1,510 research outputs found
Voice Compression and Communications: Principles and Applications for Fixes and Wireless Channels
No full textUp-to-date, expert coverage of topics in wireless voice communications Voice communication is the most important facet of mobile radio service. Even when the predicted surge of wireless data and Internet services becomes a reality, voice will remain the most natural means of human communication. Voice Compression and Communications details issues in wireless voice communications and treats compression, channel coding, and wireless transmission as a joint subject. Part I covers background material, whereas Part II provides detailed information on both proprietary and standardized analysis-by-synthesis codecs, including the speech codecs of virtually all existing wireline-based and wireless systems. Parts III and IV discuss mainly research-based wideband, audio, as well as very low-rate schemes likely to find their way into future standards. Voice Compression and Communications describes fundamental concepts in a non-mathematical way early in the book for those with only a background knowledge of signal processing and communications. More advanced readers will find detailed discussions of theoretical principles, future concepts, and solutions to various specific wireless voice communications problems
Efficacy and safety of benralizumab for patients with severe asthma uncontrolled with high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists (SIROCCO): a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial
No full textBackground: Eosinophilia is associated with worsening asthma severity and decreased lung function, with increased exacerbation frequency. We assessed the safety and efficacy of benralizumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-5 receptor α that depletes eosinophils by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma with eosinophilia.
Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase 3 study at 374 sites in 17 countries. We recruited patients (aged 12-75 years) with a physician-based diagnosis of asthma for at least 1 year and at least two exacerbations while on high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists (ICS plus LABA) in the previous year. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) by an interactive web-based voice response system to benralizumab 30 mg either every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 8 weeks (Q8W; first three doses every 4 weeks) or placebo Q4W for 48 weeks as add on to their standard treatment. Patients were stratified 2:1 according to blood eosinophil counts of at least 300 cells per μL and less than 300 cells per μL. All patients and investigators involved in patient treatment or clinical assessment were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was annual exacerbation rate ratio versus placebo, and key secondary endpoints were prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and total asthma symptom score at week 48, for patients with blood eosinophil counts of at least 300 cells per μL. Efficacy analyses were by intention to treat (based on the full analysis set); safety analyses included patients according to study drug received. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01928771.
Findings: Between Sept 19, 2013, and March 16, 2015, 2681 patients were enrolled, 1205 of whom met the study criteria and were randomly assigned: 407 to placebo, 400 to benralizumab 30 mg Q4W, and 398 to benralizumab 30 mg Q8W. 267 patients in the placebo group, 275 in the benralizumab 30 mg Q4W group, and 267 in the benralizumab 30 mg Q8W group had blood eosinophil counts at least 300 cells per μL and were included in the primary analysis population. Compared with placebo, benralizumab reduced the annual asthma exacerbation rate over 48 weeks when given Q4W (rate ratio 0·55, 95% CI 0·42-0·71; p<0·0001) or Q8W (0·49, 0·37-0·64; p<0·0001). Both benralizumab dosing regimens significantly improved prebronchodilator FEV1 in patients at week 48 compared with placebo (least-squares mean change from baseline: Q4W group 0·106 L, 95% CI 0·016-0·196; Q8W group 0·159 L, 0·068-0·249). Compared with placebo, asthma symptoms were improved by the Q8W regimen (least-squares mean difference -0·25, 95% CI -0·45 to -0·06), but not the Q4W regimen (-0·08, -0·27 to 0·12). The most common adverse events were worsening asthma (105 [13%] of 797 benralizumab-treated patients vs 78 [19%] of 407 placebo-treated patients) and nasopharyngitis (93 [12%] vs 47 [12%]).
Interpretation: These results confirm the efficacy and safety of benralizumab for patients with severe asthma and elevated eosinophils, which are uncontrolled by high-dosage ICS plus LABA, and provide support for benralizumab to be an additional option to treat this disease in this patient population
The Archaeology of Pewter Vessels in England 1200-1700: A Study of Form and Usage
No full textThe first aim is to study the main types of pewter vessels surviving for the period, and to show how they were suited to their domestic purpose, especially the serving of food, and as eating and drinking implements.
The second aim is to attempt to further investigate the alloy ‘trifle’ by having a sample of typical objects analysed by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry). This alloy was introduced by the Pewterers’ Company (WCP) by the 16th century for the purpose of providing an extended range of wares in a more durable metal than ‘lay’ metal, but less expensive than ‘fine’ metal, as specified by the Company.
The third aim is to explore the occupations of the differing types of ‘potter’ who worked within the Company during the second half of the 17th century. The growth of this separate capitalist group of middle men ‘potters’ or retailers of ceramics and glassware has not previously been noted. The differing levels of wealth and work of other, mainstream, Pewterers is explored by comparison.
The majority of the finds came from anaerobic marine rather than traditional land sites and consisted chiefly of medieval to 17th century tablewares – dishes, saucers, plates, porringers, salts, beakers and other smaller drinking vessels, together with a few larger flagons. Such smaller drinking vessels were frequently listed as ‘trifles’ from the early 17th century in the Company records.
Individuals described as potters were sometimes identified amongst the Company’s membership. It was decided to try to determine their actual occupations by further examining the Court Minutes and wills and inventories of likely individuals.
It was found that the various dishes, saucers and platters were component parts of the ‘garnish’ the chief serving vessels used between the 14th to 18th century to serve food to the middling sort of people, and that this played a central role not only as utilitarian wares but as objects of decoration and status as well. The Pewterers’ Company members were highly innovative and also produced the country’s first plate (apart from in silver) by the mid-16th century and which remained in use unaltered until the 1670s. Linear dimensions were correlated with the more usual sizes by weight for the first time from the remains of the garnish on the Mary Rose, lost 1545.
Analysis of a sample of the smaller drinking vessels by Sheffield Assay Office detected an alloy of some 4-6% lead and this was likely to qualify as trifle alloy.
While some individuals did indeed make drinking wares, it was discovered that the term potter usually applied to retailers of glassware and ceramics – a new occupational label. A number of such individuals within the Pewterers’ Company played formative roles in setting up a new Glass Sellers Company in 1664. The business activities of this group – typical of individualist ventures during the 17th century – had not previously been noted by historians of the Company and indicated the Pewterers’ heterogeneous and commercial make up from this time
Absence of Cardiac Valve Dysfunction in Obese Patients Treated with Sibutramine
No full textBACH, DAVID S., AILA M. RISSANEN, CARL M. MENDEL, GILLIAN SHEPHERD, STEVEN R. WEINSTEIN, FINIAN KELLY, TIMOTHY B. SEATON, BABABHAI PATEL, TUULA A. PEKKARINEN, AND WILLIAM F. ARMSTRONG. Absence of cardiac valve dysfunction in obese patients treated with sibutramine. Obes Res . Objective : Serotonin‐releasing agents prescribed as weight‐loss medications have been implicated as a cause of acquired aortic and mitral valve abnormalities. Sibutramine hydrochloride (MERIDIA®) is a serotonin and norepi‐nephrine reuptake inhibitor with proven efficacy of weight reduction. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of cardiac valve disease in sibutramine‐treated patients. Research Methods and Procedures : Obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus enrolled in an ongoing double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐arm, 12‐month study of sibutramine (followed by a 12‐month open label extension) underwent transthoracic echocardiographic imaging and color Doppler interrogation for assessment of cardiac valve anatomy and function. Results : A total of 210 patients were evaluated. Of these, 133 were receiving sibutramine (72 in the double‐blind period), and 77 were receiving placebo. The mean ± Standard Deviation age was 54±9 years, and the mean duration of treatment was 229±117 days (approximately 7. 6 months). The prevalence of left‐sided cardiac valve dysfunction was low and similar for the two treatment groups (sibutramine 31133, or 2. 3%; placebo 2/77, or 2. 6%). All five cases were cases of aortic insufficiency; four were mild, one was severe (in a placebo patient). All three sibutramine cases were patients over age 50; two had a history of systemic hypertension. Conclusion : The prevalence of left‐sided cardiac valve dysfunction was not higher than background in obese patients treated with sibutramine for an average of 7. 6 months.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93707/1/j.1550-8528.1999.tb00419.x.pd
Power Series, Bieberbach Conjecture and the de Branges and Weinstein Functions
No full textIt is well-known that de Branges’ original proof of the Bieberbach and Milin conjectures on the coefficients an of univa-lent functions f(z) = � ∞ k=1 anz n of the unit disk as well as Weinstein’s later proof deal with the same special function system that de Branges had introduced in his work. These hypergeometric polynomials had been already studied by Askey and Gasper who had realized their positiveness. This fact was the essential tool in de Branges ’ proof. In this article, we show that many identities, e.g. the representation of their generating function w.r.t. n, for these polynomials, which are intimately related to the Koebe func-tion K(z) = � ∞ k=1 nzn and therefore to univalent functions, can be automatically detected from power series computations by a method developed by the author and accessible in several computer algebra systems. In other words, in this paper a new and interesting application of the FPS (Formal Power Series) algorithm is given. As working engine we use a Maple implementation by Dominik Gruntz and the author. In particular, the hypergeometric representation of both the de Branges and the Weinstein functions are determined by successive power series computations from their generating functions. The new idea behind this algorithm is the observation that hypergeometric function coefficients of double series can be automatically detected by an iteration of the FPS procedure. In a final section we show how algebraic computation enables the fast verification of Askey-Gasper’s positivity results for specific (not too large) n using Sturm sequences or similar approaches
Lysistrata Production Photo
No full textProvidence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Harkins Hall
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, a new adaptation by Mary Koisch
December 6-10, 1978
Director, Mary G. Koisch
Lighting, Carl F. Gudenius
Costumer, Patricia White
Scenery, Richard J. Knowles
Cast: Lysistrata – Pamela Pitou, Kalonike – Kate Farrell, Myrrhine – Mary Lou Mayce, Kalyke – Joanne Smyrk, Opora – Maggie McDonald, Stratyllis – Maureen Gilbride, Kritylla – Ann Marie Palmisciano, Commisioner of Public Safety – David Barbour, Drakes – Joe Gianni, Strymodorus – John Glenn, Phadrias – David Ubaldi, Officers of the Guard – Dan Foster, John Shea, Stephen Lepito & Laurent Holt, Kinesias – Frank Weinstein, Manes – Steven Lepito, Peace – Eileen R. Rausch, Lampito – Eileen R. Rausch, Rhodippe – Katherine Spackman, Ismenia – Kathleen O’Neill, Sparton Herald – Richard Lawrence, Sparton Ambassador – John Shea; and the Voice of Frank Hanleyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/lysistrata_1978_photos/1012/thumbnail.jp
Lysistrata Production Photo
No full textProvidence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Harkins Hall
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, a new adaptation by Mary Koisch
December 6-10, 1978
Director, Mary G. Koisch
Lighting, Carl F. Gudenius
Costumer, Patricia White
Scenery, Richard J. Knowles
Cast: Lysistrata – Pamela Pitou, Kalonike – Kate Farrell, Myrrhine – Mary Lou Mayce, Kalyke – Joanne Smyrk, Opora – Maggie McDonald, Stratyllis – Maureen Gilbride, Kritylla – Ann Marie Palmisciano, Commisioner of Public Safety – David Barbour, Drakes – Joe Gianni, Strymodorus – John Glenn, Phadrias – David Ubaldi, Officers of the Guard – Dan Foster, John Shea, Stephen Lepito & Laurent Holt, Kinesias – Frank Weinstein, Manes – Steven Lepito, Peace – Eileen R. Rausch, Lampito – Eileen R. Rausch, Rhodippe – Katherine Spackman, Ismenia – Kathleen O’Neill, Sparton Herald – Richard Lawrence, Sparton Ambassador – John Shea; and the Voice of Frank Hanleyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/lysistrata_1978_photos/1042/thumbnail.jp
Lysistrata Production Photo
No full textProvidence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Harkins Hall
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, a new adaptation by Mary Koisch
December 6-10, 1978
Director, Mary G. Koisch
Lighting, Carl F. Gudenius
Costumer, Patricia White
Scenery, Richard J. Knowles
Cast: Lysistrata – Pamela Pitou, Kalonike – Kate Farrell, Myrrhine – Mary Lou Mayce, Kalyke – Joanne Smyrk, Opora – Maggie McDonald, Stratyllis – Maureen Gilbride, Kritylla – Ann Marie Palmisciano, Commisioner of Public Safety – David Barbour, Drakes – Joe Gianni, Strymodorus – John Glenn, Phadrias – David Ubaldi, Officers of the Guard – Dan Foster, John Shea, Stephen Lepito & Laurent Holt, Kinesias – Frank Weinstein, Manes – Steven Lepito, Peace – Eileen R. Rausch, Lampito – Eileen R. Rausch, Rhodippe – Katherine Spackman, Ismenia – Kathleen O’Neill, Sparton Herald – Richard Lawrence, Sparton Ambassador – John Shea; and the Voice of Frank Hanleyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/lysistrata_1978_photos/1009/thumbnail.jp
Lysistrata Production Photo
No full textProvidence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Harkins Hall
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, a new adaptation by Mary Koisch
December 6-10, 1978
Director, Mary G. Koisch
Lighting, Carl F. Gudenius
Costumer, Patricia White
Scenery, Richard J. Knowles
Cast: Lysistrata – Pamela Pitou, Kalonike – Kate Farrell, Myrrhine – Mary Lou Mayce, Kalyke – Joanne Smyrk, Opora – Maggie McDonald, Stratyllis – Maureen Gilbride, Kritylla – Ann Marie Palmisciano, Commisioner of Public Safety – David Barbour, Drakes – Joe Gianni, Strymodorus – John Glenn, Phadrias – David Ubaldi, Officers of the Guard – Dan Foster, John Shea, Stephen Lepito & Laurent Holt, Kinesias – Frank Weinstein, Manes – Steven Lepito, Peace – Eileen R. Rausch, Lampito – Eileen R. Rausch, Rhodippe – Katherine Spackman, Ismenia – Kathleen O’Neill, Sparton Herald – Richard Lawrence, Sparton Ambassador – John Shea; and the Voice of Frank Hanleyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/lysistrata_1978_photos/1025/thumbnail.jp
Lysistrata Production Photo
No full textProvidence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film
Harkins Hall
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, a new adaptation by Mary Koisch
December 6-10, 1978
Director, Mary G. Koisch
Lighting, Carl F. Gudenius
Costumer, Patricia White
Scenery, Richard J. Knowles
Cast: Lysistrata – Pamela Pitou, Kalonike – Kate Farrell, Myrrhine – Mary Lou Mayce, Kalyke – Joanne Smyrk, Opora – Maggie McDonald, Stratyllis – Maureen Gilbride, Kritylla – Ann Marie Palmisciano, Commisioner of Public Safety – David Barbour, Drakes – Joe Gianni, Strymodorus – John Glenn, Phadrias – David Ubaldi, Officers of the Guard – Dan Foster, John Shea, Stephen Lepito & Laurent Holt, Kinesias – Frank Weinstein, Manes – Steven Lepito, Peace – Eileen R. Rausch, Lampito – Eileen R. Rausch, Rhodippe – Katherine Spackman, Ismenia – Kathleen O’Neill, Sparton Herald – Richard Lawrence, Sparton Ambassador – John Shea; and the Voice of Frank Hanleyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/lysistrata_1978_photos/1009/thumbnail.jp
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