In this paper, we analyze the achievable secrecy rates in the two-hop wiretap channel with four nodes, where the transmitter and the receiver have multiple antennas while the relay and the eavesdropper have only a single antenna each. The relay is operating in amplify-and-forward mode and all the channels between the nodes are known perfectly by the transmitter. We discuss different transmission and protection schemes like artificial noise (AN). Furthermore, we introduce interference neutralization (IN) as a new protection scheme. We compare the different schemes regarding the high-SNR slope and the high-SNR power offset and illustrate the performance by simulation results. It is shown analytically as well as by numerical simulations that the high SNR performance of the proposed IN scheme is better than the one of AN.

1-bit analog-to-digital conversion is very attractive for low-complexity communications receivers. A major drawback is, however, the small spectral efficiency when sampling at symbol rate. This can be improved through oversampling by exploiting the signal distortion caused by the transmission channel. This paper analyzes the achievable data rate of band-limited communications channels that are subject to additive noise and inter-symbol-interference with 1-bit quantization and oversampling at the receiver. It is shown that not only the channel noise but also the inter-symbol-interference can be exploited to benefit from oversampling.

AIMS: This study investigated the perception of generic and disease-specific Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) for adults living with hearing impairment (HI) in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ). This study aimed to answer three questions: (1) What is the perception of HRQoL amongst adults with hearing impairment in NZ? (2) How do these perceptions compare to adults with HI living in other countries for which we have data? (3) What are the demographic and audiometric variables related to device ownership? METHOD: HRQoL, demographic, and audiometric information was collected from 126 adults in NZ. The following demographic information was collected: age, relationship length, hours worked per week, income, ancestry, sex, level of education, city size, and sexual orientation. The following audiologic information was also collected: ownership of hearing aids (HA), ownership of hearing assistance technology (HAT), better-ear pure-tone average (BEPTA), worse-ear pure-tone average (WEPTA), and signal-to-noise ratio loss (SNR loss). HRQoL information was collected using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36; Ware & Sherbourne, 1992), and the Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI) for both elderly (HHIE) and adults (HHIA; Ventry & Weinstein, 1982; Newman, Weinstein, Jacobson, & Hug, 1991). Variables discriminating HA and HAT owners from non-owners were also analysed. RESULTS: The relationship between demographic variables and HRQoL scores revealed that only age and income were significant. Audiometric variables had significant relationships with disease-specific HRQoL scores, as well as HA and HAT ownership. Finally, disease-specific HRQoL scores and all audiometric variables differentiated HA owners from non- owners, but demographic variables did not. Generic HRQoL scores and all audiometric variables differentiated HAT owners from non-owners. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the negative impacts of HI on HRQoL as reported overseas are also present in NZ, and that not only do audiometric variables including SNR loss are related to HRQoL, but HRQoL is a significant predictor for HA and HAT ownership. Further QoL research is warranted amongst the HI population in NZ to identify and understand any causal relationships present amongst these variables. Furthermore, HRQoL instruments and a test of speech understanding in noise have been shown to provide additional meaningful information, and therefore clinicians might consider including them during consultation.

Introdução: A atresia congênita de orelha constitui uma deformidade presente ao nascimento, de prevalência unilateral, decorrente da alteração no desenvolvimento das estruturas das orelhas externa e média. Geralmente, provoca perda auditiva condutiva, e pode ser acompanhada por componente sensorioneural. Dentre as formas de tratamento disponíveis, encontra-se o implante de orelha média Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB), que tem se mostrado eficaz no tratamento deste tipo de alteração. A literatura mostra melhora nos limiares tonais e nos resultados dos testes de percepção auditiva da fala, realizados com o uso do processador de fala após a cirurgia. Considerando que os indivíduos com este tipo de malformação podem passar por um período de privação sensorial auditiva anterior à reabilitação, torna-se interessante avaliar o estágio maturacional das estruturas auditivas corticais e o processamento das informações auditivas em nível central, bem como, verificar o benefício da indicação do VSB unilateral em situação de escuta difícil. Não foram encontrados estudos que abordam este aspecto e o emprego dos potenciais evocados auditivos corticais (PEAC) e do P300 em usuários de VSB. Objetivo: Analisar o impacto da perda auditiva condutiva e mista nos PEAC e P300 em usuários de VSB unilateral, com atresia de orelha bilateral, e verificar as habilidades auditivas, em situação de escuta difícil, considerando a indicação do VSB unilateral. Casuística e método: Vinte indivíduos, divididos em dois grupos, pareados em idade, sexo e grau de escolaridade. G1: dez indivíduos com perda auditiva condutiva ou mista bilateral, usuários de VSB unilateral, atendidos na Instituição de realização da pesquisa. Todos fizeram uso de aparelhos auditivos convencionais antes do VSB. G2: Dez indivíduos normo-ouvintes. Realização de audiometria em campo livre com o uso do VSB (apenas o G1), avaliação das habilidades auditivas pelo Hearing in Noise Test, pesquisa dos componentes P1, N1, P2, N2 e P300, em campo calibrado. Resultados: A média dos limiares tonais nas frequências de 500 a 3000 Hz, de 20 a 36 dB NA, mostrou que o VSB possibilitou o acesso aos sons da fala. Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante entre os valores de latência dos PEAC e P300 entre os grupos. Foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante entre o limiar de reconhecimento de sentenças e a relação sinal/ruído entre os grupos, sendo os melhores resultados apresentados pelo G2. Conclusão: Indivíduos com atresia de orelha e perda auditiva condutiva ou mista bilateral, quando adequadamente reabilitados, podem atingir a maturação das vias auditivas centrais e o processamento da informação auditiva em nível cortical. As habilidades de reconhecimento auditivo, sem e com ruído competitivo, mostraram-se defasadas quanto à normalidade, apontando para a indicação do VSB bilateral / Introduction: Congenital aural atresia is a congenital deformity. It is unilaterally prevalent due to alterations in the development of the external and middle ear structures. Congenital aural atresia causes conductive hearing loss and can be accompanied by sensorineural component. Among the available forms of treatment is the middle ear implant, Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB), which has been shown to be effective in treating this type of alteration. The literature shows improvement in tonal thresholds and in the results of tests of auditory perception of speech that were performed using the speech processor after surgery. Individuals with this type of malformation often experience a period of auditory sensory deprivation prior to rehabilitation. Hence, it is important to evaluate the maturation stage of the cortical auditory structures, the processing of auditory information at the central level, and to verify the benefit of unilateral VSB in difficult listening situations. There are no previous data on this aspect and with the use of cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP) and event-related potential (P300) in users of VSB. Aim: To analyze the impact of conductive and mixed hearing loss on CAEP and P300 in unilateral VSB users with bilateral ear atresia. To verify the auditory abilities in a difficult listening situation considering the indication for unilateral VSB. Materials and methods: Twenty individuals were divided into two groups matched for age, sex, and educational level. G1 comprised ten individuals with bilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss and users of unilateral VSB, who visited the research institution. All subjects used conventional hearing aids prior to VSB. G2 comprised ten normal hearing individuals. Audiometry in the free field was performed with the use of VSB (G1 only) and evaluation of hearing skills by the Hearing in Noise Test was conducted; components P1, N1, P2, N2, and P300 in a calibrated field were recorded. Results: Evaluation of the mean tonal thresholds in the frequencies between 500 and 3000 Hz, from 20 to 36 dB HL, demonstrated that VSB allowed access to speech sounds. There was no statistically significant difference in the CAEP and P300 latency values between the two groups. A statistically significant difference was observed in the sentence recognition threshold and the signal-to-noise ratio between the groups, with best results presented by G2. Conclusion: Individuals with congenital aural atresia and bilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss may reach maturation of the central auditory pathway and achieve adequate processing of auditory information at the cortical level, when rehabilitated. The auditory recognition skills, with and without competitive noise, were shown to be out of phase with normality, indicating the need for a bilateral VSB

Orientador: Carlos Lenz Cesar / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T14:50:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marques_GustavoPires_M.pdf: 1771357 bytes, checksum: 8ee6919633e2615608f25b33bec98e96 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: O microscópio de força atômica é uma ferramenta que possibilita a medida de forças precisamente localizadas com resoluções no tempo, espaço e força jamais vistas. No coração deste instrumento está um sensor a base de uma viga (cantilever) que é responsável pelas características fundamentais do AFM. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi usar a deflexão deste cantilever para obter uma calibração rápida e precisa da força da armadilha da pinça óptica, assim como testar e comparar com os método tradicionalmente utilizados para este propósito. Para isso, foi necessário analisar e entender o condicionamento de sinais utilizados no AFM. Foram estudados cantilever tradicionais, cujo sistema de detecção é baseado na deflexão de um feixe laser em conjunto com fotodetectores, bem como cantilevers piezoresistivos. Cantilevers piezoresistivos fornecem uma alternativa simples e conveniente aos cantilevers ópticos. A integração de um elemento sensorial dentro do cantilever elimina a necessidade de um laser externo e de um detector utilizados na maioria dos AFMs. Isto elimina a etapa delicada de alinhamento da laser ao cantilever e fotodetector que normalmente precede uma medida com AFM, uma simplificação que expande o potencial do AFM para o uso em meios adversos, como câmaras de ultra alto vácuo ou, como no caso específico das Pinças Ópticas, onde existem esferas em solução líquida e também restrições de dimensão / Abstract: The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a tool that enables the measurement of precisely localized forces with unprecedented resolution in time, space and force. At the heart of this instrument is a cantilever probe that sets the fundamental features of the AFM. The objective of this research has been using the deflection of this cantilever to get a fast and accurate calibration of optical tweezers trap force, as well as testing and comparing to the traditionally used methods of calibration for this purpose. For that it was necessary to resolve and understand the sensors signals conditioning used in the AFM. Traditional cantilevers, whose detection system is based on the deflection of a laser beam in addition with a photodetector, as well as piezoresistive cantilevers has been studied. Piezoresistive cantilevers provide a simple and convenient alternative to optically detected cantilevers. Integration of a sensing element into the cantilever eliminates the need for the external laser and detector used in most AFMs. This removes the delicate step of aligning the laser to the cantilever and photodetector which usually precedes an AFM measurement, a simplification which expands the potential of the AFM for use in difficult environments such as ultrahigh vacuum chambers or, as in Optical Tweezers specific case, where there are spheres into a liquid solution as well as dimensional constraints / Mestrado / Física / Mestre em Física

Komatsu Forrest AB have a demand for a media solution where the user can select between different input sources as well as output channels. The input sources are Radio, Bluetooth, AUX, two microphones and PC. The system shall also be able to mix sound from an ANC unit (Active Noise Control). Due to the demands from the company, the system must be able to be digitally controlled. The goal is to present a concept that offers the solution for these demands.To specify the needs from the user a dialog with employees with more knowledge about the user’s use have resulted in a table. From this a technical design has been created and resulted in a technical design requirement. With the design structure as a base, simulations have been done. After the structure has been verified by simulations a prototype with the basic functions have been designed and programmed and verified to clarify the function.Simulations and measurements have shown that the design works as desired. The result shows that the unit can meet the requirements set by the company in a user-friendly manner. The project has resulted in different solutions and these evaluated for pros and cons compared to the chosen solution. / Komatsu Forest AB behöver en multimedialösning för att uppfylla specifika behov exempelvis simultant användande av två mobiltelefoner och två mikrofoner. Enheten ska klara av att hantera ljud från flertalet ljudkällor samt två mikrofoner och aktiv bullerreducering. Systemet ska styras digitalt från till exempel en PC. Målet är att presentera ett koncept som erbjuder en lösning för dessa problem.Utformningen av enheten har gjorts genom att utvärdera användarens bruksområden tillsammans med den vision som legat till grund för projektet. Detta har genom samtal med anställda på företaget medfört en sammanställning över förarens användnings-områden. Utifrån denna sammanställning av användningsområdena har en teknisk skiss för enhetens uppbyggnad möjliggjorts. Efter att funktionen för skissen har verifierats med simuleringar har ett prototypkort för enhetens grundstomme konstrueras, programmerats samt verifierat konstruktionen.Simuleringar och mätningar verifierar att konstruktionen fungerar som önskat. Resultatet visar att enheten skulle uppfylla de uppsatta önskemålen på ett bra och användarvänligt sätt. Då flera lösningar har tagits fram under projektets gång diskuteras för och nackdelar med dessa samt motiveras varför den valda lösningen är bäst anpassad.

The aim of this work was to peruse and desribe the high-speed data technology communicating over energy network. In this work was investigated broadband system communicating over low power distribution network. The laboratory network was designed for measuring parametres of this communication and performed set of tests. Lended devices were described, properties of technology specification and methods of connection and management were introduced. Management, configuration and measuring over web interface on the NMS device was described and simple dividision into corresponding functional blocks corresponding to structure of web bookmaks was made. Metodology of individual tests, grounded on documentation “recomandation” RFC and on introduced works, was elaboratly described. Used tools, their properties and managements were described. The transmission speed on application and physical layer were followed primarily, frequency dependencies on signal noise ratio and bits per carrier were followed secondary. Measured results from individuals tests were compared among each other and evaulated. This observation leaded into decision on needed criteria for varius application. The suitaibility for integration into communication network for maintaining corresponding QoS was appreised. Testing and chosen types of tests in this project were standardized and integrated into ITU standard. Individual tests are able to compare from the view of their testify charactestic.

The aim of this thesis was to develop user interface in LabVIEW to make typical measurements with spectral analyzer HP89410A There is introduced the theory of operation of an analogue heterodyne and a digital FFT spectral analyzer. It is explained the background of the Fast Fourier Transform. There are discussed the key settings in measuring with FTT analyzer, like window function, bandwidth, number of frequency points, or the averaging. Further is described the program, which was developed for measuring frequency characteristic by white noise and by stepped measurement. It was also made a module for measuring Signal to Noise Ratio and module for Total Harmonic Distortion. In the last part of this thesis are shown the results of processed exemplar measurements.

This work deals with frequency generators based on the direct digital synthesis method DDS. Basic principles and attributes of the frequency generator DDS are explained. The text describes parameters influencing and defining a quality of the generated signal. The list of available integrated circuits realizing the direct digital synthesis is mentioned. A construction of the DDS generator with a device AD9954 and the generator control are described. At the end of the work, the function and parameters of the designed generator are verified.

The thesis deals with the scintillation secondary electron detector for environmental scanning electron microscope, its design and construction. The starting point was numerical simulation of electrostatic fields and electron trajectories in the electrode system of the detector and simulation of pressure distribution and flow of gases in different parts of the detector. On the basis of modeling and simulation, construction changes of the detector were gradually implemented. Detection efficiency of each version of the detector was determined by the method described in the work. This method enables to evaluate signal level from the captured images of the specimen, quality of images was stated from signal to noise ratio. The thesis describes the whole process of the detector improvement from initial state, when the detector operated with lower efficiency in the pressure range from 300 to 900 Pa, to final version that enables usage of the detector in the range from vacuum up to 1000 Pa of water vapors in the specimen chamber of the microscope.