Breakpoint Distance Research Articles

Path Loss Models for 5G Communications System in Corridors Environment

This paper presents the propagation path loss channel models, developed from real-field measurement in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The purpose of the study is to characterize the channel at 28 GHz for 5G communications system in line-of-sight corridors environment. Measurement campaigns were conducted to measure the wireless signal of received signal strength at three different construction of straight corridors, narrow, wide, and open corridors. The large-scale path loss models are developed using the closed-in reference distance and floating–intercept modeling approaches. Besides contributing path loss models at 28 GHz for different corridors dimension, the result found in this work discovered the breakpoint distance of radio propagation is seen varies differently at those corridors.

Investigating the complexity of the double distance problems

BackgroundTwo genomes mathbb {A} and mathbb {B} over the same set of gene families form a canonical pair when each of them has exactly one gene from each family. Denote by n_* the number of common families of mathbb {A} and mathbb {B}. Different distances of canonical genomes can be derived from a structure called breakpoint graph, which represents the relation between the two given genomes as a collection of cycles of even length and paths. Let c_i and p_j be respectively the numbers of cycles of length i and of paths of length j in the breakpoint graph of genomes mathbb {A} and mathbb {B}. Then, the breakpoint distance of mathbb {A} and mathbb {B} is equal to n_*-left( c_2+frac{p_0}{2}right). Similarly, when the considered rearrangements are those modeled by the double-cut-and-join (DCJ) operation, the rearrangement distance of mathbb {A} and mathbb {B} is n_*-left( c+frac{p_e }{2}right), where c is the total number of cycles and p_e is the total number of paths of even length.MotivationThe distance formulation is a basic unit for several other combinatorial problems related to genome evolution and ancestral reconstruction, such as median or double distance. Interestingly, both median and double distance problems can be solved in polynomial time for the breakpoint distance, while they are NP-hard for the rearrangement distance. One way of exploring the complexity space between these two extremes is to consider a sigma _k distance, defined to be n_*-left( c_2+c_4+ldots +c_k+frac{p_0+p_2+ldots +p_{k-2}}{2}right), and increasingly investigate the complexities of median and double distance for the sigma _4 distance, then the sigma _6 distance, and so on.ResultsWhile for the median much effort was done in our and in other research groups but no progress was obtained even for the sigma _4 distance, for solving the double distance under sigma _4 and sigma _6 distances we could devise linear time algorithms, which we present here.

Novel Gene Rearrangement Pattern in Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae Mitochondrial Genome: New Gene Order in Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).

The mitochondrial genomes of Muscidifurax similadanacus, M. sinesensilla, Nasonia vitripennis, and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae were sequenced to better understand the structural evolution of Pteromalidae mitogenomes. These newly sequenced mitogenomes all contained 37 genes. Nucleotide composition was AT-biased and the majority of the protein-coding genes exhibited a negative AT skew. All 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) initiated with the standard start codon of ATN, excepted for nad1 of N. vitripennis, which started with TTG, and terminated with a typical stop codon TAA/TAG or an incomplete stop codon T. All transfer RNA (tRNA) genes were predicted to fold into the typical clover-leaf secondary structures, except for trnS1, which lacks the DHU arm in all species. In P. vindemmiae, trnR and trnQ lack the DHU arm and TΨC arm, respectively. Although most genes evolved under a strong purifying selection, the Ka/Ks value of the atp8 gene of P. vindemmiae was greater than 1, indicating putative positive selection. A novel transposition of trnR in P. vindemmiae was revealed, which was the first of this kind to be reported in Pteromalidae. Two kinds of datasets (PCG12 and AA) and two inference methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) were used to reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis for the newly sequenced mitogenomes of Pteromalidae and those deposited in GenBank. The topologies obtained recovered the monophyly of the three subfamilies included. Pachyneurinae and Pteromalinae were recovered as sister families, and both appeared sister to Sycophaginae. The pairwise breakpoint distances of mitogenome rearrangements were estimated to infer phylogeny among pteromalid species. The topology obtained was not totally congruent with those reconstructed using the ML and BI methods.

Performance analysis of mmWave radio propagations in an indoor environment for 5G networks

Existing wireless communications in the sub-6 GHz bands are facing challenges from the growing demand for higher data rates and better quality of services. To satisfy these demands, the fifth generation (5G) mobile network would consider unused spectrum in the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum (30–300 GHz). The shortage of bandwidth in the sub-6 GHz band is solved using mmWave technology. Furthermore, mmWave provides significantly higher throughput, data rate, and capacity. Despite the fact that a huge bandwidth is employed, mmWave technology suffers from diffuse scattering from rough materials, path loss, reflection loss, atmospheric attenuation, building penetration loss, and shadowing which leads to a decrease in the transmitted signal power. Therefore, a reliable and accurate channel model is important in the mmWave bands, particularly for the indoor environment. Moreover, by using technologies like beam-forming and others coupled with mmWave, the listed impairments are minimized. In this work, we analyze the performance of different path loss models (CI, free space, and two rays) at 38, 60, and 73 GHz carrier frequencies in terms of path loss in terms of separation distance between transmitter and receiver. Additionally, we have evaluated the performance of the path loss with respect to the break point distance to enhance the received signal power and throughput. We have also done analysis of the directional power delay profile with received signal power, path loss and path loss exponent (PLE) at 38 GHz and 73 GHz mmWave bands for both LOS and NLOS by using uniform linear array (ULA) 2 × 2 and 64 × 16 antenna configurations using the channel model simulator (NYUSIM). The simulation results show the performance of different path loss models in the mmWave and sub 6 GHz bands. Path loss in the close-in (CI) model at mmWave bands is larger than that of free space and two ray path loss models, because it considers all shadowing and reflection effects between transmitter and receiver.

The first complete mitochondrial genome of the genus Echinolaelaps reveals mitochondrial genome rearrangement type and evolution of Gamasida.

Echinolaelaps echidninus is a gamasid mite that is of medical and veterinary significance as parasites and vectors of disease agents, which can carry pathogens of zoonosis such as Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, Rickettsia Q fever, Rickettsia mooseri, Rickettsia pox pathogens, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and Leptospira. At present, only single mitochondrial genes have been analysed for E. echidninus in the world, and no complete mitochondrial genome has been reported. However, information carried by a single gene is limited. Therefore, the complete mitochondrial genome of E. echidninus was determined for the first time by Illumina Hiseq X-Ten platform in this study. The mitochondrial genome is 15 736 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a control region of 1561 bp in length. Codon analysis of 13 protein-coding genes revealed that UUU, UUA, AUU, AUA and AAU were the most frequently used, while cox2 had the fastest evolutionary rate and cob the slowest. Comparative analysis of genome structure and breakpoint distances of the mitochondrial genomes of 23 species in 17 genera from 10 families of Gamasida deposited in GenBank revealed a novel gene arrangement type of the E. echidninus mitochondrial genome, and different degrees of rearrangement among different taxa of Gamasida. Phylogenetic analyses of Gamasida were performed using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Echinolaelaps echidninus was clustered with Dermanyssoidea and formed a more supportive sister group with Varroa destructor. This study provides novel insights into rearrangement patterns and evolution of mitochondrial genomes of Gamasida.

Double Vision and Light Sensitivity Symptoms are Associated With Return-to-School Timing After Pediatric Concussion.

To determine the association between academic time loss postconcussion and vision symptoms/impairments among pediatric patients. Cross-sectional. Sports medicine clinic. Pediatric patients seen for care in a sports medicine clinic between the ages 6 and 18 years (n = 212; mean age = 14.3, SD = 2.4 years; 48% female) were evaluated within 21 days of concussion (mean = 9.8, SD = 5.7 days). Patients were grouped based on academic time loss (missed >5 days vs ≤5 days of school) at their initial postconcussion evaluation. Patients rated concussion symptoms using the Health and Behavior Inventory (HBI) and underwent near point of convergence (NPC) testing. We compared groups on specific HBI symptom ratings of dizziness, blurry vision, seeing double, and light sensitivity, as well as NPC break and recovery point distances. Two hundred twelve patients were included; n = 36 (17%) who reported missing >5 days of school. After adjusting for time since injury, parental education level, mechanism of injury, and preinjury anxiety, patients who reported missing >5 days of school had higher ratings of double vision (β = 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.53; P = 0.04) and light sensitivity (β = 0.506; 95% CI, 0.061-0.951; P = 0.02), but not dizziness (β = 0.390; 95% CI, -0.047 to 0.827; P = 0.08) or blurry vision (β = 0.026; 95% CI, -0.352 to 0.404; P = 0.89). Missing >5 days of school was associated with worse double vision and light sensitivity symptoms. Given the importance of vision in learning, assessing postconcussion vision symptoms may facilitate a successful return to school. Clinicians should assess a wide spectrum of vision-specific symptoms to ensure appropriate support during the return-to-school process.

An Integer Linear Programming Approach for Scaffolding Based on Exemplar Breakpoint Distance.

Reference-based scaffolding is an important process used in genomic sequencing to order and orient the contigs in a draft genome based on a reference genome. In this study, we utilize the concept of genome rearrangement to formulate this process as an exemplar breakpoint distance (EBD)-based scaffolding problem, whose aim is to scaffold the contigs of two given draft genomes, both containing duplicate genes (or sequence markers) and acting with each other as a reference, such that the EBD between the scaffolded genomes is minimized. The EBD-based scaffolding problem is difficult to solve because it is non-deterministic polynomial-time (NP)-hard. In this work, we design an integer linear programming (ILP)-based algorithm to exactly solve the EBD-based scaffolding problem. Our experimental results on both simulated and biological data sets show that our ILP-based scaffolding algorithm can accurately and efficiently use a reference genome to scaffold the contigs of a draft genome. Moreover, our ILP-based scaffolding algorithm with considering duplicate genes indeed has better accuracy performance than that without considering duplicate genes, suggesting that duplicate genes and their exemplars are helpful for the application of genome rearrangement in the study of the reference-based scaffolding problem. When compared with RaGOO, a current state-of-the-art alignment-based scaffolder, our ILP-based scaffolding algorithm still has better accuracy performance on the biological data sets.

Mitogenomes Provide Insights Into the Evolution of Thoracotremata (Brachyura: Eubrachyura)

Thoracotremata is a group of Brachyura, with 1,248 extant species. To date, parts of the thoracotreme phylogeny are not yet resolved and require further investigation. In this study, 12 new mitogenomes from the four thoracotreme superfamilies were sequenced. They contain a standard set of 37 genes, and vary in size from 15,422 (Hapalocarcinus marsupialis Stimpson, 1858 sensu lato) to 16,490 bp [Arcotheres sinensis (Shen, 1932)]. Combined with 58 thoracotreme mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from GenBank, we described the evolution of gene rearrangement and the internal phylogenetic relationships of Thoracotremata, and evaluated the phylogenetic position of Cryptochiroidea and Pinnotheroidea. Nine distinct patterns of mitochondrial gene order (MGO) among thoracotreme mitogenomes are identified, with four MGOs newly found in Thoracotremata. All other gene orders are the result of transformational pathways originating from brachyuran gene order (BraGO). The different gene orders have variable levels of gene rearrangements, which involve both tRNAs and protein-coding genes. No link between variable gene arrangements (breakpoint distances) and nucleotide substitution rates (branch lengths) is found in thoracotreme crabs. The symbiotic groups, the cryptochiroid and pinnotheroid crabs, display variable MGOs (CryGO, Pin1GO, and Pin2GO), providing evidence for possible correlations of rearranged MGOs to the adaptations to specialized lifestyles. In our phylogenetic analyses, Cryptochiridae (Cryptochiroidea) show close relationship with an Ocypodoidea lineage (Camptandriidae/Xenophthalmidae/Dotillidae). Pinnotheridae (Pinnotheroidea) form the basal monophyletic clade.

Joint Optimization of Trajectory and Communication Resource Allocation for Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabled Maritime Wireless Networks

In maritime wireless communications, unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) can improve coverage and transmission performance due to their agile maneuverability and flexible deployment. This paper considers a USV-enabled maritime wireless network, where a USV is employed to assist the communication between the terrestrial base station and ships. Considering the maritime environment characteristics and earth curvature, we establish the systematic USV kinetics and information transmission models. To guarantee fairness, we aim to maximize the minimum expected throughput overall ships by jointly optimizing the trajectory and communication resource allocation, subject to the constraints of the USV kinetics, safe sailing, breakpoint distances, line-of-sight links, resource allocation, and information-causality. Due to the complexity of the maritime two-ray signal propagation model, we propose a channel approximation method to find an upper bound of the throughput for the original problem. By the problem decomposition, two sub-problems are derived and solved iteratively using successive convex approximation and interior-point methods. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method and show that USV can significantly improve transmission performance in maritime wireless networks.

IS NEAR POINT OF CONVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOM PROFILES OR RECOVERY IN ADOLESCENTS AFTER CONCUSSION?

Background:Visual impairments, including oculomotor impairments, are common following concussion. Accurate, efficient, and objective measurement of post-concussion visual impairments may help guide treatment pathways. Less is known about how specific concussion symptoms are associated with visual impairments.Hypothesis/Purpose:Our purpose was to compare the clinical and injury characteristics of concussion patients who demonstrated receded near point of convergence (NPC) (defined as measurement >6 cm using accommodation rule from bridge of nose) to those with normal NPC (≤6 cm). We hypothesize that patients demonstrating receded NPC would show greater symptom burden and have longer recovery when compared to those with normal NPC.Methods:Concussion patients who were seen within 14 days of injury were included. We performed univariable demographic, injury, and clinical characteristic comparisons between those with and without receded NPC break point using independent samples t-tests and Chi-square analyses. We compared NPC break point between those who did not recover within 28 days of injury (PPCS; persistent post-concussion symptoms) and those who did (no PPCS). A multivariable linear regression model was constructed to identify which factors were associated with NPC break point distance.Results:We evaluated 123 patients using a multimodal concussion evaluation within 14 days of injury. Those with receded NPC (n=77) were significantly younger than those with normal NPC (n=46; Table 1). The receded NPC group had a significantly greater proportion of patients reporting headaches at initial assessment, as well as significantly greater overall, cognitive and somatic symptom severity (Table 2). The group who went onto experience PPCS had a significantly greater NPC at initial evaluation than those without PPCS (p=0.02; Figure 1). The receded NPC group committed more modified Balance Error Scoring System (mBESS) errors than the normal NPC group, but there were no significant differences for tandem gait test performance (Table 3). In our multivariable model, we observed that among all potential predictor variables, more severe somatic symptoms were significantly associated with a greater NPC (Table 4).Conclusion:Those with receded NPC at initial evaluation showed an increased symptom burden, most notable with somatic symptoms, compared with those without receded NPC. Additionally, we were able to elucidate that those who went on to develop PPCS had greater NPC than those recovered within 28 days. Visual disorders may be an important driver of symptom profiles following concussion in adolescents. The impact of visual disturbance treatment following concussion in adolescents on symptom resolution should be further evaluated.Tables/Figure:Figure 1.Individual data points describing the distribution of NPC break points (cm) between patients who required >28 days for concussion symptom resolution (PPCS) and those who recovered within 28 days (No PPCS). The black bar represents the mean group value. The PPCS group had a significantly greater mean NPC break point than the No PPCS group (p=0.02).

Variations of GSM Path Loss Exponent with Propagation Distance at L-Band Frequencies in Different Microcellular Environment of Southwestern Nigeria

Propagation path loss exponent is an important component of system design, and knowing the values helps to avoid surprises when the actual service begins. The path loss exponent is known to be critical in establishing the coverage of any new cellular network. Estimating the path loss exponent of any environment requires raising new data sets, which can be accomplished by conducting experiments. With this objective, the present study reports the L-band signal RSS level measurements of 6 GSM base stations in the urban, suburban and rural environments of Ondo and Ekiti States in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. Using a Sony Ericsson TEMS phone monitoring device—connected to a laptop equipped with TEMS software and base station cell reference—and a GPS device, RSS measurements were performed in each sector of the base station up to 1200 m, employing a single sector verification method. The values of path loss exponents were computed from the deduced values of path loss at 50 m intervals up to distances of 1200 m. Close to the base station, the following exponent values were observed—between 2.0 and 3.8 in the urban environment, 2.0 to 2.8 in the suburban environment while for the rural environment, 1.5 to 2.6 we're observed. After the breakpoint distance, higher path loss exponent values of up to 6 was recorded in the urban environment, exponent value of up to 4.3 was observed in the suburban environment and up to 3.5 exponent value in the rural environment. It was also observed that the rural environment presented the longest breakpoint distance of 500 m. The high path loss exponents observed, especially in the urban environment, could cause GSM operators to rethink the margins they have provided. This study is useful for the design of upcoming network systems in these regions and in similar regions.

Is near point of convergence associated with symptom profiles or recovery in adolescents after concussion?

Our purpose was to compare the clinical and injury characteristics of concussion patients with a receded near point of convergence (NPC) vs those without a receded NPC. Concussion patients were seen within 14 days of injury. We compared those with receded a NPC (>6 cm) break point distance and those with a normal NPC distance on symptom, behavioral, and clinical assessments. We also compared NPC break points between those who did/did not recover within 28 days of injury. 123 patients completed the assessment. 77/123 (63%) of participants demonstrated a receded NPC when tested within 14 days of injury. Those with receded a NPC break point (n = 77; mean = 14.9, SD = 1.5 years; 47% female) were significantly younger than those with a normal NPC break point (n = 46; mean = 15.7, SD = 1.7 years; 46% female). The receded NPC break point group had a significantly greater proportion of patients reporting headaches (86% vs. 61%), as well as significantly greater cognitive (mean = 13.4, SD = 8.7 vs. mean = 8.8, SD = 8.6), somatic (mean = 10.0, SD = 5.9 vs. mean = 6.9, SD = 6.6), and overall (mean = 23.7, SD = 13.6 vs. mean = 15.8, SD = 14.4) symptom severity. Our multivariable model indicated among all potential predictor variables, more severe somatic symptoms were significantly associated with a greater NPC break point (β = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.52). The group who went onto experience persistent symptoms had a significantly greater NPC break point at initial evaluation than those without persistent symptoms (mean = 9.7, SD = 7.5 cm vs. mean = 7.0, SD = 4.0 cm). Those with a receded NPC break point at initial evaluation showed an increased symptom burden, most notable with somatic symptoms, compared with those without a receded NPC break point.

Developed channel propagation models and path loss measurements for wireless communication systems using regression analysis techniques

BackgroundThe development of powerful and flexible management addresses is due to the improvement of deeply reliable gadgets and the advancement of the concept of cellular. The cellular principle was a major way of solving the wavelength crowding problem and the user capacity. It offered high capacity without major technological changes with limited allocation in spectrum. Wireless communication is an innovation in media transmission that allows remote transmission in all types of terrain between convenient gadgets. For estimating a transmitter 's radio coverage area, propagation models that anticipate the mean signal strength for an arbitrary transmitter–receiver separation distance are crucial as they are called large-scale propagation models so even though they define the average signal strength over long periods of time and large distances from the transmitter.ResultsDeveloped propagation models are presented according to the measured path loss values in exemplary urban and suburban areas at the operating frequency of 3.5 ghz by using the regression analysis. The measurements are implemented by using a spectrum analyzer FSH6 to get the channel response as shown in the stated tables and graphs. Based on the obtained results, it was observed that the path loss could be calculated as a function of distance and during the practical measurements 32 m was precise as a presumption for the break point distance. The values of path loss exponent (n) are defined and calculated for both of urban and suburban regions. Measurements results are analyzed and compared in order to study their influence for every specific environment. It was noticed that any radio signal will suffer attenuation when it travels from the transmitter to the receiver as a variety of various phenomena give rise to this radio path loss.ConclusionsThe interaction between both the electromagnetic radiation and the environment tends to decrease the quality of the signal being sent from the transmitter to the destination which causes the loss of the path. Propagation models are the basis for channel estimation, as they attempt to identify how a radio transmission changes from the transmitter to the receiver throughout its path. The gained results from this research will be supportive for the arrangement of network planners and researchers as proof and directory materials before future location establishment.

Abstract 3639: Fusion-associated neoantigen burden and predicted immunogenicity of CDK12 biallelic loss-of-function tumors vary substantially across cancer types

Abstract Background: Biallelic inactivation of CDK12 is associated with a distinct genomic signature of focal tandem duplications (FTDs). Gene fusions resulting from CDK12-associated FTDs increase neoantigen load, raising interest in CDK12 as a biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although FTDs have been detected at higher rates in CDK12-altered tumors compared to CDK12 WT tumors for multiple cancer types, fusion-associated neoantigen burden has only been evaluated in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Methods: By retrospective review of molecular profiles, we identified tumors with CDK12 biallelic loss-of-function (LOF) in a primary cohort of over 9000 patient tumors, representing 39 cancer types, and assessed fusions detected by whole transcriptome sequencing for immune epitopes. Biomarker and fusion results for a second cohort of over 13,000 patient tumors were reviewed for validation of the initial findings. Results: Tumors with CDK12 biallelic LOF (bLOF) (n=29) had significantly higher mean fusion rates (11.7 fusions/tumor) than CDK12 monoallelic LOF (mLOF) and WT tumors (4.1 and 2.6, respectively). Analysis of fusion topologies and breakpoints indicated a predominance of duplication events for CDK12 bLOF tumors and a bimodal distribution of breakpoint distances (modes at ~250-500 kb and ~1.0-2.5 Mb), consistent with prior reports. Fusion rates correlated with the rate of predicted neoantigens with high, intermediate, and low affinity for MHC class I. Fusion-associated neoantigen burden was significantly higher in CDK12 bLOF tumors (145.0 high affinity peptides/tumor) than mLOF (49.7) and WT (26.6) tumors. Among CDK12-altered tumors, fusion rates were significantly higher in prostate (16.4 fusions/tumor, n=11) and ovarian (19.7, n=6) than other cancer types (3.4 overall, n=12), potentially reflecting cancer type-specific roles for CDK12. Co-occurrence of mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR)/high microsatellite instability (MSI-High) with CDK12 bLOF (n=5), most often in colorectal tumors (n=4), correlated with a lower fusion rate (0.2 fusions/tumor); recurrent CDK12 frameshift mutations in these cases (G1461fs, T1463fs, and Q1291fs) coincide with poly-nucleotide tracts, suggesting CDK12 mutations are a secondary effect. In a separate cohort of over 13,000 patient tumors, additional CDK12 bLOF tumors (n=47) were identified, showing a similar distribution and association with high fusion rate (11.0 fusions/tumor). Conclusion: Fusion rates and predicted neoantigen load varied significantly between CDK12 biallelic tumors across cancer types, highlighting the value of biomarkers with a quantitative immunogenic/phenotypic readout. We propose that fusion rates are linked to CDK12 alterations and may serve as useful biomarker to enhance our ability to identify responders of ICI therapy. Citation Format: Andrew Elliott, Phillip Stafford, Jian Zhang, Qing Zhang, Jeff Swensen, Daniel Martin, Joanne Xiu, Zoran Gatalica, Daniel Vaena, Elisabeth Heath, W. Michael Korn. Fusion-associated neoantigen burden and predicted immunogenicity of CDK12 biallelic loss-of-function tumors vary substantially across cancer types [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3639.

In-building coverage of millimeter-wave wireless networks from channel measurement and modeling perspectives

To progress cost-effective deployment of millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless networks for indoor users, the prediction of indoor-to-indoor (I2I) and outdoor-to-indoor (O2I) coverage based on field measurement studies is of great interest to the future generation mobile communication system. First, measurements in I2I and O2I scenarios, which have advantages in terms of achieving a fair comparison of channel characteristics across different mmWave bands and bandwidths, are performed. Next, the developed dual-slope path loss model with a break-point distance is found to well fit omnidirectional and directional measured I2I data, especially at 39.5 GHz, revealing that the transition from lit or shadow regions to totally blocked regions is abrupt. Combined with space-time propagation characteristics, the indoor blockage effect on path loss and angular spread is investigated, therein being essential for the design of beam-steering and tracking algorithms. Double-directional measurement results show that most dominant paths arrive along the line-of-sight path, and only a few in-building reflections can be detected in higher frequency bands. Based on the joint analysis of channel measurement and modeling results, several mmWave network design and in-building coverage enhancement insights are presented.

Ultra-Wideband Radio Channel Characteristics for Near-Ground Swarm Robots Communication

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology has great potential for the cooperation and navigation among near ground mobile robots in GPS-denied environments. In this paper, an efficient two-segment UWB radio channel model is proposed with considering the multi-path condition in very near-ground environments and different surface roughness. We conducted field measurements to collect channel information, with both transmitter and receiver antennas placed at different heights above the ground: 0cm-20cm. Signal frequency was chosen at 4.3GHz with bandwidth of 1GHz. Three ground coverings were tested in common scenarios: brick, grass and robber fields. The proposed model has enhanced accuracy achieved by careful assessment of dominant propagation mechanisms in each segment, such as diffraction loss due to obstruction of the first Fresnel zone and higher-order waves produced by ground roughness. It is realized that antenna height and distance are the most influential geometric parameters to affect the path loss model. Once the antenna height is known, there exists a breakpoint distance in UWB propagation, which separates two segmentation using the different path-loss mechanism. Different surface types can cause different signal attenuation. Monte Carlo simulations are used to investigate the effects of antenna height, distance, ground surface type on mobile robots swarm communication to find out the antenna height is also a dominant factor on connectivity and the average number of neighbors. Within a certain range, the higher the antenna height and the closer the communication distance, the better the communication performance will usually be. Cramér-Rao lower bound(CRLB) of path loss estimator based on the proposed model is derived to show the relationship between CRLB with height and distance.

Breakpoint distance and PQ-trees

The PQ-tree is a fundamental data structure that has also been used in comparative genomics to model ancestral genomes with some uncertainty. To quantify the evolution between genomes represented by PQ-trees, in this paper we study two fundamental problems of PQ-tree comparison motivated by this application. First, we show that the problem of comparing two PQ-trees by computing the minimum breakpoint distance among all pairs of permutations generated respectively by the two considered PQ-trees is NP-complete for unsigned permutations. Next, we consider a generalization of the classical Breakpoint Median problem, where an ancestral genome is represented by a PQ-tree and p≥1 permutations are given and we want to compute a permutation generated by the PQ-tree that minimizes the sum of the breakpoint distances to the p permutations (or k). We show that this problem is also NP-complete for p≥2, and is fixed-parameter tractable with respect to k for p≥1.

Novel gene rearrangement in the mitochondrial genome of Pachyneuron aphidis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Species in Hymenoptera usually show exceptionally high rates of mitochondrial molecular evolution and dramatic gene rearrangements, which has been attributed to their parasitic lifestyle. However, mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of chalcidoid wasps is still poorly understood and the evolution of gene rearrangements is still unclear. In this study, the nearly complete mitogenome of Pachyneuron aphidis, a chalcidoid wasp mainly hyperparasitizes the Aphidius gifuensis, was sequenced using a next-generation sequencing strategy. This genome is 15,137 bp in length, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs and a partial control region. Alignment with other Chalcidoidea mitogenomes revealed a novel inversion in the srRNA-trnV gene cluster in P. aphidis, which is the first of its kind to be reported in Chalcidoidea. Breakpoint distances analysis showed the high value of chalcidoid wasps compare to the ancestral arrangement pattern, which reflected as extensive gene rearrangements. Despite the high frequency of gene rearrangements in these insects, analyses of gene rearrangement and phylogenetic trees showed that species from the same family and the genus tent to have similar gene orders, and the conserved gene blocks (ND3-trnG, srRNA-trnV and COIII-ATP6-ATP8-trnD-trnK-COII-trnL2-COI) can usually be identified, especially at the family level of chalcidoid wasps.

The gene family-free median of three

BackgroundThe gene family-free framework for comparative genomics aims at providing methods for gene order analysis that do not require prior gene family assignment, but work directly on a sequence similarity graph. We study two problems related to the breakpoint median of three genomes, which asks for the construction of a fourth genome that minimizes the sum of breakpoint distances to the input genomes.MethodsWe present a model for constructing a median of three genomes in this family-free setting, based on maximizing an objective function that generalizes the classical breakpoint distance by integrating sequence similarity in the score of a gene adjacency. We study its computational complexity and we describe an integer linear program (ILP) for its exact solution. We further discuss a related problem called family-free adjacencies for k genomes for the special case of k le 3 and present an ILP for its solution. However, for this problem, the computation of exact solutions remains intractable for sufficiently large instances. We then proceed to describe a heuristic method, FFAdj-AM, which performs well in practice.ResultsThe developed methods compute accurate positional orthologs for genomes comparable in size of bacterial genomes on simulated data and genomic data acquired from the OMA orthology database. In particular, FFAdj-AM performs equally or better when compared to the well-established gene family prediction tool MultiMSOAR.ConclusionsWe study the computational complexity of a new family-free model and present algorithms for its solution. With FFAdj-AM, we propose an appealing alternative to established tools for identifying higher confidence positional orthologs.

Imaging anatomy and research of ponticulus posticus with three-dimensional CT

Objective To use three-dimensional CT display ponticulus posticus(PP), make the classification and measurement of PP, and provide the anatomical basis for the related application. Methods A total of 63 cases of PP were found from CT angiography(CTA)of head and neck in our hospital of PACS system from January 2008 to December 2014.On the three-dimensional images, these parameters of PP were measured, including the anteroposterior diameter(AD), vertical diameter(VD), breakpoint distance(BD), third segment diameter of VA(D-VA), the distance between peak of groove ring and occipital(D-RO), the distance of groove ring to midline diameter(D-RL), distance from posterior arch nodule of atlas to the occipital bone(D-NO). Results Three-dimensional CT found the PP in 63 cases with 104 sides, which male of 53 cases, female of 10 cases, left side PP of 49 sides, including the complete type of 23 sides and incomplete type 26 and the right PP of 55 sides, including complete type 22 sides and incomplete type 33.In the left PP, measurements of AD, VD, BD, D-VA, D-RO, D-NO and D-RL were(5.02±1.17)mm, (3.59±1.26)mm, (3.91±2.51)mm, (3.88±0.78)mm, (2.15±2.58)mm, (18.62±3.01)mm and(5.19±3.32)mm, respectively, the right PP were(5.13±1.29)mm, (3.87±0.88)mm, (4.02±2.77)mm, (3.59±0.89)mm, (2.14±2.63)mm, (4.89±3.36)mm, (18.89±3.74)mm and(4.8±3.36)mm, respectively.Statistical comparison showed that AD of PP was greater than VD, D-VA, bilateral BD of PP was greater than that of the unilateral and D-VA, while unilateral BD of PP was less than D-VA, VD, D-RL of complete type PP were less than that of incomplete, D-RO, D-NO of complete type PP were greater than that of incomplete. Conclusion CT three-dimensional imaging can clearly and directly display the PP.Incidence of PP in the male is more than the female.The typing, incidence, size and shape of PP in the left are similar the right.AD of PP is greater than VD, which may limit the VA activities in vertical direction, especially that of complete PP.The PP opening of incomplete type in the bilateral is larger than in the unilateral, which may relate to the degree of degradate evolution. Key words: Ponticulus posticus; Vertebral artery; Anatomy measurement; Three-dimensional CT