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In this paper, we construct a framework for optimally sensing a patient's health state with a wireless body area network (WBAN). In such a resource-constrained paradigm, it is often necessary to use lower performance sensing modes, conditionally reducing system performance to increase efficiency and maximize system lifetime. The optimal control architecture trades between shallow and deep sensing modes according to the estimated patient health state, minimizing the expected costs over future states. We construct an implicit formulation for deriving the optimal sensing policy via dynamic programming, an easily implemented myopic sensing policy, and a useful performance bound for evaluating near-optimal approximate sensing policies. We further provide an Monte Carlo experimental evaluation of how such policies depend on key model parameters.

The Canonical Polyadic (CP) decomposition of R-way arrays is a powerful tool in multi-dimensional signal processing. There exists many methods to compute the CP decomposition. In particular, the Semi-Algebraic framework for the approximate Canonical Polyadic (CP) decomposition via SImultaneaous matrix diagonalization (SECSI) is an efficient and flexible framework for the computation of the CP decomposition. In this work, we perform a first-order performance analysis of the SECSI framework for the computation of the approximate CP decomposition of a noise corrupted low-rank 3-way tensor. We provide closed-form expressions of the relative Mean Square Factor Error (rMSFE) for each of the estimated factor matrices. The derived expressions are formulated in terms of the second-order moments of the noise, such that apart from a zero mean, no assumptions on the noise statistics are required. The numerical results depict the excellent match between the closed-form expressions and the empirical results.

New regulation of health insurance markets creates multiple levels of health plans, with designations like “Gold” and “Silver.” The underlying rationale for the heavy-metal approach to insurance regulation is that heterogeneity in demand for health care is not only due to health status (sick demand more than the healthy) but also to other, “taste” related factors (rich demand more than the poor). This paper models managed competition with demand heterogeneity to consider plan payment and enrollee premium policies in relation to efficiency (net consumer benefit) and fairness (the European concept of “solidarity”). Specifically, this paper studies how to implement a “Silver” and “Gold” health plan efficiently and fairly in a managed competition context. We show that there are sharp tradeoffs between efficiency and fairness. When health plans cannot or may not (because of regulation) base premiums on any factors affecting demand, enrollees do not choose the efficient plan. When taste (e.g., income) can be used as a basis of payment, a simple tax can achieve both efficiency and fairness. When only health status (and not taste) can be used as a basis of payment, health status-based taxes and subsidies are required and efficiency can only be achieved with a modified version of fairness we refer to as “weak solidarity.” An overriding conclusion is that the regulation of premiums for both the basic and the higher level plans is necessary for efficiency.

Singular structures in plasmonics, for example, touching wires, crescent cylinders, etc., are well known for enhancing the field in small volumes by several orders of magnitude. Recent studies revealed that transformation optics can provide a very powerful analytical tool to solve these class of problems. It was also pointed out that these class of structures can also be suitable candidates for energy harvesting and field enhancements were calculated to be as high as 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sup> close to singular points. We review some of the theoretical and the experimental results of the linear properties of these structures. Such high field enhancement would definitely invoke the nonlinear phenomenon. Our present study analytically incorporates such nonlinear phenomenon from χ <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">(2)</sup> materials initially focusing on second-harmonic generation. We follow the route of conformal transformation optics but now extending it to nonlinear materials. To the best of our knowledge there have been no reports on such analytical techniques describing nonlinear optics at nano-scale. We identify the relations for phase and amplitude matching for the second-harmonic fields. Our approach also connects with the standard coupled-mode theory used in "macro-optics" structures such as waveguide to the Green's function approach which is extensively used in nano-optics. We identify the optimal conditions for second-harmonic generation efficiency. This approach is the starting point to understand various other nonlinear interactions such as three and four-wave mixing in singular structures.

This paper proposes a gradual approach to crowd-based requirements engineering (RE) for supporting the establishment of a more engaged crowd, hence, mitigating the low involvement risk in crowd-based RE. Our approach advocates involving micro-crowds (MCs), where in each micro-crowd, the population is relatively cohesive and familiar with each other. Using this approach, the evolving product is developed iteratively. At each iteration, a new MC can join the already established crowd to enhance the requirements for the next version, while adding terminology to an evolving folksonomy. We are currently using this approach in an on-going research project to develop an online social network (OSN) for academic researchers that will facilitate discussions and knowledge sharing around conferences.

James A. Schmitz (2005) documents, in a well-known case study, a dramatic rise in productivity in the U.S. and Canadian iron-ore industry following an increase in competition from Brazil. Prior to the increased competition, the industry was not competitive. Surplus in profits was divided between business and unions. Schmitz attributes the increase in productivity to a change in work practices in the industry, as old negotiated union work rules were abandoned or modified. This research formalizes a mechanism through which a rise in competition can lead to increased productivity in the iron-ore industry.

Book Review| January 01 2011 The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories Caplan, Neil, The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories (Contesting the Past Series), Wiley-Blackwell, 2009, 366 pp., ISBN 10: 9781405175388, ISBN 13: 978-1405175388 Itamar Rabinovich Itamar Rabinovich Tel-Aviv University and New York University, itrabi@gmail.com Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Bustan: The Middle East Book Review (2011) 2 (1): 59–61. https://doi.org/10.1163/187853011X564416 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Permissions Search Site Citation Itamar Rabinovich; The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories. Bustan: The Middle East Book Review 1 January 2011; 2 (1): 59–61. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/187853011X564416 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectivePenn State University PressBustan: The Middle East Book Review Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright © 2011 The Pennsylvania State University2011The Pennsylvania State University Article PDF first page preview Close Modal Issue Section: Book Reviews You do not currently have access to this content.

Book Review| January 01 2011 Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: Patterns, Problems, Possibilities Laura Zittrain Eisenberg and Neil Caplan, Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: Patterns, Problems, Possibilities (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998), 252 pp., ISBN 0253333687 Itamar Rabinovich Itamar Rabinovich Tel-Aviv University and New York University, itrabi@gmail.com Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Bustan: The Middle East Book Review (2011) 2 (1): 45–47. https://doi.org/10.1163/187853011X564371 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Twitter Permissions Search Site Citation Itamar Rabinovich; Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: Patterns, Problems, Possibilities. Bustan: The Middle East Book Review 1 January 2011; 2 (1): 45–47. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/187853011X564371 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectivePenn State University PressBustan: The Middle East Book Review Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright © 2011 The Pennsylvania State University2011The Pennsylvania State University Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.