Application of autoregressive spectral analysis to missing data problems

Time series solutions for spectral analysis in missing data problems use reconstruction of the missing data, or a maximum likelihood approach that analyzes only the available measured data. Maximum likelihood estimation yields the most accurate spectra. An approximate maximum likelihood algorithm is presented that uses only previous observations falling in a finite interval to compute the likelihood, instead of all previous observations. The resulting nonlinear estimation algorithm requires no user-provided initial solution, is suited for order selection, and can give very accurate spectra even if less than 10% of the data remains.     

Finite sample properties of ARMA order selection

The cost of order selection is defined as the loss in model quality due to selection. It is the difference between the quality of the best of all available candidate models that have been estimated from a finite sample of N observations and the quality of the model that is actually selected. The order selection criterion itself has an influence on the cost because of the penalty factor for each additionally selected parameter. Also, the number of competitive candidate models for the selection is important. The number of candidates is, of itself, small for the nested and hierarchical autoregressive/moving average (ARMA) models. However, intentionally reducing the number of selection candidates can be beneficial in combined ARMA(p,q) models, where two separate model orders are involved: the AR order p and the MA order q. The selection cost can be diminished by creating a nested sequence of ARMA(r,r-1) models. Moreover, not evaluating every combination (p,q) of the orders considerably reduces the required computation time. The disadvantage may be that the true ARMA(p,q) model is no longer among the nested candidate models. However, in finite samples, this disadvantage is largely compensated for by the reduction in the cost of order selection by considering fewer candidates. Thus, the quality of the selected model remains acceptable with only hierarchically nested ARMA(r,r-1) models as candidates.     

It takes two to mimic: Behavioral consequences of self-construals.

The present studies demonstrated the moderation of self-construal orientation on mimicry. Recent research has indicated that an interdependent self-construal is associated with assimilation of the other to the self whereas an independent self-construal is associated with minimizing the influence of others on the self (H. R. Markus & S. Kitayama, 1991; D. Stapel & W. Koomen, 2001). Therefore, the authors hypothesized that an interdependent self-construal would be associated with more mimicry than an independent self-construal. When self-construal orientations were experimentally primed. as in Studies 1 and 2, independent self-construals produced less nonconscious mimicry than interdependent self-construals. When self-construals were examined as cultural differences with either a chronically dominant independent (Americans) or interdependent (Japanese) construal of the self, these results were replicated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Critical Shear Stress of Bimodal Sediment in Sand-Gravel Rivers

A new model for the critical shear stress and the transport of graded sediment is presented. The model is based on the size distribution of the bed surface and can be used to compute sediment transport rates in numerical simulations with an active layer model. This model makes a distinction between unimodal and bimodal sediments. It is assumed that all size fractions of unimodal sediments have the same critical shear stress while there is selective transport for the gravel fractions of bimodal sediments. A recently published laboratory transport data set is used to calibrate our model.     

Facility layout problems: A survey

Layout problems are found in several types of manufacturing systems. Typically, layout problems are related to the location of facilities (e.g., machines, departments) in a plant. They are known to greatly impact the system performance. Most of these problems are NP hard. Numerous research works related to facility layout have been published. A few literature reviews exist, but they are not recent or are restricted to certain specific aspects of these problems. The literature analysis given here is recent and not restricted to specific considerations about layout design.

We suggest a general framework to analyze the literature and present existing works using such criteria as: the manufacturing system features, static/dynamic considerations, continual/discrete representation, problem formulation, and resolution approach. Several research directions are pointed out and discussed in our conclusion.     

Treatment of essential arterial hypertension with hypercholesterolemia. Effects of an alpha-adrenergic blocker and an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are frequently associated with this leading to considerable cardiovascular risk. METHODS: An open parallel randomized study was performed in which the effects of doxazosin, an alpha-adrenergic blocker and enalapril, an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme were compared in 70 patients with essential high blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels greater than 240 mg/dl. Following 2-4 weeks of placebo administration the patients were randomly treated with one of the two drugs. When required doses were increased and hydrochlorothiazide added until blood pressure lower than 160/95 mmHg was achieved. After this period the patients were observed for a minimum of 8 weeks. The mean length of the study was of 22 weeks. RESULTS: Both drugs significantly reduced blood pressure without modifying cardiac frequency. Doxazosin tended to favorably modify the lipid profile of the plasma while enalapril significantly reduced the levels of cholesterol, lipids and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Upon termination of the study the total HDL/cholesterol index increased 8.6% in those treated with doxazosin and decreased 5.5% in those receiving enalapril (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although doxazosin and enalapril are potent antihypertensive drugs, the effects on plasma lipid obtained with doxazosin indicate that a reduction in cardiovascular risk was achieved with this drug in the patients included in this study.     

Incidence of Lightspeed separation and the potential for bypassing

It is important for endodontic instruments to have a low fracture rate. If a fracture does occur, it would be desirable to have the ability to bypass the broken segment and complete the root canal treatment. One hundred sixty-two root canals in 52 maxillary and mandibular first molars were cleaned and shaped with Lightspeed instruments by three endodontists in their private practices. The canals were instrumented using the technique recommended by the manufacturer. All canals were instrumented to at least a size 45 at the working length. Six instruments separated during treatment. All six had been used more times than recommended by the manufacturer. Five of the six were easily bypassed and treatment completed.     

Gyrotron coaxial cylindrical resonators with corrugated innerconductor: Theory and experiment

Gyrotron coaxial resonators with a longitudinally slotted inner cylinder are examined analytically using a surface impedance model, from which expressions for the electromagnetic field, ohmic quality (Q) factor, and characteristic equation of the transverse eigenvalues χ _m,p are obtained. The major attributes of such resonators are expressed by the dependence of χ_m,p on the parameter C-defined as the ratio of the outer to inner radii of the coaxial structure. In that connection, the effect of the corrugation parameters on χ_m,p is particularly investigated on the basis of an expression derived for the slope function dχ_m,p,p/dC. It is shown that the χ_m,p(C) curve may either exhibit oscillatory behavior or present a flat portion over a wide range of C depending on the corrugation parameters chosen. The theory is checked against experiment in which resonant frequencies and total Q factors were measured for TE modes operating in the range of 8-16 GHz in a coaxial cavity with 40 slots. Good agreement is found in that the magnitude of the relative error in frequency is less than 0.5%. Corrugated coaxial resonators prove to be relevant to megawatt gyrotrons where highly selective cavities are required to ensure high conversion efficiency