A new algorithm for separating mass spectra into individual substances is proposed for explosives detection. The conventional algorithm based on probabilistic latent component analysis (PLCA) is effective in many cases because it makes use of the fact that non-negativity and sparsity hold for mass spectra in explosives detection. The algorithm, however, fails to separate mass spectra in some cases because uncertainty can not be resolved only by non-negativity and sparsity constraints. To resolve the uncertainty, an algorithm based on shift-invariant PLCA (SIPLCA) utilizing temporal correlation of mass spectra is proposed in this paper. In addition, to prevent overfitting, the temporal correlation is modeled with a function representing attenuation by focusing on the fact that the amount of a substance is attenuated continuously and slowly with time. Results of an experimental evaluation of the algorithm with data obtained in a real railway station demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the PLCA-based conventional algorithm and the simple SIPLCA-based one. The main novelty of this paper is that an evaluation of the detection performance of explosives detection is demonstrated. Results of the evaluation indicate that the proposed separation algorithm can improve the detection performance.

This paper discusses how to design a Radial Line Slot Antenna (RLSA) whose waveguide is filled with high loss dielectric materials. We introduce a new design for the aperture slot coupling synthesis to restrain the dielectric losses and improve the antenna gain. Based on a newly defined slot coupling, a number of RLSAs with different sizes and loss factors are analyzed and their performances are predicted. Theoretical calculations suggest that the gain is sensitive to the material losses in the radial lines. The gain enhancement by using the new coupling formula is notable for larger antenna size and higher loss factor of the dielectric material. Three prototype RLSAs are designed and fabricated at 60GHz following different slot coupling syntheses, and their measured performances consolidate our theory.

We report the adaptability of the burst-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifier (BM-EDFA) for uplink transmission of sharply rising analog radio-over-fiber (RoF) signals by using long-term evolution (LTE) -Advanced format on a mobile front-haul. Recent drastically increased mobile data traffic is boosting the demand for high-speed radio communication technologies for next-generation mobile services to enhance user experience. However, the latency become increasingly visible as serious issues. Analog RoF technology is a promising candidate for a next generation mobile front-haul to realize low latency. For the uplink, an RoF signal may rise sharply in response to a burst of in-coming radio signals. We propose that a newly developed BM-EDFA is applied for such a sharply rising RoF signal transmission. The BM-EDFA that we designed using enhanced intrinsic saturation power EDF to suppress the gain transient caused by received optical power fluctuations with optical feedback. The new BM-EDFA was designed for a wider linear output power range and lower NF than the previous BM-EDFA. The observed range of received optical power satisfying an error vector magnitude of less than 8%rms achieved over 16dB. We consider that our BM-EDFAs with wide linear ranges of output power will be a key device for the LTE-Advanced RoF uplink signal transmission via optical access networks for the next-generation mobile front-haul.

With recent developments in machine learning technology, the predictions by systems incorporating machine learning can now have a significant impact on the lives and activities of individuals. In some cases, predictions made by machine learning can result unexpectedly in unfair treatments to individuals. For example, if the results are highly dependent on personal attributes, such as gender or ethnicity, hiring decisions might be discriminatory. This paper investigates the neutralization of a probabilistic model with respect to another probabilistic model, referred to as a viewpoint. We present a novel definition of neutrality for probabilistic models, η-neutrality, and introduce a systematic method that uses the maximum likelihood estimation to enforce the neutrality of a prediction model. Our method can be applied to various machine learning algorithms, as demonstrated by η-neutral logistic regression and η-neutral linear regression.

In this paper, a specified hardware architecture of the Fast Mode Decision (FMD) algorithms presented by our previous work is proposed. This architecture is designed as an embedded mode dispatch module. On the basis of this module, some unnecessary modes can be skipped or the mode decision process can be terminated in advanced. In order to maintain a higher compatibility, the FMD algorithms are unitedly designed as an unique module that can be easily embedded into a common video codec for H.265/HEVC. The input and output interfaces between the proposed module and other parts of the codec are designed based on simple but effective protocol. Hardware synthesis results on FPGA demonstrate that the proposed architecture achieves a maximum frequency of about 193 MHz with less than 1% of the total resources consumed. Moreover, the proposed module can improve the overall throughput.

This paper deals with the small-scale fading distribution for UWB channels in the absence and presence of human bodies in indoor line-of-sight (LOS) environments and performance analysis of UWB systems considering the small-scale fading distribution. To obtain small-scale fading statistics, the channel measurements are performed in five representative environments that have different structure and size while locating the receiver (Rx) antenna on 49 (7×7 grid) local points with a fixed transmitter (Tx) antenna in each environment. The measured channel data are processed by a vector network analyzer and the target frequency bands range from 3 to 4.6GHz. From the measured data, we find the best fitted channel model among several typical theoretical distribution models such as Lognormal, Nakagami, and Weibull distributions, showing good agreement with the empirical channel data. We analyze the amplitude variation of the small-scale fading distribution in the absence and presence of human bodies. The results show that the small-scale fading statistics are best described by Weibull distribution and the two parameters of the distribution that determine the shape and the scale of the distribution depend on whether or not human bodies exist. We modeled and analyzed two parameters at different excess delays for all environments. Based on the measured small-scale fading distribution, this paper deals with the performance of UWB system using Rake receivers and also compares the performance with the existing channel model. The results suggest that the small-scale fading distribution in the absence and the presence of human bodies in indoor LOS environments should be considered when assessing the performance of UWB systems.

With shortest path bridging MAC (SPBM), shortest path trees are computed based on link metrics from each node to all other participating nodes. When an edge bridge receives a frame, it selects a path along which to forward the frame to its destination node from multiple shortest paths. Blocking ports are eliminated to allow full use of the network links. This approach is expected to use network resources efficiently and to simplify the operating procedure. However, there is only one multipath distribution point in the SPBM network. This type of network can be defined as an end-to-end multipath network. Edge bridges need to split flows to achieve the load balancing of the entire network. This paper proposes a rate-based path selection scheme that can be employed for end-to-end multipath networks including SPBM. The proposed scheme assumes that a path with a low average rate will be congested because the TCP flow rates decrease on a congested path. When a new flow arrives at an edge bridge, it selects the path with the highest average rate since this should provide the new flow with the highest rate. The performance of the proposed scheme is confirmed by computer simulations. The appropriate timeout value is estimated from the expected round trip time (RTT). If an appropriate timeout value is used, the proposed scheme can realize good load balancing. The proposed scheme improves the efficiency of link utilization and throughput fairness. The performance is not affected by differences in the RTT or traffic congestion outside the SPBM network.

Due to the depletion of the public IPv4 address pool, Internet service providers will not be able to supply their new customers with public IPv4 addresses in the near future. Either they give private IPv4 addresses and use carrier grade NAT (CGN) or they move towards IPv6 and provide NAT64 service to the IPv6 only clients who want to reach IPv4 only servers. In both cases they must use a stateful NAT/NAT64 solution. When dimensioning a NAT/NAT64 gateway, the port number consumption of the clients is a key factor as the port numbers are 16 bits long and a unique one has to be provided for every session (when using traditional type NAPT, which does not include the destination IP address and port number in the tuple for the identification of TCP sessions) and a single web client may use several hundred sessions and an equal number of port numbers according to literature. In this paper, we present a method for the estimation of the port number consumption of web browsing. The method is based on the port number consumption measurements of the most popular web sites and their combination using the number of the visitors of the web sites as weight factors. We propose the resulting curve as an approximation of a general profile of the average port number consumption of web browsers after the first click, but without taking into consideration the effect of the web users' browsing behavior. We also discuss the case of the extended NAPT, which can reuse the source port numbers towards different destination IP addresses and/or destination port numbers. We propose a formula and give measurement results for the extended NAPT gateways, too. We disclose the measurement method in detail and provide the measurement scripts in Linux, too.

In this paper, we propose an analytical approach for adaptive decode-and-forward (ADF) relaying schemes consisting of burst data transmission based on pilot symbol assisted-channel estimation (PSA-CE) methods over quasi-static Rayleigh fading channels. At first, we focus on the error-event at relay nodes in which the transmission mode switching is carried out burst by burst, whereas previous studies assumed the transmission mode switching symbol-by-symbol, thus showing lower error rate bound. Under consideration of burst transmission for ADF relay systems, we derive exact error rate expressions which better estimate the performance of actual systems. Then, the average bit and burst error rates are derived in approximated expressions for an arbitrary link signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) related with channel estimation errors. Their accuracy is confirmed by comparison with simulation results. Furthermore, ADF relay systems with PSA-CE schemes are confirmed to select correctly decoded relay nodes without additional signaling between relay nodes and the destination node and it is verified to achieve the performance at a cost of negligible SNR loss.

The present study proposes a method for estimation of subjective image quality, for combinations of display physical factors, based on the Mahalanobis-Taguchi system in the field of quality engineering. The proposed method estimates subjective image quality by the estimated equation based on the Mahalanobis-Taguchi System and subjective evaluation experiments using the method of successive categories for images of which parameters are combinations of gamma, maximum luminance and minimum luminance. The estimated image quality is in good agreement with the experimental subjective image quality.

In this paper, we propose a flexible and high-capacity front-haul link for the uplink transmission of high-speed mobile signals using a cascade of radio-on-radio (RoR) and radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems. To emulate the cases that may occur in the uplink direction, we experimentally investigate the performance of superposing an uplink bursty LTE-A signal on the cascaded system using optical packet signal transmission. The performance of systems using different types of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), including a high-transient EDFA, an automatic-gain-control EDFA, and a burst-mode (BM) EDFA is evaluated and compared. We confirm that the dynamic transience of the EDFAs has a significant influence on the signal performance. By using a BM-EDFA, we confirm successful transmission of the uplink packetized LTE-A signal on the cascaded system. Both the measured error vector magnitude and the received optical power range metrics exceed the requirements. We also estimate the maximum transmission range of the RoR link, and it is confirmed that a sufficiently long range could be achieved for the applications in mobile front-haul networks.

This paper presents a cell-based all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with hierarchical gated digitally controlled oscillator (G-DCO) for low voltage operation, wide frequency range as well as low-power consumption. In addition, a new time-domain hierarchical frequency estimation algorithm (HFEA) for frequency acquisition is proposed to estimate the output frequency in 1.5MF (MF = 3 in this paper) cycles and this fast lock-in time is suitable to the dynamic voltage frequency scaling (DVFS) systems. A hierarchical G-DCO is proposed to work at low supply voltage to reduce the power consumption and at the same time to achieve wide frequency range and precise frequency resolution. The core area of the proposed ADPLL is 0.02635 mm2. In near-threshold region (VDD = 0.36 V), the proposed ADPLL only dissipates 68.2 µW and has a rms period jitter of 1.25% UI at 60 MHz output clock frequency. Under 0.5 V VDD operation, the proposed ADPLL dissipates 404.2 µW at 400 MHz. The fast lock-in time of 4.489 µs and the low jitter performance below 0.5% UI at 400 MHz output clock frequency in the proposed ADPLL are suitable in event-driven or DVFS applications.

As the technology of VLSI manufacturing process continues to shrink, it becomes a challenging problem to generate layout patterns that can satisfy performance and manufacturability requirements. Wire width variation is one of the main issues that have a large impact on chip performance and yield loss. Particularly, etching process is the last and most influential process to wire width variation, and hence models for predicting etching induced variation have been proposed. However, they do not consider an effect of global layout variation. This work proposes a prediction model of etching induced wire width variation which takes into account global layout pattern variation. We also present a wire width adjustment method that modifies etching process on the fly according to the critical dimension loss estimated by the proposed prediction model and wire space measurement just before etching process. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieved good performance in prediction, and demonstrated that the potential reduction of the gap between the target wire width and actual wire width thanks to the proposed on-the-fly etching process modification was 68.9% on an average.

Current mobile communication terminals are equipped with multiple RF circuits that cover all frequency bands assigned for the communication. In order to make efficient use of frequency spectrum and to reduce circuits in a terminal, a low-loss reconfigurable RF filter is necessary to flexibly change RF frequencies. In this paper, a new reconfigurable bandpass filter (BPF) having eight-frequency (three-bit) selection capability is proposed. It employs branch-line switched type variable resonators that provide low insertion loss. One of the design issues is how to control pass bandwidths among selectable frequencies. In order to analyze the bandwidth variation of the reconfigurable BPF, we calculate the changes of external Q and coupling coefficients. It is shown that the inductive coupling design can achieve less variation of bandwidth for the reconfigurable BPF, compared with commonly used capacitive coupling design. A prototype BPF on a printed circuit board with high dielectric constant substrate has been fabricated and evaluated in 2 GHz bands. It presents performance very close to the design results with respect to insertion loss, center frequency and passband bandwidth. Low insertion loss of less than 1 dB is achieved among the eight frequencies.

In this paper, for an odd prime p and i=0,1, we investigate the cross-correlation between two decimated sequences, s(2t+i) and s(dt), where s(t) is a p-ary m-sequence of period pn-1. Here we consider two cases of ${d}$, ${d=rac{(p^m +1)^2}{2} }$ with ${n=2m}$, ${p^m equiv 1 pmod{4}}$ and ${d=rac{(p^m +1)^2}{p^e + 1}}$ with n=2m and odd m/e. The value distribution of the cross-correlation function for each case is completely determined. Also, by using these decimated sequences, two new p-ary sequence families of period ${rac{p^n -1}{2}}$ with good correlation property are constructed.

Face recognition across pose is generally tackled by either 2D based or 3D based approaches. The 2D-based often require a training set from which the cross-pose multi-view relationship can be learned and applied for recognition. The 3D based are mostly composed of 3D surface reconstruction of each gallery face, synthesis of 2D images of novel views using the reconstructed model, and match of the synthesized images to the probes. The depth information provides crucial information for arbitrary poses but more methods are yet to be developed. Extended from a latest face reconstruction method using a single 3D reference model and a frontal registered face, this study focuses on using the reconstructed 3D face for recognition. The recognition performance varies with poses, the closer to the front, the better. Several ways to improve the performance are attempted, including different numbers of fiducial points for alignment, multiple reference models considered in the reconstruction phase, and both frontal and profile poses available in the gallery. These attempts make this approach competitive to the state-of-the-art methods.

The mappings from independent binary variables to quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) symbols are developed. Based the proposed mappings and the existing binary mutually uncorrelated complementary sequence sets (MUCSSs), a construction producing QAM periodic complementary sequence sets (PCSSs) is presented. The resultant QAM PCSSs have the same numbers and periods of sub-sequences as the binary MUCSSs employed, and the family size of new sequence sets is increased with exponent of periods of sub-sequences. The proposed QAM PCSSs can be applied to CDMA or OFDM communication systems so as to suppress multiple access interference (MAI) or to reduce peak-to-mean envelope power ratio (PMEPR), respectively.

A practical model-checking (MC) approach for fault analysis, that is one of the most cost-effective tasks in software development, is proposed. The proposed approach is based on a technique, named “Program-oriented Modeling” (POM) for extracting a model from source code. The framework of model extraction by POM provides configurable abstraction based on user-defined transformation rules, and it supports trial-and-error model extraction. An environment for MC called POM/MC was also built. POM/MC analyzes C source code to extract Promela models used for the SPIN model checker. It was applied to an industrial software system to evaluate the efficiency of the configurable model extraction by POM for fault analysis. Moreover, it was shown that the proposed MC approach can reduce the effort involved in analyzing software faults by MC.

Appearance changes conform to certain rules for a same person,while for different individuals the changes are uncontrolled. Hence, this paper studies the age progression rules to tackle face verification task. The age progression rules are discovered in the difference space of facial image pairs. For this, we first represent an image pair as a matrix whose elements are the difference of a set of visual words. Thereafter, the age progression rules are trained using Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on this matrix representation. Finally, we use these rules to accomplish the face verification tasks. The proposed approach is tested on the FGnet dataset and a collection of real-world images from identification card. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for verification of identity.

In this study, Si(100) surface flattening process was investigated utilizing sacrificial oxidation method to improve Metal--Insulator--Semiconductor (MIS) diode characteristics. By etching of the 100,nm-thick sacrificial oxide formed by thermal oxidation at 1100$^{circ}$C, the surface roughness of Si substrate was reduced. The obtained Root-Mean-Square (RMS) roughness was decreased from 0.15,nm (as-cleaned) to 0.07,nm in the case of sacrificial oxide formed by wet oxidation, while it was 0.10,nm in the case of dry oxidation. Furthermore, time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristic of Al/SiO$_{2}$(10,nm)/p-Si(100) MIS diode structures was found to be improved by the reduction of Si surface RMS roughness.