Intermediate Probability Theory for Biomedical Engineers

This is the second in a series of three short books on probability theory and random processes for biomedical engineers. This volume focuses on expectation, standard deviation, moments, and the characteristic function. In addition, conditional expectation, conditional moments and the conditional characteristic function are also discussed. Jointly distributed random variables are described, along with joint expectation, joint moments, and the joint characteristic function. Convolution is also developed. A considerable effort has been made to develop the theory in a logical manner―developing special mathematical skills as needed. The mathematical background required of the reader is basic knowledge of differential calculus. Every effort has been made to be consistent with commonly used notation and terminology―both within the engineering community as well as the probability and statistics literature. The aim is to prepare students for the application of this theory to a wide variety of problems, as well give practicing engineers and researchers a tool to pursue these topics at a more advanced level. Pertinent biomedical engineering examples are used throughout the text.

John D. Enderle, Biomedical Engineering Program Director and Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Connecticut, received the B.S., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees in biomedical engineering, and M.E. degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, in 1975, 1977, 1980, and 1978, respectively. Dr. Enderle is a Fellow of the IEEE, the past Editor-in-Chief of the EMB Magazine (2002- 2008), the 2004 EMBS Service Award Recipient, Past-President of the IEEE-EMBS, and EMBS Conference Chair for the 22nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS and World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering in 2000. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education and a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society. Enderle is a former member of the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (2004-2009). In 2007, Enderle received the ASEE National Fred Merryfield Design Award. He is also a Teaching Fellow at the University of Connecticut since 1998.