Defense Notices

Multitask Learning is a learning framework which explores the concept of sharing training information among multiple related tasks to improve the generalization error of each task. The benefits of multitask learning have been shown both empirically and theoretically. There are a number of fields that benefit from multitask learning, including toxicology. However, the current multitask learning algorithms make a very important key assumption that all the tasks are related to each other in a similar fashion in multitask learning. The users often do not have the knowledge of which tasks are related and train all tasks together. This results in sharing of training information even among the unrelated tasks. Training unrelated tasks together can cause a negative transfer and deteriorate the performance of multitask learning. For example, consider the case of predicting in vivo toxicity of chemicals at various endpoints from the chemical structure. Toxicity at all the endpoints are not related. Since, biological networks are highly complex, it is also not possible to predetermine which endpoints are related. Thus, training all the endpoints together may cause a negative effect on the overall performance. This proposal aims at developing algorithms which make use of task relationship models to further improve the generalization error and prevent transfer of information among the unrelated tasks. The algorithms proposed here either learn the task relationships or utilize the known task relationships in the learning framework. Further, these algorithms will be utilized to predict toxicity of chemicals at various endpoints using the chemical structures and the results of multiple in vitro assays performed on these chemicals.

A rule set is a popular symbolic representation of knowledge derived from 
data. A rule induction is an important technique of data mining or machine 
learning. Many rule induction algorithms are widely used, such as LEM1, LEM2 and MLEM2. Some of these algorithms perform better on special data, e. g., on inconsistent data set or data sets with missing attribute values. This work discusses basic ideas of the MLEM2 algorithm, especially, how it handles data sets with numeric attribute values. Additionally, a comparison of the performance of different discretization options of the MLEM2 algorithm is also included.

The large data stores of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in todays connected systems, coupled with the increased potential damages of Identity Theft bring the need for architectures that provide secure collection, storage, and transmission of this data. The need has not yet been standardized in the industry in a way similar to the Payment Card Industry (PCI) has done so. At the same time, however, municipalities, states, and even countries are instituting legislature that requires business entities that store PII data to maintain adequate security of the data. The need has become clear for a set of processes, procedures, and systems that provide a framework for securely storing PII data. This project defines the lower level datastore system and associated services for that PII data. It also outlines a network architecture prototype for providing segmented security zones used to provide more layers of security in a connected system.

We all consult online reviews before obtaining a product or service. However, not all the reviews can be trusted. For example, in 2013, "Operation Clean Turf” a yearlong sting operation in New York State, caught 19different companies that were writing fake reviews in online forums like Yelp for businesses that paid them. For my project, I've developed an application called AskMyNetwork. AskMyNetwork interfaces with Facebook to obtain feedback or input from a user's Facebook friends.The rationale for my project is that the feedback or inputs are from "friends" (personal friends, family members,or colleagues in a user's Facebook friends' list) and can be trusted. 

AskMyNetwork has four major components namely, Login,Search My Network, Ask My Network and Notifications. Using the Login component, the user can login to the application with Facebook credentials. Using Search My Network component, the user can define search criteria (e.g.,search for restaurant in Kansas City) and search his or her Facebook data for relevant results. Using Ask My Network component, the user can ask a group of friends question about a product or service they would like an opinion on. The group of friends can either be chosen by name or by the current location of the friends. Using the Notifications component, the user can view the responses given to questions asked from AskMyNetwork. 

I validated AskMyNetwork via a number of inquiries on topics such as restaurants, places to visit in a city and arts. The results of the validation were satisfactory.

Power line communication (PLC) has received steady interest over recent decades because of its economic use of existing power lines, and is one of the communication technologies envisaged for Smart Grid infrastructure. However, power lines are not designed for data communication, and this brings unique challenges for data communication over power lines. In particular for broadband (BB) PLC, the channel exhibits linear periodically time varying (LPTV) behavior synchronous to the AC mains cycle due to time varying impedances, impulsive noise due to switching events in the power line network is present in addition to background noise. In this work, we focus on two major aspects of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system for BB PLC LPTV channels; bit and power allocation, and channel estimation (CE). 

For the problem of optimal bit and power allocation, we present that the application of a power constraint that is averaged over many microslots can be exploited for further performance improvements through bit loading. Due to the matroid structure of the optimization problem, greedy-type algorithms are proven to be optimal for the new LPTV-aware bit and power loading. Next, two mechanisms are utilized to reduce the complexity of the optimal LPTV-aware bit loading and peak microslot power levels: employing representative values from microslot transfer functions, and power clipping. 

Next, we introduce a robust CE scheme with low overhead that addresses the drawbacks of block-type pilot arrangement and decision directed CE schemes such as large estimation overhead, and difficulty in channel tracking in the case of sudden changes in the channel, respectively. A transform domain (TD) analysis approach is developed to determine the cause of changes in the channel estimates. The result of TD analysis is then exploited in the proposed scheme to mitigate the effects of LPTV channel and impulsive noise. 

Our results indicate that the proposed reduced complexity LPTV-aware bit loading with power clipping algorithm performs close to the optimal scheme, and the proposed CE scheme based on TD analysis has low estimation overhead and is robust to changes in the channel and noise, making them good alternatives for BB PLC LPTV channels.

Many of the innovative algorithms that permeate the field of array processing are based on a very simple signal model of an array. This simple, although powerful, model is at times a pale reflection of the complexities inherent in the physical world, and this model mismatch opens the door to the performance degradation of any solution for which the model underpins. This dissertation seeks to explore the impact of model mismatch upon common array processing algorithms. Model mismatch is examined in two ways: First, by developing a blind array calibration routine that estimates model mismatch and incorporates that knowledge into the RISR direction of arrival estimation algorithm. Second, by examining model mismatch between a transmitting and receiving antenna array, and assessing the impact of this mismatch on prolific direction of arrival estimation algorithms. In both of these studies it is shown that engineers have traded algorithm performance of model simplicity, and that if we are willing to deal with the added complexity we can recapture that lost performance.

A method of transmitting information clandestinely over a variety of network protocols is designed and discussed. A demonstrative implementation is created that utilizes the ubiquitous Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and the world wide web. Key contributions include the use of access ordering to convey information, and the modulation of transaction level timing to emulate user behavior.

Multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) systems have received considerable attention over the last decade due to their ability to provide high throughputs and mitigate multipath fading effects. There are some limitations to get the most from MIMO, such as mutual coupling between 
antenna elements in an array. Mutual coupling and therefore inter element spacing have important effect on the channel capacity of MIMO communication system, its error rate and ambiguity of MIMO radar system. There are huge numbers of researches that focus on reducing the mutual coupling in antenna arrays and improve MIMO performance. Antenna design affects the performance of Multiple-Input–Multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Two aspects of antenna role in MIMO performance have been investigated in this thesis. Employing suitable antenna can have significant impact on performance of MIMO system. In addition to antenna design another antenna related issue that helps to optimize the system performance is to reduce mutual coupling between antenna elements in an array.Effect of antenna configuration in array on mutual coupling has been studied in this research. Main purpose is to find the array configuration which provides minimum mutual coupling between elements. U-slot patch antenna which because of its features like wide bandwidth ,multi band resonance and ease to achieve different polarizations has attracted lots of researchers has been used in this study.

The desire to hide communications has existed since antiquity. This includes hiding the existence of the transmission and the location of the sender. Wireless networks offer an opportunity for hiding a transmission by placing a signal in the radio frequency (RF) occupied by a target network which also has the added benefit of lowering its probability of detection. 

This research hides a signal within the RF environment of a packet based wireless (infrastructure) network. Specifically, in this research the interfering (covert) signal is placed in the guard band of the target network’s orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signal. We show that the existence of adaptive protocols allow the target network to adjust to the existence of the covert signal. In other words, the wireless network views the covert network as a minor change in the RF environment; this work shows that the covert signal can be indistinguishable from other wireless impairments such as fading. 

The impact of the covert signal on the target system performance is discovered through analysis and simulation; the analysis and simulation begin at the physical layer where the interaction between the target and covert systems occurs. After that, analysis is performed on the impact of the covert link on the target system at data-link layer. Finally, we analyze the performance of the target system at the transmission control protocol (TCP) layer which characterizes the end-to-end performance. The results of this research demonstrate the potential of this new method for hiding the transmission of information. The results of this research could encourage the creation of new protocols to protect these networks from exploitation of this manner.

Measurement of wind velocity is of essential to enhance the wind energy utilization which is very important considering the fact that it one of most important renewable source of energy and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) has become a very popular technology for such measurements. In this study, a pulsed Doppler Lidar operating at 1.5µm is demonstrated with coherent detection technique for measurement of velocity of spinning disc which is a hard target used in this project. This Lidar uses the principle of Doppler shift to measure the velocity and an Acousto-optic modulator is used for frequency shifting in the transmitter to produce an intermediate frequency. A data acquisition board (DAQ) was used to generate the pulses and also to process the data once it was collected by the receiver using mat lab. A graphical user interface was used to interface the DAQ with the system and changing parameters like PRF, pulse width, record directory etc. could be changed directly from the computer. A thorough study of literature has been done and same has been presented. The architecture of the Lidar, velocity results, future work and an analysis of SNR’s dependence on range and pulse energy under predefined atmospheric conditions will be discussed.