The Generalized Spectral Kurtosis Estimator

Due to its conceptual simplicity and its proven effectiveness in real-time detection and removal of radio frequency interference (RFI) from radio astronomy data, the Spectral Kurtosis (SK) estimator is likely to become a standard tool of a new generation of radio telescopes. However, the SK estimator in its original form must be developed from instantaneous power spectral density (PSD) estimates, and hence cannot be employed as an RFI excision tool downstream of the data pipeline in existing instruments where any time averaging is performed. In this letter, we develop a generalized estimator with wider applicability for both instantaneous and averaged spectral data, which extends its practical use to a much larger pool of radio instruments.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, MNRAS Letters accepte

Study of the serum uric acid level as a prognostic indicator in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background: Abnormal uric acid levels in patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia affect both maternal and fetal outcome negatively. This study was done to know the alterations in these serum levels in comparison to normal pregnancy and also among various hypertensive disorders of pregnancies.Methods: Maternal serum uric acid levels were compared among cases and controls in relation to disease severity, mode of delivery, maternal outcome.Results: In group A (cases), 10 patients had raised uric acid levels, of which 5 were severe preeclampsia, 3 were eclampsia and 2 cases of chronic hypertension superimposed preeclampsia. P value is 0.001 (highly significant). Also serum uric acid is significantly elevated in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared with controls with a P value of 0.001.Conclusions: Significant correlation was observed between maternal serum uric acid, disease severity and maternal outcome. Our study concludes that uric acid can be considered as a sensitive prognostic indicator of severity in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

The Mathematics of the Harp: Modeling the Classical Instrument and Designing Futuristic Ones

We analyze and model the neck of the classical harp based on the length of the strings, their tension and density. We then use the results to design new and innovative harp shapes by adjusting the parameters of the model

Rediscovering the Artistic Side of Mathematics

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the LASER, a journal devoted to the problems at the interface of math and art. The terms ’math’ and ’art’ are to be broadly construed to encompass all quantitative sciences and forms of art. The journal’s name, acronym for Linking Art and Science through Education and Research, suggests our interest in the theory, practice and pedagogy of this interdisciplinary subject

Ethnic Differences in Disability Prevalence and Their Determinants Studied over a 20-Year Period: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: To compare disability prevalence rates in the major ethnic groups in the UK and understand the risk factors contributing to differences identified. It was hypothesised that Indian Asian and African Caribbean people would experience higher rates of disability compared with Europeans. METHODS: Data was collected from 888 European, 636 Indian Asian and 265 African Caribbean men and women, aged 58-88 years at 20-year follow-up of community-based cohort study, based in West London. Disability was measured using a performance-based locomotor function test and self-reported questionnaires on functional limitation, and instrumental (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (ADL). RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of participants at follow-up was 69.6 (6.2) years. Compared with Europeans, Indian Asian people were significantly more likely to experience all of the disability outcomes than Europeans; this persisted after adjustment for socioeconomic, behavioural, adiposity and chronic disease risk factors measured at baseline (locomotor dysfunction: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.20, 95% CI 1.56-3.11; functional limitation: OR 2.77, 2.01-3.81; IADL impairment: OR 3.12, 2.20-4.41; ADL impairment: OR 1.58, 1.11-2.24). In contrast, a modest excess risk of disability was observed in African Caribbeans, which was abolished after adjustment (e.g. locomotor dysfunction: OR 1.37, 0.90-1.91); indeed a reduced risk of ADL impairment appeared after multivariable adjustment (OR from 0.99, 0.68-1.45 to 0.59, 0.38-0.93), compared with Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: Substantially elevated risk of disability was observed among Indian Asian participants, unexplained by known factors. A greater understanding of determinants of disability and normative functional beliefs of healthy aging is required in this population to inform intervention efforts to prevent disability

Weak Phase gamma Using Isospin Analysis and Time Dependent Asymmetry in B_d -> K_s pi^+ pi^-

We present a method for measuring the weak phase gamma using isospin analysis of three body B decays into K pi pi channels. Differential decay widths and time dependent asymmetry in B_d -> K_s pi^+pi^- mode needs to be measured into even isospin pi pi states. The method can be used to extract gamma, as well as, the size of the electroweak penguin contributions. The technique is free from assumptions like SU(3) or neglect of any contributions to the decay amplitudes. By studying different regions of the Dalitz plot, it is possible to reduce the ambiguity in the value of gamma.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur

A Dynamic Process Model for the Design and Assessment of Network Systems

Proceedings of the 2006 Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium, San Diego, CA June 2006.This paper won the Gary F. Wheatley Best Paper Award for the entire conference.Modern warfare has witnessed the proliferation of coalition efforts to contain terrorism. To be successful, these efforts rely upon the effective integration of human and technological agents. Typically, models and analyses of network centric warfare (NCW) focus on technological aspects of a system, eschewing the roles, contributions and decisions made by humans. The Dynamic Model of Situated Cognition (DMSC) emerged as an attempt to represent relationships between technology and humans in a system. The model has been applied in a variety of contexts: individual performance, military command and control, naval operations, human error in military mishaps, and, most recently, to modeling team behavior in complex organizations (Miller & Shattuck, 2004, 2005a, b; Shattuck & Miller, 2004, 2005; Miller, Shobe & Shattuck, 2005). During the 2004 CCRT Symposium, we introduced “A Process Model of Situated Cognition in Military Command and Control.” We have expanded and refined the model over the last two years and it continues to be well received. In this paper, we review these changes and extend the Dynamic Model of Situated Cognition to serve as an aid for system designers as they consider how individual and team behaviors emerge and interact with complex technology in a system context

The EPIC-InterAct Study: A Study of the Interplay between Genetic and Lifestyle Behavioral Factors on the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in European Populations.

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes around the world and the global pattern of variation in risk between countries have been widely attributed to an interplay between rising rates of obesity and poor lifestyles, and genetic or developmental susceptibility to disease. Although this general hypothesis has been in existence for more than 50 years, the precise mechanisms that may explain it have remained uncertain. Advances in technology and the application of new methods in large scale population studies have made it possible to study these mechanisms. The InterAct project, funded by the European Commission, is a large case-cohort study which has verified 12,403 incident cases of type 2 diabetes, facilitating the study of genetic and lifestyle factors on the risk of type 2 diabetes among European populations.This is the final version. It was first published by Springer in Current Nutrition Reports at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4218968

Sistem Pakar Diagnosa Kerusakan pada Mesin Pendingin Ruangan dengan Metode Forward Chaining

At this time. Air conditioner have been obviously a very basic need to many people. Hence the use of air conditioner likely require regular maintenance, this is what drives development of an expert system to identify air conditioner damage. Expert system is a branch of artificial intelligence that makes extension use of specialized knowledge to solve problems at the level of a human expert. An expert is a person who has expertise in a certain area. This expert system can help find solutions quickly and can save time. Inference method used is a forward chaining , the inference process that initiate search of the premises or in the form of input data lead to the conclusion that symptoms of the damage conclusions and provide solutions on air conditioner damage. The test results are made based on the questionnaire showed that, the program quite useful in providing information about damage to the air conditioner, made consultation more efficient with result that equally same with air conditioner technician

Dietary dairy product intake and incident type 2 diabetes: a prospective study using dietary data from a 7-day food diary

The consumption of specific dairy types may be beneficial for the prevention of diabetes. Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between total and types of dairy product intake and risk of developing incident type 2 diabetes, using a food diary. Methods: A nested case-cohort within the EPIC-Norfolk Study was examined, including a random subcohort (n=4,000) and cases of incident diabetes (n=892, including 143 cases in the subcohort) followed-up for 11 years. Diet was assessed using a prospective 7-day food diary. Total dairy intake (g/day) was estimated and categorised into high-fat (≥3.9%) and low-fat (<3.9% fat) dairy, and by subtype into yoghurt, cheese and milk. Combined fermented dairy product intake (yoghurt, cheese, sour cream) was estimated and categorised into high- and low-fat. Prentice-weighted Cox regression HRs were calculated. Results: Total dairy, high-fat dairy, milk, cheese and high-fat fermented dairy product intakes were not associated with the development of incident diabetes. Low-fat dairy intake was inversely associated with diabetes in age- and sex-adjusted analyses (tertile [T] 3 vs T1, HR 0.81 [95% CI 0.66, 0.98]), but further adjustment for anthropometric, dietary and diabetes risk factors attenuated this association. In addition, an inverse association was found between diabetes and low-fat fermented dairy product intake (T3 vs T1, HR 0.76 [95% CI 0.60, 0.99]; ptrend=0.049) and specifically with yoghurt intake (HR 0.72 [95% CI 0.55, 0.95]; ptrend=0.017) in multivariable adjusted analyses. Conclusions/interpretation: Greater low-fat fermented dairy product intake, largely driven by yoghurt intake, was associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes development in prospective analyses. These findings suggest that the consumption of specific dairy types may be beneficial for the prevention of diabetes, highlighting the importance of food group subtypes for public health messages