Low-power architecture for CIL-code hardware processor

In the article the authors present the architecture of a hardware CIL processor, which is capable to execute CIL instructions as native code. The CIL hardware engine is implemented on the top of the low-power DSP architecture, and the CIL processor has two execution cores: DSP and CIL. Such solution allows to execute both CIL and DSP instruction sets as native instructions sets and gain performance in common multimedia tasks. Therefore, the DSP-based CIL processor may be targeted for multimedia digital home and even embedded applications. The research was sponsored by RFP 2 Microsoft Corp. grant

Финансирование общедоступной медицинской помощи населению Российской Федерации: сохранять многоканальность или переходить на систему единого плательщика?

The subject of the research is the models of collection and consolidation (pooling) of resources for payment of public (free at the place of delivery) medical care to the population in developed countries and in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to develop practical recommendations on the development of a system for financing medical guarantees for the population of the Russian Federation. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of resources to pay for public health care for the entire population in our country. The scientific novelty lies in the comparison of single-channel and multichannel pooling models used by developed countries in terms of their financial-economic and medico-social efficiency with the conclusion about a higher level of costs of the multichannel model with a comparable level of coverage with medical services of the population and indicators of its health compared to the model single payer. The research methodology is based on the use of complex, statistical, comparative and retrospective analyzes. It was concluded that the use of a multichannel pooling model in the financing of healthcare in the Russian Federation with the participation of competing insurers and the use of different channels of budgetary financing for different groups of the population is an important reason for the low efficiency of the Russian healthcare system. The prospect of further research is in the formation of a scientific and methodological justification for replacing the multichannel pooling model, which has historically developed in healthcare in Russia, with a single-channel model of a single payer represented by the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (hereinafter- CMIF).Предмет исследования — модели сбора и консолидации (пулинга) ресурсов для оплаты общедоступной (бесплатной по месту оказания) медицинской помощи населению в развитых странах и в Российской Федерации. Цель исследования — разработка практических рекомендаций по развитию системы финансирования медицинских гарантий населению Российской Федерации. Актуальность исследования обусловлена дефицитом ресурсов для оплаты общедоступной медицинской помощи всему населению в нашей стране. Научная новизна заключается в проведенном сравнении используемых развитыми странами одноканальной и многоканальной моделей пулинга с точки зрения их финансово-экономической и медико-социальной эффективности с выводом о более высоком уровне расходов многоканальной модели при сопоставимом уровне охвата медицинскими услугами населения и показателях его здоровья по сравнению с моделью единого плательщика. Методология исследования основана на использовании комплексного, статистического, сравнительного и ретроспективного анализов. Сделан вывод: использование в финансировании здравоохранения Российской Федерации многоканальной модели пулинга с участием конкурирующих страховщиков и разных каналов бюджетного финансирования для различных групп населения представляется важной причиной низкой эффективности российской системы здравоохранения. Перспектива дальнейших исследований — в формировании научно-методологического обоснования замены исторически сложившейся в здравоохранении России многоканальной модели пулинга на одноканальную модель единого плательщика в лице Федерального фонда обязательного медицинского страхования (далее — ФФОМС)

Identification and assessment of geohazards affecting pipelines and urban areas

The paper addresses methods and criteria of risk assessment associated with land subsidence threatening pipelines, buildings, and constructions. Currently, there are some practical issues relating to geohazards that should be taken into account while constructing a pipeline. The article provides comparison data on the effects of Spitak earthquake and the natural disaster in Neftegorsk in terms of geohazards impact on the pipeline systems. The suggested risk assessment procedure embraces a wide range of aspects: from soil properties to economic and management issues

A Spectral Method for Elliptic Equations: The Neumann Problem

Let $\Omega$ be an open, simply connected, and bounded region in $\mathbb{R}^{d}$, $d\geq2$, and assume its boundary $\partial\Omega$ is smooth. Consider solving an elliptic partial differential equation $-\Delta u+\gamma u=f$ over $\Omega$ with a Neumann boundary condition. The problem is converted to an equivalent elliptic problem over the unit ball $B$, and then a spectral Galerkin method is used to create a convergent sequence of multivariate polynomials $u_{n}$ of degree $\leq n$ that is convergent to $u$. The transformation from $\Omega$ to $B$ requires a special analytical calculation for its implementation. With sufficiently smooth problem parameters, the method is shown to be rapidly convergent. For $u\in C^{\infty}(\overline{\Omega})$ and assuming $\partial\Omega$ is a $C^{\infty}$ boundary, the convergence of $\Vert u-u_{n}\Vert_{H^{1}}$ to zero is faster than any power of $1/n$. Numerical examples in $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ and $\mathbb{R}^{3}$ show experimentally an exponential rate of convergence.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure

Phantom Undulations: Remote Physiological Sensing in Abstract Installation Works

Phantom Undulations is a mixed-media work in which an artist’s physiological data is being used remotely to manipulate the sounds and visuals of an abstract artifact in a gallery setting. This work relies heavily on the concept of showing the artist’s presence or liveness in an abstract and remote manner through changes in the harmony, rhythm, and timbre of a loosely structured soundscape as well as the physical appearance of the artifact. We propose a method of utilizing real time physiological sensing data through a custom built sensing wristband and accompanying software. This system reads the physiological data of the artist and sends it to the Internet, where it can be received by the artifact anywhere on Earth. In addition to the artist’s physiological data, we also offer a way for the audience to incorporate their own data into the work via several sensing wristbands which will accompany the artifact. Through this collaborative process, we wish to invite the audience to join the artist in manipulating the sonic and visual characteristics of this artifact and create a contrapuntally fluid and responsive musical experience

A spectral method for elliptic equations: the Dirichlet problem

An elliptic partial differential equation Lu=f with a zero Dirichlet boundary condition is converted to an equivalent elliptic equation on the unit ball. A spectral Galerkin method is applied to the reformulated problem, using multivariate polynomials as the approximants. For a smooth boundary and smooth problem parameter functions, the method is proven to converge faster than any power of 1/n with n the degree of the approximate Galerkin solution. Examples in two and three variables are given as numerical illustrations. Empirically, the condition number of the associated linear system increases like O(N), with N the order of the linear system.Comment: This is latex with the standard article style, produced using Scientific Workplace in a portable format. The paper is 22 pages in length with 8 figure

Soft X-ray harmonic comb from relativistic electron spikes

We demonstrate a new high-order harmonic generation mechanism reaching the `water window' spectral region in experiments with multi-terawatt femtosecond lasers irradiating gas jets. A few hundred harmonic orders are resolved, giving uJ/sr pulses. Harmonics are collectively emitted by an oscillating electron spike formed at the joint of the boundaries of a cavity and bow wave created by a relativistically self-focusing laser in underdense plasma. The spike sharpness and stability are explained by catastrophe theory. The mechanism is corroborated by particle-in-cell simulations

X-ray harmonic comb from relativistic electron spikes

X-ray devices are far superior to optical ones for providing nanometre spatial and attosecond temporal resolutions. Such resolution is indispensable in biology, medicine, physics, material sciences, and their applications. A bright ultrafast coherent X-ray source is highly desirable, for example, for the diffractive imaging of individual large molecules, viruses, or cells. Here we demonstrate experimentally a new compact X-ray source involving high-order harmonics produced by a relativistic-irradiance femtosecond laser in a gas target. In our first implementation using a 9 Terawatt laser, coherent soft X-rays are emitted with a comb-like spectrum reaching the 'water window' range. The generation mechanism is robust being based on phenomena inherent in relativistic laser plasmas: self-focusing, nonlinear wave generation accompanied by electron density singularities, and collective radiation by a compact electric charge. The formation of singularities (electron density spikes) is described by the elegant mathematical catastrophe theory, which explains sudden changes in various complex systems, from physics to social sciences. The new X-ray source has advantageous scalings, as the maximum harmonic order is proportional to the cube of the laser amplitude enhanced by relativistic self-focusing in plasma. This allows straightforward extension of the coherent X-ray generation to the keV and tens of keV spectral regions. The implemented X-ray source is remarkably easily accessible: the requirements for the laser can be met in a university-scale laboratory, the gas jet is a replenishable debris-free target, and the harmonics emanate directly from the gas jet without additional devices. Our results open the way to a compact coherent ultrashort brilliant X-ray source with single shot and high-repetition rate capabilities, suitable for numerous applications and diagnostics in many research fields

On the Convergence of Kergin and Hakopian Interpolants at Leja Sequences for the Disk

We prove that Kergin interpolation polynomials and Hakopian interpolation polynomials at the points of a Leja sequence for the unit disk $D$ of a sufficiently smooth function $f$ in a neighbourhood of $D$ converge uniformly to $f$ on $D$. Moreover, when $f$ is $C^\infty$ on $D$, all the derivatives of the interpolation polynomials converge uniformly to the corresponding derivatives of $f$

Plume-lithosphere interaction, and the formation of fibrous diamonds

This work was financially supported though a JSPS international research fellowship PE 14721 (to MWB) and JSPS KAKENHI grant numbers JP 26287139 and JP15KK0150 (to HS). The work of DAZ and ALR was supported by Russian science foundation (16-17-10067). RB acknowledges funding from the NERC (NE/M000427/1). SM acknowledges funding from the NERC (NE/PO12167/1).Fluid inclusions in diamond provide otherwise inaccessible information on the origin and nature of carbonaceous fluid(s) in the mantle. Here we evaluate the role of subducted volatiles in diamond formation within the Siberian cratonic lithosphere. Specifically, we focus on the halogen (Cl, Br and I) and noble gas (He, Ne and Ar) geochemistry of fluids trapped within cubic, coated and cloudy fibrous diamonds from the Nyurbinskaya kimberlite, Siberia. Our data show Br/Cl and I/Cl ratios consistent with involvement of altered oceanic crust, suggesting subduction-derived fluids have infiltrated the Siberian lithosphere. 3He/4He ranging from 2 to 11 RA, indicates the addition of a primordial mantle component to the SCLM. Mantle plumes may therefore act as a trigger to re-mobilise subducted carbon-rich fluids from the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, and we argue this may be an essential process in the formation of fluid-rich diamonds, and kimberlitic magmatism.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe