Macro Basis Research Articles

Tailorable optical scattering properties of V-shaped plasmonic nanoantennas: a computationally efficient and fast analysis.

In this work, we introduce an efficient computational scheme, based on the macro basis function method, to analyze the scattering of a plane wave by V-shaped plasmonic optical nanoantennas. The polarization currents and scattered fields for the both symmetric and antisymmetric excitations are investigated. We investigate how the resonant frequency of the plasmonic V-shaped nanoantenna is tailored by engineering the geometrical parameters and by changing the polarization state of the incident plane wave. The computational model presented herein is faster by many orders of magnitude than commercially available finite methods, and is capable of characterizing all nanoantennas comprised of junctions and bends of nanorods.

Genetic features of soils in the basin of Lake Kotokel, the Transbaikal region

The diversity of the soils and the specific features of the pedogenesis in the basin of Lake Kotokel have been studied. The specificity of the pedogenesis and soil cover patterns in the lake basin are controlled by the altitudinal zonation, the diversity of parent materials, and the influence of air masses from Lake Baikal. Gray metamorphic soils and raw-humus burozems developed under taiga vegetation in the mountains predominate in the basin of Lake Kotokel. The coastal landscapes and river valleys are occupied by swampy and meadow alluvial soils. The genetic features of the major soils have been characterized on the basis of field descriptions, laboratory data, and special macro- and micromorphological studies.

Contour-FFT Based Spectral Domain MBF Analysis of Large Printed Antenna Arrays

A fast spectral-domain method is proposed to evaluate the reaction terms between the Macro Basis Functions in regular and non-regular arrays made of identical printed antennas. The presented technique first exploits the filtering capabilities of the Macro Basis Functions in the spectral domain. The method is then strongly accelerated with the help of a newly formulated Fast Fourier Transform-based technique, which is applicable to a contour integration in the complex plane. We name the method as Contour-FFT or C-FFT. Besides an effective homogeneous medium term treated with multipoles, a computational complexity of order N log_2 N is achieved for the the tabulation of substrate-related reaction terms for any possible relative positions. The complexity of the proposed method is independent from the complexity of the elements. Numerical results obtained with the proposed method are compared with those from a pre-validated reference solution based on the traditional Macro Basis Functions technique; an excellent agreement is observed.

First Report of Phytophthora Taxon Walnut in Lombardy, North Italy.

The park Boscoincittà, Milan, North Italy (136 m a.s.l., 45°29'06″ N, 9°5'32″ E), has an area of 110 ha and includes tree stands, wood clearings, trails, and watercourses. Recently, common walnut (Jugland regia) trees in the park have begun to suffer from a progressive dieback that has caused roughly 90% mortality. Aerial symptoms were stunted growth, loss of vigor, crown thinning, and bark cankers with tarry exudates on the lower stem. The xylem tissue of trees showed large necrosis and flame-shaped discoloration below the bark. Since the dieback seemed caused by Phytophthora, samples were taken from three symptomatic trees and, by baiting, from the nearby soil and watercourses. Isolations from apple baits were carried out after a week. Isolations taken from tissue at the edge of active lesions of the trees were transferred on the selective medium V8A-PARPNH (1) and incubated at 24°C. Cottony colonies appeared after 3 days and single hyphal tip derivatives were transferred to V8A for a further 4 to 7 days. Fragments (1 cm2) of mycelium of the subcultured colonies were then placed in filtered (Ø 0.22 μm nitrocellulose filters, Millipore) pond water. Three isolates were retrieved within 24 h, two from tree tissue and one from water. These produced ovoid, non-papillate sporangia, of which 30 per isolate were measured. Sporangia averaged 52.5 ± 9.6 × 32.9 ± 4.7 μm (range 30.8 to 67 × 22.5 to 42.8) with a l:b ratio of 1.59 ± 0.19 (range 1.27 to 2.05), and exit pores of 11.1 ± 1.7 μm (range 7.31 to 14.21). External proliferation from previously emptied sporangia and hyphal swellings were observed on V8A. On V8A, colonies had optimal growth at 32°C (5.7 ± 0.8 mm d-1) with a maximum at 37°C. Colonies had a chrysanthemum-shaped, scanty fluffy aspect on PDA. Isolates were identified as Phytophthora taxon walnut on the basis of macro- and micro-morphology and sequence information from the ITS-rDNA region, that was amplified with primers ITS6 and ITS4 (3) after DNA extraction with a commercial kit (Sigma Aldrich). A region of the cox1 gene of isolate B164 was also amplified with primers OomCoxILevup and Fm85mod (4) and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KC291584), but this was irrelevant for identification purposes because that gene region has not been sequenced for other isolates of this taxon. A BLAST search in GenBank and the Phytophthora database revealed a 99% identity of the ITS-rDNA from our isolate B164 (KC291550) with the P. taxon walnut isolate P532 (AF541910) (2). Inoculation trials were conducted on 10 detached leaves. A little lesion was produced with a sterile scalpel on the lower leaf surfaces and a 0.5 cm Ø agar plug was placed over the wounds. Necrotic lesions averaged 3.7 ± 1.6 × 2.0 ± 0.5 cm after 1 week of incubation at 20°C in the dark. Control leaves showed no symptoms. Re-isolations on V8-PARPNH agar confirmed Phytophthora taxon walnut as the causal agent. Members of the Phytophthora genus grouping with the Phytophthora taxon walnut in clade 6 are mainly reported as saprophytes or pathogens from riparian ecosystems and forests (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Phytophthora taxon walnut from Italy. Since the oomycete proved in our growth trial to be distinctly thermophilic, we hypothesize that its spread is being favored by the rising temperatures observed during the last decades in the area.

Conjunctival and cutaneous fungal flora in clinically normal dogs in Southern France

The objectives of the present study were to describe the fungal flora of the conjunctiva in clinically normal dogs in southern France and to compare the fungal flora from the conjunctiva and that from adjacent skin areas (medial canthus and nose). Fifty dogs aged from 5 months to 13 years were investigated for conjunctival fungal flora. Specimens were obtained from both conjunctivae and the skin of the medial canthus and from the surface of the nose using sterile cotton-wool swabs and a piece of sterile carpet, respectively. Identification of fungal colonies was achieved recording the genus level on the basis of macro- and microscopic features. Fourteen fungal genera (most frequently Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Aspergillus) were isolated from the conjunctival fornix of 7 dogs (14%). There was no significant effect of sex or age on frequency of fungal isolation. Eleven dogs (22%) had a positive mycological culture from at least one eye. Fungi found in the conjunctival fornix of dogs might represent transient seeding from the environment, as suspected in other animal species. The presence of conjunctival fungal organisms was correlated to the presence of fungi on the skin.

Possible effects of the stock market movements on interest rates, output and inflation: empirical evidence from the emerging markets of Europe

It is important to identify the effects of stock prices on financial and macroeconomic variables when the development of capital markets is concerned. In this study, AB type-SVAR models are employed, whereupon impulse response functions (IRFs) and forecast error variance decompositions (FEVDs) are used for determining the effects of stock prices on money market interest rates, industrial production and inflation expectations and in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Empirical results stress that central banks in these countries should incorporate the role of capital markets into their monetary policy formulations for maintaining price stability. It is also implied that development of capital markets in these countries should be fostered by the implementation of policies both on micro and macro basis for sustaining economic development.

Efficient integral equation-based analysis of finite periodic structures in the optical frequency range

The optical response of dense finite arrays of nanoparticles can be efficiently analyzed with the help of macro basis functions obtained by employing the array scanning method. This is demonstrated by analyzing optical collimation in arrays of silver nanorods. The accuracy of the solution obtained with the proposed method has been validated by comparison with solutions obtained employing the Krylov subspace iterative method. The relative error in the electric field distribution on an observation plane above the finite array is of the order of -25 dB, while the number of unknowns is reduced by a factor of 32.

An ethnographic exploration of influences on prescribing in general practice: why is there variation in prescribing practices?

BackgroundPrescribing is a core activity for general practitioners, yet significant variation in the quality of prescribing has been reported. This suggests there may be room for improvement in the application of the current best research evidence. There has been substantial investment in technologies and interventions to address this issue, but effect sizes so far have been small to moderate. This suggests that prescribing is a decision-making process that is not sufficiently understood. By understanding more about prescribing processes and the implementation of research evidence, variation may more easily be understood and more effective interventions proposed.MethodsAn ethnographic study in three Scottish general practices with diverse organizational characteristics. Practices were ranked by their performance against Audit Scotland prescribing quality indicators, incorporating established best research evidence. Two practices of high prescribing quality and one practice of low prescribing quality were recruited. Participant observation, formal and informal interviews, and a review of practice documentation were employed.ResultsPractices ranked as high prescribing quality consistently made and applied macro and micro prescribing decisions, whereas the low-ranking practice only made micro prescribing decisions. Macro prescribing decisions were collective, policy decisions made considering research evidence in light of the average patient, one disease, condition, or drug. Micro prescribing decisions were made in consultation with the patient considering their views, preferences, circumstances and other conditions (if necessary).Although micro prescribing can operate independently, the implementation of evidence-based, quality prescribing was attributable to an interdependent relationship. Macro prescribing policy enabled prescribing decisions to be based on scientific evidence and applied consistently where possible. Ultimately, this influenced prescribing decisions that occur at the micro level in consultation with patients.ConclusionGeneral practitioners in the higher prescribing quality practices made two different ‘types’ of prescribing decision; macro and micro. Macro prescribing informs micro prescribing and without a macro basis to draw upon the low-ranked practice had no effective mechanism to engage with, reflect on and implement relevant evidence. Practices that recognize these two levels of decision making about prescribing are more likely to be able to implement higher quality evidence.

Polymerase Chain Reaction: Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Differentiates the Environmental and Clinically Important Fungal Isolates

Soil rich in keratinous material represents the main reservoir of keratinophilic fungi. Majority of soil saprophytes are known to cause fungal disease (mycoses) in human beings and animals. Considering the importance of soil saprophytes as potential human pathogens, this study aimed at assessing their presence in various soil samples collected from different locations of Jammu, India. Soil samples were screened for the isolation of keratinophilic fungi by using hair bait technique. A total of 16 fungal isolates were identified on the basis of macro and microscopic characteristics. Out of these, 12 fungal isolates were obtained from soil and four were clinical isolates. PCR–RFLP approach was used for detecting genetic relatedness between the environmental and clinical isolates. ITS (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) region of 16 fungal isolate was amplified with primer pair ITS1 and ITS4. Gel electrophoresis after PCR of ITS region showed that DNA from all the fungal isolates yielded single fragment ranging from 550 to 650 bp. This was followed by Seminested PCR to detect variations in ITS2 region using primer pair ITS86 and ITS4. The PCR product was subjected to restriction digestion with ten restriction enzymes out of which four enzymes MboI, MseI, MvaI, HpaII showed best results. Restriction fragments obtained were scored for the presence and absence of bands. Dendrogram was generated which divided the fungal isolates into four main groups. PCR-RFLP made possible the detection of interspecies and intrastrainal variations in keratinophilic fungi isolated from soil and clinically relevant isolates from patients with opportunistic infections.

On the Relationship Between Multiple-Scattering Macro Basis Functions and Krylov Subspace Iterative Methods

A mathematical link is provided between the Krylov subspace iterative approach based on the full orthogonalization method (FOM) and the macro basis functions (MBF) approach based on a multiple-scattering methodology. The link refers to the subspaces created by those methods as well as to the orthogonality conditions which they satisfy. Both approaches are applied to the same method-of-moments (MoM) system of equations that is preconditioned based on a closest-interaction rule, and where blocks of the MoM impedance matrix are compressed using a rank-revealing method. MBF and FOM approaches are compared numerically, with a special attention given to accuracy, for perfectly conducting objects, comprising an array of tapered-slot antennas, spheres and an aircraft. The respective advantages of both methods are briefly discussed and further prospects are given.

Accelerated Macro Basis Functions Analysis of Finite Printed Antenna Arrays Through 2D and 3D Multipole Expansions

An efficient technique is presented for the analysis of finite printed antenna arrays made of identical elements. It is based on a closed-form expression for the spatial-domain Green's function (GF) given as a finite sum of cylindrical waves (obtained through rational function fitting) plus one spherical wave. From there, a multipole expansion can be obtained for planar layered medium GFs. The macro basis function (MBF) technique is applied to the method of moments (MoM) solution of a mixed-potential integral equation, this reduces the size of the MoM impedance matrix and allows for a direct solution. However, the evaluation of the entries of this reduced matrix becomes the dominant contribution to the total computation time. The aforementioned multipole expansion is exploited to provide a fast construction of the reduced MoM matrix, whose elements are the reaction integrals between the MBFs considered to characterize the currents on the array element. The complexity of evaluating the interactions between MBFs is found to be dominated by the calculations related to the spherical wave term. Thus, taking into account the layered medium does not increase the order of the complexity with respect to a multipole-accelerated computation of reaction integrals in a homogeneous medium.

Implementing stochastic distribution within the utopia plane of primary producers using a hybrid genetic algorithm

The two key variables in estimating the water-energy dynamic, which determines proportions of plant strategy components on a macro basis, are temperature and precipitation. Additionally, use of high-resolution elevation data facilitates formation of the fuzzy rule base for ordination of the strategical nodes. Application of adaptive neural fuzzy inference systems produces sets of rules, which may be minimised to increase the efficiency of modelling the distribution of plants and their characters. A modified objective genetic evolutionary algorithm was employed in this study to show the distribution of elements of strategies within a strength Pareto. Distribution of the elements showed an approximate Poisson curve in objective space that may be extrapolated to a real-numbered population via application of optimisation algorithms to reflect the stochastic organisation of the populations.

Scattering performance of plasmonic nanorod antennas in randomly tilted disordered and Fibonacci configurations

In this letter, we formulate and investigate the optical performance of finite arrays of plasmonic nanorod antennas in randomly tilted disordered and Fibonacci configurations. To efficiently model the scattering performance of a nanorod, we take advantage of characteristic basis function method in conjunction with macro basis functions. We study how random rotations of the nanorods, as a disorder, may affect their electromagnetic response. Also, the impact of quasi-periodic order on the performance of the array in the form of two-dimensional Fibonacci quasi-lattice comprising of plasmonic nanorods with two different lengths is studied.

Predicting Occupancy of Wintering Migratory Birds : Is Microhabitat Information Necessary?

Abstract. Information regarding microhabitat, here defined as small-scale vegetation structure, is often useful in predicting use of habitat by birds. Quantifying microhabitat, however, is expensive and labor intensive compared to assessment of habitat at a larger scale, possibly from remotely sensed imagery. To assess the importance of microhabitat information in constructing predictive models of habitat occupancy, we compared occupancy models built on the basis of macro- and microhabitat together and separately. We based our models on counts of wintering migratory bird species and vegetation surveys within Tuskegee National Forest, Alabama, completed during winter 2009. Models built from macrohabitat data only outperformed models built from microhabitat data only for five of the six species analyzed. However, the best model for every focal species included both macro- and microhabitat covariates. Pine forests—excluding plantation—were the only land-cover classification important to our focal species, an...

Using the Concept of Ethnicity in Defining Philistine Identity in the Iron Age

ABSTRACT Normally the discussion about Philistine identity vis-à-vis Isra-elite identity moves on a macro basis: On one side the Philistines, and on the other the Israelites. Little attention has been paid to the related concept of “scale and social organization.” If we try to find a background for the macro definitions: Israelites, Philistines, we move on an imaginary level. It is a kind of literary concept nourished among the elite—never more than a few percent of any ancient society. The realities of ancient Palestine in the Iron Age were different. First of all nationality was an unknown concept, and any idea of ethnicity related to the issue of nationality (as in Avraham Faust's recent book on Israelite origins) is irrelevant. Second, there were, as argued by, among others Mario Liverani, no national borders in Antiquity. Borders were fiscal delimitations: Who paid tax to whom? Third, ethnicity follows the group, and a certain person may change identity as he moves through differ-ent groups. In a society of such small extent as ancient Palestine, each villager would have an identity defined by his village as against the members of the neighboring community—ethnicity cannot be separated from identity—and villagers living in one area will have a distinct consciousness of being differ-ent from those who live “on the other side of the river.” “National” identity, when the idea of ethnicity includes all people living within the fiscal borders of an ancient state, would hardly ever be called upon, except when the elite wanted to defend its privileges—its right to obtain taxes—against intruders. Thus the concept of a Philistine—Israelite controversy based on different ide-as about ethnicity is no more than a projection of modern ideas about the na-tional state which came into being two hundred years ago.

Revising Matumo's Setswana-English-Setswana Dictionary

The aim of this article is to design a revision strategy for the Setswana to English side of the Setswana–English–Setswana Dictionary compiled by Z.I. Matumo in 1993. An existing general organic Setswana corpus as well as a dedicated corpus compiled for the purposes of the revision will be used as a basis for macro- and microstructural aspects of the proposed revision. Lemma candidate lists for inclusion in and omission from the existing dictionary will be generated from these corpora, existing articles will be critically analysed and models for revised/updated articles will be presented. Key components of the revision strategy include the design and use of a multidimensional Ruler and Block System for the measurement and balancing of alphabetical stretches for the revised dictionary in terms of time, average length of articles and number of pages per alphabetical category. It is not possible to present all aspects of the revision within the scope of a journal article but the most prominent ones as well as a selection of typical issues will be dealt with. Keywords: lexicography, lemmatisation, revision, information retrieval, macrostructure, microstructure, ruler, block system, dictionary, african languages, setswana (tswana)

A partial revision of Allium (Amaryllidaceae) in Korea and north-eastern China

A taxonomic revision of Allium in Korea and north-eastern China is presented based on critical observations of wild populations and extensive herbarium material. Species delimitations are re-evaluated on the basis of macro- and micromorphological and cytological characters, resulting in the recognition of 24 species comprised of 26 taxa, among which, four species and two varieties are endemic to Korea, and one species is endemic to China. One previously recognized species is placed into synonymy: A. deltoidefistulosum (under A. sacculiferum). Allium spirale and A. tenuissimum are newly recorded for Korea, and the common names ‘Cham-du-me-bu-chu’ and ‘Ae-gi-sil-bu-chu’ are given for these species, respectively. Lectotypes are designated for A. deltoidefistulosum, A. monanthum and A. ophiopogon. Illustrations, photographs and a key to species and varieties are provided in addition to complete descriptions including information on nomenclatural types, synonymies, chromosome numbers, distributions, habitat and specimens examined. This study will provide sound foundation for a future global monograph and the systematic understanding of Allium. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 167, 153–211.

Interpolatory Macro Basis Functions Analysis of Non-Periodic Arrays

An efficient method-of-moments (MoM) technique for analyzing non-periodic antenna arrays of identical elements with fixed orientation is presented. The proposed method, which uses macro basis functions (MBFs), is based on a compact representation of the interactions between MBFs. These interactions are expressed via a low-order harmonic-polynomial function after an explicit pre-computation of the reaction integrals in a very limited set of relative positions. This is possible for arrays of arbitrary size thanks to three transformations- subtraction of the far-field expression for the interactions, phase correction and modified radial distance- applied successively to the pre-computed interactions. After obtaining the harmonic-polynomial expressions, the computation time for the reaction integral between two MBFs is independent from the complexity of the antenna array element.

Scattering analysis of plasmonic nanorod antennas: A novel numerically efficient computational scheme utilizing macro basis functions

In this paper we introduce a versatile and numerically efficient computational technique to model the problem of scattering from plasmonic nanorod antennas. The key to achieving the numerical efficiency is to utilize macro basis functions (MBFs) that taking into account the physics of the problem to reduce the size of matrix equation we need to solve. Closed form formulations are presented for computing the fields by the transverse and longitudinal MBFs that enable us to generate the required matrix elements rapidly, while ensuring that the matrix is well-conditioned. We show that the transverse and longitudinal components of polarization current and all of the components of the scattered fields can be computed very accurately by employing only a few MBFs, i.e., by solving a relatively small-size matrix equation. The accuracy of our modeling technique has been successfully demonstrated by comparing the simulation results with those derived by using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique, which is considerably more time-consuming than the present approach. Interesting physical phenomena such as surface plasmon modes for polarization currents and resonance behaviors of plasmonic nanorods are illustrated.

A Model Reduction Algorithm for Solving Multiple Scattering Problems Using Iterative Methods

In this paper we propose a new method for solving high-frequency scattering problems by multiple objects. A model reduction algorithm based on the macro basis function (MBF) method is used to find an approximate solution within a subspace spanned by the solutions of several single scattering subproblems. Different iterative methods for generating the MBFs are compared. The whole process relies on a finite element approach and is applied to convex obstacle scattering.