In several applications, underestimation of functions has proven to be a helpful tool for global optimization. In protein-ligand docking problems as well as in protein structure prediction, single convex quadratic underestimators have been used to approximate the location of the global minimum point. While this approach has been successful for basin-shaped functions, it is not suitable for ener...

The operative correction of the funnel chest is a difficult and important problem. Quite a number of methods and modifications have been mentioned. Late results, however, do not always come up to expectation. As a seriously deformed funnel chest may lead to troubles of the functions of the lungs and heart (Wegmann and Schaub, 1953; Schaub and Wegmann, 1954) operations should be limited to such ...

Preoperative gamma-globulin therapy was recently performed to prevent bleeding complications in a patient with concomitant idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura undergoing cardiac surgery. Here we report the case of a 75-year-old male patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic aortic dissection, and funnel chest in whom a left ventricular perforation sustained during catheter ablat...

We consider tracking control for nonlinear multi-input, multi-output systems which have arbitrary strict relative degree and stable internal dynamics. For a given sufficiently smooth reference signal, our aim is to design a controller which achieves that the tracking error evolves within a prespecified performance funnel. To this end, we introduce a new controller which involves the first r− 1 ...

The device consists of an oro-ruminal probe (Table 1, Fig. 1), a suction pump (Fig. 2), and a funnel. The probe can be connected to the pump (collection of ruminal fluid) (Fig. 3), to the funnel (administration of liquids or transfer of ruminal fluid) (Fig. 4) or to a water tap (cleaning) (Fig. 5) by means of a quick coupling connection. The pump consists of a pumping unit and a fluid container...

The cache oblivious model of computation is a two-level memory model with the assumption that the parameters of the model are unknown to the algorithms. A consequence of this assumption is that an algorithm efficient in the cache oblivious model is automatically efficient in a multi-level memory model. Arge et al. recently presented the first optimal cache oblivious priority queue, and demonstr...

The funnel ant, Aphaenogarter pyllzia Forel, infests several hundreds of acres in each of the mill areas of Mossman, Rambledon, Mulgrave and Tully, is present to a lesser extent in the Innisfail, Ingham, Proserpine and Mackay districts and has been recorded in a few minor infestations at Bundaberg. In the first-named four areas, each year a few farms are added t o the list of those known to be ...

Publication bias is a major problem, perhaps the major problem, in meta-analysis (or systematic reviews). Small studies are more likely to be published if their results are 'significant' than if their results are negative or inconclusive, and so the studies available for review are biased in favour of those with positive outcomes. Correcting for this bias is not possible without making untestab...

Local minima and the saddle points separating them in the energy landscape are known to dominate the dynamics of biopolymer folding. Here we introduce a notion of a “folding funnel” that is concisely defined in terms of energy minima and saddle points, while at the same time conforming to a notion of a “folding funnel” as it is discussed in the protein folding literature. PACS. 87.10.+e General...