Energy-efficient wideband transceiver with per-band equalisation and synchronisation

To emit in the TV white space (TVWS) spectrum, the regulator has requested very strict spectral masks, which can be fulfilled using a FFT-modulated filter-bank multi-carrier system (FBMC) to extract one or several TVWS channels in the 470--790MHz range. Such a system reduces the channel dispersion, but even with near-perfectly reconstructing filter bank, the need for equalisation and synchronisation remains. In this work, we propose a per-band equalisation and synchronisation approach, performed by a constant modulus algorithms running concurrently with a direction-directed adaptation process for faster convergence and reduced phase ambiguity. We compare symbol- and fractionally-spaced versions, and investigate their fixed-point implementation on an FPGA. We compare the performance of the different systems in terms of mean squared error, computational cost, and robustness towards noise

Translating the intimate: digital renderings of bio-matter into material forms through artistic research.

"Art invites us and allows us to linger at the frontier of what there is, and it gives us an outlook on what might be." Henk Borgdorff (2010, p. 61). Developing a body of work that explores an intimate relationship between my blood and the machinic in a practice-led process of fabrication, this PhD enquiry considers how the materiality of my body is translated, dispersed amongst the non-representational “froth of code”; becoming techno-corporeal abstractions through techno-scientific processes. This is my distinct contribution to knowledge. Throughout the written exegesis, poetic praxis is developed as my unique method of approach—both initiated and grounded by the nature of practice-led artistic research (praxis)—and philosophically inflected by poesis: processes of questioning and reflection that reanimate key aspects of current techno-scientific practice. I reflect upon a series of works fabricated through both two and three- dimensional print practices: articulations which I read (after Chadwick) as my "Enfleshings"; a virtual fleshy materiality. I also provide a critical analysis of emergent material practices of 3D Print (also known as Additive Layer Manufacture). The exegesis elucidates the artworks, their materiality (as Nylon 12) and concludes by considering future scenarios of biological techno-scientific practice, in which the body itself becomes 'fabricated'. A portfolio of practice is presented as a parallel volume, which enables the reader to navigate documentation of the artistic research process. These stem from early studio-based experiments; tacit-intuitive approaches to materials and processes which foreground later, lab-based fabricated works. The portfolio includes photographs of the completed series of art works, collectively named as Untitled_Force (2011-2015) alongside documentation of their public exhibitions, reconfigured as sculptural installation at three different sites. I argue throughout that poetic praxis as a methodology is a vital means of approach, revealing the unknown within existing instrumental research paradigms

Contributions of central and systemic inflammation to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease

Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) represents a complex interaction between the inherent vulnerability of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system, a possible genetic predisposition, and exposure to environmental toxins including inflammatory triggers. Evidence now suggests that chronic neuroinflammation is consistently associated with the pathophysiology of PD. Activation of microglia and increased levels of pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha,IL-1beta and IL-6, reactive oxygen species and eicosanoids has been reported after post mortem analysis of the substantia nigra from PD patients and in animal models of PD. It is hypothesised that chronically activated microglia secrete high levels of pro-inflammatory mediators which damage neurons and further activate microglia, resulting in a feed forward cycle promoting further inflammation and neurodegeneration. Moreover, nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons are more vulnerable to pro-inflammatory and oxidative mediators than other cell types because of their low intracellular glutathione concentration. Systemic inflammation has also been suggested to contribute to neurodegeneration in PD, as lymphocyte infiltration has been observed in brains of PD patients and in animal models of PD, substantiating the current theory of a fundamental role of inflammation in neurodegeneration. We will examine the current evidence in the literature which offers insight into the premise that both central and systemic inflammation may contribute to neurodegeneration in PD. We will discuss the emerging possibility of the use of diagnostic tools such as imaging technologies for PD patients. Finally, we will present the immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies that are now under investigation and in clinical trials as potential neuroprotective drugs for PD

Magnetically driven preparation of 1-D nano-necklaces capable of MRI relaxation enhancement

We report a novel magnetically-facilitated approach to produce 1-D ‘nano-necklace’ arrays composed of 0-D magnetic nanoparticles, which are assembled and coated with an oxide layer to produce semiflexible core@shell type structures. These ‘nano-necklaces’ demonstrate good MRI relaxation properties despite their coating and permanent alignment, with low field enhancement due to structural and magnetocrystalline anisotropy

Quantifying the impact of vegetation-based metrics on species persistence when choosing offsets for habitat destruction

Developers are often required by law to offset environmental impacts through targeted conservation actions. Most offset policies specify metrics for calculating offset requirements, usually by assessing vegetation condition. Despite widespread use, there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of vegetation-based metrics for ensuring biodiversity persistence. We compared long-term impacts of biodiversity offsetting based on area only; vegetation condition only; area x habitat suitability; and condition x habitat suitability in development and restoration simulations for the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. We simulated development and subsequent offsetting through restoration within a virtual landscape, linking simulations to population viability models for 3 species. Habitat gains did not ensure species persistence. No net loss was achieved when performance of offsetting was assessed in terms of amount of habitat restored, but not when outcomes were assessed in terms of persistence. Maintenance of persistence occurred more often when impacts were avoided, giving further support to better enforce the avoidance stage of the mitigation hierarchy. When development affected areas of high habitat quality for species, persistence could not be guaranteed. Therefore, species must be more explicitly accounted for in offsets, rather than just vegetation or habitat alone. Declines due to a failure to account directly for species population dynamics and connectivity overshadowed the benefits delivered by producing large areas of high-quality habitat. Our modeling framework showed that the benefits delivered by offsets are species specific and that simple vegetation-based metrics can give misguided impressions on how well biodiversity offsets achieve no net loss.Peer reviewe