Concentration of Measure Inequalities for Toeplitz Matrices with Applications

We derive Concentration of Measure (CoM) inequalities for randomized Toeplitz matrices. These inequalities show that the norm of a high-dimensional signal mapped by a Toeplitz matrix to a low-dimensional space concentrates around its mean with a tail probability bound that decays exponentially in the dimension of the range space divided by a quantity which is a function of the signal. For the class of sparse signals, the introduced quantity is bounded by the sparsity level of the signal. However, we observe that this bound is highly pessimistic for most sparse signals and we show that if a random distribution is imposed on the non-zero entries of the signal, the typical value of the quantity is bounded by a term that scales logarithmically in the ambient dimension. As an application of the CoM inequalities, we consider Compressive Binary Detection (CBD).Comment: Initial Submission to the IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing on December 1, 2011. Revised and Resubmitted on July 12, 201

Pengaruh Biourine Dan Jenis Pupuk Terhadap Pertumbuhan Dan Hasil Tanaman Pak Choy (Brassica Chinensis L.)

Pak choy (Brassica chinensis L.) merupakan salah satu jenis sayuran yang digemari oleh masyarakat Indonesia. Permintaan sayuran pak choy yang cukup tinggi tidak seimbang dengan jumlah produksi tanaman tersebut. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh biourine sapi dan jenis pupuk pada pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman pak choy (Brassica chinensis L.). Penelitian ini menggunakan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) non faktorial dengan 3 kali ulangan yang terdiri dari 7 perlakuan: P0: Biourine (1000 L ha-1), P1: Biourine + pupuk phonska (800 kg ha-1), P2: Biourine + jamur mikoriza (20 g/tanaman), P3: Biourine + jamur Trichoderma sp. (15 mL), P4: Biourine + kompos kotoran sapi (10 ton ha-1) P5: Biourine + kompos seresah UB (20 ton ha-1), P6: POC ( Pupuk Organik Cair). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan perlakuan kombinasi biourine dan pupuk phonska 800 kg ha-1 (P1) berpengaruh nyata pada umur 21 dan 28 hst. Perlakuan P1 yaitu pemberian kombinasi biourine sapi dengan pupuk Phonska rata-rata pertumbuhan pakchoy lebih baik daripada perlakuan lainnya pada parameter tinggi, luas daun, panjang tanaman, bobot basah tanaman, bobot basah daun, bobot kering daun, diameter bonggol. Pada komponen hasil (panen) untuk total bobot segar tanaman/ha dan total bobot segar konsumsi/ha, perlakuan P1 memberikan hasil tertinggi 55.75 ton ha-1 dan pengaruh nyata terhadap perlakuan lain

NEW ALGEBRAIC INVARIANTS OF IMPLICIT POLYNOMIALS FOR 3D OBJECT RECOGNITION

Abstract In this paper, we present a method for deriving the rotation invariants of 2 nd and 4 th degree implicit polynomials and we build a system for 3D object recognition using the derived invariants. Our results show that invariants derived in this paper are stable and the success of the recognition is high when the polynomial fit is successful

Evaluation of Electrostatic Particle Ionization and Biocurtain™ Technologies to Reduce Air Pollutants from Broiler Houses

The continuing growth of poultry production, along with the increasing urbanization of rural areas, is leading to more odor-related complaints from neighboring communities and more scrutiny from policy makers. It is, therefore, in the best interest of poultry producers to look at control methods for abating odors. Previous studies have shown that substantial amounts of volatile and odorous compounds are adsorbed and transported by dust particles. Thus, by reducing the amount of dust emitted from poultry facilities such as broiler houses, odor may be reduced as well. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two commercially available control technologies (BioCurtain™ and electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) system) in reducing the total suspended particulate matter (TSP), particulate matter \u3c10 \u3eμm in diameter (PM10), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emitted from a broiler facility in Texas. The study was conducted at a broiler production facility in two identically designed, ventilated, and managed broiler houses where one served as the treatment house and the other, the control. Measurements were done on two consecutive days each in September and December 2010. BioCurtain™ was tested independently on the first day and in combination with and the EPI on the second day. Reductions in the NH3 and H2S emission rates by as much as 8% (1040 vs. 943 g/h for NH3 and 9.2 vs. 8.4 g/h for H2S) and by as much as 43% (396 vs. 227 g/h) for the TSP emission rates were achieved with the BioCurtain ™. The EPI system reduced the NH3, H2S, and TSP emission rates by as much as 17%, 34% and 39%, respectively. Economic analysis showed that operating the automated EPI and BioCurtain™ system for one 14 m wide and 152 m long broiler building housing an average of 23,000 birds will cost $0.06 per bird

Evaluation of Electrostatic Particle Ionization and BioCurtain Technologies to Reduce Dust, Odor and other Pollutants from Broiler Houses Final Report

Confined poultry production has increased in Texas and along with it, complaints of odor and dust. These issues are a major problem in the United States not only for confined animal health but also for the increasing urban migration to the rural areas where the poultry industry is expanding. Particulate matter and volatile organic compound (VOC) produced in the poultry houses can be offensive to neighbors, and if not properly vented, pose a serious health hazard to the animals. Some technologies available attempt to strike a balance between reducing poultry house emissions and maintaining bird health; however there is a lack of sufficient pollutant- reduction data to make a sound fiscal judgment in the implementation of this equipment. Two possible management tools that have shown promise and were chosen for evaluation during this project were an Electrostatic Particle Ionization (EPI™) system and a BioCurtain™. The EPI™ system includes an antenna-like array of wire strung through the poultry house with a small electric charge running through it. The resulting electric field ionizes the particulate matter suspended in the air, causing it to attract to grounded materials. The BioCurtain™ consists of a black geotextile fabric stretched over a quadrant-shaped, metal frame skeleton, and placed over the exhaust fans of the poultry houses. Air moving out of the house flows down along the top of the quadrant and particulate matter settles out on the ground. The air, without the particulate matter, then flows vertically out through the top of the BioCurtain™. This project tested the effectiveness of a BioCurtain™ and Electrostatic Particle Ionization (EPI™) system in reducing NH3, H2S, and TSP emissions from a broiler house during short periods in September and December 2010. This project found: 1) A reduction of about 9%, in the emission of NH3 and H2S gases (1060 vs. 960 g/hr for NH3 and 9.3 vs. 8.5 g/hr. for H2S) in December when only the BioCurtain™ was active. 2) The BioCurtain™ resulted in a 34% (325 vs. 213 g/hr. in September) to 43% (396 vs. 227 g/hr in December) reduction in the TSP emission. 3) The EPI™ system reduced the NH3 and TSP emission rates by as much as 17% and 39%, respectively

A pilot study to determine the feasibility of a cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention to change peer attitudes towards children who stutter

Background: While randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard of research, prior study is needed to determine the feasibility of a future large-scale RCT study.   Objectives: This pilot study, therefore, aimed to determine feasibility of an RCT by exploring: (1) procedural issues and (2) treatment effect of the Classroom Communication Resource (CCR), an intervention for changing peer attitudes towards children who stutter.   Method: A pilot cluster stratified RCT design was employed whereby the recruitment took place first at school-level and then at individual level. The dropout rate was reported at baseline, 1 and 6 months post-intervention. For treatment effect, schools were the unit of randomisation and were randomised to receive either the CCR intervention administered by teachers or usual practice, using a 1:1 allocation ratio. The stuttering resource outcomes measure (SROM) measured treatment effect at baseline, 1 and 6 months post-intervention overall and within the constructs (positive social distance, social pressure and verbal interaction).   Results: For school recruitment, 11 schools were invited to participate and 82% (n = 9) were recruited. Based on the school recruitment, N = 610 participants were eligible for this study while only n = 449 were recruited, where there was n = 183 in the intervention group and n = 266 in the control group. The dropout rate from recruitment to baseline was as follows: intervention, 23% (n = 34), and control, 6% (n = 15). At 1 month a dropout rate of 7% (n = 10) was noted in the intervention and 6% (n = 15) in the control group, whereas at 6 months, dropout rates of 7% (n = 10) and 17% (n = 44) were found in the intervention and control groups, respectively. For treatment effect on the SROM, the estimated mean differences between intervention and control groups were (95% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.07, 5.11) at 1 month and 3.01 (95% CI: -0.69, 6.69) at 6 months. A statistically significant difference was observed at 6 months on the VI subscale of the SROM, with 1.35 (95% CI: 0.58, 2.13).   Conclusion: A high recruitment rate of schools and participants was observed with a high dropout rate of participants. Significant differences were only noted at 6 months post-intervention within one of the constructs of the SROM. These findings suggest that a future RCT study is warranted and feasible

Natural history of Arabidopsis thaliana and oomycete symbioses

Molecular ecology of plant–microbe interactions has immediate significance for filling a gap in knowledge between the laboratory discipline of molecular biology and the largely theoretical discipline of evolutionary ecology. Somewhere in between lies conservation biology, aimed at protection of habitats and the diversity of species housed within them. A seemingly insignificant wildflower called Arabidopsis thaliana has an important contribution to make in this endeavour. It has already transformed botanical research with deepening understanding of molecular processes within the species and across the Plant Kingdom; and has begun to revolutionize plant breeding by providing an invaluable catalogue of gene sequences that can be used to design the most precise molecular markers attainable for marker-assisted selection of valued traits. This review describes how A. thaliana and two of its natural biotrophic parasites could be seminal as a model for exploring the biogeography and molecular ecology of plant–microbe interactions, and specifically, for testing hypotheses proposed from the geographic mosaic theory of co-evolution

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ground Level Area Sources in Dairy and Cattle Feedyard Operations

A protocol that consisted of an isolation flux chamber and a portable gas chromatograph was used to directly quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a dairy and a feedyard operation in the Texas Panhandle. Field sampling campaigns were performed 5 consecutive days only during daylight hours from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm each day. The objective of this research was to quantify and compare GHG emission rates (ERs) from ground level area sources (GLAS) at dairy and cattle feedyard operations during the summer. A total of 74 air samples using flux chamber were collected from the barn (manure lane and bedding area), loafing pen, open lot, settling basin, lagoons, and compost pile within the dairy operation. For the cattle feedyard, a total of 87 air samples were collected from four corner pens of a large feedlot, runoff holding pond, and compost pile. Three primary GHGs (methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide) were measured and quantified from both operations. The aggregate estimated ERs for CH4, CO2, and N2O were 836, 5573, 3.4 g hd−1 d−1 (collectively 27.5 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) hd−1 d−1), respectively, at the dairy operation. The aggregate ERs for CH4, CO2, and N2O were 3.8, 1399, 0.68 g hd−1 d−1 (1.7 kg CO2e hd−1 d−1), respectively, from the feedyard. The estimated USEPA GHG ERs were about 13.2 and 1.16 kg CO2e hd−1 d−1, respectively, for dairy and feedyard operations. Aggregate CH4, CO2 and N2O ERs at the dairy facility were about 219, 4 and 5 times higher, respectively, than those at the feedyard. At the dairy, average CH4 ERs estimated from the settling basin, primary and secondary lagoons were significantly higher than those from the other GLAS, contributing about 98% of the aggregate CH4 emission. The runoff holding pond and pen surface of the feedyard contributed about 99% of the aggregate CH4 emission. Average CO2 and N2O ERs estimated from the pen surface area were significantly higher than those estimated from the compost pile and runoff pond. The pen surface alone contributed about 93% and 84% of the aggregate CO2 and N2O emission, respectively. Abatement and management practices that address GHG emissions from these sources will likely be most effective for reducing facility emissions

Physical properties of palm oil boiler ash modified bitumen with Rediset

This study examines the physical properties of a 60/70 penetration grade bitumen modified using warm mix asphalt (WMA) additive, Rediset and palm oil boiler ash (POBA) as a modifier. Modified binders were prepared by adding 2% of Rediset with different POBA contents (3, 5, 7, and 9%) through wet mixing process. Physical properties of modified bituminous binder were obtained from penetration, softening point, rotational viscosity and ductility tests. The addition of 7% POBA in WMA binder has the best characteristics in term of its physical properties. The penetration values, softening point temperatures and ductility characteristics show inconsistent patterns. However, the rotational viscosity of each combination had decreased with the increment of temperature even though the trend was not significantly constant. Penetration index (PI) showed an increment with 3 and 5% and decrement pattern on 7 and 9% as well as penetration viscosity number (PVN) showing an inconsistent decrement with the addition of POBA. From the results, it can be concluded that using POBA in WMA binder for pavement construction is a viable option and can be further investigate

Isolation and fine mapping of Rps6: An intermediate host resistance gene in barley to wheat stripe rust

A plant may be considered a nonhost of a pathogen if all known genotypes of a plant species are resistant to all known isolates of a pathogen species. However, if a small number of genotypes are susceptible to some known isolates of a pathogen species this plant maybe considered an intermediate host. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is an intermediate host for Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), the causal agent of wheat stripe rust. We wanted to understand the genetic architecture underlying resistance to Pst and to determine whether any overlap exists with resistance to the host pathogen, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei (Psh). We mapped Pst resistance to chromosome 7H and show that host and intermediate host resistance is genetically uncoupled. Therefore, we designate this resistance locus Rps6. We used phenotypic and genotypic selection on F2:3 families to isolate Rps6 and fine mapped the locus to a 0.1 cM region. Anchoring of the Rps6 locus to the barley physical map placed the region on two adjacent fingerprinted contigs. Efforts are now underway to sequence the minimal tiling path and to delimit the physical region harbouring Rps6. This will facilitate additional marker development and permit identification of candidate genes in the region