Iterative multiuser detection for coded CDMA signals in AWGN andfading channels

A new iterative receiver for joint detection and decoding of code division multiple access (CDMA) signals is presented. The new scheme is based on a combination of the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion and the turbo processing principle by Hagenauer (see Proc. Int. Symp. Turbo Codes and Related Topics, Brest, France, p.1-9, 1997). The complexity of the new scheme is of polynomial order in the number of users. The new scheme is applicable to two situations: (a) when the receiver is capable of decoding the signals from all users and (b) when the receiver is only capable of decoding the signals from a subset of users. In the first scenario, we establish that the proposed receiver achieves superior performance to the iterative soft interference cancellation technique under certain conditions. On the other hand, in the second scenario, we argue that the proposed receiver outperforms both the iterative soft interference canceler and the iterative maximum a posteriori (MAP) receiver because of its superior near-far resistance. For operation over fading channels, the estimation of the complex fading parameters for all users becomes an important ingredient in any multiuser detector. In our scheme, the soft information provided by the decoders is used to enhance this estimation process. Two iterative soft-input channel estimation algorithms are presented: the first is based on the MMSE criterion, and the second is a lower-complexity approximation of the first. The proposed multiuser detection algorithm(s) are suitable for both terrestrial and satellite applications of CDMA     

On adaptive transmission for energy efficiency in wireless data networks

This paper investigates the problem of energy-efficient transmission of data packets in a wireless network by jointly adapting to backlog and channel condition. Specifically, we consider minimum-energy scheduling problems over multiple-access channels, broadcast channels, and channels with fading, when packets of all users need to be transmitted before a deadline T. Earlier work has considered a similar setup and demonstrated significant transmission energy saving by adapting to backlog for channels that are time invariant and when transmission is restricted to time-division. For concreteness, throughout the paper, rates and powers corresponding to optimal coding over discrete-time additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channels are assumed. The results, however, hold for more general channels and coding schemes where the total transmitted power is convex in the transmission rates. The offline scheduling problems for all the channels considered are shown to reduce to convex optimization problems with linear constraints. An iterative algorithm, referred to as FlowRight, that finds optimal offline schedules is presented. A heuristic online algorithm that we call look-ahead water-filling, which jointly adapts to both channel fading state and backlog is described. By the use of a small buffer which introduces an almost fixed delay, this algorithm achieves a considerable reduction in energy relative to water filling solely on channel states.     

Gain fixed pattern noise correction via optical flow

The paper describes a method that uses a video sequence to correct gain fixed pattern noise (FPN) in an image sensor. The captured sequence and its optical flow are used to estimate gain FPN. Assuming brightness constancy along the motion trajectories, the pixels are grouped in blocks and the gains of the pixels in each block are estimated by iteratively minimizing the sum of the squared brightness variations along the motion trajectories. Significant reductions in gain FPN are demonstrated using both real and synthetically generated video sequences with modest computations.     

El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Rainfall Variability in Central and Southern Sudan

Abstract

In this study, the effects of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the rainfall variability in the central (Savannah) and southern (Equatorial) regions of Sudan are examined. The annual rainfall data from 12 rainfall stations for 49 years are used in this examination. The results of the study show that the areal annual regionally averaged rainfall values in the two regions have decreased markedly since the early 1960s, with co-existence between the driest years and the warm ENSO events. The correlation between the annual regional rainfall values and the ENSO events is found to be relatively higher for the Savannah region than for the Equatorial region. Two regional ENSO-rainfall prediction models are developed, one for each region. These models use the ENSO sea surface temperature. The results of the models test show that both models can significantly improve the predictability of the annual rainfall values, which is essential for the planning and the management of water resources in Sudan     

Late epigastric incisional hernias following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

By the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy a new "gold standard" procedure became a routinely performed operation in the field of biliary tract surgery. Thus, the incision related early and late complications are thought to diminish, especially the formation of incisional hernias. Five patients had been referred to our department suffering from chronic incisional hernias following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. All of the hernias were located to the site of the epigastric trocar. The contents of the hernias proved to be omentum. The documentation's of the laparoscopic cholecystectomies revealed the extraction of thick walled gallbladders that contain large stones, and the wounds through which the extraction was performed had not been closed. Taking into consideration the fact of the "Chimney Effect" caused by the desufflation of the pneumoperitoneum at the end of the laparoscopic operation, bowel or omentum can easily escape through the relatively large wound formed during the extraction of the gallbladder, resulting in the formation of incisional hernias. This can be avoided by the complete desufflation and the prompt closure of the wound.     

Characterization and distribution of mechanically competent mineralized tissue in micropores of β-tricalcium phosphate bone substitutes

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Kinetic sorption study of Cerium (IV) on magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) and humic acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄/HA) were prepared by co-precipitation method for cerium ions removal from aqueous solution. The success of preparation in nanoscale was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM image shows that the size of Fe₃O₄ is around 15 nm and the presence of humic acid reduces the magnetite aggregation and stabilizes the magnetite suspension. Adsorption studies with respect to various process variables such as contact time, pH, and temperature were investigated by batch technique. The sorption kinetics and isotherms of Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄/HA for Ce (IV) ions show that the sorption kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models for both sorbents. The maximum capacities (Q_max) of Ce (IV) onto Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄/HA were found to be 160 and 280 mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG^o, ΔH^o and ΔS^o) were calculated, and the results revealed that the sorption process of Ce (IV) ions on both Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄/HA are spontaneous, endothermic for Fe₃O₄ and exothermic for Fe₃O₄/HA.     

Porcine skin gelatin–silver nanocomposites: synthesis,characterisation, cell cytotoxicity,and antibacterial properties

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesised with hydrothermal autoclaving technique by using AgNO₃ salt (silver precursor) at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 0.55, 1.1, 5.5, and 11 mM) and porcine skin (1% (w/v)) gelatin polymeric matrix (reducing and stabiliser agent). The reaction was performed in an autoclave at 103 kPa and 121°C and the hydrothermal autoclaving exposure time and AgNO₃ molar concentration were varied at a constant porcine skin gelatin concentration. The as‐prepared AgNPs were characterised by UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial properties of AgNPs were tested against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria. Furthermore, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl) 2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assays were used to test whether the synthesised AgNPs can be potentially applied in cancer therapy or used as an antioxidant. This approach is a promising simple route for synthesising AgNPs with a smaller average particle 10 nm diameter. Furthermore, AgNPs exhibited a good cytotoxicity activity, reducing the viability of the liver cancer cell line HepG2 with a moderate IC₅₀; they also showed a low‐to‐fair antioxidant activity. In addition, AgNPs had a remarkable preferential antibacterial activity against gram‐positive bacteria than gram‐negative bacteria. Therefore, these fabricated AgNPs can be used as an antibacterial agent in curative and preventive health care.Inspec keywords: gelatin, silver, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, nanobiotechnology, biomedical materials, antibacterial activity, microorganisms, Fourier transform infrared spectra, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, transmission electron microscopy, cancer, cellular biophysicsOther keywords: porcine skin gelatin–silver nanocomposites, cell cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles, hydrothermal autoclaving technique, gelatin polymeric matrix, UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gram‐positive bacteria, gram‐negative bacteria, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl) 2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assays, cancer therapy, antioxidant, liver cancer cell line HepG2, Ag     

Video Identification Based on Watermarking Schemes and Visual Cryptography

Related to the growth of data sharing on the Internet and the wide - spread use of digital media, multimedia security and copyright protection have become of broad interest. Visual cryptography () is a method of sharing a secret image between a group of participants, where certain groups of participants are defined as qualified and may combine their share of the image to obtain the original, and certain other groups are defined as prohibited, and even if they combine knowledge of their parts, they can’t obtain any information on the secret image. The visual cryptography is one of the techniques which used to transmit the secrete image under the cover picture. Human vision systems are connected to visual cryptography. The black and white image was originally used as a hidden image. In order to achieve the owner’s copy right security based on visual cryptography, a watermarking algorithm is presented. We suggest an approach in this paper to hide multiple images in video by meaningful shares using one binary share. With a common share, which we refer to as a smart key, we can decrypt several images simultaneously. Depending on a given share, the smart key decrypts several hidden images. The smart key is printed on transparency and the shares are involved in video and decryption is performed by physically superimposing the transparency on the video. Using binary, grayscale, and color images, we test the proposed method.     

Satellite image fusion based on modified central force optimization

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Nowadays, optimization has become a brand methodology for different applications. One of the most promising fields for application of optimization is the image...