Hardware implementation of partially-parallel Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) decoders using unstructured random matrices is very complex and requires huge hardware resources. To alleviate the complexity and minimize resource requirements, structured LDPC matrices are used. This paper presents a novel technique for constructing a multi-level Hierarchical Quasi-Cyclic (HQC) structured matrix for...

Protein flexibility is an intrinsic property and plays a fundamental role in protein functions. Computational analysis of protein flexibility is crucial to protein function prediction, macromolecular flexible docking, and rational drug design. Most current approaches for protein flexibility analysis are based on Hamiltonian mechanics. We introduce a stochastic model to study protein flexibility...

Introduction In examining wireless-internet technologies (Wi-Fi), several ethical issues are exposed. While the unauthorized use of Wi-Fi is illegal in a few select cases, what is considered permissible still varies from state to state. What does not vary, however, is the fact that individuals are going to great lengths to locate unsecured wireless access points whether it is for their own bene...

In this paper the problem of obtaining the degree of flexibility that maximizes the total profit in an existing process flowsheet is addressed. Assuming a linear model for the process and given probability distribution functions for the uncertain parameters, the curve relating the expected revenue to the flexibility index is generated. An efficient stochastic optimization method is developed fo...

1. Given topological spaces X and Fand two continuous mappings ƒ o and jfi from X to F (denoted by fo, fi : X—> F) we say that ƒ o is homotopic to jfi (denoted by fo—fi) if there exists a continuous family of continuous mappings ht: X—+Y for O^t^l such that ho=fo and h =/ i . Intuitively fo<^fi if the map ƒ o can be continuously deformed into the map jfi. I t is easily seen [4; 7] that the rela...

Life expectancy has increased considerably throughout the world. In Bangladesh, life expectancy has increased from about 53 years in 1975 to 69 years in 2010. However, it is unknown whether the increase in life expectancy is simultaneously accompanied by an increase in disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). The purpose of the study described in this article was to explore the relationship betw...

Flexibility-rigidity index (FRI) has been developed as a robust, accurate, and efficient method for macromolecular thermal fluctuation analysis and B-factor prediction. The performance of FRI depends on its formulations of rigidity index and flexibility index. In this work, we introduce alternative rigidity and flexibility formulations. The structure of the classic Gaussian surface is utilized ...

An important aspect of learning to read is efficiency in accessing different kinds of linguistic information (orthographic, phonological, and semantic) about written words. The present study investigates whether, in addition to the integrity of such linguistic skills, early progress in reading may require a degree of cognitive flexibility in order to manage the coordination of this information ...

We would like to congratulate Fruchter et al 1 for their ingenious, effective, and minimally invasive way of treating the very challenging condition of bronchopleural fi stulas as reported in a recent issue of CHEST (March 2011). However, because we were cited in their work, we must make a correction. The misunderstanding is that our fi rst publication was a case report of our fi rst patient (5...

Abstract-In this paper, the influences of local (individual member) buckling and minor variations in member properties on the global response of truss-type structures are studied. A simple and effective way of forming the tangent stiffness matrix of the structure and a modified arc length method are devised to trace the nonlinear response of the structure beyond limit points, etc. Several examp...