A New Class of Non Negative Distributions Generated by Symmetric Distributions

In this article, we study a new class of non negative distributions generated by the symmetric distributions around zero. For the special case of the distribution generated using the normal distribution, properties like moments generating function, stochastic representation, reliability connections, and inference aspects using methods of moments and maximum likelihood are studied. Moreover, a real data set is analyzed, illustrating the fact that good fits can result.

Wavelet regression with correlated errors on a piecewise Holder class

This paper generalizes the methodology of Cat and Brown [Cai, T., Brown, L.D., 1998. Wavelet shrinkage for nonequispaced samples. The Annals of Statistics 26, 1783-1799] for wavelet shrinkage for nonequispaced samples, but in the presence of correlated stationary Gaussian errors. If the true function is a member of a piecewise Holder class, it is shown that, even for long memory errors, the rate of convergence of the procedure is almost-minimax relative to the independent and identically distributed errors case. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A compound class of Weibull and power series distributions

In this paper we introduce the Weibull power series (WPS) class of distributions which is obtained by compounding Weibull and power series distributions where the compounding procedure follows same way that was previously carried out by Adamidis and Loukas (1998) This new class of distributions has as a particular case the two-parameter exponential power series (EPS) class of distributions (Chahkandi and Gawk 2009) which contains several lifetime models such as exponential geometric (Adamidis and Loukas 1998) exponential Poisson (Kus 2007) and exponential logarithmic (Tahmasbi and Rezaei 2008) distributions The hazard function of our class can be increasing decreasing and upside down bathtub shaped among others while the hazard function of an EPS distribution is only decreasing We obtain several properties of the WPS distributions such as moments order statistics estimation by maximum likelihood and inference for a large sample Furthermore the EM algorithm is also used to determine the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters and we discuss maximum entropy characterizations under suitable constraints Special distributions are studied in some detail Applications to two real data sets are given to show the flexibility and potentiality of the new class of distributions (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Novel insights for dihydroorotate dehydrogenase class 1A inhibitors discovery

The enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) has been suggested as a promising target for the design of trypanocidal agents. We report here the discovery of novel inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi DHODH identified by a combination of virtual screening and ITC methods. Monitoring of the enzymatic reaction in the presence of selected ligands together with structural information obtained from X-ray crystallography analysis have allowed the identification and validation of a novel site of interaction (S2 site). This has provided important structural insights for the rational design of T cruzi and Leishmania major DHODH inhibitors. The most potent compound (1) in the investigated series inhibits TcDHODH enzyme with K(i)(app) value of 19.28 mu M and possesses a ligand efficiency of 0.54 kcal mol(-1) per non-H atom. The compounds described in this work are promising hits for further development. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Bifurcation of limit cycles from an n-dimensional linear center inside a class of piecewise linear differential systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Composition and invertibility for a class of generalized functions in the Colombeau's theory

In this work we define the composite function for a special class of generalized mappings and we study the invertibility for a certain class of generalized functions with real values.

The central repeat domain 1 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) latency associated-nuclear antigen 1 (LANA1) prevents cis MHC class I peptide presentation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Correlation between morphology and function of the upper lip: a longitudinal evaluation

In order to evaluate the relationship between the morphology of the upper lip and muscle activity in a sample of 38 subjects (17 males and 21 females) with Angle Class II division 1 malocclusions, cephalometric and electromyographic analyses were conducted. The sample was subdivided into either predominantly nose or mouth breathers. The individuals were evaluated at two different periods, with a 2 year interval. At the first observation, the subjects were 11 years to 14 years 11 months of age and at the second observation, 13 years 4 months to 16 years 6 months of age. Height and thickness of the upper lip were measured on lateral cephalograms with the aid of a digital pachymeter. For each individual, electromyographic records were obtained of the orbicularis oris superior muscle at rest and in a series of 12 movements. The electromyographic data were normalized as a function of amplitude, for achievement of the percentage value of each movement. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were applied.The results showed some correlation between morphology and muscle function (at a confidence level of 95 per cent). However, as the values of the correlation coefficient (r) were too low to establish associations between variables, it was concluded that the dimensions of the upper lip are not correlated with muscle activity.

Structural, functional, and bioinformatics studies reveal a new snake venom homologue phospholipase A(2) class

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Almost strict total positivity and a class of Hurwitz polynomials

We establish sufficient conditions for a matrix to be almost totally positive, thus extending a result of Craven and Csordas who proved that the corresponding conditions guarantee that a matrix is strictly totally positive. Then we apply our main result in order to obtain a new criteria for a real algebraic polynomial to be a Hurwitz one. The properties of the corresponding extremal Hurwitz polynomials are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the value function for nonautonomous optimal control problems with infinite horizon

In this paper we consider nonautonomous optimal control problems of infinite horizon type, whose control actions are given by L-1-functions. We verify that the value function is locally Lipschitz. The equivalence between dynamic programming inequalities and Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) inequalities for proximal sub (super) gradients is proven. Using this result we show that the value function is a Dini solution of the HJB equation. We obtain a verification result for the class of Dini sub-solutions of the HJB equation and also prove a minimax property of the value function with respect to the sets of Dini semi-solutions of the HJB equation. We introduce the concept of viscosity solutions of the HJB equation in infinite horizon and prove the equivalence between this and the concept of Dini solutions. In the Appendix we provide an existence theorem. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Completeness of coherent states associated with self-similar potentials and Ramanujan's integral extension of the beta function

A decomposition of identity is given as a complex integral over the coherent states associated with a class of shape-invariant self-similar potentials. There is a remarkable connection between these coherent states and Ramanujan's integral extension of the beta function.

Validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

On the limit cycles of a class of piecewise linear differential systems in R-4 with two zones

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Activation function study for wavelet network

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate theoretically and experimentally the use of family of Polynomial Powers of the Sigmoid (PPS) Function Networks applied in speech signal representation and function approximation. This paper carries out practical investigations in terms of approximation fitness (LSE), time consuming (CPU Time), computational complexity (FLOP) and representation power (Number of Activation Function) for different PPS activation functions. We expected that different activation functions can provide performance variations and further investigations will guide us towards a class of mappings associating the best activation function to solve a class of problems under certain criteria.