Optimal Detector Randomization in Cognitive Radio Systems in the Presence of Imperfect Sensing Decisions

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In this study, optimal detector randomization is developed for secondary users in a cognitive radio system in the presence of imperfect spectrum sensing decisions. It is shown that the minimum average probability of error can be achieved by employing no more than four maximum a-posteriori probability (MAP) detectors at the secondary receiver. Optimal MAP detectors and generic expressions for their average probability of error are derived in the presence of possible sensing errors. Also, sufficient conditions are presented related to improvements due to optimal detector randomization. © 2014 IEEE

Evaluation metrics for measuring bias in search engine results

Search engines decide what we see for a given search query. Since many people are exposed to information through search engines, it is fair to expect that search engines are neutral. However, search engine results do not necessarily cover all the viewpoints of a search query topic, and they can be biased towards a specific view since search engine results are returned based on relevance, which is calculated using many features and sophisticated algorithms where search neutrality is not necessarily the focal point. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the search engine results with respect to bias. In this work we propose novel web search bias evaluation measures which take into account the rank and relevance. We also propose a framework to evaluate web search bias using the proposed measures and test our framework on two popular search engines based on 57 controversial query topics such as abortion, medical marijuana, and gay marriage. We measure the stance bias (in support or against), as well as the ideological bias (conservative or liberal). We observe that the stance does not necessarily correlate with the ideological leaning, e.g. a positive stance on abortion indicates a liberal leaning but a positive stance on Cuba embargo indicates a conservative leaning. Our experiments show that neither of the search engines suffers from stance bias. However, both search engines suffer from ideological bias, both favouring one ideological leaning to the other, which is more significant from the perspective of polarisation in our society

Range estimation in multicarrier systems in the presence of interference: Performance limits and optimal signal design

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Theoretical limits on time-of-arrival (equivalently, range) estimation are derived for multicarrier systems in the presence of interference. Specifically, closed-form expressions are obtained for Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) in various scenarios. In addition, based on CRB expressions, an optimal power allocation (or, spectrum shaping) strategy is proposed. This strategy considers the constraints not only from the sensed interference level but also from the regulatory emission mask. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the improvements achievable with the optimal power allocation scheme, and a maximum likelihood time-of-arrival estimation algorithm is studied to assess the effects of the proposed approach in practical estimators. © 2011 IEEE

Optimal and Suboptimal Linear Receivers for Impulse Radio UWB Systems

The high time resolution of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals results in a large number of multipath components (MPCs) arriving at the receiver, which presents a source of diversity. In addition to this multipath diversity, there is also repetition diversity inherent in impulse radio (IR) UWB systems, since a number of pulses are transmitted for each information symbol. In order to make optimal use of both multipath and repetition diversity, the receiver needs to consider the optimal conbination of contributions from both different frames and different MPCs. In this overview paper, the optimal linear receiver for a given user in frequency-selective multiuser environment, which combines all the samples from the received signal according to the minimum mean square error (MMSE), criterion is studied. Due to the complexity of this optimal receiver, two suboptimal receivers with lower complexity are considered, optimal frame combining (OFC) and optimal multipath combining (OMC) receivers, which reduce computational complexity by suboptimal combining in the multipath diversity and repetition domains, respectively. Finally, a two-step MMSE algorithm which reduces complexity by performing MMSE combining in two steps is presented, and its optimality properties are discussed. Simulations are performed to compare the performance of different receivers

In vitro anticancer activity and antioxidant properties of essential oils from Populus alba L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. from South Eastern Anatolia of Turkey

Background and Purpose: In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have been reported to possess interesting anti-tumor, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activities against various cancer cells. Therefore, we aimed to investigate potential biological activities of EOs from white poplar (Populus alba L., Salicaceae) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L., Lamiaceae). Material and Methods: EOs from P. alba L. and R. officinalis L. were extracted by hydrodistillation. MTT assay was carried out to determine the potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties of the essential oils as well as their corresponding IC50, and the inhibition (%) calculated. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and lipid peroxidation capacity was evaluated using thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) method, and the values were calculated using the standards. Results: The EOs were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant and lipid oxidation activities. Regarding cytotoxic activity rosemary essential oil possessed strong inhibition (IC50 = 3.06-7.38 µg/mL) of cell proliferation in comparison to that of P. alba L. (IC50 = 10.53-28.16 µg/mL). Additionally, EO from R. officinalis L. was found to have higher antioxidant and lipid peroxidation capacities with IC50 of 10.08 ± 0.15 and 1.76 ± 0.01, respectively. Conclusion: The results suggest that the EOs of both sources exhibited strong antiproliferative, cytotoxic and potent antioxidant properties and therefore they can have potential applications in the cancer treatment. © 2017, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India. All rights reserved.The authors would like to thank Kilis 7 Aralik University, Central Laboratory for their technical support

Chunking of Control: An Unrecognized Aspect of Cognitive Resource Limits

Why do we divide (‘chunk’) long tasks into a series of shorter subtasks? A popular view is that limits in working memory (WM) prevent us from simultaneously maintaining all task relevant information in mind. We therefore chunk the task into smaller units so that we only maintain information in WM that is relevant to the current unit. In contrast to this view, we show that long tasks that are not constrained by WM limits are nonetheless chunked into smaller units. Participants executed long sequences of standalone but demanding trials that were not linked to any WM representation and whose execution was not constrained by how much information could be simultaneously held in WM. Using signs well-known to reflect beginning of new task units, we show that such trial sequences were not executed as a single task unit but were spontaneously chunked and executed as series smaller units. We also found that sequences made of easier trials were executed as longer task units and vice-versa, further suggesting that the length of task executed as one unit may be constrained by cognitive limits other than WM. Cognitive limits are typically seen to constrain how many things can be done simultaneously e.g., how many events can be maintained in WM or attended at the same time. We show a new aspect of these limits that constrains the length of behaviour that can be executed sequentially as a single task-unit

Dual functionality of conjugated polymer nanoparticles as an anticancer drug carrier and a fluorescent probe for cell imaging

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Multifunctional nanoparticles based on a green emitting, hydrophobic conjugated polymer, poly[(9,9-bis{propeny}fluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4- benzo-{2,1,3}-thiodiazole)] (PPFBT), that acts both as a fluorescent reporter and a matrix to accommodate an anti-cancer compound, camptothecin (CPT), were prepared, characterized and their potential as a fluorescent probe for cell imaging and as a drug delivery vehicle were evaluated via in vitro cell assays. The cell viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Huh7) was investigated in the absence and presence of CPT with sulforhodamine B (SRB) and real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) cytotoxicity assays

Statistics of the MLE and approximate upper and lower bounds-part II: Threshold computation and optimal pulse design for TOA estimation

Threshold and ambiguity phenomena are studied in Part I of this paper where approximations for the mean-squared error (MSE) of the maximum-likelihood estimator are proposed using the method of interval estimation (MIE), and where approximate upper and lower bounds are derived. In this part, we consider time-of-arrival estimation and we employ the MIE to derive closed-form expressions of the begin-ambiguity, end-ambiguity and asymptotic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) thresholds with respect to some features of the transmitted signal. Both baseband and passband pulses are considered. We prove that the begin-ambiguity threshold depends only on the shape of the envelope of the ACR, whereas the end-ambiguity and asymptotic thresholds only on the shape of the ACR. We exploit the results on the begin-ambiguity and asymptotic thresholds to optimize, with respect to the available SNR, the pulse that achieves the minimum attainable MSE. The results of this paper are valid for various estimation problems. © 2014 IEEE

Adaptive measurement matrix design for compressed DoA estimation with sensor arrays

In this work we consider the problem of measurement matrix design for compressed 3-D Direction of Arrival (DoA) estimation using a sensor array with analog combiner. Since generic measurement matrix designs often do not yield optimal estimation performance, we propose a novel design technique based on the minimization of the Cramér-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB). We develop specific approaches for adaptive measurement design for two applications: detection of the newly appearing targets and tracking of the previously detected targets. Numerical results suggest that the developed designs allow to provide the near optimal performance in terms of the CRLB. © 2015 IEEE

Dual functionality of conjugated polymer nanoparticles as an anticancer drug carrier and a fluorescent probe for cell imaging

Multifunctional nanoparticles based on a green emitting, hydrophobic conjugated polymer, poly[(9,9-bis{propeny}fluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1,3}-thiodiazole)] (PPFBT), that acts both as a fluorescent reporter and a matrix to accommodate an anti-cancer compound, camptothecin (CPT), were prepared, characterized and their potential as a fluorescent probe for cell imaging and as a drug delivery vehicle were evaluated via in vitro cell assays. The cell viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Huh7) was investigated in the absence and presence of CPT with sulforhodamine B (SRB) and real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) cytotoxicity assays. © 2014 The Royal Society of Chemistry