588 research outputs found
Effects of DUT mismatch on the noise figure characterization: A comparative analysis of two Y-factor techniques
Device mismatch seriously degrades accuracy in
noise figure characterization. The suitability of corrections to the gain definitions for a more precise noise figure evaluation for mismatched devices is investigated and compared to classical techniques. The effects of device mismatch on the noise figure of
the noise-meter receiver and its impact on the final accuracy are analyzed
Unique fine scale village spatial-temporal distributions of Anopheles farauti differ by physiological state and sex
Background: The ecology of many mosquitoes, including Anopheles farauti, the dominant malaria vector in the southwest Pacific including the Solomon Islands, remains inadequately understood. Studies to map fine scale vector distributions are biased when trapping techniques use lures that will influence the natural movements of mosquitoes by attracting them to traps. However, passive collection methods allow the detailed natural distributions of vector populations by sex and physiological states to be revealed.
Methods: The barrier screen, a passive mosquito collection method along with human landing catches were used to record An. farauti distributions over time and space in two Solomon Island villages from May 2016 to July 2017.
Results: Temporal and spatial distributions of over 15,000 mosquitoes, including males as well as unfed, host seeking, blood-fed, non-blood fed and gravid females were mapped. These spatial and temporal patterns varied by species, sex and physiological state. Sugar-fed An. farauti were mostly collected between 10â20 m away from houses with peak activity from 18:00 to 19:00 h. Male An. farauti were mostly collected greater than 20 m from houses with peak activity from 19:00 to 20:00 h.
Conclusions: Anopheles farauti subpopulations, as defined by physiological state and sex, are heterogeneously distributed in Solomon Island villages. Understanding the basis for these observed heterogeneities will lead to more accurate surveillance of mosquitoes and will enable spatial targeting of interventions for greater efficiency and effectiveness of vector control
Hard Instances of the Constrained Discrete Logarithm Problem
The discrete logarithm problem (DLP) generalizes to the constrained DLP,
where the secret exponent belongs to a set known to the attacker. The
complexity of generic algorithms for solving the constrained DLP depends on the
choice of the set. Motivated by cryptographic applications, we study sets with
succinct representation for which the constrained DLP is hard. We draw on
earlier results due to Erd\"os et al. and Schnorr, develop geometric tools such
as generalized Menelaus' theorem for proving lower bounds on the complexity of
the constrained DLP, and construct sets with succinct representation with
provable non-trivial lower bounds
Semiparametric theory and empirical processes in causal inference
In this paper we review important aspects of semiparametric theory and
empirical processes that arise in causal inference problems. We begin with a
brief introduction to the general problem of causal inference, and go on to
discuss estimation and inference for causal effects under semiparametric
models, which allow parts of the data-generating process to be unrestricted if
they are not of particular interest (i.e., nuisance functions). These models
are very useful in causal problems because the outcome process is often complex
and difficult to model, and there may only be information available about the
treatment process (at best). Semiparametric theory gives a framework for
benchmarking efficiency and constructing estimators in such settings. In the
second part of the paper we discuss empirical process theory, which provides
powerful tools for understanding the asymptotic behavior of semiparametric
estimators that depend on flexible nonparametric estimators of nuisance
functions. These tools are crucial for incorporating machine learning and other
modern methods into causal inference analyses. We conclude by examining related
extensions and future directions for work in semiparametric causal inference
Impact of a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY glycoconjugate or a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine on meningococcal carriage: an observer-blind, phase 3 randomised clinical trial
Background: Meningococcal conjugate vaccines protect individuals directly, but also confer herd protection by interrupting carriage transmission. This Phase III observer-blind, randomised, controlled study evaluated the effects of meningococcal quadrivalent (ACWY) glycoconjugate (MenACWY-CRM) or serogroup B (4CMenB) vaccination on meningococcal carriage rates in young adults.
Methods: University students (aged 18â24 years) from ten sites in England were randomised to receive two vaccinations one month apart: two doses of Japanese Encephalitis vaccine (controls), two doses of 4CMenB (4CMenB), or one dose of MenACWY-CRM then placebo (MenACWY-CRM). Meningococci were isolated from oropharyngeal swabs collected before vaccination and at five scheduled intervals over one year. Primary analysis was cross-sectional carriage one month after the vaccine course; secondary analyses included comparison of carriage at any time point after primary analysis until study termination.
Findings: 2954 subjects were randomised (control, n=987; 4CMenB, n=988; MenACWY-CRM, n=979); approximately one-third of each group was positive for meningococcal carriage at study entry. By one month, there was no significant difference in carriage between controls and 4CMenB (Odds Ratios (OR) [95% CI]; 1·2 [0·8â1·7]) or MenACWY-CRM (OR [95% CI], 0·9 [0·6â1·3]) groups. From three months after dose two, 4CMenB vaccination resulted in significantly lower carriage of any meningococcal strain (calculated efficacy 18·2% [95% CI: 3·4â30·8]) and capsular groups BCWY (calculated efficacy 26·6% [95% CI: 10·5â39·9]) compared to control vaccination. Significantly lower carriage rates were also observed in the MenACWY-CRM group compared with controls: calculated efficacies 39·0% [95%CI: 17·3-55·0] and 36.2% [95%CI: 15·6-51·7] for serogroups Y and CWY, respectively.
Interpretation: MenACWY-CRM and 4CMenB vaccines reduced meningococcal carriage rates over 12 months post-vaccination and, therefore, may affect transmission where widely implemented
STATIC FOUR-DIMENSIONAL ABELIAN BLACK HOLES IN KALUZA-KLEIN THEORY
Static, four-dimensional (4-d) black holes (BH's) in ()-d Kaluza-Klein
(KK) theory with Abelian isometry and diagonal internal metric have at most one
electric () and one magnetic () charges, which can either come from the
same -gauge field (corresponding to BH's in effective 5-d KK theory) or
from different ones (corresponding to BH's with isometry
of an effective 6-d KK theory). In the latter case, explicit non-extreme
solutions have the global space-time of Schwarzschild BH's, finite temperature,
and non-zero entropy. In the extreme (supersymmetric) limit the singularity
becomes null, the temperature saturates the upper bound
, and entropy is zero. A class of KK BH's with
constrained charge configurations, exhibiting a continuous electric-magnetic
duality, are generated by global transformations on the above classes
of the solutions.Comment: 11 pages, 2 Postscript figures. uses RevTeX and psfig.sty (for figs)
paper and figs also at ftp://dept.physics.upenn.edu/pub/Cvetic/UPR-645-
An Anglo-Saxon execution cemetery at Walkington Wold, Yorkshire
This paper presents a re-evaluation of a cemetery excavated over
30 years ago at Walkington Wold in east Yorkshire. The cemetery is
characterized by careless burial on diverse alignments, and by the fact that
most of the skeletons did not have associated crania. The cemetery has been
variously described as being the result of an early post-Roman massacre, as
providing evidence for a âCelticâ head cult or as an Anglo-Saxon execution
cemetery. In order to resolve the matter, radiocarbon dates were acquired and
a re-examination of the skeletal remains was undertaken. It was confirmed that
the cemetery was an Anglo-Saxon execution cemetery, the only known example
from northern England, and the site is set into its wider context in the paper
Counting points on hyperelliptic curves over finite fields
International audienceWe describe some algorithms for computing the cardinality of hyperelliptic curves and their Jacobians over finite fields. They include several methods for obtaining the result modulo small primes and prime powers, in particular an algorithm Ă la Schoof for genus 2 using Cantor's division polynomials. These are combined with a birthday paradox algorithm to calculate the cardinality. Our methods are practical and we give actual results computed using our current implementation. The Jacobian groups we handle are larger than those previously reported in the literature
A low-memory algorithm for finding short product representations in finite groups
We describe a space-efficient algorithm for solving a generalization of the
subset sum problem in a finite group G, using a Pollard-rho approach. Given an
element z and a sequence of elements S, our algorithm attempts to find a
subsequence of S whose product in G is equal to z. For a random sequence S of
length d log_2 n, where n=#G and d >= 2 is a constant, we find that its
expected running time is O(sqrt(n) log n) group operations (we give a rigorous
proof for d > 4), and it only needs to store O(1) group elements. We consider
applications to class groups of imaginary quadratic fields, and to finding
isogenies between elliptic curves over a finite field.Comment: 12 page
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