Quantum Noise in Multipixel Image Processing

We consider the general problem of the quantum noise in a multipixel measurement of an optical image. We first give a precise criterium in order to characterize intrinsic single mode and multimode light. Then, using a transverse mode decomposition, for each type of possible linear combination of the pixels' outputs we give the exact expression of the detection mode, i.e. the mode carrying the noise. We give also the only way to reduce the noise in one or several simultaneous measurements.Comment: 8 pages and 1 figur

The response of shear walls subjected to dynamic loads

Thesis (Sc.D.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1957.Bibliography: leaves 84-85.by Vitelmo V. Bertero.Sc.D

Assessment of the temperature cut-off point by a commercial intravaginal device to predict parturition in Piedmontese beef cows

Dystocic parturitions have an adverse impact on animal productivity and therefore the profitability of the farm. In this regard, accurate prediction of calving is essential since it allows for efficient and prompt assistance of the dam and the calf. Numerous approaches to predict parturition have been studied, among these, measurement of intravaginal temperature (IVT) is the most effective method at the field level. Thus, objectives of this experiment were, 1) to find an IVT cut-off to predict calving within 24 h, and 2) to clarify the use of IVT as an automated method of calving detection in housed beef cows. A commercial intravaginal electronic device (Medria Vel'Phone\uae) with a sensor that measures the IVT every 12 h was used. Piedmontese cows (n = 211; 27 primiparous and 184 multiparous) were included in this study. One-way analysis of variance was used to assess the temperature differences at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h before parturition. Receiving operator characteristic curves were built to determine the temperature cut-off which predicts calving within 24 h with the highest summation of sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp). Binomial logistic regression models were computed to identify factors that may affect the IVT before calving. Mean gestation length was 291.5 \ub1 13.7 d (primiparous, 292 \ub1 14.1 d; multiparous, 289 \ub1 9.2 d). A decrease (P < 0.001) in the average IVT was found from 60 h before calving until the expulsion of the IVT device. A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the IVT was noticeable from 24 h before until parturition. The IVT drop to predict parturition 24 h before calving was 0.21 \ub0C (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72; Se = 66%, Sp = 76%). Furthermore, the IVT cut-off value to predict parturition within 24 h was 38.2 \ub0C (AUC = 0.89; Se = 86%, Sp = 91%). None of the evaluated fixed effects (parity, dystocia, season or length of gestation) affected (P \u2c3 0.05) the IVT variation from 60 h before and up to calving. To conclude, the IVT average seems to be a better parameter than the drop in temperature to predict parturition within 24 h. In this regard, a cut-off of 38.2 \ub0C showed a high Se and Sp for predicting calving. This study demonstrates the usefulness of a commercially available device to predict calving to improve management in stabled beef farms

Field ultrasound evaluation of some gestational parameters in jennies

The aim of this study was to collect and analyze ultrasound measurements of fetal-maternal structures during normal and pathological pregnancies in jennies, a livestock species of growing interest. For two breeding seasons, 38 jennies of different breeds and crossbreeds aged between 3 and 18 years were monitored weekly by transrectal examination using a portable Esaote ultrasound (MyLab\u2122 30 GOLD VET) with a 5\u20137.5 MHz probe. The jennies were divided into two groups, < 250 kg and >250 kg body weight, and the dates of conception and parturition/abortion were recorded to calculate pregnancy length. Descriptive statistics were performed for the following variables: pregnancy length and maternal-fetal parameters (measurements of the orbit, gastric bubble, thorax, abdomen, gonads, heart rate, umbilical artery velocimetry, and combined utero-placental thickness). A total of 68 pregnancies were studied, 36 of which ended during the study period. The average pregnancy length was 370.82 \ub1 16.6 days for full-term pregnancies (N = 28, 77.8%) and 316.13 \ub1 36.6 days for abortions (N = 8, 22.2%). The season of conception and fetal gender did not affect the pregnancy length. Pregnancy examination can reasonably be performed by two weeks after last service if ovulation date is not known. The orbital diameter was the most reliable parameter for monitoring the physiological development of the embryo and fetus, and it was strongly related to the gestational age. No differences in fetal development were observed in relation to the mother's body weight. The combined utero-placental thickness was not associated with the gestational age and thickening and edema, frequently observed, were not associated with fetal pathologies

Spatially Resolved Mapping of Local Polarization Dynamics in an Ergodic Phase of Ferroelectric Relaxor

Spatial variability of polarization relaxation kinetics in relaxor ferroelectric 0.9Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.1PbTiO3 is studied using time-resolved Piezoresponse Force Microscopy. Local relaxation attributed to the reorientation of polar nanoregions is shown to follow stretched exponential dependence, exp(-(t/tau)^beta), with beta~~0.4, much larger than the macroscopic value determined from dielectric spectra (beta~~0.09). The spatial inhomogeneity of relaxation time distributions with the presence of 100-200 nm "fast" and "slow" regions is observed. The results are analyzed to map the Vogel-Fulcher temperatures on the nanoscale.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures, supplementary materials attached; to be submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Perineural invasion in vulvar squamous-cell carcinoma is an independent risk factor for cancer-specific survival, but not for locoregional recurrence: results from a single tertiary referral center

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma is a rare tumor but represents a serious health issue, especially due to the increasing incidence over the past decades. Many efforts have been made to identify new prognostic and therapeutic factors and, in this context, growing evidence concerning a pivotal role of perineural invasion. With this study, we investigated the role of perineural invasion in a large cohort of FIGO stage Ib-IIIc vulvar squamous cell carcinomas and found that perineural invasion-positive tumors have more aggressive biological behaviors and showed reduced cancer-specific survival as compared to perineural invasion-negative tumors, while this feature does not appear to be related to a greater risk to develop loco-regional recurrence. Further evaluations are warranted to confirm the prognostic role of perineural invasion and its potential use to tailor adjuvant treatment. ABSTRACT: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of perineural invasion (PNI) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and its prognostic role in locoregional recurrence (LRR) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). We performed a retrospective analysis of 223 consecutive stage IB–IIIC surgically treated VSCCs at S. Anna Hospital, University of Turin, from 2000 to 2019. We identified 133/223 (59.6%) patients with PNI-positive VSCCs. PNI was associated with aggressive biological features (i.e., advanced FIGO stage, larger tumor diameter, greater depth of invasion, a higher number of metastatic lymph nodes, and lymphovascular invasion) and shorter 5-year CSS (78% vs. 90%, log-rank p = 0.02) compared with PNI-negative VSCCs. Multivariate analysis showed that PNI (HR 2.99 CI 95% 1.17–7.63; p = 0.02) and the presence of tumor cells on pathological surgical margins (HR 3.13 CI 95% 1.37–7.13; p = 0.007) are independent prognostic factors for CSS. PNI does not appear to be related to LRR, but is an independent prognostic factor for worse survival outcomes. Future studies are necessary to explore the possible value of PNI in tailoring the choice of adjuvant treatment

Local bond stress-slip relationships of deformed bars under generalized excitations : experimental results and analytical model

This report covers integrated experimental and analytical investigations that permit predicting analytically the local bond stress-slip relationship of deformed reinforcing bars subjected to generalized excitations, such as may occur during the response of reinforced concrete (RIC) structures to severe earthquake ground motions

Analytical model for deformed bar bond under generalized excitations

Ein mathematisches Modell zur Berechnung des Verhaltens eines Rippenstabes, verankert in eng verbügeltem Beton und beansprucht durch beliebige zyklische Belastungen hoher Intensität wird erläutert. Es umfasst die Formulierung eines vereinfachten Modells für die Beziehung zwischen örtlicher Verbundspannung und örtlichem Schlupf, das aus umfangreichen, in Berkeley durchgeführten Versuchen abgeleitet wurde; die Benutzung eines einfachen, jedoch ausreichend genauen Modells für das Spannungs-Dehnungs Gesetz des Bewehrungsstahles und die numerische Lösung der Differentialgleichung des Verbundes. Ein Beispiel ist dargestellt und erläutert.A mathematical model is presented to predict the behavior of a deformed bar, embedded in well-confined concrete and subjected to generalized cyclic excitations in the range of the low cycle fatigue. It includes the formulation of a simplified model for the local bond stress-slip relationship, based on the elaboration of the result of an extensive experimental study carried out recently at Berkeley; use of a simple but sufficiently accurate model for the stress-strain relationship at reinforcing steel and the numerical solution of the differential equation of bond. An example is presented and commented

Necessary conditions for variational regularization schemes

We study variational regularization methods in a general framework, more precisely those methods that use a discrepancy and a regularization functional. While several sets of sufficient conditions are known to obtain a regularization method, we start with an investigation of the converse question: How could necessary conditions for a variational method to provide a regularization method look like? To this end, we formalize the notion of a variational scheme and start with comparison of three different instances of variational methods. Then we focus on the data space model and investigate the role and interplay of the topological structure, the convergence notion and the discrepancy functional. Especially, we deduce necessary conditions for the discrepancy functional to fulfill usual continuity assumptions. The results are applied to discrepancy functionals given by Bregman distances and especially to the Kullback-Leibler divergence.Comment: To appear in Inverse Problem