Robust high-capacity audio watermarking based on FFT amplitude modification

This paper proposes a novel robust audio watermarking algorithm to embed data and extract it in a bit-exact manner based on changing the magnitudes of the FFT spectrum. The key point is selecting a frequency band for embedding based on the comparison between the original and the MP3 compressed/decompressed signal and on a suitable scaling factor. The experimental results show that the method has a very high capacity (about 5 kbps), without significant perceptual distortion (ODG about -0.25) and provides robustness against common audio signal processing such as added noise, filtering and MPEG compression (MP3). Furthermore, the proposed method has a larger capacity (number of embedded bits to number of host bits rate) than recent image data hiding methods

High capacity audio watermarking using FFT amplitude interpolation

An audio watermarking technique in the frequency domain which takes advantage of interpolation is proposed. Interpolated FFT samples are used to generate imperceptible marks. The experimental results show that the suggested method has very high capacity (about 3kbps), without significant perceptual distortion (ODG about -0.5) and provides robustness against common audio signal processing such as echo, add noise, filtering, resampling and MPEG compression (MP3). Depending on the specific application, the tuning parameters could be selected adaptively to achieve even more capacity and better transparency

Participation in everyday occupations among persons with stroke in Iran: An exploration of perceived participation, associated factors and lived experience

The general aim of this thesis was to explore and describe perceived participation in everyday occupations, and the factors associated with participation among persons with stroke in a sample from Iran. Furthermore, the aim was to describe and understand the lived experience of participation in everyday occupations following stroke. This thesis was based on four studies. The first three studies were performed using quantitative methods and the last study used a qualitative method. In Study I the focus was on producing the Persian version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA) questionnaire and the psychometric evaluation of the translated version to be used for persons with stroke. In Study II perceived participation and autonomy was described among persons with stroke, and different aspects of functioning and contextual factors associated with participation after stroke were explored and identified in the sample. In Study III the Persian translated version of the Occupational Gaps Questionnaire (OGQ) and the LiSat-11 checklist were produced and psychometrically evaluated to use for persons with stroke. Moreover, this study focused on describing occupational gaps after stroke and exploring their relation to different aspects of functioning and perceived life satisfaction. In Study IV the lived experience of participation in everyday occupations was explored among persons with stroke using the phenomenological approach. The findings of Study I demonstrated that participation can be measured as two different but related dimensions, performance-based participation and social-based participation. The findings of Study II showed that most participation restrictions were perceived in autonomy outdoors activities. It also identified physical function, mood state, and access to caregiving services as the most influential variables associated with dimensions of participation. The findings of Study III supported the psychometric properties of the Persian versions of the OGQ and the LiSat-11, and found “helping and supporting others” and instrumental activities of daily living to be the most common occupations in which individuals perceived gaps in participation. This study also identified the combination of three factors of physical function (including ADL ability), motor function and perceived life satisfaction as being the most influential factors associated with occupational gaps after stroke. The findings of Study IV showed that in order for individuals to adapt to their new life after stroke and be able to live their life, both doing and identity should be addressed in rehabilitation as the aspects defining the phenomenon of participation. In conclusion, this thesis contributes by generating new knowledge regarding the definition of the concept of participation. The findings highlight the importance of both dimensions in the facilitation of adaptation and participation in everyday occupations. Moreover, this thesis emphasises the importance of providing culturally sensitive rehabilitation based on the individuals’ needs and consistent with the sociocultural context when planning appropriate rehabilitation interventions. As a first exploration of participation in everyday occupations after stroke in an Iranian context, this thesis provides instruments for measuring participation and life satisfaction for use in clinical practice and research within rehabilitation in Iran

Wireless Body Area Networking: Joint Physical-Networking Layer Simulation and Modeling

An electronic device equipped with sensors and antennas is the main part of the wireless body area networking (WBAN). Such a device is placed near human body and it usually works in a populated environment with many surrounding objects (e.g., building walls). The human body and the objects can change the radiation characteristics of the antenna and impact the performance of the wireless communication system. The wireless communication system’s performance is also affected by the networking layers established on top of the physical layer. Therefore, any designing method for WBAN application should be pervasive, offering a joint physical-networking layer simulation and modeling strategy. To this end, in this chapter, a comprehensive simulation and modeling method is presented. First, antenna design limitations and challenges for wireless body area networking are studied with emphasis on evaluating the antenna’s performance near the human body. Then, the antenna miniaturization techniques to reduce the antennas’ dimension are reviewed. Later, a system level analysis and modeling are used to study short-range communication between the wearable antennas with remote nodes using IEEE 802.11g wireless networking protocol

Absolute penalty and shrinkage estimation strategies in linear and partially linear models with correlated errors

In this dissertation we propose shrinkage estimators and absolute penalty estimators (APEs) in linear models, partially linear models (PLM) and quasi-likelihood models. We study the asymptotic properties of shrinkage estimators both analytically and through simulation studies, and compare their performance with APEs. In Chapter 2, we propose shrinkage estimators for a multiple linear regression with first order random coefficient autoregressive (RCAR(1)) error term. We also present two APEs for this models which are modified versions of lasso and adaptive lasso estimators. We compare the performance of shrinkage estimators and APEs through the mean squared error criterion. Monte Carlo studies were conducted to compare the estimators in two situations: when p \u3e n and when p \u3c n. A data example is presented to illustrate the usefulness of the suggested methods. In Chapter 3, we develop shrinkage estimators for a PLM with RCAR(1) error term. The nonparametric function is estimated using a kernel function. We also compare the performance of shrinkage estimators with a modified version of lasso for correlated data. Monte Carlo studies were conducted to compare the behavior of the proposed estimators. A data example is presented to illustrate the application of the suggested methods. In Chapter 4, we propose pretest and shrinkage estimators for quasi-likelihood models. We investigate the asymptotic properties of these estimators both analytically and through simulation studies. We also apply a lasso estimator and compare its performance with the other proposed estimators

Synthetic aperture radar-based techniques and reconfigurable antenna design for microwave imaging of layered structures

In the past several decades, a number of microwave imaging techniques have been developed for detecting embedded objects (targets) in a homogeneous media. New applications such as nondestructive testing of layered composite structures, through-wall and medical imaging require more advanced imaging systems and image reconstruction algorithms (post-processing) suitable for imaging inhomogeneous (i.e., layered) media. Currently-available imaging algorithms are not always robust, easy to implement, and fast. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques are some of the more prominent approaches for image reconstruction when considering low loss and homogeneous media. To address limitations of SAR imaging, when interested in imaging an embedded object in an inhomogeneous media with loss, two different methods are introduced, namely; modified piecewise SAR (MPW-SAR) and Wiener filter-based layered SAR (WL-SAR). From imaging system hardware point-of-view, microwave imaging systems require suitable antennas for signal transmission and data collection. A reconfigurable antenna which its characteristics can be dynamically changed provide significant flexibility in terms of beam-forming, reduction in unwanted noise and multiplicity of use including for imaging applications. However, despite these potentially advantageous characteristics, the field of reconfigurable antenna design is fairly new and there is not a methodical design procedure. This issue is addressed by introducing an organized design method for a reconfigurable antenna capable of operating in several distinct frequency bands. The design constraints (e.g., size and gain) can also be included. Based on this method, a novel reconfigurable coplanar waveguide-fed slot antenna is designed to cover several different frequency bands while keeping the antenna size as small as possible --Abstract, page iii

High capacity data embedding schemes for digital media

High capacity image data hiding methods and robust high capacity digital audio watermarking algorithms are studied in this thesis. The main results of this work are the development of novel algorithms with state-of-the-art performance, high capacity and transparency for image data hiding and robustness, high capacity and low distortion for audio watermarking.En esta tesis se estudian y proponen diversos métodos de data hiding de imágenes y watermarking de audio de alta capacidad. Los principales resultados de este trabajo consisten en la publicación de varios algoritmos novedosos con rendimiento a la altura de los mejores métodos del estado del arte, alta capacidad y transparencia, en el caso de data hiding de imágenes, y robustez, alta capacidad y baja distorsión para el watermarking de audio.En aquesta tesi s'estudien i es proposen diversos mètodes de data hiding d'imatges i watermarking d'àudio d'alta capacitat. Els resultats principals d'aquest treball consisteixen en la publicació de diversos algorismes nous amb rendiment a l'alçada dels millors mètodes de l'estat de l'art, alta capacitat i transparència, en el cas de data hiding d'imatges, i robustesa, alta capacitat i baixa distorsió per al watermarking d'àudio.Societat de la informació i el coneixemen

Erfahrungen im Umgang mit Patientenverfügungen von Rettungsdienstpersonal in Deutschland: Prospektive, multizentrische Interviewstudie

Therapieentscheidungen am Lebensende können für jeden Rettungsdienstmitarbeiter im Rahmen seiner notfallmedizinischen Tätigkeit zu einer besonderen Herausforderung werden. Es bedarf in der Notfallmedizin mehr Dialogflächen, in denen Entscheidungskriterien zur Versorgung von Palliativpatienten erörtert und als Handlungsempfehlung allen Akteuren zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Eine solche ist seitens der Respondenten der aktuellen Untersuchung dringend gewünscht. Es sollte somit für notfallmedizinisches Personal spezielle Rahmenbedingungen im Umgang mit sterbenden Patienten und der rechtlichen Verbindlichkeit von Patientenverfügungen geschaffen werden. Die vorliegende Studie hat insbesondere die Entscheidungsunsicherheit in Fragen einer Therapiebegrenzung am Lebensende in Zusammenhang mit einer vorliegenden Patientenverfügung verdeutlichen können. Die Forderungen früherer nationaler und internationaler Arbeiten bezüglich der Sinnhaftigkeit einer verbesserten Ausbildung von Rettungsdienstpersonal in „End-of-life-care“ konnte erneut bestätigt werden