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Nan Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to Nan Cheng.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Semantic-Aware Resource Management for C-V2X Platooning via Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning

Semantic communication transmits the extracted features of information rather than raw data, significantly reducing redundancy, which is crucial for addressing spectrum and energy challenges in 6G networks. In this paper, we introduce semantic communication into a cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X)- based autonomous vehicle platoon system for the first time, aiming to achieve efficient management of communication resources in a dynamic environment. Firstly, we construct a mathematical model for semantic communication in platoon systems, in which the DeepSC model and MU-DeepSC model are used to semantically encode and decode unimodal and multi-modal data, respectively. Then, we propose the quality of experience (QoE) metric based on semantic similarity and semantic rate. Meanwhile, we consider the success rate of semantic information transmission (SRS) metric to ensure the fairness of channel resource allocation. Next, the optimization problem is posed with the aim of maximizing the QoE in vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) links while improving SRS. To solve this mixed integer nonlinear programming problem (MINLP) and adapt to time-varying channel conditions, the paper proposes a distributed semantic-aware multi-modal resource allocation (SAMRA) algorithm based on multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), referred to as SAMRAMARL. The algorithm can dynamically allocate channels and power and determine semantic symbol length based on the contextual importance of the transmitted information, ensuring efficient resource utilization. Finally, extensive simulations have demonstrated that SAMRAMARL outperforms existing methods, achieving significant gains in QoE, SRS, and communication delay in C-V2X platooning scenarios.

cs.LG↗

RadioDiff-Inverse: Diffusion Enhanced Bayesian Inverse Estimation for ISAC Radio Map Construction

Radio maps (RMs) are essential for environment-aware communication and sensing, providing location-specific wireless channel information. Existing RM construction methods often rely on precise environmental data and base station (BS) locations, which are not always available in dynamic or privacy-sensitive environments. While sparse measurement techniques reduce data collection, the impact of noise in sparse data on RM accuracy is not well understood. This paper addresses these challenges by formulating RM construction as a Bayesian inverse problem under coarse environmental knowledge and noisy sparse measurements. Although maximum a posteriori (MAP) filtering offers an optimal solution, it requires a precise prior distribution of the RM, which is typically unavailable. To solve this, we propose RadioDiff-Inverse, a diffusion-enhanced Bayesian inverse estimation framework that uses an unconditional generative diffusion model to learn the RM prior. This approach not only reconstructs the spatial distribution of wireless channel features but also enables environmental structure perception, such as building outlines, and location of BS just relay on pathloss, through integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). Remarkably, RadioDiff-Inverse is training-free, leveraging a pre-trained model from Imagenet without task-specific fine-tuning, which significantly reduces the training cost of using generative large model in wireless networks. Experimental results demonstrate that RadioDiff-Inverse achieves state-of-the-art performance in accuracy of RM construction and environmental reconstruction, and robustness against noisy sparse sampling.

cs.AI↗

Patient-Specific Dynamic Digital-Physical Twin for Coronary Intervention Training: An Integrated Mixed Reality Approach

Background and Objective: Precise preoperative planning and effective physician training for coronary interventions are increasingly important. Despite advances in medical imaging technologies, transforming static or limited dynamic imaging data into comprehensive dynamic cardiac models remains challenging. Existing training systems lack accurate simulation of cardiac physiological dynamics. This study develops a comprehensive dynamic cardiac model research framework based on 4D-CTA, integrating digital twin technology, computer vision, and physical model manufacturing to provide precise, personalized tools for interventional cardiology. Methods: Using 4D-CTA data from a 60-year-old female with three-vessel coronary stenosis, we segmented cardiac chambers and coronary arteries, constructed dynamic models, and implemented skeletal skinning weight computation to simulate vessel deformation across 20 cardiac phases. Transparent vascular physical models were manufactured using medical-grade silicone. We developed cardiac output analysis and virtual angiography systems, implemented guidewire 3D reconstruction using binocular stereo vision, and evaluated the system through angiography validation and CABG training applications. Results: Morphological consistency between virtual and real angiography reached 80.9%. Dice similarity coefficients for guidewire motion ranged from 0.741-0.812, with mean trajectory errors below 1.1 mm. The transparent model demonstrated advantages in CABG training, allowing direct visualization while simulating beating heart challenges. Conclusion: Our patient-specific digital-physical twin approach effectively reproduces both anatomical structures and dynamic characteristics of coronary vasculature, offering a dynamic environment with visual and tactile feedback valuable for education and clinical planning.

cs.CV↗

Anti-Intercept OFDM Waveform Design with Secure Coding for Satellite Networks

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks are integral to next-generation communication systems, providing global coverage, low latency, and minimal signal loss. However, their unique characteristics, such as constrained onboard resources, Line-of-Sight (LoS) propagation, and vulnerability to eavesdropping over wide coverage areas, present significant challenges to physical layer security. To address these challenges, this paper focuses on the design of anti-intercept waveforms for satellite-ground links within Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems, aiming to enhance security against eavesdropping threats. We formulate a secrecy rate maximization problem that aims to balance secrecy performance and communication reliability under eavesdropping constraints and sub-carrier power limitations. To solve this non-convex optimization problem, we propose a bisection search-activated neural network (BSA-Net) that integrates unsupervised learning for secure coding optimization and bisection search for dynamic power allocation. The proposed method is structured in two stages: the first optimizes secure coding under power constraints, while the second allocates power across sub-carriers under eavesdropping constraints. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of our approach, showcasing significant improvements in secrecy rate performance.

eess.SP↗

Innovative Integration of 4D Cardiovascular Reconstruction and Hologram: A New Visualization Tool for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Planning

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) planning requires advanced spatial visualization and consideration of coronary artery depth, calcification, and pericardial adhesions. Objective: To develop and evaluate a dynamic cardiovascular holographic visualization tool for preoperative CABG planning. Methods: Using 4D cardiac computed tomography angiography data from 14 CABG candidates, we developed a semi-automated workflow for time-resolved segmentation of cardiac structures, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and coronary arteries with calcium scoring. The workflow incorporated methods for cardiac segmentation, coronary calcification quantification, visualization of coronary depth within EAT, and pericardial adhesion assessment through motion analysis. Dynamic cardiovascular holograms were displayed using the Looking Glass platform. Thirteen cardiac surgeons evaluated the tool using a Likert scale. Additionally, pericardial adhesion scores from holograms of 21 patients (including seven undergoing secondary cardiac surgeries) were compared with intraoperative findings. Results: Surgeons rated the visualization tool highly for preoperative planning utility (mean Likert score: 4.57/5.0). Hologram-based pericardial adhesion scoring strongly correlated with intraoperative findings (r=0.786, P<0.001). Conclusion: This study establishes a visualization framework for CABG planning that produces clinically relevant dynamic holograms from patient-specific data, with clinical feedback confirming its effectiveness for preoperative planning.

physics.med-ph↗

Overcoming False Illusions in Real-World Face Restoration with Multi-Modal Guided Diffusion Model

We introduce a novel Multi-modal Guided Real-World Face Restoration (MGFR) technique designed to improve the quality of facial image restoration from low-quality inputs. Leveraging a blend of attribute text prompts, high-quality reference images, and identity information, MGFR can mitigate the generation of false facial attributes and identities often associated with generative face restoration methods. By incorporating a dual-control adapter and a two-stage training strategy, our method effectively utilizes multi-modal prior information for targeted restoration tasks. We also present the Reface-HQ dataset, comprising over 21,000 high-resolution facial images across 4800 identities, to address the need for reference face training images. Our approach achieves superior visual quality in restoring facial details under severe degradation and allows for controlled restoration processes, enhancing the accuracy of identity preservation and attribute correction. Including negative quality samples and attribute prompts in the training further refines the model's ability to generate detailed and perceptually accurate images.

cs.CV↗

An Enhanced Dual-Currency VCG Auction Mechanism for Resource Allocation in IoV: A Value of Information Perspective

The Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is undergoing a transformative evolution, enabled by advancements in future 6G network technologies, to support intelligent, highly reliable, and low-latency vehicular services. However, the enhanced capabilities of loV have heightened the demands for efficient network resource allocation while simultaneously giving rise to diverse vehicular service requirements. For network service providers (NSPs), meeting the customized resource-slicing requirements of vehicle service providers (VSPs) while maximizing social welfare has become a significant challenge. This paper proposes an innovative solution by integrating a mean-field multi-agent reinforcement learning (MFMARL) framework with an enhanced Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) auction mechanism to address the problem of social welfare maximization under the condition of unknown VSP utility functions. The core of this solution is introducing the ``value of information" as a novel monetary metric to estimate the expected benefits of VSPs, thereby ensuring the effective execution of the VCG auction mechanism. MFMARL is employed to optimize resource allocation for social welfare maximization while adapting to the intelligent and dynamic requirements of IoV. The proposed enhanced VCG auction mechanism not only protects the privacy of VSPs but also reduces the likelihood of collusion among VSPs, and it is theoretically proven to be dominant-strategy incentive compatible (DSIC). The simulation results demonstrate that, compared to the VCG mechanism implemented using quantization methods, the proposed mechanism exhibits significant advantages in convergence speed, social welfare maximization, and resistance to collusion, providing new insights into resource allocation in intelligent 6G networks.

cs.GT↗

ALWNN Empowered Automatic Modulation Classification: Conquering Complexity and Scarce Sample Conditions

In Automatic Modulation Classification (AMC), deep learning methods have shown remarkable performance, offering significant advantages over traditional approaches and demonstrating their vast potential. Nevertheless, notable drawbacks, particularly in their high demands for storage, computational resources, and large-scale labeled data, which limit their practical application in real-world scenarios. To tackle this issue, this paper innovatively proposes an automatic modulation classification model based on the Adaptive Lightweight Wavelet Neural Network (ALWNN) and the few-shot framework (MALWNN). The ALWNN model, by integrating the adaptive wavelet neural network and depth separable convolution, reduces the number of model parameters and computational complexity. The MALWNN framework, using ALWNN as an encoder and incorporating prototype network technology, decreases the model's dependence on the quantity of samples. Simulation results indicate that this model performs remarkably well on mainstream datasets. Moreover, in terms of Floating Point Operations Per Second (FLOPS) and Normalized Multiply - Accumulate Complexity (NMACC), ALWNN significantly reduces computational complexity compared to existing methods. This is further validated by real-world system tests on USRP and Raspberry Pi platforms. Experiments with MALWNN show its superior performance in few-shot learning scenarios compared to other algorithms.

cs.LG↗

Time-Varying Coronary Artery Deformation: A Dynamic Skinning Framework for Surgical Training

Purpose: This study proposes a novel anatomically-driven dynamic modeling framework for coronary arteries using skeletal skinning weights computation, aiming to achieve precise control over vessel deformation while maintaining real-time performance for surgical simulation applications. Methods: We developed a computational framework based on biharmonic energy minimization for skinning weight calculation, incorporating volumetric discretization through tetrahedral mesh generation. The method implements temporal sampling and interpolation for continuous vessel deformation throughout the cardiac cycle, with mechanical constraints and volume conservation enforcement. The framework was validated using clinical datasets from 5 patients, comparing interpolated deformation results against ground truth data obtained from frame-by-frame segmentation across cardiac phases. Results: The proposed framework effectively handled interactive vessel manipulation. Geometric accuracy evaluation showed mean Hausdorff distance of 4.96 +- 1.78 mm and mean surface distance of 1.78 +- 0.75 mm between interpolated meshes and ground truth models. The Branch Completeness Ratio achieved 1.82 +- 0.46, while Branch Continuity Score maintained 0.84 +- 0.06 (scale 0-1) across all datasets. The system demonstrated capability in supporting real-time guidewire-vessel collision detection and contrast medium flow simulation throughout the complete coronary tree structure. Conclusion: Our skinning weight-based methodology enhances model interactivity and applicability while maintaining geometric accuracy. The framework provides a more flexible technical foundation for virtual surgical training systems, demonstrating promising potential for both clinical practice and medical education applications. The code is available at https://github.com/ipoirot/DynamicArtery.

cs.GR↗

QoE-oriented Communication Service Provision for Annotation Rendering in Mobile Augmented Reality

As mobile augmented reality (MAR) continues to evolve, future 6G networks will play a pivotal role in supporting immersive and personalized user experiences. In this paper, we address the communication service provision problem for annotation rendering in edge-assisted MAR, with the objective of optimizing spectrum resource utilization while ensuring the required quality of experience (QoE) for MAR users. To overcome the challenges of user-specific uplink data traffic patterns and the complex operational mechanisms of annotation rendering, we propose a digital twin (DT)-based approach. We first design a DT specifically tailored for MAR applications to learn key annotation rendering mechanisms, enabling the network controller to access MAR application-specific information. Then, we develop a DT based QoE modeling approach to capture the unique relationship between individual user QoE and spectrum resource demands. Finally, we propose a QoE-oriented resource allocation algorithm that decreases resource utilization compared to conventional net work slicing-based approaches. Simulation results demonstrate that our DT-based approach outperforms benchmark approaches in the accuracy and granularity of QoE modeling.

eess.IV↗

Observation of mechanical kink control and generation via phonons

Kinks (or domain walls) are localized transitions between distinct ground states associated with a topological invariant, and are central to many phenomena across physics, from condensed matter to cosmology. While phonon (i.e., small-amplitude vibration) wave packets have been theorized to deterministically interact with kinks and initiate their movement, this interaction has remained elusive in experiments, where only uncontrollable stochastic kink motion generated by thermal phonons or dislocation glide by low-frequency quasi-static loading have been observed. This is partly because all physical systems that support kinks are, at some level, discrete, making deterministic phonon control of kinks extremely challenging due to the existence of Peierls-Nabarro (PN) barrier. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, experimental observation of phonon-mediated control and generation of mechanical kinks, which we enable using a topological metamaterial that constitutes an elastic realization of the Kane-Lubensky chain model. Our metamaterial overcomes the PN barrier by supporting a single, topologically protected kink that requires zero energy to form and move. Using simulations that show close agreement with our experimental observations, we also reveal unique dynamics of phonon interplay with highly discrete kinks, including long-duration motion and a continuous family of internal modes, features absent in other discrete nonlinear systems. This work introduces a new paradigm for topological kink control, with potential applications in material stiffness tuning, shape morphing, locomotion, and robust signal transmission.

nlin.PS↗

Differentiable Projection-based Learn to Optimize in Wireless Network-Part I: Convex Constrained (Non-)Convex Programming

This paper addresses a class of (non-)convex optimization problems subject to general convex constraints, which pose significant challenges for traditional methods due to their inherent non-convexity and diversity. Conventional convex optimization-based solvers often struggle to efficiently handle these problems in their most general form. While neural network (NN)-based approaches offer a promising alternative, ensuring the feasibility of NN-generated solutions and effectively training the NN remain key hurdles, largely because finite-capacity networks can produce infeasible outputs. To overcome these issues, we propose a projection-based method that projects any infeasible NN output onto the feasible domain, thus guaranteeing strict adherence to the constraints without compromising the NN's optimization capability. Furthermore, we derive the objective function values for both the raw NN outputs and their projected counterparts, along with the gradients of these values with respect to the NN parameters. This derivation enables label-free (unsupervised) training, reducing reliance on labeled data and improving scalability. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed projection-based method consistently ensures feasibility.

eess.SY↗

Elements Allocation for Joint Active and Passive IRS Aided Wireless Communications: A Rate-Maximization Perspective

Unlike previous works that focused solely on passive intelligent reflecting surface (PIRS) or active IRS (AIRS), a novel joint AIRS and PIRS architecture has been developed to flexibly utilize their combined advantages in mitigating multiplicative path loss cost-effectively. In this paper, we consider the AIRS-PIRS jointly aided wireless point-to-point communication system with two different deployment schemes in three-dimensional (3D) space. To balance the trade-off between the square-order beamforming gain of PIRS and the unique power amplification gain of AIRS, we optimize the elements allocation and beamforming design of the two IRSs under various practical constraints from a rate-maximization perspective. Moreover, we derive a series of element-related closed-form analytical expressions and compare the performance of the two schemes. Our analysis shows that in both schemes, PIRS should be allocated more elements than AIRS, and the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increases asymptotically with the cube of the number of reflecting elements, when the distance between AIRS and PIRS is sufficiently large. Last, simulation results validate our analysis and indicate that both schemes can achieve superior rate performance over various benchmarks.

cs.IT↗

Enhancing Robustness and Security in ISAC Network Design: Leveraging Transmissive Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface with RSMA

In this paper, we propose a novel transmissive reconfigurable intelligent surface transceiver-enhanced robust and secure integrated sensing and communication network. A time-division sensing communication mechanism is designed for the scenario, which enables communication and sensing to share wireless resources. To address the interference management problem and hinder eavesdropping, we implement rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA), where the common stream is designed as a useful signal and an artificial noise, while taking into account the imperfect channel state information and modeling the channel for the illegal users in a fine-grained manner as well as giving an upper bound on the error. We introduce the secrecy outage probability and construct an optimization problem with secrecy sum-rate as the objective functions to optimize the common stream beamforming matrix, the private stream beamforming matrix and the timeslot duration variable. Due to the coupling of the optimization variables and the infinity of the error set, the proposed problem is a nonconvex optimization problem that cannot be solved directly. In order to address the above challenges, the block coordinate descent-based second-order cone programming algorithm is used to decouple the optimization variables and solving the problem. Specifically, the problem is decoupled into two subproblems concerning the common stream beamforming matrix, the private stream beamforming matrix, and the timeslot duration variable, which are solved by alternating optimization until convergence is reached. To solve the problem, S-procedure, Bernstein's inequality and successive convex approximation are employed to deal with the objective function and non-convex constraints. Numerical simulation results verify the superiority of the proposed scheme in improving the secrecy energy efficiency and the Cramér-Rao boundary.

cs.IT↗

Erasing Noise in Signal Detection with Diffusion Model: From Theory to Application

In this paper, a signal detection method based on the denoise diffusion model (DM) is proposed, which outperforms the maximum likelihood (ML) estimation method that has long been regarded as the optimal signal detection technique. Theoretically, a novel mathematical theory for intelligent signal detection based on stochastic differential equations (SDEs) is established in this paper, demonstrating the effectiveness of DM in reducing the additive white Gaussian noise in received signals. Moreover, a mathematical relationship between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the timestep in DM is established, revealing that for any given SNR, a corresponding optimal timestep can be identified. Furthermore, to address potential issues with out-of-distribution inputs in the DM, we employ a mathematical scaling technique that allows the trained DM to handle signal detection across a wide range of SNRs without any fine-tuning. Building on the above theoretical foundation, we propose a DM-based signal detection method, with the diffusion transformer (DiT) serving as the backbone neural network, whose computational complexity of this method is $\mathcal{O}(n^2)$. Simulation results demonstrate that, for BPSK and QAM modulation schemes, the DM-based method achieves a significantly lower symbol error rate (SER) compared to ML estimation, while maintaining a much lower computational complexity.

eess.SY↗

Is AI Robust Enough for Scientific Research?

We uncover a phenomenon largely overlooked by the scientific community utilizing AI: neural networks exhibit high susceptibility to minute perturbations, resulting in significant deviations in their outputs. Through an analysis of five diverse application areas -- weather forecasting, chemical energy and force calculations, fluid dynamics, quantum chromodynamics, and wireless communication -- we demonstrate that this vulnerability is a broad and general characteristic of AI systems. This revelation exposes a hidden risk in relying on neural networks for essential scientific computations, calling further studies on their reliability and security.

cs.LG↗

Beamforming Design and Multi-User Scheduling in Transmissive RIS Enabled Distributed Cooperative ISAC Networks with RSMA

In this paper, we propose a novel transmissive reconfigurable intelligent surface (TRIS) transceiver-empowered distributed cooperative integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) network to enhance coverage as well as to enhance wireless environment understanding. Based on the network requirements, the users are categorized into cooperative users (CUEs) and destination users (DUEs), and the CUEs utilize their own resources to serve the DUEs. To realize cooperation, we implement rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA) at the base station (BS), where the common stream is decoded and reencoded at the CUEs and forwarded to the DUEs, while the private stream satisfies the CUEs' own communication requirements. We construct an optimization problem with maximum minimum radar mutual information (RMI) as the objective function to optimize the BS beamforming matrix, the CUE beamforming matrices, the common stream rate vectors, and the user scheduling vectors. Due to the coupling of the optimization variables and non-convex operation, the proposed problem is a non-convex optimization problem that cannot be solved directly. To address the above challenges, we adopt a consensus alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) framework to decouple the optimization variables and solve it. Specifically, the problem is decoupled into multiple subproblems and solved by iterative optimization independently until overall convergence is achieved. Finally, numerical results validate the superiority of the proposed scheme in terms of improving communication sum-rate and RMI, and greatly reduce the algorithm complexity.

cs.IT↗

RadioDiff: An Effective Generative Diffusion Model for Sampling-Free Dynamic Radio Map Construction

Radio map (RM) is a promising technology that can obtain pathloss based on only location, which is significant for 6G network applications to reduce the communication costs for pathloss estimation. However, the construction of RM in traditional is either computationally intensive or depends on costly sampling-based pathloss measurements. Although the neural network (NN)-based method can efficiently construct the RM without sampling, its performance is still suboptimal. This is primarily due to the misalignment between the generative characteristics of the RM construction problem and the discrimination modeling exploited by existing NN-based methods. Thus, to enhance RM construction performance, in this paper, the sampling-free RM construction is modeled as a conditional generative problem, where a denoised diffusion-based method, named RadioDiff, is proposed to achieve high-quality RM construction. In addition, to enhance the diffusion model's capability of extracting features from dynamic environments, an attention U-Net with an adaptive fast Fourier transform module is employed as the backbone network to improve the dynamic environmental features extracting capability. Meanwhile, the decoupled diffusion model is utilized to further enhance the construction performance of RMs. Moreover, a comprehensive theoretical analysis of why the RM construction is a generative problem is provided for the first time, from both perspectives of data features and NN training methods. Experimental results show that the proposed RadioDiff achieves state-of-the-art performance in all three metrics of accuracy, structural similarity, and peak signal-to-noise ratio. The code is available at https://github.com/UNIC-Lab/RadioDiff.

cs.LG↗