Short Packets over Block-Memoryless Fading Channels: Pilot-Assisted or Noncoherent Transmission?

We present nonasymptotic upper and lower bounds on the maximum coding rate achievable when transmitting short packets over a Rician memoryless block-fading channel for a given requirement on the packet error probability. We focus on the practically relevant scenario in which there is no \emph{a priori} channel state information available at the transmitter and at the receiver. An upper bound built upon the min-max converse is compared to two lower bounds: the first one relies on a noncoherent transmission strategy in which the fading channel is not estimated explicitly at the receiver; the second one employs pilot-assisted transmission (PAT) followed by maximum-likelihood channel estimation and scaled mismatched nearest-neighbor decoding at the receiver. Our bounds are tight enough to unveil the optimum number of diversity branches that a packet should span so that the energy per bit required to achieve a target packet error probability is minimized, for a given constraint on the code rate and the packet size. Furthermore, the bounds reveal that noncoherent transmission is more energy efficient than PAT, even when the number of pilot symbols and their power is optimized. For example, for the case when a coded packet of $168$ symbols is transmitted using a channel code of rate $0.48$ bits/channel use, over a block-fading channel with block size equal to $8$ symbols, PAT requires an additional $1.2$ dB of energy per information bit to achieve a packet error probability of $10^{-3}$ compared to a suitably designed noncoherent transmission scheme. Finally, we devise a PAT scheme based on punctured tail-biting quasi-cyclic codes and ordered statistics decoding, whose performance are close ($1$ dB gap at $10^{-3}$ packet error probability) to the ones predicted by our PAT lower bound. This shows that the PAT lower bound provides useful guidelines on the design of actual PAT schemes.Comment: 30 pages, 5 figures, journa

Exact Solutions of the Duffin Kemmer Petiau Equation for the Deformed Hulthen Potential

Using the Nikiforov Uvarov method, an application of the relativistic Duffin Kemmer Petiau equation in the presence of a deformed Hulthen potential is presented for spin zero particles. We derived the first order coupled differential radial equations which enable the energy eigenvalues as well as the full wavefunctions to be evaluated by using of the Nikiforov Uvarov method that can be written in terms of the hypergeometric polynomials.Comment: 8 pages. submitted to Physica Script

Spraying opened sugar beet pulp silage with oregano essential oil helps to sustain quality and stability

This study was conducted to determine the effects of spraying oregano essential oil (OEO) onto sugar beet pulp silage (SBPS) on silage quality and aerobic stability after opening. A factorial experiment with three replicates of three treatments and four time periods was conducted using laboratory-type plastic silos. The treatments were an untreated control, silage sprayed with 10 ml/75 cm2 OEO, and silage sprayed with 20 ml/75 cm2 OEO. The silages were sampled at 0, 72, 120, and 168 hours after spraying. Temperature, L*, a*, and b* colour values, pH, water-soluble carbohydrates, crude nutrient contents, Fleig score, metabolizable energy (ME) value, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), total live bacteria (TLB), yeast, and mould formation were assessed. Spraying OEO onto SBPS did not affect L*, a*, and b* values, pH, water-soluble carbohydrates, and Fleig score values, but decreased temperature. Spraying OEO onto the silage increased organic matter, ether extract, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin contents without affecting crude protein, crude fibre, nitrogen free extract, and ME contents. Irrespective of treatment, crude protein, ether extract, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, nitrogen free extract, Fleig score, and ME contents of silages increased with time after spraying. The OEO spraying reduced LAB, TLB, and yeast contents in silages. In conclusion, OEO spraying onto opened SBPS reduced LAB, TLB, and yeast formation and stopped mould growth up to 72 hours without affecting their nutritional properties, suggesting that OEO could be used to ensure the stability of SBPS. Keywords: aerobic stability, mould growth, silage microbiology, nutrients, feeding managemen

Estimation of spleen volume and surface area of the newborns’ cadaveric spleen using stereological methods

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare different techniques for the estimation of spleen volume and surface area using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, ultrasonography (USG) images and cadaveric specimen, and to evaluate errors associated with volume estimation techniques based onfluid displacement.Materials and methods: Five new born cadavers, aged 39.7 ± 1.5 weeks, weighted 2.220 ± 1.056 g, were included in the present study. Three different methods were used to assess the spleen volume. The vertical section technique was applied using cycloid test probes for estimation of spleen surface area in MRI.Results: The mean ± standard deviation of spleen volumes by fluid displacement was 4.82 ± 3.85 cm3. Volumes determined by the Cavalieri’s principle using physical section and point-counting techniques were 4.45 ± 3.47 cm3 and 4.65 ± 3.75 cm3, respectively; volumes measured by USG and cadaver using ellipsoid formula were 4.70 ± 3.02 cm3 and 5.98 ± 4.58 cm3, respectively. No significant differences were found among all methods (p > 0.05). The spleen surface area was calculated as a 32.3 ± 20.6 cm2 by physical sections using cadaver and also it was determined on axial, sagittal and coronal MR planes as 24.9 ± 15.2 cm2, 18.5 ± 5.92 cm2 and 24.3 ± 12.7 cm2, respectively.Conclusions: As a result, MR images allow an easy, reliable and reproducible volume and surface area estimation of normal and abnormal spleen using Cavalieri’sprinciple. We consider that our study may serve as a reference for similar studies to be conducted in future

SELF POTENTIAL AND GRAVITY STUDIES IN THE SEFERIHISAR GEOTHERMAL FIELD

Seferihisar jeotermal alanı İzmir-Ankara melanjının GD'sunda, İzmir ilinin yaklaşık 40 km GB'sında yer almaktadır. Bölgenin temelini Menderes masifine ait Paleozoik yaşlı kristalin şistler oluşturur. Bölgedeki tektonik oluşumlar KD-GB doğrultulu fay ve kırıklar ile bunları diyagonal kesen faylardan oluşmaktadır. Bölgede sıcak su çıkışları ise KD-GB yönde uzanan faylar boyunca görülmektedir. Alandaki önemli jeotermal çıkışlar; Tuzla ılıcası, Cumalı kaplıcası, Doğanbey kaplıcası ve Karakoç kaplıcası civarında gözlenmektedir. Bölgede daha önce yapılan yer elektrik araştırmalarının sonuçları, sıcak su kaynakları ve volkanik domlar civarında gözlenen düşük özdirenç değerlerinin alanın ana tektonik yapısına paralel olarak GB-KD yönünde uzandığını ortaya koymuştur. Bouguer gravite verilerine uygulanan ters çözüm işlemi sonucunda; metamorfik taban derinliği, 1.6-1.7 km olarak saptanmıştır. Doğal gerilim belirtileri ise, genelde jeolojik haritalarda belirtilen ve sıcak suyu yüzeye taşıdığı düşünülen faylar boyunca ortaya çıkmaktadır. Doğal gerilim çalışmaları sonucunda alandan elde edilen türevsel doğal gerilim belirtileri, genelde Tuzla-Cumalı arasında bulunan bölgede yoğunlaşmaktadır ve taşıyıcı fayların bulunduğu yerlerde daha belirgin olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Doğal gerilim belirtilerinin değerlendirmeleri sonucunda, Tuzla fayının bulunduğu yerde odak derinliği yaklaşık olarak 500 m saptanırken, Karakoç kaplıcasına yakın diğer bir noktada odak derinliği 450 m olarak bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, uçlaşma odaklarının Tuzla-Karakoç ve Cumalı kaplıcaları arasında yoğunluk göstermesi, jeolojik ve diğer jeofizik bulgularla uyumlu bir sonuç vermiştir. Seferihisar geothermal area located in the SE of İzmir-Ankara melange is approximately 40 km in the SW of the city of İzmir, Turkey. The basement of the study area is consist of the crystalline rocks of the Menderes Massif of Paleozoic age. The main tectonic features are faults and fractures extending in NE-SW direction. These features are transversed by the secondary (relatively younger) faults striking NW-SE diagonally. Hot water springs which are observed around Tuzla, Cumalı, Doğanbey and Karakoç, appear along the faults. The result of resistivity measurements indicates that the low resistivity values located near and around the hot springs and volcanic domes are extended in the direction of SE-NW which is parallel to the major tectonic structure of the area. Using the Bouger gravity data, the depth of the metamorphic basement was estimated as 1.6-1.7 km. The self potential anomalies are generally observed along the faults transporting the hot water to the surface and indicated by the geological maps. The self potential gradient anomalies are localized between the Tuzla and Cumalı geothermal areas and originated by the transporting faults. After the interpretation the focal depths are approximately 500 m for the Tuzla fault and approximately 450 m around the Karakoç hot spring. Furthermore, polarization foci are intensively observed between the Tuzla-Karakoç and Cumalı areas and this is in accordance with geological and geophysical evidences

Анализ гистерезиса безработицы методом тестирования единичных корней в панельных данных для стран ОЭСР

Во многих странах гистерезис является основным фактором безработицы. Согласно гипотезе гистерезиса, в отсутствие должных политических мер сохранение высокого уровня безработицы в долгосрочной перспективе угрожает экономическому развитию государства. В данной статье проверяется наличие единичного корня для безработицы в 10 избранных странах Организации экономического сотрудничества и развития (Бельгия, Канада, чехия, Эстония, Франция, Япония, Нидерланды, Испания, Великобритания и США). цель исследования - определить, присутствует ли в этих странах эффект гистерезиса. Для анализа данных использован предложенный Песараном, Смитом и Ямагатой метод тестирования единичных корней в панельных данных, измеряющий кросс-зависимость факторов. Используя информацию о достаточном количестве дополнительных объясняющих переменных, тест анализирует, действителен ли единичный корень. Дополнительные переменные должны иметь общий множитель с переменной, стационарность которой проверяется, поскольку общий фактор является причиной кросс-зависимости. В качестве факторов, вызывающих кросс-зависимость и влияющих на гистерезис безработицы, рассмотрены такие показатели, как налоговый клин, плотность профсоюзов и минимальная заработная плата. В случае ошибки в многофакторной структуре процедура тестирования завершается с использованием информации, содержащейся в трех дополнительных переменных. Проанализировано как присутствие гистерезиса безработицы, так и влияющие на безработицу факторы. Отсутствие данных не позволило оценить ситуацию во все странах ОЭСР в различные временные периоды. Из полученных данных следует, что эффект гистерезиса присутствует во всех 10 избранных странах ОЭСР.Hysteresis is a dominant feature of unemployment in numerous countries. According to the hysteresis hypothesis, it is a well-known fact that high unemployment may persist and remain an economic threat in the long run if policy measures are not taken. In this study, it is tested whether the unemployment rates for 10 selected countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the USA) contain unit root or not, in other words, whether the hysteresis effect is valid for these countries. For this purpose, this study utilises the concept of the multi-factor panel unit root test proposed by Pesaran, Smith and Yamagata. This method measures cross-section dependence through factors. The test analyses whether the unit root is valid or not, using information about a sufficient number of additional explanatory variables. The characteristic of these additional variables is that they must share a common factor with the variable whose stationarity is tested. It is accepted that this common factor causes cross-sectional dependence. We have taken tax wedge, trade union density and minimum wage as factors that cause cross-sectional dependency and affect unemployment hysteresis. In this test developed by the authors, in the case of a multi-factor error structure, the test procedure is completed by using the information contained in 3 additional variables. The study explores not only the validity of unemployment hysteresis but also the factors that affect the rigidity of the unemployment rate. However, the research was unable to encompass the entire OECD countries and all times because of the lack of data. The results showed that the hysteresis is valid for 10 selected OECD countries

Proteomic alterations in early stage cervical cancer

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) allows the capture of cell types or well-defined structures in tissue. We compared in a semi-quantitative way the proteomes from an equivalent of 8,000 tumor cells from patients with squamous cell cervical cancer (SCC, n = 22) with healthy epithelial and stromal cells obtained from normal cervical tissue (n = 13). Proteins were enzymatically digested into peptides which were measured by high-resolution mass spectrometry and analyzed by “all-or-nothing” analysis, Bonferroni, and Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple testing. By comparing LCM cell type preparations, 31 proteins were exclusively found in early stage cervical cancer (n = 11) when compared with healthy epithelium and stroma, based on criteria that address specificity in a restrictive “all-or-nothing” way. By Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, 30 proteins were significantly up-regulated between early stage cervical cancer and healthy control, including six members of the MCM protein family. MCM proteins are involved in DNA repair and expected to be participating in the early stage of cancer. After a less stringent Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple testing, we found that the abundances of 319 proteins were significantly different between early stage cervical cancer and healthy controls. Four proteins were confirmed in digests of whole tissue lysates by Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis using correction for multiple testing by permutation resulted in two networks that were differentially regulated in early stage cervical cancer compared with healthy tissue. From these networks, we learned that specific tumor mechanisms become effective during the early stage of cervical cancer

Elevated micronucleus frequencies in patients with pleural plaque secondary to environmental exposure to asbestos

We examined genotoxic damage and frequency of micronuclei in people living in the Bekilli and Suller districts of Denizli city who had been diagnosed with pleural plaques as a result of environmental exposure to asbestos. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 volunteer patients 59-86 years old who did not smoke or consume alcohol and who were diagnosed with calcified pleural plaques. We also examined 30 healthy controls with similar features, who also lived in downtown Denizli. Micronucleus frequencies, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were determined. Micronucleus frequency, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were significantly higher in patients who had been exposed to asbestos than in the controls. We conclude that asbestos had a genotoxic effect, resulting in an increase in micronucleus frequency and other changes in patients diagnosed with pleural plaques secondary to asbestos exposure. © FUNPEC-RP

Proteomic alterations in early stage cervical cancer

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) allows the capture of cell types or welldefined structures in tissue. We compared in a semi-quantitative way the proteomes from an equivalent of 8,000 tumor cells from patients with squamous cell cervical cancer (SCC, n = 22) with healthy epithelial and stromal cells obtained from normal cervical tissue (n = 13). Proteins were enzymatically digested into peptides which were measured by high-resolution mass spectrometry and analyzed by "all-ornothing" analysis, Bonferroni, and Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple testing. By comparing LCM cell type preparations, 31 proteins were exclusively found in early stage cervical cancer (n = 11) when compared with healthy epithelium and stroma, based on criteria that address specificity in a restrictive "all-or-nothing" way. By Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, 30 proteins were significantly up-regulated between early stage cervical cancer and healthy control, including six members of the MCM protein family. MCM proteins are involved in DNA repair and expected to be participating in the early stage of cancer. After a less stringent Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple testing, we found that the abundances of 319 proteins were significantly different between early stage cervical cancer and healthy controls. Four proteins were confirmed in digests of whole tissue lysates by Parallel Reaction