Structured Codes and Cooperative Strategies in Wireless Relay Networks

Lattice codes are known to achieve capacity in the Gaussian point-to-point channel, thereby achieving the same rates as random Gaussian codebooks. Lattice codes are also known to outperform random codes for certain channel models that are able to exploit their linearity. In this thesis, we rst show that lattice codes may be used to achieve the same performance as known Gaussian random coding techniques for the Gaussian relay channel. Then several examples are given to show how this may be combined with the linearity of lattices codes in multi-source relay networks. Finally we show that lattice codes's advantages in the two-way multi-hop Channel. In particular, we present a nested lattice list decoding technique, by which, lattice codes are shown to achieve the Decode-and-Forward (DF) rate of single source, single destination Gaussian relay channels with one or more relays. We next present a few examples of how this DF scheme may be combined with the linearity of lattice codes to achieve rates which may outperform analogous Gaussian random coding techniques in multi-source relay channels such as the two-way relay channel with direct links and the multiple access relay channel. We furthermore present a lattice Compress-and-Forward (CF) scheme which exploits a lattice Wyner-Ziv binning scheme for the Gaussian relay channel which achieves the same rate as the Cover-El Gamal CF rate using Gaussian random codes. Finally, the linearity of lattice codes is further utilized in two-way multi-hop channels where the "Redistribution Transform" is proposed to fully exploit the transmit power of relays for both directions. These results suggest that structured/lattice codes may be used to mimic, and sometimes outperform, random Gaussian codes in general Gaussian networks

Table_3_Development of a rapid quantitative method to differentiate MS1 vaccine strain from wild-type Mycoplasma synoviae.DOCX

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is an economically important pathogen in the poultry industry. Vaccination is an effective method to prevent and control MS infections. Currently two live attenuated MS vaccines are commercially available, the temperature-sensitive MS-H vaccine strain and the NAD-independent MS1 vaccine strain. Differentiation of vaccine strains from wild-type (WT) strains is crucial for monitoring MS infection, especially after vaccination. In this study, we developed a Taqman duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify MS1 vaccine strains from WT strains. The method was specific and did not cross-react with other avian pathogens. The sensitivity assay indicated that no inhibition occurred between probes or between mixed and pure templates in duplex real-time PCR. Compared with the melt-based mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA), our method was more sensitive and rapid. In conclusion, the Taqman duplex real-time PCR method is a useful method for the diagnosis and differentiation of WT-MS and MS1 vaccine strains in a single reaction.</p

Table_1_Development of a rapid quantitative method to differentiate MS1 vaccine strain from wild-type Mycoplasma synoviae.DOCX

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is an economically important pathogen in the poultry industry. Vaccination is an effective method to prevent and control MS infections. Currently two live attenuated MS vaccines are commercially available, the temperature-sensitive MS-H vaccine strain and the NAD-independent MS1 vaccine strain. Differentiation of vaccine strains from wild-type (WT) strains is crucial for monitoring MS infection, especially after vaccination. In this study, we developed a Taqman duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify MS1 vaccine strains from WT strains. The method was specific and did not cross-react with other avian pathogens. The sensitivity assay indicated that no inhibition occurred between probes or between mixed and pure templates in duplex real-time PCR. Compared with the melt-based mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA), our method was more sensitive and rapid. In conclusion, the Taqman duplex real-time PCR method is a useful method for the diagnosis and differentiation of WT-MS and MS1 vaccine strains in a single reaction.</p

Table_2_Development of a rapid quantitative method to differentiate MS1 vaccine strain from wild-type Mycoplasma synoviae.DOCX

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is an economically important pathogen in the poultry industry. Vaccination is an effective method to prevent and control MS infections. Currently two live attenuated MS vaccines are commercially available, the temperature-sensitive MS-H vaccine strain and the NAD-independent MS1 vaccine strain. Differentiation of vaccine strains from wild-type (WT) strains is crucial for monitoring MS infection, especially after vaccination. In this study, we developed a Taqman duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify MS1 vaccine strains from WT strains. The method was specific and did not cross-react with other avian pathogens. The sensitivity assay indicated that no inhibition occurred between probes or between mixed and pure templates in duplex real-time PCR. Compared with the melt-based mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA), our method was more sensitive and rapid. In conclusion, the Taqman duplex real-time PCR method is a useful method for the diagnosis and differentiation of WT-MS and MS1 vaccine strains in a single reaction.</p