24,003 research outputs found
Total focussing method for volumetric imaging in immersion non destructive evaluation
This paper describes the use of a 550 (25x22) element 2MHz 2D piezoelectric composite array in immersion mode to image an aluminum test block containing a collection of artificial defects. The defects included a 1mm diameter side-drilled hole, a collection of 1mm slot defects with varying degrees of skew to the normal and a flat bottomed hole. The data collection was carried out using the full matrix capture; a scanning procedure was developed to allow the operation of the large element count array through a conventional 64-channel phased array controller. A 3D TFM algorithm capable of imaging in a dual media environment was implemented in MATLAB for the offline processing the raw scan data. This algorithm facilitates the creation of 3D images of defects while accounting for refraction effects at material boundaries. In each of the test samples interrogated the defects, and their spatial position, are readily identified using TFM. Defect directional information has been characterized using VTFM for defect exhibiting angles up to and including 45o of skew
A Backtracking-Based Algorithm for Computing Hypertree-Decompositions
Hypertree decompositions of hypergraphs are a generalization of tree
decompositions of graphs. The corresponding hypertree-width is a measure for
the cyclicity and therefore tractability of the encoded computation problem.
Many NP-hard decision and computation problems are known to be tractable on
instances whose structure corresponds to hypergraphs of bounded
hypertree-width. Intuitively, the smaller the hypertree-width, the faster the
computation problem can be solved. In this paper, we present the new
backtracking-based algorithm det-k-decomp for computing hypertree
decompositions of small width. Our benchmark evaluations have shown that
det-k-decomp significantly outperforms opt-k-decomp, the only exact hypertree
decomposition algorithm so far. Even compared to the best heuristic algorithm,
we obtained competitive results as long as the hypergraphs are not too large.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 3 table
Cosmological D-instantons and Cyclic Universes
For models of gravity coupled to hyperbolic sigma models, such as the
metric-scalar sector of IIB supergravity, we show how smooth trajectories in
the `augmented target space' connect FLRW cosmologies to non-extremal
D-instantons through a cosmological singularity. In particular, we find closed
cyclic universes that undergo an endless sequence of big-bang to big-crunch
cycles separated by instanton `phases'. We also find `big-bounce' universes in
which a collapsing closed universe bounces off its cosmological singularity to
become an open expanding universe.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures. v2: minor change
A multi-object spectral imaging instrument
We have developed a snapshot spectral imaging system which fits onto the side camera port of a commercial inverted microscope. The system provides spectra, in real time, from multiple points randomly selected on the microscope image. Light from the selected points in the sample is directed from the side port imaging arm using a digital micromirror device to a spectrometer arm based on a dispersing prism and CCD camera. A multi-line laser source is used to calibrate the pixel positions on the CCD for wavelength. A CMOS camera on the front port of the microscope allows the full image of the sample to be displayed and can also be used for particle tracking, providing spectra of multiple particles moving in the sample. We demonstrate the system by recording the spectra of multiple fluorescent beads in aqueous solution and from multiple points along a microscope sample channel containing a mixture of red and blue dye
Curvature-corrected dilatonic black holes and black hole -- string transition
We investigate extremal charged black hole solutions in the four-dimensional
string frame Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the Maxwell field and the dilaton.
Without curvature corrections, the extremal electrically charged dilatonic
black holes have singular horizon and zero Bekenstein entropy. When the
Gauss-Bonnet term is switched on, the horizon radius expands to a finite value
provided curvature corrections are strong enough. Below a certain threshold
value of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling the extremal black hole solutions cease to
exist. Since decreasing Gauss-Bonnet coupling corresponds to decreasing string
coupling , the situation can tentatively be interpreted as classical
indication on the black hole -- string transition. Previously the extremal
dilaton black holes were studied in the Einstein-frame version of the
Gauss-Bonnet gravity. Here we work in the string frame version of this theory
with the S-duality symmetric dilaton function as required by the heterotic
string theory.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure
Fivebrane Instantons and couplings in String Theory
We compute the gravitational coupling for IIA string theory on and use string-string duality to deduce the corresponding term for
heterotic string on . The latter is an infinite sum of gravitational
instanton effects which we associate with the effects of Euclidean fivebranes
wrapped on . These fivebranes are the neutral fivebranes or zero size
instantons of heterotic string theory.Comment: 16 pages, harvmac, no figure
Noncommutative Solitons of Gravity
We investigate a three-dimensional gravitational theory on a noncommutative
space which has a cosmological constant term only. We found various kinds of
nontrivial solutions, by applying a similar technique which was used to seek
noncommutative solitons in noncommutative scalar field theories. Some of those
solutions correspond to bubbles of spacetimes, or represent dimensional
reduction. The solution which interpolates and Minkowski metric
is also found. All solutions we obtained are non-perturbative in the
noncommutative parameter , therefore they are different from solutions
found in other contexts of noncommutative theory of gravity and would have a
close relation to quantum gravity.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures. v2: minor corrections done in Section 3.1 and
Appendix, references added. v3, v4: typos correcte
Enhanced Primary Care - A rural perspective
Copyright © 2003 Australian College of General Practitioners Copyright to Australian Family Physician. Reproduced with permission. Permission to reproduce must be sought from the publisher, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.BACKGROUND: The Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program is designed to promote better management of and improved health outcomes for people with chronic illness. Specific Medicare item numbers provide government funding to encourage general practitioners to take up health assessments, care plans and case conferences. AIM: We investigated elements of the EPC program from a rural general practice perspective. METHOD: Questionnaires summarising experience of EPC for patients and health care providers, undertaken over four weeks at three rural general practices, and observation. RESULTS: The EPC program assisted the management and coordination of care for patients with multidisciplinary care needs. General practitioners were generally positive about the EPC program. The main barrier was the extra time required. The main concern of allied health workers was the lack of appropriate remuneration for their participation. Patients were positive in their responses, but many appeared to lack the motivation and self management skills to take full advantage of the program. DISCUSSION: Strategies seeking to increase the uptake of EPC items need to address efficiency and accessibility, and funding for participating health professionals.Philippa Lewis, Angela White, Gary Misan, Peter Harvey, Jerome Connolly, Joe Noon
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