• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.37 no.7A
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• pp.560-568
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• 2012

Spectrum sensing and spectrum decision are the main functions that cognitive radios (CRs) have to perform in order to get the best available spectrum band for the establishment of a wireless communication. These problems are worsened in the presence of users with different demands and spectrum channels with different properties in a heterogeneous network. The primary objective in this work is to design and simulate a new spectrum decision algorithm for heterogeneous cognitive radio system. To this end, first, we consider all cognitive users are separated into different traffic classes according to their Quality of Service (QoS). The cognitive users within one traffic class perform spectrum sensing in centralized group-based cooperative spectrum sensing system and the users of different traffic classes share the sensing results. Second, we propose a novel use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to optimally select available bands according to user requirements and detected spectrum channel characteristics (SCC). In this paper, utility function is used as spectrum decision algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method shows can effectively select the best available spectrum channels with a low complexity.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.1754-1769
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• 2013

For the purpose of enhancing the spectrum efficiency, cognitive radio (CR) technology has been recently proposed as a promising dynamic spectrum allocation paradigm. In CR, spectrum sensing is the key capability of secondary users in a cognitive radio network that aims for reducing the probability of harmful interference with primary users. However, the individual CRs might not be able to carry out reliable detection of the presence of a primary radio due to the impact of channel fading or shadowing. This paper studies the cooperative spectrum sensing scheme as means of optimizing the sensing performance in AWGN and Rayleigh channels. Results generated from simulation provide evidence of the impact of channel condition on the complementary receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Based on the results, it was found that with constant local SNRs at the secondary users, the probability of missed detection ($P_m$) of cooperative spectrum sensing in a cognitive radio network, calculated using a closed form expression, can be significantly minimized. Thus, the paper illustrates that improvement of the detection performance of the CR network can be achieved by establishing a centralized cooperation among neighboring cognitive radio users. Finally, verification of the validity of the fusion schemes utilized for combining the individual CR decisions is provided.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disorder that usually occurs in the elderly, leading to dementia in some progressive cases. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of central auditory processing tests as early diagnostic tools for identifying the elderly with MCI. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 elderly patients with MCI and 20 healthy matched peers. The speech perception ability in a quiet environment and in the presence of background noise and also temporal resolution were assessed by using Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) and Gap in Noise (GIN) tests, respectively. Results: The results indicated that the ability to understand speech in a quiet environment did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, SPIN at the three signal-to-noise ratios and the temporal resolution scores were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with MCI appear to have poorer speech comprehension in noise and a lower temporal resolution than those of the same age, but without cognitive defects. Considering the utility of these tests in identifying cognitive problems, we propose that since the GIN test seems to be less influenced by intervening factors, this test can therefore, be a useful tool for the early screening of elderly people with cognitive problems.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disorder that usually occurs in the elderly, leading to dementia in some progressive cases. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of central auditory processing tests as early diagnostic tools for identifying the elderly with MCI. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 elderly patients with MCI and 20 healthy matched peers. The speech perception ability in a quiet environment and in the presence of background noise and also temporal resolution were assessed by using Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) and Gap in Noise (GIN) tests, respectively. Results: The results indicated that the ability to understand speech in a quiet environment did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, SPIN at the three signal-to-noise ratios and the temporal resolution scores were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with MCI appear to have poorer speech comprehension in noise and a lower temporal resolution than those of the same age, but without cognitive defects. Considering the utility of these tests in identifying cognitive problems, we propose that since the GIN test seems to be less influenced by intervening factors, this test can therefore, be a useful tool for the early screening of elderly people with cognitive problems.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2020

Purpose: Preterm infants are at high risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a means of predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in this population. It is controversial whether diffuse excessive high signal intensity (DEHSI) represents damage to the white matter or delayed myelination in preterm infants. This study investigated MRI findings for predicting the severity of neurodevelopmental outcomes and assessing whether preterm infants with DEHSI near term-equivalent age have abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Materials and Methods: Preterm infants (n = 64, gestational age at birth < 35 weeks) undergoing brain MRI near term-equivalent age and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated between 18 and 24 months of age. The associations of MRI findings and the risk of severe cognitive delay, severe psychomotor delay, cerebral palsy (CP), and neurosensory impairment were analyzed. The associations of DEHSI with risks of severe cognitive delay, severe psychomotor delay, CP, and neurosensory impairment (hearing or visual impairment) were analyzed. Outcome data were evaluated by logistic regression and the Fisher's exact test. Results: There were significant associations between abnormal white matter findings and delayed mental development, delayed psychomotor development, neurosensory impairment, and presence of CP. The presence of DEHSI was not correlated with delayed neurodevelopmental outcomes or presence of CP. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, cystic encephalomalacia, punctate lesion, loss of white matter volume and ventricular dilation were significantly associated with CP. Conclusion: Abnormal MRI findings near term-equivalent age in preterm infants predict adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. No significant association between DEHSI and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes was demonstrated.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and apply simulation-based education, and to verify the effects of this type of education on nursing students' presence in education, systems thinking, and proactivity in problem solving. Method: Subjects were 69 senior college students recruited through convenient sampling. This study used a one-group pre-posttest quasi-experimental design. A structured survey was administered a week before and after provision of the simulation-based education once a week for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. Results: Teaching presence increased after the educational intervention; instructional design and organization, and aspect of direct facilitation subscales improved. Learning presence increased after the educational intervention; although cognitive presence did not change, emotional presence increased. With regard to emotional presence, perception and expression of one's emotional status increased, although emotional management did not change. Moreover, systems thinking increased. Among the subscales, team learning showed an increase after the educational intervention. However, there was no significant difference in proactivity in problem solving, although it showed an increase after the educational intervention. Conclusion: Based on the aforementioned study results, there is need to establish educational environments for qualitative teaching and learning presence, and devise strategies to increase learning effects with various teaching methods and type of content.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-172
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• 2011

Prospective memory (PM) is memory for activities to be performed in the future, such as remembering to purchase a piece of fruit on the way home or remembering to give someone a telephone message. Theoretically, PM retrieval can be accomplished either by controlled monitoring of intended action or by a more automatic process that spontaneously responds to the presence of intended event. The present study examined the effect of meta-cognitive awareness in PM retrieval process. In Experiment 1, we manipulated PM condition with a salient cue to stimulate participants' meta-cognitive awareness. Results showed the salient cue condition spontaneously triggered remembering to perform an intended action. In Experiment 2, we manipulated participants' meta-cognitive awareness about PM task difficulty and about the degree to which cognitive capacity is required to realize the PM task. Results showed that PM retrieval process varied with meta-cognitive awareness (i.e., more resources were allocated if the PM task was expected to be difficult). These results imply that participants' meta-cognitive awareness play an important role in PM retrieval process.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2022

Many studies have shown that musical dissonance generally evokes negative affect, but few studies detail how distinct dissonant intervals, ranging in various roughness, influence emotions and cognition. This research entailed two experiments to confirm whether varying musical intervals of dissonance trigger particular negative emotions and increase cognitive interference. Experiment 1 assumed that different dissonant intervals would elicit distinct negative emotions. In a survey involving 131 participants, there was an overwhelming consensus that dissonant intervals elicited stronger high arousal negative affect than low arousal negative affect. The major 7th degree was found to evoke a significantly stronger feeling of scared. Experiment 2 investigated whether emotions-affecting dissonance would have an enhancing effect on cognitive interference. According to a color-word Stroop task conducted on 81 participants, the presence of any dissonant sound caused significantly higher reaction times and error rates than in the absence of sound. In particular, the minor 2nd degree was cognitively the most disruptive and associated with the slowest reaction times. This paper shows how different ranges of dissonance can effectively influence negative affect and heighten cognitive interference.

• IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing and Computing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2017

In this paper, we investigate the tradeoff between security and reliability for a multi-hop protocol in cluster-based underlay cognitive radio networks. In the proposed protocol, a secondary source communicates with a secondary destination via the multi-hop relay method in the presence of a secondary eavesdropper. To enhance system performance under the joint impact of interference constraint required by multiple primary users and hardware impairments, the best relay node is selected at each hop to relay the source data to the destination. Moreover, the destination is equipped with multiple antennas and employs a selection combining (SC) technique to combine the received data. We derive closed-form expressions of the intercept probability (IP) for the eavesdropping links and the outage probability (OP) for the data links over a Rayleigh fading channel. Finally, the correction of our derivations is verified by Monte-Carlo simulations.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.444-454
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• 2016

Voice service is very demanding in cognitive radio networks (CRNs). The available spectrum in a CRN for CR users varies owing to the presence of licensed users. On the other hand, voice packets are delay sensitive and can tolerate a limited amount of delay. This makes the support of voice traffic in a CRN a complicated task that can be achieved by devising necessary considerations regarding the various network functionalities. In this paper, the support of secondary voice users in a CRN is investigated. First, a novel packet scheduling scheme that can provide the required quality of service (QoS) to voice users is proposed. The proposed scheme utilizes the maximum packet transmission rate for secondary voice users by assigning each secondary user the channel with the best level of quality. Furthermore, an analytical framework developed for a performance analysis of the system, is described in which the effect of erroneous spectrum sensing on the performance of secondary voice users is also taken into account. The QoS parameters of secondary voice users, which were obtained analytically, are also detailed. The analytical results were verified through the simulation, and will provide helpful insight in supporting voice services in a CRN.