Showing papers by "State University of New York System published in 1982"

Optimal Filtering

Abstract: Estimation theory has had a tremendous impact on many problem areas over the past two decades. Beginning with its original use in the aerospace industry, its applications can now be found in many different areas such as control and communjcations, power systems, transportation systems, bioengineering, image processing, etc. Along with linear system theory and optimal control, a course in estimation theorycan be found in the graduate system and control curriculum,of most schools in the country. In fact, it is probably one of the most,salable courses as far as employment is concerned. However, despite its economic value and the amount of activities in the field, very few books on estimation theory have appeared recently. This book helps to fill the void in the market and does that in a superb manner. Although the book is called OptimalFiltering, the coverage is restricted to discrete time filtering. A more appropriate title would thus be Optimal Discrete Time ,Filtering. The authors’ decision to concentrate on discrete time f lters is due to “recent technological developments as well as the easier path offered students and instructors.” This is probably a wise move since a thorough treatment of continuous time filtering will require a better knowledge o f stochastic processes than most graduate students or engineers will have. As it stands now, the text requires little background beyond that of linear system theory and probability theory. Written by active researchers, in the area, the book covers the standard topics such as Kalman filtering, innovations processes, smoothing, and adaptive and nonlinear estimation. Much of the material in the book has been around for a long time and has been widely used, by practitioners in the area: Some results are more recent. However,-it .has been difficult to locate all of them presented in a n organized manner within a single text. This is especially true of the chapters dealing with the computation aspects and nonlinear and adaptive estimation. After a short introductory chapter, Chapter 2 introduces the mathematical model to be used throughout most of the book. The discrete time Kalman filter is 1 hen presented in Chapter 3, along with some applications. Chapter 4 contains a treatment

The attributional Style Questionnaire

Abstract: Of current interest are the causal attributions offered by depressives for the good and bad events in their lives. One important attributional account of depression is the reformulated learned helplessness model, which proposes that depressive symptoms are associated with an attributional style in which uncontrollable bad events are attributed to internal (versus external), stable (versus unstable), and global (versus specific) causes. We describe the Attributional Style Questionnaire, which measures individual differences in the use of these attributional dimensions. We report means, reliabilities, intercorrelations, and test-retest stabilities for a sample of 130 undergraduates. Evidence for the questionnaire's validity is discussed. The Attributional Style Questionnaire promises to be a reliable and valid instrument.

A new look at the saturn system: the voyager 2 images.

Abstract: Voyager 2 photography has complemented that of Voyager I in revealing many additional characteristics of Saturn and its satellites and rings. Saturn's atmosphere contains persistent oval cloud features reminiscent of features on Jupiter. Smaller irregular features track out a pattern of zonal winds that is symmetric about Saturn's equator and appears to extend to great depth. Winds are predominantly eastward and reach 500 meters per second at the equator. Titan has several haze layers with significantly varying optical properties and a northern polar "collar" that is dark at short wavelengths. Several satellites have been photographed at substantially improved resolution. Enceladus' surface ranges from old, densely cratered terrain to relatively young, uncratered plains crossed by grooves and faults. Tethys has a crater 400 kilometers in diameter whose floor has domed to match Tethys' surface curvature and a deep trench that extends at least 270° around Tethys' circumference. Hyperion is cratered and irregular in shape. Iapetus' bright, trailing hemisphere includes several dark-floored craters, and Phoebe has a very low albedo and rotates in the direction opposite to that of its orbital revolution with a period of 9 hours. Within Saturn's rings, the "birth" of a spoke has been observed, and surprising azimuthal and time variability is found in the ringlet structure of the outer B ring. These observations lead to speculations about Saturn's internal structure and about the collisional and thermal history of the rings and satellites.

Ulnar variance determination.

Abstract: A template utilizing curves of various radii has been developed for accurately measuring ulnar variance from standard posterioranterior radiographs of the wrist. It has been determined that this measurement can most accurately and consistently be performed with the forearm in neutral (0°) rotation and the elbow flexed 900°.

Intracellular Ca2+ activates a fast voltage-sensitive K+ current in vertebrate sympathetic neurones.

Abstract: Many neurones, when depolarized, exhibit two components of outward K+ current—the voltage-sensitive delayed rectifier current originally described in squid axons by Hodgkin and Huxley1, and an additional current triggered by the entry of Ca2+ ions2. These two currents have been termed IK and IC, respectively3. Previous experiments have indicated that both forms of K+ current are also present in vertebrate sympathetic neurones4–6. We have now studied the properties of IC in bullfrog sympathetic neurones, uncontaminated with IK, by injecting Ca2+ ions into the cells and measuring the resultant outward currents under voltage-clamp, in the manner previously used for large molluscan neurones7,8. We find three interesting properties of IC in these vertebrate neurones. First, it shows strong voltage sensitivity independent of the voltage sensitivity of the Ca2+ channels (which have been bypassed by the injection technique). Second, IC activates and deactivates very rapidly (τC≤20 ms at 0 mV), with stepped changes in membrane potential. Current fluctuation analysis and patch-clamp records of single-channel currents yielded evidence for appropriate short-lifetime ionic channels with a maximum conductance of ∼100 pS. Finally IC in ganglion cells is highly sensitive to external tetraethylammonium. We deduce that in these neurones IC is a fast current which can contribute a substantial fraction to the repolarizing current during an action potential.

A multicenter study of outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus. I. Entry variables as predictors of prognosis.

Abstract: A retrospective study of factors influencing survival in 1,103 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was carried out at 9 university centers diverse in geographic, socioeconomic, and racial characteristics. The mortality and disease characteristics of the patients at study entry varied widely among centers. The survival rates from the time patients with a diagnosis of SLE were first evaluated at the participating center was 90% at 1 year, 77% at 5 years, and 71% at 10 years. Patients with a serum creatinine greater than 3 mg/dl at study entry had the lowest survival rates: 48%, 29%, and 12% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Survival rate also correlated independently with the entry hematocrit, degree of proteinuria, number of preliminary American Rheumatism Association criteria for SLE satisfied, and source of funding of medical care. When data were corrected for socioeconomic status, race/ethnic origin did not significantly influence survival. Survival rates varied widely at different participating institutions, generally due to differences in disease severity. Place of treatment was independently associated with survival only in the second year after study entry. Disease duration before study entry did not account for the differences in disease severity.

Nitrogen fixation in the marine environment.

Abstract: Cyanobacteria of the genus Oscillatoria (Trichodesmium) account for annual inputs of nitrogen to the world's oceans of about 4.8 x 10(12) grams while benthic environments contribute 15 x 10(12) grams. The sum of these inputs is one-fifth of current estimates of nitrogen fixation in terrestrial environments and one-half of the present rate of industrial synthesis of ammonia. When the total of all nitrogen inputs to the sea is compared with estimated losses through denitrification, the marine nitrogen cycle approximates a steady state. Oceanic nitrogen fixation can supply less than 0.3 percent of the calculated demand of marine phytoplankton. The minor contribution by nitrogen fixation to the overall nitrogen economy of the sea is not consistent with the supposition that nitrogen is the primary limiting nutrient and suggests that factors other than nitrogen availability limit phytoplankton growth rates.

Natural selection and social behavior

Abstract: working knowledge of analysis of variance, correlation, and regression is probably necessary. However, calculus is not a prerequisite, nor is matrix algebra. When mathematical proofs are necessary, Falconer invariably uses a simple, satisfying, heuristic approach based on simple algebra or statistics. More importantly for students, Falconer provides easily understood, intuitive, and verbal explanations of why important results are true. Nowhere is this talent for simple explanations more evident than on page 62, where Falconer explains why small samples would be expected to exhibit an excess of heterozygotes relative to the Hardy-Weinberg expectations; this is not an easy concept to explain, but Falconer's explanation makes it seem self-evident. The foregoing account pertains to Introduction of Quantitative Genetics as a textbook. It should be emphasized that it is also an important book for professionals, as it gives an overview of quantitative genetics, its successes and its lacunae, by one of its preeminent investigators. A good textbook tells students merely what they should know. An excellent one tells them not only what they should know, but what a field is, what it has achieved, and where it is going; it provides a field's view of the world from inside itself at its present state of development; it is a review of a field by an author or authors skilled enough to know what to leave out. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics exemplifies these ideals to the highest degree. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics is an important book for another reason. In its outlook and examples it summarizes the collective experience and wisdom of the Edinburgh school of quantitative genetics (Falconer himself headed the Agricultural Research Council's Unit of Animals Genetics from 1968 until it was dissolved in 1980). Few would argue the proposition that this group of people represents an aggregation of the finest quantitative geneticists in the world-Falconer, A. Robertson, W. G. Hill, and many, many others throughout the years either on the staff or passing through as students, visitors, or scientists on sabbatical. Falconer's fine book is at once an exemplary textbook, an excellent summary of the field, and a tribute to the achievements of a creative and far-thinking group of quantitative geneticists. A noted human quantitative geneticist and friend of mine once said that the best possible objective with regard to Falconer's edition 1 was to set out to memorize it. I agree, and the same goes for edition 2.

Processes and the denotational semantics of concurrency

Abstract: A framework allowing a unified and rigorous definition of the semantics of concurrency is proposed. The mathematical model introduces processes as elements of process domains which are obtained as solutions of domain equations in the sense of Scott and Plotkin. Techniques of metric topology as proposed, e.g., by Nivat are used to solve such equations. Processes are then used as meanings of statements in languages with concurrency. Three main concepts are treated, viz. parallellism (arbitrary interleaving of sequences of elementary actions), synchronization, and communication. These notions are embedded in languages which also feature classical sequential concepts such as assignment, tests, iteration or recursion, and guarded commands. In the definitions, a sequence of process domains of increasing complexity is used. The languages discussed include Milner's calculus for communicating systems and Hoare's communicating sequential processes. The paper concludes with a section with brief remarks on miscellaneous notions in concurrency, and two appendices with mathematical details.

A multicenter study of outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus. II. Causes of death

Abstract: Causes of death were examined for 1,103 systemic lupus erythematosus patients who were followed from 1965 to 1978 at 9 centers that participated in the Lupus Survival Study Group. A total of 222 patients (20%) died. Lupus-related organ system involvement (mainly active nephritis) and infection were the most frequent primary causes of death. Causes of death were similar throughout the followup period. Hemodialysis had little impact on the length of survival for patients with nephritis. Active central nervous system disease and myocardial infarction were infrequent causes of death. There were no deaths from malignancy.

On the existence of special metrics in complex geometry

Abstract: Table o f

On two-level optimization

Abstract: Decentralized planning has long been recognized as an important decision making problem. Many approaches based on the concepts of large scale system decomposition have generally lacked the ability to model the type of truly independent subsystems which have often existed in practice. Similarly, tractable game-theoretic approaches have not allowed for a continuous solution space in which one player's decision restricts the feasible choices of another. This correspondence offers a formulation to help model this type of decision making hierarchy. Characterizations and algorithmic approaches for a class of two-level problems are discussed.

Nucleotide Sequence of the Oncogene Encoding the p21 Transforming Protein of Kirsten Murine Sarcoma Virus

Abstract: The transforming protein of Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (Ki-MuSV) is a virally encoded 21-kilodalton protein called p21 kis. The sequences encoding p21 kis were genetically localized to a 1.3-kilobase segment near the 5' end of the viral genome by assaying the capacity of a series of defined deletion mutants of molecularly cloned Ki-MuSV DNA to induce focal transformation of mouse cells. Nucleotide sequencing of a portion of this region has led to the identification of an open reading frame of 567 nucleotides coding for p21 kis protein.

The Limits of State Autonomy: Post-Revolutionary Mexico

Abstract: In a historical treatment of Mexico beginning with the pre-Revolutionary period and focusing on the administration of Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940), Nora Hamilton explores the possibilities and limits of reform in a capitalist society.Originally published in 1982.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

The relationship between serum triiodothyronine and thyrotropin during systemic illness.

Abstract: The reported failure of serum TSH to rise inresponse to the low serum T3 ofsevere systemic illness may bedue to the known stress inhibition of TSH secretion We thereforemeasured TSH and total and free thyroid hormones duringthe course of recovery from severe illness During recovery, TSHincreased at a time when T3 was rising but still below normal(mean TSH during recovery, 65 ± 08 SEM eU/ml, n = 41vs normal, 2 ± 02 SEM ±U/ml; n=31; P <0001) TSH concentrationswere negatively correlated with total and free T3 andle s r strongly correlated with total T4 but notwith free T4 Average TSHconcentrations were also significantly elevated inseverely ill patients with hypothermi that was unrelated to coldexposure (mean TSH, 56 ± 13 ±U/ml; n = 11; P < 0005) TheT3 concentrations in these sera were lower than those of otherseverely ill patient Thus,during recovery from severe illness and during hypothermianot induced by cold, the relationship between serum T3and TSH is qualitatively similar to that seen i

Sugar availability, sugar consumption and dental caries

Abstract: This study was conducted to update our knowledge about the relation between sugar consumption and dental caries in nations throughout the world. Data on the prevalence of dental caries for 6- and 12-year-old children in, respectively, 23 and 47 nations were obtained from the World Health Organization's Global Oral Epidemiology Bank. Information on sugar supplies was obtained from Food Balance Sheet data prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The study indicates that for the 12-, but not for the 6-, year-old-children there is a significant positive correlation between the per capita availability of sugar and dental caries. The data also suggest that the availability, and presumably the ingestion, of 50 g of sugar per day may represent an outer limit of "safe" or "acceptable" sugar consumption. Furthermore, a comparison of data obtained from Food Balance Sheets for the per capita daily "consumption" of sugar with data for consumption obtained from Household Consumption Surveys in six countries, shows that these data collection methods frequently do not give comparable results. Accurate, total, age-specific consumption figures with information on frequency and the manner of use are needed if the relationship between oral disease and dietary sugar is to be clarified.

Helpers: Effects of Experimental Removal on Reproductive Success

Abstract: Experimental removal of helpers from a communal bird population decreased the reproductive success of the reduced units. By controlling for variables that are potentially correlated with both reproductive success and unit size, this experiment establishes that helpers-contribute significantly to their indirect fitness.

$\mathscr{H}$-Space with a Cosmological Constant

Abstract: It is demonstrated that a real-analytic 3-manifold with Riemannian conformal metric is naturally the conformal infinity of a germ-unique real-analytic 4-manifold with real-analytic Riemannian metric satisfying the self-dual Einstein equations with cosmological constant — 1 Moreover, this result holds if ‘Riemannian’ is replaced in the first case by ‘Lorentzian’ (i e signature + - - ) and in the second case by ‘pseudo-Riemannian with signature + + - - ’, or if ‘real-analytic’ is replaced by ‘complex-analytic’ and 9Riemannian’ is replaced by ‘holomorphic’ This provides a cosmological-constant analogue of Newman’s ℋ-space construction (Newman 1976, 1977)