Distributed uplink scheduling and rate control in cdma2000 using adaptive antenna arrays

Distributed uplink scheduling and rate control in CDMA networks are considered in the case of adaptive antenna arrays present at the base station. The system model with omnidirectional antennas is generalized to the case where adaptive antenna arrays are deployed. Rate control in a probabilistic manner is investigated. Long-term control by the base station through token bucket constraints is incorporated in the system. Monte Carlo simulation results show considerable improvement when adaptive antenna arrays are used. Optimization of the rate transition probabilities is treated in the special case of on–off scheduling.     

The effect of daily-activity patterns on crash involvement

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of daily-activity and travel patterns on the risk of crash involvement. To this end, we develop a model that integrates daily-activity and travel choices in a single framework, recognizing that these variables affect the risk of crashes. This model can therefore provide predictions of the expected changes in risk levels from the implementation of measures that affect the daily-activity patterns and the socio-economic characteristics of the population.The empirical analysis makes use of data collected during a household survey that includes crash information and trip diaries. The model is applied in a case study of an Arab town in Israel to analyze various transportation policies. The results of this research show that in addition to individuals’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics, their daily-activity and travel patterns also have an impact on the risk of being involved in car crashes. The case study showed the potential of this framework for analyzing the effect of various social and transportation policies on road safety. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such relationships have been tested by using a disaggregate model and the first time activity-based models have been used to analyze exposure to the risk of road crashes.     

Quantum states engineering: Recurrence formula including states with even and odd numbers of photons

Abstract

A previous recurrence formula using the resonant atom-field interaction for the generation of a field state in a cavity is extended to arbitrary states having even and odd numbers of photons in their photon-number distribution.     

An alpha-tectorin gene defect causes a newly identified autosomal recessive form of sensorineural pre-lingual non-syndromic deafness, DFNB21

In our efforts to identify new loci responsible for non-syndromic autosomal recessive forms of deafness, DFNB loci, we have pursued the analysis of large consanguineous affected families living in geographically isolated areas. Here, we report on the study of a Lebanese family comprising nine members presenting with a pre-lingual severe to profound sensorineural isolated form of deafness. Linkage analysis led to the characterization of a new locus, DFNB21, which was assigned to chromosome 11q23-25. Already mapped to this chromosomal region was TECTA. This gene encodes alpha-tectorin, a 2155 amino acid protein which is a component of the tectorial membrane. This gene recently has been shown to be responsible for a dominant form of deafness, DFNA8/12. Sequence analysis of the TECTA gene in the DFNB21-affected family revealed a G to A transition in the donor splice site (GT) of intron 9, predicted to lead to a truncated protein of 971 amino acids. This establishes that alpha-tectorin mutations can be responsible for both dominant and recessive forms of deafness. Comparison of the phenotype of the DFNB21 heterozygous carriers with that of DFNA8/12-affected individuals supports the hypothesis that the TECTA mutations which cause the dominant form of deafness have a dominant-negative effect. The present results provide genetic evidence for alpha-tectorin forming homo- or heteromeric structures.     

Water and the CGIAR: A Strategic Framework

Abstract

Among the many institutions addressing development issues at the international level, the 16 research centers of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) focus on the goal of reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition by sustainably increasing productivity of resources in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The CGIAR has certain comparative advantages in carrying work in water at the various scales, from the farm up to global, that should be offered to the international community. This discussion paper addresses the question: what are the major water issues relevant to the CGIAR goal? The paper also presents a justification of the research needs and opportunities as well as some initial ideas for the development of a specific research agenda on each area. While other international organizations are very active in many international initiatives, the CGIAR is one of the few that could contribute much needed research information in many world areas. The CGIAR must focus more on water in relation to the plight of the poor in particular. There is a need to increase the adaptive capacity of the poor, and to manage the water supply and quality constraints. This could be achieved by focusing at the community level and by developing inexpensive, easy to use monitoring tools that would alert the communities of forthcoming problems and provide them with means to take remedial action. This action is often needed long before there is any hope of changes in policy and other macro-level interventions. The fundamental issue of water as a food requires that attention be given to the quantity and quality of water available for domestic use in poor households and communities. Health issues associated with domestic supply and with irrigation management have been important research themes in the CGIAR and demand increasing attention. Given the current composition, activitiesm and comparative advantages of the CGIAR, it is proposed that research on water management should focus on the following four broad general areas: (1) improving the efficiency of water use in agriculture through increased water productivity; (2) management of watersheds for multiple functions; (3) management of aquatic ecosystems, in particular those sharing boundaries with terrestrial ecosystems; and (4) policy and institutional aspects of water management. As the aim of water management research is to address water constraints and issues in an integrated manner, the four areas cannot be treated in isolation from each other. There is thus a need for the fifth area for achieving integration at and across different scales.     

Keratinocyte differentiation is stimulated by activators of the nuclear hormone receptor PPARalpha

BACKGROUND: A patient's likelihood of dying from breast cancer or another cause can be assessed with competing risks analyses. METHODS: Data for a cohort of 678 patients with primary invasive breast cancer accrued from 1971 to 1990, updated to 1995, included cause of death (e.g., breast cancer vs. other cause). We investigated the effects of age, tumor size, nodal status, ER, PgR, and adjuvant therapy (hormones, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) on type of death and time to death for patients of all ages and for those over the age of 65 years. RESULTS: Although there were no significant univariate differences in breast cancer death rates by age group (P=0.94), more patients over the age of 65 years died from other causes (41/207 [20%] of those older than 65 years vs. 16/471 [3%] of those younger than 65 years; P <.001). In competing risks analyses, older age was associated with non-breast cancer death, whereas larger tumor size was associated with breast cancer death. PgR was positively, and nodal status negatively, associated with survival, regardless of type. In the older patient group, the competing risks analyses identified similar effects for age and tumor size; in addition, higher ER assay values were less likely to be associated with breast cancer death. CONCLUSIONS: With increased lifespan, there will be more breast cancer cases in women older than 65 years; we have shown that women in this group have more non-breast cancer deaths. It becomes important, then, to delineate differential effects of prognostic factors on competing causes of death.     

Usefulness of the codification of multiple causes of death in mortality statistics

BACKGROUND: The codification of multiple causes of death began in the US in 1917 and systematic publication of this data started in 1984. In Spain this began in 1988, and the data from this year have been taken as the basis for investigation. They have also been studied for regional differences. METHODS: A representative sample (595) of Spanish Standard Death Certificates (DC) was collected in Asturias for the year 1988. All were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases and a separate coding was made for each nosological entity included in the certificate (coding of multiple causes). The median, mode and the multiple cause/underlying cause ratio were also calculated. RESULTS: More than 80% of the certificates studied contained more than one cause of death. Chronic diseases are those which are accompanied by a greater number of causes and acute diseases those which appear alone. The highest ratios appear for diseases which are ill defined and also in those which are chronic. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that information is lost in the production of the statistics of mortality and there are repercussions for the usefulness of these statistics.     

Method for analyzing series resistance and diode quality factors from field data of photovoltaic modules

A procedure is detailed in which the effects of series resistance and diode quality factors are separately analyzed and quantified using current–voltage (IV) data gathered in situ from three photovoltaic (PV) modules. Series resistance losses are implicated to be largely responsible for reduction in the fill factor values for intensities of 60% of one sun or greater. The data presented are from one cadmium telluride (CdTe) and two amorphous silicon (a-Si) modules and were taken in field deployment with a data acquisition system.