Introduction: Despite the relatively low dose (0.5 mSv – 1 mSv) generated by Attenuation Correction CT (ACCT) in PET examinations, the ALARA principle is still applicable. The currently used ACCT standard protocol at the Karolinska University Hospital in Solna uses 7.6 effective mAs (mAseff) and 120 kVp, but reducing mAseff and/or kVp would decrease patient dose as well as facilitate an increased number of research subjects. A CT reconstruction algorithm called Quantification Achieved Consistently (Q.AC.) (Lonn, 2012) has recently been developed to enable reduced doses from ACCT, while preserving quantitative PET data. The purposes of this study were to investigate possible limitations of the Q.AC. with respect to patient size, and to optimise protocols, aiming at minimising ACCT dose in terms of Volumetric Computer Tomography Dose Index CTDIvol. Methods: Measurements were performed with a GE PET/CT Discovery system, which offers Q.AC. reconstruction. The NEMA NU-2 protocol was followed to quantify PET quality, including evaluations of relative count error in the artificial lung in the phantom centre (lung), hot- and cold-sphere contrast (Q), and background variability (N). Two phantoms were used; the NEMA body phantom (elliptical cross section sized 30 cm laterally and 23 cm anterior-posterior (AP)), here representing paediatric patients and small-sized adults, and the same phantom with an additional (20 cm laterally and 4 cm AP) ellipsoid plastic (PMMA) extension ring, representing mid- and large-sized patients. ACCTs were acquired with 15 mAseff values, range [2.3 - 260], in combination with four kVp values [80, 100, 120, 140] and reconstructed with two algorithms (Q.AC. and a regular soft CT algorithm). Consequently, PET reconstructions were performed based on each mAseff, kVp and CT-reconstruction combination. Results: Quantitatively similar PET results to the standard protocol were achieved with the Q.AC. CT reconstruction algorithm using a CTDIvol = 0.06 mGy (2.3 mAseff and 80 kVp) for the NEMA body phantom, respectively a CTDIvol = 0.20 mGy (2.3 mAseff and 120 kVp) for the phantom with additional extension ring. Conclusions: This study indicates that the Q.AC. CT reconstruction algorithm enables accurate PET results at lower ACCT mAseff and kVp settings than the currently used clinical standard protocol. For paediatric patients and small-sized adults, a reduction of CTDIvol by approximately 90% may be achieved, while for mid- and large-sized patients, the CTDIvol can be reduced by approximately 70% without loss of quantitative PET data.

The exponential increase of mobile users and the demand for high-speed data services has resulted in significant congestions in cellular backhaul capacity. As a solution to satisfy the traffic requirements of the existing 4G network, the 5G network has emerged as an enabling technology and a fundamental building block of next-generation communication networks. An essential requirement in 5G backhaul networks is their unparalleled capacity to handle heavy traffic between a large number of devices and the core network. Microwave and optic fiber technologies have been considered as feasible solutions for next-generation backhaul networks. However, such technologies are not cost effective to deploy, especially for the backhaul in high-density urban or rugged areas, such as those surrounded by mountains and solid rocks. Additionally, microwave technology faces alarmingly challenging issues, including limited data rates, scarcity of licensed spectrum, advanced interference management, and rough weather conditions (i.e., rain, which is the main weather condition that affects microwave signals the most). The focus of this work is to investigate the feasibility of using free-space-optical (FSO) technology in the 5G cellular backhaul network. FSO is a cost-effective and wide-bandwidth solution as compared to traditional backhaul solutions. However, FSO links are sensitive to atmospheric turbulence-induced fading, path loss, and pointing errors. Increasing the reliability of FSO systems while still exploiting their high data rate communications is a key requirement in the deployment of an FSO backhaul network. Overall, the theoretical models proposed in this work will be shown to enhance FSO link performance. In the experimental direction, we begin by designing an integrated mobile FSO system. To the best of our knowledge, no work in the literature has addressed the atmospheric path loss characterization of mobile FSO channels in a coastal environment. Therefore, we investigate the impact of weather effects in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, over FSO links using outdoor and indoor setups. For the indoor experiments, results are reported based on a glass climate chamber in which we could precisely control the temperature and humidity.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第23557号 / 地環博第214号 / 新制||地環||41(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎地球環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 勝見 武, 准教授 高井 敦史, 教授 木村 亮 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

LoRaWAN is a wireless network technology based on the LoRa modulation technology. When planning such a network, it is important to estimate the network’s coverage, which can be done by calculating path loss. To do this, one can utilize empirical models of radio wave propagation. Previous research has investigated the accuracy of such empirical models for LoRa inside cities. However, as the accuracy of these models is heavily dependent on the exact characteristics of the environment, it is of interest to validate these results. In addition, the effect of base station elevation on the models’ accuracy has yet to be researched. Following the problems stated above, the purpose of this study is to investigate the accuracy of empirical models of radio wave propagation for LoRa in an urban environment. More specifically, we investigate the accuracy of the models and the effect of base station elevation on the models’ accuracy. The latter is the main contribution of this study. To perform these investigations, a quantitative experiment was conducted in the city of Jönköping, Sweden. In the experiment a base station was positioned at elevations of 30, 23, and 15m. The path loss was measured from 20 locations around the base station for each level of elevation. The measured path loss was then compared to predictions from three popular empirical models: the Okumura-Hata model, the COST 231-Walfisch-Ikegami model, and the 3GPP UMa NLOS model. Our analysis showed a clear underestimation of the path loss for all models. We conclude that for an environment and setup similar to ours, models underestimate the path loss by approximately 20dB. They can be improved by adding a constant correction value, resulting in a mean absolute error of at least 3,7-5,6dB. We also conclude that the effect of base station elevation varies greatly between different models. The 3GPP model underestimated the path loss equally for all elevations and could therefore easily be improved by a constant correction value. This resulted in a mean absolute error of approximately 4dB for all elevations.

There are methods to extend the transmission channel of optical transmission medium thanks to the development of telecommunications and informatics. Multiplex is a grouping of signals into a single transmission path and wave-division multiplexing is the best reason of use of the maximum fiber optic transmission capacity. The subject of this work is to determine whether a particular transmission path is suitable for such an extension of their capacity and how much. The answer is obtained by measuring the attenuation, the chromatic dispersion and the polarization mode dispersion, whose values are strictly limited and which determine next steps in the expansion of the transmission path, which is comprised by optical medium. Measurement methods determine the nature of the measured route and its current transmission capacities. Draft of the measurement methodology, which ensures the correct procedures during a possible transition to higher speeds is the output of this work. Thanks to the acquired characteristics of the BAPS (the Brno Academic Computer Network), the bit rate 40 Gb/s can be provided on this part of the network under the conditions of the introduction of certain countermeasures, particularly the exchange of a connectors on the measured optical lines. As for the back reflection lines in excess of the standard recommendation and pre-emptively on the lines with values with still agree with the return loss. Countermeasure for limiting of the chromatic and the polarization mode dispersion are do not need to stand in the way of a planned transition to a higher rate of the BAPS.

This diploma thesis is focused on realisation of the application, that process and display measured data from OTDR device. The first section describes optical fibers, transmission characteristics of fibers and measurement methods of the attenuation on optical path. The second section describes the principle of the OTDR method and measured events on optical path. Final part is dedicated to realisation of the appication by the assignment.

Orientador: Marcos Silveira / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é explorar a atenuação da vibração de uma metaestrutura por meio da adição de absorvedores de forma periódica. Além disso é explorada a atenuação da vibração de uma metaestrutura quando um absorvedor com rigidez cúbica não linear é incluído sem aumentar a massa total. As metaestruturas, e especificamente as estruturas periódicas, apresentam características interessantes para atenuação da vibração que não são encontradas em estruturas clássicas. Estas características foram exploradas para aplicações automotivas e aeroespaciais, entre outras, pois estruturas com baixa massa são fundamentais para essas indústrias. Também é desejável manter baixos níveis de vibração em uma ampla faixa de frequência. Foi demonstrado que a adição de absorvedores de vibração em um arranjo periódico pode fornecer atenuação da vibração para entrada de choque sem aumentar a massa total de uma estrutura. Neste trabalho, a resposta dinâmica do sistema proposto é comparada a uma metaestrutura base sem absorvedores e uma metaestrutura com absorvedores lineares para entrada harmônica através da avaliação da norma H2 da resposta em frequência. Um procedimento de otimização é mostrado para encontrar a posição ideal e os coeficientes de rigidez do absorvedor não linear. A resposta dinâmica do sistema ideal é obtida numericamente e mostra que a adição de um absorvedor não linear pode melhorar a atenuação da vibração. / Abstract: The objective of this work is to explore the vibration attenuation of a metastructure by periodically adding absorbers, and the vibration attenuation of a metastructure is explored when a nonlinear cubic stiffness absorber is included without increasing the total mass. Metastructures, and specifically periodic structures, present interesting characteristics for vibration attenuation that are not found in classical structures. These characteristics have been explored for automotive and aerospace applications, among others, as structures with low mass are paramount for these industries, and keeping low vibration levels in wide frequency range is also desirable. It has been shown that the addition of vibration absorbers in a periodic arrangement can provide vibration attenuation for shock input without increasing the total mass of a structure. In this work, the dynamical response of the proposed system is compared to a base metastructure without absorbers and a metastructure with linear absorbers for harmonic input via the evaluation of the H2 norm of the frequency response. An optimisation procedure is shown to find the optimal position and stiffness coefficients of the nonlinear absorber. The dynamical response of the optimal system are obtained numerically, and shows that the addition of one nonlinear absorber can improve vibration attenuation. / Mestre

The goal of this study is the recovery of functions and finite parametric distributions from their spherical means over spheres and designing a general formula or algorithm for the reconstruction of a function f via its spherical mean transform. The theoretical study is and supported with a numerical implementation based on radar data. In this study, we approach the reconstruction problem in two different way. The first one is to show how the reconstruction problem could be converted to a Prony-type system of equations. After solving this Prony-type system of equations, one can extract the parameters that describe the corresponding functions or distributions efficiently. The second way is to solve this problem via a backprojection procedure.

With the recent developments in technology, information and communication technologies (ICTs) are becoming more widespread and one of the basic building blocks of every humans life. The increasing demand in broadband communication calls for new technologies. Power line communication (PLC) is one of the potential candidates for next generation ICTs. Although communication through power lines has been investigated for a long time, PLC systems were never taken into account seriously because of its harsh communication medium. However, with the development of more robust data transmission schemes, communication over the power lines is becoming a strong alternative technology because of the existence of the infrastructure and the ubiquity of the network. In order to establish reliable communication systems operating on power line networks (PLNs), characteristics of power line channels have to be investigated very carefully. Unpredictable characteristics of PLNs seriously affect the performance of communication systems. Similar to the other communication channels, PLC environment is affected by noise, attenuation, and multipath type of channel distortions. The level of noise in PLNs is much higher than any other type of communication networks. Furthermore, the frequency dependent attenuation characteristics of power lines and multipath stemming from impedance mismatches are the other distortion factors which have to be investigated in order to establish a reliable PLC system. In this thesis, we focus on modeling of noise, frequency dependent attenuation, and multipath characteristics of power line channels within the frequency range between 30kHz and 30MHz.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is arguably the most economically-important swine pathogen. As the emergences of novel virulent strains of PRRSV continue to occur worldwide, rapid vaccine development is the key for effective control of ongoing PRRSV outbreaks. With the availability of the PRRSV reverse genetics systems, rapid vaccine development against PRRSV through the manipulation of the reverse genetics becomes feasible. To facilitate the vaccine development effort and study of PRRSV genes, we first established a DNA-launched infectious clone of the passage 14 PRRSV strain VR2385, pIR-VR2385-CA, and identified a spontaneous 435-bp deletion in the nsp2 gene. To characterize the biological and pathological significance of this nsp2 deletion, we restored deleted nsp2 sequence back to pIR-VR2385-CA and constructed another clone pIR-VR2385-R. VR2385-CA and VR2385-R were successfully rescued in vitro. The results from this study indicates that the spontaneous nsp2 deletion plays a role for enhanced PRRSV replication in vitro but has no significant effect on the pathogenicity of the virus. With the availability of the DNA-launched infectious clone of PRRSV, we successfully applied the molecular breeding approach to rapidly attenuate PRRSV. The GP5 envelope genes of 7 genetically divergent PRRSV strains and the GP5-M genes of 6 different PRRSV strains were molecularly bred. DS722 with shuffled GP5 genes and DS5M3 with shuffled GP5-M genes, were successfully rescued in vitro and shown to be attenuated both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, DS722, but not DS5M3, still elicit similar protection against PRRSV challenge as its parental virus. This study reveals a unique approach through DNA shuffling of viral envelope genes to attenuate a positive-strand RNA virus. We subsequently utilized the novel synthetic attenuated virus engineering (SAVE) approach to attenuate PRRSV. The GP5 and nsp9 genes of PRRSV were codon-pair deoptimized with the aid of a computer algorithm. SAVE5 and SAVE9 with deoptimized GP5 gene and SAVE9 with deoptimized nsp9 gene, were successfully rescued and shown to be attenuated in vitro. An in vivo pathogenicity study indicated the attenuation of SAVE5 virus in vivo. The results have important implications for rapid vaccine development against PRRSV and other important viruses. / Ph. D.