PLC for the smart grid: state-of-the-art and challenges

This paper aims to review systems and applications for power line communications (PLC) in the context of the smart grid. We discuss the main applications and summarise state-of-the-art PLC systems and standards. We report efforts and challenges in channel and noise modelling, as well as in state-of-the-art transmission technology approaches

Journey to the Center of the Fuzzball

We study two-charge fuzzball geometries, with attention to the use of the proper duality frame. For zero angular momentum there is an onion-like structure, and the smooth D1-D5 geometries are not valid for typical states. Rather, they are best approximated by geometries with stringy sources, or by a free CFT. For non-zero angular momentum we find a regime where smooth fuzzball solutions are the correct description. Our analysis rests on the comparison of three radii: the typical fuzzball radius, the entropy radius determined by the microscopic theory, and the breakdown radius where the curvature becomes large. We attempt to draw more general lessons.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figur

A New Look at T Tauri Star Forbidden Lines: MHD Driven Winds from the Inner Disk

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and photoevaporative winds are thought to play an important role in the evolution and dispersal of planet-forming disks. We report the first high-resolution ($\Delta v\sim$6\kms) analysis of [S II] $\lambda$4068, [O I] $\lambda$5577, and [O I] $\lambda$6300 lines from a sample of 48 T Tauri stars. Following Simon et al. (2016), we decompose them into three kinematic components: a high-velocity component (HVC) associated with jets, and a low-velocity narrow (LVC-NC) and broad (LVC-BC) components. We confirm previous findings that many LVCs are blueshifted by more than 1.5 kms$^{-1}$ thus most likely trace a slow disk wind. We further show that the profiles of individual components are similar in the three lines. We find that most LVC-BC and NC line ratios are explained by thermally excited gas with temperatures between 5,000$-$10,000 K and electron densities $\sim10^{7}-10^{8}$ cm$^{-3}$. The HVC ratios are better reproduced by shock models with a pre-shock H number density of $\sim10^{6}-10^{7}$ cm$^{-3}$. Using these physical properties, we estimate $\dot{M}_{\rm wind}/\dot{M}_{\rm acc}$ for the LVC and $\dot{M}_{\rm jet}/\dot{M}_{\rm acc}$ for the HVC. In agreement with previous work, the mass carried out in jets is modest compared to the accretion rate. With the likely assumption that the NC wind height is larger than the BC, the LVC-BC $\dot{M}_{\rm wind}/\dot{M}_{\rm acc}$ is found to be higher than the LVC-NC. These results suggest that most of the mass loss occurs close to the central star, within a few au, through an MHD driven wind. Depending on the wind height, MHD winds might play a major role in the evolution of the disk mass.Comment: 45 pages, 23 figures, and 7 tables, accepted by Ap

Theories of Statistical Discrimination and Affirmative Action: A Survey

This chapter surveys the theoretical literature on statistical discrimination and affirmative action. This literature suggests different explanations for the existence and persistence of group inequality. This survey highlights such differences and describes in these contexts the effects of color-sighted and color-blind affirmative action policies, and the efficiency implications of discriminatory outcomes.

A Codazzi-like equation and the singular set for C1C^{1} smooth surfaces in the Heisenberg group

In this paper, we study the structure of the singular set for a $C^{1}$ smooth surface in the $3$-dimensional Heisenberg group $\boldsymbol{H}_{1}$. We discover a Codazzi-like equation for the $p$-area element along the characteristic curves on the surface. Information obtained from this ordinary differential equation helps us to analyze the local configuration of the singular set and the characteristic curves. In particular, we can estimate the size and obtain the regularity of the singular set. We understand the global structure of the singular set through a Hopf-type index theorem. We also justify that Codazzi-like equation by proving a fundamental theorem for local surfaces in $\boldsymbol{H}_{1}$.Comment: 64 pages, 17 figure

Model-independent constraints on the CKM matrix elements ∣Vtb∣|V_{tb}|, ∣Vts∣|V_{ts}| and ∣Vtd∣|V_{td}|

Single top quark production cross sections at hadron colliders are traditionally used to extract the modulus of the $V_{tb}$ element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix under the following assumption: $|V_{tb}| \gg |V_{td}|, |V_{ts}|$. For the first time, direct limits on $|V_{td}|$ and $|V_{ts}|$ are obtained using experimental data without the assumption of the unitarity of the CKM matrix. Limits on the $|V_{td}|$, $|V_{ts}|$ and $|V_{tb}|$ are extracted from differential measurements of single top quark cross sections in $t$-channel as a function of the rapidity and transverse momentum of the top quark and the light jet recoiling against the top quark. We have shown that the pseudorapidity of the forward jet in the single top production is one of the most powerful observables for discriminating between the $|V_{td}|$ and $|V_{tb}|$ events. We perform a global fit of top quark related CKM elements to experimental data from the LHC Runs I and II and Tevatron. Experimental data include inclusive and differential single top cross sections in $t$-channel, inclusive tW production cross section, and top quark branching ratio to b quark and W boson. We present bounds on $|V_{tb}|$, $|V_{ts}|$ and $|V_{td}|$ using current data and project the results for future LHC data sets corresponding to luminosities of 300 and 3000 \fb

A comparison of machine learning classifiers for smartphone-based gait analysis

This paper proposes a reliable monitoring scheme that can assist medical specialists in watching over the patient's condition. Although several technologies are traditionally used to acquire motion data of patients, the high costs as well as the large spaces they require make them difficult to be applied in a home context for rehabilitation. A reliable patient monitoring technique, which can automatically record and classify patient movements, is mandatory for a telemedicine protocol. In this paper, a comparison of several state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers is proposed, where stride data are collected by using a smartphone. The main goal is to identify a robust methodology able to assure a suited classification of gait movements, in order to allow the monitoring of patients in time as well as to discriminate among a pathological and physiological gait. Additionally, the advantages of smartphones of being compact, cost-effective and relatively easy to operate make these devices particularly suited for home-based rehabilitation programs. Graphical Abstract. This paper proposes a reliable monitoring scheme that can assist medical specialists in watching over the patient's condition. Although several technologies are traditionally used to acquire motion data of patients, the high costs as well as the large spaces they require make them difficult to be applied in a home context for rehabilitation. A reliable patient monitoring technique, which can automatically record and classify patient movements, is mandatory for a telemedicine protocol. In this paper, a comparison of several state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers is proposed, where stride data are collected and processed by using a smartphone(see figure). The main goal is to identify a robust methodology able to assure a suited classification of gait movements, in order to allow the monitoring of patients in time as well as to discriminate among a pathological and physiological gait. Additionally, the advantages of smartphones of being compact, cost-effective and relatively easy to operate make these devices particularly suited for home-based rehabilitation programs

Restoration of Sensitivity in Chemo

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults. Despite multimodal treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy the prognosis remains poor and relapse occurs regularly. The alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) has been shown to improve the overall survival in patients with malignant gliomas, especially in tumors with methylated promoter of the O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene. However, intrinsic and acquired resistance towards TMZ makes it crucial to find new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the prognosis of patients suffering from malignant gliomas. Cold atmospheric plasma is a new auspicious candidate in cancer treatment. In the present study we demonstrate the anti-cancer properties of different dosages of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) both in TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant cells by proliferation assay, immunoblotting, cell cycle analysis, and clonogenicity assay. Importantly, CAP treatment restored the responsiveness of resistant glioma cells towards TMZ therapy. Concomitant treatment with CAP and TMZ led to inhibition of cell growth and cell cycle arrest, thus CAP might be a promising candidate for combination therapy especially for patients suffering from GBMs showing an unfavorable MGMT status and TMZ resistance

Metformin Decreases the Incidence of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Promoted by Diet-induced Obesity in the Conditional KrasG12D Mouse Model.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a particularly deadly disease. Chronic conditions, including obesity and type-2 diabetes are risk factors, thus making PDAC amenable to preventive strategies. We aimed to characterize the chemo-preventive effects of metformin, a widely used anti-diabetic drug, on PDAC development using the KrasG12D mouse model subjected to a diet high in fats and calories (HFCD). LSL-KrasG12D/+;p48-Cre (KC) mice were given control diet (CD), HFCD, or HFCD with 5 mg/ml metformin in drinking water for 3 or 9 months. After 3 months, metformin prevented HFCD-induced weight gain, hepatic steatosis, depletion of intact acini, formation of advanced PanIN lesions, and stimulation of ERK and mTORC1 in pancreas. In addition to reversing hepatic and pancreatic histopathology, metformin normalized HFCD-induced hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia among the 9-month cohort. Importantly, the HFCD-increased PDAC incidence was completely abrogated by metformin (p < 0.01). The obesogenic diet also induced a marked increase in the expression of TAZ in pancreas, an effect abrogated by metformin. In conclusion, administration of metformin improved the metabolic profile and eliminated the promoting effects of diet-induced obesity on PDAC formation in KC mice. Given the established safety profile of metformin, our findings have a strong translational potential for novel chemo-preventive strategies for PDAC

Kinematic Links and the Coevolution of MHD Winds, Jets, and Inner Disks from a High-resolution Optical [OI] Survey

We present a survey of optical [O I] emission at 6300 Å toward 65 T Tauri stars at the spectral resolution of ∼7 km s−1 . Past work identified a highly blueshifted velocity component (HVC) tracing microjets and a less blueshifted low-velocity component (LVC) attributed to winds. We focus here on the LVC kinematics to investigate links between winds, jets, accretion, and disk dispersal. We track the behavior of four types of LVC components: a broad and a narrow component (“BC” and “NC,” respectively) in LVCs that are decomposed into two Gaussians which typically have an HVC, and single-Gaussian LVC profiles separated into those that have an HVC (“SCJ”) and those that do not (“SC”). The LVC centroid velocities and line widths correlate with the HVC EW and accretion luminosity, suggesting that LVC/winds and HVC/jets are kinematically linked and connected to accretion. The deprojected HVC velocity correlates with accretion luminosity, showing that faster jets come with higher accretion. BC and NC kinematics correlate, and their blueshifts are maximum at ∼35°, suggesting a conical wind geometry with this semi-opening angle. Only SCs include n13–31 up to ∼3, and their properties correlate with this infrared index, showing that [O I] emission recedes to larger radii as the inner dust is depleted, tracing less dense/hot gas and a decrease in wind velocity. Altogether, these findings support a scenario where optically thick, accreting inner disks launch radially extended MHD disk winds that feed jets, and where inner disk winds recede to larger radii and jets disappear in concert with dust depletion