Turbo space-time coded modulation : principle and performance analysis

A breakthrough in coding was achieved with the invention of turbo codes. Turbo codes approach Shannon capacity by displaying the properties of long random codes, yet allowing efficient decoding. Coding alone, however, cannot fully address the problem of multipath fading channel. Recent advances in information theory have revolutionized the traditional view of multipath channel as an impairment. New results show that high gains in capacity can be achieved through the use of multiple antennas at the transmitter and the receiver. To take advantage of these new results in information theory, it is necessary to devise methods that allow communication systems to operate close to the predicted capacity. One such method recently invented is space-time coding, which provides both coding gain and diversity advantage. In this dissertation, a new class of codes is proposed that extends the concept of turbo coding to include space-time encoders as constituent building blocks of turbo codes. The codes are referred to as turbo spacetime coded modulation (turbo-STCM). The motivation behind the turbo-STCM concept is to fuse the important properties of turbo and space-time codes into a unified design framework. A turbo-STCM encoder is proposed, which consists of two space-time codes in recursive systematic form concatenated in parallel. An iterative symbol-by-symbol maximum a posteriori algorithm operating in the log domain is developed for decoding turbo-STCM. The decoder employs two a posteriori probability (APP) computing modules concatenated in parallel; one module for each constituent code. The analysis of turbo-STCM is demonstrated through simulations and theoretical closed-form expressions. Simulation results are provided for 4-PSK and 8-PSK schemes over the Rayleigh block-fading channel. It is shown that the turbo-STCM scheme features full diversity and full coding rate. The significant gain can be obtained in performance over conventional space-time codes of similar complexity. The analytical union bound to the bit error probability is derived for turbo-STCM over the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and the Rayleigh block-fading channels. The bound makes it possible to express the performance analysis of turbo-STCM in terms of the properties of the constituent space-time codes. The union bound is demonstrated for 4-PSK and 8-PSK turbo-STCM with two transmit antennas and one/two receive antennas. Information theoretic bounds such as Shannon capacity, cutoff rate, outage capacity and the Fano bound, are computed for multiantenna systems over the AWGN and fading channels. These bounds are subsequently used as benchmarks for demonstrating the performance of turbo-STCM

Engineering the Rapid Adenovirus Production and Amplification (RAPA) Cell Line to Expedite the Generation of Recombinant Adenoviruses

Background/Aims: While recombinant adenoviruses are among the most widely-used gene delivery vectors and usually propagated in HEK-293 cells, generating recombinant adenoviruses remains time-consuming and labor-intense. We sought to develop a rapid adenovirus production and amplification (RAPA) line by assessing human Ad5 genes (E1A, E1B19K/55K, pTP, DBP, and DNA Pol) and OCT1 for their contributions to adenovirus production. Methods: Stable transgene expression in 293T cells was accomplished by using piggyBac system. Transgene expression was determined by qPCR. Adenoviral production was assessed with titering, fluorescent markers and/or luciferase activity. Osteogenic activity was assessed by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity. Results: Overexpression of both E1A and pTP led to a significant increase in adenovirus amplification, whereas other transgene combinations did not significantly affect adenovirus amplification. When E1A and pTP were stably expressed in 293T cells, the resultant RAPA line showed high efficiency in adenovirus amplification and production. The produced AdBMP9 infected mesenchymal stem cells with highest efficiency and induced most effective osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, adenovirus production efficiency in RAPA cells was dependent on the amount of transfected DNA. Under optimal transfection conditions high-titer adenoviruses were obtained within 5 days of transfection. Conclusion: The RAPA cells are highly efficient for adenovirus production and amplification

Notch Signaling Augments BMP9-Induced Bone Formation by Promoting the Osteogenesis-Angiogenesis Coupling Process in Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)

Background/Aims: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitors that can differentiate into several lineages including bone. Successful bone formation requires osteogenesis and angiogenesis coupling of MSCs. Here, we investigate if simultaneous activation of BMP9 and Notch signaling yields effective osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling in MSCs. Methods: Recently-characterized immortalized mouse adipose-derived progenitors (iMADs) were used as MSC source. Transgenes BMP9, NICD and dnNotch1 were expressed by adenoviral vectors. Gene expression was determined by qPCR and immunohistochem¡stry. Osteogenic activity was assessed by in vitro assays and in vivo ectopic bone formation model. Results: BMP9 upregulated expression of Notch receptors and ligands in iMADs. Constitutively-active form of Notch1 NICD1 enhanced BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation both in vitro and in vivo, which was effectively inhibited by dominant-negative form of Notch1 dnNotch1. BMP9- and NICD1-transduced MSCs implanted with a biocompatible scaffold yielded highly mature bone with extensive vascularization. NICD1 enhanced BMP9-induced expression of key angiogenic regulators in iMADs and Vegfa in ectopic bone, which was blunted by dnNotch1. Conclusion: Notch signaling may play an important role in BMP9-induced osteogenesis and angiogenesis. It’s conceivable that simultaneous activation of the BMP9 and Notch pathways should efficiently couple osteogenesis and angiogenesis of MSCs for successful bone tissue engineering