Apparatus and methods of scheduling one or multiple streams for a user equipment include receiving a single happy bit for the one or multiple streams, determining a set of scheduling grants for a UE configured to transmit over the one or multiple streams, and transmitting the scheduling grant to the UE. The apparatus is formed by an ordinary microstrip transmission line placed in series with an engineered lossy microstrip transmission line, with both transmission lines being placed on a substrate to effectively form a hybrid microstrip transmission line. The polymeric shells are arranged such that homoaggregation of the two types of particles is thermodynamically favored over heteroaggregation. The master unit receives the signal information from the location units and computes the location of the tag. Optionally the treatment may be accompanied by a pre-treatment or post-treatment with aid, this being followed by a water wash. The state may be changed as needed or desired.