On the relationship between the GLRT and UMPI tests for the detection of signals with unknown parameters

The generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) is widely used in signal processing applications such as image processing, wireless communications, medical imaging, classification, and signal detection. However, the GLRT does not have many known properties, other than that it is invariant, uniformly most powerful invariant (UMPI) for problems that fit the linear model, and asymptotically (N/spl rarr//spl infin/) UMPI in general. Since it is invariant, it belongs to the class of tests for which the UMPI test is optimal. In this paper, we consider a general class of detection problems in which unknown signal parameters imply a problem invariance that can be described analytically by orthogonal subgroups. This invariance is natural for problems with unknown signal parameters and, for example, include those of the matched subspace detectors of Scharf and Friedlander. We derive the GLRT and UMPI detectors for this general signal class for the case of Gaussian noise. An expression is found that relates the two test statistics showing the UMPI statistic to be the sum of two terms, one of which is the GLRT. Using this, we find that the GLRT and UMPI tests are asymptotically equivalent as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) approaches infinity (or as probability of false alarm approaches zero). These results are illustrated by extending an example given by Nicolls and de Jager to show the analytic relationship between the GLRT and UMPI tests. The results indicate that the performance between the tests becomes close at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) associated with operating points of the receiver operating curve that are typically of interest in signal detection applications.     

Ultrathin Polydopamine Films with Phospholipid Nanodiscs Containing a Glycophorin A Domain

Cellular membranes have long served as an inspiration for nanomaterial research. The preparation of ultrathin polydopamine (PDA) films with integrated protein pores containing phospholipids and an embedded domain of a membrane protein glycophorin A as simplified cell membrane mimics is reported. Large area, ultrathin PDA films are obtained by electropolymerization on gold surfaces with 10–18 nm thickness and dimensions of up to 2.5 cm². The films are transferred from gold to various other substrates such as nylon mesh, silicon, or substrates containing holes in the micrometer range, and they remain intact even after transfer. The novel transfer technique gives access to freestanding PDA films that remain stable even at the air interfaces with elastic moduli of ≈6–12 GPa, which are higher than any other PDA films reported before. As the PDA film thickness is within the range of cellular membranes, monodisperse protein nanopores, so‐called “nanodiscs,” are integrated as functional entities. These nanodisc‐containing PDA films can serve as semi‐permeable films, in which the embedded pores control material transport. In the future, these simplified cell membrane mimics may offer structural investigations of the embedded membrane proteins to receive an improved understanding of protein‐mediated transport processes in cellular membranes.     

Iterative interference cancellation for high spectral efficiencysatellite communications

The problem of efficient utilization of the frequency spectrum for satellite systems is investigated; one which results as a consequence of highly crowding adjacent channels. An analytical characterization of the resulting interference channel is introduced and then exploited for interference cancellation. Two classes of cancelers are investigated. The first approach does not benefit from the forward error control (FEC) coding information which limits the performance gain. This motivates the second approach where a joint implementation of interference cancellation and decoding is developed using soft-input-soft-output (SISO) modules along with the iterative structure. It is shown that iterative interference cancellation techniques can achieve significant gains compared with the single-user matched filter receiver     

Measuring curvature and velocity vector fields for waves of cardiac excitation in 2-D media

Excitable media theory predicts the effect of electrical wavefront morphology on the dynamics of propagation in cardiac tissue. It specifies that a convex wavefront propagates slower and a concave wavefront propagates faster than a planar wavefront. Because of this, wavefront curvature is thought to be an important functional mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias. However, the curvature of wavefronts during an arrhythmia are generally unknown. We introduce a robust, automated method to measure the curvature vector field of discretely characterized, arbitrarily shaped, two-dimensional (2-D) wavefronts. The method relies on generating a smooth, continuous parameterization of the shape of a wave using cubic smoothing splines fitted to an isopotential at a specified level, which we choose to be -30 mV. Twice differentiating the parametric form provides local curvature vectors along the wavefront and waveback. Local conduction velocities are computed as the wave speed along lines normal to the parametric form. In this way, the curvature and velocity vector field for wavefronts and wavebacks can be measured. We applied the method to data sampled from a 2-D numerical model and several examples are provided to illustrate its usefulness for studying the dynamics of cardiac propagation in 2-D media.     

Estimating Travel Times of Field Engineers

BT's Work Manager platform uses a dynamic scheduler to plan the daily jobs of field engineers. In order to produce reliable schedules, Work Manager requires accurate estimates about the time an engineer spends on travelling from one job location to the next (inter-job time) and how much time is required to complete a job. We have developed a generic platform called Intelligent Travel Time Estimation and Management System (ITEMS) that we have used to derive a specialised version for modelling the behaviour of BT's mobile workforce. This travel time estimation system (TTE) receives job data every night and learns a new estimation model on a daily basis. When a new estimation model significantly differs from the currently used model, the new estimation model is automatically uploaded into Work Manager. The estimation algorithm has been used in a loosely coupled trial for about two years. Currently, we are undertaking trials of TTE — a tightly coupled Web-based system that fully automates the learning and management of estimation models, providing a graphical user interface that displays rich detail about the travel patterns of BT's mobile workforce. During the trial period we have observed that using TTE can quickly improve the accuracy of travel time estimates by up to 10%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

GMH2000系统和无线本地环路

休斯网络系统公司（ＨＮＳ）的ＧＭＨ２０００固定无线系统是一个基于Ｅ－ＴＤＭＡ的系统，它为公用电话业务提供了最有效的无线本地环路的解决方案。     

Catalytically Doped Semiconductors for Chemical Gas Sensing: Aerogel‐Like Aluminum‐Containing Zinc Oxide Materials Prepared in the Gas Phase

Atmospheric contamination with organic compounds is undesired in industry and in society because of odor nuisance or potential toxicity. Resistive gas sensors made of semiconducting metal oxides are effective in the detection of gases even at low concentration. Major drawbacks are low selectivity and missing sensitivity toward a targeted compound. Acetaldehyde is selected due to its high relevance in chemical industry and its toxic character. Considering the similarity between gas‐sensing and heterogeneous catalysis (surface reactions, activity, selectivity), it is tempting to transfer concepts. A question of importance is how doping and the resulting change in electronic properties of a metal‐oxide support with semiconducting properties alters reactivity of the surfaces and the functionality in gas‐sensing and in heterogeneous catalysis. A gas‐phase synthesis method is employed for aerogel‐like zinc oxide materials with a defined content of aluminum (n‐doping), which were then used for the assembly of gas sensors. It is shown that only Al‐doped ZnO represents an effective sensor material that is sensitive down to very low concentrations (<350 ppb). The advance in properties relates to a catalytic effect for the doped semiconductor nanomaterial.     

A Two-Station Multidimensional Slit-Scan Flow System: Concept and Optical Implementation

A two-measurement station cytofluorometer has been fabricated to provide multidimensional slit-scan contours on biological cells in flow. A conventional one-dimensional slit-scan measurement station is followed by a three-dimensional measurement station which provides a "second look" at any desired cell-typically alarms detected at the first station. This provides the high throughput and high signal-to-noise ratio of a one-dimensional slit-scan system with multidimensional slit-scan information available when required. The system possesses the potential for providing the high cell throughput rates and low false alarm rates required in a clinical prescreening system and the simplicity and optical alignment insensitivities essential to a user environment.     

Fractional brownian motion: a maximum likelihood estimator and its application to image texture

Fractals have been shown to be useful in characterizing texture in a variety of contexts. Use of this methodology normally involves measurement of a parameter H, which is directly related to fractal dimension. In this work the basic theory of fractional Brownian motion is extended to the discrete case. It is shown that the power spectral density of such a discrete process is only approximately proportional to |f|a instead of in direct proportion as in the continuous case. An asymptotic Cramer-Rao bound is derived for the variance of an estimate of H. Subsequently, a maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) is developed to estimate H. It is shown that the variance of this estimator nearly achieves the minimum bound. A generation algorithm for discrete fractional motion is presented and used to demonstrate the capabilities of the MLE when the discrete fractional Brownian process is contaminated with additive Gaussian noise. The results show that even at signal-to-noise ratios of 30 dB, significant errors in estimation of H can result when noise is present. The MLE is then applied to X-ray images of the human calcaneus to demonstrate how the line-to-line formulation can be applied to the two-dimensional case. These results indicate that it has strong potential for quantifying texture.     

Photo-vulcanization using thiol-ene chemistry: Film formation,morphology and network characteristics of UV crosslinked rubber latices

The photo-vulcanization with versatile thiol-ene chemistry represents an innovative approach to crosslink diene-rubber materials both in latex and in solid film state. In this work, the structure of elastomer-based thiol-ene networks and the morphology after film formation are studied in detail using electron microscopic techniques, atomic force microscopy and multiple-quantum solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, film formation properties and corresponding macroscopic properties of photo-vulcanized natural rubber (NR) latex and its synthetic counterpart, isoprene rubber (IR) latex, are determined in dependence on the curing procedure (pre- and post-vulcanization). The results reveal that thiol-ene cured elastomers comprise homogenously distributed crosslinks with a low amount of short chain defects. Whilst photochemically pre-cured NR latex particles provide coherent films, the film formation and mechanical properties of IR are strongly governed by the crosslink density of the latex particles. In film state, photo-vulcanization promotes narrow crosslink distributions and excellent tensile properties of both NR and IR.