Distance-based-decoding of block turbo codes

List-based algorithms for. decoding block turbo Codes (BTC) have gained popularity due to their low computational complexity. The normal way to calculate the soft outputs involves searching for a decision code word D and a competing codeword B. In addition, a scaling factor /spl alpha/ and an estimated reliability value /spl beta/ are used. In this letter, we present a new approach that does not require /spl alpha/ and /spl beta/. Soft outputs are generated based on the Euclidean distance property of decision code words. By using the new algorithm, we achieve better error performance with even less complexity-for certain BTCs.     

Synthesis of high specific surface area YSZ (ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–8Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>) nanocrystalline powder by modified polymerized complex method

In this study high specific surface area yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO₂–8Y₂O₃) nanocrystalline powder have been synthesized through “modified polymerized complex (MPC) method”. Zirconium chloride, yttrium nitrate, citric acid and ethylene glycol were polymerized at 80 °C to produce a gel-like mass in which metallic ions were uniformly distributed. During the thermal treatment of dried gel, nanocrystalline YSZ powder was formed. Thermal reactions and phase formation of dried gel were investigated through thermal analysis (DTA/TG) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. Chemical bonding and thermal decomposition behavior of dried gel was investigated by FTIR analysis. During decomposition, the nature of the bonding between carboxylate groups and the cations changed from unidentate to bridging at 370 °C and carbonate species were detected at 470 °C. Morphology of powder calcined at 650 °C was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). YSZ powder with high specific surface area was prepared successfully by this method.     

Computational mechanistic study of methanol and molecular oxygen reaction on the triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces

The reaction of CH₃OH with the O₂ on the triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces (PES) was carried out using the B3LYP, MP2, and CCSD(T)//B3LYP theoretical approaches in connection with the 6-311++G(3df–3pd) basis set. Three pre-reactive complexes, ¹C1, ¹C2, and ³C1, on the singlet and triplet PES were formed between methanol and molecular oxygen. From a variety of the complexes, seven types of products are obtained, of which four types are found to be thermodynamically stable. Results reveal that there exists one intersystem crossing between triplet and singlet PES. For P4 adduct that is the main and kinetically the most favorable product, the rate constants are calculated in the temperature range of 200–1,000 K in the reliable pathway.     

Diradical Organic One‐Dimensional Polymers Synthesized on a Metallic Surface

We report on the synthesis and characterization of atomically precise one‐dimensional diradical peripentacene polymers on a Au(111) surface. By means of high‐resolution scanning probe microscopy complemented by theoretical simulations, we provide evidence of their magnetic properties, which arise from the presence of two unpaired spins at their termini. Additionally, we probe a transition of their magnetic properties related to the length of the polymer. Peripentacene dimers exhibit an antiferromagnetic (S=0) singlet ground state. They are characterized by singlet–triplet spin‐flip inelastic excitations with an effective exchange coupling (J_eff) of 2.5 meV, whereas trimers and longer peripentacene polymers reveal a paramagnetic nature and feature Kondo fingerprints at each terminus due to the unpaired spin. Our work provides access to the precise fabrication of polymers featuring diradical character which are potentially useful in carbon‐based optoelectronics and spintronics.     

Analysis of BiCMOS buffer for input voltages with finite rise time

A BiCMOS digital logic gate is analyzed for input voltages with a finite rise or fall time. A new gate delay model to account for the input slope is developed. A set of accurate yet simple closed-form delay expressions are derived for the first time in terms of the input signal slew rate as well as circuit and device parameters. SPICE simulations are used to verify the accuracy of the analytical delay model. The BiCMOS circuit is characterized in terms of the input slew rate, the fan-in, fan-out, and the circuit delay constants. The model can be incorporated in timing simulators and timing analyzers for BiCMOS ULSI circuit design     

Avoiding bandwidth collapse in long chains of coupled optical microresonators

Coupled photonic oscillators and resonators are sensitive to unavoidable nanoscale disorder, and localization in periodic structures induced by disorder leads eventually to a complete collapse of the bandwidth, which is generally considered problematic for device applications. Here, we investigate the dependence of bandwidth collapse on the interresonator coupling coefficient, a parameter controllable by lithography or device operation.     

Analyzing high-density ECG signals using ICA

The analysis of ECG signals is of fundamental importance for cardiac diagnosis. Conventional ECG recordings, however, use a limited number of channels (12) and each records a mixture of activities generated in different parts of the heart. Therefore, direct observation of the ECG signals collected on the body surface is likely an inefficient way to study and diagnose cardiac abnormalities. This study describes new experimental and analytical methods to capture more meaningful ECG component signals, each representing more directly a physical cardiac source. This study first describes a simply applied method for collecting high-density ECG signals. The recorded signals are then separated by independent component analysis (ICA) to obtain spatially fixed and temporally independent component activations. Results from five subjects show that P-, QRS-, and T-waves can be clearly separated from the recordings, suggesting ICA might be an effective and useful tool for high-density ECG analysis, interpretation, and diagnosis.      

A Probabilistic Model of a Coal-Burning Power Plant

A coal burning power plant is considered. Its components are grouped into appropriate modules so that the whole unit is a series systems of 7 modules. Exponential distributions are used for life time and repair time of all components according to real data. A model is developed which generates: i) the reliability of components, modules, and the unit, and ii) the average amount of power generated by the unit at any given time and over a period of time. Result agrees with a simulation model and past data. The model can be used in planning, design. It can be adopted for production systems.     

On the diversity order of space-time trellis codes with receive antenna selection over fast fading channels

In this paper, we study the performance of space-time trellis codes (STTCs) with receive antenna selection over fast fading channels. Specifically, we derive upper bounds on the pairwise-error probability (PEP) with antenna selection. In performing the selection, we adopt a criterion that is based on using L out of the available M receive antennas that result in maximizing the instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver, where L les M. We show that the diversity order resulting from antenna selection deteriorates significantly and is actually dictated by the number of selected antennas. The implication of this result is that adding more receive antennas, while maintaining the same number of selected ones, will have no impact on the diversity order, but it does, however, provide some additional coding gain. This is unlike the case for quasi-static fading channels in which the diversity order is always preserved with antenna selection when the underlying STTC is full-rank. We present numerical examples that support our analysis     

Blind three dimensional deconvolution via convex optimization

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing - In this paper we discuss recovering two signals from their convolution in 3 dimensions. One of the signals is assumed to lie in a known subspace and...