bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maximum‐likelihood synchronization and channel estimation with multiuser detection in GFDMA
Authors: Shayanfar Hamidreza , Saeedi‐Sourck Hamid , Farhang Arman , Doyle Linda E. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAccurate estimation and correction of channel distortions and carrier frequency offset (CFO) are of a great importance in any multicarrier communication system. Hence, in this paper, we propose data‐aided CFO and channel estimation techniques for both multiuser uplink and downlink of the generalized frequency division multiple access (GFDMA). Our proposed solutions jointly estimate the CFO and channel responses based on the maximum‐likelihood criterion. To simplify the implementation of the proposed estimation algorithms, we suggest a preamble composed of two similar Zadoff‐Chu training sequences in a generalized frequency division multiplexing block. It is worth mentioning that our proposed technique can estimate both integer and fractional CFO values without any limitation on the acquisition range of CFO. In the uplink phase, each user aligns its carrier frequency with the base station using the estimated CFO in the downlink. However, the CFO estimates may get outdated for the uplink transmission. Thus, residual CFOs may still remain in the received signal at the base station. While being trivial in the downlink, CFO correction is a challenging task in the uplink. Thus, we also propose a joint CFO correction and channel equalization technique for the uplink of GFDMA systems. Finally, we evaluate our proposed estimation and correction algorithms in terms of estimation mean square error and bit error rate performance through simulations.
Numerische Modellierung der Überfahrung von bestehenden U‐Bahntunneln am Beispiel des Transportsiels Wallring
Authors: Umar Ako , Blaschko Michael , Grubert Thomas 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBeim Projekt Transportsiel Wallring in Hamburg sind zwei U‐Bahntunnel aus den Jahren 1967 bis 1969 mit einem querenden Rohrvortrieb DN 1800 zu überfahren. Dazu gilt es, die Standsicherheit der bestehenden Tunnelschalen, die mit Tübbingen aus Gusseisen ausgebaut sind, vorab rechnerisch zu überprüfen und ein geeignetes Konzept für die messtechnische Überwachung während des Rohrvortriebs zu entwickeln. Hierfür wird ein dreidimensionales FE‐Modell (Finite‐Elemente‐Modell) aufgebaut, mit dem die Überfahrungssituation numerisch anhand der Step‐by‐step‐Methode analysiert wird. Ebenso muss der Last‐ und Verformungszustand, der aus dem Bau der Bestandstunnel resultiert, berechnet und eingeprägt werden. Es kann gezeigt werden, dass der Rohrvortrieb unterschiedliche asymmetrische Belastungen sowie asymmetrische Bettungssituationen an den Bestandstunneln erzeugt, so dass die Standsicherheit der Streckentunnel nachzuweisen ist. An einem separaten FE‐Schalenmodell werden zusätzlich die Traglastreserven für die asymmetrische Belastung aus dem Rohrvortrieb für die Tunnelinnenschale ermittelt. Daraus resultierend können die Grenzverformungen abgeleitet werden, die als Warn‐ und Alarmwerte zur Interpretation der baubegleitenden Vermessung der Streckentunnel dienen. Die Überfahrung wurde erfolgreich ohne jegliche Überschreitung der Warn‐ und Alarmwerte und mit guter Übereinstimmung zwischen prognostizierten und gemessenen Konvergenzen der Tunnelinnenschale abgeschlossen.
Mixed convection inside a fluid‐porous composite cavity with centrally rotating cylinder
Authors: Malla Laxman K. , Jena Sofen K. , Mahapatra Swarup K. , Chamkha Ali J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe mixed convection in a fluid‐porous composite medium lying inside a square cavity with a centrally rotating cylinder has been investigated in the present work. The bottom half of the cavity is filled with a porous material and the top half is filled with a clear fluid. The bottom wall of the cavity is at a higher temperature, and the top wall is at a lower temperature. The vertical walls are thermally insulated. The convection inside the cavity sets through the combined mechanisms of the thermal buoyancy force and the shearing action of the centrally rotating cylinder. The relative importance of each driving mechanism over the other is featured through the Richardson number. The Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer equation is used for the flow modeling in the porous medium, and a single‐domain approach is adopted for the numerical solution in the fluid‐porous composite medium. The simulation is carried out with ANSYS Fluent software, and a parametric analysis involving the Rayleigh number (), Richardson number (), and the Darcy number () is conducted showing their effects on the flow and heat transfer. The phenomena are quite interesting at higher Darcy number and Rayleigh number. The distributions of isotherms, streamlines, and vector plots are plotted, along with the local Nusselt numbers for different parameters, to explore the underlying physics of the phenomenon. The system is found stable at lower Darcy number, and the heat transfer is minimum around Ri = 10. From the numerical study, an empirical correlation for the average Nusselt number is developed as a function of the other dimensionless numbers.
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT IN TRIBAL HOME VISITING: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Authors: Morales Julie R. , Ferron Cathy , Whitmore Corrie , Reifel Nancy , Geary Erin , Anderson Cyndi , Mcdaniel Judy 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTOver the last several decades, performance measurement has become an increasingly prevalent requirement among human services agencies for demonstrating program progress and achieving outcomes. In the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (Tribal MIECHV), performance measurement was one of the central components of the Administration for Children and Families’ cooperative agreements to tribes, urban Indian organizations, and tribal organizations. Since the inception of the Tribal MIECHV Program in 2010, the benchmark requirement was intended to be a mechanism to systematically monitor program progress and performance toward improving the quality of home‐visiting programs that serve vulnerable American Indian or Alaska Native families. In this article, we examine performance measurement in the context of Tribal MIECHV, providing an overview of performance measurement, the Tribal MIECHV requirement, and how grantees experienced the requirement; we describe the existing literature on performance measurement challenges and benefits, and the specific challenges and advantages experienced by tribal grantees; and provide recommendations for performance measurement in tribal home‐visiting contexts based on grantees’ own experiences. This article contributes to the literature by examining performance measurement challenges and opportunities in the context of tribal communities, and provides recommendations that may inform future policy on performance measurement design and implementation in tribal communities.
Design, Synthesis, and in vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activities of Propylene‐tethered Heteronuclear Bis‐isatin Derivatives
Authors: Hua Xue , Zhang Guifu , Zhang Deqing , Wu Yequn 
Published: May 2018

A series of novel propylene‐tethered heteronuclear bis‐isatin derivatives were designed, synthesized, and assessed for their in vitro and anti‐mycobacterial activities. All hybrids exhibited considerable antibacterial and anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and multi‐drug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 16 to 256 μg/mL. In particular, the heteronuclear bis‐isatin 4i (MIC: 25 and 16 μg/mL) was most active against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and MDR‐TB strains, which was fourfold and greater than eightfold more potent than the first‐line anti‐tubercular agents rifampicin (MIC: 64 μg/mL) and isoniazid (MIC: >128 μg/mL) against MDR‐TB, could act as a lead for further optimization.
Alcohol intake and periodontitis in adults aged ≥30 years: NHANES 2009–2012
Authors: Gay Isabel C. , Tran Duong T. , Paquette David W. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundWhether an association between alcohol consumption and periodontitis exists is still unclear. This study aimed to assess the association between alcohol consumption and periodontitis.Methods7062 adults 30 years or older who participated in 2009–2010 and 2011–2012 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Alcohol consumption measurement included self‐reported average number of alcoholic drinks per week over the previous 12 months and was categorized into four groups (0, < 1, 1‐ < 8, and ≥8 drinks per week). Participants were categorized using surveillance case definitions for periodontitis that included both clinical attachment level (CAL) and periodontal probing depth (PD) measurements. The association between alcohol consumption and chronic periodontitis was evaluated by multivariable regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, income‐to‐poverty ratio, smoking, self‐rated overall oral health, and HbA1c.ResultsThe odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of having severe periodontitis was 1.9 (1.2‐3) among participants who reported alcohol consumption of ≥8 drinks compared to participants consuming some alcohol but < 1 drink per week on average. Participants who consumed 1‐ < 8, and ≥8 drinks per week, on average, also had higher mean PD, percentage of sites with PD ≥4 mm, mean CAL, and percentage of sites with CAL ≥3 mm compared to participants reporting consumption of < 1 drink per week. Meanwhile, the odds of having periodontitis, mean PD, extent PD ≥4 mm, mean CAL, and extent CAL ≥3 mm were not significantly different for nondrinkers than for participants who consumed some alcohol but < 1 drink per week on average.ConclusionsAlcohol consumption was associated with an increase in the likelihood of having periodontitis, particularly severe periodontitis. Consumption of some alcohol, < 1 drink per week on average, was associated with similar odds of having periodontitis compared to consumption of no alcohol.
Activation of autophagy in periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells promotes angiogenesis in periodontitis
Authors: Wei Wei , An Yulin , An Ying , Fei Dongdong , Wang Qintao 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundAngiogenesis alteration in tooth support tissue plays an essential role in periodontitis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can affect vessel formation by endothelial cells (ECs) through paracrine function. Autophagy is reported to be closely related to cell secretion. Here we investigated the angiogenesis‐promoting ability of MSCs that reside in the periodontal ligament (known as periodontal ligament stem cells, PDLSCs) under inflammatory conditions in order to explore the mechanism of angiogenesis alteration in periodontitis.MethodsPDLSCs were isolated from healthy and inflamed human periodontal ligament tissues (HPDLSCs and PPDLSCs, respectively). HPDLSCs were subjected to an inflammatory environment (IPDLSCs) in vitro using inflammatory cytokines. Angiogenesis‐promoting cytokine expression and autophagy were evaluated in PDLSCs by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and western‐blot analysis before co‐culturing them with ECs. The angiogenesis ability of ECs in the co‐culture system was examined by a matrigel tube formation test. Rapamycin and pcDNA for Beclin‐1 (cDNA‐Beclin‐1) were used to promote autophagy in PDLSCs and siRNA Beclin‐1 (siBeclin‐1) was used to repress it.ResultsThe inflammatory environment increased autophagy and the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and angiogenin (Ang) in PDLSCs. More tube formation was observed in ECs from the co‐culture system which was pretreated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β. PDLSCs treated with rapamycin or transfected with cDNA‐Beclin‐1 showed higher expression levels of bFGF and Ang that promoted tube formation by the co‐cultured ECs. PDLSCs transfected with siBeclin‐1 resulted in the opposite results.ConclusionAutophagy modulates angiogenesis‐promoting ability of PDLSCs, which could be increased by an inflammatory environment.
The association of periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease risk: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
Authors: Singer Richard H. , Stoutenberg Mark , Feaster Daniel J. , Cai Jianwen , Hlaing WayWay M. , Metsch Lisa R. , Salazar Christian R. , Beaver Shirley M. , Finlayson Tracy L. , Talavera Gregory , Gellman Marc D. , Schneiderman Neil 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundCurrent evidence suggests that periodontal disease (PD) is associated with a significant increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of known confounders. PD is a chronic oral disease with significant variation in prevalence demonstrated among Hispanic/Latino subgroups. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between PD and CVD risk and variations with sex, age, and Hispanic/Latino background.MethodsThe sample included 7379 participants aged 30 to 74 years, from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008 to 2011). We assessed CVD risk by the Framingham 10‐year general CVD risk score (FGRS). PD severity classification was based on calibrated measurements of gingival recession and probing depth. Multivariable sequential linear models for complex sample design assessed FGRS by PD severity, Hispanic/Latino background, and covariates.ResultsThe prevalence of moderate and severe PD combined was 46%. For women and men with severe PD, the combined prevalence of moderate and high CVD risk was 44% and 85%, respectively. The FGRS observed for women (5.1% [95% CI: 4.1%, 6.0%], p < 0.001) and men 10.8% (95% CI [9.2%, 12.3%], p < 0.001) with severe PD were 56% and 134% greater than those without PD, respectively. Dominican women and men with moderate or severe PD, aged 60 to 69 years, exhibited the greatest CVD risks (FGRS = 15.1%, 95% CI [7.8%, 22.5%]) and (FGRS = 40.2%, 95% CI [30.2%, 50.3%]), respectively.ConclusionsModerate and severe PD were associated with significant CVD risk with marked sex disparity and heterogeneity by Hispanic/Latino background.
Food depletion regulates the demography of invasive dreissenid mussels in a stratified lake
Authors: Karatayev Alexander Y. , Karatayev Vadim A. , Burlakova Lyubov E. , Rowe Mark D. , Mehler Knut , Clapsadl Mark D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractLake stratification produces sharp gradients in temperature and pelagic resources which have cascading effects on the traits of aquatic populations, including invasive species and their ecosystem impacts. We study the consequences of such common environmental gradients on the demography of quagga mussels, one of the world's most aggressive invasive species. Coupling a series of in situ experiments with a biophysical model of the pelagic community, we quantify mussel growth and recruitment in littoral vs. profundal benthic habitats of eastern Lake Erie. We found that both severe food depletion and cold temperatures in the hypolimnion during summer stratification cause mussels to grow twice as slowly and currently inhibit recruitment in profundal compared to littoral habitats. Together with the high biomass and large mean mussel size found in long‐term monitoring surveys in the profundal habitats, our results imply that mussels successfully colonizing profundal habitats have relatively long lifespans with low growth rates, and therefore lower productivity, compared to mussels in shallow areas. Consequently, the bulk of dreissenid biomass in Lake Erie and other Great Lakes found in the vast but resource‐poor profundal habitats may have very limited impacts on epilimnetic communities compared to mussels in littoral areas. By contrast, mussels in profundal habitats strongly reduce food availability to hypolimnetic communities throughout the year. Thus, our results explain how the ecosystem impacts of sessile freshwater invaders are likely to vary among habitats and lakes depending on the relative size of profundal populations and the extent of stratification.
Determination of the active volumes of solid‐state photon‐beam dosimetry detectors using the PTB proton microbeam
Authors: Poppinga Daniela , Delfs Bjoern , Meyners Jutta , Langner Frank , Giesen Ulrich , Harder Dietrich , Poppe Bjoern , Looe Hui K. 
Published: May 2018

PurposeThis study aims at the experimental determination of the diameters and thicknesses of the active volumes of solid‐state photon‐beam detectors for clinical dosimetry. The 10 MeV proton microbeam of the PTB (Physikalisch‐Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig) was used to examine two synthetic diamond detectors, type microDiamond (PTW Freiburg, Germany), and the silicon detectors Diode E (PTW Freiburg, Germany) and Razor Diode (Iba Dosimetry, Germany). The knowledge of the dimensions of their active volumes is essential for their Monte Carlo simulation and their applications in small‐field photon‐beam dosimetry.MethodsThe diameter of the active detector volume was determined from the detector current profile recorded by radially scanning the proton microbeam across the detector. The thickness of the active detector volume was determined from the detector's electrical current, the number of protons incident per time interval and their mean stopping power in the active volume. The mean energy of the protons entering this volume was assessed by comparing the measured and the simulated influence of the thickness of a stack of aluminum preabsorber foils on the detector signal.ResultsFor all detector types investigated, the diameters measured for the active volume closely agreed with the manufacturers’ data. For the silicon Diode E detector, the thickness determined for the active volume agreed with the manufacturer's data, while for the microDiamond detectors and the Razor Diode, the thicknesses measured slightly exceeded those stated by the manufacturers.DiscussionThe PTB microbeam facility was used to analyze the diameters and thicknesses of the active volumes of photon dosimetry detectors for the first time. A new method of determining the thickness values with an uncertainty of ±10% was applied. The results appear useful for further consolidating detailed geometrical knowledge of the solid‐state detectors investigated, which are used in clinical small‐field photon‐beam dosimetry.
Two‐step Newton‐type methods for solving inverse eigenvalue problems
Authors: Chen Xiao Shan , Wen Chao Tao , Sun Hai‐wei 
Published: May 2018

SummaryIn this paper, we apply the two‐step Newton method to solve inverse eigenvalue problems, including exact Newton, Newton‐like, and inexact Newton‐like versions. Our results show that both two‐step Newton and two‐step Newton‐like methods converge cubically, and the two‐step inexact Newton‐like method is super quadratically convergent. Numerical implementations demonstrate the effectiveness of new algorithms.
The Impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit on Household Finances
Authors: Jones Lauren E. , Michelmore Katherine 
Published: May 2018

AbstractUsing a simulated instrument strategy, we analyze how expansions to the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) affected household finances over the past two decades. Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation wealth topical modules, we also test whether responses differ over time, as well as whether there are different responses to the federal and state expansions, and how responses vary by educational attainment. A $1,000 policy‐induced increase in the average household EITC leads to a 3 percentage point increase in the likelihood of holding money in a savings or checking account, and approximately $700 more held in savings balances. These results are coupled with large increases in pre‐tax family earnings. We also find some evidence of decreases in unsecured debt holdings. We interpret these results as further evidence that the EITC increases the financial stability of low‐income single mothers.
A Tower Weak Gravity Conjecture from Infrared Consistency
Authors: Andriolo Stefano , Junghans Daniel , Noumi Toshifumi , Shiu Gary 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe analyze infrared consistency conditions of 3D and 4D effective field theories with massive scalars or fermions charged under multiple U(1) gauge fields. At low energies, one can integrate out the massive particles and thus obtain a one‐loop effective action for the gauge fields. In the regime where charge‐independent contributions to higher‐derivative terms in the action are sufficiently small, it is then possible to derive constraints on the charge‐to‐mass ratios of the massive particles from requiring that photons propagate causally and have an analytic S‐matrix. We thus find that the theories need to contain bifundamentals and satisfy a version of the weak gravity conjecture known as the convex‐hull condition. Demanding self‐consistency of the constraints under Kaluza‐Klein compactification, we furthermore show that, for scalars, they imply a stronger version of the weak gravity conjecture in which the charge‐to‐mass ratios of an infinite tower of particles are bounded from below. We find that the tower must again include bifundamentals but does not necessarily have to occupy a charge (sub‐)lattice.
Indium‐Mediated Domino Allylation‐Lactonisation Approach: Diastereoselective Synthesis of β‐Carboline C‐3 Tethered α‐Methylene γ‐Butyrolactones
Authors: Singh Dharmender , Hazra Chinmoy K. , Malakar Chandi C. , Pandey Satyendra K. , Kaith B. S. , Singh Virender 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA facile and convenient tandem approach has been devised towards the diastereoselective synthesis of β‐carboline C‐3 tethered α‐methylene γ‐butyrolactones via indium‐promoted Barbier Type allylation reaction followed by in situ intramolecular lactonisation protocol. Interestingly, no additive was required for this transformation and the products were obtained with syn stereochemistry.
Study on the Conformation of Entrapped Protein inside the Reverse Micellar Confinement Based on the Amino Acid Derived Ionic Liquid
Authors: Kundu Kaushik , Singh Akhil Pratap , Panda Somenath , Singh Vikram , Gardas Ramesh L. , Senapati Sanjib 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOwing to superior surface‐activity and versatility in functionalization compared to conventional surfactants, surface‐active ionic liquids (SAILs) gained immense interest in recent years. Toxicity and biodegradation remain central issues while dealing with the SAILs and thus, the quest for synthesis of greener SAILs is increasing day by day. Keeping in view of the importance of SAIL's performance, we undertook the present study for the formulation of reverse micelles (RMs) using biodegradable L‐proline propyl ester lauryl sulfate ([ProC3][LS]) in cyclohexane (Cy). The formation of RMs was confirmed from the phase behavior and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study revealed the solvation of anionic head group through H‐bonding by added water. An increased micropolarity and reduced microviscosity were evidenced inside the RM droplets as a function of hydration level. Finally, the encapsulation of BSA protein in RMs was investigated through the fluorescence, circular dichroism and DLS studies, which showed conformation with higher degree of secondary structural content than the native state inside the droplet core at higher hydration. Our results signify the importance of the role of hydration in the function of enzyme or protein molecules in molecular crowding environments. These facts certainly prove the versatility of this kind of organized assemblies to alter their inherent properties simply by changing water content.