Truncated K-moment problems in several variables

Let $\beta\equiv\beta^{(2n)}$ be an N-dimensional real multi-sequence of degree 2n, with associated moment matrix $\mathcal{M}(n)\equiv \mathcal{M}(n)(\beta)$, and let $r:=rank \mathcal{M}(n)$. We prove that if $\mathcal{M}(n)$ is positive semidefinite and admits a rank-preserving moment matrix extension $\mathcal{M}(n+1)$, then $\mathcal{M}(n+1)$ has a unique representing measure \mu, which is r-atomic, with supp \mu$equal to$\mathcal{V}(\mathcal{M}(n+1))$, the algebraic variety of$\mathcal{M}(n+1)$. Further, \beta has an r-atomic (minimal) representing measure supported in a semi-algebraic set$K_{\mathcal{Q}}$subordinate to a family$\mathcal{Q}% \equiv\{q_{i}\}_{i=1}^{m}\subseteq\mathbb{R}[t_{1},...,t_{N}]$if and only if$\mathcal{M}(n)$is positive semidefinite and admits a rank-preserving extension$\mathcal{M}(n+1)$for which the associated localizing matrices$\mathcal{M}_{q_{i}}(n+[\frac{1+\deg q_{i}}{2}])$are positive semidefinite$(1\leq i\leq m)$; in this case, \mu (as above) satisfies supp \mu\subseteq K_{\mathcal{Q}}$, and \mu has precisely rank \mathcal{M}(n)-rank \mathcal{M}_{q_{i}}(n+[\frac{1+\deg q_{i}}{2}])$atoms in$\mathcal{Z}(q_{i})\equiv {t\in\mathbb{R}^{N}:q_{i}(t)=0}$,$1\leq i\leq m$.Comment: 33 pages; to appear in J. Operator Theor

The effect of the linear term on the wavelet estimator of primordial non-Gaussianity

In this work we present constraints on different shapes of primordial non-Gaussianity using the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) 7-year data and the spherical Mexican hat wavelet fnl estimator including the linear term correction. In particular we focus on the local, equilateral and orthogonal shapes. We first analyse the main statistical properties of the wavelet estimator and show the conditions to reach optimality. We include the linear term correction in our estimators and compare the estimates with the values already published using only the cubic term. The estimators are tested with realistic WMAP simulations with anisotropic noise and the WMAP KQ75 sky cut. The inclusion of the linear term correction shows a negligible improvement (< 1 per cent) in the error-bar for any of the shapes considered. The results of this analysis show that, in the particular case of the wavelet estimator, the optimality for WMAP anisotropy levels is basically achieved with the mean subtraction and in practical terms there is no need of including a linear term once the mean has been subtracted. Our best estimates are now: local fnl = 39.0 +/ 21.4, equilateral fnl = -62.8 +/- 154.0 and orthogonal fnl = -159.8 +/- 115.1 (all cases 68 per cent CL). We have also computed the expected linear term correction for simulated Planck maps with anisotropic noise at 143 GHz following the Planck Sky Model and including a mask. The improvement achieved in this case for the local fnl error-bar is also negligible (0.4 per cent).Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables. Minor revision, one figure added, accepted for publication in MNRA

Effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes in the control of Cydia pomonella larvae in Northern Italy

Since 2006, a large scale research on the effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) in the control of codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella, overwintering larvae has been performed on about 35 ha of pear orchards per year in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy. Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema feltiae activity was checked after spray applications of EPNs to the trunk and branches. In 2006, the treatment was applied either in spring or in autumn at different doses, before CM pupation; in 2007 the EPN treatment was applied only in autumn at 1.5 x 109 I.J. ha –1. Every year it was distributed by means of a conventional mist blower. The larval mortality was assessed directly on sentinel larvae in card boards on the trunks and indirectly on the eggs laid by the females of the first CM generation in spring. Moreover, each year, a trial was performed applying only S. carpocapsae on sentinel larvae with the aim of testing this nematode at suitable temperatures but at different water volumes. The CM sentinel larvae were effectively parasitized after autumnal EPN application. Moreover, the egg assessment demonstrated a good decrease in CM population in spring 2007, when EPNs had been applied at the best weather conditions (t° 12-14 °C and rain) in the previous autumn

Paper Session III-C - The World Wide Web as a Science and Engineering Educational Tool

Since 1992, the internet evolved from a means to share information between university and government computers to a world-wide. total information community open to every human being. The World Wide Web, WWW, or the Web as it is popularly known, has taken on a whole new dimension in human culture. We can now share any known fact in a single moment with everyone else, on and off-planet. Education can be as broad as the human imagination. Obfuscation is no longer possible. Repression can only occur when openness is unavailable, and the oppressors are on the run. The Free World has become the entire world on the Web

Paper Session III-A - NASA\u27s Greatest Inventions and Contributions of Dual-Use Technologies in the 1990\u27s

The Inventions and Contributions Board was chartered by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to recommend to the NASA Administrator awards of up to $100,000 to contributors of scientific and technical innovations that are significant to NASA\u27s mission and that have been sponsored, supported, promoted, or used by NASA. Over the last 37 years, NASA has granted over 60,000 so-called Space Act Awards to worthy recipients worth over$19,000,000 (1994 dollars). During the last four years, there have been a number of awards that have involved success stories for NASA-derived technology wherein not only has the innovation been useful for space applications, but also to the private sector for terrestrial uses. The most significant of these include applications in water treatment, manufacture of electronics, new materials, telecommunications, microburst detection, medical technology, and environmental technologies. We estimate that these recent contributions may have an impact on U.S. GNP of over $10 billion. This paper identifies seven specific Space Act Award cases within these fields that save lives, generate new jobs, reduce the cost of goods, raise the quality of life, and improve the productivity of American industry

Factors associated with costs of hospitalization of severely mentally Ill patients

Background: Efforts to contain costs associated with general medical care include particular efforts for psychiatric disorders. Hospitalization represents the largest component of costs for psychiatric care and there is growing interest in balancing clinical needs against limiting costs of inpatient psychiatric care of patients with severe mental illnesses. This study aimed to evaluate clinical factors associated with actual costs of inpatient psychiatric care. Method: We evaluated a cohort of 589 hospitalized psychiatric patients with severe mental illnesses at a nonprofit, university-affiliated psychiatric hospital for factors associated with annualized total costs of inpatient care over a three-year period, using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results: As expected, days-hospitalized was the major determinant of total costs of hospital care. In addition, several clinical and treatment factors also were associated significantly and independently with costs in multivariate modeling. These included presence of psychosis, electroconvulsive treatment, specialist consultations, use of multiple antipsychotics or of clozapine, and being discharged to a supervised living arrangement, but not sex, age, marital status, employment, or substance abuse. Discussion: As expected, costs of psychiatric hospitalization were dominated by per-diem charges, but also influenced by other, potentially modifiable treatment factors generally associated with more severe psychotic illnesses. The study is based on actual costs rather than on insurer-reimbursements and a large study-sample, though at a single institution. Specific factors identified encourage focusing on patient characteristics associated with greater costs and redoubled efforts to apply and improve alternative, cost-effective interventions such as partialhospital and intensive outpatient treatment