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BACKGROUND: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare inherited syndrome that predisposes the patient to cancer. Treatment of FAP-related ampullary lesions is challenging and the role of endoscopic papillectomy has not been elucidated. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of endoscopic papillectomy in matched cohorts of FAP-related and sporadic ampullary lesions (SALs). METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included 1422 endoscopic papillectomy procedures. Propensity score matching including age, sex, comorbidity, histologic subtype, and size was performed. Main outcomes were complete resection (R0), technical success, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: Propensity score matching identified 202 patients (101 FAP, 101 SAL) with comparable baseline characteristics. FAP patients were mainly asymptomatic (79.2 % [95 %CI 71.2-87.3] vs. 46.5 % [95 %CI 36.6-56.4]); P < 0.001). The initial R0 rate was significantly lower in FAP patients (63.4 % [95 %CI 53.8-72.9] vs. 83.2 % [95 %CI 75.8-90.6]; P = 0.001). After repeated interventions (mean 1.30 per patient), R0 was comparable (FAP 93.1 % [95 %CI 88.0-98.1] vs. SAL 97.0 % [95 %CI 93.7-100]; P = 0.19). Adverse events occurred in 28.7 %. Pancreatitis and bleeding were the most common adverse events in both groups. Severe adverse events were rare (3.5 %). Overall, 21 FAP patients (20.8 % [95 %CI 12.7-28.8]) and 16 SAL patients (15.8 % [95 %CI 8.6-23.1]; P = 0.36) had recurrence. Recurrences occurred later in FAP patients (25 [95 %CI 18.3-31.7] vs. 2 [95 %CI CI 0.06-3.9] months). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic papillectomy was safe and effective in FAP-related ampullary lesions. Criteria for endoscopic resection of ampullary lesions can be extended to FAP patients. FAP patients have a lifetime risk of relapse even after complete resection, and require long-time surveillance.

Owing to severe path loss and unreliable transmission over a long distance at higher frequency bands, we investigate the problem of path selection and rate allocation for multi-hop self-backhaul millimeter wave (mmWave) networks. Enabling multi-hop mmWave transmissions raises a potential issue of increased latency, and thus, in this work we aim at addressing the fundamental questions: how to select the best multi-hop paths and how to allocate rates over these paths subject to latency constraints? In this regard, we propose a new system design, which exploits multiple antenna diversity, mmWave bandwidth, and traffic splitting techniques to improve the downlink transmission. The studied problem is cast as a network utility maximization, subject to an upper delay bound constraint, network stability, and network dynamics. By leveraging stochastic optimization, the problem is decoupled into: path selection and rate allocation sub-problems, whereby a framework which selects the best paths is proposed using reinforcement learning techniques. Moreover, the rate allocation is a nonconvex program, which is converted into a convex one by using the successive convex approximation method. Via mathematical analysis, we provide a comprehensive performance analysis and convergence proofs for the proposed solution. Numerical results show that our approach ensures reliable communication with a guaranteed probability of up to $99.9999\%$, and reduces latency by $50.64\%$ and $92.9\%$ as compared to baseline models. Furthermore, the results showcase the key trade-off between latency and network arrival rate., Comment: Keywords: URLLC, mmWave communications, latency, reliability, 5G, stochastic optimization, non-convex optimization, reinforcement learning. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1802.02085

This letter investigates the problem of providing gigabit wireless access with reliable communication in 5G millimeter-Wave (mmWave) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) networks. In contrast to the classical network design based on average metrics, a distributed risk-sensitive reinforcement learning-based framework is proposed to jointly optimize the beamwidth and transmit power, while taking into account the sensitivity of mmWave links due to blockage. Numerical results show that our proposed algorithm achieves more than 9 Gbps of user throughput with a guaranteed probability of 90%, whereas the baselines guarantee less than 7.5 Gbps. More importantly, there exists a rate-reliability-network density tradeoff, in which as the user density increases from 16 to 96 per km2, the fraction of users that achieve 4 Gbps are reduced by 11.61% and 39.11% in the proposed and the baseline models, respectively., Comment: IEEE Communications Letters. Topic is Ultra-Reliable Communication in 5G mmWave Networks

We investigate the problem of multi-hop scheduling in self-backhauled millimeter wave (mmWave) networks. Owing to the high path loss and blockage of mmWave links, multi-hop paths between the macro base station and the intended users via full-duplex small cells need to be carefully selected. This paper addresses the fundamental question: how to select the best paths and how to allocate rates over these paths subject to latency constraints. To answer this question, we propose a new system design, which factors in mmWave-specific channel variations and network dynamics. The problem is cast as a network utility maximization subject to a bounded delay constraint and network stability. The studied problem is decoupled into: (i) a path selection and (ii) rate allocation, whereby learning the best paths is done by means of a reinforcement learning algorithm, and the rate allocation is solved by applying the successive convex approximation method. Via numerical results, our approach ensures reliable communication with a guaranteed probability of 99.9999%, and reduces latency by 50.64% and 92.9% as compared to baselines., Comment: Accepted in Proc. IEEE Wireless Commun. Netw. Conf., (WCNC) Apr. 2018, Barcelona, Spain

Ultra-reliability and low-latency are two key components in 5G networks. In this letter, we investigate the problem of ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) in millimeter wave (mmWave)-enabled massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) networks. The problem is cast as a network utility maximization subject to probabilistic latency and reliability constraints. To solve this problem, we resort to the Lyapunov technique whereby a utility-delay control approach is proposed, which adapts to channel variations and queue dynamics. Numerical results demonstrate that our proposed approach ensures reliable communication with a guaranteed probability of 99.99%, and reduces latency by 28.41% and 77.11% as compared to baselines with and without probabilistic latency constraints, respectively., Comment: Accepted May 12, 2017 by IEEE Communications Letters. Topic is Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication in 5G mmWave Networks

Die Koloskopie ist eine der wichtigsten apparativen Untersuchungsmethoden der heutigen Medizin. Sie dient nicht nur der Diagnostik, sondern kann auch therapeutische Verwendung finden. Bei der vorliegenden Arbeit handelt es sich um eine randomisierte kontrollierte doppelblinde Studie. Das Hauptziel bestand in dem Vergleich der etablierten Methode, bei der Raumluft als Insufflationsgas verwendet wird, mit einer Methode, bei welcher stattdessen Kohlenstoffdioxid benutzt wird. Insgesamt wurden 150 Patienten in die prospektive Studie aufgenommen. Diese wurden gebeten, zu festgelegten Zeitpunkten nach der Untersuchung, Angaben zu Ihrem Beschwerdebild anzufertigen. Zusätzlich wurde nach der Arbeitsfähigkeit und der Zufriedenheit gefragt. Abschließend wurden noch verschiedene Faktoren während der Koloskopie geprüft, die der untersuchende Arzt am Ende der Prozedur notierte. Zu diesen gehörten die Allgemeine Einschätzung, die Untersuchungsdauer, etwaig auftretende Komplikationen und der Sedierungsbedarf.

Die Koloskopie ist eine der wichtigsten apparativen Untersuchungsmethoden der heutigen Medizin. Sie dient nicht nur der Diagnostik, sondern kann auch therapeutische Verwendung finden. Bei der vorliegenden Arbeit handelt es sich um eine randomisierte kontrollierte doppelblinde Studie. Das Hauptziel bestand in dem Vergleich der etablierten Methode, bei der Raumluft als Insufflationsgas verwendet wird, mit einer Methode, bei welcher stattdessen Kohlenstoffdioxid benutzt wird. Insgesamt wurden 150 Patienten in die prospektive Studie aufgenommen. Diese wurden gebeten, zu festgelegten Zeitpunkten nach der Untersuchung, Angaben zu Ihrem Beschwerdebild anzufertigen. Zusätzlich wurde nach der Arbeitsfähigkeit und der Zufriedenheit gefragt. Abschließend wurden noch verschiedene Faktoren während der Koloskopie geprüft, die der untersuchende Arzt am Ende der Prozedur notierte. Zu diesen gehörten die Allgemeine Einschätzung, die Untersuchungsdauer, etwaig auftretende Komplikationen und der Sedierungsbedarf.

Die Koloskopie ist eine der wichtigsten apparativen Untersuchungsmethoden der heutigen Medizin. Sie dient nicht nur der Diagnostik, sondern kann auch therapeutische Verwendung finden. Bei der vorliegenden Arbeit handelt es sich um eine randomisierte kontrollierte doppelblinde Studie. Das Hauptziel bestand in dem Vergleich der etablierten Methode, bei der Raumluft als Insufflationsgas verwendet wird, mit einer Methode, bei welcher stattdessen Kohlenstoffdioxid benutzt wird. Insgesamt wurden 150 Patienten in die prospektive Studie aufgenommen. Diese wurden gebeten, zu festgelegten Zeitpunkten nach der Untersuchung, Angaben zu Ihrem Beschwerdebild anzufertigen. Zusätzlich wurde nach der Arbeitsfähigkeit und der Zufriedenheit gefragt. Abschließend wurden noch verschiedene Faktoren während der Koloskopie geprüft, die der untersuchende Arzt am Ende der Prozedur notierte. Zu diesen gehörten die Allgemeine Einschätzung, die Untersuchungsdauer, etwaig auftretende Komplikationen und der Sedierungsbedarf.

Die Koloskopie ist eine der wichtigsten apparativen Untersuchungsmethoden der heutigen Medizin. Sie dient nicht nur der Diagnostik, sondern kann auch therapeutische Verwendung finden. Bei der vorliegenden Arbeit handelt es sich um eine randomisierte kontrollierte doppelblinde Studie. Das Hauptziel bestand in dem Vergleich der etablierten Methode, bei der Raumluft als Insufflationsgas verwendet wird, mit einer Methode, bei welcher stattdessen Kohlenstoffdioxid benutzt wird. Insgesamt wurden 150 Patienten in die prospektive Studie aufgenommen. Diese wurden gebeten, zu festgelegten Zeitpunkten nach der Untersuchung, Angaben zu Ihrem Beschwerdebild anzufertigen. Zusätzlich wurde nach der Arbeitsfähigkeit und der Zufriedenheit gefragt. Abschließend wurden noch verschiedene Faktoren während der Koloskopie geprüft, die der untersuchende Arzt am Ende der Prozedur notierte. Zu diesen gehörten die Allgemeine Einschätzung, die Untersuchungsdauer, etwaig auftretende Komplikationen und der Sedierungsbedarf.

We study the problem of joint load balancing and interference mitigation in heterogeneous networks (HetNets) in which massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) macro cell base station (BS) equipped with a large number of antennas, overlaid with wireless self-backhauled small cells (SCs) are assumed. Self-backhauled SC BSs with full-duplex communication employing regular antenna arrays serve both macro users and SC users by using the wireless backhaul from macro BS in the same frequency band. We formulate the joint load balancing and interference mitigation problem as a network utility maximization subject to wireless backhaul constraints. Subsequently, leveraging the framework of stochastic optimization, the problem is decoupled into dynamic scheduling of macro cell users, backhaul provisioning of SCs, and offloading macro cell users to SCs as a function of interference and backhaul links. Via numerical results, we show the performance gains of our proposed framework under the impact of small cells density, number of base station antennas, and transmit power levels at low and high frequency bands. We further provide insights into the performance analysis and convergence of the proposed framework. The numerical results show that the proposed user association algorithm outperforms other baselines. Interestingly, we find that even at lower frequency band the performance of open access small cell is close to that of closed access at some operating points, the open access full- duplex small cell still yields higher gain as compared to the closed access at higher frequency bands. With increasing the small cell density or the wireless backhaul quality, the open access full- duplex small cells outperform and achieve a 5.6x gain in terms of cell-edge performance as compared to the closed access ones in ultra-dense networks with 350 small cell base stations per km2 ., Comment: Published by IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, in which 1) Integrated access and backhaul architecture for the considered 5G network scenario is proposed. 2) Joint user association and user scheduling scheme in 5G mmWave Networks is presented, IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2017, Volume: PP Issue: 99

In this paper, we propose an ad-hoc on-demand distance vector routing algorithm for mobile ad-hoc networks taking into account node mobility. Changeable topology of such mobile ad-hoc networks provokes overhead messages in order to search available routes and maintain found routes. The overhead messages impede data delivery from sources to destination and deteriorate network performance. To overcome such a challenge, our proposed algorithm estimates link duration based neighboring node mobility and chooses the most reliable route. The proposed algorithm also applies the estimate for route maintenance to lessen the number of overhead messages. Via simulations, the proposed algorithm is verified in various mobile environments. In the low mobility environment, by reducing route maintenance messages, the proposed algorithm significantly improves network performance such as packet data rate and end-to-end delay. In the high mobility environment, the reduction of route discovery message enhances network performance since the proposed algorithm provides more reliable routes., Comment: Preprint submitted to Computer Networks, 10 pages, 15 figues. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1604.03330

Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets) are introduced by the 3GPP as an emerging technology to provide high network coverage and capacity. The HetNets are the combination of multilayer networks such as macrocell, small cell (picocell and femtocell) networks. In such networks, users may suffer significant cross-layer interference. To manage the interference the 3GPP has introduced Enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) techniques, Almost Blank SubFrame (ABSF) is one of the time-domain technique in the eICIC solutions. In this thesis, we propose a dynamically optimal ABSF framework to enhance the small cell user downlink performance while maintains the macro user downlink performance. We also study the mechanism to help the small cell base stations cooperate efficiently in order to reduce the mutual interference. Via numerical results, our proposed scheme achieves a significant performance and outperforms the existing ABSF frameworks in terms of user throughput and outage probability., Comment: 14 figures, 46 pages, Master Thesis, submitted to Ulsan University Library, June 2014, Korea

In this paper, we study the problem of joint inband backhauling and interference mitigation in 5G heterogeneous networks (HetNets) in which a massive multiple-input multipleoutput (MIMO) macro cell base station equipped with a large number of antennas, overlaid with self-backhauled small cells is assumed. This problem is cast as a network utility maximization subject to wireless backhaul constraints. Due to the non-tractability of the problem, we first resort to random matrix theory to get a closed-form expression of the achievable rate and transmit power in the asymptotic regime, i.e., as the number of antennas and users grows large. Subsequently, leveraging the framework of stochastic optimization, the problem is decoupled into dynamic scheduling of macro cell users and backhaul provisioning of small cells as a function of interference and backhaul links. Via simulations, we evaluate the performance gains of our proposed framework under different network architectures and low/high frequency bands. Our proposed HetNet method achieves the achievable average UE throughput of 1.7 Gbps as well as ensures 1 Gbps cell-edge UE throughput when serving 200 UEs per km2 at 28 GHz with 1 GHz bandwidth. In ultra-dense network, the UE throughput at 28 GHz achieves 62x gain as compared to 2.4 GHz., Comment: 22th European Wireless Conference, 2016, Best Paper Award

Heterogeneous hetworks (HetNets) have been introduced as an emerging technology in order to meet the increasing demand for mobile data. HetNets are a combination of multi-layer networks such as macrocells and small cells. In such networks, users may suffer significant cross-layer interference. To manage this interference, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has introduced enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) techniques. Almost Blank SubFrame (ABSF) is one of the time-domain techniques used in eICIC solutions. We propose a dynamically optimal Signal-to-Interference-and-Noise Ratio (SINR)-based ABSF framework to ensure macro user performance while maintaining small user performance. We also study cooperative mechanisms to help small cells collaborate efficiently in order to reduce mutual interference. Simulations show that our proposed scheme achieves good performance and outperforms the existing ABSF frameworks., Comment: key words: eICIC, ABSF, Interference Mitigation, Small Cell, HetNets, IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Communications, Copyright @2015 The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers

We propose a mobility-assisted on-demand routing algorithm for mobile ad hoc networks in the presence of location errors. Location awareness enables mobile nodes to predict their mobility and enhances routing performance by estimating link duration and selecting reliable routes. However, measured locations intrinsically include errors in measurement. Such errors degrade mobility prediction and have been ignored in previous work. To mitigate the impact of location errors on routing, we propose an on-demand routing algorithm taking into account location errors. To that end, we adopt the Kalman filter to estimate accurate locations and consider route confidence in discovering routes. Via simulations, we compare our algorithmand previous algorithms in various environments. Our proposed mobility prediction is robust to the location errors., Comment: Special Issues on Recent Advances in Communications and Networking, The Scientific World Journal, 11 figures