Daeyoung Park

Coordinating transmit power and carrier phase for wireless networks with multi-packet reception capability

Driven by advances in signal processing and multiuser detection (MUD) technologies, it has become possible for a wireless node to simultaneously receive multiple signals from other transmitters. In order to take full advantage of MUD in multi-packet reception (MPR) capable wireless networks, it is highly desirable to make the compound signals from multiple transmitters more separable on its constellation at the receiver by coordinating both the transmit power level and carrier phase offsets of the transmitters. In this article, we propose a feedback-based transmit power and carrier phase adjustment scheme that estimates the symbol energy and the carrier phase offset for each transmitter’s received signal, computes the optimal received power level and carrier phase shift to maximize the minimum Euclidean distance between the constellation points, and finally feeds the optimal transmit power level and phase shift information back to the transmitters. We then evaluate the performance of the proposed transmit power and carrier phase adjustment scheme and subsequently show that the proposed scheme significantly reduces the error probability in a multiuser communication system having MPR capability.

Wireless packet scheduling based on the cumulative distribution function of user transmission rates

In this paper, we present a new wireless scheduling algorithm based on the cumulative distribution function (cdf) and its simple modification that limits the maximum starving time. This cdf-based scheduling (CS) algorithm selects the user for transmission based on the cdf of user rates, in such a way that the user whose rate is high enough, but least probable to become higher, is selected first. We prove that the CS algorithm is equivalent to a scheduling algorithm that regards the user rates as independent and identically distributed, and the average throughput of a user is independent of the probability distribution of other users. So, we can evaluate the exact user throughput only if we know the users own distribution, which is a distinctive feature of this proposed algorithm. In addition, we try a modification on the CS algorithm to limit the maximum starving time, and prove that the modification does not affect the average interservice time. This CS with starving-time limitation (CS-STL) algorithm turns out to limit the maximum starving time at the cost of a negligible throughput loss.

Lymphatic regulator PROX1 determines Schlemm’s canal integrity and identity

Schlemms canal (SC) is a specialized vascular structure in the eye that functions to drain aqueous humor from the intraocular chamber into systemic circulation. Dysfunction of SC has been proposed to underlie increased aqueous humor outflow (AHO) resistance, which leads to elevated ocular pressure, a factor for glaucoma development in humans. Here, using lymphatic and blood vasculature reporter mice, we determined that SC, which originates from blood vessels during the postnatal period, acquires lymphatic identity through upregulation of prospero homeobox protein 1 (PROX1), the master regulator of lymphatic development. SC expressed lymphatic valve markers FOXC2 and integrin α9 and exhibited continuous vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin) junctions and basement membrane, similar to collecting lymphatics. SC notably lacked luminal valves and expression of the lymphatic endothelial cell markers podoplanin and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1). Using an ocular puncture model, we determined that reduced AHO altered the fate of SC both during development and under pathologic conditions; however, alteration of VEGF-C/VEGFR3 signaling did not modulate SC integrity and identity. Intriguingly, PROX1 expression levels linearly correlated with SC functionality. For example, PROX1 expression was reduced or undetectable under pathogenic conditions and in deteriorated SCs. Collectively, our data indicate that PROX1 is an accurate and reliable biosensor of SC integrity and identity.

Energy-Per-Bit Minimized Radio Resource Allocation in Heterogeneous Networks

In this paper, we present an energy-per-bit minimized radio resource allocation scheme in heterogeneous networks equipped with multi-homing capability, simultaneously connecting to different wireless interfaces. Specifically, we formulate an optimization problem related to minimization of energy-per-bit which takes a form of nonlinear fractional programming. Then we derive a parametric optimization problem out of that fractional programming and solve the original problem by using a double-loop iteration method. In each iteration, we derive the optimal resource allocation policy by applying Lagrangian duality and an efficient dual update method. In addition, we present suboptimal resource allocation algorithms using the properties of the optimal resource allocation policy. Numerical results reveal that the optimal allocation algorithm improves energy efficiency significantly over the existing resource allocation algorithms designed for homogeneous networks and its performance is superior to suboptimal algorithms in reducing energy consumption as well as in enhancing network energy efficiency.

On Scheduling for Multiple-Antenna Wireless Networks Using Contention-Based Feedback

Multiuser diversity gain is an effective technique for improving the performance of wireless networks. This gain can be exploited by scheduling the users with the best current channel conditions. However, this kind of scheduling requires that the base station (or access point) knows some kind of channel quality indicator (CQI) information for every user in the system. When the wireless link lacks channel reciprocity, each user must feed back this CQI information to the base station. The required feedback load makes exploiting multiuser diversity extremely difficult when the number of users becomes large. To alleviate this problem, this paper considers a contention-based CQI feedback where only users whose channel gains are larger than a threshold are allowed to transmit their CQI information through a spread-spectrum based contention channel. Considering the capture effect in this contention channel, it is shown that i) the multiuser diversity gain can be exploited regardless of the number of transmit antennas at the base station and ii) the total system throughput exponentially approaches that of the full feedback scheme as the spreading code length of the contention channel linearly increases. In addition, it is also shown that multiuser diversity can be maintained with the feedback delay of time-variant channels. We also consider the issue of differentiated rate scheduling, in which the base station gives different rates to different subsets of mobiles. In this scenario, mobiles feed back their CQI with some access probability, and we show this technique causes only a negligible throughput loss compared to the case without supporting differentiated rate.

Intravital imaging of intestinal lacteals unveils lipid drainage through contractility

Lacteals are lymphatic vessels located at the center of each intestinal villus and provide essential transport routes for lipids and other lipophilic molecules. However, it is unclear how absorbed molecules are transported through the lacteal. Here, we used reporter mice that express GFP under the control of the lymphatic-specific promoter Prox1 and a custom-built confocal microscope and performed intravital real-time visualization of the absorption and transport dynamics of fluorescence-tagged fatty acids (FAs) and various exogenous molecules in the intestinal villi in vivo. These analyses clearly revealed transepithelial absorption of these molecules via enterocytes, diffusive distribution over the lamina propria, and subsequent transport through lacteals. Moreover, we observed active contraction of lacteals, which seemed to be directly involved in dietary lipid drainage. Our analysis revealed that the smooth muscles that surround each lacteal are responsible for contractile dynamics and that lacteal contraction is ultimately controlled by the autonomic nervous system. These results indicate that the lacteal is a unique organ-specific lymphatic system and does not merely serve as a passive conduit but as an active pump that transports lipids. Collectively, using this efficient imaging method, we uncovered drainage of absorbed molecules in small intestinal villus lacteals and the involvement of lacteal contractibility.

Perilipin+ embryonic preadipocytes actively proliferate along growing vasculatures for adipose expansion.

Despite the growing interest in adipose tissue as a therapeutic target of metabolic diseases, the identity of adipocyte precursor cells (preadipocytes) and the formation of adipose tissue during embryonic development are still poorly understood. Here, we clarified the identity and dynamic processes of preadipocytes in mouse white adipose tissue during embryogenesis through direct examination, lineage tracing and culture systems. Surprisingly, we found that lipid-lacking but perilipin+ or adiponectin+ proliferating preadipocytes started to emerge at embryonic day 16.5, and these cells underwent active proliferation until birth. Moreover, these preadipocytes resided as clusters and were distributed along growing adipose vasculatures. Importantly, the embryonic preadipocytes exhibited considerable coexpression of stem cell markers, such as CD24, CD29 and PDGFRα, and a small portion of preadipocytes were derived from PDGFRβ+ mural cells, in contrast to the adult preadipocytes present in the stromal vascular fraction. Further analyses with in vitro and ex vivo culture systems revealed a stepwise but dynamic regulation of preadipocyte formation and differentiation during prenatal adipogenesis. To conclude, we unraveled the identity and characteristics of embryonic preadipocytes, which are crucial for the formation and expansion of adipose tissue during embryogenesis. Summary: The formation and expansion of mouse adipose tissue during embryogenesis is driven by Perilipin+ preadipocytes that emerge at E16.5 and express several stem cell markers.

QoS Support by Using CDF-Based Wireless Packet Scheduling in Fading Channels

In this paper, we provide an efficient quality-of-service (QoS)-guarantee scheme using the cumulative-distribution-function-based scheduling (CS) algorithm in wireless fading channels. We first extend the CS algorithm such that it can encompass the practical environment with discrete user transmission rates. The extended CS algorithm can allocate the time fractions to users in arbitrary manner, and render an exact estimation of user average throughputs, through which it can provide differentiated QoS to each user. We also introduce the effective-capacity concept to describe the delay-constrained capacity of the CS algorithm, both in time-independent and time-correlated channels. In contrast to other existing scheduling algorithms, the CS algorithm enables calculating the effective capacity analytically, rather than estimating it by measurement on the queueing behavior. Using the effective capacity, we can check the feasibility of the user-specified QoS effectively in wireless time-varying channels

Hybrid Division Duplex System for Next-Generation Cellular Services

The paper proposes a new duplexing scheme, which is called the hybrid division duplex (HDD), that is suitable for fourth-generation mobile communication systems. The proposed mobile communication system is much more flexible and efficient in providing asymmetric data service and managing intercell interference by exploiting the advantages of both time division duplex (TDD) and frequency division duplex (FDD) schemes. The HDD scheme has a pair of frequency bands such as the FDD, performing a TDD operation using one of the bands in such a manner that allows for simultaneous FDD and TDD operations. Considering the properties of the HDD system architecture, frequency hopping orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) access is adopted in one band for the TDD operation and code division multiple access (CDMA) in the other band for the FDD uplink operation. The important advantage of the HDD scheme is the robustness against cross time slot interference that is inherent to the TDD system, which is caused by the asynchronous downlink/uplink switching boundaries among all neighbor cells. From the simulation results, the proposed system can achieve approximately 7% and 30% improvement with regard to the downlink and uplink throughput, respectively, as compared to the conventional TDD system under cell-independent downlink/uplink traffic asymmetries. It demonstrates that the HDD scheme is a viable solution for future communication systems that are projected to have a cell-independent asymmetric-traffic-supported hierarchical cell structure.

Interference Alignment and Wireless Energy Transfer via Antenna Selection

This paper investigates simultaneous transfer of information and energy over wireless link in the multiuser MIMO systems in which interference is aligned at the reduced signal subspace at each receiver. We propose to utilize interference that falls into the reduced subspace as an energy source, which was formerly discarded in the conventional interference alignment system. This makes the receive antenna selection achieve better rate and energy tradeoff. Therefore, the receive antenna selection is beneficial in order to partition the receive signal space into two orthogonal spaces for information and energy transfer.