Location estimation when deployed on wireless networks supports a range of services including user tracking and monitoring, health care support and push and pull marketing. The main subject of this thesis is improving indoor and outdoor location estimation accuracy using received signal strength (RSS) from neighbouring base stations (BSs) or access points (APs), without using the global positioning system (GPS) or triangulation methods. For the outdoor environment, state-of-the-art deterministic and probabilistic algorithms are adapted to exploit principal components (PCs) and clustering. The accuracy is compared with K-nearest neighbour (KNN) algorithms using different partitioning models. The proposed scheme clusters the RSS tuples based on deviations from an estimated RSS attenuation model and then transforms the raw RSS in each cluster into new uncorrelated dimensions, using PCs. As well as simple global dimensionality reduction using PCs, the data reduction and rotation within each cluster improves estimation accuracy because a) each cluster can model the different local RSS distributions and b) it efficiently preserves the RSS correlations that are observed (some of which are substantial) in local regions and which independence approximations ignore. Different simulated and real environments are used for the comparisons. Experimental results show that positioning accuracy is significantly improved and fewer training samples are needed compared with traditional methods. Furthermore, a technique to adjust RSS data so that radio maps collected in different environmental conditions can be used together to enhance accuracy is also demonstrated. Additionally, in the radio coverage domain, a non-parametric probability approach is used for the radio reliability estimation and a semi-supervised learning model is proposed for the monitoring model training and evolution according to real-time mobile users’ RSS feedback. For the indoor environment, an approach for a large multi-story indoor location estimaiii tion using clustering and rank order matching is described. The accuracies using WiFi RSS alone, cellular GSM RSS alone and integrated WiFi and GSM RSS are presented. The methods were tested on real indoor environments. A hierarchical clustering method is used to partition the RSS space, where a cluster is defined as a set of mobile users who share exactly the same strongest RSS ranking set of transmitters. The experimental results show that while integrating of WiFi RSS with GSM RSS creates a marginal improvement, the GSM data can be used to ameliorate the loss of accuracy when APs fail.

Ageing and diabetes are two major healthcare concerns that used to be regarded as problems of the Western world but are now of increasing concern in developing nations. Treating elderly patients with diabetes poses issues for clinicians due to often complex, preexisting drug regimes. Research targeted at the development of novel drugs that have multiple effects on diabetes could go some way towards reducing polypharmacy in these patients. Here I present evidence that the oral Jak1/3 inhibitor, baricitinib, has effects on multiple aspects of diabetes. Baricitinib has been suggested to be a strong anti-inflammatory given the role Jak plays in transducing cytokine signals to elicit immune cell activation and maturation. Baricitinib was found to reduce urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and mesangial expansion in mice on an experimental high-fat diet with a diabetic metabolic profile when compared with naïve, non-diabetic mice. This reduction in renal impairment from diabetes was not found with a large reduction in proinflammatory cytokines and instead appears to be as a result of a direct effect on the cells of the mesangium. Baricitinib also reduced the circulating levels of cholesterol with a positive effect on the LDL: HDL ratio of diabetic mice. This reduction in cholesterol appears to be because of the abolition of GLP- 1 signalling, initiating an increase in blood insulin, preventing lipid flux and inhibiting LDL formation. Both of these changes in key diabetic complications were not accompanied by an increase in sensitivity to insulin compared with vehicle treated diabetic mice. These results show that baricitinib has a beneficial effect on two key aspects of the diabetic condition but that it does not modify insulin sensitivity itself. Baricitinib may represent a potential treatment for these diabetes-associated pathologies but only in combination with traditional anti-diabetic treatments.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-146).

Isolation of terrestrially-observed magnetic signals by restoring their diffusive loss due to subsurface electrical conductivity sufficiently correlates these signals with those derived from the Alfven ionospheric electron movement of refraction variation. Temporary magnetic observatories were established on a conductive sedimentary basin (with a sampling interval of 5 s) and on a resistive large igneous intrusion (with a sampling interval of 10 s). Conventional modeling techniques estimate and remove the effects of the magnetometer, geomagnetic diurnal changes, whorls (solar quiet current vortices), and some bays from the acquired signals. Conventional one-dimensional skin depth modeling estimates the diffusive attenuation. The residual magnetic signal and the diffusive filter (as applied to the topography) become quantities in the linear system estimation of the geoelectric subsurface. Angular frequency domain least squares solution of the equations yields an isolated magnetic anomaly spectrum. Interpretive refinement, by selection of the zero or near zero curvature onset of either the spectrum's real or imaginary component, critically prepares the signal solution for correlation to a pseudomagnetic anomaly signal. This is an independently-derived sequence of anomalous values derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) refracted ranges. Detailed application of the Biot-Savart law provides independent anomaly signals to which the magnetic anomalies correlations show great correlation improvement by the isolation. These correlation improvements are from 2% to 83% and 9% to 91% for the sedimentary basin and from 2% to 96% and 24% to 78% for the igneous intrusion.

A standardized color code is used to aid the driver in the prompt recognition of highway signs. At night, these signs are illuminated by various light sources including the headlights and other fixed light sources. These light sources may distort the appearance of the colors of the signs at night. The first objective of this study was to provide information about human capabilities with respect to the recognition of different colors under daytime and nighttime lighting. The second objective was to examine the effect of changing the specifications for highway colors from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) standards to the American National Standards (ANSI) safety color specifications. A laboratory experiment was conducted in which subjects named the perceived colors of retroreflective signs viewed under daytime and nighttime lighting. Forty subjects from four different age groups representing the driving population participated in the study. Three color samples (red, orange, and yellow) in three different grades (engineering grade, high intensity grade, and diamond grade), and two different color specifications (FHWA and ANSI) were used. Four different fixed light sources (clear mercury, coated mercury, coated metal halide, and high pressure sodium) were used for illuminating the signs. For the nighttime condition, two headlights were used (metal halide and tungsten halogen). Daytime lighting was simulated using a fluorescent D-65 light source. Response times as well as correct responses for naming the colors were collected for each subject. Significant differences were found for nighttime versus daytime viewing of the signing materials. In general, for nighttime viewing, red and orange colors were identified faster than yellow color samples. In most cases, FHWA colors were identified significantly more accurately and faster than the ANSI colors. The coated metal halide headlight performed better than the other fixed light sources. There was no significant difference found between the tungsten halogen and the metal halide headlights. / Graduation date: 1991

To address the feasibility of ambulatory emotion recognition, characteristics of biosignals were compared between sitting and controlled walking using different stimulus modalities. Emotional stimulus items were drawn from the International Affective Pictures System and International Affective Digitized Sounds libraries to elicit five basic emotions. To assess which emotion was elicited, participants (n=15) completed self-report scales using the Self-Assessment Manikin and discrete emotion ratings following the presentation of each stimulus item. Autonomic activity was monitored using electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity, and thoracic and abdominal respiration. Multivariate analysis of variance was employed to test for differences in biosignal features and supervised classifiers were trained to predict the elicited emotion using physiological data. The study revealed differences between sitting and walking states but no effect was found for stimulus modality. Self-reported emotions were poorly predicted using our methodology and a discussion of potential directions and recommendations for future research was presented.

To address the feasibility of ambulatory emotion recognition, characteristics of biosignals were compared between sitting and controlled walking using different stimulus modalities. Emotional stimulus items were drawn from the International Affective Pictures System and International Affective Digitized Sounds libraries to elicit five basic emotions. To assess which emotion was elicited, participants (n=15) completed self-report scales using the Self-Assessment Manikin and discrete emotion ratings following the presentation of each stimulus item. Autonomic activity was monitored using electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity, and thoracic and abdominal respiration. Multivariate analysis of variance was employed to test for differences in biosignal features and supervised classifiers were trained to predict the elicited emotion using physiological data. The study revealed differences between sitting and walking states but no effect was found for stimulus modality. Self-reported emotions were poorly predicted using our methodology and a discussion of potential directions and recommendations for future research was presented.

This thesis investigates the suitability of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals for cellular phone location. The requirement is to determine and report the location of a phone during an emergency call.<p> The thesis analyzes acquisition and tracking techniques suitable for very weak signals as received by a cellular phone indoors. The L1 and L5 signals from GPS satellites and the L1 signal from Galileo satellites are considered. It is shown that long integration times and coherent integration are required for the weakest expected signals. Long coherent integration times require a precise knowledge of the Doppler shift due to the range rate of the satellite. The tolerance to Doppler shift can be increased by using FFTs in the analysis of the data. Non-coherent averaging techniques improve the Doppler tolerance but compared to coherent averaging, the loss of signal to noise ratio is too large for the weakest signals.<p> Coherent averaging of the GPS L1 signal requires data removal that can be accomplished with assistance from the cellular network. The GPS L5 and Galileo L1 signals include a data-less or pilot channel. The GPS L5 pilot channel includes a 20 bit Neuman Hoffman code with a bit period of 1 ms. This code has to be acquired or removed before coherent averaging. Similarly the Galileo pilot channel includes a 25 bit short code.<p> Once code acquisition has been accomplished, it is necessary to track the signals from at least four satellites for long enough to compute a position estimate. A discussion of tracking techniques is included to show the signal to noise ratio limitations for adequate tracking accuracy.<p> The results show that GNSS signals are suitable for cellular phone location in a large number of situations. Increased receiver sensitivity would permit location in additional situations. In rural situations GNSS may be the only available option.

This study is meant to be an initial study of the possibility to replace the discrete control signal wires over the electrical coupler between train cars with a data bus system. The reason for this is that the electrical coupler is large and heavy due to the high amount of contacts it contains. It is also a problem for manufacturers who are upgrading an existing fleet and need to transfer more signals through a coupler with no spare contacts to use. Except the control signals there are also Ethernet and power signals in the electrical coupler. Some trains also use a bus system for control signals and/or signals containing a large amount of data such as passenger information.This report gives a presentation of some common ways to distribute electrical signals throughout a train used by most manufacturers. It also presents some design recommendations for a system that would collect existing signals to a bus system and two different design proposals that should be considered if such a system is to be developed. The study shows that there are already systems on the market for transferringcontrol signals over a bus but they are more aimed for trains under construction. Forthis reason a new bus system would only be suitable for upgrading existing couplersto free up space in the electrical coupler unit.