Exact observability of diagonal systems with a finite-dimensional output operator

In this paper equivalent conditions for exact observability of diagonal systems with a finite-dimensional output operator are given. One of these equivalent conditions is the conjecture of Russell and Weiss (SIAM J. Control Opt. 32(1) (1994) 1–23). The other conditions are in terms of the eigenvalues and the Lyapunov solutions of finite-dimensional subsystems.     

Parallel FTIR-ATR and gravimetrical in-situ measurements on sodium alanate powder samples during hydrogen desorption

An experimental set-up has been developed to carry out in-situ measurements on hydrogen storage materials. It has been used to perform FTIR–ATR measurements on sodium alanate samples during hydrogen desorption and, in parallel, to perform gravimetrical measurements on the same sample. The ATR spectra showed the typical broad Al–H vibrational features, changing according to the phase change the material undergoes during the load cycle. It is shown that the absorbance of the material at these bands and the hydrogen content correspond to each other in a reproducible way. This behavior may be used to measure the hydrogen mass released by an alanate hydrogen reservoir by measuring the optical absorbance at defined wavelengths. In this paper the results of these experiments that may give rise to the realization of a level sensor in future hydrogen storage applications are presented.     

Lateralized processing of speech prosodies in the temporal cortex: a 3-T functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Prosodic modulation of speech provides information about emotional states of speakers (affective prosodies) or serves as syntactic markers to change linguistic aspects of speech (linguistic prosodies). Previous electrophysiological investigations and studies on patients with right or left hemisphere damage showed nonuniform results with respect to lateralization of prosodic processing. In this study 20 healthy right-handed volunteers were investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging of the acoustically responsive areas on the supratemporal plane while detecting phonemes as control targets or prosodies in strings of nonsense syllables and adjectives, the latter randomly intonated in a declarative, interrogative, commanding, happy, or sad fashion. In control task A the phoneme /a/ was detected in the syllables. In control task B the phoneme /a/ was detected in the adjectives, and in the experimental task C the sad intonations (affective) and in the experimental task D the interrogative intonations (linguistic) had to be detected in the same material. In task A intensity-weighted volumes of activated voxels were not different in the two hemispheres (laterality index 0). In task B with an irrelevant phoneme detection with respect to prosodic material, the population split into two subgroups with similar right or left hemispheric lateralization of activity leading to an absolute laterality index of 26.8 across all subjects. During detection of affective prosodies (task C), lateralization was maintained yet the absolute laterality index reduced to 14.5, while there was no lateralization during detection of linguistic prosodies. The sum of activations in the two hemispheres was the same across all tasks and subgroups, which suggests that the lateralizations occurring with presentation and detection of prosodic material depend on a redistribution of activity between hemispheres.     

Zur Abweichungsanalyse im operativen, modellgestützten Controlling

Systems of economic ratios are very important in the field of operative controlling. Functional equations of economic quantities may be analyzed by comparing actual current values of these variables with planned values or values of a previous period using methods of deviation analysis. In this paper different methods of deviation analysis are compared. They are based on conditions, which should be satisfied by methods used to determine the effects on a depending quantity caused by the change of its components. In some aspects these conditions are different from conditions for methods of deviation analysis used in cost accounting. Based on an approximation of the temporal change of economic quantities a new method of deviation analysis is developed. This concept satisfies all conditions formulated at the beginning of the paper.     

Psychometric properties of the Questionnaire on Stress in patients with Diabetes—Revised (QSD-R).

This study reports the psychometric properties of a 45-item diabetes-specific questionnaire, the Questionnaire on Stress in Patients with Diabetes—Revised (QSD-R), a modified and shortened version of the QSD (G. Duran et al; see record 1996-18805-001). The QSD-R was filled out by 1,930 individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Eight consistent scales were identified (values of Cronbach's α: .69–.81). The test-retest reliability for the total score after a 5-week interval was rtt?=?.63. The results provide evidence for the reliability and validity of this instrument. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of self-reported and observed job conditions on depression and anxiety symptoms: A comparison of theoretical models.

The demand/control/support and effort/reward imbalance models have relied on self-reported methods to describe how poor psychosocial working conditions lead to harmful health outcomes. The hindrance/utilization model uses an observational methodology to assess these relationships. Cross-sectional observational and self-reported data from 98 civil servants participating in the Whitehall II Study of British civil servants were used to test whether work conditions measured by each of the three theoretical models explained a significant amount of the variance in depression and anxiety symptoms. Observational measures were also used to assess potential common methods variance bias between the self-reported job conditions and the outcomes. Results showed that the demand/control/support model explained the most variance in depression and anxiety symptoms and the associations were not wholly due to common methods variance. Moreover, measures associated with job resources (e.g., skill discretion, social support and skill utilization) had a protective effect on depression and anxiety symptoms. Exertion-related conditions (e.g., demands, effort, over commitment) were not consistently associated with depression or anxiety symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigation of oviposition deterrent in larval frass ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisd.)

Previous experiments demonstrated an oviposition-deterring effect of larval frass in the Egyptian cotton leaf worm,Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.). In this study, females were shown to perceive the oviposition-deterring substance(s) with their antennae. During dark, airtight, and cold (–10 °C) storage, the deterrent was persistent for at least 395 days. On the other hand, larval frass retained its activity for only two days when applied to cotton leaves. The deterrent activity of frass was independent of larval density. Frass of larvae reared at high densities deterred oviposition as well as frass of larvae feeding separately or in small groups. For significant oviposition deterrence, the minimum amount of frass was in the range of 5–10 mg frass per cotton leaf. An acetone extract of larval frass was highly deterrent, in contrast to extracts prepared with water, ethanol, chloroform, or pentane.     

Sub-micrometer particulate air pollution and cardiovascular mortality in Beijing, China

Background

While the link between particulate matter and cardiovascular mortality is well established, it is not fully investigated and understood which properties of the aerosol might be responsible for the health effects, especially in polluted mega-city areas.

Objectives

Our goal was to explore the association between daily cardiovascular mortality and different particle metrics in the sub-micrometer range in Beijing, China.

Methods

We obtained daily counts of cause-specific cardiovascular deaths in the Beijing urban area for the period March 2004 to August 2005. Concurrently, continuous measurements of particle number size distributions were performed. Particle number concentrations (NC) between 0.003 μm and 0.8 μm were converted to particle mass and surface area concentrations assuming spherical particles. Semi-parametric Poisson regression models adjusting for trend, seasonality, day of the week, and meteorology were used to estimate immediate, delayed and cumulative particle effects. Additionally, effect modification by air mass origin was investigated.

Results

We observed associations between daily cardiovascular mortality and particle NC for a 2-days delay. Moreover, nearly all particle metrics showed 2-days delayed associations with ischemic heart disease mortality. The strongest association was found for particle NC in the size range 0.03-0.1 μm (7.1% increase in daily mortality with a 95%-confidence interval of 2.9%-11.5%, per an increase of 6250 particles/cm³). Results for surface and mass concentrations with a lag of two days indicated effect modification by air mass origin, whereas effects of particle NC were not modified.

Conclusions

Results show an elevated risk of cardiovascular mortality in Beijing from short-term exposure to particulate air pollution in the sub-micrometer range. Results also indicate that locally produced smaller particles and regionally transported particles may exhibit different effects in Beijing.     

Non-invasive 3-D patient registration for image-guided skull base surgery

Image-guided, computer-assisted surgery systems require a common reference between the preoperative image data and the corresponding patient pathology. Therefore, the problem of an accurate and reliable 3-D patient registration and referencing has to be solved. Considering that during image data acquisition patient misalignment and movement can arise in three dimensions, an automatic image registration method must be based on a three-dimensional approach. The method presented in this paper provides accurate 3-D patient registration for correction of these movement errors during data acquisition and active patient referencing to update the position of the head during surgery. Experimental data concerning the accuracy of repeated positionings of our patient registration and reference system demonstrated a high degree of accuracy with mean spatial errors of 0.82 mm ± 0.31 mm in a plastic skull and 1.56 ± 0.76 mm in patients, respectively. Results suggest that non-invasive 3-D patient registration for image-guided surgery may be a precise and useful method for computer-assisted identification of anatomical structures.