The Role Model Estimator Revisited

We re-visit the role model strategy introduced in an earlier paper, which allows one to train an estimator for degraded observations by imitating a reference estimator that has access to superior observations. We show that, while it is true and surprising that this strategy yields the optimal Bayesian estimator for the degraded observations, it in fact reduces to a much simpler form in the non-parametric case, which corresponds to a type of Monte Carlo integration. We then show an example for which only parametric estimation can be implemented and discuss further applications for discrete parametric estimation where the role model strategy does have its uses, although it loses claim to optimality in this context.Funded in part by the European Research Council under ERC grant agreement 259663 and by the FP7 Network of Excellence NEWCOM# under grant agreement 318306.Published by the IEEE where the final published version can be viewed: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ISIT.2014.687511

Density evolution for SUDOKU codes on the erasure channel

Codes based on SUDOKU puzzles are discussed, and belief propagation decoding introduced for the erasure channel. Despite the non-linearity of the code constraints, it is argued that density evolution can be used to analyse code performance due to the invariance of the code under alphabet permutation. The belief propagation decoder for erasure channels operates by exchanging messages containing sets of possible values. Accordingly, density evolution tracks the probability mass functions of the set cardinalities. The equations governing the mapping of those probability mass functions are derived and calculated for variable and constraint nodes, and decoding thresholds are computed for long SUDOKU codes with random interleavers.Funded in part by the European Research Council under ERC grant agreement 259663 and by the FP7 Network of Excellence NEWCOM# under grant agreement 318306.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IEEE at http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ISTC.2014.6955120

The use of Ligasure Vessel Sealing System in Ivor Lewis esophagectomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study investigated the results of the LigaSure Vessel Sealing System (LVSS), which has been routinely used in esophageal resections in our clinic since 2006.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For this purpose, 60 patients who underwent Ivor Lewis esophagectomy were included in the study. The results were compared with the patients who underwent stomach mobilising procedure and esophagectomy with conventional methods (conventional group) before 2006 and the patients who underwent LVSS (group of LigaSure) in surgical cases after 2006. The cases were compared particularly in terms of intraoperative bleeding, operative time, duration of postoperative hospital stay, intraoperative complications, mortality, and morbidity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the patients, 34 (% 56.6) were female and 26 (43.3%) were male, and the range of the age was between 33 and 78, and the mean age of the patients was 52.73 ± 11,617. While the amount of intraoperative bleeding was 321.864 ± 575.00 ml in the conventional group, this was found to be 370.31 ± 238.456 ml in the LigaSure group (p = 0.007). In the statistical evaluation of the operative time, the mean duration was determined as 310.00 ± 24.795 minutes in the conventional group, whereas it was determined as 265.16 ± 31.353 minutes in the LigaSure group (p = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of LVSS was associated with a significant reduction in the operative time and the rate of intra-operative complications.</p

Pulsed Laser Deposition of BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)0(sub 3) FILMS

Pulsed laser deposition has been used to grow nanostructured BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)0(sub 3) films. The objective is to enhance protonic conduction by reduction of membrane thickness. Sintered samples and laser targets were prepared by sintering BaCe(sub 0.85)Y(sub 0.15)O(sub 3) powders derived by solid state synthesis. Films 2 to 6 m thick were deposited by KrF excimer laser on Si and porous Al2O3 substrates. Nanocrystalline films were fabricated at deposition temperatures of 600-800 C deg at O2 pressure of 30 mTorr and laser fluence of 1.2 J/cm square. Films were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electrical impedance spectroscopy. Dense single phase BaCe(sub 0.85)Y((sub 0.15) 0(sub 3) films with a columnar growth morphology is observed, preferred crystal growth was found to be dependent upon deposition temperature and substrate type. Electrical conductivity of bulk samples produced by solid state sintering and thin film samples were measured over a temperature range of 100 C deg to 900 C deg in moist argon. Electrical conduction of the fabricated films was 1 to 4 orders of magnitude lower than the sintered bulk samples. With respect to the film growth direction, activation energy for electrical conduction is 3 times higher in the perpendicular direction than the parallel direction