Performance Improvement of QPSK Signal Predetection EGC Diversity Receiver

This paper proposes a modification of quadrature phase-shift-keying (QPSK) signal diversity reception with predetection equal gain combiner (EGC). The EGC combining is realized by using the constant modulus algorithm (CMA). Carrier synchronization is performed by the phase locked loop (PLL). Comparative analysis of the modified and ordinary diversity receiver in the presence of carrier frequency offset in the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel, as well as in Rician fading channel is shown. The proposed diversity receiver allows significant frequency offset compared to the diversity receiver that uses only PLL, and the error probability of the proposed receiver is very close to the error probability of the receiver with only PLL and zero frequency offset. The functionality of the proposed diversity receiver, as well as its properties is experimentally verified on a system based on universal software radio peripheral (USRP) hardware. The performed comparison confirms the expected behavior of the system

Effects of Imperfect Reference Signal Recovery on Performance of SC and SSC Receivers over Generalized Fading Channels

This paper presents the study of the effects of imperfect reference signal recovery on the bit error rate (BER) performance of dual-branch switch-and-stay combining (SSC) and multibranch selection combining (SC) receivers in a generalized - fading channel. The average BER of binary and quaternary phase shift keying (BPSK and QPSK) is derived under the assumption that the reference carrier signal is extracted from the received modulated signal. For SSC receiver the optimal switching threshold (in a minimum BER sense) is numerically evaluated. Hereby we determine and discuss the simultaneous influence of the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per bit, fading severity, product phase-locked loop (PLL) bandwidthbit duration (B_LT_b), switching threshold of SSC and diversity order of SC on BER performance. The influence of B_LT_b in different channel conditions and modulation formats is pointed out. The numerical results are confirmed by computer simulations

E-SCAPE New tools and new opportunities for the localization of Expo 2015 general interest services along the Canale Cavour, a backbone of the Milan-Turin urban region

Publication of the Alta Scuola Politecnica project "E-SCAPE. New tools and new opportunities for the localization of Expo 2015 general interest services along the Canale Cavour, a backbone of the Milan-Turin urban region

Electrorotation of a pair of spherical particles

We present a theoretical study of electrorotation (ER) of two spherical particles under the action of a rotating electric field. When the two particles approach and finally touch, the mutual polarization interaction between the particles leads to a change in the dipole moment of the individual particle and hence the ER spectrum, as compared to that of the well-separated particles. The mutual polarization effects are captured by the method of multiple images. From the theoretical analysis, we find that the mutual polarization effects can change the characteristic frequency at which the maximum angular velocity of electrorotation occurs. The numerical results can be understood in the spectral representation theory.Comment: Minor revisions; accepted by Phys. Rev.

Statistical mechanics of transcription-factor binding site discovery using Hidden Markov Models

Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are a commonly used tool for inference of transcription factor (TF) binding sites from DNA sequence data. We exploit the mathematical equivalence between HMMs for TF binding and the "inverse" statistical mechanics of hard rods in a one-dimensional disordered potential to investigate learning in HMMs. We derive analytic expressions for the Fisher information, a commonly employed measure of confidence in learned parameters, in the biologically relevant limit where the density of binding sites is low. We then use techniques from statistical mechanics to derive a scaling principle relating the specificity (binding energy) of a TF to the minimum amount of training data necessary to learn it.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, 1 table V2 - typos fixed and new references adde

Jet tomography

I summarize the recent advances in jet tomographic studies of cold and hot nuclear matter based on perturbative QCD calculations of medium-induced gluon bremsstrahlung. Quantitative applications to ultrarelativistic heavy ion reactions at RHIC indicate the creation of a deconfined state of QCD with initial energy density on the order of 100 times cold nuclear matter density.Comment: Plenary talk given at the seventeenth international conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (Quark Matter 2004). 8 pages, 12 figures. Updated references, updated Table

Fixation of transparent bone pins with photocuring biocomposites

Bone fractures are in need of rapid fixation methods, but the current strategies are limited to metal pins and screws, which necessitate secondary surgeries upon removal. New techniques are sought to avoid surgical revisions, while maintaining or improving the fixation speed. Herein, a method of bone fixation is proposed with transparent biopolymers anchored in place via light-activated biocomposites based on expanding CaproGlu bioadhesives. The transparent biopolymers serve as a UV light guide for the activation of CaproGlu biocomposites, which results in evolution of molecular nitrogen (from diazirine photolysis), simultaneously expanding the covalently cross-linked matrix. Osseointegration additives of hydroxyapatite or Bioglass 45S5 yield a biocomposite matrix with increased stiffness and pullout strength. The structure-property relationships of UV joules dose, pin diameter, and biocomposite additives are assessed with respect to the apparent viscosity, shear modulus, spatiotemporal pin curing, and lap-shear adhesion. Finally, a model system is proposed based onex vivoinvestigation with bone tissue for the exploration and optimization of UV-active transparent biopolymer fixation

Corrections to scaling in 2--dimensional polymer statistics

Writing $= AN^{2\nu}(1+BN^{-\Delta_1}+CN^{-1}+ ...)$ for the mean square end--to--end length $$ of a self--avoiding polymer chain of $N$ links, we have calculated $\Delta_1$ for the two--dimensional {\em continuum} case from a new {\em finite} perturbation method based on the ground state of Edwards self consistent solution which predicts the (exact) $\nu=3/4$ exponent. This calculation yields $\Delta_1=1/2$. A finite size scaling analysis of data generated for the continuum using a biased sampling Monte Carlo algorithm supports this value, as does a re--analysis of exact data for two--dimensional lattices.Comment: 10 pages of RevTex, 5 Postscript figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B. Brief Reports. Also submitted to J. Phys.

Jet Quenching in Heavy Ion Collisions

This review article was prepared for the Landolt-Boernstein volume on Relativisitc Heavy Ion Physics.Comment: Review articel accepted for publication in the Landolt-Boernstein Handbook of Physics, ed. R. Stock. 41 pages LaTex, 7 eps-figure

Community composition and development of the post-weaning piglet gut microbiome

ABSTRACT We report on the largest metagenomic analysis of the pig gut microbiome to date. By processing over 800 faecal time-series samples from 126 piglets and 42 sows, we generated over 8Tbp of metagenomic shotgun sequence data. Here we describe the animal trial procedures, the generation of our metagenomic dataset and the analysis of the microbial community composition using a phylogenetic framework. We assess the effects of intramuscular antibiotic treatment and probiotic oral treatment on the diversity of gut microbial communities. We found differences between individual hosts such as breed, litter, and age, to be important contributors to variation in the community composition. Treatment effects of the antibiotic and probiotic treatments were found but were subtle, while host age was the dominant factor in shaping the gut microbiota of piglets after weaning. The post-weaning pig gut microbiome appears to follow a highly structured developmental program with characteristic post-weaning changes that can distinguish hosts that were born as little as two days apart in the second month of life