Pilot Symbol Assisted Hybrid Detection for OFDM‐Based Spatial Multiplexing Systems

In this paper, we provide a new detection scheme for a pilot symbol assisted interference nulling and cancellation operation to reduce unexpected effects owing to parallel transmission in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)‐based spatial multiplexing systems. We have shown that the investigated OFDM vertical Bell laboratories layered space time (VBLAST) detection based on hybrid processing performs better than ordinary OFDM‐VBLAST detections based on serial processing and parallel processing, respectively.     

Refinement method for structure from stereo motion

A new method for overcoming bas-relief ambiguity, using a calibrated stereo image sequence, is presented. The proposed method uses a direct method for motion estimation as the initial guess, and refines both stereo and motion displacement with sub-pixel accuracy. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm improves the estimation accuracy under such ambiguity     

FDTD modeling of transient microwave signals in dispersive and lossy bi-isotropic media

In this paper, we present a novel finite-difference time-domain model of transient wave propagation in general dispersive bi-isotropic media with losses. The special properties of these materials may lead to new applications in microwave and millimeter-wave technology. While their frequency-domain properties have been well described in the literature, their time-domain behavior has only been modeled thus far for special sub-classes and monochromatic time dependence. We have validated our method by first computing time-harmonic wave propagation through a bi-isotropic medium and comparing it with analytical results. Agreement is typically better than 1%. We have then computed transient field propagation in a general lossy dispersive bi-isotropic medium.     

A generalized weighted linear predictor frequency estimation approach for a complex sinusoid

Based on linear prediction and weighted least squares, three simple iterative algorithms for frequency estimation of a complex sinusoid in additive white noise are devised. The proposed approach, which utilizes the first-order as well as higher order linear prediction terms simultaneously but does not require phase unwrapping, can be considered as a generalized version of the weighted linear predictor frequency estimator. In particular, convergence as well as mean and variance analysis of the most computationally efficient frequency estimator, namely, GWLP 2, are provided. Computer simulations are included to contrast the performance of the proposed algorithms with several conventional computationally attractive frequency estimators and Crame/spl acute/r-Rao lower bound for different frequencies, observation lengths, and signal-to-noise ratios.     

Intercomparison of calibration systems for AC shunts up to audio frequencies

An intercomparison of calibration systems for AC shunts up to audio frequencies (10 kHz) between the National Research Council of Canada, Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is presented. The comparison was implemented with a transfer standard of 10 A, 0.1 /spl Omega/ calculable AC/DC shunt, designed by Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation. The results indicate that there are no significant differences in the overall accuracy of calibration systems for AC shunts at frequencies up to 10 kHz in each laboratory.     

Impact of Solvent Additive on Carrier Transport in Polymer:Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells

The effects of a solvent additive, 1,8‐diiodooctane (DIO), on both hole and electron transport are investigated in a state‐of‐the‐art bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) system, namely PTB7:PC₇₁BM. For a polymer:fullerene weight ratio of 1:1.5, the electron mobility in the blend film increases by two orders of magnitude with the DIO concentration while almost no change is found in the hole mobility. For lower DIO concentrations, the electron mobility is suppressed because of large, but poorly connected PC₇₁BM domains. For higher concentrations of DIO, the electron mobility is improved progressively and the hole mobility becomes the limiting factor. Between 1 and 5 vol%, the electron and hole mobilities are balanced. Using the Gaussian disorder model (GDM), we found that the DIO concentration modifies fundamentally the average hopping distances of the electrons. In addition, there exist alternative donor–acceptor ratios to achieve optimized PTB7:PC₇₁BM based solar cells. It is demonstrated that the fullerene content of the BHJ film can be significantly reduced from 1:1.5 to 1:1 while the optimized performance can still be preserved.     

A Multifunctional Nanoplatform for Imaging,Radiotherapy, and the Prediction of Therapeutic Response

Gold nanoparticles have garnered interest as both radiosensitzers and computed tomography (CT) contrast agents. However, the extremely high concentrations of gold required to generate CT contrast is far beyond that needed for meaningful radiosensitization, which limits their use as combined therapeutic–diagnostic (theranostic) agents. To establish a theranostic nanoplatform with well‐aligned radiotherapeutic and diagnostic properties for better integration into standard radiation therapy practice, a gold‐ and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION)‐loaded micelle (GSM) is developed. Intravenous injection of GSMs into tumor‐bearing mice led to selective tumoral accumulation, enabling magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of tumor margins. Subsequent irradiation leads to a 90‐day survival of 71% in GSM‐treated mice, compared with 25% for irradiation‐only mice. Furthermore, measurements of the GSM‐enhanced MR contrast are highly predictive of tumor response. Therefore, GSMs may not only guide and enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy, but may allow patients to be managed more effectively.     

Occult hepatitis B virus infection of hemodialysis patients: A cross‐sectional study in a hepatitis B virus‐endemic region

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the liver tissue and/or serum of subjects seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Occult HBV infection of hemodialysis (HD) patients is informative in terms of virus transmission, reactivation after kidney transplantation, and the progression of liver disease. However, there is little detailed information about occult HBV infection in the context of virus endemicity. We tried to investigate the seroprevalence and clinical features of occult HBV infection in HD patients in HBV‐endemic regions. We enrolled a total of 159 HD patients and 121 apparently healthy subjects at Dankook University Hospital and Jeju National University Hospital in Korea. HBsAg, anti‐HBs, anti‐HBc, and anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum levels of HBV DNA were measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The seroprevalence of occult HBV infection was 1.3% in HD patients and 2.5% in the healthy controls. This difference was not significant. The HBV load in all subjects with occult infection was <116 copies/mL, and all were positive for IgG anti‐HBc, regardless of the presence of anti‐HBs. None of the occult HBV‐infected subjects were co‐infected with HCV. One of the 2 HD patients with occult HBV infection had no history of blood transfusion. In this HBV‐endemic region, the seroprevalence of occult HBV infection in HD patients with a very low viral load was not significantly different from that in apparently healthy subjects.