ON TWO-POINT RESOLUTION OF IMAGING SYSTEMS

In this paper a new criterion is proposed for optical two-point resolution, applicable to coherent, incoherent, and partially coherent imaging. Unlike classical resolution criteria, such as Rayleigh's, the new criterion takes account of the presence of errors in the observed intensity distributions. Based on a parameter estimation approach, it shows how the resolvability of the imaged point sources depends on these errors. Additionally, a test for the resolvability of the point sources from a given set of observations is presented. Moreover, a procedure is proposed for the computation of the errors having minimum energy among all errors undermining the resolution. The results presented include, as a special case, earlier results on two-point resolution of strictly incoherent imaging systems

An Audit Logic for Accountability

We describe and implement a policy language. In our system, agents can distribute data along with usage policies in a decentralized architecture. Our language supports the specification of conditions and obligations, and also the possibility to refine policies. In our framework, the compliance with usage policies is not actively enforced. However, agents are accountable for their actions, and may be audited by an authority requiring justifications.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of IEEE Policy 200

Экспериментальный анализ фонетических изменений в английской речи датско-английских билингвов

Одним из ключевых показателей, присущих двуязычному речевому поведению молодых датчан, является специфическая маркированность их английского произношения, что обращает на себя внимание уже с первых минут общения с ними. Эта маркированность произношения проявляется как следствие фонологической интерференции, которая возникает под влиянием артикуляции, интонации, ритмики, ударения первого (датского) языка на соответствующие параметры произношения второго (английского) языка.Одним з ключових показників, властивих двомовній мовній поведінці молодих данців, є специфічна маркированість їх англійської вимови, що звертає на себе увагу вже з перших хвилин спілкування з ними. Ця маркированість вимови виявляється як наслідок фонологічної інтерференції, яка виникає під впливом артикуляції, інтонації, ритміки, наголосу першої (данської) мови на відповідні параметри вимови другої (англійської) мови

Релігійний чинник у процесі вдосконалення Конституції України

Multiple states of woody cover under similar climate conditions are found in both conceptual models and observations. Due to the limitation of the observed woody cover data set, it is unclear whether the observed bimodality is caused by the presence of multiple stable states or is due to dynamic growth processes of vegetation. In this study, we combine a woody cover data set with an above ground biomass data set to investigate the simultaneous occurrences of savanna and forest states under different precipitation forcing. To interpret the results we use a recently developed vegetation dynamics model (the Balanced Optimality Structure Vegetation Model), in which the effect of fires is included. Our results show that bimodality also exists in above ground biomass and retrieved vegetation structure. In addition, the observed savanna distribution can be understood as derived from a stable state and a slightly drifting (transient) state, the latter having the potential to shift to the forest state. Finally, the results indicate that vegetation structure (horizontal vs. vertical leaf extent) is a crucial component for the existence of bimodality

Adaptations to pain rehabilitation programmes for non-native patients with chronic pain

Purpose. (i) To determine whether adaptations for non-native patients have been implemented in pain rehabilitation programmes; (ii) to determine whether characteristics of the rehabilitation institute are related to having adaptations for non-native patients in place. Subjects. Rehabilitation institutes and rehabilitation departments of general hospitals in The Netherlands who offer a pain rehabilitation programme. Method. A questionnaire was handed over in person or by e-mail to the rehabilitation physicians of the participating institutes. Twenty-seven (90%) questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire concerned programme adaptations and institute characteristics. The data were analysed by

Characterization and comparison of smokeless powders by on-line two-dimensional liquid chromatography

Smokeless powders (SPs) are one of the most commonly used propellants for ammunition but can also be abused as energetic material in improvised explosive devices (IEDs) such as pipe bombs. After a shooting or explosion, unburnt or partially burnt particulates may be observed which can be used for forensic investigation. SPs comprise mainly nitrocellulose (NC) and additives. Therefore, the characterization of both NC and the additives is of significant forensic importance. Typically, the identification, classification, and chemical profiling of smokeless powders are based exclusively on the analysis of the additives. In this study, information regarding the NC base component was combined with the chemical analysis of the additives using two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC). The system combines size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) in an on-line heart-cut 2D-LC configuration. In the first dimension, the NC is characterized by its molecular-weight distribution (MWD) while being separated from the additives. The additives are then transferred to the second-dimension separation using a novel analyte-transfer system. In the second dimension, the additives are separated to obtain a detailed profile of the low-molecular-mass compounds in the SP. With this approach, the MWD of the NC and the composition of the additives in SP have been obtained within an hour. A discrimination power of 90.53% was obtained when studying exclusively the NC MWD, and 99.47% for the additive profile. This novel combination enables detailed forensic comparison of intact SPs. Additionally, no extensive sample preparation is required, making the developed method less labor intensive

Increased susceptibility to proactive interference in adults with dyslexia?

Recent findings show that people with dyslexia have an impairment in serial-order memory. Based on these findings, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that people with dyslexia have difficulties dealing with proactive interference (PI) in recognition memory. A group of 25 adults with dyslexia and a group of matched controls were subjected to a 2-back recognition task, which required participants to indicate whether an item (mis)matched the item that had been presented 2 trials before. PI was elicited using lure trials in which the item matched the item in the 3-back position instead of the targeted 2-back position. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of lure trials affected 2-back recognition performance more severely in the dyslexic group than in the control group, suggesting greater difficulty in resisting PI in dyslexia.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio