Geometric derivation of expectation-maximization and generalized successive interference cancellation algorithms with applications to CDMA channel estimation

The expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is well established as a computationally efficient method for separable signal parameter estimation. Here, a new geometric derivation and interpretation of the EM algorithm is given that facilitates the understanding of EM convergence properties. Geometric considerations lead to an alternative separable signal parameter estimator based on successive cancellation. The new generalized successive interference cancellation (GSIC) algorithm is then applied to multiuser delay and channel estimation for code-division multiple access (CDMA) radiolocation and communication. The radiolocation application uses a handshaking protocol in which multiple reference nodes transmit acknowledge (ACK) CDMA packets to a master node, which then computes round-trip travel times (RTTs). Simulation results comparing EM and GSIC are presented for the CDMA channel-estimation problem.     

Analysis of the mechanism of die soldering in aluminum die casting

A mechanism of soldering of an aluminum alloy die casting to a steel die is proposed. A soldering critical temperature is postulated, at which iron begins to react with aluminum to form an aluminum-rich liquid phase and solid intermetallic compounds. The liquid joins the die with the casting upon solidification. The critical temperature is determined by the elements in both the casting alloy and the die material and is equal to the solidus temperature of the resulting alloy. The critical temperature is used to predict the onset of die soldering, and the local liquid fraction is related to the soldering tendency. Experiments have been carried out to validate the concept and to determine the critical temperature for die soldering in an iron-aluminum system. Thermodynamic calculations are used to determine the critical temperature and soldering tendency for the cases of pure aluminum and a 380 alloy in a steel mold. Factors affecting the soldering tendency are discussed, and methods for reducing die soldering are suggested.     

Physico-chemical characterization of hybrid polymers obtained by 2-hydroxyethyl(methacrylate) and alkoxides of zirconium

Hybrid monolithic materials were prepared through polymerisation of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) mixed with zirconium alkoxides (Zr(OBuⁿ)₄, Zr(OPrⁿ)₄ and Zr(OEt)₄), modified by acetylacetonate groups. The molar ratio HEMA/Zr varied between 1 and 4. Thermo-Gravimetry coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (TG-MS) analyses, ¹³C MAS NMR and Dynamical Mechanical Thermal Analysys (DMTA) indicated the polymeric chains were interconnected by the inorganic component.The presence of zirconium alkoxides modified substantially the poly-HEMA properties. Glass transition temperature of hybrid materials derived from butoxy and propoxy was found in the range 50-80 °C, depending on the composition. The typical swelling of p-HEMA in the water, was suppressed by the presence of zirconium compounds. After immersion in distilled water, hybrid polymers showed an initial slight weight increase, followed by a small mass loss, which increases proportionally to the length of alkoxyl group (ethoxide(propoxide(butoxide) and reaches a constant value after about 40 days. The hybrids remained always rigid and transparent. Flexural modulus and strength of about 400-900 and 4-8 MPa were measured.     

Solutions to a combined problem of excessive hydrogen sulfide in biogas and struvite scaling.

The Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Western Australia has experienced two separate problems causing avoidable maintenance costs: the build-up of massive struvite (MgNH4PO4. 6H2O) scaling downstream of the anaerobic digester and the formation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels in the digester gas to levels that compromised gas engine operation and caused high operating costs on the gas scrubber. As both problems hang together with a chemical imbalance in the anaerobic digester, we decided to investigate whether both problems could be (feasibly and economically) addressed by a common solution (such as dosing of iron solutions to precipitate both sulfide and phosphate), or by using separate approaches. Laboratory results showed that, the hydrogen sulfide emission in digesters could be effectively and economically controlled by the addition of iron dosing. Slightly higher than the theoretical value of 1.5 mol of FeCl3 was required to precipitate 1 mol of dissolved sulfide inside the digester. Due to the high concentration of PO4(3-) in the digested sludge liquor, significantly higher iron is required for struvite precipitation. Iron dosing did not appear an economic solution for struvite control via iron phosphate formation. By taking advantage of the natural tendency of struvite formation in the digester liquid, it is possible to reduce the risk of struvite precipitation in and around the sludge-dewatering centrifuge by increasing the pH to precipitate struvite out before passing through the centrifuge. However, as the Mg2+/PO4(3-) molar ratio in digested sludge was low, by increasing the pH alone (using NaOH) the precipitation of PO4(3-) was limited by the amount of cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) available in the sludge. Although this would reduce struvite precipitation in the centrifuge, it could not significantly reduce PO4(3-) recycling back to the plant. For long-term operation, maximum PO4(3-) reduction should be the ultimate aim to minimise PO4(3-) accumulation in the plant. Magnesium hydroxide liquid (MHL) was found to be the most cost-effective chemical to achieve this goal. It enhanced struvite precipitation from both, digested sludge and centrate to the point where more than 95% PO4(3-) reduction in the digested sludge was achieved.     

Joint scheduling and power control supporting multicasting in wireless ad hoc networks

This paper addresses the problem of power control in a multihop wireless network supporting multicast traffic. We face the problem of forwarding packet traffic to multicast group members while meeting constraints on the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) at the intended receivers. First, we present a distributed algorithm which, given the set of multicast senders and their corresponding receivers, provides an optimal solution when it exists, which minimizes the total transmit power. When no optimal solution can be found for the given set of multicast senders and receivers, we introduce a distributed, joint scheduling and power control algorithm which eliminates the weak connections and tries to maximize the number of successful multicast transmissions. The algorithm allows the other senders to solve the power control problem and minimize the total transmit power. We show that our distributed algorithm converges to the optimal solution when it exists, and performs close to centralized, heuristic algorithms that have been proposed to address the joint scheduling and power control problem.     

Low-temperature post-treatment of anaerobically treated-sewage in anaerobic filter with cationic-polymer addition.

The post-treatment of domestic sewage pretreated in a 6 m3 UASB was investigated in two high-rate anaerobic filter (AF) reactors operated in parallel. The difference between the two AF reactors was only the addition of cationic polymer to the second reactor (AF + P). The reactors were operated at low temperatures, ranged between 13 and 20 degrees C. The media in each AF reactor consisted of vertical sheets of reticulated-polyurethane foam (RPF) with knobs. The results demonstrated that the AF + P reactor (HRT = 3 h) with cationic polymer addition (2 mg/L) was an efficient system for post-treatment. The removal efficiencies for total, suspended, colloidal and dissolved COD were, respectively, 41, 86 and 76 and 12% in the AF + P reactor and they were, respectively, 80, 97, 77 and 66% in the UASB + (AF + P) system. The removal of total, suspended and colloidal COD in the UASB + (AF + P) system were significantly higher than those achieved in the UASB + AF system. As hardly any nutrient was removed in the UASB + (AF + P) system, the effluent after pathogen removal is a valuable product for irrigation and fertilisation to close the water and nutrients cycle.     

Robust decoding of variable-length encoded Markov sources using a three-dimensional trellis

In this letter, we present an improved index-based a-posteriori probability (APP) decoding approach for the error-resilient transmission of packetized variable-length encoded Markov sources. The proposed algorithm is based on a novel two-dimensional (2D) state representation which leads to a three-dimensional trellis with unique state transitions. APP decoding on this trellis is realized by employing a 2D version of the BCJR algorithm where all available source statistics can be fully exploited in the source decoder. For an additional use of channel codes the proposed approach leads to an increased error-correction performance compared to a one-dimensional state representation.     

The Emotional Dog Gets Mistaken for a Possum.

H. D. Saltzstein and T. Kasachkoff (2004) (see record 2004-21519-004) critique the social intuitionist model (J. Haidt, 2001) (see record 2001-18918-008), but the model they critique is a stripped-down version that should be called the "possum" model. They make 3 charges about the possum model that are not true about the social intuitionist model: that it includes no role for reasoning, that it reduces social influence to compliance, and that it does not take a developmental perspective. After a defense of the honor of the social intuitionist model, this article raises 2 areas of legitimate dispute: the scope and nature of moral reasoning and the usefulness of appealing to innate ideas, rather than to learning and reasoning, as the origin of moral knowledge. This article presents 3 clusters of innate moral intuitions, related to sympathy, hierarchy, and reciprocity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analogue switch for very low-voltage applications

A new analogue switch suitable for operation at very low-voltage supply in a standard CMOS technology is presented. The proposed switch is based on 'quasi-floating-gate' transistors and has a simple and compact structure. For illustrative purposes, two sample-and-hold circuits operating from a single supply voltage close to the threshold voltage of a transistor, and using the proposed technique, are presented. Experimental results obtained from prototypes in a 1.5 /spl mu/m CMOS technology are provided.