Performance Analysis of Randomized Distributed Space-Time Codes over Composite Gamma/Lognormal Fading Channels

This work investigates the end-to-end performance of randomized distributed space-time codes with complex Gaussian distribution, when employed in a wireless relay network. The relaying nodes are assumed to adopt a decode-and-forward strategy and transmissions are affected by small and large scale fading phenomena. Extremely tight, analytical approximations of the end-to-end symbol error probability and of the end-to-end outage probability are derived and successfully validated through Monte-Carlo simulation. For the high signal-to-noise ratio regime, a simple, closed-form expression for the symbol error probability is further provided.

Enabling Complexity-Performance Trade-Offs for Successive Cancellation Decoding of Polar Codes

Polar codes are one of the most recent advancements in coding theory and they have attracted significant interest. While they are provably capacity achieving over various channels, they have seen limited practical applications. Unfortunately, the successive nature of successive cancellation based decoders hinders fine-grained adaptation of the decoding complexity to design constraints and operating conditions. In this paper, we propose a systematic method for enabling complexity-performance trade-offs by constructing polar codes based on an optimization problem which minimizes the complexity under a suitably defined mutual information based performance constraint. Moreover, a low-complexity greedy algorithm is proposed in order to solve the optimization problem efficiently for very large code lengths.

, Lexicographic Preferences in Discrete Choice Experiments: Consequences on Individual-Specific Willingness to Pay Estimates

In discrete choice experiments respondents are generally assumed to consider all of the attributes across each of the alternatives, and to choose their most preferred. However, results in this paper indicate that many respondents employ simplified lexicographic decision-making rules, whereby they have a ranking of the attributes, but their choice of an alternative is based solely on the level of their most important attribute(s). Not accounting for these simple decision-making heuristics introduces systemic errors and leads to biased point estimates, as they are a violation of the continuity axiom and a departure from the use of compensatory decision-making. In this paper the implications of lexicographic preferences are examined. In particular, using a mixed logit specification this paper investigates the sensitivity of individual-specific willingness to pay (WTP) estimates conditional on whether lexicographic decision-making rules are accounted for in the modelling of discrete choice responses. Empirical results are obtained from a discrete choice experiment that was carried out to address the value of a number of rural landscape attributes in Ireland

Comparison of Parallelised R-matrix codes for electron impact excitation of Cr II

A comparison of collision strengths and effective collision strengths has been undertaken for the Cr II ion based on the model of Wasson et al [2010 A & A. 524 A35]. Calculations have been completed using the Breit-Pauli, RMATRX II and DARC suites of codes.

Minimal state-space realizations of 2D convolutional codes

In this thesis we consider two-dimensional (2D) convolutional codes. As happens in the one-dimensional (1D) case one of the major issues is obtaining minimal state-space realizations for these codes. It turns out that the problem of minimal realization of codes is not equivalent to the minimal realization of encoders. This is due to the fact that the same code may admit different encoders with different McMillan degrees. Here we focus on the study of minimality of the realizations of 2D convolutional codes by means of separable Roesser models. Such models can be regarded as a series connection between two 1D systems. As a first step we provide an algorithm to obtain a minimal realization of a 1D convolutional code starting from a minimal realization of an encoder of the code. Then, we restrict our study to two particular classes of 2D convolutional codes. The first class to be considered is the one of codes which admit encoders of type n 1. For these codes, minimal encoders (i.e., encoders for which a minimal realization is also minimal as a code realization) are characterized enabling the construction of minimal code realizations starting from such encoders. The second class of codes to be considered is the one constituted by what we have called composition codes. For a subclass of these codes, we propose a method to obtain minimal realizations by means of separable Roesser models.

Observed bodies generate object-based spatial codes

Contemporary studies of spatial and social cognition frequently use human figures as stimuli. The interpretation of such studies may be complicated by spatial compatibility effects that emerge when researchers employ spatial responses, and participants spontaneously code spatial relationships about an observed body. Yet, the nature of these spatial codes – whether they are location- or object-based, and coded from the perspective of the observer or the figure – has not been determined. Here, we investigated this issue by exploring spatial compatibility effects arising for objects held by a visually presented whole-bodied schematic human figure. In three experiments, participants responded to the colour of the object held in the figure’s left or right hand, using left or right key presses. Left-right compatibility effects were found relative to the participant’s egocentric perspective, rather than the figure’s. These effects occurred even when the figure was rotated by 90 degrees to the left or to the right, and the coloured objects were aligned with the participant’s midline. These findings are consistent with spontaneous spatial coding from the participant’s perspective and relative to the normal upright orientation of the body. This evidence for object-based spatial coding implies that the domain general cognitive mechanisms that result in spatial compatibility effects may contribute to certain spatial perspective-taking and social cognition phenomena.