment and cancellation scheme. This enables us to assess the merits of varying mixture of cooperative and non-cooperative users and the gains achievable while reducing the overhead of channel estimation. In addition to this, we analytically derive expressions for the additional interference caused by imperfect channel estimation in such cooperative systems. We also show the impact of imperfect channel estimation on cooperation gains. • Furthermore, we propose jointly optimisation of interference alignment and cancellation for multi-user multi-cellular networks in both uplink and downlink. We find the optimum set of transceivers which minimise the mean square error at each base station. We demonstrate that optimised transceivers can outperform existing interference alignment and cancellation schemes. • Finally, we consider power adaptation and user selection schemes. The simulation results indicate that user selection and power adaptation techniques based on estimated rates can improve the overall system performance significantly

Neutralisation of myoelectric interference from recorded nerve signals using models of the electrode impedance

Any form of paralysis due to spinal cord injury or other medical condition, can have a significant impact on the quality and life expectancy of an individual. Advances in medicine and surgery have offered solutions that can improve the condition of a patient, however, most of the times an individual’s life does not dramatically improve. Implanted neuroprosthetic devices can partially restore the lost functionalities by means of functional electrical stimulation techniques. This involves applying patterns of electrical current pulses to innervate the neural pathways between the brain and the affected muscles/organs, while recording of neural information from peripheral nerves can be used as feedback to improve performance. Recording naturally occurring nerve signals via implanted electrodes attached to tripolar amplifier configurations is an approach that has been successfully used for obtaining desired information in non-acute preparations since the mid-70s. The neural signal (i.e. ENG), which can be exploited as feedback to another system (e.g. a stimulator), or simply extracted for further processing, is then intrinsically more reliable in comparison to signals obtained by artificial sensors. Sadly, neural recording of this type can be greatly compromised by myoelectric (i.e. EMG) interference, which is present at the neural interface and registered by the recording amplifier. Although current amplifier configurations reduce myoelectric interference this is suboptimal and therefore there is room for improvement. The main difficulty exists in the frequency-dependence of the electrode-tissue interface impedance which is complex. The simplistic Quasi-Tripole amplifier configuration does not allow for the complete removal of interference but it is the most power efficient because it uses only one instrumentation amplifier. Conversely, the True-Tripole and its developed automatic counterpart the Adaptive-Tripole, although minimise interference and provide means of compensating for the electrode asymmetries and changes that occur to the neural interface (e.g. due to tissue growth), they do not remove interference completely as the insignificant electrode impedance is still important. Additionally, removing interference apart from being dependent on the frequency of the interfering source, it is also subject to its proximity and orientation with respect to the recording electrodes, as this affects the field. Hence neutralisation with those two configurations, in reality, is not achieved in the entire bandwidth of the neural signal in the interfering spectrum. As both are less power efficient than the Quasi-Tripole an alternative configuration offering better performance in terms of interference neutralisation (i.e. frequency-independent, insensitive to the external interference fields) and, if possible, consume less power, is considered highly attractive. The motivation of this work is based on the following fact: as there are models that can mimic the frequency response of metal electrodes it should be possible, by constructing a network of an equivalent arrangement to the impedance of electrodes, to fit the characteristic neutralisation impedance – the impedance needed to balance a recording tripole – and ideally require no adjustment for removing interference. The validity of this postulation is proven in a series of in-vitro preparations using a modified version of the Quasi-Tripole made out of discrete circuit components where an impedance is placed at either side of the outer electrodes for balancing the recording arrangement. Various models were used in place of that impedance. In particular, representing the neutralisation impedance as a parallel RC reduced interference by a factor of 10 at all frequencies in the bandwidth of the neural signal while removed it completely at a spot frequency. Conversely, modelling the effect of the constant phase angle impedance of highly polarisable electrodes using a 20 stages non-uniform RC ladder network resulted in the minimisation of interference without the initial requirement of continuous adjustment. It is demonstrated that with a model that does not perfectly fit the impedance profile of a monopolar electrochemical cell an average reduction in interference of about 100 times is achieved, with the cell arranged as a Wheatstone bridge that can be balanced in the ENG band

Cooperative Radio Communications for Green Smart Environments

The demand for mobile connectivity is continuously increasing, and by 2020 Mobile and Wireless Communications will serve not only very dense populations of mobile phones and nomadic computers, but also the expected multiplicity of devices and sensors located in machines, vehicles, health systems and city infrastructures. Future Mobile Networks are then faced with many new scenarios and use cases, which will load the networks with different data traffic patterns, in new or shared spectrum bands, creating new specific requirements. This book addresses both the techniques to model, analyse and optimise the radio links and transmission systems in such scenarios, together with the most advanced radio access, resource management and mobile networking technologies. This text summarises the work performed by more than 500 researchers from more than 120 institutions in Europe, America and Asia, from both academia and industries, within the framework of the COST IC1004 Action on "Cooperative Radio Communications for Green and Smart Environments". The book will have appeal to graduates and researchers in the Radio Communications area, and also to engineers working in the Wireless industry. Topics discussed in this book include: • Radio waves propagation phenomena in diverse urban, indoor, vehicular and body environments• Measurements, characterization, and modelling of radio channels beyond 4G networks• Key issues in Vehicle (V2X) communication• Wireless Body Area Networks, including specific Radio Channel Models for WBANs• Energy efficiency and resource management enhancements in Radio Access Networks• Definitions and models for the virtualised and cloud RAN architectures• Advances on feasible indoor localization and tracking techniques• Recent findings and innovations in antenna systems for communications• Physical Layer Network Coding for next generation wireless systems• Methods and techniques for MIMO Over the Air (OTA) testin

Cooperative Radio Communications for Green Smart Environments

The demand for mobile connectivity is continuously increasing, and by 2020 Mobile and Wireless Communications will serve not only very dense populations of mobile phones and nomadic computers, but also the expected multiplicity of devices and sensors located in machines, vehicles, health systems and city infrastructures. Future Mobile Networks are then faced with many new scenarios and use cases, which will load the networks with different data traffic patterns, in new or shared spectrum bands, creating new specific requirements. This book addresses both the techniques to model, analyse and optimise the radio links and transmission systems in such scenarios, together with the most advanced radio access, resource management and mobile networking technologies. This text summarises the work performed by more than 500 researchers from more than 120 institutions in Europe, America and Asia, from both academia and industries, within the framework of the COST IC1004 Action on "Cooperative Radio Communications for Green and Smart Environments". The book will have appeal to graduates and researchers in the Radio Communications area, and also to engineers working in the Wireless industry. Topics discussed in this book include: • Radio waves propagation phenomena in diverse urban, indoor, vehicular and body environments• Measurements, characterization, and modelling of radio channels beyond 4G networks• Key issues in Vehicle (V2X) communication• Wireless Body Area Networks, including specific Radio Channel Models for WBANs• Energy efficiency and resource management enhancements in Radio Access Networks• Definitions and models for the virtualised and cloud RAN architectures• Advances on feasible indoor localization and tracking techniques• Recent findings and innovations in antenna systems for communications• Physical Layer Network Coding for next generation wireless systems• Methods and techniques for MIMO Over the Air (OTA) testin

Synchronized Illumination Modulation for Digital Video Compositing

Informationsaustausch ist eines der Grundbedürfnisse der Menschen. Während früher dazu Wandmalereien,Handschrift, Buchdruck und Malerei eingesetzt wurden, begann man später, Bildfolgen zu erstellen, die als sogenanntes ”Daumenkino” den Eindruck einer Animation vermitteln. Diese wurden schnell durch den Einsatz rotierender Bildscheiben, auf denen mit Hilfe von Schlitzblenden, Spiegeln oder Optiken eine Animation sichtbar wurde, automatisiert – mit sogenannten Phenakistiskopen,Zoetropen oder Praxinoskopen. Mit der Erfindung der Fotografie begannen in der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts die ersten Wissenschaftler wie Eadweard Muybridge, Etienne-Jules Marey und Ottomar Anschütz, Serienbildaufnahmen zu erstellen und diese dann in schneller Abfolge, als Film, abzuspielen. Mit dem Beginn der Filmproduktion wurden auch die ersten Versuche unternommen, mit Hilfe dieser neuen Technik spezielle visuelle Effekte zu generieren, um damit die Immersion der Bewegtbildproduktionen weiter zu erhöhen. Während diese Effekte in der analogen Phase der Filmproduktion bis in die achtziger Jahre des 20.Jahrhunderts recht beschränkt und sehr aufwendig mit einem enormen manuellen Arbeitsaufwand erzeugt werden mussten, gewannen sie mit der sich rapide beschleunigenden Entwicklung der Halbleitertechnologie und der daraus resultierenden vereinfachten digitalen Bearbeitung immer mehr an Bedeutung. Die enormen Möglichkeiten, die mit der verlustlosen Nachbearbeitung in Kombination mit fotorealistischen, dreidimensionalen Renderings entstanden, führten dazu, dass nahezu alle heute produzierten Filme eine Vielfalt an digitalen Videokompositionseffekten beinhalten. ...Besides home entertainment and business presentations, video projectors are powerful tools for modulating images spatially as well as temporally. The re-evolving need for stereoscopic displays increases the demand for low-latency projectors and recent advances in LED technology also offer high modulation frequencies. Combining such high-frequency illumination modules with synchronized, fast cameras, makes it possible to develop specialized high-speed illumination systems for visual effects production. In this thesis we present different systems for using spatially as well as temporally modulated illumination in combination with a synchronized camera to simplify the requirements of standard digital video composition techniques for film and television productions and to offer new possibilities for visual effects generation. After an overview of the basic terminology and a summary of related methods, we discuss and give examples of how modulated light can be applied to a scene recording context to enable a variety of effects which cannot be realized using standard methods, such as virtual studio technology or chroma keying. We propose using high-frequency, synchronized illumination which, in addition to providing illumination, is modulated in terms of intensity and wavelength to encode technical information for visual effects generation. This is carried out in such a way that the technical components do not influence the final composite and are also not visible to observers on the film set. Using this approach we present a real-time flash keying system for the generation of perspectively correct augmented composites by projecting imperceptible markers for optical camera tracking. Furthermore, we present a system which enables the generation of various digital video compositing effects outside of completely controlled studio environments, such as virtual studios. A third temporal keying system is presented that aims to overcome the constraints of traditional chroma keying in terms of color spill and color dependency. ..

The Dynamics and Function of the Endolysosomal/Lysosomal System

Lysosomes are intracellular organelles that were considered for a long time to be simply an acidic and hydrolytically active end point of trafficking routes for degradation, in the last 20 years, light has been shed on their functional heterogeneity and striking role in signalling and nutrient homeostasis. While the dynamic nature and variety of lysosomal functions are now better appreciated, the mechanisms governing lysosomal fusion, reformation, signalling, and homeostasis remain to be fully elucidated, and are investigated here. In this study, endolysosomes which formed by fusion of late endosomes with lysosomes and are thought to be the predominant site of hydrolytic activity, were further characterised. Using live cell imaging and fluorescent labelling, the proportion of endolysosomes in the total pool of lysosomes was estimated using probes to their acidity and cathepsin activity, and their larger size compared to storage lysosomes was observed. The endolysosomal membrane was also shown to be marked by Rab7, Rab9, PI(3,5)P2 supporting the role of endolysosomes a highly active and dynamic principal site of hydrolase activity. The contributions of VAMP7 and VAMP8 to endolysosome fusion, measured by delivery of endocytosed cargo from late endosomes to endolysosomes, were analysed by CRISPR-Cas9 mediated knockout. Cells lacking VAMP7 and VAMP8 had no effect on delivery to endolysosomes, however at EM level, they displayed extensive tethering between late endocytic organelles, and accumulated small tethered vesicles. YKT6 knockdown impeded delivery to endolysosomes in VAMP7+VAMP8 knockout cells, which was rescued by VAMP7 expression, suggesting YKT6 substituted for VAMP7 in lysosome fusion. Following the hypothesis that reversible dissociation of V1 and Vo sectors of the V- ATPase may control the increase in pH of reforming storage lysosomes, cells expressing tagged V1G1 and Voa3 were generated. These markers of both sectors are present on endolysosomal membranes, and on the emerging endolysosomal tubules, suggesting the V1 and Vo sectors remain associated at this earliest stage of lysosome reformation, but these markers are still in development. IV Two assays were developed to give a readout of, and assess lysosomal stress. Firstly, an assay measuring TFEB-GFP translocation to the nucleus gave a robust and quantifiable readout of lysosomal perturbation. Secondly, a qPCR assay was developed to measure lysosomal gene upregulation as a downstream reporter of TFEB-activating lysosomal perturbations, however this assay, despite being more lysosome-specific, lacked the consistency and dynamic range of the TFEB translocation quantification. In summary, lysosomes are a heterogeneous collection of organelles, which have been better characterised primarily according to their acidity and hydrolytic capacity. Additionally, more SNAREs appear to be involved in lysosome fusion in cells than suggested by cell free assays, and I have developed tools to trace the V-ATPase during reformation of lysosomes after fusion to form endolysosomes. Lastly, I have developed a robust, reporter for a range of lysosomal stress-inducing conditions, providing a broad indication of their effects on lysosomal signalling and homeostasis.CASE Studentship co-funded by BBSRC and GS

Iridescence and Circular Dichroism in Cellulose Nanocrystal Thin Films

Only in recent times has the true potential of cellulose as a high-end functional and sustainable material been realised. As the world’s most abundant resource cellulose has been utilised by man throughout history for timber, paper and yarns. It is found in every plant as a hierarchical material and can be extracted and converted into fibres which are of great use, especially in the form of nanofibrous materials. This thesis has focused on the utilisation and ability of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to generate structural colour in fabricated thin films. This has been achieved in two ways: Firstly, the natural morphology of CNCs and their ability to form a suspension have been applied to a layer-by-layer (LbL) regime to produce tunable Bragg reflecting thin films. Secondly, a novel technique combining profilometry and spectroscopy has been developed to estimate the distribution of CNCs within EISA thin films and correlate this with the optical properties of the film. This thesis reports the successful fabrication of synthetic CNC LbL Bragg reflecting thin films. The film was compiled using an additive layer-by-layer technique which allowed the construction of a multi-layered thin film and control over individual layer thicknesses and refractive index. Also reported is the discovered reflection of both left and right handed circularly polarised light (CPL) from CNC EISA thin films. These reflections were found to correlate with CNC distribution within the thin films. The distribution of CNCs was estimated using a novel technique which combined spectroscopically measured film absorbance as a function of the volume of the film area under investigation. The specific volumes were calculated using profilometry measurements and the beam spot size used in the spectroscopy measurements