bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Robust output feedback control against disturbance filter uncertainty described by dynamic integral quadratic constraints
Authors: Dietz S. G. , Scherer C. W. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractMotivated by a robust disturbance rejection problem, in which disturbances are described by an uncertain filter at the plant input, a convex solution is presented for the robust output feedback controller synthesis problem for a particularly structured plant. The uncertainties are characterized by an integral quadratic constraint (IQC) with general frequency‐dependent multipliers. By exploiting the structure of the generalized plant, linear matrix inequality (LMI)‐synthesis conditions are derived in order to guarantee a specified ℒ︁2‐gain or ℋ︁2‐norm performance level, provided that the IQC multipliers are described by LMI constraints. Moreover, it is shown that part of the controller variables can be eliminated. Finally, the rejection of non‐stationary sinusoidal disturbance signals is considered. In a numerical example, it is shown that specifying a bound on the rate‐of‐variation of the time‐varying frequency can improve the performance if compared with the static IQC multipliers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correction of bias from non‐random missing longitudinal data using auxiliary information
Authors: Wang Cuiling , Hall Charles B. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractMissing data are common in longitudinal studies due to drop‐out, loss to follow‐up, and death. Likelihood‐based mixed effects models for longitudinal data give valid estimates when the data are missing at random (MAR). These assumptions, however, are not testable without further information. In some studies, there is additional information available in the form of an auxiliary variable known to be correlated with the missing outcome of interest. Availability of such auxiliary information provides us with an opportunity to test the MAR assumption. If the MAR assumption is violated, such information can be utilized to reduce or eliminate bias when the missing data process depends on the unobserved outcome through the auxiliary information. We compare two methods of utilizing the auxiliary information: joint modeling of the outcome of interest and the auxiliary variable, and multiple imputation (MI). Simulation studies are performed to examine the two methods. The likelihood‐based joint modeling approach is consistent and most efficient when correctly specified. However, mis‐specification of the joint distribution can lead to biased results. MI is slightly less efficient than a correct joint modeling approach and can also be biased when the imputation model is mis‐specified, though it is more robust to mis‐specification of the imputation distribution when all the variables affecting the missing data mechanism and the missing outcome are included in the imputation model. An example is presented from a dementia screening study. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental Study of Lightning Surge Aspect for the Circuit Mounted Distribution and Telecommunication and Customer Systems: Aspect of Lightning Current According to Grounding System of Customer Equipments
Authors: Asakawa A. , Kuramoto S. , Kato J. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractExperimental study of lightning current distribution in customers mounted a power line, customer equipments, and a telecommunication line has been carried out using 12‐MV impulse generator and actual sized test line. Four types of customer equipments such as earthing equipment, communication, antenna, and power supply equipments are modeled. The effects of earthing methods of a customer equipment, lead‐in method of the power line, and telecommunication lines and lightning striking points are investigated. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analytical Study on Lightning Surge Characteristics of a Rail Track
Authors: Arai Hideki , Watanabe Ikuo , Motoyama Hideki , Yokoyama Shigeru 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe development of the effective and economical protection measures is vital for the railway signaling systems because the lightning damages cause the disruption of the railway transportation systems. In general, the railway signaling systems are set up at a wayside and directly connected to the rails through cables. The lightning surges can invade the railway signaling systems via the cables and cause damages to the systems. Accordingly, clarifying the propagation characteristics of lightning surges along the rails is essential to develop the lightning protection measures in the railway signaling systems. We have carried out the field tests to examine both surge impedance and surge propagation velocity of the rails. This paper proposes a calculation model of the surge propagation characteristics along the rails. We measured the frequency‐dependent four‐terminal parameters of the rails to estimate the distributed parameter adopted in the calculation model. The results of surge impedance and surge propagation velocity calculated by the proposed model almost agree with the experimental results. Moreover, the proposed model can calculate the surge attenuation along the rails. This model is applicable to the development of lightning protection measures for the railway signaling systems. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Stochastic Resonance within the Auditory System Observed when Signal and Noise were Delivered to the Opposite Ears
Authors: Tanaka Keita , Uchikawa Yoshinori , Kawakatsu Masaki , Nemoto Iku 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe measured auditory steady‐state responses (ASSRs) in magnetoencephalogram when an ongoing sinusoidal amplitude‐modulated tone is presented to the subject's left ear while bursts of white noise of various intensities were presented to the right ear. Because the power and coherence as functions of the noise intensities differed considerably among subjects, we used their maximum values as test statistics for testing the group data. The results showed a significant enhancement in the phase coherence of ASSRs obtained over the right temporal regions by the presence of white noise of appropriate intensity. The observed SR most likely occurred within the central nervous system. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Integrated Optimization by Multi‐Objective Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Kawarabayashi Masaru , Tsuchiya Junichi , Yasuda Keiichiro 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn this letter, integrated optimization system, a new framework of practical optimization, is expanded to multi‐objective optimization problem. This system is used in order to reduce the number of accesses to a simulator. On the basis of simulation results using some typical benchmark problems, it is shown that the proposed integrated optimization system enables to obtain relatively good Pareto solutions with drastic reduction in the number of function calls for evaluating the performance index values of systems. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Measurement of Rotation of Polarization Plane of Laser Radiation Propagating through Impulse Discharge in Air
Authors: Fukuchi Tetsuo , Shiina Tatsuo 
Published: December 2009

AbstractLinearly polarized light propagating through an ionized region, with a nonzero component of the magnetic field parallel to the direction of propagation, experiences a rotation of the polarization plane due to the Faraday effect. Measurement of the rotation angle of the polarization plane can provide information regarding the electron density and discharge current of discharges in air. In this experiment, the rotation of the polarization plane of linearly polarized laser light propagating through an ionized region created by a spark discharge in air was examined. The rotation angle of the polarization plane was estimated from the change in the intensities of the mutually perpendicular polarization components. In the experiment using an air gap of length 1 m, the rotation angle was detected only when the laser beam intersected or passed through the immediate vicinity of the path of the spark discharge, and the measured rotation angle was 0.54 degrees. In another experiment using an air gap of length 0.77 m, the polarization rotation was confirmed to exhibit a temporal variation similar to the discharge current waveform. Furthermore, the effects due to the neutral density variation accompanying the discharge were shown to have no effect on the polarization rotation measurement. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effects of Electrode Systems on Numerical Estimation of Internal Human Body Impedance at Power Frequency
Authors: Hayashi Noriyuki , Tarao Hiroo , Isaka Katsuo 
Published: December 2009

AbstractInternal body impedances Ri of an anatomically realistic human model were numerically calculated at 60 Hz under various current scenarios and electrode sizes. On the basis of the numerical results, the effects of electrode systems on Ri were investigated. It is found that Ri obtained for a two‐electrode model are larger than those for a four‐electrode model by a factor of up to about 1.3. This means that the body impedances measured by using the four‐wire method are smaller than the calculated ones by up to about 23%. At the end, it is concluded that, although the difference in the electrode systems is a cause of the disagreements between the calculated and measured body impedances, its effect is insufficient to fully reconcile the actual disagreements. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Dynamic Load‐Aware Multicast Routing in Ad hoc Networks
Authors: Shimizu Koichi , Sawamura Takahiro , Haque Md. Enamul , Matsumoto Noriko , Yoshida Norihiko 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn wireless ad hoc networks, collisions and congestion at some nodes cause degradation of network throughput. There have been some load‐aware routing protocols proposed for load distribution and balancing by detouring congested nodes. However, they are for unicast communication. This paper proposes a load‐aware protocol for the same purpose in multicast communication. The protocol has features to build a multicast tree with load distribution and balancing, and to reorganize the tree according to dynamic load changes. Simulation‐based preliminary experiments result in that the number of highly loaded members in a multicast tree was smaller with the proposed protocol than that with a conventional one. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Diagnostic precision of Doppler flow echocardiography in fetuses at risk for atrioventricular block
Authors: Bergman G. , Wahren‐Herlenius M. , Sonesson S.‐E. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic precision of three Doppler methods in their ability to predict postnatal first‐degree atrioventricular (AV) block.MethodsThis was a prospective, observational study carried out from December 1999 to March 2008, including 95 fetuses of anti‐SSA/Ro positive mothers undergoing weekly fetal echocardiograms at 18–24 weeks' gestation. Doppler‐derived AV time intervals for left ventricular inflow (MV), inflow and outflow (MV‐Ao) and superior vena cava a‐wave to aortic flow (SVC‐Ao) were compared with the PR interval on postnatal electrocardiography. Reference values for MV intervals were established from 102 healthy fetuses, with previously published reference ranges used for the two other methods. Bayesian and receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were performed.ResultsThe prevalence of first‐degree AV block at birth was 13.8%. Using a cut‐off at the upper 95% confidence limit, MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao time intervals had a sensitivity of 91.7%, and negative predictive value and negative likelihood ratio of 98.4% and 0.10, respectively. The corresponding positive predictive value/positive likelihood ratio for MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao were 42.3%/4.5 and 47.8%/5.7, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao were 0.87 and 0.89, respectively (both P < 0.001), with generated cut‐offs for abnormal AV time intervals at 134–138 and 132–138 ms. MV time intervals using a cut‐off at the upper 95% confidence limit had a sensitivity of just 50% and an AUC of 0.74 (P < 0.01).ConclusionThe MV‐Ao and SVC‐Ao Doppler methods make it possible to identify nearly all fetuses with first‐degree AV block at birth and to exclude conduction disturbances in the case of a normal AV time measurement but at the cost of a positive predictive value of 50%. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urban heat island effects on estimates of observed climate change
Authors: Parker David E. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractUrban heat islands are a result of the physical properties of buildings and other structures, and the emission of heat by human activities. They are most pronounced on clear, calm nights; their strength depends also on the background geography and climate, and there are often cool islands in parks and less‐developed areas. Some old city centers no longer show warming trends relative to rural neighbourhoods, because urban development has stabilised. This article reviews the effects that urban heat islands may have on estimates of global near‐surface temperature trends. These effects have been reduced by avoiding or adjusting urban temperature measurements. Comparisons of windy weather with calm‐weather air temperature trends for a worldwide set of observing sites suggest that global near‐surface temperature trends have not been greatly affected by urban warming trends; this is supported by comparisons with marine surface temperatures. The use of dynamical‐model‐based reanalyses to estimate urban influences has been hindered by the heterogeneity of the data input to the reanalyses and by biases in the models. However, improvements in reanalyses are increasing their utility for assessing the surface air temperature record. High‐resolution climate models and data on changing land use offer potential for future assessment of worldwide urban warming influences. The latest assessments of the likely magnitude of the residual urban trend in available global near‐surface temperature records are summarized, along with the uncertainties of these residual trends. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Detection and Attribution
Total Thyroidectomy Is Superior to Subtotal Thyroidectomy for Management of Graves’ Disease in the United States
Authors: Wilhelm Scott M. , McHenry Christopher R. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackgroundIn the United States, Graves’ disease is most commonly treated with radioiodine, yet thyroidectomy remains an important option for correcting hyperthyroidism. In many countries, limited access to thyroid hormone makes subtotal thyroidectomy the procedure of choice. In the United States, where levothyroxine is widely available, we hypothesized that total (TT) or near‐total thyroidectomy (NT) is superior to subtotal thyroidectomy (ST) for long‐term control of Graves’ disease.MethodsA retrospective review of patients who underwent ST, NT, or TT for Graves’ disease between 1990 and 2008 was conducted. Differences in rates of disease recurrence were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Rates of parathyroid autotransplantation, complications, gland weight, and final pathology were determined.ResultsA total of 136 patients with Graves’ disease were treated with thyroidectomy. Average age was 36.4 ± 11.3 years (range: 16–81 years) and 88% were female. From 1990 to 1994, 10 patients underwent ST and 6 had NT. Since then, all patients have undergone TT (n = 120). There was a significantly higher rate of recurrence for ST (30%) compared to NT (0%; P = 0.15) and TT (0%; P < 0.0001). Parathyroid autotransplantation was performed in 36 (26.5%) patients, only 2 of whom underwent ST or NT. Transient postoperative hypocalcemia was more common after TT (P = 0.04). No patient in any group had permanent hypoparathyroidism. Two TT pts had transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.ConclusionsSubtotal thyroidectomy resulted in 30% long‐term failure to correct Graves’ hyperthyroidism. We saw no recurrences and no increase in postoperative complications in the TT group. We feel that TT is safe and superior to ST for management of Graves’ disease in the United States.
Increased prevalence of mutant null alleles that cause hereditary fructose intolerance in the American population
Authors: Coffee Erin M. , Yerkes Laura , Ewen Elizabeth P. , Zee Tiffany , Tolan Dean R. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractMutations in the aldolase B gene (ALDOB) impairing enzyme activity toward fructose‐1‐phosphate cleavage cause hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI). Diagnosis of the disease is possible by identifying known mutant ALDOB alleles in suspected patients; however, the frequencies of mutant alleles can differ by population. Here, 153 American HFI patients with 268 independent alleles were analyzed to identify the prevalence of seven known HFI‐causing alleles (A149P, A174D, N334K, Δ4E4, R59Op, A337V, and L256P) in this population. Allele‐specific oligonucleotide hybridization analysis was performed on polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified genomic DNA from these patients. In the American population, the missense mutations A149P and A174D are the two most common alleles, with frequencies of 44% and 9%, respectively. In addition, the nonsense mutations Δ4E4 and R59Op are the next most common alleles, with each having a frequency of 4%. Together, the frequencies of all seven alleles make up 65% of HFI‐causing alleles in this population. Worldwide, these same alleles make up 82% of HFI‐causing mutations. This difference indicates that screening for common HFI alleles is more difficult in the American population. Nevertheless, a genetic screen for diagnosing HFI in America can be improved by including all seven alleles studied here. Lastly, identification of HFI patients presenting with classic symptoms and who have homozygous null genotypes indicates that aldolase B is not required for proper development or metabolic maintenance.
Recombinant follicle‐stimulating hormone (follitropin alfa) for ovulation induction in Japanese patients with anti‐estrogen‐ineffective oligo‐ or anovulatory infertility: results of a phase II dose–response study
Authors: Taketani Yuji , Kelly Eduardo , Yoshimura Yasunori , Hoshiai Hiroshi , Irahara Minoru , Mizunuma Hideki , Saito Hidekazu , Andoh Kazumichi , Bebia Zourab , Yanaihara Takumi 
Published: December 2009

AbstractPurposeTo determine the optimal regimen of recombinant human follicle‐stimulating hormone (r‐hFSH) for ovulation induction (OI) in Japanese women with amenorrhea I or anovulatory infertility.MethodsIn this randomized, double‐blind, dose‐finding study, women aged 20–39 years were enrolled. Patients underwent a chronic low‐dose step‐up regimen with starting doses of r‐hFSH of 37.5 IU (group L; n = 62), 75 IU (group M; n = 62) or 150 IU (group H; n = 60). Primary endpoint was time to achieve a dominant follicle with mean diameter ≥18 mm. Secondary endpoints included percentage of patients producing a dominant follicle ≥18 mm, achieving ovulation, and biochemical pregnancy.ResultsMedian time to achieve a dominant follicle ≥18 mm was 14 days (group L; 87.7%), 10 days (group M; 98.4%), and 8 days (group H; 94.5%). In group M, ovulation occurred in 95.1% of patients, with pregnancy in 18.0%, compared with 86.0% and 15.8% in group L, and 50.9% and 9.1% in group H, respectively. Twelve patients developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (nine in group H). Most adverse events in groups L and M were mild in severity.ConclusionsA starting dose of 75 IU r‐hFSH was associated with a favorable efficacy and safety profile for OI in Japanese women.
A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SUGARCANE VARIETY SELECTION IN SOUTH AFRICA BASED ON GENOTYPE-BY-ENVIRONMENT ANALYSES
Authors: RAMBURAN S. , PARASKEVOPOULOS A. , SAVILLE G. , JONES M. 
Published: December 2009

SUMMARYThe objective of this study was to develop a basic variety selection decision support system (DSS) based on industry legalities, varietal characteristics and structured genotype-by-environment (G × E) analyses. Trial data extracted from a variety trial database at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) were categorized into different regions, harvest ages (12, 18, 24 months) and harvest seasons (early, mid, late season harvests). Restricted maximum likelihood analyses were conducted regionally to determine varietal adaptability to different harvest ages and seasons. Highly significant variety × harvest age and variety × season interactions allowed for the appropriate categorization of varieties. Varietal adaptability to different yield potential conditions was determined using the sites regression technique, and varietal adaptability was interpreted from the slope of the regression curves. The analysed data were used to create simplistic ‘yes/no’ spreadsheets, which were housed within a relational database. A web interface linked to the database allows users to specify characteristics of their production environment. The system then selects appropriate varieties that conform to specified criteria and eliminates non-compliers in a stepwise approach. The system was subsequently validated against expert extension specialist opinion and acceptable performance was observed.
Trends in paediatric airway surgery: a move towards endoscopic techniques
Authors: De S , Bailey C M 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe endoscope has long been an invaluable tool in assessment of the paediatric airway. Recently, its applications for definitive surgery of the airway have greatly increased, due to innovative surgical techniques, development of new instruments, improvements in anaesthesia and availability of new medications for endoscopic use. This review discusses the move towards endoscopic techniques in the management of paediatric airway disorders.
Structure–functional intimacies of transient receptor potential channels
Authors: Latorre Ramon , Zaelzer Cristián , Brauchi Sebastian 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAlthough a unifying characteristic common to all transient receptor potential (TRP) channel functions remains elusive, they could be described as tetramers formed by subunits with six transmembrane domains and containing cation-selective pores, which in several cases show high calcium permeability. TRP channels constitute a large superfamily of ion channels, and can be grouped into seven subfamilies based on their amino acid sequence homology: the canonical or classic TRPs, the vanilloid receptor TRPs, the melastatin or long TRPs, ankyrin (whose only member is the transmembrane protein 1 [TRPA1]), TRPN after the nonmechanoreceptor potential C (nonpC), and the more distant cousins, the polycystins and mucolipins. Because of their role as cellular sensors, polymodal activation and gating properties, many TRP channels are activated by a variety of different stimuli and function as signal integrators. Thus, how TRP channels function and how function relates to given structural determinants contained in the channel-forming protein has attracted the attention of biophysicists as well as molecular and cell biologists. The main purpose of this review is to summarize our present knowledge on the structure of channels of the TRP ion channel family. In the absence of crystal structure information for a complete TRP channel, we will describe important protein domains present in TRP channels, structure–function mutagenesis studies, the few crystal structures available for some TRP channel modules, and the recent determination of some TRP channel structures using electron microscopy.