Second-Order Asymptotics for the Discrete Memoryless MAC with Degraded Message Sets

This paper studies the second-order asymptotics of the discrete memoryless multiple-access channel with degraded message sets. For a fixed average error probability $\epsilon\in(0,1)$ and an arbitrary point on the boundary of the capacity region, we characterize the speed of convergence of rate pairs that converge to that point for codes that have asymptotic error probability no larger than $\epsilon$, thus complementing an analogous result given previously for the Gaussian setting.Comment: 5 Pages, 1 Figure. Follow-up paper of http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.1197. Accepted to ISIT 201

The Dispersion of Nearest-Neighbor Decoding for Additive Non-Gaussian Channels

We study the second-order asymptotics of information transmission using random Gaussian codebooks and nearest neighbor (NN) decoding over a power-limited stationary memoryless additive non-Gaussian noise channel. We show that the dispersion term depends on the non-Gaussian noise only through its second and fourth moments, thus complementing the capacity result (Lapidoth, 1996), which depends only on the second moment. Furthermore, we characterize the second-order asymptotics of point-to-point codes over $K$-sender interference networks with non-Gaussian additive noise. Specifically, we assume that each user's codebook is Gaussian and that NN decoding is employed, i.e., that interference from the $K-1$ unintended users (Gaussian interfering signals) is treated as noise at each decoder. We show that while the first-order term in the asymptotic expansion of the maximum number of messages depends on the power of the interferring codewords only through their sum, this does not hold for the second-order term.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, IEEE Transactions on Information Theor

Complete collision data set for electrons scattering on molecular hydrogen and its isotopologues: IV. Vibrationally-resolved ionization of the ground and excited electronic states

We present a comprehensive set of vibrationally-resolved cross sections for electron-impact ionization of molecular hydrogen and its isotopologues (H2, D2, T2, HD, HT, and DT) in both the ground and excited electronic states. We apply the adiabatic-nuclei molecular convergent close-coupling (MCCC) method to calculate cross sections from threshold to 1000 eV for ionization of the ground and excited vibrational levels of the X1Σg+, B1Σu+, C1Πu, EF1Σg+, a3Σg+, and c3Πu electronic states, representing all states with united-atoms-limit principle quantum number n=1–2. The cross sections are presented in graphical form and provided as both numerical values and analytic fit functions in supplementary data files. The data can also be downloaded from the MCCC database at mccc-db.org

Phenomenological Implications of a Magnetic 5th Force

A 5th force coupling to baryon number $B$ has been proposed to account for the correlations between the acceleration differences $\Delta a_{ij}$ of the samples studied in the E\"{o}tv\"{o}s experiment, and the corresponding differences in the baryon-to-mass ratios $\Delta(B/\mu)_{ij}$. To date the E\"{o}tv\"{o}s results have not been supported by modern experiments. Here we investigate the phenomenological implications of a possible magnetic analog $\vec{\mathscr{B}}_5$ of the conventional 5th force electric field, $\vec{\mathscr{E}}_5$, arising from the Earth's rotation. We demonstrate that, in the presence of couplings proportional to $\vec{\mathscr{B}}_5$, both the magnitude and direction of a possible 5th force field could be quite different from what would otherwise be expected and warrants further investigation.Comment: 31 pages, 1 figure, ws-ijmpa.cls, minor changes, final version to appear in International Journal of Modern Physics

Omega 3 (n−3) fatty acids down-regulate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) gene and blood cell adhesion molecule expression in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease

Chronic inflammation and reduced blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids (n − 3) are known characteristics of sickle cell disease (SCD).The anti-inflammatory properties of n − 3 fatty acids are well recognized. Omega-3 treated (n = 24), hydroxyurea (HU) treated (n = 18), and n − 3 untreated (n = 21) homozygous SCD patients (HbSS) and healthy (HbAA) controls (n = 25) matched for age (5–16 years), gender and socioeconomic status were studied. According to age (5–10) or (11–16) years, two or three capsules containing 277.8 mg docosahexaenoic (DHA) and 39.0 mg eicosapentaenoic (EPA) or high oleic acid placebo (41%) were assigned to n − 3 treated and n − 3 untreated groups, respectively. Hydroxyurea treated group was on dosage more than 20 mg/kg/day. The effect of supplementation on systemic and blood cell markers of inflammation was investigated. The n − 3 treated group had higher levels of DHA and EPA (p < 0.001) and lower white blood cell count and monocyte integrin (p < 0.05) compared with the n − 3 untreated. No difference was detected between the two groups regarding C-reactive protein, granulocytes integrin and selectin, plasma tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10. The n − 3 treated group had lowered nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) gene expression compared to n − 3 untreated and HU treated groups (p < 0.05). This study provides evidence that supplementation with n − 3 fatty acids may ameliorate inflammation and blood cell adhesion in patients with SCD

Acculturating to multiculturalism: a new dimension of dietary acculturation among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA

BackgroundDietary acculturation is the process by which diet and dietary practises from the environment of origin are retained or changed and/or those prevalent in a new environment are adopted. Despite rapid population growth the U.S., knowledge gaps exist on characterising dietary acculturation among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities (AANHPI). This study characterise dietary patterns in a sample representative of AANHPI on key demographic characteristics.MethodsData were from a 2013-2014 population-based case-control study in the San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. Survey items were adapted from dietary acculturation scales developed for AANHPI populations. Validated measures assessed social capital, social standing, discrimination and immigration experiences. A principal components factor analysis was conducted to characterise dietary patterns of acculturation.ResultsThree dietary patterns were identified: "Asian," "Western," and a distinct "Multicultural" factor. Respondents reporting a high-Asian diet tended to also report smaller social networks, higher levels of stress, and, among those born outside of the U.S., an educational standing that was better before immigration. Respondents reporting a high-Western diet tended to also report the highest level of discrimination. Those reporting a high-Multicultural diet tended to report higher neighbourhood collective efficacy.ConclusionsThe finding of a distinct "Multicultural" factor beyond the typical "Asian" and "Western" factors may reflect the multidirectional relationships between culture, diet, and dietary behavior, in which origin and destination cultures interact in complex ways and where foods from multiple ethnicities intermix