COGNITIVE BUFFER-AIDED COOPERATIVE NETWORKS: SCHEDULING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Electromagnetic spectrum, as a limited resource, is prone to scarcity due to the astronomical growth in demands for ubiquitous wireless connectivity in the past few decades. Meeting such an ever-growing demand is contingent upon optimizing the spectrum utilization. In this context, dynamic spectrum access policies, such as spectrum sharing, are promising solutions to mitigate the spectrum gridlock. Spectrum sharing networks are allowed to operate on the licensed frequency bands as the secondary users of the spectrum provided that the licensed primary network is protected from any disruptive interference due to the coexistence. The stringent constraints on the secondary network for curbing the inflicted interference significantly limits of reliable communication. To resolve this issue, a relaying station can be employed to extend the coverage of secondary connectivity. To improve the efficiency of the conventional spectrum sharing relay networks, the emerging technologies such as free space optical (FSO) communication, multiple-input multiple-output communication, energy harvesting and buffer-aided relaying can be incorporated. It is envisaged that the amalgamation of such technologies would provide us with a promising solutions to overcome the potential electromagnetic spectrum gridlock. My research works in this thesis is aimed to design communication protocols for such novel network models for spectrum sharing relay networks. The major contributions of this thesis revolve around designing communication protocols, resource allocation, and analysis of the proposed frameworks for the spectrum sharing and conventional cooperative communication networks. In this thesis, I will introduce the first network model for the mixed RF/FSO buffer-aided backhauling network with underlay spectrum sharing access for the RF channels; I will introduce the first queue-aware antenna allocation scheme for the buffer-aided in-band full-duplex relaying networks; and I will introduce the first adaptive load balancing mechanism for the mixed RF/FSO buffer-aided relaying networks

COGNITIVE BUFFER-AIDED COOPERATIVE NETWORKS: SCHEDULING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

Electromagnetic spectrum, as a limited resource, is prone to scarcity due to the astronomical growth in demands for ubiquitous wireless connectivity in the past few decades. Meeting such an ever-growing demand is contingent upon optimizing the spectrum utilization. In this context, dynamic spectrum access policies, such as spectrum sharing, are promising solutions to mitigate the spectrum gridlock. Spectrum sharing networks are allowed to operate on the licensed frequency bands as the secondary users of the spectrum provided that the licensed primary network is protected from any disruptive interference due to the coexistence. The stringent constraints on the secondary network for curbing the inflicted interference significantly limits of reliable communication. To resolve this issue, a relaying station can be employed to extend the coverage of secondary connectivity. To improve the efficiency of the conventional spectrum sharing relay networks, the emerging technologies such as free space optical (FSO) communication, multiple-input multiple-output communication, energy harvesting and buffer-aided relaying can be incorporated. It is envisaged that the amalgamation of such technologies would provide us with a promising solutions to overcome the potential electromagnetic spectrum gridlock. My research works in this thesis is aimed to design communication protocols for such novel network models for spectrum sharing relay networks. The major contributions of this thesis revolve around designing communication protocols, resource allocation, and analysis of the proposed frameworks for the spectrum sharing and conventional cooperative communication networks. In this thesis, I will introduce the first network model for the mixed RF/FSO buffer-aided backhauling network with underlay spectrum sharing access for the RF channels; I will introduce the first queue-aware antenna allocation scheme for the buffer-aided in-band full-duplex relaying networks; and I will introduce the first adaptive load balancing mechanism for the mixed RF/FSO buffer-aided relaying networks

Effect of forest-based biochar on maturity indices and bio-availability of heavy metals during the composting process of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW)

Abstract The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar on the composting process of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) under real conditions. Different doses of biochar (1%, 3%, and 5%) were mixed with compost piles to evaluate the variation of temperature, moisture content (MC), organic matter (OM), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), C/N ratio, and heavy metal (HM) contents in comparison with the control treatment (with 0% biochar addition). The results of this study showed that the compost piles combined with different doses of biochar had higher MC. The use of biochar as an additive, even at low doses (1%), was able to increase the compost quality through the reduction of N losses during the composting process. The highest reduction of OM during the composting process was observed in the control pile (without biochar addition) by 48.06%, whereas biochar affected the biodegradability of OM and prevented the reduction of nutrients during the composting process under real conditions. The contents of HMs (Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Cu) showed a significant reduction in all of the compost piles combined with biochar in comparison with the control treatment. Considering that in terms of all compost quality indicators, the piles combined with biochar can regarded as high standard product, the composts obtained from combining the OFMSW with different biochar doses have desirable features to be used as an amendment agent to improve agricultural soil quality

Glypican-3 Targeting of Liver Cancer Cells Using Multifunctional Nanoparticles

Imaging is essential in accurately detecting, staging, and treating primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies. We developed a novel multifunctional nanoparticle (NP) specifically targeting glypican-3 (GPC3), a proteoglycan implicated in promotion of cell growth that is overexpressed in most HCCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm the differential GPC3 expression in two human HCC cells, Hep G2 (high) and HLF (negligible). These cells were treated with biotin-conjugated GPC3 monoclonal antibody (αGPC3) and subsequently targeted using superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs conjugated to streptavidin and Alexa Fluor 647. Flow cytometry demonstrated that only GPC3-expressing Hep G2 cells were specifically targeted using this αGPC3-NP conjugate (fourfold mean fluorescence over nontargeted NP), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments showed similar findings (threefold R 2 relaxivity). Confocal fluorescence microscopy localized the αGPC3 NPs only to the cell surface of GPC3-expressing Hep G2 cells. Further characterization of this construct demonstrated a negatively charged, monodisperse, 50 nm NP, ideally suited for tumor targeting. This GPC3-specific NP system, with dual-modality imaging capability, may enhance pretreatment MRI, enable refined intraoperative HCC visualization by near-infrared fluorescence, and be potentially used as a carrier for delivery of tumor-targeted therapies, improving patient outcomes

Optical coherence tomography angiography artifacts in retinal pigment epithelial detachment

Objective: To describe optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) reflectance artifacts secondary to retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED). Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Four eyes from 4 subjects were included. Three presented with RPED and 1 eye was a normal control. Two eyes diagnosed with RPED and the normal eye were evaluated using en face OCTA centred at the fovea acquired using the RTVue XR Avanti (Optovue Inc). In the third eye with RPED, OCTA imaging was performed using a CIRRUS 5000 prototype modified to do OCTA imaging on a spectral domain OCT platform provided by Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. The segmented OCTA angiograms were overlaid to determine if the flow patterns seen at the edge of the RPEDs were due to reflectance from the inner retinal vessels, also known as "decorrelation tails?' Results: OCTA projection artifacts were noted when segmentation lines intersected with the boundary of the RPED. The overlaid segmented OCTA from the 3 RPED eyes imaged using each system revealed the same vasculature pattern at the edges of the RPED as that of the inner retina, demonstrating the "decorrelation tails" artifact, which caused the RPED to appear as a bright ring on the segmented OCTA. Conclusions: OCTA images are susceptible to various known artifacts. This series describes the impact of the projection artifact seen at the edges of an RPED that simulates appearance of flow but is actually due to reflectance of the inner retinal vasculature on the RPED.Carl Zeiss MeditecOptoVueTopcon Medical Systems Inc.Massachusetts Lions ClubsMacula Vision Research Foundation, New YorkCAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, DF, BrazilTufts Univ, New England Eye Ctr, Boston, MA 02111 USATufts Univ, Tufts Med Ctr, Boston, MA 02111 USAUniv Fed Goias, Goiania, Go, BrazilMIT, Dept Elect Engn & Comp Sci, Cambridge, MA 02139 USAMIT, Elect Res Lab, Cambridge, MA 02139 USAUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, São Paulo, BrazilCarl Zeiss Meditec Inc, Dublin, CA USAUniv Hosp Birmingham NHS Fdn Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hosp Birmingham, Birmingham, W Midlands, EnglandUniv Fed São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Monoclonal antibody conjugated magnetic nanoparticles could target MUC-1-positive cells in vitro

MUC1 antigen is recognized as a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein that is unexpectedly over-expressed in human breast and other carcinomas. In contrast, C595 a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the protein core of the human urinary epithelial machine, is commonly expressed in breast carcinomas. The aim of this study was to conjugate ultra-small super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIO) with C595 mAb, in order to detect in vivo MUC1 expression. A dual contrast agent (the C595 antibody-conjugated USPIO labeled with 99mTc) was prepared for targeted imaging and therapy of anti-MUC1-expressing cancers. The C595 antibody-conjugated USPIO had good stability and reactivity in the presence of blood plasma at 37°C. No significant differences were observed in immune-reactivity results between conjugated and nonconjugated nanoparticles. The T1 and T2 measurements show >79 and 29% increments (for 0.02mg/ml iron concentrations) in T1 and T2 values for USPIO-C595 in comparison with USPIO, respectively. The nanoprobes showed the interesting targeting capability of finding the MUC1-positive cell line in vitro. However, we found disappointing in vivo results (i.e. very low accumulation of nanoprobes in the targeted site while >80% of the injected dose per gram was taken up by the liver and spleen), not only due to the coverage of targeting site by protein corona but also because of absorption of opsonin-based proteins at the surface of nanoprobes