Extending TDL based non-WSSUS vehicle-to-everything channel model

In den vergangenen Jahrzehnten haben drahtlose Kommunikationssysteme eine rasante Entwicklung durchgemacht und es wurden viele Untersuchungen durchgeführt, seit Maxwell die Existenz von elektromagnetischer Wellen vorausgesagt hat. In den letzten Jahren hat die Forschung im Bereich der vehicle to X (V2X)-Kommunikation stetig zugenommen. V2X beschreibt die Fähigkeit, Daten zwischen einem Fahrzeug oder vehicle (V) und “allem” zu übertragen. In Zukunft könnten Fahrzeuge mit ihrer Umgebung kommunizieren, um Verkehrsunfälle zu vermeiden und Staus zu verringern. Dazu werden sie ihr Geschwindigkeits- und Positionsdaten über Ad-hoc-Fahrzeugnetze senden und empfangen können. Um die Verkehrssicherheit zu erhöhen, ist eine zuverlässige Kommunikationsverbindung notwendig. Die größte Herausforderung bei der Fahrzeugkommunikation besteht darin, dass sich die Eigenschaften des Physical Layers aufgrund der inhärenten Mobilität innerhalb des Kanals, der hohen Fahrzeuggeschwindigkeiten, der unterschiedlichen Antennenpositionen und der vielen Handover aufgrund kleinerer Zellen schnell ändern. Dies bringt eine Reihe von Herausforderungen in Bezug auf die Kanalcharakterisierung mit sich. Es handelt sich um einen Kanal mit starker Zeitvarianz und es treten viele Übergänge auf. Somit handelt es sich um einen nicht-stationärer (non-stationary) Kanal. Das Hauptziel dieser Untersuchung ist es, eine Methode zu finden, mit der der Kanal einer komplexen Umgebung in einer einfachen Form mit weniger strengen Beziehungen zur Geometrie dargestellt werden kann. Dabei werden die statistischen Eigenschaften ähnlich der Messdaten beibehalten. In dieser Arbeit werden nichtstationäre tapped delay line (TDL)-Modelle verwendet, um vehicle to infrastructure (V2I)-Kanäle zu beschreiben. Es wird eine neue Strategie zur Extraktion von TDL-Kanalmodellparametern aus Messdaten vorgeschlagen. Dieser Ansatz basiert auf einer bestehenden Methode zur Ableitung von Parametern für ein TDLModell. Es wird gezeigt, dass mit einer anderen Methode zur Auswahl der Taps die Anzahl der Abgriffe, die zur Rekonstruktion der root mean square delay spread (RMS-DS) eines Kanals erforderlich sind, erheblich reduziert werden kann. Ein neuer Ansatz zur überprüfen der Korrektheit der Ableitung der Kanalmodellparameter wird aufgezeigt. Die Durchführbarkeit der Methode wird anhand von Channel Sounding Messungen bestätigt. In dieser Dissertation wird ein Generator zur Erzeugung von Kanalimpulsantworten entwickelt und das nichtstationäre Verhalten der Kanäle durch die Verwendung eines ON/OFF-Prozesses beschrieben. Es werden Markov-Ketten unterschiedlicher Ordnung modelliert, um das nicht-stationäre Verhalten besser zu erfassen. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass Markov-Ketten erster Ordnung mit zwei Zuständen vorzuziehen sind, um das häufige ON/OFF-Verhalten von Mehrwegpfaden darzustellen, und dass die Markov-Modelle zweiter und dritter Ordnung keine großen Auswirkungen haben. Eine Methode zur Erweiterung eines single input single output (SISO)-TDL-Modells auf multiple input multiple output (MIMO) unter der non-wide sense stationary uncorrelated scattering (non-WSSUS)-Annahme wird eingeführt, um TDL-Kanalmodelle für V2I MIMO-Systeme zu entwickeln. Die Analyse bewertet die SISO- mit der MIMO-Konfiguration in Bezug auf die Kanalkapazität. Es werden verschiedene MIMO-Konfigurationen untersucht, und es wird gezeigt, dass die Position der Antennen eine wichtige Rolle spielt. Die Verwendung von nur vier Antennen am transmitter (Tx) und receiver (Rx), die in unterschiedliche Richtungen abstrahlen, führt zu einem qualitativen Sprung in der Leistungsfähigkeit des Systems.In the past decades, wireless communication systems have undergone rapid development, and many investigations have been done since Maxwell predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves. In recent years, vehicle to X (V2X) communication research has been growing steadily. V2X describes the ability to transmit data between a vehicle (V) and “everything”. In the future, vehicles might be able to communicate with their environment to prevent traffic accidents and reduce congestion by allowing vehicles to transmit and receive data through a vehicular ad hoc network at their speed and position. In order to achieve the ultimate goal of enhancing transportation safety, it is crucial to establish reliable communication links. The main challenge of vehicular communications introduces new properties because the physical layer properties are rapidly changing due to inherent mobility within the channel, high vehicle speeds, varying antenna positions, and many handovers due to smaller cells. This brings up a number of challenges in terms of channel characterization because it is a strong time-variant channel and many transitions occur; therefore, it is a non-stationary channel. In this thesis, non-stationary tapped delay line (TDL) models are used to describe the vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) channels. This thesis proposes a new strategy to extract TDL channel model parameters from measurement data. The proposed approach is based on an existing method to derive parameters for a TDL model. It will be shown that with a different method of choosing taps, the number of taps necessary to regenerate the root mean square delay spread (RMS-DS) of a channel can be significantly reduced. An approach is proposed to verify the correctness of the channel model parameters derivation. The feasibility of the method will be confirmed using channel-sounding measurements. This dissertation devises a generator to produce channel impulse responses (CIRs) and describes the non-stationary behavior of the channels via employing an ON/OFF process. Different order Markov chains are modeled with the aim of better capturing the non-stationary behavior. The investigation shows that first-order two-state Markov chains are preferable to represent multipath’s frequent ON/OFF behavior, and the second- and third-order Markov models do not make enormous effects. A method for extending a single input single output (SISO)-TDL model to multiple input multiple output (MIMO) under non-wide sense stationary uncorrelated scattering (non-WSSUS) assumption is introduced to develop TDL channel models for the V2I MIMO systems. The analysis evaluates SISO- with MIMO configuration in terms of channel capacity. Different MIMO configurations are explored, and it will be illustrated that the position of antennas plays an important role. Using only four antennas at the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) that radiate towards different directions will make a qualitative leap in the performance of the system

The role of health consciousness, food safety concern and ethical identity on attitudes and intentions towards organic food

The paper examines the roles of health consciousness, food safety concern and ethical self identity in predicting attitudes and purchase intention within the context of organic produce. A conceptual model is derived and tested via structural equation modelling. Findings indicate food safety as the most important predictor of attitude while health consciousness appears to be the least important motive in contrast to findings from some previous research. In addition, ethical self identity is found to predict both attitudes and intention to purchase organic produce emphasizing that respondents’ identification with ethical issues affects their attitudes and subsequent consumption choices

Acceptance of the Punctuality Cascading Reporting System (PCRS) among staffs at National Audit Department in Melaka / Rahayu Abdullah and Nina Nabiha Hassan

The purpose of this research is to find the factors that influence on acceptance of the Punctuality Cascading Reporting System (PCRS) among staffs at National Audit Department. The factors are trust, perceived ease of use, social influence and perceived of usefulness. National Audit Department in Melaka is the first federal institution that uses this system. It also is the first branch of National Audit Department for the trial period using it before implement to other branches in Malaysia. In order to get the result for this research, the researchers have used the software of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 to analyse the data. The information that gathers and findings will be used to know the most factors that influenced to the dependent variable and to improve on acceptance for this system among their staffs

Pseudo-nitzschia Peragallo (Bacillariophyceae) diversity and domoic acid accumulation in tuberculate cockles and sweet clams in M’diq Bay, Morocco

The diversity of Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) and accumulation of the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) in two types of shellfish; tuberculate cockles (Acanthocardia tuberculata) and sweet clams (Challista chione) was explored in M’diq Bay,Morocco during 2007. The highest abundances of Pseudo-nitzschia were found during the period from March to October, with peaks occurring in May and September. Toxin analysis showed an accumulation of domoic acid in shellfish sampled during spring and autumn. The maximum toxin concentration was 4.9 mg DAg–1 of the whole tissue recorded in sweet clam during spring. Using transmission electron microscopy, thirteen Pseudo-nitzschia species were identified, eight of which are known as producers of domoic acid: P. multistriata, P. cuspidata, P. galaxiae, P. multiseries, P. pseudodelicatissima, P. pungens var. aveirensis, P. calliantha and P. fraudulenta. The five non- toxic species observed were P. subpacifica, P. arenysensis, P. dolorosa, P. subfraudulenta, and P. cf. caciantha

Expression patterns in reductive iron assimilation and functional consequences during phagocytosis of lichtheimia corymbifera , an emerging cause of mucormycosis

Iron is an essential micronutrient for most organisms and fungi are no exception. Iron uptake by fungi is facilitated by receptor-mediated internalization of siderophores, heme and reductive iron assimilation (RIA). The RIA employs three protein groups: (i) the ferric reductases (Fre5 proteins), (ii) the multicopper ferroxidases (Fet3) and (iii) the high-affinity iron permeases (Ftr1). Phenotyping under different iron concentrations revealed detrimental effects on spore swelling and hyphal formation under iron depletion, but yeast-like morphology under iron excess. Since access to iron is limited during pathogenesis, pathogens are placed under stress due to nutrient limitations. To combat this, gene duplication and differential gene expression of key iron uptake genes are utilized to acquire iron against the deleterious effects of iron depletion. In the genome of the human pathogenic fungus L. corymbifera, three, four and three copies were identified for FRE5, FTR1 and FET3 genes, respectively. As in other fungi, FET3 and FTR1 are syntenic and co-expressed in L. corymbifera. Expression of FRE5, FTR1 and FET3 genes is highly up-regulated during iron limitation (Fe-), but lower during iron excess (Fe+). Fe- dependent upregulation of gene expression takes place in LcFRE5 II and III, LcFTR1 I and II, as well as LcFET3 I and II suggesting a functional role in pathogenesis. The syntenic LcFTR1 I–LcFET3 I gene pair is co-expressed during germination, whereas LcFTR1 IILcFET3 II is co-expressed during hyphal proliferation. LcFTR1 I, II and IV were overexpressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to represent high and moderate expression of intracellular transport of Fe3+, respectively. Challenge of macrophages with the yeast mutants revealed no obvious role for LcFTR1 I, but possible functions of LcFTR1 II and IVs in recognition by macrophages. RIA expression pattern was used for a new model of interaction between L. corymbifera and macrophages

Dehydroabietylamine-Based Cellulose Nanofibril Films: A New Class of Sustainable Biomaterials for Highly Efficient, Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Effects

The design of antimicrobial surfaces as integral parts of advanced biomaterials is nowadays a high research priority, as the accumulation of microorganisms on surfaces inflicts substantial costs on the health and industry sectors. At present, there is a growing interest in designing functional materials from polymers abundant in nature, such as cellulose, that combine sustainability with outstanding mechanical properties and economic production. There is also the need to find suitable replacements for antimicrobial silver-based agents due to environmental toxicity and spread of resistance to metal antimicrobials. Herein we report the unprecedented decoration of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films with dehydroabietylamine 1 (CNF-CMC-1), to give an innovative contact-active surface active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including the methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA14TK301, with low potential to spread resistance and good biocompatibility, all achieved with low surface coverage. CNF-CMC-1 was particularly effective against S. aureus ATCC12528, causing virtually complete reduction of the total cells from 10 5 colony forming units (CFU)/mL bacterial suspensions, after 24 h of contact. This gentle chemical modification of the surface of CNF fully retained the beneficial properties of the original film, including moisture buffering and strength, relevant in many potential applications. Our originally designed surface represents a new class of ecofriendly biomaterials that optimizes the performance of CNF by adding antimicrobial properties without the need for environmentally toxic silver. © Copyright 2019 American Chemical Society

Dehydroabietylamine-Based Cellulose Nanofibril Films : A New Class of Sustainable Biomaterials for Highly Efficient, Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Effects

The design of antimicrobial surfaces as integral parts of advanced biomaterials is nowadays a high research priority, as the accumulation of microorganisms on surfaces inflicts substantial costs on the health and industry sectors. At present, there is a growing interest in designing functional materials from polymers abundant in nature, such as cellulose, that combine sustainability with outstanding mechanical properties and economic production. There is also the need to find suitable replacements for antimicrobial silver-based agents due to environmental toxicity and spread of resistance to metal antimicrobials. Herein we report the unprecedented decoration of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films with dehydroabietylamine 1 (CNF-CMC-1), to give an innovative contact-active surface active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including the methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA14TK301, with low potential to spread resistance and good biocompatibility, all achieved with low surface coverage. CNF-CMC-1 was particularly effective against S. aureus ATCC12528, causing virtually complete reduction of the total cells from 10(5) colony forming units (CFU)/mL bacterial suspensions, after 24 h of contact. This gentle chemical modification of the surface of CNF fully retained the beneficial properties of the original film, including moisture buffering and strength, relevant in many potential applications. Our originally designed surface represents a new class of ecofriendly biomaterials that optimizes the performance of CNF by adding antimicrobial properties without the need for environmentally toxic silver.Peer reviewe

Non-leaching, highly biocompatible nanocellulose surfaces that efficiently resist fouling by bacteria in an artificial dermis model

Peer reviewe

Non-leaching, Highly Biocompatible Nanocellulose Surfaces That Efficiently Resist Fouling by Bacteria in an Artificial Dermis Model

Bacterial biofilm infections incur massive costs on healthcare systems worldwide. Particularly worrisome are the infections associated with pressure ulcers and prosthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgeries, where staphylococci are the major biofilm-forming pathogens. Non-leaching antimicrobial surfaces offer great promise for the design of bioactive coatings to be used in medical devices. However, the vast majority are cationic, which brings about undesirable toxicity. To circumvent this issue, we have developed antimicrobial nanocellulose films by direct functionalization of the surface with dehydroabietic acid derivatives. Our conceptually unique design generates non-leaching anionic surfaces that reduce the number of viable staphylococci in suspension, including drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, by an impressive 4-5 log units, upon contact. Moreover, the films clearly prevent bacterial colonization of the surface in a model mimicking the physiological environment in chronic wounds. Their activity is not hampered by high protein content, and they nurture fibroblast growth at the surface without causing significant hemolysis. In this work, we have generated nanocellulose films with indisputable antimicrobial activity demonstrated using state-of-the-art models that best depict an "in vivo scenario". Our approach is to use fully renewable polymers and find suitable alternatives to silver and cationic antimicrobials. © 2020 American Chemical Society

Casting a wider net: Immunosurveillance by nonclassical MHC molecules

Most studies of T lymphocytes focus on recognition of classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II molecules presenting oligopeptides, yet there are numerous variations and exceptions of biological significance based on recognition of a wide variety of nonclassical MHC molecules. These include αβ and γδ T cells that recognize different class Ib molecules (CD1, MR-1, HLA-E, G, F, et al.) that are nearly monomorphic within a given species. Collectively, these T cells can be considered “unconventional,” in part because they recognize lipids, metabolites, and modified peptides. Unlike classical MHC-specific cells, unconventional T cells generally exhibit limited T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoires and often produce innate immune cell-like rapid effector responses. Exploiting this system in new generation vaccines for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), other infectious agents, and cancer was the focus of a recent workshop, “Immune Surveillance by Non-classical MHC Molecules: Improving Diversity for Antigens,” sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Here, we summarize salient points presented regarding the basic immunobiology of unconventional T cells, recent advances in methodologies to measure unconventional T-cell activity in diseases, and approaches to harness their considerable clinical potential