Classical Means Research Articles

Glenn Research Center quantum communicator receiver design and development

We investigate, design, and develop a prototype real-time synchronous receiver for the second-generation quantum communicator recently developed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Glenn Research Center. This communication system exploits the temporal coincidences between simultaneously fired low-power laser sources to communicate at power levels several orders of magnitude less than what is currently achievable through classical means, with the ultimate goal of creating ultra-low-power microsize optical communications and sensing devices. The proposed receiver uses a unique adaptation of the early-late gate method for symbol synchronization and a newly identified 31-bit synchronization word for frame synchronization. This receiver, implemented in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), also provides a number of significant additional features over the existing non-real-time experimental receiver, such as real-time bit error rate (BER) statistics collection and display, and recovery and display of embedded textual information. It also exhibits an indefinite run time and statistics collection.

Homicide et schizophrénie : à propos de 14 cas de schizophrénie issus d’une série de 210 dossiers d’expertises psychiatriques pénales pour homicide

A few murders, which received saturated media coverage, obviously raises questions about the dangerous and violent nature of the mentally-ill, which can sometimes culminate in homicide. Firmly rooted in the collective consciousness is the popular idea that someone who kills an unknown person in the street is mentally-ill. On the contrary, the epidemiological data are reassuring; only 5% of such murders are committed by the persons suffered of schizophrenia. Aim To establish the social, clinical and forensic differences between murderers suffering of schizophrenia disorder and murderers who are immune of psychiatric disorder, and especially to compare their respective records of psychiatrics disorder and their respective relationship with their victims. Method We studied the cases of 210 murderers, the offences related to the murders, and the social and clinical information collected from psychiatric court reports on persons convicted of homicide. Firstly, we identified the sociodemographic, clinical and criminological profiles of a group of 210 murderers from which were distinguished the schizophrenia murderers. Then, we compared the profiles of murderers suffering from schizophrenia ( n = 14), with 73 persons without any mental disorder. Results The profile of schizophrenic murderers of our series is characterized by a specific socioprofessional status (single, without child and jobless) and by more frequent records of psychiatrist troubles (this characteristic is always found with criminals that are schizophrenics) and violence against human beings than murderers’ immune of mental disorder. With the exception of these variables and of the clinic of schizophrenia, there is no noticeable difference of sociodemographic profile between schizophrenic murderers and murderers without psychiatric troubles. In addition to the similarities, between the two groups of murderers, in the temporal, location and operating characteristics of the commitment of the homicide (in the evening, at the house of the victim, with three classical means (firearms, knife and knocks), having drunk alcohol), schizophrenic murderers generally commit, alone, a non-premeditated murder. They often strangle their victim in a sudden attack, whereas murderers without a known pathology often premeditate their crime. Therefore, it is possible to talk about a state of emotional violence. In 86% of cases, a delirious psychopathology was at the root of the homicide act of the schizophrenic person. Four criminological themes predominate: persecution, syndrome of influence, mysticism and megalomania. Among the victims of schizophrenic murderers, closest persons to and acquaintance of the murderers are over-represented; in 25% of cases the murder takes place within the family. Finally, penal irresponsibility or mitigation of penal responsibility of the schizophrenic murderer was generally recognized. Conclusion Differences between murderers affected with and unaffected with schizophrenia lie on the psychopathology of the morbid process which underlies the homicide of the mentally-ill person.

Oxathiocoraline: Lessons to be Learned from the Synthesis of ComplexN‐Methylated Depsipeptides

AbstractInvestigations into the synthesis of oxathiocoraline, a bicyclic depsipeptide withC2symmetry, revealed a number of unexpected side‐reactions that could not be circumvented by classical or standard means. This cyclodepsipeptide has a large number ofN‐methyl amino acids coexisting with two ester bonds and also shows a branched structure; these features hinder its synthesis. In addition, complexity is further increased because of the presence of a large number of non‐commercially available cysteines and heterocyclic moieties. Here we describe the general points that should be addressed when attempting the synthesis of a cyclodepsipeptide, such as strategies to prevent or minimize diketopiperazine formation, β‐elimination, and oxidation byproducts. The optimum design includes a suitable solid support, the choice of the best starting point for the synthesis (first amino acid to anchor to the resin) and a set of compatible and/or protecting groups and coupling reagents.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

Cogeneration systems with electric heat pumps: Energy-shifting properties and equivalent plant modelling

In this paper, a novel approach to energy and CO 2 emission modelling of cogeneration systems coupled to electric heat pumps is presented. The specific objectives are to identify the relevant parameters and variables involved in the analysis of such composite systems, and to provide a synthetic and indicative assessment of the energy and environmental benefits potentially brought with respect to conventional energy systems. To this purpose, the concept of equivalent cogeneration plant is introduced, characterized by equivalent electrical and thermal efficiencies obtained by transforming the classical cogeneration efficiencies through the energy-shifting characteristics of the heat pump. The latter point is further highlighted by introducing equivalent cogeneration ratios and a thermal multiplication factor ( TMF) indicator. This formulation allows investigation of the performance of the cogeneration-heat pump system by using the equivalent efficiencies as the input entries to equivalent energy saving and emission reduction indicators. The conditions at which energy and emission benefits occur, and their extent with respect to classical generation means, are illustrated through various numerical examples, highlighting the generality and effectiveness of the models introduced. In particular, equivalent cogeneration systems for small-scale distributed applications can exhibit energy saving and emission reduction of the order of up to 50% with respect to benchmark generation means within a typical Italian energy context.

A novel simulation model for the dimensioning of cover band conveyors

Cover bands are a rather seldom deployed conveying technology having nevertheless a lot of potential for industrial applications. Especially for the vertical transportation, for the handling of a large article range, or for the achievement of a highly dynamic goods behavior cover bands own distinct advantages compared to classical means of transportation. However, the adjustment of belt tensioning forces is a highly crucial element that has not yet been studied in depth. This paper introduces two models (geometric and physical) and a simulation based upon these for the determination of system inherent forces and for finding design parameters.

Rhetorical skills as a component of midwifery care

Objective this article argues that rhetorical skills are an important quality factor of midwifery care. In particular, it aims to identify and discuss the relevance of three classical means of persuasion: ethos, pathos and logos. Design secondary analysis, rhetorical analysis of semi-structured interviews. Setting Slovenia. Interviews were carried out predominantly in 2006. Data refer to childbirths in 2005 and 2006. Participants four women with recent experience of childbirth. Findings analysis identified the presence of all three means of persuasion in the interaction between midwives and women. Focusing on midwives, the quality of their awareness and command of rhetorical skills remains questionable. In particular, women experienced lack of a rational account of the situation and decisions made by health-care professionals involved in maternity care. Key conclusions acknowledging professional ethics, awareness and good command of all three means of persuasion [but above all, argumentative persuasion ( logos)] is an integral component of midwifery care. It can contribute to collaborative relations between midwives and women, and thus promote women-centred midwifery care. Implications for practice knowledge of the three classical rhetorical means of persuasion should be integrated into professional midwifery curricula.

A relaxed estimate of the degree of approximation by Fourier series in generalized Hölder metric

The aim of the paper is to give a relaxed estimate pertaining to the degree of approximation of the partial sums of Fourier series in a new Banach space of functions introduced by Das, Nath and Ray [2]. Furthermore, applying our new result, we verify, under certain natural conditions, that some classical means have the same approximation degree as the partial sums.

Intuitionistic Letcc via Labelled Deduction

The well-known embedding of intuitionistic logic into classical modal logic means that intuitionistic logic can be viewed as a calculus of labelled deduction on multiple-conclusion sequents, where the labels are the Kripke worlds of the modal embedding. The corresponding natural deduction system constitutes a type system for programs using control operators such as letcc that capture the current program continuation, which has a modal restriction on the use of such continuations that enforces constructive validity. This allows us to develop a rich dependent type theory incorporating letcc, which is known to be otherwise highly problematic for computational interpretations of classical logic. Moreover, we give a novel constructive proof for the soundness of this labelled deduction system, whose algorithmic content is a non-deterministic translation of programs that eliminates uses of letcc and is fully compatible with dependent types and therefore with program verification. This proof has been formally verified on the propositional fragment in the Twelf meta-logical framework.

Creation of a multi-reference-angle comparator

Many geodetic and industrial instruments utilize precise angle determination. Metrological calibration and testing of such devices is very complicated, due to the large number of angular position values generated, and often cannot be accomplished using classical means of angle determination. Therefore a special comparator (test rig) capable of calibration geodetic and other angle-measuring instruments and implementing multiple references for angle determination has been created. Several modernized optical devices were used on the test rig, together with the implementation of a special calibration method. In this paper the construction of the rig, modernization of the optical devices, calibration, and some results of measurements are presented.

Animated maps as an instrument of urban mass transport research

Transport, in general, is a time variable spatially based phenomenon and its visualization on paper maps or by the help of classical means expresses its dynamics by specific methods. They are limited mostly by bounded means of expressing the phenomenon change in time. Animation gives us new possibilities, which do not have such limitations. This article presents an interactive web application capable, based on user choices, to dynamically visualize and study the intensity of urban mass transport in Přerov city. Its setting includes viewed lines, day, start time, acceleration and underlying layers. Resulting animations in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format can be driven by simple controls in user interface. The article demonstrates the potential of this application to incorporate cartographical animations in an urban transport research.

Squeezing and entanglement in a Bose–Einstein condensate

Entanglement, a key feature of quantum mechanics, is a resource that allows the improvement of precision measurements beyond the conventional bound attainable by classical means. This results in the standard quantum limit, which is reached in today's best available sensors of various quantities such as time and position. Many of these sensors are interferometers in which the standard quantum limit can be overcome by using quantum-entangled states (in particular spin squeezed states) at the two input ports. Bose-Einstein condensates of ultracold atoms are considered good candidates to provide such states involving a large number of particles. Here we demonstrate spin squeezed states suitable for atomic interferometry by splitting a condensate into a few parts using a lattice potential. Site-resolved detection of the atoms allows the measurement of the atom number difference and relative phase, which are conjugate variables. The observed fluctuations imply entanglement between the particles, a resource that would allow a precision gain of 3.8 dB over the standard quantum limit for interferometric measurements.

Straylight and the two domains of visual optics; small angle (0‐1 degree) and large angle (1‐90 degree)

Abstract Purpose Retinal straylight is the cause of important visual disturbances such as glare hindrance and contrast loss. It results from light scattering in the optical media, over angles of 1 to 90 degrees. So, it addresses part of the visual function not accessible with other means, such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and optical techniques. How independent are those two domains? Methods A forced choice psychophysical assessment technique was developed for objective and at the same time functional assessment of straylight ("Compensation Comparison", implemented in a commercial product, C‐Quant from Oculus). Maximum likelihood estimation is performed, fitting a psychometric function to patient responses for 25 short comparisons, including a reliability estimate of the obtained straylight value. The outcomes were compared to classical visual function measures (visual acuity and contrast sensitivity) in 2400 subjects in the European GLARE study. Literature models for different aspects of the optical irregularities in the eye media were used to understand the independence between the two domains of the psf. Results Straylight typically originates from irregularities in the optical media of small characteristic size (collections of particles sized 10 micrometer and below), as opposed to disturbances to the central part of the psf (<0.1 degrees), originating from large scale irregularities (refractile humps and bumps extending over 100 micrometer and more). As a consequence straylight is sensitive to disturbances like early changes to the lens, corneal haze, PCO, multifocal IOL artifacts, corneal scars, vitreous turbidity, etc. Conclusion Straylight assess a domain of visual function not accessible with classical and optical means. Commercial interest

Quantitative LC−MS of Polymers: Determining Accurate Molecular Weight Distributions by Combined Size Exclusion Chromatography and Electrospray Mass Spectrometry with Maximum Entropy Data Processing

We report on the successful application of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) combined with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and refractive index (RI) detection for the determination of accurate molecular weight distributions of synthetic polymers, corrected for chromatographic band broadening. The presented method makes use of the ability of ESI-MS to accurately depict the peak profiles and retention volumes of individual oligomers eluting from the SEC column, whereas quantitative information on the absolute concentration of oligomers is obtained from the RI-detector only. A sophisticated computational algorithm based on the maximum entropy principle is used to process the data gained by both detectors, yielding an accurate molecular weight distribution, corrected for chromatographic band broadening. Poly(methyl methacrylate) standards with molecular weights up to 10 kDa serve as model compounds. Molecular weight distributions (MWDs) obtained by the maximum entropy procedure are compared to MWDs, which were calculated by a conventional calibration of the SEC-retention time axis with peak retention data obtained from the mass spectrometer. Comparison showed that for the employed chromatographic system, distributions below 7 kDa were only weakly influenced by chromatographic band broadening. However, the maximum entropy algorithm could successfully correct the MWD of a 10 kDa standard for band broadening effects. Molecular weight averages were between 5 and 14% lower than the manufacturer stated data obtained by classical means of calibration. The presented method demonstrates a consistent approach for analyzing data obtained by coupling mass spectrometric detectors and concentration sensitive detectors to polymer liquid chromatography.

Long-Term Phosphorus Desorption Using Dialysis Membrane Tubes Filled with Iron Hydroxide and its Effect on Phosphorus Pools

ABSTRACT Many agricultural fields that have received long-term applications of phosphorus (P) often contain levels of P exceeding those required for optimal crop production. Knowledge of the effect of the P remaining in the soil (residual effect) is of great importance for fertilization management. Plant P availability of residual P in soils is usually estimated using successive cropping experiments carried out in field or greenhouse studies. As this approach is very expensive and time consuming, more rapid soil test methods that can approximate this biological measure are required. The objective of this paper was to use a different approach to evaluate P availability (desorption) over a long period of time instead of the classical means of extraction. Thus, a modified sequential P extraction procedure using dialysis membrane tube filled with ferric hydrate solution (DMT-HFO) was used on the long-term P fertilized soils that received differential P treatments (PoLo, P1L1 and P2L1) to determine the changes in the different P pools and to relate these P fractions with maize yield. In this study, the contribution of both the labile and non-labile Pi fractions in replenishing the solution Pi was significant where as the organic fractions appeared to have limited contributions in replenishing the solution P. Highly significant correlations were observed between dry matter yield and the P pools extracted by HFO-Pi (0.997*), HCO3-Pi (r = 0.994**), OH-Pi (r = 0.969**), OH-Po (r = 0.944**), D/HCl-Pi (0.991**), and C/HCl-Pi (r = 0.997**). Strongly significant correlations were also observed between the different P fractions and plant P uptake. The C/HCl-Pi was the fraction that decreased most especially for the high P treatments indicating that this fraction contributed significantly to the P extracted by DMT-HFO. This suggested that this fraction might be a buffer to more labile P fractions. The combined method employed here could act as an analytical tool to approximate successive cropping experiments carried out under green house condition. But the applicability of this method at a field level should also be assessed. Data from a wider range of soils is also needed to evaluate the universality of this method.

Exact finite-difference methods based on nonlinear means

The necessary and sufficient condition for an autonomous, ordinary differential equation to be exactly solved by a given Evans-Sanugi, nonlinear, one-step, finite difference method based on ‘classical means’ are derived. A necessary, but not sufficient, condition yields the most general nonlinearity for the differential equation which is independent of the step size. Examples of differential equations for which either nonlinear trapezoidal or nonlinear implicit midpoint methods based on arithmetic, harmonic, contraharmonic, quadratic, geometric, Heronian, centroidal and logarithmic means are exact, are presented. These new exact difference schemes may be useful in future developments of new Denk-Bulirsch, Le-Roux or Kojouhavov-Chen schemes for nonlinear evolution equations with or without blow-up.

Evaluation of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry in Comparison to 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Species Identification of Nonfermenting Bacteria

Nonfermenting bacteria are ubiquitous environmental opportunists that cause infections in humans, especially compromised patients. Due to their limited biochemical reactivity and different morphotypes, misidentification by classical phenotypic means occurs frequently. Therefore, we evaluated the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for species identification. By using 248 nonfermenting culture collection strains composed of 37 genera most relevant to human infections, a reference database was established for MALDI-TOF MS-based species identification according to the manufacturer's recommendations for microflex measurement and MALDI BioTyper software (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Leipzig, Germany), i.e., by using a mass range of 2,000 to 20,000 Da and a new pattern-matching algorithm. To evaluate the database, 80 blind-coded clinical nonfermenting bacterial strains were analyzed. As a reference method for species designation, partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was applied. By 16S rRNA gene sequencing, 57 of the 80 isolates produced a unique species identification (>or=99% sequence similarity); 11 further isolates gave ambiguous results at this threshold and were rated as identified to the genus level only. Ten isolates were identified to the genus level (>or=97% similarity); and two isolates had similarity values below this threshold, were counted as not identified, and were excluded from further analysis. MALDI-TOF MS identified 67 of the 78 isolates (85.9%) included, in agreement with the results of the reference method; 9 were misidentified and 2 were unidentified. The identities of 10 randomly selected strains were 100% correct when three different mass spectrometers and four different cultivation media were used. Thus, MALDI-TOF MS-based species identification of nonfermenting bacteria provided accurate and reproducible results within 10 min without any substantial costs for consumables.

Synchrotron X-ray Microtomography: A New Tool to Characterize the Interaction Between Paper and Toner

The interaction between paper and toner depends on paper properties (roughness, paper surface, and tension) and toner properties (granulometry and chemical composition). Deepening the knowledge on fixation and adhesion of toner onto the paper substrate is crucial to improve the end-use properties of paper dedicated to electrophotographic printing. The aim of this article is to introduce and describe a new tool to visualize and analyze this interaction. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging is a key tool used to investigate such a phenomenon. For this reason, synchrotron x-ray microtomography (SXRM) was applied to characterize the toner-paper interaction in a noninvasive and nondestructive manner. To validate the feasibility of such means in a 3D context, the obtained data are compared to those obtained by traditional two-dimensional (2D) imaging systems such as optical profilometry and environmental scanning electron microscopy. SXRM emerges as a crucial tool to get a detailed characterization of the ink layer and of the ink-paper interaction. This is a powerful technique to complete studies carried out by classical means.

Holiday text message well-wishing

Text messages became an important means of everyday communication, especially so among the younger generations. As a relatively new way of communication sending and receiving of text messages is shoving other, classical means such as letter writing. Sending a written message via cellular phone became usual means of communication in almost all life circumstances. This paper discusses messages sent out as well-wishing/cards for the most important yearly holidays.

Methods for identifying and tracking seaweed invasions

Abstract Tracking macroalgal invasions relies on a variety of approaches and techniques, including random sampling, active tracking near sources of introduction, and identification of alien species and their vectors of introduction using both classical means (based on taxonomical and biogeographical knowledge) and molecular tools. To identify the invaded ecosystems, and to describe the rate of spread and invasion dynamics, other approaches must be used, including mapping techniques and public awareness campaigns. In these endeavours, standardisation of geographical and density data is important. The tracking of alien species before eradication or control measures are instigated requires special cartographic techniques. This paper provides a general overview of these different approaches and the specific strategies adapted to the biological and ecological characteristics of particular species.

Bottleneck crossover between classical and quantum superfluid turbulence

We consider superfluid turbulence near absolute zero of temperature generated by classical means, e.g. towed grid or rotation but not by counterflow. We argue that such turbulence consists of a {\em polarized} tangle of mutually interacting vortex filaments with quantized vorticity. For this system we predict and describe a bottleneck accumulation of the energy spectrum at the classical-quantum crossover scale $\ell$. Demanding the same energy flux through scales, the value of the energy at the crossover scale should exceed the Kolmogorov-41 spectrum by a large factor $\ln^{10/3} (\ell/a_0)$ ($\ell$ is the mean intervortex distance and $a_0$ is the vortex core radius) for the classical and quantum spectra to be matched in value. One of the important consequences of the bottleneck is that it causes the mean vortex line density to be considerably higher that based on K41 alone, and this should be taken into account in (re)interpretation of new (and old) experiments as well as in further theoretical studies.