Y coupled terahertz quantum cascade lasers

Here we demonstrate a Y coupled terahertz (THz) quantum cascade laser (QCL) system. The two THz QCLs working around 2.85 THz are driven by independent electrical pulsers. Total peak THz output power of the Y system, with both arms being driven synchronously, is found to be more than the linear sum of the peak powers from the individual arms; 10.4 mW compared with 9.6 mW (4.7 mW + 4.9 mW). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the emission spectra of this coupled system are significantly different to that of either arm alone, or to the linear combination of their individual spectra.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Collaborative video searching on a tabletop

Almost all system and application design for multimedia systems is based around a single user working in isolation to perform some task yet much of the work for which we use computers to help us, is based on working collaboratively with colleagues. Groupware systems do support user collaboration but typically this is supported through software and users still physically work independently. Tabletop systems, such as the DiamondTouch from MERL, are interface devices which support direct user collaboration on a tabletop. When a tabletop is used as the interface for a multimedia system, such as a video search system, then this kind of direct collaboration raises many questions for system design. In this paper we present a tabletop system for supporting a pair of users in a video search task and we evaluate the system not only in terms of search performance but also in terms of user–user interaction and how different user personalities within each pair of searchers impacts search performance and user interaction. Incorporating the user into the system evaluation as we have done here reveals several interesting results and has important ramifications for the design of a multimedia search system

Improving the health of people with multimorbidity: the need for prospective cohort studies

The dramatic rise in long-term conditions (LTCs) represents a major challenge for individuals, families, and health care systems worldwide. Due to the scale of this rise, the management of patients with LTCs largely falls within the domain of primary rather than secondary care, at least in countries with well-developed primary care systems. For example, in the UK, which has a comprehensive primary care system based around general practice (trained family physicians working in multidisciplinary teams) and funded by the National Health Service (NHS), primary care contacts account for around 90% of the total activity of the NHS, and patients with LTCs account for 80% of general practice consultations. Effective primary care and community-based management of people with LTCs is thus a top priority

Optical Readout in a Multi-Module System Test for the ATLAS Pixel Detector

The innermost part of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, CERN, will be a pixel detector. The command messages and the readout data of the detector are transmitted over an optical data path. The readout chain consists of many components which are produced at several locations around the world, and must work together in the pixel detector. To verify that these parts are working together as expected a system test has been built up. In this paper the system test setup and the operation of the readout chain is described. Also, some results of tests using the final pixel detector readout chain are given.Comment: 6 pages, 10 figures, Pixel 2005 proceedings preprin

Two Decades of Maude

This paper is a tribute to José Meseguer, from the rest of us in the Maude team, reviewing the past, the present, and the future of the language and system with which we have been working for around two decades under his leadership. After reviewing the origins and the language's main features, we present the latest additions to the language and some features currently under development. This paper is not an introduction to Maude, and some familiarity with it and with rewriting logic are indeed assumed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

The Skylab Parasol

An alternate thermal protection system for the Skylab space station cluster was deemed necessary shortly after launch when severe damage occured to the orbital workshop as it passed through the period of maximum dynamic pressure. Data indicated that the combination micrometeoroid and thermal shield on the sun facing side of the vehicle had been destroyed. The simultaneous design, fabrication, and test of the Skylab Parasol System which was completed in 6 days of around-the-clock effort is described. The Skylab Parasol design was selected as the primary sunshade device based on simplicity of design, ability to fabricate quickly, and early demonstration of a working prototype which featured semiautomatic deployment from within the workshop under shirt sleeve environment conditions

Dynamic control strategy of a distillation system for a composition-adjustable organic Rankine cycle

Using zeotropic mixtures as working fluids can improve the thermal efficiency of Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plants for utilising geothermal energy. However, currently, such ORC systems cannot regulate the composition of zeotropic mixtures when their operating conditions change. A composition-adjustable ORC system could potentially improve the thermal efficiency by closely matching the cycle to the changing ambient conditions provided that the composition of the working fluid mixture can be adjusted in an economic way. In this paper, a dynamic composition control strategy has been proposed and analysed for such a composition-adjustable ORC system. This method employs a distillation column to separate the two components of the mixture, which can then be pumped back to the main ORC system to adjust the composition of the zeotropic mixture to the required level according to the ambient temperature. The dynamic composition control strategy is simulated using an optimisation algorithm. The design method of the distillation column is presented and its dynamic response characteristics have been analysed using Aspen Plus Dynamics. The results indicate that the average power output can be significantly improved using a composition-adjustable ORC system when the ambient temperature decreases. The size of the distillation system is relatively small and its energy (mainly thermal) consumption is only around 1 percent of the system’s input heat. The research results also show that the dynamic response characteristics of the distillation system can satisfy the requirements of the ORC system

Problems and Prospects of Islamic Banking: a case Study of Takaful

The paper is an attempt to analyse the working of Takaul in the world and its popularity in the insurance sector in the world. Keeping in view of Sharia we have also tried all possible aspects of insurance system popular in the world and tried to look at its possibility to familiarize more amongst Muslims of the world. It is observed that customer awareness remain low, however this is often attributed to a limited understanding of Islamic finance in the banking and insurance world. We wish to have a proper salesmanship and advertisement of Islamic banking system in India and all around the world.Islamic Banking, Takaful

Doing Business in the Philippines

[Excerpt] The Philippines which lies at the heart of Southeast Asia is a viable place for doing business.The country’s economy continues to grow despite the unabated political noise. The Philippine Peso ended 2005 as the best performer in Asia, with a 6.01 percent gain for the year, boosted by hefty inflows of remittances from Filipinos working overseas and optimism about the government’s fiscal reform program and lower yields at the regular treasury bill auction. The Philippine Stock Exchange, on the other hand, registered the second fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia in 2005. The Philippine Composite Index (Phisix) went up by 14.99 percent last year, trailing the Jakarta Composite Index of Indonesia which went up 16.24 percent. The Filipino workforce is another key advantage of the Philippines.The literacy rate in the country is among the highest in the region and around 350,000 highly trainable graduates add to the professional pool every year. On the political front, the Philippine government has been working on the proposal to change the present presidential system to a parliamentary-federal form of government through a charter change, in order to fast track the enactment of legislative measures and the delivery of public services to the provinces. The 1987 Constitution provides for a presidential system of government with a bicameral Congress