Random Matrix Models, Double-Time Painlev\'e Equations, and Wireless Relaying

This paper gives an in-depth study of a multiple-antenna wireless communication scenario in which a weak signal received at an intermediate relay station is amplified and then forwarded to the final destination. The key quantity determining system performance is the statistical properties of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) \gamma\ at the destination. Under certain assumptions on the encoding structure, recent work has characterized the SNR distribution through its moment generating function, in terms of a certain Hankel determinant generated via a deformed Laguerre weight. Here, we employ two different methods to describe the Hankel determinant. First, we make use of ladder operators satisfied by orthogonal polynomials to give an exact characterization in terms of a "double-time" Painlev\'e differential equation, which reduces to Painlev\'e V under certain limits. Second, we employ Dyson's Coulomb Fluid method to derive a closed form approximation for the Hankel determinant. The two characterizations are used to derive closed-form expressions for the cumulants of \gamma, and to compute performance quantities of engineering interest.Comment: 72 pages, 6 figures; Minor typos corrected; Two additional lemmas added in Appendix

Water rights, conflict and policy: Proceedings of a workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal, January 22-24, 1996

IrrigationIrrigation managementWater rightsWater lawConflictFarmers' associations

Pioneering the human development revolution: Analysing the trajectory of Mahbub ul Haq

Mahbub ul Haq's work to coordinate, establish and propagate the human development approach offers an example of effective leadership in promoting more ethical socio-economic development. This article reviews Pioneering the Human Development Revolution-An Intellectual Biography of Mahbub ul Haq (edited by Haq and Ponzio), and extends themes from the United Nations Intellectual History Project to examine Haq's contributions in terms of four aspects of leadership: articulating and applying values that combine depth with broad appeal; providing a fruitful and vivid way of seeing, a 'vision', that reflects the values; embodying the values and vision in workable practical proposals; and supporting and communicating the previous aspects through wide and relevant networks. It suggests that the human development approach may need to update its values and vision, including through better integration of human security thinking, if it is to retain the leadership role it acquired thanks to Haq

An antibody raised against a pathogenic serpin variant induces mutant-like behaviour in the wild-type protein

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds to a transient intermediate may act as a catalyst for the corresponding reaction; here we show this principle can extend on a macro molecular scale to the induction of mutant-like oligomerization in a wild-type protein. Using the common pathogenic E342K (Z) variant of α1-antitrypsin as antigen-whose native state is susceptible to the formation of a proto-oligomeric intermediate-we have produced a mAb (5E3) that increases the rate of oligomerization of the wild-type (M) variant. Employing ELISA, gel shift, thermal stability and FRET time-course experiments, we show that mAb5E3 does not bind to the native state of α1-antitrypsin, but recognizes a cryptic epitope in the vicinity of the post-helix A loop and strand 4C that is revealed upon transition to the polymerization intermediate, and which persists in the ensuing oligomer. This epitope is not shared by loop-inserted monomeric conformations. We show the increased amenity to polymerization by either the pathogenic E342K mutation or the binding of mAb5E3 occurs without affecting the energetic barrier to polymerization. As mAb5E3 also does not alter the relative stability of the monomer to intermediate, it acts in a manner similar to the E342K mutant, by facilitating the conformational interchange between these two states

A study of frequency and pulses for stepper motor controller system by using programmable logic controller

The stepper motor movement process produced different frequency and pulses. This research explained about the frequency and pulses for the stepper motor movement by using Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) as research method. The study was done to find the suitable frequency and pulses for stepper motor movement by developing a prototype stepper motor controller system. The pulse frequency used did not affected the distance of moving load in the stepper motor operations. The increasing number of pulse frequency only will affect the time taken for the stepper motor to complete its operations. The result showed that number of pulse frequency at high operation was 5000 Hz. Pulse number reacted as a manipulated variable that affected both factor which is time taken of stepper motor operation and the distance of moving load

Gender differences in the association between adiposity and probable major depression: a cross-sectional study of 140,564 UK Biobank participants

<b>Background</b><p></p> Previous studies on the association between adiposity and mood disorder have produced contradictory results, and few have used measurements other than body mass index (BMI). We examined the association between probable major depression and several measurements of adiposity: BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip-ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (BF%).<p></p> <b>Methods</b><p></p> We conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data on the sub-group of UK Biobank participants who were assessed for mood disorder. Multivariate logistic regression models were used, adjusting for potential confounders including: demographic and life-style factors, comorbidity and psychotropic medication.<p></p> <b>Results</b><p></p> Of the 140,564 eligible participants, evidence of probable major depression was reported by 30,145 (21.5%). The fully adjusted odds ratios (OR) for obese participants were 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.20) using BMI, 1.15 (95% CI 1.11, 1.19) using WC, 1.09 (95% CI 1.05, 1.13) using WHR and 1.18 (95% CI 1.12, 1.25) using BF% (all p <0.001). There was a significant interaction between adiposity and gender (p = 0.001). Overweight women were at increased risk of depression with a dose response relationship across the overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), obese I (30.0-34.9 kg/m2), II (35.0-39.9 kg/m2) and III (≥40.0 kg/m2) categories; fully adjusted ORs 1.14, 1.20, 1.29 and 1.48, respectively (all p < 0.001). In contrast, only obese III men had significantly increased risk of depression (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.08, 1.54, p = 0.006).<p></p> <b>Conclusion</b><p></p> Adiposity was associated with probable major depression, irrespective of the measurement used. The association was stronger in women than men. Physicians managing overweight and obese women should be alert to this increased risk

Oštećenja u aluminiju proizvedena zračenjem iz CO2 i Nd:YAG lasera

The change in the electrical properties of pure aluminium (Al 99.999%) after exposure to CO2 (energy = 2.5 J/pulse, wavelength = 10.6 µm, pulse duration = 200 nsec) and Nd:YAG (energy = 10 mJ/pulse, wavelength = 1.06 µm and pulse duration = 12 nsec) laser radiation is investigated. The samples were exposed to laser radiations for different numbers of pulses. The change in electrical characteristics of Al is studied under different ambient conditions, after irradiating the samples in air, vacuum and hydrogen at different pressures. After exposure, the electrical conductivity of Al is measured by the four probe method. The electrical conductivity decreases with increasing number of pulses. The damage in air and in hydrogen is more pronounced than in vacuum which can be attributed to collisionnal sputtering of Al by plasma ions of air molecules and hydrogen, respectively. The change in the conductivity in hydrogen is pressure-dependent. Some theoretical considerations are also made, e.g. the phonon speed in Al during the photon interaction, minimal melting and evaporation energy per volume, damage threshold energy, penetration depth, the mass of heated volume and average temperature rise at the Al surface during laser irradiation.Proučavamo promjene električnih svojstava čistog aluminija (Al 99.999%) nakon obasjavanja CO2 (energija = 2.5 J/puls, valna duljina = 10.6 µm, trajanje pulsa = 200 nsec) i Nd:YAG (energija = 10 mJ/puls, valna duljina = 1.06 µm, trajanje pulsa = 12 nsec) laserima. Uzorci su izloženi različitim brojevima pulseva. Proučavali smo promjene električne vodljivosti Al s uzorcima u zraku, vakuumu i u vodiku. Nakon obasjavanja mjerili smo električnu vodljivost metodom četiriju spojišta. Električna se vodljivost smanjuje nakon povećanog broja pulseva. Oštećenja u zraku i vodiku veća su nego u vakuumu, što se pripisuje sudarnom rasprašivanju Al ionima molekula zraka odnosno vodika u plazmi. Promjena vodljivosti uzoraka obasjanih u vodiku ovisna je o tlaku. Razmotrili smo neke teorijske rezultate, npr. fononsku brzinu u Al tijekom obasjavanja, minimalnu energiju taljenja i isparavanja po jedinici volumena, energijski prag oštećenja, dubinu prodiranja, masu zagrijanog volumena i prosječno povećanje temperature površine Al tijekom obasjavanja