Joint phase and timing recovery for MSK-type signals

Novel nondata-aided algorithms are proposed for joint estimation of timing and carrier phase in minimum-shift keying (MSK)-type modulations. The performance with MSK and Gaussian MSK is assessed by computer simulations and compared with that of other existing estimation schemes     

BEM-based SISO detection of orthogonal space-time block codes over frequency flat-fading channels

The expectation-maximization algorithm for maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of a random vector is applied to the problem of detection of orthogonal space-time block codes over time-selective Rayleigh fading channels. This results in a soft-in soft-out detection algorithm suitable for iterative detection/decoding schemes. Simulation results show that the error performance of the proposed detection algorithm is very close to that of a MAP detector endowed with an ideal knowledge of the channel state if the fading rate is not too fast.     

Excess bandwidth is necessary for ISI-free double-filter receivers

Previous work has indicated that highly effective double-filter receivers can be implemented for phase-shift keying (PSK) transmissions over linearly time-selective fading channels provided that the transmitter and receiver filters have root-raised-cosine transfer functions with unity rolloff factor. Revisiting the detection problem within the frame of maximum-likelihood (ML) sequence estimation we prove that this filter design is unique within the class of signaling pulses which are band limited to the symbol rate. It is concluded that some waste of bandwidth is inevitable for achieving ISI-free operation with double-filter receivers     

GQR-based models for directional wireless channels

In this paper novel reduced complexity statistical models for the representation of directional wireless channels affected by Rayleigh fading are developed. Their derivation is based on the evaluation of Fourier integrals by means of Gaussian quadrature rules (GQRs). The proposed models represent a communication channel as a tapped-angle and -delay line with non uniform spacing between successive taps. The application of the GQR approach to three different scenarios is also illustrated. Numerical results evidence that these models can provide a simple and accurate stochastic representation of directional fading channels.     

The importance of cellular internalization of antibody-targeted carbon nanotubes in the photothermal ablation of breast cancer cells

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) convert absorbed near infrared (NIR) light into heat. The use of CNTs in the NIR-mediated photothermal ablation of tumor cells is attractive because the penetration of NIR light through normal tissues is optimal and the side effects are minimal. Targeted thermal ablation with minimal collateral damage can be achieved by using CNTs attached to tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). However, the role that the cellular internalization of CNTs plays in the subsequent sensitivity of the target cells to NIR-mediated photothermal ablation remains undefined. To address this issue, we used CNTs covalently coupled to an anti-Her2 or a control MAb and tested their ability to bind, internalize, and photothermally ablate Her2(+) but not Her2(-) breast cancer cell lines. Using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and confocal Raman microscopy, we observed the gradual time-dependent receptor-mediated endocytosis of anti-Her2-CNTs whereas a control MAb-CNT conjugate did not bind to the cells. Most importantly, the Her2(+) cells that internalized the MAb-CNTs were more sensitive to NIR-mediated photothermal damage than cells that could bind to, but not internalize the MAb-CNTs. These results suggest that both the targeting and internalization of MAb-CNTs might result in the most effective thermal ablation of tumor cells following their exposure to NIR light.     

Blind Feedforward Frequency Estimation for OFDM Signals Transmitted over Multipath Fading Channels

This paper provides an approximate closed form solution to the problem of maximum likelihood (ML) estimation of the carrier frequency offset (CFO) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal transmitted over a multipath fading channel. This results in a novel feedforward frequency synchronizer, requiring only an approximate statistical knowledge of the communication channel. The performance of the proposed algorithm is assessed by computer simulations and is compared with that provided by other synchronizers and with Cramer-Rao bounds.     

Error Probability of FSK Incoherent Diversity Reception with Fast Rice Fading

In this paper we compute the error performanceof noncoherent detection receivers for FSK signalstransmitted over fast frequency-flat Rician fadingchannels. Linearly time-varying fading models are used to derive closed-form expressions for the errorprobability of binary FSK signaling. Error bounds areestablished for the performance of M-ary orthogonal FSK.Simulation results are in excellent agreement with analytical predictions.     

Iterative ML-based estimation of carrier frequency offset, channel impulse response and data in OFDM transmissions

This paper provides an approximate closed form solution to the problem of data-aided joint maximum likelihood estimation of the carrier frequency offset and of the channel impulse response in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing transmission over a multipath fading channel. This results in a novel pilot-aided feedforward estimator, that can be employed for pilot-based receiver training. It is also shown how the novel joint estimation strategy can be exploited in an iterative (turbo) receiver structure to track the fast channel and frequency offset changes occurring during the transmission of information symbols. The performance of this structure is assessed by computer simulations and is compared with that provided by other estimation/detection strategies.     

Low-Rate-Feedback-Assisted Beamforming and Power Control for MIMO-OFDM Systems

This paper proposes a novel solution to the problem of beamforming and power control in the downlink of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system. This solution is developed in two steps. First, we describe an adaptive beamforming technique that, using a stochastic gradient method, maximizes the power delivered to a mobile terminal. In the proposed solution, perturbed precoding matrices are time multiplexed in the information signal transmitted to a mobile terminal; then, the mobile terminal informs the transmitter, via a single feedback bit, about the perturbation delivering the larger power. This approach does not need pilot symbols and uses quasi–Monte Carlo methods to generate the required perturbations with the relevant advantages of improving the downlink spectral efficiency and reducing the system complexity with respect to other competing solutions. Then, we propose a novel power-control algorithm that, selecting a proper transmission energy level from a set of possible values, aims to minimize the average bit error rate. This set of levels is generated on the basis of the channel statistics and a long-term constraint on the average transmission power. Numerical results evidence the robustness of the proposed algorithms in a dynamic fading environment.      

MAP symbol estimation on frequency-flat Rayleigh fading channelsvia a Bayesian EM algorithm

In this paper, an expectation-maximization (EM) technique for maximum a posteriori estimation is employed to devise novel soft-in soft-out algorithms for symbol detection over frequency-flat Rayleigh fading channels. An application of these algorithms to iterative decoding of coded PSK signals is proposed and some performance results are illustrated