Signal Constellations for Multilevel Coded Modulation with Sparse Graph Codes

A method to combine error-correction coding and spectral efficient modulation for transmission over channels with Gaussian noise is presented. The method of modulation leads to a signal constellation in which the constellation symbols have a nonuniform distribution. This gives a so-called shape gain which can be as high as e 6 (1:5 dB). A sparse graph code is constructed which is based on a LDPC code and includes the method of modulation. An efficient decoding algorithm can be derived for this sparse graph code. Simulation results show that the performance of the code is quite good compared\ud to other coded modulation schemes proposed in literature

Modulation and coding for quantized channels

We investigate reliable communication over quantized channels from an information theoretical point of view. People seldom consider the effect of quantization in conventional coded modulation systems since Analog-to-Digital (AD) converters used in these systems always have high resolution, e.g. 2/3 source bits are often quantized into 10/12 bits. However, AD converters with a high resolution are power consuming. In this paper, we present a scheme to design an optimum quantizer with low resolution which can be used to communicate over the quantized channel. Moreover, we show that reliable transmission over the Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel at a rate of R bit/use is possible with R + 1 or R + 2 quantized bits.\u

On the design of a wireless multi-antenna monitoring system

In this paper we investigate the design of a wireless monitoring system. This system consists of several wireless monitoring units, each transmitting data collected from sensors. This data is received and processed at a central control unit. The typical operating environment poses several challenges. The channel’s delay spread is substantial and the distance between receiver and transmitter is in the order of 400 meters. In order to guarantee reliable communication, we combine multi-antenna techniques (spacetime block coding) with strong coding (LDPC codes). The cost and complexity of the monitoring units is kept low, and most of the processing is performed on the central control unit. We present a system design for the monitoring units and show simulation results

A continuum model accounting for the effect of the initial and evolving microstructure on the evolution of dynamic recrystallization

Laser assisted forming is a process which is increasingly being adopted by the industry. Application of heat by a laser to austenitic stainless steel (ASS) sheet provides local control over formability and strength of the material. The hot forming behavior of ASS is characterized by significant dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization. These two processes lead to a softening stress-strain response and have a significant impact on the microstructure of the material. Most of the research performed on hot forming of ASS focuses on dynamic recrystallization and then specifically on the behavior of the annealed state, consisting of relatively large equiaxed austenite grains. However, in industry it is common to use cold rolled ASS sheet which is a mixture of austenite and martensite. Application of a laser heat treatment to the cold rolled grades of ASS induces a socalled ‘reverse’ transformation of martensite to austenite which, depending on the exact time-temperature combinations, leads to an austenite grain size in the range of nanoto micrometer. It is known from experiments that the effect of initial grain size on dynamic recrystallization is significant, especially on the initial stages of recrystallization. Therefore any continuum model capable of describing hot forming of cold rolled ASS should include the effect of the initial grain size. In this work a physically based continuum model for dynamic recrystallization is presented which accounts for the effect of the initial and evolving grain size on the evolution of dynamic recrystallization. It is shown that the initial grain size can be accounted for by incorporating its effect on the availability of preferred nucleation sites, i.e. grain edges. The new model is compared to experimental results and it is shown that the model correctly predicts accelerated recrystallization with decrease in grain size and that there is a weak dependence of the dynamically recrystallized grain size on the initial grain size. Furthermore predicted recrystallized grain sizes are in good agreement with the experimentally measured values

Stretch Reflex as a Simple Measure to Evaluate the Efficacy of Potential Flight Countermeasures Using the Bed Rest Environment

INTRODUCTION: Spaceflight is acknowledged to have significant effects on the major postural muscles. However, it has been difficult to separate the effects of ascending somatosensory changes caused by the unloading of these muscles during flight from changes in sensorimotor function caused by a descending vestibulo-cerebellar response to microgravity. It is hypothesized that bed rest is an adequate model to investigate postural muscle unloading given that spaceflight and bed rest may produce similar results in both nerve axon and muscle tissue. METHODS: To investigate this hypothesis, stretch reflexes were measured on 18 subjects who spent 60 to 90 days in continuous 6 head-down bed rest. Using a motorized system capable of rotating the foot around the ankle joint (dorsiflexion) through an angle of 10 deg at a peak velocity of approximately 250 deg/sec, a stretch reflex was recorded from the subject's left triceps surae muscle group. Using surface electromyography, about 300 reflex responses were obtained and ensemble-averaged on 3 separate days before bed rest, 3 to 4 times in bed, and 3 times after bed rest. The averaged responses for each test day were examined for reflex latency and conduction velocity (CV) across gender and compared with spaceflight data. RESULTS: Although no gender differences were found, bed rest induced changes in reflex latency and CV similar to the ones observed during spaceflight. Also, a relationship between CV and loss of muscle strength in the lower leg was observed for most bed rest subjects. CONCLUSION: Even though bed rest (limb unloading) alone may not mimic all of the synaptic and muscle tissue loss that is observed as a result of spaceflight, it can serve as a working analog of flight for the evaluation of potential countermeasures that may be beneficial in mitigating unwanted changes in the major postural muscles that are observed post flight