A Bayesian Game Analysis of Cooperative MAC with Incentive for Wireless Networks

Abstract-In this paper, we analyze a cooperative medium access scheme in a wireless relaying network using Bayesian games, where the participating nodes are peers subject to the halfduplex constraint and they choose to cooperate or not cooperate based on its expected utility. We first set up a one-stage game and derive the ex-post utility. A two-stage game with incomplete information is further formulated to incorporate an incentive mechanism, which charges the cooperation requester and rewards the helper via adapting their channel access probabilities. We prove that the not-cooperating strategy can always achieve a Nash equilibrium (NE) in one-stage and two-stage games as long as the access cost is constrained. More importantly, we derive the sufficient conditions so that cooperating is an NE strategy and supports higher utility than the not-cooperating strategy. Numerical results are presented to validate our analysis and demonstrate that optimal tuning factors can be determined to ensure NE and maximize system utility

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY (ACCEPTED) 1 An Energy-Efficient Uncoordinated Cooperative Scheme with Uncertain Relay Distribution Intensity

Abstract-Due to signal fading and user mobility in wireless networks, quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning for wireless services becomes more challenging. As a promising technique, cooperative communications make use of the broadcasting nature of wireless medium to facilitate data transmission, and thereby reduce energy consumption. However, in many studies on wireless cooperative diversity, it is often assumed that the number of relays or the relay distribution intensity is known a priori. In this paper, we relax such assumption and propose an algorithm to estimate the relay intensity for a backoff-based cooperative scheme, where the relays are distributed as a homogeneous Poisson point process (PPP). It is proved that the algorithm can converge to an optimal solution with the minimum estimation error. Based on the estimated relay intensity, we further investigate a distributed energy saving strategy, which selectively turns off some relays to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the required transmission success probability. The performance of the proposed cooperative scheme is analytically evaluated with respect to the collision probability. The numerical and simulation results demonstrate the high accuracy and efficiency of the intensity estimation algorithm and also validate the theoretical analysis. Moreover, the proposed cooperative scheme exhibits significant energy saving and satisfactory transmission performance, which offers a good match to accommodate green communications in wireless networks. Index Terms-Cooperative wireless networks, distributed relaying, intensity estimation, energy efficiency

Protocol design and analysis for cooperative wireless networks

This book focuses on the design and analysis of protocols for cooperative wireless networks, especially at the medium access control (MAC) layer and for crosslayer design between the MAC layer and the physical layer. It highlights two main points that are often neglected in other books: energy-efficiency and spatial random distribution of wireless devices. Effective methods in stochastic geometry for the design and analysis of wireless networks are also explored. After providing a comprehensive review of existing studies in the literature, the authors point out the challenges that are worth further investigation. Then, they introduce several novel solutions for cooperative wireless network protocols that reduce energy consumption and address spatial random distribution of wireless nodes. For each solution, the book offers a clear system model and problem formulation, details of the proposed cooperative schemes, comprehensive performance analysis, and extensive numerical and simulation results that validate the analysis and examine the performance under various conditions. The last section of this book reveals several potential directions for the research on cooperative wireless networks that deserve future exploration. Researchers, professionals, engineers, and consultants in wireless communication and mobile networks will find this book valuable. It is also helpful for technical staff in mobile network operations, wireless equipment manufacturers, wireless communication standardization bodies, and governmental regulation agencies

Amygdalin Promotes Fracture Healing through TGF-β/Smad Signaling in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Chondrogenesis and subsequent osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and angiogenesis at injured sites are crucial for bone fracture healing. Amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside compound derived from bitter apricot kernel, has been reported to inhibit IL-1β-induced chondrocyte degeneration and to stimulate blood circulation, suggesting a promising role of amygdalin in fracture healing. In this study, tibial fractures in C57BL/6 mice were treated with amygdalin. Fracture calluses were then harvested and subjected to radiographic, histological, and biomechanical testing, as well as angiography and gene expression analyses to evaluate fracture healing. The results showed that amygdalin treatment promoted bone fracture healing. Further experiments using MSC-specific transforming growth factor- (TGF-) β receptor 2 conditional knockout (KO) mice (Tgfbr2Gli1-Cre) and C3H10 T1/2 murine mesenchymal progenitor cells showed that this effect was mediated through TGF-β/Smad signaling. We conclude that amygdalin could be used as an alternative treatment for bone fractures