4,091 research outputs found
Terahertz Security Image Quality Assessment by No-reference Model Observers
To provide the possibility of developing objective image quality assessment
(IQA) algorithms for THz security images, we constructed the THz security image
database (THSID) including a total of 181 THz security images with the
resolution of 127*380. The main distortion types in THz security images were
first analyzed for the design of subjective evaluation criteria to acquire the
mean opinion scores. Subsequently, the existing no-reference IQA algorithms,
which were 5 opinion-aware approaches viz., NFERM, GMLF, DIIVINE, BRISQUE and
BLIINDS2, and 8 opinion-unaware approaches viz., QAC, SISBLIM, NIQE, FISBLIM,
CPBD, S3 and Fish_bb, were executed for the evaluation of the THz security
image quality. The statistical results demonstrated the superiority of Fish_bb
over the other testing IQA approaches for assessing the THz image quality with
PLCC (SROCC) values of 0.8925 (-0.8706), and with RMSE value of 0.3993. The
linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman plot further verified that the
Fish__bb could substitute for the subjective IQA. Nonetheless, for the
classification of THz security images, we tended to use S3 as a criterion for
ranking THz security image grades because of the relatively low false positive
rate in classifying bad THz image quality into acceptable category (24.69%).
Interestingly, due to the specific property of THz image, the average pixel
intensity gave the best performance than the above complicated IQA algorithms,
with the PLCC, SROCC and RMSE of 0.9001, -0.8800 and 0.3857, respectively. This
study will help the users such as researchers or security staffs to obtain the
THz security images of good quality. Currently, our research group is
attempting to make this research more comprehensive.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 4 table
Absence of bound states for waveguides in 2D periodic structures
We study a Helmholtz-type spectral problem in a two-dimensional medium
consisting of a fully periodic background structure and a perturbation in form
of a line defect. The defect is aligned along one of the coordinate axes,
periodic in that direction (with the same periodicity as the background), and
bounded in the other direction. This setting models a so-called "soft-wall"
waveguide problem. We show that there are no bound states, i.e., the spectrum
of the operator under study contains no point spectrum.Comment: This is an updated version of our paper (in slightly different form
in Journal of Mathematical Physics). An anonymous reviewer kindly made us
aware that ref. 10 is not applicable in our situation. An application of the
theorem in ref. 10 would have proved the absence of singular continuous
spectrum also. Our result on the absence of point spectrum is not affected by
thi
Theory of the optical absorption of light carrying orbital angular momentum by semiconductors
We develop a free-carrier theory of the optical absorption of light carrying
orbital angular momentum (twisted light) by bulk semiconductors. We obtain the
optical transition matrix elements for Bessel-mode twisted light and use them
to calculate the wave function of photo-excited electrons to first-order in the
vector potential of the laser. The associated net electric currents of first
and second-order on the field are obtained. It is shown that the magnetic field
produced at the center of the beam for the mode is of the order of a
millitesla, and could therefore be detected experimentally using, for example,
the technique of time-resolved Faraday rotation.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. (23 Jan 2008
Random matrices: Universality of local eigenvalue statistics up to the edge
This is a continuation of our earlier paper on the universality of the
eigenvalues of Wigner random matrices. The main new results of this paper are
an extension of the results in that paper from the bulk of the spectrum up to
the edge. In particular, we prove a variant of the universality results of
Soshnikov for the largest eigenvalues, assuming moment conditions rather than
symmetry conditions. The main new technical observation is that there is a
significant bias in the Cauchy interlacing law near the edge of the spectrum
which allows one to continue ensuring the delocalization of eigenvectors.Comment: 24 pages, no figures, to appear, Comm. Math. Phys. One new reference
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A systematic review of the energy and climate impacts of teleworking
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) increasingly enable employees to work from home and other locations (âteleworkingâ). This study explores the extent to which teleworking reduces the need to travel to work and the consequent impacts on economy-wide energy consumption.
Methods/Design: The paper provides a systematic review of the current state of knowledge of the energy impacts of teleworking. This includes the energy savings from reduced commuter travel and the indirect impacts on energy consumption associated with changes in non-work travel and home energy consumption. The aim is to identify the conditions under which teleworking leads to a net reduction in economy-wide energy consumption, and the circumstances where benefits may be outweighed by unintended impacts. The paper synthesises the results of 39 empirical studies, identified through a comprehensive search of 9,000 published articles.
Review results/Synthesis: Twenty six of the 39 studies suggest that teleworking reduces energy use, and only eight studies suggest that teleworking increases, or has a neutral impact on energy use. However, differences in the methodology, scope and assumptions of the different studies make it difficult to estimate âaverageâ energy savings. The main source of savings is the reduced distance travelled for commuting, potentially with an additional contribution from lower office energy consumption. However, the more rigorous studies that include a wider range of impacts (e.g. non-work travel or home energy use) generally find smaller savings.
Discussion: Despite the generally positive verdict on teleworking as an energy-saving practice, there are numerous uncertainties and ambiguities about its actual or potential benefits. These relate to the extent to which teleworking may lead to unpredictable increases in non-work travel and home energy use that may outweigh the gains from reduced work travel. The available evidence suggests that economy-wide energy savings are typically modest, and in many circumstances could be negative or non-existent
Screening breast cancer patients for Norwegian ATM mutations
483 Norwegian breast cancer patients were screened for six different ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) mutations previously found to account for 83% of the disease alleles in Norwegian ataxia telangiectasia (AT) patients. Only one carrier was found. These results provide no evidence in favour of an excess risk of breast cancer associated with heterozygosity for classical AT mutations, but remain consistent with a maximum 2.4-fold increased risk. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co
Commensurate and Incommensurate Vortex States in Superconductors with Periodic Pinning Arrays
As a function of applied field, we find a rich variety of ordered and
partially-ordered vortex lattice configurations in systems with square or
triangular arrays of pinning sites. We present formulas that predict the
matching fields at which commensurate vortex configurations occur and the
vortex lattice orientation with respect to the pinning lattice. Our results are
in excellent agreement with recent imaging experiments on square pinning arrays
[K. Harada et al., Science 274, 1167 (1996)].Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Accepted to Physical Review
Feasibility of detecting single atoms using photonic bandgap cavities
We propose an atom-cavity chip that combines laser cooling and trapping of
neutral atoms with magnetic microtraps and waveguides to deliver a cold atom to
the mode of a fiber taper coupled photonic bandgap (PBG) cavity. The
feasibility of this device for detecting single atoms is analyzed using both a
semi-classical treatment and an unconditional master equation approach.
Single-atom detection seems achievable in an initial experiment involving the
non-deterministic delivery of weakly trapped atoms into the mode of the PBG
cavity.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Seasonal variation of phytoplankton in My Thanh River, Mekong delta, Vietnam
A study on the seasonal variation of phytoplankton composition was conducted at the upper, middle, and lower parts of the My Thanh River, which supplies an important source of water for aquaculture. Qualitative and quantitative samples of phytoplankton were collected monthly at both high and low tide. The results showed that a total of 171 phytoplankton (algae) species were recorded, belonging to 59 genera and 5 phyla. Diatoms were the most abundant group with the highest species number, followed by green algae. The other phyla possessed a lower number of species. The species composition was more diverse in the rainy season and at high tide at most of the sampling sites. The mean density of algae varied from 30,900-43,521 ind.L^-1^. The density of diatoms was higher in the middle and lower parts. At the same time, euglenoids displayed the highest density in the upper part, showing a difference in the dominant algae group under the influence of salinity. Salinity was found to be significantly positively correlated (p<0.01) with diatoms, whereas it was negatively correlated (p<0.05) with blue-green algae and euglenoids. The algae composition was quite diverse, with the H' index ranging from 2.0-3.3, showing the water quality was slightly to moderately polluted
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